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00:00:01 This global pandemic has thrown the world 00:00:04 into a state of uncertainty, 00:00:07 with so many unknowns. 00:00:10 But there’s one thing that we do know: 00:00:13 Through it all, 00:00:15 Jehovah has really been taking care of us. 00:00:19 Day after day, brothers around the world tell us 00:00:23 that they truly feel that Jehovah and his organization 00:00:27 are watching over them. 00:00:30 It makes me think of the scripture 00:00:32 at Isaiah 40:11: 00:00:36 “Like a shepherd he will care for his flock. 00:00:41 “With his arm 00:00:43 “he will gather together the lambs, 00:00:46 “and in his bosom he will carry them. 00:00:49 “He will gently lead 00:00:51 those nursing their young.” 00:00:55 Is that how you feel, 00:00:57 like a lamb in the protective arms of our heavenly Father? 00:01:03 Well, we as members of the Governing Body feel exactly the same way! 00:01:08 All of us are getting through this challenging time, 00:01:13 thanks to the tender and loving care of our heavenly Father. 00:01:19 As that tender Shepherd, 00:01:21 Jehovah does more than just take note of our problems. 00:01:26 He looks for ways to help us. 00:01:30 As Psalm 37:5 says: 00:01:32 “Commit your way to Jehovah; 00:01:36 “rely on him, 00:01:38 and he will act in your behalf.” 00:01:42 One way that Jehovah ‘acts in our behalf’ 00:01:46 is by motivating his people to help those in need. 00:01:51 In this report, we’d like to share some examples 00:01:55 of how our brothers and sisters are doing just that. 00:01:59 In some parts of the world, 00:02:01 one of the foremost concerns our brothers have 00:02:05 is simply getting enough to eat. 00:02:09 Extremely limited food supplies, 00:02:12 lockdowns, widespread unemployment, and other problems 00:02:17 have left families with little or no food. 00:02:22 The Coordinators’ Committee of the Governing Body 00:02:24 has been doing all it can to help provide 00:02:27 food and basic medicine to those brothers. 00:02:32 More than 400 Disaster Relief Committees 00:02:36 have already been appointed worldwide. 00:02:39 These committees are working tirelessly 00:02:42 to ensure that our brothers and sisters 00:02:45 have what they need to survive. 00:02:48 That’s the case in the country of Angola. 00:02:52 How are the brothers benefiting from the food relief being provided? 00:02:57 Brother Johannes De Jager from the Angola branch 00:03:00 has an update for us. 00:03:04 Back in March, a state of emergency 00:03:06 was declared here in Angola. 00:03:09 With the lockdown, 00:03:10 many of our brothers and sisters could no longer work, 00:03:12 making it difficult to feed their families. 00:03:16 As a Branch Committee, 00:03:17 we were extremely concerned about the situation. 00:03:20 We wondered, 00:03:22 ‘How are we going to look after all our dear brothers and sisters?’ 00:03:27 We immediately wrote the Coordinators’ Committee 00:03:29 and informed them of the situation. 00:03:31 You can imagine how we were overjoyed when they replied, 00:03:35 providing us the aid so that we could feed our dear brothers. 00:03:39 Well, suddenly we needed to coordinate a huge relief effort. 00:03:44 To accomplish the work, we appointed 37 Disaster Relief Committees. 00:03:49 Locally, we purchased and distributed 00:03:52 138 tons of rice, 138 tons of maize meal, 00:03:56 and 104 tons of beans. 00:03:59 Additionally, through world headquarters, 00:04:02 we purchased 313 tons of food from Brazil. 00:04:06 The first shipment arrived July 12th. 00:04:08 Our brothers have worked quickly to distribute the food. 00:04:12 Thus far, 34,701 brothers and interested ones 00:04:17 have received basic food supplies. 00:04:22 The appreciation for these provisions has been overwhelming. 00:04:25 For example, one widowed sister 00:04:28 raising her five grandchildren received food. 00:04:32 She said, “Jehovah sees me.” 00:04:37 We realize that this is an ongoing situation, 00:04:40 but we are confident 00:04:42 that Jehovah will continue to lovingly care 00:04:46 for all our brothers in Angola. 00:04:51 What a clear expression of Jehovah’s tender care 00:04:55 for our brothers in Angola! 00:04:57 Of course, the need for relief isn’t limited to Angola. 00:05:02 Right now, with Jehovah’s help, 00:05:05 relief efforts are ongoing throughout Africa, 00:05:08 South America, and many other parts of the world. 00:05:13 In fact, the Governing Body has thus far approved 00:05:17 over 17 million dollars of relief aid 00:05:22 to help our dear brothers during this pandemic. 00:05:25 Now, on this topic of food supplies, 00:05:28 we’d like to share a reminder: 00:05:31 With ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks occurring 00:05:35 and, in some cases, reoccurring around the world, 00:05:40 we never know when supply lines will falter in our area 00:05:45 or when we may need to shelter-in-place 00:05:48 for an extended period of time. 00:05:51 So, if possible in your local situation, 00:05:56 it would be wise to have on hand a reserve 00:06:00 of nonperishable food items 00:06:03 and other basic necessities, 00:06:06 not hoarding food or stockpiling it unnecessarily, 00:06:11 but maintaining a reasonable supply as a precaution. 00:06:17 But now, what about our spiritual food? 00:06:21 How is Jehovah caring for that need? 00:06:24 Many of us have been attending our congregation meetings 00:06:28 by videoconference. 00:06:30 Although we miss the personal contact, 00:06:34 haven’t our online meetings been a blessing? 00:06:38 In many places, meeting attendance has gone up significantly. 00:06:43 Many of our dear inactive brothers and sisters 00:06:47 have been attending with us. 00:06:49 It’s been wonderful to have them. 00:06:52 And how proud we are of you elderly brothers and sisters! 00:06:58 You’ve quickly learned how to use the videoconferencing tools. 00:07:02 We love seeing you participate at the meetings. 00:07:07 But as we know, 00:07:09 many of our brothers and sisters live in areas 00:07:12 where Internet access is either not available 00:07:16 or it’s simply too expensive. 00:07:19 How are our brothers in these areas getting their spiritual food? 00:07:25 You may recall from the third Governing Body update 00:07:28 that some branches in Africa were approved 00:07:31 to broadcast the special talk and the Memorial 00:07:35 over local TV and radio stations. 00:07:39 Well, I’m so happy to tell you 00:07:42 that the Governing Body has also approved 00:07:45 to have regular congregation meetings 00:07:47 broadcast via TV and radio! 00:07:52 One of the branches benefiting from this arrangement 00:07:55 is Mozambique. 00:07:57 Brother Amaro Teixeira will give us an update 00:08:01 on the impact that this is having. 00:08:05 In Mozambique, 00:08:07 many brothers live in areas where Internet 00:08:10 and electronic devices are not available. 00:08:13 So we were so happy when the Governing Body 00:08:15 informed all branches in Africa 00:08:18 that we could investigate 00:08:19 broadcasting congregation meetings over TV and radio. 00:08:24 As of July 10, arrangements have been made 00:08:29 with 87 radio stations and one TV outlet in Mozambique. 00:08:33 This allows more than 51,000 of our brothers and sisters 00:08:38 to listen to the meetings each week in 24 different languages. 00:08:43 That is very good for our brothers. 00:08:46 These spiritual programs are at the same time available 00:08:50 to an audience of about 23 million people. 00:08:54 Our brothers are so grateful for these arrangements. 00:08:58 When it was announced, some cried tears of joy. 00:09:03 Many brothers shared the feelings of one couple who wrote: 00:09:07 “Your hard work, together with Jehovah’s holy spirit, 00:09:11 “has moved the ‘mountains’ to give our brothers in Mozambique 00:09:15 “their spiritual ‘food at the proper time.’ 00:09:18 “Jehovah’s active support and love for all of us 00:09:22 “overwhelmed us with gratitude and love for him, 00:09:26 his Son, and our spiritual family.” 00:09:31 How wonderful! 00:09:33 This provision was recently extended to other branches, 00:09:37 and now we’re broadcasting congregation meetings 00:09:40 via TV and radio in 21 countries. 00:09:45 This allows about 1.2 million brothers and sisters 00:09:50 to listen to recordings of congregation meetings 00:09:53 and makes our spiritual programs available 00:09:57 to a potential audience 00:10:00 of almost 280 million people! 00:10:06 Jehovah is certainly providing his people 00:10:09 with needed physical and spiritual food. 00:10:13 But how is he caring for our persecuted brothers? 00:10:18 During this pandemic, 00:10:21 many of us may have felt like prisoners in our own homes. 00:10:25 But just think for a moment 00:10:28 about those who are actually in prison 00:10:31 —right now— during this pandemic. 00:10:35 As of July 19, 2020, 00:10:37 at least 116 brothers and sisters worldwide 00:10:42 are imprisoned for their faith. 00:10:45 In Russia, 00:10:47 an additional 27 are presently under house arrest, 00:10:51 and 372 are under criminal investigation. 00:10:57 Worldwide, the youngest ones in prison 00:11:01 are just 19 years old, 00:11:03 and the oldest is 81. 00:11:07 Some of our brothers have been imprisoned 00:11:10 or under house arrest for years. 00:11:12 Take, for example, our three brothers in Eritrea 00:11:16 —Paulos, Isaac, and Negede— 00:11:19 who’ve been in prison the longest 00:11:21 —almost 26 years! 00:11:26 In Russia, just last week, on July 13, 2020, 00:11:31 there was a record number of searches of our brothers’ homes 00:11:35 —at least 100 in one day. 00:11:39 In connection with this raid, 00:11:42 Brothers Dmitrii Katyrov and Aleksandr Bokov 00:11:46 were beaten by the authorities. 00:11:51 Counting from the time when the ban started in 2017, 00:11:55 this brings the total number of home raids 00:11:58 to over 1,000! 00:12:01 Our brothers in prison around the world 00:12:04 needed our prayers before COVID-19, 00:12:08 and they need them even more now. 00:12:12 At Hebrews 13:3, Paul wrote: 00:12:16 “Keep in mind those in prison, 00:12:19 as though you were imprisoned with them.” 00:12:24 Certainly, we feel for our brothers and sisters 00:12:27 who are imprisoned for their faith. 00:12:30 How are they bearing up? 00:12:32 How is Jehovah sustaining them through their trials? 00:12:36 Let’s get an update from two sisters 00:12:39 who were held in detention in Russia. 00:12:47 On June 11, 2019, 00:12:50 at around eight o’clock in the morning, 00:12:52 officers from the investigative committee 00:12:55 and the police burst into our home. 00:12:58 The search lasted almost all day. 00:13:00 And then after the search, they took us to the investigative committee, 00:13:04 where they detained us 00:13:05 and put us in a temporary holding facility. 00:13:09 The result was a court hearing in Novozybkov. 00:13:12 They imposed restrictive measures on me, meaning they put me in detention. 00:13:15 And, altogether, I spent almost eight months behind bars. 00:13:21 I spent eight months in a pretrial detention facility. 00:13:23 I spent 245 days behind bars. 00:13:30 For me, the time I spent in pretrial detention 00:13:33 went by very quickly. 00:13:36 Even that number —245 days— 00:13:39 it sounds like a lot 00:13:41 but, really, it didn’t feel like that many 00:13:44 because I was busy replying to letters 00:13:48 and also talking to my cellmates. 00:13:51 I prayed to Jehovah a lot during that time. 00:13:54 I read the Bible, and I did personal study. 00:13:59 Eight months in pretrial detention— 00:14:02 You could really describe it as being in isolation, 00:14:04 because I missed live association 00:14:07 —live association with brothers and sisters 00:14:10 when you can talk to them in real life, 00:14:12 face-to-face, and even hug them. 00:14:15 In the beginning, it was hard. 00:14:17 But then I saw that if you accept the circumstances, 00:14:22 it becomes easier to get on with life. 00:14:25 I prayed to Jehovah not to feel sorry for myself 00:14:29 and not to concentrate on how bad things were 00:14:32 being in one room all the time. 00:14:36 I prayed to accept the conditions 00:14:38 I found myself in on any given day. 00:14:41 I also realized 00:14:43 that it is important to always look for reasons to be grateful, 00:14:47 and every evening, even if it didn’t seem 00:14:50 as though anything particularly special had happened, 00:14:53 I tried to thank Jehovah, and that also gave me strength, 00:14:57 because it turns out that in every day, there is something good. 00:15:01 It got to the point where sometimes 00:15:04 I didn’t even notice the locked door! 00:15:06 Through the bars, I saw the sky and didn’t even see the bars. 00:15:10 Or when we went out for exercise, 00:15:13 which was just a yard with walls all around 00:15:18 and just a bit of the sky was visible, 00:15:20 I realized that Jehovah gives the right attitude when, 00:15:24 for example, I wondered, ‘What is behind those walls?’ 00:15:28 And I could even imagine that the Alps were out there, 00:15:31 that there were cornflowers (my favorite flowers) out there and poppies. 00:15:36 I thanked Jehovah that I had, 00:15:38 for example, the Bible and that I could read it 00:15:41 and for being able to pray to Jehovah, 00:15:44 for the fact that I had been able to do the right thing that day, 00:15:48 for the bird that I had seen from the window. 00:15:50 And before the detention, I imagined 00:15:53 that if it did happen, 00:15:55 it is an assignment from Jehovah for the time being. 00:15:58 The first day I received letters was the anniversary of my baptism. 00:16:03 Twenty-four years had passed since that occasion. 00:16:06 I was feeling somewhat downcast, 00:16:09 and I asked Jehovah for a special gift. 00:16:12 And at the end of the day, I received that special gift 00:16:16 —it was 59 letters from brothers and sisters! 00:16:20 And I realized just what a unique God Jehovah is, 00:16:23 and that he tenderly cares for his servants. 00:16:26 It convinced me once again that Jehovah is a caring Father. 00:16:30 The first time I received 00:16:32 such a large number of letters —54 of them— 00:16:35 I sat on the bed, put them on my lap, 00:16:38 and didn’t know what to do with them. 00:16:40 I gathered my thoughts. 00:16:42 Of course, there were tears in my eyes! 00:16:45 So I gathered my thoughts and started going through them. 00:16:48 Thanks to the letters, 00:16:50 I was also able to do personal study. 00:16:53 I wrote down in two exercise books the thoughts that really strengthened me. 00:16:58 In one letter, it talked about the secret of David’s courage. 00:17:03 And it said that he concentrated, 00:17:06 not on how big Goliath was in comparison to him, 00:17:10 but on how tiny that giant was in comparison to Jehovah. 00:17:14 That thought really helped me 00:17:17 to switch to the right frame of mind and see Jehovah. 00:17:25 And when they escorted me from the courtroom to the vehicle, 00:17:28 to the transport vehicle, 00:17:30 the brothers and sisters who were still there 00:17:34 shouted words of encouragement. 00:17:38 Of course, I didn’t expect to see them there, 00:17:41 because I didn’t know how they would escort us from the courtroom. 00:17:45 Although you could say I was rather sad 00:17:47 because they left in place the restrictive measures, 00:17:50 when I got into the vehicle, 00:17:52 I was overjoyed inside 00:17:55 because, although I could hardly see the brothers, 00:17:57 I could hear their voices. 00:18:04 It made me determined to remain faithful to Jehovah, 00:18:09 and it helped me to stand up for the truth in the court hearings, 00:18:13 and I felt that I was not alone 00:18:17 because I knew that many are concerned for me and praying for me. 00:18:22 When I was in hard circumstances, 00:18:24 I actually became convinced that no matter 00:18:27 how serious the difficulties are, 00:18:30 Jehovah always gives enough holy spirit 00:18:33 to overcome any trial. 00:18:35 I realized that actually 00:18:37 there is no need to be afraid of trials that may befall us. 00:18:41 Jehovah is always close to us, 00:18:44 and he always supports, strengthens, 00:18:47 and helps us. 00:18:49 He is very sensitive to our needs 00:18:52 and, at times like that, 00:18:54 he draws close to us in a unique way. 00:19:04 How encouraging! 00:19:06 Prison walls cannot stop Jehovah 00:19:09 from tenderly caring for his servants. 00:19:12 I think these upbuilding expressions of our sisters 00:19:15 will help many of us who are feeling isolated 00:19:19 because of the pandemic. 00:19:22 Brothers and sisters, 00:19:24 we’re all going through a difficult time. 00:19:28 Some of you have lost your jobs, 00:19:31 some are concerned about finding enough food for each day, 00:19:34 and many of us have lost loved ones in death. 00:19:40 In spite of all these challenges, 00:19:43 isn’t it clear that Jehovah is helping us to cope 00:19:48 —both physically and spiritually? 00:19:51 As our Shepherd, 00:19:54 he is carrying us along 00:19:57 in his loving arms. 00:19:59 Whether we’re in lockdown, 00:20:02 facing food shortages, or even in prison, 00:20:06 his tender care will keep us going 00:20:10 and it will get us through to the end. 00:20:14 You can be confident that with Jehovah’s help and guidance, 00:20:19 we will continue to organize relief efforts 00:20:23 wherever they are needed. 00:20:25 But remember, 00:20:27 Jehovah may also use you 00:20:30 to come to the aid of others. 00:20:33 Pray for his spirit to guide you. 00:20:37 If you see an opportunity to help, 00:20:40 take action! 00:20:42 Hebrews 13:16 says: 00:20:46 “Do not forget to do good 00:20:49 “and to share what you have with others, 00:20:53 for God is well-pleased with such sacrifices.” 00:20:58 What a privilege we have to be used by Jehovah 00:21:03 to provide tender care for one another! 00:21:06 On behalf of the Governing Body, 00:21:09 please accept this virtual hug 00:21:14 and know that we love each one of you very much. 00:21:20 From the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:21:23 this is JW Broadcasting®.
00:00:01 This global pandemic has thrown the world 00:00:04 into a state of uncertainty, 00:00:07 with so many unknowns. 00:00:10 But there’s one thing that we do know: 00:00:13 Through it all, 00:00:15 Jehovah has really been taking care of us. 00:00:19 Day after day, brothers around the world tell us 00:00:23 that they truly feel that Jehovah and his organization 00:00:27 are watching over them. 00:00:30 It makes me think of the scripture 00:00:32 at Isaiah 40:11: 00:00:36 “Like a shepherd he will care for his flock. 00:00:41 “With his arm 00:00:43 “he will gather together the lambs, 00:00:46 “and in his bosom he will carry them. 00:00:49 “He will gently lead 00:00:51 those nursing their young.” 00:00:55 Is that how you feel, 00:00:57 like a lamb in the protective arms of our heavenly Father? 00:01:03 Well, we as members of the Governing Body feel exactly the same way! 00:01:08 All of us are getting through this challenging time, 00:01:13 thanks to the tender and loving care of our heavenly Father. 00:01:19 As that tender Shepherd, 00:01:21 Jehovah does more than just take note of our problems. 00:01:26 He looks for ways to help us. 00:01:30 As Psalm 37:5 says: 00:01:32 “Commit your way to Jehovah; 00:01:36 “rely on him, 00:01:38 and he will act in your behalf.” 00:01:42 One way that Jehovah ‘acts in our behalf’ 00:01:46 is by motivating his people to help those in need. 00:01:51 In this report, we’d like to share some examples 00:01:55 of how our brothers and sisters are doing just that. 00:01:59 In some parts of the world, 00:02:01 one of the foremost concerns our brothers have 00:02:05 is simply getting enough to eat. 00:02:09 Extremely limited food supplies, 00:02:12 lockdowns, widespread unemployment, and other problems 00:02:17 have left families with little or no food. 00:02:22 The Coordinators’ Committee of the Governing Body 00:02:24 has been doing all it can to help provide 00:02:27 food and basic medicine to those brothers. 00:02:32 More than 400 Disaster Relief Committees 00:02:36 have already been appointed worldwide. 00:02:39 These committees are working tirelessly 00:02:42 to ensure that our brothers and sisters 00:02:45 have what they need to survive. 00:02:48 That’s the case in the country of Angola. 00:02:52 How are the brothers benefiting from the food relief being provided? 00:02:57 Brother Johannes De Jager from the Angola branch 00:03:00 has an update for us. 00:03:04 Back in March, a state of emergency 00:03:06 was declared here in Angola. 00:03:09 With the lockdown, 00:03:10 many of our brothers and sisters could no longer work, 00:03:12 making it difficult to feed their families. 00:03:16 As a Branch Committee, 00:03:17 we were extremely concerned about the situation. 00:03:20 We wondered, 00:03:22 ‘How are we going to look after all our dear brothers and sisters?’ 00:03:27 We immediately wrote the Coordinators’ Committee 00:03:29 and informed them of the situation. 00:03:31 You can imagine how we were overjoyed when they replied, 00:03:35 providing us the aid so that we could feed our dear brothers. 00:03:39 Well, suddenly we needed to coordinate a huge relief effort. 00:03:44 To accomplish the work, we appointed 37 Disaster Relief Committees. 00:03:49 Locally, we purchased and distributed 00:03:52 138 tons of rice, 138 tons of maize meal, 00:03:56 and 104 tons of beans. 00:03:59 Additionally, through world headquarters, 00:04:02 we purchased 313 tons of food from Brazil. 00:04:06 The first shipment arrived July 12th. 00:04:08 Our brothers have worked quickly to distribute the food. 00:04:12 Thus far, 34,701 brothers and interested ones 00:04:17 have received basic food supplies. 00:04:22 The appreciation for these provisions has been overwhelming. 00:04:25 For example, one widowed sister 00:04:28 raising her five grandchildren received food. 00:04:32 She said, “Jehovah sees me.” 00:04:37 We realize that this is an ongoing situation, 00:04:40 but we are confident 00:04:42 that Jehovah will continue to lovingly care 00:04:46 for all our brothers in Angola. 00:04:51 What a clear expression of Jehovah’s tender care 00:04:55 for our brothers in Angola! 00:04:57 Of course, the need for relief isn’t limited to Angola. 00:05:02 Right now, with Jehovah’s help, 00:05:05 relief efforts are ongoing throughout Africa, 00:05:08 South America, and many other parts of the world. 00:05:13 In fact, the Governing Body has thus far approved 00:05:17 over 17 million dollars of relief aid 00:05:22 to help our dear brothers during this pandemic. 00:05:25 Now, on this topic of food supplies, 00:05:28 we’d like to share a reminder: 00:05:31 With ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks occurring 00:05:35 and, in some cases, reoccurring around the world, 00:05:40 we never know when supply lines will falter in our area 00:05:45 or when we may need to shelter-in-place 00:05:48 for an extended period of time. 00:05:51 So, if possible in your local situation, 00:05:56 it would be wise to have on hand a reserve 00:06:00 of nonperishable food items 00:06:03 and other basic necessities, 00:06:06 not hoarding food or stockpiling it unnecessarily, 00:06:11 but maintaining a reasonable supply as a precaution. 00:06:17 But now, what about our spiritual food? 00:06:21 How is Jehovah caring for that need? 00:06:24 Many of us have been attending our congregation meetings 00:06:28 by videoconference. 00:06:30 Although we miss the personal contact, 00:06:34 haven’t our online meetings been a blessing? 00:06:38 In many places, meeting attendance has gone up significantly. 00:06:43 Many of our dear inactive brothers and sisters 00:06:47 have been attending with us. 00:06:49 It’s been wonderful to have them. 00:06:52 And how proud we are of you elderly brothers and sisters! 00:06:58 You’ve quickly learned how to use the videoconferencing tools. 00:07:02 We love seeing you participate at the meetings. 00:07:07 But as we know, 00:07:09 many of our brothers and sisters live in areas 00:07:12 where Internet access is either not available 00:07:16 or it’s simply too expensive. 00:07:19 How are our brothers in these areas getting their spiritual food? 00:07:25 You may recall from the third Governing Body update 00:07:28 that some branches in Africa were approved 00:07:31 to broadcast the special talk and the Memorial 00:07:35 over local TV and radio stations. 00:07:39 Well, I’m so happy to tell you 00:07:42 that the Governing Body has also approved 00:07:45 to have regular congregation meetings 00:07:47 broadcast via TV and radio! 00:07:52 One of the branches benefiting from this arrangement 00:07:55 is Mozambique. 00:07:57 Brother Amaro Teixeira will give us an update 00:08:01 on the impact that this is having. 00:08:05 In Mozambique, 00:08:07 many brothers live in areas where Internet 00:08:10 and electronic devices are not available. 00:08:13 So we were so happy when the Governing Body 00:08:15 informed all branches in Africa 00:08:18 that we could investigate 00:08:19 broadcasting congregation meetings over TV and radio. 00:08:24 As of July 10, arrangements have been made 00:08:29 with 87 radio stations and one TV outlet in Mozambique. 00:08:33 This allows more than 51,000 of our brothers and sisters 00:08:38 to listen to the meetings each week in 24 different languages. 00:08:43 That is very good for our brothers. 00:08:46 These spiritual programs are at the same time available 00:08:50 to an audience of about 23 million people. 00:08:54 Our brothers are so grateful for these arrangements. 00:08:58 When it was announced, some cried tears of joy. 00:09:03 Many brothers shared the feelings of one couple who wrote: 00:09:07 “Your hard work, together with Jehovah’s holy spirit, 00:09:11 “has moved the ‘mountains’ to give our brothers in Mozambique 00:09:15 “their spiritual ‘food at the proper time.’ 00:09:18 “Jehovah’s active support and love for all of us 00:09:22 “overwhelmed us with gratitude and love for him, 00:09:26 his Son, and our spiritual family.” 00:09:31 How wonderful! 00:09:33 This provision was recently extended to other branches, 00:09:37 and now we’re broadcasting congregation meetings 00:09:40 via TV and radio in 21 countries. 00:09:45 This allows about 1.2 million brothers and sisters 00:09:50 to listen to recordings of congregation meetings 00:09:53 and makes our spiritual programs available 00:09:57 to a potential audience 00:10:00 of almost 280 million people! 00:10:06 Jehovah is certainly providing his people 00:10:09 with needed physical and spiritual food. 00:10:13 But how is he caring for our persecuted brothers? 00:10:18 During this pandemic, 00:10:21 many of us may have felt like prisoners in our own homes. 00:10:25 But just think for a moment 00:10:28 about those who are actually in prison 00:10:31 —right now— during this pandemic. 00:10:35 As of July 19, 2020, 00:10:37 at least 116 brothers and sisters worldwide 00:10:42 are imprisoned for their faith. 00:10:45 In Russia, 00:10:47 an additional 27 are presently under house arrest, 00:10:51 and 372 are under criminal investigation. 