Herbert W Armstrong

Activity Funds: I appreciate the enthusiastic response from our United States and Canadian pastors to last week's request for local activity funds to be sent in to help us through the projected cash-flow squeeze. To clarify one point for those who have not called in to ask: In most cases it would be best to go ahead with activities that you have already made financial commitments to, such as down payments, prepayments or contractually required payments. Activities that you have no financial commitments to as yet are the ones that should be canceled, or postponed until future fund raisers make them possible. In cases where you had earmarked certain funds for a specific purpose that in your judgment would be best not postponed, feel free to go ahead with those expenditures as well. Of course, any activity, whether Church or YOU, may still be held as planned if upcoming local fund raising can provide the cost beforehand.

Home Schooling: The subject of home schooling has often come up here at Headquarters and in the field for both members and ministers. In response to the many questions that have come to the attention of Church Administration about home schooling, we want you to be aware of the following guidelines and recommendations:

• The Church neither advocates nor prohibits home schooling. Decisions about how parents wish to educate their children, whether through public education, private schools, correspondence course or parent education, are individual, personal choices. The Church and the ministry do not suggest that there is only one "right way" of education for all Church youth. However, there are some very important guidelines that need to be followed.

• The Church emphatically recommends that no parents pursue education methods that are in violation of state or national laws (except when those laws violate God's laws, of course). God's people are to be law-abiding and "subject to the governing authorities" (see Romans 13:1-7, RAV).

Parents who choose to ignore state laws requiring compulsory school attendance and have not gone about home schooling in a legal manner do not have the support of Church or ministry. Refusal to submit to such laws could result in legal problems greater than the problems encountered in public schools!

Christian parents should be sure they are providing an adequate education for their children, that meets the academic standards for children of their age. They should be prepared to demonstrate that fact should they be required to do so.

• Any home-schooling program should provide suitable recreational and social opportunities that produce healthy, outgoing personalities.

While there may be real and serious problems in many public schools today, there is also the danger of an overly protective, narrow, almost paranoid atmosphere in the home-schooling situation if the motivation of the parents themselves is not balanced.

• It should be recognized that some families and some children are much better equipped and qualified for the task of home education than others and are thus likely to attain better results.

Personal education, balance, right motivation and discipline vary widely among families in God's Church. What might work wonderfully in some families would prove disastrous for others. As Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). This verse applies to all methods of education, including home-schooling. Where the results are balanced, outgoing personalities, good study habits, good educational achievements for their age level, and good moral development, there can be little or no criticism of the methods.

But the opposite is also true. Narrow, inward personalities, poor grades, low achievement, etc. may indicate that there are serious flaws in a family's approach to the education of its children.

Above all, let us guard against a smug, "holier-than-thou" attitude towards others in this matter, which implies that others are somewhat inferior if they don't educate their children in the way one feels is best. Remember that both Ambassador Colleges today have many outstanding young people from a wide variety of educational backgrounds around the world. Let's get the right balance and avoid extremes.

Unity: Mr. Fred Kellers made an interesting and useful observation while on his Feast trip this year that I wanted to share with you. Mr. Kellers wrote regarding his stay in Fiji:

The brethren here are certainly not an isolated group, because the same announcements are read out of the "Pastor General 's Report" as they would be in all of God's Churches worldwide. And they are faithfully read even if they don't apply to Fiji! For instance, the announcement telling us to wait for the special "Worldwide News" before making hotel reservations for the '86 Feast. Hardly applicable at Fiji's little Feast site, but still it was faithfully read and attentively heard. This wasn't wasted time, because it helps to tie them into what's going on in the rest of God's Church. Besides, the instructions are to read it, and God's elder in Fiji is Mr. Epeli Kanaimawi, a man of obvious strength and dedication. Being with him just a little time, I could tell that if he is told to read it, it will be read, period!

Unity is a state of mind. It's an attitude. It reflects the mind of Christ. And the godly unity in God's Church comes only from God. We need to ask for it and work on ourselves always to maintain it.

Feast Reports: The remaining Feast reports from the ministers who were given overseas assignments will appear in the November 18 issue of "The Worldwide News." I hope you find these reports interesting.

Prayer Updates: Your continuing prayers for God's people in South Africa are much appreciated. Our black brethren there have thus far been in the greatest danger, but God has continued His faithful protection. Please continue to remember them.

Also, I would like to ask that you remember Mr. Michael Bechel, who has not yet been able to return to service, and that you continue to pray for Mr. and Mrs. John Moskel's daughter, Molly. Doctors have determined that Molly has a tumor in her chest, in addition to her leukemia. The Hechels and the Moskels appreciate your support and prayers on their behalf.