Our Kingdom Ministry

Prav for Jehovah’s

sus impressed upon his sciples the need for Jeho-blessing on their ministry. (Matt. 9:37,38) Ourjieartfelt prayers of praise ana ing along with earnei

ancwfeupplications demonstrate^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7} i our complete reliance on Jeho-' '‘-'vail for his help.hfi. 1^6??

The Scriptures urge us to carry on prayer with every form of prayer and supplication,’J/md this would apply to our prayers concerning the ministry.—Eph. GJg. 77

• ² We pralse'Jehovah in prayer for his peerless qualities and accomplishments. We also praise him as the Giver of the good news that we preach. He deserves our praise because he

  
  
  

alone makes otir ministry successful. ^-Ps. 127:1.

• ³ Our prayers of thanksgiving express appreciation for the un-‘ derstanding that Jehovah has given us about his will and purpose? Is it not a privilege to share Kingdom truths with others? We thank Jehovah for all that we accomplish in the ministry— Ps. 107:8: Eph. 5:2Q.

• ⁴ Very appronriatelywfask Jehovahi for hehxin finding people who will accept our offer of a Bible study, and we ask for help in reaching their hearts, with the truth. By making such petitions, we acknowledge that only ~Gnd can make nnr work in the ministry productive.—1 Cor. 3:5-7.

• ⁵ A sister felt that a wom-anon her magazine route was not reading The Watchtower and

Awake! Not wanting these precious journals to go to waste, she petitioned Jehovah that if the woman was not reading them, she would refuse them. When the sister visited the next time, the woman’s husband said: (^‘Thank you for delivering these magazines regularly. I am readying them and really like them.”)

• ⁶ With humble and earnest en- . treaty, we can supplicate Jehovah to help us to deal with public apathy and ridicule and to overcome any fear of man in order to keep on boldly witnessing to others. (Acts 4:31) If we continue to carry on nraver with “every form of prayer and supplication” as we obediently pursue our sacred service, we can be confident of Jehovah’s help. —1 John 3:22. t>J Ai         Cu

  Advance Preparation Brings Joy

  
  

adapt these suggestions to the point where you feel comfortable using them. Added to this, you have the Reasoning book, which supplies a wide variety of introductions as well as responses to conversation stoppers, thus helping you to become more effective in many of the situations that you encounter.

’Look over the publication you will be offering, and pick one or two striking points of interest that you can show to the householder. A thoughtprovoking news item that you heard or read about might give you an opening to start a conversation. Anticipate common objections that you are likely to encounter, and get a few thoughts in mind as to how you might respond. Then take a few minutes to practice what you are going to say at the door.

⁴ Attend Every Service Meeting: Listen carefully during the Service Meeting when the suggestions presented in Our Kingdom Ministry are discussed, reviewed, and demonstrated. Take note of ideas that you feel can be incorporated into your presentation. Recall some of the common situations that you have encountered in the ministry, and think about ways in which you can witness more effectively. Talk about these things with other publishers before and after the meeting.

⁶ You can be sure that if you are “prepared for every good work,” you will be rewarded with greater joy and success in helping others find the way to life.—2 Tim. 2:21.

Week Starting July 5

Song 6

10 mln: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Comment on April field service report for the country and the local congregation. Theocratic News.

20 mln: "Pray for Jehovah’s Help." Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion. Explain how sincere prayers of various kinds play a vital role in a successful ministry. Invite audience to relate experiences showing how timely prayers helped them in their ministry.—See October 15,1996, Watchtower, page 32. 15 mln: Make Good Use of Brochures. Talk and demonstrations. Explain why brochures are valuable tools in our ministry. They deal effectively with subjects that have wide appeal, cover one basic theme concisely, and explain Scriptural teachings simply. Mention the brochures being offered this month, and show the ones that are in good supply locally. Demonstrate two or three brief presentations based on suggestions found under the heading "Presentations" in the Watch Tower Publications Index.

Song 181 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 12

Song 103

10 mln: Local announcements. Accounts report.

15 mln: “Advance Preparation Brings Joy." Talk and Interviews. Explain why preparation is essential for field service activity and how it enables us to experience greater joy in what we do. (See School Guidebook, page 39, paragraphs 1-3.) Interview two or three capable publishers who tell how they prepare before going in service and how that helps them. Relate experience from April 15, 1993, Watchtower, page 30, showing effective use of the Reasoning book in preparing for the ministry.

20 mln: “Let’s ‘Get to the Point!’ ” Audience participation and demonstrations. Review each suggestion of what to say to get a listening ear at the door. Have experienced publishers demonstrate several introductions that are effective. Invite audience to offer additional suggestions and relate encouraging experiences that show what really works locally.

Song 183 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 19

Song 31

10 mln: Local announcements.

15 min: Local needs.

