The letter and number symbol following the name of each country indicates the country’s location on the endsheet maps. Number 1 to 25 refer to the front endsheet and numbers 26 to 50 the the back endsheet.

1971 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

pp. 5–63

1971 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

It is estimated that today 924,274,000 persons profess Christianity. Do you think that the majority of these persons are running the great race for the faith? Have they taken hold on everlasting life? Or, do you think that the majority of those in Christendom believe that they have gained what life they have through an evolutionary process? Many of Christendom’s schools teach evolution, not creation by God, as the Bible states. Which way do you lean?

In the denominational systems of Christendom it is generally understood that Jesus was the founder of Christianity, but today a number of the so-called modernists, and those of little faith, do not accept Jesus Christ as their redeemer from death. They look upon Jesus as an ordinary man who had a very fine philosophy, taught many good things and led an exemplary life. But as for his being the Son of God born of the virgin Mary, and providing the ransom price for all mankind, well, that is going too far for them. And then there is the creation of Adam and Eve by God, and the story of Noah with his ark. Does it take too much faith for you to believe all that also?

Well, what about Peter, who many say was the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church? He believed the Holy Scriptures just as Christ Jesus did and he said: “I am arousing your clear thinking faculties by way of a reminder, that you should remember the sayings previously spoken by the holy prophets . . . For, according to their [that is, the scoffers’] wish, this fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens from of old and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; and by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.”—2 Pet. 3:1-7.

Maybe you do not have faith like Peter’s, but Peter believed the things he wrote about the flood of Noah’s day because he had faith in what was “spoken by the holy prophets” and by Christ Jesus, who said: “For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” (Matt. 24:37-39) Here Jesus was answering a question put to him by his disciples, namely: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matt. 24:3) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, described to his disciples the many things that would happen at the conclusion of this system of things, or, if you prefer the expression, the “end of the world.” Read the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. It may rekindle a fire in you and you may want to enter the great contest of faith. If you already believe God’s Word it will certainly help you to continue fighting a fine fight for the faith.

Jesus declared that one of the big events that would take place world wide in the last days of this system of things would be a great preaching work concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus prophesied: “And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”—Matt. 24:14.

Jesus startled people by saying something that millions of people are still saying: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9, 10, King James Version) Were you taught that prayer and have you prayed it once in a while in your life? But how many persons saying these words really want Jehovah God’s kingdom to come to take over the rulership of this earth? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did! Do you?

IN WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST?

Jesus’ whole interest in life was in God’s kingdom. It still is. In his Sermon on the Mount he said: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33) Jesus trained people to talk about this kingdom, and he sent his twelve disciples out to tell other persons about the Kingdom. He said: “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free.” (Matt. 10:7, 8) Jesus wanted his disciples to help people everywhere to understand that the only hope for mankind to get hold of everlasting life was through God’s kingdom. “Now when Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he set out from there to teach and preach in their cities.” (Matt. 11:1) After teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum and doing some wonderful works Jesus told his disciples: “‘Let us go somewhere else, into the village towns nearby, that I may preach there also, for it is for this purpose I have gone out.’ And he did go, preaching in their synagogues throughout the whole of Galilee and expelling the demons.”—Mark 1:38, 39.

For three and one half years Jesus devoted himself to teaching and preaching and his only theme was the kingdom of God and the blessings that it would bring to mankind. Then he died upon the torture stake. But he knew that the good news of the Kingdom had to be preached right on down to the end of this system of things. That is why Jesus, after being raised from the dead, said to his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”—Matt 28:19, 20.

We learn from the Holy Scriptures in the book of Acts, chapter two, that after Jesus ascended into heaven he sent the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost of the year 33 C.E., and the 120 disciples that Jesus taught and trained were all filled with this active force from God. It was on that day that Peter went out before the great crowds in the city of Jerusalem and eloquently spoke to thousands of persons. On hearing the message that Peter delivered on that day, many got saved from that crooked generation and they were baptized. From that day on, the good news of the Kingdom started to go on to the ends of the earth. There were in Jerusalem at that time “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the district of Asia, and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya, which is toward Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and Proselytes, Cretans and Arabians.” (Acts 2:9-11) In fact, fifteen nationalities were represented, having come there from many parts of the then known world, and the record shows that many who heard Peter’s message that day were baptized. These Jews and Proselytes believed in Jehovah God and now they accepted Christ Jesus and were glad to carry back to their different countries and lands the message that they had heard. They were Jehovah’s Christian witnesses now because they had faith in God’s Son, Christ Jesus, who redeemed them from death, and they believed in the kingdom of God. They, too, were now entering the great contest of faith and would have to stand up against many different religions that people in their lands believed. Christianity was off to a good start. These dedicated, baptized people must now be evangelizers, which meant they would try to convert others to Christianity, and Jesus’ words that “you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth” must have fulfillment.—Acts 1:8.

THE EXPANSION BEGINS

There is much evidence in the Word of God to show that Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria received a very fine witness. Philip the evangelizer went down to the city of Samaria, and the crowds paid attention to what he had to say. Peter started things going with the Gentiles by talking to Cornelius, who got baptized and, being begotten by holy spirit, proved that he, too, was a Christian. We also read about Paul and Barnabas and their ministry in these words: “Accordingly, after being conducted part way by the congregation, these men continued on their way through both Phoenicia and Samaria relating in detail the conversion of people of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brothers.” (Acts 15:3) There was great expansion work going on in those early days of Christianity, and people who listened to the truth from the Word of God got together in congregations and became very active in doing God’s will. Acts 9:31 tells us: “Then, indeed, the congregation throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit it kept on multiplying.” This peaceful condition occurred before the conversion of Cornelius, and even though Gentiles were converted after this particular time it did not disturb the Jewish Christian congregations in any way because now they understood that a worldwide evangelizing work must be pushed forward.

The apostle Paul was the faithful Christian that helped the young man Timothy to take a firm stand for the truth and to “fight the fine fight of the faith.” It must have given Paul a lot of satisfaction to see a young man like Timothy become so zealous and reach out for the office of overseer in a congregation of God and do so well in his work. Being a man who had such a firm hold on everlasting life, Paul could also admonish Timothy to “preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season . . . keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:2-5) There were many men like Paul and Timothy preaching the good news of the Kingdom in those early days. Today likewise there are many dedicated men and women doing this work.

What would you do if you were to meet Jesus journeying from city to city and village to village? Would you, like a certain man, say to him: “Lord, are those who are being saved few?” In reply to this man and those with him Jesus said: “Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able.” Would that answer disturb you and would you say, like many people today: “I know Christ Jesus. I go to church. I eat and drink at the Communion in remembrance of Christ.” That certain man heard Jesus say of those professing to know him: “I do not know where you are from. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!” (Luke 13:23-27) It takes a lot more than just talk and an outward appearance. A person must show his faith and works if he is going to get favor from Christ Jesus. He must exert himself vigorously to get in through the narrow door. He must “fight the fine fight of the faith” in order to get a “firm hold on the everlasting life.” Do you? Is your religion easy? James said: “Faith without works is dead.”—Jas. 2:26.

There are too many people in Christendom today who are begging off. They do not want to do the work that Christ Jesus was doing when he was on earth, nor that of his disciples. That is why the apostle Paul so emphatically said to the Hebrews in the letter he wrote to them: “See that you do not beg off from him who is speaking. For if they did not escape who begged off from him who was giving divine warning upon earth, much more shall we not if we turn away from him who speaks from the heavens.” (Heb. 12:25) Do you beg off from what God’s written Word says, and still call yourself a Christian? You should thank God that not everyone has begged off and that there are still some people who are putting up a fine fight for the faith and warning the nations of the impending end of this system of things and announcing the kingdom of God, which is about to rule fully over this earth.

THE GOOD NEWS REACHES AFRICA

In the early days of Christianity when Peter spoke on the day of Pentecost some who heard had come from Egypt and Libya. When we think of these nations we think of the continent of Africa. Is the good news of God’s kingdom being vigorously preached in Africa today? Surely Christendom is not declaring God’s kingdom as man’s only hope, because it says the United Nations organization is man’s only hope. But have Jehovah’s Christian witnesses been evangelizing in this continent, trying to establish faith in Christ Jesus and God’s kingdom? Let us take a look.

It was in 1923 that W. R. Brown, one of Jehovah’s witnesses who later became known as “Bible Brown,” left his native land of Trinidad in the West Indies, along with his wife and young family, and traveled to Africa. He had faith, faith in Jehovah God and his Son, Christ Jesus, and in God’s kingdom. He wanted the people of West Africa to know about God’s kingdom and he went there to preach the good news. He traveled in many countries of West Africa—Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and others—and endured many hardships.

In 1931 “Bible Brown” settled in Lagos, Nigeria, and established an office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. At their first convention, there were only ten delegates in attendance. This did not discourage “Bible Brown.” He realized that, while many people in Nigeria could speak English, no great impression could be made upon these people until literature was available in their native tongues. The Society arranged for the translation of some publications in the Yoruba language, as well as Ibo, Itsekiri, Hausa and Efik. With these publications in their languages the people could be reached and, by having Bible studies in their own homes, faith in God’s Word could be established. By 1939 Jehovah’s witnesses numbered 636. These Christians regularly preached along with “Bible Brown,” declaring the Kingdom good news. Then came the second world war. The government prohibited the importation of the Society’s publications. The ban was lifted in 1946, but during the years between 1939 and 1946, by just using the Bible, Jehovah’s Christian congregation in Nigeria had grown to 3,542 persons.

During the second world war the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society opened the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. In 1943 the first graduates of this missionary school were ready to be sent out to carry on evangelizing work in all parts of the world. By 1947 the first graduates of Gilead School were allowed to enter Lagos, Nigeria.

Because of the high rate of illiteracy it was necessary to teach many Africans how to read and write, and in 1948 a literacy campaign was launched through reading classes in the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses. Literally thousands of West Africans have been taught to read and write through these free instruction classes in reading and writing. Now many more disciples have been added to the Christian ministry, preaching the good news of God’s kingdom.

Tens of thousands of people approached with the Bible message were Catholics and Protestants, but, even so, many were still living in polygamy. Before any of these could become Jehovah’s Christian witnesses they had to adjust their lives to become acceptable. The Bible says a man should be “a husband of one wife” and that each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Cor. 7:2) Why is it that Christendom’s religious denominations allow their members to live in polygamy when the Bible speaks against this practice for Christians? What a marvelous change has taken place in the lives of these Nigerians and peoples of other nations throughout Africa who made a similar decision to fight a fine fight for the faith. Even though their former religious leaders in Christendom ridiculed them, this did not make any difference to these true Christians because, like the apostle Paul, they wanted to say: “I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith.”—2 Tim. 4:7.

Today, nearly fifty years after “Bible Brown” went to Africa to promote true Christian faith, we find that there are over 118,000 of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses declaring the good news of God’s kingdom in seven countries of West Africa.

Let us look at a country in Central Africa, Zambia. The preaching of God’s kingdom had its beginning there in 1924. For many years, due to unjust bans, persecution and harassment of Jehovah’s witnesses, things went slowly. It was not until 1947 that things really began to move forward, with 6,114 individuals preaching the good news of the Kingdom. The country was then known as Northern Rhodesia. In 1948 a branch office was established in Lusaka and in just one year the publishers increased to 11,606. The year 1948 also saw the arrival of the first graduates of Gilead School. These came to assist in the evangelizing activity and to aid in organizing the Christian work. They also assisted the congregations in their reading and writing program.

Recently the government asked the Watch Tower missionaries to leave the country, and the officials last year announced that Jehovah’s witnesses may no longer go from house to house to make converts to the Christian faith. Now Jehovah’s witnesses may speak about the Bible only to their own associates so as to build them up in the faith, and to those who inquire about their Christian work. In spite of these restrictions on going from house to house and village to village, the report from Zambia for the 1970 service year shows that the people of Zambia want to hear what Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have to say and thousands of newly interested persons are coming to their Kingdom Halls. The actual number of individuals and households interested in having Jehovah’s witnesses study the Bible with them every week this past year numbered 33,699, and 50,655 Christian witnesses of Jehovah shared in declaring this Kingdom good news during 1970. In fact, 157,013 Zambians attended the Memorial of Christ Jesus’ death on the night of March 22, 1970.

Directing the minds of the people of Zambia to the Bible has had a good moral effect. In The African Weekly of August 30, 1950, it was reported: “Watchtower Christians in the townships . . . are very active, but I am glad to report that their activities are very good indeed, and are reducing fighting among the Africans in these townships. Once they join the Watchtower . . . those Christians [Jehovah’s witnesses] do not fight among themselves. They do not go to beer halls to be mixed up with other fellows or women.” The moral standard of Jehovah’s witnesses in Zambia is based on the Bible and is the same as that of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world. Today, in Zambia, there is one witness of Jehovah for every 89 Zambians. It can truly be said that every family in Zambia has heard the good news of God’s kingdom. Whether they will fight the fine fight of the faith and get a firm hold on the everlasting life is for each one to decide. They can never say, ‘We did not have a chance to hear the good news.’

Nineteen hundred years ago some Christians left Jerusalem after hearing Peter, and went to Egypt, Libya and perhaps other parts of that great continent. Philip talked to an Ethiopian eunuch who was returning to his homeland. Can it be said that the witness of Jesus has been given to the most distant part of the earth, including Africa? The chart below shows what Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have been doing.

AFRICA

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 11 6,612 —

1950 29 53,787 46

1960 42 131,321 177

1970 51 250,915 328

ON TO ASIA

On the day of Pentecost of 33 C.E. people from Parthia, Media, Elam, Cappadocia and the district of Asia heard what Peter had to say. What about today? The greater part of Asia is non-Christian. The Moslem religion holds sway over a population of approximately 374,000,000, the Shintoists number 70,000,000, Taoists 54,000,000, Confucianists 371,000,000, Buddhists 176,000,000, and Hindus 435,000,000. Throughout all of Asia there are approximately 120,000,000 professing Christianity. But are these showing faith in God’s kingdom? Do they preach it? No! They just belong to a sect of Christendom and in most instances have a second non-Christian religion. But is the good news of God’s kingdom heard in Asia at all now? Yes it is!

In 1949 the Watch Tower Society was able to send its first missionaries to Korea, when only thirteen persons in the whole country were doing the work that Jehovah’s witnesses do, namely, going from house to house to preach the good news of God’s kingdom. In those days the missionaries met five Christian women who had stood firm, even in a concentration camp. During the time that the Japanese controlled Korea these five Christian women, bound in chains, refused to bow to the emperor and accept his religion. Their torture was severe, but they continued fighting a fine fight for the faith. They were released following the second world war and were very anxious to continue on in declaring the Kingdom good news. They are doing so to this day.

How did the Koreans respond to the good news? By 1960 the Watch Tower Society had sent twenty-two missionaries, and more than 3,800 Koreans had joined them in the work. In 1970 there were 12,267 preaching and teaching the good news of God’s kingdom. It is truly remarkable to see that 6,575 Koreans were baptized during the past three years, which means that one half of all the witnesses of Jehovah in Korea have entered the great contest for the faith since 1967.

We might look at another country of Asia, namely, India. What has happened there? In 1914 Jehovah’s witnesses had four representatives there. It was not until 1926, though, that the Watch Tower Society opened an office in Bombay. This was done by some very zealous young Christian men from England who believed that India should have evangelizing work done there. They found it very difficult to convince the Hindus that the Bible is truly the Word of God, for the Hindus have been steeped in their religious beliefs for centuries. But progress was made and by April of 1947 the first two graduates of Gilead School were able to enter the country to help those already putting up a fine fight for the faith.

India is a country of many gods, many languages, many customs and many ways of life. A missionary must adjust himself so as to reach different personalities. All kinds of people make up Jehovah’s creation. So no matter where they may be on earth they must be given the opportunity to hear about God’s kingdom, even though very few will accept it. Their work has been rewarding, because today there are 3,347 persons proclaiming the kingdom of God in spite of the greatest obstacles. Could you represent and be ‘substituting for Christ’ in a land like India? It certainly would test one’s fighting ability.—2 Cor. 5:20.

In comparison with many other parts of the earth, Japan had to wait longer to hear the good news of the Kingdom. In the year 1912 the first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Charles T. Russell, visited Japan as the head of a committee of the International Bible Students Association, investigating the religious field in the Orient. They noticed that the missionaries of orthodox Christianity were considerably discouraged and Pastor Russell concluded that what the Japanese people needed was the gospel of the Kingdom, the announcing of the second coming of Christ and the establishment of his righteous kingdom. However, it was not until 1927 that an American-Japanese person was sent to Japan to try to open up the work. With the aid of a number of pioneers working hard, a peak of 110 ministers was reached in 1938. In that year, 1,125,817 copies of the Golden Age magazine, forerunner of the Awake! magazine, were distributed among the Japanese people. Then, on June 21, 1939, all of Jehovah’s witnesses were arrested. Other members of so-called Christian organizations were not arrested, because the government did not object as long as those who belonged to their so-called Christian churches also worshiped the Shinto gods, of which there were eight million. However, Jehovah’s witnesses were frowned upon for their noncompliance in worshiping the Shinto gods. And so they were charged with “advocating a Jehovah monotheism.” Through a long trial, held behind closed doors, those who refused to renounce their God Jehovah were sentenced to prison for five years, and some were sentenced again after the first term expired. Those still in prison at the time of the American occupation in 1945 were released.

The Society had hopes of opening up its Christian work again among the more than 82 million people in Japan and did so in 1949, when a number of Japanese Hawaiians trained at the missionary school of Gilead reached Japan. By 1950 the Watch Tower Society sent twenty-six missionaries to Japan and by 1960 there were seventy missionaries. By 1970 there were eighty. Did those preaching the good news of the Kingdom have good success? Today the number of Japanese people doing the work Jesus said would be done totals 9,478.

The Society started printing the Watchtower magazine in Japanese in 1951 and then the Awake! magazine in 1956. And today we are printing upward of 7,400,000 magazines every year in Japan. There are now 228 Christian congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses there. Look at all of Asia by means of this chart and see what has happened in thirty years.

ASIA

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 7 541 —

1950 15 1,485 69

1960 26 11,568 265

1970 28 30,693 257

ON TO EUROPE

On the day of Pentecost of 33 C.E. there were some people in Jerusalem from Rome, and undoubtedly they took back the message of the Kingdom to others in Rome. But much later Paul and other disciples of Christ Jesus carried the message into Greece, Italy and perhaps Spain, as well as other parts of Europe. Today the good news of God’s kingdom is being preached throughout all of Europe, in all the countries of that continent. Even during World War I and throughout World War II when all religious denominations of Christendom were at war with one another, cutting one another’s throats, the true Christian witnesses of Jehovah were busy preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. They suffered for it because they would not join in killing their neighbors, and in Germany thousands were put in prisons or sent to Hitler’s concentration camps.

When Hitler took power in January of 1933 it became apparent that he was determined to wield his power ruthlessly against Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. He did ban their work in 1933, and thousands upon thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses were hunted down like animals and arrested. For many months special courts were busy sentencing people who prior to that time had never appeared before a court for any wrongdoing. Terms of imprisonment were for five and more years. Later many were sent to concentration camps, and from all outward appearances it looked as though Jehovah’s Christian witnesses were to become extinct.

In 1932 when the last report was received from Germany and before the ban was placed on Jehovah’s witnesses, there were 14,453 sharing in the Kingdom declaration. By 1946, following the collapse of the German war machine and the opening of the gates of the concentration camps—but not the graves—there were 11,415 dedicated Christians still in the great contest for the faith. Ten years later this number grew to 50,530, and by 1970 in Western Germany there were 86,252 Christian witnesses of Jehovah. The survivors never gave up! They preached! There is another group in West Berlin, now numbering 5,396 Christian witnesses, going from house to house. And in East Germany, where the witness work is carried on behind the Berlin wall and Iron Curtain, there are many more thousands of Witnesses telling East Germans, now under Communistic rule, about God’s kingdom, but not with the same freedom of speech as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have west of the Iron Curtain. Proving faithful to right principles brought death to thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany, but the survivors brought salvation to tens of thousands, and they are still helping people to get a firm hold on everlasting life.

France has always been a staunch Catholic religious center. History shows how powerful cardinals often ruled in French politics. However, in the “last days” the good news of God’s kingdom had to be preached, and it began to be around the year 1904. It had a small beginning, and by August 27, 1919, the work of Jehovah’s witnesses was legally recognized. In 1940, because of Hitler’s take-over, the 320 publishers of the good news were forced underground. But after the war in 1947 when the ban was lifted, there appeared on the scene of action 2,380 persons. Even under years of difficult conditions the preaching had continued with fine success. At the first international assembly held in Paris, in the Palais des Sports in 1951, 10,456 persons came out to hear the Society’s president talk on the subject “Will Religion Meet the World Crisis?” In that year there were 7,136 of Jehovah’s witnesses preaching God’s kingdom throughout France. Today, just about twenty-three years after Jehovah’s witnesses were again legally recognized in 1947, we find a fast-growing organization, with 36,721 ministers giving a mighty witness to Jehovah God and his Son, Christ Jesus.

A new and flourishing era opened up in Italy for Jehovah’s witnesses immediately after World War II. Even while the second world war was on, the Society invited some Italian-Americans to attend Gilead School and to prepare themselves for service in Italy as soon as it was possible to send evangelizers in. The first one arrived in October 1946. There were only 120 of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses preaching in that land then. In this Catholic-dominated country where Communism is growing very rapidly the people are very unsettled and, strange as it may seem, are anxious to know what the Bible really teaches. In 1970 there were 372 congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses scattered throughout Italy from the tip of the boot up to the border of Switzerland with 18,636 Christian witnesses of Jehovah telling the people the truth from God’s Word, and exposing the error of the crumbling organization of Christendom. It takes faith to stand for God’s kingdom and against the Hierarchy of the Vatican.

Jehovah’s Christian witnesses are growing fast in three of the strongest Catholic countries of Europe. But this is true for all of Europe. Jesus said that the message he gave to his disciples should be preached to the most distant part of the earth. It is being done today and thousands upon thousands of persons now know that the prophecy of Daniel is having fulfillment wherein it states: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.” (Dan. 2:44) Do you believe what Jehovah God inspired Daniel to write? This chart should help you to see that hundreds of thousands of dedicated persons do.

EUROPE

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 13 17,414 —

1950 24 142,675 101

1960 26 337,053 305

1970 30 442,707 339

ON TO THE ISLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN

The disciples of Christ Jesus visited the islands of the Mediterranean. But as for the islands of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the western hemisphere, these were parts of the world unheard of. But today all these places are included in “the most distant part of the earth.”

Jehovah’s witnesses feel the responsibility to preach and teach and want to ‘make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all the things Christ commanded.’ (Matt. 28:19, 20) So a great preaching and teaching work must reach out to the islands.

The Dominican Republic received its first missionaries from the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in the year 1945. When these missionaries arrived, there was no one known to be a witness of Jehovah. Up until 1949 there was very little opposition to their evangelizing work. But in that year a Roman Catholic priest opposed the activity and threatened to have some of the missionaries put out of the country. By this time there were twenty-two missionaries in various cities of this land. The Catholic priests were warning their parishioners not to have anything to do with Jehovah’s witnesses. Later they induced the police to take the names of those of their church attending the meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses. By June of 1950 the branch servant was called to the office of the Secretary of the Interior and given instructions to the effect that the propagating work of Jehovah’s witnesses was against the law of the land and was banned.

