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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, DECEMBER 17, 1982
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the opportunity to travel to other Church areas to hear even more about
God's plan and purpose. Many commented that the sermons were so fast
moving and jam-packed with important principles and examples that four
hours simply sped past!
On this trip, Mr. Waterhouse was able to speak to our brethren in Suva, Fiji
for the very first time. All in all, 1,027 people heard Mr. Waterhouse in
11 locations, and only a small handful of members in scattered areas missed
being able to attend one of the meetings.
After Mr. Waterhouse left Fiji en route to Australia, Regional Director Mr.
Peter Nathan stayed there and conducted six new visits, plus one baptism.
While in Suva, he also held two PLAIN TRUTH lectures. These were attended
by 27 new people on the first evening, and 25 new people the second evening.
November was an encouraging month for mail income, posting an excellent
34.6% increase over November, 1981. The year-to-date mail income total now
stands at an increase of 14.3%.
Over 8,300 items of mail came in during the month. About 3,000 of these
were renewal responses, and another 2,000 were the first batch of replies
to the latest semiannual letter, which was mailed late in the month to over
40,000 subscribers.
Update From Canada In November the office staff was extremely busy hand
ling the heavy volume of returns from Mr. Armstrong's semiannual letter and
responses to the newspaper campaign.
We have, as of this writing, received approximately 60,000 response cards
from the newspaper advertisements. This should increase the subscription
list to The PLAIN TRUTH to over 200,000. This figure combined with the
300,000 PLAIN TRUTHs distributed via the newsstands, brings the total num
ber of PLAIN TRUTHS circulating in Canada to over 500,000 per month. It is
encouraging and exciting to see so many magazines placed into the hands of
the Canadian public. This half million figure is double the amount of
magazines we were distributing in 1975, which was our previous highest
circulation year.
The advertising campaign has brought with it, as might be expected, a cer
tain amount of opposition. Some newspapers published letters from their
readers expressing their opposition to the paper becoming a vehicle for the
Church to advertise in.
We also continue to receive opposition in regard to the newsstands. In some
areas this world's ministers have mounted campaigns to have the stands
removed from retail establishments in their parishes. Despite this opposi
tion the newsstand program continues to be a very effective way of reaching
a broad cross section of society.
November's income was a plus 13.1%, bringing the year-to-date figure to a
plus 13.4%. This is an excellent increase when the high unemployment the
nation is now suffering is taken into account.
Incoming mail was up 229.6%, mainly as a result of the advertising campaign
in several newspapers. The office in Vancouver sent out a total of 185,567
pieces of mail, which is an increase of 18.9% over the corresponding month
of 1981.