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00:00:01 Welcome! 00:00:03 This is my friend, Alex Reinmueller. 00:00:06 Alex is going to help me host our program, 00:00:09 which focuses on family. 00:00:13 Alex, what do we have to look forward to? 00:00:16 Thank you, Gerrit. I’m delighted to be here with you. 00:00:19 For nearly a decade, 00:00:21 children have enjoyed our animated series 00:00:24 Become Jehovah’s Friend. 00:00:26 How have they and their parents benefited? 00:00:29 As teens, Tainara and Alex developed 00:00:32 a strong identity as servants of Jehovah. 00:00:35 We’ll learn how this helped them resist temptations. 00:00:39 Are you married or contemplating marriage? 00:00:42 You’ll enjoy a new series we’re introducing in our program. 00:00:46 It’s designed to help Christian couples 00:00:48 achieve a happy marriage. 00:00:51 I’m eager to get started. 00:00:53 This is JW Broadcasting® for April 2022. 00:01:17 Today, we will talk about those 00:01:19 who are close to all of our hearts 00:01:23 —our children. 00:01:25 I am sure that you dear parents 00:01:27 greatly love and appreciate your children. 00:01:31 What a privilege it is to have them! 00:01:35 Think about it: There are millions of angels. 00:01:38 However, angels were not given the privilege to produce children. 00:01:44 When Jesus was on earth, he was not married, 00:01:47 so he did not have the privilege of having children. 00:01:51 But you parents have that privilege. 00:01:54 What a treasure! 00:01:58 What does the Governing Body want to tell you children? 00:02:01 That we love you! 00:02:04 We are so happy to have you with us, 00:02:07 and we would like to help you to become and remain 00:02:11 worshippers of Jehovah. 00:02:14 You are like a beautiful gift, 00:02:16 a special gift, from Jehovah. 00:02:19 Christian parents value and appreciate you children 00:02:22 more than a million dollars! 00:02:25 How do we know? 00:02:27 Because Psalm 127:3 says 00:02:32 that “[children] are an inheritance from Jehovah.” 00:02:37 What does that mean? 00:02:40 An inheritance is a very valuable gift 00:02:43 that has been given to someone. 00:02:46 Often, the gift is from an older family relative. 00:02:50 Jehovah views you children as a very valuable gift 00:02:55 that he has given to your parents. 00:02:58 He expects parents to take good care of this gift. 00:03:03 He entrusts parents with the welfare and happiness of their children. 00:03:10 And when parents do their best for you, 00:03:14 it especially makes us happy when you children 00:03:17 do your best to please and serve Jehovah. 00:03:22 There are so many children earth wide 00:03:24 who are fine examples for others 00:03:27 by means of their love for Jehovah and the truth. 00:03:32 Parents, will your children become good examples 00:03:36 for other young ones in the truth? 00:03:39 One father of seven children, all of whom grew up as lovers of Jehovah, 00:03:44 would always tell new parents 00:03:46 that there are no guarantees with children. 00:03:50 They each have their own personality 00:03:52 and are exposed to various outside influences. 00:03:57 But he would always urge new parents to do the best they can 00:04:01 to teach their children and reach their hearts. 00:04:05 Your conscientious effort increases the possibility 00:04:08 of them becoming a success in Jehovah’s service. 00:04:13 So parents, how are you caring 00:04:16 for your “inheritance”? 00:04:18 What are some vital steps 00:04:21 to teach and reach the heart of your child? 00:04:25 First, please locate 00:04:28 Judges 13:8. 00:04:33 The parents of Samson likely prayed often 00:04:36 for Jehovah’s help to properly raise their son. 00:04:41 Verse 8 says: 00:04:44 “Manoah pleaded with Jehovah and said: ‘Pardon me, Jehovah. 00:04:49 “‘Please let the man of the true God whom you just sent 00:04:53 “‘come again to instruct us 00:04:56 about what we should do with the child who will be born.’” 00:05:01 If you parents do the same, 00:05:03 Jehovah will answer your prayers through the Scriptures, Bible literature, 00:05:08 or possibly by means of a congregation meeting. 00:05:12 Additionally, being consistent with family worship 00:05:15 is vital to reach the heart of one’s child. 00:05:20 It is true that it takes some planning 00:05:22 and absorbs some of your time each week. 00:05:26 But remember that in 2008, 00:05:29 the Governing Body gave us all 00:05:31 the extra time each week for family worship 00:05:35 by adjusting the weekly meeting schedule. 00:05:39 A brother from Portugal wrote: 00:05:41 “Aside from family worship, 00:05:44 “my father had a separate Bible study on a different day 00:05:47 “with each of us three children. 00:05:50 “I am sure that these studies were very important 00:05:53 for us to resist all of the pressures at school.” 00:05:58 It is no surprise that all three children 00:06:01 have been in special full-time service for a number of years now. 00:06:07 Similarly, a brother from northern Italy wrote: 00:06:10 “We studied with each one of our children personally 00:06:14 in harmony with their age and gender.” 00:06:18 Each family head must decide what is best for his family. 00:06:23 However, a well-prepared Family Worship program 00:06:27 is essential. 00:06:30 Another excellent way to teach your children is by example. 00:06:35 Children often pick up mannerisms 00:06:38 from their parents. 00:06:40 They often walk and talk 00:06:42 like one of the parents. 00:06:44 But they also pick up on godly personality traits and attitudes. 00:06:49 So be the kind of person that you want your child to be. 00:06:54 Even though Jesus was the only perfect child ever born on earth, 00:06:59 it appears that his mother, Mary, and adoptive father, Joseph, 00:07:03 were good examples for him. 00:07:06 Luke 2:41, 42 00:07:10 tells us that Jesus’ parents “were accustomed to go from year to year 00:07:14 to Jerusalem for . . . the Passover.” 00:07:18 Joseph could have viewed the trip 00:07:20 as inconvenient and even too expensive. 00:07:24 But as parents, he and Mary set a good example 00:07:28 for the young boy Jesus. 00:07:31 Most young ones can quote 1 Corinthians 15:33 by heart. 00:07:37 Maybe it is because their parents have reminded them 00:07:40 of the principle so often. 00:07:43 “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” 00:07:49 Do you remember in Luke chapter 8 that Jesus spoke 00:07:53 about the different kinds of soil 00:07:55 that “the word of God” might fall on? 00:07:59 The “soil” represents your child’s heart. 00:08:02 It is our hope and prayer that your child’s heart 00:08:06 is like “good,” or “fine,” soil. 00:08:12 In verse 15, 00:08:14 Jesus applied the illustration of the fine soil, 00:08:18 saying: 00:08:19 “These are the ones who, 00:08:22 “after hearing the word with a fine and good heart, 00:08:25 retain it and bear fruit with endurance.” 00:08:29 But what can happen if after responding to your training from God’s Word, 00:08:34 your child is somehow exposed to bad association? 00:08:39 When young ones spend considerable time with other young ones 00:08:43 who have not been trained by Bible principles, 00:08:46 it can counteract your training from God’s Word. 00:08:50 Such association is like a severe rainstorm 00:08:54 that erodes the fine soil that you have built up. 00:08:59 It can quickly wash away the good training that you have given. 00:09:04 Psalm 1:1 says that we can be happy 00:09:08 if we do not “walk” with, “stand” with, 00:09:12 or “sit” with those who do what is bad. 00:09:16 And we could add to that 00:09:18 —and do not text or email others 00:09:22 who do not think wholesome thoughts. 00:09:25 Help your children to choose good associates. 00:09:30 So many young ones around the world 00:09:33 have responded to their parents’ fine instruction 00:09:36 and express themselves from the heart. 00:09:40 Let me share a few experiences that demonstrate this. 00:09:45 One young person from the United States wrote in saying: 00:09:50 “I am 11 years old, 00:09:52 “and I am an unbaptized publisher. 00:09:55 “I can’t thank you enough for all that you do! 00:09:58 “I especially appreciate all the time and effort you put 00:10:02 “into the Caleb and Sophia videos. 00:10:06 “I love these videos. 00:10:08 “They help me to show good conduct at school. 00:10:12 “I am grateful that you encourage family worship. 00:10:16 “You see, I used to have doubts about Jehovah. 00:10:20 “If it were not for the time at family worship, 00:10:23 “I probably would have drifted more and more. 00:10:27 “I love Jehovah and want to serve him, 00:10:31 “but I still have lots to work on. 00:10:34 “I hope you will make more videos to help me and other young ones 00:10:39 to serve Jehovah with our whole heart and whole soul.” 00:10:45 We received this message: 00:10:47 “Hi, I am ten years old. 00:10:51 “I just wanted to say thank you! 00:10:54 “When I grow up, I want to work in Bethel 00:10:56 “because I love Jehovah and want to make him happy. 00:11:01 “In Paradise, I want to open a zoo without cages. 00:11:05 Sending all my love!” 00:11:08 I recall I once met an eight-year-old girl in Denver, Colorado, 00:11:13 who was baptized at eight years of age. 00:11:16 By that time, she had read the entire Bible through twice. 00:11:22 Of course, each child is unique; 00:11:25 not all children become mature at the same rate 00:11:28 or at the same point in life. 00:11:30 You may recall that we read 00:11:32 Psalm 127:3 earlier, 00:11:36 which said that “[children] are an inheritance from Jehovah.” 00:11:42 Let’s read the next verse, number 4: 00:11:45 “Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, 00:11:48 so are the sons of one’s youth.” 00:11:52 Children are likened to “arrows” 00:11:55 that should be aimed at a target. 00:11:58 An archer cannot recall an arrow once it leaves his bow. 00:12:02 Parents have “arrows.” 00:12:04 They have their children to aim at the target 00:12:08 for a relatively brief time. 00:12:11 And what is the target? 00:12:13 What is the goal? 00:12:15 For your children to become wholesome, dedicated, 00:12:19 and baptized servants of Jehovah. 