The BCS Handbook.

THE CORRECTIONS MADE BY THE HOLY

FATHER The Holy Father having observed that certain things are still being done wrongly in this Kingdom made the following corrections. The Father advised members to adhere strictly to these corrections with humility because they come directly from God. He observed that some brethren whenever corrected are angry. You can not be perfect if you are not corrected. 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, He further stated that a humble man likes correction. Proverbs 3:11.

GUIDE TO UNIFORMITY:- HYMNARY:

1. The Hymn book of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star was formerly called “Sure Foundation Hymnary”, but now it has been corrected by the Holy Father, and is to be called “Brotherhood Hymnary”.

2. Do not say, “All Stand”, or “Kneel Down”, when you conduct the Hymn, just hum and start the song.

Always use the phrase closing hymn instead of last hymn of praise

3. Holy Oil/Water:“Sprinkling of Holy water on the flower is meaningless”,says the Holy Father. The Holy oil represents the Blood of Christ, and the holy water represents the water that came out from the side of Christ when He was pierced with a spear by one of the soldiers: John 19:34 (But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water). Their functions is, when someone confesses his/her sins, and the Holy water is sprinkled and is anointed with Holy oil, the man’s sin is forgiven. James 5;14-15. The Holy Father then asked, “What sin has the flower committed”?

4. Sprinkling of Holy water in the Bethel is always directed by the Holy Spirit. Anybody directed by the Holy Spirit has right to sprinkle Holy water.

5. Notwithstanding the occasions feast must be prepared purely on vegetarian bases.

6. In observing the sacraments of the kingdom brethren must ensure strict adherence to the Holy Father’s teachings to avoid adulteration of the kingdom sound doctrine.

7. Never combine feast with drinks, fish or meat.

8. when a member sleeps in the Lord, it is more preferable that he or she be buried immediately without embalming or putting the corpse in the 50 mortuary.

9. There is nothing like OBUISM, we are Christians. Brethren should be very careful in order not to introduce strange doctrine into the kingdom

10. PRAYER: Offering of short prayer is now required during any service. Apart from the Conductor in the altar, who, on behalf of the Holy Father, may include many things in the world in his/her prayer, which could make the prayer long, even though it is not a rule that unless he does so. That is to say, he too (the conductor) can offer short prayer as well. But after the conductor’s prayer, the rest members should be brief and should be prayer of thanks, believing that the one offered by the Holy Father is sufficient for us.

PATTERN OF PRAYER:

If you pray after the gospel, start off at once to thank the Holy Father for that gospel. If after going on blessing, or after the special song by the choristers, do it in the same way. If you want to bless feast, bless it at once like this: ”Thank you Father for the feast given to us, Father bless it, let it be good with us in body and in spirit. Now and forever more Amen”.

There is time for everything. That is not the time to ask the Father to go and bless the hospital, the prison, etc. Some brethren when praying will even forget to include the feast in their prayer. The stated pattern will help to make your prayer short and beautiful. Matthew 6:7.

11. Always start your prayer with the word “LET”. No other word should precede it. Words like, “Father Let’ is wrong. It is known that the word ‘LET, is powerful.

It is a creative word and command. God used it to create the Universe, e.g. When He wanted light, He commanded, “Let there be light”. Genesis 1:3. And the light came to being. So it was with all other things.

Even the time He wanted to make man, He first of all said, “Let us make man in our image”. Gen. 1:26. You can now see that, let’ precedes before any other word.

12. When someone pray in a vernacular, e.g. in Efik language, at the time of saying ‘EDISANA’, that is, holy, it is wrong to answer back with tho same word, ‘EDISANA’ by the congregation. The correct way is to answer in English, ‘Holy’. The same implies to other vernaculars like, IBO, ‘NSO’, YORUBA, ‘MINO’, RIVERS, ‘FIAFIA’. It does not sound good to hear the congregation answering – fia-fia, fia-fia, fia-fia, fia-fia. Therefore to avoid disturbances and to maintain UNIFORMITY, English ‘Holy’ response should be used. Do not join the ‘holy’ like holy holy holy. Let it go periodically like this, when you say ‘Holy’, pause for brethren to answer before you say it again, ‘Holy’ and allow another pause for brethren to answer before you go on your full prayer.

13. If a person is brought out for prayer, the prayer should be offered one after another. Everybody should not pray at the same time like the orthodox churches. One to four persons can pray one after another.

