The Good News - Herbert W. Armstrong · The GOOD NEWS February-March, 1966 ... Garner Ted Armstrong...

The GOOD NEWS February-March, 1966

February-March, 1966

ministering to its membersscattered abroad

Numbers 2-3

International magazine ofTHE CHURCH OF GOD

Volume XV

tA More About Our Cover. · ·. With this issue The GOOD NEWS is sending you

a 16-page supplement showing you where God'sMinisters are serving.

The three overseas offices pictured on the cover symbolizethe worldwide magnitude of God's Work. Be sure to USE thissupplement for your prayer DAILY.

Ambassador College Photos

What our READERS SAY ...

Published monthly at Pasadena, California

© 1966. by Radio Church of God

EDITORHERBERT W. ARMSTRONG

Associate Editors

BUSINESS MANAGER

Albert J. Portune

SENIOR EDITORS

Roderick C. MeredithHerman L. Hoch

Foods Consultants

Velma Van der VeerMary E. Hegvold Isabell F. Hoeh

Rose McDowell

Ronald KellyAlbert ]. Portune

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS to the Editor,Box 111, Pasadena, California 91109.Canadian members should address Post OfficeBox 44, Station A, Vancouver I, B. C, Canada.Our members in United Kingdom, Europe, andAfrica should address the Editor, B. C M. Ambassador, London, w.e. 1) England.

Members in Australia and Southeast Asia shouldaddress the Editor, Box 345, North Sydney,N. S. W., Australia.

In the Philippines, Post Office Box 2603, Manila.

BE SURE TO NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY of anychange in your address. Please inclose both oldand new address. IMPORTANT!

Editorial and Production Assistants

Paul W. Kroll

James W. RobinsonDonald G. McDonald

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Garner Ted Armstrong

MANAGING EDITOR

David Jon Hill

Contributing Editors

Dibar K. Apartian Paul W. KrollW. A. Berg Ernest 1. MartinRob",rt C Borsker Leslie 1. McCulloughBryce G. Clark Raymond F.McNairC. WayneCole C. PaulMeredithRaymond C. Cole 1. Leroy NeffWilliamF. Dankenbring John E.PortuneCharles V. Dorothy Lynn E. TorranceJackR.Elliott GeraldWaterhouseSelmer Hegvold Basil Wolverton

Clint C. Zimmerman

Business God's Way"We have just completed the book

work for the calendar year 196:5 andthought you might be interested in somefacts. We have been tithing now forabout 18 months and December 25thof 1964 decided to observe the Sabbathby closing the store Friday nights andSaturdays, although all the other storesin town are open this one evening andall day on Saturday. I had over 2months' paid vacation this year, madeup of 52 weekly Sabbaths, 3 Holy Daysand 10 days off for the Feast. I worked17 hours less earh work week or hadover 990 hours off and yet the grossincome of the business in 1965 showedan increase of 27% and the net incomeby 30%. I thank God for all the bless-

[Continued on page 14)

not teach him this, and my parents didnot teach me. After two children wedivorced and both remarried. Now ouronce-teen-agers are adults and have children of their own. Both are divorcedand remarried, not teaching their owninnocent children as God intended. Ifonly we had known or realized thistruth, the mountain of woe and suffering could have been avoided. I haverepented, and come out of the cesspoolof this world, but agony remains ofthe past that I can't undo."

Mrs. S. S., Oregon• This knowledge comes too late foryOIl, bllt pray that those who can benefit

from it now will apply its principlesbefore it's too late for them!

Of Tithing and Taxes"I am receiving God's blessing for

tithing. This is my fourth raise since Istarted to tithe. The income tax peoplecan't see how I do so much all mysalary and, do you know something-Ican't either. I have to send proof tothem every year I file my income tax.Yes, God keeps His promises to thosewho will obey Him."

K. M. L., Florida

Marriage Saved"My husband is supposed to leave

home at 6:00 a.rn. for work but henever makes it at that time. He staysand waits for your 6: 15 program. Imight also add that it was not alwayslike this with us. We have been married2% years and we spent most of thattime separated from each other. Onour last separation, he listened to yourprogram here in California. I, too, listened to it in Kentucky. We both heardand now, instead of being 3,000 milesapart, we are really and truly together.We literally spend hours and hoursreading the Bible, listening to yourbroadcasts and then discussing the current subject."

Thanks''I'd like to thank yOll for the article

'How to Help Your Teen-agers' by Mr.David Antion. It is clear, concise andstraight to the root of the problem. Itmakes me realize the extent of the common error. My husband's parents did

B. H., California

Church of God News-

RLDWIDESuccessful Ministerial Conference. TWELVE Ministers or

dained and THREE new Churches!

by Roderick C. Meredith

FRO M NEARLY every corner of theearth, the ministers of the LivingChrist returned to Pasadena this

January. It was a splendid gathering.It was a successful Conference.

Al1 of the Evangelists and DistrictSuperintendents came this year. Most ofthe Pastors came-especial1y those whodid not get in last year. For the annualMinisterial Conference at Pasadena isnow being restricted mainly to the topleaders in God's Work-with excep

tions being made to alternate in othersfrom time to time.

Outstanding and inspirinj; reportswere given from the Directors of thevarious overseas offices. Each oneshowed fine growth-and how God hadto directly intervene to deliver HisWork ill these overseas areas from per

secution, government opposition orother obstacles. The summary of thegrowth of God's Wurk in the UnitedStates itsel f showed re1Jlclrkable pro-gress.

Activities During Conference

On the Sabbath during the Conference, an ail-day service was held at thebeautiful Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

First, condensed but very inspiring reports were heard from the overseas office managers. Then, split sermons weredelivered by Mr. Leslie Mct.ullough andMr. Charles Hunting from Big Sandyand Bricket Wood colleges respectively.In the afternoon, the main sermon ofthe <-lay W1S given by Mr. Herbert WI.

Armstrong-tracing the history ofGod's Work up to this time and showing where we have yet to go.

During the meetings themselves,many vital questions were thoroughly

discussed and solved regarding participation in warfare, healing, the necessityof individual members making their01/'11 decisions in spiritual matters.Many organizational matters in God'sWork were discussed with the ministersand with the District Superintendentsin the general meetings and in privategroup meetings as well.

Mr. Armstrong discussed the need ofwriting our oun textbooks for many ofthe Imperial School classes to removethe wrong approach given in so manytextbooks of this world. Mr. Garner TedArmstrong pointed out many examplesof how the doctrine of evolution andother errors are subtly injected into ourchildren's minds by indirectly referring

to them throughout various textbooksand reading materials. This led to somediscussion as to how we may be ableto help YON brethren to counteract theseerrors. For you need to teach yomchildren the truth before these wrong

concepts become implanted in theirlittle minds!

One of the social highlights of theConference was a very fine evening ofvisiting ami fellowship held in thebeautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Armstrong. On Thursday evenIng during the Conference, they invited al1 of the ministers and

their wives to come by for an openhouse. The ministers had the opportunity to visit in their home and to enjoy

a stereo concert presented by Mr. Armstrong himself.

Another highlight of the Conferencewas the beautiful and inspiring Choraleconcert put on in honor of the ministersby the Ambassador College Chorale.This year, the Chorale is larger and

more colorful than ever-and it wascertainly a stimulating and inspiringexperience for all of God's Ministersto be back "home" at Ambassador inPasadena and hear the students whoare now in Col1ege present such a memorable evening of music.

Again this year, a basketball tournament was played between the teamsfrom the upper and lower classes ofAmbassador in Pasadena, the Pasadenafaculty team and the visiting Collegeteam from Big Sandy. As usual, the"semi-pro" Pasadena faculty team cameout on top! But it was certainly a finetournament, and everyone was thrilledthat the Big Sandy team-playing asone unit-came out on top of thestudent teams.

TWELVE Ministers Ordained

Certainly the outstanding event of theConference for most of us was the ordination service where tell men wereraised in rank and responsibility inChrist's ministry. Then, later, as a result of discussions during the Conference, two more men were also raisedin ministerial responsibility!

At the Conference, Mr. James Doakand Mr. Lowell Blackwell, Local Elders,were called forward and ordained tothe rank of Preaching Elder in God'sChurch. Next, Mr. Dennis Luker, Mr.Harold Jackson, Mr. Arthur Mokarowand Mr. Arthur Craig all came forwardand were raised to Pastor rank.

Finally, in an emotion-charged atmosphere, Mr. Armstrong called forwardMr. David Jon Hill, Mr. Dibar Apartian, Mr. Leslie McCullough and Mr.David Antion to be ordained as EvangeliJtJ in Christ's Ministry! These men

ABOVE: Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong leads a campus tour for the visiting ministers and their wives.Here he is pointing out the fine quality of the men's locker room in the gym (men only here)!RIGHT: Mr. David Jon Hill. BELOW: left to right, Mr. Dibar K. Apartian, Mr. Leslie L. McCullough

and Mr. David L. Antion-all newly-ordained Evcnqelist•.Ambassador College Photos

truly had not expected this tremendousopportunity for service-and their eyeswelled up with tears, Mr Antinn literally crashing into the supporting polein our assembly hall on the way upas he was so overcome with emotion.All of us felt deeply about this occasion-NOT because of the great "honor"extended to some human individualbut because it shows what CHRISTHIMSELF is doing in and through thoseof us human servants He is able to usc.

Then, on the Sabbath following theConference, Mr. Raymond McNairjoined Mr. Carl McNair in ordainingMr. Kelly Barfield as a Preaching Elder

in God's Work. And on the Sabbath ofFebruary 2, Mr. Wayne Cole joined Mr.

Gerald Waterhouse in raising Mr. Royston Page to the rank of full PreachingFlder in Christ's Ministry.

All together, then, TWELVE menwere approved by Mr. Armstrong andthe Evangelists to be raised in ministerial rank and responsibility as a resultof these Conferences. This is certainlysomething in which we can all REJOICE-and look forward as well to manymore such evidences of growth andol'ercommg in Christ's Work in whichHe has placed us all!

District Conferences inAkron and Atlanta

Because most of God's ordained ministers will not be coming into Pasadena


for the general Ministerial Conferencesevery year, one or two District Conferences will be held in each Church District throughout the United States andoverseas for the needed interchange ofinformation between God's ministersin any given area and further instruc

tion, correction and inspiration to carryout our commission even more effectively. A few of these have already

been held even since the January Conference in Pasadena-and have provedmort vdlllable and inspirational as well.

