Meetings for Field Service

AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6 When offering “Bible Stories" book:

• 1. What do you feature?

• 2. How could you use the scripture citations?

• 3. What can you say when householder has no children?

SEPTEMBER 7-13 When using magazines:

• 1. How do you adjust your presentation to different kinds of people?

• 2. What specific ideas are you stressing?

• 3. How can you use a scripture in the article featured?

SEPTEMBER 14-20

What do you say: ,

1. When the householder is busy? 2. When the person is antagonistic?

3. When a youth answers the door?

SEPTEMBER 21-27    <

What are you going to feature in:

• 1. The current “Awake!" magazine?

• 2. The current “Watchtower" magazine?

• 3. Your introductory remarks?

Schedule for congregation studies in the book God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached: September 6: Pages 284 to 292 September 13: Pages 293 to 300f September 20: Pages 301 to 308¹ September 27: Pages 308¹ to 316¹

/The apostle Paul encouraged his fellow servants to ‘present their bodies as a sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with their power of reason.’ (Rom. 12: 1) Paul willingly sacrificed himself and was richly rewarded for his sacred service. When we sacrifice our personal pursuits in behalf of Kingdom interests, we too can be confident of Jehovah’s blessing. —Mal. 3:10; Acts 20:20.

• ² Servants of Jehovah have always demonstrated the spirit of self-sacrifice in their lives. Imagine for a moment the sacrifices Noah must have made expending his life’s energies building an ark large enough to preserve himself, his close family and the animals through the flood! And while doing that great work, his selfsacrificing course included service as “a preacher of righteousness.” —2 Pet. 2:5.

• ³ Consider the personal sacrifice of Abraham. At God’s command Abraham left his home at 75 years of age to become a temporary resident in a foreign land. (Heb. 11:8-10) It is also encouraging to recall the self-sacrificing spirit of men like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel who had difficult territory assignments. (Ezek. 2:4, 7) Yet all these served unselfishly year after year, confident of Jehovah’s bless

  Training Children in the Way of Life

  
  

• ¹ Obedience to God’s requirements leads to life—disobedience to his law leads to sure disappointment and death. This simple but powerful lesson we learn from the experience of Adam and Eve. By continued obedience they could have lived forever, yet they chose to disobey God and died as a result. All Christian parents should ask themselves: What am I teaching my children? Are they learning the rewards of obedience and the consequences of disobedience? Are they learning to love Jehovah from their hearts? What are they learning from my example?

DISCIPLINE MUST BE CONSISTENT

• ² To teach obedience it is good for you who are parents to set up reasonable yet clear-cut rules to Elide the conduct of your children, et them see your own example in obeying rules. Warn them about breaking rules—that it leads to sure punishment. Be swift about keeping your word; do not nag, yell or be inconsistent. (Eph. 6:4) ing. Likewise today, Jehovah’s servants make adjustments in their lives in order to share as fully as possible in the preaching work, whether in some faraway place or nearby.

• ⁴ Since this month begins the new service year, it is a good time to reflect on the fine results from the sacrifices we have made thus far and determine what we hope to accomplish during the 1982 service year. Usually it is helpful to set personal goals. For example, would it be possible for you to auxiliary pioneer one or more months this year? Have you been thinking about entering the regular pioneer service? Perhaps by making the necessary sacrifices, this could soon be possible for you. Or, have you been planning on regularly spending more time in field service? If so, now is the time to put your plans into operation!—Eph. 5:15-17.

WHAT GOOD HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

• ⁵ As you look back on what you individually have accomplished, you should be able to see where good progress has been made. For example, has your knowledge of God’s Word deepened? Are you cultivating your (Continued on page 2, col. 3)

Both parents should agree on rules of discipline; both should enforce them to retain the respect of the child. When parents administer loving discipline, children learn that punishment is the penalty for intentional wrongdoing. But they also learn that obedience brings pleasure by means of commendation and rewards. (Eph. 6: 1-3; Heb. 11:6) If your children learn while young that they will most certainly ‘reap what they sow’ you will save them from many disappointments and possible death. —Gal. 6:7; Prov. 23:13, 14.

