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OUR Co-Workers
BULLETIN
VOL. III Number 7 December 23, 1942
Published every little while, by your radio-
pastor editor, Herbert W. Armstrong, Box 111,
Eugene, Ore., to bring spiritual edification
and encouragement to our little family of
Co-workers who make possible the RADIO CHURCH
OF GOD and The PLAIN TRUTH.
AND N O W! ...A 10,000-watt STATION IN PORTLAND!
NEW TIME ON ALL PACIFIC-NORTHWEST STATIONS
I'm happy to announce another important leap forward for the
work. Starting Sunday, January 3rd---the first Sunday in 1943---
"The WORLD TOMORROW" program goes out on a different station in
Portland---station K X L, 750 on your dial---with ten thousand
watts of power---Portland's most powerful station. KXL is heard
in Alaska and in Northern California. It will give us two or
three times the coverage we have had on KWJJ. It means, too,
that many of our listeners more than 50 miles from Portland will
now be able to hear the program clearly and distinctly who have
not had good reception before. This station has ten times the
power of the station we have used the past five years or more in
Portland. It will cost us more money---it should DOUBLE our
audience in Oregon and the southern half of Washington.
Incidentally another station carrying our broadcasts, KGA,
Spokane, is also now sending out the message on a power of 10,000
watts. KGA recently doubled its power, going from 5,000 to
10,000 watts.
NOTICE! NEW TIME!
All listeners in the Pacific Northwest, please NOTE: Beginning
the first Sunday in the new year, January 3rd, our program comes to
you at a NEW TIME on ALL NORTHWEST STATIONS.
K X L, Portland, 750 on the dial; 8:30 a.m. (instead of 5:30
p.m.)
KRSC, Seattle, 1150 on the dial; 8:30 a.m. (instead of 8:00
a.m.)
K G A, Spokane, 1510 on the dial; 10:30 a.m. (instead of 8
a.m.)
This will have an electric effect on our broadcast in the
entire North Pacific sector. It should DOUBLE our listeners
everywhere.
I just returned last week from Des Moines and Los Angeles. I
had been gone two months. I realized that 8:00 a.m. was too early
in Seattle and Spokane, but I had not realized HOW MUCH too early
until I spoke last Sunday morning from the studios of KRSC in
Seattle. When we took this 8 o'clock time last Spring there was no
other time we could get. But when I saw on last Sunday it was yet
DARK at that hour, I prayed earnestly and asked God to open the way
for a later time.
SUDDENLY the way opened yesterday in Portland to change over
to Portland's most powerful station, KXL, at 8:30 a.m. Contacting
the manager of KRSC in Seattle by long distance I found we also
could change back to 8:30, our old time until last Spring, in
Seattle. At Spokane I was unable to get that time, but KXL offered
me the time between 10:30 and 11. The program will go out from
either Portland or Seattle over our own Liberty Net-Work at 8:30
a.m. The program will be received at that same time each Sunday
morning at the KGA studios in Spokane, but since they cannot
release it on the air until 10:30, they will transcribe the program
as it comes in over the lines from 8:30 to 9:00, broadcasting the
same identical program over KGA at 10:30 in a delayed broadcast.
I hope all our Co-workers and listeners in Oregon, Washington,
Idaho and British Columbia will rejoice with me in this important
step forward. This great and fast-growing work started in the
Pacific Northwest. I am very happy that this change has been
made possible. It should DOUBLE the power of the Message in this
great territory. REMEMBER the NEW TIME. Tune in at the new
time, and the new station in Portland beginning the first Sunday
in the new year, January 3rd.
* * * * *
WHY We Use NEWS ANALYSIS
on the BROADCASTS
Some may wonder why we use the type program we do.
For instance, why do we devote five to fifteen minutes of a
thirty-minute broadcast to straight NEWS ANALYSIS?
There is a reason. A vital one. The present "WORLD TOMORROW"
program is the result of nine years' experience on the air.
It started, the first Sunday in 1934 over KORE, our local
Eugene station, then only 100 watts, as a radio church service.
Our idea then was to condense a complete church service into a 30-
minute radio program. There were several hymns, often one short
anthem, prayer, announcements, sermon. The sermons were spiritual
---straight BIBLE sermons designed to bring real SPIRITUAL FOOD and
deeper Bible understanding to those who thirsted for spiritual
knowledge.
