Basic HTML Version
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
PAGE 3
We have averaged just over 1,000 calls per month on the WATS line for the
first ten months of the year. While encouraging to see, this number still
falls far short of what we had hoped. Canadians, it seems, are not as eager
to use the telephone in responding to the telecast and radio broadcast as
their counterparts in the U.S. They seem to prefer the more traditional
method of corresponding via the mail.
Since the Feast of Tabernacles, a number of ministers have held Public
Bible Lectures with good results.
The response in previous years was
around one percent of the invitations mailed. It now averages two percent.
Mr. Colin Adair's lecture in Calgary was attended by 102 new people. In
Kitchener, 120 new people attended lectures given by Mr. Terry Johnson.
We look forward to 1984 and hope we continue to experience such positive
growth.
Comments From Monthly Church Reports
From the Caribbean
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS--ARNOLD HAMPTON: The Grenada situation has
surprised Caribbean nations as to the degree of Communist infil
tration into the region. And it has alerted the Church as to the
perilous situation facing the Caribbean. I have wondered why we
have had such a sizeable increase in income in the area. With the
recent situation, I wonder if God will open the doors for one
final thrust before closing them.
It sounds ominous, but the
handwriting is on the wall.
HAMILTON, BERMUDA--CECIL PULLEY:
"The WORLD TOMORROW" telecast
has been moved from Wednesday evenings to Sabbath mornings at
9:00 a.m. The brethren seem pleased to have it on the Sabbath.
We should reach an entirely different audience.
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA--PAUL KRAUTMANN: Spirits are high after the
Feast. A much closer feeling of love and unity exists among the
brethren.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA--CHARLES B. FLEMING: The Church is very stable
in terms of attitudes and conduct.
--Joe Tkach, Ministerial Services
UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING
Nearly 50 Million Publications Mailed in Ten Months
A total of 49,458,440 publications were mailed in the United States during
the first ten months of 1983.
This record total includes all printed
material--magazines, books, booklets, letters, Bible correspondence course
lessons, etc.--and represents a 17% increase over last year's ten-month
count.
Never before in the history of God's modern-day Church has the
Gospel been published in such volume.
Computer Improves Personal Correspondence Department's Efficiency
As the Gospel reaches more and more people, the workload of the Personal
Correspondence Department continues to increase. So far this year, over