App
March 12, 2026
Dear Brethren,
From time to time in God’s Church, disputes arise over specific doctrinal issues. Recently, we have had to deal with a doctrinal difference concerning the Passover—this time involving Tom Fannin, who was an elder with us for a number of years, as well as his father Marlin. A couple of years ago at an elders conference Tom mentioned that he believed that the day portion of the Passover Day was a time when leavened products could be eaten. Because of Tom’s refusal to accept the Passover Day as the “first day of the unleaveneds,” he has recently decided to leave the CBCG and form his own church—and he is teaching the brethren that it’s fine to eat leavened products on the day portion of the Passover Day. We regret that Tom has taken this action.
The New Testament calls the Passover Day the “first day of the unleaveneds” (Matt. 26:17; Mark 14:12)—which shows that a time of being unleavened is not restricted to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So the Passover Day is a separate unleavened day in addition to the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread—and thus comes before the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (The Passover Day is the 14th day of the first month, running from sunset of the 13th to sunset of the 14th; the 15th day begins at sunset on the 14th and runs through the 15th day.)
The understanding that the Passover Day is indeed the “first day of the unleaveneds” is covered in The Christian Passover book—using several scriptures. But what is often overlooked is that there is great meaning in the Passover Day being the “first day of the unleaveneds”—primarily that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was the one perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. Indeed, everything that took place on that day—including the use of unleavened bread—was to establish that His sacrifice was the only sacrifice by which we can have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God. Jesus was spiritually unleavened—a vital key to His role as Savior.
The sacrifice of Christ on the 14th day of the first month takes away the sin of the world for all time—past, present, and future. It is through Jesus’ supreme sacrifice that we have access to the forgiveness of our sins by the Father. And we must have forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with God before we can begin dealing with our sinfulness—pictured by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened Bread pictures getting rid of our sins—putting sin out of our lives. This requires forgiveness—and thus access to God’s favor—which is not available until we have the sacrifice of Christ. Again, only His sacrifice can take away sin. Thus, Passover must come first—and must of necessity be an unleavened day, as it permanently deals with sin through Christ.
But this does not mean that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is eight days in itself. It is only seven days. But before the Feast of Unleavened Bread can be fulfilled in our lives, we first need the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sin—and that only comes with repentance. When we repent, God applies the sacrifice of Christ to our sins. But we must then follow up with what the Feast of Unleavened Bread truly pictures—which is to get the leaven of sin out of our lives (this is what Paul talks about in Romans 7 and 8).
So I hope we all grasp the importance that God places on the Passover Day and the sacrifice of Christ. Indeed, the Passover Day is a separate day from the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We are to keep both: Passover Day as an unleavened day—followed by the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Note: I have taught this aspect of the Passover since at least 1980. The Christian Passover (1993 First Edition) also covered this teaching (please see the attached four pages). This shows that this teaching regarding Passover Day has been the official teaching of the CBCG for decades.
As many of you know, I have selected Steve Durham and Eduardo Elizondo as replacements for me upon my departure from this life. God has led me in this matter, and I think everyone will see in time that these two men are the correct choices. Both have been faithful to God and His Word and have served the brethren well. Steve has for a number of years conducted the Go-To-Meetings on Friday nights and on the Sabbath, as well as the mid-week Bible study called “Breaking Bread.” He has used his own funds to facilitate these studies. Eduardo heads up the whole Latino CBCG and has translated our studies and articles for the Spanish speaking brethren. He has also headed up the translation of the Faithful Version into Spanish for an edition we hope to publish in the near future. Eduardo and Steve are both excellent speakers and know their Bibles.
So, at the advanced age of 91 and a half, I have made this decision so that everything will be well established when the end of my physical life arrives.
Brethren, we all love Tom and Marlin and pray for them. But when one goes against Scripture, it is a serious matter. God says in I Samuel 15:22-23 that if you disobey the voice of God or reject the word of God, you are in rebellion against God. It is up to us to individually remain faithful to God and faithful to His Word—while genuinely loving God, loving each other, and doing what we can to serve the brethren and preach the Gospel as God opens the doors. We are close to the end; world events show that. We will keep abreast of all the things going on in the world—so that we will be able to correctly identify prophecy as it is being fulfilled.
