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Dear Members and Friends,

Today we live in a world that is subject to constant change. What was considered normal twenty years ago is very different from what is considered normal today. And the media is one very powerful method used to accept these changes as a normal part of life.

 Here in Australia, we have just experienced the WorldPride event being held in Sydney, including the Mardi Gras parade. They have been constantly on the news bulletins with many interviews of the participants being shown during prime TV viewing time. The object of the WorldPride event was for it to be thought of as an alternative but fully acceptable way of life. In fact, those who do not accept it are vigorously criticized.

The question for Christians is, how do we know what is right and what is true, and also importantly, what does God think of the goings-on we see all around us?

Looking at what is true, Truth is a subject that is mentioned over four hundred and fifty times in the Bible, in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and its importance is revealed to us.

When Moses was up on the mountain for the second time, the LORD proclaimed His name and this name included “abounding in goodness and truth” (see Exodus 34:6). So God abounds in Truth; it is a part of His character.

There are so many statements referring Truth to God; especially in the Psalms. “All His work is done in truth” (see Psalm 33:4). His Truth is so great, we read, “For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds” (see Psalm 57:10) Also, “His truth endures to all generations” (see Psalms 100:5). Psalm 119:142 reveals that God’s Law is Truth, and Psalm 119:151 states that “…all Your commandments are truth.”

One of the statements made by Jesus Christ about Truth is in John 14:6 in response to a question by Thomas. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” We see that Jesus said “the truth”, not just truth. This is stated in all versions including the original Greek, showing us that Jesus defines what is Truth. He is the Truth and all that He does and says is Truth.

Getting back to the introduction, how do we know whether the changes in modern society are right or wrong? How do we know what God thinks of them? To know this, we need to compare them with the works of God which are done in Truth; the Law of God which is Truth; and the Commandments of God which are also Truth.

But we need to have more than just knowledge of the Truth; we must have a love for it, to hold onto it and never let it go. There is a warning in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 about just knowing the Truth, but not loving it. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason,” not having the love of the Truth, “God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” In this case, love is translated from the Greek word agape which is the love that God gives us through His Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5).

This shows us how important it is to love the Truth so that when deception comes as it certainly will and is even currently present, whether moral as in the world, or religious deception, we will compare that deception with the Truth of God and be able to reject that deception. With only a knowledge of the Truth but not the love of it, it is easy to let go of it and go along with the world or the coming false religious leader and perish as a consequence.

When something is loved, it is held onto strongly. The more we love Truth, the more strongly we will hold onto it.

Interestingly, the very first item of the armor of God needed to fight against Satan and his demons is the girdle of Truth (see Ephesians 6:14). Not only that, but the apostle Paul instructed the Philippians to meditate on certain positive things, the first of these being whatever things are true (see Philippians 4:8).

Even the first warning Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives was not to be deceived especially by false christs and false prophets. In other words, hold onto the Truth so we recognize what things are deceptive and reject them.

We can also read what gave the last surviving apostle, John, his greatest joy. 3 John 4 states: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” His children were those he had taught God’s Way first-hand or through the ministry that he had raised.

While attending a previous congregation, many people outwardly had the Truth. They kept the Sabbath and the Holy Days, they abstained from unclean meats and they fully appeared to be a part of the congregation. They may have done this for decades. But when false teachings were introduced, many eagerly accepted those wrong teachings and straight away, went out to eat unclean meats, and stopped tithing, etc. They did not love the Truth and ultimately fell away from the Church.

Christ gave an admonition to His disciples in John 8:32: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” That is, free from deception and ultimately free from the second death and to be in God’s Kingdom forever; provided, we love and live by the Truth—God’s Truth.

Remember what Christ said in His prayer in John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is truth.” God’s Word, the Bible, is where we find the Truth so we can avoid the deception this world and Satan use to tempt and destroy us.

With much love and concern,

Your brother in Christ’s Service, 

Paul Niehoff (Australia)

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Dear Brethren,

Every day, we have to make judgments about whom and what to believe. Our news, governments, media, and general interactions with others have elements of fact and falsity mixed together, putting a veil over the actual truth. It is not a new problem for anyone, of course. Deception has been rampant in various shapes and forms for mankind since the time that Satan deceived Eve. The most significant difference for us is that our information sources are much more diverse. Even though our modern advancements in sharing information present different challenges, we can learn a lot from the biblical record of Eve’s deception. To be more specific, we can learn from Adam and Eve’s mistake in making a bad choice about whom to obey and what to believe, and apply that lesson in our lives today.

In their situation, both of them might have believed what they were doing was good. Satan’s manipulation influenced the judgment of Eve. He blatantly lied to her, leading her to believe that it was a good thing to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Her choice in believing Satan demonstrates a form of deception that is very direct and intentional. His motive was to tell her a lie and cause her to disobey the commandment from God. Adam’s situation is slightly different. The Bible only makes a brief comment about their interaction, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). At this point, Eve did not know that she had been deceived, so it is unlikely that she intentionally deceived Adam like Satan deceived her. Yet, Adam was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14); still, he made a poor judgment in choosing whom to obey. Eve might have sincerely believed her offer to Adam was generous and safe, but Adam was too weak to resist Eve. Instead, he followed Eve’s bad example, although he knew better.

