Exciting times are ahead for the boys in Charlotte! This is so exciting that they CANNOT stand still and let other COG's pass them by!!! The boys have added 4 more issues to their Tomorrow's World rag and this is guaranteed to being in the searching masses. Woo hoo!
Magazine subscriptions are rocketing downwards across the publishing spectrum. With more and more people reading things online, magazines are less and less important. Never fear though, since those brilliant boys in Charlotte are always a year or two behind the national trends they WILL make this work! Untold thousands are waiting eagerly for 4 more issues to fill their mailboxes. It is an open door and those eager boys are jumping at the chance. So send in that excess 2nd tithe and that tithe of the tithe you are still holding on to. Important things are ahead and the church needs it!
In addition to the new issues for the magazine, they need MORE employees! After decades of nepotism and hiring of the Meredith clan to fill all kinds of spots, the church now needs more employees to actually do some work. With all those thousands of new members soon joining the church it now needs more employees to handle the influx. The Church of God is so amazing! What an amazing work!
Greetings from Charlotte,
God has greatly blessed His Church this year and has opened doors that were not previously available. We have significant personnel needs and are working to fill some of those positions in the field ministry and in understaffed departments here in Charlotte. And now I am able to make a very exciting announcement. Beginning in 2021, the Tomorrow’s World English-language magazine will increase from six issues (one every other month) to ten issues per year. This is a major step forward! This will give subscribers more regular contact with the Church. We will drop four pages, from 36 down to 32, and make some other alterations, but overall there will be more content each year. While we cannot know at this time, as this is something not easily measured, we believe this will bring people along at a faster pace. Other Tomorrow’s World language magazines will stay on the six-per-year schedule for now, but this will give translators more articles from which to choose. We cannot stand still, and when God provides the means and an open door, we must walk through it. We are also increasing the impact of our social media efforts and television coverage. Please continue to pray for God to open doors, provide the means of going through them, and bless our human efforts to His glory!—Gerald Weston
29 comments:
Does Weston read his own magazine? Coming out monthly means that Tomorrow's World readers will find out six months sooner that the magazine has run out of new things to say and has started to repeat itself, feeding readers a steady diet of evaporated milk. All that will happen is that readers will drop off the subscription list faster, even after LCG has spent more money trying to keep them.
"Magazine subscriptions are rocketing downwards across the publishing spectrum. With more and more people reading things online, magazines are less and less important."
Massive amount of people around the world are connected to the internet through the means of mobile phones and computers. So this sounds like a very accurate statement to me. WOW.
If I was an LCG member right now, I would feel severely disappointed. They're pouring their money into sub-par methods of witnessing from my understanding. They could be doing so much more for free or barely anything! To the best of my knowledge, they garner over a million dollars a year! With such a big income, you think they really would do a lot more! They're on TV which is fine I guess, but their greatest opportunity to effectively reach people is sitting on the sidelines at least to quite an extent. The internet. They could be doing so much more with the internet, but why aren't they? I don't know. I couldn't tell you.
They believe publishing more content through their method of magazines will bring people along at a faster pace. I beg to differ.. you might, "MIGHT" be able keep the old members at bay though. 400 or 500 or so members defecting suggests otherwise.. the fact that you admit you have significant personnel needs and are understaffed in Charlotte says something..
Like I said, the old members might be pleased, but will any new people honestly be compelled to join or even be interested in what you have to say? I doubt many will be. You guys really need to update your methods. But more importantly, work on your mistakes which you've made and fix them.
If I was an LCG member I would leave.
Best regards,
Someone from a COG.
Without spanky, the LCG is DOOMED!
Jim-AZ
Exciting News? If they want exciting news they need to get some new presenters on their TV program. Good grief, I happened to stop for about one minute to see a program Dick Ames was doing. Who could listen to him for more than two minutes. Day of the lord, Daniel, and Revelation, that is all he knows. He and Gerald are the most boring speakers. Yep, they are going to revitalize their work, sure they are.
Jim-AZ
If print magazines going out every couple of months isn't doing the trick to attract people to your COG, then how is increasing the frequency of something that is already ineffective going to work? Running in the same rut over and over but somehow expecting a different outcome not only wastes time, but resources as well. This seems to be a common problem among these groups. Methods that might have worked in the nineteen sixties, seventies, or eighties aren't going to have the same results now.
It's true that these things might keep the older generation placated for a little while. These are the methods they are familiar with. The younger generation is frustrated though, and they know that the groups for the most part are ineffective and spinning their wheels.
