The PLAIN TRUTH leaps into the mid-80s with unparalleled and unprecedented growth in the annals of publishing! God's magazine is one of the most exciting success stories of our time. It is one of the fastest-growing magazines in the world today, long since eclipsing the circulation of TIME, NEWSWEEK and U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT.
Few remember that only six years ago (June 1979), the PLAIN TRUTH circulation was only 1,400,000 in the United States, and 2,200,000 worldwide. At that time, the newsstand edition was only 16 pages and the subscription edition was 32 pages. Currently, both newsstand and subscription copies are 48 pages in all English editions around the world, with a mass circulation of over 7.5 million combined! In addition to this gigantic growth, we are now producing The PLAIN TRUTH in seven languages.
All too often, it is easy to reflect only on the current situation, and not reflect on where we have come from. Oh, how God has blessed His Church! In Matthew 7:16, God says, "You shall know them by their fruits." But let the skeptic beware, for God is doing a mighty work. With over 30,000 newsstand outlets worldwide and 12,000 brethren involved in that program alone, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is being proclaimed as never before.
Opportunities abound — doors are opening everywhere. We need to continuously remind the brethren of James 5:16 — that the fervent prayers of a righteous man avail much. We must encourage the brethren to continue to pray for Mr. Armstrong and the work of God's Church, so we can continue to support the unprecedented growth we are experiencing.
PUBLISHING SERVICES UPDATE
Worldwide Church of God