May 2021, Vol. 29 No.

Study to shew
thyself approved
 Happy Mothers Day! We wish are May 30—June 12, 2021, for Eng-
each and every God-fearing woman
who has raised her children up in the Editorials lish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and LPD terms. Our
Spanish-speaking classes for 1st and
nurture and admonition of the Lord Oscar Pimentel 2nd terms begin June 6 and conclude
a joy-filled Mother’s Day. May her General Overseer with the rest of the school. If you
children rise up and call her blessed have not already done so, send your
and her husband give her praise. If we had more mothers application in. If you are still not sure about coming, decide
like you, the world would be a better place. “Strength and and determine today that nothing will hinder you from tak-
honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to ing part in BTI 2021! We anxiously await your arrival!
come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her
tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways
of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness”
& & &
(Prov. 31:25-27).
COME ONE, COME ALL to our Special Heritage
& & & Day Celebration! This year’s celebration will be held
outdoors (weather permitting) at a historically significant
location in Cleveland, TN. The place will be at the old
Congratulations to our graduates! They have worked Tabernacle site on Central Avenue, across from 533 Central
hard at their studies during changing and difficult times Avenue NE. Our General CPMA Coordinator, Bishop James
but, through and by God’s grace, they have accomplished Horne, will oversee this service, which will be held Sunday,
what they set out to do. We commend and congratulate all the 13th of June, starting at 2:00 pm. I would like to encourage
on a job well done. Stay close to God, seek Him with your members and ministers who are nearby, and as many of you
whole heart, and He will direct your path. who can, to make your way here to Cleveland to be with us
at the Arise/Shine anniversary celebration. We are expecting
& & & wonderful things from the Lord!

Bible Training Institute will soon be underway in

Cleveland, TN. We covet your prayers for the staff, teach-
ers, and students. There is a great need for well-trained,
well-equipped laborers. The Bible tells us that the Church
is the pillar and ground of the truth and, as we endeavor
in our school to put forth these truths, we trust the Holy
Ghost will enlighten the eyes of understanding and infuse
His divine power into everyone present at BTI. The dates
& & &
International Youth Camp and the 115th General
Assembly: IYC is August 27-30, 2021 at Johnston Woods,
near Cleveland, TN. The 115th Annual General Assembly
is slated for August 31—September 4, 2021, and we will
convene at Westmore Church of God, 24400 Legacy
Parkway NW, Cleveland, TN.

PHONE: (423) 339-8264 The Church of God e-mail: info@thechurchofgod.org

Visit us online at:
FAX: (423) 339-8268 General Headquarters
www.thechurchofgod.org
HEADQUARTERS PHONE EXTENSIONS: The Evening Light subscriptions
General Overseer’s Office #201 or change of address, contact
Bañuelos, Luis.....................#221 Asst. Editor.......................#335
Barick, Kryss.......................#250 Vicki Smith at Headquarters:
BTI Department...............#305
Denard, Elizabeth................#201 (423) 339-8264 ext. 211
CPMA Department...........#310
Hawkins, Robert.................#220 For issues regarding
Evangelism Department...#315
Hill, Jason...........................#230 Sunday School Literature or
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Kent, Grayson.....................#260 VLB Department..............#325 merchandise orders, contact:
Smith, Vicki........................#211 WMB Department............#330 Janet Talley at General Headquarters:
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ABM Department.............#300 (423) 339-8264 ext. 232
The Evening Light is an official publication of The Church of God with Oscar Pimentel, General Overseer, Editor & Publisher;
Colin Shuler, Assistant Editor. This paper is published monthly at General Headquarters, 197 Tillie Road, Cleveland, TN 37312. Those
desiring information or wishing to submit articles or testimonies for publication may contact the Assistant Editor at the following
address: P. O. Box 450, Charleston, TN 37310. E-mail: eveninglight@thechurchofgod.org. Subscription prices: $20 per year, or $30
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The Evening Light 2 May 2021

 Jesus Christ is Coming Again
Oscar Pimentel, General Overseer
The Church of God
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” 
(1 John 3:3).
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the
day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world” 
(1 John 4:17).

W
hat is hope anyway? Hope is a feeling Bethany. The terrain between these two locations is a
that what is wanted will happen; it is a range of hills (Bethany is situated on an eastern hillside).
desire accompanied by expectation. One It was here that Christ blessed them and, while He was
archaic definition is to trust or rely upon something or blessing them, was carried away up into heaven out
someone.  Hope  is not make-believe; it is not a wish. of their sight. But on this occasion, they were so well
Something that is “make-believe” has no chance of blessed that the Bible record states they returned to
coming to fruition and a “wish” is right there alongside Jerusalem with great joy. That’s right, with GREAT JOY!
it; but when you have Bible hope, you can confidently They worshipped God and glorified Him and headed
expect to receive because its object, God, is real. For a back to Jerusalem with great joy!
Christian, hope does not simply mean probability, but Imagine going back to Jerusalem, of all places, with
a confident expectation based upon a trust in God who joy. Jerusalem, the city that had just been dyed red
cannot lie. It is an expectation that is based on God’s with the blood of their Savior; whose inhabitants had
faithfulness. despised, falsely accused, sentenced to death, and then
People who don’t have a biblical world view inter- crucified the precious Lamb of God! Yet the blessing
pret  hope  to merely mean a strong belief that what they received at the hand of the resurrected Christ
they desire will come to pass. If you were to take a enabled them to return to Jerusalem, to that place of
survey and ask them what they hope for, many would persecution, havoc, threatening, and slaughter, not with
respond that they hope to have more money, peace, hesitancy, not with fear and trembling, not with sadness,
happiness, stability, fulfillment, fame, etc. This world, but with GREAT JOY!
and the prince of this world, offer a hope of their own Have you ever noticed how the blessings of God in
design, but it’s a fleeting hope that, at last, ends in dis- our lives enable us to have a different outlook on our
appointment because it’s based on temporal pleasures circumstances? His blessings raise our spiritual eyes
and earthly gain. above life’s stormy seas! His blessings spiritually lift us
What we find in 1 John 3:3, is a man of God who up above the shadows! His blessings do not necessarily
speaks of a hope that is very present in his own life. What change our life circumstances, but they can and do, if we
was or is this hope that he had? The apostle Peter spoke allow them, change us and our attitude and spirit. God’s
of it as a “lively hope” by the resurrection of Jesus Christ blessings in the inner man bring peace and joy in the
from the dead,  “…an inheritance incorruptible, and midst of every storm!
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we
for you” (1 Peter 1:4). It was certainly not an earthly hope are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 5:19). Paul said this
but an eternal and heavenly hope! because some had said there is no resurrection. If that
Seemingly, John sums up this  hope  with choice is the case, Paul is saying, then we have simply believed
words, in 1 John 3:2, when he says that Jesus  “…shall about a Christ who used to be alive but is now dead.
appear, [and] we shall be like him; for we shall see him as How miserable! There is no hope in that! But Paul knew
he is.” This is a great hope that will come to pass! Christ what John knew. Christ is risen from the dead and He
will appear in the clouds of glory to rapture away His sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for you
Church, and we shall be made like Him and shall see Him and me.
face to face. What a glorious day that will be! Oh, I pray On the hillside near Bethany, the Church was reas-
we are all looking forward to that day. sured that He would appear again!  “And when he had
The gospel according to Luke tells us that Christ “led spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up;
them [His disciples]”  from the city of Jerusalem to and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they

