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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, DECEMBER 27, 1982
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We will all need to pitch in to do our parts in every way we can during this
time of budgetary restraints. Some very difficult decisions will have to
be made which will include some increased workloads, other areas of general
belt tightening and, sadly, some layoffs.
We all need to be more diligent also in our prayers, and we need to take the
lead in our congregations as God's shepherds in seeking God, drawing close
to Him, overcoming our� sins, faults, and weaknesses, and in zealously
and vigorously following the direction God gives through Mr. Armstrong.
Take that responsibility seriously! God holds us responsible to set the
example, to take the lead, to shepherd our flocks, and to be good stewards
of the money God gives us. As we submit to God, respond to Him and please
Him, He will bless us.
International News
From the German Office Mr. Armstrong's November 20 Sabbath stopover in
Rotterdam, Holland was a major highlight for the 150 German Church members
who attended services.
The services began at 2: 30 p.m., enabling many members from Hannover,
Dusseldo1f and Bonn to make the trip. Preaching Elder Mr. Paul Kieffer, who
pastors the Hamburg, Hannover and Berlin churches, simultaneously trans
lated Mr. Armstrong's sermon into German for the non-English speaking
brethren present. Everyone took home a sobering and eye-opening message
from Mr. Armstrong on the coming resurrection of the "Holy Roman Empire."
On November 5, Regional Director Mr. Frank Schnee spoke in Geneva, Switz
erland to the French-speaking brethren there. Invited by Geneva's office
manager Mr. Bernard Andrist, Mr. Schnee was accompanied by his wife,
Esther. Mr. and Mrs. Schnee took the opportunity to get acquainted with the
brethren and Geneva's office staff. Mr. Andreas Fischer translated into
French.
In November the mail count of regular letters and postcards received showed
an increase of 35%. Donation mail was up 32%, renewal cards, booklet cards,
and general solicited mail totaled 110% more than 1981. Our Media response
increased 102%. Our total mail amounted to 97% more than in November, 1981.
For the year to date we have a total mail increase of 53% over 1981 or
169,441 pieces of mail thus far. In November we also sent out 12,515 book
lets or 187% more than in the same period last year.
In addition, the bulk of our advertising responses from the fall ad
campaign poured in this month. In November we added 16,907 new subscribers
to the German PLAIN TRUTH file, mainly due to our flyer advertising. Our
fall advertising began in September with 72,000 flyers in the Austrian
magazine PROFIL. On October 23, 80,000 flyers appeared in the Vienna news
paper DIE PRESSE and on October 30, 470,000 flyers were placed in Switzer
land's well-known SCHWEIZER BEOBACHTER. On November 15th, 310,000 flyers
appeared in Germany's leading national newspaper FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE
ZEITUNG (FAZ). The total results to date for The PLAIN TRUTH (remember that
our flyers advertise The PLAIN TRUTH in one of five languages, which we'll
be changing to six next year) amounts to 21,757 requests thus far.
In November the mail income increased 12.7% over November, 1981. For the
year to date our mail income stands at 30.4% more than 1981.