Basic HTML Version
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 15, 1983
PAGE 2
International News
Report From The Netherlands Passover was celebrated by the four Dutch
language congregations at four different places in Belgium and The Nether
lands, with 190 people in attendance. This was an increase of 9.8%.
All four Churches met at one place just outside Utrecht to observe the first
and last days of Unleavened Bread. God enabled us to be together in one
place again and blessed us with a most joyous feast. Attendance on both
days increased 14.2% compared to one year ago.
Two deacons were ordained on the first holy day: Mr. Rien Kersten from the
Bilthoven Church, and Mr. Frans Peeters from the Tilburg Church.
The offering on the first holy day amounted to a 27.5% increase, and the
offering on the last holy day was a 26.5% increase. This is a tremendous
blessing for this area of God's Work.
For the first time in the history of God's Work in the Dutch-language area,
our PLAIN TRUTH (ECHTE WAARHEID) circulation this month topped 60,000 sub
scribers'
.
We placed flyers in the Saturday edition of DE TELEGRAAF Holland's largest
newspaper and in DE KAMPIOEN, the magazine of the Dutch Automobile Associa
tion. At the same time we ran a full-page advertisement on the back cover
of DE AUTOTOERIST, the magazine of the Belgian Automobile Association and
. TROS KOMPAS, one of the Dutch TV guides.
Responses were as follows: DE TELEGRAAF--3.57% at $1.88/response: DE
KAMPIOEN--0.9% at $4.70/response: DE AUTOTOERIST--0.45% at $0.81/response:
TROS KOMPAS--0.32% at $1.79/response. The newspaper flyer in DE TELEGRAAF
gives us the broadest exposure and the best response.
Total incoming mail this month was a plus 46%. Income increased 9.32% year
to date and 12.36% over March, 1982. Church attendance increased 14%.
German Office News The highlight of this month undoubtedly was the oppor
tunity for brethren from all over the German-speaking area to gather to
gether in four separate locations for a few days before and after the
Passover.
Because services can be held only twice a month in most Church areas here,
brethren have always come together for a few days during the Spring Feast.
This year Church members went to their respective locations Saturday, March
26 and returned home after the first day of Unleavened Bread, Tuesday,
March 29.
Mr. Frank Schnee, regional director of God's Work in Germany, along with
his wife, was able to spend some time in all four Festival locations. Mr.
and Mrs. Schnee spent the first day, Saturday, in Hankensbuttel, where Mr.
Schnee conducted the afternoon service. Hankensbuttel is located in the
scenic Luneburger Heide, about 60 kilometers northeast of Hannover. As
with all other locations, brethren stayed in hotels near the service hall.
Hankensbuttel was host to approximately 150 brethren from the Hannover,
Hamburg and Berlin Churches.