³ Obedience involves listening. Do you teach your children to listen? Are they required to attend meetings? Also, are they expected to pay attention? Some parents train their children to listen at home. They set aside a regular time to read to their children. During this time youngsters are required to sit still and pay attention. If this is done patiently, (Continued on page 4, col. 1)

Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 6

Song 11

i o mln: Local announcements. Enthusiastic invitation to all, especially the youth, to share in second Saturday of month magazine work. One or two brief demonstrations of young publishers presenting magazines using current Watchtower article, “Can You Talk with the Dead?” in the series “God’s Word Is Alive.”

10 mln: Review offer for September, using My Book of Bible Stories. If time permits, an experience in presenting this offer may be related.

15 min: “Seize the Opportunity to Defend Our Faith!” To be handled by the service overseer. Demonstrate how parent might approach the teacher of his or her child with September 22, 1981, Awake! As time permits, consider how to contact personally principals, members of school boards and agencies concerned with education and public schools that are located in congregation’s territory. May express concern over what child is learning about the origin of life. Respectfully refer to points in article. 10 min: Discuss with audience talking points on September 15, 1981, Watchtower ana September 22, 1981, Awake! that may be used in house-to-house and street work. Emphasize need of being well-prepared by getting the ideas we want to present clearly in mind. Then it will be easy to convey these ideas to others. For example, the September 15 Watchtower considers ideas on the questions “When God Speaks, Do You Listen?” and “Does God Really Speak Today?” Use these to capture the interest of the householder.

Song 91 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 13

Song 112

10 min: Appropriate Announcements from Our Kingdom Service, local announcements and accounts report.

15 min: “Cultivating the Spirit of Self-Sacrifice.” Question-and-answer discussion of article. As time permits, when considering paragraphs may have additional experiences on blessings of adjusting affairs to share in first Sunday and second and fourth Saturday witnessing.

13 min: How Youths Share Good News in School. (If more appro-

griate, How Good News Can Be hared at Work.) How can being different lead to sharing the good news at school? What are some of the ways we are different? How could taking Bible study aids to school help us to share the good news? What topics discussea in the classroom could lead to a Bible discussion? (Chairman should seek out local experiences among youths who have had success in school witnessing or he can have young ones relate or enact experiences from publications. See 4/1/79 w, pp. 18, 19; 7/15/75 w, pp. 442, 443; and so forth.)

7 min: Service arrangements, including encouragement for adults to work with youths this weekend. Song 109 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 20

Song 81                         •

8 min: Local announcements. Encourage full support for magazine activity this Saturday.

15 min: “Training Children in the Way of Life.” Talk and audience discussion. May have parents who have had good success in training children offer suggestions prepared in advance.

12 min: Local needs, or give talk on article “Missionary Zeal—A Mark of True Christians” in the September 1, 1981, Watchtower. 10 min: Theocratic News. Also discuss congregation’s August field service report. What potential is there for growth locally? Are Memorial attenders still being helped? Encourage field service this weekend.

Song 60 and prayer.

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 27

Song 76

5 mln: Local announcements. Encourage all to share in field ministry on first Sunday of month. 15 min: Magazine day experiences. Also experiences from second and fourth Saturday and first Sunday of the month field service activities. Include experiences enjoyed in connection with special activity involving the September 22, 1981, Awake!

13 min: “Presenting the Good News—With The Watchtower and Awake!” Questions ahd answers. Have demonstration of older publisher helping youth prepare meaningful presentation.

12 min: “Contributing Toward an Accurate Report—Part II.” Discussion with audience. Elder handling this part should apply material to needs locally. Commend brothers for their fine efforts in the ministry. Help all to appreciate importance of regularly reporting their field service activity each month.

Song 62 and prayer.

