Pasadena,: Published by The Worldwide Church
Pasadena,: Published by The Worldwide Church
Pasadena,: Published by The Worldwide Church
VOL. 2, NO 17 _____--
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
n Y
MAY 15, 1978
Greetings to all of you. The news here continues to move in a fast-paced manner, as the necessary meetings required to implement Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's recent directives are being conducted. The last graduation ceremony of Ambassador College here in Pasadena takes place today. I'm sure it will be a time of emotion for many.
As
soon as I have some free time I intend to sit down and write something for the Pastor's Report that will bring you up to date in regard to the events of the past week or two as they affect my responsibilities and role in serving Mr. Armstrong, and helping you in your jobs whatever way I can. Rather than try describing to you the very exciting Bible study and Sabbath sermon by Mr. Armstrong this past weekend, I thought you might be interested in what Pasadena Star-News staff writer Dick Lloyd had to say in his front-page article in the May 14 edition in which he covers Mr. Armstrong's appearances very well, even if he may not have really comprehended everything he reported. (See page 2 . ) --C. Wayne Cole DATE OF THE SECOND PASSOVER A number of ministers have enquired as to the exact date of the second Passover service for 1978. That service should be conducted on the evening of Saturday, May 20th. EDITORIAL SERVICES UPDATE We've been getting some nice kudos on the May issue of the Plain Truth, which is very encouraging. I'd like to share one with you: "Just saw the U.S. May Plain Truth. Congratulations on a really firstr rate edition. Wish we could - it all. But of course can't. But use thanks for all the work to produce _a magazine that all of us can say we are proud of." (siqned) Bob Fahey Thanks for the encouragement, Bob! Apparently the issue is expected to do very well on the newsstands. At present we are transcripting some of Yr. Herbert Armstrong's talks with the sabbatical ministers as article material for the Plain Truth. I am hoping to show him some manuscript this coming week for his editing and approval.
We received printouts of lesson 12 of the CC today, but it may still
be a few weeks before it is off the press. Thanks for being patient (Continued on p g e 3 )
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~y Yaeeii SENIOR ARMSTRONG RETURNS Herbert A m t m g , bead of the worldwide Church o God and father of Garner Ted Armstrong. &wave f 6.vangelist. made a vigorous appearance to deny reports of disunity in the 4 w r c h he built and to outline its future plans. In the above pkbure, Arrnstrong gestures his thanks for applause while in the lower shot, he gesi t i i PC,. as ii) ! emphasize his position of dominance. I
the
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Continued from Page A1 gu forward as never before," and that he is physically and mentally
strnng.
Other than to mention he still gets a little tired and he need:; exercise. t h e evangelist gave no hint of debiiitation from the heart attack that has
kept him home in Tucson since last summer. A t 85. the charismatic !cader of tj5,OOO followers in the Worldwide Church of God said he believes his heart and health a r e better t h m before the iilness. '.if anything, I am not over 5.5 years old in mental abilitie said .I coming along fine,' he said, .!n?c.uncing his readincs?; to resume
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:.y,'
"kings a n d p r e s i d e n t s a n d
emperors. The trip irom Tucson to Ambassalhir College lilr two 3ddrcsses before itwrifow crow;js on Friday and Sa:urday was like a fami!y reunion. Iic \GIS g!ad t u see the :hrongs. and their jtsnaing oi'alion showed their devolien :o their leader. 1 . wrning back into active ser11 v i siiitf ~Armstrong. vowing that ~ ?ITS%?jrli'iC golng to k increased. A s i f ( ! I qilell any thoughts of trow blc in t h e !cadership ranks. one of the iirst r e m i r k s h e mnde was. "We.'re i n ~ . i m ~ p l tunity ~tc i i e ;!id r i o f dc*!ine illat .-l*r:[::iitfiri[ bu: :: :;e~~~:i(ui ;I rcfercncf, L I I rwnc~rs i t i i ~ the ;In(! !IN s6:n.radio A n d televi*tdln ~ ~ ; i ~ ~ eGIa i n etr Ted . \ r rs
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rn~~!-~ng, whom he removed l a s t wees f m n all exccutive and admmis: T . I : I vt! responsibili: ies i n the 'Alwl?wide Churyh of Cod and A m :iahwcitrw ('oi!egr. are int*olved in ii pw.cei <[I i ~ , ~o$ ~ r are In serious uis,i~~('~'ml'll:
J;:istng r.:!erc.!ic:e
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a!di.r :\riiistronX rndde imly t,! his son who was ; , i < ; > i c ! ! + ti\ i h i s .ii,sence irorn the' ~.