00:12:24 However, arrows can be made from different materials, 00:12:28 and they can vary in size. 00:12:30 Parents must remember 00:12:32 that no two children are precisely alike. 00:12:36 Some have a good measure 00:12:38 of mental and emotional maturity at a young age 00:12:42 and express a desire to get baptized. 00:12:46 Others may not be ready for baptism until they are a bit older. 00:12:51 Thus, discerning parents 00:12:53 do not pressure their children to get baptized. 00:12:57 Rather, they assist each child 00:13:00 in keeping with his or her own growth and spiritual progress. 00:13:06 But it is also true that some parents 00:13:08 underestimate their children. 00:13:11 Some hold them back from dedicating their life to Jehovah, 00:13:16 even though they have developed 00:13:18 a close relationship with Him as a youngster. 00:13:23 We received this comment from a sister in Russia: 00:13:26 “Thank you very much for taking care of younger ones. 00:13:31 “I particularly appreciate your support. 00:13:34 “Your loving words inspire me. 00:13:37 “I am 17. 00:13:39 “I am invigorated by articles and videos 00:13:42 “which are prepared by you. 00:13:44 “Your work and love bring me to tears. 00:13:49 “Thank you very much! 00:13:52 “I am touched by your affectionate care of us here in Russia. 00:13:57 “Your warm words and prayers are the best comfort for us. 00:14:02 “I am grateful to you. 00:14:04 “Thanks to your taking care of me, 00:14:06 “I was able to begin pioneering two years ago. 00:14:09 “It’s the best life ever. 00:14:12 “I am happy. 00:14:14 “I can’t be silent. 00:14:16 I’m filled with gratitude.” 00:14:19 The Watchtower once commented: 00:14:22 “It has been said that raising children is a 20-year project, 00:14:26 but parents never really stop being parents.” 00:14:31 Among the very best things you can give to your children 00:14:35 are love, time, and Bible-based training 00:14:40 —yes, endeavoring to reach their hearts. 00:14:44 Admittedly, each child will respond differently to the training. 00:14:50 However, many who have been raised by parents that love Jehovah 00:14:54 feel like Joanna Mae, a sister in Asia. 00:14:58 She says: 00:14:59 “Looking back on the training I received from my parents, 00:15:03 “I am so thankful that they disciplined me 00:15:06 “and taught me to love Jehovah. 00:15:10 “They did not just give me life, 00:15:12 they gave me a meaningful life.” 00:15:16 And there are millions of adult Christians 00:15:19 who would express similar sentiments of appreciation. 00:15:24 Parents, take care of your inheritance, your precious children, 00:15:29 by training them and reaching their heart. 00:15:34 Thank you for those encouraging comments, Gerrit. 00:15:37 I especially appreciated all the comments from the young ones. 00:15:42 One in particular expressed appreciation 00:15:45 for the Caleb and Sophia videos. 00:15:47 We’ve grown quite attached 00:15:49 to these characters, haven’t we? 00:15:51 In our next segment, Brother Anthony Morris of the Governing Body 00:15:55 discusses how this series has helped children and their parents. 00:16:13 It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a decade 00:16:18 since that first release in 2012. 00:16:22 In that time, 00:16:24 the Become Jehovah’s Friend series 00:16:26 has proved to be a real gift from Jehovah. 00:16:32 Through these Bible lessons, children can learn to be kind, 00:16:37 to be honest, 00:16:38 to be respectful, 00:16:40 and to develop other godly qualities 00:16:43 that help them see and obey 00:16:47 “the One who is invisible.” 00:16:50 How can we begin to understand 00:16:52 the far-reaching impact 00:16:54 this series has had on Christian families? 00:16:58 We’re going to let Christian parents tell 00:17:01 how these videos have helped their children 00:17:05 to become Jehovah’s friend. 00:17:10 Kady-Ann had a really hard time 00:17:12 working together with the older brothers 00:17:14 and sisters in the congregation. 00:17:16 I had a really hard time because 00:17:22 they’re kind of slow. 00:17:25 But Lesson 25: Making Friends 00:17:30 was just what I needed. 00:17:32 We spent a few weeks discussing the videos 00:17:35 during our Family Worship evening. 00:17:39 The videos helped her to be more open-minded 00:17:42 —to be more respectful to the elderly brothers and sisters 00:17:45 and want to work with them in field service. 00:17:51 Sophia liked chatting with Sister Elsa, 00:17:53 even though she’s so old. 00:17:56 So I can do that too. 00:17:58 These videos strengthened 00:18:01 my relationship with Jehovah. 00:18:03 I know that he hasn’t forgotten me as a single parent. 00:18:08 It can be so hard for single parents 00:18:12 because they are trying to take on the role of both parents. 00:18:18 I got baptized because I love Jehovah 00:18:21 with my whole heart. 00:18:24 Jehovah still loves me, even though I’m made from dust, 00:18:28 and I’m so little. 00:18:31 He took some of the weight off my shoulders. 00:18:40 Laura, 00:18:42 our middle child, 00:18:43 was perfectly healthy 00:18:45 until she turned four years old. 00:18:48 That’s when she was diagnosed with a rare tumor 00:18:51 in her central nervous system. 00:18:53 Unfortunately, when the treatment was over, Laura passed away. 00:19:01 Even while she was sick, 00:19:03 she just loved watching the videos. 00:19:06 Her favorite one was Let’s Go in Service. 00:19:10 This video really made her want to talk about Jehovah. 00:19:13 During the time that she was receiving 00:19:15 chemotherapy treatments, which lowered her immunity, 00:19:19 we couldn’t even leave the house with her. 00:19:24 But sometimes we’d bring her to get a checkup or get an exam done, 00:19:29 and the doctor would say that everything was fine for now 00:19:32 —that her immunity was OK. 00:19:33 And the very first thing that she’d say to the doctor was, 00:19:37 “So I can go in the ministry, right?” 00:19:39 And the doctor would laugh and say, “Sure you can.” 00:19:42 And our family would take advantage of those times 00:19:45 to go in field service together as a family —all together. 00:19:49 That made Laura so happy. 00:19:55 It does us good to remember 00:19:58 why the Become Jehovah’s Friend series was created. 00:20:04 These videos were not designed as mere entertainment 00:20:09 to simply pacify children for a short period of time. 00:20:14 These lessons were designed to help children 00:20:17 build a relationship with Jehovah 00:20:21 so that they can live and serve him forever. 00:20:26 Jehovah loves children. 00:20:29 That love was evident in how his Son, Jesus Christ, 00:20:34 treated children. 00:20:36 The Governing Body shares that love as well. 00:20:41 Also, 00:20:42 Jehovah loves Christian parents. 00:20:46 He sees how hard you work to impress 00:20:49 a love for God deep in your child’s heart. 00:20:54 No doubt you look forward to sharing 00:20:57 every new video with your child 00:20:59 to help him learn to love and respect Jehovah, 00:21:04 Jesus, and God’s Word. 00:21:07 But more important, 00:21:09 how do you think Jehovah feels 00:21:12 knowing that a young child can come to know him 00:21:16 through this animated series 00:21:18 and grow up to become his dedicated servant? 00:21:23 That is truly special. 00:21:29 We will continue to pray 00:21:31 that this series reaches the hearts of our young ones 00:21:35 and draws them closer to Jehovah 00:21:38 —their Friend now and forever. 00:21:46 As we heard, Become Jehovah’s Friend 00:21:49 is much more than an enjoyable animated series. 00:21:53 These videos are powerful teaching tools 00:21:56 that help young ones develop a personal relationship with Jehovah. 00:22:00 Parents, continue to use them wisely 00:22:04 as part of your family worship. 00:22:07 Of course, at some point in their lives, 00:22:10 children must make the truth their own. 00:22:13 What steps can they take 00:22:15 to establish their identity as servants of Jehovah? 00:22:19 That’s the topic of the next episode of My Teen Life. 00:22:34 Me and my mum started attending meetings 00:22:37 and studying the Bible when I was five years old. 00:22:40 When I was 13, I decided to get baptized. 00:22:45 I decided to dedicate my life 00:22:47 to Jehovah when I was 14. 00:22:50 To me, Jehovah is a wonderful God. 00:22:53 He’s not just a Friend that you can count on but also a Father. 00:22:58 I don’t have a spiritual father here on earth, 00:23:01 but I have Jehovah as my Father. 00:23:05 It was always something that I had in mind 00:23:08 —to let the truth convince me 00:23:10 and not serve Jehovah just because my family does, 00:23:13 but to serve Jehovah because of the love I feel for him. 00:23:16 Having that clearly in mind is very important 00:23:19 and will make all the difference when a problem arises, 00:23:22 or when we have to deal with something, in the future. 00:23:24 Some of the truths that convinced me 00:23:28 that Jehovah was really my God 00:23:30 were mainly basic truths. 00:23:33 I believe that they’re like the foundation of a house. 00:23:37 Without a good base, a good foundation, 00:23:41 a house will not remain standing. 00:23:44 For example, I wanted to understand better 00:23:48 from a more scientific standpoint 00:23:50 that Jehovah really created all things. 00:23:54 So I read a lesson from the brochure Origin of Life. 00:23:57 From that, I saw how Jehovah really made everything 00:24:01 in a very complex way and that there was no other explanation. 00:24:07 It was doubts like that that moved me to study the Bible more, 00:24:12 which helped me to build a better friendship with Jehovah 00:24:15 and to be more convinced that he was the true God. 00:24:19 I always enjoyed and made a great effort 00:24:22 to feed myself in a spiritual sense in the morning. 00:24:25 When I was a teenager, 00:24:26 I went through some problems that were pretty tough. 00:24:30 I felt better in the morning. 00:24:32 It was a time of day when my problems 00:24:35 didn’t seem so big in my mind. 00:24:38 It’s very important to have spiritual goals. 00:24:41 Because if we don’t have goals, 00:24:43 it’s like going on a journey with no direction, no destination. 00:24:48 But if we’ve got a purpose before leaving, we know where we are going 00:24:52 and how we can get there safely. 00:24:54 I always think in terms of setting short-range goals, 00:24:57 medium-range goals, and long-range goals. 00:25:00 So some goals that I was able to reach 00:25:02 were getting baptized and becoming a regular pioneer. 00:25:05 I also had the privilege of serving in construction groups. 00:25:08 No matter the choices that I had to make, 00:25:11 I always thought about how they would affect my goals in the future. 00:25:15 When I was 17, 00:25:17 I found out that my mum had cancer. 00:25:20 That was a heartbreaking situation. 00:25:23 Suddenly, my life was turned upside down. 00:25:28 I had to learn how to care for our home, how to cook, 00:25:32 how to care for someone sick, 00:25:34 and how to give emotional support to that person. 00:25:38 The biggest challenge that I faced when I was a teenager 00:25:41 was when my parents got divorced, 00:25:44 and then my mum stopped serving Jehovah. 00:25:47 At that time in my life, I was 15 or 16 years old. 00:25:52 At that age, you need a lot of support 00:25:54 and guidance from your parents. 00:25:56 It was a time when I didn’t get that guidance and that support. 00:26:00 My mum was my best friend, and I lost her. 00:26:06 She was always so loving. 00:26:10 She always helped me. 00:26:12 She always read the publications with me. 00:26:15 We loved to study the Bible together. 00:26:21 We don’t know when problems will suddenly come up. 00:26:27 So it’s important that we take 00:26:29 Jehovah’s side before the challenges, 00:26:31 before problems, arise. 00:26:34 A text that really helped me 00:26:37 was Romans 8:37-39. 00:26:40 There it says that ‘neither death 00:26:43 ‘nor life nor height nor depth 00:26:45 ‘nor anything else 00:26:48 can separate us from Jehovah’s love.’ 00:26:50 So that really helped me face those challenges. 00:26:53 Having a strong Christian identity 00:26:57 means having values and principles 00:27:00 that are the same as Jehovah’s. 00:27:04 You clearly make up your mind to please Jehovah, 00:27:07 even with what’s happening all around you. 00:27:10 It’s very important to make the choice to serve Jehovah 00:27:13 no matter the situation we face 00:27:16 or no matter if our family serves Jehovah or not, 00:27:20 because it’s when we face challenging situations 00:27:23 that we’ll see if we can continue to be loyal to Jehovah or not. 00:27:27 No doubt about it, 00:27:29 I’m very proud to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:27:32 Jehovah can help us in amazing ways. 00:27:36 He is our Friend, our Father, our Comforter. 00:27:41 It’s really good to be friends with a God that is so powerful 00:27:45 and to have the chance to defend his name. 00:28:10 Establishing your identity as a Christian 00:28:13 isn’t a single decision or just a moment in time. 00:28:17 As Tainara and Alex shared, 00:28:21 it’s a process that leads to wonderful blessings. 00:28:26 In many respects, marriage is like that. 00:28:29 A wedding is a special day, 00:28:32 but marriage is something that wives and husbands 00:28:35 need to strengthen every day. 00:28:40 To help Christian couples, 00:28:42 the Governing Body has approved the development 00:28:44 of a new series. 00:28:47 It’s called For a Happy Marriage. 00:28:52 Each segment features dramatizations 00:28:55 of real marital challenges 00:28:57 and how Bible principles can help us 00:29:00 build healthy, loving relationships. 00:29:04 Here’s our first episode. 00:29:28 As married couples, 00:29:32 most of us have been there. 00:29:37 The day-to-day pace of life, 00:29:40 work, 00:29:44 and distractions 00:29:48 can cause us 00:29:50 to draw away from our mate emotionally. 00:30:05 We begin to talk less 00:30:10 —distance ourselves. 00:30:16 We may feel unappreciated 00:30:28 and even become cold or unkind. 00:30:32 Even our desire for intimacy and affection may cool. 00:30:37 We may go from being loving and passionate 00:30:42 to platonic roommates. 00:30:47 What can we do to avoid this? 00:30:52 An excellent principle we can apply 00:30:55 is found at Acts 20:35: 00:30:58 “There is more happiness 00:31:00 in giving than there is in receiving.” 00:31:07 But how can we know what to give 00:31:11 or what actions to take so our mate 00:31:13 feels our love and affection? 00:31:18 The best way to know 00:31:22 is simply to ask. 00:31:25 What does our mate need? 00:31:33 Some feel loved 00:31:36 when they are actively listened to 00:31:40 or hear warm expressions of appreciation. 00:31:45 For others, it’s expressions of love shown through touch 00:31:49 or simply quality time. 00:31:53 Others find 00:31:54 that helping them with chores and sharing the workload at home 00:31:58 makes them feel cherished. 00:32:03 But whatever the discussion reveals 00:32:05 and regardless of our mate’s imperfections, 00:32:13 we want to do what we can 00:32:15 to make them feel loved and cared for 00:32:20 through the actions they appreciate. 00:32:32 Yes, if we each do all we can to show unselfish love, 00:32:40 genuine affection will follow. 00:32:50 And this is just one of many secrets 00:32:53 to a happy marriage. 00:33:01 So now, why not just take a moment, pause the video, 00:33:05 and ask each other these three questions. 00:33:10 Remember, share your honest feelings, 00:33:13 and when listening, don’t be defensive. 00:33:16 This is simply a chance to openly express how each of you feels. 00:33:21 So pause your video now, and really talk. 00:33:29 As we see, this series is designed to encourage couples 00:33:33 to have open and honest discussions with each other. 00:33:37 These videos will be so helpful for husbands and wives 00:33:41 and for those who are thinking about getting married. 00:33:44 We are thankful to the Governing Body for this series, 00:33:47 and we look forward to future episodes. 00:33:51 Whether we are married or single, have children or not, 00:33:55 all of us are part of Jehovah’s family. 00:33:58 We love each other and help one another, 00:34:01 especially during times of distress. 00:34:04 In our next segment, we’ll see how Jehovah’s spiritual family 00:34:08 helped Brother Baston Nyirenda endure years of intense hardship. 00:41:10 How faith-strengthening to see 00:41:12 how the brotherhood was a powerful source of encouragement for Brother Nyirenda! 00:41:17 Of course, persecution continues to affect 00:41:20 many of our brothers today. 00:41:22 Jehovah’s spiritual family 00:41:24 steadfastly prays for and helps each one of them to endure. 00:41:30 Next, we’ll enjoy a recent morning worship 00:41:33 presented by Brother William Malenfant. 00:41:36 He describes the power of parental training. 00:41:43 I think all of us have had 00:41:45 very interesting experiences with young ones, 00:41:48 and we could go on quite a while 00:41:49 speaking about them. 00:41:51 But there is a story 00:41:53 about a “child psychologist 00:41:57 “who began his practice with four theories 00:42:02 “and no children. . . . 00:42:05 “Some years later he found that he had four children 00:42:08 and no theories!” 00:42:12 He learned that there was quite a bit to do. 00:42:15 There was a lot to do to raise a child. 00:42:18 It was far more than just a few theories. 00:42:21 And this was a comment that was reported by psychologist Bruce Narramore 00:42:26 and published in the Awake! of April 8, 1981. 00:42:31 So theories about child raising come and go, 00:42:35 and the best counsel on raising a child, of course, is found in the Bible. 00:42:39 We know that, because it’s been there for thousands of years, 00:42:43 and it’s consistent. 00:42:45 It’s consistently successful. 00:42:48 There’s another interesting point 00:42:50 that there is four times as much counsel 00:42:53 given to children in the book of Proverbs 00:42:56 as given to adults. 00:42:58 That might surprise you, but that’s what I read, so I believe it. 00:43:04 Proverbs 22:6 is a familiar scripture for all of us. 00:43:09 Proverbs 22:6, and here it says: 00:43:13 “Train a boy in the way he should go; 00:43:17 even when he grows old he will not depart from it.” 00:43:23 Is that true? 00:43:24 Yes, it’s true. 00:43:27 Does it mean that in every case 00:43:29 a boy that’s well-trained by his parents won’t depart from it? 00:43:32 No. It does not mean that. 00:43:35 It’s giving a general, overall view 00:43:37 of what will take place 00:43:39 if a child is trained properly by his parents. 00:43:43 And what it is, this is an interesting brief statement 00:43:48 from The Watchtower of 2008, April 1st 00:43:51 that if a child is trained according to the Bible’s counsel, 00:43:55 the parent or parents “are creating 00:43:58 “the most favorable circumstances 00:44:01 to bring about a marvelous result.” 00:44:04 That marvelous result is 00:44:06 a faithful servant of Jehovah God. 00:44:09 And we can turn to Proverbs 23:24 00:44:12 where reference is made to that 00:44:16 —Proverbs 23:24. 00:44:18 And how many parents are so delighted with their children, 00:44:21 especially in the case of so many who are serving at Bethel! 00:44:26 There at Proverbs 23:24, it says: 00:44:29 “The father of a righteous one will surely be joyful; 00:44:33 whoever fathers a wise son will rejoice in him.” 00:44:37 And it does; it brings great pleasure to parents when that happens. 00:44:41 But there’s another side to the coin. 00:44:44 Despite the most earnest efforts of parents, 00:44:47 some children do become unfaithful. 00:44:52 Think about Solomon. 00:44:53 He wasn’t a child, but actually, 00:44:56 it’s very difficult to understand 00:44:58 how that man turned away from Jehovah in his old age, but he did. 00:45:03 And then even Jehovah had sons who proved unfaithful. 00:45:06 That’s what the June 1, 2007, Watchtower 00:45:09 showed clearly, and we’re all familiar with it 00:45:11 —the angels who turned away from their Father, their Creator. 00:45:15 And something to keep in mind 00:45:17 for parents, particularly, who have really tried hard 00:45:20 to raise their children properly, 00:45:24 we don’t want to see them beat themselves figuratively speaking, 00:45:27 on and on for years and years 00:45:29 because they feel like they’re failures. 00:45:32 They should not do that. 00:45:33 How do you account —if it seems to some parents 00:45:36 that know somehow they failed— 00:45:38 Well then, how do you account for children 00:45:41 who receive no help whatsoever from their parents 00:45:44 and they love Jehovah and they come into the truth? 00:45:47 It’s heart—heart condition. 00:45:50 So parents would be wise to focus on the future and what they can do, 00:45:55 not to look back and beat themselves 00:45:57 over problems of the past. 00:46:00 And even when children do turn aside from serving Jehovah, 00:46:05 parents who have conscientiously trained their children 00:46:09 in the way to walk, 00:46:10 they can still entertain the hope 00:46:12 that those young ones will come back some day. 00:46:15 We never give up on our kids. 00:46:18 We don’t give up on our close friends or siblings 00:46:22 who may have walked away from the truth. 00:46:24 We always hope that they’ll come back. 00:46:27 Psalm 19:7 is interesting 00:46:30 —Psalm 19:7— 00:46:35 speaking of the reminders of Jehovah. 00:46:39 There it reads: “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring strength.” 00:46:44 And then it says: “The reminder of Jehovah is trustworthy, 00:46:48 making the inexperienced one wise.” 00:46:52 Well, for those who leave the truth, 00:46:55 many times it’s reminders that come back to them 00:46:58 —the way it was at home, the counsel they received from their parents, 00:47:02 the loving congregation that they attended. 00:47:06 And who comes to mind when you think about the reminders coming to mind 00:47:11 after living a life of debauchery? 00:47:14 The prodigal son. 00:47:16 He was at his lowest, and then who did he remember? 00:47:20 His father —his father, who undoubtedly had shown 00:47:23 kindness and love to him. 00:47:25 So we don’t want to overlook 00:47:27 the power there is in parental training. 00:47:30 Even though they may not respond 00:47:33 —children may not respond— immediately, 00:47:36 they do many times later on. 00:47:38 And they go through experiences in life, sometimes, 00:47:40 that wake them up to the facts of life and reality. 00:47:45 The truth is there are thousands upon thousands 00:47:48 of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses 00:47:50 who are being raised in the truth and whose way “is pure and right.” 00:47:53 It really is thrilling to see young ones who are able to think. 00:47:57 They don’t just parrot what their parents tell them. 00:47:59 They’re not just memorizing things. 00:48:02 They’ve learned to have thinking ability, and they can speak about the truth. 00:48:05 They defend the truth in a very interesting way. 00:48:09 In Britain, Tim and Sam, both 11 years old and unbaptized publishers, 00:48:14 were engaging in field service with Tim’s mother. 00:48:18 The boys needed new bags to carry their Bibles and literature, 00:48:22 but money was a problem. 00:48:25 Earlier, before starting in the field service that day, 00:48:28 the mothers of the two publishers made this a subject of prayer. 00:48:32 At the last house to be visited that morning, 00:48:35 Tim spoke to the householder and read a Bible verse to her. 00:48:39 She interrupted him to ask what his religion was. 00:48:43 When Tim replied that he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:48:47 the woman scolded him 00:48:49 and said to his mother that she could not understand 00:48:51 why Jehovah’s Witnesses let their children die 00:48:54 rather than allow them to accept blood transfusions. 00:48:58 Now, that would be a difficult thing to have thrown in your face 00:49:01 for a young man there at the door with his mother. 00:49:04 Tim’s mother suggested that the woman ask the boys 00:49:07 how they felt about this. 00:49:10 She did. 00:49:12 Tim explained that he would always choose alternative treatment 00:49:16 rather than go against his Bible-trained conscience. 00:49:19 This was from this young boy himself. 00:49:23 Sam then said, the other young boy, 00:49:26 that his own sister had received alternative treatment 00:49:29 and had fared better than patients who had received blood. 00:49:35 Then the householder again turned to Tim’s mother, 00:49:38 and this time she expressed disapproval 00:49:41 of taking young children from door to door. 00:49:44 We’ve heard that many times, I’m sure. 00:49:46 Both of the boys responded to the woman on this occasion 00:49:50 that they enjoyed preaching, adding that they preferred this 00:49:53 to roaming the streets like others of their age. 00:49:57 Well, this slowed the householder down a bit. 00:50:00 She was impressed by their reply. 00:50:02 The householder asked the boys to wait a moment 00:50:04 while she went into her house. 00:50:06 What a surprise they had when she returned and presented each of them 00:50:11 with a smart, new, leather bag 00:50:14 ideal for their ministry! 00:50:16 She sold these items for a living. 00:50:19 Her changed attitude also allowed the boys to arrange for a return visit. 00:50:23 And as they were leaving, 00:50:25 the householder’s 94-year-old mother, who had been listening, 00:50:29 came to the door and asked Tim’s mother 00:50:32 to visit her at her home. 00:50:35 Truly, we are proud of our young ones. 00:50:38 And it’s a delight when you hear them 00:50:41 make comments at the meetings in their own words 00:50:44 and when you are out in the field ministry with them 00:50:47 and you see them make expressions of faith. 00:50:50 We have thousands upon thousands of good children 00:50:54 who really are showing that they’re mature and that they love Jehovah God. 00:51:00 In our program, we have been reminded 00:51:03 that each of us belongs to a loving, global family 00:51:08 —Jehovah’s family. 00:51:10 And as our new music video shows, 00:51:13 each of us can help others become part of our spiritual family. 00:51:36 In this world, it’s hard to find a friend— 00:51:43 Someone you can turn to who’s with you till the end. 00:51:50 I used to dream I’d find a people who could be 00:51:57 More than just some friends and more like family. 00:52:12 My search is over. I’ve come to know 00:52:20 I’ve finally found God’s people; I feel the love they show. 00:52:28 Now I live that dream that meant so much to me. 00:52:35 I found more than friends; I found Jehovah’s family. 00:52:43 Now I have brothers; I have sisters, mothers, fathers too, 00:52:54 Little boys and little girls, older brothers who 00:53:01 Come from ev’ry tribe and race and nationality. 00:53:10 We love to be part of Jehovah’s family. 00:53:20 We love each other; our bond is strong. 00:53:26 We love to have the honor of knowing we belong 00:53:34 To the greatest brotherhood we’ll ever see. We love to be part of Jehovah’s family. 00:54:07 Yes, we come from ev’ry race and nationality. We love to be part of Jehovah’s family. 00:54:26 Our God invites us to be more than a friend. 00:54:32 He wants us in his fam’ly; his love will never end. 00:54:40 Just to think that we will live eternally, 00:54:47 Then we’ll all be part of Jehovah’s family— A part of Jehovah’s family, 00:55:10 Family, Family. 00:55:28 What an encouraging video 00:55:30 and an appropriate one for this month’s broadcast, 00:55:34 which has been all about family! 00:55:37 Alex, thank you for being my cohost. 00:55:40 You’re welcome, Gerrit. 00:55:42 In our program, 00:55:44 we were reminded that our animated series 00:55:47 Become Jehovah’s Friend is a very effective teaching tool 00:55:51 that continues to delight and help children and parents. 00:55:55 We learned how teens can develop a strong identity as a servant of Jehovah 00:56:00 and how this helps them stand firm for their convictions. 00:56:05 And we introduced an encouraging new series, For a Happy Marriage, 00:56:10 and we were reminded of the importance 00:56:12 of showing our marriage mate affection. 00:56:15 Now it’s time for our video postcard, which comes to us 00:56:19 from Zambia. 00:56:22 Situated in south-central Africa, 00:56:25 Zambia is a land of vast open spaces, 00:56:29 abundant wildlife, 00:56:31 and spectacular waterways. 00:56:34 It takes its name from the Zambezi River, 00:56:37 which flows into Victoria Falls. 00:56:40 Particularly at flood stage, 00:56:42 Victoria Falls is considered the largest sheet of falling water on earth, 00:56:47 with up to 144 million gallons, 00:56:50 or 545 million liters, 00:56:54 plunging over the falls every minute. 00:56:58 In the past, 00:57:00 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zambia 00:57:01 faced strong opposition 00:57:03 fueled by nationalism. 00:57:05 During the 1960’s, 00:57:08 thousands of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses were expelled from school 00:57:11 for refusing to salute the flag. 00:57:14 Door-to-door preaching was banned. 00:57:17 But with Jehovah’s help, 00:57:18 the brothers persevered 00:57:21 and many have embraced the truth. 00:57:24 Today Zambia is home 00:57:26 to more than 225,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:57:31 To serve publishers in areas with poor network service, 00:57:34 the circuit overseer prerecords his talks, 00:57:37 transfers the files onto a flash drive, 00:57:40 and delivers the files to the elders, who then distribute the talks. 00:57:46 Let’s visit the Lusaka Rockfield Congregation. 00:57:50 During the COVID-19 pandemic, 00:57:53 the brothers showed great zeal in the ministry. 00:57:57 The congregation grew to the point that a new congregation was formed 00:58:01 to support the territory. 00:58:03 Attendance at meetings and assemblies during the pandemic 00:58:06 was strong. 00:58:08 Young ones in the congregation help translate Kingdom songs. 00:58:13 Our brothers and sisters 00:58:15 in the Lusaka Rockfield Congregation in Zambia send you 00:58:19 their love and greetings! 00:58:22 And we send our love to all of you as well. 00:58:27 From the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:58:30 this is JW Broadcasting!
