Letter to our Friends - May 24, 2019

Dear Friends:

Greetings again from Owensboro, Kentucky.

We have been continuing to proclaim the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God through our social media sites.

Greetings From Kenya

James Pastor Wanyonyi of Deliverance Church Eldoret in Kenya recently wrote us and said:

Dear Friends, On behalf of our pastoral team, our entire ministry, my family and myself wish to send our greetings to you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you for being a good friend to us since we began associating with you. May this wonderful MINISTRY.VISIONS become a healing to relationships, ministries restored to life in Christ and may this create in us, our families and churches a state of remorse and let us have a repentant heart as we remember the finished work of our Lord Jesus on the cross at Calvary. There is no giants that are beyond correction and repentance as we are all worthy to approach His throne with a repentant heart. We are so encouraged for your continued prayers to us and we have valued your great help to us throughout our stay as friends with you. I would like to thank you and your team, friends and partners for becoming instruments of help to us and the young innocent team of children that were exposed to hard life not by their own will, but their plight came after sickness robed them off either both their precious parents, or one of them. God is good who has brought to us this VISION for us to be reminded of many things: 1. It was on this occasion when the son of God forgave his offenders on the cross. Father forgive them as they don't know what they are doing. It is our duty too to forgive all we feel to be our offenders without counting any cost. 2. It was during this occasion that Jesus forgot all the debts, pains and hurts he received from Pharisees, seduces and teachers of the Law during his time with them, he began all things newly. It is finished was his final word. 3. We have to review our lives and our relationships with others during this time. We are happy to have you and we all wish you a happy DAY IN YOUR Ministry Holiday. Please just as I conclude, things in Kenya have not been finalized r the president IS ALREADY sworn in to office since the election. WE THANK YOU FOE YOUR PRAYERS WE THANK GOD FOR Prayer for us as the court went through there was total peace here. . Pray for peace to reign in this beautiful nation. your to you all. your PASTOR JAMES ANS ROSE WANYO.

James is a minister (according to his Facebook page) who focuses on children’s orphanages, prisons, and hospitals. And, even though our doctrines are not the same, we are reminded of Minister Michael C. Garrett’s words from the sermon –The Apple of God’s Eye –

“In all of my years at AC, I grew weary of this constant drumbeat that I heard from so many of those teachers and preachers out there. Of how evil, corrupt and wicked that all sectors of American life happen to be! I remember sitting out there – and I still think this – my family members are not wicked! My friends and associates are not wicked! My people are not wicked! …

And yet ministers and leaders of AC in the WCG loved to quote the passage from Jeremiah 17:9. I can still hear them up at the podium pounding away at it! Remember, this is the King James English written in 1611. And as written in your Bible, if you have the King James English, it says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked …” – and they would get on that verse and go, “DESPERATELY WICKED!” And every time they did it a little bit of me just sunk. Because I knew something wasn’t right. Well, a little while back I did a little word study. And that phrase ‘desperately wicked’ comes from one Hebrew word – ‘ānaš. Do you know what the actual meaning of that Hebrew word is - in a concordance, lexicon, the best I can do as far as word study!? It’s frail, feeble, melancholy. … 

[I]nstead of viewing our fellow countrymen as being evil, corrupt, and wicked, maybe we should view them as God views them. As sons and daughters. As brothers and sisters …”

And this applies to our friends in other parts of the world.

 Annual Feasts

The annual holy day coming up is Pentecost that will be from sunset June 8th through sunset June 9th this year.

And, the Fall holy days coming up are the Feast of Trumpets (from sunset September 29th through sunset September 30th this year), also, the Day of Atonement (from sunset October 8th through sunset October 9th this year), also the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day (from sunset October 13th through sunset October 21st this year).

As for the Feast of Tabernacles, we will be keeping the Feast at 2400 Friendship Dr. at the Logsdon Community Center in Owensboro, Kentucky 42303 USA. Be sure to contact Mr. Michael Garrett at garrett158@roadrunner.com for more information if you would like to attend with us.

A local hotel (only 8 min. – 7.5 miles from the community center) the Wingfield Inn & Suites still has rooms available, so if you are planning on staying there, make your reservations soon.

Google Ads

Our latest worldwide Google Ad campaign from May 14th through to the 23rd for owensborocojc.com reached 86, 377 impressions, with a result of 289 clicks with an interaction rate of 33%! A total of 1,274 page views, and a daily return rate of 3.9%! We ask that you continue your prayers for the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ. Almighty God and Jesus Christ are indeed blessing this ministry! – cf. Proverbs 16:20; TLB.

