Our Kingdom Ministry

November 2002                    For United States of America km-E Us 11Z02 Vol. 45, No. 11

• ¹ Anointed Christians, assisted by their other sheep companions, “have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.” (Rev. 12:17) This is an important assignment, since salvation is possible only through him.—John 17:3; Acts 4:12.

• ² ‘The Way, the Truth, and the Life’: “I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Only through Jesus, “the way,” can we approach God in prayer and have an approved relationship with Him. (John 15:16) Jesus is “the truth” in that the prophecies and shadows contained in the Hebrew Scriptures became a reality in him. (John 1:17; Col. 2:16, 17) Indeed, the primary intent of true prophecy is to illuminate his central role in the outworking of God’s purpose. (Rev. 19:10) Further, Jesus is “the life.” To gain the blessing of everlasting life, all must exercise faith in his ransom sacrifice.—John 3:16, 36; Heb. 2:9.

• ³ Head and Reigning King: People must also recognize the vast executive authority Jehovah has entrusted to his Son. Jesus has been installed as King of God’s Kingdom—‘to him the obedience of the peoples belongs.’ (Gen. 49:10) In addition, Jehovah has designated him as the Head of the congregation. (Eph. 1:22, 23) We need to help our Bible students to appreciate how Jesus directs the congregation and uses “the faithful and discreet slave” to supply spiritual “food at the proper time.” —Matt. 24:45-47.

• ⁴ Merciful High Priest: Having experienced trials and suffering as a human, Jesus “is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.” (Heb. 2: 17, 18) How heartwarming it is for imperfect humans to learn that Jesus sympathizes with their weaknesses and graciously pleads for them! (Rom. 8:34) On the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice and through his services as High Priest, we can approach Jehovah “with freeness of speech” in order to obtain “help at the right time.”—Heb. 4:15,16.

• ⁵ May our efforts to acquaint others with the truth about Jesus move them to obey and serve him alongside us.—John 14:15, 21.

  Assist Your Congregation Book Study Overseer

  
  

• ¹ Each of us derives many benefits from the Congregation Book Study. Last month we discussed how the Congregation Book Study overseer fulfills his role. But what can we do to assist him and thus benefit ourselves and others?

• ² Attend Every Week: Because book study groups are kept small, your presence makes a difference. Make it your aim to attend every week. You can also help by being punctual, as this allows the overseer to begin the meeting in an orderly manner. —1 Cor. 14:40.

• ³ Upbuilding Comments: Another way you can assist is by being well prepared and by making upbuilding comments. Comments that focus on just one point are usually best, and this also encourages others to comment. Avoid trying to cover everything in a paragraph. If a point in the material touches your heart, enrich the discussion by sharing your thought in a comment.—1 Pet. 4:10.

• ⁴ If you have the privilege of reading the paragraphs for the benefit of the group, be diligent in fulfilling that assignment. Good reading contributes to the success of the study.—1 Tim. 4:13.

• ⁵ Group Witnessing: Meetings for field service are held at many book study locations, and your support of these arrangements helps the overseer as he takes the lead in the evangelizing work. View these arrangements as opportunities to draw closer to your brothers and to encourage them.

• ⁶ Field Service Reports: Submitting your field service report promptly at the end of each month is another way to assist the overseer. You may hand your report directly to him or place it in the box designated for service reports at the Kingdom Hall. The secretary can use the box to gather the field service reports collected by book study overseers.

• ⁷ Your cooperation with your Congregation Book Study overseer will not go unnoticed. Above all, you can be assured that Jehovah will “be with the spirit you show.”—Phil. 4:23.

Week Starting November 11

Song 183

1O min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Using the suggestions on page 8, have two separate demonstrations of how to present the November 15 Watchtower and the November 22 Awake! In one of the demonstrations, explain how our worldwide work is financed.—See The Watchtower, page 2, or Awake! page 5.

15 min: Supporters of True Worship —Then and Now. A talk based on the November 1, 2002, Watchtower, pages 26-30.

20 min: “Assist Your Congregation Book Study Overseer.”¹ To be handled by an elder who is a Congregation Book Study overseer. When discussing paragraph 3, include comments on the Ministry School book, page 70. Commend the congregation for specific ways in which they support the book study arrangement, and kindly draw attention to any areas in which improvement is needed.