14. Benediction should not be long. Very few words are needed. Benediction must always end with let thanks and praise be given to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever more Amen. Benediction should be loud enough to the hearing of the congregation.

15. Conductors have right to recite the special prayer in the Hand Book of B.C.S. during silent prayers, if they like to do so. It was written by the Holy Father Himself. It must be read aloud while all members stand up till the reading is over.

16. SPIRITUAL WORK: On Sundays, during 10.00 a.m. Service, spiritual work should not disturb the service. It is the Day of the Lord Rev. 1:10. Ablessed Day. Only testimonies, thanksgiving and praises must be used in remembrance of the good things God has done for us throughout the week. Spiritual works can be done during 5.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. services on Sundays and other week days.

17. The Holy Father has once more reminded visioners and all spiritual workers in this New Kingdom to stop charging money in whatever services they render to people. That, they should remember what happened to the servant of Prophet Elisha. The Holy Father referred to Matt. 7:21-23. That, what is written in those verses are what will happen to those who continue to charge money on whatever spiritual services they render to people. On the other hand, those who are blessed should not fail to provide good things to visioners. That is not a sin. Try to reciprocate the grace of God with carnal things.

18. In Brotherhood, we do not burn candle, or incense. We do not make sacrifice of any kind, apart from fasting and praying. Nobody is authorised to make Holy oil. Do not bath people by 12 mid-night or any other time, in the form of spiritual work- Do not go to river side in the form of spiritual work, in order to make a sacrifice. Do not throw the love feast on the top of the roof or any where else in form of spiritual work. Do not give vision concerning witchcraft, juju, coffin, death in Brotherhood.

19. Spiritual works should not be done in secret or in a private room. You have no right to ask someone to naked herself before healing.

20. CONDUCTING: If you go on Ministry work to another Bethel, and you intend to conduct service.

First of all get permission from the worker in charge of the Bethel, before you enter the altar. It is not good to go and lie or sit down in the altar, waiting for worship time. Conducting of service should not be by struggling, but by negotiation. Jingle the bell immediately you enter the altar, kneel down and pray silently. Jingle the second time, the angels descend and the service starts. You can see now that to go and sit down in the altar without doing anything is not permitted. Some brethren do make mistake when leaving the altar and waving of hand. It is wrong to wait till the end of the first stanza of the song raised by conductor before waving hand. Immediately you raise a song, wave hand at the same time and move out from the altar. Do not bow before waving.

21. Both brothers and sisters, even children can conduct services from the big altar.

22. Order of conducing meeting. In starting the second part of a meeting, ring the bell two times, then sing, “Father lead us aright, O the loving Shepherd”. Then prayer and the meeting starts.

23. Conductors should try to hold to the topic of the texts quoted when preaching. We should not fix duration for preaching. We believe that anybody in the altar is being controlled by the Holy Spirit. Whatever he does is between him and the Holy Spirit. Do not impute sin on such a person so that you do not clash with the Holy Spirit.

24. It is not proper to interrupt or challenge a conductor while preaching. People should be very carefully so as not to clash with the Holy Spirit.

25. TURBAN: Using of turbans for prayer was not authorised by the Holy Father. He has never directed that the turbans should be dipped in water for people to drink, or to lay it on someone’s head to pray and hitting people with it in form of spiritual work.

According to the Holy Father, the ordination with turbans was only for the remembrance of the old Prophets and the beauty of this Kingdom. The basis of our faith should not be on any other thing apart from the Holy name of our God. Matt. 12:21.

26. Visioners should not give vision contrary to the Holy Father’s instructions or directives. For example, the Holy Father says, ordained ones should no longer use their turbans for healing. Take note of such. It is wrong to give vision to an ordained one to use his or her turban in the form of a spiritual work.

27. AMEN: Failure to answer Amen, when the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned is a sin.

28. NEW SONG: It is good to fulfil all that have been written about us in this New Kingdom. One of them is, that we shall sing new songs. The Holy Father recently corrected a Choir which came to sing from the Church Hymnary. He stated it as general correction to all Choir-masters/composers to always compose songs in line with what was written about us. Psalm 33:3. Psalm40:3, Psalm 96:1, Isaiah 42:10, Rev. 5:9. Rev. 14:3, Rev. 21:2, Rev. 21:5, Isaiah 65:17-18.

29. The Holy Father has approved all the Efik songs in the Hand Book of the B.C.S. to be translated into English provided they maintain their original meaning. This should be done by educated brethren from Efik and Akwa lbom States.

