Herbert W Armstrong

We are currently enjoying the company of the Spanish-speaking ministers and their wives who are here for the 12th session of the Ministerial Refreshing Program. Of the 19 ministers serving in the Spanish-speaking areas, 10 are bilingual. For the other nine men and their wives, simultaneous translation is provided by an enthusiastic team of translators headed by Mr. Mario Hernandez, an employee of the Spanish Department here in Pasadena.

We would like to announce one additional new U.S. Festival Coordinator: Mr. Lyle Welty, pastor of the Albany, New York and Springfield, Massachusetts congregations, will be serving as coordinator for the Saratoga Springs, New York site. Saratoga Springs replaced Cape Cod as a Northeastern United States festival location last year. As you may recall, the sale of the convention center in Cape Cod caused us to have to scramble for a replacement late in the planning stages. When Saratoga Springs was approved by Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Jim Franks, coordinator of the Cape Cod site, switched all preparations over to the new location. Mr. Lyle Welty then served as Mr. Franks' assistant in preparation for taking the full responsibility this year.

With its bubbling mineral springs and hot mineral baths, Saratoga Springs has been a popular New England attraction since the 1800s. The Adirondack Mountains are noted for their natural beauty, and the fall colors should be spectacular during the Feast. There are also a great number of historical sites in the area, dating from the American Revolutionary period. We will again be using the Saratoga Springs City Center, which opened last July. (You may remember that the Church met in the open-sided Performing Arts Center in 1978 and 1979.) The 2,500 who will be attending should find this to be a pleasant and relaxing site.

Thank you for your continuing prayers for the Reyers. Mrs. Jim Reyer is still in serious, but stable, condition. Mr. Reyer has expressed his appreciation for the support and encouragement he and his wife have been receiving.

Mr. Garry Lucas, an elder in the Barrie, Ontario congregation, submitted a poem after his and his wife's stay in Pasadena for the 11th session of the Refresher last month. I thought each of you would enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Refresher Session No. 11

Now that all the dust has settled And we're back at home again, It is time for some reflections on the "How" and "Why" and "When."

First, we want to thank you, Mr. Armstrong, most of all, Then the staff, for ceaseless efforts, Making certain of our call.

There were true, inspiring lectures How to keep our bodies pure, Also how we can make our Calling and election sure.

How a worldwide Work is thriving, How it grows to bud and flower: Only through God's help and Spirit; Not by human might or power!

We gained deeper understanding How to speak and give advice. How to exercise our bodies, To be balanced, music-wise.

How to rear our little children, How to deal with YOU, Alcoholics, Homosexuals, And the poor and well-to-do. Legal matters we considered, How to be a sport in sports, How to love your mate in marriage, Why the world's way aborts.

Working of the Holy Spirit, History of God's True Work. Why Ambassador Foundation? Where do world's deceptions lurk? 'Mongst the beautiful surroundings There was one thing plain to see: It's for brethren good and pleasant Living here in unity.

Now, it's up to us to carry All this information through To the brethren and disperse it, So that they may profit, too!

Thank you, Sirs, for this refresher; It was education, fun. And already we are looking Forward to another one.

We gained deeper understanding How to speak and give advice. How to exercise our bodies, To be balanced, music-wise.