Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings again from the Five Cities region of the central coast of California.
As always, much is going on.
Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles will be here next month, and we have been trying to work on a variety of details, related to a variety of sites all around the world.
We are working on trying to finalize activities at a couple of the Feast sites as well as scheduling sermons, sermonettes, and related matters.
For information on the locations of the Feast of Tabernacles’ site this year, check out the link: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2016.
Pastor Ochieng Visits Bomet and Mau in Kenya
Received several reports from Kenya.
The first is from Pastor Tomas Koskey:
Hallo Bob. Greeting you in Jesus name. Evan Ochieng visited us at Bomet
and helped us prepare for the Feast. And thereafter we traveled Mau to greet some
brethren. It was along journey.Thank you.
Pastor Tomas Koskey
The second is from Joseah Kipngetich:
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.We are well here in Kenya,Rift valley.
We were very happy here at rift valley for our lord enable us to visit the church at mau.Mau became the last to be visited though it was the first established church.At first we visited Bomet church and later visited churches at transmara.All this visits were done with Pastor Ochieng.
Mau was delayed to be visited because the roads there are impassable and the area itself is very hilly. The last Sabbath,we were able to visit due to God’s mercies who enabled us to visit with Pastor Ochieng and other two pastors from Transmara and one from Bomet. He supported those pastors in transporting them to Mau. He also supported and orphan to continue with her course in nursing.
Brethren from Mau had been longing very much to hear the word of God.Though they have many problems which they wanted to be discussed like land problems. We left them and discussed about the impending Feast of Tabernacles. As a result, Pastor Ochieng agreed that they conduct the Feast at Mau because it is very far. They contributed foods and Pastor Ochieng agreed to help to accomplished the Feast of Tabernacles.
During that meeting many people were changed and agreed to follow what is in the Bible. At Mau and rift valley at large many people are opening up their minds and getting to know the truth as the continuing church of God is teaching.
It is therefore our request that if possible to get Bibles in Kalenjin language, about thirty of them can be helpful. Also if possible to get even five for English and ten for Kiswahili can help the brethren at Mau. This is because brethren at Mau are of different languages and ethnicity.
Pastor Stanley Kibet Tiongik and deacon Paul K. Towett gave thanks to Pastor Ochieng because they became of one mind.they are the one in charge of Mau churches.Enclosed are photos of women leader, youth leader and elders leader.God bless You.Joseah Kipngetich
We are looking into the Bible situation. We cannot locate 30 Bibles in Kalenjin, and the three copies I have found are pricey and then shipping them will be high. So, we are looking to see if they can be acquired in Kenya.
Here are some of the photographs that Joseah Kipngetich sent:
Note: The photos show the wrong year on them. They are from 2016, and obviously not 2017.
The third is from Pastor Evans Ochieng:
Pastor Dr Bob,
Greetings from Kenya.
I kept the Sabbath yesterday in Mau with the brethren in Mau. I was very happy with the growth in Mau. It was a happy Sabbath. The brethren were very happy with the teachings I gave. I talked more about the gospel of the kingdom, the feast, true repentance and happy marriage. I also touched more about CCOG. This is because I wanted them to learn more about the truth in the church.
I have postponed my trip to Ghana till 25th September 2016. This work is still big and I want to finish it.
Evans
Much is happening in Africa and that Pastor Ochieng is traveling a lot and meeting with many. He and I are personally busier than we can easily explain. We both have also been attacked more in writing the past week or so than normal. We both appreciate your prayers.
Ethiopia and South Sudan
Koang Dang sent me the following emails:
Dear Pastor Bob:I am now in Gambella, I arrive last Friday at 3:pm, Noon time. All church members are fine, And they told me to send our greeting to all of our brethren and sisters live in America, and all Africans brethren in ccog.
Secondly, A call come from our brethren live in a district named (Pagak) in South Sudan to meet them there, I hope, I will be there coming Saturday (SABBATH).
Best regards,
koang deng.
Dear Dr.Bob:Names of Ethiopia and South Sudan Members
Ethiopia:1.koang deng ,
2.Juoch Riek
3.Thol YIEK
4.Gatluak
5.Buay Chol
South Sudan:
1.Thayan Gatluol2.THUL khot
3.Gach Dojiok. They were five in number,but two people go back to their former Church which is cog7.left only three mens.Total 8 men, plus women and children.
Thanks,
koang.
