Letter to the Brethren: March 27, 2025

Herbert (Herb) William Haddon

Herb Haddon was buried last Thursday. An online memorial funeral service was held the next day. Herb’s wife Gisele had suggested an online service. So in addition to being attended by Gisele Haddon and the Haddon children, it was also attended by people in the USA and Canada who had Skype who signed on.

This was the first time we tried any type of online funeral service and it seemed to go well.

That said, Herb Haddon is still missed.

Haiti

Jeremy Nicolas sent the following report and photos of the CCOG in Haiti:

Jeremy Nicolas

Good afternoon Dr Bob Thiel,

How are you doing together with you family?

I suppose you are doing well! I am sorry to hear by Moise, Herb Haddon is died. I’m sure he came visit Moise in Haiti but they didn’t meet because of insecurity. We will meet him at the kingdom.

I send some photos where we gather for services, it is in a very bad condition, many times no enough space for brethren to sit down.

Some where the boss prepared iron on the head of the brick,

And where the concrete finally is on the head of brick.

Our brothers and sisters are very happy, we hope God will help us step by step. We all say thanks to CCOG for helping. Moise pay the boss for us to do those works, and he was buy planks for all casings.

May God bless you all abundantly. Please say Greetings to all my brothers and sisters.

Kind regards

We provided some assistance for the Haitians to buy some materials to help repair the building.

Moise Nicolas, Jeremy’s son, sent the following:

Greetings Dr Thiel,

I hope you are doing well!

A very quick message to let you know that I have been received the second package (booklets). Now I have both (Bibles package and Booklets package)

Plan to get them arrived to Haitian brethren before the Passover.

Thank you 😊

Sincerely..

Moïse Nicolas

Moise currently is in Florida.

A few years ago, my family and I were able to go to northern Haiti (our brethren live in southern Haiti). Though I could not meet with the brethren then, I was able to arrange that they received Creole language Bibles that we had brought with us.

Moise is planning on having someone who will travel to Haiti to deliver the Creole Bibles, as well as French language booklets, that he just received from us, to the brethren in Haiti as simply trying to mail them into Haiti is not a good idea.

That said, Herb Haddon and his wife Gisele visited Haiti six years ago in order to try to meet with the brethren there. But because of gang violence, including fires on the airport runway, it was not safe enough for them to travel to see the brethren there as the roads to get to them were dangerous and fairly far from the airport–so they had to return without meeting with them (see Letter to the Brethren: February 14, 2019).

The situation in Haiti remains very difficult. Please remember the brethren there in your prayers.

Pure Religion and Food

Deacon Sosten Libungwa sent the following photo and report:

The program of food sharing in Malawi went well,the work done smartly … people from Michesi church thanks Cog for the food aid that has came to them while people are suffering due to shortage of food in their homes, I was also able to give funds to other churches to buy the types of food which is cheaper due to areas, some they buy dry cassava some sorghum,thank you so much, continuing to pray for us,to assist the people of Malawi it does not mean you have more money but you put people of Malawi at heart,I request the people to use wisely I also encouraging them to be rich with the truth not food,God bless,

Sosten Libungwa

The Apostle Paul wrote:

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)

The Apostle James wrote the following:

1 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26)

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:15-19)

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

Despite our flaws, we in the Continuing Church of God try to practice the pure Christian religion as the Apostles wrote about.

Feast of Tabernacles in North America

Church services for the Feast in 2025 are to begin at sunset on October 6th and run through (including the Last Great Day) sunset October 14th in 2025.

It is likely that the site for North America will be in Oklahoma City–we are awaiting a contract and hope to announce a site next week.

For a list of planned and tentative festival sites around the world, check out: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2025.

BibleNewsProphecy Magazine

We received and mailed out our latest magazine to most of our subscribers (we had to order more copies, so for some the mailing is delayed). Other magazines are to be printed next week in Kenya.

Here is a link to the Bible News Prophecy magazine April-June 2025 online.

In This Issue:

From the Editor: Examine Yourself Christians should always be willing to change, but we are also told examine our lives to be willing to do so before partaking of the Passover.

The History and Truth About Pentecost! Pentecost runs from sunset May 31st through sunset June 1st in 2025. The late Dr. Herman Hoeh shared some of its history and meaning in an article published by the old Radio Church of God.

Trade Wars Are in Progress Since the re-election of Donald Trump, nations around the world are looking to take steps.

Gentile Europeans: Background and Prophecies – Part 1 Which biblical figures look to have been the progenitors of many nations in Europe? What is ahead for the Gentile nations of Europe?

Study the Bible Course, Lesson 25b: Baptism The New Testament teaches baptism is needed for Christians.

Continuing Church of God Radio Log Listen to the Bible News Prophecy radio broadcast around the world.

Questions and Answers: Since the Great Tribulation cannot happen yet, what are some specific events to look for which occur prior to the Great Tribulation?

Here is a link to the Bible News Prophecy magazine April-June 2025.

We also mailed out printed copies of my Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency book to many of our supporters with this magazine mailing.

Language Matters

Jesus said that Christians should let their lights shine (Matthew 5:16). We are to be God’s examples (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:7a).

However, one cultural issue that I have noticed among English-speaking people in North America is the tendency to use expressions such as: Oh my God, OMG, oh my gosh, or oh my goodness (the last two are euphemisms that take God’s name in vain).

For many people, using these expressions is a habit.

But that is a habit Christians should break.

Here is more on language matters from our book The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast:

The Third Commandment

Do words matter?

Certainly.

Jesus taught:

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will
give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will
be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew
12:36-37)

What you say matters. …

The Apostle Paul wrote:

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:8-9)

So, we see that the New Testament prohibits both blasphemy, which is
speaking improperly about God, as well as filthy language, which can also
include speaking against God.

Christians are admonished to:

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good
for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
(Ephesians 4:29)

So, more than just not taking God’s name in vain, Christians are to speak that
which is good.

The third commandment from the Book of Exodus states:

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the
Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus
20:7)

We need to be careful about using God’s name. Many claim that God has done
this or that for them, when He has not. Various ones claim many things are
God’s will, even their bad choices, when that is not the will of God.

Because “holy and reverend is his {God’s} name” (Psalm 111:9, KJV), we do not
refer to ministers or others with titles like “reverend.” …

Euphemistically Using God’s Name in Vain

Satan has influenced society (Ephesians 2:2) and many people curse using
God’s name in vain.

Satan has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Many believe that they
can say versions of these curses with semi-substitutes.

Various ones vainly make statements like, “Oh, my God!” when they are not
praying to God, but others will use similar statements, like, “Oh, my gosh!” or
“Oh, my goodness!” which is a euphemistic way to say the same thing. On the
internet, “OMG” is also used a lot. Such should not be done.

Many, when upset, scream, “Jesus!,” again not in prayer. Others, do the same
basic thing when they cry out, “Geez!”

There are also other improper statements.

Do not euphemistically use God’s name in vain. Do not call yourself Christian
if you will not be willing to live as Jesus wanted you to (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1;
1 John 2:6).

Perhaps it should be mentioned that the reason we in the Continuing Church
of God do not say, “God bless you” after someone sneezes is because that
tradition is based on the unbiblical notion that an evil spirit may enter
someone who sneezes and must be warded off with some type of a spell. If
someone is truly ill they can pray and others can also pray for them (James
5:13-14).

Be careful about your words. As Jesus said, language matters!