OUR KINGDOM MINISTRY

FEBRUARY 1989

Vol. 32, No. 2

FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Meetings for Field Service

FEBRUARY 6-12

Making campaign offer

• 1. Suggest appropriate introductions.

• 2. How will you illustrate main point?

FEBRUARY 13-19

Laying groundwork for return visits

• 1. How can this be done on the first call?

• 2. What notations should you make on house-to-house records?

• 3. What will you discuss on the return visit?

FEBRUARY 20-26

Using the Reasoning book, pages 227-32

• 1. What Kingdom blessings may interest those in your territory?

• 2. What points might be used with children?

• 3. What points might be used with parents?

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5

Offering the Revelation Climax book

• 1. What introduction will you use?

• 2. What points from the book will you highlight?

  Demonstrating Love for God and Neighbor

  
  

• ¹ When answering one who asked: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’”—Matt. 22:36-39.

• ² Jesus’ deep love for God was evident in the way he lived his life. He said: “My food is for me to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) His genuine love for neighbor moved him to preach the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom with zeal. He also performed acts of healing. And what a superlative display of love was seen in the giving of his life as a ransom in behalf of mankind! How can we imitate Jesus in demonstrating our love for God and neighbor?

HOW TO DEMONSTRATE LOVE

• ³ Telling others the good news of the Kingdom is a major way for us to do this. People need to be given a basis for hope and information to help them deal with these critical times. (2 Tim. 3:1) Our faith in God’s Kingdom should motivate us to speak about it with an earnest desire to give all an opportunity to hear the truth. Speaking the truth about God’s King

  Are You Making Your Return Visits?

  
  

• ¹ What a thrilling report of dynamic activity is presented in the 1989 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses! Millions of people have been hearing the good news and millions of pieces of literature have been placed with interested people. The report indicates a keen awareness of the needjp call back where seeds of truth have been sown. (1 Cor. 3:6, 7) Further care is essential. Sharing fully in this work has brought great joy to Jehovah’s people, who made a total of 288,015,474 return visits last year.'

WHEN?

• ² When you locate interested people, do you make return visits before the initial interest cools off? Calling back within a few days often brings good results. Keep an accurate and complete record of all placements arid the interest you find. Regularly review these records to see that all your return visits are made promptly. Your diligence and persistence will be blessed by Jehovah and will dom and his purpose toward the earth honors him. Do we have such love for God and neighbor? Are we sharing fully in the work of Kingdom preaching? Do we take advantage of opportunities to witness informally to relatives, neighbors, and others? All of us must give such genuine evidence of our love for God and neighbor.

⁴ Some may have felt that only those who are skilled and well educated are really qualified to bear such an important message. Rather, it is our reliance on Jehovah that is important. (Luke 11:13; 1 Cor. 1:26, 29, 31) Love for God and neighbor will enable us to overcome negative feelings and find real joy in the ministry. When we realize that we are helping people described as being “skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd,” we no longer are overly concerned about ourselves.—Matt. 9:35, 36.

HOW TO SHARE IN FEBRUARY

⁵ During the month of February, we have a fine opportunity to express our love for God and neighbor by offering some of the Society’s older books for a contribution of 50e each. These older publications feature a variety of subjects, some of which will no doubt appeal to various ones (Continued on page 2, col. 1)

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 6

Song 72

10 mln: Local announcements. Include appropriate Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Encourage all to share in magazine witnessing on Saturday. Suggest talking points from current magazines.

20min: “Demonstrating Love for God and Neighbor.” Question-and-answer consideration of article. Include brief demonstration featuring an appropriate subject from one of the older books. Or demonstrate how to offer one of the 192-page books being offered for the regular contribution of $1.

15 min: Help Youths Defend Their Faith. Two well-prepared demonstrations showing practical value and use of Reasoning book. Comment briefly on need to be prepared to meet objec-. tions and to answer sincere questions. (1) Have exemplary youth demonstrate use of material under “What is the origin of Valentine's Day?" when speaking to a teacher, (pp. 181-2; p82 1/22 12) (2) Have jjareut reason with child on “What scriptures have always had a bearing on the attitude of true Christians toward ceremonies involving flags and national anthems?” (pp. 274-5) Emphasize need to be pleasing to Jehovah in all aspects of life and to preserve a good conscience. Song 37 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 13

Song 49

10 mln: Local announcements. Accounts report. Theocratic News. Call attention to “Our Identification as Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

Love                      (Cont’d)

in our territory. These publications have already proved their worth in helping many people to respond to the good news. So if we have any of these books left in stock, we are encouraged to put forth a concerted effort to get them into the hands of interested people who can be helped onto the way of life.