00:00:01 Welcome! 00:00:03 This is my friend, Alex Reinmueller. 00:00:06 Alex is going to help me host our program, 00:00:09 which focuses on family. 00:00:13 Alex, what do we have to look forward to? 00:00:16 Thank you, Gerrit. I’m delighted to be here with you. 00:00:19 For nearly a decade, 00:00:21 children have enjoyed our animated series 00:00:24 Become Jehovah’s Friend. 00:00:26 How have they and their parents benefited? 00:00:29 As teens, Tainara and Alex developed 00:00:32 a strong identity as servants of Jehovah. 00:00:35 We’ll learn how this helped them resist temptations. 00:00:39 Are you married or contemplating marriage? 00:00:42 You’ll enjoy a new series we’re introducing in our program. 00:00:46 It’s designed to help Christian couples 00:00:48 achieve a happy marriage. 00:00:51 I’m eager to get started. 00:00:53 This is JW Broadcasting® for April 2022. 00:01:17 Today, we will talk about those 00:01:19 who are close to all of our hearts 00:01:23 —our children. 00:01:25 I am sure that you dear parents 00:01:27 greatly love and appreciate your children. 00:01:31 What a privilege it is to have them! 00:01:35 Think about it: There are millions of angels. 00:01:38 However, angels were not given the privilege to produce children. 00:01:44 When Jesus was on earth, he was not married, 00:01:47 so he did not have the privilege of having children. 00:01:51 But you parents have that privilege. 00:01:54 What a treasure! 00:01:58 What does the Governing Body want to tell you children? 00:02:01 That we love you! 00:02:04 We are so happy to have you with us, 00:02:07 and we would like to help you to become and remain 00:02:11 worshippers of Jehovah. 00:02:14 You are like a beautiful gift, 00:02:16 a special gift, from Jehovah. 00:02:19 Christian parents value and appreciate you children 00:02:22 more than a million dollars! 00:02:25 How do we know? 00:02:27 Because Psalm 127:3 says 00:02:32 that “[children] are an inheritance from Jehovah.” 00:02:37 What does that mean? 00:02:40 An inheritance is a very valuable gift 00:02:43 that has been given to someone. 00:02:46 Often, the gift is from an older family relative. 00:02:50 Jehovah views you children as a very valuable gift 00:02:55 that he has given to your parents. 00:02:58 He expects parents to take good care of this gift. 00:03:03 He entrusts parents with the welfare and happiness of their children. 00:03:10 And when parents do their best for you, 00:03:14 it especially makes us happy when you children 00:03:17 do your best to please and serve Jehovah. 00:03:22 There are so many children earth wide 00:03:24 who are fine examples for others 00:03:27 by means of their love for Jehovah and the truth. 00:03:32 Parents, will your children become good examples 00:03:36 for other young ones in the truth? 00:03:39 One father of seven children, all of whom grew up as lovers of Jehovah, 00:03:44 would always tell new parents 00:03:46 that there are no guarantees with children. 00:03:50 They each have their own personality 00:03:52 and are exposed to various outside influences. 00:03:57 But he would always urge new parents to do the best they can 00:04:01 to teach their children and reach their hearts. 00:04:05 Your conscientious effort increases the possibility 00:04:08 of them becoming a success in Jehovah’s service. 00:04:13 So parents, how are you caring 00:04:16 for your “inheritance”? 00:04:18 What are some vital steps 00:04:21 to teach and reach the heart of your child? 00:04:25 First, please locate 00:04:28 Judges 13:8. 00:04:33 The parents of Samson likely prayed often 00:04:36 for Jehovah’s help to properly raise their son. 00:04:41 Verse 8 says: 00:04:44 “Manoah pleaded with Jehovah and said: ‘Pardon me, Jehovah. 00:04:49 “‘Please let the man of the true God whom you just sent 00:04:53 “‘come again to instruct us 00:04:56 about what we should do with the child who will be born.’” 00:05:01 If you parents do the same, 00:05:03 Jehovah will answer your prayers through the Scriptures, Bible literature, 00:05:08 or possibly by means of a congregation meeting. 00:05:12 Additionally, being consistent with family worship 00:05:15 is vital to reach the heart of one’s child. 00:05:20 It is true that it takes some planning 00:05:22 and absorbs some of your time each week. 00:05:26 But remember that in 2008, 00:05:29 the Governing Body gave us all 00:05:31 the extra time each week for family worship 00:05:35 by adjusting the weekly meeting schedule. 00:05:39 A brother from Portugal wrote: 00:05:41 “Aside from family worship, 00:05:44 “my father had a separate Bible study on a different day 00:05:47 “with each of us three children. 00:05:50 “I am sure that these studies were very important 00:05:53 for us to resist all of the pressures at school.” 00:05:58 It is no surprise that all three children 00:06:01 have been in special full-time service for a number of years now. 00:06:07 Similarly, a brother from northern Italy wrote: 00:06:10 “We studied with each one of our children personally 00:06:14 in harmony with their age and gender.” 00:06:18 Each family head must decide what is best for his family. 00:06:23 However, a well-prepared Family Worship program 00:06:27 is essential. 00:06:30 Another excellent way to teach your children is by example. 00:06:35 Children often pick up mannerisms 00:06:38 from their parents. 00:06:40 They often walk and talk 00:06:42 like one of the parents. 00:06:44 But they also pick up on godly personality traits and attitudes. 00:06:49 So be the kind of person that you want your child to be. 00:06:54 Even though Jesus was the only perfect child ever born on earth, 00:06:59 it appears that his mother, Mary, and adoptive father, Joseph, 00:07:03 were good examples for him. 00:07:06 Luke 2:41, 42 00:07:10 tells us that Jesus’ parents “were accustomed to go from year to year 00:07:14 to Jerusalem for . . . the Passover.” 00:07:18 Joseph could have viewed the trip 00:07:20 as inconvenient and even too expensive. 00:07:24 But as parents, he and Mary set a good example 00:07:28 for the young boy Jesus. 00:07:31 Most young ones can quote 1 Corinthians 15:33 by heart. 00:07:37 Maybe it is because their parents have reminded them 00:07:40 of the principle so often. 00:07:43 “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” 00:07:49 Do you remember in Luke chapter 8 that Jesus spoke 00:07:53 about the different kinds of soil 00:07:55 that “the word of God” might fall on? 00:07:59 The “soil” represents your child’s heart. 00:08:02 It is our hope and prayer that your child’s heart 00:08:06 is like “good,” or “fine,” soil. 00:08:12 In verse 15, 00:08:14 Jesus applied the illustration of the fine soil, 00:08:18 saying: 00:08:19 “These are the ones who, 00:08:22 “after hearing the word with a fine and good heart, 00:08:25 retain it and bear fruit with endurance.” 00:08:29 But what can happen if after responding to your training from God’s Word, 00:08:34 your child is somehow exposed to bad association? 00:08:39 When young ones spend considerable time with other young ones 00:08:43 who have not been trained by Bible principles, 00:08:46 it can counteract your training from God’s Word. 00:08:50 Such association is like a severe rainstorm 00:08:54 that erodes the fine soil that you have built up. 00:08:59 It can quickly wash away the good training that you have given. 00:09:04 Psalm 1:1 says that we can be happy 00:09:08 if we do not “walk” with, “stand” with, 00:09:12 or “sit” with those who do what is bad. 00:09:16 And we could add to that 00:09:18 —and do not text or email others 00:09:22 who do not think wholesome thoughts. 00:09:25 Help your children to choose good associates. 00:09:30 So many young ones around the world 00:09:33 have responded to their parents’ fine instruction 00:09:36 and express themselves from the heart. 00:09:40 Let me share a few experiences that demonstrate this. 00:09:45 One young person from the United States wrote in saying: 00:09:50 “I am 11 years old, 00:09:52 “and I am an unbaptized publisher. 00:09:55 “I can’t thank you enough for all that you do! 00:09:58 “I especially appreciate all the time and effort you put 00:10:02 “into the Caleb and Sophia videos. 00:10:06 “I love these videos. 00:10:08 “They help me to show good conduct at school. 00:10:12 “I am grateful that you encourage family worship. 00:10:16 “You see, I used to have doubts about Jehovah. 00:10:20 “If it were not for the time at family worship, 00:10:23 “I probably would have drifted more and more. 00:10:27 “I love Jehovah and want to serve him, 00:10:31 “but I still have lots to work on. 00:10:34 “I hope you will make more videos to help me and other young ones 00:10:39 to serve Jehovah with our whole heart and whole soul.” 00:10:45 We received this message: 00:10:47 “Hi, I am ten years old. 00:10:51 “I just wanted to say thank you! 00:10:54 “When I grow up, I want to work in Bethel 00:10:56 “because I love Jehovah and want to make him happy. 00:11:01 “In Paradise, I want to open a zoo without cages. 00:11:05 Sending all my love!” 00:11:08 I recall I once met an eight-year-old girl in Denver, Colorado, 00:11:13 who was baptized at eight years of age. 00:11:16 By that time, she had read the entire Bible through twice. 00:11:22 Of course, each child is unique; 00:11:25 not all children become mature at the same rate 00:11:28 or at the same point in life. 00:11:30 You may recall that we read 00:11:32 Psalm 127:3 earlier, 00:11:36 which said that “[children] are an inheritance from Jehovah.” 00:11:42 Let’s read the next verse, number 4: 00:11:45 “Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, 00:11:48 so are the sons of one’s youth.” 00:11:52 Children are likened to “arrows” 00:11:55 that should be aimed at a target. 00:11:58 An archer cannot recall an arrow once it leaves his bow. 00:12:02 Parents have “arrows.” 00:12:04 They have their children to aim at the target 00:12:08 for a relatively brief time. 00:12:11 And what is the target? 00:12:13 What is the goal? 00:12:15 For your children to become wholesome, dedicated, 00:12:19 and baptized servants of Jehovah. 