Letter to the Brethren: July 17, 2025

Posted on Posted in Letters to the Brethren

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We have begun a major project to restore access to our booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, in as many languages as possible. I want to thank all the volunteers who are working on this important project.

That said, Evangelist Evans Ochieng arrived back from his trip to Malawi yesterday–more on that below.

I am scheduled to go to Brazil next week. Please pray for me to have wisdom as I am scheduled to meet the leader of a couple of small non-COG congregations there.

Malawi Trip

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following photos and reports related to his latest trip to Malawi:


Bakala, Malawi

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Malawi.
Since I traveled from home to Nairobi again the next day to Malawi and from Lilongwe to Balaka then from Balaka to Mwanza. I was totally tired and went to bed earlier. I couldn’t manage to write.
So right now I’ve finished in Mwanza and on the way to Cheleka.
The meeting in Balaka was very smart same to Mwanza. Matiya is really working had and totally sealed in Continuing Church of God. He was very happy to meet me and all the brethren were happy. He even called the chiefs of the area to come and meet me.
He was very much thankful for the iron sheets we provided. They are now working to molding bricks for the wall to enlarge their meeting hall because people are always added in the church.
Today in Mwanza I also met XXXXX. He came to me and tell me that, he knew that he made a mistake of going out of the church but he wants to come back to the church. I discussed with him a lot and tell him that if he totally repent, then he can just be in the church. But he must write a letter to you and explain why he wants to come back. I taught him a lot and he was very remorseful.
Now I’m on my way to Cheleka.
What I noticed in Mwanza, they were keeping Sabbath in school but the owner of the school is not happy with them since he is a {particular type of Protestant}. So Sabandere is planning to get a land and build a hall. I’m very happy that the church in Mwanza is highly growing. And Sabandere is working very hard. …
Evans
——-


Evans Ochieng in Chekela

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Malawi,
I was in Cheleka. I was very happy with the work in Cheleka. There is a good growth in Cheleka.
They told me to thank you for the chairs, and the iron sheets. The number has increased to 82 and they need some additional chairs. My topic of today based on faith. The sermon was touchable. People really received the message wholeheartedly. It increases the Faith in Cheleka. That’s the reason why I’m telling you that my frequent visit in Malawi bears many fruits.
I can remember how brethren were happy in Balaka after my sermon. Same to Cheleka.
Sabandere is really doing good work in both Mwanza and Cheleka. I really appreciate. The continuing church of God is rapidly growing in Malawi and Mozambique.
Tomorrow I will go very early to Chikwawa to meet brethren there. I’ll keep Sabbath in Chikwawa.
…
Pray for my trip to Chikwawa.
Evans
——-

Evans Ochieng in Chikwawa

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Malawi.
Since I attended the Sabbath in Chikwawa. The Trip was very long that we reached in Molanji very late when we were very tired that I couldn’t write. The next day we started very early in the morning because I wanted to meet with Sosten first, then after meeting him, I was going to have a meeting with the leaders from Mozambique and Malawi to discuss many things concerning the progress of the church in Mozambique and Malawi. Then after that we were running to go and meet the brethren in Zomba. …
After that we extend our trip to Ntchew where we slept. Today we are starting our trip this morning to Lilongwe to meet a man from a refugee camp. He is from Burundi and now stays in Malawi. He called me when I was in Rwanda and I told him that we shall meet when I come to Malawi. So today we are going to meet him in Lilongwe. He has been studying with CCOG for a long time. So he needs to be in the church and be baptized.
We have to talk with him first to hear about his faith and later see what to do.
When I was in Rwanda, Moise Nshimiyimana explained to me more about him.
So pastor, I met so many … in Chikwawa. I met four congregations at one place. Some came from Sange district. … So when I was teaching them about the kingdom of God which is coming on earth, … These people are really need truth they are very hungry to learn more about church of God. So I talked with Molozwa to go there frequently to teach them. Again when I’ll be coming back to Malawi, I will carry many books to give them. They are good people who needs to learn a lot. … Now I told Radson Molozwa to make sure that he is going there frequently before the feast of Tabernacles and them and during the feast of Tabernacles they will attend.
Again where we gathered this time, The hall is very small that cannot fit them properly. People are overcrowded during the services. So it’s good to help them with iron sheets to make a large one that can fit them properly. I’m sending you the picture of that Hall.
In Mozambique there is a conflict between the old chiefs and the new chiefs since the new government changed the system. So going to Mozambique is not easy for us. That’s the reason why we called the leaders from Mozambique to come and we talk in Malawi. They explained to us that the work in Mozambique in the church is perfect. And the number is still increases. They also thanked the church for the great assistance that the church has given them which made the church to grow well in Mozambique. Since CCOG is the first church to teach about Sabbath day in lower Mozambique. People are really turning from Sunday to join Sabbath day keeping.
So many people are coming.
Now our target is in Chikwawa district and Sanje to teach people there.
Otherwise the work in Malawi is growing up.
Evans
——-

