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WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
PRESIDENT and PASTOR
November 2, 1972
Dear Brethren of God's Church.
Events have arisen making it imperative that I now write
you the most important letter I have written in the past few years.
And that, notwithstanding the fact I wrote you October 27th.
Though long, PLEASE BE SURE TO READ CAREFULLY EVERY WORD!
In that letter I mentioned that, in spite of the vicious
attacks instigated by the invisible but very powerful, and equally
subtle Satan, the recent Feast of Tabernacles marked a definite
TURNING POINT. Our attitudes, our spirits, have taken a definite
upturn in hope, faith, and renewed dedication and unity behind
the Work. I found people encouraged at all Festival sites in the
United States and Canada. Reports from other parts of the world
reflect the same TURNING POINT, everywhere.
I stated, as I reported at all sites I visited, that the
income has NOT shown a decrease, as our enemies accused, and some
hostile press reports falsely published -- but rather an INCREASE
-- although not as big an increase as the Work seriously needs.
Yesterday the Budget Committee met to set the budget for
the coming year, 1973. God's Work is a GROWING Work. It is geared
to a pattern of CONTINUAL GROWTH. We cannot go on to successfully
COMPLETE the Great Commission the living Christ is carrying on
through us, UNLESS we do have a real healthy INCREASE in income
year by year. For 35 years that increase was approximately 30%
year by year. The increase is far short of that this year -- has
been for three or four years.
After carefully reviewing all phases and departments of this
great and growing Work, the Budget Committee has given me a very
serious report.
This Work, under Christ's direction, is geared to a pattern
that demands constant INCREASE. It CANNOT HOLD EVEN. It either
goes on forward, or it goes backward!
Brethren, we have to face a VERY SOBERING AND SERIOUS
SITUATION. Unless drastic CHANGES take place, we are going to have
to reduce many vital phases of the Work, and eliminate others.
That means seeing the Work of the living GOD start going BACKWARD
for the first time in 40 years!
Brethren in Christ, WE DARE NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!
I am too reluctant to call on you for the drastic financial
sacrifice I had to ask earlier this year, and also about the end of