When we consume information, it can be very hard to know whether to believe it or not because it might come from a source that tells us what we want to hear. The information that appeals to our carnal nature will be the most tempting to believe. For example, if we hear good things about ourselves that are consistent with how we see ourselves, we will tend to believe them even if those things might not be true. If we hear news reports that appeal to our worldview, we will be more apt to believe them. The contrary is also true. We will resist believing things that are inconsistent with our view of ourselves and the world we live in. The problem is that we might be victims of passive manipulation like Adam was. Well-meaning sincere people will feed us information, which might not be true, leading us to fall into a trap of believing a lie.

We have an endless stream of information to consume, which invariably mixes the Truth and the lie. Knowing that we are doomed to make eventual mistakes in our fallible, human judgment about what to believe, what can we do about it? To effectively fight against deception, we have to acknowledge who the enemy is. It is too easy to blame the sources of information that we can see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears. Politicians, biased media sources, corporations, and individuals might be the ones sending messages to us with the intention of influencing our beliefs. But they are not, or might not be, inherently the enemy of Truth. Satan is. They are merely pawns in the war for our allegiance. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, to protect ourselves from being deceived we have to begin by forfeiting the attempt to learn the Truth with worldly methods. Since our battle is spiritual, we have to use spiritual weapons.

We live in a world that is corrupt, and there is nothing we can do to fix it. When Jesus prayed to God in the garden at Gethsemane, He expressed the tenuous situation in which He left His disciples, and us by extension (compare John 17:14-15). He didn’t pray to remove us from the spiritual dangers of the world, but rather, to protect us from the deceptive ways of Satan – the ruler of this world (compare Ephesians 6:12, Revelation 12:9). Through Satan’s influence, the world that we live in threatens to eliminate us and prevent us from receiving the spiritual gift God promises us. If we allow ourselves to be pulled away from our spiritual focus and choose instead to subscribe to the ideologies that appeal to our carnal nature, we will inevitably fall away from God.

To fight against deception in this world on its own terms is futile. We cannot win by playing the game for our eternal lives by the rules set by the world. The source of deception is Satan, whose sole purpose is to influence us to turn away from God. When we fight with worldly means, we will fall victim to Satan’s deception. Aligning ourselves with political parties and adopting the ideas of public figures who espouse their own morality by the reasoning of man will augur us deeper into the world. Even if these things sound good and right to us, we must beware. Our instruction is to separate ourselves from the systems of the world (compare Revelation 18:4). We have a better, even perfect, set of spiritual rules by which we lead our lives.

If we want to succeed in our fight against the deception of Satan in this world, living by the perfect commandments of God that lead us to the Truth, we must remain accountable individually. We have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (compare Philippians 2:12). We do this by developing and nurturing our sincere LOVE for the Truth. If we do not have that love, we are doomed to be led away to believe the unrighteous lie that seems to be pleasant (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). With our love for the Truth and desire to live by it, we equip ourselves with our best defense against the wiles of Satan. When we love the Truth, we draw near to God who is the source of it. In doing this, Satan loses his ability to pull us away and retreats (compare James 4:7-8). Through Satan’s influence, the world will broadcast all kinds of information designed to distract us from what really matters. But when we keep our minds set on spiritual things, being directed by God, we are not led astray.

We should consider ourselves to be very, very fortunate if God has opened our minds to understand the Truth. By that Truth, we are set apart from the rest of the world for the purpose of salvation (compare John 17:16-19). By that Truth, we learn how to live in a superior way. “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5). The only way that we can win the battle against the deception of the world is by looking to God for the Truth. Man will attempt to compel us to believe that there is a better way to follow, devised by him. But if that way leads us away from God in any way, we cannot trust it. The measure of Truth is not found by the methods of man, but in adherence with God’s commandments.

The Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates have a mission to faithfully and fully uphold the Truth of God. We are accountable to you as brethren, to Jesus Christ as our High Priest, and to God the Father, the Almighty. If we were to take this assignment lightly, we would experience dire consequences. For that reason, we are committed to doing our very best so that you are well-equipped to understand the Truth and to live by it. Your support through prayer, words of encouragement, tithes, and offerings keep this Work going. For whatever you may have offered this Church as a personal sacrifice—great or small—we thank you. The Work of upholding the Truth requires the kind of team effort where we all contribute with the means we are blessed with. As we stand together against the ways of this world, we can take solace that we have a source of Truth that we can trust, and that we have a future that will be free of deception.

In Christ’s Service,

Eric Rank

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

We find constant reminders that as true Christians, the very elect of God, we are living by different standards than other people in the world.

Having just experienced a deluge of “merry Christmas” and “happy New Year” greetings, along with the endless commercialism of these recent holidays, we will soon have to contend with even more. Valentine’s Day and Easter will dominate the societies in which we live, and obedience to the God of the Bible will not even be considered!

As mature Christians, we know the Truth, that all of these false practices are inspired by Satan. We know that God forbids our participating in such worldly traditions, and we are warned, that even among us, there will be those who reject God’s Truth in this regard—even turning back to embrace what they had formerly proven to be false worship:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

How can this happen?

It is because Satan is able to devour people through his deceitful doctrines, and it is because those whom God has called do not resist Satan. Resisting Satan is built on the foundation of God’s Truth, and the key for us is to understand and prove the true doctrines of God; furthermore, we must “‘live… by every word of God’” (Matthew 4:4). This is how Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).

