Vol. 37 No. 38 - I AM the Witness

Vol. 37 No. 38 - I AM the Witness - September 18, 1994

I AM the Witness

Building Bridges with the Royal Teton Ranch News

Dear RTR News Staff:

Since reading the first issue of the Royal Teton Ranch News in July 1993, I have been meaning to write to say how much our entire family enjoys this publication. In fact, we can scarcely wait for the next monthly issue to arrive. The articles are fun to read, informative, well written, and a great tool for breaking down barriers within families and friendships.

To date, we have sent out thirty-seven sets (July through December) to relatives and friends in California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, Indiana, Arizona, and the state of Washington—even to a couple in Mexico.

We were amazed at the change in attitude demonstrated by family and friends on our recent trip to California. The change was stark! The people were so much more relaxed and friendly toward us—it was truly amazing. The only thing we can think of that would have made such a difference (in this recent trip versus annual trips in the past few years) is the RTR News.

We enclosed a personal letter with each set that we sent out, which was a tremendous task—and expense—but so worth all the effort. In these personal letters we assured all the folks that they were not obligated to respond in any way unless they wanted to—that we were sending them the RTR News to let them know the truth about our Church versus what they may have read in the press or heard or seen on television, in particular on Dan Rather’s “48 Hours” show.

Out of all we sent, only one set was returned—by a cousin in Colorado, with no word attached. Many, especially family members, stated that they thought the articles were very interesting. One couple (who do not attend any church) stated in a letter that they hoped we would soon be able to build our Church—which was amazing coming from this couple, whose lives center around the golf course.

After sending out the first four issues to our daughter’s ex-inlaws, we received a letter from them thanking us for the articles but stating that we need not send any more. That amount of restraint coming from them was also amazing. A few folks stated that they wondered when the peoples of the world would finally be able to tolerate different religions and views. And many (mostly fundamentalist Christians) stated that what was done in Waco, Texas, was wrong and should never have occurred.

One of the most amazing changes in attitude, which may or may not be due to receiving the RTR News, seems to be in our daughter’s ex-husband, pertaining in particular to the child they bore together. On more than one past occasion, this man has made headlines in the Spokane newspaper regarding his fears of the Church—most recently, during the Waco fiasco last year. However, his attitude during recent phone conversations with our daughter regarding the child has been amazingly conciliatory—even friendly. This tops all the miracles mentioned above!

I apologize for this lengthy letter, but I just could not tell the story of the positive effects the RTR News has had in our relationships with family members and friends in fewer words.

God bless all of you who serve the Masters in the capacity of getting out the RTR News each month. Keep them coming!

Sincerely,

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