Thank you for your love, for your faithfulness, and for serving God in the truth. Let’s all prepare diligently for the upcoming Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread—so that we are all before God in love and truth and forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ and the righteousness of God through His Spirit. Thank you for your prayers and for your understanding. I hope that my next letter will bear good news.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
2026 Spring Holy Days
• Passover Day—April 1 (Passover observed on previous evening, March 31)
• First Day of Unleavened Bread—April 2 • Last Day of Unleavened Bread—April 8
The Christian Passover (1993 First Edition), pages 197-200—which demonstrate that this teaching regarding Passover Day has been the official teaching of the CBCG for decades.
Letters & Emails from Brethren and Website Visitors
Dear Fred Coulter: Your Feast messages were something else, very informative and educational, and I wish God would cause more people to understand the awesome future He has planned for humans. I still miss being able to attend a Feast site due to being retired—now with loss of hearing and with my wife being a shut-in. We had to curtail even going to Feast sites within 40 miles of our house. With my hearing issues, I find the transcribed sermons better than the video CC. I can use the audio, but I’ll miss some of the words spoken. In God we trust.—JW, Pennsylvania
Mr. Coulter: I thought I understood God’s holy days before, but never as I have this year. My eyes have been opened to so many wonderful things about God’s holy days. I want to thank you with all my heart for what you have done for me and all God’s children. May you continue in good health and God’s blessings. Love in Christ and God the Father.—RD, Ohio
Hello Fred: I hope this email finds you in good health… I’m very grateful for the vast understanding God has given to you, and that you have labored to freely and abundantly share that understanding for all of these years—always giving glory to God.
I’ve recently been studying the appendices [in the Faithful Version] establishing the birth of Christ. Excellent work. Also, the appendix on the “Two Jehovah’s” has been a valuable resource, especially in a world with ever increasing false doctrines to defend against. Keep up the great work. With love in God the Father and Jesus Christ.—PC, NSW Australia
Dear Fred: Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for God. I love your book God’s Plan for Mankind. I have read it cover to cover twice. It is so comforting and enlightening. You are a rare gift to all the brethren. May God bless you and may He bless all the brethren by keeping you in good health for years to come. Love, your sister in Christ.—LS, Colorado
Mr. Coulter: I praise God for sending you to us, to teach us the true meaning of God’s Word. You are a beautiful blessing to each one of us. I thank God for bringing you into my life. May you continue in good health and blessings. Love in God the Father and the Son.—RD, Ohio
Dear Fred and Brethren: Thank you for the prayers for my health during my attack of Covid. Thank God for the healing. It was a rough time but I feel a lot better. Your printed sermons were a blessing for me because I could lay in bed and study. With love in Christ!—RM, Ohio
Dear Fred: Thanks again for your wonderful sermons for the Fall feasts. Eduardo’s sermon was awesome. Thank you.—TE, Ohio
Dear Fred & Staff: You are amazing! Thank you for all your hard and loving work. I continue to keep the faith and holy days—despite a new boss who doesn’t understand! But I feel God is working in this matter. My husband is stubborn, but he is learning. He grew up keeping Sunday. I grew up believing “do to others as I would like to be treated.” Stand fast and be a true team player. Working on better positivity—and taking that deep breath before saying anything! I pray for our nation and the Church. God is my Rock! We love you always.—SC, Florida
Dear Fred: Please send us three copies of the Love of God booklet. Thank you so much for all the wonderful Church at Home messages. We feel very privileged to hear them every Sabbath and on the holy days.—G & PM, Idaho
Dear Fred: With all that is going on in the nation and the world, it is helpful and essential to have the words of God expounded faithfully. Thank you for all you do to keep the true words of God readily available to those desiring the truth.—RM
Dear Fred: Thank you for all your God-inspired sermons at the Feast. It’s so wonderful to go over and over what we will experience in the World Tomorrow. We can’t get enough of all the ways you bring it all out! We are forever learning and the more we learn the more we strive to learn! Thank you for your godly zeal. Appreciate all you do! With love in Christ!—RE, Arkansas
Dear Fred: Thank you for all your wonderful sermons—especially at the Feast and Last Great Day! I left feeling so inspired and prepared for our reign with Jesus Christ and what He has for us to do! Thank you for allowing God to use you to prepare all of us! Prayers that God will allow you to be with us many more years! Your sister in Jesus Christ.—name withheld
Dear CBCG: We are so thankful to have Fred in our lives to send us sermons. Hope he will remain healthy. Thanks.—name withheld
Dear Fred and CBCG: I hope everyone had a rich and sweet Feast! (II Cor. 8:9). One day we will all say, just like old Jackie Gleason in The Honeymooners, “How sweet it is!”—and really mean it. I ask God to bless and protect all His saints and their families every day.
