Herbert W Armstrong

We received a total of 46,735 pieces of incoming mail in March. This was 4.4% less than the corresponding month a year ago. Of this figure, 24,806 were people writing in for the first time, up 29.7% over last year. We mailed out 119,954 pieces of mail, a 68.5% increase.

PLAIN TRUTH circulation is running at an all-time high. Combining the French and English subscription PLAIN TRUTHs, we now mail 414,594 copies. We are also distributing 613,250 newsstand copies.

The direct mail campaign is winding down. Although responses will trickle in for a few more weeks, the bulk of replies are in the office. As of this writing we have received 31,834 requests for the English PLAIN TRUTH and 13,295 requests for the French. Respectively, this is a 4.7% and 6.7% response. These are very close to the figures projected before the campaign began.

Feast preparations are well under way. The Festival Coordinators meeting was held on March 12. With the Canadian dollar suffering so much against the U.S. dollar, it could mean transfers out of Canada will be considerably fewer than previous years. If so, then we could find the more popular sites, Penticton and Victoria, having very little room for visitors.

Appreciation for Ministerial Refreshing Program III

Dear Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Tkach:

Elsie and I are again very grateful for the very stimulating and enjoyable experience of attending a Refreshing Program! How valuable to regularly and thoroughly get grounded, updated and inspired at God's worldwide Headquarters! Now that our cups are running over, we feel charged up to pass this knowledge on. Especially we want to thank everyone who participated in giving the lectures. They all were outstanding. We really appreciate their thorough preparation and the time spent in giving these lectures to so many groups. Again it was very inspiring to become more aware of so many dedicated servants in God's Church at Headquarters and around the world!

Don and Elsie Hooser

Dear Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Tkach and Headquarters ministry:

Again we want to express our appreciation for the Refreshing Program. We just returned from the 14th session and feel renewed in a very special way to do our jobs with more enthusiasm, understanding and confidence. It is very encouraging to see the Headquarters team unified and backing Mr. Armstrong in a very positive way.

It is always a joy to be with the others in the ministry, learning with them, making new friendships and strengthening old ones. We were inspired to see and hear about the great progress in all the many phases of the work and all that God is doing at this time. We hope that we in turn can take a good measure of that inspiration and give it out here in the local church area. Thank you very much for the program.

Fran and Elfie Ricchi

Dear Mr. Tkach:

Psalm 133:1 was surely in evidence during the 14th session of the refresher. My wife and I enjoyed this refresher more than the others we have attended, even though they have all been great. The sessions were filled with vital information, the setting was fabulous, the fellowship was uplifting, and to hear from Mr. Armstrong was especially inspiring.

You and your staff really should be commended for the effort and organization put into these refreshers. Thank you so very much for letting us attend, and we are so very thankful for the opportunity of being a part of this great work of God's Church.

Frank and Jane Parsons

Comments From Monthly Church Reports

From the United States

AUBURN, WA — J. RICHARD PARKER: I baptized five new people the other day. Of the five, four had their interest in the Church prompted by member relatives or friends. The Christian example is a powerful force.

KALAMAZOO, MI — LAMBERT GREER: During the last month I have been contacted by individuals I visited one to two years ago, but at that time they were either very new or were not progressing. I was able to invite three of them to Church. Those visits to the very new or seemingly only casually interested do bear fruit!

DURANGO, CO — GARY PENDERGRAFT: The tapes of sermons given in Pasadena are appreciated very much! They provide the members with a variety of speakers giving insight into the work being done at Headquarters and around the world. Hearing how God works through various ministers also helps us in the field ministry by providing examples to inspire our sermon topic selection, preparation and delivery.

LENOIR, NC — JOHN MOSKEL: I conducted a funeral for a member's father in Statesville. After the committal prayer at the graveside, the crowd dispersed — except for a fellow who came up to me and asked if I was in any way associated with the Worldwide Church of God. He said, "I knew you were different from the moment you opened your mouth. That was the best sermon I have ever heard." He was a police officer who had taken The PLAIN TRUTH magazine for several years. He wanted me to come speak on Sunday morning to his Breakfast Club in a local Protestant church!

FAYETTEVILLE, AR — JOHN ELLIOTT: How many people in the world hear the Gospel through the medium of a funeral conducted by one of God's true ministers? That question came to mind while conducting four funerals here last month. At each, about 50 new people heard a comforting, yet strong and frank explanation of God's plan and our incredible human potential. When you stop to add up the many funerals worldwide, we reach many!

LENOIR, NC — JOHN MOSKEL: Forest fires roared across much of western North Carolina for several days, beginning April 8. Some of the brethren had to evacuate their homes just a few hours before the Passover service. One lady living on Mineral Springs Mountain quickly packed what valuables she had and left her home as the flames raced up the mountain. She arrived at the Passover service just in time! Many roads, including Interstate 40, were closed due to fires and heavy smoke. The fire, which destroyed over 12,000 acres of forest, came within ten feet of her home and went around it. It was left intact. Several of her neighbors' homes were completely gutted by the fire. On the other side of the mountain, two homes next to each other were surrounded by flames. One home was totally destroyed. The other home escaped unscathed — the person living in it just recently started subscribing to The PLAIN TRUTH and paying tithes.

— Joseph Tkach, Ministerial Services