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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
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press and one magazine ran an article about us. Meanwhile, the advertising
program continued with insertions in such publications as The TIMES,
OBSERVER, IRISH INDEPENDENT, TIME magazine, NEWSWEEK, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH and
T.V. TIMES.
As a result of generally increased activity, incoming mail was up 22% over
the previous year, and the amount of literature mailed was up 32%. PLAIN
TRUTH circulation rose to 65,000-70,000, and in spite of the recession in
the U.K. the increase in income was 18%.
The final major event of the year was the resumption of broadcasting The
WORLD TOMORROW program over the superpower station Radio Luxembourg. Once
again Mr. Armstrong's voice can be heard proclaiming the good news of the
world tomorrow across Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and a large area of
northern Europe.
During 1982, a renewed advertising campaign will start once we are com
pletely in the new building, and we expect to build the subscriber circula
tion from its present level of 65,000 to approaching 100,000. The news
stand program in London will hold steady at around 40,000 magazines per
issue for the time being, but is subject to constant review.
MEDITERRANEAN: For the first time, perhaps in 1,900 years, a Feast of
Tabernacles was held on the Island of Malta in 1981 with about 200 brethren
in attendance. This was a tremendously exciting event for the Mediter
ranean brethren who live in such places as Greece, Italy and Malta, and was
an inspiring occasion for all who attended. Membership in the area is up
40% over the previous year. An eight-day Festival of Unleavened Bread was
also held on the Island of Malta. Interestingly, the penetration of The
PLAIN TRUTH in Malta must be one of the highest in the world--3,650 circula
tion for a population of 340,000 (1:93) !
After the success of the Feast in Malta in 1981, plans are being made for a
slightly enlarged program in 1982.
SCANDINAVIA: The year 1981 opened a new chapter with the publication of our
first Norwegian-language booklets and Bible Correspondence Course lessons.
The evidence is that Norwegian is the best generally understood of the
Scandinavian languages, so various booklets will be translated into this
language in years ahead. Incoming mail was up 5.4% for the year, but the
total amount of literature mailed out was up 75%.
Our P.T. circulation of 15,000 remained fairly steady throughout 1981,
maintained by an advertising programme in such publications as HELSINGEN
SANOMAT, BERLINSKE TIDENDE, AFTENPOSTEN, SVENSKA DAGBLADET. In 1982 we
expect to maintain circulation at around the same level as last year, and
budgets permitting we hope to continue the booklet translation programme.
The Feast of Tabernacles was held in Norway with a 100% increase in attend
ance over the previous year, though many of those attending, of course,
were visitors. The increase in indigenous Holy Day offerings, however, was
27%. Total income was up 20% over the previous year.
EAST AND WEST AFRICA:
activity and growth.
For Black Africa 1981 was also an exciting year of
P.T. circulation rose during the year from 20,000 to