Letter to the Brethren: May 1, 2025

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We hope you had a spiritually uplifting week.

I recorded another podcast yesterday, and that host wants me back again (it was the second podcast I have done with him). We are reaching out in various forms of media (see also Continuing Church of God Multimedia page).

On a somewhat negative note, we are still dealing with a variety of internet related issues and your prayers for our efforts is appreciated.

That said, with last Sabbath’s sermon, I have finished the sermon series related to a draft book titled Mysteries of God: What is God?

Here are links to all seven sermons in this series:

1. Mysteries: Is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient?
2. Where Did God Come From? What Does God Look Like?
3. How is God One? Creeds?
4. Jesus and Trinitarian Mythology
5. Mysteries: The Holy Spirit
6. God’s Names and Kingdom
7. Mysteries of the Gospel and Deification

The book is in draft form and is now in editing.

After editing, it is to be printed and sent to our supporters.

But, yes, the draft version is currently available online. Here is a link: Mysteries of God: What is God?

Malawi Baptisms and a Woman with Demons

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following report and photo:

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Malawi.

After a long trip for two days, we arrived Chikwawa where we went to meet the brethren who wanted to be baptized. On Tuesday I had a long journey from Kenya to Malawi Lilongwe. Then from Lilongwe to Blantyre. We reached in Blantyre very late at night. And we spent a night in Blantyre.

Today in the morning we started our movement to Chikwawa to meet some four congregations there. I met the brethren at one place. I took more time when teaching so many subjects concerning the repentance, the true church of God, why people must be baptized and the benefits of baptism. I talked about kingdom of God and God’s ordained feasts. After that I asked some questions about baptism. Why people need baptism and it’s importance.

At 1pm we started our journey to the river where baptism was conducted. I baptized 25 people. Since most of them were not understanding English, Molozowa went with me in the water to translate for them the question which I was asking during baptism. The baptism went very well and out of 25 most of them were women.

During the ceremony, I baptized one lady who had demons. We didn’t know this till I immersed her in water. When coming out she started saying foreign languages and start beating people and she wanted to run. It forced me to pray for just in the water till the demons left her and she became normal. After that she went out joined others who were already baptized. We show the power of GOD in the water. It was a miracle.

A young girl who is 18 years old insisted that she must be baptized. I tried to pleaded with her but she insisted. It forced me to baptized her according to her Faith.

After that we started our journey back to Migowi because tomorrow we are going to meet some brethren in Zomba. We arrived just right now and we are very tired. And need to rest.

Evans

Remember that Jesus said, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

I asked Evans Ochieng for more about the demon matter, and he sent the following:

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Malawi.

Yes I commanded demons to leave and they left the lady and go. But this is not my first time to command demons to leave. When demons caught my daughter in school where they were learning in Kadika secondary school. I found when pastor of SDA was praying for them but demons didn’t go. And I reached and commanded them to leave, they went and the daughter remained safe. The other day when we went to preach in certain home I and Richard Opiyo from Kobwai. We found a man who was a witchcraft and was using demons to do miracles. When we reached in that home, that man ran away and told his brother that he can’t come where we are because the demons he was having are afraid of us because we are holy Men. And so many. That’s the reason why I noticed very first demons in her. Its good that they left her and the lady remained safe. …

Evans

Regarding demons, notice what the seventy that Jesus sent out to preach reported back:

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:17)

Yes, the demons are subject to the name/authority of Jesus.

Here is information on a related video which is the recommended sermonette for this Sabbath:

14:40

CCOG, the gospel, baptizing, and demons

In the Gospel in Mark 16:15-17, Jesus gave a commission and a prophecy: 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; …

Is the the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) doing what Jesus said in Mark 16:15-17?

If so, how?

Are demons alive and well?

Are any in the Continuing Church of God casting out demons today?

Demons are an intriguing and frightening topic. Both the Old and New Testaments give countless examples of the children of God fighting against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. In the modern world, demons are dismissed as more of a fantasy than a reality. Yet, demons do exist.

Some in the Continuing Church of God are claiming victory over demons through Jesus Christ. However, there are still others that actually create coloring books of demons made especially for little children. Little children that may be highly susceptible to demonic influences. This is a shameful act at best.

Dr. Thiel tells of ways the Continuing Church of God is fulfilling the commissions that Jesus gave. He also quotes scriptures related to demons and even casting them out in this video.

Here is a link to our video: CCOG, the gospel, baptizing, and demons.

