|
December 31, 1947
Box 111, Pasadena, California
Dear Co-worker for God:
I have just returned to Pasadena from a five-day's trip
back to Eugene, Oregon, and my heart has sunk as near the depths of
despair as is possible for one of FAITH, at what I have found on
returning.
It seems that due to the biggest Christmas-shopping spree
in history, most of our co-workers and listeners have FORGOTTEN
both gifts and obligations to CHRIST! And the financial condition
of God's precious work has taken a nose-dive straight down toward
a CRASH that will mean the END OF IT in five days' time unless by
faith in God and enough of our faithful co-workers coming to the
rescue immediately, the crash can be averted and the most important
work on this earth SAVED.
I had been forced, in order to keep the work alive, to
assume heavy obligations for the next five months---heavy ADDED
obligations. The first of these three heavy installments comes due
January 1st,---TOMORROW. We MUST meet obligations of $7,000, or WE
MAY BE THROWN OFF THE AIR, AND THE COLLEGE CLOSED UP!
It is precisely that serious! As I wrote in the last
BULLETIN, during the crisis of the reconstruction work on the main
college building, we were forced to get considerably behind with
our two larger radio stations. On them---one the MOST POWERFUL
station in all North America, we have the very BEST, most-
listened-to, and costly time at 8 o'clock (Central time) every
night, and 5:30 every morning. This is the MOST VALUABLE TIME that
could possibly be purchased by any religious broadcast. It reaches
ALL AMERICA, and much of Canada. It reaches MILLIONS of precious
souls---12 times every week! It is the MOST IMPORTANT, MOST
VALUABLE radio opportunity that has ever come to ANY ONE for broad-
casting the Gospel, and is it any wonder that the Almighty God has
given that most precious time to HIS OWN WORK? It is very costly
time--it costs thousands of dollars a month. BUT IT REACHES SO
MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER THREE NATIONS, THAT IT ENABLES US TO CARRY THE
TRUE GOSPEL MESSAGE AND GOD'S LAST SOLEMN WARNING WITH GREAT POWER
TO TWO THOUSAND PRECIOUS SOULS FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF COST! In terms
of what it accomplishes, it is the most economical, the cheapest
possible way to thunder God's Message!
When we got behind by force of circumstances out of my
control, the management of these stations "cracked down". To save
the broadcast, I was forced to sign notes obligating us to five
very heavy monthly payments of several thousand dollars each month,
IN ADDITION, of course, to keeping current broadcasts paid up.
Professors' salaries, the payment on the college property---all
come due at the first of the month.
I didn't worry about it, because even a normal return from
the recent BULLETIN would have taken care of it. When I left for
Oregon, six days ago, the return had not begun to come in from the
BULLETIN, and already was several days overdue, but we thought this
was due to heavy Christmas mails, which delayed the mail. But I
arrived back last night to find that, while a very heavy mail has
been received---the most mail we ever have received, I believe---it
is nearly all from new listeners now hearing the broadcast for the
first time. This is MOST encouraging, for it shows we are now
reaching more people from Coast to Coast than ever before---BUT
THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE FROM OUR CO-WORKERS, and hundreds of
them are sending one or two dollars where they usually send from
five to fifty, and apparently most of those who usually send in the
"widows' mites" sent in nothing. Many letters explaining they
can't send more---or any---at this time, because of spending it for
"Xmas presents" show the real cause of this desperate condition
into which it has plunged the work of God. As usual this trading
of gifts back and forth---a practice of pagan origin---holds so
many people in the deceptive clutch of "babylon" and CAUSES THE
WORK OF GOD TO SUFFER!
Whereas normally after mailing out a BULLETIN we should
have been receiving around an average of $1,000 a day for at least
two weeks, only from $150 to $500 has been coming in. Now the
congestion of Christmas mails is over, and we know that is not the
cause. We know now that most of our vast family of listeners, and
godly family of co-workers, have FORSAKEN God's work for this
month, and spent their money trading presents.
I know now that the money needed for this great emergency
tomorrow will not come, EXCEPT BY MIRACLE FROM GOD, OR VERY SPECIAL
EMERGENCY EFFORT ON THE PART OF A FEW OF OUR MOST FAITHFUL
CO-WORKERS.
I confess that when we returned last night, and contacted
our office and learned of this situation, it literally "floored"
me. It seemed God had deserted us. It took the breath out of me.
