Herbert W Armstrong

Over the past several years a number of YOU or YES regional mini-camps have been organized in some of the local areas by the local ministry and membership. Mr. Armstrong recently discussed this subject with Mr. Kevin Dean, Director of YOU, and myself, as well as his personal aide, Mr. Aaron Dean. Mr. Armstrong was concerned about the magnitude of some of these camps, and the burden they are placing upon the local membership in terms of fundraising activities, work projects, camp staffing, ministerial workload and the time it takes to support such an activity. He explained that the purpose of YOU and YES is to draw families together, not to pull them apart. While a mini-camp may on the surface appear to be a beneficial activity, and in many ways certainly is, the expense, time, and effort to make it work can actually cause families to be apart more than together. Mr. Armstrong felt that the local YOU and preteen programs should provide enough opportunities for young people without the added burden of regional mini-camps.

If we are not careful, we can allow more and more activities to become the primary focus of the local congregation. Mr. Armstrong has often expressed that we must avoid letting the local congregation degenerate into a social club. Local activities are important and in moderation are good. But unless we are careful, they can easily mushroom and begin to divert our minds from the true purpose of our calling as part of God's Church. Notice what Mr. Armstrong wrote years ago in the November, 1964 issue of The GOOD NEWS in an article entitled “Local Assemblies Are Not Social Clubs":

Brethren, if we are to continue to grow — and to grow SPIRITUALLY as well as in number — we must remember that the PURPOSE of the Church is, first, to GO INTO ALL THE WORLD and preach Christ's GOSPEL. The FIRST commission to the Church is just that....

Anyone who does not have his whole heart in that Work is NOT A MEMBER OF GOD'S TRUE CHURCH, and has no right whatsoever to attend or fellowship in any of its local congregations. The very FIRST purpose, then, of each local congregation is the FIRST purpose of God's Church as a whole — to encourage, pray for, hear reports about, and help — in whatever manner may be possible — the great Work of God in preaching and publishing the true GOSPEL to all the world.

After that comes the SECOND commission Christ gave His Church — "FEED THE FLOCK." For this purpose, God has set some in His Church, first, apostles, then preachers, and then teachers, to be HIS instruments in feeding the local flocks each Sabbath.

Activities are good in balance. But the moment they begin to turn our attention away from the purpose Mr. Armstrong described above, they have exceeded their usefulness. Let's realize that too many social activities and fundraisers can pull families apart by limiting the amount of time family members should be spending together. They often place too great a burden, both in time and expense, on those involved in them. Avoid these pitfalls in planning the year's activities.

Some pastors may need to examine the number and kinds of activities in their local congregations, and begin to work toward a more balanced and whole church oriented program. Try to plan activities or socials that include all the Church as much as possible. Such socials can include various activities for everyone, bringing the whole Church together, with opportunities for service and fellowship for all and with all.

Regarding the mini-camps, as most commitments are already made for those being planned for this summer, you may go ahead with them. However, if any camp can still be cancelled without creating problems, it would be best to do so. We should not plan to have these camps next year.

Mr. Armstrong made it clear that local campouts are fine, as long as they do not involve other church areas, and as long as they are under one week in duration. Such activities should be organized and supervised locally, preferably involving the parents and families of the preteens or teens involved.

On another subject, Mr. Dean May of the Fleet Administration Department has informed me that of the used fleet vehicles sold in 1984, 60% were sold in the field by the ministers who drove them, rather than having them brought to Pasadena or Big Sandy for sale. We appreciate the fine job the U.S. ministers are doing in this regard. The money received from these sales is part of the budget for purchase of new ministerial fleet cars. As Mr. May explained, the sooner the used car is sold, the less the car depreciates while the Church owns it. The fleet office will give you the current value of your used car as soon as your new one arrives, and Mr. May will be happy to give you any assistance you may need in arranging the sale. We certainly appreciate your helping us out in this way.

I know many of you have been praying for the safety of God's people around the world, as a report on the earthquake in Chile in early March bears out. Once again, God has protected His people from what could have been a devastating tragedy. Mr. Leon Walker, regional director for the Spanish­ speaking areas of the Church, reported after visiting Chile in April that although two members' homes were totally destroyed, no one was injured because everyone in the local congregation was attending a Church picnic when the quake occurred!

The employers of the men whose homes were destroyed, as well as Church members, are helping them rebuild. Mr. Walker stated in his report that "there is no question that severe injuries would have occurred had they been at home. They were at a Church picnic when the quake occurred. I joked with them that I was sure we will have 100 percent attendance at all Church activities in the future. The members affected are in excellent spirit and attitude. The spirit of service of the other members in helping these two families is wonderful. No one is depressed or discouraged. Instead, unity and joy seem to prevail. " (Details of Mr. Walker's trip appear in the May 13 issue of THE WORLDWIDE NEWS.)

Thank you all for your continued prayers, and for the many comments of support and encouragement for Mr. Armstrong and those of us here in Pasadena. We certainly need and appreciate them. You are constantly in our prayers.

Recent Ordinations

On the Sabbath, May 11, Mr. Richard Weber was ordained a local elder by Messrs. Herbert W. Armstrong and Aaron Dean. Mr. Weber serves as our project leader for the Jordan Program.

A week earlier, on May 4, Mr. Raymond Walker of the Bradford, England congregation, was ordained a local church elder. Hands were laid on him by evangelist and regional director Mr. Frank Brown, together with Messrs. Paul Suckling, Dave Magowan and Robin Jones.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, April 6, Mr. James Taylor was ordained a local church elder by church pastor Mr. L. David Stone. Mr. Taylor serves in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi congregation.