Introduction Letter

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><B>home</B></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><B>Up Level</B></A></FONT></div> <div> Introduction Letter   |   <A HREF="id222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions about us">Questions about us</A>   |   <A HREF="holy_days_schedule___.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holy Days Schedule 2019">Holy Days Schedule - 2019</A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Statement of Beliefs">Statement of Beliefs</A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LiveSermons">Live-Sermons</A>   |   <A HREF="id282.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Footwashing">Footwashing</A>   |   <A HREF="id317.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Unleavened Gooooodies">Unleavened Gooooodies</A>   |   <A HREF="id353.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Unleavened Gooooodies part 2">Unleavened Gooooodies part 2</A>   |   <A HREF="2018_feast_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2018FeastInformation">2018-Feast-Information</A>   |   <A HREF="information_fot_2014.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information FOT 2018">Information FOT 2018</A>   |   <A HREF="holy_day_and_new_moon_calend.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holy Day and New Moon calendar for 2018">Holy Day and New Moon calendar for 2018</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <B>Introduction Letter</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions about us">Questions about us</A></div> <div> <A HREF="holy_days_schedule___.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holy Days Schedule 2019">Holy Days Schedule - 2019</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Statement of Beliefs">Statement of Beliefs</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LiveSermons">Live-Sermons</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id282.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Footwashing">Footwashing</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id317.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Unleavened Gooooodies">Unleavened Gooooodies</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id353.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Unleavened Gooooodies part 2">Unleavened Gooooodies part 2</A></div> <div> <A HREF="2018_feast_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2018FeastInformation">2018-Feast-Information</A></div> <div> <A HREF="information_fot_2014.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information FOT 2018">Information FOT 2018</A></div> <div> <A HREF="holy_day_and_new_moon_calend.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holy Day and New Moon calendar for 2018">Holy Day and New Moon calendar for 2018</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Introduction Letter</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> CHURCH OF GOD, IN TRUTH<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Dear Friends, </div> <div> Thank you for visiting the Church of God, In Truth's web site. I would like to share with you a little background information about why we were inspired to start this work. We left the Worldwide Church of God in December of 1991, because of the changes which the present administration was making by going back to the Protestant ways. At this time we did not know about the Postponements! We became aware in 1992 of the counterfeit Hebrew Calendar after joining another Church group that had left the W.C.G at the same time we did. After leaving this group because of their following postponements rules, we and others who believed as we did formed the The Church of God, In Truth. It started out of necessity because we could not find a Church with the NAME Church of God, who was teaching the Postponements were wrong. We found other Churches who did not believe in practicing postponements, but they were teaching the crescent moon or the astronomical conjunction was the new moon. Both phases postpone God's first day of the month most of the time. The true beginning of a month is the instant the dark moon phase starts. Sunset, sets the precedent for the dark moon to start a new month. A new month starts just like a new day starts, when the old Sun and Moon disappear. "He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down" (Psa 104:19). </div> <div> We are a small group who are warning the people in God's churches about the Postponements rules in the Jewish Hebrew calendar and we are preaching the good news of the coming Kingdom of God. When we first heard about the Postponements, we looked in the Bible for these rules. We wanted to prove that we should follow them, but we could not find the postponement rules in the Bible. We are trying to follow the Bible as close as possible. Trying not to add to or take away from what God's Word says. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you" (Deu 4:2). </div> <div> We have been trying to enlighten God's scattered, called out ones and their Leaders to be aware of the serious flaws that are taught and practiced in the Hebrew calendar. In 1993 we sent our booklet "Postponements, Another Mystery of the Ages, to over 25 Churches of God and their ministers. They did not feel they could change from following the Hebrew Calendar that was practiced and taught by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. </div> <div> We feel the end of this age is near. God told Daniel, "Go thy way, Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Dan 12:9), meaning the end of this age. Also in Dan. 12:7 "And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." Satan counterfeit calendar is taking the truth from the people of God. Now is the time of the scattering of God's people who want to follow God and not just the traditions of men. </div> <div> The Church of God, In Truth, has Jesus Christ as the head of the Church, under God the Father. We feel the minister must teach God's people the Truth from the Bible, not the traditions of men! It is the people's responsibility to PROVE ALL THINGS that are being taught from the BIBLE! We are to obey God and build Godly character through the power of God's Holy Spirit. We are trying to live by the Ten Commandments and the Doctrines of Hebrew 6. </div> <div> We are teaching the principles of the Bible and the importance of keeping the weekly Sabbath and God's true Holy Days. We teach that God is a family and we are to be a part of that family at the resurrection. We are teaching a way of life that will lead us to make the right decision and choose life as God has directed in His Word. </div> <div> The Church of God, In Truth, was formed by James Russell in February 1993, who had been a member in the Worldwide Church of God since 1967, ordained Elder in 1976. We believe that the true Church of God was organized at Pentecost. The real work of the Church is to reign and rule with Christ when He takes over His authority and power in the Kingdom. The true Church is composed of the body of believers who are actuated by the power of the Holy Spirit, holding allegiance to Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church. His Spirit is preparing the true members for the responsibilities which will be theirs in the coming administration of the affairs of His Kingdom. This Church is not under man-made laws but instead functions under the power of the Spirit and the Holy Bible as the laws of God. It keeps no earthly membership rolls, for all its members are known to God, having His Son as their Saviour. It has no buildings erected by men to which its members can point and say "this is my church," for each member are the Temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within. This fellowship does not revolve around social gatherings, but rests in the unity and power of the Holy Spirit securing the bonds of fellowship in a common task of witnessing to the truth -- in season and out! </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> In Christian Love, </div> <div> James Russell, Elder </div> </td> </tr></table></body>