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An Open Letter from Bishop Dewayne Smith
Regional Overseer AR/MO;  Dated: 11/11/05
...to Bishop Robert Pruitt, General Overseer of The Church of God

An Open Letter from Bishop A.T. Dewberry
Regional Overseer MS;  Dated: 12/11/05
...to Bishop Robert Pruitt, General Overseer of The Church of God



CENSORED & REMOVED
via order of TCOG General Headquarters to the authors



The General Headquarters of The Church of God sent a letter to Brother A. T. Dewberry, Brother Dewayne Smith, and Brother Otis Daniel demanding the removal of their letters from the 1Fold.com website by no later than January 18, 2006. Brother Dewberry and Brother Smith contacted this Regional Office and requested that their letters be removed at this time.

Let us note the following: The General Headquarters of The Church of God has no authority to make demands and place deadlines on when public documents and/or widely circulated letters will or will not be removed from this website.  That decision is not theirs to make.  We are not obligated to adhere to the demands of any specific deadlines, thuggery, threats or strong-arm tactics of a General Headquarters operating outside the realm of theocracy and the biblical guidelines of Christian conduct.

Having said that, we have, out of love and respect for our brothers who have requested their letters be removed, done so per their specific request to this Regional Office.


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To The Church of God:


“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is a hireling…seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”  (John 10:10, 11, 12, 13)

The Word of God expressly warns that wolves will creep in and scatter the sheep (John 10:10-13). This is not God's will, but a prophetic reality nevertheless. But the Bible also encourages us that the scattering which is of God's design will be to those who are His enemies: "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered" (Psalm 68:1).

How many more hirelings and wolves will be allowed to "feed on" the sheep instead of "feed" them? How many more hirelings will turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to their brothers and sisters suffering at the hands of wolves in the highest offices of the Church?  How many more hirelings will look the other way while the enemy has his heyday on God's people?



“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel
of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their own works.”
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15)



“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the
circumcision [those among you]: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert
whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
…Wherefore rebuke them sharply…Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them
that are defiled…is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”   (Titus 1:10, 11, 13, 15, 16)



To those who have lied and stolen:  “But if [the thief] be found, he shall restore sevenfold…”  (Proverbs 6:31)...  You've been found.  Are you prepared to pay biblical restitution?



To those who think they are above the General Assembly and have subverted the practice of true theocracy with directives and demands:  In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus calls you hypocrites who, "teach for doctrines the commandments of men."

In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus calls you "hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within [you] are full of extortion…"

In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus calls you "hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

To our readers: Have you, or others you know, been dictated to lately? Have you received commandments, directives, orders from men as though they were the Word of the Lord?



Who has been dividing who?  Who has been deceiving who? Who has been scattering who?

To everyone, from common church members, teachers, evangelists, pastors, deacons, overseers of every level, to the higher ranks of General Headquarters officials who hide their true faces of deceit and manipulation behind smiling masks of slaughter:

"...Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do
feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe
you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock.  The diseased have
ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up
that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away,
neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them.
And they were scattered...and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they
were scattered.  My sheep wandered...my flock was scattered...and none did search or
seek after them.  Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.  As I live, saith the
Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every
beast of the field, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed
themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.
Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock
at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds
feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be
meat for them"  (Ezekiel 2b-10; remainder of the chapter suggested for reading as well).


"Woe unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people;  Ye
have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them:  behold, I
will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord"  (Jeremiah 23:1, 2).



The word of God is clear in regards to those wolves who divide, deceive, and scatter God's sheep:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary
to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not
our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive
the hearts of the simple.”   (Romans 16:17-18)

…but that Scripture continues with a promise for those who are spiritually bold enough to stand:

“For your obedience is come abroad unto all men.  I am glad therefore on your behalf:
but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.  And
the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”   (Romans 16:19-20a)

As verse 19 instructs you…  Be wise.  Know good.  Be simple in recognizing evil.  God knows the difference, and you should too.  What are you going to do?  ...STAND or FALL?  There is no in-between.



Again we ask... Who has been dividing who?  Who has been deceiving who? Who has been scattering who?

It's time for the righteous of God to arise!  It's time that the needless scattering and slaughtering of God's innocent sheep cease, and the righteous and just scattering of the enemies of God commence.

  • How long will you sit idly by and allow that which you love and believe to be true, be destroyed from within by wolves in sheep's clothing?
  • How long will you be whipped and beaten by demonic dictatorship guised as theocratic government?
  • How long will you watch your brothers and sisters suffer?
  • How long will you watch members, ministers, and entire churches be thrown out as though they are without worth?
  • How long will you watch entire countries drop from the role like flies?
  • How long will you blindly stare off into space without looking around to see the truth?
  • How long will you not hold accountable those who are guilty of slaughtering innocent sheep and unjustly dividing the body?
  • How long will you be lorded over by defiled men?
  • How long will you bow to unbiblical actions in the name of submission?
  • How long will you be censored?
  • How long will you be intimidated?
  • How long will you be deceived?
  • How long will you be silent?



Martin Niemoeller, a Lutheran pastor in Germany prior to World War II, commented this in the days leading up to that terrible conflict:

"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because
I wasn't a Communist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't Jewish.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because
I wasn't a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up
because I was a Protestant.  Finally, they came for me, but there was no one left to
speak up for me."

The sentiments expressed by Pastor Niemoeller in his day aptly express the sentiments we are feeling in ours. The enemy of our soul has attacked from within.  We saw them being slaughtered, many of them listed throughout the pages of this website, and we've stood in defense of them.  Now the enemy has turned to this Region and to others, and most are too afraid or intimidated by erring men, a false form of theocracy, and/or a fear of losing position and title to take a stand in our defense.

Next, the enemy may come for you.  Will there be any left to speak in your defense?  Let us pray so.



When you've done all you can, the
only thing left to do... is STAND.
(see Ephesians 6:13)



"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered"
(Psalm 68:1)



You can't be silent any longer.
You MUST speak up.
You MUST take a stand.



STAND or FALL.

There is no in-between.




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