“GROW TO SALVATION”

• ¹ Christians must grow up. They cannot remain spiritual babes all of their lives and still be Christians. Spiritual growth is absolutely essential to salvation. The majority of earth’s inhabitants will be destroyed at Armageddon because of their not having allowed themselves to grow up spiritually.

• ² Paul beckons Christians to “press on to maturity,” “to the measure of growth that belongs to the fullness of the Christ; in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of craftiness in contriving error. But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.”—Heb. 6:1; Eph. 4:11-15.

• ³ Servants as well as mature publishers will aid the many new ones that have started out in the ministry in April to make progress in May and the following months. They will help them to “become full-grown in powers of understanding” so that they will be able to stand firm in this evil day.—1 Cor. 14: 20.

• ⁴ Since many of the new ones, no doubt, have had some experience in magazine work, during May have them grow in the house-to-house ministry, teach them to handle the campaign offers, encourage them to grow up. Do not wait for May to expire before offering them a spiritual hand. They being spiritually weak, the danger of their slipping back into old worldly habits is present. So watch over the sheep.

⁸ The assistant congregation servant should give lists of the new publishers to the study conductors during the first part of May so that they can be given special attention. No one can afford to stand still. Keep on making progress in righteousness. Progress, not stopping, is the greatest counterforce against negligence and indifference. Relapsing into old bad habits will cause us to lose life. Therefore, “press on to maturity,” “grow to salvation.” —1 Pet. 2: 2.

Home Bible Studies

⁶ With long evenings upon us, prestudy magazine service should be arranged so that publishers can express their devotion to Jehovah. On the way to the study publishers may work homes with the magazines. Where the May offer (consult box) is placed, if possible include the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom”. Then do not overlook the need of calling back and starting home Bible studies with interested persons. Aid them to attain to the oneness in the faith.

OFFER FOR MAY Any two books and two booklets for $1. THEME FOR MAY Use Theocratic War Strategy.

—Matthew 10: 16.

• ¹ Yes, look at our March report and rejoice! Rejoice at what? Rejoice first at 191,037 publishers—a new all-time peak, well surpassing December’s 189,517. Grand indeed!

• ² But that is only the beginning I We also had a new all-time peak in hours, a new all-time peak in subscriptions obtained in one month during a Watchtower campaign, a new all-time peak in back-calls, a new all-time peak in Bible studies, a new all-time peak in public meetings, and a new all-time peak in magazine placements! Just think, 3,354,167 magazines placed in March! Almost a quarter million more than in any other month on record!

• ³ In fact, every month since December more than 180,000 publishers

• ⁷ Home Bible studies have increased excellently. There were 127,211 studies conducted in December, which in January increased to 137,618 and in March to 147,150. In March a year ago there were only 106,910 studies being conducted. That means 40,240 more studies are being conducted this year than last. An excellent increase! The average is now up to .6 studies for publishers, 5.3 for pioneers and 8.2 for special pioneers. Keep up the good work! In the words of Paul: “Stay awake, stand firm in the faith, carry on as men, grow mighty”!—1 Cor. 16:13.

• ⁸ Jesus had a great love for Jehovah and the sheep. In prayer to his Father he said: “When I was with them I used to watch over them out of respect for your own name which you have given me, and I have kept them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture has been fulfilled.” Let us show the same love and respect, that none of the sheep He has entrusted in our care perish. Help them in love to grow to salvation.—John 17:12.

have reported: December, 189,517; January 180,246; February 184,203; now March, with an outstanding 191,037!

⁴ This growth promises even greater things for April. With the special activities surrounding the Memorial and the use of the two special magazines throughout the month, what heights will it reach?

⁸ For the seven months of the service year that have thus far passed we have averaged 181,891, a 7.1-percent increase over last year’s average of 169,835. With five months yet to go, and with such fine increases being made, a really excellent year’s work is anticipated.

⁶ You and your congregation are sharing in this great increase.

FIRST MEETING IN MAY

Theme: Use Theocratic War Strategy.

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

10 min: Talk on “Use Theocratic War Strategy.” (See “Watchtower,” 5/1/57, p. 286, and 2/1/56, p. 76.)

10 min: Consider “Yearbook” experiences on Being Tactful Toward All. “A slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be tactful toward all.”

