Serve the Interests of God's Perfect Government

• ¹ What a privilege to serve the interests of God’s perfect government I Paul treasured it so highly that even in confinement he was busy “preaching the kingdom of God.” We should imitate Paul. —Acts 28: 31.

• ² April is a month of special activity. April 5 should be a day for special service in all congregations. Let’s strive to help every publisher to be out in the field service April 5.

• ³ Make full use of the special talk and special issues of The Watchtower and Awake! to aid new ones to serve the Kingdom interests. All publishers should plan to attend the special talk on April 5, bringing with them good-will persons. Did you help others to attend Memorial ? Help these same persons and others to attend the special talk. After the talk the congregation should have the April 15 Watchtower available for distribution. Announce it at the close of the public meeting. Offer five for 15c: ten for 30c, inviting good-will persons to share in the distribution. Publishers can help their good-will persons get a supply. Promptly after the April 5 talk overseers should mail the Memorial report card to the Society.

Work for New Magazine Peak

• ⁴ How grand it will be if we all reach new individual peaks in magazine placements! Think how many more good-will persons will learn of God’s perfect government! Read the special issues as soon as you receive them. You will be stirred to offer them enthusiastically at every home. Since placements depend to a great extent on saying the right thing at the door, have in mind appealing presentations when you go in the service. What quota have you set for April so as to reach a new peak personally?

• ⁵ Have you laid definite plans to expand your magazine ministry during April? It means spending more time in that feature of service. Take advantage of all opportunities to place magazines: on your regular Magazine Day, before the congregation book study, and in incidental witnessing. In regular house-to-house work when the subscription offer is not accepted, offer two magazines for 10c. Parents may be able to go with their children in magazine work after school at least, once a week. Spend your time in the fea-

OFFER FOR APRIL

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

THEME FOR APRIL

Serving the Interests of God’s Perfect]

Government.—Acts 28:31.

• ¹ All dedicated Christians and their friends of good will were happy to see the announcement in the March 15 Watchtower listing the 1959 district assembly cities. Make definite plans now for attending the assembly. The dates and cities are as follows:

June 4-7: San Diego, Calif.

June 18-21: Fairbanks, Alaska; Tampa, Fla. •

June 25-28: Des Moines, Iowa; Philadelphia, Pa; Stockton, Calif. .

July 9-12: Eugene, Oreg.; Evansville, Ind.; Flint, Mich.; Fresno, Calif. July 16-19: Albuquerque, N. Mex.;

Cincinnati, Ohio; Rapid City, S. Dak. July 23-26: Boise, Idaho; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Rochester, N.Y.

Aug. 6-9: San Jose, Calif.; Wichita, Kans.

Aug. 13-16: Charlotte, N.C.; Providence, R.I.; Tacoma, Wash.

Aug. 20-23: Corpus Christi, Tex.

• ² As mentioned, publishers in all circuits may plan to attend the convention nearest them or any city of their choice. However, the Society suggests the following cities for circuits listed under them even though the distance may be a little greater, in some instances, to equitably divide the attendance according to the size of the cities and the assembly facilities. These are listed here: Albuquerque, N. Mex.: N. Mex. #1, 2;

Ariz. #1, 2; Colo. #2, 3; Tex. #9; S-6, S-9. tures of the magazine ministry that you find most productive.

Helping New Ones

⁶ “Helping new ones to be regular in the ministry,” which is one of our goals for April, is one good way to reach our 20-percent increase. This requires enthusiastic co-operation by everyone in the congregation. Who is there that you can assist? Have you invited persons with whom you study to share in the service, following the suggested three-point program in Kingdom Ministry last month? If they share in giving the witness, perhaps by (Continued on.page 4, col. 1)

Boise, Idaho: Idaho #1, 2; Mont. #1; Utah #1.

Cincinnati, Ohio: Ohio #1, 4, 5, M5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12; Ind. #1, 2, 3, 5; W. Va. #2; Ky. #2; Cir. 11.

