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OUR KINGDOM SERVICE

JULY 1981

Vol. 24, No. 7 FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Meetings for Field Service

JUNE 29—JULY 5 Using the tract

• 1. Have you had an encouraging experience already in placing the tract?

• 2. What have you found in the tract that particularly appeals to people in your territory?

• 3. How would you use the tract to start a Bible study in the "Happiness" book?

JULY 6-12

Showing neighbor love

• 1. Why is showing neighbor love so important?

• 2. How can the literature we have to offer help our neighbors?

• 3. What opportunities do we have to show neighbor love today?

JULY 13-19 Helping others to progress

• 1. When and how can you help others to make progress in the ministry?                   ,

• 2. What can you do to help new ones or youths in field service?

• 3. As you witness to people, what can you do to help them to make spiritual progress?

JULY 20-26 Laying groundwork for return visits

• 1. How can you lay the groundwork for a return visit on your first call?

• 2. What are some questions you might bring up for consideration on a return visit?

• 3. What notations on your house-(Continued on page 3, col. 1)

  "You Must Love Your

  
  

  Neighbor as Yourself"

  
  

• ¹ The second of the two greatest commandments given by God to mankind is: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22: 39) Jehovah God was the first one to exhibit deep and abiding love for mankind. His Son, Jesus, likewise showed love for the human family by the sacrifice of his life as a ransom in our behalf. This was a display by' Jesus of the deepest meaning of love for one’s neighbor. (John 3:16; 15:13) But Jesus did other things as well to show his love for mankind. What else did he do?

• ² For one thing, Jesus preached the good news of God’s kingdom that would bring eternal blessings to obedient mankind. His deep

  INCREASED FIELD SERVICE ACTIVITY DURING APRIL RESULTS IN ANOTHER EXCELLENT REPORT

  We have good reason to be thankful to Jehovah for his rich blessings this past April. Here in the United States the field service report gives solid evidence of keen appreciation for the Kingdom ministry entrusted to us. The April report shows we had our best month this service year as far as total hours, magazines, subscriptions, return visits and home Bible studies are concerned. In fact, it was one of the best months in a number of years. While the total publishers is not a new peak for this service year, it is still 20,081 more than April a year ago, a 4.4-percent increase over last year's average.

  The 41,887 auxiliary pioneers plus the number of regular and special pioneers shows that 61,199, or 10.8 percent of the total publishers shared in full-time field service during April. This is commendable. We feel coqfident that all who shared in this privilege experienced much’joy. So did the congregation publishers who put forth added effort in the ministry during that month. Let us keep on glorifying our ministry, doing our utmost to make known the marvelous Kingdom hope to all who will hear.—Rom. 11:13.

  Training Our Children to Be Preachers off the Good News

  
  

• ¹ Due to the fine witness given by two Christian boys concerning their faith and convictions, the parents of these youths received a letter, which said in part: “I am still under the charm of the long conversation I had this morning with your two children. . . . Truly, I never remember having heard children express their faith so interestingly and with so much conviction and intelligence. . . . I do not know you, but judging by your two children, you must be praiseworthy parents.” Even more than a credit to their parents, these children are truly a credit to Jehovah whose righteous principles have become a guiding influence in their lives.—Ps. 148: 12, 13; Matt. 21:16.

• ² Certainly all Christian parents want their children to grow up to be whole-souled, dedicated serfeelings for people are shown by a Biblical account dealing with one of his preaching tours. We read at Matthew 9:35, 36: “And Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching . . . and preaching the good news of the kingdom . . . On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” The account also tells us that he performed acts of healing as an evidence of his love for people. Yes, indeed, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus care for others, and their display of love is unmatched. Can we likewise (Continued on page 2, col. 3) vants of Jehovah. (Prov. 23:24, 25) However, we know that just being a part of a Christian household does not automatically make youths praisers of Jehovah. Parents should not assume that attainment of the goal is a matter of chance. The experience related above well illustrates that we can train our children to be preachers of the good news. However, diligent and consistent effort is important.