Like Jesus, we also live in and face the world of the ungodly. We must test the actions of society by this godly standard: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

We will be persecuted when we don’t go along with those who live in rebellion against God, as we have been warned, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). But God tells us this:

“‘Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults’” (Isaiah 51:7).

The doctrines of the true Church of God are simply incompatible with those who practice lawlessness. It is becoming more difficult to openly preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Our opportunities on social media outlets are being throttled and censored. Brethren—especially in Europe—now face extreme penalties for taking their children out of school to observe God’s commanded Holy Days.

An all-powerful Satan-inspired religion is beginning to emerge in Europe, and it will dominate the world (Revelation 13:8). It will seek to enforce absolute worship from everyone.

We have been called out of this world to follow Jesus Christ and to keep the commandments of God. Great persecution will come upon the Church of God, and some will be more prepared than others, as Revelation 12:13-17, reveals. We also find that various elements of the scattered Church of God will not be prepared for what is coming, as the parable of the Ten Virgins relates in Matthew 25:1-13.

However, there is something we need to be doing right now if we truly believe the warnings from God:

“‘Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man’” (Luke 21:36).

Brethren, let none of us ever compromise with the true doctrines of God or ever turn our backs on His calling. Rather, let us keep the faith and grow stronger and stronger as we seek to please God!

In Christ’s Service,

Dave Harris

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Dear Friends and Co-Workers, 

As I think about this past year while we get ready to move into 2023, I wonder what we are moving towards. During this year, many of us have had significant trials and tests. We have faced them, overcome them, or are currently walking through that “valley of the shadow of death”

Our member letters are meant to be filled with encouragement. They are also written from a very personal point of view. As I am writing this letter, I am thinking about all the things that I have gone through this year and just how it has affected my growth, and then I also see that I need to become more diligent in certain regards or shore up other aspects. I think, we each can relate to the same way of thinking. But this requires us to do some deep introspection. 

Recently, we have been hearing many messages based on the power of God. I personally have found great strength in these messages. As true Christians, we are the “weak of the world”. Our job is so enormous and intense that we must realize that without God leading and directing us, our efforts would be useless. We are so weak that at times it can feel like we are being swallowed up by the things we are facing—be it health problems, family issues, or money concerns, just to name a few. 

The apostle Paul seems to capture this feeling perfectly in many of his letters to the churches. The commission and the opportunities to do the Work were important then—and they are important now. The persecutions and all the trials were meant to help the brethren to grow and to be able to become stronger—especially in faith and reliance on God.

In Philippians 2:13 (from the Amplified Bible), Paul iterates: “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.” 

We should think about that deeply. The power of God is working in and with each of us. We are responsible for cultivating the use of this power in our lives. We are to be doing everything we can to grow accordingly. When we are not that diligent in this, then that may be the time when God creates opportunities and situations in our lives (like He did in the case of Job) where we have to walk that walk of faith! 

The 8th chapter of the letter to the Romans lays out in detail for us how we can accomplish using the power of God. When we read this chapter, we should be encouraged to try all the harder. This quote from verse 28 is something I remind myself of over and over: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.“ 

No matter what we face in this life, if we look at trials properly, we will begin to understand that they are for us! They are opportunities for us to look at our challenges that we face with a different perspective

It really depends on the attitude we choose to take! We can choose the mindset of a victim—believing that we are the poor innocent ones who have to deal with the undeserved problems that we face. We can blame circumstances, other people, Satan or any number of things. But this is not what God tells us! He tells us that everything that we face is meant to help us to grow, overcome or to change our mindsets! He is attempting to teach us to lean on Him more and more! 

In this world, there is no end of advice for self-mastery and how to change. Many times, the advice given is fruitless. The Truth is: It is we who must be willing to change. Change is painful! But we are to choose the pain we go through—the pain of regret or the pain of a trial that helps us to grow. There are many quotes on self-mastery, but one of my favorites is a Henry Ford quote: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.”

Romans 12:1-2 tells us about the real change which we must seek: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (your duty to conduct yourself as a Christian). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Whether we think that this life is meant for us (which it truly is) or whether we think that it’s just a pain to get through dictates for us how we behave. We must not discount the power and the strength that we can gain from God in being able to persevere! God tells the church members in the Book of Revelation that they must hold on to their crown! We who are of the Philadelphian remnant must hold on to the Truth. We cannot make the mistake of believing that this will not be tremendously difficult! We will be pressured on all sides—the wearing down of the saints is happening now! 

We must stay strong in our faith, brethren! We must stay close to God! We must do everything in our power to consistently seek after God in all things and at all times! God stands mighty and fights for those of us whom He considers to be His saints! 

With much love and Christian care, 

Kalon Mitchell

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Dear Members and Friends,

We returned from the observance of this year’s Feast of Tabernacles to look forward to the next spring festival season—beginning with Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Who can tell how many more annual Holy Days we will still be able to celebrate before Jesus Christ returns? A contract for accommodations for next year’s Feast of Tabernacles in Germany has been signed, and we are looking into the possibility of observing the Feast here in the USA in Colorado. Scattered members and friends, including from Canada, the USA, and Australia were listening in to our live services as well.

