Declaration On Continuing Church of God Leadership's Continued Lies and Campaign Against Our Community

 

HOPE OF ISRAEL WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD

Advisory council

DECLARATION ON CCOG LEADERSHIP CONTINUED LIES AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY

       Since its inception, Hope of Israel Worldwide Church of God has been described with all kinds of lies whose sources have been African leaders of the Continuing Church of God, founded and led by Robert Bob Thiel.  Those lies originating from Africa have been published for months in Thiel’s weekly “Letter to the brethren”.  African leadership is known for adulating Bob Thiel whom they address as “pastor doctor Bob”.     

       Since its inception, Hope of Israel Worldwide Church of God has been targeted for destruction by Kenyan CCOG “evangelist” Evans Ochieng and his minions in Africa.  The reason for this hatred toward our fellowship is that deep corruption and lawlessness in Africa, orchestrated by the aforementioned “evangelist”, has been discovered by Terry Nelson who did not heed Thiel`s demands not to do any investigation about the affairs in Africa.  While in Africa, unsuspected Terry Nelson was approached by a Malawian government employee related to CCOG`s representative in that country, Radson Mulozowa.  The government of Malawi has been conducting an independent investigation on Mulozowa and introduced its evidence to Terry Nelson who visited that country being sent there by Bob Thiel.  Church members in Malawi confirmed various allegations against Mulozowa.  The allegations against Evans Ochieng were also confirmed through various witnesses and documents.  All those documents and witnesses testify about the gross lawlessness in CCOG in Africa, of which Bob Thiel was informed from his former friends whom he sent to Africa.  Terry Nelson appealed to Aleksandar Veljic, at that time a CCOG elder, who visited Africa before him, to help him present the evidence of ungodly things in Africa to the CCOG overseer.  All that evidence was rejected by Thiel, who labeled Terry and his son Andree as talebearers.  Since African lawlessness also involved the native religion of Africa – witchcraft – Aleksandar Veljic resigned from CCOG at the end of January 2023.  Several members also left as they did not want to be associated with the practitioners of Satanism in Africa, nor did they want to see it being financed by the leader who claims to be God`s prophet.  Aleksandar Veljic did not go a different way than what he learned in the old Worldwide Church of God.  He initiated Hope of Israel and formed it with Terry Nelson, Randy Freeze and the congregation of God`s people in Serbia.  

       While we have taken various lies originated in Africa, which could be easily disproved as they were so obviously untrue, we have recently witnessed a lie written by the very leader of CCOG, who claims to be a prophet and one man over the true Church.  That we cannot ignore without reaction considering that it came from the very top of the “only Philadelphian remnant church in the world” as many CCOG members are deceived to believe.  Here is the lie:

“09/25/23 a.m. Hope of Israel's Sasha Veljic reported that a cofounder of that organization, an accuser of the brethren, named Terry Nelson, was arrested in Malawi”.  

To resort to a lie in order to tarnish someone`s name certainly represents violation of God`s Law.  The only truth in the announcement above is that Sasha Veljic is of Hope of Israel and that Terry Nelson is a cofounder of that organization!  How shallow is this lie?!  Even if Terry was arrested, Thiel would be the last person Sasha would report it to; Sasha would certainly not publicize something like that, especially not labeling Terry Nelson “an accuser of the brethren”!  Therefore, to clarify confusion that has been continually spread by CCOG leadership, this Advisory council declares that:

1.  Hope of Israel Worldwide Church of God does not consider CCOG leaders its brethren because of various lawless things they condone and tolerate.  This does exclude the ordinary members whom we consider our brethren.

  

2.  Hope of Israel founders and members have experienced on various occasions the lack of sound judgment on the part of Bob Thiel, who trusts his African leaders with no limit.  In his unsound devotion to all African tricks and deceptions, Bob Thiel keeps financing them.  Even though he could be commended for not taking salary from his church, he believes that all the money he sends to Africa belongs to him anyway.  So, to his mind, he is sending his own money, the money that comes from members.