00:12:24 However, arrows can be made from different materials, 00:12:28 and they can vary in size. 00:12:30 Parents must remember 00:12:32 that no two children are precisely alike. 00:12:36 Some have a good measure 00:12:38 of mental and emotional maturity at a young age 00:12:42 and express a desire to get baptized. 00:12:46 Others may not be ready for baptism until they are a bit older. 00:12:51 Thus, discerning parents 00:12:53 do not pressure their children to get baptized. 00:12:57 Rather, they assist each child 00:13:00 in keeping with his or her own growth and spiritual progress. 00:13:06 But it is also true that some parents 00:13:08 underestimate their children. 00:13:11 Some hold them back from dedicating their life to Jehovah, 00:13:16 even though they have developed 00:13:18 a close relationship with Him as a youngster. 00:13:23 We received this comment from a sister in Russia: 00:13:26 “Thank you very much for taking care of younger ones. 00:13:31 “I particularly appreciate your support. 00:13:34 “Your loving words inspire me. 00:13:37 “I am 17. 00:13:39 “I am invigorated by articles and videos 00:13:42 “which are prepared by you. 00:13:44 “Your work and love bring me to tears. 00:13:49 “Thank you very much! 00:13:52 “I am touched by your affectionate care of us here in Russia. 00:13:57 “Your warm words and prayers are the best comfort for us. 00:14:02 “I am grateful to you. 00:14:04 “Thanks to your taking care of me, 00:14:06 “I was able to begin pioneering two years ago. 00:14:09 “It’s the best life ever. 00:14:12 “I am happy. 00:14:14 “I can’t be silent. 00:14:16 I’m filled with gratitude.” 00:14:19 The Watchtower once commented: 00:14:22 “It has been said that raising children is a 20-year project, 00:14:26 but parents never really stop being parents.” 00:14:31 Among the very best things you can give to your children 00:14:35 are love, time, and Bible-based training 00:14:40 —yes, endeavoring to reach their hearts. 00:14:44 Admittedly, each child will respond differently to the training. 00:14:50 However, many who have been raised by parents that love Jehovah 00:14:54 feel like Joanna Mae, a sister in Asia. 00:14:58 She says: 00:14:59 “Looking back on the training I received from my parents, 00:15:03 “I am so thankful that they disciplined me 00:15:06 “and taught me to love Jehovah. 00:15:10 “They did not just give me life, 00:15:12 they gave me a meaningful life.” 00:15:16 And there are millions of adult Christians 00:15:19 who would express similar sentiments of appreciation. 00:15:24 Parents, take care of your inheritance, your precious children, 00:15:29 by training them and reaching their heart. 00:15:34 Thank you for those encouraging comments, Gerrit. 00:15:37 I especially appreciated all the comments from the young ones. 00:15:42 One in particular expressed appreciation 00:15:45 for the Caleb and Sophia videos. 00:15:47 We’ve grown quite attached 00:15:49 to these characters, haven’t we? 00:15:51 In our next segment, Brother Anthony Morris of the Governing Body 00:15:55 discusses how this series has helped children and their parents. 00:16:13 It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a decade 00:16:18 since that first release in 2012. 00:16:22 In that time, 00:16:24 the Become Jehovah’s Friend series 00:16:26 has proved to be a real gift from Jehovah. 00:16:32 Through these Bible lessons, children can learn to be kind, 00:16:37 to be honest, 00:16:38 to be respectful, 00:16:40 and to develop other godly qualities 00:16:43 that help them see and obey 00:16:47 “the One who is invisible.” 00:16:50 How can we begin to understand 00:16:52 the far-reaching impact 00:16:54 this series has had on Christian families? 00:16:58 We’re going to let Christian parents tell 00:17:01 how these videos have helped their children 00:17:05 to become Jehovah’s friend. 00:17:10 Kady-Ann had a really hard time 00:17:12 working together with the older brothers 00:17:14 and sisters in the congregation. 00:17:16 I had a really hard time because 00:17:22 they’re kind of slow. 00:17:25 But Lesson 25: Making Friends 00:17:30 was just what I needed. 00:17:32 We spent a few weeks discussing the videos 00:17:35 during our Family Worship evening. 00:17:39 The videos helped her to be more open-minded 00:17:42 —to be more respectful to the elderly brothers and sisters 00:17:45 and want to work with them in field service. 00:17:51 Sophia liked chatting with Sister Elsa, 00:17:53 even though she’s so old. 00:17:56 So I can do that too. 00:17:58 These videos strengthened 00:18:01 my relationship with Jehovah. 00:18:03 I know that he hasn’t forgotten me as a single parent. 00:18:08 It can be so hard for single parents 00:18:12 because they are trying to take on the role of both parents. 00:18:18 I got baptized because I love Jehovah 00:18:21 with my whole heart. 00:18:24 Jehovah still loves me, even though I’m made from dust, 00:18:28 and I’m so little. 00:18:31 He took some of the weight off my shoulders. 00:18:40 Laura, 00:18:42 our middle child, 00:18:43 was perfectly healthy 00:18:45 until she turned four years old. 00:18:48 That’s when she was diagnosed with a rare tumor 00:18:51 in her central nervous system. 00:18:53 Unfortunately, when the treatment was over, Laura passed away. 00:19:01 Even while she was sick, 00:19:03 she just loved watching the videos. 00:19:06 Her favorite one was Let’s Go in Service. 00:19:10 This video really made her want to talk about Jehovah. 00:19:13 During the time that she was receiving 00:19:15 chemotherapy treatments, which lowered her immunity, 00:19:19 we couldn’t even leave the house with her. 00:19:24 But sometimes we’d bring her to get a checkup or get an exam done, 00:19:29 and the doctor would say that everything was fine for now 00:19:32 —that her immunity was OK. 00:19:33 And the very first thing that she’d say to the doctor was, 00:19:37 “So I can go in the ministry, right?” 00:19:39 And the doctor would laugh and say, “Sure you can.” 00:19:42 And our family would take advantage of those times 00:19:45 to go in field service together as a family —all together. 00:19:49 That made Laura so happy. 00:19:55 It does us good to remember 00:19:58 why the Become Jehovah’s Friend series was created. 00:20:04 These videos were not designed as mere entertainment 00:20:09 to simply pacify children for a short period of time. 00:20:14 These lessons were designed to help children 00:20:17 build a relationship with Jehovah 00:20:21 so that they can live and serve him forever. 00:20:26 Jehovah loves children. 00:20:29 That love was evident in how his Son, Jesus Christ, 00:20:34 treated children. 00:20:36 The Governing Body shares that love as well. 00:20:41 Also, 00:20:42 Jehovah loves Christian parents. 00:20:46 He sees how hard you work to impress 00:20:49 a love for God deep in your child’s heart. 00:20:54 No doubt you look forward to sharing 00:20:57 every new video with your child 00:20:59 to help him learn to love and respect Jehovah, 00:21:04 Jesus, and God’s Word. 00:21:07 But more important, 00:21:09 how do you think Jehovah feels 00:21:12 knowing that a young child can come to know him 00:21:16 through this animated series 00:21:18 and grow up to become his dedicated servant? 00:21:23 That is truly special. 00:21:29 We will continue to pray 00:21:31 that this series reaches the hearts of our young ones 00:21:35 and draws them closer to Jehovah 00:21:38 —their Friend now and forever. 00:21:46 As we heard, Become Jehovah’s Friend 00:21:49 is much more than an enjoyable animated series. 00:21:53 These videos are powerful teaching tools 00:21:56 that help young ones develop a personal relationship with Jehovah. 00:22:00 Parents, continue to use them wisely 00:22:04 as part of your family worship. 00:22:07 Of course, at some point in their lives, 00:22:10 children must make the truth their own. 00:22:13 What steps can they take 00:22:15 to establish their identity as servants of Jehovah? 00:22:19 That’s the topic of the next episode of My Teen Life. 00:22:34 Me and my mum started attending meetings 00:22:37 and studying the Bible when I was five years old. 00:22:40 When I was 13, I decided to get baptized. 00:22:45 I decided to dedicate my life 00:22:47 to Jehovah when I was 14. 00:22:50 To me, Jehovah is a wonderful God. 00:22:53 He’s not just a Friend that you can count on but also a Father. 00:22:58 I don’t have a spiritual father here on earth, 00:23:01 but I have Jehovah as my Father. 00:23:05 It was always something that I had in mind 00:23:08 —to let the truth convince me 00:23:10 and not serve Jehovah just because my family does, 00:23:13 but to serve Jehovah because of the love I feel for him. 00:23:16 Having that clearly in mind is very important 00:23:19 and will make all the difference when a problem arises, 00:23:22 or when we have to deal with something, in the future. 00:23:24 Some of the truths that convinced me 00:23:28 that Jehovah was really my God 00:23:30 were mainly basic truths. 00:23:33 I believe that they’re like the foundation of a house. 00:23:37 Without a good base, a good foundation, 00:23:41 a house will not remain standing. 00:23:44 For example, I wanted to understand better 00:23:48 from a more scientific standpoint 00:23:50 that Jehovah really created all things. 00:23:54 So I read a lesson from the brochure Origin of Life. 00:23:57 From that, I saw how Jehovah really made everything 00:24:01 in a very complex way and that there was no other explanation. 00:24:07 It was doubts like that that moved me to study the Bible more, 00:24:12 which helped me to build a better friendship with Jehovah 00:24:15 and to be more convinced that he was the true God. 00:24:19 I always enjoyed and made a great effort 00:24:22 to feed myself in a spiritual sense in the morning. 00:24:25 When I was a teenager, 00:24:26 I went through some problems that were pretty tough. 00:24:30 I felt better in the morning. 00:24:32 It was a time of day when my problems 00:24:35 didn’t seem so big in my mind. 00:24:38 It’s very important to have spiritual goals. 00:24:41 Because if we don’t have goals, 00:24:43 it’s like going on a journey with no direction, no destination. 