Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from the Five Cities region of California.
Literature in Africa
Study the Bible Course https://studythebiblecourse.org
A COG pastor, not CCOG, named George Owato sent the following:
Dear Pastor Dr Bob Thiel,
Thank you so much for the response. I will be and keep in touch with Evangelist Evans Ochieng for the mentioned books and Booklets. Thank you so much for the Production of very good Bible Reading and Study Materials.I have also found your STUDY THE BIBLE COURSE very interesting, informative and inspiring in the Reading and Study of the Bible. I have gone through them in your website and have really APPROVED for use at our fellowship here in Migori, Kenya.I look forward to using them at Our KINGDOM AMBASSADORS BIBLE TRAINING CENTRE “Equipping Saints for Ministry Work”. We therefore need PRINTED copies of “STUDY THE BIBLE COURSE” for use, if possible, from January, 2022 onwards. We will be TEACHING LESSONS and ADMINISTERING Tests at the end of every FOUR LESSONS.Successful COMPLETION of all the lessons will lead to award of “CERTIFICATE of COMPLETION of STUDY THE BIBLE COURSE”. This will act as PROOF that one has completed such a course. Attached below is the “LOGO” of our “Kingdom Ambassadors Bible Training Centre” idea. You can help us bring this idea to FRUITION through Partnering with us to offer STUDY THE BIBLE COURSE to our members and to all who may be interested in coming to the Knowledge of the Truth! (2Timothy 3:16-17, Psalms 119:105, 130, John 8:31-32, 17:17, 2Timothy 2:15).We want to START with Lessons 1 to 4, then Administer the Tests Questions, Mark and Grade then MOVE to the NEXT Four Lessons until we finish them. This way we will be able to Systematically grow in grace and knowledge of God (2Peter 3:18) and be able to raise up a generation of God-knowing and Fearing People!Your brother and,Fellow Servant in Christ Jesus,Pastor George Otieno Owato.PS: We are also in need of CHILDREN AND YOUTHS BIBLE STUDY Lessons: Level K, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, for our on-going Children and Youths Sabbath School Classes through our “GRACE AND TRUTH ACADEMY- SCHOOL OF ETERNAL LIFE”(John 1:1, 14-17, Proverbs 22:6, 2Timothy 3:14-17, Psalms 119:9-11)
CCOG’s Evans Ochieng asked for electronic files so that the Children/Youth Bible lessons could be printed in Kenya, so we sent him the files to do so on Monday.
We are striving to assist believers and potential believers around the world.
Malawi and Mozambique
Deacon Radson Mulozowa sent in the following report this week:
Greetings from Malawi.
How are you doing?We are all fine by the grace of God.Let me report that the work of God is growing and we are seeing the growth of the church both Malawi and MozambiqueLast Sabbath we had Carolyn Kabwalo from Hapuwani hotel where Terry was staying when he was in Malawi for the feast.… {I have a} trip to Mwanza this weekEvans have promised to visit Malawi and Mozambique early DecemberBest regardsRadson
Evans Ochieng originally hoped to come in November, then December, but because of issues in Kenya as well as youth camp in December, he hopes to go to Malawi and Mozambique in January.
Prayers Requested for the Brethren in Ethiopia
CCOG deacon Koang Deng sent the following email:
Dear elders:
Greetings to you all in Jesus name Amen.As you heard from all world channels news, exactly, Ethiopia right now is on the top from the news of war which putted down more life to the grave of death.As we see now, Saturn is going to robbed more souls from the hand of God in this country.Secondly, the pushing of COVID-19 vaccination is going to be put in force in Gambella. Residents now felt that, a problem is going to happen the same like war in the country in general.Please, repeat to pray for Ethiopia and those of ccog in this country.Koang.
There has been a military struggle between the official Ethiopian government and the Tigray opposition. Please remember to keep Ethiopia in your prayers.
As far as COVID rules go, there are more restrictions again in many parts of the world.
For example, it has been recently reported that “Greece is now requiring churchgoers to provide proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test, or proof of natural immunity to attend services” (https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/churchgoers-in-greece-must-prove-vaccination-status-or-take-covid-test/60947.htm). But, let me add that although the Greek Orthodox Church says it supports that rule, it has no desire to enforce it.
But, many COVID-blamed restrictions are enforced in many places.
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: Pride: Quit Lying to Yourself. 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: Be a Real Philadelphian Christian. 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 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. There are also some messages at the CCOGAfrica channel.
World News Items
The newly named “Omicron variant” of COVID has been dominating much of the news (see ‘A Scared Nu World: Here’s What We Know About The New COVID Strain’ and ‘WHO: Omicron Poses Very High Global Risk, World Must Prepare’ {for totalitarian globalism}). Despite it not yet being known as particularly deadly, because of its structure it is suspected to be more transmittable than other COVID strains. It has even been called COVID-21 (see BBC: Will new measures against Omicron work? SN: Nu COVID-21?), to distinguish it from COVID-19 and its other mutations.
Over in the Caribbean, Barbados declared itself a republic and no longer subject to the British crown (see Barbados becomes a republic and drops the British crown). While not a massive “sea-gate” in the strategic sense, this represents another small loss to Great Britain. Consistent with scriptures like Deuteronomy 28:58-63, more losses will occur (see also Will the UK Lose Gibraltar, the Chagos Islands, and the Falkland Islands?).
There is a false Marian apparition in Medjugorje (a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina) that the current pope will not truly condemn, even though emeritus Pope Benedict XVI did (see Medjugorje is false, yet ‘Pope Francis Names Vatican Diplomat Next Papal Envoy to Medjugorje’). Marian apparitions have been involved in the signs and lying wonders and I strongly suspect that they will be in the future (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11; Nahum 3:4-5).
Elsewhere in Europe, leaders in Germany’s incoming government have been pushing for what some in the media have called “the United States of Europe” (seeThe incoming coalition government in Germany is set to push for a so-called ‘United States of Europe’). This is something that the late Herbert W. Armstrong warned about in the 1940s–something we in the CCOG have also warned about (e.g., watch Ursula von der Leyen and the coming United States of Europe). The Bible shows that despite unity issues (cf. Daniel 2:41-43), Europe will get together and turn power over to the totalitarian Beast (Revelation 17:12-13)–we are getting closer to that day.
Concluding Comments
The Apostle James told Christians to patiently wait until Jesus returned:
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11)
Brethren, we are a lot closer to the time of Jesus’ return than those of James’ day were. Be blessed, endure.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer