Greetings from HOT Pasadena! Perhaps you have heard, but we are having record temperatures out here for this time of year — with 1040 registered in Pasadena yesterday, and it only got down to about 70° last night. We are all fine here and things continue to go forward in unity and productivity.
Mr. Herbert Armstrong returned back to the U.S. Friday from his successful trip to Morroco and Tunisia. I talked to him on the phone last night and he was in good spirits and had many plans for the future.
From all reports received, we had excellent Pentecost meetings around the world. I was in Kansas City where we had a total of 1,267 people and a fine offering. I was able to conduct a 33 hour luncheon meeting with the local ministers and their wives and was pleased with their warmth and loyal response. Upon returning, everyone here at Pasadena was very enthusiastic at the fine sermons received over the Pentecost weekend and the offerings here locally were very good. The total Pentecost offering for the U.S. was up almost 11% over last year. And Frank Brown just called from Britain and said the Pentecost offering for the British churches was up 20% and the year-to-date income for all of Britain was up 20%! This is really GREAT — and indicates that God may be preparing circumstances for us to reach the British people more powerfully than ever in the months and years to come. I am sure many of the other overseas areas had fine offerings also and we will be reporting them as they come in.
Locally, one sad and yet happy note is that Mrs. Annie Mann died this Sunday morning about 5:00 a.m. As perhaps most of you ministers and wives know, Mrs. Mann was a true "pioneer" in the Work and in Ambassador College. She was the long-time "house mother" to many of our own wives, sisters, and/or daughters and added a great deal to their lives — and the lives of many of us men as well.
She was a sparky, hard-working and very zealous and loyal member of God's Church to the very end. It is sad — for us because we will certainly miss her love and her example of dedication and loyalty. But, for her, it is a blessing considering that death comes to all, that God gave her 93 wonderful years of accomplishment and joy and that she was able to contribute so much to His Work and His college almost up to the end of her very active life.
Let us remember to HONOR all such fine examples of outstanding service and loyalty such as Mrs. Annie Mann!
Of a far more ominous nature is the news — which many of you know — that Wayne Cole and the dissidents have been "dredging up" from the past all kinds of old reports, letters and memos which they can find which in any way make the Work look "bad," appear to be contradictory, etc. This, coupled with various reasonings and accusations based on this outdated information, is being sent out to many of you ministers.
I am sure that most of you are intelligent and mature enough to see through the twisted fabric of various bits and pieces of truth mixed with half-truth, Lies mixed with speculation which are woven together in a distorted manner to make Yr. Armstrong and God's Work look bad. If any of you have sincere questions about this material — not only for your own sake but to be able to answer others — please drop me a line about the specific point and I will try to see that we make a genuine answer to you and we will NOT try to judge you or hold this inquiry against you in any way. For I know that as fast as we put down one error, unfounded rumor or story, the dissidents seem to throw more "dust in the air" through additional rumors, wild stories, or perverted accusations — all the more dangerous because they often do contain a bit of truth here and there which lends credence to their overall accusations and "points" which are usually totally untrue.
Let's always keep in mind the BIG PICTURE and how God has used — and continues to use powerfully — His servant of some 52 years, Herbert W. Armstrong. And let's realize anew that all over this earth there are literally tens of thousands of faithful brethren whose lives have been turned to God and His way through Mr. Armstrong and this very Work. Note that God is continuing to bless and USE His Work worldwide to preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God based on His law and loyalty to His Government.
Fellow ministers and wives, while I am at it, let me extend a sincere note of thanks to all of you who are faithful and loyal. You know who you are. You have borne the heat of the battle and are continuing to prove yourselves to God, and to the servants who have been entrusted with leadership in His Work at this time. You to deserve our heartfelt thanks and gratitude!
As the apostle Paul said of those elders who served well in the full-time Work of his day, you deserve "double honor" — and I an sure that many of your brethren realize this and do honor you, pray for you and encourage you. But I do want you to know that Mr. Armstrong and all of us out here on the "P.A.D. team" do appreciate the fact that the vast majority of God's ministers, worldwide, are so warm, so dedicated, so loyal and so Christian!
In Malachi 3:16-18, God speaks of those who truly fear Him and honor HIS name. And He says: And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my JEWELS; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" (verse 17).
I am absolutely sure that many of you fine dedicated ministers and wives will be among the leading "jewels" that God will spare from the great tribulation soon to occur. For you daily prove to Him that you are not "looking" for an excuse to get your feelings hurt, to turn aside to to cause sorrow and division within the very body of Jesus Christ. Rather, through often unsung loyalty and service, you are establishing the FACT in God's record book that you will remain faithful to Him and His Government no matter what.
Thank you for the fine example so many of you set.
FROM PASTORAL ADMINISTRATION
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