Evansville, Ind.: Ind. #4; Mo. #1; Ill.

#1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Ky. #1; Ark. #1. Fresno, Calif.: Calif. #8, 9, 10.

Philadelphia, Pa.: Pa. #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8,

11; N.Y. #1, 2, 3, 4, 10; N.J. #1, 2, 3, 4; Md. #1, 2; Del. #1; Va. #1, 3; Cir. 27; S-l.

Rapid City, S. Dak.: N. Dak. #1, 2;

S. Dak. #1; Colo. #1; Wyo. #1.

Rochester, N.Y.: N.Y. #6, 7, 8, 9; Pa.

#6, 7, 9, 10; Ohio #2, 3, 10.

Stockton, Calif.: Calif. #14, 15, 18, 19. Wichita, Kans.: Kans. #1, 2, 3; Mo.

#4, 5; Okla. #1, 2, 3; Tex. #5; Ark.

#2; Cir. 12.

Please note: JACKSON, MISS., has been deleted. If you planned to attend there you should change plans to attend another city.

• ³ If the plan is not followed generally, some cities will have too many in attendance while others will not be attended by a sufficient number. Your co-operation will also help to accomplish the intended witness in the respective cities.

• ⁴ Spanish programs will be provided in Corpus Christi, Tex.; Albuquerque, N. Mex.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and San Diego, Calif.

• ⁵ Following this Kingdom Ministry the room request and volunteer service forms will be mailed to all con-

(Continued on page 3, col. 3)

FIRST MEETING IN APRIL

Theme: Serving the Interests of God’s Perfect Government.

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

10 min: Talk on “Serving the Interests of God’s Perfect Government.” (See “Watchtower,” 4/1/59, p. 211.)

10 min; “Yearbook” experiences about expansion in Kingdom service. The brothers in Japan are being blessed with good fruitage. (191) In Poland an increase of 100 percent in Bible study activity has contributed to rapid growth of the New World society. (130) Hard work by six missionaries in Brazil produced a congregation of fifty publishers within two years. Thirteen of these applied for vacation pioneering last April. (106) In Nicaragua a circuit servant had to travel by horse, oxcart and on foot to reach a place where the brothers had been working with good results. (220) Norway reports a marked expansion of the New World society because brothers are going where the need is great. One family reports that a congregation of ten publishers has resulted from their work. (228) Diligent effort produces fruit.

20 min: Question-and-answer discussion of main article “Serve the Interests of God’s Perfect Government.” 15 min: Talk by congregation servant on “Things We Want to Do This Month.” (Encourage all publishers to do more than usual service. Include comment on statement based on Col. 4: 11 at the bottom of page 1.)

SECOND MEETING IN APRIL

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

8 min: Talk on “1959 Public Meetings.” Encourage all to attend regularly and bring good-will persons.

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

24 min: Demonstration on “Helping Those Needing Help.”

(3 min.) Congregation servant talks on prospects for reaching 20-percent goal in congregation. Requires all-out effort. Excellent suggestions given in March “Kingdom Ministry” for helping those with whom studies are conducted, but what about irregular and less mature publishers? Study conductors and mature publishers aiding many; would appreciate suggestions for aiding certain publishers. Audience can assist.

(2 min.) Study conductor called to platform tells of problem he has with Sister “Sickly” who always says she is not feeling well when invited to share in service. How can he help her?

(5 min.) Audience invited to suggest practical ways they know to help her or to relate experiences others have had in similar circumstances. If audience does not cover same points, servant may add: Recognize illness exists; may not do as much as others but can share in some features of service; doing divine will most important work in life whether well or ill; taking deep interest in good-will persons can take mind off illness, etc. If illness confines to home, she can write letters to goodwill persons or call them on phone.

(2 min.) Servant asks Sister Mature to state problem she is having with Sister “Minnie Problems.” Tells that Sister Problems has four children and unbelieving husband, says she “just can’t go in service.”