30. Choirs should not copy the tone of the worldly Churches. They should maintain the natural tone in order to be different from Church choirs, since Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is not a Church, but the New Kingdom of God. The reason why the Holy Father calls the Christ Students Choir, Biakpan Choir, Nsofang and Ikom Choirs Natural Choirs was because they maintained their natural voices and tones

31. TITHE: Misusing of Tithe money is a fearful thing. The misconception by some Bethels that the first blessing collection is only for the tithe box, while the second one is for the use of the Bethel, is wrong. The correct thing is, the first collection, second to third and fourth collections all go into the tithe box. All Fellowships in Brotherhood should not fail to pay their tithe. This is the way to pay it: At the close of any meeting, the total amount realised should be divided into ten parts. One part is the tithe and it should be paid into the tithe box. An individual should also try to pay tithe for his/her own good. Constant paying of tithe attracts progress to Fellowships and individual.

32. The tithe money can be changed but care must be taken to avoid shortage and missing of the tithe money

33. Visioners should not ask people to pay tithe to anyone because no man has right to receive tithe apart from God. You can only ask people to give alms to others.

34. BROTHERS/SISTERS: The Holy Father has since 1988 directed that members should not address/call themselves by rank i.e. Prophet, Deaconess, Pastor etc. at His presence. Members should call or address themselves as, brothers and sisters which is the greatest rank in this Kingdom. It is only that we are not yet worthy to be called by it, because we are not practising the brotherly love which is Brotherhood.

Brotherhood is oneness. A family of one father and one mother. Unless we understand ourselves to that extent then we shall stop fornicating with each other.

Why do you not have the urge of fornication with your real sister? It is because you believe and know that she is your sister from the same womb.

35. VIRGIN/SILENT FEAST: There is nothing like ‘virgin feast’, ‘silent feast’ in this Kingdom. There are only three kinds of feasting in Brotherhood. They are, Love Feast, Feast of Hope and The Feast of Faith. Do not give name to any other one. Only the Holy Father alone can introduce something in this Kingdom.

36. BLESSING: Order of going on second blessing in the Bethels should be done in uniform. Choristers are the first to go, followed by children, men congregation must follow the children behind without leaving a gap. Women congregation, spirited and ends up with the elders on the same line and the same song. Then the ordained ones, Christ’s Students, Christ’s Servants, Christ’s Witnesses, Bishops and the 144,000 virgins who must go last and whenever they are going on blessing, the whole house or members must kneel down till they are done before everybody stands up and dance with the officiating priest.

37. When the first blessing song is raised, the section concerned should stand up, bow and move. Do not wait for the first stanza of the song to finish before you bow.

38. BAPTISM: The Holy Father has permitted all the children in B.C S. to be baptised, irrespective of age.

39. Members need not be baptised the second time. In case of missing the Baptismal Certificate, or forgetting the date and the name of the person who baptised him, what they must do is to go to the person in-charge of issuing the card for a new one. Anybody in the office has right to bear the name of the person who baptised him before. The Office incharge of Baptismal Certificate Card has been informed about this.

40. WEDNESDAYS: The order of service on Wednesdays should be done according to the directives in the Hand Book of B.C.S. The 7.00 p.m.

service on Wednesdays, the reading of John 17:1 – end should be read in place of Psalm 15. Any service conducted by 12 mid-night on Wednesdays is automatically Watch and Pray. It must be conducted in order of Watch and Pray in the comprehensive Hand Book. It is wise to make feast during the Watch and Pray service.

41. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: The adoption of minutes of meetings should be done before prayer.

42. FEAST: Every Bethel ought to have a feast Committee. The Feast Committee is to select those to buy and cook the feast. The mother is to act as an overall Supervisor, to make sure that things are done properly. Whenever the mother is told about a feast, she must in turn inform the Leader’s Representative for proper announcement.

43. There is no rule as regards order of buying feast. The buyers can put on white or any dress and can eat or fast during the time of buying and cooking the feast.

However, during the preparation of feast, one must be in spirit and love one another. They should not sing carnal songs. They should not engage in carnal conversations, discussion and should not quarrel.

44. There should be no answering of “It is” when feast recitation is being read.

45. There is no fixed amount for celebrating feast but the celebrant should know that it is very good to give enough money.

46. Child blessing feast is not compulsory, but it is good to celebrate it.

47. It is not good to cook the Bethel feast outside the bethel when there is a place to cook it in the Bethel.

Unless there is no place in the Bethel, then it can be cooked outside the bethel.

