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Churches, where a local Church could meet there every Sabbath.
Preferably this should be a location where three or four other
Churches are close enough for all to meet together for the Feast of
Unleavened Bread (and Passover). On each of these sites, as
increased Feast of Tabernacles attendance makes necessary, we will
erect a Behlen tabernacle to seat 10,000 (that's 2,000 more than
our present Big Sandy tabernacle will seat); and also a dining hall
of the same type construction---or, possibly, just the kitchen for
a dining hall, with a large dining TENT to be pitched adjoining
this kitchen if that proves more practical.
Under this system each tabernacle would be the home of a local
Church, and would be used throughout the year. Preferably these
locations should be in the South, where possible---in a warmer
climate.
Under this policy, BIG SANDY would always be the number one
location, as we feel it should be. If, on the other hand, God sees
fit to open to us more places like Squaw Valley or Jekyll Island,
where facilities are already provided, we will lease those instead
of building these 10,000-seat tabernacles of our own. But, if
there are no more such places already existing---and we know of
none at this time---then we will build these tabernacles.
At this writing, we expect, based on past experience,
attendance figures for the future as follows---approximately:
1964 attendance - 22,000
1968 attendance - 62,900
1965
"
- 28,600
1969
"
- 81,800
1966
"
- 37,200
1970
"
- 106,300
1967
"
- 48,400
1971
"
- 138,200
If our present three locations will hold 22,000 this year,
and, with the new 15,000-seat tabernacle, 37,200 in 1966---and if
we cannot find any more places we can lease, like Squaw Valley, and
must build these 10,000-seat tabernacles at selected locations,
then there would have to be TEN such locations and 10,000-seat
tabernacles built by 1971 to provide for the United States and
Canadian members.
Meanwhile, our British and European brethren have outgrown
Hayling Island where they have met the past two years, and we have
selected a new larger site in Wales for this autumn. They had just
a few under 1,000 last autumn. They are now growing at about 40%
a year. Australia the same way. Everywhere we face serious
PROBLEMS!
Now, brethren HOW ARE WE GOING TO FINANCE THE BUILDING OF THIS
GIANT NEW 15,000-SEAT TABERNACLE AT BIG SANDY---AND THE OTHERS TO
FOLLOW? The new double-size tabernacle will cost about the same as
we paid for our present one---about a half million dollars.
God has shown us the way! We can spend second tithe ONLY FOR
THESE ANNUAL FESTIVALS! We CANNOT spend it for any other purpose!