' OUR ' KINGDOM MINISTRY

JULY 1985 Vol. 28, No. 7 FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Meetings for Field Service

JULY 1-7

How do you

• 1. Introduce the Topic for Conversation?

• 2. Make the transition between the scriptures?

• 3. Encourage the householder to accept the offer?

JULY 8-14

When offering the Survival book,

• 1. How may the illustrations be used?

• 2. How would you use the material on pages 27, 29, and 33?

JULY 15-21

How would you

• 1. Offer the Divine Name brochure?

• 2. Highlight points in the Life on Earth brochure?

• 3. Determine which brochure to offer?

JULY 22-28

Why is it important

• 1. To look at the householder when speaking?

• 2. To read scriptures clearly? (1 Cor. 14:9)

• 3. To explain how scriptures apply? (Acts 8:35)

TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION

A Bright Future for Mankind.

Ps. 37:29, 37—Prospect of living forever in peace.

Ps. 37:39—Coping with these distressing times.

• ¹ As Jehovah’s Witnesses we have many reasons to be courageous and outspoken in preaching the Kingdom message. First of all, we represent Jehovah. Second, the importance of the message itself requires that we speak with confidence. The assurance that he is with us and will infuse power into us should cause us to declare the truth fearlessly. (Jer. 1:17, 19) Additionally, the example of others who have persevered in doing God’s will in spite of hardships and obstacles can give us heart.

• ² Appreciating the importance of the good news should encourage us to proclaim it with freeness of speech. These Kingdom truths are not from a human source but are ‘through divine revelation.’ (Gal. 1: 11, 12) The Kingdom is the touchstone by which all mankind are to be judged. Thus, Jesus showed that our fearlessly preaching the good

  Help Others to Progress in the Ministry

  
  

• ¹ At Luke 22:32 Jesus exhorted Peter to ‘strengthen his brothers.’ Peter did just that. His faithful ministry was a source of strength to his Christian brothers. (1 Pet. 5:12) Just as we appreciate it when we are helped to have a regular share in the field service, so do others. Ask yourself: Who in your congregation need encouragement to progress in the ministry? How can they be helped?—1 Thess. 5:11.

• ² One way is by helping them to become effective in presenting the Topic for Conversation. For example, suggest appropriate introductions for your area. Show them how questions may be asked to involve the householder and how to tie in the scriptures effectively. Suggest that they work with different brothnews was more important than even our present lives.—Mark 8:34, 35.

TRUST JEHOVAH

• ³ Opposition to the message only deepens our resolve to preach with boldness. (1 Thess. 2:2) Accurate knowledge of Jehovah and faith in his Word produce an internal strength that dispels fear of those who may try to hinder us. (1 Pet. 3: 13, 14) Are we not also encouraged by Jesus’ promise that he would be with us until the conclusion of the system of things’ (Matt. 28:20) As we boldly preach, we can confidently say as did the psalmist: “Jehovah is on my side; I shall not fear. What can earthling man do to me?”—Ps. 118:6.

• ⁴ Closely considering the record of faithful men can produce courageous perseverance in God’s service. Peter and the other apostles (Continued on page 3, col. 1) ers and sisters and learn from their presentations. (Prov. 20:18) Arrange for practice sessions that simulate actual conditions existing in the field. (Prov. 27:17) Much can be done to help new or less experienced publishers at meetings for field service, after the book study, when traveling to the territory, or within the family group.

BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

³ There is a vital work for every Christian to do. We are urged to ■brace up our minds for activity.’ Be aware of those in the congregation with particular needs, such as the fatherless boys, the elderly, and those with unbelieving mates. Can you schedule time to work with them in the field service? (1 Pet.

(Continued on page 4, col. 1}

Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples

WEEK STARTING JUNE 30

Song 107

10 min: Local announcements and consideration of outstanding April report as given on page 1. Also cite outstanding features of congregation’s April report.

15 m i n: “Boldly Preaching the Good News.” Questions and answers. Read selected paragraphs and key scriptures as time allows. When paragraph 5 is considered, review talking points from Survival book.

20 min: Appreciating the Urgency of Our Public Ministry. Audience discussion.

(3 min.) Chairman: A privilege to share in performing most vital work of our time. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Give evidence of angelic support and cooperation. (Rev. 14:6,7) Since time left for accomplishing this work is greatly reduced, should be done with sense of urgency. Need for full and regular share in ministry. (Matt. 9: 37, 38; Eph. 5:15-17)

(15 min.) Read and discuss with audience following questions and selected scriptures (not all scriptures need to be read): What personal responsibility does dedication bring? (Matt. 11:28-30; Luke 6:40, 45) How do we know that preaching is the principal work of the Christian congregation today? (Luke 8:1; 9:1, 2; 10:1, 8, 9) In what way is our participation in the ministry a test of our love for Jehovah and his organization? (Rev. 12:12, 17; Matt. 10: 32, 33; 25:31-33, 37-40) What should be our attitude toward having a full share in the ministry? (Rom. 11:13; 15:16; 1 Cor. 9:16)

(2 min.) Conclusion: Review main points, emphasizing Scriptural reasons for our personal view of ministry. Encourage all to share in the activity this weekend; outline arrangements for activity on first Sunday of month.

