From Dr. Roy McCarthy: The work of God's Church in Southern Africa is growing by leaps and bounds! We thought 1984 would be difficult to emulate because last year we added 169,000 new PLAIN TRUTH subscribers to our mailing list. But God has again richly blessed our promotional efforts. During the first three months of 1985, we have already added 56,900 new subscribers!
Our present circulation figures are: Republic of South Africa — 261,341, Zimbabwe — 18,643, Mauritius — 6,227 and Zambia — 6,657, for a total of 292,868.
The advertisement in the February 1985 READER'S DIGEST gave us a response of 18,201. Another READER'S DIGEST advertisement in April has thus far resulted in 9,869 responses.
A selection of direct mail packages will be tested here soon. These packages are similar to those used recently in Canada.
Our Feast of Tabernacles arrangements are progressing very well. Instead of the previously announced five sites, we will now have six. The majority of our coloured brethren will now attend at Sonesta near Hermanus, about one and one-half hours by car from Cape Town. This will greatly relieve the economic stress of more distant travel. We are very happy that Mr. and Mrs. Les McCullough will be visiting us for the Feast and we look forward to having them with us. It is hoped they will be able to visit three sites during their stay.
Mr. Peter McLean, presently pastoring the Burleigh Heads church in Australia, will be transferred to South Africa, where he will pastor the Johannesburg Central church.
Reflecting the heavy volume of mail being received in the office, the number of letters requiring attention by the Personal Correspondence Department has been considerable. It is interesting that there have been 35 visit requests in the last six weeks. A number of these expressed a desire to attend Church services or be baptised.
Two of our ministers will have the opportunity to attend the Camp Directors' Conference at SEP Orr, Minnesota. This conference is scheduled for July 1 through 8. Mr. Robert Klynsmith, pastor of the Harare, Zimbabwe congregation, will attend prior to going on to Pasadena for the Ministerial Refreshing Programme. Mr. John Bartholomew, pastor of the Durban, South Africa congregation, will fly over specially for the conference. He has been camp director for our local Summer Educational Programme for the past ten years.
Both men will observe the closing of the first session of SEP at Orr and the transition, orientation and beginning activities of session 2; attend various lectures and activities; and be addressed by Mr. Armstrong during his visit to Orr. It is Mr. Armstrong's desire that we become more united in our overall camp philosophies and activities.
The income has given rise to some concern. Southern Africa is still very much in the throes of an economic downturn, involving many factors: much unemployment, smaller salary increases in the face of the general sales tax increase from 10% to 12%, a fuel increase of 40%, an inflation rate of about 14.5% coupled with a very poor exchange rate of just over 50 U.S. cents to the rand, U.S. disinvestment, and a low gold price of just over 300 U.S. dollars to the ounce. As a result, there has had to be some belt tightening.
Our year-to-date income in all accounts at the end of April shows an increase of 9.5%. In the operating account, which excludes Festival and Assistance Funds, we have a 4.19% increase. Should this trend continue, we may have to reevaluate our promotional programme and the servicing of our existing subscribers.
Beginning with the August issue, The GOOD NEWS distributed in South Africa will be printed by Ambassador Press in England. This will save an appreciable amount in printing, and our shipping costs should also be less.
There is military conscription in South Africa, and presently our members appear before a Board for Religious Objectors. Prior to the establishment of this board, our members generally opted for non-combatant military service. The board now grants exemption from military service in category III, which entitles the successful applicants to be placed by the Department of Manpower to do six years of community service. Since the inception of the board, we have had 15 men apply. All have been successful. A further eight have been called up and are waiting for their applications for exemption from military service to be considered. We would appreciate your prayers for these men, some of whom are married and have small children.
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