Melvin Rhodes Says He Is Nauseated

The disgraced former leader of the United Church of God has started a new blog where he weighs in on almost everything.  I guess once you are a COG leader who was expected to be an authority upon everything it is a hard path to give up.

Melvin is particularly upset with the stories of the new Pope and the press calling him the
"...the personal representative on earth of Jesus Christ."

I’m nauseated by the coverage of the change in the papacy.

It’s not that I have a problem with the new pope, because I don’t.  He seems a very humble man and his focus on the poor is commendable.

What’s wrong is not even his fault.

I’m talking about the constant references to the “fact” that he is the personal representative on earth of Jesus Christ.

It’s also frequently said that he is the 266^th pontiff, a direct successor to St. Peter, who started the Catholic Church.

If that’s true, then Peter has a lot to answer for!

That is pretty rich coming from a Church of God minister and church leader.  The ministry, through the example of Herbert Armstrong, has claimed that they are the voice of the TRUE God on the earth. The members are to obey their words as if God was speaking directly to them.

Melvin is also upset with this:

At great length, he explains that the papacy’s claim to go right back to Jesus Christ is inaccurate and a convenient misreading of scripture.   (I will post something on this on another day.)  The legitimacy of the Church is based on this claim and gives them a big advantage over other churches – but it is totally, biblically and historically without basis!

We hear the exact same hot air form the Churches of God!  That's the claim thrown out  almost daily that the COG goes directly back to Jesus Christ.  The legitimacy of the Church of God lies solely in this claim - but it is totally, biblically and historically without basis!

Will we soon see blog entries on adultery and sexually inappropriate activities of the ministry?

William Koeneke: Church of the Eternal God Minister Convicted of Four Counts Child Molestation

The Eastbourne Herald is reporting about a former deacon in the Worldwide Church of God who was convicted for child molestations. Koeneke is a minister in the Church of the Eternal God, also known as Global Church of God in England and the Church of God, A Christian Fellowship in Canada.  He has ties to Raymond McNair, Wray Zehrung, Rod Meredith,  Norbert Link and Ed Pope.  He has also co-authored booklets promoting the myth of British Israelism and the supposed prophecies in the book of Revelation, among many others.

Former deacon who assaulted boys is jailed

Published on 26/03/2013 12:19
An 86-year-old former church deacon has been jailed for eight years for indecent assault on young boys more than 20 years ago.

William Koeneke (pictured), 86, of Pevensey Road, Eastbourne was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court on March 12 of four counts of indecent assault on boys under the age of 16.

He committed the assaults on the boys when he was working at the Worldwide Church of God (WCG).
He was a deacon at the church and would often deliver sermons.

Koeneke befriended and assaulted the four young victims between 1985 and 1989 at an address in Paddington.

He was jailed for eight years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed. Koeneke was arrested in December 2011 following allegations made by the four victims, who are now in their 30s.

In 2010 this degenerate wrote an article about suffering.  Did this pervert have an inkling of what was in store for him?  Was he trying to minimize the damage he caused these four men in the Church of God?

Koeneke wrote:

Unfortunately, trials may tend to breed a sense of doubt, bewilderment, depression, and even of anger and frustration. They can lay heavily on our minds, whether they come upon us suddenly as when an accident occurs, or whether they creep up on us gradually, as when a sickness takes hold and lingers, and we may wonder: “Have I sinned? Is that why I’m suffering?” It is always good to ask ourselves this question, but sometimes, individual sin may not be the reason for our trial.  

Was he trying to shame these four men into thinking that they were suffering because of sin in their lives that caused him to molest them?  That is the method of intimidation many molesters use. It was their fault.  They tempted him some how.

For those of us called by God, the hardest trials are those which occur seemingly in spite of our faithfulness to God’s Word. But we should keep in mind, as David tells us: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them ALL” (Psalm 34:19). And Paul tells us: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Was he telling these four young men to use their "trial" as an opportunity for growth instead of becoming bitter over it?

Trials can lead to either spiritual growth or bitterness. The response of those who suffer determines the result. We as Christians are bound to experience trials in order for us to demonstrate our faith in God and His promises. Our faith needs to be tried in order for it to be strengthened. Trials should never be a reason to dispense with faith—faith that comes to us through Jesus Christ. 

The trials we suffer from time to time do tend to try our patience and our faith, and necessarily so. In a familiar verse Peter exhorts us: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you [in effect] partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

How do we cope in the meantime? We will find encouragement when we accept a three-pronged solution to our trials, i.e. faith in God’s promises (compare Psalm 34); obedience toward His laws; and patience. They all go hand-in-hand.

In another article he wrote on "Sympathy" he says:

I watch a number of newscasts on television and I find myself thinking about the events broadcast, including, for example, updates on the plight of the little Scottish girl Madeleine McCann kidnapped in Portugal over four years ago and yet still not found. One might blame the parents for being remiss in looking after this innocent little girl, now 8 years old, leaving her alone in their holiday apartment while they dined nearby. Yet that does not excuse the kidnapper nor lessen the agony of the parents or the child. I have prayed that God will give the Portuguese and British and other authorities who are looking for her an extra portion of insight and police intelligence in being able to find Madeleine and that she may be brought home to her parents and the kidnapper(s) brought to justice.

As I quite often jest, if there wasn’t so much crime and bad news these days there wouldn’t be any newspapers!... Wars in the Middle East and North Africa, volcanic eruptions here and there, increasing budget and inflationary pressures, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts and famines etc. all come to mind. It seems we are swamped with all sorts of bad news—and we in the Church know the reasons why—and our prayers should plead for the return and intervention of Jesus Christ to alleviate the suffering and death which continue to strike mankind in all sorts of ways and with greater frequency.

