James Russell, Elder:
Dear Brethren and Co-workers;
I would like to share with you a little background information about the Church Of God, In Truth, [COGIT]
and why God inspired a few people to start this work. My wife Joyce and I left the Worldwide Church of God in
December of 1991, because of the changes the present administration was making, by going back to the Protestant
teaching in which I was raised, while growing up.
At this time we did not know about the annual Postponements of God’s Sabbaths! But, we had learned of
the importance of keeping God’s Sabbaths! “Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths
you shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the
LORD that doth sanctify you. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath
throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever:
for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed” (Exo 31:13,
16-17).
We became aware in 1992 of the counterfeit Hebrew Calendar after attending another Church group that had
left the W.C.G at the same time we did. After leaving this group because of their continuing to follow the
postponements of God’s annual Sabbaths. 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 did find another Church who did not believe in practicing, postponing
or delaying God’s Sabbaths, but they were teaching the astronomical conjunction was the new moon to use for the
first day of the month. We also found some churches went by the crescent moon for their first day of the month.
Both moon phases postpone God's first day of the month! The true beginning of a month is the instant the dark
moon phase starts. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And God said, Let there be light: and
there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God
called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Gen
1:1, 3-5). Sunset, sets the precedent for the beginning dark moon to start a new month. A new month starts just like
a new day starts, when the old moons light disappears! Then we read, "He appointed the moon for seasons the sun
knows his going down" (Psa 104: 19).
Another thing we did when we first heard about the “tradition of mens” Postponements rules, instituted by
the Pharisee Hillel II, was to search in the Bible for them. We wanted to “prove all things,” as we are advised to
in 1 Thess 5:21, to see if we should follow them. But we could not find, anywhere, the postponement rules in
God’s instruction book, the Bible for keeping them! We know "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" (Deut 4:2). We are trying to follow the Bible as close as possible, trying not to add to or take away
from God's Word. Our aim is to remain obedient to God’s word, knowing it does not make one popular.
As ambassadors for our Lord, the COGIT has 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. But
they did not feel they could change from following the “tradition of mans” Hebrew Calendar that was practiced and
taught by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.
God told Daniel, "Go your 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 swear by Him that lives 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, like the Catholic Church, has taken the
truth from the people of God! Now is the time we see the scattering of God's people who want to follow God and
not just the traditions of men.
The Church of God, In Truth, has Jesus Christ as the head of the Church, under God the Father, and the
ministry must teach God's people the truth from the Bible, not from the “traditions of men!” It is the people's
responsibility to PROVE ALL THINGS that are taught from the BIBLE! Each member is to obey God and build
Godly character through the power of His Holy Spirit. God’s church is to live by the Ten Commandments and the
Doctrines of Hebrew 6. Teaching these principles of the Bible and the importance of keeping the weekly Sabbath
and God's true annual Holy Days are a must. God is a family and we are to be a part of that family at the
resurrection. The COGIT teaches a way of life that wi1l lead us to make the right decision and choose life as God
has directed in His Word.
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 the 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!
CHURCH OF GOD, IN TRUTH
P.O. Box 1120 Kimberling City, MO 65686. Tel: 417-338-0033; Fax: 338-0031.
James Russell, Elder; Tel: 417-338-0033; E-mail; cogit@flash.net
Pete Fleming, Elder, Tel: 830-885-5502; E-mail; pmf06@gvtc.com
Spanish
Martin Martinez, Deacon, Tel: 787-786-5856; E-mail: marty@ucsint.com
Phillippines
Romeo Samudio, Rep, Tel: 090-8536-4415; E-mail: romesamudio@yahoo.com
P.S,
“SPECIAL CALENDAR EDITION”— We encourage you to write, e-mail or
phone for the free up-dated edition. It will give you a new perspective on
how to figure the true new moon according to God’s Word.