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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 31, 1985
SION of proclaiming the true Gospel to the whole world--and one
important thing more: When Jesus comes to RULE, His wife THE
CHURCH will have made herself ready--to be holy and without blem
ish, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. And we in the
Church as a whole HAVE NOT ATTAINED FULLY TO THAT HOLY STATURE AS
YET.
And our work is not finished until we do allow God to bring us
unitedly to that state--ready to leave this world of flesh and
blood and to enter an entirely NEW WORLD--the Church made immor
tal, composed of SPIRIT! Our job to which God has called us is
far from finished!
The point is, we must strive to keep our minds on what God's mind is on--the
restoration of His government to this earth. The Church of God exists to do
His work in preparation for that. That's the purpose for the ChurchI Point
the members to the work God is doing through His Church. Regularly direct
their attention to THE WORLDWIDE NEWS and The GOOD NEWS, rehearsing and
discussing news, growth, events, trends and developments in the end-time
work God has called them to support and participate in.
Mr. Armstrong has often mentioned that the extent to which our hearts are in
the work of God's Church will be the extent to wnich we are growing spiri
tually. Your instruction, encouragement and continual interest and enthu
siasm about the various aspects of the work of the Church in your sermons
and Bible studies should always revolve around the need to be preparing
ourselves to be teachers of God's laws, as well as rulers, in His coming
Kingdom.
God is deeply concerned about His Kingdom, and about His Church, which is
the "embryo" of that Kingdom. We ministers, as we teach God's people, must
be deeply concerned as well, keeping in mind that our Job is to train them
to be teachers. We are not working with the brethren just to help them at
tain salvation, or just to "make it into the Kingdom." We must help them
prepare for the great work ahead in that Kingdom through the work we are do
ing now of supporting Mr. Armstrong--rn-procla1ming the message of the King
dom of God to this world.
Let's all continue to ask God for help and inspiration in giving His people
the spiritual meat they need, which is so different from anything this
dying world can offer or understand.
As a final note, please remember to pray for our brethren in Sri Lanka.
Terrorist activity and political unrest continue to be threats to the safe
ty of citizens there.
(See the back page of the May 27 WN.)
God, of
course, has protected His people from the violence. Let's all pray for His
continued intervention for the ongoing safety of His Church in this area.
Recent Ordinations
Mr. Kim Wenzel, associate pastor of the Bonnyville, Alberta congregation,
was raised in rank from local elder to preaching elder by Canadian regional
director Colin Adair on May 14. Also raised to preaching elder was Mr.
Bruno Leclerc, of the Val d'Or, Quebec congregation. He was ordained by
French regional director Dibar Apartian on May 25.
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