My wife and I had the opportunityto fly back to Akron, Ohio, to directthe combined District Conference thercon February 1, 2 and 3. This Conferenceincluded all of the ministers in theAkron and Chicago Church Districts. Iwas able to join Mr. David Antion and

Me. Bill McDowell in directing thisconference and visiting and fellow

shipping as well with a total of fifty-

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six ministers, wives and ministerial assistants in attendance! Actually, it wasthe largest conference of Ministers everheld outside of Pasadena.

A series of very inspiring and helpful meetings were held, and each minister and his wife expressed great appreciation at the end of the conference.As much as possible, one of the Evangelists from Pasadena will fly out tojoin the local District Superintendentin conducting these conferences at leastmost of the time. In this way, all ofGod's ministers can share in the growthand understanding emanating fromChrist's earthly Headquarters in HisWork at Pasadena, California, and inthe personal bits of news, encouragement and inspiration that comesthrough this type of personal fellowship among those of us in Christ'sWork.

The week following the Akron Conference, Mr. David Jon Hill and his

wife flew to Atlanta, Georgia, wherehe conducted the Atlanta District Conference assisted by Mr. Kenneth Swisher-District Superintendent in that area.Mr. Hill reports that a total of twentyseven ministers, assistants and theirwives attended this conference and thatit, too, was very successful, inspiringand needful to all of the men andtheir wives.

These district conferences help notonly our ministers but, through them,all of the local members in God'sChurch to look to Headquarters and tothe big WORK Christ has given us allto do of getting His Gospel to "allnations" as a witness. It is so easy tobog down in our own church areas,get sidetracked, perhaps even startturning the churches into "social clubs"if we are not careful!

Let us strive always to keep ourminds on the tremendous COMMISSION

A80VE: Mr. Armstrong points out the unusualoverflow feoture of our Olympic-standard pool.LEFT: Messrs. Meredith, McCullough and Dorothyconfer with Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong on apoint during a break in a eorrierenee session.


Ambassador College Photo

A study in concentration; Mr. Albert J. Portunc.

Christ has given His Church and whichHe is performing through His Headquarters at Pasadena!

THREE New Churches-andGROWTH Everywhere

Since the general Ministerial Conference, we have started two new churches-and a third one is soon to begin!

Now that Mr. Kelly Barfield is ordained as a Preaching Elder, he is beingmade pastor over the church in LittleRock, Arkansas. In addition, he has"converted" the Bible Study in FortSmith into a full-fledged church withregular Sabbath services! The FortSmith Church started on February 12with a fine attendance of 147! Then,having helped train and prepare Mr.Barfield become a minister to take overthe Little Rock and Fort SmithChurches, Mr. Carl McNair has nowturned the Tupelo Bible Study into achurch. It began also on February 12

with 139 in attendance!Up in Canada, Mr. Dean Wilson

plans for Mr. Bob Lay to begin a newchurch in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, onthe Sabbath of March 5. This will bethe seventh local church in Canadaand certainly portends good growth inthe Canadian work!

From around the world, new attendance records continue to be made inGod's churches and in the local Bible

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Studies. The relatively new church inOttawa, Canada, recently had a recordhigh of 92 in attendance. Also, duringa time of snow and blizzards, the firstBible Study was held in Montreal witha total of 46 in attendance. Mr. Catherwood, minister in charge, states that heis sure many more will attend when theweather improves.

Assisting Mr. Garner Ted Armstrongin the overseas work, Mr. Waterhouseleft Pasadena soon after the conferenceto hegin a series of extended visits tovarious overseas areas-conducting Bible Studies for scattered brethren andbringing sermons in many of the overseas churches. He reports that a total of40 attended a Bible Study he held inHawaii. Then, 108 attended the Sabbathservice at Manila when he was present-with 112 in attendance soon afterward.

In Sydney, a high attendance of 441were present for Sabbath services whenMr. Waterhouse preached and in Melbourne 371 attended Sabbath services.Then at Adelaide, 48 showed up forthe Bible study there. Later, Mr.Waterhouse was to fly over to Brisbane-then over to the island of Mauritiusand on to South Africa in carrying outhis responsibilities under Christ in theoverseas work. Be sure to rememberhim in your prayers, brethren, in thesefar-flung areas! And let's rememberthe overseas brethren as well-as Iknow that they remember all of us inBritain and America in their personalprayers.

How FAR Has Christ Brought

His Church?

Do you realize, brethren, how FAR

Christ has brought His Church just inthe last fourteen years? Absolutelyfantastic strides have been made in theoverall evangelistic effort of God'sChurch-and certainly in the establishment of new churches, Bible studiesand the ordinations of ministers.

I would not even attempt to giveyou, in this space, a report on the innumerable changes and the fantasticgrowth in multiple areas of God'sWork. But I would like to give you areport on the growth of local churchesand ministers which I gave at the Pasadena conference and again at the Akron


conference. I hope that it will be asinspiring to all of you as it was to us!

Fourteen years ago, there were onlytwo elders in the Philadelphia era ofGod's Church! Others had been ordained by Mr. Armstrong or had"joined" him in this ministry-butwere soon found out to be unfaithful.Only Mr. Armstrong and Mr. BasilWolverton-author of the Bible Story-remained faithful to Christ. Today,less than fourteen years later, there are177 Ministers and Elders in this living

and acting era of the Church of God!They are stationed on every inhabitedcontinent except Asia-and the gospelis being preached to over thirty millionpeopie every week!

In the spring of 1952, there wereonly three local churches in this era ofGod's Church. Today, less than fourteen years later, there are 124 churchesaround the earth-plus many moresmaller meetings and Bible studieswhich would be dubbed "churches" bymany denominations of this world!

The increase?

In elders and ministers the increasehas been from 2 to 177-which meansthat we have multiplied over 176 timesin less than 14 years! In fully established church congregations, thenumber has increased in this same per-

(Continued on page 23)

Dr. Hoeh and Mr. Antion discussthe gymnasium.

Amba••adar College Photo

WHAT ARE YOU?Do we see our own human nature clearly enough to constantlyrepent of what we really are? This article will help you see the

REAL YOU!

by David P. Wainwright

((yOU'RE AN idiot, Smith!" bellowed the drill-sergeant tothe raw recruit. On the com

mand "right turn," Smith had made acrisp, mechanical movement to the left."What are you, Smith?" "I'm an idiot,Sergeant!" echoed Smith in respectfulobedience. Smith knew he'd really bean idiot to say anything else. Since hewanted his weekend pass, he gave theright answer.

In counselling for baptism, God'sministers have met many Smithspeople who wanted to be baptized justas sincerely as Smith wanted his pass.These people have read the booklet onbaptism and the article on real repentance. They know how to reply to aminister when he asks, "What are you?"Yet is it enough just to know the rightanswers?

Parrot Attitude

We could train a parrot for baptismif words were all that were necessary.We could ask the parrot, "What areyou?" and it would obediently reply,"I'm carnal! I'm selfish! I hate myself!" We could then say, "This parrotseems to have a good attitude" and goout and baptize it. Ridiculous? Ofcourse! Yet you can say, "I'm carnal,I'm a burnt out hunk of junk!" without really seeing your nature as Godsees it. And remember, even afterbaptism, God expects us to be constantly aware of and on guard againstour human nature.

How can we, like Paul more thantwenty years after his conversion, sayand mean it, "0 wretched man that Iam! who shall deliver me from thebody of this death?" (Rom. 7: 24. )Paul constantly repented of what hewas humanly. He was constantly changing, constantly growing in God's na

ture. We, too, can grow only as we

see the flaws in our own nature, repentof them and change. How can we get aclear picture of what we really are? Isthere anything or anyone that willmirror our own nature?

Children Mirror Our

Own Nature

David was able to look back overhis whole life and see that he hadsinned from the day of his birth:"Behold I was shapen ill iniquity; andin sin did my mother conceive me"(Ps. 51: 5). Here is one great key toseeing ourselves as we really arefollow David's example.

Go back to your childhood. Betterstill, observe the habits of childrenyour own if you are parents-and realize that they have the same nature asyou.

Children are the purest reflection ofunadulterated carnality. Each newbornbabe comes with an invisible label:"Guaranteed 100% carnal." So, childrencan help us see ourselves as we reallyare, stripped of the deceptive veneer

of politeness and do-goodism paintedon us by this world's civilization. Unlike us, children make no effort todisguise their own carnality.

From birth a baby is 100% selfish.Watch it at feeding time: the baby's

mouth latches onto the nipple of thebottle and from that moment a rapidone-way traffic takes place. If a babyat this stage could think, the last notionto come to its mind would be, "It'smore blessed to give than to receivewon't you have a drink first?" No!With a relentless sucking motion thebottle is drained to the last drop. Hereis the clearest picture you will everget of human greed and selfishness. Nothought for others: just get, get, GET!

Brethren, let's not color this picturewith such phrases as "Ooh! ... isn't hesweet?" "Oh ! isn't she a little angel?"or the normal worldly bromides aboutthe essential purity and innocence oflittle children-they are not pure orinnocent AND NEITHER ARE WE! WEare grown-up children with exactly thesame carnal pulls and drives as littlechildren.

The trouble is most of us can't seethese driues!

Just as we cloud the true nature ofchildren by calling them little "angels,"so as grown-ups we camouflage ourhuman, carnal nature by a show ofgoodness. In this we mirror the natureof Satan who appears to others andundoubtedly to himself as an angel oflight, but who at heart is as evil as sin.We may think that as grown-ups, wehave overcome this greediness-but arewe naturally as concerned about others'welfare as with our own?

Have you never stood in line for abus or a movie where few seats wereleft and found yourself wishing youwere at the head of the line? Or didyou naturally think, "How wonderfulthat the people in front of me will beable to get a seat even though I maynot get one!" Anyone who thinks thatthe latter is a true picture of how henormally reacts to his fellowmen has

still not fully realized that "the heartis deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked!" Certainly such a person has not yet come to "know it"

(Jer. 17 :9).

Don't deceive yourselves in this sa

tanic way. As you watch the babyzealously yet greedily guzzling themilk, realize that this is an accuratepicture of what we are without God'sSpirit: "For from within, out of theheart of men, proceed evil thoughts,

8

adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy,pride, foolishness: all these evil thingscome from within, and defile the man"(Mark 7:21-23). All of these traitsstart at birth and are with us till theday we die. Let's look at them moreclosely.

The Pride of Human Nature

Children have pride and so do youand I. The first time my daughter wasable to pull herself to her feet andlook across the cushions on the couch,she swelled visibly with pride. Thenshe looked around as though expectingus to acclaim this tremendous feat withwild applause. Yet what to her was anearth-shaking event, to us was justamusing. After all we, as grown-ups,sit down on the couch without eventhinking about it.

In a similar way, what to us aregreat feats, are puny in God's eyes. Jobprobably thought his pyramid was agreat achievement, and yet to God Jobhad just pulled himself over the edgeof the couch-now what was so greatabout that? When did you last repentof having a high opinion of yourself?