The Evening Light 3 May 2021

looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold,
two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said,
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).
It is no wonder the disciples were so happy. He is com-
ing back again! That promise has not changed.  There
has been no notification of any delay, there has been
no cancellation notice forwarded to His Church. He shall
appear—this hope is real and sure! We shall see His face!
We shall be like Him!
Christ spoke to His disciples before being crucified
and said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,
believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many man-
sions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).
John said, “it doth not yet appear what we shall be,” but
dear saint, isn’t it enough to know that we shall be like
Him? The Bible says, “…we shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed…for this corruptible must put on incorrup-
tion, and this mortal must put on immortality…”  (1 Cor.
15:51, 53). But John also said, “…as he is, so are we in this
world”  (1 John 4:17). Well, just how is He? Holy, pure,
obedient, righteous, near the Father, and the prince of
this world has nothing in Him. Therefore, as John states,
we who are God’s children are “in this world” embodying
Christ’s nature. That is to say, we can live a holy, clean,
and obedient life right now!
To have the hope that the Word speaks of means that
we have a confident expectation, and we doubt not that
it will come to pass. This kind of hope, this confident
expectation, is what causes a man or woman to take
action. When we know that someone is coming to our
house, what is it that often takes place? Well, we get to
cleaning the house. The floors are mopped, the carpet is
vacuumed, the windows are wiped down, the furniture
is dusted, etc. When we know that someone is coming,
we get ready for their arrival.
The Church of God is expecting the coming of Christ
because He said He would return.  “But of that day and
that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in
heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). No
one knows the day or the hour, but He is coming again.
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he
shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed
before him at his coming”  (1 John 2:28).  “Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is
the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was
manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth
The Evening Light
hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children,
let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin
is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God
doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:4-9).
There are things we can and must do to be ready:
abide in Him, purify ourselves, purge ourselves, lay aside
every weight and the sin that easily besets us, yield our-
selves over to God, and obey His every command. “As he
is, so are we in this world.”
A story is told of a wealthy businessman who hired a
man to keep and maintain his property, land, and home.
On any given day, this hired worker was found to be busy
cleaning and maintaining the wealthy man’s place. One day
an acquaintance of the wealthy man came by. He spoke to
the hired hand saying, “Day after day, I see you laboring,
keeping this place in immaculate shape, yet months have
gone by and the owner has never set foot here.” The hired
man said, “Sir, the man that hired me has not once come by
for over a year.”“Still, you clean and work on it as though he
would arrive tomorrow,” said the businessman’s acquain-
tance. “Today, sir. Today,” was the hired man’s reply.
May we also work on getting and being ready as
though Jesus Christ would return today. Not tomorrow,
but today, brethren. Today. &
HERITAGE
DAY
June 13, 2021
Don’t miss this special open air Sunday service
scheduled for 2:00 pm at the corner of Short Street
and Central Avenue in Cleveland, Tennessee—the
very spot where, 98 years ago, A. J. Tomlinson
stood on a box and encouraged a crowd of
listeners, who gained inspiration to go forward
with The Church of God! The ad that he placed
in the Daily Banner back in 1923 said, “Let the
neighborhood bring their chairs and camp stools.”
4 May 2021
 While Sister Bishop will be sorely missed by
all of us left behind, we rejoice in knowing she
is now in the presence of her Savior, and her
beloved husband. She served as our General
Womens Missionary Band Coordinator for The
Church of God from 2006 - 2016. She loved to
travel and meet our precious saints throughout
the world and promote the work of the WMB.
Sister Bishop faithfully served the Lord for
Betty Bishop 65 years. She was loved by the members of
the churches she pastored, and she certainly
March 5, 1943 had an impact on untold numbers of people
— through the years. She loved to sing and play
several different musical instruments. It can
March 26, 2021 truly be said, “She finished well.”

(Excerpts from A. J. Tomlinson’s Annual Address to the

32nd Assembly in 1937)

The subject is: Undaunted Courage and Faith.

