UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING
Excellent Response to Recent Co-worker Letters
The response from co-workers to both Mr. Armstrong's September and October letters has been outstanding. These letters are currently running third and fourth in number of responses compared to all letters sent out in the past six years which did not offer literature. This very fine response was no doubt motivated in part by Mr. Armstrong's pointing out the need to pray for more laborers so Christ's true message can go out in greater power.
To date, nearly 9,000 co-workers have sent in donations. This is about 30% more than average. Many said they would definitely be praying for more laborers. A few even added that they were willing to sacrifice their PLAIN TRUTH subscription if it could be placed in a new person's hands.
U.S. & BRITAIN IN PROPHECY Passes Four Million Mark
Our most frequently requested booklet, THE UNITED STATES & BRITAIN IN PROPHECY, has passed another significant milestone. Over 4.2 million copies have now been distributed worldwide. Of that total, about 3.7 million have gone out in the United States and half a million in other countries. Currently about 50,000 copies are requested each month.
The booklet's continuing popularity is due to several factors. It has been heavily advertised in The PLAIN TRUTH, the Bible correspondence course and on "The WORLD TOMORROW" telecast. Mr. Armstrong has mentioned that people cannot understand prophecy without this key and, of course, there is a natural curiosity about one's "roots."
Progress Continues at Big Sandy WATS
Our telephone response department on the Big Sandy campus is now settled into its new facilities. The new location, consisting of two remodeled buildings in the former Imperial Schools complex south of the racquetball courts, has greatly helped productivity and allowed for the addition of new lines. These were readied just in time for the record response received during October. The WATS operation was formerly located in a converted guest house, with phone stations and offices squeezed into several rooms and even some large closets.
About 40% of the calls coming to Big Sandy are taken by operators trained in direct terminal entry. Names, addresses and literature requests are entered into computer terminals linked with the Church's main computer at Pasadena. Information from the remaining calls is written on WATS cards and also processed by terminal operators the same day calls are received.
The tremendous attitude of service and cooperation by college students and local members who answer calls has been heartwarming. With their help and the addition of these fine new facilities, we should be well prepared for the ever-increasing response to "The WORLD TOMORROW" program.
The Feast in Nanjing, China
Keeping the first Feast of Tabernacles in China was a thrilling experience for a little over 500 Church members. A number wrote to thank Mr. Armstrong for this special opportunity and to share some of the exciting things they observed and learned. They unanimously agreed that the trip was highly educational, and the Feast very inspiring. Following are a few of their comments:
Words will never express the experience I had on the visit combined with the Feast of Tabernacles in China. The love and attention we received from these wonderful and warm people was enough, but the learning experiences and the completely new understanding brought to us by our own dedicated and loving ministers were just mind-boggling. I'm afraid it will take some time to get my feet on the ground.
Mr. Halford and Mr. Fish are to be highly commended for their diligence and hard work; also Dr. Hoeh for his ability in giving such a volume of history in such compact form. We found Dr. Liu to be most dedicated to our welfare and such a warm, sincere and compassionate man.
I believe Mr. Armstrong has crossed a very wide bridge in cementing relationships with this wonderful country and people, and I hope very sincerely that we had a small part in what he is doing. I pray that our lights did shine. I will never forget having had the opportunity of this first Feast in China. Thank you very much!
V.N. (Underwood, WA)A very special thank you to you [Mr. Armstrong] Dr. Richard Liu and the Festival Office for the Feast in China. It was the most spiritually rewarding, educational and impressive Feast I have ever had! It is difficult to explain how much we have all gained from this unique experience. The Chinese people, their culture, history and art skills, as well as their friendliness and hospitality, have left a deep impression not soon forgotten. Thank you again for making it all possible.
J.S. (Oceanside, NY)Now that I have had a week to recover from jet lag, I want to thank you for authorizing the Feast in Nanjing, China and for allowing us to attend. My wife and I feel that the Feast and tour were perhaps the most educational 18 days of our lives. It was extremely interesting for us to observe firsthand the way the Chinese employ many Godly principles in their day-to-day lives that we in the United States apparently have forgotten.
We knew that we would discover how much the people of China need the Kingdom of God ruling over them and this indeed was the case. However, we became more aware of how much we in the decadent nation of Manasseh need God's government even more than the people of China. Praying for God's world-ruling government will be easier from now on.
Mr. & Mrs. F.H. (Cincinnati, OH)Thank you so much for approving Nanjing, China as a Feast site! It was a fabulous trip! It was quite an education as well as an experience and adventure! The entire trip was well organized — it was obvious that a lot of planning and preparation went into it. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would go again.
The Chinese are a friendly, hospitable, giving and serving people, They tried to do everything they could to make our trip more enjoyable. We can certainly learn from them!
The message of the film "Behind the Work" was definitely brought home in China. The Chinese love their children very much — it was evident everywhere we went.
We were very impressed with the children of members in our group. They were real "ambassadors" and made many friends among the Chinese. It was very exciting to see the fruits of Malachi 4:6 in action.
Mr. & Mrs. W.H. (Sierra Madre, CA)Thank you for the privilege of attending the Feast of Tabernacles 1984 in China. It was truly inspiring! Mr. Halford is a very personable and capable minister. Through his direction we continually had our values tuned and focused.
This was my first international Feast. The wonder of a land as vast as China was almost more than I could fathom. A week after returning home I am still digesting the experience!
The sermons were positive, stressing God's Kingdom and our part individually in preparing now to be part of God's Family so we can help others for all eternity. We will not rule according to man's standards or western philosophy. Rather, we will help all mankind to see and desire the good fruits of God's society. As North Americans, we have much to learn from the so-called "have not" nations.
E.S. (Williamsville, MO)We were privileged to be able to observe the Feast in China. It was an experience of a lifetime and I really believe the group gave emphasis to the work that you, other ministers and the students have done there.
B.T. (Waco, TX)Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed China! It was the most outstanding, inspiring thing I ever had a part in. I was in group one, so I had the chance to stand on top of the stairway inside of the hotel and watch the other buses come in, with the band playing, people cheering and the members dragging in with bags, so weary from the trip. It made me think — maybe that is how we will look to Christ when we come, weary at the end of our journey, to begin a wonderful life of peace and happiness. God grant that day soon!
I thank you so very much for making a trip like this possible. All the things we saw and learned we could never get from books. Hope you like the set of vases [a gift to Mr. Armstrong from the China feastgoers]. They are beautiful, but they can't possibly tell you how much we enjoyed the trip.
F.S. (Troy, IL)I'm glad I got to visit a country so different from my own. Everywhere you look in the cities, there are big crowds of people walking and riding bicycles. The only automobiles were taxis and government cars. The people were dressed plainly but neatly in jackets and pants. They seemed happy and friendly and many of them would smile and wave to us when they saw us. They seemed especially interested in the children in our group.
I enjoyed seeing and climbing the Great Wall. I had to learn to eat with chopsticks. I learned I didn't like Chinese food very much, but we could get Coca Cola and candy bars. I met children from California, Texas, Illinois and Florida.
M.S. — age 8 (Pasadena, CA)
— Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
