Our Kingdom Ministry

June 1998                         For United States of America km-E Us 6/98 Vol. 41, No. 6

“Completely Equipped for Every Good Work”

• ¹ Jehovah’s people today are blessed with an abundance of rich spiritual food. (Isa. 25:6) There is much Scriptural material to enjoy through personal and family study and at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions. But are we taking full advantage of all of this with a view to becoming “fully competent, completely equipped for every good work”?—2 Tim. 3:17.

• ² Just think of the spiritual menu for the year 1998, which is already half over! Through the weekly congregation meetings, we are covering some of the highlights of 23 books of the Christian Greek Scriptures, reviewing information found in Insight on the Scriptures concerning the lives of 49 Bible characters, and considering 138 pages in the Proclaimers book. We are also reviewing one third of the Knowledge book, nearly all the Family Happiness book, and the entire God’s Word book. Additionally, we are being nourished with 12 issues of Our Kingdom Ministry, 52 Wai ch-tower study articles, and nearly as many public talks on a variety of Bible subjects. Rich convention and assembly programs are In addition to all of this. What a wealth of spiritual good things has been made available to us!

• ³ Appreciate Jehovah’s Provisions: In order to benefit fully, we need to appreciate why Jehovah provides such a spiritual abundance. Feeding on these good things builds our faith and strengthens our relationship with him. (1 Tim. 4:6) However, spiritual food is not made available simply for our own instruction. It motivates us to share the truth with others and equips us to be effective in doing so as ministers of the good news.—2 Tim. 4:5.

• ⁴ Let us not neglect our spiritual needs, but always be cultivating a longing for the rich and spiritually satisfying provisions from Jehovah’s table. (Matt. 5:3; 1 Pet. 2:2) To benefit fully requires setting aside sufficient time for such important matters as regular personal and family Bible study and meeting attendance. (Eph. 5:15, 16) The happi-fying rewards for doing so will be in accord with the inspired encouragement that Paul wrote to faithful Hebrew Christians, as recorded at Hebrews 13:20, 21.

  It Takes All of Us to Get the Work Done

  
  

• ¹ Every disciple of Jesus Christ should appreciate that his endeavors to support and participate in the Kingdom-preaching work are very important. Jesus realized that his disciples would produce Kingdom fruitage in varying quantities. (Matt. 13:23) Although a good portion of the preaching activity is being carried out by many hardworking pioneers, all who eagerly continue to glorify God by bearing as much fruit as possible are to be commended.—John 15:8.

• ² Collective Efforts Accomplish Much: Jesus foretold that the cumulative efforts of all his disciples would produce works greater than his. (John 14:12) Whether our personal circumstances limit what we can do or allow us to devote much time to Kingdom preaching, all of us are needed to get the work done. It is just as Paul stated: “All the body, by being harmoniously joined together and being made to cooperate through every joint that gives what is needed, according to the functioning of each respective member in due measure, makes for the growth of the body.”—Eph. 4:16.

• ³ Some may feel that their efforts do not amount to much. However, in Jehovah’s eyes the important thing is that our service be whole-souled. Everything we do for him is valuable and appreciated.—Compare Luke 21: 1-4.

• ⁴ Continue to Support the Work: All of us have the privilege of contributing materially to the worldwide work. Some can also assist with the physical labor involved in supporting the Kingdom work. Each one can endeavor to give well-prepared comments at the meetings and participate in the Theocratic Ministry School. By taking advantage of opportunities to encourage others, we make a valuable contribution to the spirituality of the congregation, and this enhances its ability to accomplish the work entrusted to it.

• ⁵ Yes, it takes all of us to get the work done. No one should feel left out. Our combined efforts, both large and small, in serving Jehovah distinguish us as the only true worshipers of God. (Mal. 3:18) Each one of us can have a meaningful part in honoring Jehovah and in helping others to know and serve him.

  Service Meetings for June

  
  

Week Starting June 1

Song 223

e mln: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Theocratic News. IS mln: “Completely Equipped for Every Good Work.” Questions and answers. Make brief comments on February 15,1989, Watchtower, pages 22-4. 22 min: “Witnessing to ‘All Sorts of Men.’” An elder explains that although the offer for June consists of selected 192-page books, whenever it is advisable to offer the Greatest Man or the Mankind’s Search for God book to certain people, we may do so. An elder and a panel of experienced publishers discuss the suggested presentations. Briefly review what religions are encountered locally, and explain why we should have something in mind to start a conversation in each case. Have one or two brief demonstrations.

