Our Kingdom Ministry

July 1993                         For United States of America                         Vol. 36, No. 7

• ¹ Brochures are powerful instruments. In just 32 pages, a brochure can firmly establish Scriptural truths and overturn reasonings and teachings contrary to the knowledge of God.—2 Cor. 10:5.

• ² After reading the brochure Jehovah’s Witnesses—Unitedly Doing God’s Will Worldwide, a man was moved to write: "I have never seen such organization. ... It is marvelous to find people who take God’s will so seriously in this age of so much religious hypocrisy.” A witch doctor in Africa studied the brochure Enjoy Life on Earth Forever! What effect did it have on him? He gave up his witch doctor practice and dismissed the women he lived with except his senior wife. Then he legally married her.

• ³ The brochure Should You Believe in the Trinity? js a well-documented, reasonable. and effective instrument of truth. Commenting on it. a religion writer for The Sunday Gleaner'in Jamaica, West Indies, said: “The publication... is a masterstroke of the Witnesses and now no Trinitarian—or binatarlan—is safe. The booklet piles quotation upon quotation from historical and theological sources to show that the Trinity doctrine was not derived from the Bible. ... It is most difficult for this religion writer to see how the average—or even above average church member—can answer the compelling and commanding arguments marshaled by the Witnesses against the view that Jesus is God.” J

• ⁴ Use Them Well: To be effective, these attractive and authoritative instruments must be placed with people who will read them. Since we have various brochures, each dealing with a different theme, we should endeavor to offer the one that we judge most appropriate for the individual we are witnessing to. Knowing our brochures and having a variety of them at hand will make it easier for us to use them well, whether in field service, at home, or elsewhere.

• ⁵ For example, if speaking to someone who is confused about Christendom's Trinity doctrine or who may think that Jesus is God, which brochure would you use? If someone questions why a loving God would permit so much suffering, which brochure would meet the need? If a person expresses concern about the need for a government that benefits people, what might be the right brochure for him?

* In addition to knowing which brochure to use, endeavor to whet the appetite of the person about its contents. If circumstances permit, point out a comment or illustration that might stimulate his Interest in reading the material. Or you could read a paragraph or two with him, look up cited texts, and discuss the material. Many fine Bible studies have been started this way.

¹Our brochures provide Scriptural answers and instill hope in those who sigh and groan over the detestable things being done in the world. (Compare Ezekiel 9:4.) People who are sheeplike will respond to the message such literature contains. It is our privilege to make good use of the brochures in all features of our ministry as we search out interested ones.

• ¹ The Watchtower and Awake! are the most valuable and the most beneficial magazines that people can read today. Why? Because the spiritual truths they contain can have an everlasting effect for good on people’s lives. However, many are not fully conscious of their spiritual need, or they do not know where to look to satisfy it. It is our privilege to imitate the apostle Paul by helping people to open their eyes spiritually.—Matt. 5:3; Acts 26:18.

• ² Be Positive and Prepare Well: Likely there are sheeplike people in your territory who will respond to the truth. Some may simply need kind encouragement to read the magazines. Therefore, be positive and persuasive as you offer The Watchtower and Awake! Keep a supply of magazines at hand and take advantage of every opportunity to distribute them, even when featuring other publications.

• ³ What may make us more effective in distributing magazines? To begin with, we must really appreciate their value ourselves. We should be familiar with the articles in the magazines that we are offering, and this will enhance our confidence and our eagerness to present them. Keep this thought in mind as you initially read them. Be alert to select points to highlight in the ministry. Ask yourself: ‘To whom would this article particularly appeal? Would a housewife, a young person, or perhaps a businessman appreciate it? Would this point be intriguing to a student, to a married person, to someone concerned about the environment?’ To be truly effective, we should be able to recommend the magazines based on our personal knowledge and enjoyment of their timely articles.

• ⁴ Make Good Use of Older Issues: Remember, The Watchtower and Awake! do not lose their value, even if they have not all been placed within a month or two of their issue date. The Information they contain does not become less important with the passage of time, and we should not hesitate to offer older copies if they are in good condition. Allowing older magazines to accumulate and never using them shows a lack of appreciation for these valuable instruments. Each magazine contains truths that have the potential to awaken and satisfy spiritual appetites. Instead of setting aside older issues and forgetting about them, would it not be better to make a special effort to place them in the hands of interested people or at least to leave them in an inconspicuous place when people are not at home?