Think for a minute-we show ourpride in our own strength every timewe fail to realize our total dependenceon God. Look at a small child. It isblissfully unaware of how completelydependent it is on its parents. Yet,lock up the house and leave your childby itself and it would die within afew days. Are some of us so unawareof our complete dependence on Godthat we risk missing out on prayer fora few days? Our faith in our ownstrength, our pride, causes this attitude,which can be fatal. What makes youthink you can get by with less prayerand study than that recommended byGod's ministers, than that recommended by God's word?-yoltr pride.'

We Are Natural Murderers,Liars and Thieves

Now look at some of the other traitsin human nature pinpointed by Christin Mark 7 :21. Notice Christ mentionsthefts, and deceit or lies. Every childnaturally tends to steal and lie. Think

The GOOD NEWS

back to your own childhood. Did younever steal an apple from a neighbor'sgarden or a toy from Woolworth'scounter and then perhaps lie aboutwhere you got the article in question?One man I counselled with said thathe'd always known that it was wrongto steal, lie, or murder, and that hehad never done so. Even if this weretrue, could a man take any credit forhis actions?

Remember, many nations and tribeswho have never heard of God's commandments believe that it is wrong tosteal, lie, commit murder, adultery, etc.How did they come to have theselaws? The answer is that they wouldnever have built up a civilization without certain basic laws which are alsocontained in God's Ten Commandments.These pagan nations did not adopt thelaw "Thou shalt not kill" out of consideration for their neighbor. They didnot bring in a law against stealing because they wanted to protect theirneighbor's property. No! They adoptedthese laws because they personally didnot want to be killed-because theypersonally did not want their own property stolen-because they did not wantanother man to run off with theirwife.

God gave His Ten Commandments tous not only for the smooth runningof society but to help us have the rightrespect for Him and for our fellowman.Man of course has completely discarded those commandments whichshow his relationship to God (the firstfour), and has only grudgingly restrained himself occasionally from killing, raping and stealing from othersbecause he doesn't want these thingsto happen to himself.

Little children naturally hate, stealand lie-contrary to the opinion of thesweet little old ladies who've never hadchildren-yet rare is the man who willadmit that he desires to do these things.I did once meet such an individual whoadmitted he loved to kill. He was aprofessional soldier who enjoyed outwitting the enemy, loved the thrill ofthe chase and of beating the other manto the draw. War, in which there are norules, allowed this man to run wildwith his unfettered carnality.


If you don't believe that all mennaturally want to kill, rape and steal,you only have a short time to waithefore this fact is amply demonstrated.Already laws are so weak that crime issoaring out of all proportion to population growth. Daily, we can read ofjuvenile delinquents stabbing someoneor strangling them with a bicycle chainjust for the "kicks." Each new "law"seems to abolish one of those lawsnecessary for the existence of organizedsociety which keeps human nature relatively in check.

Are you so lacking in understanding?Have you so little insight into yourown nature that you still believe thelaws against killing, stealing and lyingwere brought in out of the goodnessrather than out of the selfishness ofmen's hearts? Do you still believe youpersonally have kept these laws because you also were "good"? God saysour righteousnesses are as filthy rags(Isa. 64:6) because they are all basedon selfishness and greed (Gen. 8:21).

Human Disrespect for God

Children do not naturally respecttheir parents any more than we naturally respect God. Christ mentions "blasphemy," which is a basic disrespect forGod, His wisdom and judgment. Inthe same way, since children, we havegrown up disrespecting our parents'wisdom and judgment, feeling that wehave been woefully mistreated on thefew occasions that they may have corrected us. Right from birth we areeasily offended.

Sometime ago we saw our daughtercrawling toward the electric light cord.We had to correct her to prevent herfrom going near it. Of course, she weptbrokenheartedly at this "injustice." Ateight months old she didn't have themind to understand that if we hadn'tpunished her she would sooner or laterhave bitten into the plastic cover andelectrocuted herself.'

In the same way, we, even as members of God's Church become easily offended when corrected on some pointfor our own good. We aren't able to seeourselves and our own rotten attitudesas easily as God's chosen ministers can,


Whose Opinion Counts?We have all been reared with the modern concept that inreligious matters a man should be governed primarily by what

HE thinks. Is this God's way?

by Roderick C. Meredith

(( AFTER years of study and prayer,.n. Mr. Armstrong has come tosee that this is binding on us

today," I said to Mr. Brown. "TheBible reveals it, and as Christians wemust obey."

"Well, here's the way I look at it,"he began, and then continued to givehis personal opinion based on humanreason with very little knowledge ofthe Bible to guide him.

As a minister of Jesus Christ, I wastrying to show him-not my will-butGOD'S will. I was proving my pointsright out of God's word. I had mentioned the opinion and belief of Mr.Armstrong to show that a more experienced servant of the true God waspersuaded of this same truth.

Was Mr. Brown impressed?

Not at all. On the contrary, he proceeded to put his human reason and"feeling" on the same plane as ourstudied belief in God's word. In hisown mind, Mr. Brown reasoned that

his opinion was just as good as ouropinion.

But was it a matter of two differing"opinions" of equal value? Or doGod's true ministers carry authority tospeak in His name? If so, how muchis that authority to be respected?

These are questions that every trueChristian should understand. Mr.Brown was supposed to be converted.Is such an attitude as his the mark ofa truly converted person?

Authority of Ministers

In Matthew 16: 15-20, we read theaccount of Christ bestowing on Peterthe "keys of the kingdom of heaven."Nearly all commentaries agree that the

principal meaning of these "keys" In

cludes the way of salvation which theapostles were to proclaim to the world.Based on the principles of this way, theapostles, through whom Christ governsHis Church, were given authority tomake decisions which would be boundin heaven. They could "bind," or forbid certain things; and they had authority to "loose," or permit certainthings. In other words, they were giventhe authority to make binding decisions-based on God's word and the"keys" of salvation they had received.These decisions involved permitting orforbidding certain things-definingwhat IS right and wrong!

Matthew 18: 15-20 clearly shows thatthis authority was conferred on all theapostles-not just Peter. They were allwith Jesus for over three years, learningfrom Him the way of salvation so theycould preach it to the world.

Jesus had shown them in dozens ofplaces that all decisions must be conformed to God's will and His law(Mat. 5:17-19). In their judgments,they were to follow Christ's examplewhen He said, "I can of mine own selfdo nothing: as I hear, I judge: andmy judgment is just; because I seeknot mine own will, but the will of theFather which hath sent me" (John 5:30).

God's true ministers will be yieldedand submissive to God's will. They willseek His will in diligent study andearnest prayer. They will confer withother true ministers and Bible scholarsfor, "in multitude of counsellors thereis safety" (Prov. 11: 14). In every way,they will seek God's will and His guidance through the Holy Spirit.

© 1957 by Radio Church of God

But when God's true servants domake a decision based on His word,it is to be respected, for it is bound inheaven. You are not showing respectto the man and his "opinion," but tothe office in which God has placedHis ministers, and by which Christrules His Church.

When the Israelites refused to hearken to God's servant Samuel, God said," ... they have not rejected thee, butthey have rejected ME, that I shouldnot reign over them" (I Sam. 8 :7).If you take the decisions of God's ministers lightly, you are disrespecting GodHimself.'

Be Sure of Ministers

All of your respect to any ministershould be based upon the fact that youhave first proved to yourself that hereally is a true servant of God.

Jesus continually warned: "Bewareof false prophets, which come to youin sheep's clothing, but inwardly theyare ravening wolves. Ye shall know

them by their fruits" (Mat. 7:15-16).You need to look at the "fruit," theresults in proclaiming the true gospel,

in leading the flock into the truth andways of God, in healing the sick--theaccomplishments in the work of theministry, carrying out the commissionof Christ.

Notice that Jesus went on to say(Mat. 7:21-23) that many would profess to do good works in His name, butHe told them, "depart from me, ye thatwork iniquity," or "lawlessness." Theword iniquity is more correctly translated LAWLESSNESS. Jesus was showingthat professing ministers who breakGod's law are not His ministers at all!"I never knew you," Jesus will tell

10

them. And God's word shows that theselaw-breaking ministers never reallyknew Christ either (I John 2:4).

Satan and his ministers appear as"angels of light" (II Cor. 11 :14), Butthey teach that you are free to disobeyGod's law.

Another way to examine their "fruit"is to see if they are willing to "GROWin grace, and in the knowledge of ourLord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Pet.3: 18). Some "Christians"-even somewho proiess to be in the Church ofGOd-REFUSE to grou. into more truth!

Jesus told the disciples that the HolySpirit, "will guide you into all truth"(John 16:13). Spiritual change,groiotb, and development is one of theimportant signs that a person is reallyguided by God's Spirit. No man gainsall of God's truth at once. We must allgrow in knowledge. Some churches andsome ministers have known a portion ofGod's truth. But when they becameunwilling to f{I'OW into more truththrough the guidance of the HolySpirit, they soon began to twist andpervert what little truth they had, andto spiritually rot away and die!

To prove whether or not a man istruly God's servant, look to the "fruits"of submission to all of God's commands,of a real lmdentanding of God's word,of a willingness to f!.I'OW in grace andknowledge, and of the underlying motive of love behind every thought anddeed.

God will reveal to you who His trueministers are if you study, pray, andlook at their fruits. Once you know,should you respect them and the officein which God has set them?

Yes, yOIl should!

God's Responsibility

Once God has revealed to you bythe "fruits" who His true servants are,you should recognize the responsibilities and duties which God has .giventhem. When a matter of church government or policy comes up, realize thatthey have the authority to decide theIssue.

They do not have the right to exercise that authority according to theirown human reason. Jesus Christ is theliving HEAD of the true Church ofGod-the body of Christ (Col. 1: 18) .

The GOOD NEWS

When He was instructing the discipleson how to exercise their authority toenforce church discipline (Mat. 18:1520), He said that if two or more ofthem would agree on anything, Godwould bind it in heaven. "For," Jesussaid, "where two or three are gatheredtogether in my name, there am I inthe midst of them."

Christ himself will in Spirit be withand guide His servants in making rightdecisions. These words of His havemeaning! Jesus said that He WOULDguide His servants in directing theChurch. He said that they SHOULDmake decisions-based on God's revealed will and guided by His Spirit.These decisions were to include churchdircipline and what is to be "bound"or "loosed"-defining what is permitted or forbidden to God's people by"RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth."

Christ Himself-the Head of theChurch-has promised to guide Hisministers in directing the Church. Theirdecisions, then, will also be God'sdecisions. They are BINDING on God'sChmch. His trne Church will be OBEDIENT! It is government by God,through His servants.

