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Therefore, I, Herbert W. Armstrong, by God's grace His
chosen Pastor over His Church, do appoint Sabbath, November 18th
as a day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for all members, in
all humility and solemnity, to the end that the united prayer of
the whole Body of Christ may ascend to the Throne of Grace, and
RESTORE THE INCOME FOR GOD'S WORK TO THE PREVIOUS 30% annual
INCREASE!
Brethren, many if not most of us have let other interests
creep into our minds and hearts till we do not have ANYWHERE NEAR
the ZEAL for the GREATEST WORK ON EARTH, that the football players
have for a football game. Football players get themselves "UP"
for a game. They are "UP" emotionally, psychologically,
physically. Last Sunday the San Francisco 49ers, supposedly
"underdogs" for their game with Atlanta, got themselves "WAY UP"
for that game, because they all HATED the Atlanta coach, and wanted
revenge. They won by a big score.
WHY can football players get themselves "UP" in almost
fanatical ZEAL, motivated by HATE, when we are indifferent, "DOWN,"
and lukewarm about the MOST IMPORTANT AND GLORIOUS CALLING OF ALL
TIME?
Now, finally, let me state CLEARLY the REAL PROBLEM -- the
SERIOUS LIFE-AND-DEATH PROBLEM -- that threatens the very
DESTRUCTION of GOD'S WORK, unless we UNITEDLY, through HEARTRENDING
REPENTANT AND BELIEVING PRAYER, GET OURSELVES "UP" IN ENTHUSIASTIC
ZEAL FOR THIS PRECIOUS AND WONDERFUL WORK TO WHICH THE GREAT GOD
HAS CALLED US!
It is much more than needing an immediate, temporary "shot-
in-the-arm" financial boost for the moment.
It's actually FAR MORE SERIOUS than that!
We are looking forward, planning the budget for the entire
year of 1973 -- and even looking forward into 1974.
The situation is just this: During the present year, 1972,
we made several reductions in the budget that had been planned.
We made a number of cutbacks, reduced operating expenditures -- in
SOME areas. BUT God has been opening NEW POWERFUL DOORS for
getting out His MESSAGE. One was the United States edition of
Reader's Digest opening the purchase of advertising space to us.
Another was the MOST IMPORTANT means of getting out the Message of
all -- DAILY TELEVISION. However, since we have had to take an
early morning period in most cases, it will TAKE TIME for this most
EFFECTIVE medium to PRODUCE results that will help income. The
NEWSSTAND PROGRAM in Britain and Europe has produced BIG results,
and the LOWEST COSTS, per thousand circulation, we have
experienced.
Yet ALL THESE had ADDED MORE to expenditures than the
cutbacks had subtracted. But these additions are NECESSARY if
the Work is to go forward. IN TIME, they will add Co-workers,
new members, additional income -- but not immediately -- perhaps
not noticeably until the latter part of next year.