Our Kingdom Ministry

July 1996                         For United States of America                         Vol. 39, No. 7

• ¹ The psalmist David was moved to declare to Jehovah: “I will make melody to your name forever, that I may pay my vows day after day.” (Ps. 61:8) David knew that the making of a vow is a wholly voluntary matter. However, he also appreciated that if he made a vow, he was obligated to fulfill it. Even so, he praised Jehovah for the opportunity to fulfill his vows day after day.

• ² When we made our dedication to Jehovah, we willingly vowed to do his will. We disowned ourselves and made serving Jehovah our primary pursuit in life. (Luke 9:23) Hence, we too must pay our vow day after day. (Eccl. 5:4-6) Our public declaration made at the time of water baptism must be reflected in our entire pattern of life, since we know that “with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” (Rom. 10: 10) This includes preaching the good news. (Heb. 13:15) Personal circumstances vary greatly, but day after day all of us can keep in focus the importance of sharing the good news with others.

• ³ Make Opportunities to Preach Daily: Sharing the good news with someone else is a joyful experience. In order to do this daily, we have to make opportunities to preach whenever our circumstances permit. Many happy experiences have been enjoyed by those who have taken the initiative to witness informally to individuals at work or in school and to neighbors or others they encounter each day. Even writing letters or using the telephone can be a means of witnessing to others. Taking advantage of all these means as well as setting aside time regularly for witnessing from door to door and making return visits can lead to the special joy that comes from conducting a home Bible study. Yes, each day we may be able to create opportunities to preach.

• ⁴ A sister began reading Examining the Scriptures Daily during her work break. She invited a workmate to read the day’s text with her, and that soon led to a Bible study with the woman. They studied for half an hour each day, five days a week. Another workmate observed their daily study. He eventually identified himself as an inactive brother. Moved by the sister’s zeal, he contacted an elder in order to become reactivated. This sister touched two other lives in a positive way because of following through in fulfilling her vow day after day.

• ⁵ When we are motivated by a heart brimming with appreciation for all the good things Jehovah has done for us, fulfilling our dedication vow as best we can each day will bring us joy and satisfaction. Like the psalmist, we can declare: “I laud you, O Jehovah my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name to time indefinite.”—Ps. 86:12.

  Have You Tried Evening Witnessing?

  
  

' All of us find pleasure in being productive in our work. On the other hand, when we are unable to see positive results, work can become tedious and unfulfilling. Meaningful labor is personally rewarding, and it is a blessing. (Compare Ecclesiastes 3: 10-13.) We can apply this principle to our preaching work. We know from experience that when we go from door to door and are able to converse with people about the Bible, we return home spiritually refreshed. We feel that we have really accomplished something.

• ² In some areas it has become very difficult to find people at home during certain hours of the day. Reports indicate that in many places more than 50 percent of the people are not at home when we call early in the day. Many congregations have dealt with this problem by making arrangements for evening witnessing, and they have met with good success. Publishers report that when they call later in the day, more people are at home, and in general, people tend to be more relaxed and more inclined to listen to the Kingdom message. Have you tried evening witnessing in your territory?—Compare Mark 1:32-34.

• ³ Eldar* Organize Evening Witnessing: In some areas meetings for field service in the late afternoon or early evening have been well supported. Consideration can be given to young publishers who get out of school in the afternoon and to adults who have finished their secular work by later in the day. Some publishers who are not able to be out in field service on weekends find that evening witnessing during the week is a practical way for them to have a regular share in the preaching work.

• ⁴ There are various activities you can engage in during evening witnessing. You can witness from house to house with magazines or use the literature offer for the month. Evening is a fine time to call on people who were not at home when publishers called earlier in the day or on weekends. There might also be good territory for street witnessing, allowing you to contact people coming home from work. Many find that the evening is the best time to make return visits on those who have shown interest.

