OUR KINGDOM SERVICE

OCTOBER 1979

Vol. 22, No. 10 FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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It was a busy summer for all of us, but a delightful one! The high point was the “Living Hope” conventions. There were 93 of them in the continental United States. Ten of these were in the Spanish language, two in French, one in Chinese, and at some assemblies, sessions were held in Korean, Japanese, Portuguese and Italian. The total peak attendance for all assemblies was 982,585 and there were 8,630 baptized.

The Friday morning field service activity resulted in a good witness to local residents, businessmen, and, in some cases, city and government officials. And how timely the reminders on the program that we conduct ourselves properly in all affairs of life, keep separate from the world, draw close to God, hold fast our hope without wavering, help one another, and keep busy in the witness work. Indeed, during the whole program we were repeatedly encouraged to keep busy in the field, using well all opportunities to spread our living hope.

Then there were those three outstanding releases, the Commentary on the Letter of James, Choosing the Best Way of Life, based on First and Second Peter, and the recording of the Bible book of Acts. Have you read the new publications yet? By all means do so before we begin our use of them in the congregation.

For the further training and strengthening of Jehovah’s people, arrangements have been made for all circuit and district overseers to meet together in two groups, each for a special two-week period of schooling provided by the Society from September 17 through October 13, 1979. These brothers will be going, through the Pioneer Service School course, a Kingdom Ministry School course, and discussing other matters having to do with their regular activities. Rep-

(Continued on page 3, col. 1)

• ¹ Preaching the Kingdom message and making disciples constitute a fine work. So much so, that it is worthy of our whole-souled effort. Have you been giving it zealous support?

• ² What is zeal? For a Christian, it is an eagerness to pursue what is right, based on love of Jehovah and his requirements. A zealous person is active and ardent, alive with the truth. His zeal is like a fire within him, motivating him. His heart is in the preaching and disciple-making work. He looks for opportunities to preach.

ZEALOUS ONES IN BIBLE TIMES

• ³ Some Jews in the first century had “zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2) Their zeal was misdirected. We must have zeal based on accurate knowledge to build faith and love for God. If our zeal is diminishing or we are lacking zeal, there are definite things we can do. Jehovah will fire us with zeal if we heighten our appreciation for him, if

  Showing We Care About Our Young People

  
  

• ¹ A large percentage of the publishers in the Christian congregation are under 20 years of age. Public indifference, worldly pressures, materialism and sexual immorality are pressures being faced by these young people. What can we do to show that we care about them?

• ² Many youths who are now in Jehovah’s organization have ex-Eressed great appreciation for the elp that was given to them by different ones in the Christian congregation. An elder displayed interest in a young brother by picking him up to go with him to work on the Kingdom Hall. This young brother remarked years later that “it was the interest and concern of this brother that helped me to have a deep appreciation for Jehovah and his organization.”

• ³ The prime responsibility for training children, of course, rests with the parents. They are responsible for providing and arranging for recreation ana other activities of their children. However, all of us can show that we, too, care about our young people. How can we demonstrate our concern? we regularly attend the meetings, study, pray for his blessing, and make the effort to engage in the preaching and disciple-making work. Doing these things will put us in a position to be like Jeremiah who was zealous in carrying out his commission.—Jer. 20:9.

• ⁴ Concerning Jesus, it was said: “The zeal for your house will eat me up.” (Ps. 69:9; John 2:17) Jesus’ example of zeal had a powerful effect on his first-century apostles and disciples, as a reading of the book of Acts will reveal. Observing that the zeal of the Corinthian Christians had a good effect on those of Achaia, Paul declared: “Your zeal has stirred up the majority of them.”—2 Cor. 9:2.

• ⁵ Like the brothers in the Corinthian congregation, many of our brothers today are filled with zeal .and this sets a fine example for others. Consider this fine report we received from a congregation of 83 publishers. A total of 51 spent (Continued on page 3, col. 2)

WHAT CAN OTHERS DO?

• ⁴ At our “Living Hope” District Conventions this summer there was a drama: “The Need of the Fatherless Boy—Can You Help Him?” That drama gave us some good suggestions of what elders and others can do even in small ways to show their concern for young ones in the Christian congregation.

• ⁵ Since young people, too, are a part of the Christian congregation, how fine it would be for the elders to include one or two of them among those whom they converse with when at the meetings. Sometimes just saying “hello” or sharing a brief word of encouragement will suffice. But often there is a need for more extended comments, showing genuine interest and understanding. For example, elders might ask about activities at school, problems they may be facing, and then offer constructive suggestions to help them, if this is possible.

• ⁶ Concern for young people is shown by working with them in the field service on a regular basis. Their help can be enlisted in doing

(Continued on page 2, col. 3)

Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 30

12 min: Song 103. Appropriate points from Announcements, Including local announcements and high points from Branch Letter, as time permits.

18 min: “Presenting the Good News —By Using Magazines Wisely.” Ques-tion-and-answer consideration of article. Have one or two publishers who do well in approaching people on the streets and elsewhere demonstrate how they start conversations, what article they feature in the current magazine, and relate an encouraging experience. Inform congregation what the elders’ observations are on ordering and using magazines.

23 min: “Zealously Preaching and Making Disciples.” Question-and-answer consideration of article.

Demonstration: Have publisher make a presentation. He might say: “You no doubt have prayed for God’s kingdom to come and for his will to be done on earth. The Bible in Psalm 72 assures us that God’s kingdom will bring relief to the poor. [Read vss. 12 and 13.] There will be deliverance of those threatened with violence. [Read vs. 14.] And there will be no more hunger or sickness. [Read vs. 16.] That’s good news, isn’t it? [Allow householder to answer.] But many ask. How can we be sure that these things will really happen and that the Bible Is right? I believe you will enjoy reading this article [open to specific article] in the current issue of Awake! The Awake!

magazine regularly gives information concerning God’s kingdom and how we can be sure that it will bring the relief God has promised.” Offer subscription. If subscription is not taken, offer latest copies of Awake! and Watchtower for 20c.

7 min: This weekend show your zeal for fine works by adjusting your affairs to share with the congregation in special house-to-house activity arranged for Sunday. All are encouraged to share. Song 66 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING OCTOBER 7

12 min: Song 37. Announcements and accounts report.

20 min: “Helping One Another (Part IV): To Start Bible Studies.' ’ Service overseer and two study conductors discuss article. Give audience opportunity to ask them questions at end of their discussion. Make warm appeal to publishers to avail themselves of the provision to get help in disciple-making. 15 min: “Jehovah, a Dependable Refuge.” (w7.9 2/15 pp. 27, 28) Elder gives setting of Psalm 11. He then gives a verse-by-verse discussion of Psalm 11 with local application.

13 min: Experiences from witnessing on first Sunday of month. Discuss which articles appealed most to people in the territory. If it is known how many supported service that day, this could be a source of encouragement to congregation. Encourage all to follow up Interest with goal of establishing studies. Song 44 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING OCTOBER 14

8 min: Song 41. Local announcements and Theocratic News.

17 min: Loving Help Available. Dls-cusslon by elder. Modern-day elders are much like Paul, who had many activities and matters occupying his time. (2 Cor. 11:28, 29) Yet, how did he feel about his weighty load in behalf of his brothers? (1 Tim. 1:12) Elders today feel the same and are grateful for the privilege of helping all spiritually. While accomplishments, at times, may not be as much as desired, there is the same determination that Paul expressed In spite of pressures. —2 Cor. 4:7, 8, 16.

What can we do mutually, elders and congregation, to Increase benefits from shepherding? (Some may wish to share experiences on how they have been helped.)

Likewise, have some elders give suggestions on what they have found helpful to accomplish shepherding either in homes, at meetings or in field service. Conclude with encouragement that as elders continue shepherding work, we can all work together in the same spirit manifested by the Corinthian congregation during the relief effort for the needy In Judea.—2 Cor. 8:8-12.

30 min: When Jehovah Speaks, Listen! To be handled by an elder.

(5 mln.) Talk by chairman. What does it mean to listen when Jehovah speaks? It means to obey the things that God has written In his Word. —Acts 20:31, 32.

(25 min.) Discussion based on Acts 20:17-28. Read verses and then ask the questions. (1) Read vss. 17-19. How did Paul show his concern for the brothers? (2) Read vs. 20. What did Paul mean when he said “from house to house”? (3) Is it applicable to us today? (Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10; 1 Cor. 9:16; see w79 7/15 p. 18, pars. 16-18.) (4) Read vs. 24. How can we copy Paul’s example? (5) Read vss. 25-27. In what way can we be free from being bloodgullty? (6) Read vs. 28. What can elders do to help us to continue to listen to Jehovah?

5 min: Song IQ and prayer. Bring April 1, 1979, Watchtower next week.

WEEK STARTING OCTOBER 21

THEME: “Showing We Care About Our Young People.

8 min: Song 73 and local announcements.

15 min: Question-and-answer discussion of article “Showing We Care About Our Young People?'

