Friends,

First of all I was overwhelmed by your response to the two Ann Landers columns which we ran in this letter last month. We are getting more letters every day but I can get the gist of your opinion from the sampling we have had. I promised I would give some of my own reflections and I will do that below.

I can understand your indignance at Ann Landers’ very unbiblical approach to spiritual things. Some of you were even downright angry. But really it’s a wasted effort to be angry at lack of knowledge. God Himself sorrowed over this all too human tendency (“My people die for lack of knowledge”). But He really didn’t get angry. As a matter of fact, He intensified the witness to the world by sending His only begotten Son. Our position when the unbeliever stumbles on every side of us is to enlighten him, not to criticize. I watch ministries spend their energies year in and year out trying to police the world for sin when it is already made clear in the scripture that “All sin and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). It does not direct believers anywhere in the Bible to judge the unbelievers’ sins. The judgment of sin for unbelievers is taken care of by the King, not by the Church.

So, in a way, if Ann Landers recommends the Unitarian church, the fault is ours. Somehow we have not conveyed to even the most alert and informed secular commentators what the true Church is. Somehow we have not been able to impact upon the mind of this enormously influential observer. It is the truth of today’s world that the educated and responsible chroniclers of our history, our news, our politics and our social customs invariably favor liberal denominations if they have to talk about religion at all. The term “mainline denominations” was not made up by mainline denominations but by those so uninformed as to assume that the unbiblical way is the true way.

We simply need better representation in this world than we have accomplished. It’s up to us, and no one will accomplish it but us (Matt. 24:14).

As Christmas comes on we inevitably get some criticism on the issue of it being simply a pagan celebration. Our position is that Christmas can be much more than that. We are biblically informed and we are aware that no date is given in the Gospels for the birth of our Lord, and no commandment to rig these trees, buy presents, etc., etc. But we also see the goodness that comes forward in this season toward the poor and the homeless and those who are alone. We see families come together and the treasuries of willing charities and ministries receiving abundant blessings. We see some genuine forgiveness. We see people sitting down to rest, and thinking about something other than generating products and services. More important than the fact of whether the Lord came forth on this very day is the fact that His principles come forth in good measure. The biblical message in part is transmitted in carols, films, TV, school plays and the like. If one wants to be cynical in the first place Christmas is as good a target as anything else we have, but it really doesn’t deserve the occasional bad press that it gets.

And speaking of Bethlehem, we’ll be going there, and elsewhere in the Promised Land, with our ministers very shortly. The Ministers Tour for 1985 will be February 23–March 4. If you want to send your minister this is the time to do it. Let us know at once as places are very strictly limited on these interesting training tours of Israel.

And for all the rest of you we can extend a cordial invitation to our summer land and sea tours June 2–16 and July 12–26. We haven’t printed our brochures just yet but there seems to be very good news about next summer’s trips. We have been able to add an extra day and keep the same price as last summer. All the figures aren’t in but it looks like we will be at $2999 just as in the summer of 1984, but we’ll have 15 days abroad. And the best part is that the extra day is a cruise day at sea, featuring two more of those gorgeous Greek islands. If you’re contemplating going on either summer tour, a good idea is to apply for your passport immediately. This document is not particularly expensive and is universally accepted for identifi­cation. It’s good for 10 years and can be renewed for a nominal fee. Even if you don’t go, it’s a handy thing to have, and if you do, you’ll avoid the summer rush. Bear in mind that you can’t go without a passport.

Touring is financially supportive to this ministry as well as spiritually important. But more to the point is your giving and I want to thank you for it over this past year. As 1984 draws to a close we are overwhelmed by your kindness and all that you have permitted us to do on your behalf. This has been a good year. We have opened up many broadcasting outlets and are reaching new audiences. We made the Seven Feasts of Israel programs and you received them graciously and supported them generously. While we had our difficult moments in terms of finances, the overall performance of the ministry was most encouraging. Lives were rededicated, people were saved.

I won’t spend pages telling you what your year-end giving means to us. Our aim is to put aside enough money to make a wonderful new series of programs in Israel next summer. No matter how many subjects we teach from the studio, there’s nothing like showing the Holy Land in all its glory. A series of high quality television programs filmed over there is good for you, good for future viewers, and good for Israel. It’s our prime undertaking but it’s becoming difficult to do economically. Please help us on this. I know you won’t be disappointed.

Please know that we receive no benefits from telethons on the networks or local stations that bring you our program. We are all in favor of these sister ministries receiving your support, but we pay our own way and your gift must come directly to us for it to help us. As a matter of fact, we are often pre-empted by telethons and forgotten in this season, so we suffer in two ways.

I pray that you and your families will honor our Lord in special ways this season and in turn be richly blessed.

Our love and prayers,