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So it sums up to this: We are already committed to half of the 1979
deficit, S705,000, making the total investment, from the start, of $6,305,000.
And it is projected to cost us an additional Sl,703,000 through the years
1979 to the end of 1981, and 1982 is projected to return to the Work a profit
of $334,000. And, of course, future years should increase the profit return
each year.
Another factor to consider. The magazine industry is in its "hey-day"
right now. Many new magazines have been started in the past two years, and
established magazines are fat with advertising.
And perhaps MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, Quest gives me and the Work FAR
GREATER PRESTIGE and CREDIBILITY in the eyes of government leaders, in our
efforts to open their doors for giving Christ's GOSPEL Message to their
peoples. That's our COMMISSION!
It is incumbent on me, now, to make the following decisions:
1) Whether to dispose of Quest, immediately, by putting it out of
business. I have already shown you, above we would still be heavily obligated
by existing commitments, an additional $705,000, and we would also lose
great prestige and invite ridicule in the public press. With two prospective
buyers who are approaching us about SELLING the magazine to them, I have to
decide, as you can plainly see, not to just quit now.
2) Since we will not dispose of it by simply closing down, and in any
event will wait until we have definite and firm offers from prospective
purchasers, I have to decide, NOW, whether to hold to the awkward seven
issues a year, or going to TEN, which will be regarded in the industry as a
year-round basis. I have decided. We go immediately to TEN, and will give
subscribers who subscribe NOW the whole year's subscription for the same
price charged until now for seven. If we sell the magazine to one of the
networks, Quest becomes a much more desirable purchase in their eyes than the
present seven. So even if we sell it, we MUST go to the full ten.
I have not decided, as of now, that we will NOT sell it. I want to see
what develops in the next two or three months. However, reasons are now
developing which indicate heavily that it may be better for the Work to keep
it. Many of our high ranking ministers are urging to keep it. Again, I want
time to continue praying over it, looking at it from GOD's viewpoint. I
myself will make the decisions, as God leads me, and considering ALL the facts.
I want to add this comment. I have always preached that GOD's WAY is
the way of EXCELLENCE. God says "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it
with thy might" (Eccl. 9:10). All that GOD created and made was "VERY GOOD".
I have tried conscientiously, under Christ, to build God's Church and Work
and College in that manner.
Quest is now recognized as the very TOP magazine in QUALITY in this
country. It is dedicated to "the pursuit of EXCELLENCE." I hope you will
pardon me if I say I am just human enough to feel a certain pride (not
vanity) in the fact that if my name appears in the masthead of a national
secular magazine as Founder and Chairman, it appears in the recognized top
QUALITY magazine "in the pursuit of EXCELLENCE."
That brings me again to the fact that, even though God has called us
out of the world, yet we must be IN it, and are commissioned to go TO it with