It is God's RESPONSIBILITY to chastenHis servants if they abuse their authority. You can't read their hearts, ButGod CAN! Their authority came fromHim, not from some "board" of men.God "sets" or appoints the true ministers and teachers to guide and rule HisChurch (I Cor. 12: 28). He alone hasthe power to remove them from office.He can do it by circumstances, by affliction-by DEATH if need be!

Remember that even though Samuel'ssons were abusing their office (I Sam.8:1-7), the people had no right whatsoever to put them out! It was up toGod to decide if, when, and how thiswas to be done. In taking this authorityin their own hands, the people rejectedthe RULE OF GOD-the Kingdom ofGod! If you plan to enter that Kingdom, learn now to OBEY those whomGod sets in anrhoritv,

Your Part

Christians must be alert to the prophecy that even from among their leaderssome would arise speaking perverse


things-twilting God's word (Acts20:29-31).

In order to recognize perverse teachings, and in order to "grow in graceand knowledge," you need to pray andto study God's word continually. If youdo this intelligently you will never bedeceived. Remember the important testChrist gave was to examine the "fruits"in a minister's life and work. A falseminister simply cannot produce thefruits-people converted in obedienceto God's law and His way.

So respect and obey God's true ministers, but constantly study to acquirethe m inc1 of Christ (Phil. 2: 5) and toperceive a deceiver who might arise.

A good example is the Bereans whomPaul commended because "they received the word with all readiness ofmind, and searched the scriptures daily,whether those things were so" (Acts17: 11 ). They respectfully listened withopen and ready minds. Then theysearched the scriptures to prove whetherthose things were so.

The apostle James tells Christian believers to "receive with meekness theengrafted word, which is able to saveyour souls" (James 1: 21). Once Godreveals to you who His true ministersare, listen respectfully and with openminds to their instruction.

Then you need to "study to showthyself approved unto God, a workmanthat needeth not to be ashamed, rightlydividing the word of truth" (II Tim.2: 15). The more you study, the moreyou will understand and agree with theinstructions of God's true servants.

"Prove all things; hold fast thatwhich is good" (I Thes. 5: 21). Butprove it by the Bible-NOT by whatyou think, or what some denominationteaches! Remember Jesus said, "ThyWORD is TRUTH" (John 17:17).

In all your study, however, youshould keep an attitude of respect forwhat God's ministers have said. Youshouldn't go to the Bible with the ideaof refuting what they have taught, or ofjustifying your own ideas. But search thescriptures (Acts 17: 11) whether thosethings be so--the things God's servants have taught.

The respect to God's ministers is respect to God Himself who "calls" any


IMPOSSIBLE? INCREDIBLE?- YET

IT HAPPENED IN BRITAINThey said it couldn't be done-to thunder Christ's Gospel byradio DAILY to Britain! It COULDN'T-by human planningor maneuvering. But the living Christ DID IT! Read how God's

Work now leaps forward in Britain!

PART TWO

In 1959, I began conducting BibleStudies in the home of one of themembers in Bristol. We averaged about

18 in attendance. In early 1960, webegan holding Sabbath Services in aroom at the Grand Hotel. We averagedabout 20 each Sabbath-if I counted

myself!

In the summer of 1960, Mr.Roderick C. Meredith conducted a series

of evangelistic campaigns in Britain.His first Evangelistic Campaign was inBristol-intended to bolster up thatstruggling little church. After Mr.Meredith's campaign, the attendance ofthe Bristol Church rose from about 20to 40. Still later that summer, MrMeredith conducted another Evangelistic Campaign in Birmingham. This resulted in a church of about 45 beingestablished in that city.

His final campaign in the summerof 1960 was held in Manchester. Afterthe campaign was over, a church of

about 50 was raised up. The Manchester Church was later moved to Warrington-halfway between Manchester and

Liverpool-a place more centrally located for the brethren.

It was in the autumn of 1960, whileMr. Meredith was still in England,that the doors of Ambassador College

swung open for the first time. About30 students enrolled that autumn.There are now about 198, from nineteen countries, attending the college inthis, the sixth year.

Churches in Irelandand Scotland

A new church in Belfast, NorthernIreland, was organized by Mr. James

by Raymond F. McNair

Wells after the Feast of Tabernacles in

October, 1962. We had previously beenholding monthly Bible Studies in Belfast for a year or so. The BelfastChurch began with 49 in attendancethe first Sabbath. It now averages about115.

The seventh church to be establishedhere in Britain was at Glasgow. A

Bible Study in that city was organized(after a period of intensive visiting inthe Glasgow area) immediately after

the Feast of Tabernacles, 1963. Thefirst actual Sabbath Service began inearly January, 1964.

Mr. and Mrs. Robin Jones were theprimary instruments used in raising upthis church. Mr. Jones remained as thepastor of that church until mid-1965,when Mr. Robert Fahey became itspastor.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones then returned tothe College at Bricket Wood so Mr.Jones could assist in teaching and otherduties.

Also, immediately after the Feast ofTabernacles in 1963, we began holding

regular Sabbath Services at BricketWood for the students, employees andlocal members. Previously, all of the

people in the Greater London area hadtraveled to London each Sabbath in order to attend church services there. We

were having over 300 in attendance inLondon before the Bricket WoodChurch was formed.

Present attendance figures for theBritish Churches are as follows: BricketWood, 300; London, 220; Warrington,120; Birmingham, 120; Belfast, 115;Bristol, 78; Leeds, 57; Glasgow, 70;Newcastle, 45.

The latest British church (at Newcastle-upon-Tyne ) had its first service011 December 11th. Forty-six were present for that service. My wife and I

were privileged to attend the firstservice, as we had previously done atBelfast and Glasgow; and I gave a

sermon on the real purpose of a localchurch. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fahey werealso present. He will be the pastor ofthe Newcastle Church.

A total of about 1,120 people nowregularly attend the Sabbath Services inthe nine British churches.

God's ministers in Britain have been

encouraged by the good report which anumber of the ministers from theHeadquarters Church in Pasadena havegiven regarding the British churches.These ministers expressed their joy atfinding the churches in England, Scot

land and Ireland all diligently followingthe example of God's HeadquartersChurch.

We ministers have continually strivento keep the minds and hearts of God'speople here looking to God's Head

quarters Church-as in the days of theApostles-who looked to the HeadChurch at Jerusalem. This, we know, isnecessary for the growth and unity ofGod's one Church.

All of the British congregationspray continually that God will bless theHeadquarters Church, and that He willguide, direct, protect and inspire Mr.and Mrs. Armstrong. Also, we unitedlypray that God will continue to blessand inspire Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong,

especially in his tremendous responsibility of making the daily broadcasts;and we pray for the guidance of all of

12 The GOOD NEWS February-March, 1966

Wf"',frttf;] 100 . 300

.. o-e aco

BELOW: Radia Luxembaurg ma-first in Europe, a door 01The WORLD TOMORROW iRIGHT: Radio City in the Themebeams The WORLD TOMOREngland. This station is constrex-miiltary anti-aircraft forts e'during World War II, built onboats sailed out and sunk on

Ambassadar Call

God's servants at the chief nerve centerof His Work in Pasadena, California.

Reader's Digest Opens Up

In November, 1959, we began running double-page ads in the Britishedition of The Reader's Digest. Wereceived over 4,500 replies to one adplaced in that magazine ! We were ableto continue running these two-page,bi-monthly ads for about two years inThe Reader's Digest before this doorwas finally closed to us.

Many thousands were brought incontact with God's Truth through thismedium, and many scores were actuallybrought into God's Church as a resultof their first having come into contactwith the Work of God through thearticles which appeared in The Reader'sDigest.

Ambassador-Spokesman Clubs

Besides the five Ambassador Clubshere at the College, there are nowten Spokesman Clubs helping to devel-


main afficesr opened 10

( in 1953.lames esluary"'ORROW 10lnstrucled ons established~ on concreteon this spot.

College Pholos

14

WHAT ARE YOU?[Continued from page 8)

and consequently we sometimes feelwe're being done an injustice.

How like children we are! Even withGod's Spirit to help us, there is fartoo much of our carnal "childish" selfstill alive-there is still a great dealto mortify, to crush. The main problem is not seeing ourselves from God'spoint of view-carnally full of "evilthoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness ..." Let'stake a look at some of the otherdeadly traits inherited from our parents(Job 14:4) and above all let's berealistic about them-admit they existin us!

Ever Been Jealous?

Like you and me children are naturally jealous. I remember one man intentionally giving attention to ourdaughter to see what effect this wouldhave on his own son. The lad responded immediately by wanting tohave affection shown toward him. Later,when he thought no one else waswatching, he tried to twist Elizabeth'snose. Amusing? In a way, yes, but howoften does this feeling well up in yourown heart?

Older members will sometimes bejealous of newer members who are farmore yielded to God and who consequently may be given positions of responsibility in the Church. Sometimesan older "member" might even try todowngrade in the eyes of others thenewer, more zealous man. Even if theyhave never resulted in direct action, let'sadmit that such thoughts of jealousy dooccur in our minds.

Envy, much akin to jealousy, is veryevident in children. Think back to yourown childhood; what was your reactionwhen someone gave your brother, sister or friend a present? Did you automatically think "What a blessing it isfor them to have this present?" Ofcourse not! If we're honest, we'll admit we thought, "Why should theyhave it? I want one too."

Where along the line between childhood and adulthood did this carnalattitude magically vanish from our na-

The GOOD NEWS

ture? It never did-all too often suchfeelings cause us to envy the possessions of other people. Occasionally aperson has even stopped paying histithe because he wanted more of thephysical goods that others around himpossessed.

Children Are a Blessing

By now, we can see that whetherthey're little boys or girls, children arenot "sugar and spice and all that'snice." Look further and you find thatchildren are spiteful, foolish and boastful. They form cliques; they gossip. Yetchildren are also a great blessing oncewe realize that they show us the veryflaws that are part of our own nature.Some think that we lose these flaws atbaptism when we bury the old self andreceive God's Spirit. It's like a snake,they think, which casts off its old skinto reveal a shining new one.

Yet, we do not slough off humannature at baptism. Rather, God's HolySpirit which is to guide us "into alltruth" shows us more clearly the plaintruth about ourselves. God says that ourheart is so deceitful that man unaidedcannot get a true picture of what he islike. But, with the help of God's Spiritman can see accurately what he is-hecan see his own nature in the raw.