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Malawi.
I’ve met Augustine from Burundi who is staying in the refugee camp in Malawi. This man is serious. He has been reading all the book’s of CCOG and he has learn alot. He is more better in truth. The only thing to be done for him is just baptism. I told pastor Molozwa to baptize him during the feast of Tabernacles. He is going to attend the feast with Molozwa. He knows many things in the church and in future he can help to teach brethren in malawi if he is still in Malawi.
I’m now prepare to go to the airport. I’ll travel back today in Kenya.
Evans
The fruits (cf. Matthew 7:18-20) are there in Malawi and Mozambique as we have continued to have growth in those nations. But we would like to do more as there is a door open as the hearts of many want to know more. As Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
Yet, after Evans Ochieng returned back from his trip to Malawi yesterday, an anti-COG site posted a lot of lies and false accusations about the trip and certain leaders. Let me add that despite the writer claiming police report evidence, neither Radson Molozowa nor Sosten Libungwa were arrested–so false “evidence” was referred to as it does not exist as no arrest occurred. Anyway, the CCOG has issues it is dealing with in Malawi, but while we are working on separating the chaff from the wheat (cf. Luke 3:17), to use an expression, we have over twice the number of congregants in Malawi and Kenya than the anti-CCOG poster asserted. Satan is the accuser of the brethren “day and night” (Revelation 12:10) and we see a lot of wrong and unfounded accusations.

Church of God News in Spanish

Some of you may not be aware, but at the COGwriter.com website, we regularly post Church of God News in the Spanish language. Our volunteer translator in Columbia sends translations, mainly of COGwriter.com news items, but lately, also the Letter to the Brethren.

Here are links to the last three:

Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world (Mandarin Chinese is first for native speakers–although more people actually speak English than any other language, but often as a second language).

We also have other Spanish materials online:

The Bible shows that biblical proclamations will ultimate results in massive numbers of followers from all over and in all languages:

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10)

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-11)

11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11)

Thus, it makes sense to get materials into whatever languages God will open up to us. And the Spanish language is one of them.

Gatkuoth Wiyual Honored for Academic Achievement 

Deacon Kong Deng sent the following from Ethiopia on Sunday:

This is sermony celebration day of our brother Gatkuoth Wiyual, who did lead the college {academically} and taken the {academic achievement} sup from Trinity college of Gambella branch in Ethiopia.
Gatkuoth Wiyual did not missed one day for the celebration of Sabbath Day for all his life in four (4) years, after he joined the group of Continuing Church of God.
Gatkuoth Wiyual is one from the members of those who came from south Sudan and he himself was the founder of continuing church of God in south Sudan.
Gatkuoth believed that, his God helped him  after he complete the class by the help of his father God Almighty.
Please, continue your praying for the peace of south Sudan and Ethiopia.
Best regards,
Koang deng

Let me add that myself, wife, and two older sons all completed our college/university decrees while also keeping the Sabbath–see also

Now, consider also that the Apostle Paul wrote:

26 … if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  (1 Corinthians 12:26-27)

Let us all rejoice with Gatkuoth Wiyual for his achievements, dedication, and faithfulness.

Plus, let us continue to pray for our brethren in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:

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 mobile 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. There are also messages in the Spanish language at the CDLIDDSermones  channel.

In case one or more of our video channels are unavailable, down, restricted, or ?, understand that we are on multiple platforms.

For sermons in English:

ContinuingCOG YouTube channel. Dr. Thiel has produced video sermons for this channel.

Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/

For sermonettes in English:

Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy.

Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/,

Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy

Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp.

Rumble https://rumble.com/c/biblenewsprophecy.

DailyMotion https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_e24c8ac0050c5e7445cd5573711869c6/videos

For animations in English:

CCOG Animations YouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/

Sermons and sermonettes in Spanish:

CDLIDDSermones channel.

African videos:

CCOGAfricaYouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/

Audio messages:

Bible News Prophecy radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos on one of our internet stations as well as our radio broadcasts in English. The BibleNewsProphecy.net website also has information about our international radio presence for Europe, Asia, and North America. That page is also available as a mobile app.

Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.

There is also additional information at the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

World News Items

The Israeli coalition government with Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be cracking. It is possible that this will lead to political pressure to one day resume animal sacrifices in Jerusalem (see Ultra-Orthodox party departure reducing Netanyahu’s government coalition, while the Temple Institute says the time for a ‘third temple’ is now–could there be a connection?). We know such sacrifices will be resumed as the Book of Daniel prophesied about them being stopped (e.g. Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). I have long speculated that political pressure will be involved getting the sacrifices started–and while we are not there yet, it is getting easier to see a scenario that will result in that.

Speaking of coalitions, a report out of Japan raised concerns about the military cooperation of China, Russia, and North Korea along with declining influence of the USA in that part of the world (see Woe! Pacific military balance shifting towards China, Russia, and North Korea–kings of the east?). The Bible tells of a coalition of “kings from the east” (Revelation 16:12), and while it is not fully here yet, steps along those lines are occurring.

Related to the USA, its President Donald Trump continues to rattle the European Union, Mexico, and others because of his tariff threats (see Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico–and they do not like that!). This is frustrating many claimed allies of the United States and will encourage other nations to trade more with themselves and less with the United States (see EU says US trade ‘almost impossible’ if 30% tariffs are implemented).

The Bible shows that Europe will rise up as the final major trading power in this age (cf. Revelation 18), and statements and actions by the United States are inadvertently helping set the stage for this.

Concluding Comments

God inspired Luke to write the following:

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
(Luke 9:57-62)

16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21:16-19)

Brethren, we need to dedicate our lives to serving God, which includes supporting His end-time work of reaching others while proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

We need to not be focused on things of the world, but to patiently endure.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer