Crackpot Bob's Divine Self-Promotion Kit: Apostolic Succession, Double Blessings, and Other Prophet-y Things

In the ever-expanding universe of Armstrongist Church of God splinters—where every ambitious minister seems destined to become the next big thing—Bwana Bob of the improperly named "continuing" Church of God stands out as a masterclass in self-justification. He has a new article up about apostolic succession, the passing of the mantle, and gifts of prophecy, which is nothing more than a backslapping self justification article. 
He has crafted an elaborate theological fortress to explain why he left the Living Church of God in a fit of rebellion and why everyone else should now follow him. His case rests on three pillars: an unbroken “laying on of hands” apostolic succession through the COG lineage (not that nasty Roman kind), a magical “double portion” blessing from Gaylyn Bonjour, and his own certified prophet status courtesy of dreams and spiritual gifts. How convenient.
A close inspection reveals the usual Armstrongist cocktail: circular reasoning, creative eisegesis, generous exaggeration, and history bent to fit the narrative. Let’s dissect this masterpiece of ministerial marketing.1. Apostolic Succession Through “Laying on of Hands” in COG Lineage (Because Rome Can’t Have All the Cool Traditions)Bwana Bob insists that the real Church of God has preserved apostolic succession via the sacred ritual of laying on of hands, stretching back to the apostles through various obscure groups like the Paulicians. He dusts off old Worldwide Church of God booklets and triumphantly declares that his group, unlike all those other pretenders, holds the true mantle. Unfaithful leaders? They simply lose it. Poof. Mantle gone. Next!
The problems (or, why this doesn’t quite work):
The New Testament, it turns out, never actually describes apostolic succession as some kind of spiritual game of tag passed by hands. Laying on of hands was for practical things like receiving the Spirit, healing, or commissioning people for specifictasks—not for creating an infallible, unbreakable chain of command that magically survives doctrinal rebellion and endless schisms. But why let pesky details like “what the Bible actually says” get in the way of a good succession story?
Bwana Bob's historical claims read like fan fiction. The Paulicians? Selectively romanticized and sprinkled with unverifiable “true church” assertions to fill embarrassing historical gaps. The whole argument collapses into delightful circularity: “My group is the true church because it has the true teachings (as I define them), therefore it has apostolic succession. QED.” When other COG leaders disagree with him, they conveniently lose the mantle—how fortuitous. This is the same governance system Thiel quotes from WCG materials that stress Christ running His Church and removing the unfit. Yet somehow, when Bwana Bob rebels and starts his own group, that principle suddenly means he’s the faithful one. Classic.2. The “Double Blessing” by Gaylyn Bonjour: The Mantle Transfer That Wasn’t (But Totally Was, Trust Him)The crown jewel of Thiel’s origin story is a 2011 anointing by LCG minister Gaylyn Bonjour. In a moment of emotional prayer before meetings with Rod Meredith, Bonjour asked God for a “double portion” of the Spirit—echoing Elisha and Elijah. Bwana Bob has turned this into Exhibit A that the Philadelphia mantle officially passed to him. Bonjour later said nice things about Thiel’s character. Case closed, right?
Not so fast.
Context is a stubborn thing. This was a routine anointing for healing and wisdom, not a secret ordination ceremony crowning the next great prophet. Bonjour has a reputation for being heartfelt in such prayers—apparently for more than just Bwana Bob. Yet somehow only the Bwana received the deluxe Elisha upgrade. How lucky. Even the timing screams convenience: this “mantle” moment arrived right when Bwana Bob was frustrated that LCG wasn’t adopting all his doctrinal corrections. Nothing says “God’s will” quite like using an encouraging prayer as your exit visa after being ignored.
Equating this private prayer to an Old Testament prophetic handover is biblical gymnastics at Olympic levels. Bonjour stayed in LCG. His later affirmations don’t magically validate a split. But why ruin a perfectly good “I’m specially anointed” story with mere facts?3. Claim to Prophetic Office (Dreams, Signs, and Selective Scripture)With succession and the double blessing secured (in his own mind), Bwana Bob declares himself a prophet, complete with dreams, the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12:10), and Acts 2:17-18 as his personal job description. Old WCG articles on spiritual gifts are trotted out as supporting evidence.
Weaknesses (or, red flags waving enthusiastically):
Biblical prophets were tested and generally recognized by God’s people—not self-appointed after being rebuked by leadership. Rod Meredith and LCG flatly rejected Bwana Bob's prophetic pretensions. Undeterred, Bwana Bob labels doubters as lazy, Laodicean, or Satan-deceived (Proverbs 26:16 gets weaponized nicely here). Nothing builds credibility like accusing everyone who disagrees with you of spiritual blindness.Dreams and impressions are wonderfully subjective. They require testing against Scripture, not elevation to “thus saith the Lord” status. Yet in Bwana Bob's world, they conveniently confirm exactly what he already believed about his own importance.Why This Kind of Thinking Is Spiritually Toxic and Why Real Christians Should Run the Other WayBwana Bob's elaborate self-justification system is more than just harmless eccentricity—it’s a textbook example of dangerous thinking that Christians should actively avoid. When one man’s private experiences, reinterpretations of casual prayers, and selective history become the foundation for authority, you’ve left solid ground and entered personality-cult territory. The focus subtly (or not so subtly) shifts from Christ to “How special is this leader? Let me count the titles.”
This pattern breeds division, isolation, and misplaced loyalty. Armstrongism’s post-WCG history is littered with similar “mantle” claimants, each certain their group is the One True Remnant while everyone else is doomed. It distracts from the actual gospel, sucks resources into endless end-time speculation, and shields leaders from accountability. After all, who are you to question God’s doubly blessed, prophetically anointed, succession-certified leader?
Real Christianity anchors itself in the clear teaching of Scripture, the finished work of Jesus Christ, and the accountability of the broader body of believers—not unverifiable personal narratives or self-awarded titles. Scripture repeatedly warns about teachers who draw disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29-30) and false prophets who sound very convincing (Matthew 24:11, 24).
Believers would be wise to steer clear of movements built on such shaky, self-referential sand. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus, test everything against the Word, and leave the “I’m the special one” games to those who need the attention. The true Church has one Head—and it certainly isn’t located in the Continuing Church of God’s headquarters

