Herbert W Armstrong

Cash Flow; Mr. Armstrong has often stated that when our ways please God, He will bless us. It is obvious that God has granted unprecedented growth to the Church over the last five years. Many new doors have opened, offering greater opportunities to fulfill the responsibility God has given us to proclaim the Gospel of His soon-coming Kingdom. Along with these open doors comes the continuing responsibility to see that our ways keep pleasing God.

Over the last few weeks, it has become apparent that we will be experiencing a cash-flow problem during the first quarter of next year, unless there is a dramatic upturn in income between now and then. God has given us much growth and has opened many doors. We have, as God has always led us to do, walked through as many of those doors as seemed prudent, asking for God's guidance. We must trust God for His blessing to be able to make all the resulting financial commitments.

However, we in Pasadena must also be constantly aware that God holds us responsible as good stewards to hold back on any less important areas of expense that do not relate so directly to fulfilling the commission God has given us. In addition, we must continually evaluate the television stations we are using, dropping those that are less productive and using the funds to cultivate those that are more productive. In the same way, we must regularly evaluate our newsstand out­ lets, placing "The Plain Truth" magazines we have available in the most productive locations. In all this we need God's Spirit to lead and direct us in making the decisions He wants made.

As part of the overall effort to bring our reserves up to the point that the projected cash-flow problem can be controlled, we are requesting that U.S. and Canadian church pastors do what many of you have already volunteered many times before, which is to send in as a general contribution your local church activity funds. The combined total of these accounts will be of significant help in shoring up our year-end reserves in preparation for the next quarter's expenditures. (Rather than closing these accounts out totally, you should plan to leave a token amount in so that the accounts can remain open.)

Obviously this will represent a special sacrifice on the parts of your congregations. This will mean that upcoming Church activities, tournaments, etc. will need to be canceled for the time being.

I know, however, that the hearts of God's people are tuned in to His Work. The events of the last several years have proven that. The broad majority will appreciate the opportunity to help the Work in this way. In one way, I hate to make this request, but in another, I know God also appreciates our unrelenting commitment to Him and our willingness to do all we can in these final days of the devil's society.

Let each of us yield ourselves to God more fully as we rapidly approach the time when Jesus Christ will return to establish His Father's Kingdom. As always, God's will shall be done. As His ministers, set the pace in your congregations in fulfilling Paul's instruction in Philippians 1:27: "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."

Overcoming: The apostle Paul gives us a powerful admonition to carefully remain faithful, realizing who our enemy is and how to overcome him, in Ephesians 6:10-20. Paul reminds us that the devil, who is still the unseen ruler of this present evil world, is the one we must fight. He shows us how to stand against this foe by putting on the whole armor of God, which includes truth, righteousness, the true gospel, faith, the hope of salvation and the Word of God. He points out the need to be in close contact with God, to be praying that all God's people remain steadfast and faithful with us. Be then concludes this passage admonishing that we pray earnestly for God's apostle that he may be given the ability to proclaim the Gospel boldly.

In these 11 verses Paul shows us the important role that overcoming, coupled with faithful prayer, plays in doing the Work of God. God desires that our hearts be in His Work. He wants us to share the commitment, the zeal, the love for His Work that He and Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, have. Therefore God loves and appreciates our prayers for His Work. He sees them as sweet incense (Revelation 5:8).

But of what value are our prayers unless our attitudes are right toward God? Unless we are striving to overcome our sins, faults and shortcomings? God says He hears the prayers of the righteous. And indeed He considers us righteous if we humbly seek His will in every aspect of our lives and are willing to change. When our ways please God, He will bless us.

All God's firstfruits have a part. Each of us around the world must realize the need to heed God's admonition to "come out of her, my people" (Rev. 18:4). We must each individually do our part to seek God's help in seeing where we may be letting down spiritually, and then put His Spirit to work in changing. In this way God will hear our prayers and grant us His blessing as His tools in doing His Work.

Prayer Updates: As Mr. Richard Rice points out later in this issue, brethren around the world are continuing to express their concern about Mr. Armstrong's health. He reminds us daily of his deep appreciation for the love and prayers of God's people. I know you and your congregations are remaining steadfast in requesting God's complete healing for Mr. Armstrong and for his restoration to full capacity.

Mr. Jim Friddle had a cancer in his bladder removed, and now seems to have fully recovered with no sign of any further cancer. Mrs. James Reyer, though she still has the cancer, is feeling well and is functioning normally. Also, Mr. Keith Brittain is progressing very well and may be able to return to full-time service in the near future. We were saddened by the death this past Sabbath morning of Mrs. Marie Blackwell, mother of Messrs. Dean, Tom and Mike Blackwell, from breast cancer. Mrs. Blackwell led a rich life and died in the faith, having contributed three fine ministers to God's Church. Please continue to pray for the complete healing of Mrs. Leonard Schreiber, Mrs. Carrol Miller, Dr. William Kessler, Mrs. David Hulme and Mr. Carn Catherwood. In addition, I'd like to ask that you include Molly Moskel, 3-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Moskel, who is suffering from leukemia, to your prayer list.

God knows our needs before we ask. Yet our love one for another is perfected as we bear one another's burdens in times of trial. Thank you on behalf of all these for your prayerful support.