Song 114 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting November 18

Song 78

1O min: Local announcements. Accounts report. Outline special field service arrangements for November 28. Discuss the box “Very Good Reading!”

10 min: Question Box. Talk by a capable elder.

25 min: “Family Heads—Maintain a Good Spiritual Routine.” After a brief introductory talk based on paragraphs 1-3, conduct an audience discussion of paragraphs 4-13. As time permits, read paragraphs 7, 8, 11, and 12. Include an interview of one or two parents. What has helped their family to have an orderly routine of spiritual activities? What effort has this involved? How have they benefited? Conclude with brief comments based on paragraph 14.

Song 31 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting November 25

Song 16

10 min: Local announcements. A married couple working together in field service demonstrate how to use the suggestions on page 8 to offer the December 1 and December 8 magazines. The husband features The Watchtower, and the wife features Awake!

15 min: “Make Known the Truth About Jesus.”¹ Include comments on the Ministry School book, page 278. Encourage all to bring the textbook to next week’s Service Meeting for the part “A School That Equips Us for What Matters Most.”

20 min: “Show Loving Interest in ‘Fatherless Boys.’” Open with a three-minute talk on Jehovah’s view of fatherless boys and girls, based on paragraph 1 and on Insight, Volume 1, page 816. Using questions and answers, consider the remainder of the article. Highlight practical ways others can provide assistance and encouragement. When discussing paragraphs 3-4, include brief comments on the October 8, 1995, Awake!, pages 8-9.

Song 142 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting December 2

Song 213

8 min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in their field service reports for November. Briefly review a presentation that could be used when offering the Greatest Man book.—See the June 1998 Our Kingdom Ministry, page 8.

12 min: Local needs.

25 min: “A School That Equips Us for What Matters Most.” Audience discussion to be handled by the school overseer. Build enthusiasm for the new school program, which will begin in January. Draw attention to features of the “Theocratic Ministry School Schedule for 2003,” in the October 2002 Our Kingdom Ministry insert. Outline the requirements to join the school, as set forth in the Ministry School book, page 282, and encourage those who have not yet done so to enroll if they qualify.

Song 127 and concluding prayer.

Would you not agree that the following titles of past Watchtower articles sound like very good reading?

“God Knows and Protects His Own” “Progress Toward

Taming the Tongue” “When Christianity Went Underground” “Preaching Effectively at the Doors”

“Answering the Question, Are You Saved?”

These articles and scores of others appeared in The Watchtower during the years 1951 and 1952. Are they too old for us to benefit from them now? Far from it! You can still obtain Watchtower bound volumes in English for the years 1951 and 1952. (Some English bound volumes for the years 1953 through 1959 are also available.) Any publishers who desire these Watchtower bound volumes may now request them through the congregation literature servant.

The Theocratic Ministry School overseer should check to see if any bound volumes are missing from the Kingdom Hall library and order accordingly.

August Service Report

TOTAL 1,012,201           Baptized: 1,929

August proved to be a month of outstanding activity. The total number of publishers reporting was 1,012,201. This is the second time that we have exceeded one million publishers!

© 2002 Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (ISSN 1067-7259) is published monthly by Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses; W. L. Van De Wall, President; W. H. Nonkes, Secretary-Treasurer; 2821 Route 22, Patterson, NY 12563-2237. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299.                         Printed in U.S.A.

A School That Equips Us for What Matters Most

• ¹ People go to school to get instruction that will help them reach their goals in life. What goal, however, could be more important than praising the very Giver of life and aiding others in learning his purposes and his ways? None. The objective of the Theocratic Ministry School is to prepare us to teach our faith to others. Thus, as we attend the school each week, we are acquiring skills that equip us for life’s most important activities.

• ² The “Theocratic Ministry School Schedule for 2003” was provided in last month’s issue of Our Kingdom Ministry. The schedule includes details as to how the school will be conducted. You may find it practical to keep the schedule in your copy of Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education, which you should bring with you to the Theocratic Ministry School each week. Consider some of the features of the Theocratic Ministry School for 2003.

