Letter to the Brethren: February 23, 2017

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings again from Five Cities region of California.

We have been working on matters related to Africa as well as reaching people around the world.

Radio

On February 20, 2017, I was on Jeff Crouere’s show Ringside politics with a punch program. That was on WGSO 990 AM, New Orleans, Louisiana at 10:35 am CST (8:35 am PST).  Originally, I was to be a half-hour earlier, but it was changed at the last minute. Jeff Crouere was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican Convention and a supporter of Donald Trump. He asked me about Donald Trump as well as prophetic matters. I covered some positive and negative things about Donald Trump as well as how some of his actions are affecting end-time prophecy, particularly with Europe.

Google Campaign and the Internet

Google reported that our campaign with them reached 3,809,268 computers last month. This is up from the previous month. We are diligently working to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20. We are reaching out to millions.

When I was in Kenya, Evangelist Evans Ochieng commented how the growth in Africa had been related to the internet. Basically, a group leader will find one or more of our websites. They then will email me. I then attempt to determine if they know much about us. And I believe they have potential (as opposed to people mainly trying to scam us or get financial support), I put them in contact with Evans Ochieng. He then communicates with them via email, then if promising, over the telephone. And if the group seems more promising, he visits them when he gets a chance.

Basically, this has reminded me of the following:

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)

Through my writings and posts on the internet, one could properly say that I plant. Through his follow-ups, one could properly say that Evangelist Ochieng waters. And according to the Bible, God gives the increase.

With the recent ordinations we have had, we now have more laborers for the harvest (cf. Matthew 9:37-38) in Africa and Europe.

We have also been working on our newest website–one targeting Africa, and hope to be able to announce it soon. While most who have contacted us have first visited cogwriter.com or ccog.org, we believe that having a site focused on Africa will help individuals better find us as well as our congregations in Africa.

Quebec Spring Holy Days

Herb Haddon sent the following from Canada:

Dr. Thiel

We have just confirmed a location for Passover Service as well as the First Day of Unleavened Bread.

We will be using the breakfast room at La Tour Belvedere located at 2175 De Maisonneuve Blvd, W., Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The meeting room is reserved on Sunday, April 9 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. for Passover Services, and on Tuesday, April 11 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for the First Day of Unleavened Bread.

A location for The Night to Be Much Observed to be announced.

Gisele and I will be staying at La Tour Belvedere and have special rates.  Contact Herb Haddon at hwhaddon@gmail.com for details.

Herb

The Passover begins after sunset on April 9th this year.

New Zealand Feast of Tabernacles’ Site

John Hickey sent the following from New Zealand:

We have finalized the location of the venue for the FOT for this year.  It will be at Cedarwood Lakeside Motel and Conference Venue, Rotorua.  Their website is www.Cedarwood.co.nz.

 The venue for Holy Day Meals will be Farmside Buffet Restaurant at NZ Heritage Farm, their website is www.farmsidebuffet.co.nz.

Here is a photo of its entrance:

My wife Joyce and I went to the Feast of Tabernacles in Rotorua in 1987 and plan to attend the first half of the Feast there this year (with the second half in San Diego, California).

For more information on the site in Rotorua, contact John Hickey, email john.h@vodafone.net.nz; his mobile phone number is 021 519 441.

Ghana Report

Ghanaian Pastor Samuel Ofosu Gyeabour sent in the following:

We express our sincere thanks for your support and prayers that led us to be part of our historic conference held in the far East of Africa Kenya.

After landing at the Kenyatta Airport we were conveyed to the Karibu Hotel scheduled for the conference by the representative there on the morning of the 7th February 2017. The conference officially commenced on the 8th February on the Theme: “What the Church of God is about. The essence of Leadership and the Love Leaders of God’s Church should have for the flock as shepherds. “

The host Pastor Bob Thiel made it known The Creator have a purpose for the Church which cost Him the life of His begotten Son to fulfill it. Several quotes that exhibits the theme in relationship to mankind were outlined to justify the theme with emphasis expressed on ( Philip. 2:5) He made mention later in the message that ” Humility” as one of the genuine products of the Spirit amongst others is very essential and should be ADORNED in the saviors vineyard.

Variety of topics were brought to light and addressed especially , CHURCH HISTORY. How the Church of God spread to the Asia Minor, America and the World at large: The Heretical behavior, Leadership crises that causes division among the Church which long ago was predicted by the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts. (20:28-31) etc. Again he also briefed the conference stating clearly that the Church is a  Family ( Eph. 3:14) having its own beliefs which the Apostle Paul stated. Jude admonishes us in his epistle verse.3-4. The Host brought to light about his plans for the continent of Africa highlighting the Gospel of the Kingdom of God being the central theme  of the work assigned to Gods Church to fulfil (Mark.16:15, Matt.28:18-20).