I have not had TV for years and I don’t want to get on the Net, but I really appreciate those DVDs! One day the Church will be cut off and out of everything, and it might be good to have a DVD or CD—as faith comes by the hearing. I’m all alone, I can’t go to church anywhere. Thank you so much (Dan. 12:3) for all that you do! Love.—BJ, Kentucky
Dear Fred: I was reading day one of the “One Year Bible,” but out of your “Original Order” Bible, when I came across the video, How Old is the Earth? I have heard many sermons over my 71-year life, along with books and articles, commenting on this issue. Yet never was the truth expressed as in your video. Suddenly, I understood the issue in a way that made real sense and brought clarity. Was I being dense about the issue? Maybe God allowed my mind to be clouded. I don’t know. But your video on the issue was phenomenal.
In our backward world, with so much deception around this issue, might I suggest that you do this sermon once again. As a member of the WCG since 1964, having wrestled with this issue many times, my guess would be that others had difficulty with this issue as well. And, as it appears the online church attendance is steadily increasing, there may be many others fascinated by this material. Thank you!—HK, Canada
Hello Fred: What a beautiful year this has been. The Father has done so much in my life. I am so grateful for the study materials I have received and the prayers. I pray this small check gets to you safely. I asked God to enlarge it greatly to help someone else. Love and prayers.—name withheld
Dear Fred: When I was in the WCG I had a hard time paying tithes because of all the corruption. I knew about the buying gold, artwork, ministers borrowing from the third tithe account, etc. Now it is such a joy knowing it is not going to buildings, etc.—but to spread the Gospel. I give people the beautiful Bible, etc. Blessings to you and your staff! Love, your sister in Christ!—name withheld
To Whom it May Concern: Thank you for the DVDs and booklets, and especially your Sabbath messages. It is a joy to hear something so concrete. Enclosed is an offering to help in feeding the flock—all who will listen and who want to learn the truth. In Christian love.—BKD, Missouri
Dear Fred: I thank you for the anointed cloth. Your Bible verses and instruction helped a lot. As of now, I am cancer free!! In His mercy, God has healed me. Thanks be to God!! Right now, I am trying to get my strength back. Each day shows some improvement. The trials we go through are for our benefit. My trial was no exception. It has truly taught me humility and to love and appreciate my brothers and sisters in God’s Church. The CBCG does so much through the literature it sends out freely. No other organization comes this close in preaching God’s Word; may those searching for the truth find your work. In sisterly love.—BM, Texas
Dear Fred: I enjoyed today’s sermon from Eduardo and Steve and yourself. Thank you for letting us all be witnesses to the truth. Thank you for sharing what was on your heart. And I personally want to say thank you for faithfully protecting and defending the Word of God.
I have grown up in the Church and I am now 60 years old. I have personally benefited from all of the sermons and booklets—and from your faithfully translated version of the Bible. I thank God for everything He has blessed you to do for the brethren.
God bless you, Fred, for being the greatest teacher I’ve ever had in the study of eternal life. The most profound thing I have learned from you and your sermons is that God the Father and Jesus Christ want a personal relationship with me. Until we all meet in the air on the Sea of Glass, your sister in Christ.—TD, Mississippi
Dear Fred: Thank you for your diligent efforts to provide us with so much helpful materials to better understand the truth of God as preserved in the Bible. The nation and the world are beset with difficulties and challenges. We are so blessed to live in a nation that can still enjoy and benefit from God’s Word—which you have done so much to preserve. Sincerely.—TM, Washington
Dear Fred: Thank you for the sermons and the book, The Love of God. Thank you for all the prayers. To everyone in the CBCG, thank you.—name withheld
Dear Fred: Thank you for being faithful to the Word of God, the truth of God, and the plan of God. Thank you for printing the transcript book about the love of God that surpasses human knowledge. Jesus stated that He came as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in Him may not remain in darkness. Thank you for continuing to open the doors of truth so that the light of God’s truth can shine into a darkened world.—RM
Dear Fred and CBCG Family: I want to thank everyone involved in putting the new book I got together, The Love of God. The cover is beautiful. I always had the question in my mind as to what love is. This is answering my question. I also want to thank all the elders who do a good job on the sermons. Keep up the hard work because I’m listening. Even though I’m by myself, I know I’m not alone. Your sister sends her love.—GW, Georgia
