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can pay for his own subscr iption
to this magazine, it did cost some–
thing to produce and put into
readers' hands. Your subscription
price HAS BEEN PAID- by these
co-workers whose tithes and free–
will offerings make possible an
astonishing activity serving and
helping multiple millions of
people worldwide!
Sorne time ago one of the Iead–
ing American news magazines
made a statement to the general
effect that our only hope for the
survival of human Iife now lies in
the power of a "Strong Hand
from Someplace." -That is 100
percent true. But very few realize
it.
You see, they were talking
about an UNSEEN Hand from
somewhere. What people cannot
see, they usually cannot believe.
Fifty-four years ago, my eyes
were opened to a good many seri–
ous, sobering things. I "saw" the
way humanity is drifting.
1
saw,
even then, the threat to human
existence.
1
read advance news
reports,
proved
to be reliable, of
the world's condition and trends.
1
read also of the coming SOLU–
TION of world problems, by and
through this
unseen
Strong Hand
from someplace.
1
carne to "SEE"
this unseen "Hand." And
1
was
given to "SEE" the challenge to
awaken millions to the urgency of
the world crisis- and
tQ
the glo–
rious GOOD NEWS of the happier
world of peace just beyond.
A very small handful of per–
sonal acquaintances also recog–
nized the challenge and the call to
become instruments of that
unseen "Hand." That unseen
"Hand" has proved to be a very
steady, strong and powerful
Hand.
This small number of personal
acquaintances were poor in this
world's goods, but rich in the
true
values. In a sense, they, with me,
felt "drafted" into this service–
yet they willingJy VOLUN–
TEERED.
That was sorne 47 years ago,
early 1934. Seven years before,
early 1927,
1
had envisioned tbe
idea of
The Plain Truth
maga-
2
zine. At the time,
1
was living in
Portland, Oregon.
1
even engaged
a professional letter artist to
design a dummy front cover for a
magazine called
The Plain Truth.
1 wrote three or four articles–
never actually published,
1
be–
lieve, save one.
But it was not until seven years
Iater that
1
was able to produce
Volume I, Number 1 of
The Plain
Truth.
That was the February,
1934, issue. It was a homemade
magazine done on a borrowed
mimeograph. The stencils were
cut on a borrowed typewriter.
On J anuary 6, 1934, due to the
volunteered help of these few co–
workers,
1
was able to go on the
air with what became
The World
Tomorrow
program.
It
was a lit–
tle 100-watt radio station in
Eugene, Oregon. The charge for
time- $2.50 per half-hour pro–
gram. The station owner had set a
price lower than his operating
cost for the half hour. Our tiny
handful of co-workers were able,
then, to contribute on ly about
$1.38 per week between them.
1
plunged ahead, taking the rest on
faith.
The program then was only
once a week. On the first four ·
broadcasts,
l
offered
The Plain
Truth
free, subscription already
paid. How paid? By these few
volunteer co-workers.
Gradually others caught tbe
vision.
lt
was then in the very
depth of the Great Depression.
Money was a scarce commodity.
To even issue a handmade
mimeographed "magazine" and
pay $2.50 per week for broadcast
time meant a real "blood, sweat
and tears" sacrifice.
But we had a MISSION! There
was a tremendous PURPOSE! We
were sure we saw THE WAY todo
it-no set subscription price for
The Plain Truth- no
request for
contributions over the air. Al! had
to be given WITHOUT PRICE!
Somehow those few self-sacri–
ficing co-workers began to pros–
per. Even though they made seri–
ous self-sacrifice financially, their
economic condition gradually im–
proved.
l t
was almost as if
it
paid
them
to have a part in this
Work!
In those early years, this Work
faced a constant st ruggle for sur–
viva!. But gradually it grew- and
grew-and multiplied in power
and scope. By 1942 we were
being heard nationally in the
United States. In 1947 Ambassa–
dor College was born. But not
without " birth pangs. " For two
years it was a fight for existence.
Then a few people volunteered to
send in their life savings to help.
They have prospered financially
since.
Gradually, as more and more
people have come to recognize
the challenge- to realize this
great Work offers them an oppor–
tunity to have
a part
in changing,
and in the end actually saving the
world- the number who have
volunteered to become co-work–
ers has increased.
But there is a rather amazing
factor here. Virtually every phase
.of our operations increased on an
average of 30 percent each year
over the first 35 years- save one
factor. That is the number of co–
workers who make it possible. It
costs rnoney to conduct this
Work. During that same period,
our operational expenditures also
increased at the rate of approxi–
mately 30 percent every year over
the year before. That means it
DOUBLED in approximately two
years and seven months- less
than three years.
And of course that means the
income for the Work from these
co-workers increased on an aver–
age of 30 percent each year- for
we do pay our bilis and therefore
our financia! standing today is
quite strong.
BUT
-tbe incredible thing is,
the increase in the
number
of co–
workers helping voluntarily with
us each year was
less than 12
percent.
How can we account for an
increase of 30 percent each year
in tithes and contributions re–
ceived (over the first 35 years of
this Work) with only a small
increase in the number contribut-
(Continued on page 42)
The
PLAIN TRUTH