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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MARCH 26, 1982
PAGE 5
QUESTION: Should Local Church Elders perform weddings and funerals?
ANSWER:
Normally they should not. If there is an emergency where a full
time man of Preaching Elder rank or above cannot perform the wed
ding or funeral, then it may be permissible. But such a decision
should be made by Pasadena.
International News
Philippine Update This year began with a great thrust forward as Pastor
General Herbert W. Armstrong's WORLD TOMORROW television program went on
the air for the first time in the Philippines, January 9 and 10. Two of the
nation's top networks--RPN and GMA--carry the program on nationwide TV.
The weekly telecast has made some good impact on local audiences not only in
Metro Manila, but also in the far-flung provinces. Already 429 responses
have been received, including several positive, enthusiastic comments. One
has even asked for a ministerial visit! The broadcast series on "The Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse" has especially drawn keen interest. The begin
ning of the telecast here certainly was timely, with Mr. Armstrong's Manila
campaign following in a month's time.
As a result of Mr. Armstrong's two-night campaign at the Philippine Inter
national Convention Center (PICC), we have received a total of 5,772
requests for The PLAIN TRUTH. At least six new people have come to Sabbath
services in Manila.
The week after Mr. Armstrong's visit, Philippine Regional Director Guy Ames
called all the ordained ministers and their wives, who were then in Manila
for the campaign, to a two-day ministerial conference. Mr. Ames announced
the plan to establish eight new local churches early this year. This will
bring the total number of churches here to 29.
Mr. Edmond Macaraeg, pastor of the Baguio City Church, and his wife Lorna
left for Pasadena in February as the first couple from the Philippines to
attend the second Ministerial Refreshing Program at Ambassador College.
On the financial side, the Work here got off to an excellent start with the
January income registering a 35% increase over January, 1981. A 10% budget
increase has been planned for this year, so the Work here hopes to build up
its reserves.
Mr. Armstrong's November, 1981 semiannual letter offering the booklet NEVER
BEFORE UNDERSTOOD--WHY HUMANITY CANNOT SOLVE ITS EVILS, has received 5,817
requests. This represents a 17.33% return from the 33,600 letters mailed
out.
New Zealand
The highlight this month was the running of Mr. Herbert
Armstrong's full-paqe WALL STREET JOURNAL ads each Monday morninq in THE
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, the country's largest circulation and most influential
daily newspaper. The circulation of the HERALD is 240,000, so the series of
ads is probably being seen by at least half a million people. Although the
primary purpose of the ads is to get a message across, some requests for new
PLAIN TRUTH subscriptions are coming in. By the end of February, over 200
coupons had been returned. The series of ads will continue each Monday
right through the month of March.