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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 26, 1985
PAGE 7
door that God has ever opened for proclaiming the Gospel." Once again, the
fruits have born out the wisdom and foresight Mr. Armstrong has in these
matters. More magazines are now distributed and a higher response is at
tained by the Supermarket Newsstand Program than any other newsstand
source.
Percentage of response from this program continues to increase steadily,
and the number of stores distributing the magazine has stabilized. Dis
tribution of a PLAIN TRUTH subscription brochure in supermarkets where the
magazine is not approved has also exceeded all our most optimistic projec
tions, and is now achieving over a five percent response.
The recent entry of "Good Neighbor" bulletin boards into the Missing
Children's Program has reached national recognition and has been personally
conunended by President Reagan. This new recognition will draw more people
to the supermarket bulletin boards, and, consequently, make more people
aware of The PLAIN TRUTH. As a reminder, we ask that these racks be kept
filled with magazines at all times.
The success of the Supermarket Program is overwhelming! Our sincere appre
ciation for the tremendous efforts displayed by the pastors and their as
sistants in all church areas.
We look forward to even greater growth
throughout the remainder of 1985.
--Ray Wright, Publishing Services
UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING
4.4 Million Subscribers to Receive Semiannual Letter
Preparations are under way to mail Mr. Armstrong's spring semiannual let
ter. More than 4.4 million people worldwide will receive the letter, one
million of whom are new subscribers since the last semiannual.
To illustrate just how massive this mailing has become, we'd like to
present a few statistics. Even though we've used similar examples before,
we thought you would be interested in a visual picture of its size. It
would take seven 40-foot semi-trailers to carry the necessary materials:
Two for the carrier envelopes, another for the return envelopes, two for
the letters and response cards and two more for empty mail sacks to put the
letters in.
But we'll still need other supplies: 30 gallons of glue, two quarts of red
ink (for postmarking) and 600 pounds of heavy duty rubber bands!
Through the years, the semiannual letter has proved to be one of the most
important tools in the work of God's Church. It provides a way for Mr. Arm
strong to personally keep in touch with subscribers and update them on the
significance of the latest happenings in world news. It also allows him to
offer key pieces of literature. For example, he will be offering THE UNITED
STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY and A WORLD HELD CAPTIVE in this letter. The
semiannual has also become the largest source of new co-workers and donors.
We encourage you to remind the brethren to pray earnestly for God to bless
and provide a good response to this current letter.