Member Letters
The Church of the Eternal God publishes a monthly Member Letter.
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Letter to the Brethren – February 21, 2007
Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends:
Do we realize how much this world is in utter confusion; how close we are to the return of Christ; and how great our responsibility is to do the Work of God—the most important activity anyone could be involved in? But do we also really understand that Christ will only return, when the true gospel of the Kingdom of God has been preached and when His wife—His true Church—has made herself ready (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 19:7-9)?
As a consequence, our annual conference in San Diego focused on the all-important duty and two-fold commission of the…
Letter to the Brethren – January 3, 2007
Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:
During this past Christmas season and the New Year’s celebrations, I was again struck by the fact of how much this world is in utter confusion and bewilderment. Christmas “messages” on Christ’s birth on December 25 were circulated, even though He was not, and could not possibly have been born in the middle of winter. It was also claimed by many that with His birth, peace had entered the world.
However, we have not seen peace for the last 2,000 years, and Christ Himself said that He did not come to bring peace,…
Letter to the Brethren – December 14, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends,
We are writing this letter following the death of Edwin Pope, Senior Pastor and President of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States, the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada, and the Global Church of God in Great Britain. Mr. Pope died on December 7, 2006, following complications from a heart attack four weeks earlier.
This traumatic loss has and will continue to leave an impact on all of us. We all recognize that someone such as Edwin Pope, who remained a faithful minister throughout the upheaval of past years, will be greatly missed. Mrs.…
Letter to the Brethren – November 8, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends:
Johanna and I arrived back safely in the U.S. on Sunday night, October 29, after a spiritually uplifting Feast in England and a subsequent visit with our relatives in Germany. During the Feast, we heard inspiring messages, comparing this present evil world with the wonderful world tomorrow, which is soon to be inaugurated by Jesus Christ at His return.
While the current British and German governments struggle to stay in power, the United States has been heavily focused on its political elections. The more one observes the politics of this world in the light of godly…
Letter to the Brethren – September 7, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends,
During this month of September, we will begin to observe the third season of God’s Holy Days in this year (Compare Exodus 23:14-17; 34:22-24). For those who love God, this will be a time of great importance and joy; however, for our relatives and friends in the world, the true meaning of what we do is hidden and will, at best, seem a little unusual!
Jesus Christ revealed the greater meaning of Passover when He instituted the practices of foot washing, of breaking bread and of drinking wine—all of which the Church of God is commanded…
Letter to the Brethren – August 15, 2006
Dear Members and Friends:
In July, the sun shone frequently in the UK, and we experienced the hottest month on record since records were kept in 1689. The World Soccer Cup seemed to grab most people’s attention, and there were a number of other major sporting events. In addition, many were looking forward to their annual holidays or had recently enjoyed some time away. With this backdrop, it can be easy to see why many people can be lulled into a false sense of security with a supposed “feel good” factor. While the news contains daily information on world…
Letter to the Brethren – July 19, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends,
Just as God has said, all will reap what they have sown! This world has written its history in blood; in the painful suffering of both the guilty and the innocent; in the destruction of mighty civilizations; and, now, in a blind rush to its own eventual annihilation. God inspired the prophet, Isaiah, to write: “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths” (Isaiah 59:7).
We are in a time when we hear of wars and rumors of…
Letter to the Brethren – June 9, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends,
I recently watched a video production by the “Living Hope Ministries,” titled, “Called to Be Free.” The broadcast featured numerous present leaders of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), as they gave testimony about their adoption of doctrinal changes after the death of the Church’s late human leader, Herbert W. Armstrong, in 1986. I know personally many of those who speak out on that tape, and even though I am very well aware of the changes, which prompted and forced me, and many others, to leave WCG, I became first angry and then sad when…
Letter to the Brethren – May 10, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends,
We are called “the elect.” Take a moment and consider what that means. God has chosen to call us in this lifetime; He has made our salvation possible by sacrificing His Son, Jesus Christ, for our redemption; He has resurrected our Savior and given us His Holy Spirit, which is our promise and guarantee of eternal life!
In a world that is devoid of truth and which now faces the stark consequences of its own rebellious ways, we have this reassurance from God through Jesus: “‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not…
Letter to the Brethren – April 3, 2006
Dear Brethren and Friends;
This past Thursday, March 30, was the first day of the first month of a new year according to Godís reckoning of time. This first month of the year is called Abib or Nisan. In just nine days we will be observing Passover, that being the 14th day of the month of Abib! Of course, the Passover service will begin Tuesday evening, shortly after sunset. Following the day of Passover, at sunset, begin the Days of Unleavened Bread. These are most important days for you and for me; but for most of the world, these…
Letter to the Brethren – February 13, 2006
Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,
In about eight weeks, baptized members of the Church of God will be taking the Passover which is an annual celebration of the death of Christ. It is a somber reminder of the sacrifice that our Lord and Savior endured on our behalf. Although not a Holy Day in itself, this will be the beginning of the Holy Day season when the first day of Unleavened Bread starts at sunset some twenty four hours later. How blessed we are to have been given the precious knowledge of God’s Master Plan of salvation for all…
Letter to the Brethren – January 12, 2006
Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:
As I write this letter, I am mindful of the fact that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the late human leader of the Worldwide Church of God, has been dead for over a full time cycle of 19 years. As most of you will remember, Mr. Armstrong died twenty years ago—in the morning hours of January 16, 1986. At that time, I was working in the Worldwide Church of God’s Legal Department. Even though we had hoped and prayed that Mr. Armstrong would not die then, we also knew that, barring a miracle from God,…