Would anyone undertake to tell me that the words of
Jesus will fall to the ground as vain? Would anybody have
the audacity to say the prophecies will fail? How can God
deny Himself? Didn’t Paul say that He cannot deny Him-
self? Read, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he
cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).
To abide means to continue. That is, there is no playing
fast and loose on His part. He goes on with His work just
as if He has no opposition. If somebody undertakes to be
a little obstinate and put up his strength, either physical or
mental, against God’s Word, it is nothing more than a gentle
puff of wind.
A story is told of a little wiry male Jersey that was
standing on the railroad track one day. He saw a big loco-
motive coming and he bowed up his back and bellowed
as if to put up a fight. Just as he scraped the earth with his
front foot and made as if he was going against it with all
his force, the giant engine struck him and the little Jersey
was ground into sausage.
And God pays no more attention to oppositions and
doubts of His Word than that big locomotive did to that
little Jersey. His mighty train moves on at unvaried speed.
His program is continued with unabated interest and excite-
ment. All of the combined efforts of atheists and skeptics do
not affect the magnetic needle nor swerve it from its course.
God is still faithful and does not lose control of His own
handiwork. It is said that our mighty Christ upholdeth all
things by the word of His power. These statements still hold
good and never do fail. Yes, God is still faithful in taking
care of His own.
I see no reason for anyone being uneasy and scared when
God is still on His throne, guiding the affairs of His Church
as well as the affairs of nations… and since the worlds, which
He created, can never get out of line and run wild in the uni-
verse, because He holds everything in place and under His
control, why shouldn’t we fully expect His entire program
to be carried out? I want our own people and a million more
in the near future to become so enthused in God’s work and
plans that they will be filled with undaunted courage and
faith. Again, let me declare that God is faithful and cannot
deny Himself. It was the Holy Spirit that gave the prophets
utterance when they said this and that, and He is obligated to
Himself to see that everything is carried out to the letter, just
as the prophets have spoken. As for myself, if I ever had any
doubts, they are all gone now. This is the cause of my speak-
ing so bold and fearless. And right now, as this message is
running off, a kind of holy boldness takes possession of me.
In these last days when traditions are holding sway
among the Christian world is a time when it takes undaunted
courage and faith to come up against such powerful
breastworks and declare the last days message just as it is.
But I do not hesitate to say that this undaunted courage and
faith will win in the last days race to finish the work and
fill the House—Church... Don’t think about evil reports
but good reports. We know that Jesus is going to win, then
stick to Him. We know the Church is going to be presented
to Jesus a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, then stick to it and help to fill it... Outshine
everything that shines, like the sun outshines the moon and
stars. Smile everything else out of countenance. This is
the way the Church of God is going to rise above all other
governments and organizations. This is the way the Church
is going to reach its zenith.

The Evening Light 5 May 2021

 We must first understand and and whistles of “mainstream religion,”
believe that holiness is not a growth
restrictor. The devil wants us to believe, The Master of the House but we have food to feed people that
is sweet as honey and will satisfy their

Wants His House Full!

more than anything, that the preaching spiritual appetites. We experience the
of holiness will limit our ability to mighty presence and power of the Holy
grow. Remember, while many of us are Ghost, and we have a depth in the Word
Robert Montgomery
preaching to small congregations, Jesus that cannot be found elsewhere. It’s not
Batesville, AR
is working. He is talking to His sheep. because we are special in ourselves.
He is working on His sheep. He is preparing to bring His Remember, we are just lowly sheep. But we have the honor
sheep. Faith tells me that it’s happening. Faith tells me there and privilege of having heard God’s voice as He led us into the
are multitudes desiring a closer walk with Jesus Christ—a way Fold. And His voice will lead others to this wonderful, cov-
of holiness. What better way to experience a closer walk with enanted Body that seeks to obey Him in every way, to allow
the Lord than through a saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, Jesus to be our Head, and desires that He has the preeminence
and covenanted life? in ALL THINGS!
We must also understand that “the message” (our As we fill the house, we must understand there is a
message) is not a growth restrictor. Paul said, “For I am not difference between being in the building and being in the
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Body. We cannot let our desire to be clean, holy, and perfected,
salvation to every one that believeth.” Over and over we see create a fear of being “contaminated” by sinners. They need to
in the Word, that the Lord WILL perform the work He began come so they can taste and see the Lord’s goodness. Sinners in
in us. The work in us is to present us blameless and faultless the midst do not mean the Bride is not ready. Alcohol breath at
at His appearing. Pastors and teachers are for the work of the the altar doesn’t mean the Bride is not ready. Drug-addicted,
ministry and the perfecting of the saints. We have a beautiful, adulterous, ungodly clothed, or jewelry-wearing sinners in the
life-saving, life-changing, Spirit-filling, God-approving, holy- building don’t mean the Bride is not ready. Oh no! It means
living message to help perfect God’s children! Holy living the Bride wants the house FILLED! If we can get them in the
starts at salvation, is made possible through sanctification, building, we can get them to the altar. If we can get them to
becomes powerful with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and the altar, we can get them to Jesus. If we can get them to Jesus,
becomes intimate in a covenant relationship with Jesus. What HE can save them, HE can sanctify them, and HE can fill them
a message! with the Holy Ghost! Let’s FILL THE HOUSE, Church! Our
“Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great sup- Savior wants it full!
per, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to Can you not see your house full? Can you not see your
say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now altars full? Take a moment to meditate on that. Let that be your
ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. dream. Let that be your inner burning desire. Let your mind
The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and and heart become like the Lord’s, who wants to fill the house
I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. so that everyone who comes can be fed with the wonderful,
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go life-giving, life-changing bread of heaven.
to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another Don’t let the devil cause you to believe that our message
said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So restricts our growth. Oh no! Our message is God’s message—
that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then it’s life-giving and many want it, and everyone (sinner and
the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go sheep) NEEDS IT! “And he is the propitiation for our sins:
out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”
in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the (1 John 2:2). Christ shed enough blood to eradicate the sins
blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast of the whole world (whosoever will). Let’s get excited about
commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto bringing them in, and let’s FILL THE HOUSE!
the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and com-
pel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say
unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall Georgia Youth
taste of my supper” (Luke 14:16-24).
Yes, it is a narrow way. Yes, it’s true that few are going to June 27 - July 2, 2021
find it. But one day to the Lord is as a thousand years, so I’m Camp Tygart
thinking that “few” to the Lord is a multitude to us! Praise Ray City, GA
God! I want to encourage you to FILL THE HOUSE! Go out
and compel them to come. FILL THE HOUSE! Go out and Ages 6-17 - $120
find the hurting, the blind, the broken, the needy, and bring Evangelist - Jacob Anders
them in. FILL THE HOUSE! The supper is ready! Jesus has Contact:
a table spread where the saints of God are fed and He invites Coordinator Rene Rowell - 913-539-5103
everyone to come and dine! Come and dine at The Church Director Lawrence Muñoz - 423-284-5404
of God. We have a message. We may not have all the bells