During the period of this ban the Witnesses met in private homes of interested people. For a short time in 1956 the opposition lessened, but then suddenly a great persecution fell upon all of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the Dominican Republic. The Witnesses were sought out, beaten and jailed. The Roman Catholic priests took the lead in heaping reproach upon them. They used sound cars, beginning early in the morning telling the people not to talk to Jehovah’s witnesses and to burn their literature or to give it to the priest to burn. Some of the homes of Jehovah’s witnesses were stoned by Catholic youths egged on by the priests. The missionaries were expelled. The reason—telling the truths that Jesus spoke in his day.

After a few years the government changed, the Catholic church lost much of its hold and influence, not only with the government, but with the people. The Watchtower missionaries were allowed to return in 1960. Today there are thirty-five missionaries in the Dominican Republic and a fine Christian organization of 3,591, and the people are listening. In this little island of the Caribbean Jehovah’s witnesses suffered much, but the joy of returning and enlightening the people is worth it all. They entered the great contest for the faith and stayed with it. Jehovah blessed his witnesses, and today they are preaching the good news of God’s kingdom everywhere throughout the island.

Cuba, too, has an interesting history as a Catholic country. As far back as 1918 the good news of the kingdom of Jehovah God reached this country. The first congregation was organized in 1922, and there was a convention attended by 100 persons in Palma Soriano, Oriente. The preaching of the good news continued to make steady progress, and by 1944 it was possible to send some of the graduates of the Watchtower School of Gilead to Cuba. By the end of that year there were 1,260 Witnesses. The work grew steadily, and by 1959 there were 12,140 of Jehovah’s witnesses in the island, with twenty-two missionaries. Then came a change in government, and for a few years there were no particular difficulties. Finally, however, the importation of all literature was held up and local printing was stopped. But the work of giving the witness to God’s kingdom continued in private homes through the Bible study work. Pressures grew against the preaching of God’s kingdom, and many Kingdom Halls were closed and some burned, but still the ministry continued. There are many more of Jehovah’s witnesses in Cuba today than there were back in 1965 when the last report of their activity appeared in the Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At that time there were 18,078 regular workers. From 1959 to 1965 the number of Witnesses grew from 12,000 to 18,000. No matter what the handicaps in a land may be, a true, live Christian is going to preach and teach and keep a strong grip on life.

Cyprus is in the Mediterranean and was visited quite often by early Christians. Congregations were established there. The persecution of Christians that followed the martyrdom of Shephen and the subsequent dispersion resulted in some disciples’ going to Cyprus, where they witnessed to the resident Jews. Certain Cypriot Christians went to the city of Antioch, opposite Cyprus near the Syrian coast, and preached with much success among people who, like themselves, were Greek speaking. (Acts 11:19, 20) When Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by John Mark, were sent out from Antioch on their first missionary tour, their initial territory was in the home island of Barnabas, namely, Cyprus.

Today eight evangelizers from Gilead School have been sent to the island. Twelve congregations are established and 562 ministers of God’s kingdom speak peace to the inhabitants of a troubled land.

Here is a progress report for the islands of the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean over a span of thirty years.

ISLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC, MEDITERRANEAN AND CARIBBEAN

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 6 803 —

1950 16 12,938 148

1960 43 25,508 187

1970 42 49,337 163

ON TO THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

The islands of the Pacific are numerous and Jehovah’s witnesses have not reached them all. Looking first at the Philippine Islands, we find this country made up of 7,100 islands extending 1,150 miles north and south and 682 miles east and west. Eleven of the islands comprise the bulk of the area. Only 462 islands have areas of more than one square mile. Going back to the year 1912, we find that Charles T. Russell visited Manila and delivered a public address in the Manila Opera House. The interest aroused by his lectures caused many persons to write the Watch Tower Society in America for literature for themselves and many of them, so convinced that what they heard was the truth, took up the distribution of the books to friends.

On December 7, 1941, war broke out in the Pacific. The Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands. The branch servant, an American citizen, was interned by the Japanese. The branch office was closed. Jehovah’s witnesses were hunted down. But many kept themselves free and continued to declare the good news of the Kingdom right straight through the war by preaching in small towns and in the mountains where many witnesses of Jehovah fled with the refugees. A good work was done.

In 1947 N. H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Society, visited the newly reestablished branch office and gave a public talk to 4,200 persons. In that year 2,902 ministers were engaging in house-to-house work. It was not long before many of the Society’s publications were published in the numerous languages of the Philippine Republic. Then many Filipino brothers were called to Gilead School. These were trained and sent back to the Philippine Islands to help in better organizing the preaching work. By 1960 there were 31,608 associated with Jehovah’s witnesses in preaching the good news, and in 1970 there were 54,789. They are established in 1,309 congregations.

The Fiji Islands of the South Pacific are well known, and travelers to the islands find Fijians to be a very interesting people. Some of Jehovah’s witnesses from Australia visited these islands in the “twenties” and it was not long before a healthy congregation was established. This small group of Christians did not pass unnoticed by the opposers of the Bible truth. Clergymen began denouncing the message. In 1932 the governor of the islands even jailed one of the Witnesses for being a Christian. Legislation was soon passed prohibiting the entry of Bible literature of the Watch Tower Society. Even books that had been shipped into the country were gathered up and burned. However, by January of 1941 the prohibition order against the importation of the Society’s literature was made even more stringent and severe penalties were imposed upon those found with literature in their possession.

After the end of the second world war the prohibition on literature was eased, and in 1945 the government proclamation was that literature approved by the government could be allowed in the country. Public meetings are now freely held. It proved to be a long, steady and persistent fight for the faith on the part of Jehovah’s witnesses in Fiji, but a good witness is being given, and November 9 to 12, 1969, an international assembly was held in Suva with 1,621 attending.

The people of the South Pacific have a love for righteousness and a love for life. They have a right to be given the opportunity to learn about life everlasting. Does your faith move you to offer your help? The following chart tells of the progress made by Jehovah’s witnesses in this area, which to many seems to be the most distant part of the earth.

ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 4 3,819 —

1950 6 16,807 25

1960 17 52,671 82

1970 30 91,782 150

ON TO NORTH AMERICA

In the fifteenth century a “new world” was found, and in the centuries that followed, inhabitants of Europe journeyed westward. Many persons interested in freedom of religion fled to North America. They looked for a new land free from governments where the church and the state were lovers and together oppressed their subjects. Many new religious denominations were formed over the years and now the United States alone has over 270, most of them seeking freedom from the traditions of powerful religious leaders. In 1884 a small group of earnest Bible students incorporated what is now the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. It was chartered to disseminate Bible truth in various languages with emphasis on preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. The Watch Tower Society had a very small beginning, but it has grown in eighty-six years and now its associates are capable of giving the worldwide witness Jesus said should be given in these “last days.” Charles T. Russell, its first president, was a great preacher and a fighter for the true faith. He traveled the length and breadth of the United States and lectured in many countries around the world, declaring the second presence of Christ and God’s kingdom by Christ Jesus as man’s only hope for salvation. He also showed that the religious teachings of the orthodox clergy, Protestant, Catholic and Jewish, were based on traditions of men. He proved from the Bible that there is no hellfire and brimstone for human souls after death. In fact, it was often written that Russell took the fire out of hell. He proved from the Scriptures that man does not have a soul, but that he is a soul and that when man dies he goes into the common grave of mankind and there he remains until the resurrection of the dead to a paradise earth. He proved there is no trinity. What Pastor Russell did was revive Bible study, and he got people to put their faith in God and his written Word rather than the theories and fiction of men. This brought the wrath of the clergy down on his head and on the heads of all working with him. But Jehovah’s Christian witnesses are still here, still declaring the truths of the Bible.

During World War I, J. F. Rutherford, the second president of the Watch Tower Society, was put in prison in 1918 along with other prominent members of the Society because of his energetically preaching God’s kingdom as man’s only hope. The clergy were the instigators of that action, but by 1919-1920 through the Court of Appeals the charges against them of being seditious were all dropped and these faithful men were once more seen in public declaring to thousands the good news of God’s kingdom.

During the second world war Jehovah’s witnesses were again persecuted. Many were put in prison in the United States. Kingdom Halls were burned and many of Jehovah’s witnesses were chased out of cities and towns for going from house to house telling the people the message of the Bible. From 1939 to 1945 Jehovah’s witnesses went through some of their most difficult years. But, nevertheless, they fought a fine fight of faith. When the second world war began in 1939 there were 41,902 publishers of the Kingdom in the United States. But by 1946 there were 65,922 associated and now there are 388,920 Witnesses. Have you met some of them? Did you listen to what they had to say when they called at your door? They will continue to try to reach you in 1971, and as long as “this good news of the kingdom” has to be preached.

Canada has a similar story to tell. The Canadian government banned the work on July 4, 1940, when there were 6,813 of Jehovah’s witnesses in the country. The branch office in Toronto was closed. All of the literature was seized, but the Christian witnesses worked in their ministry with the Bible alone. Whatever publications they may have had in their own homes they also used. The ban against the Society was finally removed in Canada in 1944, and when the reports were received again from all the congregations many more were shown to be a part of the organization, for now 10,345 were associated. While underground for four years they put up a hard fight for the faith and they had success. The record shows they are working just as hard now and showing real faith. Canada now has 46,808 witnesses of Jehovah.

For a moment consider the increase in North America, for it speaks well of the house-to-house preaching and the conducting of home Bible studies. Maybe if you listen carefully to God’s Word you too will want to enter the great contest for the faith.

NORTH AMERICA

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 7 65,577 —

1950 12 138,108 492

1960 12 319,560 858

1970 12 498,736 823

ON TO SOUTH AMERICA

South America, religiously speaking, has always been a stronghold of the Catholic church, but their citadel is crumbling. The education that the Catholic organization gave its people in the United States and Europe it failed to give its people in South America. Why did the Catholic church deliberately keep its people uneducated and illiterate for centuries? Hundreds of evangelizers from the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead learned the Spanish and Portuguese languages and then taught thousands of Catholics in Latin America to read and write so that they could put faith in God’s written Word, and they are doing so today. Practically the entire organization of Jehovah’s witnesses in South America is made up of former Catholics. They are now fighting the fine fight of the faith.

In 1945 there were 415 associated with Jehovah’s witnesses in Argentina. In 1947 when the first missionaries were sent there the work moved ahead very rapidly. Excellent progress was made even though the work was banned due to religious pressure in 1950. Then in 1955 there was a revolution in the country and, following that, Jehovah’s witnesses gained more freedom to preach from house to house. In the year 1970 there were 18,763 proclaiming the good news from house to house.

The Catholic people of Brazil are hungry for the truth from God’s Word. In 1923 there were only eight persons in that vast country that were preaching God’s kingdom as man’s only hope. The Society’s evangelizers were able to get into Brazil in 1945 and at that time the record shows there were 394 witnesses of Jehovah in the land. These few ministers moved out in all directions and continued to preach to Catholics, and they listened to what Jehovah’s witnesses had to say. What an ingathering in Brazil for lovers of truth! By 1960 there were 20,321 persons in the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses. The organization has now grown to 64,199 in 1970, a great loss to the Catholic church. But now these many new ones are helping other Catholic people to establish their faith in God’s Word and to fight the fine fight of the faith. South America, too, could be called part of the distant parts of the earth. But let the following chart speak for itself as to the progress made because of sending witnesses of Christ that far.

SOUTH AMERICA

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 8 561 —

1950 13 7,630 205

1960 13 38,651 381

1970 13 119,260 501

WITNESSING AROUND THE WORLD IN 1970

Jesus said the field is the world. (Matt. 13:38) So Jehovah’s witnesses have the responsibility and are declaring the good news of the Kingdom around the world. It takes stalwart, faithful and determined men and women to keep at this work year after year. Paul wrote Timothy and said: “Pursue righteousness, godly devotion, faith, love, endurance, mildness of temper. Fight the fine fight of the faith, get a firm hold on the everlasting life for which you were called and you offered the fine public declaration in front of many witnesses.” (1 Tim 6:11, 12) That is good counsel, and Jehovah’s witnesses have “offered the fine public declaration in front of many witnesses.” Can it be proved that they did so in 1970? Let the worldwide report on the activity of Jehovah’s witnesses give the answer. Are these Christian witnesses today doing what Jesus said they should do, namely, be “witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth”? (Acts 1:8) First let it be noted that the reports show that Jehovah’s witnesses have been active in 206 lands, and this includes all the principal countries of the world. Secondly, no less than 1,483,430 persons engaged in this worldwide witness work during 1970 and they devoted 267,581,120 hours to talking about the Bible from house to house, and included in their message was the good news of God’s kingdom. But much more was done. Persons truly interested in the Bible were helped with free home Bible studies conducted by Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. Many of these were arranged for, and the annual report shows that 1,146,378 weekly home Bible studies were conducted. That means that the teacher is invited into the home and he sits down with the interested ones with Bible opened, and together they study some Bible subject every week for at least one hour for a six-month, or twenty-six-week, period. These Christian witnesses of Jehovah take the time to explain what the Bible has to say and to answer questions. What have the results been through this home Bible study method of preaching in 1970? They have been remarkable. There were 164,193 persons who left their former religious affiliation, changed their way of living, and took their stand on Jehovah’s side, dedicating their lives to the doing of Jehovah’s will. They became disciples of Jesus Christ and, of course, were baptized in water just as Jesus was. These 164,193 recently baptized witnesses of Jehovah are already preaching the good news of God’s kingdom world wide. They have come from all races, peoples and tongues, and they will meet with the Witnesses three times a week and learn more during the five Bible study sessions in 26,524 congregations in all parts of the world. Would you be interested in that kind of weekly program? If you are going to put up a fine fight for the faith you must get involved in Bible teaching work.

There is a great difference between those persons who belong to Christendom’s religions and Jehovah’s witnesses. Christendom requires little or nothing of their members except to make contributions to the church. At Christmas and Easter time much larger numbers than usual attend the church services. But as to one’s beliefs and moral habits, it does not matter. There is no dedication of people’s lives to the doing of God’s will, or walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. The church members of both Catholic and Protestant denominations, as well as their clergy, do not know anymore what Jesus meant when he said: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) This was no meaningless statement on the part of Christ Jesus. He meant that every follower of his should be a witness of him wherever he lives, and that many would go to the most distant part of the earth to preach and make disciples. That is how Jehovah’s witnesses feel about it. They take their commission seriously. That is why all of them must ‘fight the fine fight of the faith and get a firm hold on the everlasting life.’

Many men and women who are Jehovah’s witnesses feel the urgency of spending all their time in preaching the Kingdom good news, and 13,426 have been assigned to what is called the special pioneer work. That means they spend 150 hours or more every month in preaching the good news in territory where they are needed, and often where there is no congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses. In addition, there were, on the average, 1,295,911 congregation publishers who cannot spend all of their time in the ministry. They really do the greater part of the work in all parts of the earth, because they average anywhere from 10 to 20 hours a month in talking about the Bible’s message. After doing their secular work and home duties they use all the time they can in the preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom. Then there were 75,445 pioneers, who spend about 100 hours a month in this God-assigned work. This makes a grand total of 1,384,782 Witnesses on the average engaging in the ministry every month. This is marvelous, is it not? There are many more people interested in Jehovah’s witnesses and their activity, and they showed it by attending the Memorial of the death of Christ Jesus. This was celebrated on March 22, 1970, and the worldwide attendance was 3,226,168.

Readers of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines will be interested in knowing that during the past year Jehovah’s witnesses around the world obtained 2,464,196 new subscriptions for these magazines. In addition to that, they distributed 204,758,521 individual copies to interested persons who are not subscribers for these two fine publications.

The people with whom Jehovah’s witnesses place literature are entitled to have return visits so their questions can be answered if they have any. In this activity Jehovah’s witnesses made return visits during the year to the number of 121,226,605. The reason for all this activity is to build faith and help others to get a firm hold on the everlasting life. Over the years this is what has been done. (For details see the complete chart of activity on pages 36 to 43.)

WORLDWIDE REPORT

IN THE LANDS WHERE NUMBER OF JEHOVAH’S NUMBER OF GILEAD

YEAR WORK WAS DONE WITNESSES PREACHING GRADUATES

1940 56 95,327 —

1950 115 373,430 1,086

1960 179 916,332 2,255

1970 206 1,483,430 2,561

The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society has numerous printing plants throughout the world, and all of them are staffed by Jehovah’s witnesses. The main plant is in Brooklyn, New York. They also have printing plants in Canada, England, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and Australia, as well as smaller plants in other parts of the world. They also use outside printing plants in some parts of the world to get their literature printed for distribution.

Their total production in bound books for Bible study during the twelve months of the 1970 service year amounted to 29,138,291, booklets 13,965,784, Watchtower magazines 177,038,027, Awake! magazines 171,719,337. What a joy it has been for these Christians to print all this literature and help in its distribution! They feel like the apostle Paul, who said: “I am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, God’s power for salvation to everyone having faith.” (Rom. 1:16, 17) Those who love righteousness today must turn to God’s Word and keep studying it. You cannot shrink back. Paul said: “‘But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,’ and, ‘if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.” (Heb. 10:38, 39) Paul knew that that kind of faith was going to be needed down through the centuries, and that kind of faith is needed now. This is no time to give up or even slow down. Remember what Habakkuk said: “For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late.”—Hab. 2:3.

Look back a minute. It was without fail that the prophecy concerning Judah’s destruction by Babylon came true, and it was without fail that Babylon itself was captured by the Medes and Persians. Without fail the children of Israel were delivered to their own homeland again. Without fail the one that the Jews rejected and had nailed to the torture stake, the Son of God, was raised from the dead by his Father, Jehovah. Peter was not hesitant in telling the Jews there in Solomon’s colonnade at the temple in Jerusalem that they killed the Chief Agent of life, but God raised him up from the dead, of which fact the disciples were witnesses. (Acts 3:15) Without fail the temple of Jerusalem and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed, just as Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, By no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.” (Matt. 24:2) Did not all of these things come true? What Jehovah God said would happen in days gone by did happen. But how do you know unless you have studied God’s Word?

Did not Jesus give the full answer to the disciples when they asked him the question, “When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matt. 24:3) Have you read and do you now believe that the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew is having its greater fulfillment and that you are living in the “last days”? Do you believe that Christ Jesus has returned, and is present in his heavenly kingdom, having been seated upon his throne in the new heavens? (Acts 2:34, 35; Rev. 11:17) Do you not see that the conclusion of this system of things is very near its close? Do you still pray, and believe, that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Without fail will you continue to ‘fight the fine fight of the faith and get a firm hold on the everlasting life for which you were called and offered the fine public declaration in front of many witnesses’? Do you believe that the vision “will not tell a lie”? Do you have the faith that Habakkuk said we should have, namely, even if it should delay, keeping in expectation of it, for it will come true without fail? Recall, too, please, what Peter said: “However, let this one fact not be escaping your notice, . . . Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.”—2 Pet. 3:8, 9.

It takes faith to be a Christian, for Christians walk by faith not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) The Christian witnesses of Jehovah, no matter where they are, will continue preaching God’s kingdom because they will be fulfilling Jesus’ words: “You will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.” At the same time each one has the opportunity to prove that he can “fight the fine fight of the faith, get a firm hold on the everlasting life,” and help thousands of other people to do the same thing.—1 Tim. 6:12.

CONVENTIONS

This is a continuation of the report on the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses of 1969. The service year of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ends with the month of August, and in the 1970 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses we gave a thirty-two-page summary of that fine assembly held from July 6 to August 17 in the United States and Europe. Now it is a pleasure to give you a brief report on the twelve additional international assemblies beginning in Korea on October 12 and taking in all of the Far East and ending with the ten-city convention in Mexico from December 24 to 28, 1969.

During the months of July and August there were 840,572 persons who attended the assemblies, and from October 12 to December 28, 1969, there were another 235,594 persons who attended, bringing the grand total to 1,076,166 for the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Another figure that is most interesting to Jehovah’s witnesses is the number being baptized. In the summer months of July and August there were 27,442 baptized. And from reports that you will read you will observe that 9,171 were baptized in the Far East, the islands of the Pacific and Mexico. That brought the grand total of persons baptized at the international assemblies in 1969 to 36,613. This in itself indicates how interested people are in the work of Jehovah’s witnesses. These assemblies brought great joy to Jehovah’s people in many lands of the Orient, the South Pacific and Middle America.

The identical program enjoyed by such vast throngs in North America and Europe in July and August of 1969, and which program was reported on in the 1970 Yearbook, now delighted many other record-breaking crowds. People of widely divergent backgrounds and traditions gladly heard the counsel to seek peace with Jehovah God in order to share in the peace on earth that he has promised to establish. Applicable to all of these audiences comprised of people of all nations and races was the excellent instruction given by discourses, dramas and demonstrations. Why so marvelously applicable? Because it was all drawn from a book that God caused to be written beginning early in human history, a book that calls upon all people to conform to one standard of living, and that book is the Holy Bible.

SEOUL, KOREA

Though hampered by curfew conditions in this city of 4.8 million population, the assembly organization moved smoothly into the Changchoong Gymnasium, and everything was in readiness for opening day, October 12. How thrilling to see the attendance build up to a peak at the public lecture, when 14,644 crowded the auditorium—some 4,000 more than the total number of Witnesses in all of South Korea! Baptismal candidates to the number of 1,511 presented themselves in public witness of their decision to live their lives henceforth in accord with the requirements of the one God of peace.

Korean Witnesses delighted to see planeloads of Witnesses from other lands arriving to share with them in the good things of the assembly. They put on a special program in the English language for the benefit of the visitors, giving the history of the Witnesses and some of their experiences in Korea. Visitors learned, for example, that in 1914 there were only two Witnesses in all Korea. What a joy it was to see Jehovah’s blessings of increase and maturity in this typically Oriental land!

TOKYO, JAPAN

The Kingdom work has mushroomed in Japan. For this reason it became necessary to look for a more spacious site for the “Peace on Earth” Assembly. The Korakuen Cycling Stadium was engaged and the delegates wondered how their first large outdoor assembly in Japan would work out. Though it was windy and a typhoon had just bypassed Tokyo, things worked out well. Everyone was delighted to note that 12,614 filled the stadium during the public lecture. There were 798 candidates for immersion.

It is recalled that, when the Society’s president, N. H. Knorr, first visited Japan in 1951, he looked forward to the time when it would be hard to find a Watch Tower missionary among the throngs of Japanese Witnesses. That time has now come, for now you may find only one missionary among each 110 Japanese Witnesses. The local Witnesses are now carrying the greater part of the responsibility for the spread of the good news in their own land. Needless to say, the missionaries are all delighted about this, for it is evidence that Jehovah has blessed their efforts.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN

In Taipei the peak attendance reached 799 for the public lecture in the National Taiwan Arts Center. This indicates that not all of Taiwan’s 1,087 Witnesses had come. Sure enough, many of the Ami tribe, who have a culture and language quite different from the Chinese, stayed home, since they were to have the “Peace on Earth” program in their own language during December at an assembly to be held at the east coast. Even so, many of the Amis did turn up at Taipei just for the privilege of assembling with Witnesses of many nationalities, even if they understood very little of the program.

At this assembly there were twenty-seven candidates for baptism. Very great indeed were the changes these people had to make in their lives to become true Christians. Such things as ancestor worship, narrow nationalism, devotion to traditions, all had to give way to the Bible’s high standard of conduct and worship. Visitors from other lands were keenly interested in the trials and experiences of Taiwan’s missionaries and local Witnesses.