• ³ Speech Quality: Starting in January, each meeting will begin with a five-minute talk about a speech quality or an aspect of reading, studying, or teaching. The school overseer will present these opening discussions, or he may assign another qualified elder to give this talk. The speaker may discuss the definition and importance of the speech quality. He should then enlarge on the material by discussing Scriptural examples and demonstrating how to employ the quality, focusing particular attention on how doing so can enhance our field ministry.

• ⁴ Assignment No. 1: Brothers assigned to give the instruction talk are again advised to “focus attention on the practical value of the information being discussed.” This means showing the congregation how to make use of the information. If you receive this assignment, consult pages 48-9 of the Ministry School textbook for suggestions on how to prepare, and study the references shown in the book’s index under “Practical application.”

• ⁵ Bible Reading Schedule: If, in times past, you have not been able to keep up with the weekly Bible reading, why not resolve to stick to the schedule this year? Those who do so will complete the Christian Greek Scriptures by the end of the year. The benefits of starting a Bible-reading program with the Christian Greek Scriptures are considered on page 10, paragraph 4, of the Ministry School book.

• ⁶ Highlights From Bible Reading: This part has been lengthened to ten minutes so that the audience can offer comments on the week’s reading. Those assigned should stick to the allotted time. It will be presented every week, including the week of the oral review. As you read the assigned chapters, look for points that will benefit you in your family study, in your ministry, or in your way of life. What qualities of Jehovah were manifested in his dealings with people and nations? What did you learn that strengthened your faith and built your appreciation for Jehovah? Feel free to comment on any point in the assigned chapters, even from verses to be read during Assignment No. 2, since the brother handling the reading will not comment on the verses.

• ⁷ Assignment No. 2: The first student assignment each week will be an exercise in public reading. All but the last reading for each month will be drawn from the week’s Bible reading. The final reading of the month will be taken from The Watchtower. The student should read the assigned material without giving an introduction or a conclusion. In this way, he can focus his primary attention on his reading skills.—1 Tim. 4:13.

• ⁸ Assignments No. 3 and No. 4: Some of these assignments have more source material from the Reasoning book than others; some have just a theme. Those given assignments with limited source material or with just a theme will have the opportunity to develop their presentations by doing research in our Christian publications. This may make it easier for sisters to tailor their comments to their assistants.

• ⁹ Settings: As indicated on page 45 of the Ministry School book, the school overseer may assign a setting. If he does not, then sisters may select a setting from the list on page 82. If a sister gives one talk every two months, the 30 settings will provide enough variety to last for five years. Sisters choosing No. 30, namely, “Another setting appropriate to your area,” should write the setting at the bottom or on the back of their assignment slip (S-89). The school overseer will write the date of the student’s talk on page 82 of her book next to the setting that she used. He can do this at the same time that he marks the student’s counsel form.

  km-E Us 11/02

  
  

  OUR KINGDOM MINISTRY, NOVEMBER 2002

  
  

• ¹⁰ Counsel Form: Your counsel form is bound into your book. It appears on pages 79-81. Thus, you will need to present your book to the school overseer after each talk that you give. The school overseer will need to maintain a record of the counsel points on which the students are working.

• ¹¹ Oral Review: The Theocratic Ministry School review will be conducted orally. It will be held once every two months and will last for 30 minutes. Questions to be considered during the review will continue to appear in Our Kingdom Ministry. If the week scheduled for the oral review coincides with the week of a circuit assembly or the circuit overseer’s visit, then the next week’s talks should be given one week early and the oral review should be rescheduled for the following week.

• ¹² Auxiliary Classes: In congregations with a school enrollment larger than 50, the elders may consider the use of auxiliary classes. “This arrangement might be used for all student presentations or just for the last two.” (Ministry School, p. 285) The latter suggestion is made to accommodate congregations in which there are many sisters but only a few brothers to care for reading assignments. The elders should select qualified brothers to conduct these classes.

