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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 28, 1982
PAGE 3
number of us had a long meeting in order to go over the grades and other
pertinent information regarding the students who we felt might not be able
to continue in college next year. We have a list of about
14
who will have
to be dropped.
Then on the Sunday following graduation I had three weddings at which to
officiate. I think this must be some kind of a record for the number of
weddings performed in a single day.
Mr. Richard F. Ames is including in this PGR [see page 6] an updated account
of the numbers of applicants we have accepted to Ambassador College
(Pasadena) for the coming year. We have pretty well closed our acceptance
door for the 1982-83 College year. We may, however, be able to admit just a
very few more.
--Raymond F. McNair, Deputy Chancellor
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
International News
Australia Both the field ministry and our office staff report an extremely
active month of April. The number of letters received last month was the
third highest since the inception of the Work in this area of the world,
resulting in a
40%
increase in the number of booklets and articles mailed
out over April last year. Unfortunately, postal charges for the category
in which booklets are mailed also went up 22-33% last month.
There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of new people request
ing personal contact with the Church--up
400%
over the first four months in
1981.
A number of pastors are reporting new faces at services and are
encouraged by the new PM activity.
However, pressure is still being put on our budget and cash flow. Our year
to-date income now stands at a
10%
increase. The economic reasons for this
was pinpointed in a recent issue of the AUSTRALIAN (newspaper) which talks
about the nation being in the "depths of a severe economic recession" and
refers to the "sharp reduction in the spending power of the average
Australian" over the past twelve months. A careful appraisal of our budget
has enabled us to adjust our expenditure in a number of areas without
seriously affecting the Great Commission.
For some months we have been closely monitoring our radio coverage. In the
sixty-five weeks we've been on country radio in Australia, the cost-per
response has been mounting to the point where it would shortly become
difficult to justify remaining on certain stations. Responses from seven
teen stations have been extremely low and we have instructed our advertis
ing agent to cancel them. However, while we have cut out some unproductive
radio stations, we have added other stations.
Though the number of radio stations carrying the broadcast has decreased,
the number of broadcasts per week and the population coverage has actually
increased. In fact, we are now broadcasting to twice the number of people
than we were before the cuts were made and new stations added. These ad
justments have effectively helped in reducing our expenditure without
reducing our effectiveness in preaching the Gospel via the radio broadcast.