• ⁵ Be Cautious and Discreet: Going out at dusk or after dark could be hazardous in certain areas. It would be wise to travel in pairs or groups on well-lit streets and visit homes or apartment buildings only where there is some assurance that you will be safe. When you knock at the door, stand where you can be seen, and clearly identify yourself. Be discerning. When you observe that you have called at an inopportune time, as when the family is eating, offer to call at another time. Usually it is best to confine your witnessing to the early evening hours, rather than make late calls, when householders may be getting ready to retire for the night.

• ⁶ Long summer evenings are particularly appropriate for evening witnessing. As we render God “sacred service day and night,” Jehovah will certainly bless our efforts.—Rev. 7:15.

  Service Meetings for July

  
  

Week Starting July 1

Song 90

12 mln: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Comment on April field service report for the country and local congregation.

15 mln: “Fulfilling Our Vow Day After Day.” Questions and answers. Include comments from Insight, Volume 2, page 1162, paragraphs 6-7, showing why avow is a serious obligation.

18 min: “Imitate Jehovah by Genuinely Caring for Others.” (Paragraphs 1-3) Use the first paragraph to develop the theme of the article. Determine which brochures currently in stock in the congregation may be well received in your territory. Then review paragraphs 2-3 only, and demonstrate how both the initial call and the return visit can be handled with the brochure Does God Really Care About Us? Show how publishers might make up their own presentation for another brochure that would be appropriate for local territory. Include suggestions on how to mention that donations for the worldwide work are gladly accepted.

Song 112 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 8

Song 43

1O mln: Local announcements. Accounts report.

15 min: “Imitate Jehovah by Genuinely Caring for Others." (Paragraphs 4-5) Discuss only paragraphs 4-5 and some highlights of the brochure When Someone You Love Dies. Then demonstrate the suggested presentations for the initial call and the return visit.

20 mln: “More Brothers Are Needed in the Pioneer Service.” Questions and answers. As time permits, review suggestions on how to care for financial needs, as discussed in the September 15,1993, Watchtower, pages 28-31.

Song 16 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 15

Song 162

1O min: Local announcements.

20 mln: “Have You Tried Evening Witnessing?” A talk with audience participation and some interviews. Relate what has been observed locally when working the territory later in the day. Include experiences showing positive results from evening witnessing. Outline the local weekly schedule of meetings for service.

15 min: “Imitate Jehovah by Genuinely Caring for Others." (Paragraphs 6-8) Use the last paragraph of the article to encourage all to make return visits promptly on those with whom brochures are placed. Using paragraphs 6-7, demonstrate how to offer the Purpose of Life brochure on the initial call and how to start a study in the first chapter of the Knowledge book on the return visit. Remind publishers that they can make up their own presentations for other brochures, following model of presentations suggested in Our Kingdom Ministry.

Song 64 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 22

Song 108

10 mln: Local announcements. Briefly review latest issues of the magazines, pointing out interesting highlights that might be used in presenting them at the door.

15 min: Pursue the Goal of Full-Time Service. Discussion between an elder and one or two teenagers, based on December 15, 1988, Watchtower, pages 25-7. The youths are trying to decide what goals they will pursue after finishing high school. They show interest in material advantages offered by worldly careers. Elder points out good reasons why it would be tar better to reach out for pioneer service. Teenagers agree but doubt they can pioneer and provide for themselves materially. Elder shares experiences from the Watchtower article, showing that pioneer service is a reasonable, attainable goal that brings Joy to niany. Discussion ends with teenagers expressing appreciation for the elder’s comments and their determination to give serious thought to pursuing the goal of having a full share in Kingdom service.

20 mln: “How to Make Disciples With the Knowledge Book.” A talk covering paragraphs 12-16 of the June 1996 insert. Include two demonstrations of a Bible study in progress. The first shows how to train the student to prepare the lesson by highlighting or underlining key words and phrases that most directly answer the printed questions. The second demonstrates what you might say to encourage the Bible student to attend the Public Meeting and Watchtower Study. Song 116 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 29

Song 212

1O min: Local announcements. Review “New Circuit Assembly Program.”