But my secretary explained it was simply because of this Christmas
season we have been thru---that God has always delivered us, and He
will now---and reassured me by saying that she, and the office
staff would join me in asking God for a miracle, and to save us.
Yes, I believe God will save us! A couple days ago, while
I was gone, a telegram came from the management of the radio
stations saying that unless this note were met on the day due, they
would throw us off the air and start suit. And now some of the
contractors who are doing the reconstruction work threaten to file
a lien against the property and close the college and our offices
and stop our work unless a large sum is paid at once. Brethren,
and co-workers, I have these things to bear---to be put in
position of reproach, and to take insults, because some of our
co-workers---say, MANY of them---have been careless in their
obligations to God, lax in making their calling and election sure.
Yes, it's hard to bear, but I bear it willingly and suffer these
things for the sake of Christ.
If only we can hold out, and keep going, in due time we
shall be relieved of this terrible financial plight. One co-worker
has written me three letters, and talked to me long distance, about
putting into this work between $50,000 and $100,000, but has been
delayed in getting other work wound up so that this can be
negotiated and transacted, and apparently will be delayed another
two or three months at least. Another writes of a plan to place
upward of $25,000 into the work, but this, too, will take a little
time to work out. We may be able to negotiate a $50,000 loan on
the college property thru an insurance company, but this, too, will
take more time. Another co-worker travelled clear across the
United States to inspect the college and see what we have, and
investigate us and become better acquainted and before leaving to
return said he and his family will be in position, within two or
three years, to give some very large sums for this work, but cannot
help us now. A man here in Pasadena who has important connections
and acquaintance with many wealthy people has a definite plan to
induce several of them to place large sums in Ambassador College,
but this, too, will take more time. God is moving wonderfully to
open unbelievable opportunities, and I know that in due time large
sums will come to this work that it may grow in scope and in power,
IF WE CAN TIDE OVER THIS PRESENT EMERGENCY.
The one thing that may give us time to save the situation
is the fact that tomorrow, January 1st, is New Year's day, and a
holiday, which automatically gives us, this month, until Friday the
2nd. My only recourse, therefore, is to RUSH THIS EXPLANATION THIS
MORNING BY AIR-MAIL TO JUST A SMALL NUMBER OF YOU WHO ARE AMONG OUR
MOST REGULAR AND FAITHFUL CO-WORKERS, TO ASK YOU TO GO TO A PRIVATE
ROOM IMMEDIATELY, CLOSE THE DOOR AND JOIN US IN FERVENT, HEART-
RENDING, BELIEVING PRAYER FOR A MIRACLE---AND THEN ASK YOU TO SEND
IMMEDIATELY ANOTHER OFFERING IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, EVEN THO YOU MAY
HAVE JUST SENT ONE.
Always it is the FEW loyal and faithful who have to carry
most of the load. You are one of those few who are back of the
most precious, the most important work on earth. This work of God
CAN'T stop! It must go on to ALL THE WORLD, into EVERY NATION.
Here at Ambassador College plans are being made, students taught
and trained, and feverish effort expended, to that end. Yet, now,
inside of five or six days, this work could be STOPPED DEAD---in
fact, WILL BE, unless by some desperate effort, and a miracle from
God, I can raise $7,000. I hate, more than I can say, to have to
ask YOU who have already helped so much to stretch a little
farther, but I find YOU are the only ones to be depended on in such
an emergency, and I know of no other way, now to turn. If OTHERS
have been lax and neglectful, I guess you and I have to put forth
double effort to make up for it. Surely, among the small group of
regular and faithful co-workers who will get this special emergency
letter, there is ONE of you---could it be YOU?---who could at least
LOAN us the $7,000 we need. If so, telegraph or call me long
distance IMMEDIATELY, if you need additional information before
sending it. Our office is SYCAMORE 6-6123, and our residence
telephone, where you could reach me even at night-time, is SYCAMORE
2-8142.
Or, if you can loan us, or GIVE to the work, any part of
that $7,000, please send it, AIR-MAIL at least, and if possible,
WIRE IT, by WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH. You can telegraph money at
reasonable charge and the emergency is so great there may not be
time enough to get it to us by letter.
SOMEHOW, I know not how, and can't see the way, but
SOMEHOW, I know God will save us---He always has, and has promised
He will never leave us or forsake us. God bless you for your
sacrifice and faithfulness. I know you won't fail your God, or me,
now.
In FAITH, and in JESUS' NAME,
Herbert W. Armstrong
| |