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was due to heavy Christmas mails, which delayed the mail. But I
arrived back last night to find that, while a very heavy mail has
been received---the most mail we ever have received, I believe---it
is nearly all from new listeners now hearing the broadcast for the
first time. This is MOST encouraging, for it shows we are now
reaching more people from Coast to Coast than ever before---BUT
THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE FROM OUR CO-WORKERS, and hundreds of
them are sending one or two dollars where they usually send from
five to fifty, and apparently most of those who usually send in the
"widows' mites" sent in nothing. Many letters explaining they
can't send more---or any---at this time, because of spending it for
"Xmas presents" show the real cause of this desperate condition
into which it has plunged the work of God. As usual this trading
of gifts back and forth---a practice of pagan origin---holds so
many people in the deceptive clutch of "babylon" and CAUSES THE
WORK OF GOD TO SUFFER!
Whereas normally after mailing out a BULLETIN we should
have been receiving around an average of $1,000 a day for at least
two weeks, only from $150 to $500 has been coming in. Now the
congestion of Christmas mails is over, and we know that is not the
cause. We know now that most of our vast family of listeners, and
godly family of co-workers, have FORSAKEN God's work for this
month, and spent their money trading presents.
I know now that the money needed for this great emergency
tomorrow will not come, EXCEPT BY MIRACLE FROM GOD, OR VERY SPECIAL
EMERGENCY EFFORT ON THE PART OF A FEW OF OUR MOST FAITHFUL
CO-WORKERS.
I confess that when we returned last night, and contacted
our office and learned of this situation, it literally "floored"
me. It seemed God had deserted us. It took the breath out of me.
But my secretary explained it was simply because of this Christmas
season we have been thru---that God has always delivered us, and He
will now---and reassured me by saying that she, and the office
staff would join me in asking God for a miracle, and to save us.
Yes, I believe God will save us! A couple days ago, while
I was gone, a telegram came from the management of the radio
stations saying that unless this note were met on the day due, they
would throw us off the air and start suit. And now some of the
contractors who are doing the reconstruction work threaten to file
a lien against the property and close the college and our offices
and stop our work unless a large sum is paid at once. Brethren,
and co-workers, I have these things to bear---to be put in
position of reproach, and to take insults, because some of our
co-workers---say, MANY of them---have been careless in their
obligations to God, lax in making their calling and election sure.
Yes, it's hard to bear, but I bear it willingly and suffer these
things for the sake of Christ.
If only we can hold out, and keep going, in due time we
shall be relieved of this terrible financial plight. One co-worker
has written me three letters, and talked to me long distance, about
putting into this work between $50,000 and $100,000, but has been
delayed in getting other work wound up so that this can be