As we go forward, it is good to take a look back to see where we have been, what we have accomplished and what has not yet been done. The year 2008 was in many ways a "banner year" for the Living Church of God, and one way in which this was reflected was the amazing growth in income—13.69 percent above 2007—for which we are grateful, as it allowed the Work to expand and more effectively carry out the mission of the Church.
Considering that by the end of 2008 the United States' economy had already begun its downward spiral, this was a phenomenal rate of growth—and it certainly demonstrates the deep dedication our members and co-workers have toward the Work that God has given us to do.
Another major factor in the substantial increase was the large number of special offerings—including one large estate donation— that were received throughout the year, above and beyond tithes and Holy Day offerings.
In 2008, the Living Church of God spent approximately $6.2 million— 47.8 percent of its total income— to preach the Gospel. Another $5.9 million—45.3 percent— went toward feeding the flock. Administrative expenses, $900,000, accounted for 6.9 percent of spending.
One significant development during 2008 was our airing the Tomorrow's World telecast on the Black Entertainment Television network, through which we were able to reach a potential audience of 88 million households. Despite an early morning time-slot, the program averaged more than 500 literature request responses per week over the 13 months it aired on BET. The network, however, was a very costly venue for the telecast, and by mid-2009 God had opened up other doors allowing the Work to proclaim the "Ezekiel warning" on television even more cost-effectively on other stations.
Another television milestone during 2008 was our securing time on stations in two huge Texas markets: Houston and Dallas.
An ongoing project throughout 2008 was readying our television production for the new digital format mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. To meet the requirements of the digital format, and to prepare for high-definition television programming, the Work had to outfit a new studio, build a new set, and upgrade tens of thousands of dollars in video and sound equipment as well as digital editing suites.
Here, as in so many other areas of the Work, God clearly opened a door that has provided major benefits to the Work. We had long realized the limitations of our old television studio—it was right above the warehouse from which our Mail Processing Department prepares, sends and receives large (and often noisy) shipments daily, and its comparatively low ceiling restricted what could be done with overhead lighting.
While we were considering how best to remodel the studio, putting together figures to "count the cost" of our options, we learned that a 5,000-square-foot building, two doors west of the HQ building, had just come on the market. We were excited to find that this building had a spacious 40x60 room in the rear, with 16-foot ceilings—an excellent configuration for the kind of television studio space we needed!
But could we afford the new building? Working with our bankers, we had the HQ building appraised, and we discovered that its value had appreciated considerably since we purchased it in 2003. This increase in equity allowed us to purchase and remodel the new building, and also to pay off the mortgage on the townhouse we purchased several years ago to house HQ visitors.
Of course, once the building was purchased, work had to be done to make it ready for our use. We engaged an architect to guide the remodeling process and assist us in working with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission to obtain the needed permits, some of which seemed arbitrary and even onerous at times. For example, one agency insisted that we would need to add bicycle racks in front of the building, though eventually it was determined that we did not need to. Zoning changes required the addition of new parking spaces that we expect will rarely if ever be used. Once permits were received and our plans approved, we were able to begin the renovation process shortly after the Feast of Tabernacles. Construction continued into early 2009. What a joy it was, last February, when Dr. Meredith was able to gather together with the staff and say a prayer of dedication, committing the building to God's service, and asking for His blessing and inspiration on all the activities to be carried out within. By the time you read this article, many of you will have watched the first telecast taped and edited in the new building, which aired in mid-May.
The Church Administration Department also experienced significant growth in 2008. During this very busy year, seven full-time and four part-time ministers were hired. Certainly we still have manpower needs that are not yet met, but the Work is pursuing long-term plans and goals in order to meet those needs.
Of course, the need to preach the Gospel and feed the flock does not diminish even in the face of severe economic downturn. As of May 12, the Work's 2009 daily income was just 1.1 percent above what it was on that date in 2008. With growth in the Work, and uncertainty in the economy, this poses serious challenges to those entrusted with the responsibility of managing Church funds. We continue to seek economies and reductions in expense wherever feasible, while continuing faithfully to carry out our mission, to preach the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as a witness, and then to feed the flock whom God calls in response to that message.
As one tool of responsible fiscal stewardship, the Church each year undergoes an independent audit. On pages 11–18 of this issue, you will see the auditors' report for calendar year 2008. The auditors issued an "unqualified" opinion, which simply means that their opinion is not "qualified" by any uncertainties or reservations. As part of their report, they recommended some routine items on which we can improve, and we will be implementing those recommendations in due course.
You will notice in the audit report that some of the Church's investments fared worse than others during the economic downturn at the end of 2008. Our cash reserves were not adversely affected, but the small portion invested in equities—predominantly in natural resources such as oil, silver and gold—did go down. Thankfully, those equities have to a large extent rebounded as of mid-2009.
In his May-June 2009 Living Church News editorial, "The Purpose for God's Church," Dr. Meredith reminded us of the Church's mission, which he described as follows:
- Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and the true name of Jesus Christ.
- Preach the end-time prophecies and the Ezekiel warning to the Israelitish peoples.
- Feed the flock and build all our members to the stature of Jesus Christ as best we can.
- Be examples to the Church of God, and to the world, of Christ's way of life.
- Learn and practice Servant Leadership in all our dealings with others.
- Restore Apostolic Christianity and all that this implies.
- Build an atmosphere of radiant faith within God's Church.
As we go forward, Dr. Meredith and the Headquarters staff are carefully reviewing all expenses in every area of the Work, to ensure that they are reasonable and necessary for carrying out our mission.
We hope that this brief recap of our 2008 activities, and the accompanying 2008 audit report, will encourage you That we are striving to live by the words of the Apostle Paul when he wrote, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).