In Germany, we had nine baptisms, and with a baptism on the Feast of Trumpets, we actually had ten. Also, this was the tenth year that we kept the Feast in Germany as the Kirche des Ewigen Gottes. We also had an ordination to the office of deacon, with more ordinations to follow in time. We also had the highest number in attendance ever in Germany. In comparison, attendance in the USA was down, due in large part to sicknesses and the inability, because of frailties, to attend the Feast site in person. Guests did not show up because our Feast site was not “convenient” enough for them (What a difference in attitude and zeal when considering the dedication of those guests from great distances who attended in Germany). Numerical growth of membership and attendance in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia is not high at this point, but this might change in the future.

For several months, we have been conducting an advertisement campaign over the Internet, offering our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People,” and the responses have been outstanding—so much so that we ran out of stock and had to reprint the booklet twice so far. We are contemplating advertising our newest booklet as well (“God Is…Our Destiny”). We are also commencing a similar advertisement campaign in the German-speaking areas, offering our free booklet, “Die Zehn Gebote” (“The Ten Commandments”).

The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers and co-workers are few. But this must not deter us from doing the Work of God. We pray that the hundreds and hundreds of people who recently received our booklets will respond by studying their Bibles and making necessary changes in their lives which could lead to baptism.

Sometimes we might think our labor is unproductive. We might echo what we read in Isaiah 49:4: “Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain…’” But let’s not overlook the remainder of the verse: “… Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.”

And so we know that our labor is NOT in vain (see 1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 14:13), and God will reward each and every one of us for our works (1 Corinthians 3:8). God has given us an open door enabling us to preach the gospel, even though we have only “a little strength” (Revelation 3:8). Sometimes, we might not always see clearly as to how it will work out, but this is alright. God understands it, and He tells us in Mark 4:26-29:

“And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible makes this comment:

“… it is a mystery in nature, how the seed under the clods, where it dies before it is quickened, should spring and grow up, and bring forth fruit; and so it is… how the word of God first operates on a sinner’s heart, and becomes the ingrafted word there; the time when, and much less the manner how [it] is implanted in the heart, are not known to a soul itself, and still less to the ministers of the word, who sometimes never know any thing of it; and when they do, not till some time after: this work is done secretly, and powerfully… without their knowledge, though by them as instruments; so that though the sowing and planting are theirs, all the increase is God’s: this may encourage attendance on the ministry of the word, and teach us to ascribe the work… entirely to the power and grace of God.”

How true this is. We spread the Word through our literature and broadcasts, but we do not know, for the most part, who is being reached, and Christ works with those whom He wants to finally add to His Body… and that without our knowledge. While we may plant and water, it is GOD who gives the increase (compare 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Another powerful saying by God in this context can be found in Isaiah 55:10-11 where we read:

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

God’s Word will not be proclaimed in vain; it will not return void, empty or without fruit.

Barnes Notes on the Bible says:

“…the truth which God reveals is as much adapted to produce an effect on the hard and sterile hearts of men as the rain is on the earth… The gospel is no more preached in vain than the rain falls in vain. And though that often falls on barren rocks, or on arid sands; on extended plains where no vegetation is produced, or in the wilderness ‘where no man is,’ and seems to our eyes in vain, yet it is not so… It is addressed to the proud, the sensual, the avaricious, and the unbelieving, and seems to be spoken in vain, and to return void unto God. But it is not so… It leaves people without excuse… Or when long presented – apparently long in vain – it ultimately becomes successful, and sinners are at last brought to abandon their sins, and to turn unto God.

“It is indeed often rejected and despised. It falls on the ears of people apparently as the rain falls on the hard rock, and there are, so to speak, large fields where the gospel is preached as barren and unfruitful of any spiritual good as the extended desert is of vegetation, and the gospel seems to be preached to almost entire communities with as little effect as is produced when the rains fall on the deserts of Arabia, or of Africa. But there will be better and happier times. Though the gospel may not now produce all the good effects which we may desire, yet it will be ultimately successful… and the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge and the love of God.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary adds:

“Sacred truth produces a spiritual change in the mind of men, which neither rain nor snow can make on the earth. It shall not return to the Lord without producing important effects. If we take a special view of the church, we shall find what great things God has done, and will do for it… Delivered from the wrath to come, the converted sinner finds peace in his conscience… The hope of helping in such a work should urge us to spread the gospel…”

And so, we must continue preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness which is a prerequisite for Christ’s coming. In time, the effectiveness of our labor for God and mankind will become manifest. In time, some, seeing our good works of spreading God’s Word, will respond by glorifying God and changing their way of life. It may take some time, headache, frustration, disillusionment and disappointment, but in the end, it will become obvious how important our labor has been. So let us continue to do with all our might what God has commissioned us to do. And our reward WILL BE great in heaven (compare Luke 6:23; Revelation 22:12).

With Christian love, and in Christ’s Service,

Norbert Link

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

This month, we will begin to observe the Fall Holy Days. On September 26th, the Feast of Trumpets will be observed.

All of God’s commanded Holy Days portray significant parts in His great master plan for the salvation of mankind. Yet, the vast majority of people have not even the vaguest idea of their meaning, and only the precious few understand their significance. Rather, under the blinding deception of Satan’s world rule (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4), so called “holidays” such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween have displaced the true sacred assemblies God has commanded—including Sunday worship in place of Sabbath observance. In fact, God utterly rejects worship associated with these false ceremonies and rituals! (Isaiah 1:12-15; Amos 5:21-23).

