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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 24, 1985
14.5% coupled with a very poor exchange rate of just over 50 U.S. cents to
the rand, U.S. disinvestment, and a low gold price of just over 300 U.S.
dollars to the ounce. As a result, there has had to be some belt tighten
ing.
Our year-to-date income in all accounts at the end of April shows an in
crease of 9.5%. In the operating account, which excludes Festival and As
sistance Funds, we have a 4.19% increase. Should this trend continue, we
may have to reevaluate our promotional programme and the servicing of our
existing subscribers.
Beginning with the August issue, The GOOD NEWS distributed in South Africa
will be printed by Ambassador Press in England. This will save an apprec
iable amount in printing, and our shipping costs should also be less.
There is military conscription in South Africa, and presently our members
appear before a Board for Religious Objectors. Prior to the establishment
of this board, our members generally opted for non-combatant military ser
vice. The board now grants exemption from military service in category
III, which entitles. the successful applicants to be placed by the Depart
ment of Manpower to do six years of community service. Since the inception
of the board, we have had 15 men apply. All have been successful. A fur
ther eight have been called up and are waiting for their applications for
exemption from mil�tary service to be considered. We would appreciate your
prayers for these men, some of whom are married and have small children.
--Joseph Tkach, Ministerial Services
MEDIA PURCHASING UPDATE
Our efforts to advance the true Gospel through the various media opportuni
ties open to us continue to bear fruit. It has been some time since I gave
you an update on this area due to pressures of travel and routine mainte
nance of the massive commitment to television broadcasting in the United
States. There are many new developments to report.
Domestic
Media Purchasing began the year with a 17% increase in budget to maintain
and also modestly improve U.S. television coverage in the top 50 markets.
So successful has our negotiating team at BBDO/West been, that we have al
ready committed our 1985 allocation. Stations have opened up time faster
than predicted, others have upgraded our time sooner than anticipated and
new stations are now calling us asking for "The WORLD TOMORROW." Last week,
Rex Humbard's continuing financial problems resulted in 100 or more sta
tions having available time. While some openings would provide no improve
ment over current schedules, others are a real benefit and have already
been contracted. In short, "The WORLD TOMORROW" is perceived to be "on a
roll"--we are succeeding, and word gets around. Success breeds success.
Following is a list of stations that have accepted the program or given ad
ditional times or improvements during the last few days:
WCIU
WKEF
WENY
Chicago, Illinois
Dayton, Ohio
Elmira, New York
Sunday, 12:30 p.m. (addition)
Sunday, 11 a.m. (new station)
Sunday, 11 a.m. (improvement)