PTM has a "Plain Truth Ministries Partner Newsletter" and it is authored by Greg Albrecht, the host of Plain Truth Commentary. Albrecht has been noted to have a voice that sounds almost identical to Hank Hanegraaff of the Bible Answer Man. His voice over the years has even become slower (like Hank's) since he was first interviewed on the BAM in 1996.² (Hank Hanegraaff was PR man for the Worldwide Church of God.)

The only address that Greg Albrecht gives at the end of the weekly Plain Truth Commentary radio program (along with the website and a toll free number), is PTM, Pasadena³, 91129. The Plain Truth Commentary (a.k.a. Plain Truth Radio) and Plain Truth magazine are affiliated with the Worldwide Church of God. In fact, Greg Albrecht is WCG Media Director.⁴

It is evident that Worldwide Church of God likes to hold onto the word "Plain"--Plain Truth magazine, Plain Truth Ministries, Plain Truth Commentary, and Plain Truth Ministries Partner Newsletter. Could it be because members are used to this word since Herbert W. Armstrong first started using it? Looking past the new evangelical jargon, it is easy to see that the writing style in these magazines and newsletters is still somewhat reminiscent of the way WCG wrote under "reformer" Joseph Tkach Sr.--which can sometimes be a rather crude, in your face, manner. 

To give some examples, some of following appeared in the April 2004 PTM Partner Newsletter (all bolding ours):

"The cross of Christ and his empty tomb call us out of the gutter of human passion, lust, greed, envy, competition and vanity."

Herbert W. Armstrong was known to talk about the "vanity, jealousy, lust and greed" of the human heart. The above is very similar talk.

To go on: 

"He [Christ] alone can save us from the bitterness, divisiveness, animosity and hatred that so characterize our world." 

Is he talking about everyone in the world, or trying to make the reader feel the world is a dangerous place? This also sounds more like something Herbert W. Armstrong would blare out, except HWA would re-word it slightly using the words "the true gospel" in place of "He."

This entire newsletter could have been picked apart to show how we find exception with much of its implications, but we want to touch on only certain things. 

Strangely, some of the sentences in this PTM newsletter sounds almost macabre and fearful (perhaps with occultic undertones?) Notice the following:

"Considering one path you see the tombstones of now dead and buried travelers who chose that route. They died deep within the woods without ever being rescued."

"Standing in the road several hundred feet from you is Someone saying, “Follow me. I know the way. I will lead you out!"

While relating a Greek novel called The Greek Passion, Albrecht writes tells about several things that are quite disturbing, three of which we will quote:

"During the service the man who was chosen to play Judas stabs the shepherd boy to death."

"...murdering and butchering Greeks in bloody atrocities."

"...made him touch the corpses of dead men."

More on the "dark forests":

We can get out of the deep and dark forests of our lives where we are lost without hope because Jesus knows the way.

"...the Author and Finisher of our faith to lead them out of the forest and through the valley of the shadow of death.

Doesn't this sound like it is saying that Jesus will lead Christians out of one dark forest and then through another dark valley? The valley of shadow of death, according to the Scriptures, refers to death.

"Every spring we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus because it is the great event in history that proves God is more powerful than all of the forces of darkness and death."

For those looking for a more refreshing ministry, sound in doctrine, and with an emphasis on the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we recommend Thru the Bible Radio Network with messages from the late J. Vernon McGee. He goes through the entire Word of God in five years, alternating between the O.T. and the N.T. (broadcast in over 100 languages and dialects).

By A. W.
Exit & Support Network™
April 3, 2004 

NOTE & UPDATE: Plain Truth Ministries Worldwide (PTM) was formed in May 1996 as an affiliated corporation of the Worldwide Church of God." (See OIU Newsletter, Vol. 6, Pt. 2) Mike Feazell noted that Plain Truth Ministries, which broadcasts The Plain Truth Commentary and offers Plain Truth magazine, is a "WCG spin-off." (News Watch Column of the Christian Research Journal, vol. 28, No 6, 2005). When WCG HQ moved from Pasadena to Glendora, CA in 2004, PTM didn't make that move with them, as there was disagreement over the rent that PTM would be required to pay in the new facility. 

In 2005 The Plain Truth Commentary began running a tag line at the end of their broadcast in various areas which said their program was sponsored by such and such church in the local vicinity and then the pastor's phone number was given. (WCG Today, July/August 2005) This church was none other than a Worldwide Church of God congregation which paid for half the cost of the broadcast. However, the name "Worldwide Church of God" was never mentioned as part of the name of the church. Evidently PTM did not want others to know that they have been affiliated with WCG, or that Albrecht is known as WCG Media Director.  [Note: In Feb. 2005 The Worldwide News in the United States changed its name to WCG Today. In May 2006 it was changed to Together.]

Footnotes:

¹ C. S. Lewis - Why So Popular Among Evangelicals? (disturbing elements about C. S. Lewis' beliefs) and The Occult Side of C. S. Lewis. [offsite links]

² The dates when Greg Albrecht, Joseph Tkach and Michael Feazell were interviewed on the Bible Answer Man are as follows: 1-4-96; 1-12-96;11-28-97; 11-19-97; 2-7-97. Greg Albrecht alone was interviewed on the program on 5-1-98. WCG's "doctrinal change on the Trinity" was announced on the Bible Answer Man on 5-5-94. [Tapes with ESN]

³ In November 2004 the Worldwide Church of God moved its headquarters from Pasadena to Glendora, California. (Pasadena Star-News, October 25, 2004) Read letter to ESN concerning this. By May 2006 all their offices were moved to Glendora. (Together May-June 2006). In 2006 they were considering a name change. (Read: Worldwide Church of God is Changing Their Name) In April 2009 Worldwide Church of God changed their name in the United States to Grace Communion International. 

⁴ Noted on the 2004 Called to Be Free Video/DVD.

Called to Be Free (is it Truth or Only More Worldwide Church of God Propaganda?)  (Greg Albrecht is one of the speakers on this Video/DVD)

Letter to Worldwide Church of God, Philippines (On Apostasy--A Radical Proposal) (Reveals the disturbing direction WCG is headed doctrinally; includes New Age authors WCG has endorsed. This Oct. 2006 letter was later forwarded to over 300 WCG ministers, including those at Headquarters. Includes link to a rebuttal to Michael Morrison.)

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