Song 112 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 8

Song 209

10 mln: Local announcements. Accounts report.

15 mln: “Caring for the Master's Belongings." Talk by an elder, covering information in insert. .

20 min: “It Takes AU of Us to Get the Work Done.” Questions and answers. Explain why elders depend on many willing volunteers to get necessary things done. Review local needs, such as Kingdom HaU cleaning and maintenance, helping sick and elderly. and covering territory. Invite elders to comment on how they appreciate the wiUing assistance that many give. Stress how the effort of each one is much needed.

Song 153 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 15

Song 7

10 mln: Local announcements.

20 min: “Exert Yourselves Vigorously.” Talk based on January 15, 1986, Watchtower, pages 10-14. Discuss importance of regular pioneer service, encouraging enrollment by September 1.

15 mln: “Witnessing by Good Conduct." Questions and answers. Interview some exemplary young people. They teU how others have been favorably impressed by their Christian conduct. Relate one or two experiences from January 1, 1995, Watchtower, pages 24-5.

Song 170 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 22

Song 61

10 mln: Local announcements. State when the audit of the congregation accounts was completed.

15 min: How to Start a Magazine Route. Outline what is needed: record all placements, return within two weeks, present fresh ideas from current magazines to keep interest alive. Suggest including neighbors, workmates, store clerks, service station attendants, and so forth. Offer sixmonth subscriptions to those who show sustained interest. Invite one or two publishers to relate a good experience about magazine routes.

20 mln: Pioneers Assist Others. Talk by service overseer, reviewing arrangement to have pioneers personally assist others. Explain how assistance programs were initiated in the past, (jv 100; km 7/79 1. 3) The more than one million new ones who were baptized in the last three years need training. The “Pioneers Assist Others" program utilizes the experience and training of regular and special pioneers who have attended the Pioneer Service School. The goal is for each pioneer to help two publishers per year to become more skillful in the ministry and to reach out for a greater share. Those being assisted have no reason to be apprehensive; emphasis is on giving loving, kindly encouragement. This new program provides a potential for hundreds of thousands to become more effective ministers.

Song 207 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 29

Song 114

10 min: Announcements. Remind all to turn in field service reports for June. Discuss literature offer for July.

15 mln: Local needs or Have I Slowed Down? Talk by an elder based on December 15,1987, Watchtower, pages 1819, paragraphs 14-16. Encourage those who have been active for several years to reflect on the quality and quantity of their sacred service.

20 mln: All of Us Can Witness Informally. Talk and audience discussion based on October 15.1987, Watchtower, pages 22-7. Show how those whose time is occupied with secular, family, or personal responsibilities can find many opportunities every day to share the good news with others. Include some local experiences.

Song 76 and concluding prayer.

Theocratic News

■ A number of island branches around the world reported outstanding new peaks in publishers for January. Some of these were Dominican Republic, Haiti, Martinique, Mauritius, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Trinidad.

• ■ The increase in the Seychelles was 18 percent over last year's average, and in St. Maarten the increase was 16 percent.

• ■ In Hong Kong the publishers averaged 12.7 hours.

• ■ The first quickly built Kingdom Hall in Taiwan was completed in February.

CONGREGATION BOOK STUDY

Schedule tor congregation studies in the book The Bible—God's Word or Man's?

' lb or from subheading.

March Service Report

C 1998 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 Ibrk, Inc., and International Bible Students Association. 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483 Periodicals Postage 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.S.A.

Caring for the Master’s Belongings

• ¹ In Bible times a steward held a position of great trust. Abraham gave his steward the task of finding a wife for his son, Isaac. (Gen. 24:1-4) In effect, the steward was responsible to ensure the continuance of Abraham’s line. What a responsibility! No wonder the apostle Paul said: “What is looked for in stewards is for a man to be found faithful”!—1 Cor. 4:2.

Christian Stewardship

• ² Some aspects of the Christian ministry are described in the Bible as stewardships. For example, the apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesians of “the stewardship of the undeserved kindness of God that was given me with you in view.” (Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25) He viewed his commission to carry the good news to the nations as a stewardship that he had to handle faithfully. (Acts 9:15; 22:21) The apostle Peter wrote to his anointed brothers: “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. In proportion as each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God’s undeserved kindness expressed in various ways.” (1 Pet. 4:9,10; Heb. 13:16) Whatever those first-century Christians possessed in a material way was a result of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. They were, therefore, stewards of those things and needed to use them in a Christian way.

