Summary of Our Story

Our Beginnings

Our community of faith began as an outgrowth of the desire to restore the original faith as practiced in the Jerusalem church in the years following the death and resurrection of Jesus. Since we were largely comprised of members and former members of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), we naturally sought to do so in a way that would keep the peace.

We launched our gathering into official church status, legally and spiritually, on Pentecost May of 1999. Our intention was to keep the original faith and stay within the WCG at the same time. Since the WCG leadership had claimed to be tolerant, we wanted to become a church within a church. We called this attempt the Third Option.

We met with Mr. Joseph Tkach, the head of the WCG, to reach an understanding of positions. Mr. Mardy Cobb, Director of our community sat down with Mr. Tkach on June 2, 1999 at 10:00 AM. Mr. Tkach made promises that he would not disfellowship or attack us because of our doctrinal positions. We promised to continue to acknowledge him as our Pastor General. 

Then Mr. Tkach reversed his position and disfellowshipped Mr. Cobb, as well as disfellowshipping and threatening others. Mr. Tkach stated that his reasoning for the reversal of his promise was due to our Statement of Beliefs which he characterized as vile, cult-like and wholly unchristian.

Mr. Tkach followed his reversal with a public declaration in response to our church. In it he stated to the ministry that anyone who teaches or publicly advocates the keeping of the Sabbath will be disfellowshipped. Mr. Cobb responded on behalf of our community that we understand this to be Mr. Tkach resigning as the Pastor General of anyone who believes in the original faith.

Our community issued a statement declaring that we would no longer consider him our Pastor General, nor would we offer any financial assistance to an organization which attacks the faith and practice of the original church and the Apostles.

In recognition of the change in our relationship to the WCG we have dropped the Worldwide from our name. Whereas we once referred to ourselves as the "Worldwide Church of God, Restored," we will no longer do so.

We have reached the day where the original Christian faith is officially forbidden by our former Pastor General, the Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God. We dare not accept such a judgement. We cannot wait. We will not allow them to silence our declaration of the hope.

Moving Forward

God has been gracious to our church over the last few years. We are grateful for his patience with us. He has shown us the fields in which we are to labor.

We peer through the glass darkly even as Paul, the Apostle taught. And amazingly God has opened our eyes to a better vision of that light that comes from Christ.

We seek to restore the original faith. We look to the Jerusalem church that blazed forth in the wake of the resurrection of Jesus and Pentecost. We believe that faith is not a purely intellectual endeavor. It requires a restoration that encompasses our hearts, our souls, and our minds.

We preach the Kingdom of God as the family of God. For some that information is not new. However, to talk it is one thing, to walk it is sometimes entirely different. We believe that God has helped us to see that difference.

We live in a time when many of the faithful have been scattered. The darkness of our world and the coldness of so many religious leaders make it a challenge for God's children to find safe pastures. We believe God will provide the shepherds. We believe those leaders provided by God will be different than those who came before. Less invested in corporate mentality, less interested in control, more given to loving leadership, more generous in service. Less arrogant, less contentious, more humble, more patient with the imperfections of their brethren.

We seek the little ones. We hope to serve those rejected and belittled by other religious affiliations. We believe that among the unappreciated live the firstborn.

We believe that the greater works of Christ are yet to be done. We believe that our King expects us to turn the world upside down. We know that there is absolutely no way, no method, no business plan, no amount of subscriptions, or booklets, nor budget that can achieve what Jesus expects. Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God will we, an insignificant, unimpressive, family of faith, achieve His desires. Therefore, may it always be to His glory. There is much to do, and yet a little window of opportunity to do it the right way. May the Spirit of truth and love guide all His children, everywhere.

May you live forever with the King, Creator, and Savior.

For a short bibliography of our director Mardy Ben Cobb
Click Here.