00:24:48 But if we’ve got a purpose before leaving, we know where we are going 00:24:52 and how we can get there safely. 00:24:54 I always think in terms of setting short-range goals, 00:24:57 medium-range goals, and long-range goals. 00:25:00 So some goals that I was able to reach 00:25:02 were getting baptized and becoming a regular pioneer. 00:25:05 I also had the privilege of serving in construction groups. 00:25:08 No matter the choices that I had to make, 00:25:11 I always thought about how they would affect my goals in the future. 00:25:15 When I was 17, 00:25:17 I found out that my mum had cancer. 00:25:20 That was a heartbreaking situation. 00:25:23 Suddenly, my life was turned upside down. 00:25:28 I had to learn how to care for our home, how to cook, 00:25:32 how to care for someone sick, 00:25:34 and how to give emotional support to that person. 00:25:38 The biggest challenge that I faced when I was a teenager 00:25:41 was when my parents got divorced, 00:25:44 and then my mum stopped serving Jehovah. 00:25:47 At that time in my life, I was 15 or 16 years old. 00:25:52 At that age, you need a lot of support 00:25:54 and guidance from your parents. 00:25:56 It was a time when I didn’t get that guidance and that support. 00:26:00 My mum was my best friend, and I lost her. 00:26:06 She was always so loving. 00:26:10 She always helped me. 00:26:12 She always read the publications with me. 00:26:15 We loved to study the Bible together. 00:26:21 We don’t know when problems will suddenly come up. 00:26:27 So it’s important that we take 00:26:29 Jehovah’s side before the challenges, 00:26:31 before problems, arise. 00:26:34 A text that really helped me 00:26:37 was Romans 8:37-39. 00:26:40 There it says that ‘neither death 00:26:43 ‘nor life nor height nor depth 00:26:45 ‘nor anything else 00:26:48 can separate us from Jehovah’s love.’ 00:26:50 So that really helped me face those challenges. 00:26:53 Having a strong Christian identity 00:26:57 means having values and principles 00:27:00 that are the same as Jehovah’s. 00:27:04 You clearly make up your mind to please Jehovah, 00:27:07 even with what’s happening all around you. 00:27:10 It’s very important to make the choice to serve Jehovah 00:27:13 no matter the situation we face 00:27:16 or no matter if our family serves Jehovah or not, 00:27:20 because it’s when we face challenging situations 00:27:23 that we’ll see if we can continue to be loyal to Jehovah or not. 00:27:27 No doubt about it, 00:27:29 I’m very proud to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:27:32 Jehovah can help us in amazing ways. 00:27:36 He is our Friend, our Father, our Comforter. 00:27:41 It’s really good to be friends with a God that is so powerful 00:27:45 and to have the chance to defend his name. 00:28:10 Establishing your identity as a Christian 00:28:13 isn’t a single decision or just a moment in time. 00:28:17 As Tainara and Alex shared, 00:28:21 it’s a process that leads to wonderful blessings. 00:28:26 In many respects, marriage is like that. 00:28:29 A wedding is a special day, 00:28:32 but marriage is something that wives and husbands 00:28:35 need to strengthen every day. 00:28:40 To help Christian couples, 00:28:42 the Governing Body has approved the development 00:28:44 of a new series. 00:28:47 It’s called For a Happy Marriage. 00:28:52 Each segment features dramatizations 00:28:55 of real marital challenges 00:28:57 and how Bible principles can help us 00:29:00 build healthy, loving relationships. 00:29:04 Here’s our first episode. 00:29:28 As married couples, 00:29:32 most of us have been there. 00:29:37 The day-to-day pace of life, 00:29:40 work, 00:29:44 and distractions 00:29:48 can cause us 00:29:50 to draw away from our mate emotionally. 00:30:05 We begin to talk less 00:30:10 —distance ourselves. 00:30:16 We may feel unappreciated 00:30:28 and even become cold or unkind. 00:30:32 Even our desire for intimacy and affection may cool. 00:30:37 We may go from being loving and passionate 00:30:42 to platonic roommates. 00:30:47 What can we do to avoid this? 00:30:52 An excellent principle we can apply 00:30:55 is found at Acts 20:35: 00:30:58 “There is more happiness 00:31:00 in giving than there is in receiving.” 00:31:07 But how can we know what to give 00:31:11 or what actions to take so our mate 00:31:13 feels our love and affection? 00:31:18 The best way to know 00:31:22 is simply to ask. 00:31:25 What does our mate need? 00:31:33 Some feel loved 00:31:36 when they are actively listened to 00:31:40 or hear warm expressions of appreciation. 00:31:45 For others, it’s expressions of love shown through touch 00:31:49 or simply quality time. 00:31:53 Others find 00:31:54 that helping them with chores and sharing the workload at home 00:31:58 makes them feel cherished. 00:32:03 But whatever the discussion reveals 00:32:05 and regardless of our mate’s imperfections, 00:32:13 we want to do what we can 00:32:15 to make them feel loved and cared for 00:32:20 through the actions they appreciate. 00:32:32 Yes, if we each do all we can to show unselfish love, 00:32:40 genuine affection will follow. 00:32:50 And this is just one of many secrets 00:32:53 to a happy marriage. 00:33:01 So now, why not just take a moment, pause the video, 00:33:05 and ask each other these three questions. 00:33:10 Remember, share your honest feelings, 00:33:13 and when listening, don’t be defensive. 00:33:16 This is simply a chance to openly express how each of you feels. 00:33:21 So pause your video now, and really talk. 00:33:29 As we see, this series is designed to encourage couples 00:33:33 to have open and honest discussions with each other. 00:33:37 These videos will be so helpful for husbands and wives 00:33:41 and for those who are thinking about getting married. 00:33:44 We are thankful to the Governing Body for this series, 00:33:47 and we look forward to future episodes. 00:33:51 Whether we are married or single, have children or not, 00:33:55 all of us are part of Jehovah’s family. 00:33:58 We love each other and help one another, 00:34:01 especially during times of distress. 00:34:04 In our next segment, we’ll see how Jehovah’s spiritual family 00:34:08 helped Brother Baston Nyirenda endure years of intense hardship. 00:41:10 How faith-strengthening to see 00:41:12 how the brotherhood was a powerful source of encouragement for Brother Nyirenda! 00:41:17 Of course, persecution continues to affect 00:41:20 many of our brothers today. 00:41:22 Jehovah’s spiritual family 00:41:24 steadfastly prays for and helps each one of them to endure. 00:41:30 Next, we’ll enjoy a recent morning worship 00:41:33 presented by Brother William Malenfant. 00:41:36 He describes the power of parental training. 00:41:43 I think all of us have had 00:41:45 very interesting experiences with young ones, 00:41:48 and we could go on quite a while 00:41:49 speaking about them. 00:41:51 But there is a story 00:41:53 about a “child psychologist 00:41:57 “who began his practice with four theories 00:42:02 “and no children. . . . 00:42:05 “Some years later he found that he had four children 00:42:08 and no theories!” 00:42:12 He learned that there was quite a bit to do. 00:42:15 There was a lot to do to raise a child. 00:42:18 It was far more than just a few theories. 00:42:21 And this was a comment that was reported by psychologist Bruce Narramore 00:42:26 and published in the Awake! of April 8, 1981. 00:42:31 So theories about child raising come and go, 00:42:35 and the best counsel on raising a child, of course, is found in the Bible. 00:42:39 We know that, because it’s been there for thousands of years, 00:42:43 and it’s consistent. 00:42:45 It’s consistently successful. 00:42:48 There’s another interesting point 00:42:50 that there is four times as much counsel 00:42:53 given to children in the book of Proverbs 00:42:56 as given to adults. 00:42:58 That might surprise you, but that’s what I read, so I believe it. 00:43:04 Proverbs 22:6 is a familiar scripture for all of us. 00:43:09 Proverbs 22:6, and here it says: 00:43:13 “Train a boy in the way he should go; 00:43:17 even when he grows old he will not depart from it.” 00:43:23 Is that true? 00:43:24 Yes, it’s true. 00:43:27 Does it mean that in every case 00:43:29 a boy that’s well-trained by his parents won’t depart from it? 00:43:32 No. It does not mean that. 00:43:35 It’s giving a general, overall view 00:43:37 of what will take place 00:43:39 if a child is trained properly by his parents. 00:43:43 And what it is, this is an interesting brief statement 00:43:48 from The Watchtower of 2008, April 1st 00:43:51 that if a child is trained according to the Bible’s counsel, 00:43:55 the parent or parents “are creating 00:43:58 “the most favorable circumstances 00:44:01 to bring about a marvelous result.” 00:44:04 That marvelous result is 00:44:06 a faithful servant of Jehovah God. 00:44:09 And we can turn to Proverbs 23:24 00:44:12 where reference is made to that 00:44:16 —Proverbs 23:24. 00:44:18 And how many parents are so delighted with their children, 00:44:21 especially in the case of so many who are serving at Bethel! 00:44:26 There at Proverbs 23:24, it says: 00:44:29 “The father of a righteous one will surely be joyful; 00:44:33 whoever fathers a wise son will rejoice in him.” 00:44:37 And it does; it brings great pleasure to parents when that happens. 00:44:41 But there’s another side to the coin. 00:44:44 Despite the most earnest efforts of parents, 00:44:47 some children do become unfaithful. 00:44:52 Think about Solomon. 00:44:53 He wasn’t a child, but actually, 00:44:56 it’s very difficult to understand 00:44:58 how that man turned away from Jehovah in his old age, but he did. 00:45:03 And then even Jehovah had sons who proved unfaithful. 00:45:06 That’s what the June 1, 2007, Watchtower 00:45:09 showed clearly, and we’re all familiar with it 00:45:11 —the angels who turned away from their Father, their Creator. 00:45:15 And something to keep in mind 00:45:17 for parents, particularly, who have really tried hard 00:45:20 to raise their children properly, 00:45:24 we don’t want to see them beat themselves figuratively speaking, 00:45:27 on and on for years and years 00:45:29 because they feel like they’re failures. 