Our Kingdom Ministry

March 2000                       For United States of America km-E Us 3/00 Vol. 43, No. 3

• ¹ What a wonderful privilege we have to be the bearers of “good news of good things!” (Rom. 10:15) We have a refreshing message to share with people who are surrounded by turmoil and despair. How can we help them recognize that we are offering “good news of something better”?—Isa. 52:7.

• ² Prepare a Positive Message: Our conversations in the ministry will have a wholesome effect if we focus on good things. Therefore, when preparing our presentation and reviewing the publication we will offer, we need to highlight positive aspects of the message. By imparting our Bible-based hope with confidence and enthusiasm, we can expect encouraging results.—Prov. 25:11.

• ³ Although we are sympathetic when people express how they have been affected by worsening world conditions, we should point out to them the real solution to man’s problems, God’s Kingdom. Even when discussing Jehovah’s coming “day of vengeance,” we want to show how this really means “good news to the meek ones.” (Isa. 61: 1, 2) We can reassure our listeners that everything Jehovah does will ultimately bring the greatest happiness and the best possible outcome.

• ⁴ Present the Truth With Real Joy: When people notice our joyful countenance and confident tone of voice, they are more apt to listen. If we reflect an optimistic outlook, our listeners will perceive that we “rejoice in the hope.” (Rom. 12: 12) Thus, they may be more inclined to respond to the good news. Certainly, we have good reason always to display a positive, joyful attitude in every aspect of our ministry.

• ⁵ As ministers of the good news, we do far more than inform. Our preaching imparts a sure hope of a better life now as well as in the future. (1 Tim. 4:8) As we approach each person, our positive frame of mind will be reflected in what we say and will help people to accept the good news. By paying attention to what we say and how we say it, let us incite honestheart-ed ones to embrace the exciting good news that we preach!

‘What Can I Do?’

• ¹ ‘What can I do?’ No doubt, that question was on the minds of the members of the small Bible study group organized by Charles Taze Russell in the 1870’s. As they progressed in their understanding of God’s will, those early Bible students must have wondered what they could do to help others learn about God’s purpose. To reach out to the entire world with the Bible knowledge that they were gaining was certainly a monumental task.

• ² Happily for us, they met that challenge. How? Each individual did his seemingly insignificant part, so that today, Jehovah’s Witnesses have become known worldwide—an organization of nearly six million Kingdom pro-claimers serving in some 90,000 congregations in 234 lands and islands of the sea!—Isa. 60:22.

• ³ Offer Your Full Support: It is vital for each one of us to have some share in the tremendous work Jesus foretold would be done in these last days. (Mark 13:10) Certainly this work cannot be left solely to the limited number of elders; nor does the preaching activity fall only on the shoulders of the pioneers. In reality, every dedicated Christian has an important role to play. All of us can participate in some form of preaching activity. (1 Tim. 1:12) To whatever extent we do this, we benefit ourselves and others—1 Tim. 4:16.

• ⁴ Each one can also offer full support to our Christian brotherhood in other significant ways. We can support the congregation meetings by attending regularly and by participating enthusiastically. (Ps. 122:1, 8, 9) We can do our part to keep the congregation morally clean. We can provide financial support for the worldwide work, according to our means. We can share in cleaning the Kingdom Hall. Everyone can promote a warm spirit of love and unity in the congregation by assisting new ones, young ones, and older ones alike—Col. 3:12,14.

• ⁵ So you might ask, ‘What can I do?’ Although your individual efforts might seem small, by doing your part, you contribute to a strong, active, and healthy congregation. Thus all of us have a vital share in honoring Jehovah’s name!

  Service Meeting Schedule

  
  

Week Starting March 13

Song 118

10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry.

15 min: “We Preach Good News.” Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion. Give examples of positive Scriptural points that can be drawn from the Knowledge book when offering it in the ministry.

20 min: “Can We Make April 2000 Our Best Month Ever?” (Paragraphs 1-11) Questions and answers. Mention the peak number of auxiliary pioneers in the congregation’s recent history. Have some who are among that number tell of the personal benefits they derive from increasing their share in the ministry. Encourage the congregation to work toward a new peak in auxiliary pioneers during April. Review qualifications outlined in the Our Ministry book, pages 113-14. Publishers wishing to auxiliary pioneer may obtain an application after the meeting.