Our intention was to send out an EVANGELISTIC program---to
proclaim the GOOD NEWS to the UNconverted---to win souls for
Christ. Gradually, I began to realize we were sending out the
wrong type of program to accomplish this purpose.
Two incident's brought this forcibly to my mind. I know radio
stations did not want religious broadcasts on the air. It was
difficult to induce them to sell us time. Then one day the manager
of a station told me frankly WHY. It was not prejudice against
religion. It was partly the poor quality of many religious
broadcasts, but even more the fact that radio surveys had proved
that about 90% of the general listening audience WILL NOT LISTEN to
religious programs. As soon as they hear a hymn, a prayer, or a
sermon on the air they TUNE OUT, or flip the dial to another
station. The surveys showed there is a definite "religious
audience" of not more than 10% of the total radio audiences. This
10% eagerly listen in to their favorite religious broadcasts, and
support them in the belief they are carrying the Gospel to a lost
and dying world. But, the radio surveys showed, such broadcasts do
NOT reach the lost and dying world at all---the WORLD tunes out and
refuses to listen. Commercial advertisers do not like to have
their broadcasts following religious programs, because business men
know they will have only the small "religious audience" listening.
It's just a matter of business with the radio stations.
Then one day another incident opened my eyes. I have a
brother-in-law who is an educator. "Your broadcasts are splendid"
he said one day, "but frankly I can't understand your sermons. You
speak in a sort of 'religious language'---maybe it's Bible
language, or spiritual language, but to me it's a technical
language I don't understand---it's just outside my line."
Do you see what was wrong? --WHY the WORLD is not listening to
such broadcasts? In I Cor 2:14 we read that the natural
unconverted man CANNOT understand the spiritual things of God's
Word. Sometimes these truths are just "foolishness" to him. He
CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, because they must be SPIRITUALLY
understood. But, says verse 10, "God hath revealed them unto US by
His Spirit." "When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come," said Jesus,
"He will guide you into ALL TRUTH"---that is, into the
understanding of the WORD.
If God called me to go to China and preach to the Chinese, I
should first learn to speak the CHINESE LANGUAGE. I would speak to
them---preach CHRIST, and HIS GOSPEL to them, in THEIR LANGUAGE, so
that they would understand. Now the WORLD does not understand
spiritual language or "Bible language". I learned that, to carry
the Message to the WORLD, I would have to drop the more spiritual
phraseology, and speak to the world in it's own language.
If the SMALLEST radio audiences today are the "religious
audiences", the BIGGEST radio audiences today are held by the
newscasters and the news analysts. Before being converted and
called into the ministry, I had devoted twenty years to writing for
newspapers and magazines. The news today rapidly fulfills Bible
prophecy. No news analyst can rightly UNDERSTAND or interpret
world events today, without the background of sound understanding
of the Bible and its prophecies. Likewise no minister could take
advantage of this fact in broadcasting, without a practical news-
paper background. I began to realize God had so guided my life
that I had BOTH. Why not utilize this life experience to the glory
of God? Why not take advantage of this unique experience to
produce a broadcast of the type which stands number ONE in public
interest, instead of in last place---a broadcast that would talk to
the "man in the street"---the person of the world---in his own
language, employing subject-material that would attract the largest
possible listening audience, and the very type of material that
would cause skeptics to see the Bible in a new light! PROPHECY
FULFILLMENT causes even scoffers to stop and THINK! It is
something the atheists CANNOT ANSWER! It commands their respect.
It causes many to believe in God who never did before.
Beside proclaiming the true GOSPEL---the Good News of the
KINGDOM OF GOD---the Eternal has commissioned us who are Co-Workers
together in this work to WARN THIS NATION---including Canada, and
other English-speaking nations if that becomes possible---that GOD
HIMSELF is sending this war upon us as a JUDGMENT---that we are HIS
PEOPLE ISRAEL---that to win in this war this nation MUST REPENT AND
TURN TO GOD AND PUT ITS TRUST IN HIM!
