Here's WHY your PLAIN TRUTH has no subscription price. Here's WHY thousands of people from many nations feel they have a genuine part in CHANGING this world!
THIS is a wretched world. Every thinking man and woman in America now knows that. And you know it. Men like John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy are with sickening regularity murdered for standing up for what they believe. Hard-working, long-suffering mothers like Mrs. Rose Kennedy walk alone in their gardens. Faces etched with lines of pain and grief. Shoulders a little stooped by burdens a mother should never have to bear. Eyes turned toward the ground in helpless bewilderment. This ought not be. It makes no sense whatever in this "Land of the free and home of the brave." Although Almighty God certainly permits our modern society to fester with its wretched sickness, He has revealed a way that would prevent all the confusion, the suffering, the hate and violence that we see growing around us daily. And most of you realize deeply and fully that man — the politicians, scientists and leaders — simply does NOT have the answer.
The Crusade for SANITY
There is a last train to sanity. It's about to leave the station. Would you like to get aboard? That may sound rather metaphorical. But in all too many ways it is terrifyingly true. Of course, men have always had their "crusades" and their causes in this mixed-up, confused world. Most are very sincere in this type of thing. But, they do NOT give solutions for the swiftly mounting crisis of worldwide FAMINE which nearly all experts agree is now the world's number one problem. They do NOT give any real solutions to the nuclear arms race — daily threatening EXTINCTION of all human life from off the face of this earth! They do not even propose full solutions to the mushrooming problems of polluted lakes and rivers, and polluted air. Too many votes would be lost if they did! And how many voters would literally switch parties if some candidate came out with a ringing condemnation of parents, educators, preachers, child psychologists and theorists for utterly FAILING to instill in the new generation a deep and abiding respect for the laws of God and man? Do you get the picture? "The way of PEACE have they not known" (Romans 3:17). But our God and Creator has REVEALED a way to peace and happiness within our borders, and for mutual respect and tranquility between all nations of the world. The proclamation of THAT WAY is what this Work of God is all about! It is to be given to the world as a "witness" just before the END of this present age (Matthew 24:14). It is a literal CRUSADE for SANITY — involving a willingness on man's part to obey the revealed physical and spiritual LAWS that would produce peace, happiness and universal prosperity. The power of this crusade is GROWING mightily — and increasing tens of thousands of men and women are beginning to take part in what they see is "the last train to sanity."
We Stand ALONE
Frankly, this Work is sponsored and endowed by NO ONE except God Himself. As the work of John the Baptist — the voice of one crying out in the Wilderness" — so this present Work of God stands ALONE and set apart from all other groups and organizations of men in proclaiming Christ's true message. Your Bible says in Amos 3:7, "Surely the Eternal God will do nothing, but he REVEALETH his secret unto his servants the prophets." This Work stands ALONE in revealing the meaning of what is taking place on the world scene today and what WILL very soon take place in major world events! As our longtime readers well know, we no longer merely say something is "going" to happen, but often that it is happening right now. As Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's voice has thundered over the air for more than a third of a century, Britain is swiftly descending in dignity and might as a world power. As we have specifically prophesied ahead of time for decades, the British Empire is virtually GONE! The greatest sea gate on earth — the Suez Canal — is gone from the British Empire and Western control! Events are under way this year preparing the way for America to LOSE CONTROL of that other vital sea gate controlling world trade, power and influence — the Panama Canal! Singapore is GONE — no longer a member of the British Commonwealth! Again, as we have warned for more than a third of a century, a United States of Europe is swiftly rising which portends terrible trouble for the British Commonwealth and American peoples in this generation! With the resignation of Charles de Gaulle's and the Russian Communist hold on the nations of Eastern Europe, the last restraints are swiftly being removed holding back the full-scale resurrection of the "Beast" pictured prophetically in Revelation 17.