Song 187 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting March 20

Song 21

1O min: Local announcements. Accounts report.

15 min: “What Can I Do?” A book study conductor discusses article with one or two ministerial servants. Because of various limitations, some publishers may feel that they are able to contribute little toward the activity of the congregation. Review some of the many ways all of us can make a valuable contribution toward strengthening the congregation and advancing the Kingdom work. Conclude by showing how each one can “Share in a Final Report.”—See Our Ministry, pages 108-10.

20 min: “Can We Make April 2000 Our Best Month Ever?” (Paragraphs 12-18) Questions and answers. Include a brief demonstration of how to invite a personal acquaintance to the Memorial. Review April on the 2000 Calendar, and outline the meetings for service that are planned locally. Remind each one to make a practical schedule for sharing as much as possible in the ministry during the month, thus aiming for 100 percent participation by the congregation. Encourage all who can to auxiliary pioneer and to obtain an application after the meeting.

Song 65 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting March 27

Song 119

io min: Local announcements. Remind all to turn in field service reports for March. Announce the names of those who will be auxiliary pioneering in April. Explain that it is not too late to submit an application. Outline entire schedule of meetings for field service planned for the month. Encourage everyone to share in the ministry this weekend, getting April off to a good start. Remind brothers that daylight saving time begins this weekend. This may help auxiliary pioneers in reaching their goals. We will offer individual copies of The Watchtower and Awake! during the month. Highlight one article and appropriate talking point that could be used effectively in presentations of each of the current issues. Everyone should have a copy of the Require brochure and endeavor to use it to start Bible studies with interested people.

13 min: “Ask for Help.” Talk and audience discussion by an elder. Explain how all of us are in need of some type of assistance periodically. Of course, each one should carry his own load. (Gal. 6:5) However, when we are unable to cope, we should not hesitate to seek help from a spiritually mature member of the congregation. Invite audience to relate experiences showing how kindly assistance given by others encouraged them.

10 min: Local needs.

12 min: Review 2000 Yearbook. Audience discussion and review of highlights of the “1999 Grand Totals,” on page 31. Also discuss “A Letter From the Governing Body,” on pages 3-5. Ask for comments from some as to how they will follow through on the encouragement given.

Song 195 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting April 3

Song 72

10 min: Local announcements and field service experiences. Use selected recent experiences from local territory that will encourage others to participate.

17 min: “Studying Daniel’s Prophecy.” Questions and answers. Briefly comment on how we stand to benefit from studying the Bible book of Daniel. (See chapter 1, paragraphs 15-17, in the Daniel’s Prophecy book.) Encourage all to attend the Congregation Book Study regularly.

18 min: Should I Report Serious Wrongdoing? An earnest talk by an elder, directed toward young people. Many problems have developed in modern society that have had a detrimental effect on young people: decaying moral standards, increasing violence, addiction to drugs, and lack of respect for authority. Some teenagers live a double life, hiding their misconduct. This poses a real threat to the spiritual well-being of the whole congregation. Some commit serious wrongdoing and want to keep it secret. If you learn that a brother or a sister in the congregation has done something that is a serious violation of God’s law, what should you do? Consider the principle set out at Leviticus 5:1. (See the August 15, 1997, Watchtower, pages 27-30.) Refer to Young People Ask book, pages 68-9, and explain what a person should do in such a case.

Song 68 and concluding prayer.

© 2000 Watch 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 York. Inc., and International Bible Students Association, 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, c/o Watchtower. 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299.                        Printed in U.S.A.

Can We Make April 2000 Our Best Month Ever?

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• ¹ Wednesday evening, April 19,. will be the highlight of our serviceFyear. That day, as the sun sets progressively around the earth, every congregation and group of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide will hold the Memorial of Christ’s death. In whatever time zone we live, commemorating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ will be the crowning event of the year. The date of thb'TCIeiiiurSns highlighted on the month of April on the 2000 Calendar of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

• ² The entire month of April gives us a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate in a whole-souled way our appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kindness expressed through the sacrifice of his Son. How so? The apostle Paul wrote: (“The love the Christ has con^e^us/Be^ cause this is what we have judged,' that one man died for all; so, then, all had died; and he died for all that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised up.’) (2 Cor. M 4. 15) Yes, during Ajjril we candemonStf^e that we are living, not for ourselvesfbut for him who died for us, making this our best month ever as ministers of the Kingdom!