The Evening Light 6 May 2021

 In the spirit of our current theme, I would
like to feature as many of your testimonies as
possible describing how God inspired your
Sunday Schools to GATHER during last year’s
challenging circumstances. Please share your
testimonies with me by e-mail at
scampos@thechurchofgod.org
Shanna Campos
General Sunday School Coordinator
Enjoy this testimony from The Church of God, El Monte, CA:
“My name is Dinora Barrios, Regional Coordinator, Superin-
tendent, and Sunday School teacher at The Church of God in El
Monte, California. 2020 was a challenging year for all of us, but
we can still say, ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.’ Because of
the pandemic, starting March 2020, we had to close our services
and remain in our homes, but this was no obstacle to our Sunday
School. We broadcasted through social media every Sunday from
our homes—as the apostle Paul said, ‘but the word of God is not
bound’ (2 Tim. 2:9). In September, we met at the park to have our
services and we watched the people come to listen, shared a meal
with them, and had a time for games afterward.
“We are back at our local church now and God is moving might-
ily. To God be the glory! As a local church, we are always active.
Although some of our members have died because of the virus,
we know that God is in control of all things. There is still a lot to do;
let us work while we wait on the Lord. God bless your home and
your family.”

for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb.

How Does a Good Steward 7:15-17). Christ is our high priest once and for
Handle Tithes? all, and we now render our tenth to Him. “And
He pays them cheerfully and with gratitude here men that die receive tithes; but there he
(2 Cor. 9:7). receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that
Tithe paying has been an established he liveth” (Heb. 7:8). Notice that “receiveth”
teaching in the Church since the days of the is present tense. We, who are Christ’s “royal
apostles. But wait… some say that tithing was Financial priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), are still to pay
only a part of the Mosaic law; ignoring the fact Communiqué tithes to our high priest today. This is a New
that there were biblical concepts in existence Jason Hill, General Treasurer Testament concept. When you pay tithes, give
before the law of Moses was even written. thanks to Jesus for being your high priest,
Abraham knew of sacrificing animals for offerings to God and blessing, and protecting you.
he also knew of paying tithes. Jacob did as well. He promised To add to this, when asked about paying taxes, Jesus replied
beforehand to pay and he must have followed through! He in Mark 12:17, “Render to Caesar [government] the things
was blessed with great wealth when he returned to meet his that are Caesar’s [pay your taxes],” then followed with, “and
brother, Esau. This was before the law. The Mosaic law didn’t to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”
establish all the concepts that were to be followed, but it did This shows us that there is a tribute owed to civil authorities
outline and organize them into a repeatable pattern. If paying (for protection, services, helps, etc.) as well as a tribute (tithe)
tithes is meant for us today we should see it established, not owed to God for His benefits—and Jesus said we are to pay
only in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament as well. it. In Malachi, chapter 3, we find these same benefits applied
To help us understand, let’s start by considering the signifi- to paying tithes. It says that paying tithes brings increase and
cance of tithing. blessings, as well as protection from the devourer (the devil).
In Hebrews 7:1-4, the writer explains that Melchisedec was A good steward knows he is to use money wisely, and
the high priest during the time of Abraham (before the law of by not paying tithes he is not only being disobedient, but
Moses). He then notes that, under the Mosaic law, the people he’s losing potential increase and throwing money away in
paid tithes to the priesthood. The priests received this tithe and devoured expenses that he could have been protected from.
then paid tithes on it to the high priest. This second tithe was Another way to see this is in Haggai 1:6 when the people were
called the tithe of the tithes (see Num. 18:26-28; Neh. 10:38) being disobedient by forgetting the Lord and His work. The
and is the model used by the Church to establish the system Bible says that God caused their wages to go into a “bag with
where ministry pays tithes to General Headquarters. The tithe holes,” meaning they couldn’t hold onto money. Something
of the tithes was also a way to distinguish who the high priest kept taking it away (the devourer).
was. Remember, in Hebrews, that Abraham paid tithes to Paying tithes helps fund the work of the Lord through the
Melchisedec, which identified him as his high priest. But we ministry. When we don’t pay, we are forgetting the Lord’s
have another high priest in Jesus Christ: “…for that after the work and focusing on our own things. We will suffer for this.
similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is Let us pay tithes and be blessed, protected, and keep showing
made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after that Jesus is our high priest!
the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest Submitted by: Michael Steptoe

The Evening Light 7 May 2021

 Ecuador
“...praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the
children of men!” (Psa. 107:8).
What a wonderful blessing it was to travel to Ecuador with the General
Overseer, Bishop Oscar Pimentel, and the National Overseer, Brother Abraham
Ramos, to be with the saints there.
Brother Ramos has been working with several new people and congrega-
tions. The BTI Department was asked to come to Guayaquil, Ecuador, to
teach on the Church and Bible doctrine. It was beautiful to see these precious
saints receive divine revelation and accept the Church message and doctrine
Paul Horton with great excitement and joy. As a result, 3 were saved, 11 baptized, and 13
General BTI Coordinator new covenant members were added to The Church of God.

BTI students receiving National Overseer Abraham

their study material from the Ramos teaching the students about
“Who Is She” series. Bible Truths. Bishop Horton
teaching on the History
of the Church accom-
panied by Bishop
Pimentel as interpreter.

Staff and students of BTI in Ecuador.

General Overseer,
Headquarters representatives, Brother Pimentel and Brother Horton, Bishop Pimentel,
were also able to visit two of our local congregations where the Lord blessed mightily. helping to teach on
Thank you for your prayerful support of Bible Training Institute! the History of The
Church of God.

Water baptisms that took place in the Pacific Ocean in the town of Las Playas, Ecuador. Our National Overseer set the
tone by sharing the Word of God and leading in singing as the ministers and saints headed down to the water. Praise the Lord!

