MAY, 1963

FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

“Have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.”—Heb. 10:39.

VOL. VI NO. 5

Keeping Our Friendship with God

¹ “0 Jehovah, who will be a guest In your tent?” Only those who are his friends! One of the requirements for keeping our friendship with God is that we ‘speak the truth in our hearts.’ If we really do this, we will be preachers of God’s truth, speaking what is in our hearts, to help others become friends with God.—Ps. 15:1, 2; Matt. 12:34.

² Few Bible-study aids have been so instrumental in helping others become friends of God as the book “Let (toi Be True.” The first edition of this book was 10,557,731 copies, the second 7,752,093, for a total of 18,309,824. No other Society-published book has had such a tremendous circulation. Let us use this fine aid well, trying to spend at least two hours each Sunday in the door-to-door work. Since many householders have “Let God Be True,” publishers should also carry a different 50c bound book with them. When the householder has “Let God Be True,” put the primary emphasis on starting- a home Bible study.

² Bible studies are on the increase. Last year we averaged 198,921 studies. In January we had 216,019 and in February the figure jumped to 219,623, In March it was 223,258. This is commendable, brothers. Keep up the good work.

⁴ In many cases studies can also be started when householders read only a foreign language, since “Let God Be True” is published in fifty-three languages. If your congregation does not stock the book in one of these foreign-language editions, it may be ordered from the Society. Even though a householder may read only in his native language, often he speaks enough English so that the publisher can hold a Bible study, the publisher reading the material in English, the householder in his language.

• ⁵ When starting studies, try to do it with the entire family. If it is started with a housewife, try to arrange for it to be held when her husband is home.

• ⁶ To help more share in the Bible study work, we have a new simplified back-call sermon. Remember,

I         OFFER FOR MAY

? “Let God Be True” and a booldet, Z |                  for 50c.

?        THEME FOR MAY

| Keeping Our Friendship with God. I

f            —Ps. 15:1, 2.

too, that circuit and district servants and their wives have as their goal the starting of at least two studies each week. They will turn the studies over to publishers, espe

• ¹ Yes, the grand number of over 9,000 vacation pioneer applications were received in March, 1963, compared to 2,726 in March, 1962. What a tremendous army praising Jehovah’s name! The Society would like to take this opportunity to commend all of you for responding so wonderfully.

• ² By the time you get this Kingdom Ministry you will have experienced the joys and blessings of vacation pioneering in April. Why not continue to derive such spiritual benefits by extending your vacation pioneer service now?

• ³ Serving as a vacation pioneer, one appreciates pioneer service more. Because of the urgency of the times, the Society would like to extend to you a special invitation to become a regular pioneer. To help you, the Society suggests that the followingspecial program be considered by you and all publishers.

• ⁴ First, analyze your circumstances. Discuss the matter with pioneers and other mature brothers cially to those who are not conducting studies. In many cases, these new ones are soon attending meetings.

• ⁷ Let us not forget those many new ones we started in April. Help them share in the service in May. Also, this month, in those states where Decoration Day is a legal holiday, we will have the opportunity to engage in special magazine work—either from house to house or by doing witnessing in the cemeteries.

• ⁸ Yes, by speaking the truth in our hearts and with our mouths, we will not only keep our friendship with God, but turn many from being God’s enemies to being his friends, that they too may be guests of God in his new world.

that have the pioneer spirit at heart. Secondly, the Society suggests that you take the necessary time at home to study the Kingdom Ministry supplement for December, 1962, on the pioneer ministry. Arrange for the study of this material in the supplement together as a family.

• ⁵ After consideration of the material in that Kingdom Ministry supplement, approach your congregation servant during May and discuss the matter with him, as well as any problems you may have. He will be pleased to assist you to make out a schedule to pioneer and still care for your other obligations. Congregation servants should be ready to give helpful suggestions and approach different ones they feel can serve as regular pioneers.

• ⁶ Finally, take the matter to Jehovah in prayer. Allow yourself to be directed by his spirit to become a regular pioneer now, but, if not, we hope you will be a vacation pioneer again sometime.

-k Help others to become friends of God by home Bible studies. *

SECOND MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Introduction, text and comments.

15 min: Question-and-answer coverage of convention article on page 4 and announcement concerning convention travel on page 3.

15 min: Discussion of main article, “Keeping- Our Friendship with God.’’

15 min: Presenting the Good News.

Discuss the need of keeping new publishers active through progressive training.

Demonstrate: Mature publisher assists new publisher to learn one simplified sermon suggestion and what to say to busy people.

Demonstrate: In field service together, each one gives a simplified sermon.

