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directions the last few days, but many are very loyal and encouraging.
I hope all of you are trying to be loyal and encouraging through the
trials we're going through. And we certainly all need each other's
prayers.
Brethren, I think you've all heard of the changes. They've been very
traumatic for people of every persuasion in the church, and I'm sure
you understand that. I have a great deal of sympathy for those involved,
because changes are hard, difficult, and shocking.
In times of war, in times of strife, in times of battle, sometimes we
change battle strategy quickly. Mr. Armstrong decided to appoint me as
the new director of Pastoral Administration, as I think you all know.
But Jesus Christ is at the top and we had better all know that. I
know that deeply and fervently, and under Him, Mr. Armstrong is top.
There are three or four of us here who are to work together as a team.
And then on out, dozens of others are going to work together as a team.
Then hundreds of us on campus are going to work together as a team. And
then the ministers and the people in the field, thousands of us, are
going to work together as a team. Together, we will get the job done!
I would like to point out that there are all kinds of rumors flying
every which way. Please, brethren, don't believe all these rumors!
I'm responsible in this particular office as far as the ministry at
this particular point--as far as disfellowshipments and things like
that--and nobody has been disfellowshipped, period. /Later during the
sermon Mr. Meredith received Mr. Armstrong's letter disfellowshipping
four men/. One or two have been suspended, but nobody has been
disfellowshipped in this particular crisis of the last few days, period.
There may have to be a few disfellowships depending upon future conduct
and attitude and other facts as they come out, and I want to try to
have time to talk to the individuals involved. I want to make peace.
I want to help us all to have the opportunity to serve as much as we
can. God wants all of us to exercise our full human potential, every
last one of us, and as we work together as a team I'm sure we can do
that.
I'm just a bond slave of Jesus Christ and your servant. And I hope I
can do a good job. If God doesn't like my work, He will kick me out and God
is going to.
run this Church through His servant Jesus Christ of Nazareth
and-through Sia human servant, Mr. Armstrong. As long as he is faithful,
and as lon
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I'm faithful, I'm sure that God will be with us. And I
hope that
will all pray for us and this will work out.
Concerning all these attacks that have been leveled at us that Mr.
Rader is this and that, there has been!!£ proof whatsoever. These rumors
have been almost an obsession with many people. I want to charge you
(Business Dept., Data Processing, etc.} on the authority of Jesus
Christ, publicly right now, to cooperate with these auditors and to not
withhold anything that would bring out any financial malfeasance by
anybody, including me and my wife and children. And I mean it. I
want you to cooperate and not try to cover up anything. I want to be
sure that this is the cleanest and the most honest and the most decent
and the most wholesome Church on the face of the earth!
Brethren, we're in a testing time in God's Work. And I think we all