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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 30, 198A
International News
From Canada We are receiving
a
good response from the French language
direct mail campaign. Responses for the English language edition have now
slowed to a trickle. The combined response stands at 4.8%. The direct mail
campaign had a big impact on our incoming mail for October. It was up 64.2%
over last year. Outgoing mail is up 228.6% over last year as a result of
mailing the semiannual letter.
We did, unfortunately, receive a negative response to our appeal to obtain
second class mailing privileges. We do not fit into the strict interpreta
tion of the regulations; therefore, the post office felt it could not grant
us this privilege. However, we are trying one more avenue.
From New Zealand The Feast of Tabernacles sites at Rotorua, New Zealand;
Pacific Harbour, Fiji and Mu'a, Tonga all reported another truly wonderful
festival this year. For the third consecutive year, brethren in Rotorua
received a live satellite transmission of Mr. Armstrong's first Holy Day
message. Videotapes of the service were then airfreighted to the sites in
Fiji and Tonga. Rotorua Feastgoers were also privileged to welcome Mr. and
Mrs. Raymond McNair, and Mr. and Mrs. George Birdwell, all from Pasadena,
as well as a good number of overseas visitors this year.
Festival registration totaled 1,539, an increase of 8.0% over last year.
The dedication and generosity of God's people was reflected
by
consistently
fine Holy Day offerings. Percentage increases were as follows: Trumpets--
21.0%; Atonement--24.7%; first day of the Feast--27.9%; and Last Great Day
--21.4%. Holy Day offerings for the year increased 33.3% over 1983.
During the Feast a large quantity of mail continued to come into the office.
Over 5,500 items of mail were received during October, an increase of 13.0%
on the same month last year. Mail income for October showed a healthy 20.9%
increase. Total income year to date is up 13.1%.
We're expecting November to be a big month for mail, as 240,000 newspaper
inserts are to be distributed early in the month, and our first ever gate
fold advertisement is appearing in the November READER'S DIGEST.
An interesting development during October was that "The WORLD TOMORROW"
telecast has taken to the air waves of the tiny Kingdom of Tonga. A TV sta
tion is just starting there, and is eager to obtain videotapes for showing.
The first "WORLD TOMORROW" programs have already been played--free of
charge!
From the British Office The Feast of Tabernacles in this area saw an un
precedented influx of overseas visitors and a new and successful site was
used this year in Jersey, Channel Isles.
Attendance at the various sites was as follows:
Jersey--1,170 brethren,
including 230 overseas visitors; Scarborough--1,135 brethren, including 224
overseas visitors; Tenby--1,330 brethren, including 70 overseas visitors;
Torquay--1,056 brethren, including 349 overseas visitors; for a total at
tendance of 4,691 brethren, including 873 overseas visitors.