APRIL, 1967

FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA “Here I ami Send me.”—Isa. 6:8.

VOL. X NO. 4

My dear Brothers and Sisters:

Isn’t it good to have spring back with us again? It has been a difficult winter in most parts of the United States, but winter to us means summer to our brothers and sisters in the southern hemisphere. You know', some of those countries in Latin America have had new' peaks in publishers, and some have reached 10-percent increases even though they had conventions to care for. Usually a convention month pulls down the number of publishers who share in the ministry. I was just checking over the reports for the 21 countries where we had conventions during December and January. During the 1966 service year we had 116,586, on the average, throughout the 21 lands. In December In these same countries we had 121,751 publishers in the Held, and in January there were 122,875 preaching the good news of tlie Kingdom. So they did very well, didn’t they?

Of course, the best month for those countries is April, just as it is here in North America and elsewhere. So we are looking forward to April’s activity. I am just wondering, have all of us thought of what we can do this April as compared with last April? Or what we can do tills April as compared with March? Can we do better? Can congregation publishers add, say, five more hours to their field service report during April than they did in March? This would make April outstanding, something special. Is it possible that we might make more back-calls, get another Bible study started? Could we really put forth an extraordinary effort to take someone else out in the field service that we know has not been out for a while? Would not April be a good month to start those people in the field ministry who have been studying with us for six months or a year and who attend meetings and qualify? Now that it is still early in the month, let’s do our planning to make this our best April ever in every way we can.

¹ “A true companion is loving . . (Prov. 17:17) He is one who can give help when it is needed. Such true companions were never more greatly needed than in these critical times in which we are living. Their help Is essential in building up others spiritually and aiding them to keep active in Jehovah’s service.

• ² Think how needed true companions are. In April we are seeking a 20-pereent increase in publishers—366,577 is the exact figure. The only way we can reach such a fine figure is by outstanding activity in the congregations throughout the country. It calls for each one to be active In the ministry and to give practical aid to others.

• ³ Whom can you lovingly assist? One large group is made up of the

We have had an exciting month of March here at Bethel with the graduation of the 43rd class of Gilead, and we have been saying good-bye to many of the missionaries who are going off into these distant lands. Also, here in the Brooklyn office we get subscriptions from all over the world. Many brothers send them here because we print their language, and we are very pleased to know' that, at: the end of February, we were 68,000 subscriptions ahead of the Watch-tower campaign of 1966. It looks as though the 1967 Watchtower campaign will be better than ever.

By Jehovah’s tindeserved kindness let us make April an extraordinary month in the life of each one of us as far as preaching the good news is concerned; and let us continue to pray for Jehovah’s rich blessing to be upon our brothers around the world as, together, we, "by teaching, make disciples of Christ.” What a glorious treasure we have!

Your brother, children of dedicated parents. Thousands of these have published. Perhaps all they will need to publish in April is encouragement and companionship. There may be many youngsters who are now willing and ready to share in service for the first time. If so, could you parents aid them to develop a magazine presentation or a simple sermon they might use?

• ⁴ How about those with whom you are studying and who have been making good progress? Are such ones attending meetings? Are they now Scripturally and morally qualified to be extended an invitation to share In the service? If so, and if you have not already suggested this, why not talk it over at your next study?

⁸ Since extensive efforts have been put forth to study with those who have been inactive, there may be many such ones who are now attending meetings and would be happy to get started in the service again. Perhaps you know of such a one that you could invite to accompany you as you engage in the discipling work.

⁸ Of course, the first one to get In the service in April is oneself. We may be the ones who need encouragement. If so, we want to remember what a privilege it is to act for Jehovah as a teacher making disciples.—Matt. 28:19, 20.

• ⁷ With all this talk about true companions, we do not want to forget the servants, study conductors and other mature publishers who are doing such a wonderful job of helping others all the time. They will be especially busy this month working for the 20-percent increase, and we feel confident that their fine efforts to aid others will be deeply appreciated by all, whether weak or strong.