20 mln: What Does It Take to Get a Bible Study? An elder directs discussion between two or three who have found success in the Bible study work, reviewing ways to be more successful in starting studies: (1) Pray for Jehovah’s help. (2) Share regularly in various features of the ministry to find interested ones. (3) Record all Interest, and make prompt return visits. (4) Always offer a study where interest is shown. (See the subheading “Getting Bible Studies Started," on page 20 of the February 15, 1996, Watchtower.) (5) Build confidence in your ability to teach by using the four suggestions outlined on pages 13-17 of the August 1,1984, Watchtower.

15 mln: Local Needs. Or an elder gives a talk on “Comfort and Encouragement—Gems of Many Facets,” from the January 15,1996, Watchtower, pages 21-3.

Song 165 and concluding prayer.

CONGREGATION BOOK STUDY

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life.

April Service Report

Av. Av Av Av Number of:              Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

SpIPlOS. 204 123.5 98.3 52.5 4.8

Pios. 72,627 80.1 49.5 26.0 2.4

Aux PiOS. 54,496 57.7 39.0 14.7 1.1

Pubs    807,286   9.8 7.2 3.6 0.4

TOTAL   934,613 Baptized: 3,162

Announcements

■ Literature offer for July and August: Any of the following 32-page brochures: Does God Really Care About Us?, Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!, ‘Look! I Am Making All Things New,' Should You Believe in the Trinity?, The Government That WUl Bring Paradise, What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?, and When Someone You Love Dies. Where appropriate, brochures such as Our Problems —Who Will Help Us Solve Them?, Spirits of the Dead—Can They HelpYou or Harm You? Do They Really Exist?, and Will There Ever Be a World Without War? may be offered. Sept amber: Life—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? Congregations having You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth or Making Your Family Life Happy in stock may offer these books. October: Individual copies of both The Watchtower and Awake! Where interest is found on return visits, subscriptions may be offered.

• ¹ Paul urged us ‘always to have plenty to do in the work of the Lord.’ (1 Cor. 15:58) For many, this means taking up the pioneer service. This past September, more than 5,000 were added to the pioneer ranks!

• ² Presently the greater number of those serving as pioneers in this country are sisters. (Ps. 68:11) What a Joy it would be for the congregation if more brothers could Join the ranks of full-time servants! (Ps. 110:3) It is understandable that many brothers have to care for heavy secular and family obligations. Others also work hard to care for the spiritual needs of the congregation. We appreciate these men who are exerting themselves in behalf of the Kingdom. —I Tim. 4:10.

• ³ Even so, could more of you brothers take up pioneer service? If your wife is pioneering, can you Join her? If you are retired, would you not agree that there Is no more satisfying way to spend your time than In the fulltime ministry? If you are Just finishing school, have you given serious and prayerful thought to taking up the pioneer service as a steppingstone to additional privileges of service?—Eph. 5:15-17.

* One brother sold his prosperous business and took part-time work so ■ Starting in September, circuit overseers will give the public talk entitled "Who Is Like Jehovah Our God?”

■ Awake! and The Watchtower on audiocassette are now being produced in Finnish.

• ■ Quarterly editions of Awake! are now available in Latvian and Lithuanian.

• ■ New Publications Available:

Comfort for the Depressed (Tract No. 20)

—Sinhalese

Enjoy Family Life (Tract No. 21)

—Sinhalese ■ New Braille Publications Available: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life

(two volumes) —Grade-two German Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life

(three volumes) —Grade-one Italian, Grade-one Spanish

Please mark requests for Braille publications ATTENTION: BRAILLE DESK. Include name and address of the person who will use the Braille material.

■ New Videocassettes Available:

To the Ends of the Earth     —Spanish that he could pioneer. With his fine lead, three of his four children became pioneers as soon as they finished school. The fourth was eager to Join them. This brother and his family have been richly blessed.