 

3.  Hope of Israel has established that some of Bob Thiel`s teachings are non-Scriptural.  It would take too long to expound on that.  But even more tragic is that Bob Thiel puts himself above the Scriptures.  To illustrate this point, we quote a response of his to Hope of Israel’s member Andre Nelson that “Hope of Israel cannot possibly be a Philadelphian remnant”.  This audacious statement contradicts God since the outreach of Hope of Israel is far greater than that of CCOG, while Hope of Israel, unlike CCOG, has a true Philadelphian style of governance.  Thiel obviously believes he can read hearts and minds and thus knows who are Philadelphians and Laodiceans.  As far as all true Christians know, only God can read hearts and minds and only God truly knows who is a Philadelphian.

 

4.  A true prophet gets revelations from God!  Commenting the current world events does not make one a prophet.  Also, would a true prophet ever tell someone not to investigate lawless deeds in Africa, like Bob Thiel said to Terry Nelson?  Would a person with prophetic gift not feel that something is wrong in Africa, instead of pumping huge amounts of money there?  Would a true prophet ever make a series of irrational comments and justifications of the actions of his co-workers in Africa?!

 

5.  Since our founders have witnessed firsthand the lack of sound judgments on the part of Bob Thiel, this Advisory council has concluded that his judgment capabilities are compromised, impaired and out of sinc with reality, even when faced with official documents!  Thus, this Advisory council rescinds and declares nill Thiel`s accusations against our members and this organization, such as that Terry Nelson is an accuser of the brethren and enemy of the Work of God, that Hope of Israel cannot possibly be a Philadelphian remnant and so on.

 

6.  Since true Christians are known by their fruits, here are the fruits that should worry any true Christian:

 

Bob Thiel puts himself above the Scriptures.  He also believes that there are (at least) 10.000 CCOG members in Africa.  Many of those members don`t have a basic understanding of the Bible, meaning of Holy Days and the prophesied events.  The leading men in CCOG Africa are involved in witchcraft.  We have obtained evidence of such rituals in Kenya.  

 

For years, CCOG host in Michigan was a heretic whose home is full of occult literature and whose beliefs were contrary to the sound teachings of the Church of God.  Aleksandar Veljic gathered witness statements on that and informed the CCOG overseer.  In spite of that, Terry LaFrance, in his capacity of a CCOG host in Michigan, continued to poison CCOG membership with his heresies in his attempt to overturn the faith of believers.  One of the platforms LaFrance used to promulgate his anti-Bible theories and teachings was CCOG electronic forum.  

 

That forum, in spite of spreading all kinds of senseless theories and anti-Bible stuff, as well as posts upholding gun ownership, contrary to teachings of the Church of God, was all ignored by the head of the “only true Philadelphian remnant”.  His comment was that people need “a point of connectedness” and that it is not strange that forum teems with anti-Bible stuff because many forum members were unconverted (not baptized).  Now, is the forum of the “only Philadelphian church in the world” supposed to tolerate heresies that can only confuse both converted and unconverted individuals?  Oh, well, Aleksandar Veljic was accused of not having love for the brethren and the reputation about him CCOG has cultivated until now.  Yet, Aleksandar Veljic and the COG Serbian congregation sacrificed time and efforts to educate CCOG members and provide them Skype place to fellowship electronically.  

 

We could go on, but suffice to say that Aleksandar Veljic was entrusted by Bob Thiel to visit Africa in 2017.  When offered to visit Africa again, he refused because he was maliciously and falsely accused by Evans Ochieng (also known as “Simon Magus of Africa”) that he was telling Evans how to run things in Africa and because of health concerns.  Terry Nelson willingly filled the void having a burning zeal to spread the Gospel and serve.  During his zealous service in Africa, he found out all kinds of detestable things done there in the name of Christ and under the name of CCOG.  Terry also realized that a supposed “open door” in Africa was actually a big lie and a sham.  

