Basic HTML Version
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 13, 1982
PAGE 4
Armstrong's tape, "The Unthinkable Will Happen," really hit home
and made all think about the seriousness of our times.
CLARKSBURG, WV--DAVID M. JOHNSON: Mr. Armstrong
1
s recent sermon
tapes have been very helpful in getting people stirred up again
about their responsibilities as Christians.
Many have found
themselves letting other things crowd out things that are really
important.
Unemployment is really starting to hit the area.
Most of the local economy is tied to coal, and with the decreased
demand from the steel industry, steady jobs are getting hard to
find.
WILMINGTON, DE--DAVID REGISTER: Some members here are suffering
from the recession with a few families unemployed.
However,
other members are very supportive and have helped by giving dona
tions of groceries as well as financial support to their less
fortunate brethren. The financial conditions here have actually
served to bring the membership closer together.
MILWAUKEE (SOUTH), WI--CARL McNAIR: Good spirit and attitude in
these adverse times. About 12% of our people are unemployed and
others are on short-time. Dr. Hoeh's visit was super. The mem
bers profited the most, but the 300-plus new people (PT sub
scribers) were extremely responsive too. A dozen have received
visits and seven are attending Church now. Many thanks to Dr.
Hoeh and the staff for their support.
PORTSMOUTH, OH--DAVE TREYBIG:
After some testing and waiting,
God has provided jobs for most of the congregation's unemployed.
The jobs are not the highest paying, but are appreciated!
God
certainly does take care of His people.
BATON ROUGE, LA--KARL BEYERSDORFER: Had Bible lectures with 35
new people total and as a result have 16 new PM's to visit. Best
fruit of any lecture so far.
COLUMBUS (PM), OH--ROBERT DICK: PT newsstand program has grown
rapidly. A steady stream of good PM's has produced growth in the
Columbus Church.
--Joe Tkach, Ministerial Services
ON THE WORLD SCENE
TELEVISION: HOW IT DISTORTS THE NATURE OF MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT The next
week should reveal whether a negotiated settlement is indeed around the
corner in the Lebanon crisis. What is certain is that without the heavy and
prolonged Israeli military pressure, the P.L.O. gunmen would never leave
Beirut. What is also certain is that the "tunnel vision" of television re
porting has distorted the Israeli-P.L.O. struggle, concentrating on day-to
day, blow-by-blow accounts, emphasizing the plight of unfortunate (but not
always innocent) victims, without giving the audience a proper background
understanding of the conflict. Call it the "Vietnam syndrome," I guess.
Even President Reagan, according to the August 16, 1982 issue of TIME maga
zine, has not escaped the impact of television
1
s reporting on the war:
Reagan has been one of the staunchest believers in America's bond
with Israel, but his feelings of loyalty have been deeply