The Evening Light 8 May 2021

 Honduras
On March 11, 2021, the Lord opened the door
for World Missions Coordinator, Robert Hawkins,
General Treasurer, Jason Hill, and General Head-
quarters Interpreter, Luis Banuelos, to travel to the
country of Honduras for a Ministers Meeting and
some local church visits. It had been approximately
one year since any of these brothers had traveled
overseas, due to the COVID pandemic restrictions,
and they were excited and thankful to be with their
brethren once again and lift their voices to magnify
Jesus Christ in the world.
Our missionaries were wonderfully
hosted by the National Overseer, Bishop
Julio César Cruz, and his lovely wife,
Sister Fergie, and were happy to meet
little Julio Daniel, their firstborn son.
Our travelers were received with great
love at every local church visited, and
there was an excitement in the air in
every service. The saints came from
far and wide, some in the backs of pickup trucks
and some on foot, and the district overseers and
pastors did a fine job moderating the meetings.
Brother Hill spoke on divine healing and gave
his miraculous testimony and he preached about
the Word of God. Brother Hawkins spoke on
Theocratic Government Versus Self-Will and
preached about A City Which Hath Foundations,
Whose Builder and Maker is God.
More than several souls testified
to salvation, sanctification, being
filled with the Holy Ghost, as well
as divine healing! Praise the Lord!
God gave Brother Bañuelos the
knowledge and strength to interpret
every message and the anointing to
preach the messages the same as the
brethren. We are very thankful for the ministry of Brother
Bañuelos and so were the saints in Honduras.
Because of your compassion and faithful giving, our
brothers were able to distribute $2,000 in hurricane relief
funds and $250 to feed children on this trip. How touching
it was to hear the humble testimonies of families that were
affected by disastrous and deadly weather (Honduras was hit
The Evening Light
by two hurricanes in a short period of time). One
young couple said that they lost almost everything
and were in a hard situation, but your prayers and
generosity helped them tremendously and gave
them courage and hope in the Lord.
One of the highlights of the trip was a Ministers
Meeting in the beautiful and mountainous area of
Lake Yojoa. Honduran pastors, ministers, and lead-
ers came from all over the country to enjoy God’s
presence, one another’s fellowship, and a full
day of classes taught by the General Headquar-
ters Representatives. The subjects covered were
at the request of the General Overseer, Bishop
Oscar Pimentel, and included the topics: The
Purpose and Function of the General Assem-
bly and The Selection Process of the General
Overseer. The brethren were very attentive to
the subject matter and there was a time of ques-
tions and answers afterward. We would
also like to thank our hard-praying and
hard-working WMB ladies, who always
cook the best food in any country we
visit. Thank you, sisters!
Our brothers are glad to report that
The Church of God is alive, well, and
flourishing in the country of Honduras.
The brethren there possess a vision of
God’s last days program and respect
theocratic government, and the Lord is truly
blessing them for it. With such a good and
sweet spirit prevailing amongst the leaders
and members, we foresee nothing but blessing
upon blessing, and victory upon victory por La
Iglesia de Dios en Honduras! ¡Gloria a Dios!
9 May 2021