 

7.  The man who was actually arrested in Malawi is a CCOG representative in that country, Radson Mulozowa, who is also guilty of forging a registration of CCOG in that country.  Forgery is sanctioned by the Malawian law as a federal offense.  CCOG has thus violated Romans 13.  Long is the list of the crimes of the minion Radson, involving witchcraft, adultery, theft of 130 Bibles and bribes.  On those crimes the Malawian government can fill in anyone who asks.  

 

Since various members of Hope of Israel are witnesses to the crimes committed by Radson Mulozowa, the government keeps us posted on that case.  Mulozowa has squandered Thiel`s financial donations, among other things, paying witch doctors in order to ensure “divine protection” for himself and harm to others.  During Terry Nelson`s recent visit to Malawi this false Christian, who represents CCOG in Malawi, who was summoned by the authorities for interrogation.  When questioned by the police about 130 Bibles that Terry Nelson donated for CCOG Malawi and Mozambique members, which Mulozowa sold and put the gain in his own pocket, Mulozowa denied any connection to the case.  The Malawian police knew he was lying and showed him evidence.  On top of that, the Malawian police also received a letter from Bob Thiel informing it that Terry Nelson had no right to investigate anything in Malawi related to CCOG and Radson Mulozowa.  Well, Terry has no need to investigate anything since the Malawian government is already doing that.  

 

Before being summoned to the police station to be questioned, Radson Mulozowa was on run in Malawi for months.  During that time he received money from Bob Thiel to buy a new car.  Since he is ill, Mulozowa was directed by the police to a hospital.  There were also cuts on his body which indicate that he hired witch doctors with whose help he sacrificed his blood to demons.  He also suffers from a strange malady.  He escaped from the hospital and is on run again.  Yet he received another financial injection from Bob Thiel to hire a lawyer and accuse Terry Nelson before the Malawian court supposedly for rumors and lies that Terry spread about Radson.  

 

Now, it is interesting that while there are individuals in CCOG who have difficulties making the ends meet, lavish donations are being monthly sent to Africa to build local churches, etc. And even for prosecuting Terry Nelson!  That by itself proves that CCOG does not consider him and us as brethren, because Bob Thiel knows full well what the Bible says about taking brethren to the courts of this world.  This also reveals Thiel`s unsound connection to “open door” in Afria for which he is willing to sacrifice anything even though anyone with a common sense can discern that cesspool of unrighteousness in Africa under the guise of Christianity.

 

8.  Considering all the above, we, humble servants of our God of Israel, members of the Body of Christ, realize that in the past we were duped about CCOG being a true Christian Church!  The subsequent events following our exodus from CCOG have proved to us that we made the right decision.  Namely, we realized that many people had crept in among us unaware and that CCOG had become a victim of those intruders` carnal greeds for money and power.  Besides, they used the money sent to them to build their local churches, yet none of those churches are owned by Bob Thiel or CCOG.  So, all that African “brethren” could do is change the names on those buildings and continue to practice church hoping as it suits their financial manipulations.

 

9.  Hope of Israel is particularly grateful to the Malawian government for having courage to reveal to us what they knew was going on behind the CCOG scene in Malawi.  We also declare to all true Christians that the same government holds responsible Evans Ochieng of Kenya for various abuses in Malawi.  The government of Malawi is also aware that it is Bob Thiel`s constant financial support that maintains this cesspool of unrighteousness in Africa.  It is a sad testimony of the “one true Church” with “Philadelphian governance” to a government of a nation in Africa, as well to the nation itself.  

 

Unlike CCOG leaders`example, Terry Nelson is well received in Malawi with much respect and honor.  He was in audience with government officials, he held a lecture to various church leaders, he was taken on a tour around the country and he put the Malawian local churches in order, those who en masse fled the aforementioned cesspool and found refuge in Hope of Israel.  The “Philadelphia governance” did not teach those members some basic things of the Bible, such as tithing, so now those churches are putting their lives in harmony with the God of Israel.  