Our Goal-God's Nature

Each year with God's help, you cancome to have more disgust of the realYOU. That is why Paul, over twentyyears after conversion, could say withgreater conviction than most of us, "Iknow that in me (that is in my flesh),dwelleth no good thing.... 0 wretchedman that I am, who shall deliver mefrom the body of this death?" Do wesee ourselves plainly enough to continually repent and desire with all ourheart to change our human nature forGod's divine character? Do we"through the Spirit . . . mortify [killoff] the deeds of the body"?

Far from being fond of ourselves,let us, like Job, come to see ourselvesfrom a God's-eye view, so that the nexttime you ask yourself the question,"What am I?" you can say, "I'm carnal, I'm selfish, I hate myself!" andreally mean it!


Readers Say .. .(Continued from page 2)

ings which He has bestowed upon me.I must close for now and get back towork so that, God willing, I can earnenough more to pay the extra incometax which I now owe,"

H. P. A., Michigan

Teen CC Fan"By the way, I'd like to take the

opportunity here to say that I think theAmbassador College Bible Correspondence Course is wonderful! I'm 15 andin the tenth grade this year. I havequite a lot of school work to do so Idon't have much spare time, but I MAKE

time for studying God's word becauseI truly realize the importance of theopportunity He has given me."

Nancy 1., Connecticut

Honest Business"I have just received a $4.00 check

from Headquarters Church for difference in a tent with one door ratherthan two, as stated in the brochure.Thank you for such honesty and concern for others. I did not even know Ihad purchased something other thanwhat I actually received. This provesagain where God's true Church is. Ihave endorsed the check but am returning it as an offering in God's worldwide work."

Mrs. Dorothy N. M., Virginia

• Thank you for your fine attituderemember this is second tithe moneyand should either be turned in as excess second tithe or added to yotlr ownsecond tithe account.

Loyalty"The GOOD NEWS article about

loyalty was really an eye-opener. I hadthought I was completely loyal to God'sWork after reading the article. But thenafter a few hours it suddenly dawnedon me that I had been correcting Mr.Garner Ted Armstrong's wording ofthe broadcast in my mind and now I'mreally on the lookout for other evidencesof disloyalty I didn't think I had! Thankyou for the correction."

Mrs. Timothy J. S., Ohio

HERE'S HOW

YOU CAN DEFEATDISCOURAGEMENT!

Are YOU discouraged-depressed? Do you feel "blue" andfull of despair? Certainly, of all the people on the face of theearth, GOD'S PEOPLE should feel the most encouraged, positive, and hopeful of the future! What can YOU do to defeat

discouragement?

by William F. Dankenbring

W INTER COMEs-long, tediousmonths of winter, withsnow, ice, rain and cold,

often drab landscape. Monotonousweather settles over the land in manyregions. Life seems to take on a bleak,dismal aspect.

And people-thousands of peoplereflect winter conditions in their ownpersonal lives! The monotony of winter depresses them, they grow discouraged and develop a dismal attitude toward life.

Even God's people! During the longmonths of winter, following the excitement of the Feast of Tabernacles, therejuvenation and uplift of the Feastbegins to ebb and wane, if God's people are not careful-and bleak discouragement begins to set in!

Problems develop. Perhaps maritaltroubles well up, and continue, andbring depression. Perhaps family problems rear up and perforate the peace ofthe home! Personal problems begin tosap spiritual strength. For many, winteris a time of loneliness-and more discouragement !

Do YOU begin to feel depressed anddiscouraged during the winter months?

The problem of discouragement is aBIG problem to many! It can lead toloss of SALVATION!

How can YOU defeat this mindwrecking problem?

Public Enemy Number One

First, what makes people grow discouraged? What causes them to feelGLOOMY and full of despair?

There is a reason!The greatest enemy ALL people have

-including God's people-is theirown HUMAN NATURE! Human emotions often fluctuate, and it is normalfor people to feel "positive" at certaintimes, and "low" at other times. But,most people, when they begin to feel"low," allow mere feelings to totallydrag them into a self-pitying gutterof despair!

And countless thousands COMMITSUICIDE!

Depression - discouragement - is aterrible ENEMY! It must be conqueredby God's people-lest it conquer them!

Millions of people in the world allow their human nature, and its emotional fluctuations, to guide and ruletheir lives. They have NOT learned tomaster or rule over their emotions.They don't even understand WHATtheir nature is like-naturally vain, selfish, egotistical!

They don't realize that their ownHUMAN NATURE causes them to feeldepressed, discouraged at times!

But human nature also plagues GOD'SPEOPLE! And that is why many of thepeople of GOD actually feel the pangsof discouragement! Many of YOU reading this article have not yet learned toRULE OVER your emotions andthoughts!

For this reason, many of YOU become bogged down under a cloud ofdiscouragement!

The downward pulls of human nature, then, is one major cause of dis-

couragement. But there is another-onewhich few people really recognize orface. This other cause sometimes takesover where human nature leaves oHand plunges the victim into the blackest, most negative moods. If a Christianis not wary, it can lead him to giveup the Christian fight and QUIT-andcommit spiritual SUICIDE!

One of the chief causes of discouragement in the world is not physical,but spiritual. Negative moods, feelings,and attitudes can-and often arecaused by Satan and his demons.

Negative Spirits

If anyone on the face of the earthhas a "right" to feel utterly whipped,discouraged, it is Satan! Ever sinceSatan tried to thwart God's plan, andrebelled against Him, he has beenirreversibly DOOMED! His fate has beensealed.

And those angels who followed himin rebellion, also, are in a hopeless anddismal condition. Their hope is LOST!

They are unalterably bent on opposingGod, and they can NEVER succeed!Total frustration, misery, and hopelessness is theirs.

Misery loves company. Satan or oneof his demons would just love to findan opening in your mind-an openingcameo hy discouragement and negative

feelings-so they can enter in, fill youwith their misery, and REALLY dragyou down into the gutter of despair!

If YOU feel negative toward God, as ifGod's way is TOO HARD, and moods of

16

spiritual depression strike you down,BE VIGILANT-be on the alert!

It is possible that one of Satan'sdemons is attempting to influence yourattitude, trying to get you to feel hopeless and finally GIVE UP God's way. Beon the alert whenever you are temptedto bog down in the quicksand of selfpity, gloom, and out-and-out depression!

Such feelings do NOT come fromGod! They are either the result of yourown carnal human nature-or they arecaused by Satan or his demons. Suchfeelings and moods need to be FOUGHTAGAINST-conquered, and overcome!

God is NOT the author of GLOOM,or unhappiness and misery! SATAN IS!If you feel moody and gloomy, searchyourself-ExAMINE YOURSELF - andask God in heaven to REBUKE thosewicked, self-centered thoughts and castthem away from you! Ask Him to giveyou the right, out-going, positive attitude toward life, and even toward yourproblems!

The apostle Peter admonished, "Besober, be VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,walketh about, seeking whom he maydevour: Whom resist steadfast in theFAITH, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethrenthat are in the world" (I Pet. 5 :8-9).

James wrote, "Submit yourselvestherefore to God. RESIST THE DEVIL,and he will FLEE from you" (Jas.4:7). "Draw nigh to God, and he willdraw nigh to you" (verse 8).

Whenever thoughts of discouragement come sneaking in, God's peopleneed to strongly RESIST them-notgloomily welcome them with sympathetic arms. Such thoughts are totallycontrary to God's way of the abundantlife! They only bring more misery, suffering and HARM.

How to CONQUERDiscouragement

The Word of God gives vital information regarding CONQUERING everyhuman problem, every spiritual problem, including the problem which facesso many from time to time-depressionand despair.

What does God say?

The GOOD NEWS

In order to conquer these feelings,

the first thing to do-as we have already read-is be alert to them, andRESIST them. The place to begin is In

the MIND. Do not allow yourself toeven begin THINKING negatively!

Solomon wrote, "For as he thinkethin his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23: 7) .This scripture illustrates a basic principle. As people think in their heart, theyACT-whether negatively, positively, orhowever. Moods and attitudes beginwith thoughts in the heart. Thethought is reflected in the personality,the bearing, the manner of expression,the eyes.

Therefore, every thought itself needsto be brought under control. Theapostle Paul wrote, "For the weaponsof our warfare are not carnal, butmighty through God to the pullingdown of strong holds; Casting DOWNimaeinations (reasonings) , and everyhigh thing that exalteth itself againstthe knowledge of God, and bringinginto captivity EVERY THOUGHT to theobedience of Christ" (II Cor. 10:4-5).

God wants us to bring every singlethought into CAPTIVITY-Control, ruleover our very thought-processes! In thisway, we can learn to control and RULEOVER our moods, attitudes, and emotions!

The way to cast wrong, negativethoughts OUT of the mind is to placegood, POSITIVE thoughts IN the mind.The way to get air OUT of a milkbottle is to pour milk IN!

God explains what kinds of thoughtsHis people should have. They shouldconcentrate, think, ponder on "...whatsoever things are true, whatsoeverthings are honest, whatsoever things

are just, whatsoever things are pure,whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there

be any virtue, and if there be anypraise, THINK ON THESE THINGS"(Phil. 4:8).

Paul told the evangelist Timothy,"Let no man despise thy youth; but bethou an EXAMPLE of the believers, inword, in conversation [ conduct], incharity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."He commanded him, "MEDITATE uponthese things; give thyself wholly to


them; that thy profiting may appear to

all" (I Tim. 4:12, 15).A Christian's thoughts are VERY

IMPORTANT! They must be ruled over,and brought into subjection!

In this way, negative feelings anddiscouragement CAN BE DEFEATED!

There is no excuse for a child ofAlmighty GOD to feel "down in thedumps" and whipped - discouragedand beaten. But he must learn to RULEhis thoughts, RESIST Satan, and subduehis human nature! He must WORK at it!

WHY Discouragement?

Sometimes trials and tests bring discouragement. Sometimes personal problems, faults and weaknesses contributeto depression.

But all these factors concern the onegreat problem which people havethey get their eyes off the GOAL, beginthinking about themSELVES, and losesight of the PURPOSE God is workingout in their lives.

They let prayer slide. They neglectBible study. They thereby lose closeCONTACT with God. Discouragement isthe end product.

Look in your own life. Hasn't thisbeen the case? Haven't physical matters,personal concerns, taken precedenceover the spiritual? When you lose contact with God, the result is ALWAYSfailure and depression.

It is vitally important, therefore toDRAW CLOSE TO GOD whenever discouragement threatens. If we draw near toGod, He promises to draw nigh to us!(Jas. 4:8.)

If we draw near, through earnestPRAYER and study of His Wordwhich is the most POSITIVE Book everwritten !-He will give us spiritualSTRENGTH to resist and overcome whatever thought or attitude troubles us.

The POWER of God

God created the Universe. He madethe worlds, the seas, the skies, themountains and valleys. Surely, then, Hecan enable us to conquer mental problems and discouragement, which areTRIVIAL by comparison!