HONG KONG

Even though Hong Kong has perhaps a denser population than you are likely to find elsewhere, it seems that everyone knows The Watchtower and Awake! Yes, though the few Witnesses here are like single ants on a huge anthill, it is marvelous to think they have been able to make an impression. At the “Peace on Earth” Assembly held in Hong Kong’s City Hall there was an attendance of 678 at the public lecture. When seventeen new Witnesses stood up and answered Yes to the questions usually propounded prior to baptism, it was a happy occasion for Hong Kong Witnesses, for that was more than had been baptized in the entire preceding year.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

It took two large stadiums of the Rizal Memorial Athletic Complex, in Manila, as well as much extra space to accommodate the “Peace on Earth” Assembly there. To provide shade and shelter for the crowds, the entire one thousand feet of the bleachers were roofed over to a depth of forty feet. It was surely an eye-opener for the local population to see so many Witnesses and to hear that the public lecture of the assembly was attended by 64,715, even though there were not even 50,000 Witnesses in the whole land!

Demonstrating their appreciation, Witnesses from distant areas such as Mindanao and the Visayan Islands attended the assembly at great personal sacrifice. Several sold tracts of land, one sold his house, another his sheep, and still others sold their carabaos (water buffaloes, a necessity to machineless farmers)—just to be able to come and bring their families. Some even took leave of absence from secular work for a whole month, to allow for the travel time and to make sure they would be present for all sessions of the five-day assembly.

The fact that 1,835 new Witnesses were baptized at this assembly pointed up the astonishing progress of the preaching work by faithful worshipers of Jehovah in the Philippines. Back in 1933 there were but twenty-five Witnesses. In 1963 that figure had increased to 32,049, and in 1969, the year of the big convention, there were 49,257. No wonder there is no need of missionaries from other lands. Indeed, many are leaving to serve in other Oriental countries where their aid is urgently needed.

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA

Before the Manila assembly ended, another “Peace on Earth” Assembly was getting under way at Port Moresby, Papua. On this jungle-clad island, parts of which have never yet been explored, visiting delegates traveling with F. W. Franz, the Watch Tower Society’s vice-president, were in for a great surprise. Perhaps some expected to find largely illiterate, primitive peoples. But here is the reaction of one visitor from the West: “These brothers [the local Witnesses] have a good grasp of the [Bible] truth and are evidently applying it in their lives just like their [spiritual] brothers in other parts of the world. We were surprised and thrilled to see the forcefulness and conviction with which the local brothers gave their talks on the program.”

Fourteen miles out from Port Moresby local Witnesses built their own convention site, using bamboo poles and partitions made of plaited split bamboo, with palm leaves for roof coverings. People of many tribal groups, ordinarily hostile and at least unfriendly, met and mingled and lived in a warm, friendly atmosphere throughout the assembly days. Attendance at the public lecture was 1,116, and seventy candidates for baptism were immersed in a nearby river.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

The Melbourne assembly got under way on October 26. The weather was cool and damp, but by contrast the Witness delegates were enthusiastic, overjoyed at the opportunity to assemble with fellow Witnesses from many parts of their own land as well as from many faraway countries. Of the 20,624 Witnesses cooperating with the Watch Tower Society’s branch office in Sydney, how many would come?

To the joy of all, the sessions of the assembly started with a throng of 25,000. A peak attendance came when 26,072 heard and saw the Bible drama “Show Respect for Jehovah’s Appointments.” And, despite adverse weather, 25,837 came in the rain to hear the public lecture. The baptism was conducted at the well-known Olympic Pool. In 1963, just six years before, 359 persons symbolized their dedication of their lives to God at this location. Now, in 1969, 1,315 new ministers walked confidently down the steps of the pool into the water.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

November 4, 1969, saw the opening of the “Peace on Earth” Assembly at Auckland’s $2,000,000 Alexandra Park Raceway. As if drawn by a huge magnet, cars, colorful with bumper and window signs, were attracted in their hundreds to the site. Buses from distant towns and cities rolled in with their loads of delegates. That first afternoon there were already 7,115 present, including some 900 overseas delegates. That was already 1,000 more than the peak attendance at 1963’s assembly.

An exciting sidelight to the program was the introduction of ten missionaries who had come back to their homeland and relatives briefly from such widely separated places as Hong Kong, Venezuela, Singapore, Ceylon and India. Many New Zealanders got to meet them for the first time, since a number of them have been away for so long.

The public lecture, “The Road Back to Peace in Paradise,” presented by Watch Tower president N. H. Knorr, was heard by a peak attendance of 8,400. This indicated that at least 2,000 newly interested ones from Auckland itself were present. In all, 421 persons were baptized, the largest baptism of any religious group in New Zealand. Immersion views were flashed across the country by TV.

SUVA, FIJI

In the double-storied New Town Hall in Suva those attending the “Peace on Earth” Assembly were congregated in two auditoriums, one having the main platform, and the other connected by closed-circuit television. From many islands of the Pacific they had come, and to their delight they met fellow Witnesses from Europe and America who had also come to share their assembly.

At the widely advertised main lecture, given by Watch Tower Society president N. H. Knorr, 1,621 eagerly listened to the Bible’s grand promise of worldwide peace by God’s kingdom. And the seventy-seven who were baptized here represented more than had ever been baptized in Fiji during any entire service year.

PAPEETE, TAHITI

Meantime, at Papeete, another “Peace on Earth” Assembly was in session, this one presenting the program mainly in French and Tahitian. Across great distances by boat or plane the delegates came, along with the Society’s vice-president, F. W. Franz, eager to assemble and incite one another to greater efforts in the spread of the Bible’s good news. This was the first time that an international assembly of the Witnesses had ever been held on this sunlit, well-flowered island of peace.

Local Witnesses in Tahiti numbered only 132. However, the public-meeting attendance at this assembly came to 488, among whom were many interested local people as well as delegates from abroad and from other islands, some as much as many hundreds of miles away. It was most encouraging, too, to see twenty-nine new Witnesses signify their dedication of their lives to God by water baptism.

HONOLULU, HAWAII

Palm trees swaying in tropical Honolulu. Does not that suggest the appropriate site for a “Peace on Earth” Assembly? Yes, and the more than 9,000 delegates who filled the International Center on opening day, November 11, will heartily agree. Imagine the joy of everyone, though, when a total of 15,443 persons turned out to hear the main lecture of the six-day assembly! Some 7,000 delegates had arrived by air and received the traditional Hawaiian welcome.

Thrilling, too, was that beach scene as 314 persons of various races and countries submitted to water baptism in token of their dedication to serve the God of peace, Jehovah. Above all, there was great joy over the fact that Hawaii’s population had been given the greatest witness yet, to the honor of Jehovah’s name.

MEXICO’S TEN ASSEMBLIES

Mexican Witnesses and newly interested persons did not have to travel quite so far to attend a “Peace on Earth” Assembly, for at ten different cities strategically located, the same program was presented simultaneously toward the close of December. From remote parts of the country, from the coastlands and the mountains, the delegates streamed. Why, in Mexico City alone there was a peak attendance of 28,580, while a total of 89,239 persons heard the same public lecture at all ten locations.

The assembly at Mexico City was particularly international. Twenty-eight countries were represented by delegates, some from as far away as Israel, Australia and New Zealand. The entire program was presented in Spanish, while special English-language sessions were available for those who knew no Spanish. How heartwarming, too, to see 1,037 persons stand up and answer the questions that would determine their eligibility for baptism. Indeed, at all ten assemblies, a total of 2,757 were immersed.

Those assemblies throughout Mexico proved to be a marvelous event in the lives of our fellow Witnesses in that land. To visitors from other lands it was an unforgettable experience, for they met a multitude of pleasant, humble, devoted servants of Jehovah who are worshiping him acceptably despite lack of advanced education and in the face of many difficulties due to the economic conditions.

The “Peace on Earth” International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, held world wide, proved to be one of the most outstanding gatherings of God’s people, and this assembly certainly shows the unity and peace that reigns among Jehovah’s witnesses from one end of the earth to the other. Here is a tabulation of the assemblies held during October, November and December of 1969, along with the total for the July and August assemblies of 1969.

ASSEMBLY SITE DATE PUBLIC MEETING ATTENDANCE BAPTIZED

Korea Oct. 12-16 14,644 1,511

Japan ʺ 14-19 12,614 798

Taiwan ʺ 18-21 799 27

Hong Kong ʺ 18-21 678 17

Philippines ʺ 22-26 64,715 1,835

Papua ʺ 24-27 1,116 70

Australia ʺ 26-31 25,837 1,315

New Zealand Nov. 4-9 8,400 421

Fiji ʺ 9-12 1,621 77

Tahiti ʺ 9-12 488 29

Hawaii ʺ 11-16 15,443 314

Mexico Dec. 24-28 89,239 2,757

Total 235,594 9,171

13 ASSEMBLY CITIES, JULY, AUGUST 840,572 27,442

GRAND TOTAL 24 CITIES WORLD WIDE 1,076,166 36,613

“MEN OF GOODWILL” DISTRICT ASSEMBLY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

An excellent series of four-day assemblies of Jehovah’s witnesses was also held in the summer of 1970, and the theme of the convention was struck in the keynote speech entitled “Taking Final Advantage of the ‘Year of Goodwill.’” The modern-day work of Jehovah’s witnesses began one hundred years ago in the year 1870, and the divine direction upon the work of Jehovah’s witnesses was brought to the attention of the conventioners on the very first day of the assembly. What a joy it is to know that this work of enlightening the people as to the truth of God’s Word has made such marvelous progress! The work had a very small beginning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the year 1870, and now from the report in this Yearbook you can see what wonderful progress has been made in one hundred years. As was pointed out in one of the principal talks, “We Worship What We Know,” Jehovah’s witnesses certainly have proof from God’s written Word as to what they believe and they do not base their teachings on the traditions of men, nor on fables or imaginary theories handed down over generations of time. We have the sure word of prophecy and, believing the Bible, as Jehovah’s witnesses do, from the first book of the Bible, Genesis, to the last, called Revelation, we have good proof for what we tell the people. Jehovah’s witnesses can truthfully say: “We worship what we know.”

Of course, Jehovah’s witnesses are very much interested in people of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, and the conventions were held throughout all the world in all countries where Jehovah’s witnesses are. As the public address for these conventions indicated, we are very much interested in “Saving the Human Race—in the Kingdom Way.” What a joy it is to be associated with dedicated people who have spent millions upon millions of hours calling upon their neighbors and friends, and even going on to the ends of the earth to inform people about God’s kingdom, which is the only hope for mankind. Spiritually, the “Men of Goodwill” Assembly was most upbuilding. It was so filled with practical information that every person who attended, listened and observed could apply something to his very own life so as to be a better Christian and better servant of the Most High God Jehovah.

Conventions are one thing that Jehovah’s witnesses truly enjoy. All of them everywhere look to the summer months of each year, knowing that they will have the opportunity to attend a large gathering of Jehovah’s people. They know that the Society always prepares a special program, which will be upbuilding and spiritually enlightening. All of the international, national and district assemblies of Jehovah’s witnesses bring together more closely the individuals of this worldwide organization, which today is giving a witness to people in all nations of the earth. Jehovah’s witnesses know that the good news of God’s kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness to all the nations, and then “the end” will come.

THREE SCHOOLS

Jehovah’s witnesses are very much interested in education. That is why practically every one of them sometime during the year tries to attend an assembly. There is something, though, that all of them must do in order to keep spiritually strong and that is attend the congregational meetings of God’s people in their own vicinity. Around the world there are 26,524 such congregations. In every one of these congregations there is a Theocratic Ministry School. Textbooks have been prepared by the Society for the students’ use. Primarily the school is designed to help people learn how to express themselves to others. Each one in the school stands before his fellow ministers and gives discourses of anywhere from six to fifteen minutes, according to the assignment each receives. The talks given by the students each week are based on the Bible, on the sayings of Jehovah God as set forth in the Holy Scriptures. It should be that way, for the wise man wrote: “My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God.”—Prov. 2:1-5.

Jehovah’s witnesses who are commissioned to declare “this good news of the kingdom” world wide certainly want to use good language and also have accurate knowledge of what Jehovah God wants said. They want to have a fine understanding of what the written Word of God says so that they can use it wisely in their ministry. They feel like Jesus when he spoke, for he said: “What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the teaching whether it is from God or I speak of my own originality.” (John 7:16, 17) One who reads and studies the Bible and then preaches what it teaches certainly is not going to think up ideas of his own originality, but he is going to tell others what his teacher has taught him, and Jehovah God is the teacher of Jehovah’s witnesses because they use his Book, the Bible.

THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL

The school is in operation one hour each week in every congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses. All who are enrolled in the school are given the opportunity to speak from time to time and to get counsel on their speaking. They all speak on different subjects. They certainly have the best book in the world to work from, that is, the Bible.

The message that Jehovah’s witnesses are to declare to the ends of the earth is found in the Bible. So the more they rehearse the sayings of Jehovah God and present them logically to their hearers the better equipped the will be as Jehovah’s witnesses. They very much appreciate what the wise man said: “My son, my law do not forget, and my commandments may your heart observe, because length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you.” (Prov. 3:1, 2) “Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain and having it as produce than gold itself”—Prov. 3:13, 14.

The first speaker in the Ministry School gives a fifteen-minute talk on a special subject that is assigned well in advance. This is very informative material for all in attendance. After that, four more talks, running from six to seven minutes, are given by different individuals in the school, and counsel is offered to the speaker by the Theocratic Ministry School servant.

If any of you have not enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, it would be well for you to do so. The education that one receives is remarkable. Remember, “a wise person will listen and take in more instruction, and a man of understanding is the one who acquires skillful direction.”—Prov. 1:5.

KINGDOM MINISTRY SCHOOL

While the overseers in a congregation are enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, the Society has arranged for another school in all parts of the world where the overseer and two of his assistants can get very beneficial instruction in dealing with the congregation. Paul in writing to Timothy said: “If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach.” (1 Tim. 3:1, 2) Zealous men in the congregation, having the spirit of God, should be given the opportunity to receive mature instruction. Of all people in a congregation the overseer should recognize that “there is a river the streams of which make the city of God rejoice.” (Ps. 46:4) There is no question about it, the flow of spiritual water of life has been steady and abundant. The congregation servant, the assistant congregation servant and the Bible study servant are all helped to appreciate the value of the Word of God by being given the opportunity to attend the Kingdom Ministry School.

In some countries where the branch offices are large the Society arranges for the Kingdom Ministry School to be conducted in the branch itself, such as in Toronto, Canada, London, England, Wiesbaden, Germany, etc. It has proved to be a rich blessing when the overseers in the congregations have attended the Kingdom Ministry School and then have returned to the congregation to give of what they have learned.

In practically all countries in the world the opportunity has been given to the congregation servants, assistant congregation servants and Bible study servants to attend the Kingdom Ministry School. In the United States we have so many congregations that we have not been able to call all three of these individuals from each congregation to the Kingdom Ministry School as yet.

Beginning January 3, 1971, the Watch Tower Society in the United States will be operating four schools with twenty-five students in each. The school will continue in operation at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Another will start in Brooklyn at the headquarters of the Society. Yet another will be established at the Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall in Chicago, and a fourth one at the Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall in Norco, California. These four schools should be sufficient to give the servants in the United States the information needed in the next few years. There will be 200 servants each month receiving training.

Because of the size of the United States it will make it much more convenient for servants in the various parts of the country to get to and from the school nearest to them.

Many interesting letters are received from students who have gone through this schooling, such as the ones following:

“I have taken many courses in methods of teaching, since I have been a high school teacher for nine years. The methods that were used by the instructors at the Kingdom Ministry School far exceed those practiced by many college and university professors. In fact, my methods fall short of those used at the Kingdom Ministry School. The two weeks as a student were more beneficial than all the years that I spent receiving a degree in worldly knowledge. Truly, the only answer as to why the program is such a success can be found in John 6:45: “They will all be taught by Jehovah.’”

Another writes: “I want to send along a note of appreciation for the privilege of attending the school. I have successfully, each day since, made use of the Bethel arrangement in the discussion of the day’s text in the morning with my family. We have four children, and the two older ones prepare as we did at school. They cannot help but gain from this, as already they have learned from their own research, information they heretofore did not understand.”

So it goes with letters of appreciation from all parts of the world. Those who have the opportunity of attending the Kingdom Ministry School are delighted and blessed. The school has proved to be a real asset to the overseers and their assistants world wide.

WATCHTOWER BIBLE SCHOOL OF GILEAD

The Bible book of Acts reports that, in the early Christian congregation, shortly after the persecution by Saul of Tarsus was ended by his conversion, “the congregation throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit it kept on multiplying.” (Acts 9:31) Conditions of peace are the most favorable for building up and strengthening Jehovah’s congregation. Since the opening of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in 1943, and especially since the close of World War II, Jehovah’s people have had relatively peaceful times. The establishment of Gilead School has made it possible to take advantage of this time to bring persons in from nearly all parts of the earth to receive intensive, advance training. This has resulted in great upbuilding and strengthening for the congregations world wide and has expanded the preaching of the good news into the farthest corners of the earth. It has resulted in a great blessing to hundreds of thousands of persons.

To date, 4,917 students have graduated from the school, and today more than half of these are in missionary service or other full-time Christian work in the world “field.”

Graduation of the forty-eighth class of Gilead took place on March 8, 1970, at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York city. The class was of limited size, only fifty-four comprising the student body. This was because the increased demand for literature all over the world necessitated enlarging the Bethel family. In order to provide rooming accommodations for these new Bethel family members, some of the school’s facilities and student rooming area were used. The emergency situation resulted with profit to the class, however, for many of them were brought in early and were able to spend some time at the Society’s Watchtower Farm, where they assisted in canning and other work there. Thus they became “acclimated” to the Bethel schedule and at the same time assisted in providing food supplies for the family in Brooklyn. Their help for a few months was much appreciated. Though the student body was small, only about half the usual number, nevertheless it represented twenty-two lands and was assigned, in turn, to twenty-four countries.

At the graduation exercises the assembly hall was filled with more than two thousand spectators. Brother Knorr spoke on “The Way,” the way made even more clear by Jesus Christ. He pointed out that this way of the truth is a way of life and therefore covers all of life’s facets. To represent Jehovah acceptably a person must watch his teaching, his activity, his conduct. And this must be done in the field ministry, in one’s home, with brothers and persons on the outside. It is a way of full-time devotion. Brother Franz’s talk emphasized the imminent danger to persons in Babylon the Great, which makes the missionary work more urgent than ever before.

The Gilead School is very appreciative of the fine helps recently provided by the Society, especially the Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Aid to Bible Understanding and “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God.” We have had opportunity to use these now for a year, and they have made the courses more satisfying and profitable, also saving much time that would otherwise be spent in library research.

The curriculum for the five-month (twenty-week) term has been designed to equip the students for the missionary field. All except the foreign-language courses are Bible based. The daily lectures, given by instructors or older members of the Bethel family, provide advanced Bible understanding and instruction for life as a missionary. The extracurricular assignments in the Bethel home, offices or factory, in which the students engage for three and a half hours a day, augment the instruction with application. The association with New York City congregations keeps the students in touch with the field work, maintaining a practical balance and avoiding the theoretical viewpoint.

Many who have the goal of missionary work have asked about the subjects taught at Gilead School. A brief outline of the courses may help these inquirers. The courses are:

Hebrew and Greek Scriptures: A verse-by-verse discussion, considering the purpose and objective of each Bible book and its meaning and application to those to whom the writings were addressed in ancient times as well as to the modern-day Christian congregation. Documented reports are presented by students assigned to certain Bible chapters, enabling the entire class to note explanations and references on the pages of their Bibles. The Watchtower and other Society publications are the chief reference sources. During the study of the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy there is a classroom presentation of legal cases based on the Mosaic law, with some students acting as litigants and others as judges of the cases. This course covering the Bible runs through the entire five months of the school term.

Doctrines: A course occupying one quarter (five weeks) of the term. This consists of a study of some of the basic Bible doctrines. The book “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie” is extensively used, as it covers the basic Bible teachings. This book is supplemented by Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God,” “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules! and The Watchtower, to which the students are referred for research. Various methods are employed, including reports by the students, open discussion, panel presentations, and so forth.

Foundations of Bible History: A five-week course entailing a study of the history of mankind as outlined in the Bible, with special reference to the nation of Israel and the Christian congregation. Also, considerable attention is given to the ancient nations surrounding Israel and the development of the world powers of Bible history and prophecy. In this course the book Aid to Bible Understanding supplies much material.

Ministerial Activities (five weeks) considers the history of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the modern witnesses of Jehovah. The activity of Jehovah’s witnesses as ministers under the Society’s direction is discussed and demonstrated.

Language: Languages are taught according to the need, that is, according to the countries to which the missionaries are to be sent. The language course runs through the entire twenty weeks of the term. During the forty-eighth class three separate groups were taught Spanish, French and Korean. One group, scheduled to return to their own countries for missionary work in untouched territories, was taught a special course in “World History,” which was an expanded course that supplemented “Foundations of Bible History.” The forty-ninth class is studying Spanish, French and Portuguese.

The student body of the forty-ninth class was able to attend the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly at Jersey City, New Jersey, July 9-12. Some of the students studying French were privileged also to share in the program at the French convention at the same location later in July. At the time of this writing the students are anxiously preparing for the final examinations and for the graduation, which will be held on September 13. This class of seventy students came to Gilead from six countries; they are assigned to nineteen.

The reports from all over the earth revealing the marvelous expansion and ingathering taking place, which is reflected in the phenomenal growth of the Bethel family, have infused into the students a spirit of enthusiasm and eagerness to get quickly into their missionary assignments, to become conversant with the language and to share in aiding many more to flee from Babylon the Great before the “great tribulation” begins upon her.

Truly there is much work to be done in a short time, and we look forward to training more zealous pioneers in the school, praying that Jehovah will keep open the door to activity, and that the rulers will adopt a reasonable attitude toward our work “in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness.” Then, when the great tribulation breaks, we will rejoice with the many thousands whom God has seen fit to bring into his place of safety, and to stand firm, with full expectation that he will uphold his people in their integrity.—1 Tim. 2:1, 2; Prov. 10:28, 29.

BETHEL HOMES

The principal offices of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., are located at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York. The board of directors of both of these corporations live at the Bethel home along with the Bethel family.

The Bethel family is a very interesting family. It is made up of people of many languages, races and nationalities. The Society has built or rented homes, which we call Bethel homes, in the ninety-three branch locations throughout the earth. During the past year the Watch Tower Society built some new Bethel homes.

One such has been built in Santiago, Chile. Another function of the homes in some branches is to provide accommodations for missionaries, such as the one in Santiago. We have also built into the structure a fine Kingdom Hall.

Another new structure that was completed during the past year is in Thun, Switzerland. There we built a very large building, which houses not only the Bethel family of Switzerland, but the offices and a large printing plant. Included also is a Kingdom Hall, which serves as the meeting place for the local congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses.

The branch office in Mexico City is very crowded, and last December the president of the Watch Tower Society had the opportunity to dedicate a large building that La Torre del Vigia of Mexico erected, and which they use for an Assembly Hall and also for the storage of literature. They have put in some living quarters on the second floor, as well as a Kingdom Hall for the local congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses in that area. We are very happy that we could help Jehovah’s witnesses in Mexico in building this structure.

Year by year there are new buildings being erected world wide which serve to help in the advancement of the work of Jehovah’s witnesses, namely, the preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom.