• ¹³ Auxiliary Counselor: As indicated in the Theocratic Ministry School schedule, an auxiliary counselor should be designated by the body of elders to offer private counsel to elders and ministerial servants who present Bible highlights and give instruction talks. The brother assigned to do this should be experienced, one whose counsel will be respected by the other elders. His counsel should be constructive, commending good speaking and teaching techniques and recommending one or two points for improvement. There is no need to offer counsel after every talk given by a brother who speaks frequently. However, the brother assigned to do this counseling should be discerning and appreciate that even brothers who now give public talks can be helped to make further progress.—1 Tim. 4:15.

• ¹⁴ What to Listen For: What can assist a counselor in analyzing a presentation? The third box in most of the 53 numbered chapters of the Ministry School book contains a brief summary of what to listen for. The school overseer should also take note of other reminders or suggestions in the book that will help him to assess quickly the coherent development and effectiveness of a presentation. For example, note the series of questions at the top of page 55 and the ideas in the last paragraph on page 163.

• ¹⁵ Fill in the Blanks: In addition to its wide margins, the Ministry School book has a number of blank spaces designed for you to add notes during your personal study and when you attend the Theocratic Ministry School. (See pages 77, 92, 165, 243, 246, and 250.) Be sure to bring your book with you each week. Follow along during the opening talk. Keep your book open for the remainder of the school. Note the suggestions made by the school overseer. Pay attention to teaching methods, questions, examples, figures of speech, illustrations, visual aids, and contrasts used by the speakers. By taking good notes, you will be able to recall and use the many rich points gleaned from the school.

• ¹⁶ Jesus Christ appreciated that preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom is the greatest privilege that can be extended to anyone. It was his main commission. (Mark 1:38) He said: “I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth.” (Luke 4:43) As those who have accepted the invitation to follow him, we too are intensely occupied with preaching the good news, and we are always striving to improve the quality of our “sacrifice of praise.” (Heb. 13:15) To that end, may we be determined to participate regularly in the Theocratic Ministry School, a school that will help to prepare us for what matters most in life.

Family Heads—Maintain a Good Spiritual Routine

• ¹ Despite living for decades amid the idolatry and corruption of Babylon, Daniel was known for serving Jehovah “with constancy.” (Dan. 6:16, 20) How did he maintain his spirituality? The Bible record indicates that he had an orderly routine for carrying out activities related to true worship. For example, he customarily prayed three times a day from his roof chamber. (Dan. 6:10) Undoubtedly, he also had a set pattern for other spiritual activities, such as reading the Law. Thus, when confronted by a life-threatening trial, Daniel was unwavering in his devotion to Jehovah, and he was miraculously delivered.—Dan. 6: 4-22.

• ² Similarly today, we must exert ourselves to “keep awake with all constancy.” (Eph. 6:18) The world we live in is “lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Opposition or trials can arise suddenly and put our faith to the test. During the great tribulation, God’s servants will be the object of an all-out attack by Gog of Magog, from which there will appear to be no escape. This will call for complete trust in Jehovah.—Ezek. 38:14-16.

• ³ “One vital key is making effective family Bible reading, study, and discussion a way of life.” So stated the introduction to the 1998 district convention drama entitled “Families—Make Daily Bible Reading Your Way of Life!” It continued: “When families follow such a program regularly and in a manner that makes the Bible come alive, this Bible-oriented routine can have a tremendous impact on the family. It builds our knowledge. It strengthens our faith. And it provides us with role models—profoundly faithful men and women of ancient times—who can inspire us, moving us to stand up for the truth.” As we consider various aspects of a good spiritual routine, family heads should look for one or two ways to improve their family’s spiritual program.

• ⁴ Consider God’s Word Daily: “When God’s Kingdom rules unopposed and his will is done on earth as it is in heaven, no vicious humans —no, not even animals—will ‘do any harm or cause any ruin.’ (Isa. 11:9; Matt. 6:9,10)” Those words appeared in Examining the Scriptures Daily—2001 in the comments on the scripture text for September 11. How comforting this reminder proved to be! As a family head, do you have the daily custom of considering the Bible text and comments with your family? This is most beneficial. If it is not practical to get together in the morning, perhaps you could do so later in the day. One father said: “The evening meal has been a good time for us to discuss the daily Bible text.”

