International News
From New Zealand: August was an exciting record-breaking month for God's Church in this part of the world. Mail income reached the highest monthly figure God has ever blessed us with, posting an increase of 15% over August last year. The Eternal also blessed us with more incoming mail than for any other month this year, with an increase of 41% over August a year ago.
Our offering "World Tomorrow" radio listeners in the Auckland area the opportunity to phone the office in response to the program is working well. More broadcast responses were received during August than in any other month this year. Also, responses to the July/August newsstand PLAIN TRUTH far surpassed responses to any other issue in 1984.
August saw our first venture into direct mailing, with a test of some 18,000 letters being posted. By the end of the month we had received around 800 replies, already a very fine 4.4% response, with replies still coming in steadily.
In September there will be a series of 30-second spot ads for The PLAIN TRUTH shown on New Zealand television. This will be our first television campaign in several years, so we're eagerly awaiting the results.
An advertisement with an insert card for The PLAIN TRUTH and THE SEVEN LAWS OF SUCCESS appears in the September READER'S DIGEST. Before the end of August we had already received over 20 responses to this ad, although theoretically it should not yet have been in circulation!
From Australia and Asia: So far this year over 43,500 new readers have been added to the Australian PLAIN TRUTH mailing list — a 161% increase in new subscriptions over 1983. These new subscribers have come on file primarily from the Newsstand and Library/Waiting Room programmes, and from advertisements in READER'S DIGEST and leading Australian magazines.
At the end of August the Australian PLAIN TRUTH mailing list totalled 93,598 — a 56.6% increase over the same month last year.
PLAIN TRUTH circulation now ranks ninth in Australia, out of a total of 1,400 titles published in this country. In March this year we were ranked number 13, but the substantial growth in circulation here in recent months brought about a marked improvement in our position.
In Asia, by the end of August, 24,010 new subscribers had been added year to date to The PLAIN TRUTH mailing list. There are now 49,914 subscribers in Asia currently receiving the magazine. This represents a 23.2% increase over 1983. The bulk of the new Asian subscribers responded to PLAIN TRUTH advertisements in READER'S DIGEST in selected Asian countries. READER'S DIGEST ads have now been placed in South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.
Solid growth has occurred in GOOD NEWS circulation over the past eight months. By the end of August, GOOD NEWS subscribers in Australia totalled 10,535 — a 40.8% increase over 1983. In Asia, The GOOD NEWS mailing list has increased by 54.9% to 1,563 subscribers.
A total of 23,325 letters were received in August — a 10.4% increase over the same month in 1983. Our year-to-date letter count increased by 41.2%, while the volume of literature mailed out during the first eight months of this year increased by 35.6% over the same period last year.
We continue to be most grateful for the income that Jesus Christ supplies His Church in this area for the preaching of the Gospel. In August, members', co-workers' and donors' contributions resulted in a 15.2% increase in income, bringing our year-to-date increase to 14.6%.
Mr. Armstrong's May, 1984 semiannual letter offering the two booklets WHERE IS THE TRUE CHURCH? and THE SEVEN LAWS OF SUCCESS to date has brought in 8,951 requests from Australian subscribers. This represents a 12.5% response.
From Asia we are still receiving responses to Mr. Armstrong's November, 1983 semiannual letter. Responses to this letter so far total 9,904, representing 26.4% of the mailing list. Approximately 1,600 responses to Mr. Armstrong's May, 1984 semiannual letter have reached us from Asian countries so far.
At the end of July, Mr. Bill Winner, assistant to Mr. Morton, conducted a Public Bible Lecture on two consecutive nights for PLAIN TRUTH readers in Newcastle. The first night Mr. Winner covered the fall of Britain and the United States of America. The second night he spoke on the rise of Europe and its significance for the future. A total of 33 new people attended these lectures — an encouraging 2.9% response. Several of them appeared to be very interested in the lectures and we hope their interest in the truth will continue.
Comments From Monthly Church Reports
From the United States
NORTON, VA — GEORGE ELKINS: Mr. Armstrong's taped sermon on prophecy was certainly sobering as well as inspiring! It will help the brethren come to grips with the truly important things in their lives instead of focusing in on the petty and insignificant.
ROCHESTER, NY — LESLIE SCHMEDES A strong awareness that we live in the end time is beginning to hit home. There is a sober attitude among the brethren, fostered by Mr. Armstrong's powerful telecasts. The brethren are pleased to learn of the impact the Church is having worldwide. We are looking forward to hearing more messages on prophecy from God's Apostle.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — DON LAWSON: We have received many new PM letters. We also have a number of people who had left the Church years ago and now want to come back. There are three attending and three more who want to return.
CORNING, NY — BRITTON TAYLOR: This area is seeing steady PM growth, which is very encouraging after so many years of slow growth. The economy is definitely improving. All members are employed despite the economically depressed areas in which they live.
FORT WORTH (PM), TX — BOB SMITH: We have been pleased with the maturing of many second generation Church youth, many of whom continue faithful in church attendance, and some of whom are actively seeking baptism. Other PMs continue to be strong, and are heeding Mr. Armstrong's admonition to "prove all things" (I Thes. 5:21).
KNOXVILLE, TN — JOHN COMINO: Bible study attendance has increased by 50%. We make a determined effort to "advertise" the coming study at each Sabbath service. We try to whet spiritual appetites by asking questions and then telling the members to come to Bible study to learn the answers. It seems to be working.
— Joe Tkach, Ministerial Services
