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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPoRT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.6, NO.SO
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
DECEMBER 28, 1984
The final Feast of Tabernacles attendance figures from all Feast sites
worldwide (except Burma) have now been compiled. I thought you would find
these interesting and encouraging, so we are including this information be
ginning on page 2. As you can see, we had an overall increase of nearly 5%
compared to last year's attendance. We can certainly be thankful and re
joice in the growth God has given His Church during the past year.
For the first time, we exceeded one million delegate-days at this year's
Feast worldwide. ("Delegate-days�s a measurement used by the convention
industry to measure total attendance.) By comparison, the average conven
tion uses only one site, and might reach 10,000 delegate-days in a three
day span. The Feast of Tabernacles truly is the largest annual gathering on
earth!
I thought you would also be interested in a comment regarding the Feast made
by Australian Regional Director Mr. Robert Morton
in
a recent report: "We
are noticing a tendency for problems to crop up around the Feast of Taber
nacles--especially personal and family problems. Years ago, we used to ex
pect these around Passover time. This phenomenon seems to have transferred
itself to the Tabernacles period. I wonder if it has anything to do with
the fact that we are getting closer to what the Feast of Tabernacles rep
resents and Satan is angry because he has only a short time left?"
Several of
before the
more major
over time.
one.
us here in Pasadena had been discussing the very same phenomenon
Feast last year, and again this year. It does seem that many
problems are now occurring around Feast time than around Pass-
Mr. Morton's suggested explanation is certainly an interesting
There is one thing we can be� of, in any case. Satan is real. And he is
angry! Satan hates God's Church and God's ministers! He would love to see
us get caught up in personal problems, bitter attitudes toward others, van
ity or involved in secular worldly pursuits of money, possessions or pres
tige. We need to be extra cautious and on guard as we draw closer to the
end of this age. Don't allow yourself to drift out of the habit of daily
heartfelt prayer, daily Bible study and regular fasting. Don't neglect
your family. Strive all the harder to strengthen your marriage, now. Deve
lop a closer relationship with your children, now.
Don't allow Satan to get the upper hand in your life. Ask God to help you
recognize how you may be letting Satan's influence into your life. God will
see us through all of our trials, help us overcome, and help us avoid the
pitfalls Satan lays for us. But we must seek God diligently and wholeheart
edly. We are in a spiritual life and death struggle! But God is all-power
ful, and will never leave us nor forsake us. Your job and calling are of
enormous importance to God. He will see to it that you are successful, if
you truly seek Him.
Let's all remember each other in our prayers, and
strive to encourage, support;-"strengthen and back up each other at e·
very
opportunity!