Tact often requires an indirect approach, as used by a Belgian sister. (89) Tact may mean speaking first of fulfillment of prophecy and Kingdom blessings before taking up controversial matters. (129) Tact enabled a Nigerian brother to witness in a place from which he had been chased out (222); for a similar instance see page 279. Tact also means using a soft answer to turn away wrath, as did a publisher in the Azores. (246) Yes, we need to be tactful toward all if we would be effective Christian witnesses of Jehovah. 10 min: Cover “Make Sure of All Things” material on the Kingdom, from page 234 “Kingdom in Sovereign Power Not Established at Pentecost,” to page 235, Ps. 83: 17, 18. To be handled as a back-call,

15 mln: Talk on main article, “Grow to Salvation.”

10 mtn: Arrange locally. (Include discussion of “Look at Our Report!”)

SECOND MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Welcome, text, comments. 20 min: Questions and answers (15 min.) on “Do You Respect Your Brother’s Home?” followed by summarization or additional Scriptural counsel by chairman (5 min.).

25 min: Demonstration developing sermon given in “Presenting the Good News.”

CHAIRMAN (5 min.) Talk on “Presenting the Good News” article.

PANEL DISCUSSION (12 min.) From two to four persons, depending upon the size of the congregation, work out this sermon. They offer suggestions as to introduction, connectives, the logic of the order of the texts and conclusions that lead into the various literature offers.

DEMONSTRATION (8 min.) Demonstrate use at a door of the sermon panel has worked out.

10 min: Arrange locally. (Include comments on text at bottom of page 1.)

THIRD MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Welcome, text, comments.

10 min: Consider “Yearbook” experiences on starting and diligently following through on home Bible studies.

Watering the seed means starting and conducting home Bible studies, for it is studies that develop persons into being Jehovah’s witnesses, as the Ivory Coast report of our 1957 “Yearbook” shows. (156) Neglect may mean eight valuable years lost, as with one person in Newfoundland. (216) And let us not prejudge the interest; not all immediately appreciate the need of a study, as did a family of ten Canadians. (107) If we do prejudge we may regret it, as did a missionary in Uruguay. (282)

They may seem to take literature just to please us and yet have a good heart, as did a certain Chinese in Singapore. (258) True, it takes patience, as a witness in Tangier stressed (75); and also effort, such as riding ten miles each way by bicycle (217); but what of that if we get results, if Jehovah keeps making it grow? And remember, studies can be held almost anywhere, as the report for American Samoa shows. (80)

20 min: Demonstration on “Conducting Effective Bible Studies.”

CHAIRMAN (4 min.) Open with counsel encouraging each publisher to have and conduct a home Bible study regularly. It is a means of fulfilling Jesus’ instructions to “feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) The goal in conducting a study is to bring the good-will person to an accurate knowledge of the truth and lead him to associate with the organization. The Bible study servant and study conductors can give publishers much help and encouragement. Bible study servant may give study conductor list of names of persons with whom publishers in his service center are conducting studies. He might emphasize to conductor that these studies are the potential increase for his area and that it would be well for him to arrange to go with the publishers sometime when they conduct the study. The purpose would be twofold: (1) To get acquainted with the good-will interest and (2), if needed, to give kind counsel to the publisher that he may be “a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright.” (2 Tim. 2: 15) We now see conductor going with sister on her Bible study.

SCENE I (7 min.) Sister introduces study conductor to householder. After brief greetings the group sit down to study. The brother offers prayer. The sister conducts her study in the usual manner (head covering not needed by sister), following suggestion in Study 54 of “Qualified to Be Ministers.”

CHAIRMAN (4 min.) After studying briefly the chairman breaks in, saying; “And so the study continues for the hour. When it is completed let’s listen to the invitation given to the good-will person to attend the congregation book study.” Conductor will follow suggestions in paragraph 5, page 216, of “Qualified to Be Ministers.”

