PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT

TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

VOL.2, N0.32

AUGUST 8 , 1980

CHURCH W I N S ROUND I N SUPERIOR COURT

Wednesday m o r n i n g , A u g u s t 6 t h , t h r e e d e p u t y A t t o r n e y s G e n e r a l o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s o f f i c e a p p e a r e d a t Los A n g e l e s S u p e r i o r Court. They h a d come t o a r g u e i n d e f e n s e o f a m o t i o n t h e y f i l e d w h i c h t h e y hoped would p u n i s h M r . R a d e r . The p r o c e e d i n g s would n o r m a l l y h a v e b e e n b e f o r e J u d g e W e i l who h a d b e e n p r e s i d i n g a t h e a r i n g s of t h e S t a t e v s . C h u r c h s u i t , b u t J u d g e Edward Y . K a k i t a w a s s u b s t i t u t i n g f o r him t h i s week. The A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l h a s c h o s e n t o c h a r a c t e r i z e M r . R a d e r ' s w r i t t e n a n s w e r s t o 1 4 3 q u e s t i o n s , a s w e l l a s h i s d i s c l o s u r e of v o l u m i n o u s p e r s o n a l . f i n a n c i a l d o c u m e n t a t i o n a s somehow " i n s u f f i c i e n t . " T h u s D e p u t y A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l C o r d i w e n t a h e a d w i t h o r a l a r g u m e n t i n support of a m o t i o n c a l l i n g f o r ' ' m o s t severe s a n c t i o n s " a g a i n s t M r . Rader--a m o t i o n w h i c h n e v e r r e a l l y g o t o f f t h e g r o u n d . A t t h e v e r y l e a s t t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l would s e t t l e f o r a n o t h e r d e p o s i t i o n of M r . Rader. C h u r c h a t t o r n e y A l l a n Browne e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e r e had b e e n no w i l l f u l nonc o m p l i a n c e by M r . R a d e r w i t h a n y s t a t e o r f e d e r a l c o u r t o r d e r s . P r i o r t o t h i s t h e C h u r c h h a d b e e n s e e k i n g a p p e l l a t e r e l i e f based o n a u r c o n s t i t u tional rights. A g a i n h e p o i n t e d o u t t h e p r e m i s e t h a t t h e r e a r e some m a t t e r s w h i c h a r e p r i v a t e a n d o n c e made p u b l i c , l i k e t h e u n r i n g i n g of a b e l l , s i m p l y c a n n o t be r e s t o r e d . Even J u d g e W e i l , e x p l a i n e d M . Browne, r h a d h e l d up d i s c o v e r y m a t t e r s u n t i l t h e o u t c o m e of t h e C h u r c h ' s w r i t t o t h e U.S. Supreme C o u r t a f e w months a g o .
I t w a s a h a r d f o u g h t h e a r i n g w i t h much comment o n b o t h s i d e s . But M r . Browne p r e v a i l e d w i t h e x c e l l e n t r e b u t t a l . The j u d g e w a s n o t swayed by t h e c o n c l u s i o n s t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l w a s d r a w i n g f o r t h e c o u r t , n o r by t h e h e a v y s i g h i n g of t h e d e p u t y A t t o r n e y s G e n e r a l a s t h e y s q u i r m e d i n t h e i r c h a i r s i n p r o t e s t a t i o n of comments b y M r . Browne. ( T h e i r s i g h s w e r e so a u d i b l e t h a t t h e y a r e now p a r t of t h e p e r m a n e n t c o u r t r e c o r d , h a v i n g drawn comment b y t h e J u d g e ! )

The A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l d i d n o t win a n y s a n c t i o n s o r e v e n a much s o o n e r d a t e f o r a n o t h e r d e p o s i t i o n o f M r . Rader. The C o u r t o r d e r e d M r . R a d e r ' s depos i t i o n s e t f o r November 1 9 t o accommodate h i s v e r y b u s y s c h e d u l e i n serv i c e t o t h e Church.
MR. RADER COMBINES RADIO I N T E R V I E W W I T H CHURCH V I S I T

R a d e r v i s i t e d t h e C h i c a g o C h u r c h on A u g u s t 1st and 2nd at t h e i n v i t a t i o n of p a s t o r Roy H o l l a d a y . W h i l e i n C h i c a g o h e w a s i n t e r v i e w e d by I r a J o h n s o n o f WLS r a d i o , a 5 0 , 0 0 0 w a t t s t a t i o n w i t h a v a s t p o t e n t i a l a u d i e n c e . F r i d a y e v e n i n g M r . R a d e r a d d r e s s e d t h e m i n i s t r y a n d wives a t a d i n n e r m e e t i n g i n t h e Q u e e n ' s R o o m of t h e Ambassador W e s t H o t e l . The n e x t d a y

Mr.

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, A u g u s t 8 , 1 9 8 0

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h e s p o k e t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 3 7 5 members i n a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e combined S a b b a t h s e r v i c e o f t h e u p p e r m i d w e s t C h u r c h e s of God w h i c h i n c l u d e d t h e f o u r Chicago c h u r c h e s , t w o c h u r c h e s from Milwaukee, a s w e l l a s t h e M i n i s t r y a n d m e m b e r s f r o m RockKenosha a n d W i s c o n s i n D e l l s c h u r c h e s . f o r d , I l l i n o i s , E l k h a r t and Michigan C i t y , I n d i a n a w e r e a l s o p r e s e n t . The g r o u p m e t a t C h i c a g o ' s famous McCormick P l a c e . The M i n i s t e r i a l D i n n e r M e e t i n g Thirty-seven people w e r e i n attendance a t t h e d i n n e r meeting w i t h M r . Rader a n d h i s p a r t y , i n c l u d i n g s e v e n f u l l - t i m e m i n i s t e r s a n d t h e i r w i v e s , as w e l l a s e i g h t l o c a l e l d e r s a n d t h e i r w i v e s - - a l l r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e e l e v e n upper midwest c h u r c h e s .
Mr.
Rader t o l d t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t l e g a l b a c k i n g i s coming f r o m many d i verse r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h i s , o f c o u r s e , i s coming a s a r e s u l t o f o t h e r c h u r c h e s c l e a r l y s e e i n g t h e need t o make a u n i t e d e f f o r t t o p r e s e r v e t h e f r e e d o m of c h u r c h e s t o o p e r a t e a s t h e y c h o o s e .

I t i s o b v i o u s t h a t w e a r e coming t o t h e t u r n i n g p o i n t i n t h e c a s e , a s M r . Rader n o t e d t h a t w e are now b e g i n n i n g t o see a c h a n g e i n t h e m e d i a ' s p e r -

The p u b l i c c e p t i o n of t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s i n t e n t i o n s i n t h e l a w s u i t . i s a l s o g r o w i n g n o t i c e a b l y more aware o f t h e r e a l i s s u e s . M r . R a d e r s a i d it w i l l b e M r . Armstrong v e r s u s t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , w i t h t h e quest i o n b e i n g s q u a r e l y , "Who w i l l r u n t h e C h u r c h , C h r i s t o r Caesar?"

M r . R a d e r e m p h a s i z e d how t h e l a w s u i t h a s h a d a g a l v a n i z i n g e f f e c t o n t h e membership. T h e i r s u p p o r t a n d l o y a l t y , empowered by d e e p c o n v i c t i o n s , b r o u g h t s o m e o u t s t a n d i n g e x a m p l e s t o t h e f o r e , a n d g a i n e d t h e r e s p e c t of t h e m e d i a a t l a r g e . And, s i g n i f i c a n t l y , God h a s t u r n e d a S a t a n i c a t t a c k i n t o a p o w e r f u l v e h i c l e t o h e l p M r . Armstrong p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l t o t h e w o r l d , e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h t h e f u l l - p a g e newspaper a d s he i s w r i t i n g .
M r . R a d e r s a i d t h a t w e m u s t t a k e a d v a n t a g e of t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y a n d n o t become d e f e n s i v e . H e d r e w a p a r a l l e l w i t h P a u l ' s e x p e r i e n c e s i n R o m e when many p e o p l e came t o l i s t e n t o him b e c a u s e of t h e c o n t r o v e r s y s u r r o u n d i n g h i s message. The C h u r c h h a s b e e n t h r u s t i n t o t h e l i m e l i g h t a n d w e m u s t t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s as t h e o p p o r t u n i t y i t i s . W e a r e u s i n g t h e a d c a m p a i g n t o n o t o n l y e d u c a t e t h e p u b l i c a b o u t t h e t r u e f a c t s of t h e l a w s u i t , b u t a l s o t o p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l and t o t e l l them w h a t t h e C h u r c h i s a l l a b o u t w h i l e w e have t h e i r a t t e n t i o n .

