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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL. 4, NO. 3 5
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
International News
PASADENA. CALIFORNIA
AUGUST 27, 1982
Australia A steady flow of mail continued
to
come in throughout the month
of July. 15,601 letters were received, 2,858 of which were from new people
requesting our publications. So far this year 126,429 letters have been
received and processed. This is a 6.8% increase over the same period last
year.
The WORLD TOMORROW on television and the newsstand programme continue to be
most effective tools in reaching new people with the Gospel. Those writing
to us for the first time usually include a favourable comment or two about
the TV programme or The PLAIN TRUTH magazine picked up at a newsstand out
let.
The economic climate in Australia continues to be of concern. A report· re
cently released by the Australian Council of Social Services states that
nearly five million Australians are now in serious economic plight. With
approximately one-third of our population facing economic difficulties, one
wonders if the term "lucky country" applies anymore. This is obviously af
fecting the income of the Work in Australia.
However, in spite of continuing economic difficulties, members and support
ers contributed an excellent 23.7% increase in income for the month, bring
ing our year-to-date increase to 16.1%. In view of the circumstances, this
shows a high level of commitment to the work Jesus Christ is doing through
His Apostle. While we are most encouraged and grateful for this increase,
high inflation and cost increases in almost every area where we purchase
materials and services are forcing us to continue to cut our expenditure
and carefully monitor cash flow.
A blow-in card offering the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course
was inserted in the May issue of the Australian edition of The PLAIN TRUTH
magazine, resulting in 998 new students. This represents a 1.5% response.
Students actively taking the Correspondence Course lessons in Australia are
now in excess of 2,000.
Telecast in Sri Lanka The first WORLD TOMORROW television programme was
aired July 19 over the state-owned Sri Lankan broadcasting system which
reaches the entire country of Sri Lanka, plus southern India via a relay
system. This first programme was a special by Mr. Armstrong on the Middle
East and brought unexpected reaction due to the current crisis in Lebanon.
There is apparently a great deal of sympathy in Sri Lanka for the P.L.O.
Because of this the Sri Lankan broadcasting Board of Management requested
that we wait a few weeks before the next specials on the Middle East are
aired. Our minister in Sri Lanka, Mr. Mohan Jayasekera, is in almost daily
contact with the Board of Management, and negotiations are under way to