Announcement: As you may be aware, there were not enough copies of "Mystery of the Ages" for every member at some U.S. Feast sites. Therefore, any member head of household who did not receive a copy at the Feast should immediately call or write to Pasadena, explaining that he did not receive his copy at the Feast. As a reminder, only hardbound copy of the book is to be given per family or houshold.
MPC Gears Up: After a tremendously rewarding and refreshing Feast of Tabernacles, MPC is geared up to complete this record year for incoming responses. Mail remained fairly heavy during the Feast and phone calls continued at a near-record pace. All personnel are pitching in to clear away the backlog. We have about 500,000 pieces of mail and WATS cards to process.
There may be some delays in routine literature mailings. However, visit requests and other key items are being given top priority and processed as soon as possible.
WATS Callbacks: Every week, dozens of subscribers phone in on the WATS lines with simple Bible questions, health or personal problems and prayer requests. They leave their phone numbers and ask to be contacted by a minister.
The ministers who return these calls are well-trained and work under the supervision of the Personal Correspondence Department to ensure that everyone speaks with one voice. These men make short calls to individuals pointing them to further literature and, when appropriate, to the minister in their area. Most people are very grateful to receive a call from Pasadena. They appreciate the care and concern shown to them. Many exclaim: "You mean you are calling all the way from California? That's very thoughtful of you!"
Calling the person is often more effective than writing a letter. Moreover, it even costs the Work less in time and money. Over the past four years, about 5,000 callbacks have been made. Currently, we average about 50 such calls per week.
Outstanding Letters Here are a few outstanding letters received recently that will be of particular interest to the ministry.
Skeptic Convinced After 20 Years I am a skeptic — a real skeptic. I have been receiving "the Plain Truth" and "Good News" magazines plus many books and booklets, also the "Ambassador Bible Correspondence Course" ever since May 1965. That is over 20 years and it has always been "free" to me.
When I first read that my subscription had been paid for — I did not believe that. I expected any time to be pressured into sending a donation to "the Plain Truth" magazine — but that request for money from me NEVER did come — not even at this date. So I am finally convinced, the literature from the Worldwide Church of God is absolutely free! My subscription has been paid for.
So now I want to pay for someone else's subscription. This I am doing of my own free will. It is still hard to believe but it is true. The Word of God, presented by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, is FREE.
San Francisco, California
Young Ambassadors vs. Rock Music
Quite often in my life, I listen to popular music. The voices are so powerful and the music seems like pure magic. I've heard about the teaching of Satan being behind this type of music. I never thought it to be true. But the sun will set today, and I will have a different mind completely.
I was listening to one of the nation's top musical groups of today [Van Halen] this afternoon. This group's music has been for so long a great part of my life. It gave me a feeling that the world was ugly, worthless and nothing, and I didn't have to care about anybody. As I listened to the album full blast, I spotted my parents' "Festival of Music" cassettes on top of our stereo.
I took Van Halen out, put the Young Ambassadors in. Suddenly, I heard a powerful, high-quality sound, equal to the power of the other kind of music. The only difference was, I felt good inside, almost as if something had touched me from the outside and came into my heart. I suddenly felt things did matter. I thought, If I don't care, who will? Today, I felt the beauty of God's way, and in the past felt so different with the other music. God was not behind that music. Mr. Armstrong, you were right all along. Thank you, Young Ambassadors, for the beauty I've seen for the first time. I wish your music could touch all the hearts of the young people in America. Supply, North Carolina
Correspondence Course Helps Keep Family Together
I am writing this letter to again give my blessings to all involved in the great works of the "Correspondence Course!" I have recently gone through many trying and difficult moments in my life just as many others do, also. Without your giving through the grace of God, it is very hard to say where my family would be standing today.
My husband and I have had an uneasy marriage ever since the day we said our vows to one another. I thought that my husband would not be at all interested [in God's truth] because of his own beliefs he has had for so many years. Therefore, I was going to do it on my own, without my family. I still continued to pray for us all, but yet had my mind set on leaving. When the time came for me to leave, my husband was devastated. He sought answers to the reasons for our confusion.
On his own initiative through God, he turned to the Holy Bible and also one of your booklets, "The Ten Commandments." He began reading to me from I Corinthians 7 about marriage. We are now trying our hardest to keep our family together. I have introduced my husband to the "Correspondence Course," and he is very dedicated to this day! I give all my blessings to you and to our Father in heaven for what has happened. Boise, Idaho
UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING
Worldwide Church of God