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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 26, 1982
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small test campaign in this area has pulled in over 1,000 subscribers.
Interestingly a test ad in the Norwegian language, although offering the
English PLAIN TRUTH, did much better than a similar English language ad. We
hope the new subscribers fully realized they were getting an English maga
zine! On the other hand, an English language ad in Finland pulled remark
ably well, once again confirming the excellent response figures we have ex
perienced before in this country.
Norwegian language booklets are now being advertised to Scandinavian
readers by way of Norwegian language insert cards in The PLAIN TRUTH. A
recent offer for WHY WERE YOU BORN (in Norwegian) pulled a three percent
response. English is as well known as any single Scandinavian tongue among
more educated Scandinavians, though Norwegian is clearly the single best
understood Scandinavian tongue.
Continent of Europe and the Middle East English is the most widely under
stood international language in the world, and Europe is no exception.
Circulation of The PLAIN TRUTH has grown as a result of the combined
international advertising of all the Church's European language offices,
and now totals about 33,000.
The readership is naturally of an above
average level due to the type of media used and is very responsive. Mail
received is up 35% for the year and the literature mailed out is up 135%.
East and West Africa PLAIN TRUTH circulation has been held steady at around
30,000 all year. In Africa, there is no promotional problem since word-of
mouth spreads news of The PLAIN TRUTH. In fact, a circulation level has to
be fixed according to budgets available rather than demand! Incoming mail
has increased by 58% over last year, and outgoing mail by 56.6%.
Mr. Steve LeBlanc, who for the past 15 months has been assisting Mr. Melvin
Rhodes in Ghana, was ordained a local elder on the Feast of Trumpets.
--Joe Tkach, Ministerial Services
MAIL PROCESSING CENTER UPDATE
Five Million Stitch-in Envelopes Ordered
As the Work continues to grow, increasing amounts of material are needed to
assist in bringing the Gospel to the world.
For example, five million
"stitch-in" envelopes have just been ordered for use in our literature.
A "stitch-in" envelope serves as a convenient and effective means of ad
vertising the Work's publications. Three million will be used in booklets
to offer literature on basic subjects such as salvation, conversion and
faith. The remaining two million will be inserted into Correspondence
Course lessons.
Just how much is five million envelopes? The following example may help you
to visualize the number. If neatly stacked in a warehouse, they would form
a pile 35 feet long, 35 feet wide and 10 feet high.
It is interesting and encouraging to note that over the years, occasional
freewill offerings received from "regulars" in such envelopes have more
than paid for them.