Rader reminded t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t t h e A t t o r n e y Ge n e ra l h a s t r i e d t o misinform t h e p u b l i c . W e have proof o f h i s s a y i n g one t h i n g i n c o u r t and H e h a s y e l l e d " f i r e ! " when t h e r e a n o t h e r when q u e s t i o n e d b y t h e m e d i a . i s no f i r e . But s o o n e r o r l a t e r t h e media c a t c h e s on. R e c e n t l y , a government o f f i c i a l , t h e U . S . A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , w a s c a u g h t i n a l i e about t h e "Billygate" a f f a i r .
Mr.

R a d e r s t r e s s e d t h a t e v e n t h o u g h you a r e r i g h t , you may s t i l l h a v e H e u s e d t h e example o f t h e J e h o v a h ' s W i t n e s s e s a f e w d e c a d e s a g o who w e n t t o j a i l f o r t h e i r r i g h t s w h i c h t h e y s u b s e q u e n t l y r e c o v e r e d ( A m u n i c i p a l j u r i s d i c t i o n h a d t r i e d t o c h a r g e them a f e e f o r t h e r i g h t t o p a s s o u t l i t e r a t u r e i n p u b l i c ) . MI?. Rader a l s o

Mr.

t o p r o v e you are r i g h t .

( C o n t i n u e d on p a g e 4 )

Attorney General

Mr.

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of California:
Just what do you mean-

at'Cult"?

ahlv damaged bv this politicallv moti\ a t e d assault of .Jan '3. 1979 T r u e . you. For a generation or ~ W after the Mr. .Attome\ General. inherited this O case Ynu came into ntfice a few days C i v i l LVar s o m e S o u t h e r n e r s a f t e r t h e ascault h? ynur offire But you hurled t h e insult "Yankees" a t have full! acrepted L a. j o u r battle t ' northerners-yet t o d a y a very against the churches of California. respectable New York baseball T h e unfnrtunate Jonestown disaster c l u b p r o u d l v b e a r s t h e n a m e was u%d t o Justify the pohtical scheme l o take over. own. control and operate A L L "Yankees." When your office launched its C H l R C H E S in California T h e Worldwide surprise massive armed attack on Churrh of God was selected as t h e target the Worldwide Church of God, test rase - one expected to "rave in"! I f we Sall before this massive unconscreaming banner headlines used stitutional assault all churches in Calit h e epithet "cult." Was this in- fornia - Catholic. Protestant a n d dew^ tended t o belittle the LIVING GOD ish-would topple like dominos. W e AND His CHCRCH? defend t h r m as well as ourselves' That's why t h e v - r e p r e s e n t i n g 84 million J u s t W h a t I s a "Cult"? Americans --are joining forres in our [t's time we learn t h e meaning uf legal defense' words' I t ' s time for those living in glass T r u e , !our o f i c e picked o n a church houses to q u i t throwing s t ~ n e s ' w p p n s e d l ) sma!I in membership. You After t h e u n f o r t u n a t e .lonestown see. we r n u n t as members on/? adult mass suicide the word c u l t was used t o baptized mernhers in regular weekly d i w r e d i t . I t was indicrriminatelv used a t t e n d a n r e at services 198'. to loo', in t n hesmear smaller though f i f t h ~ d e c a d e lnral r h u r c h e q a t t e n d ever? weeklv established respectahle churches. W a s it s e r b r e - a record u n m a t c h e d ' If we not used 1 0 justify t h e unconStltutional rnunted. as commonly done, Dccasiiinal a s s a u l t to "take over," control a n d attendanres. children a n d regular tinanown-or else destroy-the churches of cia1 s u p p o r t e r s . o u r m e m b e r s h i p is California" closer t o a half million. O u r good name-and t h a t o f t he great W e are ronsiderably larger t h a n the GOD whose n a m e we h e a r - n a s i r r e p a r ~ oriKinal Church of God founded A D . 3 1

YOV implying t h e W o r l d w i d e C h u r c h of God is a "cult"? Have you heard American Greeks insulted by calling them "wwps"-Italian Americans insulted by t h e e p i t h e t "dagos??-Jews belittled by the terms "kikes" or "sheenies"would you insult blackswith the epithet "niggers"?

RE

H r n n e W~ A~u.rrro~a ~

hv Jesus Christ. It s t a r t e d . t h a t day of P e n t e c o s t . with 120 m e m b e r s ( A c t s 1 1.71 And did you know that they were rnnsidered. while young. as a new "rult" or "sect'" A priiminent Haptist minister said rerently. ' IS t h e Worldwide Church of is a rult t h e n we Baptists were a c u l t d u r i n g t h e e a r l y y e a r s of o u r prowth." Artuall) the word rulr 1s NOT primariI> a n insuRinp epithet. T h e word comes from t h e [.atin a n d F r e n r h through a word meaning "CL.LTURE '' Webster defines "cult" as: " I ) formal religious \eneration. worship; ? I a system o f reli gious helief and ritual, also adherents to: and , 3 l a religion rejected aa unorthodox nr spurious." It was this third usage in modern parlance t h a t wns sensatmna\ ized a f t e r t h e Jonestown tragedy. But t h a t does not condemn t h e Worldwide Church of Cod. NOR theCatholic. Protestant or Jewish bodies-all of whom started S M A L L IN NilMRERS! T h e t r u e C h u r c h of C o d s t a r t e d S M A L L in n u m b e r of members. J e s u s Christ compared His Church, and t h e OF coming K I N G D O M COD into which it shall grow, t o a gram of mustard seedt h e smallest of all herbs. but to grow ultimately t o FILL T H E WHOLE EARTH' .Jesus called His C h u r c h " t h e Little Flock." T h a t "Little Flock" t h e n was persecuted. even as it still is TODAY! J e s u s said i f they had perseruted even HIM. they would a l w persecute His Church'

w. HERBERT ARMSTRONG Pastor General Worldwide Church of C o d

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT,

August 8 , 1 9 8 0

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n o t e d t h a t t h e Supreme C o u r t s o m e t i m e s w i l l l e a v e a n i n j u s t i c e it would e x p o s e o t h e r s i n h i g h p o s i t i o n s o f h a v i n g c o m m i t t e d a But h e s a i d t h a t w e w a n t a Supreme C o u r t d e c i s i o n b e c a u s e i t w c a t e u s o f a l l wrong--and p e o p l e w i l l t h e n l i s t e n much more t o say because of t h a t .

--

a l o n e if wrong! i l l vindiwhat w e

So o u r b a t t l e i s more t h a n j u s t a b a t t l e w i t h two s i d e s o r p o i n t s o f v i e w t o i t . A g r e a t wrong h a s b e e n done t o G o d ' s C h u r c h a n d M r . A r m s t r o n g i s n o t b a s h f u l a b o u t s t e p p i n g on some w e l l - d e s e r v i n g t o e s ! And i n d e f e n d i n g o u r own r e l i g i o u s r i g h t s w e a r e s e r v i n g all o t h e r r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s . Combined S a b b a t h S e r v i c e s I n t r o d u c t o r y comments t o t h e 1 3 7 5 b r e t h r e n a s s e m b l e d o n S a b b a t h , A u g u s t 2 , w e r e made by M r . Joe K o t o r a who f l e w t o C h i c a g o w i t h M r . R a d e r . Mr. Kotora i n t r o d u c e d t h e d o c u m e n t a r y , " C h u r c h V e r s u s S t a t e , a f t e r w h i c h he gave a s e r m o n e t t e i n which he encouraged t h e b r e t h r e n t o a t a l l c o s t s endure t o t h e end.
'I

A f t e r t h e s e r m o n e t t e , M r . Rader spoke a l o n g t h e l i n e s o f t h e n i g h t b e f o r e , a s w e l l a s g i v i n g i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e Work, M r . A r m s t r o n g , a n d h i s own p a r t i n i t o v e r t h e y e a r s l e a d i n g up t o h i s b a p t i s m i n 1 9 7 5 .

M r . Rader s a i d M r . Armstrong i s q u i t e proud t o b e i n t h e vanguard i n ree s t a b l i s h i n g r e l i g i o u s freedom f o r a l l churches. Despite the corrupt p r a c t i c e s o f t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e m e d i a , w e a r e now w i n n i n g t h e b a t t l e w i t h t h e media and t h e p u b l i c i s coming a r o u n d t o o u r side.