Do you remember the challenges faced when you first began to observe the weekly Sabbath and then the annual Holy Days? Do you also remember the thrill of learning the true meaning of why God has instituted His holy convocations?

Due to Israel’s disobedience in former times, the Holy Days of God fell by the wayside, and only when a righteous king arose in Judah were these foundational observances re-established. When they were, God greatly blessed the people for their obedience.

During the reign of Hezekiah, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were once again observed. Note God’s response: “Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 30:12). Josiah also restored observance of some of the Holy Days:

“And the children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 35:17-18).

Following their return from Babylonian captivity, the Jews kept the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ezra 6:19-22) and some of the Fall Holy Days (Nehemiah 8). With the completion of the second Temple, Holy Day observances eventually became firmly established among the Jews, even though they added quite a few rituals not commanded in Scripture—leading up to the time of Jesus.

The New Testament records events in which Jesus observed the annual Holy Days, and this often was centered in Jerusalem. John 7:37-38 specifically mentions the last day of the Feast, “the eighth day” (Leviticus 23:36), which is a separate Feast Day from the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles, and the theme of what Jesus proclaimed at that time.

Jesus also observed the Sabbath day, “as His custom was” (Luke 4:16). Likewise, the Church of God did not suddenly abandon either God’s commanded holy convocations or the example of Jesus in this regard, even though at times,  the Church had apparently forgotten the meaning of some of the annual Holy Days and had neglected to observe them. While the Church has never ceased to exist since its founding, historical records offer very little detailed information about how one generation after another actually served God. We do get a sense, however, of the various eras of the Church in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3.

Not until God called Herbert Armstrong in the early part of the past century did all of the Holy Days become widely observed again by members of the Church. That observance grew to such an extent that Feast sites were established in many nations.

Today, the former “singleness of heart” which is so absolutely needed to truly please God—and “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) remains a challenge for all of those called by God.

Still, we in the Church of the Eternal God and our international affiliates strive to faithfully and zealously KEEP the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days. By doing so, we participate in the Work of God given to us at this time. We also grow in knowledge about the future rule of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God and of our part in it!

Always remember—God blesses us for our obedience to Him, and we can look forward to the approaching Holy Days in anticipation of God’s help and inspiration.

Let’s each thankfully consider the tremendous blessing of our being able to keep the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day (as well as the other annual Holy Days and the weekly Sabbath) with knowledge of their meaning—all part of the magnificent plan of God and the promise of our part in His glorious Kingdom!

You might want to review our booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” and if you do not have a copy, we would be happy to send you one free of charge.

In Christ’s Service,

Dave Harris

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Dear Members and Coworkers,

Georges Seurat is known for the pointillist technique of painting that he used to create very large paintings. His most famous and recognizable painting, “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, depicts several people lounging on the lawn on a hillside by the water. You would probably recognize it if you saw it. In my early twenties, I had the opportunity to see this painting in person, and only then was I able to appreciate the grandeur. Seurat’s technique requires viewing the painting from a distance to see the full scene. However, when viewing the painting up close, I was amazed to see how the image was composed exclusively of several dots of color to create the impression of an image. I remember the surprise of seeing how the selection of unexpected colors was used to create the illusion of other colors when combined. The green lawn consisted of yellow and blue, but also red and purple, among other colors. To create such a work of art, Seurat needed to focus very closely on the work he performed at a micro-scale, giving attention to the selection of color, one dot at a time.

When Seurat first presented his masterpiece to audiences, people didn’t appreciate the magnitude of the work. Since it was initially displayed in a smaller space, observers considered it to be messy and blurry. The dots of color didn’t look like shapes when viewed in medium range. Only when standing from afar could they view the entire image and see the shapes and contours come into view. After placing the work of art in a much larger venue for viewing, his innovative painting was finally appreciated and became one of the most famous to be produced in the 19th century.

This serves as a useful example for us when considering our lives in the context of our Christian development in the Church of God. In living our lives to develop our Christian character, our actions on a day-to-day basis occur at the micro-scale. Just as Seurat carefully placed one dot on the canvas at a time, we make decisions each moment to direct our actions. Each of these actions works together to construct the greater composition of our lives. Some decisions are good, some decisions might not be so good. But they all work together to make us who we are.

This same principle applies when we bring others into view as well. Other people in our life add more figurative dots onto the canvas of our lives. And so on, as we add more elements to our lives, more and more dots appear. Up close, where we have the ability to see and control the decisions and actions we take, everything is comprehensible. We can see where we’ve done well or made mistakes. We can see the individual building blocks in our life for what they are.

But sometimes, as we back up, trying to evaluate the bigger picture, things begin to look messy or even confusing. We no longer see the individual actions and decisions, but we can’t see the big picture either. This is where we might begin to see an interaction with someone that offends us because something is blown out of proportion. Perhaps a work situation becomes frustrating because politics or mismanagement corrupt the working environment. We may even feel dismayed with the state of the Church of God, having diminished from its once great stature. Even though we may see everything accurately from this perspective, we might not understand how it fits together.

We have to remember that God is the artist who paints the big picture. He has a purpose for us that we cannot completely comprehend, because we cannot fully see from His vantage point. Our way of understanding the details of our lives, the work of the Church, and the events in the world is simply limited. “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). God alone is the One who understands how all the elements in our lives and the world we live in fit together in His master plan.

