Dear Friends,

I’m very delighted to report to you this month that our program ZOLA LEVITT LIVE has won a silver medal in an international secular film and television competition. The 1982 International Film and Television Festival, which met recently in New York City, awarded our program the second prize in the Best Religious Program Series category.

We want to stress, humbly, that we were in competition with religious program series from all nations and that we certainly had no “connections” with this unbiased and very important secular organization. The contest took place in New York with film and television professionals as the judges. Special congratulations go to our producer, Ken Berg, since it is not the content so much as the high production values that win such pries. As you may recall, we were nominated for an Angel Award last year but no prize was awarded in our category at that time. The Lord knows we are not doing what we do to win prizes but to simply do His will. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

I do take special satisfaction in our winning secular contests because those of you who watched the shows in the beginning know that one of our goals was to make it against the secular competition. I have never felt that Christian works have to be inferior to the works of unbelievers in any fields and television is just one more gift that God has given us to spread the Word. We are aware that many unbelievers watch our program and we have very good ratings even in our prime time broadcasting, meaning that secular viewers are turning to ZOLA LEVITT LIVE from the network offers.

So rejoice with us. The prize is yours as well since you who pray for us and support us are the real operators of this television ministry. We thank you and we are grateful to you, and we are pleased to report to you this good work we have accomplished together. We are going to receive our silver medal and we hope to take a picture of it for an upcoming Levitt Letter so that you may enjoy this encouraging blessing with us.

And now, with all that said, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This will be my last personal letter to you of 1982 and I wish to extend my sincerest holiday good wishes and also my personal thanks for a very good year. In a time when small businesses are failing all around us (and big businesses too!) you may have our small ministry prosper and do wonderful works. Our two recent series of programs from the Holy Land, “The Holy Places” and “The Promised Land,” have been more than well received. They are being viewed everywhere and we even have receive some compliments from Israel itself. Each time we go back. over there they help us a little more and trust us a little more, and little by little we are creating our own kind of witness in a time when the Holy Land simply needs every friend it can get. God will bless you for what you have done in regard to His land and His people.

Concerning more ordinary matters, the Lord solved our office problem in one of those photo finishes that make Christianity to very exciting. We were uncertain up to the final days before our moving deadline, but we have found wonderfully comfortable quarters at a modest price and we are busily unpacking boxes even as I write to you. We still have need of a copying machine, a refrigerator and if possible, a small microwave oven. Our new quarters have a small kitchen and we can get our lunches right at work if you can help us out on these things. The deduction is the same as if you gave cash, of course, and second-hand merchandise is fine with us. Again, I only ask these things of you because I would much rather use your donation money for television than for equipment needs and we often find that among our huge family someone is led to fulfill our wants as we labor. In any case, our new quarters are very suitable and our P.O. Box will remain the same. We’ll be publishing our new telephone number as soon as we can tempt the Bell family to come out and serve us.

If the above needs are beyond you, please feel free to send money. We always certainly have a place for that! Forgive me if I seem to be harping on you but this is the time of year that just makes or breaks us. Your year-end gift is most appreciated. And don’t forget the other ministries at this time either. I know of many with earnest needs and they too covet your prayers and your support.

And have a joyous holiday season at this time of year when we remember most of all the birth of our King. In His name we thank you for all that you have done.

Your messenger,