M e n t i o n i n g t h a t t h e Church a n d t h e members are i n t h e l i m e l i g h t b e c a u s e o f t h e m o u n t a i n s o f p u b l i c i t y w e h a v e b e e n g e t t i n g over t h e l a s t 1 9 m o n t h s , he r e l a t e d t h a t M r . A r m s t r o n g l o o k s upon t h i s a t t a c k i n v e r y p o s i t i v e terms--as a n o p p o r t u n i t y , s i n c e "You c a n ' t make lemonade w i t h o u t lemons.
'I

The b r e t h r e n w e r e v e r y g l a d t o h e a r o f t h e l a t e s t d e v e l o p m e n t s i n t h e l a w s u i t a n d t o g a i n v a l u a b l e i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e man G o d ' s A p o s t l e h a s c h o s e n t o a i d him i n f u l f i l l i n g t h e Great Commission. I n c l o s i n g , M r . R a d e r r e a d a q u o t a t i o n o f Abraham L i n c o l n w h i c h he s a i d sums up h i s own f e e l i n g s a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a s b e e n h a p p e n i n g i n t h e l a s t 1 9 m o n t h s , a n d w h a t w i l l happen i n t h e f u t u r e :
I know t h e r e i s a God a n d I know H e h a t e s i n j u s t i c e . I see t h e s t o r m coming a n d I know H i s hand i s i n i t . B u t i f H e h a s a p l a c e and a p a r t f o r m e , I b e l i e v e t h a t I a m ready.

Mr.

Rader n o t e d t h a t t h e i s s u e t o d a y i s s t i l l freedom, and t h a t t h e r e i s a s t o r m a n d " w e are i n t h e m i d d l e of i t . " B u t i t i s s o m e t h i n g w e c a n t h a n k f u l t o b e a p a r t of f o r " w e know God's hand i s i n i t . " --Roger A b e l s , Chicago S o u t h e a s t

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, A u g u s t 8 , 1 9 8 0

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FROM M I N I S T E R I A L S E R V I C E S January-June 1980 U . S . Church Report

T h i s i s t h e f i r s t o f w h a t w e hope w i l l b e a p e r i o d i c f e a t u r e i n t h e P a s t o r G e n e r a l ' s R e p o r t t o k e e p a l l of you i n f o r m e d o f a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n t h e U . S . Churches. Baptisms: T h e r e have been 1 , 7 4 1 b a p t i s m s i n t h e U . S . d u r i n g t h e f i r s t s i x m o n t h s of 1 9 8 0 . T h i s i s a 3 3 % i n c r e a s e o v e r t h e number o f b a p t i s m s f o r t h e same p e r i o d i n 1 9 7 9 a n d b r i n g s t h e l e v e l o f b a p t i s m s b a c k up t o what we had i n 1 9 7 7 . Church A t t e n d a n c e : U . S . Church a t t e n d a n c e a v e r a g e d 70,345 f o r J u n e . T h i s i s o n l y s l i g h t l y l e s s t h a n t h e May f i g u r e ( 7 0 , 8 9 7 ) w h i c h i s t h e h i g h e s t a t t e n d a n c e f i g u r e w e have had s i n c e w e s t a r t e d a v e r a g i n g t h e weekly Church a t t e n d a n c e s i n J a n u a r y 1978. N e w C h u r c h e s : I n o r d e r t o r e d u c e t h e m i l e a g e many o f t h e b r e t h r e n a r e h a v i n g t o d r i v e t o a t t e n d S a b b a t h s e r v i c e s , t h e f o l l o w i n g new c h u r c h e s C o l d w a t e r , M i c h i g a n ; Mena, A r k a n s a s : h a v e b e e n a p p r o v e d so f a r t h i s y e a r : Lake C r y s t a l , M i n n e s o t a : T a l l a h a s s e e , F l o r i d a ; B a n g o r , Maine a n d P o r t l a n d , Maine ( r e p l a c i n g A u g u s t a ) ; B a k e r , Oregon: H a z a r d , K e n t u c k y : W i n c h e s t e r , West V i r g i n i a ; C a d i l l a c , M i c h i g a n and Y a n k t o n , S o u t h D a k o t a . Public Bible Lectures: Up t h r o u g h J u n e , 1 0 6 P u b l i c B i b l e L e c t u r e s h a v e been h e l d i n t h e U . S . W e have r e c e i v e d a t t e n d a n c e r e p o r t s on 7 5 of t h e s e w i t h a combined new a t t e n d a n c e of 9 1 7 f o r t h o s e r e p o r t i n g . P r o b a b l y t h e most s u c c e s s f u l B i b l e L e c t u r e h e l d s o f a r t h i s y e a r w a s conducted by E a r l W i l l i a m s . The f o l l o w i n g i s a b r i e f r e p o r t f r o m E a r l on t h i s l e c t u r e :
W e w e r e a b l e , w i t h t h e h e l p o f God, t o w i t n e s s t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y n i n e t y b r a n d new p e o p l e . T h i s works o u t t o b e a 3.3% r e s p o n s e t o our invitation. This p a s t Sabbath (April 191, a f t e r t h e l e c t u r e , w e h a d a b o u t 3 0 of t h o s e p e o p l e t o come b a c k f o r S a b b a t h s e r v i c e s and t w o r e q u e s t i n g b a p t i s m a l r e a d y . W e t r i e d one v e r y s u c c e s s f u l e x p e r i m e n t . What w e d i d w a s t o p u t 3 0 0 a t t r a c t i v e b r o c h u r e s i n s i d e newsstand P l a i n Truths. W e a l s o h a d a t h r e e - d a y s p o t ad a t t h e e n d of t h e r a d i o b r o a d c a s t . W e f e e l t h e l e c t u r e s were s u c c e s s f u l n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e new p e o p l e who h a d r e s p o n d e d , b u t i t h a s a l s o t u r n e d o n t h e l o c a l membership w i t h renewed z e a l a n d e n thusiasm.

...

I n t e r n a t i o n a l News Caribbean Update: The C a r i b b e a n o f f i c e i n S a n J u a n , P u e r t o R i c o r e p o r t s t h a t t h e m a i l c o u n t f o r t h e month o f J u n e i s up 3 8 % over t h e same p e r i o d l a s t y e a r . The amount of m a i l c o n t a i n i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n s t h i s month w a s up 50% over l a s t y e a r . And t h e t o t a l income f o r t h e C a r i b b e a n area is up 4 . 8 % over J u n e of 1 9 7 9 .
M r . A 1 S o u s a of t h e S a n J u a n C h u r c h h a s b e e n c a r r y i n g o u t a s e r i e s of B i b l e l e c t u r e s t o s t u d e n t s of t h e Spanish correspondence c o u r s e i n t h e c i t i e s o f S a n J u a n , P o n c e a n d Mayaguez, P u e r t o R i c o . The o v e r a l l r e s p o n s e

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h a s b e e n good w i t h t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f r e s p o n s e t o t h e l e t t e r o f i n v i t a t i o n ( i n t e r m s o f a t t e n d a n c e ) p r o g r e s s i v e l y i n p r o v i n g f r o m 2% i n San J u a n t o 1 3 % i n Ponce a n d 1 5 % i n t h e c i t y o f Mayaguez. One more c o n f e r e n c e i s p l a n n e d f o r t h e c i t y o f Humacao, P u e r t o R i c o . S t a n B a s s , Regional Director f o r t h e Caribbean a r e a w a s r e c e n t l y i n Jamaica f o r a n a n n u a l m e e t i n g f o r t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e Worldwide C h u r c h , o f God i n J a m a i c a , L t d . H e r e p o r t e d , " I f o u n d C h a r l e s a n d Carmen F l e m i n g ( t h e m i n i s t e r i a l a s s i s t a n t t h e r e ) and a l l t h e b r e t h r e n i n J a m a i c a s a f e i n s p i t e of a l l the increasing p o l i t i c a l violence i n the country. In the week o r s o t h a t w e w e r e i n J a m a i c a , t h e r e w e r e n e a r l y t h i r t y p e r s o n s s l a i n I t i s t r u l y s a d d e n i n g t o see w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g t o i n p o l i t i c a l violence. an i n d e p e n d e n t and h e a r t y p e o p l e . I t i s as i f t h e Jamaican s o c i e t y has a mandate t o d e s t r o y i t s e l f . A l m o s t no o n e g o e s anywhere a t n i g h t for f e a r o f p h y s i c a l harm.
Mr.