48. The procedure of serving feast in this Kingdom is very simple, the feast should be shared equally, and everybody must kneel down before taking the feast, irrespective of anybody (rank). The sharers are not supposed to kneel down before serving because they represent the Holy Father.

49. Do not sprinkle holy oil or holy water on feast before blessing it. Just bless it with few words as earlier stated.

50. Ordained ones should not be served with special plates. Everybody should take feast from the same plates.

51. It is not only the ordained ones who must bless feast as any member can do also.

52. The right person to give feast money to is the Bethel Mother who will in turn inform the Worker in-charge and Bethel Leader’s Representatives They will therefore arrange for suitable date for the feast

53. COURT CASE: The Holy Father does not permit his children to take others to court. But has permitted them to go if someone takes them to court. 1 Corinth.

6:1-7.

54. MATTERS: If the State Executive cannot resolve any issue between members, such matter should be refer to the Brotherhood peace board for ameable settlement . Matt. 18:15-17.

55. PROMISING NOTE: Members or those who made pledge during fund raising can be reminded but not by force. Some will pay while some might have forgotten about it.

56. POSTS: Posts given to brethren by the Holy Father Himself are never changed without the consent of the Holy Father.

57. Elections in the Bethels, areas and zones should not be done by one person. It is done by the whole members of the Bethel at a general meeting in the bethel. One person has no right to appoint somebody to any post, irrespective of the rank. Majority carries the vote.

58. GREETING:There should be no greeting when you come late to the Bethel or conversing in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Silence should be observed in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

59. BETHEL: No object should be used to cross the doors of the Bethels during services, in attempt to prevent people from entering the Bethel, you can enter the Bethel through any door during services.

60. SUTANE: Do not drive anybody out from his seat in the Bethel during services because of not wearing white or sutane. Do not ask such person(s) to go and sit at congregation.

61. ORGAN: The Holy Father has permitted any Bethel to use organ if they like.

62. CHILD BLESSING: All the collection of money realised during child blessing belong to the Holy Father. It should be dropped into the Tithe box and must not be given to the officiating Priest, child or parents. It is good for parents of the child to show thankful hearts to God who kept watch over the mother of the child throughout the conception period and safe delivery.

63. CHOIR: Members of a newly created choir in a Bethel should not be selected from the existing choir in the Bethel. They should be selected from other sections in the Bethel.

64. MARRIAGE: Marriage blessing can be done anywhere in B.C.S. Bethels. Write to the blessed brothers/sisters fellowship and they will come to bless the marriage after meeting the requirements.

Note, Couple can bless their marriages after getting issues.

65. A real child of God cannot marry another wife, because his wife is barren.

66. POLYGAMISTS: If you have been married to many wives before you were called into this Kingdom, you are not asked to drive some away because you did not know. You are still a child of God, but you or such person(s) are not allowed to preach in the altar.

67. From now onward, a polygamist should no longer be elected as an elder.

68. Apolygamist is not permitted to preach in the temple. But can preach elsewhere.

69. ROSTER: A roster should be prepared in every Bethel of conducting services.

70. TESTIMONY: 15 minutes is the timing period allowed for giving of testimony or vision in the fold.

71. There is no rule or law that ordained ones are to testify first or last in the Bethel. The Holy Father has never said so, Take for instance at Calabar, the Headquaters, the Holy Father can call anybody for testimony at any time. Both ordained ones and other members.

72. SISTERS: The sisters under menstruation should not be forbidden from participating in any activities in the Bethel including conducting service.

73. PENTECOSTAL PROCEEDS: Pentecostal proceeds should be fully sent to the leaders office.

On no account should any money be deducted from these proceeds. Each Pentecostal Centre should ensure that, Show Love Donation is made for the daily feasting.

74. CHILDREN: Children should be properly handled to avoid disturbance and noise making while in the bethel.

75. HALLELUJAH: It is wrong to shout hallelujah for yourself when testifying.

76. SENIOR: In the whole B.C.S world, the word ‘SENIOR’ is only attached to the ranks of Prophets/Prophetess. Apart from these two ranks, there are no ranks like, Senior Pastor, Senior Apostle, Senior Evangelist, Senior Deaconess, Senior Elder, Senior Brother or Senior sister as yet as the Father is yet to promote one.