And He promises to DO so, if wecall upon Him. Jesus Christ declared,"If a son shall ask bread of any of you


that is a father, will he give him astone? or if he ask a fish, will he for afish give him a serpent? Or if he shallask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know howto give good gifts unto your children:HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenlyFather give the HOLY SPIRIT to themthat ask him?" (Luke 11 :11-13.)

The Spirit of God is NOT the Spiritof discouragement, moodiness, andnegative feelings! "But the fruit of theSpirit is"-what? Notice it!-"LovE,JOY, peace, longsuffering [patience],gentleness, goodness, FAITH, meekness,temperance [or, self-control]: againstsuch there is no law" (Gal. 5: 22-23).

Did you read anything there about"Sorrow, guilt, depression, moodiness,sulkiness, negative feelings" or "discouragement, despair and hopelessness" ?? Did you read anything aboutGod's Spirit being the Spirit of a"what's-the-use, who cares?" attitude?

Of course NOT!It is the Spirit of LOVE, JOY, FAITH

the positive emotions!

Notice what Paul wrote Timothy"Wherefore I put thee in remembrancethat thou stir up the gift of God, whichis in thee by the putting on of myhands. For God hath not given us thespirit of FEAR; but of POWER, and ofLOVE, and of a sound mind" (II Tim.1 :6-7).

A SOUND mind is not plagued byfear complexes, phobias, negative attitudes. It is HOPEFUL of the future!God's Spirit gives a sound mind. It isthe Spirit of love.

God says, "There is NO FEAR inlove; but perfect love [imparted by theHoly Spirit] casteth OUT fear: becausefear hath torment" (I John 4: 18). TheHoly Spirit of God CASTS OUT suchnegative feelings as fear, worry, moodiness, faithlessness, discouragement. Itreplaces them with real love, JOY,faith-brimful confidence in God, andsupreme HOPE in His Word and promises!

God's Spirit imparts POWER to overcome negative discouragement! Beforeits immense power, such minute, weakling attitudes and moods scamper likethousands of jackrabbits before a tornado. They don't stand a CHANCE!

The GOOD NEWS

The Holy Spirit will impart thatpower to YOU, if you "stir it up," asPaul told Timothy. But you must drawclose to God, and USE His Spirit according to His will, if you wish to beFILLED with it ! You must rekindle it,and make full use of it-not let it dieout. It is SPIRITUAL POWER!

A Few Discouraged Men

Some of God's greatest servants suffered periods of blackest depression anddiscouragement. Some of them were sodepressed at times that they wanted toDIE. Life became too much of astruggle. Their problems grew tooweighty and overpowering. Deathseemed to be the "only out."

Job was so discouraged when Godchastised him that he groaned in deepest self-pity, "Oh that my GRIEF werethroughly weighed, and my calamitylaid in the balances together! For nowit would be heavier than the sand ofthe sea" (Job 6:2-3).

Moses, the man of God, once felt sooverwhelmed he exclaimed to God,"Wherefore hast thou afflicted thyservant? and wherefore have I notfound favour in thy sight, that thoulayest the burden of all this peopleupon me? Have I conceived all thispeople? have I begotten them, thatthou shouldest say unto me, Carry themin thy bosom, as a nursing fatherbeareth the sucking child, unto theland which thou swarest unto theirfathers ?"

Moses groaned, and moaned, "I amnot able to bear all this people alone,because it is too heavy for me. And ifthou deal thus with me, kill me, I praythee, out of hand, if I have foundfavour in thy sight; and let me not seemy wretchedness" (Num. 11: 11-15).

Discouragement! Depression! Fortunately, God did not answer that particular request-or YOU might neverhave been born!

Elijah, also, once knew bitter discouragement. Fearful of his life, hefled from Jezebel who sought to killhim. He wandered into the wildernessand requested to die (I Kings 19:1-4).He felt like giving up-quitting!

God had to rebuke him, to straightenup his attitude (vs. 9-15).

17

Elijah, too, was human. At times hehad problems with his attitude. Butbecause he yielded himself to GOD, asan instrument in HIS hands, and drewnear to God, and prayed FERVENTLY,he was mightily USED of God andworked miracles (see Jas. 5: 16-1 R) .

Discouragement did not drag Job,Moses, Elijah, or other servants of Goddown into the muck and mire. It didnot lead to their RUIN. Why? Becausewhen they saw their human weaknessesand failings, they did not allow aterrible depression to take over. Theydid not grow sour and bitter. They didNOT "give up" and QIJIT.

Rather, they REPENTED of their discouragement, their negative attitudesand they turned to God. He forgavethem, and imparted spiritual strength tothem-and mightily USED them in HisWork!

How are YOU dealing with the problem of discouragement?

Are you allowing it to lead you offinto a ditch-the gutter of hopelessness?

Or are your problems and discouragements causing you to turn awayfrom yourself, and turn to GOD to receive spiritual HELP from Him?

So many are tempted to give up thefight and quit, just before achievingsuccess! Many, for lack of a little moreperseverance, have come short andFAILED! They were willing to endure"so far"-and that was it. They thenrebelled, cried "Foul," and shut thedoor 011 themselves.

They shut themselves OUT of God'sKingdom!

Rather than face up to their problems, they hid their faces, ran from theproblems-and died, spiritually! Theyallowed clouds of depression to befogtheir vision, lost sight of the GOAL

of the Christian life, and began to wander aimlessly, groping in spiritual darkness, getting nowhere fast.

Are YOU allowing an attitude of discouragement to make shipwreck ofYOUR spiritual life'

Where do YOU stand?

Was Paul Discouraged?

What about the apostle Paul? Hewas used to write more books of the

18

New Testament than any other man.Was he ever discouraged? Depressed?

Paul was human, and undoubtedly hesuffered many discouragements. Whenold friends and long-time converts fellaway from God's truth, Paul must havesuffered great personal pain and heartache. Paul's life was filled with troubles, trials, turmoils and narrow escapes.

But did he ever allow discouragement to reign in his life?

Let Paul speak for himself. "We aretroubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not indespair; persecuted, but not forsaken;cast down, but not destroyed; alwaysbearing about in the body the dyingof the Lord Jesus, that the LIFE alsoof Jesus might be made manifest in ourbody" (II Cor. 4:8-10).

Although beset and buffeted by circumstances beyond his control, Paul wasnot discouraged. He was not a quitter.He declared, "For which cause WEFAINT NOT; but though our outwardman perish, yet the inward man isRENEWED day by day" (v. 16).

Paul shared intimately his sufferingsas a minister of God with the Corinthians, writing, "But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers ofGod, in much patience, in afflictionJ,behold, we live; as chastened, andnot killed; as sorrowful, yet alway RE~

JOlCING; as poor, yet making manyrich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (II Cor. 6:4-10).

Surely, if any man had anything tobe discouraged and disheartened about,Paul did! But yet, as we just finishedreading, he REJOICED in his trials andafflictions, problems and sufferings!

Paul had suffered - personally.Therefore he was able to write theCorinthians and say, "Blessed be God,even the Father of our Lord JesusChrist, the Father of mercies, and theGod of all comfort; who comfortethus in ALL OUR TRIBULATION, that wemay be able to comfort them which are

in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound

The GOOD NEWS

in us, so our consolation also aboundethby Christ" (II Cor. 1:3-5).

Paul had been tempted, so he wasable to succor and help others who

were suffering, distressed, and evendiscouraged. Paul could comfort andsympathize with others who had trials

and problems.

Paul stayed CLOSE to God.

Discouragement did not have achance around him! His life was totallyDEDICATED, devoted to God! Whether helived, or died, did not matter with him(Phil. 1 :21-24). Whether he abounded,or was abased did not count with him(Phil. 4:11-12).

His eyes were always Godward (Col.3: 1-2). His affection was on thingsabove, not on earthly, sensual, fleshlythings. His MIND was centered, concentrated on forgetting past events, andpast failures or discouragements-andhis attention was focused on thosethings which are before, pressing FOR~

WARD to the high calling of ChristJesus in the Kingdom of God (Phil.3:13-14).

Paul had totally CONQUERED discouragement! Toward the end of hislife, he wrote Timothy in absolute faithand assurance, "I have fought a goodfight, I have finished my course, I havekept the faith: Henceforth there islaid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteousjudge, shall give me at that day: andnot to me only, but unto all them alsothat love his appearing" (II Tim.4:7-8).

Here is an example of resolute faith,determined hope and assurance.

Paul had no room for doubt, discouragement or despair. His life wasFILLED with radiant hope and faithtoward God.

Yours can be also, if you will drawCLOSE to God through DAILY prayerand diligent Bible study, drinking in ofHis inspiring, encouraging Word. Yourlife can be filled with HOPE, and joy,and you can have a POSITNE approachto every problem, by drawing near toyour heavenly Father who gives everygood and perfect gift!

But you must be willing to do YOURpart.


Change Your OUTLOOK

Have you allowed despondent,gloomy thoughts to occupy your mindin the past? Even now, do negativethoughts trouble you? Are you discouraged?

You can change!

God says, "Let the wicked forsake hisway, and the unrighteous man histhoughts: and let him return unto theLORD, and he will have mercy uponhim; and to our God, for he willabundantly pardon. For my thoughtsare not your thoughts, neither are yourways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isa.55:7-8).

Change your THOUGHTS! Learn torule over them!

Through drawing close to God, andHis Holy Spirit, begin to think positively, as GOD HIMSELF THINKS! BeFILLED with God's truth, His thoughts,through the study of His Word!

There is no need for any of God'speople to feel depressed or discouraged.You can DEFEAT DISCOURAGEMENTbefore it gets started! There is no reasonwhy anybody in God's true Churchshould be gloomy, negative-minded, orhave a down-trodden, hopeless attitude!

Not at all!Jesus Christ did not come to bring

sorrow and depression. Rather, JesusHimself said, in unmistakable terms,"... I am come that they might haveLIFE, and that they might have itMORE ABUNDANTLY" (John 10:10).

The abundant life is not one filledwith worries, frowns, anxieties, depressions, concerns, or negative despondency! It is filled with the fruits of God'sSpirit: LOVE, JOY, FAITH!

It is not self-centered, but Godcentered. It is not worried about theaffairs of this temporary, short, physicallife. It is concerned about the TRUEGOAL of life-the Kingdom of God!It is not occupied with material matters.Such things are counted as "dung"(Phil. 3:8).

The abundant Christian life is filledwith SPIRITUAL CONCERNS-and is centered on the things of GOD!

It is the truly positive, hopeful,happy life!

It can-and should-be YOURS!