r " I n t h e g h e t t o s of K i n g s t o n , " c o n t i n u e d M. B a s s , " w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i s almost u n b e l i e v a b l e . I t i s t h e r e t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l p o l a r i z a t i o n sweeping t h e country is m o s t evident. I n t h e JLP areas (areas s u p p o r t i v e of t h e Jamaica L a b o u r P a r t y , t h e o p p o s i t i o n p a r t y ) s t r e e t s a r e b a r r i c a d e d w i t h o l d c a r s , g a r b a g e c a n s , abandoned f u r n i t u r e , a n y t h i n g which w i l l s e r v e t o p r e v e n t e a s y access t o PNP ( P e o p l e ' s N a t i o n a l P a r t y ) gunmen. The same i s t r u e o f t h e PNP a r e a s . E a c h p o l i t i c a l p a r t y seems d e t e r m i n e d t o blame t h e o t h e r p a r t y f o r a l l t h e v i o l e n c e e x p e r i e n c e d by i t s f o l l o w e r s - - t i t f o r t a t - - o r a s t h e l e a d e r o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n , Edward S e a g a , s a i d , ' b l o o d

f o r blood.' "What a p i t y t h a t t h e J a m a i c a n p e o p l e h a v e t o s u f f e r a t t h e h a n d s of their leaders w i t h t h e i r p o l i t i c a l f o l l y . But i n s p i t e o f a l l t h e problems, a v i s i t t o t h e Jamaica C h u r c h i s a n e x p e r i e n c e t o remember. S u c h warmth a n d o u t g o i n g c o n c e r n w o u l d a t f i r s t seem h a r d t o e x p l a i n i n t h e l i g h t of t h e d a y - t o - d a y e x p e r i e n c e s o f l i v i n g i n Jamaica. B u t , somehow, when almost e v e r y d a y o f o n e ' s l i f e he must r e v i e w what i s i m p o r t a n t and what i s n o t , God's S p i r i t m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f i n a n e x t r a , s e c o n d e f f o r t . "The h i g h l i g h t o f my v i s i t t o Jamaica was a L a d i e s N i g h t w i t h t h e S p o k e s man C l u b i n w h i c h s e v e n men w e r e g r a d u a t e d . S o m e t h i n g I w i s h you a l l c o u l d h a v e s e e n a n d h e a r d w a s t h e s p e e c h g i v e n by Don B r e i d e n t h a l . Don i s a U.S. Peace C o r p s m e m b e r s t a t i o n e d i n Jamaica. The t h i n g t h a t made h i s speech o u t s t a n d i n g i s t h e f a c t t h a t he has been deaf s i n c e t h e age H e w a s an i n s p i r a t i o n t o me. L i v i n g p r o o f t h a t t h e word of five! ' h a n d i c a p ' c a n b e a p p l i e d o n l y t o g o l f e r s and t h o s e p o o r s o u l s who s a y ' I c a n ' t , ' even b e f o r e t h e y t r y , " concluded M r . Bass.

R e p o r t From The N e t h e r l a n d s : R e g i o n a l D i r e c t o r B r a m d e Bree t e l e x e d t h a t t h i s h a s b e e n t h e r a i n i e s t summer f o r o v e r 4 0 y e a r s . T w o weeks a g o t h e s k i e s w e r e clear and sunny f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n s i x weeks. With a v e r y d r y s p r i n g a n d e x t r e m e l y w e t summer, f o o d p r i c e s a r e r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g . Several Even t h e m i l l i o n s of cows i n t h a t g r e e n c o u n t r y g i v e l e s s m i l k . r i v e r s have o v e r f l o w n t h e i r b a n k s . Meanwhile,God's Work c o n t i n u e s . Income f o r J u n e showed a 22.239, y e a r - t o - d a t e i n c r e a s e a n d a 9.589, i n c r e a s e f o r t h e p a s t 1 2 months. Regarding media, t h e r e s p o n s e t o a d s p l a c e d i n n e w s p a p e r s a n d n e w s p a p e r f l y e r s i n t h e month o f May g a v e u s a 0 . 3 2 % response. Very l o w i n d e e d .

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" A t a m e e t i n g w i t h o G r a d v e r t i s i n g a g e n c y , " s a i d M r . d e Bree, " t h e d e c i s i o n w a s made t o r e t u r n t o p l a c e a d s i n t h e TV g u i d e s . S i x D u t c h TV g u i d e s c o v e r 9 0 % o f t h e Dutch p o p u l a t i o n . However, o n l y t h r e e o f t h e s i x w i l l accept our ads. Ads a r e s c h e d u l e d t o a p p e a r a t t h e e n d o f A u g u s t and b e g i n n i n g o f S e p t e m b e r . T h i s i s t h e t i m e t h a t t h e new TV programmes b e g i n and a l l v a c a t i o n s are p a s t .

" D u r i n g t h e week o f J u n e 2 3 r d , " c o n t i n u e d M r . d e Bree, " w e m e t w i t h v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t h e a d s i n P a s a d e n a t o d i s c u s s ways a n d means t o i m p r o v e Newspaper f l y e r r e s p o n s e i n H o l l a n d h a s b e e n exDutch PT c i r c u l a t i o n . t r e m e l y l o w which, w e b e l i e v e , i s c a u s e d by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a v e r a g e Dutchman's m a i l b o x i s f l o o d e d w i t h a l l k i n d s of f l y e r s and f r e e l i t e r a t u r e . A l l m e e t i n g s i n P a s a d e n a h a v e b e e n v e r y h e l p f u l , and a s a r e s u l t o f same 'de a r e s t u d y i n g t h e f e a s a b i l i t y and c o s t s i n v o l v e d f o r a d i r e c t m a i l and n e w s s t a n d programme t o i m p r o v e Dutch PT c i r c u l a t i o n . " Appreciation f o r M i n i s t e r i a l R e f r e s h i n s Prosram
Dear M r .

Armstrong:

Thank you f o r t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o come t o P a s a d e n a f o r t h e R e f r e s h e r Program. When w e r e a d t h e g l o w i n g r e p o r t s a b o u t t h e f i r s t s e s s i o n , w e t h o u g h t t o o u r s e l v e s " I t must be good, b u t i t c o u l d n ' t b e t h a t good!" The c l a s s e s h a v e b e e n n o t o n l y a r e f r e s h e r , b u t a l s o r e f r e s h i n g . And m o s t s a t i s f y i n g of a l l i s t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t d o c t r i n e a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s coming t h r o u g h l o y a l t e a c h e r s d i r e c t l y f r o m you. W e c a n f i n a l l y , f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n y e a r s , know t h a t w h a t w e w i l l b e t e a c h i n g i s r e a l l y w h a t God's A p o s t l e w a n t s t a u g h t . Thanks a g a i n f o r t h e d i r e c t i o n , b a l a n c e , s t a b i l i t y , m o t i v a t i o n , a n d e n t h u s i a s m you a r e g i v i n g u s W e w i l l b e b e h i n d you 1 0 0 % by t h e power o f God's S p i r i t i n you. i n e v e r y f a c e t o f c o m p l e t i n g God's Great Commission.
Greg a n d M a r i a n S a r g e n t

Dear M r .

Armstrong:

I j u s t w a n t e d t o w r i t e a n d e x p r e s s my w i f e ' s a n d my f e e l i n g s a b o u t t h e R e f r e s h e r C o u r s e t h a t w e had t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t e n d . W e learned m o r e i n t h e f i r s t one o r t w o days t h a n i n a l l t h e M i n i s t e r i a l C o n f e r e n c e s w e have a t t e n d e d . I t was very reassuring t o h e a r M r . Tkach a n d M r . B l a c k w e l l a l o n g w i t h t h e o t h e r s , t e a c h t h e t h i n g s t h a t I remember you t e a c h i n g y e a r s a g o . The warmth a n d f r i e n d s h i p of t h e o t h e r m i n i s t e r s i n t h e class w a s a l s o something t h a t w e w i l l remember f o r a l o n g t i m e t o come.