77. CHRIST NEW TRUE MISSIONARIES: All the C.N.T.M are representatives of the Holy Father. They are automatically in-charge of any Bethel they are posted to, and must be aware of whatever is happening in the Bethel.

78. The Holy Father has permitted the C.N.T.M, to attend all meetings in the Bethel they are posted to and opportunity should always be given to them for words of advice and blessing. This shows regard to them as the representatives of the Holy Father.

79. If members of any Bethel are fed up with their C.N.T.M, what they must do is to hold a general meeting and agree that they do not want him any more. After this, they write to the leader’s office at the Headquarters for a change. Tangible reasons must be stated in the letter why they do not want him any more. One or two or group of people have no right to do so.

80. If the C.N.T.M discovers that the members have no more confidence in him. And they no longer cater for him neither have they told him to go away; The Worker has right to report his feelings by writing to the leader’s office for a change. Such Bethels shall be ignored for some time before another C.N.T.M may be posted there.

81. TEACHERS: All Christ’s Witnesses are teachers. The Holy Father has permitted them to teach and put things in order in the Bethels / Areas/Zones/Sates and countries as consigning Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. They have been with the Holy Father from the year 1968 till today. They understand more about Brotherhood than all others.

82. ANNOUNCEMENT: Announcements in the Bethel should be made by the Bethel Leader’s Re p r e s e n t a ti v e s. Th e f ema l e Le a d e r’s Representative can make it in the absent of the male L/R. If the gathering is at the Zone or Area level, the Zonal or Area Leader’s Representative is the right person to make it. If at the State level, then the State Leader’s Representatives.

83. HAND-CLAPPING: Remember to sit down before you clap hands whenever you are asked to.

84. ELDERS: Elders should no longer be appointed by visioners. Nobody has right to appoint a person as an elder. Be you a Conductor or pastor or Leader’s Representatives etc. The election of elders is done by the members of the Bethel or the Bethel Executive.

The Area or State Leader’s Representative must send the names of the elected elders to the Holy Father at Calabar for approval. After the approval, a day must be fixed for the official or formal ceremony of the ordination by the State or Area Leader’s Representative, before they are ushered in to the Elder’s seat. The books of Titus Chapter 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13; must be read to them.

85. Don’t replace the Holy Bible with the Holy book of Orok Utu Eyoyo.

86. Orok otu eyoyo must be read without any interpretation nor expartiation; in other words it must be read verbatim or you can preach through the inspiration of The Holy Spirit.

87. CHANGE OF MONEY: It is not proper to change offering money by the alter while service is still on.

But, can be changed outside the hall.

88. TRIBAL MEETINGS: There is no division in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. All members in the Bethel are one, irrespective of the different tribes they come from. Tribal meetings are not permitted to form in the Bethels. Such as, Ibo tribe meeting/Anang tribe meeting/Yoruba tribe meeting/lbibio tribe meeting or Oron tribe meeting are not permitted. Apart from the authorised meetings of Women’s Meeting/Men’s Meeting/General Meeting/Elders Meeting/Choristers’/Ordained ones/Spirited/Visioners etc. No other meetings should be formed. Brotherhood does not belong to a particular tribe or country. It does not belong to the Blacks or Whites. Brotherhood is universal. The Headquarters of Brotherhood is Love. Where there is Love, Peace and Unity. There is the Headquarters.

89. During meetings, it is not necessary to ring bell against someone speaking. If it is seen that the speaker has gone out of the points, the Chairperson has right to say, point of correction, please, and point out the mistake to him. After that, more chance should be given to him to finish his speeches. Or the Chair person can wait until he finishes his speeches before he corrects him.

90. The two Bethel L/R are to work as a team. The male L/R must not ignore the female L/R in whatever he does in the Bethel. Likewise the female L/R. In the absent of the male L/R, the female L/R has right to make announcement in the Bethel.

91. There are only five ways for healing in Brotherhood:

(I) Confession of sin (ii) Prayer (iii) Fasting (iv) Ministry work

(v) Feasting Tell the sick one to confess sins, first before you offer prayer for him. If the problem is not over, tell him to fast and pray. If it’s still not over, ask him to go on Ministry Work and to make feast. The merciful Father will solve the problem for him.

James 5:16. Mark 9:29. (King James Version) If the problem still continues, tell him to remain in faith and wait patiently on the Lord, for His proper time. Tell him to remember the righteous man, Job. James 5:11. James 1:12.

92. At the headquarters only 144.000 virgins are permitted to pray and read, especially, the English Bible.