Basic HTML Version
•.
PAGE 2
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 6, 1986
pulling for each other, all encouraging each other and all having real
fun and building strong, positive "friendships.
It's God's way.
It
bears good fruit. And our kids can see that fruit. The concepts these
young people are learning at SEP need to be carried on under each
pastor's leadership in each local area.
Each of us
ministers, laymembers and our children -- are
"called-out ones." Jesus calls us lights. He calls us salt. And so
we must be. Certainly our children can learn the positive differences
between God's way of joy and peace in these seemingly "unimportant"
physical activities. It is one small way in which God's law can begin
to be written in their hearts.
As this letter is due in Pasadena to prepare for printing we are
only two days into our visit to the Borehamwood office. We arrived in
London from Orr at about 2:30 p.m., London time, Wednesday, July 30.
Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. we began a tour of London arranged by
Mr. Frank Brown, our regional director here.
It was certainly a
whirlwind tour -- how do you see London in only eight hours? But it is
my first visit here, so I found each of the high spots we visited most
interesting.
Mr. Gerhard Marx, whom many of you know, served as our guide for
the day.
After a narrated bus ride around the city, he walked us
through Prime Minister Winston Churchill's underground war offices
where the government met during Hitler's air raids against London.
Later, we toured famous Westminster Abbey, where the monarchs of
England are coronated, and the infamous Tower of London, where several
were beheaded. I was amazed as Mr. Marx described many of the stories
of intrigue, murder and corruption surrounding the long history of
England's monarchy. How similar it sounded to the biblical history of
the kings of Israel.
And it further impressed upon me the utter
futility of mankind's efforts to rule himself, and the total
impossibility of human beings ever achieving the peace on earth they
talk, write, think, debate, argue and fight about.
It was quite a testimony. As we walked through Westminster Abbey,
among the tombs and beautifully carved and ornate memorials of famous
Britons, many of whom were murdered by corrupt rulers or murdered one
another, all tours were halted momentarily for the abbey's hourly
prayer. We all listened to the public address system as a short prayer
was offered -- that all men everywhere would live together in peace.
What a hopeless paradox!
Thursday evening we had a relaxing barbecue with the area ministers
hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Brown at their ·home.
Friday we toured the
regional office in London and held the Church's annual general meeting
and board meeting. Mr. Brown gave me a full update on all the Work's
activities administered from the United Kingdom.
Fellow ministers and wives, let's fully understand just how
desperate mankind's plight is, and just how important our job is. We
are teaching the way of peace to those God has sanctified as the
•