R. O. Covey
White Wing Messenger,
April 8, 1967
READING IS MORE
THAN LOOKING AT, AND
PRONOUNCING WORDS.
I once had a fourth-grade pupil who read so slowly that
it was nerve-racking to listen to her. After encouraging her
to strive for a reading speed comparable to the average
speaking rate, she was soon reading so rapidly that she
almost whooped when taking a breath between sentences.
Upon checking her comprehension, I found that she was
understanding absolutely nothing of what she read.
At the first, she read so slowly because she did not
recognize, and could not pronounce, the words. After having
learned her phonetics, she could pronounce almost any word
without assistance, but she was concentrating on only one
thing—speed. It was hard to believe that the child had been
passed until she had reached the fourth grade without having
learned to read. But, with the cooperation of her parents,
who were both ex-teachers, we mastered the situation.
“What is Written...? How readest thou?” Luke 10:26
OF COURSE, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT the read-
ing of the Scriptures just now, and most of us know some
saints with hearts of gold who must depend largely upon the
preaching and teaching of others for their knowledge of the
Word of God because they cannot read with understanding.
Whether or not the story is far-fetched, I do not know,
but it has been said that a certain brother once preached quite
fervently to the sisters in his church on the subject, “Top-
knot, Come Down!” He had gathered from his reading of
the Scripture that they were not to wear their hair in knots on
the top of their heads. You can find his text tucked away in
Matthew 24:17 (incidentally, just two verses above this we
find the admonition, “whoso readeth, let him understand”).
Whether he made his point or not we failed to hear;
nevertheless, the story itself makes a point. If his congrega-
tion’s hearing (understanding) was as dull as this preacher’s
comprehension, think how easily they might have been
deceived in weightier matters!
WE ARE REPEATEDLY WARNED in the New Testa-
ment that deceivers and false teachers will be prevalent in
the last days. We cannot afford to let the other person do all
of our reading for us. Neither can we trust just anyone to
expound the Scripture rightly. If we are truly sincere in our
desire to “make heaven our home,” it behooves every one
of us to be able to read and understand the inspired Word of
God by the help of the Holy Ghost.
I have always admired the Bereans. It is said of them, in
Acts 17:11, 12, “These were more noble than those in Thes-
salonica, in that they received the word with all readiness
The Evening Light
of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those
things were so. Therefore many of them believed...”
Immediately before this, at Thessalonica, the unbelieving
Jews—the very ones who should have been the most ready to
believe—stirred up such an uproar that the Church brethren
sent Paul and Silas away in the night for their protection.
Their trouble, of course, was not that they could not read,
but that they would not believe what they read. On the other
hand, the Bereans nobly gave Paul and Silas an opportunity
to present the message to them. Wisely, however, they read
the Scriptures for themselves, making sure they were not
being deceived. If Paul and Silas had been false prophets,
the ability of the Bereans to read and understand would have
saved them from deception.
Since the Christian life is the principal vocation of every
saved man or woman, isn’t it reasonable to expect that they
give that vocation some study and that they put their very
best into it? It is a very poor excuse to say, “I just can’t
understand the Bible. I’m a poor reader—always was—and
there is no use in wasting my time trying to learn now. I have
confidence in others and I trust them to tell me the truth.”
Yet, if the opportunity for a better-paying job came up and,
with a little extra study and training, they felt that they could
qualify, would they say, “It’s no use—I’m just the loser
because I know I couldn’t learn it”? No; they’d probably try,
and they’d probably make the grade.
It is surprising how many Christian workers do not know
how to use a concordance or a Bible Dictionary. Many misuse
the Scriptures simply by confusing two similar words. Others
will base a whole point on one isolated verse of Scripture when,
rightly divided, it means something else entirely.
There is nothing more important than the Word of God.
All the other things which take up so much of our lives will
eventually pass away; but at the end of the way, we are going
to need something to stand on. Since the Word of God is the
only thing that will not pass away, it is reasonable that it is the
best footing we can have. But when we are standing on wrong
interpretations, and Scriptures that have been wrested to the
destruction of souls, we are not standing on the Word of God.
When we are standing on creeds and “hatched up” articles of
faith, framed by men, we are not standing on the Word of God,
no matter how religious-sounding these things may seem.
To be left out at the time of the rapture because we read
amiss, or depended upon someone else to tell us everything,
would be more tragic than to be cheated out of a large for-
tune simply because we could not read the will of the person
who left it to us. If someone was leaving me a legacy of
$10,000, it would pay me to be able to read it for myself lest
someone should read it to me, leaving off the first figure! By
the same token, when I read my Heavenly Father’s will for
me, I want to know all of the requirements and conditions
for myself, lest the devil, as an angel of light, should side-
track me into the realms of the lost! &
10 May 2021
 (The following article first appeared
in much” (Luke 16:10). Sometimes a
in the White Wing Messenger, ABM
pastor or band leader can be unjust and
Edition, December 27, 1986).
not realize it. If we as God’s leaders
OLDER SHEEP visit only those who need help the most
and neglect the strong, healthy sheep,
NEED LOVE, TOO a hunger for spiritual care goes unmet,
Pastors and band leaders, as a and we are not fulfilling our duty to
general rule, are very caring individ- “feed the sheep.”
uals, but I wonder if we sometimes Feeding the sheep means having
forget that “old sheep” need love too. Deborah Perkins care one for another, remembering
How many times has a pastor or band General ABM Coordinator that all members are members one of
leader gone that extra mile to visit a new member or a sinner another. In 1 Peter 1:22, we read, “Seeing ye have purified
who has shown some interest in the Church? It was felt that your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
they needed love, kind words or encouragement when they unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
or their family were in the hospital, had a family emergency, with a pure heart fervently.” To have a pure heart we must
or just needed someone to talk to. Pastor or band leader, did have the same care one for another. It doesn’t matter if
you go at those times? Were you thinking, “I am busy with so a brother or sister is rich or poor, sick or well, a babe in
many church problems, but this is a new member, a babe in Christ or on a solid foundation. As God’s leaders we must
Christ”? Or…maybe you said, “Here is a sinner that we might give of ourselves to every member. James wrote, “But if
be able to win to the Lord,” and you went, regardless of the ye have respect to persons [favoring one over another], ye
personal sacrifice that it meant. commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors”
It is easy to say, “Well, I won’t need to go visit Brother (James 2:9).
John and his family because they are strongly rooted peo- As we reach out in genuine love and concern to one
ple of God. They do not need special care as much as the another, God’s Church will grow stronger, healthier, and
new members and sinners.” Every soul is important. Within happier, because we will be a part of God’s circle of love
each person lies a need for care. Jesus told Peter to feed His which encloses all His children.
sheep and lambs. He did not say, “If you run short of feed —Brenda Dial, Band Leader
or time, you may forget the strong (rooted and grounded) Churches reporting 100% in Emergency $:
sheep of the flock (church).” He said “Feed [take care of]
Long Lane, England Monticello Ridge, GA
my sheep” (John 21:17).
Jesus said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faith- Miami (Spanish), FL Lucama, NC
ful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also Trion (Spanish), GA Las Cruces, NM

God’s Unchanging Word Pastor Needed:

A loving shepherd
For feelings come and feelings go, for a small flock
And feelings are deceiving; in Pennsylvania.
My warrant is the Word of God, Should you feel led,
Naught else is worth believing. please contact the Overseer.
jhorne@thechurchofgod.org
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word

Till soul and body sever:
For, though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand forever.
—Martin Luther