Encourage further training and teaching of new publishers, also all publishers to use simplified sermon when encountering busy householders. 10 min: Concluding comments. (Include “What Happened Here in March?’’)

THIRD MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Introduction, text and comments.

10 min: Talk on “Over 9,000 Vacation Pioneers.*’ 12 min: Question-and-answer discussion of “Never Let Up Helping New Ones.”

20 min: Use Simplified Back-Call Sermon to Start Studies.

CHAIRMAN (3 min.) In making a back-call we have as our goal starting a Bible study. Use points in “Qualified to Be Ministers,” page 208, paragraph 3. Preparation a necessity. Let’s look in as husband and wife sit down for regular period of study and preparation for field service.

DEMONSTRATION (15 min.) Wife desires a study but feels she cannot give back-call sermon and start study herself. Husband commends on how well she does in service, then points to Society’s suggestion that simplified back-call sermon be used.

BENEFIT FROM STUDYING GOD’S WORD

Means everlasting life —John 17:3 Jesus’ work: Making known God’s

name                —John 17:4, 6

Suggested presentation: “Last time I was here we considered the importance of letting God be true—learning from the Bible. We will gain much from Bible study. It is one of our first steps in pursuit of everlasting life. [Read John 17:3.] Reading on in this chapter (John 17:4), we learn of the work Jesus did when he was on the earth. What was that work? Jesus was interested in making known God’s name. [Read John 17:6.] Many have wondered just what God’s name is. The book ‘Let God Be True,’ which I left you last week, gives some very interesting information on this in chapter 2. Observe the question on paragraphs 1 and 2.” Consider first few paragraphs with householder as circumstances permit. Create interest for return visit. Make definite appointment.

Couple read suggested presentation and discuss it. Husband suggests wife try sermon, using him as householder. Next, he asks how she will start study. She recalls that last point of sermon ties in with chapter 2 of “Let God Be True.” He invites her to start sample study with him. She does well. Now, how will she create interest for return call? She suggests asking question on paragraph 4 but offering to come back next week to consider answer. Wife demonstrates. Makes definite appointment. Husband warmly commends. Suggests they go together on one of her back-calls and she handle it just as she did here.

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) Husbands, spend a period of preparation with your wives as demonstrated here. Parents, do <he same with your children. Companions in the training program should prepare together too.

13 min; Concluding comments. (Include Announcements not yet covered, “New Bible Dictionary,’’ and slogan at bottom of page 1.)

FOURTH MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Introduction, text and comments.

15 min: Talk on January 15, 1963, “Watchtower” article “Do You Stumble over Imperfection?”

7 min: Consider, with audience participation, “Special Help for Bible Campaign” and how to use the folder effectively.

23 min: Plan Now to Vacation Pioneer This Summer.

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) Joyful experiences are in store for vacation pioneers. Younger members of the congregation will find vacation period an opportune time. Older publishers will wisely use summer months to share in this service.

SCENE I (3 min.) Two youthful ministers reflect on joys from previous summer vacation pioneering, but, in view of summer conventions, both feel they will not be able to vacation pioneer this sunimer.

SCENE II (4 min.) Parent talks to one child, shows how vacation pioneering will nelp equip him for his career in the ministry. Child agrees but does not feel he can vacation pioneer and attend convention. Parent works out schedule with child, showing he can vacation pioneer and attend convention. Child expresses appreciation, and will vacation pioneer.

SCENE III (3 min.) Congregation servant commends young publisher on good field service record, inquires of his plans to vacation pioneer. Young-minister had not planned to vacation pioneer due tc. convention. After suggestions and encouragement from servant youth requests a vacation pioneer application.

CHAIRMAN (1 min.) Let’s encourage one another to vacation pioneer.

SCENE IV (6 min.) Two sisters (Will and Hesitate) discuss vacation pioneering. “Will” read many fine “Yearbook” experiences (101, 105, 176) and noted the blessings. She has often thought about vacation pioneering, is determined to this summer. “Hesitate” asks how she will manage with an unbelieving husband, caring for family, and getting to convention. Reminds “Will” she is not getting any younger. “Will” has thought about these things, feels others have overcome greater obstacles, and with Jehovah’s help she will be able to pioneer. Asks “Hesitate,” “Why don’t you vacation pioneer with me?” “Hesitate” never really thought seriously about it. When asked what prevents her from doing so, “Hesitate” replies she really does not have any valid excuse. “Hesitate” decides to vacation pioneer with “Will.” CHAIRMAN (4 min.) Plan now.

10 min: Concluding- comments.

FIFTH MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Introduction, text and comments.

10 mtn: New World News, with one or two good local experiences.