• ⁵ If you already have a good routine for discussing the daily text as a family, you are to be commended. Perhaps you could build on this by reading a portion of the Bible at the same time. Some have the practice of reading the entire chapter from which the day’s text is taken. Others do consecutive reading, working progressively through a selected book of the Bible. Daily Bible reading will help your family to cultivate a wholesome fear of displeasing Jehovah and will deepen their desire to do his will.—Deut. 17:18-20.

• ⁶ Your family’s Bible-reading program and daily text consideration will be even more beneficial if you can take a few minutes to discuss the practical value of the information. The Ministry School textbook, page 60, offers this suggestion: “You might. . . select a few verses out of the Bible reading scheduled for the week, discuss their meaning, and then ask such questions as these: ‘How does this provide guidance for us? How might we use these verses in the ministry? What do they reveal about Jehovah and his way of doing things, and how does that build up our appreciation for him?’” Such spiritual conversations will help all in your household to “go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is.”—Eph. 5:17.

• ⁷ Family Study: Conducting the family study consistently each week is a fine way for family heads to show their children that spiritual things come first. One young man recalls: “Sometimes Dad would be so tired from work he could hardly keep awake, but the study was held regardless, and this helped us to appreciate the seriousness of it.” Children too can contribute to the success of the arrangement. One family with nine children regularly got up at five o’clock to have their family study because no other time was possible.

• ⁸ For the family study to be effective, the family head must ‘pay constant attention to his teaching.’ (1 Tim. 4:16) The Ministry School textbook, page 32, states: “It could well be said that an effective family study begins with a study of your family itself. How are your family members progressing spiritually? . . . When you are in the field ministry with your children, do they feel comfortable identifying themselves before their peers as Jehovah’s Witnesses? Do they enjoy your program of family Bible reading and study? Are they really making Jehovah’s way their way of life? Careful observation will reveal what you, as a family head, need to do in order to establish and build up spiritual qualities in each family member.”

• ⁹ Congregation Meetings: Preparing for and attending congregation meetings should be an important part of your weekly routine. (Heb. 10:24, 25) At times, you may be able to prepare for some of the meetings as a family. Rather than waiting until the last minute, can you arrange to prepare well in advance? An orderly routine in this regard will improve both the quality of your preparation and the benefits you gain from the meetings. —Prov. 21:5.

• ¹⁰ Quality and consistency are hallmarks of an effective spiritual routine. What if circumstances make it difficult for you to prepare for all the meetings? The Ministry School textbook, page 31, makes this suggestion: “Avoid the pitfalls of rushing through the material just to get it done or, worse, of not studying any of it because you cannot do it all. Instead, determine how much you can study, and do that well. Do it each week. In time, endeavor to broaden out to include the other meetings.”

• ¹¹ When families arrive at meetings early, this helps to put them in the proper frame of mind to praise Jehovah and benefit from the instruction he provides. Does your family have this custom? It requires good planning and the cooperation of everyone in the household. If you often find that your family rushes about and is under stress on meeting nights, can adjustments be made in your routine? Are there things that could be cared for in advance? If one member of the family is loaded down with much to do, could others help? Would it reduce stress if everyone was ready to leave for the meeting a few minutes earlier? Good order contributes to a spirit of peace both in the family and in the congregation. —1 Cor. 14:33, 40.

• ¹² Field Service: Establishing set times for sharing in the ministry is another part of a good spiritual routine. A young man named Jayson recalls: “In my family, Saturday mornings were always devoted to field service. This was good for me because the more I went out in the ministry, the more I saw the good it accomplishes and the more I enjoyed it.” Many raised in Witness households have similarly observed that having a definite time for the ministry every week helped them to progress as Christian ministers.

• ¹³ An orderly routine can also help to make the time your family spends in field service more enjoyable and more productive. How can this be accomplished? The July 1, 1999, Watchtower, page 21, made the following suggestion: “Do you occasionally use time at your family study to assist the members of your household to prepare for the week’s field service? Doing so can be very beneficial. (2 Timothy 2:15) It can help to make their service meaningful and productive. Occasionally, you might set aside an entire study session for such preparation. More often, you might deal with aspects of the field ministry in shorter discussions at the end of the family study or at some other time during the week.” Has your family tried this?