(Continued from page 12)

IT HAPPENED IN BRITAINFebruary-March, 1966

op character, leadership and service inthe British churches.

A further means of developing students who have ministerial potential,is through the Visiting Program whichis organized by and co-ordinated fromthe College. Many of the more advanced students have received veryvaluable training through visiting inthe Greater London area. Others haveeven been able to do some badlyneeded visiting in Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and other parts ofBritain.

Through this Visiting Program, students are trained and groomed underthe leadership of God's ministers, andare able to render an invaluable serviceto interested radio listeners and churchmembers.

Vital Statistics of British Work

Feast of Tabernacles figures aptly illustrate the growth of God's Work inBritain. Feast attendance figures for thepast seven years are as follows: 1958,60; 1959, 120; 1960, 234; 1961, 468;1962, 655; 1963, 936; 1964, 1,272;1965, 1,532.

And now that we are on four commercial British stations, we hope tosee next autumn's Feast attendance backup to a 30 percent increase!

For this coming Feast of Tabernaclesit looks as though God is again openingup to us the Prestatyn Holiday Campin North Wales. This Camp is situatedon the shore of the Irish Sea, near thebeautiful We1sh mountains. We maypossibly meet in this location for thenext two years.

Each week we receive about 2,600letters at our office here at BricketWood-about 135,000 letters in 1965.There are over 53,000 on The PLAINTRUTH list. Of this number, about3,000 are Co-Workers, 49,000 areRegulars. There are about 1,030 on ourMember List.

The PLAIN TRUTH has been printedhere in Britain now for about six yearsby a commercial English firm.

We recently rented a large building(over 18,000 square feet) in Watford

The GOOD NEWS

which has been converted into a verymodern printing plant, where we nowprint about 90,000 PLAIN TRUTHmagazines each month-65,000 in English, 13,000 in German and 12,000 inthe French language.

We also print many thousands ofbooklets, reprint articles, letters, Ambassador College Bible CorrespondenceCourse lessons and countless otheritems.

There are now about twenty-fourfull-time employees in the PrintingDepartment, plus fourteen studentsworking part time.

Mr. John D. Butterfield is in chargeof the Printing Department. He is verydedicated and competent-having hada number of years of printing experience before being employed by Ambassador College.

Britain's Fourteen Ministers

Serving God's people in Great Britain today are 14 ministers-includingtwo Evangelists-Mr. Charles F. Hunting and myself.

Since July, 195R, I have been theDirector of the British branch of God'sWork, and am the Deputy Chancellorof Ambassador College in England, thepastor of the Bricket Wood Church andGeneral Supervisor of the BritishChurches of God. I also teach threeclasses.

Mr. Charles F. Hunting is the Business Manager of the College. He hadprevious experience in the businessworld which has been of great value toGod's Work here in Britain. Mr. Hunting was sent to England in March,1961. In June, Mrs. Hunting and theirthree children joined Mr. Hunting inEngland. Chris, the eldest son, is nowin his first year of College here inEngland. Mr. Hunting also teaches anumber of classes and directed the Athletic Department until the arrival ofMr. Bernell Michel from Pasadena inMarch, 1966.

Two ministers of Pastor rank serveGod's people in Britain. They are Mr.Ernest L. Martin and Mr. Ronald L.Dart.

19

Mr. Ernest Martin is now the ActingDean of the Faculty of AmbassadorCollege and is the pastor of the Warrington Church of God.

Mr. Martin recently spent aboutseven months at Headquarters in Pasadena, California-working on his doctorate.

Mr. Ronald L. Dart is the pastor ofthe Birmingham Church and teachesseveral classes. He is also Supervisor ofStudents at Ambassador College, Bricket Wood.

(Dr. Benjamin L. Rea was the Deanof the Faculty of Ambassador Collegeand the pastor of the BirminghamChurch-until his untimely death onMarch 10th, 1965).

Mr. David P. Wainwright, a graduate of Oxford, is the College Registrarand teaches a number of classes. Asan ordained minister, he also assists invisiting and regularly preaches in theBritish Churches.

Mr. Leon Walker is pastor of theBristol Church of God and teaches 10

the college and at Imperial School.

Mr. John E. Portune is the Directorof the Radio Studio and teaches both atAmbassador and at Imperial. As anordained minister, he helps in directingthe activities of the Visiting Program,and regularly preaches in the churches.

Mr. Robert C. Boraker is the Director of the Letter Answering Department, and is currently doing quite a bitof the visiting in the London area. Healso writes articles for The PLAINTRUTH and GOOD NEWS magazines.

Mr. Robin Jones recently returnedto the British branch headquarters toassist in teaching classes here at thecollege, and has recently been pastoring the Warrington Church in thetemporary absence of Mr. Ernest Martin.

Mr. James Wells, a graduate of Ambassador College, has pastored theChurch of God in Belfast, NorthernIreland, since its inception in 1962.He is in charge of ministering to allmembers and interested listeners 10

Ireland.

Mr. Gerald R. Croswell, as an ordained Local Elder, is now renderingGod's Work in Britain a valuable service by visiting full time in the Birm-

20

ingharn and Bristol areas where heassists both Mr. Dart and Mr. Walker.

Mr. C. Ted Gould, Local Elder, isAssistant Business Manager and instructor here at the college. He also helpsin visiting-mainly III the BricketWood Church area.

Mr. Gunar Freibergs, also a LocalElder, recently spent about six monthsteaching at the college in Britain inMr. Ernest Martin's absence. In January,1966, Mr. Freibergs returned to theoffice in Dusseldorf to assist Mr.Frank Schnee in the rapidly expandingGerman branch of God's Work.

Mr. Robert E. Fahey is the pastorof the Glasgow Church of God in Scotland, and is also pastor of the newlyestablished church at Newcastle-uponTyne.

Mr. and Mrs. David Bedford nowspend their full time visiting the manypeople in the Manchester-Liverpooland Leeds-Sheffield areas. Mr. Bedfordis the pastor of the Leeds Church.

Besides God's ministers who serveas pastors of churches, lecturers in thecollege and directors of various departments or activities here at the Britishcollege, there are about 250 employees(including the 198 students) beingused in the British branch of God'sWork.

Over Seven Years of ContinuedHealthy Growth

In spite of the rather poor radiocoverage in Great Britain, and despitemany hindrances and considerable opposition and persecution, God has continued to bless and prosper His Workhere in every way!

Here is a summary of the growthof God's Work in the seven and onehalf years (July, 1958-January, 1966)-since I have been the Director ofthis branch of God's Work.

In July, 1958, there were only 45 to50 in regular attendance at one Churchof God (in London) in all of Britain.The London Church now numbersabout 220. Besides this church, thereare now eight other British churchesmaking nine churches, with weeklySabbath services totalling about 1,120in attendance!

In the autumn of 1958 there were

The GOOD NEWS

only 60 present at the Feast of Tabernacles. Last autumn there were 1,532in attendance, and we expect about1,800 next autumn.

In 1958, there were only about 30people on the British Member list. Today there are over 1,030.

If I recall correctly in 1958 therewere only about 12,000 on The PLAIN

TRUTH list. Today there are approximately 53,000 on the list. This is inspite of the fact that, in 1959, weshipped about 5,000 Australian andNew Zealand names we had on filehere to the office in Sydney. Also, anumber of PLAIN TRUTH subscribers'names were sent from this office to theDusseldorf office when it was opened upin the summer of 1962.

In 1958 there was no college inBritain. Ambassador College, near London, has been established for nearlysix years and is a thriving institutiontraining many dedicated servants to beused in one of the many far-flungposts in the Work of God.

Dozens of graduates are being usedfull time in God's Work, and thereare 19 ordained ministers who spentpart or all of their four years at theCollege here!

Daily BroadcastingOur Greatest Need!

What is the greatest need of thisbranch of God's Work? The thing whichwe need most, and pray continuallyfor, is that God will really open upto this branch of His Work effectivedaily radio broadcasting.

The WORLD TOMORROW program isnow being broadcast daily on fourcommercial off-shore stations, enablingus to reach several million Britons.These stations are not yet fully established-have not yet built up their fulllistening audience.

And on Sunday, December 12th,we began broadcasting twice daily onRadio 390, seven days a week. But theBritish Government has recently threatened to close down these off-shorestations.

Satan would like to have the gospelsilenced on all the commercial stationsreaching Britain-including Radio Luxembourg.


We all need to pray fervently thatGod will keep these commercial stationsopen, and that He will open up to thisbranch of His Work other even moreeffective means of reaching the peopleof Great Britain.

God willing, a commercial shipstation will begin broadcasting to Scotland-beginning in January, 1966. Weare scheduled to broadcast The WORLDTOMORROW program on that station assoon as it begins broadcasting!

And, I was given a news clippingjust today which mentioned that planshave been laid to begin broadcasting(via a ship-station) to Northern Ireland-in March!

There are approximately 55 millionpeople packed together in these British Isles! If we can only get a numberof really effective daily broadcastsreaching all of Britain, then this branchof God's Work will really leap forward!

In December, 1965, Parliament debated whether or not to open up commercial radio broadcasting in this country. Over one hundred commercial radiostations art: reported ready to beginbroadcasting as soon as they are givengovernment approval.

If the government licenses commercial radio here, this might not helpGod's Work as much as some think.Apparently commercial radio would berun like commercial TV-only allowing advertisers to purchase a fewseconds (or minutes-at most) of time!That's the way Commercial BritishTV is now run.

We know that God Almighty is theone who opened the door of radio toBritain-the doors of these commercialship-stations located in internationalwaters. They beam their broadcasts intothe heart of England.

Other commercial ship radio stationsare reported to be planning to commence broadcasting in the near future.

But powerful forces are now pressuring the British Government to foreversilence these commercial off-shore stations !

The Gospel to Ephraim

A number of prophecies specificallyreveal that the peoples of Ephraim(Great Britain and her Common-

have the Gospelbefore the close of

wealth)preachedthis age.

These prophecies surely include theover-fifty-million Ephraimites living In

modern-day Britain-the motherland of

the Commonwealth!

Much of the entire book of Hosea is

directed to the people of Ephraim.God says: "EPHRAIM Jhall be desolate

in the day of rebuke [referring to the

time of 'Jacob's trouble'-Jer. 30:7]:

among the tribes of Israel baue I MADEKNOWN that which Jh'1/l Jllrely be"

(Hos. 5 :9).

Since Ephraim is the chief birthright

tribe, this verse surely reveals that thepeople of Britain will be among thosetribes of Israel who are going to havethe Gospel-the good news of God'sKingdom-made known to them in ourday!