The biggest expansion in the way of structures has taken place in Brooklyn, New York, at the headquarters of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

In the fall of 1969 strong evidence of Jehovah’s direction upon his organization was realized when the Squibb buildings became available. This complex of ten buildings comprises a total of 632,000 square feet of floor space and provided the immediate urgent relief needed. They are conveniently located between our present factory and the Bethel home, just two blocks north of 124 Columbia Heights. Within days after the purchase of the buildings they began to be used for much-needed storage of raw materials for the operation of the Society’s publishing plant. Presently several floors are being used to store paper rolls and other raw materials totaling 5,000 tons. Having a railroad siding right into the main building provides an ideal arrangement for receiving carloads of paper. Furthermore, the three bottom floors of the main building, comprising 80,000 square feet, are being prepared for moving all of our shipping department, both domestic and export, from the present location in our publishing plant to these three floors in the principal Squibb building. This will release much-needed space in the Adams Street factory for the manufacture of books and magazines.

However, in addition to manufacturing and storage area, we require space for living quarters. Hence, two buildings of the Squibb complex are presently under alteration to adapt them to residential use, thus providing living accommodations for 148 members of the Brooklyn headquarters family.

Since the west side of the Squibb buildings face the East River toward lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge, it provides a most effective location for large signs. Among the signs is a large one with letters 6 to 8 feet high painted on the upper tower of one of the buildings and which reads “The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.” On top of another one of the buildings is a large fifteen-foot-high neon, illuminated sign reading “Watchtower,” and it is visible over all of lower Manhattan’s Wall Street area. Complementing these signs is another most interesting one eight feet high by eighty feet long consisting of flashing electric light bulbs. This electric word-writing sign came with the building when we bought it. So we are putting it to use and can program the sign to rotate with a series of ten different slogans, each slogan changing every eight seconds. With this electrical light-bulb arrangement, the sign is clearly visible across the East River to lower Manhattan. Many of the brothers have commented how thrilling it is, when driving along the six-lane-wide Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive in Manhattan, to look across the East River and see these large illuminated electrical signs reading “Watchtower” and then underneath it different slogans, such as “Who Is God?” followed eight seconds later with the sign reading “Jehovah Is God.” These ten slogans run for a month. Then ten new ones are programmed. This provides an excellent opportunity to keep before thousands of people each day words of instruction and encouragement regarding Jehovah’s Word.

One can appreciate why we need all of this additional space when one realizes that the Bethel family has grown very rapidly. By the end of the service year of 1969, in Brooklyn, New York, there were 1,124 regular members of the family. Now, a year later, the average was 1,191, an increase of 67 workers at headquarters. Ten years ago there were 571 members in the family. The Bethel family has doubled since that time.

There are many other brothers who go to make up the family in New York. The Society operates three farms that keep the Bethel family supplied with food. We have 80 regular workers there, and during the year there were four temporary workers helping out.

Additionally, we have been doing a lot of reconstruction work in preparing the new buildings that were purchased on Columbia Heights, and in order to do this, 90 additional construction workers, along with their wives, have been brought in.

We are also building a new printing plant and Bethel home at Watchtower Farm, one hundred miles northwest of New York city and there we have another 84 temporary workers employed. So we can say that at the end of the year there were 1,449 members of the Bethel family serving in connection with the Brooklyn office. We also had 70 students of Gilead School with us, bringing the final total to 1,519.

In order to accommodate these people the Society had to lease three floors of the nearby Towers Hotel. This hotel is one block away from the Bethel home. During the months of September and October the Society thoroughly cleaned and painted all the rooms that were leased and we equipped the hotel rooms just as we fix up the rooms of the Bethel home. Approximately 250 brothers and sisters have been assigned to live there for the next two years. In the meantime we are working diligently, with the help of those brothers who have volunteered to do construction work, to remodel the buildings that we have purchased on the Heights. This is going along at a good pace. When all of this remodeling work is finished, which will take another year or more, we hope to move our brothers and sisters out of the Towers Hotel into permanent quarters, which are new additions to the Brooklyn Bethel home.

The new printing plant, 200 feet by 300 feet, now under construction at Watchtower Farm, should be completed around March 1, 1971, and shortly thereafter we expect to receive presses from the M.A.N. manufacturers in Germany. When these are installed we will begin operating this new printing plant. At the time of opening up this printing operation about sixty-five members of the Bethel family will be transferred from Bethel to Watchtower Farm, where the printing of some of the English-language magazines will be done. The magazines will be mailed from there to various parts of the United States.

There is another planned expansion going on too. The Society has in the designing stage a new large five-story Bethel home. This is to be built at Watchtower Farm. It will house about 350 people and will have a dining room and kitchen large enough to take care of more than 500 persons. It is hoped that in the spring of 1971 we will begin building this new Bethel home at Watchtower Farm, a building that will be approximately 250 feet long and 165 feet deep. When this building is finished and equipped, if it be Jehovah’s will, we will enlarge the new factory that we are now constructing by building a three-story addition right next to this new factory in an area covering about two more acres of land.

At the rate that people are now associating with Jehovah’s witnesses and dedicating their lives and being baptized, it takes far more printed material to supply their needs, not only for their personal study, but also for the work of witnessing to others about God’s kingdom, which work they are carrying on world wide. When one has in mind that in just the past two years more than 280,000 persons have dedicated their lives to do the will of God and have now become publishers of the good news of the Kingdom, one can appreciate that the expansion work must go on at great speed. With the help of Jehovah God we hope to keep up with the demand in supplying Bibles and Bible-study helps such as bound books, booklets, Watchtower and Awake! magazines, and other things that are needed to carry on this great ministry that we must do in these “last days.”

All of this vast expansion work has made us very happy here at Bethel, and we rejoice that Jehovah has given us the privilege of building more buildings and remodeling some of those that we have so that we can do our work more efficiently and be able to fill all the orders for literature that the congregations and branch offices send to Brooklyn each month.

We do not know how long this good news of the Kingdom has to be preached, but we know one thing: it must be done until the end comes, and we hope that we will be the busiest people on earth, preaching, teaching and printing things that will be needed to aid persons to flee from Babylon the Great, right up to the end of our witnessing work.

On behalf of the Society I would like to express appreciation to all the brothers and sisters who have made these projects possible because of their contributions. And we are grateful to all who have volunteered to come to Bethel to assist us, using their respective trades, like carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring and masonry, and all other trades, in getting done the work that has to be done. They have done a wonderful work, and how grand it is to have our brothers doing the building work rather than to let it out to contractors who cannot find employees who are willing to work all day long. Men of the world today want to work only five or six hours each day, but we here at Bethel have the privilege of working about eight hours and forty-five minutes a day, and then we spend our evenings making back-calls, going on Bible studies and attending meetings. It is a busy schedule, but Jehovah is our strength and the Bethel family enjoy it.

The year’s report shows that, world wide, the total number of members of the Bethel family comes to 2,304.

PUBLISHING ACTIVITY AT BROOKLYN

This has been our very best year in producing literature in many languages at the Brooklyn printing plant. There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, we printed more Watchtower magazines than ever before and more Awake! magazines. We printed more Bibles and bound books. We could do this because we had more members in our Bethel family and we had more new machinery and larger facilities. In a few words, we expanded and we are still growing.

It has been an exciting year for all of us in the Bethel family. So much has happened in just twelve months. The reason so much has happened really is because of you—the work you did in the field as Jehovah’s witnesses. You have been working diligently in gathering together tens of thousands of the “other sheep,” and these in turn have gone from house to house, and within the last two years we can easily see that there are more than 280,000 publishers who have associated themselves with Jehovah’s witnesses. This has had a telling effect on the printing work not only in Brooklyn, but also in Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and South Africa, as well as other printing plants.

Let us check on a few things that happened in the Brooklyn printing plant. During the 1970 service year it was necessary for us to print in Brooklyn 109,903,090 Watchtower magazines and also 102,607,800 Awake! magazines. Magazines printed equaled 212,510,890 when combined, an increase of 15,784,650 over the total of a year ago. Every week in the year the Brooklyn printing plant publishes more than four million magazines, and that keeps twelve of our twenty-nine high-speed presses busy all the time.

A number of readers of the Watchtower magazine noticed that on January 1, 1970, we changed the quality of the paper used in The Watchtower. This was advisable in order to compensate for the increased cost of mailing and shipping the Society’s magazines. By printing on a less costly paper we are still able to offer the magazines world wide at $1.00 for a year’s subscription. The change in paper did not affect the distribution of the magazines at all, as can be seen by the tremendous increase in the number of Watchtower and Awake! magazines printed.

The world report on the printing of the magazines has reached a new all-time peak of 177,038,027 copies of The Watchtower and 171,719,337 of Awake! The grand total of magazines printed in all printing plants during the 1970 service year was 348,757,364.

In the Brooklyn printing plant, where we put out seventy different magazines a month, we also print Bibles and Bible textbooks. It was necessary to enlarge the bindery as well as to install new presses during the past year. We now have ten lines of bindery equipment that can produce completed books. Our production has been built up to 100,000 bound books per day, including Bibles. We do this in the working day of about eight and three-quarters hours. This has been our best year in the production of bound volumes. We were able to get out 26,232,766, an increase of 9.1 percent over the previous year. This required a lot of extra time, and it became necessary for us to operate an extra shift, from 5:45 p.m. until 3 a.m., for quite a few months. There were over 60,000 man-hours spent by the brothers working on the extra shift.

The book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life seems to be moving just as fast now as when it was first released in 1968. The edition now on the presses is marked 32 million, and we have printed this book in 51 different languages. This publication has helped many to get a clear understanding of the truth, and then these people have read other publications of the Society, such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and they have dedicated their lives to serve God. With all of these more than 160,000 new publishers in just this last year helping us in the distribution of literature it certainly has kept the printing plants throughout the earth humming.

To give you an idea of what was done in the Brooklyn printing plant we set out herewith the following chart.

BROOKLYN FACTORY PRODUCTION REPORT

1968 1969 1970

Bibles 1,004,598 1,819,023 2,061,533

Books 11,126,398 22,219,508 24,171,233

Booklets 17,170,289 11,059,434 12,095,140

The Watchtower 88,074,200 100,275,490 109,903,090

Awake! 81,075,150 96,450,750 102,607,800

Convention Reports — 2,591,000 —

Total 198,450,635 234,415,205 250,838,796

Advertising leaflets 120,583,807 102,287,901 110,141,015

Calendars 677,693 838,842 972,218

Miscellaneous printing 95,301,797 146,853,747 150,365,063

Tracts 18,331,800 18,343,650 20,681,010

Total misc. printing 234,895,097 268,324,140 282,159,306

The 1970 report is truly marvelous. All of the previous years have been just as exciting, but, of course, we have increased the force and we have increased our space and machinery. As all of you readers compare the production report for 1968 with 1969 and 1970 you will conclude, as the Society has, that more building should be done.

We keep our 29 high-speed web rotary presses busy, some of them day and night, as well as our 22 flatbed presses. During the year we used 17,156 tons of paper; this was an increase of 1,356 tons over the previous year. Additionally, so as to keep the cost of literature down, we manufactured 450,539 pounds of glues and adhesives, as well as our own printing inks totaling 200 tons for the year. Of course, we have a very fine large working crew, the Bethel family, and associated with them this year have been many construction workers, brothers who volunteered to come in to help with our rebuilding program, and we had our 70 Gilead students. All of these helped out from time to time in the production of literature.

Even though we had a marvelous year in production, at the close of the service year arrangements were made to run a second shift on certain presses in the factory from September to February in order to keep up with the demand. It must be said that the Bethel family in Brooklyn, New York, is very happy with their work. While very busy in the factory and home and the office and at the farms, they all had time to preach the good news of the Kingdom in the evenings and on weekends, and to attend meetings. This keeps all of them spiritually strong. The joy of the Bethel family is great, and there is no privilege of service on earth like it.

CALENDAR

You will note above, in the production chart, that the increase in the number of calendars printed year by year has been tremendous. In 1968 there were almost 678,000 printed, in the 1969 service year 838,000, and this past year over 972,000 calendars dated 1970. Now we are printing one million calendars for 1971. Making calendars is not really our work. We do have the Yearbook, and this is our calendar. Jehovah’s witnesses use the Yearbook every day, and we are now publishing the Yearbook in English, Spanish, German and French. We feel that this should be sufficient as a calendar as far as Jehovah’s witnesses are concerned.

We plan to discontinue the printing of the calendar with the year 1971. Producing a calendar at the Brooklyn plant requires taking anywhere from 30 to 50 people off their regular work for from three to four months. This, to a great extent, cuts seriously into the production in the rest of the factory, because we cannot print the things we need on presses while the calendar is being printed, and we cannot use the brothers in other parts of the plant while the calendar is being assembled. Weighing the need of a calendar against the tremendous amount of extra work that it takes to get it out and the fact that more are being made each year, the Society has decided that it will stop printing the calendar with the 1971 edition. We feel that the Yearbook is sufficient. It gives us everything that we need, the yeartext, comment on it and the daily text and comments. It shows the name and date of each day of the month, and the monthly themes are there at the beginning of the months. If you want to make notations of what you are going to do in the future, you can always write in the margin of the Yearbook, on the top or side or bottom of the page. If all of us use our Yearbook every morning we will see what notations we put in there for what we have to do that day. If a person wishes to have a calendar on the wall for convenience he can easily get one. Scenic calendars can be obtained, and we can let the people who make calendar printing their business handle that matter. Our business is to preach and provide spiritual food for our brothers, and this must take first place. So, due to the tremendous increase of work in the Brooklyn plant, it has been decided to discontinue the calendar after the year 1971. It will help us greatly in our production of magazines and books and other necessary things, and there will be no disruption in the free flow of work that goes through our plant during each month of the year.

We always have enjoyed printing the calendar, but we feel that the demand for other publications is so great these days that all of our brothers can easily do without a Society calendar. All of those having a Yearbook available in their language can use it for making daily notations of service matters and other things in the margins.

We will still illustrate the year’s text in the Watchtower magazine, and, of course, this will reach six to seven million people each year when it is discussed, generally in the December 15 edition of The Watchtower. We feel sure that all of the brothers will appreciate the reason for stopping calendar printing. Henceforth we will devote all our time to the printing of things that are of greater importance and need. The calendar may have been a talking piece once in a while in our own homes, but mostly we have to make the occasions for talking about the truth by going from house to house and getting Bible studies started.

Everyone around the world who has dedicated his life to do the will of God is anxious to preach. They are having a delightful time doing it. It is just as the psalmist said: “Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force.” (Ps. 110:3) There is no question about it, Jehovah’s Christian witnesses around the world are offering themselves willingly in accomplishing the work. Certainly each one of us wants to spend as much time as possible now in fulfilling the command of Jesus at Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples . . . baptizing them.” Maybe the 1971 service year will even surpass what has been accomplished in 1970. We hope so, to Jehovah’s praise.

Now we will set out some of the experiences of our brothers around the world.

[Box on page 61]

GRADUATES OF GILEAD, 48TH CLASS

March 8, 1970

Acevedo, Alan R.

Acevedo, Willmar C.

Alleyne, Neil C.

Andrew, T. E.

Andrew, Bernadine (Mrs. T.)

Arai, Chie

Ardiles, Hector

Baker, John R.

Baker, Frances V. (Mrs. J.)

Barnes, Peter C.

Barnes, Ann (Mrs. P.)

Berrios, Marlene

Breitfuss, Josef E.

Caicedo, Raul

Delgado, Lydia

Dölling, Kurt J.

Fry, Peter A.

Gillette, William H.

Häusler, Norbert E.

Häusler, M. M. (Mrs. N.)

Kardos, Tomas

Kopezny, Renate J.

Laustsen, Alex V.

Laustsen, H. M. K. (Mrs. A.)

Long, Alan V.

Lucas, David B.

Lull, K. K. A. S. B.

Lyons, Marlene J.

Matos, Anibal I.

McAlman, F. A.

Morgan, Elizabeth C.

Nigl, Udo T. M.

Nigl, Christa (Mrs. U.)

Nishigori, Akemi

Pallett, Jennifer

Peters, Lynette N.

Raphael, Sénèque

Reid, Patricia J.

Rieder, Helmut C.

Rivera, Ileana

Rollason, Elizabeth

Sanui, Hajime

Sartison, Delbert L.

Sartison, Grant W.

Sawada, Tetsuo

Schullo, Albert M.

Seda, Milidan

Stevens, Jane R.

Tagg, Jennifer M.

Thibou, Alonzo A.

Traverso, Richard J.

Vercueil, Dawne

Whittingslow, M. H.

Yuh, Hueng Yul

[Chart on pages 36-43]

1970 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

[Picture on page 63]

The New Watchtower Buildings and Their Signs as Viewed from Manhattan.

Country Reports (Part One)

pp. 71–190

Country Reports (Part One)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Population: 203,774,260

Peak Publishers: 388,920 Ratio: 1 to 524

What a wonderful way to end a service year, having a new peak in publishers of 388,920 and knowing that 38,790 persons dedicated their lives to Jehovah and were baptized in the United States. This is far in excess of any previous year as far as baptism is concerned. It is interesting to note also that while this Yearbook was being written the September report was brought to a conclusion, and how fine it was to see 387,198 publishers putting up a fine fight for the faith, staying up near that peak publisher mark for the first month of the service year. The United States is just one of many countries throughout the world that closed the service year in August with a new peak in publishers.

Do you remember the experience in the 1970 Yearbook about a Baptist minister who, after being witnessed to by his fleshly brother, enjoyed reading the Society’s magazines so much that he began using the material from them to preach to his congregation? The account went on to relate that the congregation enjoyed what they heard and that the Baptist minister later received a copy of the Truth book, which he used in study with the congregation. In a few weeks of study the congregation decided to withdraw from the Baptist organization and to dissolve the church. What has happened since? The former Baptist minister and his wife symbolized their dedication by water baptism and now are offering themselves willingly, having a share in the disciple-making work. Six other members of his former congregation have also been baptized, eighteen are studying the truth and twelve are sharing in field service.

Leaving the Bible study folder when no one is at home has resulted in many fine experiences, such as this one from Colorado: “Just a few weeks ago a very nice thing happened to me. I found quite a few people not at home . . . but that wasn’t the nice thing. When no one answers, I leave in the door a Bible study invitation folder with my name and phone number on it. Right after I got home from field service my phone rang. Calling me was a lady who had gotten the folder that I had left in her door.” A study is now being conducted with the householder and she attends meetings and looks forward to Jehovah’s new arrangement of things. The publisher concludes the experience: “What a fine thing resulted from leaving just a small piece of paper at an unanswered door!”

Phone listings for congregations have enabled many individuals to get in contact with us. A circuit servant from California wrote: “One morning just as we were leaving the Kingdom Hall for service, the phone rang. The woman on the line said she had received our ‘blue book,’ had read it through and, if what it says is the truth, ‘it is fantastic,’ were her words. She wanted to know when we had our meetings. She was present on Sunday for the public talk and stayed through to the end. Arrangements were made for a Bible study to be conducted with her.”

“Are you a real, live Witness?” This response came from an office receptionist who had been busily typing at her job in the Empire State Building in New York city. After the pioneer sister assured the receptionist that she is a witness of Jehovah God, the receptionist said that, to her knowledge, it was the first time she had talked with a Witness. Calls had been made at her home, for she found tracts, folders, leaflets and, occasionally, a magazine slipped under her door. The receptionist took the magazines and asked the pioneer sister to call on her. In another office, the pioneer reports, “a young Korean man said he thought the Witnesses were never coming. His subscriptions for the magazines had expired and he wanted to renew them. He took several books and asked me to call again, as he knew that he had to make his decision and that he did not have much more time to do so.” The pioneer was able to work all eighty-three stories and at no time was asked to leave the building. This pioneer had many fine experiences and concludes: “Many people in business for one reason or another are not or cannot be contacted in the regular house-to-house work. In the case of younger people, in the 18-23 age group, who live at home, the parents are contacted and the young people themselves are missed, but they can be reached by doing businesses, particularly office buildings.”

A number of brothers and sisters in high school have been able to pioneer while completing the last year or two of high school. Some high schools allow students to spend four hours in school and four hours in an occupation such as job training. A pioneer brother in high school writes: “Since the pioneer work is training for a career, through the school counselor it was arranged to engage in the ministry instead of doing secular work. Pioneering has been a source of strength and has enabled me to witness more to my classmates. As a result of my witnessing in school, Jehovah has blessed me with four new studies. Another brother, using this arrangement to vacation pioneer, has also started a Bible study. My fleshly brother, in his first year of high school, has started three new studies in school.”

For the first time in a service year there were over 100,000 vacation pioneers reporting—actually, 104,008. This exceeds by 17,818 the number of vacation pioneers reporting for any other service year.

Even with such a great amount of witnessing being done from house to house in the United States, there was very little disturbance. During the past year there were only ten arrests made and the brothers were charged with solicitation, peddling and going from house to house without a license. Two of these cases are undecided, but they will undoubtedly, like the others, be dismissed. There were a number of instances where there was harassment by the authorities, but letters written to the city or county attorneys from the Brooklyn office effectively and satisfactorily settled the matters. Court cases that were on appeal last year were decided in favor of Jehovah’s witnesses this year.

Jehovah’s Christian witnesses in the United States have had their best year as to time spent in the field and as to the placement of bound books and magazines. It is very interesting to note that the congregation publishers in the United States averaged 13.4 magazines each month, the pioneers 109 and the special pioneers 150.3. All of this tells us that there are many people in this country who are still interested in the Bible, and they want to hear about it. Jehovah’s witnesses are anxious to reach all of them, even to the ends of every state in the Union.

OTHER COUNTRIES

There is only one small group of islands, namely, Bermuda, in the Atlantic Ocean, that the United States branch looks after in addition to 48 states on the mainland. Because Bermuda comes under the jurisdiction of the United States branch, we list it next. Thereafter all the branch offices of the Society are listed alphabetically, and under the branch offices the various territories that they look after. On page three you will find the index of countries for easy reference.

BERMUDA Population: 53,000

Peak Publishers: 118 Ratio: 1 to 449

Without a doubt the highlight of the past service year was our “Men of Goodwill” assembly at the end of July. In addition to the timely, forceful program, we had the unexpected pleasure of your company, Brother Knorr. Among the many expressions of appreciation, one brother wrote: “This is a note of thanks to you and all those dear brothers and sisters in Bermuda who labored so hard and devotedly to make the assembly a success. In addition to the rich spiritual benefits we all enjoyed, there surely will be others in the form of expansion. As a matter of fact, one young man, whose wife was baptized then, expressed himself to me in this way: ‘This assembly has helped me to make up my mind.’” It certainly did take hard work on the part of the brothers to make it a success, as our original planning for an attendance of around a thousand had to be extended to accommodate a peak of 1,731.

Another pleasant milestone in our progress was our being permitted to perform a wedding ceremony completely in our own hall. And now at the end of the year comes the exciting news that we are to have two congregations on the island instead of just one. This, among other things, means that our future circuit assemblies will have an added flavour—we will be assembling with brothers not seen every week!

Just as it gladdens the heart of our heavenly Father, it makes us happy to see newly associated ones make adjustments in their lives in order to wave the symbolic palm branches. Among the fourteen persons baptized during the year were two who found it necessary to change secular employment. Both worked for an air force base. One, now a sister, relates how the point of ‘the meek inheriting the earth’ was what sparked her interest, leading to a Bible study. Then she adds: “After studying the Bible and knowing about Jehovah’s loving provisions I wanted to dedicate my life to doing his will, but I realized that the type of secular work I was doing was not in keeping with Bible principles. So, after working there for seventeen years, I had a choice to make: work for a few more years and get a pension, or serve Jehovah. You know who won out, because I was baptized at our circuit assembly in June. After associating with so many brothers and sisters at our ‘Men of Goodwill’ District Assembly I can say, Never have I seen such love demonstrated before. How happy I am to be part of such a spiritually rich family and to be able to do Jehovah’s will!”