• ⁶ Congregations that do not have older books in stock will be offering any other 192-page book. Special effort should be made to use all the older books that are on hand locally.

• ⁷ Be sure to keep good house-to-house records. As we cover our territory more frequently, this becomes more important. When interest is

  discussion of article. When consider-

  
  

  ing paragraph 4, include demonstration of how to start a study using the Live Forever book. yv

  15 min: “Into All the Earth Their

  
  

  Sound Went Out.” Enthusiastic talk siderarticle in the December 15.1988.

  
  

20 i$fn: ^Are You Making Your Return Visits?” Question-and-answer based on pages 3-7 of the January 1, 1989, Watchtower. Show how we benefit from reports from other places.

Song 192 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 20

Song 39   _

10 min: Local announcements. Encourage support of magazine witnessing activity Saturday. Include brief magazine presentation featuring an article from The Watchtower or Awake! •

20 min: “Prepare Now for Increased Activity Ahead.” Question-and-answer consideration of article. Encourage setting goals and families’ working together to enjoy increased activity in the field ministry during March and April.

15 min: Question Box. Apply information to local needs and circumstances.

Song 44 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 27

Song 84           LfrRyC

10 min: Local announcements?* Encourage all to obtain adequate supply of Revelation Climax books and share in field ministry the first Sunday in March, r

23 mircU'Presenting the Good News found, try to get the person’s name. Take note of all placements as well as interest shown when the literature offer was not accepted. Make note of what you talked about, what seemed to interest the individual, and the time he would most likely be at home. Also, keep a careful record of addresses where no one was at home. Good organization in this regard will contribute toward being more productive in the ministry.

⁸ Observing the two greatest commandments is no less important for Christians today than it was in the first century. May we strive to demonstrate our love for God and neighbor by announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom at every opportunity during the month of February!

—With the New Offer.” Question-and-answer discussion. Read paragraphs tion on both paragraphs 5 and 6. Use well-prepared publishers to make clear and simple presentations.

12 min: “Do You Remember?” Con-

Watchtower by audience participation. Give preference to questions that are field oriented.

Song 6 and concluding prayer.

Question Box

• How should meetings for field service be conducted?

The meeting for field service is an established congregation arrangement. It should be orderly and conducted with dignity. The attitude and decorum of those attending should be the same as when attending other congregation meetings. The meeting should start on time even when it is known that others will be coming later, The one assigned to conduct the meeting should be prepared to present something practical that can he used that day m service. Our Kingdom Ministry provides useful information and suggestions for this meeting.

It is not necessary tn riivcnsK daily text nt each meeting. If the text for that day obviously provides a basis for giving encouragement in field service, it may be considered briefly. The meeting'should be held early enough to allow spending the full scheduled time in the field. It should be only 10 to 15 minutes in length. However, it may be shorter if it follows a regular congregation meeting. The schedule of the pioneers should be taken into consideration, since prolonged or late meetings^ for field service may place a burden on those who have to hold closely to a time schedule.

Arrangements_should be made for everyone present to have an assigned place to work. Of course, some may have'made personal arrangements to engage in return-visit or Bible-study activity and will not need to be given an assignment of territory to work.

All present should be attentive and cooperate throughout the meeting until the field groups have been made up and prayer has been offered. Those who have already made ar-

(Continued on page 3, col. 2)

Announcements

• Literature offer for February: Any 192-page book published prior to 1980, for a contribution of 50c. Although the Choosing, Commentary on James, and Word of God books may have been reprinted on better-grade paper, these too should be used in this offer. Alternate offer for congregations that do not have older books: any other 192-page book available locally for a contribution of $1.00 each. (See January Our Kingdom Ministry regarding credit request.) March: Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! for a contribution of $3.00. April and May: Subscription to The Watchtower for a contribution of $5.00 for each one-year subscription.

• • On April 29 the Brooklyn Bethel Home and factory and Watchtower Farms buildings will be closed for spring cleaning, so there will be no arrangements for tours or for the congregations to pick up literature on that day.

• The Memorial celebration will be held Wednesday, March 22, 1989. Although the talk may start earlier, please remember that the passing of the Memorial bread and wine should not begin until after sundown. Check with local sources to determine when sundown occurs in your area. No other meetings are to be conducted on that date. If your congregation normally has meetings on Wednesday, you may want to switch those to another time of the week if the hall is available. If your Service Meeting is affected, it may be possible to incorporate into another Service Meeting any parts scheduled for that week that are particularly applicable to your congregation.