(5 min.) Audiencte given opportunity to offer practical suggestions in same manner as above. Additional points by servant, if not covered by audience, might be: At midweek contacts sisters can mutually assist one another by taking turns caring for young children; could take one child in service while husband cares for others; be example of devotion to Jehovah, serving him means eternal life for children as well as parent; no greater heritage for children than ministry; better home organization may help.

(1 min.) Brother “Weary” raises hand, asks for suggestions for himself. He is just too weary to go in service when he returns from hard day’s work. Unbelieving family consumes time on Sunday, since this is only time he has with them.

(4 min.) Servant answers: Proper to care for family. Many brothers have financial burdens. Task may be difficult, but devoting all time to old world, none to new, unsafe course. May be assuming greater load than necessary. Warning found in rich young ruler. (Matt. 19) Also, fighting one’s conscience can wear one out mentally, physically. Tired, worn-out feeling often gone when service finished. As head of family, take lead; family can benefit from good example of faithfulness and regular worship. Audience invited to comment or give practicable experiences.

(2 min.) Congregation servant admonishes congregation to help those needing help to be active in April and regular in the months ahead. Assistance to one another will make April peak month.

8 min: Concluding comments. Include comment on the text [Acts 20: 35] at the bottom of page 4.

THIRD MEETING IN APRIL

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

8 min: Experiences from 1959 “Yearbook” about youthful determination to pioneer. A young brother in Australia chose pioneer service even when his opposing parents gave him the choice between Jehovah’s service and his material inheritance. (89) A brother of thirteen in Peru showed such determination to vacation pioneer that his parents gave up in trying to stop him. (236) A yotmg girl in Burma whose father is a Hindu prepared to leave home to pioneer in spite of her father’s violent opposition. But because she is a minor and lawfully subject to him she has had to postpone it until’ she is of age; then she will fulfill her heart’s desire. (Ill) If you are a youthful publisher do you have the same determination to pioneer as these young publishers have?

15 min: Reading of April pioneer letter and talk on it. Also comments on vacation pioneering announcement.

22 min: Demonstration on “Know Your Magazines.”

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) April will be an all-time peak month for magazine placements—if all publishers place more • magazines in April than their previous peak month, as outlined in March “Kingdom Ministry” article “Prepare Now for April Peaks!” April can and will be all-time peak month to date (1) if publishers know what is in magazines, and (2) if all are diligent in field service presenting them. A panel of three to five publishers is asked to come to platform to help congregation become familiar with striking points in April 15 and April 22 special issues. All publishers should have copies.

SCENE I (8 min.) Chairman quizzes panel on April 15 “Watchtower.” Questions should be confined to two or three articles and directed to bring out practical points that would be of interest to householders and could be used at conclusion of 3- to 8-minute sermon when making subscription offer or on Magazine Day. Then chairman will call on one or two of panel to illustrate how the points discussed can be used effectively: (1) on offering the subscription after last scripture in sermon, (2) to place “Watchtower” and “Awake!” for 10c if subscription not taken, (3) featuring “The Watchtower” on Magazine Day, presenting it and “Awake!” for 10c.

SCENE II (10 min.) Chairman now quizzes panel on April 22 “Awake!” Follow same procedure as outlined above to highlight points of interest that can be used effectively in field ministry. Do not overlook the value of illustrations in magazines to rouse interest in the articles. Then chairman will call on two or three of panel to demonstrate how they will feature “Awake!” on Magazine Day, presenting it and “The Watchtower” for 10c.

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) Summarize practical points and encourage all publishers and pioneers to be diligent in placing magazines. Offer subscriptions, and if the subscription offer is not taken, endeavor to leave two magazines for 10c. Also, share fully in Magazine Day and prestudy service, to ensure that each publisher will enjoy the pleasure of reaching a new peak in individual magazine placements during April.

10 min: Concluding comments.

