Herbert W Armstrong

Since The PLAIN TRUTH Waiting Room Program began in May 1980, hundreds of Church members have volunteered their time and efforts to call doctors and others with waiting rooms, offering them a complimentary subscription to The PLAIN TRUTH. In nearly five years, over three-quarters of a million calls have been made in the United States alone, resulting in subscriptions going to 195,000 waiting rooms. Over 106,000 people have since requested their own subscription after reading The PLAIN TRUTH in these locations.

We recently received the following letter from one of our Church member volunteers. We feel it illustrates the enthusiasm and dedication many have felt as they have been involved in this program over the years:

This is one of those letters that is difficult to begin. I'm not even sure to whom I'm writing. Is it to Mr. Armstrong to thank him for being God's apostle and starting the phone calling of the local waiting rooms for a free PT subscription? Is it to the deacon and his wife in our local church area who put my name on the list as one of the callers? Is it to the local managers who constantly encouraged us throughout the year? Or is it to someone I've never met, in another state, who's just beginning her part in this exciting program? I'm not really sure; but I do know that anyone involved in the program would wholeheartedly agree it is "an experience of a lifetime."

Our managers set the goal of 30 calls a week for each of us here in Denver. We called every category from accountants to veterinarians; auto dealers to nursing homes. And don't forget beauty shops and osteopaths! If they had a waiting room area, we wanted to reach them! It wasn't always easy to discipline myself to go through those yellow pages and MAKE THOSE CALLS! I was assigned lawyers and the list seemed endless. The no's seemed discouraging, but yet, we all knew that it was GOD, not us, opening and closing doors. There were even humorous experiences, such as a lady who volunteered to contribute articles, as she was a "writer." One wanted to know if it was a "squirrelly political magazine."

As the weeks turned into months, and we would receive "Results Analysis," it was encouraging to see the numbers rising and the percentages increasing. As of April, 1984, phase I in the Denver area was complete! Forty percent had said yes, which was 2,778 waiting rooms obtained. It was wonderful to be able to participate in "the Gospel being preached."

But then we heard of phase II! This meant REcalling all those that had said no in phase I. This would surely be more challenging, surely more frustrating if people remembered us. But a job is a job, and once again the weekly goal of "getting your PT calls in" began. Actually, this was more exciting than phase I. God was really opening doors and percentages were high. It was quite thrilling to sit back and be an instrument as God had more and more people responsible for waiting rooms say "yes." As unbelievable as it may sound, another 1,391 waiting rooms were obtained, which was 46%. Phase II was complete as of October, 1984.

I would strongly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to be a part of this program. It takes time and effort, and "blood, sweat and tears," so to speak; but the character it builds will last forever. Satan, of course, will try to stop and discourage you at every turn. But as our local minister has told us: "Discipline yourself to do things you don't particularly care to do." And seeing "God do a work" is simply an incredible experience.

They're having a luncheon for the ladies that worked on the program. My husband teased me that "they'll tell you phase III is beginning when you get there!" But I know phase III has already begun. It's praying that God will lead people into those waiting rooms to read those PTs! And phase IV...? Well, that will be when some of those readers are called! How rewarding this program has been. Thank you to all of those who made it possible.

— Ray Wright, Publishing Services