SCENE II (3 min.) After leaving good-will person’s home, study conductor commends sister on good points of conducting the study. He then points out Scriptural rule: “pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching,” and offers a few points of tactful counsel. (1 Tim. 4: 16) One point might be the looking up of scriptures not quoted so that good-will people may become acquainted with the Bible. He also encourages sister to have goodwill persons give an answer more in their own words. This can be done by asking additional leading questions,

CHAIRMAN: (2 mln.) Sum up the benefits of this arrangement that will help us “keep on speaking what things are fitting for healthful teaching.” —Titus 2: 1.

15 min: Cover “Congregation Organization” by a talk on maturity. Show how one way of demonstrating maturity is by conducting a home Bible study.

10 min: Arrange locally. (Include comments on the text at the bottom of page 4.)

FOURTH MEETING IN MAY

5 min: Welcome, text, comments. 10 min: Cover “Make Sure of All Things” material on the Kingdom, from page 235 “All Selected for Kingdom Must Die in Order to Enter It” to end of chapter. To be handled as a talk with a brief review of previous points made by way of introduction.

20 min: Demonstration on “Following Through on Expiration Slips.”

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) Upon receipt of these notices the congregation should see that calls are made on these former subscribers. Over 600,000 expiration slips were sent to congregations last year. Tens of thousands of these persons were happy to subscribe once again on being contacted. Publishers making such calls may count a back-call. If the person takes the subscription, count it as a new one. To be effective on these calls we must be “tactful toward all, qualified to teach.” —2 Tim. 2: 24

SCENE I (5 min.) Bible study servant approaches study conductor to give him some expiration slips for people in his service center territory. The Bible study servant kindly impresses upon the study conductor the need for making the calls at an early date. Calls can be made on back-call night, after Sunday morning service, etc. Study conductor asks for suggestions on an effective approach. He is told to be tactful and “qualified to teach.” Bible study servant suggests giving a warm, friendly greeting, then going into a pointed three- to eight-minute sermon, concluding with the offer of a subscription. Bible study servant points out that this method is much more effective than the blunt way of going to the door with slip in hand, telling the person that he subscribed before and that his subscription has run out and asking if he would like to subscribe again. Bible study servant invites conductor to accompany him on a call.

SCENE II (8 min.) At door Bible study servant makes apt introduction, ^! using person’s name and then leading into sermon. On completing sermon he mentions that the information he has just presented has been coming to the householder through the (“Watchtower” or “Awake!”) magazine. Publisher directs householder’s attention to points of interest in current magazine. Householder is encouraged to renew his subscription so he will not miss such interesting articles as the ones just discussed. At this point he lets householder see expiration slip for the first time, saying that he will be glad to renew the subscription so the householder will not miss any more issues. Householder subscribes. Arrangements are made for return call.

SCENE III (3 min.) Bible study servant and conductor discuss advantages of (1) avoiding delay by calling on former subscribers as soon as possible after receiving notices and (2) publishers’ giving a sermon before offering subscription. Also emphasize need for making arrangements for calling back, having in mind a home Bible study.

CHAIRMAN (2 min.) During May and June the Society will send out many expiration slips. Be “qualified to teach” these former subscribers.

15 min: Talk on 1957 district assemblies. Include reading and discussing of special letter with assembly details. 10 min: Arrange locally.

FIFTH MEETING IN MAY

Arrange locally.

CONGREGATION

Maturity—Our Final Goal

• ¹ Maturity is the seventh and last of our special goals for 1957. Have you reached the other goals? Have you achieved this one? The desire for maturity is proper and right. A child wants to mature. A young adult does, too. An intelligent man of any age wants even further maturity. Certainly Christian ministers must be even more vitally concerned about spiritual maturity. Where do you stand in regard to it?

• ² With real maturity comes a balance of appreciation and understanding, with the production of the fruitage of the spirit. It has to do with completeness of growth and development. It is the outstanding quality for an overseer, is a requirement for all publishers, and is an urgent goal toward which all must strive. (See Qualified to Be Ministers, page 231, paragraph 3.)

• ³ The mature man does not just preach, but he teaches, aiding others to grow as he has. This requires sound knowledge, diligent

Notice to Pioneer Ministers

Pioneers registered with their draft boards who have not had their ministerial claims recognized by their boards may write to Hayden C. Covington, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn 1, New York, sending a self-addressed stamped envelope, and ask for the Pate opinion, which can be submitted to the draft board and placed in their files along with a request for reopening.

application and real experience in the teaching work. Have you, through study and experience, developed the maturity that gives you this qualification to teach? Do you know the truth? Can you explain doctrine? Can you teach, persuade and understand the other person’s problems and obstacles, helping him to overcome them? The true Christian must be able to do so.—1 Tim. 3:2.