A PREPARATION for Christ's Return
Notice this striking prophecy for OUR day: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:5-6). This basic but little understood prophecy obviously refers to a man or work preparing the way for Christ's Second Coming at the time of God's intervention in human affairs, prophetically called "The Day of the Lord." The work of John the Baptist was a first and typical fulfillment of this great end-time Work. For Luke was inspired to write about the work of John: "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). You will here notice that Luke said John was "in the spirit and power of Elijah," not that he WAS Elijah. But the work was that empowered by the same spirit which guided Elijah to turn Israel's eyes of old to the true God, to help the fathers' hearts be turned to their children and to the preservation of the family, and to cause many disobedient to begin walking in the wisdom of the just. Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong makes The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast for every day — seven days a week. He does these — as many hundreds can testify, who have watched him, impromptu and with no script and often with only a few minutes direct preparation except for his years of Bible study, prayer, contact with God, and vast experience. When you hear him, then, impromptu, speaking from the heart the wonderful God-inspired analyses, solutions and real ANSWERS to the problems of dating, courtship, marriage, child rearing and such basic issues dealing with the preservation of the family — do you realize that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled in your very ears? WHERE ELSE on this earth can you obtain real ANSWERS to such basic questions as: "Why did God let Timmy die?" And the problems of human suffering, war and the fact that only a VERY FEW are being called to any kind of "Christian" salvation in this age when you consider that most of the earth is Communist, pagan or at best agnostic? Again, you read in The PLAIN TRUTH the real MEANING of such current problems as the "Hippie Movement," the jangling discordant "music" we are forced to endure, the chaos and upheaval in modern universities and education. As you read these things — and the specific and detailed prophecies for the future — don't you realize deep within yourself that there is NO PLACE ELSE on earth today where this understanding is made available? Increasing thousands do feel this way. They have become "Co-Workers" with us and with Christ, in this vast, worldwide Work of God. That is WHY your PLAIN TRUTH has no subscription price. That is WHY there is no whining, begging, nagging, pleading or even hinting over The WORLD TOMORROW broad-cast for money or financial help of any sort. So far as we know, we stand completely ALONE in this God-inspired policy, too!
Why God's Work GROWS
God's Work is multiplying in power and effectiveness every few years. How? It has been made possible only through the combined efforts of thousands of CO-WORKERS whom God has called to help financially support this great Work. In the earlier days of Mr. Armstrong's ministry, he alone was able to reach only a handful of people through his preaching. But as the number of dedicated Co-Workers, who voluntarily gave their tithes and offerings, increased, so did the scope and power of God's Work. This Work of God has continued to grow at the fantastic rate of 30% a year. That means it DOUBLES approximately every 2½ years! Today Mr. Armstrong's efforts are multiplied millions of times through the modern miracles of radio and the printing press. Over 50 million watts of radio power is purchased every week. Between three and four million people will read 2,000,000 PLAIN TRUTH magazines printed this month in our gigantic printing facilities. Nearly 130,000 students are studying their Bibles with the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course worldwide! And three Ambassador Colleges — Pasadena, California; St. Albans, England; Big Sandy, Texas — are training additional men and women so desperately needed in God's growing Work. All this obviously costs money! And it has all been made possible through the financial support of a comparatively few thousand Co-Workers who have, OF THEIR OWN ACCORD, decided they wanted to have a part in helping to preach and publish God's warning message as a witness to all nations!
What IS a "Co-Worker"?
God's prophets and leading ministers have always had disciples, helpers and "Co-Workers" in carrying out their mission. Mention of the latter is especially prevalent in the New Testament. Notice: "We then, as WORKERS together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (II Corinthians 6:1). In context, this scripture clearly shows that all true Christians should be workers together with Christ in reaching the unconverted world with His message. For there is certainly WORK to do! Yet, God commands His ministers NOT to ask the public for money to carry on this vital Work. Jesus said, "Freely ye have received, FREELY GIVE." We cannot, therefore, put a price tag on the precious truth of God and the WARNING MESSAGE which must go to all the world regardless of its acceptance or their hostility. So as in apostolic times, God has raised up a growing family of Co-Workers — laborers together with Christ — who are helping out financially, with their moral support and encouragement, and in their faithful, fervent prayers in this Work of God! Rather than using some wealthy benefactor or millionaire — whom many suppose might be backing this Work — God is using a growing band of sincere, dedicated Co-Workers who are doing their part by supplying the financial need of this Work that the truth may go FREE to others. Whether in helping, housing, feeding or sending a minister of God on his way with food and money, God has always given many others the privilege and opportunity of being direct helpers in carrying out His Work. The apostle John encouraged those called in his time to receive and support the true servants of God: "... that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth" (III John 8). In writing Philemon, the apostle Paul said: "There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers" (Philemon 23-24). Again, Paul beseeches: "And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my FELLOW-LABORERS [Co-Workers] whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3).
