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per month.
Last fall we found that hundreds were still standing in
line, waiting for the noon meal, even with services starting at
2:30 p m. I mentioned to all of you who were there, how even with
almost double the membership, you brethren--GOD'S OWN PEOPLE--were
not responding with the special building and property fund as well
as two years before. But though I spoke to you about it--though I
wrote strong letters to the entire membership--you brethren FAILED
TO RESPOND. Frankly, dear brethren, this has been mighty
discouraging!
Yet I knew we had to find a way! Since YOU brethren were
letting down, I could only call out to GOD, asking Him to have
mercy and forgive you and PROVIDE THE WAY. Through the winter
months and into the spring, the situation did not improve. You
brethren still failed to respond. Christ had not, as yet, shown me
any solution. But I knew He would! Meanwhile, I had gone ahead
having the architect draw up plans ready to start construction on
the additional wing on the big Tabernacle, feeling that surely God
would somehow MOVE on your hearts and consciences to start
increasing the monthly special offerings for the special building
fund.
Meanwhile, the living Jesus Christ who is the HEAD of
this Church flung open to us new important radio doors for
proclaiming His Message. This included several vitally important
50,000-watt stations we had been trying to get on for many years.
Every one of these stations was the dominant, most-listened-to,
high prestige station in the area. Jesus Christ directed us to go
on more super-power radio stations in a shorter period of time than
ever before.
By the scores, people were being converted and baptized,
and added to God's Church. The great addition to the broadcasting
expense of these new stations made it doubly IMPOSSIBLE to start
construction of the tabernacle new wing, the dining hall and new
housing at Big Sandy, Texas. The business office at Headquarters
was being thrown into a desperately tight bind.
Then, suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue--like an awe-
inspiring miracle, Squaw Valley opened!
At the college in England, I received a big fat long
letter from my son, Garner Ted Armstrong. One of our men had
discovered Squaw Valley. He and some of our top executives and
ministers from Pasadena Headquarters had flown up there and looked
all the facilities over. These men all felt that God had CLOSED
the doors for the additional construction at Texas, but had opened
a superb, exciting NEW door at Squaw Valley, California, which
requires NO outlay for building whatsoever--and not even any rental
expense, except nominal rental from each member or family for
housing, and cost of meals. The letter was very enthusiastic.
But, frankly, I was decidedly NOT enthusiastic!
To me, it was a bitter disappointment. I still hoped we