On Feb. 25, 1981, at what he termed a “congress” of leading United States ministers conducted in the Ambassador College Recital Hall, Mr. Armstrong announced the resignation of Stanley Rader, Treasurer of the Worldwide Church of God. By this time the unsubstantiated legal attack by the attorney general of California was concluded and Mr. Rader’s desire to return to his private legal practice had become a reality.

Mr. Armstrong chose to print that announcement in the March 6 edition of the Worldwide News, a regular publication of news of the work for Church members. In that same edition he printed a lengthy review of what he described as 1) “a crisis at the close,” 2) “a dynamic stepping up in the intensity of God’s Work,” and 3) the organization and government of the Church of God.”

He featured a picture of a large organizational diagram illustrating the top-down government in heaven under God as Head of all and Christ as Head of the Church. The Church is the organized spiritual organism under God’s apostle with the great commission to deliver God’s gospel and warning message to the world. Flowing from Christ, the physical head on Earth was God’s apostle; supporting him was the advisory council of elders, followed by the varying levels of God’s ministry. Below that he showed the support services of incorporation, corporation sole, Ambassador College, and Ambassador International Cultural Foundation.

One month later, Mr. Armstrong followed up that Worldwide News issue with a powerful rebuttal of a proposal for the establishment of a new and costly area of God’s Work.

“A 22-page typed proposal has been submitted to me as a preliminary outline for a more in-depth study suggesting the organization of an ‘Armstrong Peace Foundation.’ The proposal was written and submitted by Mr. Stanley R. Rader.

“Mr. Rader’s expertise and assistance to me and to the Work have been, of course, in the supportive, nonspiritual areas of accounting, computerized data processing, finance, law, contacts with heads of this world’s governments in being knowledgeable in world political and economic conditions. This proposal envisions a new worldwide organization that could run into a considerable magnitude. Its purpose: to reorient the coming generations of the nature of the world’s problems, and to provide a more workable solution to those problems than the world so far has accomplished.

“I will say, however, that I should not want to appear to glorify myself by naming it after me. There have, as you know, been many attempts of men, sincere and well meaning, to bring about world peace. All have failed utterly. Perhaps this peace foundation might do better than the Kellogg Peace Treaty, Woodrow Wilson’s League of Nations, or the United Nations. But should we not ask: Is this God’s solution to world troubles and world war? Is this what the living Christ wants us, His people, to do? It is well written in scholarly language. Read it and see what you think.”

The lengthy proposal began with an introductory review of “The World Crisis” in light of the industrialized Western world, post World War ii “Atlantic community,” and “special relationship” espoused by Britain and the United States.

Then, “The Challenge” was outlined where the author suggested, “I believe an ‘Armstrong Peace Foundation’ has an historic opportunity to play a major role in the reorientation of humanity toward a new understanding of the causes of the world’s problems.

“I believe there is a need for this particular foundation because the aicf (Ambassador International Cultural Foundation) addresses itself to somewhat different spheres; the two foundations I envisage would, support, complement and supplement each other’s efforts wherever possible, but retain their special identities.”

The recommended “Fields of Activity” included hosting conferences, meetings and seminars; publication of study papers targeting certain groups; use of the media to promote statements relating to family and the world; production and distribution of educational materials for families; the provision of facilities for events conducted under the foundation’s leadership; and joint ventures with other like-minded groups, especially with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Proposed “Foundation Activities” featured:

1. Basic research in the field of education conducted by regional teams located in the United States, British Commonwealth and Europe.
2. Conferences based on the foundation’s research, conducted in the location of the regional teams at elite universities and feature Mr. Armstrong as keynote speaker.
3. Educational follow-up with the media, community leaders, and educators, providing them articles, books, magazines and audio-visual promotional items. These in turn would be the basis for featured newspaper and magazine articles, along with radio and television interviews.
4. Interchanges to provide feedback from the public in publications, promotions and conferences.
5. Awards and prizes for those who promote the foundation’s aims whether local, statewide, regional or worldwide. Certificates, plaques, and monetary grants would be presented as the “Armstrong Prize,” with formality and media promotion.
6. International exchanges of scholars, educators, students and families who have attended foundation meetings, seminars and conferences.
7. Foundational centers purchased in Washington, D.C., New York, the United Kingdom and Europe as the home bases for conferences of peoples from low- or high-echelon in an effort to create and foster trust in the international community.

