Explaining God's Signs and Wonders

• ¹ What a remarkable day to be alive, when Jehovah has provided visible signs and wonders for all to see!—Jer. 32: 20.

• ² Are you engaged in magnifying Jehovah’s name by explaining his sighs and wonders? What better way could there be to do so than by offering the Watchtower subscription to everyone we meet. If you still have Resolution calls to make, start with these. Publishers throughout the country report excellent results from these calls, often placing subscriptions and starting studies at two or three homes in as many hours. Be sure to follow through on everyone on your list. After you have made your Resolution calls, then present the subscription offer from house to house.

• ³ Are you individually meeting your subscription quota? There are numerous possibilities and we want to follow through on them all. For example, have you offered the Watchtower subscription at each home where you conduct a study? Be sure they have opportunity to receive its benefits. When a householder says he may take the subscription later, do you make out the subscription slip right then and make a date to call back to make final arrangements? Try it. Are you calling on all not-at-homes? When someone shows interest but says he does not have the money for a subscription, offer it for six months. Use the foreign-language editions of The Watchtower. It is now available in fifty-three languages. If you have varied nationalities in your territory, carry samples of the magazine in their language and show them. Sometimes they want them not only for themselves but for relatives as well. When congregation servants receive expiration slips from the Society, they should make sure that these calls are cared for right away. Renew interest by giving a sermon, then offer the subscription. Special activity should also be arranged for those who have a few days off for Easter. Make this your best Watchtower campaign yet.

Bible Studies

• ⁴ Our ministry is not simply to obtain subscriptions, but to help others to become praisers of Jehovah. Keep this in mind as you call from house to house. If the interest is there and the householder is willing to spend the time, start a study on that first call. Do it whenever possible. In the case of others, arrange to call back soon. As you present the back-call sermon be alert to opportunities to bridge over to the literature. It may require only a scripture or two of introduction before they are. ready. At other times it may be necessary to give the entire sermon before introducing the study. Be alert to adapt your pres-

OFFER FOR MARCH

> “Watchtower” subscription for one ¹ year and three booklets for $1. I THEME FOR MARCH

Explaining God’s Signs and Wonders —Jer. 32:20.

entation to the circumstances you meet.

Working for an Increase

• ⁵ To reach our hoped-for goal of a 20-percent increase in April, careful planning and diligent work will be required. In addition to those who have already shared in the service, there is another marvelous potential of praisers of Jehovah—the 191,642 individuals and families with whom home Bible studies were conducted during January.

• ⁶ First, each congregation book study conductor should study the situation in his own service center and plan now a program to help all publishers to be in the service during March and early in April. See that those needing assistance are receiving training in giving sermons, which is our goal during March. Also, beginning right now let’s help our persons of good will to think about service. At each study, new or old, it is suggested that we follow this program during the month of March: After your study the first week, read them the experiences found in the Yearbook on page 86, 1f3, and page 265, p, or some, other one that talks about people starting out in the service. The second week tell them about the growth of the New World society and particularly how new ones are trained when they start out in service. The third week discuss the importance of the Memorial, using the article in the March 15 issue of The Watchtower, and make definite arrangements for them to attend. As the entire arrangement takes shape in their mind those who are really sheeplike will want to have a share in Jehovah’s service. Invite them to go with you.

Memorial

• ⁷ Monday, March 23, after 6 p.m., is the time for the Memorial. Special arrangements should be made to see that everyone associated with the New World society and all good-will persons are assisted to be present. Both servants and publishers should plan ahead to see that none are overlooked. At the meeting go out of your way to be friendly, introduce new ones to others present and make them feel at home. In his concluding comments, after the Memorial talk and the serving of the emblems, the congregation servant or the Memorial speaker will invite all to attend the public talk on April 5 and briefly discuss the privilege of sharing in the field service, encouraging both publishers and good-will persons to have a share in the special activity that weekend. Help all men to see Jehovah’s signs and wonders in this time of the end.

  The training of Christians is “for ministerial work.”         X-

  
  
  
  
  

FIRST MEETING IN MARCH

Theme: Explaining- God’s Signs and Wonders.

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

10 min: Talk on ‘’Explaining God’s Signs and Wonders.” (See “Watchtower,” 11/15/58, p. 685, and 3/1/59, p. 150.)

20 min: Question-and-answer coverage of main article “Explaining God’s Signs and Wonders.”

15 min: Talk on “Increasing Home Bible Studies.”

10 min: Concluding comments.