FOURTH MEETING IN APRIL

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

8 min: New World News report and announcements.

8 min: Talk on “The Service Ahead of Us.” Especially discuss unassigned territory and Memorial Day activity. (See Announcements.) A good experience based on last year’s visit to the cemeteries may be included.

12 min: Report from congregation book study conductors—results of meeting with congregation servant.

17 min: Question-and-answer discussion on “Where to Assemble in 1959.” Also talk on information in “Watchtower,” 3/15/59, p. 164.

10 min: Concluding comments with encouragement for all to help new ones who have not yet been out.

FIFTH MEETING IN APRIL

Congregations having a fifth meeting should arrange their own program.

Overseer Meets with Congregation Book Study Conductors

• ¹ At strategic locations throughout the territory of each congregation there should be sufficient book study locations to accommodate the publishers and persons of good will conveniently. For them to operate efficiently the book study conductor must be quick to apply the suggestions given for improving his work and becoming a better teacher of the Word. He must be keenly interested in the spiritual advancement of all in his group. To this end arrangements are being made for the overseer to meet with all the book study conductors in the month of April.

• ² They should meet if at all possible before April 5, after first reviewing the duties of the congregation book study conductor as outlined in Studies 25 and 63 of Qualified to Be Ministers and paragraphs 131, 132 and 142-144 of Preaching Together in Unity. They should also review Congregation Organization in the April 1958 Kingdom Ministry. The overseer will work with each conductor several times and give counsel on the handling of his duties and especially his teaching ability when he visits the respective groups. This may take several months if there are a number of book studies.

• ³ One of the more capable study conductors or the congregation servant himself will prepare to conduct a model book study for fifteen minutes at this meeting to illustrate how to teach at the studies. He should

  Announcements

  
  

♦ Notice: Material to be covered in the April 5 public talk is on pages 228 to 243 in the April 15 “Watchtower.” With the summer rapidly approaching, now is the time to plan to vacation pioneer. School vacation furnishes opportunity for all younger brothers and sisters of school age who are dedicated to vacation pioneer two or more months. Many older ones who have Scriptural obligations that now make regular pioneering out of reach also look forward to vacation pioneering at every opportunity. Why not spend your vacation this year as a vacation pioneer? Provision has been made for even those who have but two weeks’ vacation to enjoy this service. Make your plans to vacation pioneer now and write for an application.

This year unassigned territory work is arranged for July, August and September. Under separate cover each congregation will receive a list of formerly unassigned territory that is no longer open for assignment. When selecting territory, please compare this list with the unassigned territory booklet of 1956 to be sure the territory you request is still open. An application for unassigned territory will also be sent to each congregation. Pioneers or groups of pioneers (regular or vacashow how to conduct the study in such a way that the important points are correctly understood. Show how the question can be broken down, where necessary, if there are several points; how supplementary questions may be asked to clarify an answer that may not have been correctly or clearly stated; how scriptures cited but not quoted can be applied effectively, etc. The important thing is to have publishers express the thoughts so that it is evident that they understand the material and that the points are impressed upon the mind.

• ⁴ Their discussion will first take up ways to improve the book study and then the service arrangements from the service center. Book Study: (1) Preparation on part of all essential. (2) Increasing attendance and participation. (3) How to teach at the book study. (Discuss principles and illustrate with demonstration.) Service Center: (1) Conductor expected to support all arrangements for service and lead group. (2) Assisting those who are irregular in service by making definite arrangements and assisting with sermons, back-calls and home Bible studies. (3) Aiding those assigned under training program to fulfill their assignments and providing a report each month to the congregation servant on training program assignments. (4) Improving discussions and organization at contact points and getting into field without delay. (5) Properly covering territory.

tion) wishing territory may write for an application. Please submit applications for unassigned territory to the Society by May 15.

Congregations should begin to plan for special Memorial Day service on May 30. Last year arrangements were made to visit the cemeteries, and results were excellent. Again this year “The Watchtower” of June 1 and “Awake!” of May 22 will have appropriate articles for this work.