• ⁸ As all work together unitedly as companions, we can look forward to reaching a grand new peak of publishers in April.

  By teaching, make disciples of Christ.

  
  
  

  SECOND MEETING IN APRIL

  
  

Theme: Work What Is Good Toward Those in the Faith. (Gal. 6:10) Song 2.

5 min: Introduction, text, comments. 2 min: Accounts report.

15 min: "Be a True Companion.’* Questions and answers. Included in this could be a demonstration on inviting to start in the service a person who is ready and willing, explaining to the person what he may say when with you.

10 min: Two publishers or vacation pioneers discuss together specific points from the April 15 "Watchtower" (give page and paragraph) that have been helpful to tnem in placing magazines. They may demonstrate briefly to each other.

18 min: Giving Practical Aid.

(2 min.) Overseer meets with study conductors on platform (perhaps only four or five if there are many). He reminds them goal in month is to help all publishers, regular or irregular, to share in the service. Suggests they work with as many publishers as possible themselves. One mentions his problem is that when he has tried to work personally with some they cannot make their schedules coincide. Overseer invites others to demonstrate what they are doing to overcome this problem.

(4 min.) One study conductor explains that vacation pioneers have oeen a big help. Demonstrates how he talked to vacation pioneer sister and arranged for her to work with two publishers he could not work with.

(10 min.) Overseer continues to discuss with study conductors how they are overcoming local problems in getting all in their group to share in the service. Practical suggestions given, such as caring for children while sister with opposed husband and four children goes in service, furnishing infirm sister with names and addresses of persons to whom she can write, taking other publishers on back-calls in the evening, helping others engage in magazine W’ork -by assisting them to prepare presentation, etc. Saturday a good day to help if some not free on Sunday. (Cover practical points that Will be helpful locally.)

(2 min.) Overseer concludes with commendation for good work done and encouragement to continue helping all, regular and irregular, as well as qualified interested persons to share in service in April.

10 min: Concluding comments. Include "How Did We Do in February?” as well as how many subscriptions to date and encouragement to obtain subscriptions from fellow workers, neighbors and schoolmates. Song 81.

THIRD MEETING IN APRIL

Theme: Presenting Ourselves for a Share In Sacred Service. (Rom. 12:1) Song 13.

8 min: Introduction, text and remarks on theme and its meaning. (See "Life Everlasting” book, pages 284, 285.) 15 min: "Let the Teachers Hear!” Discuss how young publishers can approach teachers they know to present April 22 "Awake!” Demonstrate it. Next, discuss how to approach teachers they do not know, and demonstrate this. Then tell how friendly notes with copy of special issue can be sent to teachers who cannot be contacted personally.

12 min: Study conductor with group after meeting discusses with them points they have gleaned from April 22 "Awake!” These should be well prepared, including points they have found practical In placing magazines during week.

15 min: Enthusiastic talk on letter from N. H. Knorr, stressing expanding service activity. Commend brothers for good work done to date in April and urge full support of field service arrangements during remainder of month. Special encouragement can be given to consider Gilead and missionary service. May include appropriate local or "Yearbook” experiences of blessings coming to those who have expanded their share in field ministry as publishers or pioneers. (See "Watch Tower Publications Index.”)

10 min: Concluding announcements. Include slogan from page 4 and experiences from vacation pioneers in helping others in । service. Song 42.

FOURTH MEETING IN APRIL

Theme: Let Us Be Teachers. Song 18.

12 min: Introduction, including text with family at evening meal and discussion of plans for future assembly they will attend as suggested by Society in "Where Will You Attend?” Also include appropriate items from Theocratic News.

15 min: Presenting the Good News. Talk and demonstrations on following up subscription placements and starting study in "Awake!” or booklet. If possible, use younger publishers who are vacation pioneers in April. 15 min: Talk and demonstration, "Have You Forgotten Your Decision to Serve Jehovah?” (April 1, 1967, "Watchtower”) In demonstration show how this article may be read with those who were once active or how they can be encouraged to read it themselves. Perhaps a member of the committee or a study conductor could demonstrate making call.

10 min: Question Box. Assistant congregation servant or study conductor answers question of new publisher who wonders what is the purpose of turning In a field service report.

8 min: Concluding comments. Include an up-to-date report on subscriptions placed in campaign, also on publishers out to date in April and what can be done to get others out on last weekend. Song 54.

FIRST MEETING IN MAY

Theme: Keep Christian Balance Under Responsibilities. Song 115.

5 min: Introduction, text, comments. 10 min: Talk on theme for month, "Keep Christian Balance Under Responsibilities.” See May 1,  1967,

"Watchtower,” and May 15, 1966, issue, pages 293-299. Include experience from "1967 Yearbook ” page 129, par. 1.

10 min: "You Are Invited to Come Again.” Two brothers, possibly members of the committee, discuss together how article in May 1 "Watchtower,” "You Are Invited to Come Again,” will help to get Interested persons coming to the meetings regularly. They plan to call on some they know who attended Memorial but have not been at meetings since. One demonstrates to the other what he will say in making the call and how he will tactfully arrange to read the article with them. Will try to arrange Bible study with those who are not presently having a study.

15 min: Sermon for May. Chairman discusses sermon with audience, noting use of positive approach to capture interest. New offer of "Life Everlasting” or "Impossible to Lie” book. After discussing sermon, prepared publisher gives sample presentation.

Theme: Time to Rejoice

Luke 21:28—Time to rejoice; end of troublesome days near

2 Pet. 3:13, 14—Promised new system brings blessings to those accepting God’s provisions

Why not try this approach after a friendly greeting? "I wanted to stop and see you because this is the most marvelous and favored time in history to be living. True, these are often confusing, bewildering and troublesome days. But Bible prophecy tells us that when we see such conditions as these exist we should rejoice. Note here Jesus' words at Luke 21:28. [Read] How can a person rejoice when wickedness, wars and troubles among mankind are worse than ever before? Because these prove we are in the last days of this system of things. It means a great change is at hand. It is the apostle Peter who tells us what will happen when these days come to their end, here in 2 Peter 3:13. [Read] Can’t you see now why this is a most marvelous and favored time to be living? While a big change is at hand, we can enjoy the righteous benefits of this new system if we follow the counsel in the next verse: 'Beloved ones, since we are awaiting these things, do your utmost . . . ’ This Bible-study aid will show you where you may find further information from God’s Word on this promised new order.” Chairman then will encourage prompt return visits on placements to start studies or suggest that some may wish to invite householder to study the Bible and then use sermon, depending on response of householder. 10 min: Experiences of young publishers and others in placing special April 22 "Awake!” with teachers. Briefly interview some who took part In the work.

10 min: Concluding comments. Give April report if completed, also total subscriptions placed during campaign. Encourage following through to help new ones started in service in April. Song 96.

FEBRUARY SERVICE REPORT

Public Meetings Held: 19,540 UNITED STATES GOAL FOR 1967 336,029 Publishers

HOW DID WE DO IN FEBRUARY?

Best ever! That’s the February report of new subscriptions obtained. The exact number is 138,726, or 26,334 more than last February. This is certainly excellent, especially since February is a short month and there was much stormy, cold weather. It appears that the suggestions to offer subscriptions to relatives and to those with whom we study have been blessed with fine success. Gift subscriptions also have been received in large numbers. If the trend continues in the last two months, the entire campaign will be the best ever!

¹ Brothers, there is an important work that we would like to do in April that needs your special attention right away. Because the April 22 Awake! on “Evolution or Creation—Which?” is especially appropriate for educators, we suggest that each congregation put forth a diligent effort to see that teachers in their territory receive personal copies. The special Awake! will appeal to teachers because it presents scientific fact and is well documented. It is frank in showing that evolution is based upon popular misconceptions, that It is not supported by facts of science and that it undermines faith in God and weakens the morals of those who accept it. The special Awake! may help teachers individually, not only to break free from belief in evolution, but to learn the Bible’s truth 1 Here is an assignment well worth special time and effort.

