From Mr. Leon Walker: Circulation of La PURA VERDAD remained well above 200,000 until the June issue, when it declined to 174,307. This sudden drop was due to the accumulated effects of the lumping-together of several groups of subscribers as a result of the 13-issue subscription term. Since then, PV circulation has stabilized, and is expected to rise to 200,000 by the end of 1985. Circulation of the Spanish GOOD NEWS has remained in the 9 to 10,000 range after peaking at 13,098 with the January issue, after which renewals reduced circulation by 3,500.
1985 is proving to be a big year for PV lectures, much more so than 1984. A total of nine lectures have been conducted in six countries, with a total of 1,926 new people in attendance. This is already nearly the total new attendance registered for all of last year, when 2,569 new people attended ten lectures in seven countries.
More lectures are scheduled after the Feast of Tabernacles for La Paz, Bolivia; Panama City, Panama; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as six cities throughout Mexico. Other lectures may be scheduled later in the year in Central America, Colombia and Argentina. Total new attendance is expected to be near 4,000, which would surpass the 3,707 who attended PV lectures in 1983. Reports from ministers indicate that over 200 people are now attending Sabbath services or Bible studies as a result of lectures held since 1982.
Two Ambassador College graduates are returning to Mexico to serve as ministerial trainees. Saul Langarica will go to northern Mexico to work with Mr. Gilberto Marin, pastor of the Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua churches. Felipe Neri will work with Mr. Pablo Dimakis, pastor of the Guadalajara and Tepic churches. Mr. Francisco Hui will move from Tepic to the Monterrey area, where he will assist Mr. Alfredo Mercado.
Mr. Fernando Barriga, pastor of the Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico churches, was raised to the rank of preaching elder in January during the Ministerial Refreshing Program. Mr. Carlos Espinoza, formerly a local church elder, was employed full time in April to assist Mr. Alber to Sousa, who has been in desperate need of help. Mr. Sousa pastors the Ezeiza, Argentina, and Salto, Uruguay churches, and conducts Bible studies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Also, Mr. Mario Seiglie, pastor of the Santiago, Chile church, ordained Mr. Fermin Nain a deacon on April 20. Mr. Nain is currently the only deacon in any of the Spanish-language churches outside of Mexico and Puerto Rico.
There are currently 1,955 co-workers and 3,998 donors on the Spanish mailing list, both of which are all-time highs! Since the beginning of the year, co-workers have increased by 12.6% and donors by 10.7%. Some of the greatest growth in these categories has been seen in Mexico, where coworkers and donors have increased by 42% and 11% respectively.
Year-to-date figures show 1,104 members in the Spanish- and Portuguese speaking countries, a 4.4% increase, with 60 baptisms (29 in Mexico).
The Bible correspondence course, which peaked at 15,000 last year, declined to 8,000 earlier this year due to the enactment of the testing system. The number of active students has been steadily rising since then, and currently stands at 10,806.
Advertising in READER'S DIGEST has continued this year with ads in the Spain issues of March and May. The March ad has resulted in 3,200 responses at a cost of $1.94 per response. Unfortunately, READER'S DIGEST has virtually closed down its operation in Spain, where its circulation was as high as 410,000 less than a year ago. Effective July, READER'S DIGEST circulation in Spain will be only 30,000. This development is a serious blow to proclaiming the Gospel in Spain since READER'S DIGEST ads in Spain have produced nearly 17,000 responses at a very low cost.
Ads are planned for the June READER'S DIGEST in Chile, Brazil and Ecuador, and in the July READER'S DIGEST in the Mexican and Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic editions. The Mexican ad alone is expected to pull over 10,000 responses. More ads are planned later in the year.
Most Spanish-language Feast sites for 1985 have been determined. They are as follows:
Site - Areas in Attendance Monte Hermoso, Argentina - Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay Antigua, Guatemala - El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras Maitencillo, Chile - Chile Melgar, Colombia - Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela Liberia, Costa Rica - Costa Rica, Panama Acapulco, Mexico - Mexico plus transfers Puerto Rico (undetermined) - Puerto Rico Cullera, Spain - Spain, Portugal Huaraz, Peru - Peru, Ecuador
From Mr. Stan Bass: The end of the college school year has brought a couple of significant changes in the Caribbean office. First, we have begun to print The GOOD NEWS at Ambassador Press in Radlett, England. This places both major magazines at the same printer. We do not foresee any significant delays as a result of the change.
Connie Deily, a 1984 Ambassador College graduate, has been our secretary/ receptionist since her graduation. Unfortunately for us and fortunately for Mr. Dale Bailey of Facilities Management in Big Sandy, Connie will become his lead administrative secretary June 17. To replace her we have hired Roxanne Tidmore, a 1985 Ambassador graduate.
Reports on the Pentecost Holy Day offerings are mostly in and show an overall increase for the Caribbean region. The best increase comes from Jamaica, with a 196% increase over the previous year. Barbados had an encouraging offering of 36% over 1984, followed by Trinidad with a 25% increase. In general, offerings have been on the upswing this year.
We are continuing to closely monitor our monthly radio and television responses with an eye to saving money by using our resources more effectively. Television stations in Trinidad and Jamaica continue to have the best response with 246 and 562 responses respectively. Bahamas ZNS-TV had 136 responses, which compares very favorably with responses from the two radio stations for the same month. At present we are on ten television stations and four radio stations, not counting the cable stations, many of which are seen in the Caribbean.
Jamaica, one of the larger Caribbean islands, is also the home of a thriving Church congregation. From a modest start in 1975, the Church now has an attendance of 283,131 of which are baptized members, and two deacons. Along with church services in Kingston, three Bible studies are held in Jamaica: a twice monthly meeting in Mandeville, a monthly meeting in Ocho Rios, and in Montego Bay every three months. Recently, response to the television program has been overwhelming and still continues even though we are no longer on the station! The local office reports 68 visit requests for the first three months of the year. Many other visit requests are still coming in. All this activity keeps the sole pastor Mr. Charles Fleming and his wife Carmen extremely busy. Mr. Fleming, a native of Grenada, has served in the Jamaica congregation since 1978. He also directs the local office.
Despite worsening economic conditions, which are illustrated by an unemployment rate of over 20% and an inflation rate of nearly 30%, God continues to look after His people. Mr. Fleming reports positive attitudes and renewed commitment to God's work. The offerings for this year have all been encouraging, culminating in a Pentecost offering that showed a per person increase of 158%. We all look forward to continued growth in spreading the Gospel in Jamaica.
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