Self-Sacrifice                    (Cont’d)

relationship with him by regularly giving thanks to Jehovah, seeking his help in prayer? Are you showing greater appreciation for meetings by your regular attendance and good preparation? Do you comment regularly, thus building up others? Have you been spending more time in field service when your circumstances allow? Or have you in various ways been able to improve the quality of your ministry? If you have been able to accomplish one or more of these things, you have good reason to be happy.

® We have received some fine experiences from those who have begun to share regularly in the magazine work on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. The elders in one congregation noted that the first month this arrangement was instituted, the congregation placed over 1,000 magazines, whereas previously they averaged only 550 to 600.

• ⁷ One pioneer who did not normally engage in field service on Sunday adjusted her schedule so she could go out the first Sunday of the month. Her very first Sunday she placed two books and started two Bible studies with individuals who worked during the week and could study only on Sunday. Jehovah richly blessed her self-sacrificing effort.

EXPANDED SERVICE

• ⁸ Do you recall the fine suggestions in the May' 1981 issue of Our Kingdom Service relative to magazine routes? Those who have applied these suggestions have been blessed, as have been those who are regularly receiving the fine message the magazines contain. Truly, the time, effort and any sacrifices involved bring rich rewards!

• ⁹ There are other ways we manifest the spirit of self-sacrifice. If we are used to spending only one hour in field activity, would our circumstances allow us to stay out in service an additional half hour or more? There is joy in accom-(Continued on page 4, col. 3)

  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.

  
  

  Seize the Opportunity to Defend Our Faith!

  
  

^The congregation of God is “a pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15) As individual members of the congregation, are we doing our part in upholding and supporting the truth? A splendid opportunity currently exists for Jehovah’s Witnesses to make known to millions of persons the truth about creation, as opposed to evolution. Why is this an especially favorable time? 1) As never before, the evolution theory is being strongly disputed. 2) As many students return to their classrooms, pressure is building up on educators to present “the other side,” that is, information about creation. 3) The September 22, 1981, issue of Awake! is specially designed to present the facts in a clear manner, pointing to the Bible's truthful account of creation.

² To take advantage of this unique opportunity, all are encouraged to put forth an extra effort to distribute this special issue of Awake! Members of local school boards, principals and teachers should be made aware of this valuable and useful information. State legislators can be contacted. Copies can be presented to federal

Part II

• ¹ Counting the time we spend in field service is important but it is not our primary objective. However, it is important to report our field service time accurately. Time spent getting ready for service, attending the meeting for service, and the travel time involved in getting from home to the territory, and so forth, is really not time spent in preaching and teaching, is it? It is understandable that after one gets into the territory and the preaching work has gotten under way, there will be time spent walking or traveling between homes and such can reasonably be counted as time in field service. While the conscience of each publisher is involved in counting time, each should be careful to maintain a good conscience in this regard.

HELP NEWER ONES TO BE ACCURATE

• ² Often it is noted that newer ones need help to understand how to report their activity accurately. If they conduct a Bible study several times during the month, they may wrongly report several Bible Studies instead of just one. A Bible study conducted with an individual or a family should be or state agencies within your territory that concern themselves with education and public schools. If you wish to share in the above aspects of this campaign, please talk to your service overseer who will be coordinating the work.

• ³ Youths of school age have a very special opportunity to show their personal concern for supporting the truth. They can courageously present their teachers with this issue of Awake! Perhaps some will be allowed the opportunity to give a report in class on the subject. Or, they may arrange for a capable brother to give a talk to their class about the Bible’s account of how life came to be. Not to be forgotten are the parents we meet from door to door, on the streets or informally. Many of them are concerned about what their children are learning in school.

• ⁴ Do not allow this opportunity to slip away. (Eph. 5:15, 16) Be ready to “make a defense” with the aid of the September 22 Awake! (1 Pet. 3:15) Unitedly, let us make known our position by publicly supporting the Bible’s account of creation.—Rom. 1:20.

counted as only one Bible study even though it may have been conducted three, four or more times during the month. However, a return visit should be counted for each time the study is conducted and the time should be counted. Some have also improperly reported several return visits because there may have been several interested persons present. However, it is the number of return visits that should be counted and not the number of persons visited.