’The Awake! magazine has helped many who initially were not spiritually inclined persons to become conscious of their spiritual need. The Watchtower is a key instrument in the spiritual feeding

(Continued on page 2, col. 3)

Week Starting July 5

Song 133

10 min: Local announcements and pertinent Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Have two or three publishers prepared to comment on how they make good use of older issues of magazines.

15 min: “Featuring Brochures to Search Out Interested Ones.” Question-and-answer coverage. Brochures referred to in paragraph 5 are: Should You Believe in the Trinity?, Does God Really Care About Us?, and The Government That Will Bring Paradise. Inform congregation about stock of brochures available, and ask for comments on which brochures would especially be appropriate for local territory. Enthusiastically encourage brothers to have full share in offering brochures during July. Also point out that many times people who accept a brochure would like to have magazines also.

20 min: “Effectively Using Brochures in July.” Discuss points with congregation, and demonstrate presentations in paragraphs 3,5, and 7. Encourage good preparation.

Song 30 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 12

Song 25

10 min: Local announcements. Read accounts report and any donation ac-

CONGREGATION BOOK STUDY

Schedule for congregation studies in the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived.

July 5:      Chapters 103-105

July 12:      Chapters 106-107

July 19:      Chapters 108-110

July 26:       Chapter 111 to subheading

’The Wise and the Foolish Virgins'

April Service report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Number ot:            Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’IPios. 209 125.4 62.7 52.8 5.3

Pios. 70,260 81.7 26.8 25.6 2.7

Aux. Pios. 85,984 58.3 20.0 14.3 1.2

Pubs. 731,216   9.9 4.7 3.6 0.4

__________________ty-a__•—_______-

TOTAL 887,669       ¹ Baptized 2,887 knowledgments. Remind congregation of arrangements for field service, and discuss various talking points from magazines.

20 min: “Returning to Stimulate Interest m .the Bible.” After brief introduction/ demonstrate return visit on someone who showed interest but did not accept literature. Also, demonstrate how to call back on person who wasloo busy to talk but who accepted tract Who^Really Rules the World? In each ■casO^ow how publisher initiates conversation and stimulates interest.

15 min: Local needs, or interview two or three publishers on how they learned

Theocratic news

Argentina: A new all-time publisher peak of 98,601 was reached in February. During that same month, 507 new disciples were baptized.

Benin: A new peak of 2,967 publishers reported in February. When compared with the activity one year ago, publishers have risen by 13.8 percent, hours by 6.1 percent, magazine placements by 40.6 percent, and Bible studies by 25.1 percent.

Ecuador: The 23,176 publishers reporting field activity during February conducted 42,219 home Bible studies. This was an increase of 2,180 publishers and 3,183 Bible studies over February of last year.

Ireland: The 59th consecutive publisher peak was reached in February with 4,093 reporting. Future growth looks promising with a new peak of 2,682 home Bible studies being conducted.

Peru: The 43,366 publishers in Peru reported 369,437 return visits and 68,090 home Bible studies in February. A newly built Assembly Hall in Lima was dedicated with 21,240 in attendance.

Tahiti: A 13-percent increase was reached in February with 1,604 publishers reporting. This was Tahiti’s 64th consecutive peak of publishers.

Zaire: Despite economic and political disturbances in this country, the brothers reported a new peak of 71,098 publishers for February. That was a 9-percent increase over last year’s average. Congregation publishers are averaging 16.8 hours in field service. Zaire now has over 6,000 regular pioneers.

Aruba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Kitts, and the US. Virgin Islands, all in the Caribbean area, reported new peaks of publishers in February. the truth. Such experiences should be selected ahead of time and should show effectiveness of the ministry.

Song 191 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 19

Song 136

15 min: Local announcements. Theocratic News. Also, discuss with audience “New Circuit Assembly Program.” 15 min: “Can You Do It?” Discuss with audience. Interview one or two regular pioneers or one or two publishers who serve as auxiliary pioneers from time to time. Have them relate how they made decision to do more and how they organize their activities.

15 min: Talk by elder on personal cleanliness, based on The Watchtower of June 1,1989, pages 15-20. Talk should be presented in a kind manner and with good Judgment.

Song 165 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 26

Song 170

10 min: Local announcements. Elder considers congregation’s June field service report, giving commendation and encouragement. Also, discuss two or three appropriate talking points from magazines for use in field service this weekend.

15 min: "Cross,” Reasoning book, pages 89-93. To be handled as return visit on householder who accepted the “Look!" brochure. Householder points to page 17 of brochure and asks why it depicts Jesus on a stake instead of on a cross. Brother uses Reasoning book to help householder acquire Bible viewpoint.

20 min: “Making Good Use of The Watchtower and Awake!” Question-and-answer consideration. Help all to appreciate the many opportunities we may have dally to place magazines, current as well as older issues.

Song 192 and concluding prayer. ^1 2

Announcements

' In obedience to Jesus' words at Matthew 6:33, true Christians have always kept the Kingdom first in their lives. Hence, “Keep Seeking First the Kingdom" is an appropriate theme for the circuit assembly program that will begin in September 1993.

• ² From the outset the program will highlight the reality of the Kingdom, emphasizing that it is a functioning government with a domain, rulers, subjects, and laws. In fact, many of the laws of human governments that benefit society today are based on Bible laws.

• ³ The protection and blessings we receive from giving the Kingdom priority in all aspects of our lives will be considered. Helpful counsel will be given to show how we can avoid needless anxiety. Talks, demonstrations, and discussions will show why it is so important to keep our eye simple.

’On Saturday of the assembly, qualified baptismal candidates will be able to make public declaration of their dedication to Jehovah. And on Sunday, all of us will want to be present for the public talk, entitled “What God's Kingdom Will Do for Mankind."

• ⁵ Be sure to make your plans to be present for both days of the circuit assembly. The assembly program, coupled with pleasant brotherly association, will provide uplifting and refreshing encouragement that none of us will want to miss.

• ¹ 'Do what?’ you ask. Proverbs 3:27 answers: “Do not hold back good from those to whom it is owing, when it happens to be in the power of your hand to do it." Is it “in the power of your hand” to expand your activities and share in the auxiliary or the regular pioneer service? Can you do that?

• ² How encouraging it was to read in the 1993 Yearbook that there was an average of 106,031 regular and auxiliary pioneers in the United States, a ratio of 1 pioneer to 8 publishers. Yes, 5,093 entered the pioneer service last year. This amounts to almost 14 publishers a day who examined their circumstances and discovered they could do more in the ministry.

• ³ Auxiliary pioneering is an avenue of doing good to others. Last year there was a peak of 105,748 auxiliary pioneers. That is excellent. Many publishers are seeking ways to auxiliary pioneer more often throughout the year.

* To determine whether you can “do it” or not, you first need to consider your heartfelt desire. (Matt. 22:37-39) Acts 20:35 says: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving." Undoubtedly, those who give spiritual assistance generously from the heart have the right desire. To be a successful publisher or pioneer, that desire is essential.

⁵ Second, consider your present circumstances. Can you make acljustments in your daily affairs to serve full-time? Not everyone can. But after prayerful selfexamination, every year thousands find a way to “do it." (Col. 4:5; w77 p. 701) For example, some families select particular months for some or all members of the family to auxiliary pioneer. Other families sponsor one of their members as a regular pioneer. Has your family given consideration to these possibilities?—See Proverbs 11:25.

‘Helping others to know the truth is what brings genuine satisfaction, whether you serve as a publisher or as a pioneer. We know that true joy comes from doing good to others, especially if it happens to be ‘in the power of our hand to do it.’

• ¹ To speed up the disciple-making work, the organization has generously supplied many different publications. Among these are brochures that deal with specific themes, such as God’s purpose for the earth, the Trjnity, God’s name, the Kingdom government, and God's permission of wickedness. How can we use brochures effectively to help people in our territory?

• ² The brochure Does God Really Care About Us? explains logically that a new world free from suffering is near. How might we introduce it? Suggestions ran be found in the Reasoning book under the main heading “Suffering," starting on page 393, or you may prefer the introduction on page 12 under the heading “Injustice/Suffering."

• ³ You might say:

■ “Have you ever wondered: ‘Does God really care that humans experience injustice and suffering?’” Allow for response. Read Psalm 72:12-14. Then turn to page 22 of the brochure Does God Really Care About Us? and discuss the bold headings in part 10, as well as the meaning of the illustration on page 23. If the brochure is refused, why not offer a tract such as Comfort for the Depressed or Life in a Peaceful New World?