Divinely something strange and of cause during the climax of the conference happened when the host requested the Kenyan Overseer and Me to Ordain Him on the basis of Biblical understanding and regarding our efforts to bring the people of Africa to the light about the perfect will of God. Honestly, this part of the conference boosted my morale and afterwards the host also ordained me and strengthened me to stand firm in the work  with his experiences and hardships he encountered previously. Several questions were asked which in response the host made it categorically clear that he is human and not perfect and more importantly, is willing to learn from us together citing the work of God is not academic but Spiritually inclined under tbe guidance of the Holy Spirit referring to (1Corint. 2:1-6).

The host attention was humbly drawn and addressed on the Passover feast and the regard for Only the first and the Last day of the feast than the rest of the days of Unleavened Bread whilst all have the same spiritual significance. He on notice accepted the important issue raised saying he was going to look at it very carefully at home in America portraying a testimony of Humility. After the lectures the host wanted to know our opinions about the conference and the way forward as well as our plans to enhance the ministry. We delivered to him from Ghana on paper in consultation with the Elders before leaving for the conference and promise to hear from him after studying it. Remarkably the conference was an eye-opener, educative and lesson experience packed one. I am therefore very grateful for the necessary support and prayers that enable this Historic journey.

May The Good Lord bless the family abundantly and more blessings to Pastor Bob Thiel the host for the funding and tuition.

Best Regards.

Pastor Samuel Ofosu Gyeabour.
Ghana.

Pastor Samuel Ofosu Gyeabour

Pastor Samuel Ofosu Gyeabour spent a lot of time with Pastor Evans Ochieng and I while in Kenya as we continue to try to work with those in Ghana.

We tried to answer his questions as well as explain various points of doctrine that those with a Church of God, Seventh Day background would benefit from.

Report From Evangelist Ochieng

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent in the following report:

General overseer Dr Bob.

Greetings from Kenya.

I want to thank you for the greatest work that was done in Kenya. It has make steps ahead. The travel of Elder Alexander and the conference in Nairobi has made very many steps forward. I am getting many calls especially from Rift Valley and some workers in that hotel who want join CCOG. They are saying that they were touched by the prophecies and church history which they heard when you were teaching in the hotel. Some congregations from seventh day church of God from Rift Valley have also contact me that they want to join CCOG. This is because the organization that is in CCOG is well organized and the teachings are good and prophetic. So it seems that the work in Rift Valley and Nairobi is going to increase. I will visit this congregations in Rift Valley on sabbath.

Thank you very much for the wonderful work in Kenya.

MALAWI

The brethren in Malawi and Mozambique have called me today and told me that they met and have started to process how they can register the church in both countries. I will let you know where they have reached and how much it will cost them to register the church.

Evans

Yes, some who worked at the Karibu hotel were we held the conference became interested in the Continuing Church of God because of what I and others were teaching during the conference.

I have since received a copy of an initial document that was filed in Malawi since receiving Evangelist Ochieng’s report above.

Report From Malawi

Host Radson Mulozowa of Malawi sent in the following report:

Greetings From Malawi. I Would Like To Thank God For The Growth Of His Work Both Malawi And Mozambique.

Migowi Is growing Fast Following My Visit To Kenya. Am Busy With Pastors And Brethern Who Wants To Join CCOG.

World News Items

US President Donald Trump continues to shake up many in the USA (see ‘Deep state’ taking action as it does not want anyone to ‘drain the swamp’? and ‘Not My President’ protests). Expect to see serious civil unrest in the USA in the future.

Over in Europe, a German politician stated that Germany should get Greek gold, land, and other assets as collateral if Germany keeps loaning money to Greece (see German leader wants Greek land and/or gold for collateral). Europe continues to have problems sticking together, but that is not unexpected (cf. Daniel 2:41-43).

One unifier for Europe seems to be its disdain for US President Donald Trump . The Trump Administration keeps pushing the Europeans to spend more on their militaries (see, for example Mike Pence also pushing Europe to spend more on its military–this will not end well for the USA), and this will ultimately NOT turn out well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Pope Francis continues to push his twisted ecumenical and Babylonian (cf. Revelation 17 & 18) agenda (see Pope Francis and Mark Zuckerberg lay out their global visions). At some point in time, the Vatican will (temporarily) get the Muslims to support the Beast power (cf. Daniel 11:27), but this will not last (Daniel 11:40-43).

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 many who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar. The one suggested for this week is: . 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 by Aleksandar Veljic and contains translation into the African language of Embu: We Must be the True People of God. 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

Notice the following from the Book of Proverbs:

15 The leech has two daughters —
Give and Give!

There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water —
And the fire never says, “Enough!” (Proverbs 30:15-16)

Brethren, we need to be like the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:11-12) and learn to be properly content with the physical as we press forward and support the work of God.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer