Letter to the Congregations: 20th September 2025

Our Dear Brethren,

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).

The apostle Paul reminded his brethren that the words that he spoke and the concepts he taught were not his own. Paul had been instructed directly by Jesus Christ in many things. He was given the same commission to preach the same gospel as the rest of the apostles. This is the same commission given to us today! This is the good news of the coming Kingdom of God! This is the truth about repentance made possible for the salvation of mankind! This is the hope that we hold so dear and essential! The beginning of our eternal life and all that will come afterwards!

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” [Again Paul reminds us where he and the other apostles received this good news from] “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

It is now our duty to take these same words, the truth of the return of our Savior, and encourage one another. It is also our duty to share the hope we have with the rest of the world, proclaiming the return of Jesus Christ through words and actions. We do this in part every year when we gather for the Feast of Trumpets. May you all have an uplifting and inspiring Holy Day season as God’s people all over the world continue to proclaim the true gospel of the coming Kingdom of God!

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe