Our Kingdom Ministry

July 2003                         For United States of America km-E Us 7/03 Vol. 46, No. 7

'Before becoming a Christian, the apostle Paul was violently opposed to the spread of Christianity. However, because he acted in ignorance, he was shown mercy. Jehovah demonstrated undeserved kindness, and Paul was given an assignment to preach. He treasured that assignment. (Acts 26:9-18; 1 Tim. 1:12-14) Gratitude for Jehovah’s mercy moved Paul to expend himself in fulfilling his ministry.—2 Cor. 12:15.

• ² According to God’s mercy, we too have been given a ministry. (2 Cor. 4:1) Like Paul, we can demonstrate our appreciation for the mercy shown us by exerting ourselves in helping others to progress spiritually. One way we can do this is by starting and conducting Bible studies.

• ³ Starting Bible Studies: A way to start Bible studies is by establishing a magazine route. As we regularly visit those on our route, we become better acquainted with their concerns. In time, an article in one of the magazines may serve as a springboard for introducing a Bible study in the Require brochure. On subsequent visits, it may be possible to continue discussions in the Require brochure when placing magazines with the householder.

⁴Prayerful Effort Needed: Prayer coupled with diligent effort will enhance our preaching activity. A pioneer sister who had one Bible study prayed that Jehovah would bless her with more. She also acted in harmony with her prayers. She made an examination of her ministry and noted that she had not been offering Bible studies when making return visits. She began doing so and soon had two more studies.

⁵ How privileged we are to share in making known “the good news of the undeserved kindness of God”! (Acts 20:24) May gratitude for God’s mercy move us to be diligent in helping others to benefit from Jehovah’s undeserved kindness.

• ¹ When sending forth 70 disciples to preach, Jesus instructed them on what to say, organized them into teams of two, and outlined the territory they were to cover. This contributed to the joy they experienced. (Luke 10:1-17) Similarly today, group witnessing helps to equip, organize, and encourage God’s people for the preaching work.

• ² Elders Take the Lead: Elders play a vital role in helping all to have a regular share in the preaching work. The service overseer takes the lead in making arrangements for midweek service. Each book study overseer is responsible for organizing the activity for his group, especially on the weekend. On occasions when the entire congregation meets for field service, such as following the 'Watchtower Study, each book study overseer should care for the needs of his own group.

• ³ “Decently and by Arrangement”: The one designated to conduct the meeting for field service should begin on time and limit the meeting to 10 or 15 minutes. It is best that he arrange the witnessing groups and assign territory (unless the book study overseers will be caring for this, as noted earlier) before concluding with prayer. This reduces the need for publishers to congregate in the territory, which can detract from the dignity of our work. It is also in harmony with Paul’s counsel: “Let all things take place decently and by arrangement.” (1 Cor. 14:40) All who attend these meetings should contribute to the success of the arrangement by arriving on time, cooperating fully with the one taking the lead, and departing promptly for the territory once the group is dismissed.

• ⁴ Drawn Together in Unity: Group witnessing arrangements provide an excellent opportunity for us to get to know others in the congregation. While there is no objection to arranging in advance to work with someone, it can also be rewarding for us to attend meetings for field service without having prior arrangements. We may be assigned to work with someone we do not know well, thus enabling us to “widen out” in our love.—2 Cor. 6: 11-13.

• ⁵ Group witnessing encourages us and draws us together as “fellow workers in the truth.” (3 John 8) May we share fully in it!

  Service Meeting Schedule

  
  

Week Starting July 14

Song 56

10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Using the suggestions on page 4, have two realistic demonstrations of how the July 15 Watchtower and the July 22 Awake! could be presented in the congregation’s territory. In each case, both magazines should be offered as a set, even though only one is featured.

15 min: How Does the Worship of Jehovah Enrich Our Lives? Audience discussion. True worship is the key to a happy, meaningful life. (1) It helps us cope with the problems and anxieties of life. (Phil. 4:6, 7) (2) It encourages us to cultivate godly qualities. (2 Pet. 1: 5-8) (3) It helps us to use our time and resources in the most worthwhile way. (1 Tim. 6:17-19) (4) It provides a sure hope for the future. (2 Pet. 3:13) (5) It enables us to develop an intimate relationship with Jehovah. (Jas. 4:8) Contrast how these things are lacking among those who do not know or serve Jehovah.