When we see a seemingly messy view of things, small or great, we must not become discouraged and give place for sin to fester. The problems we see and the frustrations we experience can easily prevent us from thinking with the mind of God to put things into perspective. Even if we don’t fully understand it, the messiness we might experience serves a purpose! We still have to fully experience the difficulties, but in the big picture, these are opportunities for us to grow stronger in our spiritual development. Recall how David had to go through the valley of the shadow of death – not around it, or in the other direction (compare Psalm 23). Likewise, God tests us through our sometimes-messy situations. We go through them so we can grow.

It can be easy to read Romans 8:28 without taking it to heart: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God has a distinct purpose for each one of us, which He fulfills by curating our circumstances. When we might get into a conflict, fall victim to pressure, get into a situation of confrontation, find contention in something that we don’t agree with, or any myriad other difficulties, God presents us a choice in how to respond. We can allow ourselves to get poisoned by the apparent problems, or we can handle our situations with grace, knowing that God gives us the experience to grow from.

And this is where faith enters the picture. We know that God has a plan, and we must have faith in it. If we understand that He has a purpose for us, we will only succeed by living in earnest belief in that fact. The point of control in life that we have is with each moment, each decision, and each action. One by one. Just as a pointillist painting comes together one dot at a time, our spiritual development takes place one choice at a time, stepping out in faith.

Our perspective makes a difference. We can choose to see through a lens of negativity, picking out the problems and focusing on them. Or, we can choose to see through the eyes of God, focusing on the positive attributes presented to us. Clearly, the choice that is most constructive and useful in overcoming the messiness of life involves heeding the admonition from God. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

Additionally, we are very pleased to enclose for our readers in the USA a copy of our new free booklet, “God Is… Our Destiny.” For our readers in other countries, the booklet will be mailed separately.

In Christ’s Service,

Eric Rank

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

My wife and I had the privilege of visiting the brethren in the San Diego area for the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread this year and to participate in person at the annual Church conference. It was a very pleasant trip and, not having visited the area since 2019 due to the Covid 19 restrictions, it reminded us of the great country that the USA has been, but now seems to be in terminal decline. Much of the same could also be said about the UK and other English-speaking nations, but it seems that every nation has been affected by the pandemic and other events around the world.

We were also privileged to be able to travel to the far-east at the end of last year to see family and, again, saw another nation troubled by the pandemic but with no social security or pension arrangements which are enjoyed by many nations in the west. They are not alone in not having a safety net when tragedy happens, but they get on with it as best they can. We can have expectations that the government will come to our rescue when disaster strikes while many other countries may appear not to have made any such provisions should crises or calamities arise in their nation. The differences are stark and show how the English-speaking nations have been blessed more than we deserve; particularly, when we see what is happening in our different countries.

But it now seems very clear for those who have eyes to see that such blessings have been, or are being, withdrawn as problems escalate. The UK is currently almost at war with itself with strikes and threatened strikes. Strikes threatened and those already up and running include huge train disruptions up and down the land which could go on for months as the unions dig their heels in; continual daily cancelled flights with chaos at airports with huge baggage backlogs and a threatened British Airways strike. Claims for improvement of work conditions/pay to other workers in different sectors are being dismissed which could lead to further nationwide chaos. Others joining the list threatening strike action are workers at Rolls Royce, barristers [lawyers], teachers, doctors, binmen [garbagemen], postmen and others who have not yet made their intentions clear but who could be added to the list of those whose actions cause so many problems for their fellow citizens. This has all been brought about because of ever-spiralling costs where inflation is expected to peak at 11% later in the year, huge increases in petrol (gas) prices which have virtually doubled in the last 2-3 years, utilities (gas and electricity) costs have gone through the roof with more large increases to come in a few months’ time. The Russian war on Ukraine has limited wheat supplies and there are distribution shortfalls around the world.

On top of that, we read that Covid chaos could cause even MORE misery for Britain as experts warn the virus’s resurgence could add to all the problems that we have.

I have highlighted these matters because I live in the UK and see, close to hand, the ongoing and increasing troubles. Trades unions expect high pay increases which the country can’t afford and a magic money tree is just not available. I’m sure that there are pretty much the same insoluble problems in North America, Australia, New Zealand and other English-speaking nations. Other nations struggle as well and some of these have nuclear and biological weapons which is a worry for many.

Space does not permit any further reporting on these problems which are being replicated around the world. But what we see happening today is a very large self-destruct button because God is not only left out of the picture but ridiculous and idiotic practices are discussed and implemented by a godless society. 

The saying “it’s the economy, stupid” was a phrase coined by political strategist James Carville for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992 because it was thought that the one thing voters care most about is the health of the country’s economy. That is man’s way but God cares for HOW we live our life.

There are many areas of ungodliness that have now become commonplace that the Almighty will only allow to go on for so long. Let us briefly review some of these areas that are important to God about the way we live our lives and many don’t seem to realise that our behaviour has a very great bearing on how a country will succeed, or fail. The blessings and cursings in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 show quite clearly that keeping the Commandments of God will reap great rewards and walking contrary to His ways will bring retribution. It seems today that no world leader takes any notice of this cause and effect principle.

Let’s put to one side the economy and look at the behaviour that God sees from on high.

