Herbert W Armstrong

One of the major methods God is using to reach people with the Gospel message is through gift subscriptions to The PLAIN TRUTH. For example, in 1984 267,000 subscribers asked us to send the PT to a friend or relative.

In order to ensure that these people wish to receive a full year's subscription, we send them a sample copy — the special 50th Anniversary edition. This magazine contains a reply card which the individual can return.

Over the past four years, more than 30,000 who received a sample copy have subscribed. Several hundred have gone on to become co-workers and donors, and 48 are now members.

Big Sandy WATS Experiences Sky-rocketing Growth!

Our WATS operation in Big Sandy continues to expand, providing essential backup to Pasadena. Seventy-five operators are regularly on duty during heavy periods of incoming calls. Big Sandy now answers about 45% of all calls. With additional computer terminals now available, more than half of all the calls they receive are processed by "direct terminal entry" via computer line hookup to the Church's main computer in Pasadena.

Without our Texas Telephone Response Department, we would be hard pressed to keep up with the ever-increasing response to "The WORLD TOMORROW." Since its inception, Big Sandy has taken over 200,000 calls — 100,000 since the Feast.

Letters of Appreciation for Ministerial Visits

We continue to receive a growing number of visit requests. People who have been contacted by God's ministers often write to tell us how much they have been helped and encouraged. Not only are they impressed with the minister's thorough knowledge of the Bible, but also with his genuine, heartfelt concern. For many, their first contact with God's ministers is an inspiring and unforgettable experience, as the following letters show:

In light of Mr. Armstrong's "Personal" column in The GOOD NEWS where he made mention of ministers, we had brunch with one of your ministers. And I was (if I may use the word) impressed by his wide field of knowledge not only in the Bible, but the extension of it into the fields of human endeavor and his attention to the principles of success.

God created and desires us to succeed, yet we need to be taught. Here is a man, trained and dedicated to teaching us how to succeed in our lives, our marriages, our childrearing, our jobs; giving us the knowledge and counsel we need: helping us see where we are making our mistakes: spending his life to help us become obedient to God's laws. What a contrast to the "religious politicians" who are like the government politicians but only in a different field.

Having a true minister of the Living God near to call on is truly a great blessing and comfort: and to know he is continually improving himself by acquiring additional understanding and knowledge, which automatically makes him even more capable to help, is a continually increasing blessing. Thanks be to God for ministers of truth and knowledge, understanding and compassion. It was His idea and plan to send them, and we sure need them.
B.Y. (Yakima, WA)

I heard you for the first time on radio a long time ago. I then wrote and received some of your literature. For the first time I believed in God. All these years and many experiences later, I have come to realize that it is not just enough to believe, but I must obey. I am now taking the Bible course, studying really hard, praying hard and often.

Last night, I actually talked (via phone) to a minister of the Worldwide Church of God. I am waiting for a visit in my home and a chance to attend one of the meetings of the Worldwide Church of God and wish very soon to be baptized.

So sir, with tears in my eyes I am writing this letter to say thank you. Thank you so very much for obeying God so many years ago and working to get this Gospel to all the world.
M.A. (Mt. Airy, NC)

My husband and I are prospective members at the time of writing this letter, but by the time you receive it, we will have been baptized! With our baptism only a few days away, we felt this a good time to write and express our deep love and gratitude toward you for everything we learned through you.

We hope Ambassador College will continue to educate such fine ministers as the ones who have helped and instructed us along the way to our baptism.
Mr. & Mrs. J.C. (Amsterdam, NY)

When I talked with your minister, I was impressed with much of what he said. The most noticeable thing was that he pressed me to read and study my Bible and compare it with your literature to prove to myself whether your church really is God's Church. He also insisted that I wait until I had studied further before I even attend my first service, and said that I would not be considered for membership until I had attended for a sufficient period of time to be truly convinced that this was God's true Church and that I would be convinced enough to never again wish to change churches.

As someone who has changed churches four times in three years and been baptized into two of them, this was a refreshing approach. In the past, I've felt that I was being pushed to join, to meet some minister's quota of new members rather than being led into a congregation of believers with whom I would wish to remain for the rest of my life. Your minister gave me the feeling that he really cared.

The attitude of "study and wait till you're sure" is a much more comfortable and welcome one than that of "hurry up and join." It is an attitude I would expect to find in the true Church of God.
C.H. (Salem, OR)

— Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center