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finally agreed to speak before them. I found myself literally DRAWN
into the ministry.
I was ordained, mid-June, 1931, as a minister of Jesus Christ
and of the Church of God. Since I was experienced in writing and
publishing, the proclaiming of the Gospel by use of the printing
press, and by radio, came under my jurisdiction. The door of radio
and the printed word opened at the beginning of January, 1934.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we find that Jesus, or the
Apostles, ever coaxed, urged or cajoled anyone into "joining" the
Church. They merely proclaimed the TRUTH -- the GOOD NEWS -- of
the Kingdom of God. No one was urged to "join." In fact,
according to the Bible, one CANNOT join God's true Church. If we
have not received the GIFT of God's Spirit, "we are none of His"
(Rom. 8:9). The proclaiming of the Gospel by Jesus and by His
Apostles was merely EDUCATIONAL -- proclaiming God's TRUTH --
leaving all hearers free to make their own decision.
We follow their example. No one is ever asked to join. No
one is ever urged or pleaded with to "give their heart to the
Lord," in the way many Churches do. We are not proselyters. We
make no effort to take members away from other Churches.
The radio and publishing work started very small. But it grew
rapidly, steadily, constantly. Today it purchases 25 MILLION watts
of radio power every week, broadcasting CHRIST'S MESSAGE over every
inhabited continent on earth. Today it is the MOST POWERFUL radio
programme on earth. More than 27 MILLION PEOPLE hear it each week,
on hundreds of radio stations. Most of them broadcast it SIX OR
SEVEN TIMES A WEEK.
This is the WORK OF GOD -- a reputable WORLD-WIDE organization
of high standing, morally, spiritually, ethically, financially. It
is an OLD, WELL-ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATION.
Yet it appears an effort is being made to create a false image
as if it were merely some NEW, irresponsible religious order, whose
officials live in idleness, ease and luxury, by "demanding" tithes
and taking food out of hungry mouths -- breaking up marriages and
homes. If it were not so tragic that some people actually BELIEVE
whatever kind of smear against anyone they see in print, that would
be -- to one who knows the facts -- ridiculous!
But now, as briefly as possible, let me give you the FACTS --
the TRUTH!
Our purpose is NOT to "get members" or to build a religious
organization -- never has been -- but to PROCLAIM AND PUBLISH
CHRIST'S GOSPEL MESSAGE -- which is an educational message -- to
the world AS A WITNESS (Mat. 24:14; MarK 13:10).
WE NEVER IN ANY WAY ASK THE PUBLIC FOR CONTRIBUTIONS --
whether over the air, or in any literature, or in personal
contacts. We issue tons and tons of FREE literature. We do ask
people over the air to write for free booklets, or our high-class,
interesting, informative 52-page (soon 68-page) magazine, The PLAIN