15 min: Faithfulness When ‘One’s Enemies Are in His Household.’ (Talk based on 1963 “Yearbook” experiences.)

Christian conduct calls for faithfulness at all times, even when ‘one’s enemies are in his household.’ (Matt. 10:36) Not easy, but our brothers are proving faithful under these trials and in many instances have reaped rich rewards. Tn faithfulness wives and husbands have preached despite opposition from unbelieving mates. (223 lil; 224 111) Faithfulness has helped wives win over their husbands (242 115), young men to weather the wrath, of their fathers (251 1(2), boys to endure parental threats and punishment (27f H2), husbands to win over their wives (100 112; 309 U3-310 fl), pave the way for a father and mother and five children to see the truth (167 Faithfulness also carries the grand promise of everlasting life.

20 min: Sermon: “God’s Word, an Inspired Guide.”

CHAIRMAN (12 min.) Offer the Bible enthusiastically in June. The sermon is simple and to the point. (See “Sermon Outlines,” Section 3A. “Bible.”)

Informative discussion of introduction, scriptures, transitions and presentation of Bible.

Theme: God’s Word, an Inspired Guide

Bible inspired, helps us to meet problems of life with success

—2 Tim. 3:16, 17 Gives us hope for the future (Paraphrase Rom. 15:4) Shows that Kingdom will soon bring peace, security right here on earth

—Mic. 4:3, 4 Taking in of such knowledge means life                      —John 17:3

Suggested introduction: “In these days when there are delinquency and insecurity all around us, you have no doubt asked: What does the future hold for us? Where can we find a reliable guide to help us cope with the problems of life? The best place to go is the Bible, and this scripture shows why.” [Read 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.] Continue with sermon. After reading John 17:3, say: “So each one of us needs to read the Bible, but read it with understanding. No doubt you have often said, ‘I wish the Bible were easier to understand.’ Well, it is easier to understand when you read it in the living language of our day. It is just such a modern language Bible I have been using here, aiid it was not a bit difficult to understand, was it? [May well show householder other examples of clear rendering. See Bible insert on “Renderings of Scriptures Compared.”] A copy of this Bible is yours, with this Biblestudy aid, ‘Look! I Am Making All Things New,’ for just $1.” After placement is made, offer to demonstrate for householder how to use the booklet and Bible together.

CAPABLE PUBLISHER (6 min.)

Special Help for Bible Campaign

• ¹ The Society is sending all congregations a special aid for the June Bible campaign. This is the four-page “Renderings of Scriptures Compared,” made up of twenty-nine selections from the Bible, showing the New World Translation rendering alongside those of the King James Version and the Douay Version.

• ² Since these aids are for publishers and not the public, one of them can be carefully pasted in the back of your Bible, so it will always be handy when you wish to show a householder how the Netv World Translation compares with those other versions.

• ³ Everyone who gets a copy of the Kingdom Ministry should receive one of these scripture comparison sheets. Since they are not being stocked by the Society, each publisher should be careful to save his copy. They can be used in future Bible campaigns. If a congregation has a few extra copies, they may be kept on the shelves for new publishers. Put them to good use during the June Bible campaign.

New Bible Dictionary

Many will be interested to know that the Society has in stock The New Bible Dictionary, edited by J. D. Douglas. For a one-volume Bible dictionary it is very comprehensive, having 1,375 pages, consisting of 2,300 articles. Its reporting on archaeological discoveries regarding the Scriptures is up to date. Congregations that would like to have a copy of this volume for their Theocratic Ministry School library may order it from the Society. The price: $12.95 for congregations and publishers; $8.75 for regular and special pioneers.

The prices of the four Bible dictionaries handled by the Society are as follows:

Well-rehearsed presentation of sermon to demonstrate its effectiveness.

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) For each publisher to share effectively in Bible distribution during June, review and rehearse sermon at home immediately. 10 min: Concluding comments.

FIRST MEETING IN JUNE

Theme: True Witnesses, like the “Word of God.’’

5 min: Introduction, text and comments.

CONGREGATION

Never Let Up Helping New Ones

• ¹ Will that new publisher you assisted in April be publishing again this month? Will the many thousands who joined us in the ministry recently be publishing in the months to come? The answers depend greatly upon us, the individual Kingdom publishers.