Auxiliary Pioneers

Our All-Time Peak: 120,979 (April 1989)

• ³ Sign Up to Auxiliary Pioneer in April: The apostle gaul set a stirring example for us when he said: (ft do not make my soul of any account as dear to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received of the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the privilege of bearing thorough witness about Jehovah God. To that end, we would like to make April our best month ever in auxihary pioneer activity!

  good news of the undeserved kindness the full-time ministry? Why wait until of God.7(Acts 20:24) We have the same summer to begin? With winter behind to-EUs3/00 ~                                             .         OUR KINGDOM MINISTRY, MARCH 2p00":

  
  

• ⁴ With ttsuve full weekends,. April 2000 will be^fi%xceHent month farmanv> niopeey/,Back in April 198^ when we reached our all-time peaKof auxiliary pioneers, the 120,979-who participated represented 15 percent of the totakpub-lishers. Ten years later, the total number of publishers who reported in April 1999, had increased by over 18 percent. This means that we have tremendous potential to exceed our previous pea^nf auxIT-iary pioneers. Additionally, ti^require-ment of hours has since been reduced, making this feature of service accessible t&many more in the congregation. EacgMjaptized publisher ought to consider prayerfully whether he is able to auxiliary pioneer this April.

• ⁵ Using the month of April on thej 2000 Calendar, plan your schedule^now for next month. Decide whicEday^you< wilk be able to share in field service/ and^dd up all the hours that you feel that you can devote to' the preaching activity during the month. Include the time you can spend in witnessing to others both formallyrfmcpinformally. Does the toFal come close, to the requirement of 50 hours for auxiliary pioneers? If you are lacking the hours needed?can^ you make any other adjustments in your I schedule so as to buy out the time to auxiliary pioneer? You would need to average just one hour and 40 minutes each dayrfo reach 50 hours for the month.

• ⁶ Now that the hour requirement has also been reduced for regular pioneers, have you been contemplating entering us, April would be a fine month to start! If you are uncertain about your ability to meet the 7O-hour, requirement for regular pioneers, why not auxiliary pioneer in April (aHdjset 70 hours as your goal? Once you see that you can do it, you may be more Inclined to apply to join the ranks of the regular pioneers as soon as possible.—See Our Ministry, pages 113-14.

Total Publishers

Our All-Time Peak: 1,040,283

(August 1998)

• ⁷ Share Fully as a Publisher of the Good News: For all of us, publishers and pioneers alike, our genuine love for God and for neighbor moves _lus to be whole-souled in doing all we can in Jehovah’s service according to our, personal circumstances. (Luke W:?7V-We thus show that^“we are wdrking hard and exerting ^burselves, because we have rested our i^hope on a living God, who is a Savior %f all sorts of men, especially of faithful ones.”) Q.JTim_L 4:10) That is why we should expecttose^TOO-percent participation in April, with everyone having a, full share in the Kingdom work. ' r- ⁸ Let us not forget Jesus’ exhortation: \“The harvest is great, but^the workers ₇are few. Therefore, beg the Master of ) the harvest to send out workers into this harvest.”/Immediately after saying Wiat, Jesus summoned his 12. apostles 7 and sejitlbern forth to preach. (Matt. 9: ,<37, 38; 10:1, 5, 7) About a year later, after * the 12 were well trained in thepreaching ers and senTtnem forth,”)giving the_m_ the sg^g_ins^ictions:7The harvest,"Indeed, is great... Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’^XLukeJJkl<2) The Bible book of Acts reports how Jehovah answered those prayers By Pentecost 33 C.F.. the number of disciples had grown, to about 120. Then,, consecutive peaks of 3,000 and 5,fiOO. disciples were peached. (Acts 1:15; 2:41; 4:4) After that, “the number of the disciples kept multiply ing.’2(Acts_6/7) Likewise, in the modern era, we must keep begging the Master for still more Kingdom preachers! In harmony with our prayers, each congre-gation'publisher should make definite arrangements to participate in the mi.