 

10.                Speaking of “Philadelphian governance”, we declare that what is seen in CCOG is nothing like it, so its claim of such governance style is just an empty claim.  Herbert Armstrong, the head of Philadelphian era of God`s Work, was a man who communicated with people of all walks of life, and did not govern the Church alone.  There were various governing bodies in the Church, including an Advisory council.  In CCOG there is one man who is everything – what an example of brotherly love, cooperation and trust!  

 

Being the governing body of Hope of Israel Worldwide Church of God, we do call on our members not to engage in arguments with CCOG members because some of them just follow a man, while some show a substantial lack of discernment and hold on to a notion of being the sole Philadelphian remnant in the world.  The Bible teaches us that arguing is a useless activity that destroys the faith.  Thus, we instruct our members to leave CCOG to its own devices and confusion it has created.  Any further distortions of the truth coming from CCOG is up to God to deal with.  As for us, the God of Israel has given us enough signs of His favor and love, praise be to Him forever and ever!  May our God preserve us and finish the work He started in us.  Amin.

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisory council of Hope of Israel Worldwide Church of God:

 

Sharon Paz 

Jamie Stonham 

Terry Nelson

Slobodan Balovic

Aleksandar Stanisavljevic

Randy Freeze

Andree Nelson

 

Presiding elder Aleksandar Veljic

 

September 30, 2023

How To Be All You Can Be in the Splinters and Slivers:

Place your hands on your own head and repeat...

I Am an Apostle

"I am The Elijah to Come"

"I am The Messenger of the Covenant"

"I am The Branch."

"I AM THAT I AM"

(Double Portions Not Available in Your Area)

Davelatians 1:11 I want you to know, scoffers and critics, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. No human could make up the shit I can make up. It's also not from any Higher Power. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it because no one tells me nuttin' and I am pretty much unteachable anyway; rather, I received it by revelation to myself and often which is a lot easier than that study to show myself approved and rightly dividing the word of truth stuff. If it wasn't irrefutable and impossible not to be as I declare it to be and I approve of myself, that's all you need to know...

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in the Worldwide Church of God, how intensely I dominated and disheartened every church of God I got my hands and had pretty much pissed off most of the brethren and wreaked havoc in the churches. 14 I was advancing, however, in my own mind, beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of Herbert W Armstrong, until it no longer served my ego and theological ambitions. 15 But when I set me apart from my mother’s womb and then for all the other stuff, I was pleased 16 to reveal who I really am so that I might preach me to the Board of Enablers, the Go Along to Get Along Ministry and a few remaining brain dead groupies . My immediate response was not to consult any human being because, again, that's not what I do. I have never done it and I have no intention to ever do it. I did not go anywhere to see those who were apostles before I imagined I was, but I went into Wadsworth where, every day, I think up new titles to lay my hands upon myself for and prove it next week with way too many scriptures that I don't even have time to include and cover, brethren. 

...20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. More like delusional, but don't worry and unfortunately, I'm not going anywhere. 

===========================

 

Herbert Armstrong’s Feast of Tabernacles

Herbert Armstrong’s Feast of Tabernacles

Lonnie Hendrix

In his infamous booklet, Pagan Holidays or God’s Holy Days? Herbert Armstrong declared that the Feast of Tabernacles of Leviticus 23 represented the Millenium. He wrote: “Here are pictured those final culminating events in God's great plan: after Christ has died for our sins to redeem mankind-after He has sent us the Holy Spirit and picked out a people for His Name to become kings and priests through the thousand years-after His glorious Second Coming-after He has finally restored the redeemed by placing all the sins upon the head of Satan, their real author, and separating both him and the sins from the presence of God and His people, thus finally perfecting the at-one-ment, making us finally joined in one-then we are ready for that final series of events, the commencement of the ‘Marriage of the Lamb,’ the actual making of the New Covenant, the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth and the reaping of the great harvest of souls for a thousand years. This festival is the picture of the Millennium!”