Thank you a g a i n f o r y o u r l o y a l t y a n d d e d i c a t i o n t o J e s u s C h r i s t . I r e a l i z e t h a t it h a s n ' t a l w a y s b e e n e a s y t o make t h e d e c i s i o n s you h a v e h a d t o make, b u t t h e r e a r e many o f u s i n t h e m i n i s t r y a n d i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s t h a t w e p a s t o r who a p p r e c i a t e t h e e f f o r t a n d s a c r i f i c e you h a v e made. George a n d J a c k i e A f f e l d t

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, A u g u s t 8 , 1 9 8 0

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Weekly L e t t e r Comments The comments f o r t h i s week e x p r e s s a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r M r . H e r b e r t W. A r m s t r o n g ' s tireless e f f o r t s i n s e r v i n g God's chosen p e o p l e , and i n doing O t h e r l e t t e r s show t h a t G o d r i c h l y b l e s s e s H i s p e o p l e t h e Work o f G o d . i n many ways f o r t h e i r f a i t h f u l t i t h i n g . Finally, readers express t h e i r g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e Work's f r e e l i t e r a t u r e . Members A p p r e c i a t e E f f o r t s of G o d ' s A p o s t l e
I am a member o f t h e Worldwide C h u r c h o f God i n V a n c o u v e r , B . C . I m u s t t h a n k you f o r a l l y o u r w r i t i n g - - e v e r y new a r t i c l e i s s t i m u l a t ing a n d v a l u a b l e . I h o p e t h a t y o u r b o o k , A V O I C E C R I E S OUT, w i l l r e a c h many p e o p l e who h a v e n o t y e t h e a r d o f G o d ' s t r u t h . So many people d o n ' t know t h a t God i s r e a l a n d t h a t H e c a r e s f o r mankind. h b p e many p e o p l e w i l l b e awakened t o see how g r e a t a n d m i g h t y a r e God t h e F a t h e r a n d J e s u s C h r i s t . I do p r a y o f t e n f o r your h e a l t h and s t r e n g t h t o f i n i s h t h e j o b I must p r a y more f e r v e n t l y a n d more t h a t God h a s g i v e n t o y o u . o f t e n for God's guidance i n your d a i l y d e c i s i o n s . I believe t h a t t h e Work w i l l b e c o m p l e t e d , w i t h you a s human h e a d , t h r o u g h G o d ' s I read recently i n the Bible t h a t Christ doesn't take Spirit. p l e a s u r e i n human s t r e n g t h , b u t H e h a s p l e a s u r e i n t h o s e t h a t (Psalms 147:lO-11.) H e must have g r e a t p l e a s u r e i n t r u s t Him! y o u r e f f o r t s , b e c a u s e you h a v e h e l p e d t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e t o t r u s t You g a v e up y o u r w h o l e l i f e i n God t h e F a t h e r a n d J e s u s C h r i s t . - - y e t as a r e s u l t you a r e a b l e t o g a i n e t e r n a l l i f e , when C h r i s t r e t u r n s w i t h t h e tremendous o f f i c e H e h a s f o r you.

You b r i n g t o t h i s w o r l d a m e s s a g e o f t h e " g i v e " way, a n d of t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e wrong " - way--a m e s s a g e s o d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d e d get" I h o p e a n d p r a y t h a t G o d ' s m e s s a g e w h i c h you d e l i v e r w i l l today. b e t h u n d e r e d f o r t h w i t h g r e a t e r power i n t h e s e l a s t d a y s . May God Through t h e i n c r e d s p e e d you i n f u l f i l l i n g H i s G r e a t Commission! i b l e a n d a w e s o m e power o f J e s u s C h r i s t , t h e Work w i l l be c o m p l e t e d ! With t h a n k s t o you. --Fred
W.

(Vancouver, Canada)

W e h a v e n e v e r m e t a n d y e t you a r e l i k e a f a t h e r t o m e .

You may n e v e r know j u s t how much you mean t o a l l of u s ( y o u r c h i l d r e n i n Christ).

You c o n t i n u a l l y r e a s s u r e m e ( a n d a l l o f u s ) i n y o u r a r t i c l e s a n d l e t t e r s . W e do i n d e e d need e a c h o t h e r and t h i s exchange a l s o includes love. You n o t o n l y p r e a c h a n d t e a c h " g i v i n g , " b u t you a l s o l i v e i t . And w e l o v e you f o r i t !
I h a v e j u s t f i n i s h e d r e a d i n g y o u r a r t i c l e on "Am I I n I t F o r The I t p a i n s m e t o see you Money?" i n t h e WORLDWIDE N W ( J u l y 1 4 ) . E S I r e a l i z e some ( a f e w ) p e o p l e may w a n t t o explaining yourself. know o f y o u r p e r s o n a l p o s s e s s i o n s , b u t I f o r o n e d o n ' t .

God r a i s e d you up t o b e H i s A p o s t l e a n d I h a v e known t h i s f o r more than s i x years....

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I f e v e r y o n e c o u l d do y o d r job i t would i n d e e d n e e d e x p l a i n i n g . B u t God c h o s e you a n d I ' m n o t a b o u t t o d o u b t o r q u e s t i o n C h r i s t ' s w i s d o m and a b i l i t y t o know w h a t ' s i n y o u r h e a r t ! H e knows! He p u t you t h e r e ! --Phylis N. T i t h e p a y e r s B l e s s e d i n Many Ways God h a s c e r t a i n l y k e p t H i s Word t o m e a b o u t H i s p r o m i s e t o b l e s s t h o s e who p a y t h e i r t i t h e s . When I f i r s t s t a r t e d , I w a s i n a f e d e r a l p e n i t e n t i a r y e a r n i n g a b o u t 1 3 0 d o l l a r s p e r month. Now I have been o u t f o r a b o u t 18 months. ( I would n o t b e o u t e x c e p t God a r r a n g e d i t . ) I a m now making o v e r $ 2 , 0 0 0 a month w h i l e t h e r e a r e many i n t h i s a r e a w i t h t h e same s k i l l s a s m y s e l f , who a r e n ' t w o r k ing! J.W. (Selma, CA) A f t e r 2 2 y e a r s o f t i t h i n g t h e r e i s n o o t h e r way f o r m e . L a s t week I n o t i c e d t h a t my s h o e s w e r e g e t t i n g a l i t t l e t h i n . I j u s t gave it a t h o u g h t - - d i d n ' t a s k . Now I h a v e f o u r p a i r s o f new s h o e s , my s i z e , a n d t h e y d i d n ' t c o s t m e a c e n t . A l s o my p a r s n i p s d i d n ' t come up l a s t y e a r , b u t I r e c e i v e d h a l f a b u s h e l o f t h e n i c e s t p a r A s t h e y s a y , " t r y i t , you w i l l l i k e s n i p s , a l l washed a n d c l e a n ! i t ! I' --Mrs. Reuben W . ( D u r a n d , W I )
S e e m s l i k e each t i m e w e w r i t e , w e h a v e good news t o share. I n t h e s i x t e e n y e a r s t h a t I have been i n t h e Church, I have p e r s o n a l l y never been b l e s s e d l i k e t h i s . Even t h e t r i a l s a r e n ' t s o bad--and w e know i t i s b e c a u s e of o u r f a i t h i n God who k e e p s s t r e n g t h e n i n g u s a l l ! W e moved a week a g o i n t o a b e a u t i f u l t h r e e bedroom h o u s e w i t h a f i n i s h e d basement. M m o t h e r a n d s i s t e r h a v e a l s o moved up y h e r e from Kentucky. Now w e a r e t r u l y a f a m i l y w i t h i n God's f a m i l y . W e a l l r e a l l y needed t h i s . --Dave & M a r i l y n S . (Columbus, O H )

God c o n t i n u e s t o bless u s . A f t e r t w e n t y - s i x y e a r s o f r a i s i n g my f a m i l y I r e t u r n e d t o work t h i s p a s t F e b r u a r y a s a d i s p a t c h e r f o r t h e company m y h u s b a n d w o r k s f o r . A f t e r j u s t f i v e m o n t h s on t h i s j o b , I h a v e been promoted t o t e r m i n a l manager. I knew when I w e n t t o work t h a t I w a s b e i n g t r a i n e d f o r t h i s p o s i t i o n , b u t I d i d n ' t r e a l i z e t h a t I would q u a l i f y s o q u i c k l y . G o d h a s b e e n w i t h m e e v e r y s t e p o f t h e way. Now I c a n t i t h e on a r e g u l a r b a s i s w h i c h m a k e s m e f e e l more a p a r t of t h i s Work a n d i t w i l l g i v e m e p l e n t y of opportunities to build righteous character.
--Mrs.

C h l o t i l d e ( C o r r i g a n , TX)

I may h a v e m e n t i o n e d t h i s b e f o r e , b u t when I c o n t i n u a l l y p a y God H i s t i t h e s a n d o f f e r i n g s t o b e u s e d by H i s s e r v a n t s t o p r o c l a i m H i s Gospel t o t h e w o r l d , H e i n t u r n s e n d s m e H i s p r i c e l e s s t r u t h It gives me a n d , o f c o u r s e , t h e o t h e r n i n e t e n t h s of H i s income.

a g r e a t f e e l i n g t o know t h a t o t h e r s who h u n g e r a f t e r t r u t h c a n r e a d OL The P L A I N TRUTH a n d l i s t e n t o The W R D TOMORROW p r o g r a m .

--Robert
C.