Jeffrey Edward Fowle: The Ohio Man Who Risked Everything to Smuggle a Bible into North Korea

 

Jeffrey Edward Fowle, a municipal worker from Miamisburg, Ohio, entered the global spotlight in 2014 after his arrest in North Korea for leaving a Korean-English Bible in a public restroom. His solitary act of faith—intended to reach the country’s persecuted underground Christian community—resulted in nearly six months of detention. Fowle’s story illuminates the extreme dangers faced by Christians in one of the world’s most repressive regimes and the quiet resilience of North Korea’s hidden believers. Early Life, Faith, and MotivationBorn in 1958, Fowle grew up in a religiously divided household. His father, Edward, immersed the family in the Worldwide Church of God. This contrasted with his mother’s Episcopal faith. Fowle attended services as a child but drifted away around age 12. A spiritual turning point came in his early 20s during a revival on an Ohio farm, where he experienced a profound sense of divine calling. 
As an adult, Fowle worked for the Moraine street department, married Tatyana (originally from Russia), and raised three children. A “child of the Cold War,” he developed a deep interest in communist states, studying Russian and reading about North Korea’s 1990s famine and human rights crises. In 2014, inspired by news of detained missionary Kenneth Bae, he booked a $3,900 tour with Koryo Tours. While preparing, he purchased a turquoise Korean-English study Bible on Amazon, inserting family photos, his name, address, and contact details. 
Fowle later explained his intent: “I was motivated by the stories of the suppression of the underground Christians. I felt compelled to do that to aid the underground church in some small way... I saw my job as leaving the Bible there and let God do the rest.” His wife warned against it, but he proceeded, viewing the trip as both tourism and a personal mission. North Korea’s Underground Church: A Hidden Network Under Extreme PersecutionNorth Korea ranks as the world’s most dangerous place for Christians, topping Open Doors’ World Watch List for decades. The regime views independent Christianity as a direct threat to the Kim family’s cult of personality, treating it as treason. Official “churches” in Pyongyang serve mainly as propaganda for foreigners; genuine faith operates in extreme secrecy. 
Estimates suggest 100,000 to 400,000 secret believers exist, mostly in tiny family units or small groups meeting in homes, fields, or hidden spots. Worship is nearly silent: prayers whispered under blankets, hymns memorized, and Scriptures handwritten or committed to memory to avoid detection. Bibles are extraordinarily rare and precious—possessing one can lead to execution, life imprisonment in political prison camps (kwanliso), or punishment extending to three generations of a family. Underground networks rely on smuggling via borders with China, balloons, boats, USB drives hidden in everyday items, and radio broadcasts. Believers share single copies among trusted contacts, often at great personal risk. Defectors report intense surveillance, informants, and brutal crackdowns; recent reports indicate intensified campaigns have pushed organized underground services “almost to disappearance,” leaving many in solitary, private faith. Despite this, the church persists through whispered prayers, memorized verses, and quiet evangelism, embodying remarkable resilience. 
Fowle hoped his Bible would reach such a network in the remote northern city of Chongjin, far from the capital’s oversight.The Act, Arrest, and CaptivityFowle arrived in North Korea on April 29, 2014. In Chongjin, he left the Bible under a trash bin in the restroom of the Chongjin Sailors’ Club (a venue for foreign sailors). A staff member discovered it, and authorities traced it back to him. He was detained around May 4 as his tour group prepared to depart Pyongyang. 
North Korean state media announced the detention on June 6, accusing him of “hostile acts” and proselytism. He joined Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller as one of three detained Americans. During captivity in a Pyongyang guesthouse, Fowle reported respectful treatment: “I’ve been treated well... never physically abused, always had enough, usually had too much to eat,” with meals including rice, vegetables, soup, and meat. 
In monitored interviews with CNN and AP in September 2014, he admitted guilt and sought forgiveness while pleading for U.S. help.Release and ReflectionFowle was released on October 21, 2014, after 170 days, facilitated by Swedish diplomats and efforts including former Ohio Congressman Tony Hall. He returned home via U.S. government jet. 
Back in Ohio, he resumed work with restrictions on future risky travel. In interviews, he reflected: “At the time, I thought it was a mission from God... But God had other plans.” He acknowledged he would not repeat the act with his current knowledge but expressed no regret for his intentions, hoping the Bible aided underground believers. Legacy and Broader ContextFowle’s case underscores the perils of individual activism against North Korea’s total control and highlights the underground church’s desperate need for Scripture. 
Organizations like Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs, and others continue smuggling efforts, supporting believers through networks in China and beyond. His story remains a testament to personal conviction amid one of history’s harshest religious persecutions. 
Key Quotes:

• Fowle on motivation: “I felt compelled to help... I knew it was a risk... but I felt once I left the Bible somewhere that God would take it the rest of the way.” 
• On underground Christians: His actions were driven by awareness of their suppression. 
• A North Korean secret believer (via Open Doors): “Despite these dangers, the underground church in North Korea is alive. It worships not with sound, but with whispered prayers and memorised Scripture.” 

Fowle’s solitary gesture, though it cost him freedom, shone a light on a faith community that endures in silence and shadows.