We have had a very positive and successful series of meetings with the Regional Directors this week. Mr. Armstrong began the annual conference on Monday morning with an inspiring message on the subject of unity and teamwork. He compared the regional offices to the spokes of a wheel, all connected to the hub — headquarters. But, Mr. Armstrong stressed, it is an unusual wheel — one that has no rim. Each spoke is connected to the hub, and to each other through the hub, not by a rim. We all work through headquarters, and thereby are all able to speak the same thing. We must all respond as one, like a well-functioning team, or a well-oiled machine, all regulated from headquarters.
Mr. Armstrong also stressed the personal examples of ministers. He reminded us of the old saying, "Actions speak louder than words." Our personal examples of unity, faithfulness and loyalty to Jesus Christ and the government He has placed in His Church inspire that same unity in God's people.
Mr. Armstrong explained that we are not teaching an "American religion," an "Australian religion," or a "European religion." We are teaching God's truth and His Word. God has placed the headquarters of His Church in the United States because America is the only place the Church can operate as it must to do God's work.
All of us need to remain close to God so we can be solidly "compacted together" as parts of the spiritual temple God is building. Jesus set the example. He was closer to God than any of us has ever been. As Mr. Armstrong pointed out, there will be absolutely no dissent nor conflict in God's Kingdom. That is the goal we must strive for now, through contact with God and by the unifying power of His Holy Spirit. The Church will be changed into the Kingdom of God when Christ returns. Therefore, let each of us work all the harder daily to grow in unity, becoming more firmly bound together by the mind of Jesus Christ.
I really appreciate your support of this conference through your prayers. I know God has heard, and has really blessed it. Mr. Armstrong attended virtually every session of the conference, and commented for a few minutes after several of the presentations, maintaining the overall theme of unity throughout the meetings.
The outlook for growth in 1985 is truly exciting! The Gospel is being proclaimed, and more powerfully every year! Our job is to please God, in cooperation, in unity, in support of one another, in communication with headquarters and with one another, and in heartfelt prayer. When our ways please God, He blesses us. Let each of us do his part this year to promote the unity and oneness that Jesus Christ expects of us!
More details about the conference and a wrap-up of the material presented by each Regional Director will appear in coming issues of the WORLDWIDE NEWS. We're including here the regular monthly reports (which this time are year-end wrap-ups) from Dr. Roy McCarthy and Mr. Robert Morton.
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Worldwide Church of God