•^Publications Now Available:

God’s Kingdom Rules—Is the World’s End Near?        —French, German

What Do the Scriptures Say About “Survival After Death”? —Cibemba

FEBRUARY SERVICE REPORT

Av. Av. Av. Av.

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

Sp’l Pios.     445 145.0 61.5  9.4

Pios.        6,432   91.9 40.1  5.8

Vac. Pios. 1,159  86.7 33.5  4.0

Pubs. 207,656   9.8  4.5   .7

TOTAL 215,692

Public Meetings Held; 16,995

UNITED STATES QUOTA FOR 1959 222,355 Publishers

1959 Public Meetings

• ¹ Public meetings play a large and vital role in preaching of the good news of God’s established kingdom. The new series of talks for 1959 will begin on Sunday, April 12. The titles are: Is This Existence All There Is to Life? Will Many Now Living Never Die? Is the Bible a Man-made Book or a Divine Guide? Is Jesus Christ the Promised Messiah? Identifying the True God. What Can Prayer Do for You? Why Are There So Many Religions? How to Guard Your Children from Delinquency.

• ² Every publisher plays a very important part at the public meetings. Always strive to be present, and try to bring new ones along with you. You learn by hearing new ideas and new ways of expressing Kingdom truths. Many brothers find that they get more out of the talks when they follow along with their Bibles and take moderate notes so they can later give a brief resume to any good-will persons who may not be present. At public meetings publishers should introduce themselves to newly interested ones and aid by answering questions that they may have.

• ³ Speakers should follow the Society’s outline closely when developing their talks. This will aid them to present a well-rounded-out, coherent, logical talk. The best speakers make their talks very simple, striving mainly for clarity and understandableness. Good talks take many hours of hard work to prepare. So, brothers, support the new public meeting series.

Where to Assemble           (Cont’d)

gregations. The rooming instructions are attached to each request form and these should be carefully taken up in a service meeting about six weeks prior to the convention you expect to attend. Do not send request forms earlier than six weeks before assembly date for city where you expect to attend. Assembly dates and correct addresses for each convention city headquarters are listed on the back of request form.

Badges

⁶ You may advertise the “Awake Ministers Assemblies” en route to convention city by using the attractive card prepared by the Society to fit holder that you used last year. Cards and additional celluloid holders should be ordered by the congregation servant. He should ascertain the needs for the congregation and then submit a cashitem order for them. The cards will cost 1c each and the celluloid holders, 5c each. The Society is not providing bumper signs this year.

Using the April 15 “Watchtower”

• ¹ We have the only message of real comfort for distressed people —the message of the Kingdom government—in the special April 15 issue of The 'Watchtower. Those who want to live need this information.

• ² In making the presentation one approach might be: “Good morning. My call this morning is to bring you some unusually good news. It answers the question, Does God really care and will he do something for mankind? In this special issue of The Watchtower the article ‘The Perfect Government for All Mankind’ explains just what God will do for mankind. [Open to article.] This copy you may have, together with its companion magazine Awake! on a contribution of only ten cents.”

• ³ A new publisher may say : “Good morning. I have called to present to you a special issue of The Watchtower with its companion Awake! Millions of these are being distributed ’ in fifty-four languages. ‘The Perfect Government for All Man

Serving God’s Government (Cant’d) reading a scripture or adding comments to your witness, invite them to make out a report, and arrange for them to go along in the service regularly. If your congregation has already made the 20-percent increase, maintain it during April. If other persons are ready for service, do not fail to help them.

Aiding Irregular Publishers

’Assistant congregation servants should support study conductors by giving them each week a list of publishers who have not been out. Give these publishers special help. Individual publishers can co-operate by volunteering their services to the study conductor. Circumstances may make it difficult for certain ones to go out on weekends, possibly leading to irregularity. Lovingly find out when they can go in the service and offer to go with them.