And so, "THE WORLD TOMORROW" program has emerged from this
long experience. It is a program that attracts a very LARGE
listening audience. It is bringing a PHENOMENAL response. For
instance, from station WHO alone we receive an average of 800 to
1,000 letters per broadcast---and one broadcast on that one station
alone brought in 2,200 letters and requests from all over the
United States and Canada. As near as I can check, "The WORLD
TOMORROW" program not only brings a much greater mail response than
other religious programs, according to number and power of stations
used, but we receive a heavier mail response than commercial or
other-type programs. Atheists have been converted. Wives write me
that their unbelieving husbands, who never go to church and would
never listen to religious broadcasts, are listening to "The WORLD
TOMORROW", reading "The PLAIN TRUTH" magazine, becoming interested.
As one listening wife wrote me, "I thank God that thru you my
prayers of years are now being answered."
I feel that God has LED US all the way. "If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ASK OF GOD," says James. (1:5) When I was first
called to this work I realized, and acknowledged, that I lacked
wisdom; but I asked of God, and I am glad at the way He has
answered, and guided and led us in this work. The wisdom of
employing the type broadcast we do today is proved by believers who
formerly were atheists---by the changed lives of people who once
were worldly and now are rapidly-growing spiritual characters. It
is proved by the tremendous mail response. It is proved in many
other ways I lack the space to tell you. This broadcast is OUR
contribution to the WAR EFFORT! America MUST HAVE SPIRITUAL
ARMAMENT to save us from defeat. Just flesh and steel alone cannot
win this time. It will take MORE than human determination, using
ships, tanks, planes and guns. It will take the WHOLE ARMOR OF
GOD. Some say, "Well, I don't think this nation will wake up and
turn to God." Perhaps not, but our mail shows that dozens and
scores ARE waking to this truth and turning to God in earnest. Are
THEIR souls worth the effort? And if we WARN the nation, that is
all God requires of us. LET'S PRESS ON WITH RENEWED AND INSPIRED
ZEAL. This is OUR part in this war! Our duty to GOD, our greatest
help to our nation.
* * * * * * *
"OVER THE EDITOR'S SHOULDER"
I wish you could just spend an hour or two, some morning,
sitting here in my office, looking over my shoulder as the mail is
opened, reading some of these hundreds and hundreds of interesting,
inspiring letters that pour into our office every day.
These wonderful letters, entirely unsolicited and spontaneous,
are my greatest encouragement. They are a definite "LIFT" that
inspire me to plunge on with renewed effort. I want to give you
just a glimpse into a very few received recently.
A woman from Alabama writes as follows: "Dear Brother
Armstrong: I know you are doing a wonderful work, and I pray and
ask God to give you physical health to keep fit for your tremendous
task. You said you baptised five people while in Los Angeles. I
want to ask you, do you have to be baptised to be saved? Why I am
asking this, my son was listening to your broadcast last Sunday
night, and I believe he was converted. He began to weep and I told
him if he would only ask God to forgive him his sins and have
FAITH, he would be saved. He is my oldest son ... 40 years old ...
not married. I hope some day you will come to our city to see us."
. . . Yes, I wish I could see ALL our listeners!
From EAST END, SASK., CANADA: " . . . I have never taken
religion too seriously but have always tried to keep on the road,
but now I am beginning to feel I would like a helping hand, to
guide me through the rest of my life. I will be listening for your
broadcasts each Sunday nite."
From MISSOURI: "My husband and I sat right on the edge of our
chairs, listening to your broadcast last night. Can hardly wait
for the next . . . . We were blessed in having met and communed
with you on the air."
From a Doctor in Ohio: "I have heard your broadcasts the
last two Sundays and I have enjoyed them completely. I only
regret that I have been unfortunate not to have heard you long
before this. I think that you present what you have to say in the
grandest manner I have ever heard. . . . I appreciate your
broadcast so much that I have taken time to let you know it."
From PENNSYLVANIA: "I heard your radio program on news and
the Bible and found it enlightening as well as inspiring. I have
heard many men explain or deal with prophecy in these days, yet,
I cared most for your presentation. I could follow you well
throughout your message. You may never know the good or worth of
such a program."
Another from Ohio: "Dear Brother Armstrong: Let me
congratulate you on your fine and inspiring message of last
evening. Thank you for making me think seriously of things that
I would otherwise pass off lightly."