• ⁴ The apostle told Timothy to teach “faithful men who in turn will be adequately qualified to teach others.” Do you show such results in service, adequately teaching others? All true Christians should have this qualification.—2 Tim. 2: 2.

• ⁵ Obviously' this desired maturity does not depend solely upon the length of time you have been in the congregation, for many new ones show rapid growth, maturing quick-

  Do You Respect Your Brother's Home?

  
  

¹A11 congregations need private homes for service centers. The brothers in the congregations appreciate this need and many of them are in position to open their homes for the use of a service center for their congregation. The Society certainly appreciates this.

• ² Jehovah’s witnesses everywhere are very grateful that they can meet together with those of like precious faith and they respect the property and treasured possessions that people have in their homes. But once in a while children and sometimes grownups get out of hand. What individuals allow their own children to do in their own home is not very often allowed to be done in someone else’s home. If the home to which you are going has a nice hedge around it, no one would allow his children to jump over the hedge or cut through it. No one would want to track in dirt, or if it was raining or snowing certainly all of the Lord’s people would want to take off their overshoes before entering the home. Politeness and respect for other people’s pi-operty is appreciated by the homeowner. When we stop to consider we realize that with many people coming into a home much dirt is tracked in, which means that the householder is going to do extra cleaning in the rooms that are used, and, too, they always have to rearrange their furniture according to the number who attend, so that the room can be put to good use. It shows thankfulness on the part of those who put the furniture back.

  ly. How can you do so? By making the same application in study and service that they have done.

  • ⁶ This maturity is an aid to salvation. It is the fulfillment of a Scriptural requirement. Not only must we mature, but we must be willing to aid others to do so. We must follow Paul’s example. He said: “I continue praying, that your love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment, that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ.” —Phil, 1:9, 10.

  • ⁷ The need for growth in maturity is great. Mature publishers, servants and pioneers are always needed in the Christian organization. It must be full of such mature Christians. Have you grown to such maturity? You can do so. No course that you could take would be more important. Will you take it? The answer, which might mean your life, is up to you.

  
  

• ³ These homes where congregational book studies are held should at the moment of. their use be considered just like a Kingdom Hall, and since we never serve refreshments at Kingdom Halls after meetings, so people would hardly expect this to be done at private homes. The homeowners should not feel obligated to do so. If the study conductor had handled the meeting properly, everyone would be well fed spiritually, and those who are attending certainly do not want ‘to impose an expensive burden upon any one of you’ who have volunteered your homes. —2 Thess. 3 : 8.

• ⁴ There is no need to linger long after the meeting is over. It may be that the family in whose home the study is held has children that they want to put to bed, or they may have to help them with their studies. So Jehovah’s witnesses would not want to wear out their hosts by prolonged presence. It is always good to have in mind what the wise man said, ‘Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you.’ (Prov. 25:17) Maybe they had these problems back there in the days of the apostles. Many meetings were held in homes then, and it is recorded in Phjjippians 2: 4 that the householder has personal interests just like the rest of us and that is why it is stated: “Keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others.”

(Continued on page Jf, col. 1)

With the Theme “New Heavens and a New Earth”

¹ The world Is desperately In search of peace and happiness, but it will never bring it about. A change must come. What change do we need? We need a “new heavens and a new earth.”

• ² A special effort will be made to make known these truths with the help of the two-book offer. The sermon below can very effectively be used in all territories with any book offer. For example, you might say:

• ³ “Good morning. I’m a minister concerned about conditions in the world as you no doubt are. These are troublesome times. The world needs a change from all this crime, corruption, poverty and wars going on. The people aren’t truly happy. They want a change, but will a change ever come? God, who knows, Says:

<1 Jehovah’s promise of a new world

—Isa. 65: 17

Peter assures promise to be fulfilled —2 Pet. 3: 13

John tells us about new-world conditions                 —Rev. 21: 4

Conditions will be lasting—Isa. 66: 22

⁵ “Wouldn’t you like to live in that new world? This book, ‘New Heavens and a New Earth’, which makes a thorough study of this subject, shows how it is possible for you to

Do You Respect . . .         (Cont’d)

⁶ The congregation servant has in mind first that the home is to be used for a congregation book study and, if possible, as a service center. The homeowner should always be consulted as to how often during the week his home can be used as a service center. Maybe on back-call night or on weekends, either Saturday or Sunday, the home can be used. Always take the homeowner into consideration and see what his wishes are in the matter.