• ³ Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses have a similar view of matters. They have dedicated themselves to Jehovah God and view all they have—their lives, their physical strength, their material belongings—as fruits of “God’s undeserved kindness expressed in various ways.” As fine stewards, they feel accountable to Jehovah God for the way they use these things. In addition, they have been given a knowledge of the good news. This too is a trust that they desire to use in the finest way possible: to magnify Jehovah’s name and to help others come to a knowledge of the truth—Matt. 28:19,20; 1 Tim. 2:3,4; 2 Tim. 1:13,14.

• ⁴ How are Jehovah’s Witnesses discharging their responsibilities as stewards? The annual report shows that last year alone, worldwide they spent more than one billion hours preaching the “good news of the kingdom” and conducted more than 4,500,000 home Bible studies with interested persons. (Matt. 24:14) Their faithfulness as Jehovah’s stewards was also shown by their generous contributions toward the worldwide work and in support of local Kingdom Halls, by their hospitality to traveling overseers and others, and by their extraordinary kindness to those in great need—such as victims of armed conflicts. As a group, true Christians are caring well for the Master’s belongings.

“The Faithful Steward, the Discreet One”

• ⁵ Stewardship exists not only on an individual but also on an organizational level. Jesus called the anointed Christian congregation on earth “the faithful steward, the discreet one.” (Luke 12:42) The responsibility of this “faithful steward” is to provide “food supplies” and to take the lead in the international preaching of the good news. (Rev. 12:17) Related to this, the faithful steward class, represented by the Governing Body, has a God-given responsibility to manage properly its material and spiritual “talents.” (Matt. 25:15) In harmony with ‘the faithful steward’s’ example, individual branch corporations make every effort to use all financial contributions in a responsible manner, to further Kingdom interests. All such donations are made on trust, and “the faithful steward, the discreet one” is responsible to ensure that they are used for the purpose intended and that they are handled wisely, economically, and to good effect.

• ⁶ An example of the wise use of contributed funds is seen in the growth of the printing activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the 20th century. Distribution of Bibles as well as Bible literature —magazines, books, brochures, booklets, tracts, and Kingdom News—has played a major role in the spreading of “the good news” during these “last days.” (Mark 13: 10; 2 Tim. 3:1) And the Watchtower magazine has been a major instrument in supplying “food at the proper time” to “the household of God” and their companions, the “great crowd” of “other sheep.” —Matt. 24:45; Eph. 2:19; Rev. 7:9; John 10:16.

• ⁷ Initially, all the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses was produced by commercial printers. But during the 1920’s, it was decided that it would be more efficient and spiritually beneficial if Jehovah’s servants did their own printing. Starting in a small way in 1920, the printing work gradually grew in Brooklyn, New York, until it became very large. By 1967 the printing facilities covered four city blocks. Printing had also been undertaken in other lands, but in most of them, it had been interrupted by World War II. .

• ⁸ However much the printing operation in the United States grew, it was never big enough to supply the whole world. Therefore, in the years following the war, printing operations were set up or were already under way in many other countries, including Canada, Denmark, England, Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, and West Germany. By the early 1970’s, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Ghana, Japan, Nigeria, and the Philippines had been added to the list. Some of these countries also produced bound books. Also in the early 1970’s, Gilead missionaries were trained in printing skills and sent to some of these lands to help the local brothers with the printing work.

• ⁹ During the 1980’s, the number of countries in which magazines were printed reached a peak of 51.¹ What a fine use of the Master’s belongings all of this turned out to be! What strong evidence of the growth of the Kingdom work! And what a powerful testimony to the generous support of millions of individual Witnesses of Jehovah who ‘honored Jehovah with their valuable things’! (Prov. 3:9) Thus, they proved themselves to be fine stewards of what Jehovah had blessed them with in various ways.

A Change in Focus

• ¹⁰ During the 1970’s and early 1980’s, great advances were made in printing technology, and Jehovah’s Witnesses adopted newer printing techniques. Previously, they had used the traditional letterpress style of printing. This gradually changed as they began to adopt the more modern offset printing. As a result, beautiful publications are being produced with full-color illustrations, instead of the two-color pictures (black plus one other color) that were possible on the old letter presses. Further, computer technology changed the whole prepress operation (preparation for printing). Jehovah’s Witnesses developed a Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System (MEPS), a computerized system that now supports printing in more than 370 different languages. No commercial program matches MEPS in its capacity to function in so many languages.