• ³ Accurate reporting is very helpful to the Society in determining which part of the country or the world may need help in getting the good news preached. It also gives a good picture of the work accomplished. And these reports, posted on the publisher’s record card, help the elders locally in determining how best to assist individuals in the congregation.

• ⁴ Paul could report that the good news in his day “was preached in all creation that is under heaven.” How encouraging! By your zealous preaching and accurate reporting you are contributing to the same encouraging report in our day. —Col. 1:23; Matt. 24:14.

Announcements

O Literature offer for September: My Book of Bible Stories on a contribution of $2.50, or, if not available, use any 192-page book on a contribution of 75c. October and November: Subscription for either The Watchtower or Awake! or for both magazines on a contribution of $3.50 for each subscription. December: New World Translation and "Let Your Kingdom Come." Use older editions of the New World Translation first, along with new book on a contribution of $3.25. If older editions are out of stock, then use 1981 edition and new book on a contribution of $3.75.

Holy Bible               —Persian

(Congregation, public and pioneer:

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1981 edition with black cover) (Congregation and public: $3.00; pioneers: $1.50)   —English

Choosing the Best Way of Life

—Chinese, Greek

Happiness—How to Find It

—Chinese, Portuguese

Let Your Kingdom Come"

—English, Spanish

• New cassette recordings available;

"Jehovah's Name to Be Declared in AU the Earth" (Drama) (single cassette)                —English

The Good News According to Luke (set of two cassettes) —English

The First of Peter through The Letter of Jude (single cassette)

—English

A Revelation to John (single cassette)

—English

Kingdom Melodies No. 2 (single cassette)

Kingdom Recordings Album (Holds 24 unboxed cassettes.) (Congregation and public: $5.50; pioneers: $4.50)

Album with complete Greek Scriptures (18 cassettes) (Congregation and public: $30.00; pioneers:

$20.00)                  —English • Please note that while the 1981 black-cover edition of the New World Translation Is $3.00 for congregation and $1.50 for pioneers, older editions of the New World Translation, both regular green-cover and pocket editions, remain at $2.50 for congregation and public and $1.25 for pioneers.

• We are pleased to announce that a new Cost List has been prepared. Four copies are being sent to each congregation. The secretary should keep one copy; the other three should be given to the brothers caring for the literature, magazines and accounts.

• The congregation accounts should be audited on September 1, or as soon thereafter as possible, by the presiding overseer or someone appointed by him. • The book "Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie" is available again In English. Those who would like copies for themselves or for their Bible students may order them through the 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.

• Congregations will be charged at the rate or $7.00 per thousand for the tract (Continued on page 4, col. 3)

JUNE SERVICE REPORT Av.     Av. Av. Av.

Pain. Hrs.    Magi. R.V. Bl.St

Sp’l Pios.     469 119.6  84.7 49.7

Pios.       18,807  78.9  52.1 29.7

Aux. Pios.  17,419  59.4  37.7 16.9

Pubs.     509,814   8.5   74  3.5

TOTAL 546,509

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 3,910

With “The Watchtower" and “Awakel"

¹ We all know how much we personally have benefited from the abundance of fine material in The Watchtower and Awake! For this reason we desire to do everything possible to assist those in our territory to benefit also from these two fine magazines on a regular basis.

² How can we best use the magazines in our field service? First of all, there is need to schedule time to offer the magazines regularly, utilizing the second and fourth Saturdays particularly.

³ Having personal subscriptions will aid us in getting acquainted with each magazine before offering it in the field. In this way most of us will generally be able to read the latest issue before conies are picked up at the Kingdom Hall. Do you have a personal subscription? If not, why not give this your prompt consideration?

⁴ We know that good preparation is essential to make the best use of magazines in field service. In addition to reading the magazines before offering them to others, a selection can be made of specific points to use for brief presentations. What are some things to consider in preparation sessions? For one thing, we know there is a variety of people to whom we witness. So we are interested, in what may appeal to younger ones, older ones, men, women, professional people, and so forth. Why in time the children will develop the capacity to listen and concentrate on the spoken word and will not be so easily distracted during meetings. Again, parents must set the example, not being easily dispay closer attention and feel more rewarded. Having children look up Bible texts cited by the speakers will keep them alert and will be good training as well.

⁴ Sometimes at meetings children become restless after an hour or so. They may turn around and try to get the attention of others. Or they may bring toys or other objects for their personal amusement and this results in distracting others. We must not forget that even the “little ones” in Israel not make notes in your personal copy of points to use, if that will help?

⁵ Elders and ministerial servants, as well as pioneers, can aid you in using the magazines effectively. You might be able to arrange to work along with them, or other capable publishers, in the service to get suggestions on various ways to present the magazines effectively. Those with more experience can show you how to adapt material to the householder’s needs and interest, and which subjects may be of particular interest to certain ones, and so forth. (2 Tim. 2:2) Newer ones may want to give just a simple presentation. Others may want to widen out and work on the use of questions and other teaching aids.—See the School Guidebook, Study 10, for suggestions.

⁶ Younger ones particularly may need help to give meaningful presentations. Initially they may just want to say, “I have the latest Watchtower and Awake! and we place them for a contribution of 15c each.” However, they should be helped progressively to add to their presentation, using a few words to call attention to ticular point or article.

⁷ While there is still time remaining, let us use The Watchtower and Awake! to accomplish our ministry fully, begging persons to become "reconciled to God.” —2 Cor. 5:20.

were commanded to assemble to “listen” and “learn.” (Deut. 31:12) In order to find an excuse to move around, children occasionally get into the habit of running to the restroom a number of times during the meeting, causing considerable disturbance to others. Yet these same children can play for hours at a time without experiencing any such problem. If parents insist that each of their children use the restroom before the meeting begins, there is usually no real

⁵ Training children in the way of life also means directing them from tender years on up toward a life of greatest service. Help them to see how they can be like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and others who devoted their lives to Jehovah’s service. Open up to their vision the modern-day opportunities that lie before them in the

of 892 publishers, with 43 percent sharing in some pioneer work. Trinidad had a new peak of 3,401 with 1,315 auxiliary pioneers, and a total of 42 percent sharing in pioneer work,

♦ Dominican Republic had a new peak of 6,725 publishers in May, with a new peak of 10,330 studies. While floods left 27,000 homeless in the country, no reports of material damage were received from the brothers.

117,796 publishers in May with peaks in hours, magazines, return visits and studies. Memorial was attended by 343,930.

♦ El Salvador reported a peak of 8,761 sharing in service in May with a new peak of 13,096 studies being conducted.

Announcements

Kingdom News No. 30. Both publishers and pioneers may obtain their supply at the congregation literature counter at 35c per 50 copies. This tract Is to be distributed free to the public.

Self-Sacrifice

filishment and if we stay in service onger we will meet more interested persons and place more literature. Spending more time in the ministry will also serve to increase our effectiveness in the field. We may also show ourselves to be self-sacrificing by enjoying field service on the world’s holidays, rather than spending the entire day in recreation or other personal activities.

¹⁰ In many ways the past service year was outstanding and this was due to Jehovah’s blessing upon the self-sacrificing efforts of his servants. Let us now give careful thought to making further progress in our service to Jehovah during the 1982 service year. May we confidently look to Him for his blessing on our work.

service of God’s kingdom. Impress on their minds the self-sacrificing example of Christ Jesus. Encourage them to pray regularly to Jehovah from their hearts. And, most of all, let them see your own good example—how you derive joy from wholehearted service to God. Then when your child expresses the desire to dedicate his life to Jehovah and symbolize this by water baptism, what joy you will have as a result of having helped him to make this decision.

TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION

Blessings of "New Earth."

2 Pet. 3:13—A promise from God. Rev. 21:1a, 3, 4—What it will mean.

4

¹

To or from subheading.

T Include last paragraph on page.