⁶ Home means a great deal to every one of us, and if a home is kept clean and well arranged, not only by the householder, but by the visitors, it is certainly appreciated by everyone. One thing Jehovah’s witnesses should always show is respect for their brothers’ homes. Jesus said: “Just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them.”—Luke 6:31.

live in it. For example, in chapter one you can learn about the Creator of the new world. Note what the first paragraph says: [Read all or part, depending on the interest shown.] This book and its companion book, ---- [very briefly describe

the other book in the combination], are yours on a contribution of $1. These two booklets are given free with the set. You will like them also.”

«If highlighting “Let God Be True” in the set, then turn to page 261 and comment on it. Or if you are working with Nou May Survive Armageddon into God’s New World, perhaps page 348 would appeal to them. Whatever book you present, always let your sermon be warm, conversational and direct. Speak from the heart and it will reach the heart. Prove to them from Scripture that the new world is real.

Any

OFFER FOR JUNE two books and two booklets for $1.

THEME FOR JUNE

Enjoying Each One “His Own Gift from God.”—-1 Corinthians 7:7, NW.

• ¹ For this summer seven district assemblies have been arranged and are located strategically throughout the country. If you have not made your plans so far, serious consideration should be given it now so you can share in the spiritual blessings.

• ² Please note that this is a five-day convention. So why not make your plans to include the entire ‘meal’ ?

• ³ In our generosity, with all this good food and nourishment available, we want to share it with others. In making car groups do not forget your brothers and sisters and the newly interested ones. Include them. It will be of so much help to them as well.

• ⁴ Along with this Kingdom Ministry you are being supplied with Room Request and Volunteer Service forms. Complete rooming instructions are attached to each Room Request Form to assist you. Read them carefully and then mail your completed form to the city you expect to attend about six weeks prior

NEW WORLD NEWS

♦ Two new U.S.-made high-speed rotary magazine printing presses have arrived at Brooklyn factory. Both are in process of erection. These are urgently needed to meet rapidly increasing magazine demand. ♦ Brooklyn printing plant printed 4,849,965 copies so far of special April 15 "Watchtower.” The special April 22 "Awakel" is now on presses, running day and night, nearing 4,330,000 mark.

$ March all-time-high month for magazine production at Brooklyn factory, running 11,399,791 magazines off its presses.

♦ First district assembly for Papua, on the island of New Guinea, held at Port Moresby during visit of zone servant. Brothers rejoice to see 1,500 attend showing of film? 210 at public meeting. Australia also reports over 2,000 assembled at Perth and 960 at Canberra during series of district assemblies, in that country.

♦ Northern Rhodesia reports new peak of Kingdom ministers with 27,015 in field during February. Over 125,000 have now enjoyed the Society’s films in that country.

♦ Japan hits new peak of 693 publishers during February as brothers, for the first time, devote over 20,000 hours to field service.

♦ The Philippine branch tells of 206 vacation pioneers active in service, along with 327 regular pioneers.

to the dates of the assemblies. Please refer to the back of the Room Request Form for the dates and the correct address for each convention city headquarters.

Badges

⁵ We are all Interested in advertising New World assemblies while en route and during our stay in the assembly city itself as well as on our return trip home. An attractive card for the 1957 conventions has been prepared to fit the folder used last year. Cards and additional celluloid holders should be ordered by the congregation servant. He should ascertain the congregation’s needs and then submit a cash item order. The cards will cost 1c each and the celluloid holders 5c each.

• ⁶ The Society is not providing car or bumper signs this year.

Spanish Meetings

• ⁷ Spanish-language programs will be carried at Los Angeles, Houston and Baltimore.

* Are you “a workman with nothing to be ashamed of”? *

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