ALASKA Population: 308,628

Peak Publishers: 814 Ratio: 1 to 379

In the three months from August to October all 793,000 square miles of Alaska and the Yukon were temporarily assigned to the twelve congregations so that concentrated effort could be extended to the vast interior. The brothers responded to this special assignment enthusiastically in their eagerness to reach many who never heard the truth before. This project is being approached in two ways. One is to reach all persons accessible by roads. Another is by using plane or boat to contact homesteaders and natives living in villages where there are no roads. While it may be difficult to reach people in remote areas, we have evidence that Jehovah does plant the seed of truth and his spirit has moved others to study his Word even when they were alone.

After receiving a request to send some literature to an interested person, the Society asked that someone pay a personal visit on him. This request was difficult to fulfill as the family lived in isolation on one of the hundreds of islands in southeastern Alaska. Since it would take many hours to go there by boat, the brothers decided to fly a small plane. After about an hour or so they touched down on the water near their call. They were surprised to find that this man and his wife had a complete library of theocratic literature. The wife had first heard of the truth during a brief stay in the lower states. Although it was the same day that she was baptized in the Mormon church, the seed of truth had been planted. She returned to Alaska to share with her husband what she had heard. This couple were determined to study by themselves. They would spend a couple of hours each day, even reading the Yearbook as well as the Aid book. Little did the brothers who flew there realize that they would find such interest when they took that plane trip to an unusual back-call. This man and his wife see the advisability of moving to one of the larger cities in Alaska where there is a congregation to help them in further growth to maturity.

Do you eagerly witness to your relatives when the opportunity arises, or do you sometimes hold back? A brother writes: “My wife’s fleshly brother came to our beautiful island with his new bride. After they were here for one day we tactfully approached them with an offer to study the Bible. The offer was accepted. The young woman came to the Kingdom Hall and after a couple of weeks had completely quit smoking. She said, ‘It is not clean, and I want to be clean.’ It was as simple as that. During the second study, the husband revealed his involvement in spiritism, and when they discussed chapter 7 in the Truth book he said, ‘I know there are demons, for I have contacted them!’ He was quite involved in spiritism, having started out years ago using the Ouija board and having graduated to astro-projection, which is projecting one’s mind away from the body to another location. When we finished the chapter on wicked spirits, he had thrown all his books on spiritism and occultism in the garbage. By this time they were both attending meetings regularly and this brought further blessings. Although the study with this couple began in October, they both engaged in the ministry in December and are now part of the grand family of Jehovah’s people. They were baptized at our circuit assembly, culminating the six-month study course in the Truth book.” In August the wife vacation pioneered.

ARGENTINA Population: 24,352,000

Peak Publishers: 18,763 Ratio: 1 to 1,298

Many are the people who are associating with the theocratic organization and taking part in the proclamation of the “good news.” In fact, 2,180 new publishers started walking in Jehovah’s ways and paths. Of these who are walking in his ways, 2,365 have made their dedication to Jehovah and have publicly given testimony of this by being baptized.

Many publishers extended their opportunities of service to vacation and regular pioneer service. More than 5,200 publishers took part in the vacation pioneer work and we have enrolled 256 new regular pioneers.

Response to the invitation to come up to the house of Jehovah is seen in meeting attendance. The Kingdom Halls are too small. Many of the congregations are now making additions to their halls.

Two sisters were assigned to a city of 15,000 persons. In this same city ten years ago we had two special pioneers working, but they had to leave town because of opposition. They were not even able to get a hotel room in which to live. Times have changed; so have the people. Now after six months of working here, thirty-five persons are attending the public talks. At the district assembly twenty of these people came. There are now four publishers working with the pioneer sisters and thirty-five people, on the average, are attending the Watchtower study.

A pioneer tells us how the truth changes people. “I visited a lady whom I had not been able to find at home. After many return calls I did find the lady at home, a study was started and was conducted regularly, and the lady progressed rapidly. I learned that she was living in a common-law marriage arrangement, not being legally married. After learning the Bible requirements she explained to the man, who was opposed to the truth, that if he would not marry her legally she would leave him. This woman had three children and was expecting another, but this did not affect her decision. She left the man and lived separately for five months. After five months the man came and asked her to return and said that he was ready to get married legally. The result of this decision is that this woman is now a sister legally married, and the husband is now studying and attends the meetings.” Jehovah blesses those walking in his ways.

A publisher left two magazines with a lady who said that she had no money but that she would pay for them the next week. The publisher reports: “I returned, obtained two subscriptions and started a study in the ‘Good News’ booklet. Later the study was discontinued because of opposition. The family was Catholic, and she was preparing her nine-year-old son for his first Communion. It was then that we received the Truth book and I was sure that something would happen once the lady started to read it. I suggested that she read ‘How to Pray and Be Heard by God,’ because she had told me that she did not know how to pray and what to pray for. In one week she read that theme and the rest of the book, a study was started again and she decided that her son would not take Communion. All images were removed from the walls and she now comes to the meetings and is planning to take part in the field service with me. In the home there has been a complete change, thanks to the truth.”

Do you talk Bible truth to your friends? This experience shows that good results come from doing so. I visited an old friend whom I had not seen for some time. Since he lived in another city I sent the address to the congregation to have someone visit him. My friend tells his own experience: “A publisher visited my home when I was not there but left the Kingdom Hall address with my mother. I attended the meeting at the Kingdom Hall and have been doing so ever since. I started out in the service after just a few studies and I was baptized in July. Our family was known in the neighborhood for always fighting and making a lot of trouble and noise, taking part in anything that was wrong. My sister wore the shortest miniskirt in the neighborhood. The truth changed all this for the entire family. We took down the saints and pictures of famous car racers that we had on the walls. A neighbor lady was very much impressed with the changes. She heard no more fighting, so she wanted to know what had happened.” Because of talking Bible truth to an old friend nine people are now walking in Jehovah’s way.

AUSTRALIA Population: 12,296,000

Peak Publishers: 22,203 Ratio: 1 to 554

What a joy to see 2,544 persons baptized this year, to compare with 1,633 last year. Young and old alike are sharing in the preaching activity with enthusiasm. One of our older brothers regularly places three hundred or more magazines each month. Recently he wrote saying that he had been working business territory and found that the June 8 Awake! article “Is Your Doctor Afraid of You?” had quite an appeal. “Believe me,” he said, “for a young man over ninety-six years of age it was quite tiring moving through the crowds of shoppers en route to the managers’ offices.” Never think you are too old to share in the service!

How thrilling to see a young couple with two children come along rapidly when contacted in the door-to-door work! It was their first contact with Jehovah’s organization. They readily accepted the Truth book, and a back-call was arranged immediately. After a few studies in the Truth book they could see their position plainly and accepted their responsibility. They volunteered for door-to-door ministry without being asked and were baptized. Within seven months they, in turn, are conducting three home Bible studies, with a very deep appreciation of the urgency of the times. How effective the six-month Bible study arrangement is!

Are you making powerful use of the instruments that Jehovah provides through his organization? A circuit servant writes about a young atheist he met at the door: “‘You have come to the wrong house here. My wife and I are atheists,’ he said. I asked him if he had ever thought of examining the Bible as to its statements on scientific subjects, as these would be the easiest to prove either right or wrong. I then demonstrated some examples with the Word of God book. He agreed to take the book if I would not call back on him. I agreed to this and he took it. About ten minutes later he came looking for me as we approached another door and he humbly told us that he had changed his mind and now desired that we call back. The following week I called back with the overseer and had an interesting discussion with him and his wife, who was also an atheist. We arranged for the overseer to make another call the following week. Now, four months later, I have been able to check the results. Since that time they have had regular studies in the Truth book and have begun attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. On Wednesday night of this week I attended their Bible study. It was a joy to see them study, as they were so eager and appreciative. The young man said to me, ‘You must notice a big difference in us since the first time you met us.’ Certainly I did. His wife said, ‘We never believed that such a change could come in our lives in such a short time.’ Then she explained how strange they felt the first night her husband and she prayed together after all those years of telling everyone that they were atheists, but how much happier they feel now that they have come to know Jehovah. How thrilling it is to see the power of Jehovah’s Word and spirit in the lives of people today. This young couple have two children who are excellent examples already in their interest in the truth. They read a chapter of the Bible every night before going to bed.” May we all be adept in our use of the outstanding provisions we have at our disposal to seek out the “sheep.”

Another brother writes: “An overseer’s six-year-old son, notorious for his fearlessness and resolute stand at his school on matters of flag salute and singing the national anthem, proved true to form just a few weeks ago on the occasion of the end-of-year class Christmas party. Although many Christmas carols were sung, with the teacher cajoling him to join in, he would just fold his arms and keep his mouth shut. The teacher must have taken pity on him, because she remarked, ‘We have sung our songs, what about singing us one of your songs?’ He obliged. Standing in front of his class, our six-year-old treated them to a rousing verse of Song 62, ‘We Are Jehovah’s Witnesses!’ Even the very young can praise Jah!”

AUSTRIA Population: 7,349,500

Peak Publishers: 9,618 Ratio: 1 to 764

The ways in which people of all nations are being brought into contact with the truth are indeed wonderful. There can be no doubt that Jehovah’s Christian witnesses are receiving heavenly support and direction in their preaching work. Many experiences reported from the field here in Austria provoke thought in this regard. Here are just a few:

Eight years ago a young special pioneer was doing magazine work from house to house in a small town and did not fail to present the magazine offer also in the stores there. At a hotel, he first spoke with the proprietor’s mother. As he started to present the magazines, she said: “Wait a moment, please. I will call my son.” The son came and listened to the publisher’s introduction, but as the magazines were presented, he too said: “Please wait. I believe that this will interest my sister.” And before the brother could reply, the young lady was brought to him. She had a great many questions. A home Bible study was immediately arranged. At first, things went along well, but Satan succeeded in slowing the progress down later on. Nonetheless, the young woman finally came to a knowledge of the truth and was immersed last year, the first person in her town to become a praiser of Jehovah’s name. How unusual it is that two other persons were needed as go-betweens when the publisher made his first call on her.

Two brothers from neighboring congregations work for the same secular firm. When the special issue of Awake! on the subject “Is It Later than You Think?” appeared in German, one of them took the first copy that he had obtained along to work with him, so as to read it during his noon hour. After having read several pages, he exclaimed joyfully to the other brother, “We have never had anything like this before!” Another fellow employee, whose parents are also Jehovah’s witnesses but who himself had never showed interest in the truth, overheard the remark. Now he wanted to see what was in the magazine that made the brother so happy. He asked to be permitted to read the brother’s copy. The next morning he said that he had read the entire magazine and asked the brothers what book he should study so as to be able to make a decision as soon as possible. The brothers were dumbfounded. Years of effort on the part of the parents of the young man had been fruitless, but now one enthusiastic remark and the contents of one magazine had paved the way for a home Bible study. Within five months the young man was sharing in the ministry and giving talks in the Theocratic Ministry School. Shortly thereafter, he was baptized.

The husband of a woman with whom a home Bible study was being conducted was known to be a ridiculer, not at all interested in religious matters. When the time for the international assembly in Nuremberg, Germany, drew near, the brothers invited his wife to attend. She agreed and purchased a train ticket. When the date of departure arrived, her husband did not allow her to leave. But since he enjoys traveling and the ticket had already been purchased, he decided to take the trip himself and thus prevent his wife from going. How great was his surprise to find the entire train filled with assembly delegates! How pleased he was that they were all so friendly to him! In Nuremberg he did not feel at all like a stranger, for everyone called him “brother.” He was very impressed by the size and orderliness of the assembly. Upon returning home, he was a changed man. When approached by the congregation servant, he immediately agreed to have a home Bible study. In the meantime, he has made fine progress in the truth, separating himself from Babylon the Great and associating zealously with the local congregation.

BAHAMAS Population: 168,838

Peak Publishers: 411 Ratio: 1 to 411

Making disciples of people was our goal during this service year and that is what we accomplished more so than ever before in the history of the ministry in the Bahamas. Forty-nine persons dedicated their lives to do the will of Jehovah and were baptized.

There has been no lack of fine experiences during the year. We would like to recount a few of them so they might serve as a source of encouragement to those who read them. This one illustrates the importance of following through on all placements. A sister was going from house to house. Well, we will let her tell it. “I called at a house where a little girl came to the door. She tried to tell me that her mother was sick, but, I, being hard of hearing, insisted that she call her mother. (I didn’t know that this woman thought she hated the Witnesses and would hide from them.) She finally came to the door, not in a very pleasant mood, and quickly I presented the sermon and told her about the six-month Bible study course. She said she really did not want the book, as one of our people had called and placed a book with her and promised to call back and she never did, and that was over a year ago. I apologized for the other Witness, and she took the Truth book. I called back on her, much to her surprise, and arranged for a study. After the first study she said that she had learned things she did not even know were in the Bible. After the second study she asked where our church was, and I directed her to the Kingdom Hall. Sure enough, on Sunday morning she was there. Soon she was coming to the congregation book study. I had to go away for three weeks. Imagine my surprise and joy when, on returning, she told me she had read straight through the Yearbook, Is the Bible Really the Word of God? and had finished the Truth book. Having read that she should get rid of her religious objects, she had also done that. Soon she was coming to the service meeting and the Theocratic Ministry School, and then one day she asked me if she could go from door to door. This was another joyful surprise. Three months later she was baptized. All of this, from a hater of Jehovah’s witnesses to a dedicated, baptized servant of Jehovah, because I followed the Society’s counsel to call back on all placements.”

Many young people are inquiring as to the reason for the changes in the outlook on life and its many problems, and so, when the opportunity comes to hear someone else’s views and the possible solution, they are willing to listen. The circuit servant, on arriving at the island of San Salvador, where there is a teachers’ training college, inquired if he could give a lecture to the students, to which the principal readily agreed. The young woman who was assigned to make the arrangements warned him that, when the bishop of Nassau had given a lecture sometime before, the students had given him a hard time. Forty-five students listened intently to the thirty-minute lecture “Is the Bible Really the Word of God?”, which was followed by a question-and-answer session. The students had many sincere questions and for one and a half hours question after question was propounded covering almost every major doctrine of the Bible, the most popular being “hell.” Afterward the students expressed their appreciation, saying that it had given them a new picture of Jehovah’s witnesses and what they believe. They were then shown the publications Is the Bible Really the Word of God?, Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation? and The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. What a pleasure it was to see them come up and write their orders for sixty-one books.

BARBADOS Population: 260,000

Peak Publishers: 869 Ratio: 1 to 299

It has been a blessed year of service for the brothers serving in Barbados and the islands under the jurisdiction of the branch office in Bridgetown. Many new peaks were reached in Kingdom activity during the year, all to the honor of Jehovah’s name. The branch office in Bridgetown cares for the preaching work in the islands of Barbados, Bequia, Carriacou, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent. We will begin with a report from Barbados.

A Bible study was turned over to a sister, and she cared for it well. However, the young woman could not be persuaded to attend a meeting, even though the sister made it plain that in order for the study to continue she would need to make an effort to assemble with other Christians. Finally the woman moved and the sister made arrangements for someone in another congregation to care for the study. About two months later the sister met the woman’s father; he and his wife had sat in the back room while the study was in progress. Telling what happened, the sister writes: “I understood they were opposed and had no idea I was conducting a study with them as silent participants. He told me to come and study with them. On the first call I determined that I was going to stress the importance of attending meetings. Before I could, however, he announced: ‘You will see me at the Kingdom Hall tonight.’ He was a half hour early and has not missed a meeting since then! Soon the matter of preaching to others came up. He was eager to share, and since there was no reason why he could not, he started in the service during the week of our circuit servant’s visit. The thrilling part of it all is that all this happened within seven weeks!”

One of our new special pioneers, anxious to be successful and productive in the ministry, tells us how he is doing. “Immediately on starting my new assignment I started a study with a prominent Pentecostal woman. She lived very near the Kingdom Hall. For five months she studied and it began to look as if she would not progress further and come to meetings. Thus after going through chapter 14 in the Truth book I decided to cancel the study. Well, the very next week she came to some meetings. We then resumed the study, but no sooner was this done than she stopped attending meetings. So I stopped the study again. Her response was to come to meetings again. Before resuming the study, and with increased frankness, I aided her to appreciate that an occasional visit to the meetings to satisfy curiosity is not what we call attending meetings. If she really wanted to learn she would have to be more consistent in coming to Christian gatherings at the Kingdom Hall. A marked improvement was noted immediately and the study progressed nicely. She is a regular meeting attender now and a proclaimer of the good news. The need for all to exert themselves in Jehovah’s service was nicely put by her just recently when she said: ‘When I was a Pentecostal I used to give my all, so now that I am a witness for Jehovah I believe I should do even more.’”

BEQUIA Population: 6,000

Peak Publishers: 23 Ratio: 1 to 261

The generally pleasant atmosphere still prevails here. The island is more and more coming of age now, especially with the introduction of electricity during the past year. But the truth still makes a brighter light for those wanting to walk according to it.

A new brother, just baptized at the circuit assembly in June, reflects back seven years to when the truth first “brushed” him by an incidental witness given. He says: “I avoided further contact with Jehovah’s witnesses after that initial introduction to them on a street corner in Kingstown. I cannot explain why, however. Soon I got involved in Babylon’s confusing labyrinth of divisive religions, even to the point of involvement in spiritism. This was no casual interest in spiritism either, for many of the books I bought were very costly. Several years ago there was another chance meeting and discussion with Jehovah’s witnesses on a street corner. About one year ago, after having moved to Bequia, I was invited to attend a meeting of Jehovah’s people. The old hesitation was still there and I lingered a long while outside before going in. Finally I entered and eventually had opportunity to ask many questions, all of which were satisfactorily answered. It was at this meeting that I received a copy of the enlightening book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. After a few studies I was convinced of the uselessness of all the books on spiritism that I had purchased over the years, so a brother and myself rendered these demon-inspired books to ashes. Now I am a brother through dedication and baptism. Please rejoice with me, brothers, because after seven years of neglect I have this wonderful privilege of becoming a witness of Jehovah with you!”

CARRIACOU Population: 8,000

Peak publishers: 29 Ratio: 1 to 276

The inhabitants of this small island enjoyed a fine blessing in August when hundreds of brothers from neighboring islands came for the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly. This was the first district assembly for Carriacou. The government was very kind in allowing us two schools, free of charge, for the assembly itself and for dormitories for the visiting brothers.

The brothers were able to purchase their very own Kingdom Hall during the year, and this has proved a boost to the work as well. At the beginning of the service year a new special pioneer couple and their daughter, a regular pioneer, took up their assignment in Carriacou. At first they encountered some inconvenience in getting settled, but their love, their loyalty to Jehovah and their desire to aid the brothers have made it all worth while. They are doing a fine work.

Priestly influence is still strong here. Many people are still in fear of Babylon’s ministers, and on the islands there is a general fear about what others are thinking about one. The smaller the island the greater the fear. One young couple are now in the process of conquering this particular fear of man. They are beginning to share with others what they learn and have been quite regular in attending meetings lately. Needless to say, this is very encouraging to the brothers.

GRENADA Population: 106,000

Peak Publishers: 194 Ratio: 1 to 546

Grenada is still called the ‘Isle of Spice,’ but with us it is becoming more the ‘Isle of Pioneers.’ More and more the brothers here are proving that pioneering is really the ‘spice’ of life. On September 1 a very fine couple begin their careers as pioneers. They have been planning it for some time now. When the husband was asked about accepting further privileges as a result of pioneering, he said: “Brothers, we are going all the way; this is it!” Two other regular pioneers have been assigned as special pioneers, and there are several younger ones just out of school who are qualifying for regular pioneer privileges. We are all very proud of these folks and rejoice at their decision to serve God full time. With a new peak of 194 during the year, we have had some fine experiences. Here is a publisher to tell about it.

A vacation-pioneering mother relates this one: “I met a woman who showed remarkable interest in the truth. Though a study was arranged, I was unable to find her at home again. Several months later I paid a surprise visit and found her at home and we finally got the study going. However, even the world knows the value of a mentally alert person, thus she had several enticing offers, which could have ended her progress in the truth. One was the chance to emigrate to the United States, the other was the opportunity to manage a garment factory in Grenada. Her reason for rejecting both offers was as she said, ‘If I go or take the job, I would not be able to continue studying and would miss meetings.’ So the study continued with two sessions a week. She had her name removed from the Pentecostal Church register. She has shared the truth with neighbors. Many of these are circumstantially unable to study in their own homes, so this woman has opened her home so that other publishers can study with these interested people. So interested in the spiritual welfare of others is she that she has arranged transportation to aid sixteen publishers and interested persons to get to the meetings regularly.”

ST. LUCIA Population: 112,000

Peak Publishers: 167 Ratio: 1 to 671

St. Lucia is the island most brothers have been writing about concerning serving where the need is great. What have been the results? In the past eight months we have had eight consecutive new peaks in publishers! There has been a 50-percent increase in publishers in the past year. It would be good to mention, though, that about 20 percent of that increase has come from the island inhabitants and it has not all been due to brothers who have moved in.

The brothers are very active here. In Castries the congregation has purchased a piece of land and will soon be constructing their new Kingdom Hall. They are active in service too. One publisher has three very productive questions when it comes to obtaining new subscriptions for the magazines. When showing the magazines he asks, Have you seen these before? Most have. Then he says, How do you like them? Most do like them. And finally the question, Would you like to subscribe for them? By this direct and brief method he has obtained over forty new subscriptions during the service year. He takes advantage of all circumstances to do so. Why not try it?

One result of new ones’ moving to the island has been the formation of a new isolated group at Soufrière. There are six pioneers and one publisher. Already after just a few months of operation we have twenty-five or more persons attending meetings.

A sister had been carrying on a study with a woman, but there was little result as far as the woman’s making spiritual progress and showing it by actions were concerned. The study was eventually canceled by the sister. Then the Truth book made its appearance, and after thinking about it for a while the sister decided to give the woman another chance, this time stressing the six-month study course. She outlined clearly what would be expected. The lady agreed to the new study, but it would have to begin after she returned from a trip out of the island. Our sister encouraged her to associate with the brothers while away. Much to the sister’s surprise, she did. “On returning,” the sister explains, “we got into a very progressive study. Within six weeks she was publishing, and eight months later she was baptized. Jehovah’s organization certainly knows what the people need and we are truly wise if we conform our methods and ways to doing things the way they ought to be done.”

ST. VINCENT Population: 97,000

Peak Publishers: 116 Ratio: 1 to 836

Like the early apostles, the brothers in Kingstown have been holding their meetings in an “upper room” for a number of years, but during the year Jehovah’s rich blessing on all their hard work of years past produced opportunity to purchase an 80-by-100-foot lot in a quiet residential area of Kingstown. A building on it now serves as their new Kingdom Hall. They have plans to expand; indeed, they will have to in order to care for all the developing interest. Soon it is hoped that a new congregation can be formed just outside the city to serve the friends living on the leeward side of the island. The following experiences have made the brothers very happy.

News of the free home Bible study arrangement spreads quickly, and some people are even searching out the brothers for studies. As with Cornelius, one man living in the country sent a message to the missionaries for someone to come and conduct a study. A study was started and it developed into a sort of community study, with members from three different families taking part. Now three of the group see the truth very clearly and the man who first requested the study has severed his association with Babylon the Great and is very active in sharing the truth with still other friends and relatives.