• ⁹ Please take a close⁷ look at Aprils on the 2000 Calendar. Since the first two days of the month are a Saturday and a Sunday, ^fcan you make plans fo~share inservice that weekend, getting an eartesstart in the month? Can you supporPevery “Magazine Day” during theTnontfi with your Congregation Bonk Study group? What about spend-in^an hour or more each Sunday in the ministry? Thanks to daylight saving time, there will be more daylight hours

  in the early evj share in somd

  
  

gngs. Can you arrange to evening witnessing? And

presiding overseer to ask to oe considered as S publisher of the good news? If you have unbaptized children, have you discussed their spiritual progress with the elders? Would this not be ffi^ood time fonthem to start publi^iin^ySee’ OufMinistry, pagers 97-1007 / \

• ¹¹ In our endeavor to make April 2000 our best month ever, all of us need to share in the ministry and then turn in our field service report at the end of the month? (Compare Mark 6jO.)\The new unbaptized publishers whlfshare in field service for the first time, should be encouraged to report their activity promptly. By doing pur part, we can make a fine contribution totfie April report and to the great shout of pralsethat will be offered to Jehovah through our witnessing efforts.

gory /fl_________________

■Memorial Attendance

Our All-Time Peak: 2,135,167

(1997)

• ¹² Bring Others With You to the Memorial: Would it not thrill us to see a new peak in attendance at the 2000 Memorial of Christ’s death? Yes! It would mean that the most people ever had come together to manifest their appreciation for the greatest expressions of love that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ have made in our behalf! (John 3:16; 15:13) Make whatever arrangements are necessary so that nothing will prevent you and your family from attending the Memorial.

• ¹³ Now is also the time to begin inviting others to the Memorial. Make a list of everyone you would like to see attend. Include any who have studied the Bible in the past, those who are studying now, and all your return visits. Add to the list your acquaintances at work, at school, and in the neighborhood, as well as anyone you do business with. Do not forget to include other acquaintances and your relatives. After compiling the list, start extending an earnest, personal invitation to each one. Make clear when and where the Memorial will be held. As April 19 draws closer, give those on your list a reminder, either in person or by telephone. Offer to have them accompany you to the Memorial that night.

• ¹⁴ In harmony with previous direction from the Society, the body of elders will be making a special effort to encourage all inactive publishers in the territory to attend the Memorial. (Matt. 18:12-14) The elders will want to review the Society’s letter of February 2, 1999. The congregation secretary is to make a list of all inactive publishers, and the service overseer will assign elders to call on them and invite them to the Memorial. Perhaps by receiving an encouraging shepherding visit as soon as possible, these inactive ones can be assisted to become active again in the field ministry, even during April. It will be upbuilding to them to be invited to share with an experienced publisher in the field service.

• ¹⁵ Encourage Good Support for April! It will take good coordination on the part of all the elders, ministerial servants, and family heads to make April 2000 our best month ever. The elders will be diligent in having everything well organized and in taking the lead. (Heb. 13:7) Practical arrangements need to be made for meetings for field service on weekdays and on weekends. Additional meetings for service may be arranged for late afternoon and early evening activity. A complete schedule of all that is planned for April should be posted on the information board. Someone will need to be assigned to handle each scheduled meeting for service. Sufficient territory should be provided to care for the needs of each group.

• ¹⁶ During April the Wdic/ztower and Awake! magazines will be featured. In an effort to start home Bible studies, the Require brochure is to be offered to all who show interest. Hence, ample supplies of magazines and brochures need to be provided.

• ¹⁷ At the end of the month, all book study conductors and their assistants will want to encourage each one in their group to turn in a service report immediately after the month ends. Perhaps this can even be done on Sunday, April 30. Then, when the secretary tallies the reports, if he notes that some publishers have not turned theirs in, he can kindly remind them to do so before May 6, when he must submit the congregation report to the Society. He may call upon book study conductors to assist him in contacting individual publishers.

• ¹⁸ The Memorial season is the most important period of the year for God’s people. It should be a very busy time for all of us in Jehovah’s service. It will be if everyone shares as fully as possible as a publisher of the good news, if those who can sign up to auxiliary pioneer do so, and if we are diligent in bringing others with us to the Memorial of Christ’s death. Let us earnestly pray for Jehovah’s rich blessing as we endeavor to make April 2000 our best month ever, all to God’s praise and glory!—Heb. 13:15.

Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy!

Study schedule for April 17, 2000, through January 29, 2001

Announcements

■ Literature offer for March: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. A special effort will be made to start home Bible studies. April and May: Individual copies of The Watchtower and Awake! Have Require brochure available for interested people, and endeavor to start home Bible studies. June: What Does God Require of Us? Concentrate on starting home Bible studies.

■ Publishers who wish to serve as auxiliary pioneers in April and May should make their plans now and turn in their application early. This will help the elders to make necessary field service arrangements and have sufficient magazines and other literature on hand. The names of all who are approved to auxiliary pioneer should be announced to the congregation each month.

■ This issue of Our Kingdom Ministry contains the complete study schedule for the book Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! You may want to photocopy it and insert it in your personal copy of the book for handy reference.

■ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on March 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. When this has been done, make an announcement to the congregation after the next accounts report is read.

■ The Memorial will be held Wednesday, April 19, 2000. If your congregation normally has meetings on Wednesday, these are to be switched to another day of the week if the Kingdom Hall is available. If this is not possible and your Service Meeting is affected, the parts that are particularly applicable to your congregation may be incorporated into another Service Meeting.

■ Those associated with a congregation should send all new and renewal subscriptions for The Watchtower and Awake!, including their personal subscriptions, through the congregation. ■ The Society does not fill individual publishers’ requests for literature. The presiding overseer should arrange for an announcement to be made each month before the congregation’s monthly request for literature is sent to the Society so that all who are interested in obtaining personal literature items may advise the brother handling literature. Please keep in mind which publications are specialrequest items.

■ It is important that groups of 20 or more persons planning to visit the Society’s facilities first correspond by mall with the Central Tour Desk at 100 Watchtower Drive, Patterson, NY 12563-9204. The Central Tour Desk will care for groups that will be visiting the Society’s facilities at Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, or the Assembly Hall at Jersey City, New Jersey. Please send information on the number coming and the dates and times for visiting each location. The Society will provide a description of the tours that are available as well as a map giving directions to each location. LODGING INFORMATION HAS BEEN SENT TO THE CONGREGATION ELDERS AND MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CONGREGATION SECRETARY. Before your visit, please review the March 1998 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box regarding proper dress and grooming when visiting Bethel homes.

■ A packet of legal material is available to assist publishers who are involved in lawsuits over child custody and visitation matters in which our religion is under attack. The packet should be requested by the body of elders only in a case in which it is evident that the publisher’s religious beliefs will be at issue. For those facing secular issues on child custody or visitation, helpful information can be found in Awake! of December 8, 1997, pages 3-12; in Awake! of October 22, 1988, pages 2-14; and on the chart found in Awake! of April 22, 1991, page 9.

■ Congregations may now begin submitting requests for Watchtower Library-1999 Edition. This compact disc will be available in the same nine languages as the 1997 edition, that is, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese (requires Japanese version of Windows), Portuguese, and Spanish. Congregations may begin submitting their orders, but please keep in mind that these are special-request items. Until compact discs are available and shipments are made, they will appear as “Pending” on congregation packing lists.

■ New Publications Available: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting

Life     —Pangasinan, Tumbuka

Life in a Peaceful New World (Tract

No. 15)                   —Hindi

Questions Young People Ask—Answers

That Work             —Slovak

WatchTower Publications Index 1999

—English What Does God Require of Us?

—Pangasinan, Zulu What Happens to Us When We Die?

—Swahili

What Hope for Dead Loved Ones? (Tract No. 16) —Bengali, Hindi Why You Can Trust the Bible (Tract

No. 13)                   —Hindi

■ New Audiocassettes Available:

Families—Make Daily Bible Reading

Your Way of Life! (Drama, single cassette)          —Korean, Spanish

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

—French, Quechua

The Good News According to Matthew (set of three cassettes)   —Korean

The Good News According to Mark (set of two cassettes)        —Korean

The Good News According to Luke (set of three cassettes)       —Korean

The Good News According to John (set of two cassettes)        —Korean

■ New Braille Publications Available: 2000 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses (three volumes) —Grade-two English

Jehovah—Who Is He? (Tract No. 23; one volume)     —Grade-two English;

Grade-one Spanish

Jesus Christ—Who Is He? (Tract No. 24; one volume)

-Grade-two English; Grade-one Spanish

Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! (three volumes)      -Grade-two

French; Grade-two German

Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! (four volumes) —Grade-one French; Grade-one Italian

Please mark requests for Braille publications ATTENTION: BRAILLE DESK. Include name and address of the person who will use the Braille material.