00:45:32 They should not do that. 00:45:33 How do you account —if it seems to some parents 00:45:36 that know somehow they failed— 00:45:38 Well then, how do you account for children 00:45:41 who receive no help whatsoever from their parents 00:45:44 and they love Jehovah and they come into the truth? 00:45:47 It’s heart—heart condition. 00:45:50 So parents would be wise to focus on the future and what they can do, 00:45:55 not to look back and beat themselves 00:45:57 over problems of the past. 00:46:00 And even when children do turn aside from serving Jehovah, 00:46:05 parents who have conscientiously trained their children 00:46:09 in the way to walk, 00:46:10 they can still entertain the hope 00:46:12 that those young ones will come back some day. 00:46:15 We never give up on our kids. 00:46:18 We don’t give up on our close friends or siblings 00:46:22 who may have walked away from the truth. 00:46:24 We always hope that they’ll come back. 00:46:27 Psalm 19:7 is interesting 00:46:30 —Psalm 19:7— 00:46:35 speaking of the reminders of Jehovah. 00:46:39 There it reads: “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring strength.” 00:46:44 And then it says: “The reminder of Jehovah is trustworthy, 00:46:48 making the inexperienced one wise.” 00:46:52 Well, for those who leave the truth, 00:46:55 many times it’s reminders that come back to them 00:46:58 —the way it was at home, the counsel they received from their parents, 00:47:02 the loving congregation that they attended. 00:47:06 And who comes to mind when you think about the reminders coming to mind 00:47:11 after living a life of debauchery? 00:47:14 The prodigal son. 00:47:16 He was at his lowest, and then who did he remember? 00:47:20 His father —his father, who undoubtedly had shown 00:47:23 kindness and love to him. 00:47:25 So we don’t want to overlook 00:47:27 the power there is in parental training. 00:47:30 Even though they may not respond 00:47:33 —children may not respond— immediately, 00:47:36 they do many times later on. 00:47:38 And they go through experiences in life, sometimes, 00:47:40 that wake them up to the facts of life and reality. 00:47:45 The truth is there are thousands upon thousands 00:47:48 of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses 00:47:50 who are being raised in the truth and whose way “is pure and right.” 00:47:53 It really is thrilling to see young ones who are able to think. 00:47:57 They don’t just parrot what their parents tell them. 00:47:59 They’re not just memorizing things. 00:48:02 They’ve learned to have thinking ability, and they can speak about the truth. 00:48:05 They defend the truth in a very interesting way. 00:48:09 In Britain, Tim and Sam, both 11 years old and unbaptized publishers, 00:48:14 were engaging in field service with Tim’s mother. 00:48:18 The boys needed new bags to carry their Bibles and literature, 00:48:22 but money was a problem. 00:48:25 Earlier, before starting in the field service that day, 00:48:28 the mothers of the two publishers made this a subject of prayer. 00:48:32 At the last house to be visited that morning, 00:48:35 Tim spoke to the householder and read a Bible verse to her. 00:48:39 She interrupted him to ask what his religion was. 00:48:43 When Tim replied that he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:48:47 the woman scolded him 00:48:49 and said to his mother that she could not understand 00:48:51 why Jehovah’s Witnesses let their children die 00:48:54 rather than allow them to accept blood transfusions. 00:48:58 Now, that would be a difficult thing to have thrown in your face 00:49:01 for a young man there at the door with his mother. 00:49:04 Tim’s mother suggested that the woman ask the boys 00:49:07 how they felt about this. 00:49:10 She did. 00:49:12 Tim explained that he would always choose alternative treatment 00:49:16 rather than go against his Bible-trained conscience. 00:49:19 This was from this young boy himself. 00:49:23 Sam then said, the other young boy, 00:49:26 that his own sister had received alternative treatment 00:49:29 and had fared better than patients who had received blood. 00:49:35 Then the householder again turned to Tim’s mother, 00:49:38 and this time she expressed disapproval 00:49:41 of taking young children from door to door. 00:49:44 We’ve heard that many times, I’m sure. 00:49:46 Both of the boys responded to the woman on this occasion 00:49:50 that they enjoyed preaching, adding that they preferred this 00:49:53 to roaming the streets like others of their age. 00:49:57 Well, this slowed the householder down a bit. 00:50:00 She was impressed by their reply. 00:50:02 The householder asked the boys to wait a moment 00:50:04 while she went into her house. 00:50:06 What a surprise they had when she returned and presented each of them 00:50:11 with a smart, new, leather bag 00:50:14 ideal for their ministry! 00:50:16 She sold these items for a living. 00:50:19 Her changed attitude also allowed the boys to arrange for a return visit. 00:50:23 And as they were leaving, 00:50:25 the householder’s 94-year-old mother, who had been listening, 00:50:29 came to the door and asked Tim’s mother 00:50:32 to visit her at her home. 00:50:35 Truly, we are proud of our young ones. 00:50:38 And it’s a delight when you hear them 00:50:41 make comments at the meetings in their own words 00:50:44 and when you are out in the field ministry with them 00:50:47 and you see them make expressions of faith. 00:50:50 We have thousands upon thousands of good children 00:50:54 who really are showing that they’re mature and that they love Jehovah God. 00:51:00 In our program, we have been reminded 00:51:03 that each of us belongs to a loving, global family 00:51:08 —Jehovah’s family. 00:51:10 And as our new music video shows, 00:51:13 each of us can help others become part of our spiritual family. 00:51:36 In this world, it’s hard to find a friend— 00:51:43 Someone you can turn to who’s with you till the end. 00:51:50 I used to dream I’d find a people who could be 00:51:57 More than just some friends and more like family. 00:52:12 My search is over. I’ve come to know 00:52:20 I’ve finally found God’s people; I feel the love they show. 00:52:28 Now I live that dream that meant so much to me. 00:52:35 I found more than friends; I found Jehovah’s family. 00:52:43 Now I have brothers; I have sisters, mothers, fathers too, 00:52:54 Little boys and little girls, older brothers who 00:53:01 Come from ev’ry tribe and race and nationality. 00:53:10 We love to be part of Jehovah’s family. 00:53:20 We love each other; our bond is strong. 00:53:26 We love to have the honor of knowing we belong 00:53:34 To the greatest brotherhood we’ll ever see. We love to be part of Jehovah’s family. 00:54:07 Yes, we come from ev’ry race and nationality. We love to be part of Jehovah’s family. 00:54:26 Our God invites us to be more than a friend. 00:54:32 He wants us in his fam’ly; his love will never end. 00:54:40 Just to think that we will live eternally, 00:54:47 Then we’ll all be part of Jehovah’s family— A part of Jehovah’s family, 00:55:10 Family, Family. 00:55:28 What an encouraging video 00:55:30 and an appropriate one for this month’s broadcast, 00:55:34 which has been all about family! 00:55:37 Alex, thank you for being my cohost. 00:55:40 You’re welcome, Gerrit. 00:55:42 In our program, 00:55:44 we were reminded that our animated series 00:55:47 Become Jehovah’s Friend is a very effective teaching tool 00:55:51 that continues to delight and help children and parents. 00:55:55 We learned how teens can develop a strong identity as a servant of Jehovah 00:56:00 and how this helps them stand firm for their convictions. 00:56:05 And we introduced an encouraging new series, For a Happy Marriage, 00:56:10 and we were reminded of the importance 00:56:12 of showing our marriage mate affection. 00:56:15 Now it’s time for our video postcard, which comes to us 00:56:19 from Zambia. 00:56:22 Situated in south-central Africa, 00:56:25 Zambia is a land of vast open spaces, 00:56:29 abundant wildlife, 00:56:31 and spectacular waterways. 00:56:34 It takes its name from the Zambezi River, 00:56:37 which flows into Victoria Falls. 00:56:40 Particularly at flood stage, 00:56:42 Victoria Falls is considered the largest sheet of falling water on earth, 00:56:47 with up to 144 million gallons, 00:56:50 or 545 million liters, 00:56:54 plunging over the falls every minute. 00:56:58 In the past, 00:57:00 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zambia 00:57:01 faced strong opposition 00:57:03 fueled by nationalism. 00:57:05 During the 1960’s, 00:57:08 thousands of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses were expelled from school 00:57:11 for refusing to salute the flag. 00:57:14 Door-to-door preaching was banned. 00:57:17 But with Jehovah’s help, 00:57:18 the brothers persevered 00:57:21 and many have embraced the truth. 00:57:24 Today Zambia is home 00:57:26 to more than 225,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:57:31 To serve publishers in areas with poor network service, 00:57:34 the circuit overseer prerecords his talks, 00:57:37 transfers the files onto a flash drive, 00:57:40 and delivers the files to the elders, who then distribute the talks. 00:57:46 Let’s visit the Lusaka Rockfield Congregation. 00:57:50 During the COVID-19 pandemic, 00:57:53 the brothers showed great zeal in the ministry. 00:57:57 The congregation grew to the point that a new congregation was formed 00:58:01 to support the territory. 00:58:03 Attendance at meetings and assemblies during the pandemic 00:58:06 was strong. 00:58:08 Young ones in the congregation help translate Kingdom songs. 00:58:13 Our brothers and sisters 00:58:15 in the Lusaka Rockfield Congregation in Zambia send you 00:58:19 their love and greetings! 00:58:22 And we send our love to all of you as well. 00:58:27 From the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:58:30 this is JW Broadcasting!