• ¹¹ Thanks to MEPS computer technology and use of such other innovations as electronic mail, another great advance was made in producing food at the proper time. Previously, using the older technology, non-English-language magazines contained information months or even a year after the English. Now, The Watchtower appears simultaneously in 115 different languages, and Awake! in 62. This means that worldwide over 95 percent of those attending the weekly Watchtower Study of Jehovah’s Witnesses consider the same material at the same time. What a blessing this is! It was surely a fine use of the Master’s belongings to invest in all of that new technology!

Different Organizational Need*

• ¹² These new systems changed the organizational needs of the worldwide printing operations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The web offset presses are much faster than the old letterpresses, but they are also much more expensive. Computer systems that support related work, such as writing, translation, art, and graphics, while offering far more possibilities than the old systems, are also more costly. It soon became apparent that it was no longer cost-effective to print magazines in 51 different countries. Hence, in the 1990’s, “the faithful steward” took another look at things. What was the conclusion?

• ¹³ Studies indicated that the “valuable things” contributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses and their friends would be better spent if the printing work was consolidated. So the number of printing branches was gradually reduced. Germany has taken over the printing of magazines and literature for many lands in Eastern and Western Europe, including some that had previously handled their own printing. Italy supplies magazines and literature to parts of Africa and southeastern Europe, including Greece and Albania. In Africa, magazine printing has been limited to Nigeria and South Africa. Similar consolidation occurred around the world.

Factors to Weigh

• ¹⁴ By July 1998, printing of magazines will have been discontinued in a number of European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The burden of printing in Europe will be carried by Britain, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. In this way, unnecessary expenses will be avoided and contributions used in a better way for the worldwide work. How was it decided which countries would continue as printing locations and which would cease to print? In keeping with its mandate to care wisely for the Master’s belongings, “the faithful steward” carefully evaluated the practicality of printing in each location.

• ¹⁵ The overwhelming reason why printing was discontinued in some countries and consolidated in others was practicality. To have one country print literature for several other lands is more convenient and is a better use of expensive equipment. Printing is now being done where the costs are lower, materials are available, and shipping facilities are good. Thus, the Master’s belongings are being properly used. Of course, ceasing to print in a country does not mean that the preaching work there will stop. There will still be an abundant supply of printed matter available, and the hundreds of thousands of Witnesses of Jehovah in those lands will keep on zealously telling their neighbors “the good news of peace.” (Eph. 2:17) Moreover, this reorganization has resulted in other benefits.

• ¹⁶ To cite one benefit, most of the modern presses from Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, and Switzerland were sent to Nigeria and the Philippines. Skilled operators from the European countries accepted the invitation to go with the presses and train the local operators in their use. Hence, those countries are now getting the same high-quality magazines that other lands have had.

• ¹⁷ Consider another benefit: The cost of printing magazines is now borne in the few lands where printing continues. As a result, in lands where printing has been discontinued, resources are now available for other purposes, such as building Kingdom Halls and helping to care for the needs of our brothers in poorer lands. Thus, careful use of the Master’s belongings means that Paul’s words to the Corinthians can be applied more effectively on an international scale: “I do not mean for it to be easy for others, but hard on you; but that by means of an equalizing your surplus just now might offset their deficiency . . . that an equalizing might take place.”—2 Cor. 8:13,14.

• ¹⁸ As a result of this consolidation, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world are linked together more closely than ever before. It is not a problem for the Witnesses in Denmark to have their magazines printed in Germany, although they used to print their own. They are grateful for the service of their German brothers. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany resent the fact that their contributions are being used to provide Bible literature for Denmark—or for Russia, Ukraine, and other lands? Of course not! They are happy to know that the contributions of theit brothers in those lands can now be used for other necessary purposes.

Caring for the Belonging*

• ¹⁹ In every Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world, there is a contribution box marked “Contributions for the Society’s Worldwide Work—Matthew 24:14.” Unsolicited contributions placed in those boxes are available for use wherever there is a need. How the contributions are used is decided by “the faithful steward” and individual branch corporations. Hence, where permitted by law, money placed in a contribution box in one country might support the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in another country thousands of miles away. Contributions have been used in some lands to provide emergency aid for fellow believers suffering because of such things as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and civil wars. And such donations are being used to support missionaries in well over 200 lands.

