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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 12, 1983
International News (Continued from page 1)
PAGE 3
blow-in cards beginning with the March issue. Circulation as of June was
120,000--up 143.9% over June last year.
TV/radio response (a total of 2,238) was also up by 32%. "The WORLD TOMOR
ROW" radio broadcast was canceled in March. Then additional telecast time
was arranged for on Saturdays on GMA. (one of two TV networks in the Philip
pines). This has brought almost as many responses within five months as did
the radio program within the past yearl
Donation mail increased 45%. We find that more donors and co-workers are
sending in donations. Adding this to the regular mail received, the total
incoming mail year to date is up to 115,500, or a 40% increase. Total out
going mail is also up by almost 12%.
During the first half of the year 22 PLAIN TRUTH lectures were conducted,
with a total attendance of 2,023. This was a 4.3% response
to
invitations
sent out. Between now and the Feast of Tabernacles, six more lectures are
scheduled.
Spanish Department Update PURA VERDAD Bible lectures were conducted in two
Argentine cities on July 22-23 and 29-30 by Mr. Alberto Sousa, pastor of the
Ezeiza congregation. The first two lectures took place in Bahia Blanca,
where a total of 66 new people attended, representing nearly 9% of those
invited. Six individuals requested personal visits and two or three ex
pressed interest in attending Sabbath services. Those in attendance ha�
many biblical questions.
Mr. Sousa spent three hours after the second
meeting answering queries submitted by the enthusiastic, mostly middle
class audiencel
One week later, Mr. Sousa went to Buenos Aires to present lectures at the
Hotel Crillon, located in the heart of the Argentine capital. A total of
289 new people attended one or both of the lectures, representing a 10.5%
turnoutl Some 88 individuals requested literature, 55 the Bible Corres
pondence Course, 12 a personal visit, and 42 asked to attend future Bible
studies.
Mr. Sousa was very enthused about the fine turnout, which was 30-40%
greater than expected, and was impressed by the quality of comments and
questions posed by those in attendance. He is currently arranging a time
and location for future Bible studies in Buenos Aires
to
accommodate the PV
readers, as well as other prospective members in that area. The Ezeiza
Church is located about 90 minutes from the center of Buenos Aires.
Other PV Bible lectures are planned for Bogota, Colombia (Aug. 28-29 and
Sept. 4-5), Tegucigalpa, Honduras (Sept. 3-4), San Pedro Sula, Honduras
(Sept. 10-11) and New York City (Nov. 5-6).
As of early August, PV circulation broke a previous record set in late De
cember, 19821
A total of 197,144 subscribers exceeded the old mark by
2,262. This growth has gone against the planned decrease in circulation
(to adhere to budgetary constraints) which was to be in the 150,000 range at
this time. Virtually no promotion has been done since last January (apart
�rom READER'S DIGEST ads), yet higher than anticipated renewal rates and
other significant factors have kept circulation high.
(One key factor