• ² If you helped a new publisher to get started in April, do you know what you can do to continue helping this new one to progress to maturity? For one thing, you will want to aid him to learu several simple magazine presentations. Then lovingly extend the training to the simplified sermon activity. Commend him for his sincere efforts in Kingdom service and fortify him against indifference and persecution, as well as expecting too much of himself in the beginning. Then, as a true teacher, set a good example yourself in regularity in the ministry and meeting attendance. Be out in the service each week, if possible, and let your student copy

  Announcements

  
  

♦ The Society is not making any arrangements for special trains or buses for brothers attending the Milwaukee, New York and Pasadena conventions this summer. We will leave it to the individual publishers or to the congregations to make their own travel arrangements. The only travel arrangements being made by the Society are in connection with the around-the-world tours including Holy Land tours, and the Honolulu convention. There is still space available on the proposed charter flights to Honolulu from Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Those interested should write to the Watchtower Society, Travel Desk, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn 1, New York, as soon as possible. (See the August, 1962, Kingdom Ministry for charter rates.)

Congregations are requested to apply for unassigned territory by May 15. By means of a special letter some congregations were invited to work a specific territory. Such congregations should let the Society know whether they can accept the assignment.

When congregations complete their first study of “Let Your Name Be Sanctified/’ they will once again study this publication, which contains vital information all publishers and persons of goodwill should understand.

♦ Offer for June: The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures and 12 min: Two enthusiastic brothers discuss month’s theme and its application to our work during June. (See “Watchtower,’’ October 1, 1962, pp. 598-604, also issue of June 1, 1963.)

15 min: Talk on February 15, 1963, “Watchtower” article “Carry Your Own Load of Responsibility.”

1$ min: Consider local objections frequently encountered while offering the “New World Translation.” Discuss and demonstrate how obstacles can be overcome.

10 min: Concluding comments

ORGANIZATION

this good example. Finally, continue your Bible study with the newly associated one. Bring him to the meetings and let him feel the warmth of Christian friendship and appreciate the bond of Christian love to an even greater degree.

³ Overseers, servants and study conductors can do much to help new publishers too. How? By making friendly calls on the newer ones, encouraging them to faithful activity in the ministry. These discussions should be spiritually uplifting, based on local experiences, the Yearbook, The Watchtotver and Kingdom, Ministry.

⁴ This is no time to forget about the new ones. Rather, we should intensify our efforts, reflecting on the patience and love shown us in the beginning. Continue to assist the newer ones. Your loving efforts will be backed by Jehovah. Never let up on this arrangement, that progress to greater maturity might be made by each one in the congregation.

a booklet for $1. FOR JULY—SEPTEMBER: “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” and ‘‘Your Will Be Done on Earth,” for $1. For unassigned territory the offer will be a year’s subscription for The Watchtower and one bound book for $1.50.

♦ New Publications available:

1962 Watchtower and Awake! bound volumes             —German

Songbook              —Chishona

Blood, Medicine and the Law of God

—Portuguese God’s Way Is Love —Kinyakyusa Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near                —Indonesian

Preaching and Teaching in Peace and Unity —Cibemba, Norwegian, Turkish Security During “War of the Great Day of God the Almighty”

—Yoruba

“The Word”—Who Is He? According to John         —Danish, Dutch

“This Good News of the Kingdom”

—Lushai

When All Nations Unite Under God’s Kingdom              —Tagalog

Tract 1—What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?     —Armenian, Kissi

Tract 5—Hope for the Dead

—Masbateno

Tract 8—Life in a. New World

—Ogoni

Out of stock in U.S.A.:

Bible #HR74            —Korean

Bible #73            —Portuguese

1962 Watchtower bound volume

—English, Spanish 1962 Awake! bound volume

—Spanish After Armageddon—God’s New World —English, French, Japanese, Spanish Christendom or Christianity—Which One Is “the Light of the World”? —Chinese, French, Tamil

♦ Available again in U.S.A.:

Evolution versus The New World

—Hebrew

Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near                   —Arabic

With a Simplified Sermon

• ¹ Simplified sermons have helped many young and new publishers to share in making the monthly offer. It is suggested that new publishers started in April be taught and assisted to use one or more of the sermons below during Slay.

• ² You might say : “We are making brief calls on people to help them build confidence in the true God and his book, the Bible. The words of the Bible writer Paul show the need for such a work. He said at Romans 3:3, 4: [Read.] The Bible study book used by more people than any other is ‘Let God Be True’ It has helped millions build their

  MILWAUKEE: JUNE 30 - JULY 7. NEW YORK: JULY 7-JULY 14

  PASADENA: SEPT. 1 - SEPT. 8

  
  

• ¹ The Society had hoped to obtain the use of the Polo Grounds in New York city at the time of the Yankee Stadium convention this summer. However, it was recently learned that the Polo Grounds will not be available because the new stadium for the Mets baseball games in New York will not be finished by July 7. Due to the great crowd of conven-tioners expected in New York city it will be impossible for Yankee Stadium and the surrounding grounds to accommodate all of them. Therefore, the Society has arranged to use the baseball stadium in Milwaukee. The Society will open the ten weeks’ convention series for this summer’ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 30 through July 7. This will mean that a large number of the brothers in the Middle West and in parts of Canada will be attending the convention in Milwaukee and thus relieve overcrowding the Yankee Stadium facilities.