( B a n g o r , ME)

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T h i s y e a r w e h a v e worked h a r d oa two l a r g e g a r d e n s . Recent weeks h a v e b e e n f i l l e d w i t h terrible t h u n d e r s t o r m s - - b r i n g i n g m o r e t h a n t h r e e i n c h e s o f r a i n and l e a v i n g t h e g r o u n d c o m p l e t e l y s o a k e d . L a s t Wednesday a n o t h e r s t o r m p a s s e d t h r o u g h s p r i n k l i n g h a i l o n e and one-half i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r . I t w a s t o o muddy to qo into t h e g a r d e n t i l l F r i d a y e v e n i n g - - a n d t h e n I s a w it! The s o y b e a n s i n t h e f i e l d s a r o u n d o u r g a r d e n had t h e l e a v e s a l l c h r o p p e d u:, 2nd f u l l o f h o l e s , b u t t h e h a i l h a d n o t damaged o u r g a r d e n t h i r i g s a t all!! Our g a r d e n w a s s k i p p e d and t h e damage resumed o n t h e o t h e r Does God b l e s s H i s p e o p l e f o r t i t h i n g ? Y e s , i n l i v i n g ways side! t h a t c a n ' t be counted i n d o l l a r s .
--Mr.
&

Mrs.

Herschel K.

(Chandler, I N )

FREE L i t e r a t u r e A p p r e c i a t e d
I w i s h t o t h a n k y o u f o r y o u r k i n d n e s s i n m a i l i n g y o u r m o s t informa-

t i v e b o o k l e t s , etc. t o m e f o r such a long p e r i o d of t i m e without T h i s i s a s u r e proof you a r e a s k i n g f o r a s i n g l e penny i n r e t u r n .

C h r i s t i a n i n a l l you s a y a n d d o . The B i b l e p r o p h e c i e s h a v e b e e n God b l e s s you i n k e e p i n g up t h i s w o n d e r f u l a n d eye-opening f o r m e . e n l i g h t e n i n g Work o f g o o d .
--Mrs.

S t e v e B.

( K e t t e r i n g , OH)

Bless you f o r y o u r g r e a t g e n e r o s i t y t o u s .

I a m i n r e c e i p t of y o u r b o o k l e t THE BOOK O F REVELATION U N V E I L E D A T LAST! which was s e n t t o me - - f charge!!! free o I can h a r d l y b e l i e v e t h i s . How t h a t w r e t c h e d S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a c a n impugn y o u r i n t e g r i t y when you d o n ' t e v e n c h a r g e f o r y o u r l i t e r a t u r e i s beyond m e . I am especially b l e s s e d a s I a m l i v i n g h a n d - t o - m o u t h a n d c o u l d i n no way a f f o r d a l l y o u r f i n e l i t e r a t u r e w h i c h I p r o f i t e d by g r e a t l y .

--Mrs.

S h i r l e y H.

(Portland, OR)

I have s u c h a d e e p C h r i s t i a n love f o r you. Imagine, a l l t h e s e y e a r s I h a v e b e e n a b l e t o e n j o y G o d ' s Word t h r o u g h r e a d i n g y o u r m a g a z i n e .

You h a v e n e v e r a s k e d f o r a p e n n y , a n d y e t i t comes i n t h e m a i l j u s t l i k e clockwork. Many o f t h e s e y e a r s I ' v e b e e n s i c k l y a n d e v e n on I would n o t h a v e b e e n a b l e t o a f f o r d t o buy s u c h a n i n welfare. f o r m a t i v e magazine.

--Mrs.

Lydia R.

( S o u t h G a t e , CA)

I would l i k e t o t h a n k y o u o n c e a g a i n for c o n t i n u a l l y s e n d i n g m e

y o u r b o o k l e t s on t h e d i f f e r e n t t o p i c s . Nowadays e v e r y t h i n g c o s t s s o m e t h i n g and e v e r y o n e i s a l w a y s o u t t h e r e w i t h t h e i r hand o p e n l o o k i n g f o r some k i n d o f c o n t r i b u t i o n or payment. B u t you h a v e n e v e r p r e s s e d m e o r e v e n a s k e d m e for a n y t y p e o f c o n t r i b u t i o n . I would l i k e t o t h a n k you f o r t h a t ! ! --Diana
--JOE

B.

(Berwyn, IL)

TKACH,

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, A u g u s t 8 , 1 9 8 0

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MR. ARMSTRONG'S LETTERS DRAW RECORD RESPONSE!

Mr.

A r m s t r o n g ' s r e c e n t l e t t e r s t o co-workers and m e m b e r s , which o f f e r e d The UNITED STATES AND B R I T A I N I N PROPHECY, h a s b r o u g h t i n t h e b e s t A s of t h i s l i t e r a t u r e r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e s e groups i n t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s . w r i t i n g , o v e r 5 0 % o f a l l member h o u s e h o l d s h a v e r e q u e s t e d t h e " U S " booklet. A l m o s t o n e t h i r d of a l l c o - w o r k e r s h a v e requested the booklet. T h i s i s v e r y i n s p i r i n g and e n c o u r a g i n g t o t h o s e o f u s i n M a i l P r o c e s s i n g , and i s s i m p l y o n e more s i g n o f how God i s b e g i n n i n g t o p o u r b l e s s i n g s o u t upon H i s Work.

The U N I T E D STATES AND B R I T A I N I N PROPHECY b o o k l e t h a s b e e n o f f e r e d b y t h e Work s i n c e 1 9 6 0 ( e x c e p t f o r t h e y e a r s when i t w a s "on h o l d " ) a n d it h a s b e e n a v i t a l t o o l i n r e v e a l i n g t o o u r s u b s c r i b e r s t h e t r u e m e a n i n g of B i b l e prophecy i n t o d a y ' s world. Thousands of r e a d e r s o v e r t h e y e a r s have w r i t t e n i n t o e x p r e s s t h e i r a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e e x c i t i n g , hardh i t t i n g m e s s a g e of t h e book. Even w i t h many o l d e r c o p i e s o f t h e book i n members' a n d c o - w o r k e r s ' h a n d s , t h e r e s p o n s e t o t h e o f f e r of t h i s n e w e s t , l a t e s t e d i t i o n h a s b e e n t r e m e n dous! I t d r a m a t i c a l l y shows how p e o p l e a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n B i b l e p r o p h e c y , a n d how t h e y look t o M r . A r m s t r o n g a n d t h i s Work f o r t r u e a n s w e r s . --Richard R i c e , M a i l P r o c e s s i n g C e n t e r

INCREASING P . T .

CIRCULATION THROUGH DIRECT MAIL

One o f t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a n d e x c i t i n g m e t h o d s of r e a c h i n g p o t e n t i a l s u b s c r i b e r s t o - P L A I N TRUTH i s d i r e c t m a i l a d v e r t i s i n g . The S o i l i n g down i t s complex e l e m e n t s , d i r e c t m a i l a d v e r t i s i n g i s s i m p l y p u r c h a s i n g l i s t s of s u b s c r i b e r s o f o t h e r magazines and m a i l i n g e a c h a l e t t e r o f f e r i n g your product. F o r o v e r a y e a r w e h a v e e x t e n s i v e l y t e s t e d t h i s p r o m o t i o n a l method a n d o u r most r e c e n t t e s t m a i l i n g o f s e v e n d i f f e r e n t " p a c k a g e s " w e n t t o 5 4 0 , 0 0 0 s u b s c r i b e r s of 2 6 o t h e r m a g a z i n e s . So f a r t h i s t e s t h a s r e s u l t e d i n unb e l i e v a b l y high r e s p o n s e s compared a g a i n s t i n d u s t r y s t a n d a r d s . Among m a g a z i n e s s u c h a s P r e v e n t i o n , Book D i g e s t a n d C h a n g i n g T i m e s , w e a l s o h a d a m a i l i n g t o s u b s c r i b e r s o f American B u s i n e s s . From t h i s m a g a z i n e w e d r e w a n i n c r e d i b l e 1 2 . 7 % r e s p o n s e ! Our r e s p o n s e f r o m a l l o t h e r p u r c h a s e d l i s t s a v e r a g e s s e v e n p e r c e n t , w h i c h i s s t i l l f a r above t h e t w o t o t h r e e p e r c e n t r e s p o n s e c o n s i d e r e d good by t h e d i r e c t m a i l industry. Our p l a n s are t o c o n t i n u e t e s t i n g d i f f e r e n t l i s t s a n d d e v e l o p i n g more a t t r a c t i v e a n d e f f e c t i v e d i r e c t m a i l p a c k a g e s . W e hope t o m a t c h a n d p o s s i b l y i n c r e a s e o u r r e s p o n s e rate i n subsequent t e s t i n g b e f o r e an e x t e n s i v e m a i l i n g " r o l l o u t " t o m u l t i p l y t h o u s a n d s of p o t e n t i a l s u b s c r i b e r s i s u n d e r t a k e n . W e ' l l k e e p you i n f o r m e d v i a t h e P a s t o r G e n e r a l ' s Report

--Publishing

Services

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, A u g u s t 8 , 1 9 8 0

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ON THE WORLD SCENE REPORT FROM S O U T H AMERICA--PART 2: ARGENTINA--BACK FROM THE BRINK O F BANKRUPTCY AND S O C I A L UPHEAVAL The f l i g h t f r o m S a n t i a g o d e C h i l e t o Buenos A i r e s , A r g e n t i n a - - c a p i t a l t o c a p i t a l - - t a k e s o n l y 1 1 / 2 h o u r s .