20 min: “Gratitude for God’s Mercy.”¹ When discussing paragraph 3, offer suggestions for starting a magazine route, based on the October 1998 Our Kingdom Ministry, page 8. Ask one or two capable publishers what approach they have found effective in starting Bible studies. Encourage all to make it their goal to start and conduct a Bible study.—om p. 91.

Song 176 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 21

Song 184

10 min: Local announcements. Accounts report.

10 min: “New Circuit Assembly Program.” Talk and audience discussion. Announce date of the next circuit assembly. If the congregation will be attending its assembly in the next few months, mention that those wishing to be baptized should inform the presiding overseer. Encourage all to make a special effort to invite Bible students and to be present for every session.

25 min: Imitate Their Boldness in Preaching. Audience discussion based on Worship God book, pages 170-1. Invite the audience to answer the questions posed in paragraph 7 and to include the cited scriptures in their comments. Read selected texts. Highlight the lessons we learn from these accounts and how they help us to have a proper view of our assignment to preach.

Song 201 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 28

Song 45

10 min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in field service reports for July. Using the suggestions on page 4, have two separate demonstrations of how to present the August 1 Watchtower and the August 8 Awake! In each case, both magazines should be offered as a set, even though only one is featured. In one of the presentations, show the publisher witnessing informally.

15 min: Local needs.

20 min: “Group Witnessing Brings Joy.”¹ When discussing paragraph 3, include comments on the September 2001 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box. Briefly interview a Congregation Book Study overseer. Ask about the field service arrangements he has made for his book study group and how the group benefits from witnessing together.

Song 36 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting August 4

Song 178

10 min: Local announcements. Mention literature offer lor the month. Demonstrate one or two brief presentations that could be used.

20 min: “Offering Literature in Multilingual Territory.”¹ Use the questions that are provided. When considering paragraph 3, demonstrate a simple presentation in a foreign language that is spoken in the local territory and for which there is no congregation.—km 7/02 p. 1 par. 4.

15 min: Young Ones Are Praising Jehovah! Talk with audience discussion and interviews. We enjoy hearing young people give well-prepared comments at meetings. Their diligence and progress in the Theocratic Ministry School are a delight. They demonstrate genuine faith as they give a fine witness in the ministry. Their godly conduct honors Jehovah. (yb88 pp. 53-4) Their spiritual progress lays a foundation for future privileges. Briefly interview two or three Christian youths who enjoy a regular share in congregation activities. Warmly commend the youths in the congregation for their fine efforts to praise Jehovah.

Song 49 and concluding prayer.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for July and August: Offer the Knowledge book or the Require brochure. When householders already have these publications, use another appropriate brochure that the congregation has in stock. September: Life—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? Before requesting additional supplies from the branch office, congregations should use what is available locally and check if nearby congregations have a surplus on hand. October: The Watchtower and Awake! Where interest is shown, offer the Require brochure, making a special effort to start Bible studies.

■ Starting in September, circuit overseers will give the public talk entitled “Why Fear the True God?”

■ The date of the next spring cleaning at the branch facilities in Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, will be May 8, 2004, not May 15, 2004, as was announced in the June 2003 Our Kingdom Ministry. There will be no arrangements for tours or for congregations to pick up literature on that date.

April Service Report

TOTAL 991,499          Baptized: 2,778

• ¹ Our Master foretold that his disciples would have tribulation. (Matt. 24:9) How are we to view trials? What will enable us to endure tribulation? The circuit assembly program for the 2004 service year will answer these questions. The theme is “Rejoice in the Hope. Endure Under Tribulation.” —Rom. 12:12.

• ² Two Symposiums: The first symposium, entitled “Bear Fruit With Endurance,” will consider ways in which we bear fruit. Several publishers will be interviewed on how they preach and teach with a sense of urgency. Parents especially will want to pay attention to the part “When Disciplined by Jehovah,” which will discuss how parents can reason with their children. The final speaker of the symposium will highlight what we must do to prevent the world from making inroads and causing us to become unfruitful.—Mark 4:19.

• ³ “Run the Race With Endurance” is the theme of the second symposium. It will make clear how our life course is like a race. Why do we need to run according to the rules? How can we successfully put off every weight and not tire out in the race for life? The timely Scriptural counsel that will be provided will help all of us to continue running with endurance.