12 min: How to Do It! To be handled by an elder who has a good rapport with young people. Have a discussion showing an elder visiting with a young brother right after weekly Theocratic School and service meeting. Elder discusses with young brother his Bible reading for that week. He encourages him to continue to make fine progress. During the conversation he asks about his school studies and activities and if there are any particular problems in school. Elder takes the time to share practical suggestions and to encourage the brother. He leaves by making arrangements to work with him in field service that weekend.

18 min: “Youths—Are You on the Road to Real Success?” Enthusiastic talk based on April 1, 1979, Watchtower, pages 9-12. Have youths read paragraphs under subheading “Sowing with a View to the Spirit.”

7 min: Song 39 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING OCTOBER 28

5 min: Song 31 and general announcements.

23 min: Hold Fast Your Hope Without Wavering. Talk to be handled by an elder. Please cover the following points: Hope is indispensable to Christians. (Rom. 15:13) Enables Christians to endure with rejoicing^ no matter what conditions may be. (Rom. 12:12) Hope closely allied with love. (1 Cor. 3:10-15) We never want to lose tight grip on hope. Right foundation needed. Some, however, have become weak, lacking fire-resistant qualities. Some have allowed their worship, Including field service, to become routine, not motivated by deep love of neighbor and Jehovah. (Matt. 22:39) Weakened ones have allowed Ideas and qualities to be built into them that are like burnable materials. Some do not have a strong relationship with Jehovah. Endurance results in divine approval. (1 Cor. 15:58) There is a need for our faith to be tested. (Jas. 1:2-4) Urgent need for all of us to go on bearing fruit, Increasing in accurate knowledge, being made Sowerful in order to endure.—-Col. 1:

5, 11.

12 min: Discuss and demonstrate offer for November. Offer Holy Spirit, Great Teacher, and This Life. Use Psalm 72:12-14, 16.

15 min: How Can We Use What We Have Learned? Review highlights in October Our Kingdom Service. The elder handling this part should have brothers and sisters prepared in advance to make meaningful comments. In addition, ask the following questions: How have you benefited from the suggestion to zealously preach and make disciples? How can we show that we care about our young people? If you need help in starting a Bible study, what is available?

5 min: Encourage all to participate in the special Sunday activity this weekend. Song 107 and prayer.

Our Young People           (Cont’d)

work necessary to maintain the Kingdom Hall. Yes, there are many things elders and ministerial servants can do that will show young people that they truly care about them. The same is true of all of us.

⁷ In most congregations there are young men and women who are doing quite well, progressing nicely, and are in a fine position to assist other young people in the congregation. Would you be willing to help others? Perhaps you could invite them to accompany you in field service or share with you in other activities.

WHAT CAN YOUNG PEOPLE DO?

⁸ Young people, we want to help you! To do this we need your help. There is a need for good communication. Be frank with those who are in a position to help you.

⁹ Parents, elders, all in the congregation, our young people need our help! Let us help them to become approved servants of Jehovah by showing we care about them.—Eccl. 12:1.

Announcements

• Literature offer for October: Awake! subscription with either the Man’s Salvation, Know Jehovah, or Paradise —Theocracy book for $2.50. These books may be ordered from Brooklyn. November: Three pocket-size books: Holy Spirit, Great Teacher and This Life for $1.00. December: New World Translation and Choosing the Best Way of Life for $2.50. January: Watchtower subscription with a book given free to subscribers.

Congregations may request 45c credit for books given free to subscribers during October. These books will be replaced free of charge to the publishers when handing in subscriptions. On the Remittance and Credit Request form, a line under "Other Items can show the total number of free books given to subscribers during October.

Books used in the November offer may be obtained by the publishers for 30c each and at the regular rate by pioneers. Congregations may request 15c credit for each of these books. The same procedure for requesting credit should be followed as was done In October.

• New Publications Available:

Is This Life All There Isf

—Hindi, Kiluba

My Book of Bible Stories^____

—Danish, Dutch, Hlrl Motu, Italian, Norwegian Our Incoming World Government

—God’s Kingdom        —French

Unseen Spirits—Do They Help Us!

Or Do They Harm Us!   —French

Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Twentieth Century          —Chinese, Dutch,

German, Japanese, Portuguese

• When ordering the 1980 Yearbook, publishers and pioneers are requested to do so through the congregation. Orders for the Yearbook in the following languages may be placed after the dates . here listed. November .15: English; December 15: French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish; February 1. 1980: Dutch, German, Korean. PAYMENT SHOULD NOT. ACCOMPANY ORDERS. Congregation literature accounts will be charged at the rate of 50 cents per. copy. Regular and special pioneers on the list before July 1, 1979, may receive a free copy for which the congregation may request credit. Pioneers may obtain additional copies at 15 cents each.

• Correction: The offer for October is Awake! subscription for one year for $2.50 with Man’s Salvation, Know Jehovah, or Paradise—Theocracy as a free gift. (Not Paradise Lost as was mentioned in the September Our Kingdom Service.)

Branch Letter                 (Cont’d)

resentatives from Brooklyn Bethel will be present at each school. Arrangements are also being made for all the elders in the United States to attend a refresher class of the Kingdom Ministry School course later this fall.

Jehovah continues to provide for us all in marvelous ways. We appreciate what he is doing and we know that you do too. With you we are glad to show our appreciation for all of his goodness by occupying ourselves fully with works of faith to his praise.

Your brothers, Brooklyn Branch Office

• ¹ Teaching others about Jehovah and his purposes is an expression of our love for him and for those whom we teach. Whether we are young or old, new disciples or experienced ones, we should be joyfully teaching others what we learn. Yet, at times some are heard to say: “I wish I could start a study,” or “I don’t know what my problem is. I can find interested persons but I can’t seem to develop a study.” Have you talked with someone either in service or informally that you feel would respond to further discussion of the Bible so as to know Jehovah? If you do not feel able to follow through on the interest, how can you receive help? On the other hand, you may not have any calls to make. If you desire to have a study, how can you receive help?

• ² First, in your congregation book study group there may be someone who can help you to start studies. Your initial step may be to speak to the study conductor, who, with other conductors, now oversees the Bible study work. He may be able to help you personally. But to provide assistance for a period of time, he will likely ask someone with experience to assist you. The two of you will want to prepare together for making the return visit with the goal of starting a study. You can decide on the approach. Will you go right into the book, demonstrating the home Bible study arrangement? Or, do you see the further need to discuss points right from the Bible?

• ⁸ Whether you use the publica-

Zealously Preaching . . . (Cont’d) a monthly average of 12 hours in the service; another 28 served as auxiliary pioneers, spending almost 56 hours on the average in the service, and four are serving as regular pioneers. The congregation as a whole made 845 return visits, conducted 68 Bible studies and placed over 1,600 pieces of literature. A ;month of zealous activity like that is encouraging to all of us, isn’t it?

WAYS ZEAL CAN BE SHOWN

⁶ Zeal will motivate us to look for and to take every opportunity to preach the good news. In addition to sharing regularly with the congregation in group witnessing, we will be alert to witness informally, showing that we are alive with the truth. You may want to tion directly or just use the Bible, you and your partner can review how to assist the interested person, to locate scriptures in his own copy of the Bible. It may be that you will decide that your service companion will handle the call and that you will do the assisting. On the other hand, after you have prepared together, you may want to handle the call and ask your partner to give you his observations on how things were handled.

⁴ While your goal is to start a study, use your judgment on how long to stay or how much material to cover. Observe the person’s interest. Generally it is best to allow him to absorb what is discussed and return later to discuss other scriptures or further paragraphs.

• ⁶ For following visits, prepare together which scriptures or paragraphs you will discuss with the person. If you decide to have your companion conduct the study for several times, plan together on ways that you can share. You might read and help the householder understand selected key scriptures. When you conduct the study with the householder, your partner can give helpful suggestions, such as when it is appro-Sriate to ask auxiliary questions, ow to keep the study lively, whet the appetite for the next study, and direct interest to the organization, and so forth.

• ⁶ By helping one another through the congregation book study arrangement, it may be that you, too, can enjoy the pleasure of conducting a regular Bible study.

take literature with you to work, when you go shopping, or when you visit the doctor. Many fine experiences are enjoyed by zealous publishers who do so. And your zeal will motivate you to keep a record of the interest shown and regularly call back on interested ones in an effort to start Bible studies. Another way we can demonstrate our zeal is by encouraging irregular and inactive ones to join us in the field service. Having a schedule of service can also be an indication of zeal. Zeal is contagious.

• ⁷ This month we will have many occasions to demonstrate our zeal for Jehovah by our preaching and disciple-making work. May we continue to be a “people peculiarly his own, zealous for fine works.” —Titus 2:14.

  PRESENTING THE GOOD NEWS )

  
  

By Using Magazines Wisely

• ¹ Many are the Scriptural truths we have learned or had clarified for us by information published in The Watchtower and Awake! Do you find that you both anticipate and treasure each issue of the magazines? They contain information that helps us to be better Christians. We can heartily recommend them to others.

