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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TOTHEMINISTRYOFTHE
WORLDWIDECHURCH OF GOD
VOL.6, N0.49
PASADENA. CALIFORNIA
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
DECEMBER 21, 1984
Mr. Herbert Armstrong gave a superb Bible study December 14, showing slides
of his recent trip to the Orient. The study was deeply inspiring to 2,280
brethren assembled in the Auditorium and the College and Imperial Gyms.
Mr. Armstrong pointed out that he received the finest reception ever during
his visit to China. Messrs. Ellis La Ravia, Aaron Dean and Larry Omasta
assisted Mr. Armstrong with the study, helping describe the places and
events portrayed in the slides. Mr. Armstrong is planning to have the
material covered in the study included in the 1985 "Behind the Work"
festival film for all the brethren.
Mr. Dibar Apartian followed up on the Sabbath with a dynamic message about
our commitment to the Church of God and the special calling God has given
each of us as a part of the body of Christ. His sermon was an excellent ex
ample of the kind of messages we need to be giving in order to follow Mr.
Armstrong's admonition to stir God's people to a sense of urgency.
On Tuesday evening, December 18, Mr. Armstrong delivered a 20 - minute ad
dress to a group of lawyers and civic leaders gathered in the Ambassador Au
ditorium. The group was assembled to hear California Attorney General John
Van de Kamp speak about the Community Dispute Resolution Center, a
nonprofit agency in Pasadena that charges $5 for mediation and arbitration
services to solve disputes before they turn into lawsuits. The agency is
totally funded by Ambassador Foundation, and has been in operation since
August, 1983.
During the evening, Mr. Armstrong was presented with a
plaque thanking him for the Foundation's support of the program.
Mr. Armstrong
1
s message turned out to be a meaty sermon. He began by dis
cussing the basis of law, the Bible. He explained how men try to settle
their disputes based on their own ideas of law, having rejected the real
source of the knowledge of peace:- Mr. Armstrong took the group right back
to the Garden of Eden to the two trees, and very clearly showed the causes
of the problems humans face today. I overheard a man sitting behind me re
mark, "I've never heard anything like that before in my lifet That was fan
tastic! How old is he, anyway?" I turned around and said, "Ninety two."
All who were present, including Mr. Van de Kamp, heard quite a witness!
This was a very encouraging evening for all of us, and quite a different re
lationship with the California Attorney General's office than we had five
years ago!
Mr. Guy Ames' return to the United States from Manila will now be delayed
for about six months. He will be able to use that time to familiarize Mr.
Dean Blackwell and Mr. Rod Matthews with their new responsibilities. Mr.
Ames hopes to depart in late June. He will continue in his post as Regional
Director until that time.
A conference for the Regional Directors, to be held during the last week of
January, has been approved by Mr. Armstrong. Please keep this conference