OF THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD VOL. XI, NO. 9 PASADENA, CALIFORNIA MAY 2, 1983 Peking National Acrobats make exclusive Pasadena appearance By Thomas C. Hanson in the 19505. They range in age from was a stopover on the way to Cana­ PASADENA - The Peking 18 to 50. An average day includes da, the performance was allowed to National Acrobats performed be­ six hou rsoftraining. take place. fore ascllout crowd in the Ambassa­ The acrobatic performance took The C hinese troupe received dor College Audi torium April 21, place amid strains in C hinese-U.S. U.s. visas just three days before the group's on ly pe rformance in the relations after the United States their April 16 departure, according Uni ted States, according 10 evange­ granted asylum to 20-year-old C hi­ to Richard Liu. executive director list Elli s La Ravia. vice president of nese tennis s tar Hu Na, who of the Chinese-Canadian C ultural the Ambassador Foundation. defected last summer. C hina Association, who along with John The group left the next day for an responded by canceling official cul­ Dyck, a Church member and execu­ eight-week tour of Canada. tural and athletic exchanges with tive director of the McPherson Acts included 12 people on a this country. Foundation of Victoria, B.C., bicycle, two women juggling Since the performance was not arranged the tour. umbrellas and carpets with thei r government sponsored and because After the Auditorium appear­ feet, balancing on a stationary bicy­ the appearance at the Auditorium ance Pasadena mayor Loretta cle on a platform and an act where a G lickman and Bee Canterbury Lav­ woman used her feet to putastackof ery, chi ef of protocol from the office bowls on her head while standing on of Los Angeles, Calif., mayor Tom one hand on another acrobat's head. Bradley, made presentations to the '" have never seen such a spectac­ group . The acrobatic troupe ular. and at times breathtaking, per­ responded with gifts to the two cit­ formanceby any acrobats .. It was ies. an incredible feat to behold," said At a reception in the lower lobby evangeli st Raymond F. McNair, (See ACROBATS, page 3) Pasadena Ambassador College dep­ uty chancellor. "A performance like this en­ hances the Work's reputation and credibility with the People's Repub­ Church lic of China," said Mr. La Ravia. Known in C hina as the C hina Railway Acrobatic Troupe, the names group divides in to smaller groups to perform in railway towns there. In addition to traveling throughout China the group makes internation­ Feast site BALANCING ACT....:.... Members of the Peking National Acrobats from the al tours. It is supported by the Min­ PASADENA - The Festival People's Republic of Chin a perform April 19 for Pasadena Ambassador istryof Railway T ransport. Team a nnounced April 15 that College students and faculty, Imperi al Schools students and faculty, and Some of the acrobats have been Sacramento, the capital of Califor­ guests in the college gymnasium. (Photo by Craig Clark] with the group since it was formed nia, will replace Squaw Valley. Calif., as a Feast si te for 1983. Services will take place at the 'Phenomenal' response from brethren Sacramento Community Conven­ tion Center. The site, approved by Pastor General Herbert W . Armstrong, is HWA speaks in Tucson, Arizona in the heart of northern California, wi th the wine counties of Napa and Sonoma within a one-hour drive. TUCSON, Ariz. - After an north." fillment of prophecy," Mr. Neff CHINESE PERFORMANCE - San Francisco is 90 miles (144 absence of more than three years. Evangeli st Leroy Neff, Church said, referrin g to Isaiah 40:9-10. Members of the Peking National kilometers) to the west, Lake Tahoe Pastor General Herbert W. Arm­ treasurer. updated the brethren on "He also spoke of the Elij ah com­ Acrobats perform in the Pasadena 104 mi les (166 kilometers) east and strong returned here to address the financial condition o f the mission and the minister's responsi ­ Ambassador College gymnasium Los Angeles 385 miles (616 kilome­ 1, 200 brethren in the Rincon High Church and gave a sermoneUe on bi li ty to help and teach the brethren April 19. The troupe gave an exclu­ ters) to the south. Sacramento was School Auditorium Apri l 23. sowi ng bounti full y, before Mr. in their local churches," the Tucson sive public performance in the the gateway to Old California after according to Larry Neff, pastor of Armstrong's sermon. pastor continued. Ambassador Audito rium April 2 1. the 1849 Gold Rush. the Tucson c hurch. Mr. Armstrong then spoke about (See TUCSON, page 31 (Photo by Craig Clark] I n Old