The plot thickens in this masterclass of spiritual whiplash from Jim Franks' February 2026 member letter.

 

The plot thickens in this masterclass of spiritual whiplash from Jim Franks' February 2026 member letter. After breathlessly praising the stunning humility on full display at the Australian Open—where young Carlos Alcaraz and even Novak Djokovic graciously deflected praise and pointed to others instead of thumping their chests—our intrepid President couldn't resist taking it up a notch. He marveled at how "refreshing" it was to see such rare, almost mythical humility "in our society, especially among athletes, politicians, and world leaders."

Politicians. World leaders. Got it. These are now the unexpected role models beaming down heavenly vibes of meekness for all to admire.

But wait—there's more! In a twist so delicious it could only come from the top echelons of COGWA leadership, Franks immediately pivots and sighs wistfully: "What a different world it would be if humility were more evident among its leaders." Translation: Sure, the secular world is occasionally knocking it out of the park with humility, but let's be real—those godless politicians and athletes still aren't doing it enough. The world is still a mess because humility isn't the default setting among the powerful.

And who, pray tell, is going to fix this glaring shortfall? Not the Church as an institution, heavens no. Franks is crystal clear: "While we cannot bring that about, we can choose to focus on others rather than ourselves, thereby fostering an atmosphere of love, humility and service within the Church." In other words, brethren, the ball is squarely in your court. You lowly members—yes, you—get the sacred duty of cultivating all that warm, fuzzy love, humility, and service right here in the congregation. Because, let's face it, God knows the leadership and ministry aren't about to lead by example on this one. They've got far more important things to do, like writing letters about how everyone else should be humbler.

And just like clockwork, because no COG seasonal message is complete without it, he seamlessly ties this all into the upcoming Passover season. This year, apparently, we're not just focusing on Christ and His perfect example—no, no. We're supposed to elevate the shining beacons of humility we've witnessed in the world's top athletes and government officials (yes, those same ones he just implied aren't humble enough overall) as pointers to "something better." Members are urged to seek out and emulate that level of humility this Passover. Because nothing says "examining ourselves before taking the symbols" like benchmarking against tennis pros and career politicians who occasionally say nice things in victory speeches.

Truly visionary stuff. Forget Philippians 2 and Christ's emptying of Himself—let's look to the ATP tour and Davos for inspiration. After all, when has the Armstrongist leadership ever needed to practice what it preaches on humility? The endless cycle of splits, name-calling, power plays, and "my group is the one true remnant" declarations have always been dripping with the stuff. Why start now?

Passover prep just got a whole lot more... worldly. Thanks for the guidance, President Franks. We're all feeling properly inspired (and slightly nauseated) already.

Brethren, I pray for all of you every day. Our world truly seems to be reeling out of control, yet it is vital that we not become so caught up in its politics and tragedies that we lose sight of the most fundamental principle of all—the need for humility, both in our worship of God and in our attitude toward one another.

What a different world it would be if humility were more evident among its leaders. While we cannot bring that about, we can choose to focus on others rather than ourselves, thereby fostering an atmosphere of love, humility and service within the Church. I believe this is exactly what God expects of us.

As we approach another Passover, when we will once again follow the example of Christ, I have been encouraged by the humility I have witnessed during this trip—among the brethren and even between two professional tennis players with no connection to the Church. Seeing such examples is a reminder that humility stands out when seen and continues to point us toward something better.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Jim Franks