UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING
MPC Reducing Mail Backlog
Although a partial crew stayed in Pasadena to process the most urgent mail, we returned from the Feast to find nearly one-half million cards and letters waiting for us. Incoming mail since the Feast has also remained heavy, and we are facing a sizable backlog.
Our full work force is pitching in to help get caught up. The inventory of letters requiring personal answers is high, but visit requests are receiving top priority and are up to date overall. Please understand that we may find an occasional visit request among some older routine mail. As always, your patience is appreciated.
Tremendous Growth Since Last Year's Feast
The year between the 1983 and 1984 Feasts of Tabernacles brought encouraging growth and accomplishment for God's Church. Here are just a few figures covering the United States during this period:
• 70.7 million publications were distributed, including 25 million PT subscription issues, 22 million newsstand copies and 5 million booklets.
• Incoming mail soared to 4.7 million pieces. This is equivalent to what God's Church of this era received in its first 28 years.
• WATS calls received totaled 723,338 — the highest number ever.
• New Bible correspondence course enrollments reached 224,443.
• More than 87 ,000 PT subscribers became "donors" by making one or two contributions during the year. Another 23,873 became "co-workers" by giving two or more donations within a six-month period.
We expect new all-time records in most categories by the end of 1984.
Winter Semiannual Letter Being Sent to Four Million People
The second semiannual letter of 1984 is now being mailed to over 2.3 million U.S. subscribers and to 1.7 million international subscribers. Postal Center employees will be putting in 60 hours a week for two to three weeks to complete this gigantic mailing.
The semiannual letter has long been the number one source of new coÂworkers. For example, this summer's semiannual accounted for more than half of all new co-workers added to the file so far this year. It is most important, therefore, that we follow the admonition of Mr. Armstrong to pray fervently for an excellent response.
He wrote in the October member/co-worker letter: "I am sending out a semiÂannual letter to all PLAIN TRUTH subscribers. PLEASE PRAY FERVENTLY and continually that God will PROSPER our brethren and Co-Workers, and also that he will put it into the minds and hearts of many of the millions who will receive this general letter to BECOME CO-WORKERS with you and me and Christ our Savior. The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are too few."
What a Feast!
As expected, this year's Feast was truly the "best Feast ever" as evidenced by a number of letters we have received. Members returned home rejuvenated, fired up and deeply inspired as never before. Some of the major highlights included Mr. Armstrong's powerful messages, moving sermons by the other ministers and outstanding films. Following are some of the comments received to date:
We have just attended our 21st Feast and it was the greatest Feast ever! God just keeps blessing His people year after year. It seemed that everyone went to the Feast with positive attitudes this year. We saw only happy faces, few complaints and very little sickness.
We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to you, Mr. Armstrong, and all those who were involved in making this Feast the best ever. We are already looking forward to another great Feast in 1985.
Mr. & Mrs. M.P. (High Point, NC)It seems each year the Feast is more wonderful and this year certainly was no exception. People seemed so friendly, the scenery was a splendor to behold, and the weather could not have been more beautiful. Everything seemed to go so smoothly, thanks to the planning and cooperation of everyone. This truly was the best and most wonderful Feast I have ever enjoyed. I thank you and pray for your health and safety always.
T.A. (Moscow, PA)I just returned from a fantastic Feast in Hawaii, and must say I've never felt so spiritually full! Every single message, including the offertories, was so enlightening that I felt like I was a new babe in Christ, trying to gobble it all up. Every sermon gave new aspects — after 19 years, you would think I'd have heard it all. The whole congregation was musically responsive also. Fifteen hundred sounded like 15,000 happy voices, praising our great and loving Father. Thank you for your messages, for the "Behind the Work" film, and for sharing yourself with us in "The Young Ambassadors" film.
S.W. (Duluth, MN)I wanted to thank you for the very basic, trunk of the tree messages that you gave us this year at the Feast. Your opening message without notes was very inspiring. Knowing that you did not have notes to rely on to keep track of what you were planning to say next, made it very obvious that God was inspiring you to say what we needed to hear the most.
N.W. (Goleta, CA)I have just returned home from the Feast in Norfolk, Virginia. This is my first year as a co-worker and my first Feast. I was extremely blessed because my brother and his family took me with them as one of theirs. I have just been recently separated. My husband is filing for a divorce, so you know how much it meant to me to be included in their family. I left Pennsylvania with a handful of brethren and returned with thousands in my heart.
A.R. (PA)I would like to thank you and God for one of the best Feasts of Tabernacles I have ever had. I have attended God's Church since I was eight. Because my father does not attend, I was unable to attend the Feast till I had graduated from high school and could work and save my tithe. I never knew how much I missed until that Feast. I am now married and have three children, who each year look forward greatly to God's Feast days.
This year's Feast seemed to be an extra special blessing. I have not felt so much love and unity at one place ever. I truly felt like it was a large family gathering. Your two messages on film were very greatly inspiring and your live message on the first day gave me the desire to keep going.
V.C. (Orlando, FL)We had a very wonderful Feast at Biloxi, Mississippi. I'll be looking forward to next year's Feast all during next year. I've found out that the more one serves at the Feast, the more one gets out of this special time. I feel more a part of the Church when I can serve. Thank you so much for pointing the truth out to us and what this very special time represents.
D.G. (Cottondale, FL)
— Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