The Evening Light 11 May 2021

 We extend our heartfelt sympathy
and prayers of comfort to the friends and
families of the following ministers:
Bishop Clinton McGriff of Vidor, TX—4/06/21
Permanent Evangelist James Kilgore, Jr.
Grayson Kent
Comminication Business Manager
Ministry Through Technology
As stated in last month’s article, the Communications and
Media Department of the Church was blessed with an addi-
tional donation to purchase items featured in the December
issue of The Evening Light.
2M/E Advanced Panel
The 2M/E broadcast console is an upgrade from our 1M/E
console which we used for several years. This upgrade enables
us to more efficiently produce multilingual live content and
connect more video devices simultaneously. The primary
benefit derived from this new panel is the ability to provide
simultaneous, customized videos for all viewers, no matter the
language.
In-Ear Monitors
Our new Sennheiser EW IEM G4 systems
provide us with the ability to independently mix
audio for each musician, singer, and speaker
during our live events while minimizing stage
noise and feedback.
In the studio, where
noise has to be heav-
ily controlled, we’re able to provide needed sound monitor-
ing for musicians while keeping the environment suitable for
quality recording. With the increased audio-visual production,
during the last year, there has been a significant increase in the
requests for music production. These IEMs have helped us to
satisfy this need.
The Evening Light
of Townley, AL—4/06/21
Evangelist Barbara Hargraves of
Anderson, SC—4/08/21
Wireless Microphones
The Shure ULXD4Q is a digital
wireless system that offers four chan-
nels of uncompromising audio quality
and RF signal stability. In
addition to the receiver, we
purchased two Shure Beta
87A handheld transmitters as well as two belt packs for
headsets, lapels, or instruments.
Digital Keyboard/Organ/Synth
The Yamaha YC88 packs all
of the character of an organ and a
grand piano into one portable 88-key
stage piano. It is the leading lifelike-
sounding sound emulator on the market,
and its triple-action hammer-style keyboard is
designed to feel like a grand piano. Having our
own high-end portable synthesizer has helped us
prioritize in-house music production.
In addition to these purchases, we’ve also acquired several
road cases which have allowed us to safely transport all of our
new equipment to events such as HYPE (in Nampa and Cleve-
land) and will be very useful for all future events. We were
also able to purchase two movable wash lights to improve our
stage lighting during live events.
We are currently in the process of researching new
broadcast ENG lenses for our cameras and plan to purchase
the upgraded lenses within the upcoming months.
As we continue to produce studio content, as well as
become more active in events beyond the General Assembly
and BTI, the need for additional equipment and resources
becomes paramount. At this present time, our most pressing
needs are for additional wireless microphones ($6,000), a sec-
ond in-ear monitor system ($3,200), and camera viewfinders
($1,795/each).
As always, we ask that you prayerfully consider partnering
with us to continue growing this department and reaching lost
souls all around the world through media efforts. To give,
visit www.thechurchofgod.org/give, call us at (423) 339-
8264, or send your donation to P.O. Box 450, Charleston,
TN 37310.
12 May 2021
 “...who is a chosen man, that I may more important today. At that time
appoint over her? for who is like me? we had no idea who the next General
and who will appoint me the time? and Overseer would be, but the heart of the
who is that shepherd that will stand meeting was to find God’s will while the
before me?” (Jer. 49:19). Holy Ghost was reviving us and doing
The Church of God is my life and I something very special that we prayed
am ever grateful to the Lord to be saved, would permeate throughout the Church.
sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, It’s hard to believe that Brother
and a member of His Church. My vision Pimentel has now served us for over
has brought and kept me through many James R. Horne five years. I believe my General Over-
things, and I have no problem saying General CPMA Coordinator seer and the Lord know my heart when
today that I still stand with the whole I say this. Have I personally agreed
Bible and I love The Church of God. I believe in the doctrine, with every decision the General Overseer has made? I can
Advice to Members, and I support our General Overseer. honestly say, “No.” But, I do respect his office and realize that
I am grateful to the Lord for allowing me firsthand experi- it is not you nor I who have been placed in that position. We
ence in the history of the Church. I was privileged to serve are not privy to the meetings and happenings of his office. He
under Brother Pruitt and, with his decision to retire, to take is doing what he can, and this dialogue from the Overseers
part in the Presbytery Meetings of 2006 and, later in 2015, meeting in 2015 is a good reminder of the heavy expectations
in which Brother Stephen Smith and Brother Oscar Pimentel placed upon him, as perhaps sometimes we forget that he is
were chosen to serve as Interim Overseer, respectively, and I just a man. We are still striving for perfection and to be like
saw the installation of these men in the General Assemblies Christ. Brother Pimentel is our General Overseer, of which
that followed. As a personal witness to the discussions and we only have one at a time. Let’s be reminded that we need
happenings of the Presbytery Meetings, I have seen the weight to support his office. In theocracy, it is Christ who is at the
come upon these men as they were selected to fill this solemn Head of the Church, then the Assembly, and then the office of
office. I felt led to write and share, with the General Church, a General Overseer. All levels of the Church are accountable to
discussion that occurred in our 2015 Overseers Meeting, that God, and Church of God people must know the value of this
I feel goes well with our theme. special position and give it the respect it is due.
As the Overseers prayed and discussed things, the Mod- The Lord impressed me with a greater burden to pray for
erator cited from the 1943 minutes (regarding the selection Brother Pimentel. Pray that God will keep his heart and spirit
of M. A. Tomlinson to serve as Interim Overseer) how the strong. Pray the Lord will keep him in humility and give him
Overseers in that early meeting began to share the attributes discernment and wisdom and always a heart after God’s own
“they desired to see in a General Overseer. No preconceived heart. Pray the attributes that the Overseers discussed in 2015
ideas, but just from their heart.” Some of the men said they will shine through in his spiritual life and in all of ours as
wanted the spirit of the former Overseer [A. J. Tomlinson], well. Pray for his, and his family’s, physical and spiritual pro-
a man with a good report within and without, with a spirit tection. In these last days, we must resolutely stand with our
to treat rich and poor alike, and other qualities. This served appointed leader. When things aren’t going just as you think
to knit the brethren together at that time as they reflected they should, or perhaps he’s not meeting your checklist, ask
and prayed together for God’s will. In light of this historic yourself again, as they did, “Who feels qualified?” It’s not for
example, the Overseers in the 2015 meeting also began to anyone else to try to fill that role either. Brethren, let us hold
list characteristics and qualities they would like to see in the up his hands during the battle, and let’s see the Church go on
new General Overseer. As men came forward to share their to “Victory on top of victory!” It would serve us well to go
feelings, a heartfelt list of attributes developed one-by-one, back and read the love and unity found in the minutes from
and the significance of these were all so important. Knowing that meeting and the following General Assembly.
these expectations, the sobering question was asked, “Who Join this mighty last days work by becoming a member of
feels qualified?” What a list this was to consider. Of course, the CPMA! Don’t forget your local CPMA workday in June.
no one could say that they fully met these qualifications and,
if they would have felt so, it would have no doubt disqualified
them. The Holy Ghost was truly working and changing us
there in that room. Later, mention was made of the fear that CHURCHES 100% in CPMA this MONTH:
rested on our former General Overseers and the weight of the
office: “I want us to know the gravity of what we’re talking Lebanon, AL Montecello Ridge, GA Rockingham, NC
about here and remember the next time someone doesn’t meet
our checklist, what they are going through. Maybe instead of Bakersfield, CA Des Moines, IA Las Cruces, NM
a critical spirit, that we would say a prayer.”
The thought was shared about we Overseers needing our
Miami (Spanish), FL Ocoyotepec, Mexico Southside, TN
hearts melted together and how we wanted to be one voice. Trion (Spanish), FL Mexico City, Mexico
“Whoever God has, we’re going to have to undergird him and
support him in his work.” This is still true and perhaps even