Song 27 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 7

Song 67

10 min: Local announcements and selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Encourage all to share in magazine work this Saturday. Demonstrate two 60-second magazine presentations. Feature current Watchtower in one and current Awake! in the other.

20 min: “Are You Working as a Family Toward Spiritual Goals?” Question-and-answer discussion. Have paragraphs and scriptures read as time allows.

15 min: “Parents, Protect Your Children.” Talk by elder on Watchtower article of March 15, 1985, pages 25-7.

Song 157 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 14

Song 151

8 mln: Local announcements, including commendation of high points of congregation’s June report. Accounts report.

■ 7 min: Why Be an Auxiliary Pioneer? Interview one or two publishers who have recently served as auxiliary pioneers. Get comments on: Why did they decide to pioneer? How did they make time for it? How have they personally benefited? Have them relate encouraging field experiences in connection with pioneering.

15 min: “Help Others to Progress in the Ministry.” Question-and-answer discussion of article.

15 min: A Balanced View of ‘Marking.’ Question-and-answer coverage of “Questions From Readers” in the April 15, 1985, Watchtower. The elder handling this part should prepare questions on the material and have all the paragraphs read.

Song 132 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 21

Song 93

10 min: Local announcements. Suggest talking points from latest magazines that could be used in the field.

APRIL SERVICE REPORT

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 2,040

Remind brothers to prepare brief presentations.

17 min: Help Keep Your Kingdom Hall Clean. Discussion with congregation to be handled by a brother whose family is exemplary in helping with hall cleaning and maintenance. Consider the questions and the application of principles found in the scriptures cited. Why is a clean Kingdom Hall so important? (Neh. 12:30;

2 Chron. 29:2-5,15-17) How can children be trained in this regard? (Prov. 22:6) How may the assignments for cleaning the Kingdom Hall be organized? (1 Ki. 5:14) What should be the appearance of the Kingdom Hall rest rooms? (Deut. 23:14) What should be our attitude toward cleaning the Kingdom Hall? (Neh. 10:39) Review local arrangements for cleaning the Kingdom Hall.

18 min: “Presenting the Good News —With Discernment.” Question-and-answer discussion. Highlight the Scriptural principles that govern our way of doing things.

Song 31 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 28

Song 35

8 min: Local announcements and brief consideration of “Effect a Wider Distribution of Awake!"

12 min: “How Expansive Is Your Love?” Talk on article from The Watchtower of March 15, 1985, pages 21-3.

15 mln: Arrange locally according to the needs of the congregation.

10 min: Prepare for field service in August. In a warm and stimulating way encourage sharing in field service on the first Sunday of the month. Review literature offer for August, highlighting useful points for presenting offer. Make helpful comments on Topic for Conversation.

Song 30 and concluding prayer.

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Survival Into a New Earth:

July 7: Chapter 12

July 14: Chapter 13

July 21: Chapter 14

July 28: Chapter 15

Effect a Wider Distribution of Awake!

• ¹ From time to time Awake! features articles that treat subjects of special interest to certain groups of people. Although massive distributions may not be organized for these particular issues, alertness to their potential appeal in your local territory could effect a wider distribution of valuable information.

• ² For example, the August 8, 1985, issue of Awake! has a series of articles dealing with crime, its causes, and the solution. These articles should be of special interest to police officers, lawyers, judges, court personnel, prison officials, probation officers, and others involved with law enforcement.

• ³ The September 8, 1985, issue of Awake! will have a series of articles dealing with reading problems and will give suggestions on how to improve one’s reading ability. There may be opportunities to distribute this magazine to schoolteachers and others especially interested in education. Perhaps young Witnesses who are students would like to have a share in this distribution.

• ⁴ Many have had good success in placing individual copies of Awake! by being alert to offer selected articles to special groups most likely to be interested in that particular information. May this reminder help you to effect a wider distribution of Awake! in your personal territory.

Boldly Preaching           (Cant’d)

were noted for their outspokenness in preaching. (Acts 4:13; 5:29) No sooner had Paul been converted than he began witnessing “with boldness” and he continued to do so. (Acts 13:46; 14:3) We can also draw strength from “so great a cloud” of pre-Christian witnesses, as well as from the modern-day examples of our brothers in such places as Malawi, Turkey, Korea, and parts of Eastern Europe. Their record of faith and boldness in preaching stimulates us to press on courageously.—Heb. 12:1.