• ²⁰ In the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as a general rule, financial matters are mentioned just once a month —and only for a few minutes. No collection plates are passed in Kingdom Halls or at assemblies. No solicitations for funds are sent to individuals. No fundraisers are hired. Normally, The Watchtower has just one article a year explaining how those who so desire can make contributions to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in order to support the worldwide work. There is no regular mention of Society finances in Awake! How, then, has the enormous worldwide work of preaching the good news, building necessary Kingdom Halls, caring for those in special full-time service, and giving aid to Christians in need been accomplished? Jehovah has blessed his people in a wonderful way with a spirit of generosity. (2 Cor. 8:2) We take this opportunity to thank all who have had a share in ‘honoring Jehovah with their valuable things.’ They can be sure that “the faithful steward” will continue to watch over the Master’s belongings. And we pray that Jehovah will continue to bless all the arrangements made for the expansion of the worldwide work.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for Jun«: Any of the following 192-page books that the congregation may have in stock: Happiness —How to Find It, “Let Your Kingdom Come,’ Listening to the Great Teacher, Survival Into a New Earth, True Peace and Security—How Can You Find It?, United in Worship of the Only True God, Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace," and Your Youth—Getting the Best Out Of It. A limited supply of the True Peace, United in Worship, Worldwide Security, and Youth books may be requested from Brooklyn. July and August: Any of the following 32-page brochures may be used: Does God Really Care About Us?, Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!, Should You Believe in the Trinity?, The Government That Will Bring Paradise, What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?, and When Someone

You Love Dies. The brochures A Book for All People, Our Problems—Who Will Help Us Solve Them?, Spirits of the Dead —Can They Help You or Harm You? Do They Really Exist?, and Win There Ever Be a World Without War? may be offered where appropriate. S«ptsmb«r: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life.

• ■ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on June 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. Make an announcement to the congregation when this has been done.

• ■ Since the Gilead graduation will be held on Saturday, September 12, 1998, no tours will be conducted that day at the Society’s facilities at Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill. New York. Any who have planned to visit on that Saturday should reschedule their visit to another convenient time.

• ■ As announced in Our Kingdom Ministry of April 1998, Watchtower Library-1997 Edition on CD-ROM Is now being produced in nine languages. Please keep in mind that this is not a product for public distribution, to be put in school libraries, or given to ones who merely express interest in Jehovah’s Witnesses. Watchtower Library is a provision for members of the congregation and is made available only through the congregation.

■ New Publications Available:

A Book for All People — Amharic, Hebrew, Persian

Bible Topics for Discussion

—Macedonian How Can Blood Save Your Life?

—Amharic

Is This Life All There Is?

—Vietnamese Watch Tower Publications Index 1997

—English ■ New Videocassettes Available: Jehovah's Witnesses Stand Firm Against

Nazi Assault —Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin)

• ¹ In today’s permissive society, many young people recklessly squander their lives on drugs, immorality, rebellion, and violence. By contrast, the exemplary conduct of wholesome young people in the Christian congregation is refreshing to behold and is surely a thing of beauty to Jehovah. It serves as a powerful witness that may draw others to the truth.—1 Pet. 2:12.

• ² Many experiences show that the good conduct of Christian youths has had a positive impact on observers. Speaking about a young Witness who was her student, a schoolteacher told the entire class that this girl’s God, Jehovah, is the true God. She said this because the girl’s conduct is always respectful. Another teacher wrote the Society, saying: “I would like to commend you for the fine young people you have in your religion.... Your youths are really an example. They respect their elders, are polite, and are modestly dressed. And how they know their Bibles! That truly is religion!”

’Another schoolteacher was impressed by the fine conduct of a seven-year-old Witness in her class. She was drawn to the boy’s mild and pleasing personality, which made him stand out in stark contrast to other boys. She was struck by his serious attitude toward his religious beliefs—he was not embarrassed to be different because of what he believed. She could see that his conscience had been trained and that he was able “to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Heb. 5:14) Eventually, the boy’s mother visited the teacher, and a Bible study was started. In time, the teacher was baptized and later became a regular pioneer!

• ⁴ One young man was influenced by the good conduct of a Witness in his school. She was truly different—very polite, studious, and always modest in her dress; also, unlike other girls, she never flirted with the boys. He could see that she was living by Bible principles. The young man asked her questions about her religious beliefs and was impressed with what he learned. He began to study, was soon baptized, and eventually shared in the pioneer ministry and in Bethel service.