The Evening Light 13 May 2021


Let God’s Word THROUGH!
Colin Shuler, Assistant Editor
Pocahontas, AR
“Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for
therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,
and not to covetousness”  (Psa. 119:35, 36). What child of
God hasn’t said, “I should read the Bible more”? I can’t even
try to count the number of sermons, lessons, and devotional
studies that have encouraged me to take or “make” more time
to read God’s Word. It seems the Psalmist could relate. His
earnest plea was to ask God for help. “Incline my heart” or,
help me to desire Your testimonies and not to follow after
covetousness. The drive of wanting more is very strong and
the urge to find and have more stuff defines many people’s
lives today. Wouldn’t it be something if we could have such a
desire to find and have more of God’s Word in us?
When Jesus was confronted by the unbelieving Jews, who
sought to kill Him for acknowledging Jehovah as His Father,
He said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have
eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”  (John
5:39). It has been said by commentators, that the word
“search” in this passage means “a diligent, faithful, anxious
investigation.” The usage is properly applied to miners
who dig in the ground with intensity and anticipation equal
to the value of what they hope to find, and the greater the
treasure, the greater their desire. This sense must have been
in David’s heart when he prayed, “Open thou mine eyes, that
I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psa. 11:18).
We often sing a song that says, “I want to know more about
my Lord.” This was David’s prayer—to see more and find
what was not so easily viewed. Paul’s words come to mind
here, from 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, “…the Spirit searcheth all
things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that
are freely given to us of God.”
If we embrace the Bible as God’s preserved Word for us
today, then we certainly must want to know more about it!
Martin Luther said, “I study my Bible like I gather apples. First,
I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall. Then I shake
each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each
branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf. I search
the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake
every limb—study book after book. Then I shake every branch,
giving attention to the chapters. Then I shake every twig, [by]
a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and
their meanings.”
Are we crazy to think God has expressed His heart to
men and His words are preserved for us today? Some say
so, but are we surprised? Peter said,“…beloved, I now
write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by
The Evening Light
way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words
which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days
scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:1-3).
Remember our first Scripture reference?  “Incline my
heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.”  It
should come as no surprise, in these last days, to find
ourselves scorned by people whose only thoughts are to
please themselves. But God promises blessedness to those
who continue to delight in His Word.  “Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful  [a word that literally translates  scoffer]. But his
delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he
meditate day and night” (Psa. 1:1, 2). Scoffers come in all
shapes and sizes. Sometimes they’re strangers, sometimes
they are friends, and they can even be family members
(which can wound us deeply) but we must never be enticed
or pressured by anyone to forsake the Lord or His Word.
Lest we think delight in or even constant meditation on
God’s Word is all we need, the Scripture reminds us that we
must go further. “For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which
ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but
as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually wor-
keth also in you that believe”  (1 Thess. 2:13). Even Paul
acknowledged that the benefits of his God-breathed words
were not fully realized if they weren’t allowed to work in and
through the hearers. An early 20th century evangelist told of a
man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible
although he had “gone through it several times.” “Let it go
through you once,” replied the preacher, “Then you will tell a
different story!” This is why Paul would say to Timothy, “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righ-
teousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). The word
“throughly” is often misquoted as “thoroughly,” but I like the
through aspect of its correct usage. God’s Word is meant to
go through and change us into what we were always meant to
be—His wholly obedient children.
If you are a Christian today, it’s very likely because you
heard the Word of God that came through someone else.
And they received it from another who had let it go through
them. It’s too bad we can’t get a DNA test to see who our
spiritual forefathers are, but we all go “way back.” We must
know that we haven’t arrived at this present moment to let the
work of God’s Word stop with us—it has to go through and
keep going. Lost souls are counting on us. Our coworkers,
friends, family members, and people we don’t even know yet
are counting on us to let God’s Word through to them.
We have the chance to speak to a generation that’s under
more last days pressure than we felt when we first believed
(and it is likely they will face more persecution than we
have), if anybody needs God’s Word—they do! Will you
delight in His Word and let it through? &
14 May 2021

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I will I will
meditate delight
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MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men
ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was
in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded
man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came
unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he
would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself,
Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this
widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual
coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the
unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect,
which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long
with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find
faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8).
How many times have we given up on the precious souls
of our sin-sick loved ones, neighbors, and acquaintances
ever receiving salvation? Their lack of commitment and
concern for their own souls causes us such grief and
anguish that sometimes we just give up instead of crying
out to God even more! We give in to discouragement
The Evening Light
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ATTENTION WMB LADIES:
Please organize your WMB prayer bands.
Let us pray together for the mission
fields and for the harvesting of souls!
instead of being like that widow in the Scripture above. She
was persistent and knew that the judge was the one able to
grant her petition. Today we must persistently cry out to the
One who is able to grant our petitions! He is greater than
any man here on this earth and “…is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).
God wants us to be encouraged today through His
Word to have righteous expectations of what He can do for
the lost souls around us. Let His power work in us, pray
through us, and minister to the needs of those who are lost.
Our Advice to Members instructs us not to yield ourselves
to discouragement or despondency. Despondency is a state
of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage. Let’s not
lose courage, but through God’s Word, and the encourage-
ment and prayers of our fellow-laborers, pray like never
before! The eternal souls of those around us are depending
on our prayers. Remember that we “ought always to pray,
and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
—Betsy Cox, Alabama
15 May 2021
The Church of God
P.O. Box 450
Charleston, TN 37310
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EVANGELISM CAMPAIGN
Through the inspiration of NE Regional Overseer, Bishop Noé Solis, an
Evangelism Campaign was held March 26-28, 2021, in Brentwood, NY; New
Haven, CT; and New Rochelle, NY. The Holy Ghost was present in a wonderful,
encouraging way from the opening night and the excitement continued to build.
There was a very good attendance in every service with visitors at each place
of worship. There was great liberty in the Spirit as the truth of God’s Word was
preached, which ushered in powerful moves of the Holy Ghost.
This region is READY, they are SET, and they have pressed the GO button!
Brother Jorge Granados, pastor of the Brentwood, New York mission and the
New Rochelle church, and Brother Rosario de la Cruz, the New Haven, Con-
necticut mission pastor, along
with the saints of God at all
three locations, are working
to reach souls and the Lord
is blessing their efforts! God
is moving by His Spirit as we
each answer the call to GO!