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The Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (COGAF) is a religious

group that is closely linked with the Christadelphians. The group first
came into existence in the 1860's, when fourteen "obedient ones," as
they termed themselves, established a congregation in Cleveland,
Ohio. This initial body of believers came into existence under the
leadership of Mark Allen, originally from Woburn, Massachusetts. Allen
had previously spent some time in Geneva, Illinois working with
Benjamin Wilson, who was baptized by Christadelphian founder John
Thomas.

Wilson was the founder of the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith
Oregon Conference, which was based in Oregon, Illinois (Today this
group is known as the Church of God General Conference and is
based in Atlanta, Georgia). Allen's group, while having the same name
and believing many of the same doctrines, evolved into a separate
group and has no affiliation with the COGAF Oregon Conference. The
COGAF congregation based in Cleveland, after much discussion and
examination of the scriptures, decided not to embrace the doctrine of
a literal devil, a universal resurrection, and decided to practice
membership communion. The Oregon Conference did not crystalize
their thinking on many issues, leaving them open to individual
churches whereas Cleveland did.

By 1888 the same beliefs held by the Cleveland congregation were


shared by two other churches. Today, there are eight churches that
hold to the same fundamental teachings referred to previously. They
are located in: Unionville, Salem, and Chesterland, Ohio; Gainesville,
Miami and Flagler Beach, Florida; Perryville, Kentucky; and Roll,
Indiana. Presently, members of this section of Church of God of the
Abrahamic Faith number around four hundred.

Although the Christadelphians and COGAF community hold fast to


many of the same doctrines, contact between the two groups has
been limited until recently. Talks are currently being undertaken to
discuss and resolve the small differences between this community of
believers in the Faith of Abraham and the Christadelphian community.

The Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith, much like the


Christadelphians, seeks to return to the basic principles and doctrines
of the first century church. They perceive that Christianity has been
changed dramatically since the death of the Apostles, and believe
that the Bible is the only true source of inspired revelation. As a
result, both COGAF and Christadelphians place a heavy emphasis on
Bible study and understanding . They believe that only through a
complete understanding of God and His purpose will one find the path
to eternal salvation.

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"Now this is eternal life, that they may know thee, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." John 17:3

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