We see the continuation of selfishness at the highest level possible with the abortion-rights activists wanting the right to abort a child for any reason at any time, should they so desire. Little if any consideration is given to the rights of the father and the unborn child itself; it is all about “me, myself and I”. When another person’s life is at stake, then such decisions are of vital importance. We cover the abortion issue in our booklet “The Ten Commandments” and show that abortion is not God’s way. However, God is not in the picture with those strident women who are not interested in anything or anybody other than themselves, it would seem, as they protest on such a matter at the drop of a hat! The recent US Supreme Court decision, overturning Roe v Wade, has shown that the USA is divided on this matter and at the highest levels of government, they are approving vehemently the killing of innocent unborn children. God says that we should not kill or murder but the US government is saying that God does not know what He is talking about!

What must God think about this?

Then we have the nonsense spewed out by some in the “trans” lobby. At a midwifery course in Scotland, a highly experienced midwifery lecturer with a PhD taught students that a male person could give birth. In May this year, the head of trans inclusion at campaigning group Stonewall told an i­ndustrial tribunal that “bodies are not inherently male or female. They are just their bodies.” They try and foist their nonsense on others by ignoring the basics of biology. They are a vociferous minority group of people who feel that they know better than everyone else, including the great Creator God who created them in the first place. Such arrogance!

What must God think about this?

The homosexual group Stonewall states on their website that they stand for “lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full.” We have news for them. In the wonderful world tomorrow, when the Kingdom of God will rule on earth, such perversion will simply not be allowed.

This is moral relativism, the idea that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles. It’s a version of morality that advocates “to each his/her own.” However, God says that there is an absolute set of principles, that is the Law of God which is unchanging. God gives clarity of meaning whereas the whims and wishes of society can, and do, fluctuate between generations.

In the USA in March 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court, was asked simply if she “could provide a definition of the word ‘woman.’” “No, I can’t,” she eventually said. “Not in this context. I’m not a biologist.” Here we have a woman nominated for high office who couldn’t, or wouldn’t explain, what a woman is. This shows ignorance, at the highest level and someone who couldn’t be relied on to do even a very basic job.

There is so much more that could be said on all of these issues, and many others, but space does not permit it. Behaviour and the way we live our lives are of paramount importance to the great Creator God but man thinks otherwise which will lead to a time of unparalleled trouble (see Daniel 12:1).

The biblical lessons go unheeded. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their ungodly behaviour and does anyone think that God has changed His stance on such issues purely because society has, once again, adopted different practices? These cities were razed to the ground. The current immoral behaviour will also incur the wrath of God who does not change (Malachi 3:6).

The Stonewall website also states that “In June, annual marches and festivities occur all over the world to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month is distinct from LGBTQ+ History Month annually celebrated in the UK in February.” 

The word pride is used which was another reason why Sodom and Gomorrah were obliterated from off the face of the earth because of their immorality (Genesis 19:24) and because of their pride (Ezekiel 16:49). Quite a connection, but the comparison doesn’t stop there. Stonewall also use the rainbow as part of their various programmes but God gave the rainbow as a sign of the covenant between Him and man that He would never again flood the earth (see Genesis 9:11-17).

There is so much wrong being perpetrated on the earth at this time, as outlined above, and in so many other areas, that it is only a matter of time before God says that enough is enough and He sends His Son, Jesus Christ, back to this earth to remedy all of the evils that have permeated society since the dawn of civilisation.

As the people of God, we have to be careful that we don’t fall into the trap of saying, or even thinking, that which is spoken of in 2 Peter 3:3-4: “…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’”

Many of us certainly expected Christ to return well before 2022 but it wasn’t God’s time for Him to do so, and He is the master of timing. We read in Matthew 24:36-39: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

It was such an evil time, much like today, and God decided to act then. He will again act when the time is right and we must stay awake to this fact; otherwise, we could be caught unawares if we’re not careful. We pray that that may not happen to any of us.

With Christian love,

Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

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Dear Members and Friends,

There are a number of sections in the Bible where God, in most cases Jesus Christ, showed His love, compassion and concern for the people He was dealing with at the time. The passages can help us understand how He treated His people during the ages and be examples for us today, since He is the same, yesterday and forever.

In the first section to be considered, we find there was a special relationship between Abraham and God. However, this relationship is not mentioned until 2 Chronicles 20:7 where we find that Abraham was a friend of God. This fact is repeated in James 2:23 where we read, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God.” Of course, when Abraham believed God, this belief resulted in him comprehensively obeying God, which we can read of in Genesis 26:5.

God’s blessings for Abraham can be passed down to us, as we read in Galatians 3:7: “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham,” and in Galatians 3:9: “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” And because of this blessing, we can also be friends of God.

Again, Jesus Christ spelled out what we must do to be a friend of Him and of God the Father. He said to His disciples in John 15:14-15: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” So, to be a friend of Christ requires obedience.

God shows His gentleness in how He treated the children of Israel. Jeremiah 31:32 states: “…not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.” God in the Person of Christ pictures Himself as a loving husband leading His wife through the wilderness to the Promised Land of Canaan, all the time providing food and protection for her as we read elsewhere. Of course, Israel rebelled continuously, so God had to deal with her accordingly.

This idea of God leading Israel is repeated in Hosea 11:3-4: “I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” Here God shows Himself as a compassionate loving Provider, as He says, stooping down to feed them. To think that the Creator of the universe would stoop down to feed His people is awe inspiring.