SECOND MEETING IN MARCH

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

15 min: Reading of the pioneer letter together with an enthusiastic talk based on the letter.

25 min: Demonstration on “Aiding New Ones to Attend Memorial and Share in Service.”

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) Paragraph six of main article outlines the procedure for aiding new ones to attend Memorial and share in service. Try this three-point method at your home Bible study even though you may have conducted it for only a few weeks. Let us see how easy it is to follow this program.

SCENE I (5 min.) After the study the first week of this program, prepared publisher, Brother Helper, reads the “Yearbook” experiences and makes appropriate comments on them. Publisher invites good-will person, Mr. Ready, to attend public talk. Ready asks for a few extra handbills to give to friends. Helper asks Ready to look up Acts 20: 20, think about it and prepare a comment on it for the next study.

CHAIRMAN (1 min.) The next step depends upon the response of the good-will person. If publisher discerns good-will person is ready for service, he may, during this first week, invite good-will person to go in service. If not ready, publisher keeps building up the idea of Kingdom service.

SCENE II (5 min.) After the study the second week, Helper asks Ready to read Acts 20: 20 and then asks what his comment on it is. Ready comments on it correctly. Helper commends him. Helper then describes the growth of the New World Society as a preaching organization world-wide, using some “Yearbook” figures. Helper shows that early Christians were assisted to preach; ties in 1 Corinthians 11: 1. Helper now explains how new ones are helped today, that they are not started out on their own, etc. Helper invites Ready to go along in Kingdom service, such as house-to-house magazine work. A definite day and time is set.

CHAIRMAN (1 min.) Some good-will persons may not be ready after the second week. Even if Mr. Ready was not ready and Helper did not think it appropriate yet to invite him into service, progress is being made and there is more that should be done.

SCENE III (5 min.) At close of study the third week, Helper discusses: (1) Blessing of being a Christian, hope of everlasting life. (2) Jesus’ great sacrifice for our benefit. (3) March 23: Memorial: what it includes (1 Cor. 11: 23-26). Emphasize Jesus’ command, using the article in the March 15, 1959, issue of “The Watchtower.” Ready responds to invitation to attend. Definite arrangements are made to help Ready attend Memorial.

CHAIRMAN (1 min.) An ideal time to extend the invitation to service will be at Memorial. Paragraph seven of main article shows that after the Memorial talk and serving of the emblems either the congregation servant or the Memorial speaker will invite all to the April 5 talk and encourage good-will persons to share in special preaching activity.

SCENE IV (3 min.) Memorial is over and congregation servant has just given brief talk on Kingdom service privileges. Helper discusses with Ready the special activity. Helper invites Ready to share in service, reminding him of the help extended new ones. Definite arrangements are-made for service.

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) The program is flexible and can be adapted to needs of good-will persons with whom you study. All can use this method. When they know this is the truth, it is time to begin teaching others. Share fully in Memorial activity and help others start in Kingdom service.

7 min: Talk on article “Prepare Now for April Peaks!”

8 min: Concluding comments. (Include comment on statement based on Eph. 4: 12 at bottom of page 1.)

THIRD MEETING IN MARCH

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

8 min: New World News report.

10 min: Experiences from “Yearbook” on how publishers benefit from the theocratic ministry school. Children who are attentive at the school show the good training it gives them. In Newfoundland a clergyman quizzed a class of public school pupils on the Bible. Out of twenty-five students only two could answer his questions. These two were Jehovah’s witnesses. They had taken full advantage of the ministry school (218). Some publishers do not enroll in the school because they do not feel capable of giving talks. The school can train them if they will let it. If a person who is blind is willing to give talks, is there any reason why those who can see should not give them? In Eritrea a blind beggar came into the truth. He enrolled in the ministry school and gave student talks despite the fact that he could not see to read (83). He was willing to try, that he might benefit from the training the school gives. Are you showing the same willingness?

12 min: School servant’s report—with encouragement for all to attend and benefit.

15 min: “Presenting the Good News” —talk and demonstration.

10 min: Concluding comments. (Include comment on statement based on 1 Thess. 5: 11 at bottom of page 4.)

FOURTH MEETING IN MARCH

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

10 min: “Make Sure of All Things,” on New World Living from page 273, “Satan, God of This World,” to 1 Tim. 6: 3-5 on page 274. To be handled by publisher on platform posing as person of good will asking about New World living, which questions can be answered by audience by using texts appearing in assigned portion.