• ⁵ A Large Door Ie Open: Pioneer service can open “a large door that leads to activity.” (1 Cor. 16:9) Brothers who are pioneers may be used extensively in the congregation. Zealous field activity adds to their spiritual stature and contributes to their theocratic progress. Pioneering can open up the way to added privileges of service. After the first year of pioneering, there is the blessing of attending Pioneer Service School. Single ministerial servants and elders may reach out to attend the Ministerial Training School. Married couples who are qualified may apply for Gilead School. Brothers may eventually quality for the traveling work. Yes, the pioneer ministry opens the door to these greater privileges of service in Jehovah’s organization.

• ⁶ Brothers who can make room for regular pioneer service may experience the greater happiness that comes with Increased giving.—Acts 20:35.

New Circuit Assembly Program

• ¹ The new circuit assembly program beginning in September will develop the theme “Experience the Greater Happiness in Giving.” (Acts 20:35) Happiness is described as “a state of well-being and contentment." Most people today snatch whatever pleasure they can from life, and when they do, it often is temporary. That is not true happiness. Yet, Jehovah teaches us how to benefit ourselves forever. (Isa. 48:17; 1 John 2: 17) The new circuit assembly program will emphasize how we can gain greater happiness by giving in a spiritual way.

• ² We will learn practical ways in which we can give of ourselves in the ministry. Some of the talks to be given by the traveling overseers are entitled: “Making Friends by Means of Unrighteous Riches,” “Respect Divine Provision of 'Gifts In Men,’ ” and “Experience the Many Facets of True Happiness.” Those desiring to be baptized at the assembly will want to speak to the presiding overseer so that he can arrange for elders to review baptismal questions with them. Serving Jehovah in a clean relationship will bring great happiness to the newly baptized ones.

’Proper recognition of Jehovah’s authority also brings true happiness and security. All people need to know this. Hence, the public address at the circuit assembly will develop the theme “Unite With God’s Happy People." Be sure to Invite all those who have shown an Interest in the truth to come to this talk. They have not found genuine security and lasting happiness under human rule in this world, which Is lying in Satan’s power. (Eccl. 8:9) But what Joy they will find in being associated with Jehovah’s happy people!—Ps. 144:15b.

• ⁴ Despite worsening conditions in this system of things, those who experience the greater happiness in giving spiritually will never be disappointed by the happy God. (1 Tim. 1:11) The new circuit assembly program will demonstrate this to be true. Do not miss it!

Imitate Jehovah by Genuinely Caring for Others

• ¹ Jehovah is the greatest example of one who manifests genuine care for others. As the Universal Sovereign, he is sensitive to the needs of his human creation. (1 Pet. 5:7) Jesus encouraged his followers to manifest the traits of his Father, who makes the sun rise and the rain fall upon righteous and unrighteous people. (Matt. 5:45) You can imitate Jehovah by showing genuine concern for others —being prepared to share the Kingdom message with everyone you meet. By being thoroughly familiar with the brochures that will be used in the ministry during July, you will be in a good position to offer spiritual assistance to others. The following suggestions offer some ideas as to how you may prepare for the initial call and then follow up interest with timely return visits.

• ² When offering the brochure “Does God Really Care About Us?” you could say:

■ “Have you ever wondered why God permits humans to suffer if he really cares about them? (Allow for response.] This brochure not only provides the satisfying answer to this question but also shows that God has promised to undo all the damage man has brought upon himself and his earthly home.” Read paragraph 23 on page 27. Show the illustration below it, and read Psalm 145:16 from paragraph 22. Offer the brochure. If it is accepted, ask a question that can be answered on the next visit, such as: "Would you like to know how God will accomplish his purpose of bringing blessings to mankind and transforming the earth into a paradise?” Be sure to mention that our worldwide work Is supported by voluntary donations.

