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Press releases to 5 or 6 newspapers announced the time and place of
a meeting...in Clark, New Jersey, two Sabbaths ago. Letters were
also sent to members whose addresses he had, encouraging them to
attend•..a grand total of 6 or 8 people showed up. Only one was a
member•.•not yet identified.
'
"Mr. Armstrong, because you are the head of this Work under Christ,
the ministry looks to you for direction, guidance and correction. But
you are also our 'Father in Christ," •••! can say as your representative
in this area, the ministers are doing highly commendable jobs in
shepherding the flocks over which Christ through you made them over
seers."
From the West Coast Sacramento area, Mr. Norman Smith reports:
"The ministry and the people are committed to keeping the body of Jesus
Christ working together as one unit. There have been a few families
that have departed in the past few months, but generally speaking, it
has been only about one family per church or less. The ministry
believes in the Government of God and is remaining loyal to the offices
God has established."
From the Cleveland area: Mr. Guy Englebart reports: "Mr.
Armstrong, the churches here are basically very stable. The ministers
and brethren are behind you 100% as Christ leads you in accomplishing
the Work of God
in
these last days. I know of no one here who has
left God's Church and is following Mr. Ted Armstrong. Even though
the churches are basically stable,•.•some...understood you to say in
your letter that we should not pray for Garner Ted Armstrong's re
pentance and return to God's Work. Many are confused as to why you
said this."
Let me interrupt Mr. Englebart's report here to say that I'm sure
!
never said that! I myself pray for him and his restoration dail�
What I did write was that I had been praying earnestly for him, and a
real repentance, ever since 1971. In the letter to the membership
I did add a quotation from Hebrews 6:4-6 -- that some refuse to repent,
but I'm sure I indicated how I hoped desperately that he would. I
still do, and ask all to do the same. Mr. Englebart continues, "Let
me assure you, Mr. Armstrong, that the ministers here are solidly
behind you and fully loyal to you as you accomplish God's Work. The
attitude and the feeling of the ministry and brethren is to forget the
past and let's get on with accomplishing the Great Commission••••The
most encouraging thing for the brethren right now would be for them to
continue to see God's Work forging ahead and dynamically accomplishing
the commission Christ has given to the Church."
The report from Mr. Dennis Pyle, Kansas area: "Mr. Armstrong,
all of us in the ministry are behind you. We are supportive and loyal
to you and the Work of God. We want to preach the truth of God as
you instruct us based on God's Word. I want you to know that the
ministry daily and zealously supports you and God's Church. They
earnestly need your trust, your confidence, your support, and your
leadership."
Fellow ministers, you certainly have my confidence, trust and
support -- and as I said above, I cannot find words to properly express
. .