PROGRESSIVELY TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN

• ³ Jesus trained his disciples progressively to be preachers of the good news. First he explained their objective. (Matt. 4:19) Then he took them with him, preaching to and teaching the people. Thus, the disciples were trained in service. In time he sent them out by twos (Continued on page 3, col. 1)

Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples

WEEK STARTING JULY 5

Song 118

5 min: Introduction and local announcements.

12 min: Question-and-answer discussion of article entitled “You Must Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.” Show how modern-day field ministry closely connected with the same work Jesus began when on earth. In discussing paragraphs 5 and 6, if there have been some good experiences in placing the Happiness book, include them. Then lead into the part that follows on using the Happiness book tract in field service to start home Bible studies.

15 min: Making good use of the tract Is a Happy Life Really Possible? Discuss with audience the value of the tract in encouraging people to have a home Bible study. Point out sections in the book that prove appealing to people who show interest in Bible study. Many today face economic problems dealing with inflation and unemployment. Demonstrate briefly how chapter 6, “Money Problems— What Help?” might be used to encourage home Bible study. Page 61, subheading “Being Content Is a Key” might well be used.

13 min: Service overseer can discuss use of current magazines on magazine day, highlighting their value and offering suggestions for placing them with interested persons. Consider information in box on page 1. Also comment on congregation’s April report.

Song 23 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 12

Song 73

5 min: Introduction, Announcements from page 4, local announcements and accounts report.

20 min: Elder, along with a family head or two, discusses article “Training Our Children to Be Preachers of the Good News.” Among points to stress are (1) Children need to be trained in field service; (2) Objectives should be explained and responses to what is said analyzed; (3) Goals should be set and pursued; (4) Parents must train their own children, although others can offer to help; (5) Among us are examples of such fine results; (6) We have good potential.

15 min: Assisting Bible students to make progress. Talk and discussion. It is necessary to show students that they have a responsibility toward others.. Happiness book can serve as a fine instrument in this regard. For example, page 40, paragraph 25, shows how a start can be made to take on this responsibility of sharing the good news. The need for association with fellow believers is stressed on page 50, paragraph 24. Getting to know what the Bible student thinks is important. Pages 34 and 35 illustrate ways this can be done, showing how you can teach him to express himself on what he thinks. As student approaches time when dedication and baptism should be considered, page 183 can be discussed in detail. Highlight throughout the need to make progress.

5 min: Give a brief report on magazine-day activity the previous week and what is hoped can be accomplished the next time. Encourage brothers to use magazines to help others.

Song 63 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 19

Song 68

5 min: Introduction and local announcements.

18 mtn: “Presenting the Good News—On Magazine Day.” Talk and demonstrations based on presentations suggested in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of article. Stress importance of reading magazines to be more effective in presenting them. Encourage publishers to put forth special effort to share in magazine work the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.

15 mln: How I Came into the Truth. (Select two or three persons to interview. Keep part fast-moving and encouraging to all. Help publishers to see importance of assisting their own Bible students to progress.)'

7 min: Brief report on progress of those auxiliary pioneering during summer months. If time permits, relate an encouraging experience or two that auxiliary pioneers have had recently.

Song 103 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING JULY 26

long 100

7 min: Introduction and local an* nouncements._______          __f

20 min: Question-and-answeU discussion of article “Do You Have a Good Personal Study Program?” Include interviews of three persons —family head, youth, and new person—as to how they do their own personal studying and what program they have found to be best in their own situation. Receive expressions from audience on things that have threatened to disrupt good study program.

10 min: Use Tor local needs, or give encouraging talk on articles in March 1, 1981, Watchtower, entitled “Do You Appreciate the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’?” and “The ‘Faithful Slave’ Gives ‘Food at the Proper Time.’ ”

8 min: Relate recent encouraging field service experiences by publishers and pioneers.

Song 12 and prayer.

Love Your Neighbor          (Cont’d)

make an effort to love our neighbors as ourselves in imitation of Jehovah and Christ Jesus? How can we do this?