• ³ When returning to those with whom you placed the brochure “Does God Really Care About Us?” you might get another discussion started this way:

■ “When I called last time, we considered that God does indeed care for us and that it is his purpose to undo all the damage man has brought upon himself and his earthly home." Open the brochure to the Illustration on pages 2-3 and say: “We ended our conversation with the question, How will God accomplish his purpose of bringing blessings to mankind and transforming the earth into a paradise? What do you think?" Allow for response. Turn to page 17, and read paragraph 2 and Daniel 2:44. Thereafter, read paragraph 12 on page 18. Ask householder if he would like to consider with you part 9 of the brochure. If he would, study it with him.

* Here is an approach that might be used in offering the brochure

“When Someone You Love Dies." Show its cover and say:

■ “Today we are sharing this brochure thaChas brought comfort and hope to millions of people who have lost loved ones In death. Have you ever wondered what hope there is for the dead? [Allow for response.] The Bible clearly states God’s promise of a resurrection. ” Read John 5:28,29. Open the brochure and comment on the points made in the last paragraph on page 28 and the first paragraph on page 31. Show the accompanying illustrations. Offer the brochure. You can prepare the way for a return visit by asking, “How can we be sure that eventually death will be completely eliminated?”

⁵ Where you placed the brochure “When Someone You Love Dies,” you may want to use this presentation on the return visit:

■ “When we spoke before, we discussed the wonderful hope of a resurrection. The brochure I left you explains why we can be sure that eventually death will be completely eliminated. Did you not find God’s promises comforting and reassuring?" Allow for response. Then turn to page 31 In the brochure, and read the second and third paragraphs, along with Revelation 21:1-4. Highlight the prospect we have of enjoying life without ever dying. Depending on the interest shown and the circumstances at the moment, you may offer a Bible study in the Knowledge book or ask another question to open the way for the next return visit.

• You might say the following when presenting the brochure “What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?”:

■ “Many people have wondered what the purpose of life is. They’ve asked themselves: 'Why am I here? Where am I going? What does the future hold for me?' Where do you think we can find the answers? [Allow for response.] Notice what the Bible says. [Read Psalm 36:9.] Is It not reasonable to conclude that man’s Creator is in the best position to explain why we are here? [Allow for response.] This brochure shows the grand purpose that God has in store for us.” Turn to pages 20-1, read the caption, and comment on the Illustration; then offer the brochure. If accepted, ask: “How can we be sure it is still God’s purpose for humans to live forever in Paradise on earth?” Explain the donation arrangement. Set up a time to return.

• ⁷ If the brochure “What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?” is placed, you could say something like this when you return:

■ “On my previous visit, I really enjoyed discussing with you the Bible’s view that human life really does have a purpose." Show the illustration on page 31 and ask, “How can we be sure it is still God’s will that humans are to live forever in Paradise on earth?" Read paragraph 3 on page 20. Discuss points under the subheading, “Still God's Purpose," on page 21. Turn to the back cover of the brochure, and read about the offer of a free home Bible study. Introduce the Knowledge book, and offer to demonstrate how we use it as an aid to study the Bible.

• ⁸ Our ministry should reflect the sincere Interest that we have in helping honesthearted ones to “come to an accurate knowledge of truth." (1 Tim. 2:4) Therefore, make time in your service schedule to call back on each person with whom you place a brochure. Your manifesting real concern for them may result In helping those who are sighing and groaning over the detestable things practiced In false religion to become identified for survival. (Ezek. 9: 4,6) You will also experience the Joy and satisfaction that come from knowing you are imitating Jehovah by genuinely caring for others.—Compare Phllippi-ans 2:20.

e 1996 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ol Pennsylvania All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (ISSN 1067-7259) is published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New ¥ork. Inc., and International Bible Students Association. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483. Second-class postaae paid at Brooklyn. NY. and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, c/o Watchtower. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483.              Printed in U.SA

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