Of course, this was not the only time God fed His people. In the case of Elijah, God caused ravens to feed him daily. And when the brook he was staying beside dried up, God caused a widow’s jar of oil and bin of flour to last for the length of the famine to feed Elijah and the family without running out (compare 1 Kings 17:6-7 and 1 Kings 17:14-16).

In fact, in the book of Hosea are some remarkable revelations of the love God has for His people—things that we can hang onto that emphasise God’s love for His people. When we read Hosea 2:16, it reveals God’s desire of how we should respond to Him. “‘And it shall be, in that day,’ Says the LORD, ‘That you will call Me “My Husband,” And no longer call Me “My Master.’”’ Continuing in Hosea 2:19: “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy…”

In the Authorized Version, the Hebrew terms Ish’i and Ba’ali are used in Hosea 2:16. When we investigate these terms, which are translated husband and master, we find it is even more inspiring than reading the English translation. Ba’ali, although it is the commonly used word for husband or master today, has the original meaning of a husband who lords it over his wife—a potentially abusive husband, one whom his wife had to submit to or be punished. It was also used for the owner of a slave. God does not want us to describe Him that way.

On the other hand, Ish’i means a friend, a helper, a companion. It is used in a very positive light. An Ish’i-husband is a husband who loves his wife, cares for her and cherishes her. Christ wants us to allow Him to love us and for Him to be our Husband, to be able to show His affection, His love, and His caring to us. Of course, as we read in Hosea 2:19, He wants righteousness and justice as that is His nature, but He also wants to show us lovingkindness and mercy as our husband.

But sometimes God knows that for our good, He has to correct us. We read in Hosea 11:8: “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zebolim? [These two cities were destroyed together with Sodom and Gomorrah, compare Deuteronomy 29:23.] My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror.” Here God does not want to punish Ephraim and Israel; it distresses Him to have to do so,  but He knows that sometimes it is necessary if we are to ultimately be holy like God. As we can read in Hebrews 12:10: “For they (our fathers) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” That is God’s aim for us, to share His holiness in His Family forever.

What do we read in the New Testament about Jesus Christ’s compassion? We can read one example of many in Luke 7:11-15: “Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.”

Here Jesus Christ understood that this widow would have a difficult life without her son to support her. In the books of the Law or the Torah, Jesus Christ had given instructions not to afflict widows and to provide for their needs, and here He was fulfilling what He had commanded.

So, as we read the Scriptures, we can see that Jesus Christ has great love and concern for His people. He treats us as a loving husband treats his wife, and He also considers us as a friend, all with the proviso that He expects us to believe and obey Him. The examples referred to here, plus many others, should give us great encouragement.

With much love and concern,

Your brother in Christ’s service.

Paul Niehoff (Australia)

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

In this letter, we would like to report on the recent 2022 Church Conference, held on Friday, April 29th through Sunday, May 1st and conducted from Escondido, California.

We utilized “Google Meets” for those in attendance. While we did face time zone differences, Thilo and Anita Hanstein, Christoph and Monique Sperzel (from Germany), and Paul and Tine Niehoff (from Australia) were able to participate. Also, Rene and Delia Messier (from Canada) and Dave and Peggy Harris (from Colorado) joined the meetings.

Norbert and Johanna Link, Michael and Anna Link, Eric Rank, Kalon Mitchell, Margaret Adair, Rhonda Cagle and Dawn Thompson were among those in California. Also, Brian and Jill Gale had travelled from England to California for the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread and to attend the Conference.

On Friday, after the reading of the Minutes, regional summaries were given. Following, we had a wide-ranging discussion about our Internet activities: literature views and requests; accomplishments from our monthly Tech Meetings; Live Services broadcasting issues (which, by the way, have improved through the purchase of newer equipment—but more to do in that regard); new advertising campaigns; and alternatives to YouTube in case our messages are blocked. We also reviewed how we conduct Sabbath Service and the procedure regarding prayer requests; and we discussed plans for new English and German booklets for 2022.

On the Sabbath, Live Services were presented from California with Brian Gale giving the Sermonette and Norbert Link giving the sermon. Additionally, elder Eric Rank was ordained to the rank and office of Pastor by the ministry present.

On Sunday, we discussed the question of who are the elect, mentioned in Matthew 24:22. In conjunction with that discussion, we spent some time addressing the prophetic timeline based on the work of the Church of God and events in the world which point to the last generation alive before Jesus returns. A question on biblical covenants was raised, and Norbert Link will write the first Q&A as an introduction to a comprehensive series of Q&As on this topic appearing in the weekly Updates.

National and International Board Meetings were conducted at the conclusion of the Conference.

Brethren, we came away inspired by the many opportunities God has opened to us to conduct His Work—that includes dedicated individuals at every level who zealously serve to accomplish what is before us. That also includes those of you who continue to pray for us and each other as we all join in this mutual effort God has given to us.

As a final comment, we also spoke about plans for the Fall Holy Days during the Conference. We will still face issues for travel, and we have heard that some members cannot afford to attend the California location. We also know that there will be problems in Europe, as well. We know with certainty that great challenges lie ahead, but we also fully trust and faithfully believe that God will do what He has promised to do to help us.

With brotherly love,

The Ministry