In the light of all these disturbing events, we in the Church need to avoid being insular or oblivious to the problems of those outside the Church.  Here in the UK where I live I quite often come upon old people having to cope with a cane or walking frame or mobility cart or who are deformed in some way, or blind, and I thank God that I am not likewise encumbered while sympathising with such people and praying silently for them as I walk on by.

As we ourselves suffer trials, such trials can help us to become more sympathetic and empathetic with others going through similar difficulties. When was the last time you expressed your thoughts and prayers in sympathy with such people and in absolute faith that God heard your prayer? David tells us: “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion… and great in mercy” (Psalm 145:8; compare Philippians 2:4). Should we not, as God’s called-out ones, likewise be compassionate?  Indeed, for there is, truly, so many for whom we can, and should, offer our prayers in heartfelt sympathy.

Dave Pack: I Will Be Making Earth Shattering Announcements Every Friday Indefinitely

The worlds most important Church of God, lead by the worlds most incredibly intelligent leader, Dave Pack, has given notice that he will be giving earth shattering announcements every Friday until he flees to Petra.

For the last five Fridays in a row The Restored Church of God has made dramatic announcements. These weekly postings will continue indefinitely every Friday! You will want to return each week to see what is being announced.

In another deliberate jab at Rod Meredith, Gerald Flurry and Robin Webber, Dave lets them all know that he is having earth shattering television opportunities while building magnificent HQ buildings.  Those weak impotent little wusses at the PCG, UCG, and LCG are losing money and TV stations while God's most important man is raking the dough in and building the worlds most beautiful campus.

Bear in mind that all of the following additional television expansion, listed momentarily, is being added while we are still building our Headquarters campus without use of bank financing. (We expect to announce next Friday the start of a second building, again without bank financing. We will unveil the building next Friday. A timelapse video of our Hall of Administration will also be posted at that time. And we are on schedule to occupy the “Hall” seven weeks from today.)

The amazing man is also announcing he has started a Chinese language web site geared to the worlds most populated nation.  This is something that the little wusses in the other COG's have failed to do.  "Eat my dust, WIMPS!"

Second, The Restored Church of God has now launched (today) its new Chinese-language website. This adds an eighth language to the Church’s range of translations! For the first time, God’s Church is publishing the true gospel for over 700 million Mandarin Chinese-readers on the Internet worldwide. Four booklets are now available, and additional literature will be added regularly. Revelation 10:11 states that when God’s Church “prophesies again” it is to be “before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” This is being done with ever greater power.

Then the apostle/prophet,/pastor general/Chief Overseer/worlds greatest man slaps them all silly with this:

Third, the POWERFUL worldwide expansion of The World to Come™ television broadcast continues with the addition of 187.6 million new television households around the world. God continues to GREATLY bless His Work. We continue exploding forward and rocketing straight up in every regard. PCG, LCG and UCG all are suffering shrinking income and loss of media coverage as a result (having done nothing, COGwa has nothing to lose)—and this will quickly grow much worse, with repercussions in all directions for these rapidly declining organizations.

He's added 187 million households to his number.  However he failed to report only 3 people actually watched the show out of all those millions!

Then to really bitch slap Meredith and crew, he lays out the tens of millions of other households he has now added to his portfolio as Rod and crew loose stations left and right.

The World to Come has now added more coverage in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and North Africa—but also South Africa by next week. This is coming just 14 days after a huge announcement on March 8. Perhaps take time to read the list of 203 stations added just two weeks ago.

(A) All across Scandinavia and Europe, The World to Come will reach 113.1 million households on the Gospel Channel. This network is broadcast throughout the continent on satellite, as well as Sky UK and Canal Digital in Norway.

(B) More millions in Australia and New Zealand will be reached through satellite coverage via The Word Network! Also, both TV ONE and Prime TV networks in New Zealand will launch on Sunday, April 7 to a combined 3.1 million households—effectively blanketing that nation three times. These new stations will be available via Freeview, Sky satellite and cable providers across the country. (We expect to announce additional nationwide network coverage in Australia next month or very soon.)

(C) The Middle East and North Africa will also receive new coverage on Arabsat through The Word Network. More than 56 million African and Middle Eastern households can now receive God’s truth! The Word Network now reaches an estimated 610 million households worldwide. (More new broadband coverage on this network reaches the island of Jamaica.)

(D) In South Africa, all subscribers of one network will soon be reached with a Sunday afternoon prime-time slot.

(E) In Canada, through the Winnipeg superstation Joytv11, The World to Come will now be aired to 5 million households (growing to over 8.5 million later this year) via Bell ExpressVu satellite, as well as a variety of cable providers. This complements the 7.4 million subscribers on recently launched Grace TV, who can watch on Shaw Direct satellite, Rogers cable and a variety of other providers. Combining these two stations gives the Work full national coverage across Canada.

(F) In the United States, 16.1 million households have been added through a Sunday morning slot on Retro TV. This unique and rapidly expanding network services viewers in 101 cities. In many areas where antenna service is available, local cable providers re-broadcast the programming content, giving The World to Come even more reach.

In a private meeting with a senior vice president of ION, we just learned that included in our latest national ION Television package is cable coverage in virtually every metropolitan area in the country. This means The World to Come will reach an additional 12.8 million households through cable affiliates where ION Television does not have a local station. We did not realize the enormous scope of what was coming to us when LCG abandoned its ION slot, but also how we would benefit when they abandoned other slots. (The World to Come now reaches almost every U.S. household through either ION Television, The CW Plus, Retro TV, cable affiliates and satellite, but also some independent stations.)