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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MARCH 18, 1983
PAGE 5
Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong, and then continued on to
Japan. Unfortunately, Mr. Armstrong was not able to conduct a PLAIN TRUTH
lecture in Kuala Lumpur as planned. At the last moment, Malaysian immigra
tion authorities would not give Mr. Armstrong a permit to speak to the 800
people who came for the lecture. Instead, the audience of PLAIN TRUTH
readers was treated to a showing of the film "Behind the Work."
They
appreciated the film, but naturally were disappointed at not hearing Mr.
Armstrong.
In Hong
Kong
Mr. Armstrong spoke to a group of seventy people who turned up
for his lecture there. Considering that we have only 850 PLAIN TRUTH sub
scribers in Hong Kong, the interest shown was quite high and some few stayed
behind after the lecture to ask questions.
Over the past couple of years, the brethren throughout Australia have
prayed and even fasted for a door to be opened so the Gospel can be preached
via television in Melbourne. Last year we tried five different times to
place Mr. Armstrong's programme on T.V. there, only to find the door firmly
shut. We tried again on January 31st while Mr. David Hulme, Media Liaison
from Pasadena, was on a brief visit to Australia and it miraculously
opened. In fact, it opened so easily that those involved were dumbfounded.
February 20th, the Sunday after massive forest fires devastated large areas
around the city taking many lives, "The World Tomorrow" programme began to
be aired over ATV 10 in Melbourne.
The following week, we unexpectedly received a call from another television
station in southeast Queensland. Station SEQ 8 requested Mr. Armstrong's
programme and offered the 11:30 a.m. slot on Sunday mornings beginning
February 27th.
SEQ 8 covers the area north of Brisbane up as far as
Bundaberg. These two additional stations mean that "The World Tomorrow"
telecast can now be viewed by approximately 80% of the Australian
population!
Despite rising unemployment in Australia (now around 10%), the recession,
and the national drought, we experienced another fine increase in income
for the month of February. Income was 27.1% over the corresponding month
last year, and our year-to-date increase in income is 25.4% over the same
period in 1982.
We received a total of 7,522 letters during February, and our mailing staff
was especially busy this month, sending out 28,108 pieces of mail contain
ing literature.
--Joe Tkach, Ministerial Services
PUBLISHING SERVICES UPDATE
New Doors Open to Publish the Gospel!
In rapid-fire succession, Jesus Christ is opening new and exciting doors to
publish the message of the coming Kingdom of God! God's Apostle is setting
the course to vigorously walk through the dynamic new doors described
below!
(1) PLAIN TRUTH newsstand distribution in major supermarkets throughout
the United States is ready to begin!
Mr. Armstrong has just given his approval to a contract with Supermarket
Communication Systems, Inc. SCS maintains what are called "Good Neighbor