MR. ARMSTRONG'S SERMON; ILLNESS, PREGNANCY AND FEAST ATTENDANCE; TAX DEDUCTIONS; AFRICA; PRAYER; EARTHQUAKE
Mr. Herbert Armstrong delivered the afternoon sermon in the Ambassador Auditorium on the Feast of Trumpet this past Monday, September 16. Mr. Armstrong was in his usual form, speaking powerfully about the momentous events just ahead of us when Jesus Christ will return in great glory to take the helm of rulership of all nations. The sermon will be mailed out for all pastors to play in their congregations. As with the tapes mentioned in the last “Pastor General's Report,” you should plan to play this one after the Feast. It would also be appropriate to use this one before the other two, even though it is a more recent message.
As the Feast is now only days away, pastors should again remind the brethren that anyone with a communicable illness should not attend. If a person is ill with a cold, flu, cough or other illness that can be spread to others, he or she should not come to any Church service or activity. The same applies to children. If a child has a contagious illness, he or she should be brought to services. Members should not to services to be anointed. They should call for a minister to come to wherever they are staying. If there is any doubt about whether to come to services when ill, or whether to bring a sick child, members should call a minister. Ministers, of course, are not doctors, and should not advise as if they were doctors. They should advise anyone whose symptoms seem to indicate a communicable illness to stay home (or in their motel) until he or she is well, or until a medical doctor diagnoses the illness as not being contagious.
Occasionally a baby will have symptoms from teething that resemble those of a cold but are not — such as a runny nose, slight fever or diarrhea. Parents in God's Church should not assume their baby is only teething and therefore allow other children to be exposed to him at services or Church activities. Babies exhibiting such symptoms should be kept at home if for no other reason than to avoid setting a wrong example for others who may not realize the baby is only teething. It is not wise or right in God's sight to take chances with the health and well-being of others.
As Mr. Armstrong has explained (see "Pastor General's Report," August 17, 1984), if a person who has a contagious illness is anointed, he should wait until all symptoms are gone and he is totally well before coming back to services. Let him be healed on the strength of his faith, but he should not return to services until every physical symptom is gone, and the healing is complete. Otherwise he could possibly expose others.
God's law is a law of love. It is based upon true concern for the good and well-being of others. God Himself authored the laws of quarantine in the ancient nation of Israel. Those laws are based on love for fellowman. As God's spiritual Israelites today, we do not want to become inconsiderate or selfish by attending services or activities when we have illnesses that can be spread to others.
Also, regarding pregnant women attending the Feast, we reprint the following excerpt from a letter dated September 14, 1962, by Mr. Herbert Armstrong.
In past years some pregnant women have journeyed to the Festival and had their baby delivered at the Festival. This is very DANGEROUS to such a woman and her unborn child.
Therefore, NO WOMAN who is to be as much as eight months along by the end of the Feast should attend.
Also, any woman just a few months along in pregnancy should be very CAUTIOUS about whether she attends the Feast at all! The period from two to five months pregnancy is the time when most miscarriages occur. The higher altitudes and colder climate at Squaw Valley [a Feast site in 1962] might be too much for some during this period. Big Sandy is oppressively hot, with sudden change in temperature if a “norther” should blow in. DON'T RISK MISCARRIAGE OF A PRECIOUS LIFE! REMEMBER, God does not lay the same stress on attendance of women as He does men. USE WISDOM! Check up with the doctor who is to deliver your baby.
On another subject, the question has been asked whether every church member is automatically appointed as an "official designated representative” to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. The answer is no. Hence, unless specifically appointed by Headquarters, the lay church members are not authorized to deduct, on their income tax, their expenses incurred in attending the Feast of Tabernacles on the theory of being an officially designated representative.
Mr. Frank Brown returned recently from a trip to East Africa, and reported that the morale of God's people there remains high despite their many problems. He requests that we all continue to pray for our brethren in Africa. He explained that they “need to know they are not alone in a world that can appear very hostile."