God's WAY in Action
It is clearly GOD'S WAY to use many, many scattered individuals in helping carrying out His Work and in supporting and holding up the hands of His called and chosen ministers! And this very act of laboring together with Christ is a mighty important additional factor in the spiritual GROWTH and blessings of those Co-Workers. Notice above that Paul describes the "fellow-laborers, whose names are IN the book of life." Those individuals who GIVE THEIR LIVES — here and now — as living sacrifices in carrying out God's Work are certainly laying up treasure in Heaven! For Jesus said: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). Many of our Co-Workers obey Jesus' instruction to NOT leave undone the matter of paying God's tithe — the first tenth of the income to God, with additional offerings as they are able. But, in any case, their hearts are increasingly involved in God's Work as they labor together in this end-time crusade for sanity — a crusade to restore the knowledge of God's TRUTH to man before he blows himself off this planet! After a person has voluntarily, of his own free will, expressed a desire to HELP with this great Work, Mr. Armstrong sometimes sends personal monthly letters informing these individuals in our family of Co-Workers of the financial conditions of God's Work. Others just add themselves to our Co-Worker list by voluntarily sending in tithes and offerings regularly to show they are fellow laborers in the Work of Christ. It is ONLY this inner circle of Co-Workers who are ever told about the financial needs of this Work, the details of its growth, or asked for money in any way. There is NO OTHER SOURCE of income for the Work of God today! There is absolutely NO ONE in the millionaire or multimillionaire class who is "sponsoring" this Work of God! Frankly, if there were, such an individual might well decide to start dictating what would be preached. But God Himself has so worked it out that His servants can proclaim the specific warning prophecies affecting our nations and explain and expound God's LIVING LAWS of success and happiness completely without fear or favor to any human being!
Comments from Those Who SERVE
Perhaps some misguided people get the idea that those who help in carrying out the true Work of God are "suffering" or "being taken advantage of." NOTHING could be further from the truth! It has been my personal privilege to visit literally hundreds of our listeners and Co-Workers throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and South Africa, over the last seventeen years. I have continually noticed that those who have their hearts in God's Work, have, as Jesus promised, been BLESSED in every way. God specifically promises to bless the tither (Malachi 3:10). And although we do not press or pressure even our Co-Workers to tithe, we are COMMANDED to teach God's truth on this subject and we do. To illustrate that it is a BLESSING in every way, I want to share with you the following comments which have come in from our Co-Workers around the world which have been inspiring to me and to many of us here in the Work of God.
From a young woman in Minneapolis:
"I haven't wanted to admit it, but it really does pay to tithe. I am 20 years old. I have more and better food than before, will be getting the clothes I need for winter, even if I can't earn all of the money for it because of a heart condition. The house I live in now is larger and basically better than before. I got a new Cambridge Bible just for the asking when I painted a picture for my aunt. One thing too, tithing has taught me to budget my money better, and not spend it for foolish things. I've noticed that I wasn't getting the results of tithing much, until I began to trust God to provide what was needed and not try to do it all by myself. Also when I have been trying to be more obedient in all things."
From Maria P., West Germany:
"Here is a thank offering for the spreading of the Gospel. I've been paying my tithe for just a short time, and today my husband received a salary raise from his extremely close-fisted employer. I consider this event God's blessing."
From Hugh J., Grenada, West Indies:
"It took the loss of my father's job to make Mommy realize she ought to tithe. She came to me one day and said, 'Son, here's ten percent of a tip I received today. Hold it and send it up to your minister.' I left the room, I prayed and thanked God for answering me so promptly and that she might continue tithing. The tithe was only ten cents. But two weeks later I received five dollars, and Daddy went back to work at the factory. It's all yours, or rather, God's now. I trust it may help print a few lines in The PLAIN TRUTH, and perhaps mail a few letters. It comes from my mother, and she is doing it because she feels it's time she got around to repaying God."
This Crusade Is GENUINE
As America's gold supply dwindles, as race riots get much worse — not better, as drought and famine gradually set in here and in the other English-speaking nations of the world — not just over in Southeast Asia, as we are increasingly alienated from the other nations of the world, as specifically TEN nations in Central Europe under a great false church slowly but surely form the final Frankenstein Monster which God prophesies will destroy our English-speaking peoples, you will know that this CRUSADE FOR SANITY was not a work or idea of men. You will KNOW — and you will know that you know — that this is the Work of the great GOD who guides the destinies of men and nations here below! If you are able to visit some of the Ambassador College campuses or our foreign offices and SEE — with your own eyes — this sense of purpose, the happiness, peace and understanding possessed by those being used fulltime in this Work of God, you will realize that this is indeed the Work that is being used to restore the RIGHT WAY of God and His laws to this earth. If you are able to observe the happy marriages and the joyous, well-disciplined, balanced children — you will realize that this crusade truly Is being used "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). We have facts and PROOF behind what we are doing. Never forget that! Do not be too naive or too lazy to check in your Bible, and with history, and with current events to PROVE the truth or error of what we say. We sincerely challenge you to do this — for your eternal good! We and our growing family of Co-Workers are not only SINCERE — we have the truth of God, and we want to share it with you FREELY and without fear or favor from men! Listen! This crusade for SANITY is literally God's last effort to give the fighting, killing, competing, warring men and nations of this age the opportunity to KNOW what lies ahead for them if they will not change, and the TRUTH of God's Way as a witness. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a WITNESS unto all nations; and then shall the END come" (Matthew 24:14).