EDMOND—Each week, about 10,000 pieces of literature flow out of the Philadelphia Church of God Mail Processing Center to addresses across the globe. Those numbers are increasing as more people view the Key of David program, subscribe to the Trumpet, and visit pcg websites. Dozens of people are involved in producing, promoting and distributing the pcg’s literature, but almost all of this literature passes through the hands of a small group of people working inside the mpc’s fulfillment room: the mpc volunteers.
The full-time staff members and part-time student employees of the mail department rely on these volunteers to help with packing books, booklets, magazines, dvds, audio book cds and Herbert W. Armstrong Bible Correspondence Course lessons into envelopes, bundle them, and send them off to subscribers and pcgmembers in every state as well as multiple countries around the world.
The mpc begins to buzz on Tuesday mornings as the reinforcements arrive on the scene to pack the latest orders from a recent Key of David program or Trumpet issue. Working an average of three to six hours, along with the help of a few Herbert W. Armstrong College students, the volunteers pack around 3,000 orders each day.
Local member Delsia Coats is the mpc’s longest-serving volunteer; after moving to Edmond in 2003, she began volunteering in 2004, the same year construction was completed on the mpc. She and her husband, retired campus chef Willie Coats, formerly served at Ambassador College’s Big Sandy campus, where he served in Food Services and she worked in the call center.
“What I enjoy most is seeing the response of the people and spending time with the volunteers that come in from other areas. I know that I am working for people who God might be calling,” she said. In addition to volunteering, Coats also enjoys art and oil painting.
Shortly after volunteer Nancy Hensley moved from Indiana to Edmond, she had the opportunity to help pack the first shipments of Pastor General Gerald Flurry’s book The Last Hour in 2004. Hensley, who also used to volunteer at the old headquarters office in downtown Edmond, recalls that visit as one of her fondest memories, motivating her to join the regular volunteer team in 2009. Hensley is considered to be the fastest packer by the other volunteers. Apart from volunteering, she likes to devote her time to yard work and tending to her flower gardens.
Former Wisconsin member Don Diesner joined the team in 2010. He moved to Edmond in 2009, originally serving as a campus security volunteer. He enjoys entertaining his co-workers and is known for his optimism and diligence, as well as his repertoire of one-liners. Diesner is a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Since moving from Kansas to Edmond with her husband in 2004, volunteer Patricia Prichard has been helping the Work in the mpc.
“I remember when I had problems and needed God’s literature,” she said. “I enjoy packing because I know where it is going and that the people are getting the literature that they need.” Prichard also enjoys spending time in libraries, reading history in particular.
Former California member Robert Harmon and his wife, Samantha, began volunteering in 2009, three years after moving to Edmond. Apart from helping with literature fulfillment, Mr. Harmon reads and records material onto audio cds for the visually-impaired and handicapped. Mrs. Harmon continues to help fulfill orders. Apart from volunteering, they both enjoy knitting clothing accessories and other miscellaneous items.
Volunteer Claudia Smith began helping around 2010. When she’s not at the mpc, she likes reading history and learning how it coincides with Bible prophecy.
Originally from Gardner, Massachusetts, member Nancy Holden moved to pcg headquarters in July 2012 after the death of her husband. She said she was motivated by Mr. Flurry’s admonition to become more immersed in the Work after a spouse dies.
“As a single, I came here to support the Work in a way that I could not as a married woman. If you can’t get the work done one way, you get it done in another way,” she said. Apart from her volunteer work, Holden dedicates her time to organic gardening and raising birds.
“The volunteers serving in the mpc provide an invaluable service,” mail operations director Mark Saranga said. “Over the years we’ve seen God provide the help needed to meet the growing demand. Without the help of the volunteers, we couldn’t do what we’re doing—supporting Mr. Flurry, the Key of David program and the Trumpet magazine in proclaiming God’s written message. Though they’re volunteering, they treat their work in the mpclike a full-time job. Their example is inspiring.”
Each week, the volunteers pack about 18 to 24 bulk mailings, a total weight of about 2,000 pounds. Their services combine to equal over 200 volunteer hours each month. The pre-sorted mailings that they pack save work for the United States Post Office, which in turn gives the Church a discounted rate for the mailings.
From there, hwac college students and pcgstaff carry the 45-pound sacks out of the mpcwarehouse and drive them to the post office to be delivered to their destinations around the world.
“We do everything the U.S. Postal Service allows in order to gain all the discounts available,” Saranga said. “On average, the discounts are 60 to 80 percent off of media mail or first-class postage rates, which saves God’s Work hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.”