Basic HTML Version
PAGE 4
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 4, 1986
International News
From the Philippines God's people in the Philippines were both saddened
and sobered by the news of the death of Mr. Armstrong, which reached most
of them at services on January 18.
However, throughout the country, members expressed their support and
backing for the new Pastor General, Mr. Joseph Tkach. It was evident the
brethren understood and handled well this transition, which is a
milestone in the history of God's Church.
In February, the Philippines snatched world headlines with a disputed
election and then a sudden change of government coming in a surprising
manner. It was a time when emotions and political viewpoints clouded the
actual events, and when many were seriously afraid of civil war.
The members in the Philippines are sobered by the turn of events and the
speed with which the transfer of power took place. The seriousness of
the times weighs on them all, and they are praying that the new
government, which is strongly supported by and derives some of its
impetus from the Roman Catholic Church, will bring a measure of stability
and economic recovery so that God's Church may complete the Work God has
called it to accomplish in the Philippines.
The situation has now
returned to normal.
In mid-February, right between the election and the change of government,
we were privileged to receive as guests Mr. Don Miller and Mr. Ritchie
Gaston from Financial Services in Pasadena. This was another of their
series of office visits to assist the regional areas with budgeting and
financial planning. They were able to review the 1986 budget for the
Philippines and make recommendations on various office functions.
The ministers have been busy with a flood of new contacts over the past
two months. Records were broken in January, with 68 people being added
to the files as prospective members, and again in February with another
68 new people contacting the office or ministry seeking personal contact
with the Church. To these highest-ever figures, we added 29 baptisms in
January, another near-record.
There are now 40 churches and eight outlying Bible studies in the country
and membership is 1,900 with attendance reaching 3,300.
(Submitted by Guy Ames, Regional Director)
From Australia
We are late in producing the Monthly Comments for
February due to preparations for and attending the Australian and Asian
regional ministerial conference held in early March.
The special television programme--"A Tribute To Herbert
w.
Armstrong•-
aired February 16 and pulled an outstanding response.
The WATS-line
response to this special telecast was the highest ever received, and four
and a half times higher than the average response in 1985.