20 min: Theocratic Ministry School Suggestions.

(5 min.) School servant talks on value of revised school program. Equal emphasis to be placed on the effective presentation of the Kingdom message in the field service and improving our speaking ability. Counsel to stress more the art of teaching. Brothers and sisters alike will be taught to deliver effective, logical and coherent sermons. Some questions that have arisen on preparing and delivering the last two student talks will be discussed.

(13 min.) School servant talks to group of sisters on platform who have questions on their part in the school. As questions are put to the servant he answers each one, quoting references, where possible, in “Qualified to Be Ministers.” They ask such things as how to outline talks properly; how to cover all material and stay within time limit; how extensive notes should be; type of introduction to use; how to overcome nervousness; if talk should be a house-to-house sermon or back-call sermon; how much time literature presentation should take up; how much sister serving as householder should have to say, etc. Servant, in part, replies: notes should be few', perhaps just scriptures and brief thoughts on a slip of paper placed in Bible; introductions should lead into material and have some definite relation to material discussed and common situations in field; nervousness overcome by good preparation, practice with assistant and experience; way material lends itself should govern how it will be handled, whether as house-to-house or back-call sermon; literature presentation at house-to-house call should be very brief (only 15 to 30 seconds) making it obvious that publisher has made a successful transition to the offer without losing the householder’s interest, but publisher may continue with explanation of literature until stopped by school servant at the end of six minutes; speaker definitely should endeavor to draw householder into conversation but assistant’s part should be limited to questions or brief replies to questions asked by publisher, so as to keep sermon progressive. Sisters express appreciation for assistance.

(2 min.) Brother in audience raises hand and, when called on, asks if servant can now answer questions he and other brothers have on preparing and delivering talks. Servant, with glance at watch, regrets time will not allow, but arrangements will be made to take up questions of brothers on future service meeting. He will be happy to aid any privately to understand how to prepare talks or overcome speaking weaknesses. Good support from all will bring mutual benefits and blessings from Jehovah.

15 min: Talk on “Response to the Call for Pioneers.” Also use local experiences on entering pioneer service and, if necessary, experiences on p. 53 of 1958 Convention Report.

10 min: Concluding comments.

JANUARY SERVICE REPORT

Av. Av. Av. Av. Hrs. B-C Bi. St Mags.

145.8 66.1 9.2 139.3 94.7 46.8 5.6 105.0 84.3 36.1 3.4 71.7

10.3 5.2 .7 11.6

Public Meetings Held: 16,681 UNITED STATES QUOTA FOR 1959 |           222,355 Publishers

CONGREGATION

Overseer Meets with School Servant

• ¹ Practice and constructive counsel are the combination that produces better and more qualified Kingdom preachers. The theocratic ministry school provides the student with both. If the full benefit of the school is to be obtained there must be good preparation by the school servant and each student. In order that the school may be improved the Society is arranging for the congregation servant to spend time with the school servant during the month of March. He will give constructive counsel to the school servant.

• ² Both servants should review early in the month Studies 26 and 62 of Qualified to Be Ministers and paragraphs 128-130, 140 and 141 of Preaching Together in Unity and the article on “Congregation Organization’’ in the Kingdom Ministry of March, 1958. Attention should be centered particularly on giving constructive counsel to the brothers and sisters enrolled, making assignments, the problems of handling more than one school, how to have more enroll, how to improve school attendance and giving personal assistance to students on talks and in the field.

• ³ The school servant should take an interest in each student and give counsel to correct weaknesses. Do more than point out the weaknesses. Perhaps private coaching may be necessary. When giving his analysis

  Announcements

  
  

& During January new all-time peaks were reached in both back-calls and home Bible studies. There were 1,451,274 back-calls made, exceeding the previous peak by 390,299, and making an average of 5.2 per publisher. And there were 191,642 home Bible studies conducted, exceeding the previous peak by 2,179.

A Memorial report card has been sent to each congregation with written reviews. The congregation servant will please see that it is filled out and put in the mail promptly after the special public talk on April 5.

Toward the end of March one copy of the April 15 “Watchtower,” which contains the talk “The Perfect Government for All Mankind,” will be sent to each congregation servant by second-class mail. When it is received please see that it is given to the brother who has been assigned to deliver the April 5 public talk, so he will have ample opportunity to practice it. You should receive yours not later than April 1.