Gambella is in north-east Ethiopia. South Sudan borders Ethiopia on its west. Pakak is on the eastern side of South Sudan.
Radio
I unexpectedly received a telephone call for a radio interview a few days ago. I was on Inside Track. KVOI 1030 am, Tucson, AZ. We mainly discussed government surveillance and threats to religion, including threats to those of us who believe in the return of Jesus and the His millennial reign on the earth.
Also, yesterday I again was on the Republic Broadcasting Network (RBN) at 2:00 pm Central Daylight Time. The host and I discussed issues such as the plans of the Sanhedrin and Temple Institute, as well as possible locations of the ark of the covenant, some of the stones of the old Herodian Jewish temple, as well as the ‘holy place’ Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:15, as well as some steps leading up to that. We also discussed the ‘abomination of desolation’ and the Vatican’s ecumenical agenda and interest in the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill. We also mentioned that not all Christians would understand Matthew 24:15–basically that the Philadlephian Christians would but that the Laodicean ones would not.
I am currently scheduled to be on that program again on Setpember 28, 2016 at 2:00 pm Central Daylight Time.
World News Items
Late last week, the European Union Parliament named that anti-nationalist, pro-European empire, Guy Verhofstad as its ‘Brexit’ negotiator (see EU Parliament names anti-nationalist Guy Verhofstadt to be its ‘Brexit’ negotiator). This would seem to suggest that the European Union may be harder on the UK on its exit negotiations than many others (who value economic matters more) may have been. This move, along with others in the UK and EU, may well help push the UK closer to the USA, at least for a time. Yesterday, the State of the European Union address was given by European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker—-he wants a unified Europe and a European army (see Juncker’s State of the EU: More unity, more military needed).
Tomorrow, leaders in the European Union are to meet in Slovakia to work on increasing European common military defenses. Some claim that the real goal is a European army, while others find that idea ‘laughable’ (see ‘Post-Brexit summit could pave way for European army’ or is it ‘laughable’?). It is certainly NOT laughable. The Bible says that the final European King of the North will have a ‘great army’ (Daniel 11:25), so tomorrow’s meeting may help lead to its ultimate formation.
The ultimate formation of the ‘kings of the east’ who will head to Armageddon will also take place relatively soon (Revelation 16:12-16). This week two ‘kings of the east,, Russia and China, have been conducting joint naval exercises that are intended to improve their military cooperation (see Russia and China are conducting naval exercises in the South China Sea–a prelude to Armageddon?). We keep seeing steps leading to the fulfillment of end time biblical prophecies.
The USA, Russia, and Syria agreed to a Syrian cease-fire this week (see US, Russia, and Syria agree to ceasefire deal: Will peace or destruction come to Damascus?). However, ultimately, the Bible shows that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). Like the rest of the world, Syria’s only real hope is the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: The ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Climate Change’? Other sermonettes are available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Matthew 21-23: ‘Palm Sunday,’ Come as You Are?, and the Greatest Commandments. Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
Note: If you have a slow internet connection, you can watch these by starting the video, then below it (and towards the right) look for an outline of a gear–if you click on that, it will allow the YouTube video to be played with lower video quality, but at least it will not stop often–you can select a quality as low as 144p. If your internet connection is still too slow (as my home one is) and/or you prefer audio messages to audio-visuals ones, go to the YouTube link for the message, click on SHOW MORE related to the description. You will then see something that says, “Download MP3.” Below that is a link to an MP3 file. Most computers (and even some cellular telephones) will allow MP3 files to be downloaded and played. This is an option we have made available (but we are also looking into ways to improve that as well)–and, of course, we have written article options. Some people have found that if their internet connections are not fast enough, that they can simply listen to the messages that are found at the new Bible News Prophecy online radio channel.
IN CASE YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A ‘LETTER TO THE BRETHREN‘ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE ContinuingCOG channel AND MANY SERMONETTE MESSAGES ON THE Bible News Prophecy channel.
Concluding Comments
The Bible begins with the following verse:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Undoubtedly, you realize this.
But this is one of my mental ‘go to’ verses in the Bible.
What I mean by that is if there are certain concerns or struggles in my life, I often will immediately quote that verse mentally. It helps keep me grounded in the truth, as no force of humankind or randomness made the earth, nor will they end it or permanently control it.
Brethren, this is a verse for me that conveys that and more. God made everything and will come through for us–even if physical circumstances suggest otherwise.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer