But what I want to address are the "FRUITS" of recent events. You will know them by their fruits (Matt 7 v 16). Fruits of the broadcast are important as we strive to get the warning message out to the world but the REAL FRUITS are those mentioned in Gal 5. These fruits of the Spirit apply to the Christian way of life as put into everyday practice by the people of God. But I want to look at recent events in the context of the fruits (outcomes) of the recent action at headquarters in San Diego. Whilst I am addressing the knock-on situation in the UK, it will undoubtedly apply equally or more so in other areas, particularly say the
USA.

1. Two years ago, the mailing list in the UK was 389!! Now, (even after taking recent non-renewals away) we are approaching 4,500. An increase of around 12 times in just 2 years. Many are writing in for booklets. One renewal card said "Yes please, a lifeline!". Due to recent events, this "lifeline" may be in jeopardy. Had consideration been given to the fact that if the Global Church of God ceased to exist in the UK that the 4,500 on the mailing list would be left without any access to magazines, booklets etc. as the new church set up by Mr Meredith would not be able to use the mailing list? Their source of Biblical instruction and truth would immediately be eliminated. We always confirm to our readers that under no circumstances do we ever pass names on to any third party and so, apart from the list being the property of the Global Church, having given our
word, that could not be broken. When Mr Meredith decided to start another church, did he take into account such matters?

2. Since the Feast a few weeks ago, we have had 10 people enquiring about church services. What do we tell them now? That we have civil war in the church? A number had read the booklet "God's Church Through the Ages". Do we tell them that we have to add another chapter and still hope that potential new people will wear it? These enquiries have, in some cases, taken quite a while to get to this stage. Again, was this considered when the recent action was taken?

3. New people attending must wonder what on earth they have let themselves in for. Could this throw "babes" off the track? It may be appropriate to ask the question "was this considered when the recent action was taken?" after each of the 14 points.

4. There seems to be an amazing amount of discord among so many brethren.  Many have indulged in bile, rubbishing, discrediting and accusations. So many just jumped on the bandwagon immediately without deferring to Scriptural injunction - Prov 18 v 13 - "he who answers a matter before he hears it, it is a shame and folly to him" Scripture should not be ignored
by anyone, but I suspect it will be. Maybe some have even decided - or had decided for them - which way they will go without hearing the full story from BOTH sides. It is easy to hear the "full story" from ONE side, but that will inevitably be slanted. Note the number of congregations that have gone en-mass (whichever way is irrelevant). In the case of those following Mr Meredith, hat is not only following a man (RCM) but following the local pastor!! Yes it can be difficult in say a congregation of 200 if all but you are going one way, but we are responsible for our own actions and we can't get into the Kingdom on the shirt-tails of anyone else.

5. There will inevitably be a further dilution of effort to preach the gospel, as if the break of the WCG into so many groups wasn't bad enough.

6. What about jobs that have been put in jeopardy particularly those with families and small children? Yes, I am the only Global employee in the UK but I am not talking about me. My family are grown up but others may be put in awful situation not of their own making with mortgages to pay and so many other commitments.

7. Mr Meredith has said that we should welcome those from other fellowships and yet the antagonism within our own group that has been generated by recent events seems as bad, if not worse, than anything we have seen to date. Brother against brother, minister against minister.  Some members would be more welcome in UCG, PCG than in fellowships with friends who only a month ago were so close.

8. We have given those who have opposed us, a golden opportunity to criticise us. No doubt the Journal will be full of it. This publication which seems to thrive on such stories will report this with relish. We will be a laughing stock, although I suspect we already are.

9. This is so important!! Whenever there is the conflict that we have just experienced there is always "fall-out". Some will get so fed up with it all that they will fall through the net. "I have had enough" some will say.

10. What would happen to the new group if anything happened to Mr Meredith? We never expected Mr Adair to die so suddenly. Any one of us could be taken at any time, if God allows it. Anything built on a personality or individual may not hold together once that individual has gone.

11. What about the effects on non-member mates and families? I understand that at one Sabbath service a small child asked his parent "why are all these people arguing?". What an example! I have a 13 year old grandson who has gone through the WCG debacle and has now had to sit through another traumatic situation. He is a 13 year old who takes the church seriously and is upset by it all. What an appalling example for those growing up in the church.

12. We have recently, as part of our 1999 advertising campaign, ordered and paid for leaflet outlets on 4 motorway stations for the whole of next year. We have also had 161,000 leaflets printed advertising the WA magazine. The recent problems could seriously impact on our ability to service the responses.

13. What about the inordinate amount of time that so may people have spent in trying to get the full story to members? (I am ignoring those who purposely have not been even-handed). Elders who have a full time job and have to spend all of their spare time (and some sleep time) in working through this situation. Full time jobs can be drastically affected by efforts to serve the church.

14. I understand that attempts have been made to take over/destroy the Global Church of God in the USA, Canada as well as the UK. It may well be happening elsewhere for all I know. What sort of ungodly, unchristian conduct is this? If people want to leave Global then so be it, but to try and take over or destroy an organisation is satanic. It reminds me of John 16 v 2 "they will kill you and think that they do God service". What a "raison d'etre" some must have! Such actions are misguided and very definitely not of God.

In addition to the preceding 14 points, there are other considerations such as office leases (where definite commitments have been made), 1999 Feast arrangements which could be adversely affected.

BUT BY NOW YOU HAVE PROBABLY GOT MY DRIFT!

It appears to me that 1 Cor 6 v 5 is once again extant in the Church. Some of Paul and some of Appollos. But it is always about Truth not personalities. All of this chaos and confusion of which God is not the author (1 Cor 14 v 33) is caused purely by church government about which there is a booklet, confirmed at Council of Elders meetings, reconfirmed in the Journal and now reneged upon. Families are once again split in some cases, member is set against member and problems abound as we become the laughing stock in the Church of God movement. This is so ridiculous. We were about 8,500 worldwide in weekly attendance and in such a small group we can't seem to get on together. As one local member said "we're small but we didn't realise how small". And the fragmentation continues.

So coming back to my original comments about the fruits or outcomes of recent actions, I would make the following observations:

1. It appears that Gal 5 v 22-23 has been ignored by so many and replaced by the works of the flesh in verses 19-21. The fruits of recent actions by so many seem to have been appalling

2. We ought to remember that Jesus said that "blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God (Matt 5 v 9). Little evidence with some, at present, of peacemaking. I know of one case where a young woman was verbally abused on the telephone by a "member". Whilst he did ring back and apologise, the cat was out of the bag. His actions seemed to be in keeping with a prevailing spirit that some have adopted.

3. We must never forget Gal 6 v 7 "be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap". This is yet another Scripture that seems to be forgotten by some.

4. The WA broadcast is not a "god" but a means to an end. The REAL FRUITS are those that are exhibited by members in their everyday lives.  In many cases, there appears to be a great disparity between what God expects of us and what we deliver.

I believe that the Global Church of God has more Truth than any other Church on earth, but the island of stability in the sea of confusion that we once were, no longer exists. Peace, peace and there is no peace.  Never has Matt 24 v 12 been more clear to me - ".the love of many will grow cold". How sad.

The choice is ours.

Brian Gale