• ⁴ Good government is a topic of concern today. Many wonder if man's rule will unite the world. Helpful information is found under “Government," beginning on page 152 of the Reasoning book.

• ⁵ You could ask:

■ “Is it possible for humans to establish a government that will really bring lasting happiness?" Allow for reply, then ask: “What does the record of human history show?" Turn to Jeremiah 10:23, or turn to page 152 of the Reasoning book and read appropriate texts and comments. Thereafter, turn to. pages 24 and 25 in the Government brochure and consider illustrations and scriptures. Explain how God's government will unite people globally. If the householder does not accept the brochure. you may offer the tract Will this World Survive? *

“If there is fear of crime in your neighborhood, the'following introduction may be appealing.

• ⁷ You could say:

■ “Many people wonder. ‘If God is love₍ why does he permit wickedness?’ Have you wondered about this too?" Allow for comment, then say: “Notice that Proverbs 19;3_cautions against blaming God for the bad things people do." After reading the text, direct attention to page 15 of the brochure “Look! I Am Making All Things New" and read paragraph 27. This could lead into a discussion of the succeeding paragraphs.

• ⁸ Using brochures to teach sheeplike people about the good news is something that all of us can do. We can help people from all walks of life to associate with God’s organization, it is our privilege to share in the preaching activity as we effectively use our timely brochures.

  Returning to Stimulate Interest

  
  

in the Bible

• ¹ Sometimes we meet people in field service who show some interest in the good news but are too busy to talk with us at the moment we call. Do we try to call back at another time to simre the kingdom message with them?(Or perhaps we have an interesting conversa³ tion with a householder, but he does not accept any literature. Do we return to speak further with him about the truth?

• ² It is important to cover our territory thoroughly and to follow up on all interest we may find. Do we make return

or the magazines? If so. we could be overlooking some interested people. We certainly would not want to judge someone as being unworthy of further spiritual encouragement just because he did not accept literature. (Compare Romans 14:4.) Perhaps after our visit, a householder may think about what we said or may come to appreciate the effort we made to visit him. He may be more favorably disposed when we return.

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’ ³ When calling back on a person who was busy, you might say:

■ “I’m glad to see you once again. The last time I was here, we couldn’t talk because you didn’t have time. I can see that you are a busy person, and I’ll be brief. Likely you are concerned about good health for yourself and for those you love. Well, did you know that God has promised to put an end to all sickness? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? [Allow for response ] Notice the point in ed a copy of this tract entitled Who Really Rules the World? Do you find TF hard to accept that Satan rules this world? [Allow for response.) Notice the first paragraph on page 6." Read the paragraph, then ask:“Why~would Satan want to deceive us?" After the householder replies, consider together the fourth paragraph on page 3. You may continue with a thorough consideration of the tract, or you may want to to-troduce the brochure Does Gad Really Care Abou! Us2 and consider paragraph 8 on page 13,

• ⁵ There is good reason to be positive and to follow up on the interest we find in our preaching work even if it is expressed in a limited wav. It is important to care about others, to be motivated to help them learn the truth. Jehovah's organization provides literature and suggested presentations that can aid us in making others conscious of their spiritual need.—Matt. 5:3.

• ⁸ If you have had a pleasant conversation with someone who may be even slightly interested, do not neglect calling back to cultivate lhe interest. It may result in starting a home Bible study and putting someone on the way to life. We encourage all to continue sharing conscientiously in this lifesaving work.—1 Tim. 4:16.

4

¹

Making Good Use          (Cont'd)

program of Jehovah’s people. These magazines complement each other nicely, and they play a vital role in getting the good news preached.

²

As we take advantage of every opportunity to place magazines, we can have full confidence in their effectiveness in meeting the spiritual needs of sheeplike ones. We want to maintain a positive attitude, prepare well, and be regular in the ministry. As publishers of the good news, may all of us regularly make good use of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines.

³

© 1993 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ol Pennsylvania, All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (USPS 295-360) Is published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. Inc., and International Bible Students Association. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn, NY 11201. Second-class postage paid at Brooklyn N Y.. and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201.                 Printed In U.S.A