Sacramento cobblestone "It was sort of like a 'homecom­ an hour and 45 minutes on " the streets are lined with reconstructed ing' for the brethren here, as Mr. C hurch that nobody knows," the historic buildings and wooden side­ A rmstrong frequentlyspokeat Tuc­ Tucson pastor said. "He showed the walks shaded by overhanging galler­ son services when he lived here." difference between God's C hurch ies. Mr. Neffsaid. and other churches." Trip mementos displayed Restoring the Ravor of an early Brethren from the Tucson, Phoe­ Mr. Neff added that the sermon California Gold R ush town, this 28- nix East and West, Mesa, Flagstaff was an o ppor tu ni ty to preach acre riverfront area offers some­ and Prescott, Ariz., churches com­ C hrist's Gaspe!. as the audience thing for everyone, with more than prised the capacity audience, wi th included a newspaper reporte r. in Hall of Administration 200 shops, five museums, daytime some members traveling from as far "It was a powerfu l and cogent tours and 27 restaurants. away as EI Paso. Tex., to hear the add ress .. he heavily emphasized By Aa ron Dean items presented as tokens or Here you can dine at an ori gin al pastor general. that there is only one true C hurch of PASADENA - At the personal mementos marking the occasion. fire station or a 19th-century bank "The response of the brethren God," Mr. Neff continued. "He lat­ request of Pastor General Herbert T he cases also display gifts and vault, eat ribs underneath the origi­ was really phenomena!." Mr. Neff er talked about how members of W . Armstrong. four glass-paned awards given to Mr. Armstrong by nal city or sample Mexican food at a continued. " I believe their enthu­ these other churches will eventuall y display cases were placed in the east officials and dignitaries of cou ntries tortilla factory - all amid the Chi­ siasm for Mr. Armstrong was clear­ have an opportunity to understand area of the ground Roor in the Pasa­ around the worl d. nese inRuence on the Transconti­ Iy man ifested in the efforts of the God's truth, and that eventuall y dena campus' Hall of Administra­ Mr. Armstrong asked that the nental Railroad. people to altend." most wi ll actually be saved." tion. gifts be di splayed to share with In 1863 workers broke ground in He added th at he was impressed The 1,200 brethren applauded thousands or campus vis itors a taste Sacramento for laying the first whcn hearrived an hour and 10 min­ the pastor general before his sermon Aaron Dean, a local elder, or Church life and quali ty. In glass tracks of the transcontinental rail­ utes before serviccs to find that and gave him a standing ovat ion serves as Pastor General Her­ cases across the campus mall in the road. signaling one of the great many of the brethren had already afterward . Mr. Armstrong then berl W. Armstrong's personal college student center, guests can achievements in American history. arrived. "People wanted to make walked to a classroom to address 38 aide. often view dozens of cards and let­ In Sacramento are two elaborate su re they heard Mr. Armstrong," ministers and wives. ters written to Mr. Armstrong from rail road buildings. In the Passenger he said . In hi s 45-minute talk. the pastor The display cases were con­ the various Summer Educational Stalion, destination call s join the "The Tucson area is one of the general spoke at length about the st ructed by craftsmen from the Programs (SEP), c hurches and hiss of steam engines. Recon­ Church areas that Mr. Armstrong C hurch's opportunity to preach the Church's carpentry shop to promi­ brethren around the world. structed waiting rooms, a ticket had not yet visited in hi s series of Gospel over Jordanian telev ision nently display the gifts and items Mr. Armstrong is sent as a repre­ office and a baggage room can be ch urch visits," said Aaron Dean. the (sec"M r. Armstrong's Programs to presented to Mr. Armstrong during sentative of God's C hurch an nounc­ viewed. pastor general's personal aide. "He Be Shown on Jordanian TV," WN, hi s Church visits and world travels. ing the coming Kingdom of God. As The Building of Rai lroad His­ prefers visiting areas to speak in the AprilS). "He was quite e:(ci ted On his visits to church areas in the an ambassador for peace, gifts arc tory, billed as the world's largest or so uthern United States while the about re<lching the Jewish people past three years, the pastor general presented to Mr. Armst rong its type. contai ns historic locomo­ weat her is still col d and damp in the with the Gospel and the possible ful- has often received handcra fted (See MEMENTOS, page 3) (See FEAST SI TE.