• ² In the latter part of April the publishers in Milwaukee and New York planned to go from house to house to obtain rooming accommodations.

• ³ After filling out your Room Request Form please send it to the convention city where you will be attending. If you are. going to Milwaukee, then address your mail to Watchtower Convention, 1238 West Atkinson Avenue, Milwaukee 6, Wisconsin. If you are coming- to the New York assembly, send your Room Reconfidence in God and the Bible. You may have this copy on a contribution of only 50c.”

• ³ Another approach when people are busy might be this: “Although you are busy, I would like you to know that my call is intended to build up your faith in God so that you may have greater confidence in him and his Word, the Bible. This one scripture at Romans 3:3, 4 will briefly sum up the purpose of my call. [Read.] To let God be true means to let his Word, the Bible, have the last say on what is religiously true. This Bible-study aid, giving the Bible’s answer on twenty-six doctrinal subjects, may be yours on a contribution of 50c.” quest Form to Watchtower Convention, 77 Sands Street, Brooklyn 1, New York. If you are going to Pasadena, write to 604 N. Avenue C4, Los Angeles 42, California. Please fill out forms completely and be sure you mail them to the convention city where you will be attending the convention.

• ⁴ If any desire certain hotels in which to stay they can show this preference on their Room Request Form. If possible, the Convention Rooming Committee will assign them there. Otherwise, assignments will be given to another hotel in the vicinity at about the same price, if at all possible. By having conventions in three cities in the United States on different dates we feel sure we will be able to accommodate all the brothers. We hope many of the brothers from different parts of the United States, and particularly in the West, and from Texas and Oklahoma, will be going to Pasadena. We would appreciate it if all the brothers would obtain their rooming accommodations through the Watch tower Convention in the three cities.

• ⁵ Do not forget to fill out your application for volunteer service and turn it over to your congregation servant, who will forward it to the convention you will be attending after he signs it.

• ⁰ The Society sent a letter to all congregations in the United States

NEW WORLD NEWS

$Three American representatives of the Society deported from Cuba. The work continues but under increasing opposition.

M. G. Henschel left New York February 22 on a tour of Africa. At Sierra Leone 677 attended the public talk and 16 were immersed.

At Gbarnga, Liberia, the convention was interrupted Sunday morning when soldiers gathered all the brothers to a flag-raising ceremony. The brothers were kept under guard for two nights, denied food and water for 24 hours. Some were held even a third night without sleep, being abused, beaten and robbed.

At the next stop, in Ghana, an assembly was held at Sekondi, where 14,117 attended the public talk and 384 were immersed.

In Nigeria the Port Harcourt assembly had a peak attendance of 33,364, with 796 immersed. In Lagos the public talk attendance came to 22,704, and there were 330 immersed. A total of 14 languages was used, with separate booths for each language.

^On February 16 the new two-story branch office building and Kingdom Hall in Managua, Nicaragua, was dedicated, with 315 persons attending the dedication talk.

♦ Two district assemblies in Haiti attended by a total of 858, with 21 baptized.

MARCH SERVICE REPORT

Av.     Av.    Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs. B-C Bi.St. Mags. Sp'l Pios.     667  145.3 55.2  8.1

Pios.        7,628   96.1  34.3  5.3

Vac. Pios.  2,018   84.3 25.4  2.9

Pubs. 271,232   10.7   3.7   .6

TOTAL 281,545

Public Meetings Held: 27,393 UNITED STATES QUOTA FOR 1963 294,180 Publishers

WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN MARCH?

Well done, brothers! Outstanding in the March report is the number of subscriptions obtained: 130,960—the highest number ever for a “Watchtower” campaign month! That is an average of almost half a subscription per publisher. Just think what it means! Now “The Watchtower” will be going into many more thousands of homes every two weeks. Why, that many subscriptions represents over 3,000,000 individual copies during the year! It is also wonderful to note that average hours, back-calls and magazines increased during March, and Bible studies increased for the third month in a row. Keep up this fine work.

and asked them to take a poll as to where the publishers would be attending a convention. Congregation servants should have read the contents of the letter to the congregation and mailed the report to the Society by May 1.

-K Faithfulness when ‘one’s enemies are in his household.’ X-

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.I. Printed in U.S.A.

4