- 3And as ;I l o indicate that hi# decision lasf Thursday lo close Ambassador's four-year liberal arts college was of little significance. Armstrong almost forgot to give any explanation. and there was little of that. Ilc! said that the. college has gone beyond its original purpose to "provide educated personnel to assist me in the ministry." The Worldwide Church of Cod "Is not in the college business." sald Armstrong. Closing of the college, said Armstrong. will provide considerable funds which can be used for radio broadcasting which he plainly was dvliglited in expanding. Garner Ted Armstrong was released from executive posts to assum(: fulltiriie radio broadcasting duties. a decision which also included taking (iarner Ted off television. " o n c e again we're going to be
back on the tr;ick i n a big way," Armstrong said of the return to radio. I t was radio. Herbert Armstrong said on Thurrday. that.provId4 the growth of the church. And when the church went to television in 1969. the g f o w t h o f e - i h u r c h aowx'To-th'e point where now it is of serious concern. . He said .'the work'' is going to daiI half-hour radio broadcasts all over t e nation. It is important, he said. "Cod has called me to get out (the message to the world:" Moat of the time in hoth the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon sessions was devoted to a two-part sermon by Armstrong on the history and urpose of mankind in the eyes of & . I carrying the congre ations on a search throughout tbe fible. .-And i l was jnlerspersed with a&'ances to the connrpgations that the
Worldwide Church of God ISthe true church and that he has been called by God to repare the way for the return of fesw Christ in what he calls his "great commission." That fact m y be hard for some to understand, he said, but it is no less true. His volce raised In stre volume and he gestured w th and his -hands and arms to emphasize points. particularly with reference to the need of the people to develop what he a called "right character" a d l reference to what be raid is his special rnlssion as apostle. "I speak with the authorlty of Jesus Christ,'' he said, calling on mlnislers to heed hi8 counsel in the matter of preaching and urging hlr followers to do as he says. "I say it wlth authority and power." And as if to counter any eationa8 ing of his auuority, he m 1 with o shout. "No m a n can put.meout."
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during the long wait on this lesson. That's it for this report. --Brian Knowles, Editorial Services SHARP INCREASE IN NUMBER OF NEW DONORS Althouqh "Donors" contribute only a small percentage of the Work's total income, we are encouraged Q that all media combined produced 21,602 brand new donors during the first six months of this fiscal year. (These media sources include The PLAIN TRUTH, radio, television, the Correspondence Course, bookletis, Subscriber Development mailings, and other miscellaneous sources). New donors coming on the file are 66% higher than the comparable period last fiscal year. A s an illustration, stats for the first six months of three fiscal periods are as follows: Fiscal Period (July-Dec. 1975- 1976 1976-1977 1977-1978 New Donors 15,382 . 13,037 21 ,602 Total Donations $144,261 $ 88,841 $179 ,335
. . . .
Indications are that better quality donors are coming along: 1) Donors are demonstrating more involvement in terms of overall response (lit rccluests, letters, comments and contributions); and 2 ) a higher percentage are on their way to becoming co-workers. It's our hope t h a t this positive trend will continue for some time. --Richard Rice, Flail Processing Center
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TWO
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months, rebel
Rclqian Congo). Tn Yarch of last year a similar invasion from Varxist Angola was repulsed. This time, however, the assault coulc' prove to be more
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difficult to deal with. Last time, the rebels, remnants of the old Katangese units that fought the Central Congolese government in 1961, were trained but apparently not led into battle by their Cuban advisors. This time they are openly accompanied by Cuban soldiers along with Libyans and Algerians.
As
in "round one" over a year ago, the invaders have struck from bases in Angola, which is the staging ground for attacks not only upon Zaire, but South West Africa. A huge training camp has been established in the former Portuguese colony, run by Cubans, East Germans, Czechs and other East bloc member states.
Zaire's President Mobutu has called again upon the West to help prevent the dismemberment of his country, which would lead to its collapse. Will France and Morocco again save the day as they did last year when French planes airlifted in 1500 Moroccan troops to turn the tide of the battle? Mobutu knows from experience not to depend upon America. Last year the U.S. dispatched some "nonoffensive" military supplies and also, curiously, a C-130 cargo plane loaded with cases of Coca-cola. France is turning out to be the Western "gendarme of Africa" in the absence of U.S. and British action. French units are also fighting Libyan-backed guerrilla bands in Chad and supporting the Mauritanian cause in the Western Sahara dispute against Soviet- and Algerianbacked guerrillas. The French state that they have an obligation to defend the Afircan member-states of the French Community. But another reason is that Paris believes it alone has the political will to block the expansion of Soviet-Cuban influence in Africa.
13 Certainly America no longer has the will to do so -- or even the perception, apparently, of what the enemy is up to. In a speech recently in Spokane, Washington, for example, President Carter downplayed the obvious grab for geopolitical advantage in Africa on the part of Moscow. Instead, said Mr. Carter, the "innate racism that exists toward black people within the Soviet Union" figured in Soviet support for military adventures in Africa. He predicted this attitude would work to MOSCOW'S disadvantage. The President added that he thought "we are holding our own in the so-called peaceful competition with the Soviet Union in Africa." --Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau