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Now looking into NEXT YEAR, we face THIS PROBLEM: If we
allow NO increase in expenditures in ANY area of the Work, carrying
on as at present, our total expenditures will be 12% higher than
the total expenditures for the present year, 1972. Yet, the
projected estimated income, supplied me by our Division of Finance
and Planning, will be only 8%.
THAT WOULD BE DISASTROUS TO OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE
VERY LIFE OF THE WORK! Mr. Portune even warns it would forecast
THE END of the Work!
You see, it is far MORE than just the NEED OF THE MOMENT!
We cannot make further cutbacks in operational expenditures with-
out serious harm to the Work. It would mean, either closing one
or two of our college campuses, OR cutting down the radio
broadcasting to a point of virtually going off the air, AND
dropping television altogether -- OR, ceasing publication of The
PLAIN TRUTH.
This is not merely a temporary danger of the MOMENT -- BUT,
unless there is a rise in the INCOME, starting NOW, and continuing
next year and the year after, it could MEAN THE END OF THE GREAT
WORK OF GOD -- UNFINISHED! Jesus Christ is DOING HIS PART --
opening new doors. Only ONE THING has been WRONG! -- and we must
FACE IT! -- too many of us have been GROWING LUKEWARM, DRIFTING
FROM THE NEEDED CLOSENESS TO GOD! The trouble is SPIRITUAL -- and
too many have been trying to PUT THE BLAME ELSEWHERE!
This day of FASTING AND PRAYER I am calling IS J U S T
T H E S T A R T E R! We can't stop there. We must all KEEP
close to God, we must KEEP our minds and hearts ON THE THINGS
ABOVE -- ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD -- ON THE PRECIOUS WORD OF GOD.
Then God will hear and ANSWER.
No one realizes more than I, that WE BRETHREN, of OURSELVES,
CANNOT PUT IN THE ADDED AMOUNT OF MONEY THE WORK M U S T H A V E!
We must be faithful and generous in doing our best, according as
God makes possible. If we don't do OUR UTMOST, how shall we expect
God to answer our PRAYERS and cause OTHERS to do it?
But, if we DO THAT, up to our own ability, and CONTINUE
HEARTRENDING AND BELIEVING PRAYER, God will hear and ANSWER.
Remember, God says of US -- of THIS CHURCH: "IF my people,
which are called by MY NAME, shall humble themselves, and PRAY,
and SEEK MY FACE, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I
hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land" (II Chronicles 7:14). We may think, because we keep His
Sabbath, that we have no wicked ways or sins to turn from. But
laxity or neglect of prayer can be sin. Getting our hearts and
interests more in worldly ways and interests and pleasures can be
SIN.
One thing God shows me I DO HAVE TO DO! First, I have to
tell Mr. Portune, and the Budget Committee, that I DO approve that
they proceed, for the time being, on the PRESENT operational