To all pastors of churches: Greetings from Adelaide, Australia! As you know, this is my first visit to Australia in 16 years, and I have already spoken eight times in just barely over one week. I have only one more speaking engagement, in Perth, prior to departing Australia for the Philippines.
It has been a very moving and rewarding trip for all of us in the group (Mr. & Mrs. Les McCullough, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Thornhill, as well as my wife and son, David are with me) to be able to see so many thousands of enthusiastic, responsive and excited brethren in New Zealand and Australia.
I cannot help but mention from time to time how one must look back and appraise and assess the "fruits" that God is producing for His Work through weak, human instruments, and be greatly encouraged and inspired.
When I was last in Australia in 1961, after coming originally in 1959 with $12,000 U.S. dollars to establish a bank account, engage a solicitor, find office spaces and effect a lease, and left Mr. Gerald Water house in charge, there was virtually no "Work" being done in Australia; just a beginning radio broadcast—which I came over for the precise purpose of expanding. There were no churches, no members, and only a very, very few co-workers here and there who never had a personal visit, or any contact other than by letters. And now, as I go around this country and see crowds such as that day before yesterday of more than 1,400, including 100 brethren who chartered a plane to come all the way from Tasmania; it is a moving and inspiring feeling to realize that in that comparatively short span of time there is a vast and growing church in Australia which is far bigger than the whole church worldwide when I was ordained and graduated from college! Even in Christchurch on South Island, in New Zealand, I was privileged to speak to a group of the approximate size of this whole work on earth when I attended my first Feast of Tabernacles up at Siegler Springs while still in the Navy! One of the deep inspirations to me on this trip is to meet young men whom I had met briefly in Bricket Wood, or had known fairly well and even played basketball with at Big Sandy or Pasadena, in far flung areas of the world and see them as mature, responsible pastors of churches and directors of important phases of the Work overseas. This, too, is proof of much fruit being born by the power of the Holy Spirit!
That's about it for now. I will describe my trip in much greater detail in the WORLDWIDE NEWS for all the brethren. Looking forward to seeing you all at the conference!
To all pastors of churches
Worldwide Church of God