Basic HTML Version
TOOUR
READERS
With this issue, we begin a new fea–
turc- a Worldwide
Update
of 1he
many diversc aclivities of a unique
Work. Each month we hope 10 fa–
miliarize you wi th an organiza tion
that Herbert W. Armstrong has
often succinctly characterized as
founded on the ethical principie of
giving rather than th e all-too-preva–
lent one of getting.
lt
is singularly apropos that we
start this feature with the June issue,
for it was fifty years ago this month
that Mr. Armstrong made a com–
mitment to the new way of life that
this magazine proclaims. His com–
mitment carne after an agonizing
six-month period of inlensive study
into the basic philosophical , reli–
gious and moral arguments and
premises on which he previously
had unquestioningly built his life.
His wife Loma D. Armstrong had
made a sta tement about a teaching
of the Bible that completely con–
tradicted everything Mr. Armstrong
had beli eved and which co n–
tradicted th e teachin g of mos t
re ligious denominations. Mr. Arm–
strong was angered into a deep per–
sonal study of the Bible for the first
time in his life, in an etfort to prove
his wife wrong.
But a t the end of six monlhs , Mr.
Armstrong had to admit that his
wife was right! And in the futile
process of trying to prove her wrong
on one point , he also carne to realize
that there was a wide divergence on
many other points between what the
Bible said and what people thought
it said. He wrest1ed in his conscience
with the dilemma of following the
ways of the world at la rge or accept–
ing and following the way of 1ife
he saw prescribed in the Wo rd of
God.
44
In June 1927, Mr. Armstrong ac–
cepted God's way and was baptized.
Six years 1ater, in Ju1y 1933, he
started a series of 1eclures that 1ed to
the formation of this worldwide
Work. In January 1934, he sta rled
broadcas ting regula r1y on radio.
The response to the broadcast re–
sulted in
The Plain Truth
magazine,
which made its humble bow to the
world on February 1, 1934.
From the ministry o f one man
and one small congregation in 1he
Willame tte Valley of Oregon during
the depths of the Great Depression
has grown a Work of churches, col–
leges, publications and a chari table
fou ndation tha t is worldwide in
scope a nd impact.
We hope you will find this new
feature interesting and informative.
We welcome questions a nd com–
ments about any o f the sto ries which
appear in this feature.
MR.ARMSTRONG
SPEAKSTO
AFRICAN LEADERS
On March 14, Herbert W. Arm–
strong addressed the constitutional
conference of Namibia, and a week
Jater, on March 21, spoke before the
parliament o f the newly indepen–
dent T ranskei.
The constitutional conference of
N amibia, called the Turnhalle after
the hall
in
which it meets in the
ca pita l city of Windhoek, is com–
posed of eleven delegations from
the eleven population groups that
make up the 800,000 inhabita nts of
Namibia. They are forging a cons ti -
lution for lhe country, schedu1ed 10
rcceive its independence December
3 1. 1978. (The arca has been a man–
da ted lerritory of South Africa since
World War
1.)
Over fony delegates and officials
were assembled for Mr. Armslrong's
address. Dirk Mudge. conference
chairman, welcomed Mr. Armslrong
and lhen inlroduced Stanley Rader.
who accompanies Mr. Armslrong on
his frequent travels.
Mr. Rader compared lhe T urn–
halle to the conference thal wrote
the U.S. Constitution nearly lwo
centuries earlier. After recounting
the time, etfort and dissension in–
volved in formulating the new U.S.
governme nl in 1789 ( 13 years after
ind e pe nd e nce) , Mr. Radei ob–
served : "So the progress you have
made here since the conference con–
vened in September 1975 is remark–
ab1e in my opinion."
Cause of World llls
Mr. Rader then introduced Mr.
Armstrong. He noted, " He has been
called by Jeaders of sorne nalions a
bui1der of bridges between peoples.
and has helped on more than one
occasion to bridge one nation to an–
other."
During his address, Mr. Arm–
strong used the Bible as a reference
point to delineate the causes for
many o f loday's ills. He pointed out
that, as no wo rld govemment can
exist withoul 1aw, nei ther does the
govcrnment of God exist without
1aw. "And the 1aw o f God is simply
1ove," he said. " Love is an outgoing
concern for the good a nd welfare of
o thers eq ua1 to thal for yourself."
He further summarized it as the way
of g iving versus the way o f getting.
Mr. Armstrong stated that from
the very beginning a1most all man–
kind has rejected God's 1aw, choos–
ing to pursue its own way. "Th is is
the background that has 1ed up to
today a nd all of its evi1s."
Mr. Armstrong wen t on 10 say
tha t although conditions may get
worse in the short term. God will
intervene to prevent global suicide
and restore H is way ofpeace.
In conclusion, he wished the con–
ference well, but reminded lhem of
their g reat responsibi1ity: " You are
going to be he1d accountable for the
responsibi1ity. And I say God help
The
PLAIN TRUTH June 1977