WHAT WE SHOULD DO

• ³ We can share with others the good news of that same kingdom that Jesus preached. (Matt. 10: 5-7) Jesus also said in the prophetic twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew that part of the sign marking the end of this wicked world would be the earth-wide preaching of the good news of the Kingdom for a witness. In these highly significant “last days,” it is our privilege to be Kingdom proclaimed, giving evidence of our genuine love for our neighbors as for ourselves.

• ⁴ As we share in such important work we have great inner joy and peace of mind. We are confident in heart and mind that we are doing just as Jesus and his early disciples did, spreading Kingdom good news to those who are ‘skinned and knocked about as sheep without a shepherd,’ giving evidence of dur love for our neighbor.

  THE

  
  

  HOW TO SHARE IN

  
  

  WORK IN JULY

  
  

• ⁵ In July Jehovah’s Witnesses will be expressing love of neighbor by using the fine Bible aid Happiness—How to Find It. Due to convention travel or vacations, we may not have as many opportunities to share in the house-to-house work as usual, but this should not hinder us from exercising loving care for those with whom we come in contact. At the convention there will be opportunities arranged to (Continued on page 3, col. 2)

  Published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn. N.Y. 11201 Our Kingdom Service (USPS 295-360) Second-class postage paid at Brooklyn, N.Y. Printed in U.S.A.

  2

  
  

Training Children             (Cant’d)

to preach the good news on a wider scope. However, before doing so, he gave more specific instructions. (Matt. 10:1-11:1; Luke 10: 2) From time to time he worked with them, training them further in the field ministry.

• ⁴ Parents!—‘Following the example of Jesus, progressively train your children. Teach them why we preach, and the objectives of the various methods and features of our ministry. Also, take the time to help them appreciate the meaning of the various responses encountered. Train them to do the work by setting goals for them and helping them to attain each goal. Passing out handbills, reading scriptures for you and keeping the house-to-house records may be simple objectives with which to begin their training. Later, they should learn some effective ways to introduce the message and how to converse with householders.

FINE RESULTS

• ⁵ There are many fine examples of faithful brothers and sisters among us who were taught from youth on to be disciples of Christ, preachers of the good news. In congregations everywhere they continue to serve, some as pioneers and appointed servants. How thankful they are that, from an early age, they had impressed upon them the importance of the field ministry.—Eccl. 11:9, 10; 12:1.

⁸ All of us in the congregations of Jehovah’s people have an interest in training our children to be preachers of the good news. To the extent that other members of the congregation are moved to volunteer to help parents with some aspect of training their children in the field service, parents may accept this help. However, Jehovah God has placed the responsibility of training children in the hands of the parents. Therefore, parents, train your children to be preachers of the good news!

. . . Field Service ' (Cant’d) to-house record would help you to make a return visit?

JULY 27-AUGUST 2 introductions (Matt. 10:12)

• 1. How can we show friendliness to householders?

• 2. What subjects interest householders in our territory?

• 3. How do you introduce yourself and get into the Topic for Conversation?

  • ¹ ‘If only I had more time to study. I just can’t seem to find the time!’ Have you heard anyone make.this statement? Perhaps you have made it yourself. Do you find it difficult to set aside time for personal study? Does it seem sometimes that other things interfere with your personal and family study? Yes, it takes real effort to set aside sufficient time for studying. Obviously, there are many activities that can consume our time. On the other hand, our own sinful flesh can cause us to put off personal study. (Compare Romans 7:18-20.) If you have experienced difficulties in this regard, what can you do to improve your study habits? First, ask yourself: How important is personal study to me? Can I do more than I am doing presently? Where will I find the needed time? Do I have a good arrangement for study? If you do, fine! But if not, now is the time to develop a good schedule.

  • ² Additionally, think about why it is so important to do personal study. Is it enough to try to get by with only what you can absorb at the meetings, without doing personal study? In time your spiritual health will reflect your neglect. To grow spiritually we have to put forth diligent personal effort. If we have a tendency to neglect personal study, we would do well to reflect upon the need for accurate knowledge in order to have Jehovah’s approval.—2 Tim. 2:15.

  SCHEDULING PERSONAL STUDY

  • ³ Plan definite times for personal study. Establish a schedule that will fit your particular life pattern. Perhaps you can spend 10 to 15 minutes each day studying or Love Your Neighbor          (Conf d)

  share in the preaching work. Also, you may be able to share the good news with others when fueling your car, getting groceries, eating at a restaurant, riding on public transportation, and so forth. And do not forget to make use of the tract that encourages, home Bible studies.

  • ⁸ By being alert to opportunities you can express your love for your neighbor. We encourage you to pay close attention to the service meeting parts during July dealing with the use of the Happiness book in witnessing so that you will be prepared to pass along the good information in that publication. Thus we may lead others to the Word of God, the source of information on how we can love our neighbor as ourselves.

  
  

  Do You Have a Good Personal Study Program?

  
  

reading the Bible. Some persons do this early in the morning, or before going to bed at night. Others take advantage of time spent while riding on public transportation, waiting for an appointment or during lunch breaks. If you incorporate some of these suggestions in your schedule for personal study, you may be delighted at how much you can accomplish in just a few minutes every day. Of course, once the schedule is made, you should stick to it. If you fail to maintain a good schedule for personal study, your efforts are likely to be too haphazard to be successful. So, strive to prevent anything from interfering with your personal study arrangements. Our rate of spiritual growth, to a large extent, is governed by the regularity and the quality of our personal study. —Ps. 1:2.

BENEFITS OF PERSONAL STUDY

⁴ At Proverbs 2:1-5 we are counseled to “find the very knowledge of God.” We can never hope to acquire the “knowledge of God” unless we study his Word. By personal study we impress more deeply upon our minds and hearts Scriptural material designed to draw us closer to Jehovah. We can more readily note details and check specifics of the material discussed at meetings if we have considered it privately, beforehand. By using good study methods we will find that our reading ability will improve, as well as our grammar and choice of words. We will give better talks and be more upbuilding in our comments at meetings and home Bible studies. We will learn more and remember more, as Jehovah’s Word is sounded down into our minds and hearts. This will help us to be better equipped to make decisions when faced with important issues. Our shield of faith can then offer greater protection from this world’s wicked influences. Yes, the more we learn, the better prepared we will be to give others the reasons for our Kingdom hope.—1 Pet. 3:15.

⁸ Life-giving knowledge comes from God, but it is not acquired or retained without considerable personal effort. A positive attitude will go a long way toward helping us to gain accurate knowledge. (Col. 3:10) Personal study plays a vital part in growth to maturity and in keeping ourselves strong spiritually and properly equipped for Jehovah’s service. Be willing to ‘pay the price’ of time ana effort in studying God’s Word. It surely is worth it!

On Magazine Day

• ¹ What beneficial effects the Watchtower and Awake! magazines have had on the lives of those who read them! Why, each issue contains information that can assist truth-seekers onto the road to eternal life and happiness. Since the announcement that appeared in the February issue of Our Kingdom Service this year, arrangements have been made to feature magazine work each week; however, a special effort should be made to feature magazines on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.

AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY

• ² Most of us will participate in magazine-day activity by offering The Watchtower and Awake! from house to house. This generally is where we find many persons in a position to listen. But even here we do well to be brief, holding our presentations to just enough time to stimulate interest. The objective is to place the magazines and let them do the “talking.”

• ³ If we were not out in service on magazine day, likely we would be busy just as the people on whom we call, so we should take this into consideration. Because the weekends are the only time many people have to care for matters around the home, we should anticipate their objection: “I’m busy.” Therefore, some publishers find it beneficial to comment on this in their brief introduction, saying: “I am a local minister [or neighbor] calling on this busy Saturday morning. . . .” Quickly they get into pointed comments that tie in with a preselected article and show how the information in the article can benefit the householder personally.

• ⁴ Another objection that may come up initially is: “I’m not interested in Jehovah’s Witnesses or those magazines.” To this some publishers reply: “I can understand why you may feel that way; however, I’m quite sure you are interested in information that would help you to get a good night’s rest,” or whatever topic you may be featuring in the magazines. At times, this response captures the interest of the householder.