From a Chaplin in the U.S. ARMY: "Your Sunday night program
was received over the radio in my hall here at Camp. . . . In our
reading hall I have placed the two free copies of "The PLAIN
TRUTH" which was received in my office upon my request to you.
Thank God, for men like you who still give the full Gospel in
these times of great need."
SPECIAL AND URGENT
This is important---of special urgency.
The year now closing has seen this work of God go forward in
an amazing manner. It has doubled and quadrupled in scope and
power. In every way it has had God's blessing. It is marvelous,
and it fills us to overflowing with gratitude. In every way it
is developing and being blessed just as God's true work would be.
It started small---from nothing, with nothing---as everything God
starts thru human agencies always has started. It has borne
abundantly the Fruits which only GOD'S BLESSING could produce.
And now that God's Time has come, this work is leaping forward,
multiplying in power, in a manner which would be impossible by
human efforts alone. Last Spring it still was a more or less
LOCAL work, confined mostly to the Pacific Northwest. We then
were going out on only three radio stations, in Eugene, Portland,
and Seattle. Then a 5,000 watt station in Spokane was added.
Then, about six weeks later, station KMTR in Los Angeles, which
actually reaches out on an equivalent of about 40,000 watts of
power. A month later, station KFMB in San Diego was carrying
"The WORLD TOMORROW" Message. And by the last of August our
first super-power 50,000-watt clear-channel station, WHO, Des
Moines, was carrying this message in great power to the entire
North American continent---from the Panama Canal zone to Northern
Canada, in a night-time broadcast. And now the way has opened to
DOUBLE the power and listening audience in the Pacific Northwest.
With station KXL, Portland's most powerful station sending the
programs out on 10,000 watts---with KGA, Spokane now double its
former power---now 10,000 watts---with the new later Sunday
morning time, our listening audience will be DOUBLED in the North
Pacific. And negotiations are now under way to add super-power
50,000-watt KWKH, Shreveport, La., WJJD, Chicago, and KFRC, San
Francisco. In a few months we hope to be on the MUTUAL
Broadcasting System, Coast to Coast.
But this would not BE God's work if all were smooth and clear
sailing. Just as God's people must encounter trials and tests,
hardships and obstacles in their private Christian lives, so must
we expect to encounter severe tests in carrying on the work God
has committed to us.
This work has now hit a CRISIS---a most serious one. IT'S
VERY EXISTENCE IS THREATENED! This test is not sent to discourage
us, but to TRY us, to STRENGTHEN us by coming thru it. I was led
to speak to our local congregation (composed mostly of our own
converts) from the Book of James. "My brethren, count it all joy
when ye fall into divers temptations (margin, TRIALS), knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." And Peter
says, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you." It is for our strengthening. It is to teach
us faith. I accept this present crisis as such. I am committing
it to God. I ask you, dear Co-Workers, to JOIN ME IN EARNEST
PRAYER, and in FAITH, that God will carry us thru. His work must
not, will not, stop. It will go on stronger than ever. But WE
have OUR part to do, AND WE MUST DO IT WITHOUT DELAY!
Partly due to the early hour of our broadcasts in the Pacific
Northwest---partly due to the fact that transcriptions were not
getting thru by air-express on time while I was back in Des Moines
---partly due to the holiday season and people forgetting God's
work and spending all their money on "Christmas presents" the
income to carry on this great and growing work has dropped down to
about half the past thirty days. THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS AND
DESPERATE! It caused delay in printing the booklet "U.S. in
Prophecy." It is holding up the next issue of The PLAIN TRUTH. It
leaves us short-handed at the office. This work MUST HAVE an extra
$1,000 AT ONCE, in addition to seeing regular income restored. We
MUST get out another PLAIN TRUTH at once! It and many other things
are waiting. God expects HIS CHILDREN TO GIVE---yes give till it
hurts, in times like these. Please try to send an EXTRA AMOUNT---
the largest you possibly can, by return mail. God's work is at
stake. It is a SERIOUS CRISIS. Please RUSH---put this FIRST,
before anything else. GOD BLESS YOU. I know you will!
Herbert W. Armstrong
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