• ⁶ If you are a young Christian who desires to give a fine witness to others, watch your conduct in every way. Never let your guard down by becoming sympathetic toward the world’s permissive attitudes, views, or life-styles. Set an elevated example in your speech, dress, and grooming, not only while participating in the field ministry and at congregation meetings but also while at school and when engaging in recreation. (1 Tim. 4:12) You will have real joy when someone takes an interest in the truth because you have been ‘letting your light shine’ through your good conduct.—Matt. 5:16.

Witnessing to “All Sorts of Men”

• ¹ When we meet people of diverse cultures or religious backgrounds, we remember that Jehovah's will is “that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) In addition to a number of specially prepared tracts and brochures, we have two excellent publications that can be used at any time to help individuals whose religious training has not taught them the truth about God and Christ.

• ² The book Mankind’s Search for God gives insight into the origin of the world’s major religions and can thereby be helpful to people everywhere in making a comparison between their beliefs and what the Bible teaches about the only true God. On the other hand, by highlighting the life of Jesus Christ, the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived can help a person to become better acquainted with the Son of God and be drawn to him, as were many people in the first century. (John 12:32) Whenever appropriate, you may wish to try the following suggestions for introducing these books.

• ³ If you think it would be good to offer the “Greatest Man” book to someone, you might ask:

■ “What comes to your mind when you think of Jesus Christ? [Allow for response.] Many historians acknowledge Jesus as the greatest man who ever lived. [Quote an example from the introduction in the Greatest Man book.] The Bible shows that Jesus’ life was a model for us to imitate.” Read 1 Peter 2:21 and the first paragraph on the last page of the introduction in the Greatest Man book. If the householder is interested in learning about Jesus, offer the book. Before you leave, read John 17:3 and ask, “How can we take in this knowledge that leads to everlasting life?” Make definite arrangements to return with the answer.

• ⁴ When you return to explain how to take in Ufe-gMng knowledge, you could say:

■ “I promised to return to show you how we can take in the knowledge that leads to everlasting life.” Present the Knowledge book, and using the first chapter, demonstrate a study.

• ⁵ If you wish to offer the book “Mankind’s Search for God,” you could ask:

■ “With so many different religions today, have you ever wondered how we can determine which one is approved by God?” After a response, open the Mankind’s Search for God book to page 377. Highlight point number 7, and ask if the householder agrees that the true religion should unite all races of mankind. Look up one of the cited scriptures, and as time permits, discuss some of the other points in the list. If there is genuine interest, offer the book. When leaving, you could ask, “How should true religion affect a person’s conduct?” Arrange for a return visit to answer the question.

⁸ When you return to explain how true religion affects a person’s life, you might ask:

■ “How do you think religion should affect people’s conduct? [Allow for response.] Christ gave us a standard by which religion should be measured.” Read Matthew 7:17-20 directly from page 12 in the Mankind’s Search for God book. Then invite the householder to read paragraph 20 on pages 13-14. If time allows, discuss paragraphs 25-9 on pages 16-18. This may lead into a study in either the Require brochure or the Knowledge book.

• ⁷ Conversation Starters: There are many teaching aids in the Mankind’s Search for God book that may be used as conversation starters on the initial call or return visit. You can begin a conversation simply by asking an appropriate question. For example, note these questions and topics and the pages where they are addressed:

"Questions That Require an Answer"        —pages 17-18.

“Was Jesus a Myth?"

—page 237.

“Who Wrote the Bible?"

—page 241.

“The Qur’an and the Bible”

—page 285.

“Evidence of the Bible’s Authenticity”        —pages 340-1.

“What Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe"        —pages 356-7.

"How to Identify the True Religion"          —page 377.

• ⁸ You can turn to the selected page(s) in the Mankind’s Search for God book and explain the point being discussed. Then set up a return visit by asking a follow-up question that can be answered from either the Require brochure or the Knowledge book. Be sure to invite the householder to the Public Meeting and leave a handbill. Give individuals the opportunity to contribute to our work, perhaps by saying, “Some like to make a small donation to our worldwide work.”

’All sorts of honesthearted people are searching for the truth about God and Christ. We can assist them in our witness work. So, then, let us keep on “working hard and exerting ourselves, because we have rested our hope on a living God, who is a Savior of all sorts of men.” —1 Tim. 4:10.

8

¹

In seven of these lands, the printing was done by commercial firms.