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Dear Brethren and Friends:

It is hard to pick up a newspaper or listen to or read the news, and not hear about more killings in Iraq; more unrest in Afghanistan and India; more fighting and violent murders in various nations of Africa; and, of course, terrible crimes in the USA, the UK, Canada, and all over the world.

Even nature—the weather—has been acting very strangely—with floods in parts of India, China, Europe, the UK and the USA. We hear comments like, “This is the worst rain since 50 years.” In the town of Summerland where I live, 63 millimeters of rain fell in two hours, setting an all-time record since rainfall has been recorded here. These unusual worldwide rainfalls have produced floods which have adversely affected literally hundreds of millions of victims—not just a few thousand. People wonder and shake their heads, but the truth is, we, the whole earth, are under a curse for turning our backs on God and for rejecting His clear commands of how and when to worship Him on a daily, weekly and annual basis.

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

So many have forecast the end of the age (or world) over the course of the last 2,000 years and, to date, everyone has proven to be wrong. I have a book on this very subject and the author takes over 350 pages to discuss a mountain of information from around the world about failed prophecies from a myriad of different sources. This book, published in 1996, asked “What is it about the advent of the year 2000 which propels millions of people in the direction of apocalyptic belief? Why should Christians who know perfectly well that Christ was not born in AD 1 attach such importance to the calendar change? Even more strangely, why should the prospect of a new millennium quicken the pulse of millions of non-Christians? Belief in the approaching End of Time, we shall discover, is not the exclusive preserve of placard-waving prophets of doom. It is one of the great driving forces of history.”

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Dear Brethren and Friends:

This is the time when the American people celebrate their “Independence Day.” I couldn’t help but comparing this event with the brief history of our Church organization in the USA—the “Church of the Eternal God.”

When something new starts, it is often accompanied by problems. But where there is vision and zeal for the right cause, there will be success. After a period of spiritual drought and lethargy, of little accomplishment and much fruitless debate, some ministers in the USA decided to resign from their former association and start anew, by incorporating the “Church of the Eternal God.”

Documents were filed with the Secretary of State on July 2, 2001, and the certificate of incorporation was issued on July 5, 2001. This means that the Church of the Eternal God has now entered the seventh year of its corporate existence. In due course, state and federal tax exemptions were received, on November 26, 2001, and July 30, 2002, respectively.

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

Does God really care about YOU? Is your life being watched over and guided by the One that Jesus revealed as the “Father”? Has God actually assigned His holy angels to monitor, protect and intervene in YOUR life? Does our High Priest, Jesus Christ, directly appeal to the Father on our behalf by countering the barrage of charges that Satan levels against us night and day?

Count on it and believe it! If you have been called by God and if you have received His Holy Spirit and have been converted, God knows YOU! He not only knows who you are, but He is involved in your life—day in and day out!

Sometimes, the stark reality of living in a dying society threatens to overwhelm us. At times, the press of personal and even global influences can distract and disorient us. When that happens, we must focus on our calling!

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Dear Brethren and Friends:

When you receive this letter, the annual Holy Day of Pentecost will be only about two weeks away. It reminds us of the time when ancient Israel, according to tradition, received from God the two tablets of stone with the Law of the Ten Commandments, and when the New Testament Church collectively received God’s Holy Spirit to enable us to keep the Law. In addition, we reflect on our own individual calling and our receipt of the Holy Spirit, after our conversion and baptism.

Those of us who have been in God’s Church for a long time know from experience that Satan seems to be the busiest right before Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. This is the case, as Satan hates the thought that God will soon end his rule over this earth, by sharing His government and Kingdom with us, who are now begotten of the Spirit, and who will then be born again. As the Passover season symbolizes the beginning, and the Tabernacles season the completion of God’s master plan for human beings, Satan is reminded of his fate, too. He is very angry that God’s people keep those days holy, by celebrating and rejoicing in their destiny and the hope and glory of God’s Kingdom and government over this earth, as well as Satan’s banishment (Romans 16:20).

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

We have recently been privileged to take the annual Passover as the Bible instructs, followed by the seven Days of Unleavened Bread. The more we keep these “feasts of the LORD” (Leviticus 23:2, 4, 44), the more we should appreciate what they really mean to us. Each year, over the course of about six months, we keep God’s annual Feasts (Leviticus 23:4) from the Passover in the early spring right through to the Holy Days in the autumn, which reveal what God has in store for His faithful and chosen people (1 Peter 2:9). Each year, our commitment should deepen as we look forward to a future of which the world has no concept or understanding.

God’s plan for the whole of mankind is so logical. Christ’s death on our behalf; putting sin out of our lives; the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit; Christ’s return; Satan being bound for 1,000 years; Christ ruling as Head of State in the Kingdom of God on the earth; and the Great White Throne Judgment when all who have died in ignorance of Christ’s supreme sacrifice will have their opportunity for salvation. God does not deal in a series of uncoordinated, meaningless and unbiblical days that have no relevance to His people either now or in the future. He reveals, through the power of His Holy Spirit, a plan of such breathtaking love and magnificence that we must ensure that we never become complacent with such revealed knowledge. It is truly exciting knowledge and understanding for those who remain steadfast and faithful to this way of life. Since that fateful day, nearly 2,000 years ago, when the New Testament Church of God came into being on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), many have strayed from the knowledge of the truth and their marvelous calling.

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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 Church of God to preach the gospel and to feed the flock. We would like to thank all of you for your prayers for a successful conference, and we are pleased to say that your prayers have been answered.

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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, but the sword (Matthew 10:34). He did not mean, of course, that His servants should take up literal swords to fight others (compare Matthew 26:52)—but that His true gospel message would divide those who are of God and those who are of this world (Matthew 10:35-36; John 15:18-19).

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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. Joan Pope and we have received many messages from friends and relatives, as well as ministers and members from different Church organizations all over the world, expressing their heartfelt condolences and their recognition of the great loss of such a fine minister as Mr. Pope. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughtfulness and kindness.