The m i r a c l e of j e t t r a v e l a l m o s t makes one o b l i v i o u s t o t h e tremendous n a t u r a l b a r r i e r o f t h e t o w e r i n g Andes M o u n t a i n c h a i n w h i c h , a l o n g i t s summit r i d g e s , s e p a r a t e s t h e s e t w o c o u n t r i e s o f t h e s o - c a l l e d " S o u t h e r n Cone" o f S o u t h America. The Andes, submerged m o s t l y i n c l o u d s , p a s s u n d e r n e a t h t o o q u i c k l y . Soon o n e i s over t h e m o r e g r a d u a l e a s t e r n s l o p e s of t h e A r g e n t i n e s i d e . The f o o t h i l l s , i n t u r n , soon f l a t t e n o u t i n t o A r g e n t i n a ' s m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g f e a t u r e - - t h e f a n t a s t i c a l l y f e r t i l e pampas, t h e "Midwest" of S o u t h A m e r i c a . For t h e l a s t h o u r of t h e f l i g h t w e s o a r o v e r t h i s e x p a n s i v e p l a i n , l a i d o u t i n a n e a t c h e c k e r b o a r d p a t t e r n o f f a r m s a n d r a n c h e s , i t s many s m a l l t o w n s l o c a t e d a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s a l o n g t h e a r t e r i a l h i g h w a y s and r a i l r o a d s t h a t c a r r y t h e pampas' a b u n d a n t h a r v e s t s t o t h e p o r t s a l o n g t h e R i o de l a P l a t a and o u t t o a hungry world. The s c e n e i s so t r a n q u i l t h a t i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o i m a g i n e how a p p a l l i n g t h e e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s were i n A r g e n t i n a o n l y f o u r y e a r s a g o . S i m i l a r t o events i n Chile during t h e s a m e period, Argentina stood a t the v e r y b r i n k of i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n s o l v e n c y and o u t r i g h t c i v i l w a r . Similar a g a i n t o C h i l e , new l e a d e r s h i p s t e p p e d i n a n d a p p l i e d commonsense t h i n k i n g t o r e s c u e t h e c o u n t r y from o b l i v i o n . I n t h e v e r y month t h a t t h e m i l i t a r y l e a d e r s o u s t e d t h e i n e f f e c t i v e I s a b e l P e r o n , w h o h a d t a k e n o v e r f r o m h e r l a t e h u s b a n d - - i n March 1 9 7 6 - Argentina's y e a r l y i n f l a t i o n rate soared, f o r a b r i e f s p e l l , t o an a s t r o n o m i c a l 1 7 , 0 0 0 % ! The c o u n t r y ' s f r e e l y d i s p o s a b l e i n t e r n a t i o n a l A r g e n t i n a f a c e d imminent r e s e r v e s s t o o d a t a p a l t r y 23 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . d e f a u l t o n h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e and d e b t r e t i r e m e n t , l e a d i n g t o a p a r a l y s i s o f i n d u s t r y , mass unemployment a n d t o t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e w h o l e e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e , w h i c h c o u l d h a v e t r i g g e r e d s o c i a l c h a o s among A r g e n t i n a ' s 27 m i l l i o n p e o p l e . Compounding t h e l o o m i n g d i s a s t e r , t r e a s u r y income w a s c o v e r i n g o n l y 2 0 % of t h e n a t i o n a l b u d g e t . Tax e v a s i o n w a s r i f e , a n d c o n t r o l s o n i n t e r e s t e a r n i n g s l e d t o a n enormous monetary b l a c k market, w i t h b u c k e t s of pesos f l e e i n g t h e c o u n t r y i n t o s a f e r h a v e n s overseas. The g o v e r n m e n t w a s c o v e r i n g 63% of i t s b u d g e t s o l e l y t h r o u g h p r i n t i n g more p e s o s . This was responsible for the whopping i n f l a t i o n .
A s i n C h i l e , t h e j u n t a which t o o k o v e r e n t r u s t e d t h e economic program t o a new s t a f f of p e o p l e n o t b e h o l d e n t o s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t s . L e d by M i n i s t e r of t h e Economy Jose M a r t i n e z d e H O Z , t h e e c o n o m i s t s t a c k l e d t h e fundamen-

t a l roots o f t h e n a t i o n ' s p r o b l e m . M a r t i n e z d e H o z - - c a l l e d "Doctor J o e " by many--was g i v e n a f r e e h a n d t o d o w h a t h a d t o b e d o n e . S t i l l i n office ( u n t i l March, 1 9 8 1 ) , M a r t i n e z d e Hoz s a i d r e c e n t l y : " W e have done what a n e l e c t e d g o v e r n m e n t w i t h a n e l e c t i o n n e x t y e a r c a n n o t do--we h a v e accepted short-term n e g a t i v e e f f e c t s f o r long-term p r o g r e s s . " F r e e a t l a s t o f t h e p r e s s u r e s f r o m t h e P e r o n i s t a s , t h e b i g labor unions a n d o t h e r i n t e r e s t s who w e r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r so much of t h e m e s s i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , . M a r t i n e z de H o z s o l d o f f 332 s t a t e - o w n e d f i r m s , m o s t of them u n p r o f i t a b l e and o p e r a t i n g a t t a x p a y e r s ' expense. H e f i r e d 6 0 , 0 0 0

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employees f r o m t h e feat h er-b ed d ed s t a t e r a i l w a y system. (Former P r e s i d e n t J u a n P e r o n h a d u s e d t h e C o u n t r y ' s handsome p r o f i t s from World War I1 s a l e s of w h e a t t o i t s a l l i e s t o buy o u t t h e r a i l w a y s i n 1 9 4 6 , t h e n proceeded t o s t a f f t h e system w i t h P e r o n i s t a s u p p o r t e r s and c r o n i e s . ) N e x t , M a r t i n e z d e Hoz k n o c k e d a n o p e n i n g - - a p e r t u r a - - i n t h e e n t i r e economy, f r e e i n g i t up f i n a l l y t o o u t s i d e i m p o r t s a n d i n v e s t m e n t s . A s i n C h i l e , t h i s f o r c e d s l u g g i s h , h i g h - p r i c e d home p r o d u c e r s t o work h a r d e r t o g e t i n t o a n o t h e r l i n e o f work. The f o r m e r l e a d e r s h i p w a s , f r a n k l y , s e l f i s h . They w a n t e d t o s e l l t h e c o u n t r y ' s a b u n d a n t h a r v e s t s o f meat a n d g r a i n s t o t h e w o r l d , b u t a t t h e same t i m e p r o d u c e t h e i r own m a n u f a c t u r e d g o o d s The w a l l s h a v e s i n c e b e e n behind an almost i m p e n e t r a b l e t a r i f f w a l l . coming down, a l t h o u g h n o t a s much y e t a s t h o s e i n C h i l e . R e s u l t s o f t h i s p r o g r a m ? I t a l k e d f o r a l m o s t t w o h o u r s w i t h S e n o r Tomas Donovan, chief a s s i s t a n t t o "Doctor Joe," i n M r . Donovan's o f f i c e i n t h e Economic M i n i s t r y . I n f l a t i o n , he s a i d , i s now down t o a b o u t 8 0 % a y e a r . "Down?" you m i g h t a s k ? W e l l , i t ' s b e t t e r t h a n 9 2 0 % f o r a l l o f 1 9 7 6 , when And i t c o n t i n u e s t o d r o p . How do A r g e n t i n e s t h e new t e a m t o o k o v e r . s u r v i v e e v e n 8 0 % i n f l a t i o n ? Simple--wages a r e a d j u s t e d q u a r t e r l y , income t a x i s i n d e x e d , a n d w i t h i n t e r e s t r a t e c e i l i n g s o n s a v i n g s removed, p e o p l e a r e p u t t i n g money i n t h e i r own b a n k s , n o t s e n d i n g p e s o s t o M i a m i and Zurich. Tax r e c o v e r y i s way u p a n d so are t h e c o u n t r y ' s reserves, up t o a b o u t s e v e n b i l l i o n d o l l a r s - - m u c h of i t moving i n t o g o l d .
So A r g e n t i n a i s r e c o v e r i n g f r o m w h a t e v e n T i m e m a g a z i n e t e r m e d " p o l i t i c a l l y - i n d u c e d p o v e r t y , " a d d i n g t h a t ''by a l m o s t a n y m e a s u r e , A r g e n t i n a o u g h t t o b e a n economic Eden."