00:10:57 Worldwide, the youngest ones in prison 00:11:01 are just 19 years old, 00:11:03 and the oldest is 81. 00:11:07 Some of our brothers have been imprisoned 00:11:10 or under house arrest for years. 00:11:12 Take, for example, our three brothers in Eritrea 00:11:16 —Paulos, Isaac, and Negede— 00:11:19 who’ve been in prison the longest 00:11:21 —almost 26 years! 00:11:26 In Russia, just last week, on July 13, 2020, 00:11:31 there was a record number of searches of our brothers’ homes 00:11:35 —at least 100 in one day. 00:11:39 In connection with this raid, 00:11:42 Brothers Dmitrii Katyrov and Aleksandr Bokov 00:11:46 were beaten by the authorities. 00:11:51 Counting from the time when the ban started in 2017, 00:11:55 this brings the total number of home raids 00:11:58 to over 1,000! 00:12:01 Our brothers in prison around the world 00:12:04 needed our prayers before COVID-19, 00:12:08 and they need them even more now. 00:12:12 At Hebrews 13:3, Paul wrote: 00:12:16 “Keep in mind those in prison, 00:12:19 as though you were imprisoned with them.” 00:12:24 Certainly, we feel for our brothers and sisters 00:12:27 who are imprisoned for their faith. 00:12:30 How are they bearing up? 00:12:32 How is Jehovah sustaining them through their trials? 00:12:36 Let’s get an update from two sisters 00:12:39 who were held in detention in Russia. 00:12:47 On June 11, 2019, 00:12:50 at around eight o’clock in the morning, 00:12:52 officers from the investigative committee 00:12:55 and the police burst into our home. 00:12:58 The search lasted almost all day. 00:13:00 And then after the search, they took us to the investigative committee, 00:13:04 where they detained us 00:13:05 and put us in a temporary holding facility. 00:13:09 The result was a court hearing in Novozybkov. 00:13:12 They imposed restrictive measures on me, meaning they put me in detention. 00:13:15 And, altogether, I spent almost eight months behind bars. 00:13:21 I spent eight months in a pretrial detention facility. 00:13:23 I spent 245 days behind bars. 00:13:30 For me, the time I spent in pretrial detention 00:13:33 went by very quickly. 00:13:36 Even that number —245 days— 00:13:39 it sounds like a lot 00:13:41 but, really, it didn’t feel like that many 00:13:44 because I was busy replying to letters 00:13:48 and also talking to my cellmates. 00:13:51 I prayed to Jehovah a lot during that time. 00:13:54 I read the Bible, and I did personal study. 00:13:59 Eight months in pretrial detention— 00:14:02 You could really describe it as being in isolation, 00:14:04 because I missed live association 00:14:07 —live association with brothers and sisters 00:14:10 when you can talk to them in real life, 00:14:12 face-to-face, and even hug them. 00:14:15 In the beginning, it was hard. 00:14:17 But then I saw that if you accept the circumstances, 00:14:22 it becomes easier to get on with life. 00:14:25 I prayed to Jehovah not to feel sorry for myself 00:14:29 and not to concentrate on how bad things were 00:14:32 being in one room all the time. 00:14:36 I prayed to accept the conditions 00:14:38 I found myself in on any given day. 00:14:41 I also realized 00:14:43 that it is important to always look for reasons to be grateful, 00:14:47 and every evening, even if it didn’t seem 00:14:50 as though anything particularly special had happened, 00:14:53 I tried to thank Jehovah, and that also gave me strength, 00:14:57 because it turns out that in every day, there is something good. 00:15:01 It got to the point where sometimes 00:15:04 I didn’t even notice the locked door! 00:15:06 Through the bars, I saw the sky and didn’t even see the bars. 00:15:10 Or when we went out for exercise, 00:15:13 which was just a yard with walls all around 00:15:18 and just a bit of the sky was visible, 00:15:20 I realized that Jehovah gives the right attitude when, 00:15:24 for example, I wondered, ‘What is behind those walls?’ 00:15:28 And I could even imagine that the Alps were out there, 00:15:31 that there were cornflowers (my favorite flowers) out there and poppies. 00:15:36 I thanked Jehovah that I had, 00:15:38 for example, the Bible and that I could read it 00:15:41 and for being able to pray to Jehovah, 00:15:44 for the fact that I had been able to do the right thing that day, 00:15:48 for the bird that I had seen from the window. 00:15:50 And before the detention, I imagined 00:15:53 that if it did happen, 00:15:55 it is an assignment from Jehovah for the time being. 00:15:58 The first day I received letters was the anniversary of my baptism. 