I have before me two British newspaper cuttings, both of which showthat God's Church has revealed,through the sure prophecies of God'sWord, that Britain will be defeated inWorld War III (unless, of course, sherepents) ! And many millions are beingwarned directly through God's Workthrough The WORLD TOMORROW pro

gram and through The PLAIN TRUTH

magazine.

Ambassador College Photo

Ambassador College Press, Watford, Herts., England, bespeaks the quality of power withwhich God is fulfilling His promise of carrying

the Gospel to Ephraim.

Hosea 7 :12 further explains this:

"When they [Ephraim] shall go, I

will spread my net upon them; I will

bring them down [in national defeat)

as the fOWlJ of the heaven; I will

chastise them AS THEIR CONGREGATIONIiATH HEARD."

Isaiah 9: 8-12 also reveals that God's

Word has to be preached to IsraelEphraim in particular! "The Lord sent

a word [the true Gospel] into Jacob,

and it hath lighted upon Israel. And

22 The GOOD NEWS February-March, 1966

Whose Opinion Counts?

The Final Authority

In Hebrews 13:17, Paul gives an inspired command to, "Obey them thathave the rule over you, and submityourselveJ: for they watch for yoursouls, as they that must give account,that they may do it with joy, and notwith grief: for that is unprofitable foryou." Here, and in verse seven, God iscommanding obedience to His Ministers. It is they who "must give account." They are responsible for teaching you the Imth, When there is adoubt as to the meaning of a scripture,or when there is a Church policy to be

We are all still human and have alot of growing to do. We won't allsee eye to eye on every point of doctrineat first. God's children are "knit together"-not in doctrine-but "in LOVE"

(Col. 2:2).

But God has set His ministers in theChurch to preserve order, and to teachand instruct the brethren with authorityso that each one may finally come tohave "the mind of Christ" (Phil. 2: 5) .

nancial support, you have your vitalpart in helping reach the peoples ofGreat Britain!

The people of modern-day Ephraimbadly need to be reached with thedynamic good news of the soon-cominggovernment of God!

(Continued from page 10)

that office, and it is !mity of the Spirit in the bond ofHoly Spirit through peace" (Eph, 4:3). Some ministersinspire and direct His quote this text to persuade their con-

gregation to blindly follow them 111 a[alse unity, NOT of the Spirit. TheIfllity of Gad's Spirit is that mutualharmony and love which it produces because we will all be seeking God' J will.It is not a "unity" based on man'sreaJo/lillg swayed by the devil!

God gave some individuals positionsof preaching and teaching, "Till weall come into the unity of the faith"(Eph. 4:11-13). His ministers are 1'1'

sponsible for teaching and guiding theflock in the right way as God's Spiritreveals r/nti! they come into the "unityof the faith."

Unity in the Church

Didn't Jesus build a Church whichwill endure [oreuer? Haven't we justshown you that God's true ministerswhom He sets in His Church-speakin His name with authority?

If you have really been converted,you have been "baptized" or put intoGod's Church by receiving His Spirit.You are then no longer an "independent," but a member of the true Churchof God-the body of Christ.

"God is not the author of confusion,but of peace, as in all churches of thesaints" (I Cor. 14:33). Even though youmay be separated from local churchfellowship, you belong to God's Churchwhich has order and government in it-not confusion.

The apostle Paul commands us to behumble, "Endeavoring to keep the

Many of you brethren have had to"come out" of this Babylonish systemand its churches. You have been regarded and perhaps bat.« regarded

yourseli-s-e« an "independent" or radical in matters of belief.

Many of you, having been disillusioned by false ministers, have come tofeel that you could place no reliance onanyone or anything except yourself.You have been in the habit of studying the Bible and accepting )'0111' conclusion as final. It was between youand God alone. "Me and God," saidthe German Kaiser. That is the waysome of you have felt and acted-perhaps without realizing it.

But shonld you be an "independent" ?

servanls.

true minister torespect to thewhich God will

that God WIll open up more commercialradio stations; let us also earnestly praythat the British Government will notpass legislation which might foreverdestroy our chances of using radio toreach all of Britain in a powerful way.

Through your prayers and your fi-

Commercial sb.P brocu!c'lJti/lg /lOU'appean to be the oilly really effectil'eway of reachillg Britons tra radio.

We do not yet know for sure all thedetails of bote God will continue toopen up effective daily broadcasting tothe people of Great Britain; but we feelcertain that He will do this for the sakeof His Work!

We do know, however, that if all ofthe members of God's Church will prayunitedly, fervently about this matter,leaving the result in God's hands, thatHe will greatly increase the effectiveness of daily broadcasting in the BritishIsles.

In the meantime, we are very thankful to Almighty God for opening upthese stations by which we now areable to reach additional millions ofBritons.

We, here in Britain, are very gratefulto be used in this branch of God'sWork, and ask the prayers of all ofGod's people on behalf of God's ministers and His people living throughout Great Britain.

Also, don't forget Mr. Ted Armstrong's admonition to fervently pray

Pray Fervently For This!

all the peu/lle Jhall kIlOW, euen

EPHRAIM ... "

This prophecy shows that a vast~egment of Britain and her Commonwealth shall hear God's Word preached-shall "enou' what is going to cometo pass-before it happens!

Matthew 10:23 shows, however, thatGod's ministers will not necessarilypersonally evangelize every single cityin modern Israel before the secondcoming of Jesus Christ!

God warned the earth's inhabitantsin the days of Noah before He destroyed those wicked people by a greatdeluge. Christ warned the inhabitantsof Jerusalem and Judaea before the Roman legions slaughtered over one million Jews in the days of the Apostles!

A/ld God /lllllighty is WCll'llillg tbepeopies of A1IJf!I'ica and Britaill bejoreONr doom-giving us a chance to heedHis Word, repent and avert the terrible calamity which otherwise is certainto overtake U~!

February-March, 1966 The GOOD NEWS 23


Let us all submit ourselves to God'.r

govemment in His Church-and inHis kingdom to come. As the trueChurch of God, let us go forward together with IOI'e and unity, guided byDivine wisdom, and inspired by acontagious zeal to carry out with God'spower and authority the great work ofproclaiming the gospel of the kingdomas a "witness" to all nations beforeChrist's soon return as King of kings.

from page 6)

thirty thousand people attending localchurches every Sabbath in the UnitedStates alone! Because literally hundredshave to drive long distances and cannotcome every Sabbath-but altemate

and others are in scattered areas andunable to come at all, we know that

Preaching Elders re ised ta Pastar rank: Abave: Mr. Harald Jcckson, shown here with his wife asa special treat for our Negro brethren; and Mr. Dennis Luker. Belaw: Mr. Arthur Mokarow and Mr.

Arthur Craig.

(Continued

iod from 3 to 124. This, of course,means that we have multiplied ourchurches ouer 41 times in this briefperiod!

Talk about GROWTH!

It may also be interesting for youbrethren to realize that there are nearly

Church of God News -Worldwide

is rapidly growing! To accomplish ourmission successfully, we need to practice the way of order and church gov

ernment which God has rornrnanded.

This way of God will be a great blessing to us-and to the millions whowill hear the true gospel because wehave been liJiliing to set aside our selfish interests and to work together inharmony-under God's guidance-incarrying out His great work.

decided upon, God's ministers aregiven the AUTHORITY to make those decisions to be based on His revealedwill. And He holds them RESPONSIBLE

for seeking HiJ will!This of course applies only to those

whom you know by the "fruits" areGod's trtre ministers.

And even then, if there is ever acase when you have a real convictionthat one of God's ministers is teachingsomething contrary to His will, youought to "obey God rather than men"(Acts'S: 29). But knOll'ing that anytrue minister of God will be honest inseeking the truth, be sure to discussthe matter privately with him. Remember that you are not to rebuke an elderor minister, "but intreat him as afather" (I Tim. 'S: 1). Then, any trneminister of God will Jtmly and pray

over the matter, and in due time willeither show you your error-or he willconfess his mistake and be thankful tofind and teach the trutb,

God Himself has chosen ministerswho are still quite bttman, But Hisministers will remain yielded to Himand be willing to groll'. It is HIS re

.Iponsibility to remove them if theydon't.

In all matters, then, it's God's opin

ion that really CO/fIltJ!

God has specially "called" His ministers to act as His spokesmen-teaching the people His will. Christ set theexample (Mat. 7:29) when He astonished the people by teaching withAUTHORITY. That authority is to berespected.' It is not respect to the man,but to the office. and to God whoplaced him in the office.

God's ministers need your prayers,and your love and co-operation in carrying on this great Work He has committed to all of us. Mr. Armstrong hasset a wonderful example by his love,humility, wisdom, zeal, and his constant willingness to grOll' into moretruth as God reveals it. God's trueministers will continue to seek and toteach His will-not their own.

We realize the great responsibilitywe have as God's ministers. We praythat you true brethren will respect theauthority God has given us with whichto carryon His work. This work of God

24

we have over thirty-title thousand whoare members of God's Church here In

America!

Add to that figure some five thousand Canadian and overseas brethrenmost of whom are able to attend eitherlocal churches or Bible Studies-andyou have a total of over forty thousandpeople in the true Body of Christ today!And, very frankly, there are additionaltbonsnnds of co-workers and otherstrong adherents to this Work of Godwho consider that this is "their church"-even though they might not fullyunderstand yet and have not been baptized by one of our ministers.

Certainly, we did start "as small as agrain of mustard seed." And by anystandard of measurement we are stillthe "little flock" of which Jesus

The GOOD NEWS

Christ spoke! But steady and INSPIRINGprogress has surely been made as theabove figures reveal!

I can also report to you that there

are-at this very moment-at least twodozen locations over the United Statesand Canada alone where we really NEEDto establish new churches! So moregrowth is definitely in the offing. Butthe need is for more trained, dedicatedand consecrated ministers to do the tremendous JOB of feeding all these localcongregations!

As we have told you, beside the needfor more of God's Spirit, His love andHis power-which is always with usthe greatest need in His earthly Ministry is for more ministers and elders!So take this need SERIOUSLY! Prayfervently-and KEEP PRAYING-that


Christ will call more consecrated mento this task!

Pray also that all of 1IS in the Body ofJesus Christ will keep yielding, growing and serving FERVENTLY in the tremendous Commission God has given usof getting His message to all the earth-and in feeding the flock which He,and He alone, calls to conversion!

ABOVE: Ministers and wives examine the future Dining Hall. LEFT: During the taur af theAmbassadar Press, Mr. Gerald Waterhouse andMrs. Raymond McNair pause to peruse a sectian of The PLAIN TRUTH. BELOW: From leftto right, those raised in rank from Local toPreaching Elder. Mr. James Doak, Mr. LowellBlackwell, Mr. Kelly Barfield and Mr. Royston

Page.Ambassador College Photos

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