Notice to Travelers: If any of Jehovah’s witnesses who have symbolized their dedication by water baptism plan to travel for business or pleasure to Poland, Czechoslovakia or other countries behind the Iron Curtain, it would

ORGANIZATION

of a written review he should not give too much attention to the grades. He can give the average grade, but no good is accomplished by mentioning the lowest and highest grades. The grades are not what is important. No cause should be given for anyone to boast before others or to himself. (Gal. 6:14) What should be emphasized is the number taking the review and how the students can benefit from their error by looking up the answers. When a written review is approaching, study conductors should remind their group of it. They can arouse interest in it by verbally quizzing the publishers on the material to be covered before and after the study, as well as at other appropriate times. Each should encourage his group to have 100-percent participation in the review. The school servant can also arouse interest in the review by quizzing the brothers when going to field service or when in casual conversation with them. He should watch to be sure all points in the review are directly covered during talks. Those not covered should be brought out by him.

• ⁴ The school servant should support fully service center activity. He can help train less experienced publishers. During the month of March the congregation servant will work several times with the school servant and will give him counsel on his ministry.

be appreciated if such individuals would get in touch with the Branch office of their country several weeks before traveling.

> The Society has the following items in stock. Orders will be filled as long as the supply lasts.

Convention Report - 30c each - 42,000

1959 Calendar - 25c each - 7,000

♦ Publications now available:

English

From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained

“Let God Be True” (2d Edition)

“This Means Everlasting Life”

Qualified to Be Ministers

Foreign

God’s Kingdom Rules—Is the World’s End Near?    —Arabic, Armenian,

French, German, Greek, Hiligaynon-Visayan, Spanish

God’s Way Is Love        —Greek,

Pangasinan

Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near            —Cebu-Visayan

& The Resolution will appear in the following issue of The Watchtower: Hiligaynon-Visayan, July, 1959.

Response to the Call for Pioneers

• ¹ There Is nothing we do that means more to us than our service to Jehovah. While other Scriptural obligations may demand much time, dedicated witnesses have their heart in the Kingdom service. Not only does this govern the. way they perform secular work and manage their family affairs, but it moves them to have just as full a share in the field ministry as possible. The Society has done much to encourage all to seize the opportunities that are open, and the response has been good. During December and January alone 469 regular pioneer applications and 2,134 vacation pioneer applications were received.

• ² A brother whose personal obligations make it difficult for him to be a regular pioneer wrote: “Vacation pioneering is something that I can do. Those pioneer letters that the Society is sending once a month are wonderful reminders of our obligations. They make a person think.” And a sister who is a widow with seven dependent children, after hearing the letters encouraging fulltime service, requested that the Society transfer her name from the roll of vacation pioneers to the regular pioneer ranks on February 1. Even winter months could not make her put it off.

• ³ Whole congregations are working together to expand the ranks of regular and vacation pioneers, and from one such congregation this letter was received: “We are very happy to enclose IT applications for vacation pioneer service in December. . . . Our former experience with 31 vacation pioneers last November and 48 last April has shown that striving to get as many as possible to pioneer is tremendously stimulating and strengthening to the congregation as a whole. . . . Our field service has grown in all phases. We have already enjoyed a 23-percent increase in October. . . . We are certainly moved to thank Jehovah for all the blessings we are enjoying. Things are so lively and enthusiastic around our Kingdom Hall we just about have to turn the lights off to get anyone to go home after a meeting.” Why not work together in your congregation to encourage pioneering^-? Similar blessings can be yours!

• ⁴ Who are the ones entering the pioneer ranks? Some of them are persons who are single and free of obligations. Others have had to make careful adjustments in their lives in order to pioneer and meet their other obligations. They are persons whose appreciation of Jehovah’s invitation has moved them to say, “Here I am! Send me.”—Isa. 6: 8.

  
  
  

During the World’s Easter Season

• ¹ Our presentation of “this good news of the kingdom” should have some connection with things people are doing. During Easter season many persons think about Christ’s death and resurrection, but only as a beautiful story.

• ² During this season you may want to use the sermon on “God’s Kingdom.” (December, 1958, Kingdom Ministry) One may use this type of introduction: “I am calling on my neighbors today in regard to a matter of special concern at this time. At Easter season millions of people give much consideration to an event that happened 1900 years ago—the death and resurrection of Jesus. Several days are set aside for special observance. What does that event back there mean for us? you may ask. Some will answer, Salvation and deliverance. But how? Jesus taught a prayer that answers how and when he will deliver honest people from this world’s troubles.” (Go into sermon.)

  Prepare Now for April Peaks!