In conclusion, the proposal recommended a year-long “feasibility study” and a yet-to-be determined budget. The lengthy suggestion prompted Mr. Armstrong to review the “limited extent” of aicf projects and seek the input of the advisory council of elders.

He then recounted what he termed the ”limited” cooperation with “well-intentioned world leaders.” First was the project with the king of Thailand for portable educational schools servicing citizens in the remote mountains. The king later told Mr. Armstrong the literacy project had eliminated 90 percent of the opium trade in which the illiterate peoples were enslaved.

Next he recalled, “In Israel we have excavated in the area of the ancient throne of King David, preparing the way for Christ’s throne over the Earth. The Mt. Sinai project has resulted from Prime Minister Menachem Begin giving that region back to Egypt, after President Anwar Sadat had, at great personal risk and peril, declared peace by going in person to Israel despite the wrath of the Arab world.

“These men encouraged God’s way of outflowing love toward neighbor, enabling me to proclaim that as God’s way to millions. Yet in so doing we did not try to do ourselves that which only Christ can, and will soon do! It only helped me proclaim Christ’s soon coming to bring us world peace, as the ‘Prince of Peace.’

“True, these projects we have supported in a limited manner are the projects of carnal-minded men, and secular activities. The sole value to the Work of God in our participation is in giving leverage to proclaim Christ’s gospel to more millions of people, and to encourage noted examples of world leaders in doing God’s way now, even though the world will not.

“I feel that many of our brethren have not fully understood some of these limited secular projects of the aicf. Besides, the aicf has given me a prestige and standing in the eyes of world leaders making possible the spreading of Christ’s gospel! We are called to take Christ’s message to the unconverted secular world. Yet we are forbidden to be of the secular world. That precludes us from entering on such a project as outlined.

“We will honor all actual commitments made through the aicf. But we cannot, of course, start a project ourselves in which we, as humans for the benefit of coming generations, will try to correct the world’s evils, solve its problems and bring in world peace. That is going to require two things: 1) Get rid of Satan the devil, and 2) change human nature. Only Christ can do that.

“God has called me to proclaim God’s way, call the world to repent of transgressing that way and proclaim the coming soon (in this generation) of Jesus Christ in supreme power and glory. Then, with Satan gone, He will do what we are not called to do, change human nature. Instead of imbibing Satan’s nature of ”get” and self-love and vanity and hostile competition, people will begin to be partakers of the divine nature!”

Today, God continues to direct His Heavenly Work through Christ. While on Earth, God’s apostle leads under that same divine patten of top-down government that Mr. Armstrong reiterated over 30 years ago (Revelation 3:7-8).

The primary commission of warning the world by “prophesying again” continues through The Key of David and the Trumpet (Revelation 10:11). While a worldwide ministry serves in support of the secondary commission to “feed God’s flock” (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).

One of the support services that has been revived is Armstrong International Cultural Foundation (Amos 9:11). The non-profit, humanitarian arm sponsored by the Church is headquartered on the campus of another support service of God’s Work, Herbert W. Armstrong College.

The two-pronged concept behind all of the foundation’s goals and activities is: “1) that man is a unique being, possessing vast mental, physical and spiritual potentials—the development of which should be aided and encouraged, and 2) that it is the responsibility of all men to attend to and care for the needs of their fellow men, a precept professed by the vast majority of religions of the world—appropriately summed up in three biblical words: ‘Love thy neighbor’” (This Is the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation).

As in the Philadelphia era, the foundation continues in this final seventh era as a beacon of light in a world of darkness. This avenue of blessed giving requires our steadfast prayerful and financial support (Acts 20:35). Wherever we are located, we all contribute to the archaeological projects in the Middle East, youth education around the world, and performing arts featuring the best of the human spirit in the beautiful Armstrong Auditorium.

How honored we are to have a part in God’s great Work hastening the time of an everlasting foundation for peace. Tomorrow’s world will become today’s when, as John wrote in Revelation 11:15, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”