• • Out of Stock in U.S.A.:

God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached     —Engl ish

• ¹ During harvesttime, those involved are busier than usual And during a time of urgency, people exert themselves and move about more vigorously than usual. We are living in a harvesttime and a time of urgency. There is much to do. Have you been preparing to accomplish all that is required?—Matt. 9:37, 38; 13:39; Luke 13:24; 1 Tim. 4:10.

THE MEMORIAL Cj fW

• ² The Memorial season is the most importanttime_of the year for Jehovah’s people. This year the Memorial celebration will be held on Wednesday evening, March 22. Are you making necessary arrangompnts SO that nothing will prevent you and your family from being in attendance? Have you been extending invitations to relatives and acquaintances, so that they too can be in attendance? What about interested ones in your territory, your Bible students, and former Bible students?—Luke 22: 19; Rev. 22:17.

• ³ The elders usually arrange for a thorough cleaning of the Kingdom Hall before the Memorial so that all wiTTbe in readiness. Have arrangements been made for the Memorial speaker, the emblems and those who will serve them, as well as extra seating and sufficient attendants tor this Special occasion?

AN INCREASED SHARE IN THE FIELD SERVICE

• ⁴ The Memorial season reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice in our behaTT. Thus, it is an especially appropriate time for us to consider- how to ii> crease our activity in the Held ministry. This is one of the ways to express our appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kindness through his Son.

• ⁵ Can you serve as an auxiliary pioneer during March eb April, or during both months?'These months, and also May, will feature an all-out campaign to publicize the powertui message~of Revelation? March will mark our ini-

Question Box             (Cont’d)

rangements can make this known. Specific assignments of groups and territories should be completed before concluding the meeting for field service—not in the parking lot or at some other public place. The meeting for field service should be closed with prayer. We can confidently expect Jehovah’s greater blessing on the preaching work for that day if all concerned adhere to these suggestions. tial campaign with the Revelation Climax book, and surely all Kingdom publishers will want to expend themselves in this activity. The more favorable weather will be conducive to this. April has five weekends- What a grand opportunity to make magazine days of five Saturdays in succession, offering the colorful Watchtower is*-sues on Babylon, the Great! Of these, the Agril 15 Watchtower will contain the complete text of the forceful talk on “The Infamous Harlot” ^and^the stirring resolution that followed at our “Divine Justice" conventions. What more incentive could we want to be busy on those five weekends, if possible as auxiliary pioneers, in giving this dynamic message the widest possible distribution! And to sug-picnmnt this rousing message, the April 8 Awake¹ will set forth eyeopening articles on the Holocaust of the Nazi era,

• ⁶ Extra effort is needed in order to have an increased share in the field ministry. Even if you cannot pioneer, it would be appropriate to set a personal goal of hours for March and April. Could you arrange to have more time for the field ministry hy cutting back on personal pursuits and recreation? Put forth the effort. Ask Jehovah to strengthen you and bless you. Those who have physical limitations may jnd that with the help of others, they too can have an added share in this campaign.

• ⁷ For all of us, March and April should be a very busy time in Jehovah's service. The elders will be diligent to have everything well organized. Literature needs should fl be determined and orders placed well in advance. Make sure extra magazines, especially the April 15 Watchtower, are available. Arrange for feE-ntory, and make plans to cover it thoroughly. Have appropriate arrangements for field service, including evening witnessing. As we earnestly pray tor Jenovah’s blessing, let us make wise use of the time to his praise.

NOVEMBER SERVICE REPORT

Av.    Av    Av

Pubs.  Hrs.  Mags.  R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios. 268 127.8 77.7 52.8 5.5 Pios.      62,202  81.5  36.1 27.0

Aux. Pios. 32,556  58.7  26.7 16.6

Pubs. 684,939   9.5   6.1   3.7 0.5

TOTAL 779,965

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 2,962

With the New Offer

¹ Sincere Bible students have for centuries desired to understand the book of Revelation. Since 1917,. when The Finished Muntem was released, several books have been published by the Society to help God-fearing people understand this Bible book. Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! provides the clearest and most comprehensive explanation to date of the inspired Bible book of Revelation,

² Jehovah’s people especially have a keen interest in Revelation, with its fascinating visions of (“things that must shortly take place?”'JRev. 1:1) So it was with great joy ana appreciation that we received the new Revelation Climax book at the “Divine Justice” District Convention. Have you been reading your copy? During the month of March, we will have opportunity to present this new book to all we meet.