  
  

• ³ Or you may say : “Good morning. As a minister, I feel it very important to make a brief call during this religious holiday season because of its significance to all of us. Today we live only a few short years. While we enjoy life, it ends soon and maybe you have wondered, as many others have, Is this all there is to life? Now at this season people give special thought to the death and resurrection of Christ as a hope for future life. But how will it be brought about, and who will enjoy it? The Bible has a very satisfactory answer. In fact, it is found in the familiar words of the Lord’s prayer. Here Jesus himself tells us the answer . . .”

OFFER FOR APRIL

> “Watchtower” subscription for one ' ' year and three booklets for $1.

'        THEME FOR APRIL

Serving the Interests of God's Perfect > Government.—Acts 28:31.     ^{1 2 3 4 5}

do this, it is requested that as soon as possible the assistant congregation servant inform each publisher of his previous peak in magazine placements, whether that peak was reached last April or since then. Each publisher, keeping in mind April’s special activity, can individually determine how much over his previous peak he will be able to go. Then place an order with the magazine-territory servant right away to be sure you will have enough of the special issues to reach that goal. Orders should be sent in by March 10. Before the order is sent to the Society the magazine-territory servant will want to check with each publisher to be sure he has had opportunity to place an order for the extra magazines he will need.

• ⁴ As for our peak in home Bible studies, this can easily be achieved if we follow through on all Resolution calls and all other interest found with that objective in mind. With each one doing his part, zealously and efficiently, yes, and with love, we can, with Jehovah’s help, reach our three peaks for April.

NEW WORLD NEWS

▼ Demolition under way opposite Brooklyn Bethel home to clear site for construction of new addition.

▼ Supreme Court of Canada in 6-3 decision awards damages of $2,500 plus interest since 1952 and costs against Quebec Provincial Police officer for false arrest of Louise Lamb. Sister Lamb was arrested when not witnessing, held two days incommunicado. Case has traveled through courts since 1947.

▼ In another decision, Canadian Supreme Court awarded $33,123 plus interest from 1951 and costs to brother who was put out of business by Prime Minister Duplessis of Quebec for having provided bail on behalf of over 300 witnesses. ♦ To date 3,735 requests received at Brooklyn Office for the free booklet advertised on the Resolution tract. Germany reports 1,021 requests, and Canada reports 329.

▼ Congregation of 15 in Lae, New Guinea, thrilled to have 1,200 come to see “The New World Society in Action.” ▼ Reports of field ministry received for first time from Laos and Cambodia.

"THE WATCHTOWER" and "AWAKE!"

Do you need more distributor’s copies? Order now.

April 1

♦ Kingdom Missionaries—The Bringers of the Best News.

♦ Missionaries of God’s Kingdom That Rules.

♦ How to Prove You Have Christian Faith.

♦ Will Many Now Living Never Die?

April 8

▼ When Will Men Not Labor in Vain?

▼ Double Victory in the Supreme Court of Canada.

: Brazil Is Changing.

Coping with the Posture Problem.

April 15

▼ The Perfect Government for All Mankind.

♦ The Perfect Ruler for Man’s Government.

♦ Christianity’s Origin and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

♦ why Jehovah's Witnesses Are Different.

April 22

▼ Do You Seek Happiness?

j Science and Your Faith in God.

♦ Family Life Faces a Crisis.

▼ Nature Had It First.

♦ jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian

Maturity.

♦ Role of the Earth in the Rocket Age.

♦ “They Shall Beat Their Swords into Plowshares."

* ‘Build one another up’—Aid all to attend Memorial. >

¹

During April we will be “serving the interests of God’s perfect government” by striving for three peaks: in publishers, in magazine placements and in home Bible studies.

²

To attain our peak in publishers, each one of us should plan to be in the service on the very first weekend, and then report. Congregation book study conductors will arrange for personal assistance for those needing it early in the month. Additionally, book study conductors are requested to remind the brothers at the service center each week during March of the point to be discussed after their home Bible studies that week, as outlined in the main article, in order to prepare them for the Memorial and for service.

³

The special April 15 issue of The Watchtower and the fine April 22 issue of Awake! should be a tremendous aid in attaining a new peak in magazine placements during April. The articles contained in these issues are listed in the righthand column on this page. To reach a new peak organizationally means that we must each reach a new peak individually. In order to

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Published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 117 Adams St., Brooklyn 1, N.Y. Second-class postage paid at Brooklyn, N.Y. Printed in U.S.A.

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