• ¹⁴ Go On Making Progress: From this consideration, have you noted areas in which your family is doing well? Commend them, and endeavor to build on these. If you see several areas that need improvement, select one or two to work on first. When they have become part of your spiritual routine, work on one or two more. Be positive and reasonable. (Phil. 4:4, 5) Establishing a good spiritual routine for your household takes real effort, but it is well worth it, for Jehovah assures us: “As for the one keeping a set way, I will cause him to see salvation by God.”—Ps. 50:23.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for November: What Does God Require of Us? or Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. If the householder already has these, an older publication may be offered. December: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. As an alternative offer, you may use My Book of Bible Stories, The Bible—God’s Word or Man’s?, or You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. January: Any 192-page book published prior to 1988 that the congregation may have in stock. Congregations that have on hand Mankind’s Search for God may also offer it. February: Draw Close to Jehovah.

■ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on December 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. When this has been done, make an announcement to the congregation after the next accounts report is read. ■ Congregations should begin requesting bound volumes of The Watchtower and Awake! for 2002 with their next literature request. The bound volumes will be available in Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Until the bound volumes are available and shipments are made, these will appear as “Pending” on congregation packing lists. Bound volumes are special-request items.

■ The secretary of each congregation holding title to property should review paragraphs 42-44 in the form entitled “Information Regarding Ownership of Kingdom Halls” (T-36-E 3/00). Even after real-estate tax exemption has been obtained, an annual filing is required in some states. Check carefully with your local tax assessor’s office to confirm whether any action is required. All taxes and assessments are to be paid within the time provided. If any tax or assessment is questioned, promptly follow through on the matter so that it is either removed or a proper challenge is filed within the applicable time limit.

■ The video Faithful Under Trials—Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Soviet Union will be considered at the Service Meeting during February. Those who wish to obtain a copy of this video should request it through the congregation as soon as possible.

■ An adjustment is being made in the way the Theocratic Ministry School will be conducted during the visit of the circuit overseer. Starting in January 2003, after the opening song and prayer, the school will be conducted for approximately 25 minutes. There will be a five-minute talk on a speech quality, a ten-minute instruction talk, and a ten-minute Bible highlights. Assignments Nos. 2, 3, and 4 will not be presented. The school will be followed by a half-hour Service Meeting. After a song, there will be a half-hour program by the circuit overseer, followed by the concluding song and prayer.

■ New Publications Available:

2003 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

—Grade-two English Braille (three volumes)

Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education —Danish, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai, Turkish

Draw Close to Jehovah —English, Grade-two English Braille (four volumes), Grade-one Spanish Braille (six volumes)

Examining the Scriptures Daily—2003 —Grade-two English Braille (four volumes)

Theocratic Ministry School Schedule for 2003 -Grade-two English Braille (one volume)

The Road to Everlasting Life—Have You

Found It?              —English

Worship the Only True God —English Worship the Only True God—Large

Print                   —English

■ New Videocassettes Available: Elementary Bible Teachings—On Videocassette, Volumes 1-2 —American Sign Language

Faithful Under Trials—Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Soviet Union —Spanish

My Book of Bible Stories—On Videocassette, Volumes 1-4 —American Sign Language

Question Box

■ What are the advantages of attending the congregation that holds the territory where we live?

Through the congregation arrangement, we receive encouragement ‘inciting us to love and fine works.’ (Heb. 10: 24, 25) Through the congregation we learn the truth and are equipped to fulfill our assignment to make disciples. (Matt. 28:19,20) We are also strengthened to endure trials faithfully and are provided with loving overseers to help us cope with mounting pressures and anxieties. Clearly, the congregation is vital to our spiritual survival. However, are there advantages in attending the congregation that holds the territory where we live?

Individual circumstances vary, and such factors as secular employment, an unbelieving mate, and transportation may affect one’s final decision in this regard. Yet, there are definite advantages, both spiritual and otherwise, when a person associates with the congregation holding the territory where he lives. The elders may be able to get in touch with all the publishers more quickly in cases of emergency. Past Question Boxes have highlighted a number of other advantages.—May 1991, March 1976, and January 1967.