20 mln: Do I Have to Join an Organization? Audience discussion based on the Reasoning book, pages 280-4. We often encounter people who are receptive to the Kingdom message but who have an aversion to “Joining" a religious organization. Review the definition of “organization” and the seven characteristics that identify Jehovah’s visible organization. Explain why it is different from others and how association with it brings real blessings.

Song 189 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 26

Song 184

15 min: Local announcements. Remind all to turn in field service reports for July. Question Box.

10 mln: “New Circuit Assembly Program.” A talk. Announce date of the next circuit assembly. Encourage new ones to think about getting baptized. Urge all to attend every session.

20 mln: Are We Making Disciples? Service overseer discusses with one or two ministerial servants points from February 15, 1996, Watchtower, pages 19-22. Highlight Scriptural reasons why we need to search out the deserving ones In our territory and make disciples of them. (Matt. 10:11) These are the ones who are sighing because of all the wicked and ungodly conditions they see around them and who are apt to seek Jehovah before the day of his anger breaks. (Ezek. 9:4; Zeph. 2:2, 3) Among them are ‘those who are rightly disposed for everlasting life.’ (Acts 13:48) Our commission is to be disciple makers, teaching people all the things that Jesus commanded. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) While we may stir the initial interest of those we meet in the house-to-house work, while informal witnessing, and in street work, we make disciples In the follow-up ministry—on return visits and Bible studies. Point out practical suggestions on how this can be done.

Song 14 and concluding prayer.

■ What publications should we study with new ones prior to their baptism?

Before a person can dedicate his life to Jehovah and get baptized, he must take in accurate knowledge. (John 17:3) He will obtain the information he needs by studying both the brochure What Does God Require of Us? and the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. In most cases the Require brochure will be studied first. However, if the study was started in the Knowledge book, the Require brochure should be studied after the book is completed. Why is this necessary?

The Require brochure provides an overview of the basic teachings of the Bible. If studied first, it will give the student a fundamental understanding of the requirements for pleasing Jehovah. If studied last, it will serve as a fine review of what was covered in the Knowledge book. In either case, encourage the student to look up the supporting scriptures and to meditate on them. Be sure to highlight the pictures, as they are very effective teaching aids.—See the January 15, 1997, Watchtower, pages 16-17.

Once a Bible student has completed a study of both publications, he may be able to answer all the questions that the elders will review with him in preparation for baptism. If so, it may not be necessary to conduct a formal study with him in any other publication, though the conductor should continue to take an active interest in his progress.—See the January 15,1996, Watchtower, pages 14,17.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for July and August: Any of the following 32-page brochures may be used: Does God Really Care About Us?, Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!, Should You Believe in the Trinity?, The Government That Will Bring Paradise, What Happens to Us When We Die?, What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?, and When Someone You Love Dies. The brochures A Book for All People, Our Problems—Who Will Help Us Solve Them?, Spirits of the Dead—Can They Help You or Harm You? Do They Really Exist?, and Will There Ever Be a World Without War? may be offered where appropriate. September: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. October: Individual copies of The Watchtower and Awake! Where interest is found on return visits, subscriptions may be offered.

■ Starting in September, circuit overseers will give the public talk entitled “Jehovah Is ‘a Secure Height’ for His People.”

■ New Publications Available: Jehovah— Who Is He? (Tract

No. 23) —Albanian, Macedonian “Let Your Kingdom Come” —Twi My Book of Bible Stories

—Lithuanian New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—Large Print (set of four volumes)   —Portuguese

Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry           —Macedonian

Questions Young People Ask-An-swersThatWork    —Russian

Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand!           —Turkish

What Does God Reguire of Us?

—Bambara, Ga What Happens to Us When We Die?

—Finnish, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Macedonian

• ■ New Audiocassettes Available: Doing God’s Will With Zeal (Drama, single cassette)

—Romanian Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life (five cassettes in an album)         —Hungarian

• ■ New Videocassettes Available: Noah—He Walked With God

—Spanish The Bible—Its Power in Your Life

—Greek

Theocratic News

Marshall Islands: February saw a total of 203 publishers—a 4-percent increase over the same month of last year!

Norway: In February 1999, auxiliary pioneers were up 72 percent over February 1998: regular pioneers, 9 percent; return visits, 4 percent; and Bible studies, 6 percent. Book and brochure placements also increased. Romania: Fine increases were seen in the pioneer activity and in the number of Bible studies being conducted, with a new peak of 37,502 publishers in the field during February.

April Service Report

Av Av Av Av

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

Sp'l Pios. 148 124.1 109.0 54.7 4.6

PiOS. 78,650 66.5 48.9 22.2 1.7

Aux PioS 76,659 49.0 39.2 12.4 0.8

Pubs. 796,361   9.1   7.9 3.3 0.3

TOTAL 951,818          Baptized: 2,705

The 78,650 regular pioneers reporting this month is an all-time peak! This is 616 more than our previous peak, reached in January 1999.