The issue isn't just the outmoded way the message is promoted however. The issue goes beyond that to the cult like and authoritarian atmosphere that permeates among these groups. Most people today are computer savvy and are capable of doing background research when they are looking into a particular group. Negative information about WCG and some of these offshoots abound with a few clicks of a mouse, and more updated marketing approaches won't be able to overcome that.
Cleaning the outside of the cup isn't going to be enough. If progress is to be made, we need to address our internal issues and problems across the board. Matthew 23:25-28
Concerned Sister
There are many blogs with a narrower focus than the ACOGs, but these blogs are interesting since they constantly bring up new details and ways of looking at the same ideas. But not in the stale ACOGs. One big reason is the fear of offending and losing ones job in the incredibly shrinking ACOG-world
1:05 said, "They could be doing so much more with the internet, but why aren't they? I don't know. I couldn't tell you." I can tell you. HWA didn't use anything but the printed page. Of course, this was before the internet, but, since HWA used print, radio and TV, that's all they can use. Just like their literature. If we can't copy what HWA did, we can't write about it.
My wife and I left over 2 years ago and we still get sent this rag. They need to keep their numbers up I guess. Jerry never fails to find a way to tie his right wing opinion media consumption into “prophecy”
2.07 PM
Many members warmed up to Spanky because he was morally challenged. This is what dooms the LCG.
It will be fun to evaluate LCG’s performance one year after this “visionary” step is implemented.
Instead of building a bridge to the future, LCG is digging a trench to the past. However, all their glory and heroes from the past are dead.
"Opening new doors" once meant a new radio or television station or a new organization in which HWA could hob nob, spend tithe money, and maybe hint about a "strong hand from somewhere".
Wasn't the whole addition of membership about those "being called"? So no new members, no one being called? Or is the drive by LCG to find those who are "called but don't know where to go"?
In pre-web days, HWA's stuff sounded so new and different. Unless you knew a person who had dirt on HWA, there was no easy way for one to check what he presented. Now all one needs to do is a search and up comes a link to Banned...
"and maybe hint about a "strong hand from somewhere""
This is a LIE perpetuated on this blog.
Just yesterday I checked another video (world tomorrow broadcast) where HWA spoke to Japanese (shinto) elites, clearly using the words "God Almighty is going to intervene" several times.
HWA often did that, even to audiences who would not have a clue as to what kind of god or manifestation he spoke about.
I mean: One of those Samurai families (japanese sons ruling Japan) present could have been thinking "the Emperor, is he speaking about the Emperor.. the Sun God?????"
nck
Japanese (shinto) elites
Yes, HWA did seem to have a good rapport with his "Japanese sons" and he didn't mind wearing the pagan medal he received. But in his trip to China, he only told Deng Shaoping about the "strong hand". In the fictitious story in the PT about the meeting he didn't have with Mao Zedong, HWA went into detail presenting his version of the gospel.
Although his credibility may be questioned, GTA had complained about all the money HWA spent to present the "strong hand" message.
After HWA's meeting with Indira Gandhi, our pastor said that one day HWA will tell her in strong language what she was doing wrong -- never happened...
HWA had his faults, but he was 100 times a better leader than the leaders of the splinter groups.
WCG always took advantage of new technology and was not stuck in the past.
HWA met with world leaders.
Most people knew WCG and HWA - probably more still know about HWA, 34 years after his death, than all the current splinters combined.
"the invisible hand" = international free trade
As all of my high school friends recalled at our school reunion, discussing the preaching of our funny leprechaun like economics teacher.
Nck
The "pagan medal" was a distinction for services rendered for the return of okinawa to japan.
Okinawa is an island where today/this week 46.000 US and japanese troops in conjunction with us pacific, japanese and canadiam fleet are standby in a show of resolve to China to not attack Taiwan when president Trump decides to not transfer power in orderly fashion after he looses the election.
Pagan medal my ass.
Nck
Sounds about right to me.
We live in a much bigger world than the one that existed in Herbie's heyday.
In this huge world there are a lot of odd and crazy people who will buy any and every type of crap.
Out of almost 8 billion people, there is a sizeable number of people who buy into thousands of very strange cults.
Just due to huge numbers and the diversity of thought, there should even be a very large group of people who would buy the crap of the COGs - just like they sign up for all the other cults.
However, the COGs can't even snooker their statistically guaranteed portion of the population that would buy anything.