Generally, it is more convenient to attend meetings nearby, allowing us to arrive early enough to speak with others, care for necessary matters, and share in the opening song and prayer. When newly interested ones live in our neighborhood, we are usually in a better position to reach them, conduct Bible studies with them, and direct them to the meetings most convenient for them.

We are confident that family heads will prayerfully consider this matter, weighing all the factors involved in determining what is best for the spiritual and physical welfare of their family.—1 Tim. 5:8.

Show Loving Interest in “Fatherless Boys”

• ¹ Jehovah is “a father of fatherless boys.” (Ps. 68:5) His concern for their welfare is reflected in this command that he gave the ancient nation of Israel: “You people must not afflict any widow or fatherless boy. If you should afflict him at all, then if he cries out to me at all, I shall unfailingly hear his outcry.” (Ex. 22:22, 23) God’s Law also included provision to assist such ones with their material needs. (Deut. 24:19-21) Under the Christian arrangement, true worshipers are admonished “to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation.” (Jas. 1:27) How can we imitate Jehovah’s loving interest in those growing up in single-parent or religiously divided families?

• ² Spiritual Training: If you are a single parent or have an unbelieving mate, conducting a regular home Bible study with your children may present a challenge. But a regular and meaningful Bible study is essential if they are to grow up to be balanced, mature adults. (Prov. 22:6) Having daily conversations with them about spiritual matters is also vital. (Deut. 6:6-9) At times, you may feel discouraged, but do not give up. Turn to Jehovah for strength and guidance as you “go on bringing [your children] up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.” —Eph. 6:4.

• ³ If you need some assistance in shouldering your Scriptural responsibilities, let your needs be known to the elders. They may be able to offer practical suggestions or assist you in establishing a good spiritual routine for your household.

• ⁴ How Others Can Help: In the first century, Timothy became a zealous servant of Jehovah despite growing up in a religiously divided household. The diligent efforts of his mother and grandmother to teach him the holy writings in his youth doubtless had much to do with this. (Acts 16:1, 2; 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15) However, he also benefited from association with other Christians, including the apostle Paul, who referred to Timothy as his “beloved and faithful child in the Lord.”—1 Cor. 4:17.

• ⁵ Likewise today, how beneficial it is when spiritually mature brothers and sisters take a loving interest in the fatherless boys and girls in the congregation! Do you know each one by name? Do you talk with them at Christian meetings and on other occasions? Invite them to join you in the field ministry. Perhaps you could occasionally include them, along with their single or believing parent, in your family study or in arrangements for wholesome recreation. When these younger ones view you as their friend, they are more likely to take to heart your example and encouragement—Phil. 2:4.

• ⁶ Jehovah is deeply interested in fatherless boys and girls, and he is blessing our loving efforts to help them make the truth their own. Many who grew up in single-parent or divided households received such encouragement and are now serving faithfully as pioneers, ministerial servants, elders, traveling overseers, missionaries, or Bethel family members. May all of us look for ways to “widen out” in our affection for fatherless ones, in imitation of our heavenly Father.—2 Cor. 6:11-13.

WAlCHIOWliR Nov. 15 Announcing Jehovah•$ Kingdom

“Some have wondered if we need churches and temples to worship God. What do you think? [Allow for response.] Notice what the Bible says on this subject. [Read Acts 17:24.] What purpose, then, should places of worship serve? This magazine gives a Scriptural answer to that question.”

Awake! Nov. 22

“Do you think that science will someday put an end to sickness and disease? [Allow for response.] This issue of Awake! examines some of the advances that science has made. It also shows why only the Creator has the power to eliminate sickness and death.” Read Psalm 146: 3-5, and offer magazines.

WATCHIOWER Dec. 1 Announcing Jehovah •« Kingdom

“Nowadays, just about everyone is finding it difficult to make ends meet. The same is true of the churches, and appeals for funds have become ever more persistent. Do you find that disturbing? [Allow for response. Then read 1 Thessalonians 2:9.] The Watchtower considers what the Bible says about this.”

Awake! Dec. 8

“Because of terrorist threats, many wonder whether it is safe to fly. Does this concern you? [Allow for response.] The Bible acknowledges that no one is immune to misfortune. [Read Ecclesiastes 9:11.] However, this issue of Awake! considers how you can increase your safety and comfort when you fly.”

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