However, an objective review of the Scriptural evidence which is available to us reveals a very different meaning for this festival from the one advocated by Mr. Armstrong. Indeed, from a Christian perspective, the festival symbolizes Jesus Christ tabernacling in human form – inhabiting the same temporary shell which all humans have inhabited – in order to make a permanent and eternal home possible for us someday! As we shall see, for Christians, this festival pictures the perfect contrast between that which is transient and terrestrial and that which is eternal and heavenly.

In Torah, the Israelites were instructed to construct booths, or temporary shelters, to live in for the duration of the festival (Leviticus 23:40-42). In this connection, it is interesting to note that Jesus Christ "tabernacled" in the flesh for a little while. We read in the Gospel of John that "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) Indeed, this tabernacling in the flesh was necessary for Christ to suffer the affliction and death that would result in our atonement/reconciliation to God!

This is made very plain in the epistle to the Hebrews. We read there: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (2:9-10) And, a little later, we read: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Verse 14)

That Christ did this for US is at the very heart of the Gospel message! Although it is unpleasant to contemplate, each one of us has an appointment with death. (Hebrews 9:27) Somewhere in the back of our minds, all of us understand that this life that we are currently enjoying is temporary – it will not last forever (we are subject to time and chance). Paul once told the saints at Corinth, “that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.” (I Corinthians 15:50) He went on to tell them that “our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” (I Corinthians 15:53)

Sometime later, Paul wrote another letter to the Corinthians. He told them that the light of Christ was shining in their hearts, but he described that treasure as residing in fragile clay jars. (II Corinthians 4:7) He talked about how Christians must face many trials and perils because of their association with Jesus Christ, but that this had resulted in them having the hope of eternal life. (II Corinthians 4:8-15) He continued: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small AND WON’T LAST VERY LONG. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

In other words, Paul understood that Christians are currently living in temporary shelters (human bodies), and that they are looking forward to the time when they will be living in a permanent home (spiritual bodies). In his second letter to the saints at Corinth, we read: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” (II Corinthians 5:1-4, KJV)

Peter also understood this concept. In addressing the saints toward the close of his ministry, he wanted to remind them about the truths which he had previously conveyed to them. He wrote: “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.” (II Peter 1:13-14, KJV) Peter understood that this life is not permanent, and that he was going to die. He also knew that his present body could not inherit the Kingdom of God, and that he would have to shed that body and receive a new one in the resurrection.

As strangers and pilgrims in this world, Christians are looking to exchange a temporary home for a more permanent one (one that God has provided for us). Hence, for us, this is an important component of the symbolism of this Old Testament Festival.

Moreover, perhaps the most important component of this symbolism has to do with our relationship with Christ and Almighty God – the fact that Christ tabernacled with us in the past and will do so again someday with the Father! We read in the Gospel According to John that the “Word was made flesh and dwelt <tabernacled> among us.” – John 1:14, KJV Then, at the conclusion of all things, we are told in the book of Revelation: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” - Revelation 21:1-3 I don’t know about you, but I think that this symbolism beats Armstrong’s teachings on the subject by a mile!

Finally, in the seventh chapter of the Gospel of John, we have an account of Christ’s celebration of this festival. Interestingly, Christ’s message to the people on this occasion underscored the fact that his message and mission was from God (verses 16-19). He went on to tell his fellow attendees that they didn’t really understand Torah, and that their observance of it was superficial (verses 21-24). This, of course, made Jesus a very controversial figure, and the debate raged around him. As a consequence, he told them: “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.” (Verses 33-34)

Then, on the last day – that great day of the feast, Jesus told them: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” Although he was then dwelling in the tabernacle of a human form, Christ declared himself to be the source of eternity! As I said in the most recent post on my blog: “This is the message of the Gospel, and the message of this festival: The transient and eternal Christ has made possible eternity for us transient folk of planet earth!”