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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.6, N0.3
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
International News
JANUARY 20, 1984
Survey of 1983 Activities in Southern Africa
1983 was a great year for
God's Church in Southern Africa. Nearly 87,800 new PLAIN TRUTH subscribers
were added during the year--an increase of 33.9% over 1982. In addition,
45,000 copies were distributed by newsstand, making a total circulation of
183,069. By year's end, the circulation in Zimbabwe was 17,237, in Zambia
4,702, and in Mauritius 4,836. Through the renewal program 49,863 sub
scribers were dropped, making the net gain 37,930.
The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the 21,000 responses to the
advertisement placed in the July 1983 READER'S DIGEST, the first after a
lapse of 11 years. Incoming mail for 1983 totaled over 216,500 pieces--an
increase of 41.4%. There was a marked increase in donor and co-worker
activity in 1983. Donors were up 57.9% and co-workers--who now number
1,464--were up 39.3% as a result of the 684 added last year.
The membership, which is composed of 15 congregations, now totals 1,488,
121 of whom were baptized in 1983. The largest church is in Johannesburg
with an average attendance of 560. Attendance is 327 in Cape Town, 248 in
Harare, Zimbabwe, and 238 in Durban. Attendance in the other churches
varies from 34 (Lusaka, Zambia) to 142 in Pretoria, South Africa. The
combined average attendance on the Sabbath is 2,290.
Financially, the year was encouraging, with a 27.7% increase being
registered at year's end. This is exceptional because South Africa still
suffers from double-digit inflation and a rather depressed economy, mainly
due to the drought of 1982-83 and the low gold price.
The tenth Summer Educational Program has just been completed in South
Africa. It was the longest and largest camp
ever
held at the Wagendrift Dam
Youth Center at Estcourt, Natal. For three weeks, 143 campers and 65 staff
members were involved in 22 different activities. Camp was highlighted by
the acquisition of a bigger inboard skiboat, resulting in high standards of
water skiing.
For 1984, a very ambitious PLAIN TRUTH promotional program is being under
taken. We plan to mail 1.3 million direct mail letters to householders in
the South Africa through a direct mail agency. Two hundred fifty thousand
of these letters will go out in January, and a response of seven to ten
percent is expected. In February, another ad with a response card will
appear in READER'S DIGEST, and this should add many new subscribers.
1984
is off to a great start for God's Church in Southern Africa.
Australian End-of-year Report December ended 1983 on a very encouraging
and positive note. Though Australia suffered from high unemployment, a
serious recession, crippling droughts, the worst bush fires in living
memory and destructive floods, Jesus Christ continued to provide the income