Herbert W Armstrong

Mr. Armstrong has directed me to have audio cassette tapes of the sermon given in the Auditorium PM this past Sabbath by Mr. David Hulme, Director of Media Purchasing, sent out to be played in all churches. In his powerful sermon on the subject of liberalism, Mr. Hulme explained the foundations of liberal thinking in our western societies, and how these values crept into God's Church in the 70s. He explained what liberalism (or permissiveness) is, and how to recognize it in our lives. Mr. Armstrong felt it was very important that all the brethren hear the sermon. As he stated in his June 25 co-worker letter: "We are in the time of final exams in God's Church, and perhaps we are not yet sufficiently tried and tested and proven to be ready to sit with Christ on the earth's throne. Perhaps WE OURSELVES have been holding the march of events up."

In the final paragraph of his letter, Mr. Armstrong emphasized, "Brethren, I have not been using these prophecies in vain. The united Europe must and will come. YOU and I are involved—DEEPLY! God's Church must first be made ready for Christ's coming. I call on you in Jesus' name to pray as never before that God's Church will heed and draw closer to him. Have we not been becoming lukewarm? Read the last part of Revelation 3. If we are lukewarm we shall be spewed out of Christ's mouth."

I hope that each of us as ministers is taking these statements seriously! Do our personal examples and the instruction we give God's people really reflect faithful loyalty to God, His Law and His Church? It is so easy to become lax, to let down. Don’t let it happen to you! Now is the time to seek God! Stir up the gift that is in you! God holds you more accountable, because of your role as a teacher. As the Apostle James wrote, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation" (Jas. 3:1).

Ask for God's help and you'll get it. Let your example and instruction be a shining beacon to your congregation. Ask God for His Spirit and mind to be able to sound a sure trumpet, not a weak or uncertain one.

Let us make diligent effort to encourage one another. When field ministers are able to get together, the opportunity to uplift and strengthen one another as iron sharpening iron should be fully utilized. Let such opportunities for ministerial fellowship serve that purpose, rather than solely as a social experience. Such opportunities may be rare for many of you, while more frequent for others. But when you do get together with neighboring ministers for a meal, or exercise, or whatever reason, make it count spiritually! Let it provide the right kind of spiritual boost.

We are God's ministers, called of Him for His purpose. Our lives are not our own. The uppermost thing on our minds ought to be the restoration of God's government to the earth. If we're not careful, our conversation can reflect everything but that. We all need the spiritual lift that comes from God-centered contact with fellow servants of Jesus Christ. Of course, the social lift is important too, and many things may be discussed. But let's not overlook our responsibility to also provide some spiritual encouragement for our fellow ministers!

Let's also remember to pray for one another. Remember the trials, heartaches, needs and difficulties of the ministry worldwide and diligently support one another in heartfelt prayer. Thank you for continuing faithfully in prayer for Mr. Armstrong and all phases of the work God is doing on earth through His Church.

Recent Ordinations

The following men were ordained local church elders on Pentecost, May 26: William Davies and Wilhelm Mandel, Edmonton (North), Canada; Donald Pickenpaugh, Wheeling, West Virginia; Mel Rahel, Montreal, Canada; Jerry Stewart, Sherman, Texas; and Richard Taylor, Memphis, Tennessee.