Turmoil from guerrilla activity continues to affect the whole country of Uganda. Sad to say, it looks as though the Feast will have to be canceled there this year. Not only would it be dangerous to conduct the Feast, but we will not be able to get ministers in to conduct services. There is also the likelihood that the Feast site will be commandeered by the military for their own use. Mr. Brown wrote, "This is a great pity as we had anticipated an attendance of about 85 and it would have been the first time a full eight-day Feast had been held there." We look forward with great zeal to the day when the government of God will rule the earth and everyone will be able to keep the Feast in perfect peace! More details of Mr. Brown's trip will appear in the next issue of "The Worldwide News."
The recent coup in Nigeria occurred without affecting our members there. Mr. David Stirk, who assists Mr. Brown in overseeing the African churches, reported: "Nigeria has been going through a period of austerity, which has brought considerable distress to its inhabitants. This in turn has seriously damaged the income of the work in Nigeria. It is hoped that this new government will ease the burden of its peoples a little, thus enabling its economy to revive somewhat and with it, God willing, the work's income."
We need to be praying for God's work in Nigeria, as the financial situation is still bleak. Mr. Stirk also reported that Mr. Elijah Chukwudi seems to be steadily recuperating. Mr. Chukwudi is grateful for our prayers and asks that we continue to remember him.
I'd also like to request that you pray for Mrs. Robin Hulme. Though she has been gravely ill for several weeks, her spirits are high as she remains faithful and steadfast, relying on God for His promise of healing. Please join all of us at Headquarters in asking God for His intervention.
I hope and pray that all of you have a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles! Please continue praying for those who will be speaking, as well as for the safety and protection of God's people at the 93 Feast sites in 51 countries. Remember to pray for Mr. Armstrong's live message on the first Holy Day, both for him and for the successful transmission of his message to all receiving sites.
Mr. Armstrong and all of us here at Headquarters deeply appreciate your continued faithful support and hard work as you yield yourselves to God in His service.
P.S. As we go to press, the latest word we have received about the massive earthquake off the west coast of central Mexico is that Acapulco was spared major damage and that the Feast site there is still "go." Also, our office manager in Mexico City, Mr. Tom Turk, is safe. We do not yet have word on how our members in the affected areas have fared. Please pray for God's protection and safety for them.
Following are guest speaker assignments for United States and International Feast sites for 1985.
Canada Victoria and Penticton - Leroy Neff Regina and Niagara - John Bald Prince Edward Island - Arthur Docken
Caribbean - Raymond McNair England - Rod Meredith, James Chapman Bonndorf - George Meeker, Richard Paige Cracow - Victor Kubik, Vince Szymkowiak Brno - Tom Root Jerusalem - Roger Foster, Frank McCrady Jr., Glen White
Ghana, Nigeria - Harold Jackson Uganda, Malawi - Abner Washington South Africa - Les McCullough India, Sri Lanka - Dexter Faulkner Malaysia - Robert League China - John Halford, Hal Baird Australia - Dean Blackwell New Zealand - Fred Kellers Philippines - Herman Hoeh
United States Anchorage - Greg Albrecht Big Sandy - Richard Rice Biloxi - Ellis La Ravia, Gerald Waterhouse Corpus Christi - Ron Kelly Dayton - Jim Friddle, Selmer Hegvold Eugene - Donald Ward Jekyll Island - David Albert Johnson City - Charles Bryce Lake of the Ozarks - Michael Feazell Lihue, Hawaii - Gary Antion Mount Pocono - Francis Bergin Norfolk - Larry Salyer Pasadena - Joseph Tkach, David Hulme Pensacola - Gerald Waterhouse, Ellis La Ravia Rapid City - Dennis Luker, Arthur Suckling Sacramento - Clint Zimmerman St. Petersburg - Richard Ames Saratoga Springs - Norman Smith Spokane - Richard Thompson Tucson - Dean Wilson Vail - David Wainwright, Don Lawson Wisconsin Dells - Robert Fahey
FROM CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Worldwide Church of God