“Maintain your conduct fine among the nations,” Peter admonished. (1 Pet. 2:12) One of our humble sisters, in trying to do this, has aided in satisfying another person that this is the truth. She tells us that one day she and another sister entertained a neighbor in their home. When the conversation got around to people and the community, the neighbor spoke out against some of the immoral practices she had seen. She volunteered the information that these bad things were being practiced by churchgoing people, adding that some had invited her to their church but that she had declined because of their bad conduct. Gently the sisters directed her to the Bible and Jehovah’s organization and suggested that she make a study of the Bible with them. It was not long before she realized that she had found the truth, both by the teaching and by the right conduct observed. Before being baptized at the circuit assembly in June the new sister remarked to the one studying with her: “If it had not been for your conduct I would never have responded. As it is, because of your fine conduct, I was drawn all the more quickly to the organization.”

BELGIUM Population: 9,660,154

Peak Publishers: 13,271 Ratio: 1 to 728

It is amazing to see now, more than ever before in Belgium, how effective the command of Jesus Christ is to go and “make disciples . . . baptizing them.” 1,792 new disciples were baptized in Belgium during this past service year. Those on the outside of the organization are astonished to see the progress of the work. Newspapers, radio, television and even Catholic newspapers have asked for information.

A pioneer sister writes us as follows: “Two years ago, while going from house to house, I placed the Paradise book with a lady. However, at that time she was always very busy and so I eventually stopped visiting her. The book went into the cellar with the old papers. A few months ago the lady decided to clean up her cellar and, in doing so, came across the Paradise book. Moved by curiosity, she began to read the book and very soon her interest was revived. Her wish was to meet once more the person who had left her the book. One day, while making back-calls, I passed by the house and remembered that I had made a placement there. I rang the bell, and when the lady saw me she expressed her joy and explained that a week previously she had prayed to God for him to send one of Jehovah’s witnesses to her. She took the Truth book, and immediately the study began. Three more books were placed with her during the following week, for the children. A short while afterward, she had to face up to a test. Her mother-in-law heard about the study and came to put a stop to it. The young woman refused. The mother-in-law hit her and then encouraged her son (the woman’s husband) to do the same. She even wanted to beat me up. The woman stayed firm and the Devil’s efforts were thwarted. Arrangements were made for the study to be held in a sister’s home. Instead of stopping her studies, the woman accepted the invitation to attend the meetings, and now she attends them all, being well prepared in advance. She gives good comments and her wish is to tell these good things to others and soon to dedicate herself to Jehovah.”

The following experience shows how new ones can overcome tests by having confidence in Jehovah. “For a few weeks now I have been conducting a study with a couple who began to attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall and also the local book study. The husband worked as a bulldozer operator on a new highway. The heavy work finished, he was sent to another place about ninety miles from his home. This prevented him from getting home early enough to attend the meetings at the hall. Being desirous of attending all the meetings, this man explained his case to the Works Manager. The result? He was sacked, received five days’ pay and a dole ticket! They were upset, but they put their confidence in Jehovah and also put his interests first in their lives. They prayed to Jehovah for help, and eventually the man received an interview notice for another job. On the morning of the fourth day after his being sacked, someone knocked on their door. It was the Works Manager, asking him to return to his previous employment but in a better situation and, in addition, with the authorization to leave earlier in order to attend the meetings! This couple is, of course, very happy that Jehovah was attentive to their prayer, and they know that he will not abandon anyone who sincerely wishes to do God’s will.”

BOLIVIA Population: 4,931,200

Peak Publishers: 1,168 Ratio: 1 to 4,222

After many years of slow increase it has been a real pleasure to reach over a thousand publishers in Bolivia. This year we have started six congregations, and outstanding is the fact that three Bolivian brothers have started in circuit work. There is a fine spirit among the publishers, from the high Bolivian altiplano to the low jungle areas.

Some of our brothers out on the Bolivian altiplano are receiving severe opposition from their neighbors in the surrounding communities. The Society has asked the authorities to guarantee the constitutional rights of the publishers in these places, and at this writing the local community authorities are being counseled to guarantee freedom of religion for Jehovah’s witnesses.

Typical of the treatment our brothers are receiving is the following: Toribio learned the truth of God’s Word and began associating with Jehovah’s people. His neighbors immediately began to threaten him with bodily injury and then would beat him and order him to give up his newfound religion. He continued progressing in spite of the threats and beatings and finally was baptized. Then the difficulties became worse. The local authorities threatened him and told him to give up his false religion. Toribio invited his fleshly brother to the Memorial celebration, but his brother turned on him, cursing him obscenely. The brother called his sister to bring a whip to beat Toribio. She pulled his hair and pummeled him with her fists. However, Toribio took the persecution without fighting back and later said he felt a great calm come over him as he prayed to Jehovah and meditated on the scripture that counsels Christians not to return evil for evil.

On another occasion an entire community turned on a little congregation of publishers for not supporting local politics and even took property away from some of the brothers. The overseer of the congregation was beaten and knocked down. Later as the brothers were discussing their difficulties with the district servant and the circuit servant, the matter of how trials refine and polish our faith was discussed. The overseer, a faithful Aymara special pioneer, commented: “Well, I guess Jehovah just doesn’t believe me yet. This is the fifth time I’ve been beaten.” These warmhearted country brothers are taking their trials with a fine spirit and are a wonderful example to the publishers throughout the land.

Proper Christian conduct around worldly relatives can have a fine, fruitful effect on unbelievers. A family in Sucre finally accepted a Bible study from Jehovah’s witnesses because their daughter was a fine example of a Christian witness in another city. For some time the daughter had tried unsuccessfully to witness to her family about God’s truth, but over a period of time the father and mother softened their attitude. However, the oldest son, who studied chemistry in the university, was quite indoctrinated with materialism and politics, and every time the study was conducted he would turn up the radio, shout and generally make a nuisance of himself, in spite of his father’s wishes. The study continued under these circumstances. The sister who was a Witness wrote one day and invited the unruly older brother to come and pay her family a visit. The young man accepted the invitation, determined to make known his feelings about her religion. However, the young man was quite impressed by the loving, kind atmosphere in his sister’s household and the self-control and affection that his sister’s husband and daughters displayed. The sister’s husband, also a Witness, would offhandedly invite the young man to comment on parts of the Bible and to attend meetings in the Kingdom Hall. Again he came away impressed by the warm welcome he received from the publishers. Upon returning home, the young man surprised his family and the Witnesses who were studying with them by joining the study and leaving off all association with politics and his materialistic classmates. The Word of God is powerful and can influence for good even those with former atheistic leanings.

BRAZIL Population: 95,300,000

Peak Publishers: 64,199 Ratio: 1 to 1,484

From all parts of our territory come thrilling reports and experiences. First the summer months saw a total of 114,927 persons attending our sixteen district assemblies, about double the number of publishers reporting. Then in March the Memorial attendance of 164,436 and over 100,000 at the public meeting showed us clearly that we have a tremendous work to do to care for these whose ‘eyes are being opened.’

And we certainly have the instruments with which to do it. The Truth book is doing a work no other book has done, not only in providing life-giving knowledge in a clear, simple manner, but also in aiding our brothers to conduct better Bible studies. One sister wrote to say that she had started a study with a devout Presbyterian lady who had made little progress until the Truth book was released. The sister explained to her the six-month study arrangement and the need to study regularly, with prior preparation, and covering one chapter at each study. The lady agreed. By the time chapter five was reached, she was attending meetings, and when the book was finished she was a regular publisher and planning to be baptized. Another Catholic lady asked that they study two chapters a week. By the third week she was attending meetings and had asked the priest to remove their names from the church listing. She was soon talking with her neighbors and teaching her children, and was enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School so as to learn how to help ‘release those who are bound.’ Now she and her husband, their children and the neighbor are planning to be baptized. Our files are full of similar experiences so that it is difficult to choose among them.

Have you ever heard the following response as you went from door to door: “You do not need to waste your time talking to me. I am saved and teach Sunday school in my church. Go to my neighbors who know very little about the Bible”? Maybe the following approach, used with good success by one publisher, will help you. She answered, “What do you think I should tell your neighbors?” The lady answered, “Oh, just tell them what you were going to tell me.” “But, do you know what I was going to tell you? Wouldn’t you like to hear it and see if it would serve for your neighbors? It is really very important.” The lady agreed and, after hearing the sermon, said: “But you teach quite differently. What can I do so as to be able to teach like that?” The Truth book was placed and the study was started. After a few studies her comment was: “How strange! I was a teacher and knew nothing about all this.” When opposition arose from her minister, she resigned from the church and is now a regular attender at the Kingdom Hall.

As more persons are having their eyes opened and are seeking refuge on Jehovah’s side, more brothers are appreciating the importance of getting into the full-time ministry, and of serving where the need is greater. A sister whose crippled leg makes walking difficult, and who must work as a seamstress to help support her family, wanted to serve as a vacation pioneer. After much prayer to Jehovah and in spite of opposition from her husband, she made her plans, cutting down her hours of sewing and also the expenses in the home. Her letter of appreciation at the end of the month gave thanks “first to Jehovah and then to His organization for having given me thirty days of immense pleasure and contentment.” She devoted 114 hours to the field ministry during the month, started four new studies and made plans to repeat the experience in July.

A sister who helped her husband as a tailor eight hours a day made arrangements to serve as a vacation pioneer for three months and had such good success that she wanted to continue as a regular pioneer. She and her husband made plans so that she would no longer work in the tailor shop but would care for the home and children, dispensing with the maid. Under this arrangement she entered the pioneer service. She now conducts eight studies, cares for her family and shares in all features of the ministry. Her health, too, has improved considerably. What a joy to see three other sisters in the congregation copy her example and enter the pioneer service. She closed by saying, “Pioneer service is so good, I encourage all sisters to serve as pioneers.”

Jehovah is releasing those who are bound, and doing it in amazing ways. A letter came to the branch office from a man living in a town where no Witnesses lived, saying that he had received a copy of the Truth book and the Bible study folder. He and his friends studied it together, and on the basis of what they learned, six of them had, on their own, quit their Protestant church. But they wrote: “We are like the Ethiopian eunuch: we need help, since we do not know how to continue.” Word was sent to the nearest group of Witnesses and contact was made. On the first Sunday, twenty-two persons came to the public talk arranged, and now they are being visited regularly.

Incidental witnessing, too, plays its part in ‘releasing those who are bound.’ A brother went to a barbershop operated by another Witness and, on entering, greeted the barber as “Brother.” A lady present exclaimed that it was strange that two brothers should look so unalike. The brother explained that they were spiritual brothers and then took advantage of the opportunity to give a witness. This resulted in the placing of the Truth book and making arrangements for a study. After the first study in her home, the householder said how grateful she was that a mistake had been made by the taxi driver who had left her at that barbershop instead of the one to which she regularly took her son. For some time she had been praying to God for help to find the truth, and there it was when she least expected it! She began right away to attend the Kingdom Hall meetings and she is already witnessing in her neighborhood.

BRITISH HONDURAS Population: 119,645

Peak Publishers: 441 Ratio: 1 to 271

Generally, schools in this country are operated for the government by the religious denominations. While we are exempted from religious activities, local officials do not always follow the law. They insert false religious worship and group prayer in the daily school routine.

A young publisher of eight years demonstrated integrity by refusing to join with the class in prayer. She was knocked to the floor by the principal and expelled from school. Due to the girl’s firm stand it was learned that other young publishers were joining classmates in false worship; thus they could be corrected by their parents. The following school morning brought a fine witness as all stood solidly united in pure worship and did not participate in prayer with the class. The faithful little girl was readmitted to school. The school principal seemed to feel defeat and resigned. No further problems have been experienced there.

In another town a slight-built young brother of nine years endured a fifteen-minute beating with a thick rope as the teacher tried to force him to join with the class in group prayer. Just then his father, a special pioneer, arrived. He took the boy to the Methodist minister who is the school manager, to the police and to a doctor, as the lashing had broken the skin and produced bleeding. When the matter came before the government education department, a letter was written to all teachers and principals demanding adherence to the law and religious freedom for children of Jehovah’s witnesses. Not only were all children of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the country benefited by the integrity of the boy, but a teacher in the same Methodist school profited from the experience. She had been studying for some time but continued active as a lay preacher. She says: “The regular Bible study was a great help to me and the stand taken by E———— and that taken by the church against him proved to me that my religion really did not demonstrate love. I clearly appreciated also that true Christians will be persecuted. I finally saw that truth and falsehood could not mix so I resigned from the church.” Separating herself from false religion, she immediately started in the service and symbolized her dedication. By the end of the service year she has already tasted of the joys of vacation pioneering, aiding teachers and former students to attend meetings and is now conducting five Bible studies, carrying forward the real teaching work for these “last days.”

BRITISH ISLES Population: 54,179,600

Peak Publishers: 61,913 Ratio: 1 to 875

The Bible study folder gets wonderful results. Two publishers called on a young woman at about 11:45 one morning. They were invited in and used the folder and the Truth book to demonstrate the Bible study arrangement, answering questions that she chose from the folder. Asked if she would like to have a regular Bible discussion, she said: “Yes, please. We can start now.” They explained that they had lunch appointments but suggested a return visit at about 1:45 that afternoon. On returning, the first chapter of the Truth book was covered. Then they explained that they had other appointments to keep. “What a shame,” she said. “We could have carried on all afternoon, I’m enjoying it so much.” Since then a regular weekly study has been held, and now she attends meetings.

A brother, calling on a home for the first time, was immediately welcomed with the comment, “Come in . . . we were expecting you!” He was somewhat surprised, but went in. The people explained that they were expecting Jehovah’s witnesses because a week or two earlier they had found a folder under their door saying that Jehovah’s witnesses were willing to study the Bible with people free, to answer their questions. The husband had said: “They will come back, as they will want to see if we are interested.” Meantime, this young couple had talked to their family about the Bible study offered by Jehovah’s witnesses. So now a fine weekly study is held with, not just the young couple, but also the wife’s younger sister and her mother—because someone else left a Bible study folder!

Four pioneers succeeded in contacting twelve onetime publishers, now completely inactive. Of these twelve, ten agreed to having a home Bible study. One sister baptized in 1922 had not associated with Jehovah’s people for thirty years! All of them are thrilled with the Truth book and are regularly attending meetings once more.

A brother does magazine work from ship to ship and around offices in the harbour. He places magazines with twenty-six different nationalities and, on an average, places 250 to 300 magazines a month. One afternoon he placed 75 magazines in two and a half hours. Another time he spent fifteen minutes in the territory and placed 27 magazines and a Truth book.

A pioneer applied the Kingdom Ministry suggestion to leave free specimen copies of older magazines at the doors of those not at home. He says that this encourages him to call back on these homes, with the result that on these back-calls he has placed fifteen Truth books.

A young sister attending college in Edinburgh, Scotland, got involved in a class discussion about a television programme on witchcraft. She produced the Truth book and turned to the chapter, “Are There Wicked Spirits?” The result—an order for ten Truth books from the other students and the teacher.

For nine years Sister B———— was the only one in her large family to show interest in the truth. Eighteen months ago she wrote a letter to one of her married sons, as a result of which he and his wife started studying. After four studies they began attending meetings. Now they are conducting studies of their own. Mr. B————, while visiting this son, attended meetings at the Kingdom Hall. He was so impressed that he began taking interest in the truth too. Now he is baptized, and with his wife is seeing to it that his five children still at home are being trained as God’s young servants. With both mother and father now in the truth, a married daughter began to show interest. This daughter and her husband plan to be baptized. Yet another married daughter started studying with the mother, Sister B———— , despite opposition from this daughter’s husband. A letter to the opposing husband from one of his brothers-in-law sparked his interest, and he too asked for a study. The end result, then, due to a mother’s not neglecting to witness to members of her own family, was that eight out of her ten children are now either studying or have dedicated their lives to Jehovah; her husband has embraced the truth; and the marriage mates of three of her children are progressing well. All this in just eighteen months!

MALTA Population: 318,158

Peak Publishers: 37 Ratio: 1 to 8,599

Vatican authorities regard Ireland and Malta as the outstanding gems in the “papal crown.” But even these gems are losing their lustre, as viewed from Rome. In Malta in February the pastoral research service published figures obtained by a church-attendance census on a recent average Sunday. They reported with alarm that only 82 percent of the population attended Mass on that day; manual workers showed an absentee rate of 6.2 percent, while self-employed nonmanual workers showed an absentee rate of 38.2 percent. That 18 percent, or nearly one in five, of the population, who are bound by Catholic church law to attend Sunday mass, failed to do so on that particular Sunday was viewed with great concern. If it were not for fear of the social and economic consequences of nonconformity, the attendance would undoubtedly have been very much lower. Growing numbers show disgust at what they see in Babylon the Great, and yet they are reluctant to defy her demands lest thereby in some way they will be defying God.

The past year has seen a steady growth to spiritual maturity on the part of the new Maltese congregation. Some brothers are receiving special organizational training by a programme based on the “Lamp” book, appropriate parts of Qualified to Be Ministers, organizational information in past issues of Kingdom Ministry, etc., together with a demonstrating of the work of individual servants; all centering around the theme “An Organization Based on God’s Word.” This has meant a more rapid development of understanding and ability for these brothers, and a resultant blessing to the entire congregation.

The study material used in the congregational groups is in English, with reviews in Maltese where necessary. But we are happy to report that we now have local brothers capably and fluently presenting the Society’s outlined talks in the native language to groups of local persons. This is proving a great help in getting the congregation’s roots firmly into native soil. Following a “seam” of interest continues to be fruitful; when contact is made with one interested person this leads to relatives and friends who also manifest interest.

In Malta there is a monk reputed to have the powers of a seer, in the confessional being able to know a person’s sins before they are even confessed. A woman in one of the villages was having family trouble, and made a journey to this confessor in the hope of getting some hidden information by the monk’s psychic powers. After being told of the problem, the monk said: “Don’t worry about it, my dear, the end of all things is very near!” Another woman in the same village, somewhat opposed to the truth, told this to her husband, who is having a Bible study. He said: “Well, you believe it now; but I have been telling you this for months and you wouldn’t believe it.” Her attitude has been markedly more favourable since then. No doubt the demons are well aware of what the near future holds for them.—Matt. 8:29; Rev. 12:12.

BURMA Population: 27,000,000

Peak Publishers: 559 Ratio: 1 to 48,301

“Jehovah is great and very much to be praised.” (Ps. 145:3) He continued to pour his rich blessings upon us during the past service year. Every feature of the work reveals an increase. We had to face many obstacles, but blessings from God kept us moving ahead.

Inviting one’s relatives to the assemblies brings blessings. A brother invited his niece and her husband to the “Peace on Earth” assembly. The newly married couple readily accepted the invitation with the intention of making a pleasure trip, a honeymoon trip. While traveling with the hundreds of Witnesses to the assembly, they felt real love and friendship among Jehovah’s witnesses and found a great difference between the members of their church and the Witnesses. What they heard and saw at the assembly moved them to say, “You people really have the truth.” That is not all. The niece even wanted to get baptized at the assembly. But she was told first to study the Bible and attend meetings regularly. Ever since that time they have been attending all meetings regularly. In order to be qualified to be baptized they studied diligently. How glad the uncle was to watch them get baptized at a recent circuit assembly.

Not all accept the truth easily. Sometimes it calls for perseverance, patience and tact on the part of the one who witnesses to them. These qualities were required to help a very staunch Hindu family. When Jehovah’s witnesses called at the home of this family consisting of an aunt, two nieces and their children, they used to hide. They thought that Jehovah’s witnesses were a great nuisance. When this family had to move to the city of R———— they thought they would be free from those “Bible preachers,” but little did they know that they were moving closer to the witnesses of Jehovah. In fact, they were sandwiched between two Witness families. When the publisher knew that she had new neighbors she visited them regularly. Every visit was well prepared, and during the course of conversation she would tactfully bring out some information about the new system of things. She did this patiently for some time. One day when the sister told them that one must work for one’s own salvation, that made them think. Being very devoted Hindus, they were making regular visits to their priest, thinking he would be able to help them to get salvation. Another day she told them about the Creator and image worship. This made sense to them. They were invited to an assembly. This was a turning point in their lives. After observing everything at the assembly they said, “We really admire the love and unity of you people.” A home Bible study was started. Ever since that time they have been regular in the ministry and in attending meetings. Though the aunt’s knowledge of the Burmese language is very limited, she attends all meetings regularly, just for the association. This has helped her considerably to improve her language. When the Hindu community learned about all this, they forced these new sisters to attend their religious ceremonies, asked them to bow down to idols and to eat things sacrificed to idols. But how heartwarming it is to know that the sisters, though new in the truth, endured all this faithfully and kept their integrity toward God. Now the aunt, two nieces and the son of the older niece have symbolized their dedication by water baptism. At the time of writing this experience three more daughters of the older niece are now going through the “Lamp” book with their overseer in preparation for baptism. The son is now a pioneer.

We want to thank you and all the brothers who contributed to help the special pioneers to get to the “Peace on Earth” assembly. We also want to thank you and the Society for helping us financially and otherwise regularly.

CANADA Population: 20,791,000

Peak Publishers: 46,808 Ratio: 1 to 444

One noteworthy feature of this year’s activity has been the excellent response to the Kingdom message on the part of many young people who are searching for a purpose in life, including some so-called “hippies” and drug addicts. Certainly we cannot judge young people by their exterior appearance and grooming. Many of them see the hypocrisy of “the Establishment” and seek something better. This was the case with one young man who was searching for something worth while and meaningful in his life. As so many do, he at first thought that the accumulation of material possessions would satisfy him and bring him happiness. Not wanting to take most of his life to accumulate the desired material things, he engaged in thievery and crime to speed up the process, or so he thought. Rather than finding the desired happiness, he soon was arrested by the police and imprisoned, making him all the more bitter and disillusioned. He associated with “hippies” and other young radicals, trying many different kinds of narcotics. While under the influence of LSD, he contemplated suicide and began to lose his mental faculties. Reaching a point of desperation, realizing there was nothing in this world for him, he began to pray to God for help. It was shortly after that when he came into possession of the Truth book. Upon reading it once he knew that he had finally found what he had been searching for. One of Jehovah’s witnesses began a study with him and within six weeks’ time he had enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and shared in the field service. He is now a happy, baptized servant of Jehovah God and has found something meaningful and worth while in life. His parents, who had never been to a meeting of Jehovah’s witnesses, attended the baptismal service wherein he was immersed and cried from joy throughout the talk. They just could not get over the fact that their son who had gone so far wrong could be aided by Jehovah’s witnesses to become a real person, one dedicated to the God of the universe. The parents are themselves now studying with Jehovah’s witnesses.

The truth can be found in many unusual places. One young man from an unhappy family background found a discarded copy of The Watchtower in a wastepaper basket at his local post office. He picked it up, began to read it and found that it answered many of his questions. In his own words, “My whole outlook on life now changed and Bible study came to my mind.” He got in touch with one of Jehovah’s witnesses and asked for a home Bible study immediately. Right from the beginning he began to attend congregation meetings, enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and soon began enthusiastically to share his newfound faith with others. He courageously spoke to his former Catholic priest personally, tendering his resignation from Babylon the Great, and was baptized at one of the district assemblies this summer.

Especially in view of the battle for true worship waged in the predominately French-speaking province of Quebec in years gone by, the progress of the preaching work there is indeed thrilling. Babylon the Great is definitely losing its influence, many people are disillusioned with false religion, and prospects for continued growth there are excellent. There is favorable publicity. For example, on the occasion of the recent French-speaking district assembly in Sherbrooke, Quebec, at least twelve hours of radio and television time were devoted to Jehovah’s witnesses. One woman heard a radio announcement of a circuit assembly some seventy-five miles away. Although never having been in contact with Jehovah’s witnesses before, she traveled by bus in order to attend it. At the assembly she obtained a copy of the Truth book and a Bible and met a pioneer who agreed to call on her. Arriving for the first Bible study, the pioneer brother found that the man of the house had distributed twenty-six Bibles to other persons in his vicinity who, like himself, were dissatisfied with the church. After the first Bible study the man stopped smoking; after the second study he destroyed all the images in his household and asked for subscriptions for The Watchtower and Awake! After the third study he asked how he could attend congregation meetings, even though they were held twenty-five miles away. In less than five months the man, his wife and their oldest son, aged fifteen, had commenced field service. They have already succeeded in interesting a second couple and their twelve children in the truth, with the second family now studying and attending congregation meetings, even though they have to travel forty-seven miles to do so. The first couple have offered to supply lumber for the construction of a Kingdom Hall in that area and are making progress in the way of the truth. The Kingdom message is penetrating even more isolated areas in Quebec and other parts of the country and fruitage is manifest.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Population: 2,255,000

Peak Publishers: 1,234 Ratio: 1 to 1,827

Much interest in God’s stable new order has been manifested by the population of this land. Even in faraway places people are inquiring about the new order of things, and many letters have been received asking for information about the Christian activity of Jehovah’s witnesses. Our brothers have really “thrown” themselves into the witness work. As a result of their persistent and continual ministerial activity, the organization of God’s people has become well known and respected. One high government official said: “I am neither Catholic nor Protestant, but if some day I should want to join a religion, I would join Jehovah’s witnesses because they are the only ones really living their religion.”

When special pioneer ministers arrived in their new assignment, they found that the truth of God’s Word had preceded them. Before they could get settled down, crowds came to ask Bible questions, and this continued until late into the night. When the ministers awoke early next morning, they found people waiting outside with many more questions. Their thirst for Bible knowledge is now being satisfied by many home Bible studies.

A man seemed very indifferent to the message of God’s kingdom, saying that all religions were the same, all taught only good things. But one day his child was bitten by a dog owned by the Protestant pastor. When this was drawn to the attention of the pastor, he scoffed and said, in effect, that it was the child’s fault and that it was good that the dog bit him. The father of the child took the matter before the authorities. The pastor was summoned, and when the chef de brigade heard both sides, he turned to the pastor and in an acid voice said to him: “You are supposed to be teaching people to love their neighbors, and here you are acting in such a callous manner! It would be better if all these religions were done away with and only Jehovah’s witnesses remained, because they teach people to do good to one another.” The father of the child hurried home and related to his wife what the chef had said. They agreed to invite Jehovah’s witnesses into their home to help them study the Bible. They now know that all religions are not the same.

When a farmer sows his field he does not know what the yield will be, but he sows in hope. It is the same with the work done by Jehovah’s witnesses. A Witness was preaching the Bible from house to house when he approached a group of men who were talking together. When the man of the house heard a few words he became very angry and rudely ordered the Witness to leave. Very kindly the Witness said good-bye and left, but as he approached the gate he noticed he was being followed by a man who said: “Mister, my brother does not want to hear, but I do. Please sit down here outside my brother’s yard and explain this new order to me. What is it all about?” A lively Bible discussion took place until two fleshly brothers of the man came to listen, including the one who had acted so rudely. Now all three are attending meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses.

The congregation in a rural village was expanding and needed a new Kingdom Hall in which to hold meetings, so they set about clearing a vacant lot and building the hall. All the activity was observed by a neighbor who said nothing until the building was almost completed, at which time he came and told the brothers that the lot belonged to him and that they had no right to build there. In spite of the fact that the chief had given them the lot, it was useless to talk to him and so the brothers very calmly dismantled the hall and set it up again at another spot quite some distance away. The neighbor saw how everything was done in such a quiet and peaceful manner, and then began asking himself why he had been so unreasonable with those humble people. He thought about that for some time and then thought it would be a good thing to find out what made these people so different. One day he asked a Witness some Bible questions and then a study was begun in his home. The Bible truths that made the Witnesses so calm and peaceful soon changed him also and he began attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. Now he regrets that he had been so hasty in sending the brothers so far away—it is a long walk to the Kingdom Hall.

TCHAD Population: 2,700,000

Peak Publishers: 54 Ratio: 1 to 50,000

In Tchad we have heard a “joyful noise” this past year. Jehovah continues to bless his witnesses here. He has been kind by giving us more full-time ministers, including four missionaries to seek out the honest-hearted people, in this vast territory, and so, little by little, Jehovah’s name is being proclaimed in this country also.

The truth of God’s Word is very powerful and able to transform the lives of sincere persons who desire to serve God. A man much given to the abuse of alcohol and having other bad habits obtained a Truth, book from one of Jehovah’s witnesses. He knew that what he read was the truth and he wanted to walk the road to eternal life. Great changes came over him. His filthy habits disappeared when he grasped the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:31, 33. Jehovah heard his sincere prayer for guidance and he received the strength to do God’s will in spite of very great opposition. He now knew that the gods made by man’s hands have no power to impart to those desiring to serve the true God. So he gathered all his fetishes and other false religious objects, poured gasoline over them and burned them to cinders in the presence of his former religious acquaintances. He is now helping other honest-hearted ones to change their lives also.

CEYLON Population: 12,490,000

Peak Publishers: 292 Ratio: 1 to 42,774

Jehovah’s people here have enjoyed many blessings during the year, resulting in some fine increases. Further growth to maturity on the part of many publishers has contributed much toward this. All are grateful for the smaller bound books to use in the ministry, as these are within the monetary reach of even the poor, and many busy people feel that they can find time to read one.

Using the Truth book in the vacation pioneer ministry can be rewarding, as this experience shows. “While vacation pioneering this year my wife visited a Catholic person who had subscribed for one of our magazines while we were pioneering last year. She was pleased to take the Truth book. The next week we called back with the intention of starting a study. Imagine our surprise when she told us that she had removed all the images and put out the permanent altar light. She said she could not at first believe what the Truth book said about images. So she got out her own Bible, which she had received at her wedding nine years ago, and read it for the first time, to see if the scriptures quoted in the section ‘Worshiping God with “Spirit and Truth”’ were really in her Bible. Finding that they were and that the Bible condemned the worship of images and pictures, she removed them all before we were able to call back. Certainly the Word of God exerts power.”

Do angels direct us to certain homes? “One morning while working from house to house I saw a house across the road and decided I would go to it. I met a lady who listened very carefully to my sermon and readily subscribed for The Watchtower. She told me that her mother had recently died, so I helped her to draw comfort from God’s Word, using chapters four and five in the Truth book. This resulted in a study’s being started right then and it has progressed very well. In just two months, although semiparalyzed on one side, she attends the meetings at the Kingdom Hall, has enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and has commenced discussing her new faith with others. Later it was learned that, in addition to losing her mother, she had been abandoned by her husband after she had the stroke which left her afflicted. In her distress she kept inclining her heart to God, whom she did not at that time know was Jehovah. In sincerity and ignorance she was seeking redress through ‘Saint Jude.’ At the very first study she said she recognized the truth and knew that help had come to her in her adversity. Within a few days she got rid of ‘Saint Jude’ and found succor in the name of Jehovah, which is a strong tower into which the righteous run and find protection. It was as though an angel had directed me to this home. I thanked Jehovah for this.”

Being a clergyman’s son is one thing, knowing the Bible another, as this experience shows: “Going from door to door, I met a Tamil Hindu lady who is married to a Methodist minister’s son. As she did not understand English very well, she asked me to call back when her husband would be at home one evening. I did this and explained to him that my purpose in calling was to encourage Bible reading. Before I could read a verse, he interrupted, saying: ‘Do you know to whom you are trying to teach the Bible? I’m a minister’s son and know the Bible well, so why don’t you go and teach people who do not know it?’ I explained that I had visited all the homes and so came to visit him also. I asked if he had a Bible. He said he did and brought his Tamil Bible. I asked him if he knew God’s name. He said: ‘Jesus.’ I explained that that was His Son’s name. There was a silence and I knew he was feeling embarrassed because he could not answer and because his wife and six children were there too. As there was no reply I asked him to turn in his Bible to Exodus 6:3. To my surprise he did not know where to find Exodus in the Bible. So I helped him, and there he learned that God’s name is Jehovah. Then I helped him to find Romans 10:13, 14 and asked his wife to read these verses. He then said, ‘I’m not capable of handling the Bible as you do.’ I explained that sometime ago I was just the same as he was and that one of Jehovah’s witnesses helped me to learn the good things in the Bible and that now I would like to help him and his family to study the Bible. He took the Truth book in Tamil and a study was arranged. We are now in the second chapter, with the wife and children reading the paragraphs in Tamil, while he reads them in English. They enjoy the study very much and look forward to attending meetings soon.”

The Word of God is powerful in overturning strongly entrenched false teachings. A case in point: A brother had been asked to call on a young student who wanted to disprove the beliefs of the Witnesses. This young man was the eldest son in a Catholic family. The brother called regularly but was unable to get a study started because of the many questions propounded. The brother kept using the Bible to answer all the questions. Gradually the young man’s attitude began to change as he came to realize that the church’s teaching was at odds with the Bible. Now he started explaining the Scriptures to his mother and brothers, who strongly opposed him. As soon as the Truth book was received a study was started, and as it progressed other members of the family joined in. Soon they began to see the truth and subsequently severed connections with the church. In the meantime the young man attended a circuit assembly and was so enthusiastic about it that he started to tell the good news publicly. Issues arose at the Catholic school that his sisters were attending and they were asked to leave. This they did, and now they go to a government school. Six members of the family are now regular in attending all meetings and are zealous in the ministry. This young man, now baptized, gave up a bright career in athletics, being a public school champion, and is now in the ‘race for life.’ What a change knowledge of God’s Word has made in this family!

CHILE Population: 10,000,000

Peak Publishers: 7,422 Ratio: 1 to 1,347

The past service year has demonstrated to us the truthfulness of the words of Zechariah 4:6: “‘Not by a military force, nor by power, but by my spirit,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” We began the building of the new branch office at the beginning of the service year. Our national assembly followed in November with 10,790 in attendance and 1,371 persons baptized. This is twice as many as had been baptized during the entire previous service year! April saw 19,850 at the Memorial and we attained a new peak of publishers, with a 25-percent increase. The spirit of Jehovah surely is hastening the gathering of the humble ones.

Incidental witnessing continues to play an important part in spreading the good news. For example, a brother took the opportunity to talk to a businessman, placing the Truth book with him. Shortly thereafter the six-year-old son of the businessman died. He found a great deal of comfort and solace in the Truth book. Immediately he got in touch with the brother, asking him for all the books of the Society and also for a personal home Bible study. He has since placed sixty books with his friends and relatives. Now he, and the five members of his family, are attending all the meetings and they look forward to the day when they will see their little one resurrected and reunited with them. How good it is to talk the truth on every occasion; it may mean life to someone!

How important is the Bible study work? Let this experience help all to appreciate its worth. The publishers in one territory. never could get anyone to come to the door of a certain home but faithfully they kept trying. Finally they met an elderly lady and her daughter who listened attentively and showed much interest. The daughter was a very sick woman who suffered as many as thirty attacks of epilepsy each week and had spent all her savings on trying to find a remedy, but with no success. A Bible study was started with them, and instantly a loud clamoring noise was heard and thereafter a shadow constantly harassed the mother and daughter. The alert publisher carefully explained the source of these problems, using many texts and illustrations to show that they were under attack of the demons. The studies were continued and the noise disappeared as well as the other harassment. One month later the attacks of what they thought was epilepsy also disappeared and they were able to attend meetings. Joyously they attended their first assembly from morning until night, although previously the daughter had not been able to leave the house to go to the corner store in order to do the shopping. Now they cannot stop speaking to their relatives and friends of the marvels of the spirit of Jehovah. They are so grateful for their Bible study, which has helped them to be freed from the enslaving power of the god of this system of things.

Another special pioneer reports the following: “When working from house to house in an unassigned territory we placed a number of Truth books. One lady, Mrs. A————, showed outstanding interest and we immediately started a Bible study with her. She wanted to know how many of her neighbors had likewise taken literature, as she desired to visit and help them also to study. During the week she now visits these neighbors and shows them how to find answers in the paragraphs, even helping them to underline the points. When we arrive for the studies we just conduct a review of the material.

“When we concluded chapter three of the Truth book with Mrs. A———— she destroyed all the religious relics in the house except those of her husband. That night her husband, whom we knew as a mild, humble person, came under demon attack. He returned home late armed with a revolver and accused his wife of deceiving him and threatened to kill her. Fortunately, she was able to reason with him for a short period, but finally, he was filled with an uncontrollable rage and stormed out of the house like a madman. She and her thirteen-year-old daughter began to pray to Jehovah for help. Remembering the points from the Bible study about the attacks of the demons, she determined that her problem rested with the undestroyed religious pictures that were her husband’s. Thereafter, she and her daughter took an ax to them and burned them. She stated that she then felt real contentment and was ready to face her husband. Later he returned home and as he entered she boldly explained what she had done and why. Her husband was very repentant over what had happened, and when the pioneer came for the next study he said: ‘The day is not far off when I also will have your faith.’ Their home is now used to gather the local people together, and shortly we hope to be able to form an isolated group of publishers there. The special pioneer reports: ‘How thankful we are for the privilege of sharing in the Bible study work with the marvelous aid of the Truth book.’”

In the closing days of this service year we moved into our new, spacious branch home. There is still much to do to finish the building, and the missionaries and other brothers are joyously working on it. The spirit of the Chilean brothers with regard to the building of this new branch home is well illustrated in the following letter: “There is a fine family in my congregation with twelve children. When they learned that they had the privilege of sharing in the purchasing of material for the new branch they wanted to send a contribution to you. Here we have just had our season of blackberries. For almost a month the sister with her twelve children went out almost every day to pick this wild fruit in order to sell it. They have now finished their work and have charged me with the privilege of sending you a check for the sum of E°99,41 ($7.00). The oldest is seventeen years of age and the youngest is two years of age.”

COLOMBIA Population: 21,400,000

Peak Publishers: 7,083 Ratio: 1 to 3,021

As another joyous service year comes to a close we find the publishers throughout Colombia bubbling over with enthusiasm. As the work expands it is amazing to see the interest springing up all over the country, in cities and villages heretofore considered fanatical. City officials seem willing to cooperate in providing us with suitable facilities for our assemblies. There seems to be a “literature explosion” as the books are shipped out from the branch in ever-increasing quantities. Just two years ago the shipping handled by this branch was averaging 6,000 books and Bibles a month. Now the average shipped out is 16,000 monthly.

A circuit servant in Bogotá reported 190 books placed in July. Explaining his high placements, he wrote: “It was magazine day and at a school I placed two magazines and an Evolution book with one of the professors. He invited me to return on Monday to speak to the other professors. Upon returning I talked to the director of the school, who was pleased to obtain the Evolution book, at the same time giving me permission to visit the classrooms to offer the book to the students. In the first classroom I visited, the twenty books I had with me evaporated. Hence I had to return the following day, when forty-five more books rapidly vanished. Upon my entering one classroom the professor, upon seeing the book, commented happily: ‘At last I’ve got my copy. I was afraid that I would be left out.’ On subsequent visits that week it was possible to satisfy the demand for literature on the part of professors and students, resulting in the placement of 133 Evolution books in that one school.” At another school the circuit servant’s wife placed forty-two Evolution books.

A circuit servant reported how a woman, prominent in social circles, became a Witness. About five years ago her only son and his wife were murdered in front of her house when they resisted an apparent kidnap attempt. Under pressure of the circumstances and with selfish people taking advantage of the situation this woman lost most of her wealth and property. Fortune-tellers and spirit mediums not only failed to help but actually made her financial situation worse. Then she saw her nephew straighten up, abandon some unchristian habits including heavy drinking, and within a short time dedicate his life to Jehovah, to the joy of his wife, who already was a Witness. Lengthy visits on the part of her nephew plus his positive action for pure worship resulted in this woman’s accepting a home Bible study. Down came all the objects of false worship in her large house. When she tired of breaking them in pieces she asked her nephew to help her finish the job. At seventy-one years of age she was baptized at a district assembly in August and opened her house for rooming accommodations for eighty persons attending the assembly. Such is typical of the class of people starting to accept the truth all over the country.

Christian conduct at assemblies attracts the attention of worldly people. In Corozal, a fanatical village that softened up under the regular preaching activity of the Witnesses, a circuit assembly was held. An interested person, who agreed to provide rooming accommodations for twenty-six women and their children, was impressed when an eight-year-old son of one of the Witnesses was seen going around the patio asking who had lost a 100-peso bill. None of the witnesses would accept the money, as they had not lost any. The man was pleased to have the money get back to its rightful owner, his own wife, who had lost it the day before. In addition to the honesty of the Witnesses, he noticed that the children ate their meals quietly and orderly, in contrast with the constant fighting of his own children. He is now taking steps to legalize his marriage and participate in the ministry.

CONGO PEOPLES’ REPUBLIC (Brazzaville) Population: 900,000

Peak Publishers: 1,595 Ratio: 1 to 564

The branch in Brazzaville looks after the work in the Peoples’ Republic of the Congo as well as the theocratic activity in Gabon.

It is encouraging to see that young ones are appreciating more and more Kingdom privileges. A four-and-a-half-year-old girl invited neighborhood children to attend the Memorial celebration. The rendezvous was her home, and right on time five youngsters appeared to go with her to the Memorial. Her ten-year-old brother, who had symbolized his dedication by water immersion last December, vacation pioneered in March during school vacation. Great was his joy when he organized three Bible studies of his own. Thereafter, showing the pioneer spirit that he had cultivated in his heart, he decided to pioneer again from July 1 to September 15, 1970. Also, his fifteen-year-old sister enjoys vacation pioneering during her school vacation. Why is there such a fine Kingdom service spirit shown by these children? It is because their parents have always manifested appreciation and zeal for Jehovah’s service, particularly the pioneer work. When their father was laid off work because his employer had returned permanently to France, he and his wife organized a small business of making children’s clothes. With the excellent cooperation of his wife and all his children, he has been able to sell these attractive homemade items at the local market part time, thus caring for his family’s needs, as well as being a regular pioneer for the past three years.

A young vacation pioneer encountered a Catholic priest. When he corrected the priest by saying that Jesus was the “Son” of God and not a “God” equal to his Father, the priest called him a liar. “If you believe that Jesus was God,” the young minister replied, “then you are a greater liar than the Devil.” “Why?” demanded the priest. Calmly, the pioneer opened his Bible and asked the priest to read the words in Luke 4:3, which read: “If you are a son of God, tell . . .” The pioneer then added: “Satan did not say: ‘If you are God,’ because Satan knew that Jesus is the ‘Son’ of God.” The priest abashed, with head lowered, left the scene, while his flock ridiculed him.

GABON Population: 600,000

Peak Publishers: 302 Ratio: 1 to 1,987

For the first eight months of the service year the preaching of the good news in Gabon moved ahead freely. The six missionaries in Libreville were happy to find many persons throughout the territory showing a real love for righteousness and a desire to study the Bible. For more than a year Jehovah’s witnesses enjoyed the privilege of broadcasting over the radio every Sunday. Many Gabonese told of their appreciation for these enlightening Bible discussions and requested a discussion of the Bible with the missionaries after hearing these broadcasts.

The report of service for October showed 258 sharing in the ministry. Over twenty were able to travel to Cameroon to enjoy the national assembly held there in December. January and February again brought new peaks in publishers. A circuit assembly was held in Port Gentil during February, and the brand-new Kingdom Hall of the local congregation was the site of the gathering. April saw another peak of 302 sharing in the ministry in this little West African country.

Then suddenly, without warning and with no apparent reason, a ban on the work of Jehovah’s witnesses was announced by Radio Gabon on April 30, 1970. The Christian educational work that had been legalized by government decree on June 16, 1964, was now declared illegal. On June 26 a political meeting presided over by the president of the country confirmed that the ban on Jehovah’s witnesses would continue in effect and the Minister of the Interior was instructed to expel immediately all foreigners who were Jehovah’s witnesses. As a result the six missionary graduates of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead were told to leave the country. Almost simultaneously the governments of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea took similar action, with Malagasy following their lead. None of the Witnesses in any of these lands had ever been brought before court for any wrongdoing, but now their work was to be stopped, foreigners expelled and freedom of worship denied. It is just as Jesus foretold in his prophecy concerning the “last days”: “You will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.”—Matt. 24:9.

One of the policemen who served the missionaries with a summons to receive a notice of expulsion, and who had studied with them from the Bible previously, understandingly quoted Jesus’ words at John 15:20: “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also; if they have observed my word, they will observe yours also.” At the airport many brothers and sisters who had been helped to maturity by the zealous efforts of the missionary group came to bid them good-bye, not being fearful that some would see them and identify them with Jehovah’s people.

Has the ban stopped the preaching of the good news in Gabon? Not at all. In May two special pioneers surpassed their goals in hours and back-calls. As one said: “The work is going ahead despite the decree of the modern Ahab. Since the ban we find more hearing ears and we are conducting more studies.” However three full-time ministers were arrested on June 24. When asked to sign a declaration saying that they would stop preaching, they refused, having in mind the apostolic example as recorded at Acts 4:20: “As for us, we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.” While still in prison waiting for a court hearing, they were able to conduct three Bible studies with prisoners. So the work continues, and we are sure that Jehovah’s blessing will be with the brothers in their fearless efforts to continue sharing with others the good news of Jehovah’s heavenly kingdom.

CONGO (Kinshasa) Population: 21,637,876

Peak Publishers: 15,401 Ratio: 1 to 1,405

Jehovah’s witnesses in the Congo enjoyed a fine year of activity in 1970. They were busy as never before. It is not easy to reach people scattered over thousands of square miles of equatorial regions. Nor is it easy to make their minds over when they are entrenched in the customs and practices of their ancestors. However, “the word of God is alive and exerts power,” and gradually more and more people in the Congo are being reached and influenced by its powerful message. (Heb. 4:12) They are making great changes in their lives as gradually God’s Word helps make their minds over.—Rom. 12:2.

In some parts of the country, polygamy is accepted and those that practice it feel a certain sense of power, pride and prestige. It requires a difficult decision to push it aside in favor of God’s Word. Some, however, are heeding the principles of the Bible and are making the necessary changes to conform with true worship, as did one polygamist from the center of the country. He was a practicing Catholic, but at the same time possessed three wives. A Bible study was started with him, and shortly after this he dismissed one of his wives. The study continued, and from time to time the two remaining wives would sit in and listen. Then the pressure started to mount against him. His fellow workers began to ridicule him and accuse him of breaking the customs of his ancestors. The brothers faithfully helped him to make his mind over and he started to attend meetings. This continued for some time. He liked the Word of God very much, but he loved his two wives too, and his children by both of them. Finally, at one of the studies the brother studying with him made clear that this was the last time he would be calling by. “Either you live for the new order or continue your polygamy and go down with the old system of things.” The brother left, with a friendly farewell. No more Bible studies! The thought struck at the man, for he had enjoyed the studies. What was he to do? The very next morning he called his two wives together, discussing openly the problem with them and the need to be found pleasing in God’s sight. The younger of the two women agreed to go back to her native village and practice the Word of Jehovah there. On the day of her departure they all wept bitterly, for they were very fond of one another. However, they appreciated that what counted was to be pleasing in God’s sight. The man has now dedicated his life to Jehovah and symbolized it by water immersion and his legal wife intends to follow his example shortly. The transforming power of God’s Word has helped another couple to follow the path that leads to eternal life.