00:16:03 Twenty-four years had passed since that occasion. 00:16:06 I was feeling somewhat downcast, 00:16:09 and I asked Jehovah for a special gift. 00:16:12 And at the end of the day, I received that special gift 00:16:16 —it was 59 letters from brothers and sisters! 00:16:20 And I realized just what a unique God Jehovah is, 00:16:23 and that he tenderly cares for his servants. 00:16:26 It convinced me once again that Jehovah is a caring Father. 00:16:30 The first time I received 00:16:32 such a large number of letters —54 of them— 00:16:35 I sat on the bed, put them on my lap, 00:16:38 and didn’t know what to do with them. 00:16:40 I gathered my thoughts. 00:16:42 Of course, there were tears in my eyes! 00:16:45 So I gathered my thoughts and started going through them. 00:16:48 Thanks to the letters, 00:16:50 I was also able to do personal study. 00:16:53 I wrote down in two exercise books the thoughts that really strengthened me. 00:16:58 In one letter, it talked about the secret of David’s courage. 00:17:03 And it said that he concentrated, 00:17:06 not on how big Goliath was in comparison to him, 00:17:10 but on how tiny that giant was in comparison to Jehovah. 00:17:14 That thought really helped me 00:17:17 to switch to the right frame of mind and see Jehovah. 00:17:25 And when they escorted me from the courtroom to the vehicle, 00:17:28 to the transport vehicle, 00:17:30 the brothers and sisters who were still there 00:17:34 shouted words of encouragement. 00:17:38 Of course, I didn’t expect to see them there, 00:17:41 because I didn’t know how they would escort us from the courtroom. 00:17:45 Although you could say I was rather sad 00:17:47 because they left in place the restrictive measures, 00:17:50 when I got into the vehicle, 00:17:52 I was overjoyed inside 00:17:55 because, although I could hardly see the brothers, 00:17:57 I could hear their voices. 00:18:04 It made me determined to remain faithful to Jehovah, 00:18:09 and it helped me to stand up for the truth in the court hearings, 00:18:13 and I felt that I was not alone 00:18:17 because I knew that many are concerned for me and praying for me. 00:18:22 When I was in hard circumstances, 00:18:24 I actually became convinced that no matter 00:18:27 how serious the difficulties are, 00:18:30 Jehovah always gives enough holy spirit 00:18:33 to overcome any trial. 00:18:35 I realized that actually 00:18:37 there is no need to be afraid of trials that may befall us. 00:18:41 Jehovah is always close to us, 00:18:44 and he always supports, strengthens, 00:18:47 and helps us. 00:18:49 He is very sensitive to our needs 00:18:52 and, at times like that, 00:18:54 he draws close to us in a unique way. 00:19:04 How encouraging! 00:19:06 Prison walls cannot stop Jehovah 00:19:09 from tenderly caring for his servants. 00:19:12 I think these upbuilding expressions of our sisters 00:19:15 will help many of us who are feeling isolated 00:19:19 because of the pandemic. 00:19:22 Brothers and sisters, 00:19:24 we’re all going through a difficult time. 00:19:28 Some of you have lost your jobs, 00:19:31 some are concerned about finding enough food for each day, 00:19:34 and many of us have lost loved ones in death. 00:19:40 In spite of all these challenges, 00:19:43 isn’t it clear that Jehovah is helping us to cope 00:19:48 —both physically and spiritually? 00:19:51 As our Shepherd, 00:19:54 he is carrying us along 00:19:57 in his loving arms. 00:19:59 Whether we’re in lockdown, 00:20:02 facing food shortages, or even in prison, 00:20:06 his tender care will keep us going 00:20:10 and it will get us through to the end. 00:20:14 You can be confident that with Jehovah’s help and guidance, 00:20:19 we will continue to organize relief efforts 00:20:23 wherever they are needed. 00:20:25 But remember, 00:20:27 Jehovah may also use you 00:20:30 to come to the aid of others. 00:20:33 Pray for his spirit to guide you. 00:20:37 If you see an opportunity to help, 00:20:40 take action! 00:20:42 Hebrews 13:16 says: 00:20:46 “Do not forget to do good 00:20:49 “and to share what you have with others, 00:20:53 for God is well-pleased with such sacrifices.” 00:20:58 What a privilege we have to be used by Jehovah 00:21:03 to provide tender care for one another! 00:21:06 On behalf of the Governing Body, 00:21:09 please accept this virtual hug 00:21:14 and know that we love each one of you very much. 00:21:20 From the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:21:23 this is JW Broadcasting®.