, . V^SE JHEM WELL

• ² Many brothers and sisters set aside a day each week specifically to offer The Watchtower and Awake! from house to house and in public places. When doing house-to-house magazine witnessing, more can be accomplished if we arrange to call when the majority of people are at home. Street witnessing is another avenue that we can use. This can be done by approaching persons who are on the streets near shopping areas, waiting for public transportation, sitting in parks, and so forth. When doing so, show them an appealing article as you offer them the magazines. Some publishers have been observed simply standing or walking on the streets displaying the magazines but seldom speaking to those who pass. While there are some good results at times from doing street work this way, this may give the impression that we are just being impassive magazine vendors.

• ³ The offer can be made simply by greeting a person and asking if he or she would like to read a particular article featured in the magazine. If there is interest, it may be that the conversation can be carried further. Many of our brothers and sisters are getting good results from such an approach and are encouraged by the fact that they are successfully talking to so many people. If you have an opportunity to use the Bible, do so.

YOUR ORDER

• ⁴ Are you using all the magazines you obtain? Can you improve

TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION Kingdom Blessings Near.—Ps. 72: 12-14, 16.

• 1. Jehovah will deliver oppressed souls.

• 2. God's kingdom will bring an end to violence, oppression and hunger. your efforts in distributing them? Please review your weekly order and determine how many magazines you can distribute. We hope you can place all your magazines each week, or perhaps more, as you look for opportunities to place them. But be realistic. Adjust your order with the congregation so that you will not have too many or too few. If large amounts of magazines are accumulating at the Kingdom Hall, the body of elders should decide how to encourage more magazine work and if it is best to adjust the order of the congregation with the Society. Paper and postage are expensive, and much labor goes into getting magazines to the congregations. All of us want to use the magazines wisely.

• ⁵ Many of us have been leaving older issues at not-at-homes. This can continue to be done. However, if the congregation is experiencing problems because older issues frequently are left when people are not at home, we suggest that the local body of elders review the matter and make suggestions to the congregation that they feel will be most appropriate for the territory and in the best interest of the work.

• ⁶ What can you do so that you will use your magazines effectively? (1) Endeavor to work with the magazines when more people are at home. (2) When working on the street, approach individuals, endeavoring to engage them in conversations when presenting the magazines. (3) If necessary, adjust your order so you will receive the number you can use effectively. May Jehovah bless your endeavors to make wise use of these two valuable publications.

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Is This Life All There Is?:

October 7: Pages 110 to 117*

October 14: Pages 117 to 124

October 21: Pages 125 to 133*

October 28: Pages 133 to 139*

• ♦ To subheading or chapter heading.

JULY SERVICE REPORT

Av.     Av.    Av. Av.

Fibs. Hrs.    Mags. R.V. Bl.St.

Sp’l Pios.      722 113.2 104.9 36.8

Pios.       14,442  75.8  66.8 29.9

Aux. Pios.  12,191  59.5  51.8 18.5

Pubs.     497,616   8.3   9.6  3.5

TOTAL 524,971

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 4,544

THEOCRATIC NEWS

♦ Nicaragua: The brothers are in good spirits and are resuming their meetings and their preaching and teaching work. Throughout the period of violence, only three of our brothers lost their lives. Many were rendered homeless, but since they were for the most part tenants, the major loss was in the looting and destruction of their possessions. As to transportation, there is very little. Most buses are destroyed, roads are only now being repaired, and gasoline is very scarce. However, things are quickly being restored to order under the new government. Missionaries are returning to their assignments in the country after being away for a short time. And, happily, adequate arrangements are now being made to supply the urgent needs of the brothers.

<£> New peaks of publishers in June: Italy had 77,774 sharing in the preaching work. Spain reached 40,485 publishers; Zaire, 20,365 and Japan, 49,879. Japan thus had an average of six regular and seven auxiliary pioneers for each congregation.

Meetings for Field Service

OCTOBER 1-7

Using the Topic for Conversation 1. How will you use the new topic for conversation? (Ps. 72:12-14, 16)

• 2. How will you lead into the subscription offer?

OCTOBER 8-14

Use the Special Issues Effectively

• 1. What talking points from the special issues have you found effective?

• 2. What are some effective ways of using the magazines?

OCTOBER 15-21

The Value of House-to-House Records

• 1. Why is it of value to keep house-to-house records on all interested people?

• 2. What notations should we make on our house-to-house records?

OCTOBER 22-28

Use Older Issues Wisely

• 1. When should we leave an old issue of the magazines?

• 2. Why should we avoid leaving magazines in parked cars, mailboxes, or exposed under the doors?

4