October 22 Update

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October 22, 1999

Greetings Brethren, A number of things have happened this week and Ive decided to write another update even though the last one was just a week ago. We continue to be very busy here and things are functioning well. The Tigers have moved into temporary housing in the area and I would ask all of you to pray that they find permanent housing just as soon as possible. Im still feeling the relief of the reduced workload after the Feast. Id like to give several pieces of good news before I address the e-mails that some of you may have received from people in Akron. NEW FAMILIES We continue to have some very significant growth in terms of new households (families or individuals) coming with us since the Feast. I thought that this might happen, but now that it is actually taking place, I must say that it is very, very encouraging to those of us who are here striving to do the Work and to feed the flock. These families are quite literally from all over and I am pleased that we have not failed to follow a policy that we are striving to maintain which is: to respond to literature and tape requests to each and every individual who writes us on the same day that we receive their request. We will try our very best to always be able to do this and I am very thankful for those who serve in the mailing department and the zeal that they show toward the sheep that they are serving. ANOTHER ELDER COMES WITH US It is my pleasure to announce that on Wednesday night Mr. & Mrs. Charles Bishop of the Houston, Texas, area have come with us in The Restored Church of God. My wife and I met them on Trumpets and they carefully evaluated their decision over a space of about 2 months before deciding that they wished to serve with us in serving you. They seem to be very fine people who are willing to "go it alone", if necessary in order to stand up
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for the truth. They are determined not to attack anybody and voluntarily left the same group that Mr. & Mrs. Tiger came from when they came with us. It is encouraging to see more people come from this group and Mr. Bishop expressed that he wants to be where Gods people are organized, and focused, and determined to hold fast. Any of you in the deep South who wish to contact Mr. Bishop may begin to do so. RADIO APPEARANCE OCTOBER 31st On Sunday morning, October 31, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, I am going to be interviewed on KRLV AM 1340 in Las Vegas. The program will last one hour but I will be interviewed in the second half of that hour. The subject will be what the role of Mr. Armstrong was as the end-time Elijah. We will also be addressing a number of other related questions including who and what is The Restored Church of God. Certainly, in that time slot this is not going to reach a great many people (estimates are perhaps 2,000 will hear it) but I am encouraged at this open door which appeared to us yesterday morning. I was actually offered this Sundays slot but declined in favor of the following week for which I can be better prepared. This will be a good opportunity to gain experience and perhaps we can tape it to be replayed either during the sermonette time and/or place it here on the website for those of you who wish to listen to it. I intend to "pull no punches" that we both teach and intend to never compromise on ANY of the details of doctrine that God taught us through Mr. Armstrong whenever such opportunities present themselves. NEW OFFICE MANAGER/COORDINATOR This week I made a decision to hire a new office manager here at headquarters. Tom Munson and his wife, Karen, and family will be joining us in 4-6 weeks or so from the Petoskey area of Northern Michigan. Mr. Munson comes with outstanding recommendations from all those who know him. I have known him for almost one year. He is one of those people who understands that in the Work of God there is "live fire" from people who seek to hurt us and he has "taken" more than his share of "bullets" in his determination to stand on Gods Truth no matter what. The circumstances surrounding the timing of his acceptance and things that God has worked out within that timing are a very inspiring story. The

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Munsons came here last weekend. We discussed the opportunity that I was considering offering to him. I told him that I would call him back Wednesday with the decision. He returned home Monday night and prayed about the sale of his business and the leasing of his dwelling. By the time I offered him the job on Wednesday night, it appeared that he had both a buyer for the business and a tenant for his home. By Friday morning it appeared to have all come together with the bank and they will be back in a week to look for housing here in the Wadsworth area. Theres more to the story that makes it even more inspiring, but I will leave some of those details for him to tell at some later date. E-MAILS, RUMORS, ETC. The Apostle Peter said that when Christ was reviled He "reviled not back again" (I Pet. 2:21-24). This verse says that His suffering was an example for us. I deeply believe this verse. Some people "struck in the night" by using confidential mailing and e-mail lists gathered on my behalf (just as a leader of another group did) in order to air grievances that they "no doubt" believe the brethren have a "right" and perhaps "need" to know. I was blessed to inherit a company from my parents labors of many years. We employ a number of full and part-time people. Sometimes we hire people and sometimes we let people go. Sometimes we interview people and dont hire them. In the world, this is routine and standard fare. Everybody seems to understand it. There are reasons why we hire, dont hire or release people and those people move on to other places. Sometimes employees are unhappy in their job. I doubt that I have told you anything that all of you dont already know. In the Church, it all seems to change. When the same things described in the above paragraph occur in the Church, everybody has a "story" to tell. The Internet provides them with a vehicle to do just that. Various other "dirt-mongers" are only too eager to help them with this task. The people who are supposed to be exuding Christianity respond in ways that the world doesnt respond. The "bad guy" is always the boss. Thats because "the buck stops" with him. Well, I will freely admit that as the CEO of the Restored Church of God, when I make decisions, the buck stops with me. I know and accept this fact. I have no intention of responding to the kinds of things that people are receiving from disgruntled Akron employees. I

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intend to do exactly what Mr. Armstrong did in such circumstances (though, fortunately, he did not have to contend with the knowledge explosion that the Internet allows for people who wish to air their grievances). He said nothing and neither will I. He continued to teach the Truth knowing that people who were fastened to THAT would know how to respond to such "stories" that were often told about him. In The Restored Church of God we are going to strive to "turn the other cheek" and let God answer our accusers. Believe me, this is a hard thing to do - - humanly. I would love to write a long letter - - as I have sometimes done in the past to "set the record straight". The problem is, after Ive done it I can never quite figure out what good I accomplished. I dont intend to do it any more. Christ "will never leave nor forsake His Church". He has promised that "the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it". I believe those verses as a direct article of faith in my life. II Thes. 3:1-2 says, "all men have not faith". You may wish to read this verse and pray for those of us who wish to strive to hold fast no matter the personal cost to our own reputation. The official position of The Restored Church of God is to not answer our accusers. Why? Those who love the Truth dont require or even want to hear answers from me (just as many of your encouraging e-mails today have reminded me) having to always "explain myself" - - and the others who seem to always demand the "inside story" on things are rarely satisfied by such answers anyway. This is because their basic overall focus is wrong. It should be on whether or not we teach the Truth of God. WE INTEND TO STAY ABOVE THE SQUABBLES ON THE HIGH ROAD OF PREACHING AND TEACHING THE FULL TRUTH OF GOD. THOSE WHO DO NOT GET ABOVE THE SQUABBLES ARE DOOMED TO PERMANENT DISAPPOINTMENT. Why? Because wherever you have imperfect people you have a "story". Wherever you have a story you have people who will tell it. Whenever you have people who will tell it, you will always have people who will listen to it. Wherever you have people who are listening to it, you will have people who will spread it. Wherever you have people who will spread it, you will have discord, division and mass confusion - - and the Devil will have won. Will we lose some members over this? Perhaps. Will we lose some income

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over this? Perhaps. Might we have to adjust in some ways? Perhaps. But God will make it all up and work it all out, just as He always has in the past.

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Have a wonderful Sabbath! In Christs service, David C. Pack (330) 334-2266 (330) 334-6513 (FAX) P.S. Mr. Tiger has just told me that the CD requests (Mr. Armstrongs literature on computer disk) continue to pour in with several dozen more since last Friday. [Back]

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