The final dinner of the 12th session of the Refresher ended with the raising of Mr. Fernando Barriga to the rank of Preaching Elder. Mr. Barriga was first ordained as a Local Elder in 1973 while working in the letter answering area of the Spanish Department. In 1980 he began pastoring the churches in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico, as well as working with the brethren in Spain and Portugal. We are very happy with the fruit God has produced through Mr. and Mrs. Barriga and pray for their continued dedication to God in His service.
The tape of the recent Bible study by Mr. Ray Wright, Director of Publishing Services, should be played in services in place of a sermon. Mr. Armstrong felt this message would be of special interest to all members as an overview of the magnitude and extent of the work God is doing through His end-time Church. You should be receiving this tape soon if you have not already received it.
As the new year begins, I'd like to remind U.S. ministers that you may wish to consider updating their Housing Allowance forms. If your housing costs have increased significantly since the last time you filled out the form, updating it may be to your advantage.
Many of you may have been aware of the death of Mr. and Mrs. Don Mason's oldest daughter, Michele, during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Masons have expressed their deep appreciation for the prayers and encouragement they've received from fellow ministers and brethren across the country. They would like us to share the following note of thanks.
Dear Brethren of God's Church:
We are deeply moved by the many cards, letters, and phone calls we have received from all over the country as the news of our daughter's death has filtered out. You have comforted us in our time of grief. You have strengthened us with your prayers on our behalf.
Thank you for caring and giving of yourselves. Our time of healing is only beginning, but we look forward to the time when we will see our "Chele" again in her appointed resurrection. Joining the ranks of the bereaved was not our choice, but we are constantly reminded of God's love and mercy. Thank you for putting your arms around us and holding us up.
We love you all so much. Don and Geri Mason Tulsa, OK congregation
Many have asked about how our members in Ghana are doing. Mr. Frank Brown has forwarded the most recent letter (December 31st) from Mr. Josef Forson, our minister in Ghana, to update us on the situation there. (See page 2.)
Dear Mr. Brown:
Since my last letter to you was mailed just before the Feast, I feel that another report on the situation here as it affects God's Church is overdue.
First of all, Gloria and I want to thank you and all the brethren in Britain for the assistance given to the brethren here, which made it possible for us to have the best Feast yet. This was the first time in Ghana that the brethren had been able to all stay together in one hotel, without having to bother with chores like cooking.
It was very hard work for us, purchasing and supplying the hotel with everything they needed for our meals (to keep costs down), preparing sermons and organizing the thousand and one things that are associated with such activities. But the letters of appreciation from the brethren and the very positive comments from the hotel staff made it all worth it.
We also want to thank you on behalf of the brethren for the farm truck. The members certainly feel very encouraged by the support we continue to receive from the Regional Office. I am sure that they want to do their best to match the help they receive so that they can become self-supporting—at least food-wise. However, it continues to be a very steep climb out of our economic woes.
As a result of constantly skyrocketing prices, public transportation is now a luxury. So it's a timely thing to have the truck to help bring members to Church and take them to the farm. Those in outlying towns receive some third tithe assistance to help them attend at least once or twice a month.
We are also encouraged by renewed interest in God's Church by old-time PT subscribers. We have been contacting from one to five new people every month since after the Feast. Some have known members for quite some time, others are old-time correspondence course students whom we contacted, offering them Lesson 13 and a counseling visit should they so wish. We are getting some response from the Kumasi area from those so contacted, so we are optimistic about growth in that area. An intensive member visiting programme is helping to keep all of us closer together as one family.
We enjoyed Mr. Stirk's visit very much, as we are sure he did. We are anxiously looking forward to your Passover visit and hope you can come a day early or stay for the first day of Unleavened Bread.
That's all for now, sir. We thank you and Mr. Stirk for all you are doing for us.
Please continue to remember the Forsons and our brethren in Ghana in your prayers. Mr. Brown's 1984 year-end report follows on page 3.
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Worldwide Church of God