• ² You young publishers in school will want to offer the teachers you know a copy of the special Awake! Why not present it personally at an appropriate time and in a friendly way? Even if you do not personally know all the teachers in your school, you can still present them with copies. If it is not convenient to approach them personally, then sit down and write a brief, friendly note introducing yourself and the special Awake! Sign the note and leave it with the magazine for the teacher. Where there is more than one Witness in a classroom, determine among yourselves who will make the presentation. The others may supply the magazines to the remaining teachers in the school, either by personal contact or by mail. One of the young publishers should also be selected to take the magazine to the principal. As to how you place the magazine, whether as a gift or on a contribution basis, you may decide, since circumstances vary.

  Announcements

  
  

  ♦ Have you found at the last minute that you can vacation pioneer during April? Apply promptly and the Society will be pleased to process your application speedily.

  ♦ Offer for May: Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of Goa or "Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie," with a booklet, for 50c. Offer for June: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, with a booklet, for $1. If some have copies of the Christian Greek Scriptures or the Hebrew Scriptures in stock, these also might be placed.

  ♦ The following suggestions are offered for meetings for field service: Week of April 9: Talking points from April 15 Watchtower to use in obtaining subscriptions. April 16: Talking points from April 22 Awake.' for use when dropping down to individual copies of magazines. April 23: What to say when calling back on those who promised to subscribe. April 30: Suggestions for starting studies with those who obtained subscriptions during campaign. May 7: Review sermon for May.

  ♦ At a time convenient to them, it would be well for the overseer, literature and accounts servants to go over the new Cost List and become familiar with it, especially noting “Instructions on How to Order.”

  ♦ The Society will keep in stock a supply of music records for “Singing

  
  

• ³ What if there are no Witnesses attending a certain school in your territory? Here either young or older publishers can make a personal call. In some cases, the principal may be willing to take copies to other teachers. But when personal calls are not- convenient, obtain the names of the teachers and mail them the magazine with a friendly note. Where schools are larger, directories of teachers may be available at the main library, chamber of commerce, courthouse, or at the school Itself.

•* Some congregations may have universities in their territory. It may be possible to get a list of the names of the teachers at the college itself or there may be a directory available from another source. If the names of the faculty members can be obtained, addresses may be found in the telephone directory. Or the magazine could be mailed to the teacher in care of the school.

⁵ Since some teachers are acquainted with Awake! they may (Continued on page 4, col. 1)

and Accompanying Yourselves with Music in Your Hearts” for congregations and publishers who may need either a full set of ten or the individual records. We still have 73 sets of tapes in stock, but these will be going out of stock. While they last they are $25 per set of seven reels or $3.75 per reel. Both records and tapes are produced in monaural only.

♦ Before a congregation purchases land for Kingdom Hall use or applies for a use permit, the congregation committee would do well to secure the advice of a local attorney of its choice. Also “Information Regarding Ownership of Kingdom Halls" is available to each congregation by writing to the Society. Office of the Secretary and Treasurer, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201.

♦ New publications available:

"This Good News of the Kingdom" —Clnyanja, Dutch, Greek What Has God’s Kingdom Been Doing Since 1914?        —German,

Portuguese From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained                 —Turkish

+ Out of stock in U.S.A.:

Calendar 1967           —Japanese

Awake.' bound volume 1966—English, Spanish Watchtower bound volume 1966 —English

Where Will You Attend?

^{> 1} What a joy it is to attend assemblies! This year the “Disciplemaking” District Assemblies will be held in forty-five conveniently located cities in the United States. The dates and cities are:

June 22-25: Kalispell, Mont.; Shreveport. La.; Stockton. Calif.

June 29-July 2: Aberdeen, S.D.: Amarillo, Tex. (Spanish also); Galveston. Tex.; Montgomery, Ala.; Sedalia, Mo.; Utica, N.Y.

