“Plain Truth” Circulation Mr. Neff in last week's "Pastor General's Report" reported the Church is currently experiencing a cash-flow problem and a lower average monthly income than originally forecast. This shortfall has necessitated some budget reductions that will affect the Newsstand Program. Although certain individual areas will be affected more directly, the entire program will see some changes.
Here are the changes approved by Mr. Armstrong:
1. Airport Display Islands — with the exception of National and Dulles, in Washington, D.C., all lighted airport displays will be canceled as of November 30, 1985.
2. Elson's Gift Shops — have been canceled.
3. The "Plain Truth" — will be reduced in size from 48 to 32 pages in all editions worldwide, starting with the March 1986 issue, but will still consist of 10 issues per year.
4. Church Newsstand Distribution — will be reduced by 250,000 copies with the February 1986 issue (to be delivered in early January).
The carton quantity will increase from 200 to 250. Also, no allocation increases will be available until further notice. Most church areas that currently receive more than 1,400 copies per month will be cut back approximately 15% in their regular monthly allocation.
(IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be no reduction in the "Good Neighbor" Supermarket Program. Distribution should continue in these locations. These supermarket outlets should by no means receive fewer copies than allocated previously. Please be sure to clarify this to all newsstand representatives.)
As the pruning of the trees produces healthy blossoms, so I am sure the newsstand program will blossom with this judicious pruning. These reductions should be looked upon as an opportunity to review your entire distribution program (except for the "Good Neighbor" displays) and eliminate less productive outlets.
A decrease in distribution in some locations may indicate saturation. This would be the time to close out those less productive outlets. This reduction program will require less activity in terms of obtaining new "Plain Truth" outlets, although additional new locations will be required to replace outlets lost to attrition and normal cancellation. The challenge facing all of us will be to regulate the number of new outlets obtained in order to maintain your new allocation.
These and other promotion and circulation area changes have been introduced to maintain a temporary "no growth" position. Current subscriber circulation will basically be maintained for the 1986 period. Occasionally God requires us to step back and review all of our programs and readjust our priorities. There is no substitute for fervent prayer: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16. We should encourage the brethren to continue to pray for Mr. Armstrong and also ask God to continue to provide the increase that is needed to carry the Gospel message forward.
PUBLISHING SERVICES UPDATE
Worldwide Church of God