• ⁵ “By far we place more magazines per hour by working from store to store,” wrote one circuit overseer’s wife. Other publishers will concur. One brother who enjoys fine success in this activity explains how he does it: “I give my name, state that I am a minister and that I am calling on business people in the area. I say: *1 know that you are busy so I will be very brief.’ Then I mention the subject I am discussing and state a point on it in a sentence or two. I then take the magazines out of my briefcase, show the particular article on the subject and make the offer.” If the. manager shows interest, you may ask permission to make a similar brief offer to the employees.

• ⁶ For some publishers, offering irtagazines on the street has proved especially effective. They usually do not stand in one spot. “I move slowly with the crowd, one brother explained. “I may say to a man: ‘I beg your pardon,’ and then go on with my presentation.” The idea is to take the initiative and approach people.___

PERFORMING A PUBLIC SERVICE

• ⁷ When a new magazine arrives, analyze its appeal. You may have a neighbor or friend who has not been especially responsive to the truth, but who is interested in a particular subject. When this is discussed in the magazines, you may be able to place them with him. Also, when an article deals with the police department or law enforcement, see to it that the policemen and judges in town receive a copy. Appropriate articles on the medical profession can be directed to those most interested in that subject. Or, if Awake! discusses automobiles or auto maintenance, feature it at gas stations, used car agencies and so forth. By taking advantage of these many possibilities, we perform a valuable public service-------—---₇

• ⁸ Not to be overlooked, too, are our special issues. Many publishers have noted that they have wide appeal and are easily placed. Extra copies may be ordered and used for several months.

• ⁹ Magazine-day witnessing is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to share in preaching the good news of the Kingdom. (Matt. 24:14) Make it your aim to participate regularly in presenting the good news on magazine day.

TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION

What Makes for Happiness? Matt. 5:3—Being conscious of spiritual need.

Rev. 1:3—Observing God's Word.

Announcements

• The regular shipment of service forms will be sent to all congregations during the month of September. If any congregation is seriously overstocked on one or more forms, please advise us. We will adjust the annual mailing of your forms accordingly.

• Literature offer for July: Happiness book with the new tract Is a Happy Life Really Possible! on a contribution of 60c. (If the Happiness book is not available, use any other 192-page book with the tract.) August and September: My Book of Bible Stories on a contribution of $2.50. If not available, use any 192-page book.

• Court decisions on divorce and upholding the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to have custody of their children may be obtained by those Involved In sucn problems on request from the Treasurer’s Office of the Society. Upon receipt of them you may wish to reimburse the Society for mailing charges. The decisions should be given to one’s attorney before the case goes into litigation so he may prepare to meet the issues should they arise.—Prov. 22:3.

• The Society Is now producing the Watchtower magazine monthly In the Bulgarian language. Subscriptions are being accepted and congregations may place distributors’ orders for this edition.

• New Publications Available:

Good News—to Make You Happy

—Armenian

Our Incoming World Government— God’s Kingdom        —Turkish

• New cassette recording available: The Good News According to Mark (set of two Cassette tapes) —French (Congregation and public: $3; pioneers: $2.50)

• The book Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God in English Is available again. Those who would like a copy for themselves or their Bible students may order these through their congregation. We do not recommend that congregations order a large stock of these books, but order only as copies are requested by publishers and pioneers.

• The Society Is beginning to convert the subscription operation to a computerized system. To provide you with more time to renew your subscriptions and thus avoid missing any copies, the Renewal Form In the magazine will appear earlier than it has in the past. Also the Expiring Subscription slips will be sent to the congregations earlier. By promptly returning the subscription renewals to the Society’s Wallkill address you will ensure uninterrupted delivery of the magazines.

APRIL SERVICE REPORT

Av.      Av.    Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs.    Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios.     496 130.4 105.0 53.6

Pios.       18,816  88.4  70.3 35.2

Aux. Pios.  41,887  58.9  53.4 18.9

Pubs.     506,217   9.0   9.2  3.8

TOTAL 567,416

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: .1,867

Schedule for congregation studies in the book God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached:

July 5:  Pages 212  to¹

July 12:  Pages 2201 to

July 19:  Pages 228  to

July 26:  Pages 236  to

4

¹

To or from subheading.

t Include last paragraph on page.