That's because the COGs reliance on the law has caused them to be unfruitful and cursed.
Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
LCG has personnel needs because they lost ministers and HQ staff to Monson's new splinter.
Of course, LCG also lost tithe slaves to the new cult, so it will be harder for LCG to pay for new personnel.
LCG will save money when a few of the older ministers drop but, so will many of the older tithe slaves go down for the dirt-knap - since LCG won't let them go to heaven.
Weston can try to make the situation sound good but it's all doom and gloom until LCG's soon-coming end.
Nck
So Trump will lose the election. My, you love to bait readers in order to get a reaction. Nck the baiter.
9:27
I'm not saying that.
I am saying that some nations rely on the USA's protection, which will be compromised if there is political chaos in the USA. China might profit, hence the massive show of force today.
Exactly like the Doomsday planes that flew over Colorado the day after Trump got elected and over Washington and the West Coast when Trump got Covid infection.
A massive show of "readiness".
Nck
In HWAs day there was no Internet and therefore the sins of the WCG were not well known. Today many would do a search on Google and lo and behold, sins of the old era are there for all to see.
In addition, who in their right mind would join an outfit that expects you to hand over 30% and more of your income. Not many are that mad regardless of the number of magazines that they may receive.
The days of the COGs are limited. Members and ministers are dropping like flies and even those that still believe, soon leave and become independent. I am one of those. I left in 1990 but still believe in the basic doctrines and what the Bible states. Like Abraham, Noah, etc., one does not need a human money sucking organization to belong to. In fact, Yahshua said very plainly that His assembly should not follow this type of setup. Each true member of His body has the responsibility to answer those that ask them what they believe and why.
Through out many prophecies it states that Yahweh will remove His flock from these human vultures. So people believe what your Bible states as you have been rightly taught.
"Pagan medal my ass."
HWA attacked anything remotely resembling paganism, as Bob Thiel does today. There is a post about the pagan elements in the medal in Painful Truth, or look it up in Wikipedia.
HWA had something to do with the return of Okinawa? I know he claimed he helped get Egypt and Israel together - at the same time when GTA preached Bible verses that tell Israel not to make agreements with Egypt!
6:27
Yes, I know that the opera Manon at the Auditorium was asked to remove the catholic props from the scenes playing in the cathedral.
HWA received many "tokens of apreciation" from pagans like the American King of Thailand. Who actually cares about sacred elephants, chrysanthymums, stars, that other nations have decided to assign relevance to? HWA certainly found it very funny when he received a Cross from one of the Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem and was usually extremely relaxed upon receivings items like that from dignitaries.
Anyway regarding Okinawa.
Not many people, not even HWA realize WHY they awarded that highest distinction for a civilian. Either HWA played stupid, or he didn't care, however the Japanese, the Prime Minister, the US ambassador to Japan and the Emperor/ God himself, made it clear why that honor was bestowed. HWA showed ignorance on most worldly topics and was generous with praise toward his general counsel who according to HWA was "a man who was more aquainted with the workings of the world than he was and therefore a great asset to the Work."
nck
Nck, the know-it-all about everything about Herbert Armstrong doesn't even know what opera that was in the auditorium that ticked HWA off with its large crucifix. He pulled the name of the opera out of his ass like he pulls all of the conspiracy theories about HWA be a CIA operative and being ignorant about his Japanese award.
I worked in the auditorium and was there the morning Herbert came down to play the piano, which he liked to do early in the morning. The opera was Tosca.
9:58
Correct.
Manon is the one singing in the church. Great to have another person of culture here on Banned.
Nck
Old men. Old ideas. They are so behind the times. Nobody reads print anymore! Do they not realize that most newspapers and magazines are bankrupt? Not to mention the total lack of environmental awareness. What a waste. Can you imagine any proper marketing advisor making such an outdated suggestion? Another huge waste of hard-earned tithe money! Just like the ridiculous failure Living University. Waste. Waste. Waste.
Old men. Old ideas. They are so behind the times. Nobody reads print anymore! Do they not realize that most newspapers and magazines are bankrupt? Not to mention the total lack of environmental awareness. What a waste. Can you imagine any proper marketing advisor making such an outdated suggestion? Another huge waste of hard-earned tithe money! Just like the ridiculous failure Living University. Waste. Waste. Waste.
I'd hardly call hiring one new minister in Texas exciting news and tremendous growth. LCG spin doctors at it again.
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