Mozambique

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following photo and report related to Mozambique:

Zomba, Kachingwe, Xherusa, Njenjete, Muriko and Balaka

Pastor Dr Bob,

Yesterday I was full of work. The last group in Balaka I met at night. I finished very late that I couldn’t write the report. I was very tired. Again the road to Balaka was very rough.  I was happy to meet Matiya with a big group who welcomed me highly. I was very Happy to hear Matiya with full repentance and back to church fully. Even though he was … by the Hope of Israel church of God and they denied to provide him with iron sheets for roofing. So they just have thatched roof. The roof is not good. But brethren are  so many about 75. During rainy season they are getting it rough. Hope it’s good to help them with iron sheets and the hall in Zomba also needs iron sheets and Cheleka needs chairs.

I was happy to meet very many people in Zomba where I met 198 brethren. Matiya was very happy if we welcome him back in the church fully.

The work in Mozambique is highly increasing. We have more than 2000 members. I’m Happy to meet very hard working brethren in Mozambique like Rabson and Jackson.

So many people needed baptism in Balaka where Matiya is heading but we couldn’t rush in baptism. I told Molozwa to go teaching them till they become mature for baptism.

I’ll go back later to baptize them after a long and thorough teaching.

The trip was full of work that I had no time in Malawi and Mozambique to rest.

Evans

Glad the visit went well in Mozambique. Let me add that I personally met Matiya when I was last in Kenya (that was also when I met Radson Mulozowa).

Growth in Kenya

Pastor David Cheruiyot sent the following from Kenya

Dear Dr. Bob,

I am glad to take this granted opportunity to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ who is soon coming king to rule the world. “Praise His name”.

The CCoG in kenya is going on well, many converts from different denominations especially Sunday keepers are joining continuing church of God and Sabbath keepers who are thirsty on truth mainly on God feasts days  and God church history.

It was last Sabbath 19^th April 2025 when we welcomed pastor Soi from Rongai Nakuru who have joined us and other brethren from his church and I hope I will visit them and open a church service at Rongai. I pray God when Evangelist Evans Ochieng arrived from Malawi we will arrange the visit to Rongai as soon as possible.

I will not forget to inform you about the language of Kalenjin in rift valley and due to high cost of living I sincerely request you to help us … to buy a bible for kalenjin language and maasai language. Again we are running short of books of continuing church of God, where the church today etc. if possible kindly try your level best to send us directly to pastor Sowek and I. Thank you and be blessed.

 

Yours best regards,

Pastor David Cheruiyot.

It is great that we are having growth in Kenya. We are in the process of getting more literature to Pastor Cheruiyot as well as looking into assisting with native language Bibles.

Haiti

Jeremy Nicolas sent the following from Haiti:

Good afternoon Dr Thiel, I think you are doing fine and had a great spring Holydays. For us here everything is fine aswell, we had a powerful springHolydays. Only the situation is become more difficult every day, gangs are tried two times to take our region area. Our brothers and sisters are really recognized some difficult moment of the bad situation here. All activities paralyzed here in our region here. No security there. All polices give up they gone and they scare gangs aswell. Only God FATHER can decide something for us in that situation.

Moise sent us the package we’re waiting for it. It will be arrive here soon.

Thank you

May God be with you and bless the work continually.

Please remember Haiti in your prayers. The situation has long been bad in that nation and in various ways it is worsening.

Mailing Items, Anointed Cloth Requests, and Voice Messages

As a reminder, if you send an email and want something mailed to you or leave us a telephone message and want to be called back, please include your mailing address if you want something mailed (literature, anointed cloths, etc.) or your telephone number clearly (if you wish to be called back), even if you think we have it. We do not always have access to our computer files at all times, so even if you think we have your information, we may not have access to it.

While most of you have been doing this since we first asked, some seem to have forgotten. Anyway, including contact information helps us contact you better.

Second Passover?

May 11th, after sunset, is the 14th day of Iyyar on the Hebrew calendar. Those who were unable to keep the Passover on the 14th of Nisan last month are authorized by scripture to keep the Passover then.

This is based upon the following passages of scripture:

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. 3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.” 4 So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. 5 And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.

6 Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. 7 And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the children of Israel?”

8 And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”

9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Lord’s Passover. 11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of the Lord at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin. (Numbers 9:1-13)

If you are baptized and were unable to keep the Passover on the 14th of Nisan, like is taught in Leviticus 23, you can keep it after sunset May 11th this year. For specific details as to how, please check out the article Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Here is a link to an online service:

Here is a link: Continuing Church of God Passover Service.

Here is a Spanish language related item for Passover:

English title:  Passover service

Spanish title:  Servicio de la Pascua

Spanish youtube link:  https://youtu.be/hG8mUH_UGNQ

Here is a link to the service in the Spanish language: Servicio de la Pascua.

Suggested Sabbath Service

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

• 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.
• The suggested sermonette is titled: CCOG, the gospel, baptizing, and demons. Other sermonettes are available at our Prophecy channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
• Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
• The suggested sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be: Mysteries of the Gospel and Deification. Other sermons are also available at the COGTube channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
• Final hymn.
• Closing prayer.