What practical benefits do you receive now from walking with Jehovah? How can you resist the temptation to allow nontheocratic pursuits to crowd Kingdom interests out of first place in your life? (Matt. 6:33) Do you find it difficult to discern right from wrong in a world that makes wrong appear right? (Heb. 5: 14) These matters will be addressed at the “Benefit Now by Walking in God’s Ways” circuit assembly, beginning in September 1999.—Ps. 128:1.

A new feature on Saturday of this circuit assembly will be the presentation of a model Service Meeting. Your circuit overseer will inform the congregations of what is planned so that all can come prepared to enjoy the program to the full.

The part entitled “Pioneers —Keep Strict Watch on How You Walk”' will show us how to exercise wisdom and reasonableness in order to buy out the opportune time for the pioneer ministry. (Eph. 5:15-17) The subject “Beware of Ways That Merely Seem Right” will teach us how to make sure of what is acceptable to God in every aspect of life. The talk “How Fulfilled Prophecy Affects Us” will help to fill our minds and hearts with a love for God’s Word. The public talk “God’s Ways —How Beneficial!” will emphasize the practical benefits received now from keeping in step with Jehovah’s righteous requirements.

Is it your desire to demonstrate publicly by water baptism that you want to walk in God’s ways as one of his dedicated servants? Then speak with the presiding overseer so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Make it your resolve not to miss this timely circuit assembly. Be present for the entire two-day program, for “happy is everyone fearing Jehovah, who is walking in his ways.”—Ps. 128:1.

do you want? Get to the point!” What can we learn from such an experience?

² Many people today are impatient. They want to know who we are and why we are there. When they find out that the purpose of our visit is to discuss the Bible, they may close their minds. Bible reading and spiritual conversations are not important things in the lives of many people. How can we convince such householders that they should take a few minutes to discuss a Bible topic with us?

• ³ What Works Best: The key is to show the householder that the Bible provides practical solutions for the problems that concern him and to do so in as few words as possible. The most effective presentations feature a specific question designed to make the householder think, followed by a scripture that answers the question. You may enjoy signed to help us “get to the point” quickly while arousing the interest of the householder.

• ⁴ In territory where people often say that they are not interested, raise a question that involves them personally: ujA.s we approach the next millennium, do you feel hopeful or doubtful? [Allow for response.] The Bible predicted the unsettling events this country about health care. Did you know that God promises that he will permanently solve all health problems?” Read Revelation 21: 3, 4.

■ “How do you think our community would benefit if everyone who lives here applied Bible principles?” Read Matthew 22:37-39.

• ⁵ Since our commission is to preach the good netvs of the Kingdom, whenever possible we should call attention to what the Kingdom will accomplish. You might say:

(■^Did you know that the world’s oldest book, the Bible, foretold that there will be one government for the whole world?” Read Daniel 2:44.

■ “What do you think conditions would be like if Jesus Christ ruled the earth?” Read Psalm 72:7, 8.

• ⁶ In territory where people are religious, you cotdd try one of these introductions: criminatiop because of their gender, religion, or skin color. How do you think God feels about such prejudice?” Read Acts 10:34, 35.

■ “We know that Jesus Christ performed many miracles in his day. If you could ask him to perform one more miracle, what would it be?” Read Psalm 72:12-14, 16.

• ⁷ If the householder is reluctant to open the door, you might start a conversation by saying:

j)‘Most people today are tired of hearing about problems. They want to hear about solutions. No doubt that is true of you. But where can we And real solutions to our problems?” Allow for response. Read 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

• ⁸ Why Not Try It? Oftentimes a simple, concise question is all that is needed to arouse a householder’s interest. One woman who was formerly opposed invited two sisters into her home after one of them asked the question: “Can you identify the Kingdom that you pray for in the Lord’s Prayer?” The woman was intrigued by the question, and she accepted a Bible study. She is now a dedicated servant of Jehovah!

• ⁹ When you are speaking to a householder, be genuine with your expressions. Speak from your heart. People are more likely to respond favorably when they are convinced that we are truly interested in them.—Acts 2: 46, 47.

• ¹⁰ The work of preaching the good news is a challenge today. Some householders are suspicious of strangers. Others lead hectic lives and have little time to spare. Yet, we can be sure that there are still many deserving ones to be found. (Matt. 10:11) Our efforts to search for them are likely to be more successful if we keep our presentations brief and “get to the point!”

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Sharing in the field ministry brings us great joy. (Ps. 89:15,16) Of course, preparation is a key element in being able to experience that joy to the full. The better we prepare, the more we accomplish, and the more we accomplish, the greater our joy.

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Use the Tools That Are Pro

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vided: Begin your preparation

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by reading and analyzing the material in Our Kingdom Min

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istry. It often provides wellthought-out presentations that

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are designed to help you present the Kingdom message eas

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© 1999 Walch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (ISSN 1067-7259) is published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New Vbrk. Inc . and International Bible Students Association. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn. NY. and al additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, c/o Watchtower. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483.                     Printed in U SA