July 6-9: Allentown, Pa.; Asheville, N.C.; Lansing, Mich.; Salina, Kans.; Taunton. Mass.; Tucson, Ariz.; Waco, Tex.; West Palm Beach, Fla. (Spanish also)

July 13-16: Chicago. Ill. (Spanish only); Laredo, Tex. (Spanish only); San Jose, Calif.; Savannah, Ga.

July 20-23: Manchester, N.H.; Ogden, Utah; Springfield, Mo.; Trenton, N.J.

July 27-30: Fresno, Calif.; Madison, Wis.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Yakima. Wash.

August 3-6: Eugene, Ore.; Grand Island, Neb.; Jersey City, N.J. (Spanish also); Pomona, Calif. (Spanish also); Raleigh, N.C.

August 10-13: Columbus, Ga.; Peoria. HI.; Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; South Bend, Ind.

August 17-20: Costa Mesa. Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Worcester, Mass.

August 24-27: Evansville. Ind.; Jackson, Mich.; Laurel, Md. (tentative); Rochester, Minn.

² Where will you attend? In most cases it will be practical to attend the nearest assembly. However, due to the large number of brothers in certain metropolitan areas, coupled with the size of cities and assembly auditoriums, it is necessary to make the recommendations below so the attendance will be in keeping with the facilities in each city. This will work for the comfort of all attending. The difference in mileage is only slight and should affect only a very few.

³ As an example, some of the Chicago circuits are slightly nearer to South Bend. Nevertheless, because of the smaller facility it will not be able to accommodate circuits that are being asked to go to Madison, Wisconsin. Please check carefully the following list to see where your circuit is assigned to attend if it is other than the nearest assembly city. So you can benefit most from the program, we know you will want to cooperate with these recommendations.

Amarillo, Tex.:   Col. #1, 3.

Columbus, Ga.:   Ga. #4.

Evansville, Ind.: Ind. #2.

Fresno, Calif.: Calif. #7, 8. 9, 33. Kalispell, Mont.: Wash. #3. Lansing, Mich.: Mich. #1, 11, 13. Madison, Wis.: III. #1, 2, 11; Ind. #6. Montgomery, Ala.: La. #3; Circuit

#15.

Peoria, III.: Ill. #13.

Pittsburgh, Pa.:   Ohio #6.

Pomona, Calif.:    Calif. #6, 21, 24.

Raleich, N.C.: N.C. #3. 6.

San Jose, Calif.: Calif. #12, 19, 22, 34.

Shreveport, La.: La. #1.

Utica, N.Y.: N.Y. #13.

Worcester, Mass.: Conn. #1.

Cultivating or Abandoning?

’Having carefully sown the seed In the spring of the year, the gardener knows that he has work ahead, doesn’t he? Regular cultivation must now take place. Of course, he could abandon the field, allowing the weeds to take over. But would that make sense? Hardly. All the labor and money thus far invested would be completely lost.

• ² Are you cultivating or are you abandoning? Having spent time and effort patiently calling at each door to present the good news, tactfully overcoming the objections of some, enduring abuse from others, then finding some interest or placing some literature, what do you do about it?—1 Cor. 3:6.

• ³ What should we do about it? Really, we should view things as Jehovah does. “He does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Thus when someone shows

Let the Teachers Hear!          (Cont’d)

express appreciation for the magazine when you give it to them. If so, it may be the ideal time to tell them how they may obtain Awake! by mail for only $1 a year. In other cases, a few days after you place it a teacher may tell you how much lie enjoyeil it. If so, tactfully seize the opportunity to offer a subscription.

⁶ Congregation servants, please do the following right away: (1) Determine how many schools and schoolteachers there are in your territory. (2) Work out arrangements with young publishers to reach as many teachers as possible in the schools they attend. (3) Determine which schools do not have publishers attending and arrange to cover these as already suggested. (4) Decide how many more magazines you will need and order these right away. The cost may be cared for either by the congregation or by each publisher, as you decide. Some congregations have ordered extra copies already, but you may need still more to care for this special work. Yes, let the teachers hear, and let us all look forward to hearing some of the resulting experiences on the first service meeting in May.

any interest at all in the truth our interest in him should immediately be aroused and our minds should begin to formulate plans for cultivating that Interest.