World News Items

Many Catholics are pleased that even more of the evangelical crowd is embracing aspects of Catholic liturgy (See: Why Evangelical megachurches are embracing (some) Catholic traditions). However, if either group actually was interested in following the practices of true Christians, then their “traditions” would need to change to be more like the practices of the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ. It’s really simple. It’s based upon the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God. Our mission and our purpose is to follow the admonition of Jesus Christ, when He said, "'FEED MY SHEEP!'" We do the will of God the Father and Jesus Christ. To preach the Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ, of His forgiveness, of His atoning sacrifice, of the opportunity for all of us, to have Jesus Christ as our great High Priest and to live under the promises of the New Covenant, and to someday be a part of the glorious Kingdom of God!

In Europe, Germany decided to increase its military spending – to a great degree because of pressure from the United States (See: Germany informs NATO of huge defense budget increase: report). Surely, the United States will NOT like how this ends up (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Also in Europe, France’s migrants staged a protest – and at least one claimed that France is not for the French (See: Hundreds of migrants occupy Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris). Violent conflicts are going to happen in France and fully practicing Islam will soon not be tolerated.

Elsewhere in Europe – the Parliamentary elections are pointing to a more divided Europe (See: European Elections 2019 also Juncker lashes out at ‘stupid nationalists’ on eve of European elections). As we know from God’s living Word, Europe will one day reorganize and give its power to a strong dictator known as the final ‘beast’ – Revelation 17:12-13.

Australia looks as if she has re-elected Scott Morrison as Prime Minister (See: Australia’s Conservative Win Surprise Election Victory). He has recently stated that his opposition did not recognize the threat that China poses to the West. However, unlike the “king of Nineveh,” I do not believe he called for the type of repentance required to prevent what will ultimately occur to Australia in the end-time. (cf. Jeremiah 30:7).

In the modern State of Israel, a rabbi of Jewish mysticism believes that an earthquake last week was a Messianic sign, yet he and others have missed many biblical signs about Jesus being the Messiah (See: Rabbi: Earthquake In Israel is Birthpang of Messiah). Early true Christians believed in a 6,000/7,000 year Plan. IF the 6,000 years ends 2,000 years after Jesus began His ministry, His return would be 2026 or 2027. Also consider, IF ‘the last days’ began no later than Pentecost A.D. 30/31 (cf. Acts 2:1, 17), Our Lord’s return would be 2030 or 2031. As Minister Garrett has stated many times – “The Day of the Lord – that moment, probably not too far into the future, whether it’s a year, five years, ten years, I don’t know. But it’s not going to be a hundred years from now I don’t think. It most likely will occur within the lifetime of many people who are reading this right now. The Day of the Lord is not that far away!” In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus told us to look for various signs, instead of being focused on dates and calculations. So, all who were expecting Him based upon dates and calculations were wrong! However, many of the signs that our Lord pointed out ARE IN PROGRESS, and it is obvious we are getting ever-closer to His return. Let us heed the warning of Paul when he said, “And do this, knowing the time, that NOW it is high time to awake out of sleep [spiritual darkness]; for NOW, our salvation is nearer than we first believed.” – Rom. 13:11; NKJV. I first began hearing Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong in 1979. Think about how much closer I am. And all of us are, to this inevitable end.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week.

• 2-3 hymns (hymnscript.com has many song sheets for printing and sharing).
• Opening prayer.
• Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested for this week is: Proving the Truth.
• Announcements (if any). One hymn.
• Sermon. The one suggested for this week is: You Shall Know The Truth. Other sermonettes and

  sermons are available at our Godtube channel.
• Final hymn.
• Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel.

Concluding Comments

Apostle Paul wrote under great inspiration of the Spirit of God:

“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26) Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27) For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28) Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29) For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30) Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31) Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32) So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33) I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34) Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35) I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the Words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:25-35; NKJV.

Friends, thank you so very much for your continued support of this Work of God as we strive to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, of Jesus Christ’s forgiveness, of His atoning sacrifice, of the opportunity for all of us to have Him as our great High Priest and to live under the promises of the New Covenant. And, we do this without coveting “silver or gold or apparel” (none of us take a salary from the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ).

Many naysayers speak “perverse things” to us and against us which are not true. However, these “savage wolves” will fail, “but the Word of the LORD endures forever.” – 1 Peter 1:25; NKJV.

Friends, despite the persecutions inspired by Satan the devil, “God, and to the Word of His grace, … is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” – Acts 20:32; NKJV.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,