We live in a world that is in bondage. All mankind, because of sin, has been cut off from a loving relationship with their Creator. But although God was forced, as Romans 1 tells us, to "give them up", he has not given up on them. Our God has a plan to restore all mankind who will respond to His call, back into loving relationship with himself. The fulfillment of that plan, like a grain of mustard seed, has been planted and is to be growing within his church, within you and I, now. This fall holy day season we observe every year reminds and encourage us in that plan. It reminds us, in the midst of a dark world, that ultimately love wins.

Tony Stith

Tony Stith grew up in the Pacific Northwestern United States. He has been a member of the churches of God all of his life, attending the Boise, Idaho, Lewiston, Idaho and Spokane, Washington churches of God. After graduating college in Pasadena, CA in 1990, he and his wife Elizabeth moved to Minnesota, where they now live in Woodbury, a suburb just to the southeast of St. Paul. They attend the Twin Cities United Church of God congregation.