OFFER SURVIVAL BOOK

• ⁵ We have good reason to speak with boldness as we offer the Survival book during July. Although some householders may show an interest in the message, we are likely to encounter in others a measure of indifference and apathy. How will we respond? Will the attitudes of those we meet cause us to hold back from preaching with conviction and fearlessness? Will we allow unfa-

  Are You Working as a Family Toward Spiritual Goals?

  
  

• ¹ As a dedicated people we have the goal of serving Jehovah faithfully. We also eagerly look forward to receiving the gift of eternal life. Of course, we are not interested just in our own faithfulness and salvation. We want to help others reach these goals, and especially do we want to help our own family. —John 1:40, 41; 1 Tim. 5:8.

• ² Just as a mountain is climbed step by step, we, too, can progress step by step in our Christian course. To this end we set spiritual goals for ourselves. This is not limited to individuals. Families can also have goals in connection with meetings, field service, and family study. Are there improvements to be made? Can certain members of the family be helped to reach the goal of full-time service? A family discussion can help toward the attaining of goals determined upon. When these are reached, other theocratic goals can be set. Thus, step by step, spiritual progress can be made.

MEETINGS

• ³ Some families may need to set a goal of getting to the meetings on time. This can be a real challenge for large families, for those with difficult work schedules, or where there is a problem with transportation. Cooperation and good organization are necessary.

• ⁴ Another practical goal for the family to consider is that of commenting at meetings. Some members of the family may prefer to read a short comment. However, making brief and specific comments in one’s own words denotes spiritual progress and is rewarding. Family members can assist one smother in preparing their comments. They can also help one another to make progress in the Theocratic Ministry School. This may include listening to younger family members rehearse their assignments, showing them how to use an outline, correcting their pronunciation vorable conditions in the community to dampen our zeal? If we appreciate the value of the message we bear and see mankind’s need for a sure prospect for survival, we will not shrink back.

⁶ Prayer is another means by which we develop bold persistence in the ministry. Paul observed that “prayer on every occasion in spirit” could result in the “ability to speak of words, and so forth. The goal of becoming a good teacher or an excellent public reader is worthy of diligent effort.—1 Tim. 4:13.

FIELD SERVICE

• ⁵ Some families need to achieve regularity in the field service. Does your entire family share in the field service the first Sunday of each month? What about the goal of helping family members learn the current Topic for Conversation or a new magazine presentation? There is also the goal of starting a home Bible study or the goal may be greater regularity in conducting an already established study.

FAMILY STUDY

• ⁶ For some families it may be a real challenge to adhere faithfully to the schedule for a family study. On occasion it may be necessary to reschedule the study. But this should be the exception. Another excellent goal is to read the weekly Bible assignment regularly, perhaps even including it in the family study. For most persons, the actual reading of the material assigned for the week only takes 20 to 25 minutes. It can add to one’s knowledge of the Scriptures and it makes the review of Bible highlights each week more interesting.

• ⁷ There are many other goals that individuals and families can set for themselves. For example, what about a family effort toward auxiliary pioneer service this summer? Additionally, with good organization and cooperation, can the family sponsor at least one of its members as a regular pioneer? There is also the goal of becoming a ministerial servant or an elder. Young brothers may have Bethel service as a goal. These goals are attainable, but they require diligence and hard work. As we strive to reach our personal and family goals, the quality of our service to Jehovah will improve, all to his honor and glory.—Ps. 96:7, 8.

. . . with freeness of speech . . . , with boldness.” (Eph. 6:18-20) During times of distress, Jehovah quickly responded to the prayerful call of the psalmist by ‘making him bold in his soul with strength.’ (Ps. 138:3) May our united prayers on behalf of one another pave the way for us to show “all the more courage to speak the word of God fearlessly.”— Phil. 1:14.

With Discernment

• ¹ “A man of discernment is cool of spirit.” (Prov. 17:27) The wisdom of these words is often proved true in our preaching activity. For example, we may come face to face with a sign that says, “No Soliciting.” Or, we may be asked to leave a building where we have been witnessing. In other areas, a custodian or a manager may refuse to grant entrance to a building. What can we do in these instances’

• ² “No Soliciting.” Our work of preaching the good news and leaving literature with people for a freewill contribution to cover printing costs does not constitute solicitation for funds. Yet, some people will object and refer to our preaching work as soliciting. If so, we can kindly explain that our work is not commercial, that it is a missionary and evangelizing work, and that we are ministers. In so doing, our utterance should be ‘always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how we ought to give an answer to each one.’ (Col. 4:6) If such a sign is enforced or if authorized persons insist that we are not welcome, we should quietly leave and perhaps try witnessing there at another time.