• ⁴ Endurance Brings God’s Approval: Talks delivered by the traveling overseers will prove faithstrengthening to those who listen and apply the counsel. One of the district overseer’s talks is entitled “Endurance Leads to an Approved Condition.” The public talk will answer the questions: In whose name should the nations hope, and what is involved in that? The concluding talk, “By Endurance You Will Acquire Your Souls,” will consider how Jesus was able to endure injustice without becoming embittered.

• ⁵ Remember to bring your Ministry School book and your Watchtower for the week. Take notes to help you concentrate and for future reference. A review of the program will be held later in the congregation.

• ⁶ Jehovah himself has prepared this banquet of spiritual food. Come! Eat! We will cry out joyfully if we are present to benefit from the entire program.—Isa. 65:14.

Offering Literature in Multilingual Territory

• ¹ In many places, the field has come to include people from other lands. Many of these learn much more quickly and with deeper understanding when they are taught in their mother tongue. What arrangements are there to provide interested ones with Bible-based publications in the language they best understand?

• ² When to Offer Literature: When two or more congregations speaking different languages work the same territory, the bodies of elders involved will work through the service overseers in setting up a mutually acceptable system so that each language group is given a thorough witness. When preaching from house to house, publishers would not normally offer literature in the language of the other congregation(s). However, when publishers witness informally or in public areas, they may offer literature in the languages of the community.—See the October 1990 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box.

• ³ When to Stock Literature: What can be done if there is a sizable foreign-language population in an area but no congregation speaking that particular language? Under those circumstances, congregations may stock a small quantity of the basic literature items that are available in that language, such as tracts, the Require and God’s Friend brochures, and

• 1. Why do many congregations have a need for literature in a foreign language?

• 2. What cooperation is needed when two or more congregations speaking different languages work the same territory?

• 3. When would a congregation stock foreign-language literature?

the Knowledge book. Publishers may offer this literature whenever they meet people who can read that language.

⁴ How to Order Literature: If the congregation does not stock literature in the language that an interested person reads, how can literature in that language be obtained? The publisher should check with the literature servant to determine which publications are available in that language so that the needed items can be ordered with the congregation’s next literature request.

• ⁵ If faster service is necessary, the publisher may ask a member of the Congregation Service Committee if the request may be submitted before the congregation’s next scheduled literature request. If this is approved, the literature coordinator or someone designated by him can place a rush request through the mail or by telephone to the branch office. The literature will be shipped to the congregation’s regular delivery address or to a temporary delivery address, if desired. If overnight or two-day delivery is requested, the congregation will be billed for the delivery costs.

• ⁶ May we make good use of Christian publications to help “all sorts of men,” regardless of their language, ‘come to an accurate knowledge of truth and be saved.’—1 Tim. 2:3, 4.

• 4. How can literature in a language that the congregation does not stock be obtained?

• 5. What can be done if literature is needed before the items on the next request would be received?

• 6. What is our goal in making Christian publications available?

•Watchtower July 15 Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom

“Many have noted a growing trend for people to isolate themselves. Do you think that this is a wise course? [Allow for response.] Notice this wise saying on the value of companionship. [Read Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10.] This magazine discusses why all of us need others and how the problem of isolation can be solved.”

Awake! July 22

“Many people worry about the widespread availability of pornography. Do you think that this is a cause for concern? [Allow for response.] The practical counsel found in the Bible can safeguard us. [Read Ephesians 5:3, 4.] This magazine shows how we can protect ourselves from this insidious danger.”

"WATCHTOWER Aug. 1

Announcing Jehovah'S Kingdom

“Did you know that according to one report, over half the world’s population live on less than $2 per day? Do you think that anything can be done to remedy this? [Allow for response.] This issue of The Watchtower points to the permanent solution to poverty as set forth in the Bible.”—Read Psalm 72:12, 13, 16.

Awake! Aug. 8

“In recent years, weather-related disasters have wreaked havoc throughout the world. What do you think might be done to alleviate the suffering this causes? [Allow for response.] This magazine examines the problem of changing weather patterns as well as the solution outlined in the Bible.” —Read Isaiah 35:1.

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Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion.