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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, DECEMBER 13, 1985
PAGE 3
Regional Offices as needs and circumstances warrant.
These letters
should help to take some of the pressure off the ministry of having to
disappoint those new contacts who wish to attend serv ices before they are
ready.
Having received this information up front, these people will know that
you
are not simply going to give them the time and location of services.
They may be more apt to want to discuss prov ing the doctrines of the
Church and preparing themselves to attend services.
Copies of both are included with this issue of the "Pastor General's
Report• so that you can familiariz e yourself with them. One letter is
intended for "blue labels" and one, for •red labels.•
(See "Pastor
General's Report," November 15, 1985, for explanation of the use of red
and blue labels.>
Flooding When we hear or read in the news of natural disasters such as
severe flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruption s, hurricanes, etc., do
our thoughts immediately turn to asking God's protection for His people
who might be affected? Pastors can set the example by staying attuned to
such occurrences, and reminding the brethren during services to pray for
one another. (Sometimes I think a pastor can underestimate· the power of
his personal example in teaching the congregation. Those matters that
you
focus upon, tjlat
you
mention or that
you
show interest in or con cern
about are obvious to the congregation.
Never forget that people are
convinced more by what you do than by what you say. You can tell people
all day what they should do.
But when you � the example for them by
the kind of interest and enthusias m you display, you have taught them
much more. That is another reason your example must be one that ref lects
the godly love of the mind of Jesus Christ.)
But on the subject of natural disasters, I know God's people in West
Virginia appreciated the prayers of their brethren during the recent
floods.
I thought you would be interested in excerpts from a report by
Mr. Steve Schant z, pastor of the Clarks burg, West Virginia, congregation.
God was certainly watching over the two families most seriously
affected by the flooding in the Parsons, WV area.
There is
very little left of the small town that wasn 't damaged or
destroyed. One member lost her home and everything in it. The
waters rose so rapidly that people in the community only had
time to evacuate without their belongings. At this moment, the
member and her husband, not a member, have already relocated in
a home above the flood plain. She mentioned that they are much
happier in their new location and that they have been very well
taken care of by way of basic needs.
Another family also surv ived the flooding in Parsons that
washed away their inunediate neighbor's home right before their
eyes, while they themselves took refuge in the second story of
their home.
'!'he members and their c hildren carried many
household items up the stairs to safety.
When the flooding
came sudden ly to their property, all access routes were already
blocked and they were trapped inside.