Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians best known for their
distinctive type of missionary activity. All witnesses are baptized
by immersion, making them ordained ministers. Thereafter, they
minister to family, friends and neighbors by announcing God’s
Kingdom to others.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians best known for their distinctive type of missionary activity. All witnesses are baptized by immersion, making them ordained ministers. Thereafter, they minister to family, friends and neighbors by announcing God’s Kingdom to others.
Every weekend (or more frequently) millions of them go door-to-door sharing their understanding of the Bible. They distribute publications that clarify the message of God: “Awake” (published in 83 languages) and “The Watchtower” (188 languages) as well as other books, leaflets and Bibles published by The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the nonprofit organization’s official name.
Each summer, Jehovah’s Witnesses hold three-day regional assemblies called “District Conventions.” Beginning in May and continuing through September, there will be a total of 381 conventions in 98 cities throughout the United States. The programs will be held in English, Spanish and 17 other languages, including American Sign Language.
The total attendance projected for this year’s conventions is 1.7 million people. All sessions of the conventions are open to the public; there is no charge for admission and no collections are taken. With 166 congregations in this area distributing invitations, an expected 24,000 to 30,000 members and visitors are expected to attend locally.
The theme for this year’s conventions is “Let God’s Kingdom Come,” a program focusing on “a government that millions … pray for, God’s Kingdom government, which is requested in the world-famous model prayer taught by Jesus Christ.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the request for God’s Kingdom in the “model prayer” recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6 (also known as “The Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father”) has profound meaning. They also believe that the answer to that prayer “will bring significant changes to the earth and mankind.” The convention program promises “intriguing details from the Bible’s explanation of such developments.” South Valley members are joining with those from San Jose, Santa Cruz, Hollister, Los Banos and Watsonville to invite others to attend the local convention.
The first of six three-day weekend events to be held in the Santa Clara Convention Center will begin Friday, June 3 at 9 a.m. “Strengthening one’s faith in the reality of that Kingdom” will be the focus of the program. Hundreds of Witness volunteers will work behind the scenes of the convention to make sure those in attendance will be well cared for during the three days.
The district conventions across the country share a common format, each day beginning at 9 a.m. Along with plentiful music and prayer, each session will have special features:
– Friday: a chairman’s address, a symposium on covenants, a keynote address and a symposium on miracles.
– Saturday: A symposium on Satan and demons, and a drama from the Bible.
– Sunday: A symposium on the messianic king’s personality traits, a public Bible discourse and another Biblical drama.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses have come a long way since a modest beginning in 1879. Charles Taze Russell, founder of the group, envisioned a return to the primitive origins of Christianity. The organization grew slowly because of persecution in this country and abroad over its vigorous stand for Christian neutrality in government affairs (no participating in politics) and a prohibition of military service. Today there are some 7.5 million Witnesses in more than 107,000 congregations around the world.
For more information, visit www.watchtower.org or call a Kingdom Hall (worship-meeting facility): In Hollister, (831) 637-0956; in Morgan Hill, (408) 779-5739; or in Gilroy, (408) 842-0519.