■ New Videocassettes Available:

The Bible—Its Power in Your Life

—Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin)

December Service Report

Av. Am Av. Av.

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

We are happy to report another new peak in regular pioneers! During each month since August, we have reported a new peak in the number of regular pioneers. The total of 94,522 regular pioneers reporting is an increase of 64 over the previous peak of 94,458 in November 1999.

Ask for Help

• ¹ The inspired words “hard to deal with” aptly describe our critical times. (2 Tim. 3:1) Hence, what can you do when you encounter difficult spiritual challenges that you may feel ill-equipped to face?

• ² Are you willing to talk to a spiritually mature member of the congregation? Some might hesitate to do so because of being embarrassed, not wanting to impose, or doubting that anyone can really help. Granted, we should strive to care for our personal responsibilities the best we can, but we should always feel free to seek help in matters involving our spiritual wellbeing.—Gal. 6:2, 5.

• ³ Where to Begin: You may want to approach your book study conductor and ask if you can work with him in field service. This will give you an opportunity to tell him about your desire to grow spiritually. If he is a ministerial servant, let him know of your need for spiritual help and he will ask the elders to assist you. Or you may approach any of the elders about matters of concern to you.

• ⁴ What kind of help do you need? Has something dampened your zeal? Are you a single parent trying to keep your children close to the congregation? Are you an elderly person who needs assistance? Or is some problem discouraging you? Dealing with our critical times may be hard—but not impossible. Help is available.

• ⁵ How Older Men Help: The elders genuinely care. They will listen to your concerns. If other publishers are confronted with similar obstacles, the elders will take this into account as they shepherd and teach the congregation. As “examples to the flock,” they remain ready to work alongside you with joy. (1 Pet. 5:3) Listening to these experienced brothers as they reason on Bible principles can improve your ministry and assist you in your personal life. —2 Tim. 3:16,17.

• ⁶ Jesus has bestowed on us many “gifts consisting of men.” (Eph. 4:8, ftn.) This means that the elders are at your service. They are available to help you. They, in effect, “belong to you.” (1 Cor. 3:21-23) So rather than holding back, speak up. Ask for the help you need.

Studying Daniel’s Prophecy

• ¹ Beginning the week of April 17, we will study Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! in the Congregation Book Study. Many have already read this fascinating book, but now we have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that come from a group discussion of the material. All publishers, interested ones, and children are invited, yes, encouraged, to be present each week for this indepth study of the Bible book of Daniel.—Deut. 31:12, 13.

• ² Study Schedule and Instructions: The complete study schedule for the Daniel’s Prophecy book is set out in this issue of Our Kingdom Ministry. Be sure to keep a copy with your study book. The schedule shows the chapter and paragraphs from the book as well as the verses from Daniel that will be discussed in each week’s session. The footnotes explain how and when some of the material in the book will be considered. At the conclusion of each weekly study, the conductor is encouraged to review with the group the specific verses from Daniel that are listed on the schedule for that week. As time permits, the verses may be read and commented on. Some verses will overlap from one week to another because of an ongoing consideration of their application.

• ³ Prepare for a Thorough Study: An effort has been made to allow sufficient time each week for an unhurried discussion of the assigned material. Four lessons are rather short. Hence, at the end of the study for the week of June 5, the conductor may include a review of Daniel 2:1-40. For the week of June 26, he may review Daniel 3:1-30. The week of September 4 should include a thorough discussion of the illustrations and scriptures on page 139. The chart on pages 188 and 189 should be discussed at the study for the week of October 2.

• ⁴ Prepare well for the study each week, and enjoy participating in it. Appreciate your privilege of associating with Jehovah’s visible organization and benefiting from the insight and understanding provided by his faithful anointed ones. (Dan. 12:3, 4) Kindly encourage others to attend the book study regularly. May all of us pay attention to God’s prophetic word as revealed in the awe-inspiring book of Daniel.—Heb. 10:23-25; 2 Pet. 1:19.

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