FEATURES APPRECIATED

³ Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! is especially appreciated because it gives a verse-by-verse discussion of the entire book of Revelation. This will prove to be invaluable for personal-study and in’teaching’ others.

⁴ No doubt your attention was captured by the book’s striking illustrations. They are a great aid in visualizing the symbolisms described by John. Use these illustrations effectively when presenting the book in the field service. Although we want to feature the Kingdom blessings in presenting_the good news, we also need to help interested people aoore-ciate the urgent message from .Jesus CKrist found in the book of Revelation. As the speaker at the district convention urged^-/"Use this new book ... in announcing to the world that Babylon the Great is doomed, that the nations now face Armageddon, and that the grand climax will be reached in Jehovah’s magnificent Kingdom rule by Christ and his bride.”!

WHAT WILL YOU SAY?

• ⁵ After introducing yourself, you might say:(“Many have wished they could understand the book of Revelation. Of great consequence is ‘the hour of the judgment’ mentioned at Revelation 14:7._ [Read-] It may greatly surprise you to find out who it is that has received an adverse judgment by God. [Read Revelation 18: 2a, 4.] Have you ever heard the ex-pressfon ‘Babylon the Great’? [Allow for reply. ] What is it referring to, and what is it that we need to get out of? [Display Revelation Climax book.] What makes this book so interesting and so helpful is that it provides enlightening comments on each verse in the Bible book of Revelation.

The information presented in chapters 33-38 identifies Babylon” the Great and tells’ of Its immffiBHt destruction. [ Highlight a specific reference or picture in the publication.! TKISTnformation will be of great value in helping you and your loved ones to take steps to gain God’s favor, thus avoiding the fate of Babylon the Great. I encourage you to accept a copy of this book, Revelation—Its, Grand Climax At Hand!, for just $3.”

• ⁶ To make a brief presentation? some may choose to read Revelation 18:4 and then turn to the picture on page 241, stating that the ho5R explains what Babylon the Great pictures, what the peast pictures, and why it is so important tor us to heed

God’s warning concerning them. Newer or less experienced publishers could explain the picture on page 302, using Revelation 21:4 as quoted on page 303-            “

• ⁷ Your introduction and the points scriptures and information under “Babylon the Great,” on pages 49, 52, arid”53 of the Reasfinii' ther, honesthearted ones must be given the opportunity to ‘come out of her' and take a firm stand for the

  truth. To that end we raise our voices in unison, saving(“Come!” to those, who are thirsting for “life’s water.” —Rev. 22:17.                  >

  
  

THEOCRATIC NEWS

♦ The British Virgin Islandshad a new peak of 114 publishers in September, a 13-percent increase. They are conducting 145 studies.

♦ Haiti had a new peak of 5,629 publishers in September, a 12-percent increase. Congregation publishers averaged 13.2 hours and 1.2 studies.

♦ Japan had a new peak of 129,602 publishers in September. During three summer months, 308 congregations and 77 family groups shared in covering 385 towns and villages in unassigned territory, reaching an additional population of about 1.9 million.

Return Visits

the first step toward starting a study. On the initial call or when making a return visit, q§k;<Have you ever thought about living forever? [Allow response.] Of course, many would not relish having to endure forever the suffering, violence, and hunger . that plague so many at this time.” ) While turning to pages 11-13, you might ask: “But suppose you could live forever under conditions like these. Would that not be pleasurable? [Allow response.] Living forever under such perfect conditions requires something of usTNotice^-what paTSgrapK~I9 says. [Read.] Let me demonstrate how this book is designed to help you to take in such knowledge.”

⁵ Publishers are encouraged to leave tracts with individuals who may not. accept the regular literature offer or where no one is at home.

•These'can be effectively used on return visits to demonstrate our study method. Each tract discusses two or three points. Read one paragraph at a time with the householder. When a question is asked, stop and invite the householder to express himself. Look up and apply the scriptures cited.

¹¹ Experience has shown that it is bestjp schedule set times for making return visits_and developing and conducting studies. Having a definite time for this work will help us to follow up interest promptly. Perhaps time can be set aside in the evening, on the weekend, or after completing our house-to-house work. Determine the time that is best for you and for the territory. Then endeavor to share in this work regularly, so as to make disciples.—Matt. 28:19, 20.

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Life—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation!:

February 6: Pages 196* to 201

February 13: Pages 202 to 207’

February 20: Pages 207* to 214*

February 27: Pages 214" to 220*

• To or from subheading.

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