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Universal Church Of Christ came into being in late 1998, For the previous ten years I had witnessed gross errors within the churches most of which are now spiritually dead. This was effected through observation, the study of scripture, conscience, and my own participation in those very same errors. Basically, I could no longer toe the party line enforced by tradition. Finally, in 1999, the insensitivity and lack of true Christian love shown by my then pastor who preferred to begin his walking holiday than to comfort a bereaved Christian family and to conduct the funeral
persuaded me that I had to follow God's calling, in spite of my reluctance. The same pastor was also responsible for breaking up the whole church, His family and for teaching Biblical/theological errors.
So, I left the established system of things. Accused of leading my friends and some family and others out of the church, I was actually the last member of our faith to leave! While I saw many evils within the local churches, I was loathe to leave them. But I did. For a month or so I did not knew what to do, I was so indoctrinated by centuries of teaching on what was the Church and the Teachings of God. Then, I decided to form my own congregation. It was not my decision alone. The Christian Research Institute (the former name of BTM) had already been publishing its papers, and this, plus the previous ten years of questioning, had prepared the way. Other pastors from around the United States and the Philippines urged me to leave before 1999. They could see, far more than I could, that my position in particular was intolerable. God has a way of burning our bridges behind us whenever He wishes to execute His plans! And that is what He did, by many clear signs and Biblical evidences. Thus I had NOT left the church, but were returning to the true Church! After a month or so, I began to realise that I had to start a new World wide church. It seemed to go without question that I was to be the pastor although I believe there should be more, I was the only one called at the time. This had already been confirmed by my previous calling to a pastoral role, and was later confirmed by many Biblical and other signs. Significantly, my
troublesome previous pastor has now left the devastated church which, to my knowledge, has not yet recovered. With great unease for we were still shackled to our past we began to hold our meetings. We met in our homes and throught internet chatrooms and email. Initially, because we did not really know what to do, and it was a novelty, we did odd things, like meeting in the mountains, or some other location! This proved to be totally
impractical and, really, rather silly. The children would run off to play and the adults would enjoy the scenery! So, we settled to a more orderly existence. However, if we all decide not to meet as usual, then that is what we do, there being no scriptural compulsion to hold services every Lord's Day, even though this is what so many Believers think should happen, because of tradition.
We met and still meet in our homes. For continuity, on the Lord's Day, this is now in my own home. But we do meet elsewhere at times. The name Universal Church Of Christ. There are other churches in the World each of which bears the name Church Of Christ denomination, plus the locality name. One other exists, which has started to use a very affectatious historical name. All of them are in Churches Together, and are either charismatic or ecumenical, or both. Hence, for very solid and factual reasons we are literally the church of the Universe. The name is therefore exact (even though, by 2000, our numbers are very low).
We meet online and in person for three very good reasons there are insufficient numbers to warrant hiring a hall or buying a building! Also, there is no scriptural reason to do so, unless numbers are so great they cannot be contained. Scripture does not demand a building of a special type or size. Rather, it tells us that wherever two or three Believers are gathered together, there is the Church! This is very literal. If I meet another Believer in the supermarket as I push my trolley around, then that is a meeting of the church. It does not matter where we meet, once there are at least two Believers together, for any reason, then that is a meeting of the church. This is highly significant. Services as most churches have them are not scriptural, nor can they be implied from scripture. Yet, for many centuries, Christians have accepted their existence without question. They are conditioned to meeting in a proper church building. They must have a proper schedule of weekly and Sunday services to attend. And these churches must have a proper minister, usually with the title reverend. (I find this odd, as I know God has called me, and so do others. I have preached and taught scripture for 10 years often to other preachers and take all I say from scripture. For these reasons, while some agree with what our small church teaches, they stop short of actually attending our meetings or joining, because they feel that somehow we are not a proper' church! Thus, they attend the usual local churches, even if such churches present them with errors! Some who knew me previously will not accept that I am a pastor called by God, my Biblical knowledge at least equals that of most other pastors! This is a fact not a boast. God called me to the pastorate and that is my authority. For the first year, as a church, we talked about the most fundamental aspects of a Church. What is a pastor? What is his role and authority? What is the Church? What is a local church? Should we have meetings or services, and are they Biblical? Are prayer meetings Biblical? How should we study scripture? And so on. Only after we had settled the very basis of meeting together, did we dare to agree for our starting. For sound reasons we do not hold regular prayer meetings due to our members being all over the world. So, we started a prayer in numbers message board. In these ways we rely on the Holy Spirit and not on tradition. I do not mean the false notion of the Spirit as taught by modern charismatics, but a true understanding based solidly on scripture. There is a membership to our Church because of it's nature of why it was started. Homeless Children in the Philippines. At our meetings, in person or online we all learn scripture in depth and meetings go on for as long as they take. I often stop after a reasonable time and ask if the others wish to continue or if they want to stop. We all share refreshments, sometimes during the meeting itself. From observation, those who come regularly all Believers a true church cannot have unsaved people as members are very enthusiastic about our meetings and they have learned great truths about our historic faith, as delivered by God through His word. There is no pomp or ceremony. I never vaunt my pastorship, because I am just one of the congregation. In this way we learn together. Often our meetings are full of excitement as we all learn new truths or rediscover the real meaning of old teachings, as revealed by scripture itself. Sinners who make mistakes? Of course we are! The only true church? Never!! So, what is a real church? Universal Church Of Christ is a true and authentic example of one! Not because I say so, but because we are devoted to scripture alone and learn exactly what it tells us. We put what we learn into practice, believing that what we learn today is what we must do tomorrow. If some wish to attend the usual traditional churches, even though they are far from the truth, then they are missing out on a life of real spiritual adventure! I can assure them that there is far more to church than sitting in a pew and being talked to by a man in a pulpit!! Let the Holy Spirit reign, and your life will change dramatically, as He fills that aching void. If YOU attend a church that is in the system, then I GUARANTEE there is a void in your heart! Scripture, not tradition, must be your guide.
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Welcome to the ideas of the Universal Church Of Christ
What is a real church? The Universal Church Of Christ is a true and authentic example of one! Not because I say so, but because we are devoted to scripture alone and learn exactly what it tells us. We put what we learn into practice, believing that what we learn today is what we must do tomorrow.
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