• ³ “Asked to leave the premises.” If a publisher is asked to leave a building where he has been preaching, he can tactfully show that his work is of a religious nature of utmost importance and is a public service. If the objection is to calling on Sunday, try to make arrangements to return on another day. If, after calmly talking to the person, you are ordered to leave, Help Others                (Cant’d)

1:13; Eccl. 4:9, 10) A fine opportunity for this is in magazine activity on the second and fourth Saturdays.

• ⁴ Pioneers, you are in an excellent position to be helpful. Your encouraging experiences can have a good effect on others. (Acts 15:3) Why not plan to have someone join you on a Bible study or on a return visit? When making these arrangements, be sure to let the publisher know what point you hope to cover so he can share in the discussion. Your zealous activity in preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom will encourage others to do the same.

• ⁵ Elders are privileged not only to you should do so. It is not wise to insist on one’s rights and contribute to further disturbances or even unnecessary arrests. If advisable, the publisher can return on another occasion or write a personal letter giving a witness to those who live there. If you return, discernment may dictate calling at only a few doors or homes. Then return later to visit a few more. If you keep an accurate record of all residents, all may eventually receive a witness.

• ⁴ “Entrance to a building is refused.” Discernment calls for the words of Proverbs 15:1: “An answer, when mild, turns away rage, but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.” Thus, as mentioned before, it is usually best not to insist on one’s rights. However, in some places where entry is refused, making an appointment to talk with the superintendent of the building to explain our work may help to obtain permission to preach therein. Also, it may be possible to get into a building or an area in some normal, legal way, and call on one or more families at a time and in a manner unobserved by those who object. Of course, this should be done discreetly. At all times the dignity of our work should be maintained so that we “do all things for God’s glory.”—1 Cor. 10:31.

• ⁵ “The good news has to be preached.” (Mark 13:10) As we approach the end of this system, it is expected that Satan will continue to make it more difficult for us to reach sheeplike ones. May we use discernment as we preach in order to reach as many as we can with the hope from God’s Word.

set a zealous example in proclaiming the Kingdom but also to help their brothers and sisters to improve their abilities in this service. Congregation Book Study conductors and the service overseer can review the Congregation’s Publisher Record cards from time to time in order to be aware of trends developing with regard to a person’s field service. Thus, they will be in a good position to help in training Kingdom proclaimers to become proficient in various features of service. They can help members of the flock to fight discouragement due to difficult territory or problems of life that may interfere with their service. Meetings for field service that will be convenient for the publish-

Announcemen ts

• Literature offer for July and August: Survival book for a contribution of 81.00. Any brochure, but especially Life on Earth or Divine Name for 30e each, may be used as an alternate offer. September: Peace and Security; if none in stock, any other 192-page book for $1.00 contribution. October: Subscription for either Awake! or The Watchtower, or both, for a contribution of $4.00 for each one-year subscription.

• You will be pleased to know that a large-print edition of The Watchtower in Spanish will be published, beginning August 1, 1985. This will be of benefit to those with limited eyesight. It will be a regular-size magazine of 32 pages and contain only the study articles with questions. The price will be the same as the regular semimonthly edition. Individual subscriptions and distributors’ copies should be ordered through the congregation. To order, use the regular Watchtower subscription slip (M-l) or the Distributors’ Order form (M-202) and mark clearly in the upper right-hand corner, “LARGE PRINT."

• October 8 and October 22 issues of Awake! will be special issues with fullcolor covers. Orders for additional copies of these special issues should be sent in no later than the end of July.

• New Publications Available:

Sing Praises to Jehovah

Large size             —Japanese

Small size             —Japanese

Survival Into a New Earth —Chinese, Korean

You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth (Reduced size)    —French,

Iloko, Japanese, Tagalog

Enjoy Life on Earth Forever! —Luhya-Samia, Marquesian, Nyiha

From Kurukshetra to Armageddon —And Your Survival      —Italian

The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever     —Cebuano, Iloko, Korean,

Tagalog

"This Good News of the Kingdom"

—Estonian

• New Cassette Recordings Available:

Album with complete Greek Scriptures (set of 23; congregation and public: $35.75; pioneers: $22.75) —Japanese

Deuteronomy (set of three; congregation and public: $4.50; pioneers: $3.75)                 —Japanese

Joshua (set of two; congregation and public: $3.00; pioneers: $2.50)

—Japanese

ers should be regularly scheduled, and special service arrangements can be made for holidays. The elders should be alert to the needs of the congregation in this regard.

HELPING OTHERS BRINGS JOY

⁶ There is much satisfaction and joy that results from assisting someone else to share fully in Kingdom preaching. (Neh. 8:10) During these last days, make use of every opportunity to help others to experience with you the joy of working shoulder to shoulder in Christian unity!—Zeph. 3:9.