⁸ Parents will want to see that their children are out in April. Teaching and training children is primarily the responsibility of the parents, not the congregation. However, parents should feel free to discuss the matter with the servants. kind’ is the main subject of this issue, as you see. These two magazines are yours for only ten cents.”

* Using the article “The Perfect Ruler for Mankind” one might say : “I am calling to bring a practical answer to a question millions of people ask today. For centuries Christians have prayed for Christ's kingdom. But how and when will he bring it about, and what conditions will result for us on earth? On page 241 [par. 16] wonderful conditions are described. [Let householder see.] Only the perfect Ruler, with all power in heaven and earth, can bring this. You may have this magazine and its companion Awake! for a contribution of just ten cents.”

I         OFFER FOR MAY         J

“From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained” and one booklet for 75 c.

THEME FOR MAY

Extending and Peopling Our Spiritual Paradise.—Ezek. 36: 10, AT. ।

Some parents may wish to co-operate among themselves so They and their children can be regular. If you have definite arrangements for your children to be in the service each week, then not even bad weather will cause them to become irregular.

⁹ April climaxes the Watchtower subscription campaign. Have you reached your quota? If not, there is still time. Make April a big month of house-to-house work with the subscription offer. Call back on all promises and on subscription expiration slips with the special Watchtower. When turning in subscription slips, be sure they are easy to read. Congregation servants, do not allow difficult-to-read slips to be sent to the Society. Make out new ones. It is true that the subscriber’s initials will not be on the new slip, but accuracy and legibility are more important.

¹⁰ Reaching our 20-percent goal depends on the co-operation of every one of us. Do your utmost to serve the interests of God’s perfect government. We look forward to receiving your congregation April field service report with “We made it!” written on the card.

NEW WORLD NEWS

0 On February 21 Brother Knorr left New York for tour of Africa. In Monrovia^ Liberia, 518 attended public meeting. 0 During February, 221 regular pioneers and 865 vacation pioneers were enrolled in U.S. Excellent response!

^Gilead graduates 32nd Class. 1,924 present as 130 students from 53 lands are sent to 54 lands as missionaries.

0 Philippine Branch reports 22 new congregations formed during January. New peak of 26,007 publishers, also 764 regular pioneers and 555 vacation pioneers.

0 New peaks of publishers: Ecuador, 34-percent increase; Chile, 21 percent; Portugal, 48 percent; Spain, 34 percent; Algeria, 41 percent; Tunisia, 42 percent. New peaks also reached in Cameroon, Canary Islands, El Salvador, Fiji, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Turkey and Uruguay. 0 District Court of Appeal at San Francisco rules that Menlo Park Congregation was illegally denied a permit to build a Kingdom Hall.

0South Carolina Supreme Court holds that as ministers Jehovah’s witnesses are not required to be licensed to distribute Bible literature.

0 Argentina reports 16-percent increase. Work advances despite refusal of Ministry of Cults to restore legal position of Society lost under Peron regime.

0 Brazil reports 24,723 at district assemblies, and 1,041 baptized. New peak of 15,590 publishers.

Zone servant refused permission for Christian visit to Angola.

"THE WATCHTOWER" and "AWAKE!"

Order extra distributor’s copies now.

May 1

“Break Free to Do the ‘Complete Will of God,’ ” and “Attain Completeness in the New World Society.”

“Sharing Good News by Contributing.”

May 8

$ “Why Are There So Many Religions?” “Delinquency in the Schools.”

“Port Wine, a Specialty of Portugal.”

“Kenya—African Wildlife Paradise.”

May 15

“Christians Need Accurate Knowledge,” and “Expanding Our Ministry.”

"Tyre—City Where Mammon Was God.”

May 22

“God’s Answer to Mankind's Prayer.”

“Great Lakes of North America.”

0 “The Jets Have It.”

“Teaching by Television.”

* Paul said: “You must assist those who are weak.” Do you? *

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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