⁴ When we look at matters this way we begin to appreciate just how many opportunities for cultivating are open to us because of the Watchtower campaign. When someone subscribes, we will want to deliver the current issues until the magazines begin to arrive through the mail. Delivering these single issues should never be looked upon as an ✓unimportant, routine work, but, rather, as an outstanding opportunity to do some cultivating work.                _

⁸ Do you have difficulty deciding just what to talk about on your back-calls? This need not be true when calling back on a subscriber. Just read carefully an article in a recent magazine that you believe he will be interested in and then discuss it with him. You know the magazine should be in the home, so right there is your opening. If it is lost you will have another one, and whether he did or did not read the article makes little difference; present some of the highlights and stir up interest. Some have obtained double subscriptions or just a subscription for Awake!, and then a study article in the first Awake! issue of almost any month can be used to start a study.

⁰ Of course, there are obstacles, aren’t there? Time slips by and the back-call isn’t made. Have you failed to deliver the single issues until the mailman makes the delivery? Have you ever received an expiration notice from the Society and realized that you should have called back on that subscriber long ago? Are you using the new feature of the Awake! for starting studies? It makes one think, doesn’t it? This would be a good time to make a self-appraisal and then to improve our cultivating if necessary.

^T What a privilege Jehovah extends to us 1 Right-hearted ones will show that spark of interest that our training will help us to recognize. Would a fellow worker with God willingly abandon such a one? No; rather, doing things Jehovah’s way, we will begin thinking immediately in terms of the cultivating work.

THEOCRATIC NEWS

♦ Italy reports a new peak in publishers of 10,750 and, in Bible studies, of 9,752 during January, the third consecutive month for such increases.

♦ The first district assembly for the Congo was held in Kinshasa, with 3,817 in attendance and 87 immersed. There was an increase of 34 percent in publishers, as 6,423 reported service for January.

♦ Okinawa, Ryukyu islands, had a peak of 260 publishers, a 16-percent increase over last year's average.

♦ Kenya reported fourth new peak of the service year, in January, with 322 publishers, for a 25-percent increase.

♦ The circuit servant reports that in Pulaski, Virginia, all six servants in the congregation are regular pioneers.

♦ To protest the mistreatment of our brothers in Portugal and Greece, ten congregations in a Colorado circuit wrote a total of 6,198 letters.

♦ Reports on meeting attendance compiled between September and January in the U.S.A, show the following percentages: "Watchtower” study, 84.1 percent/ service meeting, 74.1 percent; ministry school, 74.9 percent; congregation book study, 81.9 percent. This is an excellent improvement.

05ox

• Why is it important for each Kingdom publisher to report his activity in the field service?

Jehovah has given his people a commission to preach “this good news of the kingdom” in all the inhabited earth. (Matt. 24:14) This is one of the features of the sign showing that we are living in the “time of the end." As each hour is reported by every publisher, the total report as shown In "Kingdom Ministry” and the "Yearbook" reveals what is being accomplished in preaching this good news. It proves that God’s Word is true, that the work foretold is being done.

By our turning in these reports to the congregation it is possible to ascertain the extent of theocratic activity in the congregation, in the country and in the world. Such information is encouraging to us all. —Prov. 15:30; 25:25.

There is a Scriptural basis for such reports. Jesus and the man with the writer’s inkhorn in Ezekiel’s prophecy are both described as reporting on the work they did. (John 17:4; Ezek. 9:11) The reports, when tabulated for each country, help the "faithful and discreet slave" class to determine where the need is greatest and the progress of the work. When some share only in a limited w’ay, their report indicates to the servants that they are in need of help. Thus individual reports remind the servants of those needing assistance, so they can better care for the flock of God. So your service reports benefit both you and all your Christian brothers.

*          Can you help someone into the service in April?          *

Published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 117 Adams St,, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 Second-class postage paid at Brooklyn, N.Y. Printed in U.S.A.

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