One h e a r s a p h r a s e i n g o v e r n m e n t c i r c l e s i n Buenos A i r e s f r e q u e n t l y , r e f l e c t i v e o f t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n w h i c h m o t i v a t e s many o f i t s l e a d e r s t o day. I t goes l i k e t h i s : " T h i s t i m e w e are g o i n g t o do i t r i g h t . " One c a n ' t h e l p c o n t r a s t i n g t h e e c o n o m i c f o r t u n e s i n C h i l e a n d A r g e n t i n a w i t h t h o s e of t h e United S t a t e s . The U n i t e d S t a t e s i s o n l y t i n k e r i n g I t s l e a d e r s d o n ' t have t h e p o l i t i c a l courage t o c a t w i t h i t s problems. t h e f a t where needed, t o a c c e p t s h o r t - t e r m d i s a d v a n t a g e s f o r l o n g - t e r m benefits. I n a democracy, p e r h a p s , t h a t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o do. One a b s o l u t e l y s h u d d e r s t o t h i n k w h a t t h e c o u n t r y would b e l i k e w i t h S e n a t o r Kennedy i n t h e W h i t e House--with a l l o f h i s b l o a t e d b i g - g o v e r n m e n t s c h e m e s and c o n t r o l s on economic a c t i v i t i e s . Would t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s o o n see 1,000% i n f l a t i o n t o o ? One o t h e r t h i n g s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d h e r e . Argentina, l i k e Chile, has a b a d name f o r i t s a l l e g e d "human r i g h t s " v i o l a t i o n s . However, most A m e r i c a n s c a n n o t c o n c e i v e of w h a t w e n t o n h e r e i n A r g e n t i n e s o c i e t y Two v i c i o u s - - t h a t i s t h e o n l y way t o b e f o r e and a f t e r t h e 1976 change. p h r a s e i t - - g u e r r i l l a armies w e r e a i m i n g t h e i r g u n s a t g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s a n d l e a d i n g b u s i n e s s m e n ( t h e Economic M i n i s t r y p e r s o n n e l a r e s t i l l a t a r g e t ) . T h e s e g u e r r i l l a s w e r e o u t r i g h t a n a r c h i s t s whose a i m w a s t o b r i n g down t h e e n t i r e s o c i e t y . They h a d no r e a l p l a n f o r t h e p o s t - a s h e s p e r i o d . They w e r e o f t h e same mold a s t h e Red B r i g a C 2 who s t i l l t e r r o r i z e I t a l y . (I w a s given These p e o p l e had a b s o l u t e l y no r e g a r d f o r "hunan r i g h t s . " a t h i c k book, " T e r r o r i s m i n A r g e n t i n a , " which d e t a i l e d s h o c k i n g e p i s o d e s of t h e t a c t i c s of t h e s e inhumane p e o p l e . )

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A f t e r March 1 9 7 6 , t h e new g o v e r n m e n t d e c i d e d t o f i g h t f i r e w i t h f i r e . Suspected They d e t e r m i n e d t o r o o t o u t t h i s c a n c e r i n t h e body p o l i t i c . g u e r r i l l a s w e r e s h o t f i r s t , and t h e n t h o s e s u s p e c t e d o f o f f e r i n g a s s i s t a n c e of any k i n d , even o f an i d e o l o g i c a l n a t u r e . Thousands of p e o p l e have simply " d i s a p p e a r e d . " U n f o r t u n a t e l y , when a c a n c e r i s r e m o v e d , sometimes h e a i t h y t i s s u e i s c u t o u t t o o . Even P r e s i d e n t Z i d e l a a d m i t s t h a t ''1 a c c e p t t h a t a c e r t a i n number may h a v e d i s a p p e a r e d t h r o u g h a n excess i n r e p r e s s i o n . " But a g a i n , A m e r i c a n s a n d o t h e r s who d i d n o t l i v e t h r o u g h s u c h a p e r i o d ( t h o u g h t h e r e w a s t h e E l a c k P a n t h e r r a i d i n 1 9 6 8 ) c a n ' t make a p r o p e r Now A r g e n t i n a i s i n r e l a t i v e p e a c e , b u t most judgment o n t h e s i t u a t i o n . of t h e r i n g l e a d e r s d i d manage t o e s c a p e w i t h p l e n t y o f c a s h t o c o n t i n u e the battle. Even t h e m i d d l e - o f - t h e - r o a d a n d s o m e t i m e s c o n t r o v e r s i a l E n g l i s h - l a n g u a g e d a i l y i n Buenos A i r e s , t h e Buenos A i r e s H e r a l d , s a i d r e c e n t l y , " I t i s q u i t e c l e a r t h a t now, a n d f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s t o come, t h e r e i s no p o s s i b l e c o m b i n a t i o n o f c i v i l i a n f o r c e s t h a t c o u l d n o t m e r e l y p r o v i d e t h e c o u n t r y w i t h good g o v e r n m e n t b u t would a l s o b e s t r o n g enough t o r e s i s t t h e c h a l l e n g e s from e x t r e m i s t s o f r i g h t a n d l e f t , n e i t h e r of which have any compunction a t a l l a b o u t u s i n g v i o l e n c e t o o b t a i n t h e i r o b j e c t i v e s . 'I O t h e r t h i n g s a r e h a p p e n i n g h e r e i n t h e " S o u t h e r n Cone" t o o . More n e x t t i m e , p e r h a p s , w i t h e m p h a s i s on a n o t h e r b i g d e v e l o p m e n t - - t h e g r a d u a l merging o f t h e i n t e r e s t s o f A r g e n t i n a and B r a z i l , t h e t w o b i g powers Once r i v a l s , s t i l l somewhat s u s p i c i o u s o f e a c h o t h e r , of South A m e r i c a . t h e y a r e now s e e i n g much m o r e i n common, e s p e c i a l l y a s t h e y b o t h v i e w t h e d e c l i n e o f t h e U n t i e d S t a t e s a s a power i n t h e W e s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e . G o d ' s Work i n A r g e n t i n a I n b o t h C h i l e and A r g e n t i n a ( t w o h i g h l y - l i t e r a t e and i m p r e s s i v e c o u n t r i e s ) , t h e groundwork h a s b e e n l a i d , w e f e e l , f o r i n c r e a s e d p r o m o t i o n o f L a PURA M r . Speaks, p u b l i c i t y d i r e c t o r f o r t h e VERDAD, t h e S p a n i s h - l a n g u a g e P T . " P V , " t r a v e l i n g w i t h m e , a c t i n g o n i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m M . Leon W a l k e r , r d i r e c t o r o f t h e S p a n i s h Work, h a s made a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r s e v e r a l l a r g e a d s t o b e p l a c e d i n o n e of t h e t o p - c i r c u l a t i o n d a i l i e s of Buenos A i r e s , L a Arzon. T h i s m a r k s t h e f i r s t t i m e a n y a d v e r t i s i n g h a s b e e n d o n e i n the w o r l d ' s f o u r t h - l a r g e s t Spanish-speaking n a t i o n .
A l s o , w h i l e i n Buenos A i r e s , MY. S p e a k s a n d I h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o m e e t w i t h a s m a l l g r o u p o f God's p e o p l e h e r e , a b o u t t w e n t y - o n e b a p t i z e d members who m e e t i n t h e s u b u r b a n a r e a . These p e o p l e w e r e p r e v i o u s l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h S a r d i s - t y p e g r o u p s t h a t h a v e s i n c e , i n t h e l a s t c o u p l e of y e a r s o r so, become members o f t h e Worldwide C h u r c h o f G o d . W e had a wonderful s o c i a l e v e n t w i t h them i n t h e home of o n e o f t h e members. It was a truly u n f o r g e t t a b l e e x p e r i e n c e f o r b o t h M r . Speaks and m y s e l f , and a l l of t h e members w e r e e x c i t e d t o h e a r a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s o f G o d ' s Work i n g e n e r a l , a n d w i t h t h e p r o s p e c t s f o r more a d v a n c e m e n t s i n t h e S p a n i s h - l a n g u a g e a r e a .

--Gene

H.

Hogberg, N e w s Bureau