Assemblies have played a large role in helping people to learn the truth. We should never think that children are too young or too small to learn from them. The children from one congregation were disappointed after their circuit assembly because they were not able to participate more fully. They wanted to give talks, but they were too small. They wanted to work in the cafeteria, but they were too small. All they could do was sit and listen. So they decided to organize their own circuit assembly. Since the big one lasted three days, they arranged a program for three days too. People were invited to the big one by publishers going from door to door. So these children went from door to door inviting all the youngsters in the neighborhood. At the big one there was a cafeteria, so they too brought food from their homes and the sister in whose yard they had the assembly helped to supervise the preparing of it. On the final day of the assembly it was a pioneer’s little son who gave the public talk. More than sixty-five children attended, and many grown-ups stopped to listen and watch as they passed by.

COSTA RICA Population: 1,724,768

Peak Publishers: 3,123 Ratio: 1 to 552

Last March, to our joy, we had over 3,000 publishers. Since then two more new peaks have been reached, and the total publishers has not dropped below 3,000 since then. We are confident that there are still “sheep” in this Catholic land.

A family man has been reading The Watchtower and Awake! for several years now, but, due to his medical profession, he had doubts as to whether the Bible really is the word of God. Things changed when a sister placed the book Is the Bible Really the Word of God? with him. It removed all doubts from his mind as to the reliability and inspiration of the Bible. He and two daughters began to study. Soon other family members joined the study, including his seventy-year-old mother, who had always been a very staunch Catholic. Religious images and pictures disappeared from the walls and Bible texts appeared in their place, one of which was Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my household, we shall serve Jehovah.” Now ten members of the family regularly attend meetings, five share in the ministry and others plan to begin soon. Three desire to be baptized at the next circuit assembly. All this progress in just four months.

Serving where the need for mature brothers is greater can really be a joy, and many blessings await those who can do so. Three families, with a total of seven publishers, came to Costa Rica and were invited to work in a small town just four miles from the capital. Here special pioneers had done fine work, but, due to a lack of mature male publishers to take oversight, a congregation could not be formed. Nine publishers, on the average, were reporting when the brothers arrived. With the help of fourteen publishers from a nearby congregation, a congregation was formed four months after their arrival, and now fifty publishers report, with as many as eighty-five at the meetings.

With an attendance of 8,338 at the Memorial last year, which is 5,215 more than the peak number of publishers, we in Costa Rica indeed look forward to aiding more of the “sheep” to flee from Babylon the Great.

CUBA

The publishers of the good news in Cuba have certainly been showing the truthfulness of the words of James, when he said, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith works out endurance.” (Jas. 1:2, 3) So, despite continuing strong opposition to the work, the brothers have had much joy as sheeplike ones continue to be found.

One brother reports that he started a study with a man who was a member of the Masonic Lodge. However, he showed deep interest in study of the Bible, and after just four months of study he wrote the following letter to the secretary of the Lodge:

“Dear Sir:

“I respectfully make known to you a request which I am sure you will agree to when you know my motive. For the past few months I have been studying the Bible, the Word of God, to fill a spiritual need in my life. This has been possible with the help of those world-renowned students of the Bible known in 200 lands as Jehovah’s witnesses.

“I tried to find the truth in various religious organizations but can now see that they did not have it. Then I became a member of Freemasonry in the belief that thereby I could fill the need of every human to worship a Supreme Being that some call the Great Architect of the Universe. The Bible identifies him as Jehovah in Psalm 83:18 and also at Isaiah 42:8, which says, ‘I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.’

“In Freemasonry I found very good friends and sincere persons, but I did not find there the truth that I looked for. I have really found it among Jehovah’s witnesses.

“I have learned from the Bible that this wicked world together with all its religious and political organizations will be destroyed at the coming battle of God. Revelation 18:4 says, ‘And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.”’ The Bible shows that Babylon the Great represents the false religious organizations and says they will be destroyed. So why remain within them?

“This is the reason for my request to be taken off the list of members of the Masonic Lodge. From now on I am one of Jehovah’s witnesses and I will be attending the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses in order to study more deeply the Bible and be able to bring this knowledge to persons seeking the truth. Yours truly.”

Now this man, along with his wife and two daughters, has left Babylon the Great and is preparing to be baptized.

Two sisters were put in prison for six months for preaching the good news from house to house. They were told that they would receive no mail or visitors unless they changed their attitude. On one occasion they were beaten by women prisoners at the instigation of the guards and one of the sisters had to be taken to a doctor because of her wounds. However, their faith was not shaken and they continued to hold fast to their integrity as faithful witnesses of Jehovah.

On another occasion three brothers were put in prison after their homes were raided by officials on April 29 and 30, 1969. In each case all their literature regarding the Bible was taken, also other things, including money, two typewriters, a searchlight and even a motorcycle. The charge was having illegal meetings, and two of them were punished with six months in prison. However, the brothers were not discouraged by this. On the contrary they felt it was a privilege from Jehovah for them and they showed this by preaching and meeting together while in prison. In fact, they had the joy of helping many of the prisoners to know the truth, and by their conduct they set a good example as Christian witnesses of Jehovah.

Another brother said that his ten months in prison was an assignment from Jehovah to preach the good news both to the prisoners and to the jailers. All of them came to know about his position as a Christian and the hope he had, because he did not stop preaching. The witness increased when four other brothers who were brought there joined him, along with a prisoner who had taken his stand on the side of the truth. Because of this intensive witnessing they were finally separated from the other prisoners as “undesirables.” But the sheeplike ones did not feel that way, and two prisoners with whom they had been studying the Bible asked the guards for permission to stay with the brothers, saying that they too were Witnesses.

CYPRUS Population: 622,000

Peak Publishers: 562 Ratio: 1 to 1,107

At the beginning of the service year eight of our young brothers were expelled from a high school advocating the Presbyterian faith because the children did not want to attend chapel services. The parents wrote to the school authorities through a lawyer, but the school was intolerant. They not only expelled the children but also published and circulated in Nicosia, the capital, a leaflet against us. By doing so, once again a Protestant body sided with the Orthodox Catholic religion against Jehovah’s witnesses. The Orthodox church circulated a leaflet against us too, warning the “faithful” not to listen to us. The leaflet says that Jehovah’s witnesses are well dressed and very polite but “with their politeness carry along the deception. They want to lure by it the logical sheep of Christ.” The leaflet says: “But since we have the truth why don’t we discuss it with them to prove to them that they are wrong? This is a good question. We must do that. We must discuss with them however when we possess the truth. And we must confess that many among us don’t know the truths of our faith. Many among us don’t have the Holy Bible in our homes. Many among us have not read the Holy Bible and if we discuss things with them when we don’t know what we believe, our faith is going to be shaken.”

We have managed to build Kingdom Halls in nearly all the cities of Cyprus and a four-story building in Nicosia that we use as Bethel, branch office of the Society and Kingdom Hall for one of the units.

A missionary sister reported the following experience: “I placed the Truth book with a young woman just before Xmas. When I called a week later her first words were, ‘I read through the book five times and I agree with everything it says and I didn’t celebrate Xmas although everybody in the house did.’ A study was started right away, and then the following week I was introduced to her sister, who was curious to know what had come over her sister. She showed good interest and a study was started with her also. They were both good readers and in a short time they got and read nearly all the Society’s publications. Very soon they were attending meetings, and in February they came out with me in the field ministry. In the meantime they lengthened their miniskirts, and their conduct changed so much that other relatives of theirs noticed. Their father said: ‘I am surprised and happy at their change. I couldn’t do it. I am glad now that they believe in God.’”

A young sister reported to us the following experience: “The teacher called some of us children in front and told us: ‘Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he is our Savior, he was sent by God. We must believe in him.’ We knew that the teacher believed in the trinity, so we asked him, ‘Can you tell us please what you mean by the Son of God?’ He said, ‘I mean that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are one, as in Matthew 28:19, 20.’ We answered that this scripture refers to three distinct things and does not support what he said. We showed him John 14:28, which proves that the Father is greater than the Son, also we pointed out to him that, if Jesus were God, he could not have died and, if he did die, it was a wonderful chance for the Devil to rule. We showed him in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that God is the head of Christ. He could not say anything and so found an opportunity and rushed out, saying he was too busy.”

DAHOMEY Population: 2,400,000

Peak Publishers: 1,807 Ratio: 1 to 1,328

Because of the work and conduct of Jehovah’s witnesses they are being recognized more and more as a people different from those of this old system of things. So, many are now saying in effect, “We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people.” (Zech. 8:23) The following experiences show why the people here are finding Jehovah’s witnesses different and the reason many are saying, “We will go with you.”

One brother tells about calling upon a sincere Catholic. The man told the brother, “I have always wanted to read the Bible, but there is no one to help me.” The brother responded that he would be happy to help him read his Bible. To this the man agreed, but only after making it clear that he would never change his religion. The study progressed, and the man was greatly surprised at the interest the brother took in helping him to read and understand, something the church had never done for him, as he later said. He was so thrilled at the prospect of actually reading the Bible that he made fast progress. In just a few months he could begin to read by himself. But studying the Bible had already been making some other changes in his thinking, as he began to appreciate the truths it contained. The truths of the Kingdom gave him much joy. Now, after just a few months, he has begun sharing in making disciples too. The brother writes, “There is just no greater joy than that experienced in aiding those seeking to know Jehovah.”

Adherence to Bible principles is attracting many honest-hearted ones to decide to “go with” Jehovah’s people. A brother who works for one of the better-class hotels found $1,600.00 in the pockets of some pants given him to take to the cleaners by one of the guests of the hotel. This brother had been dedicated only a short while but he had just studied an article in The Watchtower on honesty and was determined to follow the Bible’s counsel. He reported the money to the man in charge at the desk. When the man saw all the money he said to the brother: “Let us keep the money and say nothing to anyone.” The brother said he could not do that as he was a Christian and one of Jehovah’s witnesses. “But,” protested the head clerk, “I too am a Christian and I go to the Catholic church regularly. I do not see anything wrong in taking it, as the man has lost the money.” The brother then took the money to the owner of the hotel, who put it into the safe. Sometime later the guest returned to the hotel to search for his money. Not finding it in his room, he became greatly distressed and went to the hotel owner, explaining that he had lost all of his money and had nothing left to pay his bills, having only his air ticket back to France. The owner assured him that his money was not lost and went to his safe and returned it to the guest. On receiving back his money the guest wished to know who it was that had found it and, on learning that it was just one of the workers in the hotel, asked to see him. When the brother was brought in, the guest asked him what it was that had motivated him to return the money. The brother then explained that he is one of Jehovah’s witnesses and that he wished to follow the good counsel of the Bible. The guest was much impressed and said: ‘I know Jehovah’s witnesses are good people and when I return to France I am surely going to look them up, because I want to know more about them.’ On leaving the hotel he called the brother and gave him $40.00 in appreciation of his honesty. Even the hotel manager, who said he formerly had no time for Jehovah’s witnesses, now said he was glad to have one of them working for him. Truly, honesty is a fine Christian quality and it is expected that many more—perhaps even the guest of the hotel—will be attracted to Jehovah’s people because these display such godly qualities.

Such changes in the lives of people who are making their minds over in order to live in God’s new order do not go unnoticed by honest-hearted people, wherever or whatever they are. Recently the overseer of a congregation told of ten people coming to their congregation because of wanting to be with those whom ‘God is with.’ What caused them to do so, and all at the same time? Let the overseer tell us. “These people had been watching Jehovah’s witnesses go about their work of making disciples for some time. Finally, four of them demanded of their local pastor that they also be taught to preach, the same as Jehovah’s witnesses do. The local pastor found their questions too difficult to deal with, so he appealed to the head pastor from a nearby large town to come and help him. When the head pastor arrived he called a meeting of all the congregation, that the matter might be settled. These four persons again stressed the need of the church to preach from door to door as Jehovah’s witnesses do. The pastor agreed that this was in harmony with the Bible so they could do so. This answer did not satisfy the four, but they demanded that he come with them and teach them to do door-to-door preaching just the same as Jehovah’s witnesses do. At this the pastor became very irritated and said: ‘Let us waste no more time on this matter, but let those who want to follow Jehovah’s witnesses raise their hands.’ Four persons then raised their hands. The pastor demanded that these four have their names taken off the church roll. When he said this, a loud voice in the rear of the church was heard saying, ‘And remove our names too.’ Six more then joined the four, and all ten are now attending the meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses with a view to learning to make disciples.” Yes, these have said, ‘We want to go with you, because they have seen that God is truly with his people.

DENMARK Population: 4,905,822

Peak Publishers: 12,569 Ratio: 1 to 390

The important work of making disciples is moving ahead in Denmark. World conditions are causing many people to wake up and ask questions, and the clear, understandable expressions of truth in our magazines and newer books are answering these questions.

Many of the new ones learning the truth have special “fishing” grounds in which to put down their nets, namely, their circle of relatives and friends. Last year at our international assembly in Copenhagen a man and wife came in to hear the public talk. The wife had heard a little about the truth twenty years ago, but the husband never had listened. By the end of the public talk they were sure this was the truth, and a Bible study was arranged following the assembly. Within two months they were sharing in the preaching work and not long afterward had progressed to dedication and baptism. Their first thoughts were for their family. They traveled to Italy to visit their daughter and son-in-law, and a study was started with them. Also a study has been started with their son, who has by now progressed to the point of sharing in house-to-house witnessing. The couple also started a study with the woman living next door.

During the April campaign a year ago a publisher went to a factory and asked to speak with the owner. The man called down from his office: “Who is it?” When told, he replied: “Good. I have waited a long time for your visit. But put your magazines down there, I am very busy today. Come again another day!” The next time he was very busy too but took the latest magazines and arrangements were made to call at his home on a certain evening. This time the man had guests but took the ‘Impossible to Lie’ book and the latest magazines and arranged for another call. On this particular evening our publisher was not feeling too well and thought there was not much use to go anyway, but with encouragement from his wife they made the call and the factory owner was waiting for them. After a fine discussion he invited them back to tell his wife these good things and soon a study was started, continuing in the Truth book when it came.

These sincere people began to talk to all their friends and relatives about what they were learning, giving Truth books and subscriptions to their friends. Soon the foreman of the factory became interested and attended the study. The foreman’s wife was somewhat against this, but soon she was reading in the Bible that the factory owner’s wife had given her husband and checking the scriptures from Sermon Outlines in the back of the Bible, and the entire family of four began to attend this study. They began to attend congregation meetings regularly also. Even the six-year-old daughter in this new family witnesses to playmates with the help of the Paradise book. When the grandmother wrote to the family saying that it was a shame that the children would be Jehovah’s witnesses, the young son, who has begun to attend school, said: “What a pity for grandmother that she doesn’t know what is in the Bible!” The foreman and his wife have already started a Bible study with a family of six who also immediately began to attend the Theocratic Ministry School regularly because they wanted to get this special study of the Bible.

In the meantime the factory owner’s son-in-law has attended the study, and this man hopes to interest his wife (the factory owner’s daughter) because, as he says, “Our children are already Witnesses.” That is because the factory owner and his wife pray every evening with their grandchildren, ages 5 and 7, and these youngsters now pray that their father and mother will also come into God’s new order. The factory owner has witnessed to a business associate, and another study is thus on the way. All this happened before this man was baptized. He and his wife and his foreman and his wife were all four baptized at the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly in July. In all, some twenty-one persons are now studying and attending meetings because of this first call on the factory owner.

A young couple used to attend church but felt the lack of Christian fellowship. They asked their minister for counsel and he said he did not know what to do for them. He told them that if they had been sick or dying he could read a scripture, but they were neither. He said they could take comfort in the thought that they were going in the right direction, and, of course, they could always go to church. They did this but got no comfort. Then a young Witness called on the wife, who accepted two magazines but would not accept the Truth book. A back-call was quickly made and the woman accepted the Truth book and said she would consider a study. On the third call no one was at home, and on the fourth call the woman had guests. Before the publisher managed a fifth call the young woman visited the publisher in her home and said that she and her husband had talked it over and would like a discussion of the Bible. The publisher brought her husband along and a study was started. Two days later the entire family of four attended the public talk, stayed for the Watchtower study and really enjoyed Christian fellowship, and the following Tuesday the wife attended the congregation book study. The husband by this time had read the Truth book through and wanted the ‘Impossible to Lie’ book. They soon removed from their home everything connected with false religion, withdrew from the church and have begun to witness to relatives and friends.

The outstanding feature of the year was the “Men of Goodwill” District Assemblies. Everywhere these assemblies seemed to be especially blessed with God’s goodwill. There seemed to be a greater awareness of our assembly in each city and a more friendly and helpful cooperation than we have ever experienced. As always, the program was the finest, every talk, demonstration and drama a treasure of serious, loving and upbuilding thoughts. Truly, much thought had been put into the outlines and manuscripts. After the Saturday program on helping the young, one overseer exclaimed: “This drama alone is proof that the ‘slave’ is both faithful and wise,” and that expresses the thinking of all who were present.

FAROE ISLANDS Population: 38,528

Peak Publishers: 55 Ratio: 1 to 701

The work is moving ahead on the Faroe Islands, with most of the islands and villages being visited regularly and newly interested ones being cared for. The islands have been a religious stronghold, but the churches’ weakening hold on the people is also manifest up here, and there is more interest being shown in the truth.

One family of Adventists had obtained the Paradise book and some magazines, but the same day the minister visited them and insisted that they return these to the publishers at the next visit, which was also done. The publisher continued to make regular calls, always having something interesting to discuss about Bible truth. One day the man of the house exclaimed: “Oh, how I have regretted many times that I returned that book to you! Do you think I could get one again?” Of course he could, and also the Truth book, and after a few more back-calls a study was started with the entire family, including three children. The entire family attended the Memorial and have been regular at meetings since. The father is enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and uses every opportunity to witness to his fellow workers.

A young Faroe Island girl living and working in Denmark planned to visit her mother up on the Faroe Islands. She knew her mother was becoming interested in Jehovah’s witnesses but determined that she herself would never become one, and when the publishers called for the Bible study with her mother, the daughter disappeared. The next time she decided it would be impolite to do that, so she stayed during the study. Her interest was aroused and she began to read all the literature she could get and was determined to study the Truth book with the Witnesses when she returned to Denmark. Within three weeks after she came back to Denmark she sought out the witnesses at the Kingdom Hall and started studying and attending meetings regularly. Whereas most of the young Faroe Islanders want to leave the islands to experience greater opportunities elsewhere, this young girl decided to return to the Faroe Islands after studying five months because she knew she could do much good in preaching to her own people, her fellow islanders. She was baptized in January of this year, together with her mother, and she was a vacation pioneer in April. By July she had arranged her affairs to begin as a regular pioneer.

GREENLAND Population: 45,000

Peak Publishers: 27 Ratio: 1 to 1,667

A young Greenlandic girl in her teens had sought after the true religion in the Danish Lutheran Church, the Pentecostal Church and the Adventist Church, without any satisfaction. She left her home in the northern part of Greenland to go to Godthåb to attend a boarding school, where it is not possible for publishers to call on persons. But it so happened that this girl was at another house when a special pioneer sister called there, and the girl showed keen interest in what was said and a study was arranged. After two months, when she visited her parents on vacation, the publishers were worried that her interest might cool off because of family pressure, which often happens here. But, on the contrary, she gave a good witness to her family and determined to continue with the truth. She attended all meetings of the congregation and witnessed to others in the school, and she ceased all actual association with the State Church. As soon as she became eighteen years of age she applied to withdraw from the church and this aroused quite a stir. The teachers of the school put a lot of pressure on her not to do this, and even the local Danish priest wrote to her and had a personal discussion to dissuade her, but none of these things were to any avail. Her discussions defending her decision only served to strengthen her faith, and after many delays by the priest the withdrawal from the church was formally in order. She then arranged her affairs to visit Denmark to attend the district assembly in July and was baptized, the first Greenlander living in Greenland to be baptized. After her baptism she said that it was a wonderful feeling to know that one could make a dedication to Jehovah and be a part of a large family of Christian brothers and sisters.

Another experience shows how effectively literature can work. A special pioneer couple had traveled to the south of Greenland where we have no publishers, and they were to arrange lodging and start working the territory. They went to the mayor to ask if he could help them, but the mayor had moved and the man living there now proved to be one who the previous year had rejected the Witnesses very definitely. When the publishers explained why they wanted to talk to the mayor, this man became friendly and, after a short friendly discussion on things in general, the man exclaimed: “I got a really good book you should see.” He rushed into the house and brought out the Word of God book, saying that he had gotten it from another person in town who had read it. He thought it was very good and eagerly told the publishers what it was about, saying: “Take it and read it! I have read it twice and that is not too much!” When the publishers convinced him that it was the same book that they had and that Jehovah’s witnesses publish he was quite surprised. It gave him something to think about. He then accepted the Evolution book and agreed to read it.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Population: 4,011,589

Peak Publishers: 3,591 Ratio: 1 to 1,117

Jehovah’s witnesses in the Dominican Republic have taken seriously the 1970 yeartext, “Go . . . make disciples . . . baptizing them.”—Matt. 28:19.

One young sister had special pioneering as her first goal, only to find complete opposition from her father. He is reported to have said, “The Society does not have the right to take my daughter away.” Of course, the Society did not do this, but she did have our invitation to the special work. She correctly took the matter to Jehovah in prayer and also sought mature aid from her dedicated mother. Soon the opposition died down enough for her to accept her first assignment. Shortly, though, this privilege was threatened as the father renewed his opposition, stating that after six months he was going to bring his daughter home. But now the love and unity of Jehovah’s organization manifested itself. Local brothers made friendly visits to the father, even starting a study with him, and this changed matters. While it is true that the study was finally discontinued, it was not until the father’s attitude was changed. Now he proudly announces that he has a daughter who is a pioneer and so he does not have the problems that many parents have with their children. Prayer, right motives and the loving aid of our brothers brought results.

Jehovah has blessed our efforts by bringing 812 to baptism during the service year. Age is no hindrance. An interested lady eighty years of age found that family and “friends” united to oppose her study of Jehovah’s Word, claiming that such things are only for the young. The publisher leaned heavily on Jehovah’s written Word, showing the lady such texts as Job 33:25. Soon she forgot her advanced age and showed a youthful desire to participate in the work of Kingdom preaching. As the overseer checked into the matter he found happily that this new sister-to-be could correctly answer one question for each year of her life. At this point the publisher was changed to another assignment. But what joy at the next circuit assembly to witness this young lady of eighty taking the step of baptism after having been made a disciple.

Disciples follow their master. Jesus Christ showed the right attitude toward blood. A young mother, trying to legalize her marriage, also showed the right attitude toward blood. Her youngest baby became ill, and at a medical clinic she was told that it was in immediate danger and that a blood transfusion was the only hope. She definitely refused, knowing Jehovah’s Word. The medical doctor became furious and refused to reason about other treatments. Another mother who had entered with a little girl suffering the same ailment allowed blood to be administered to her and at the same time joined in chiding our newly interested mother. But she stood her ground. After having left the clinic she later returned, hoping the doctor might reconsider and give her baby some treatment. The other woman now indicated that her little girl was already showing improvement, even playing about. But the little baby was growing worse. The doctor grudgingly gave some medicine for the baby, ‘to get rid of her.’ Next day the baby was much better and today is the picture of health. What about the little girl who was given the blood transfusion? She died.

ECUADOR Population: 6,177,127

Peak Publishers: 2,949 Ratio: 1 to 2,095

After twenty-four years of preaching the good news, and with apparently such a short time remaining to finish this work, it seems that the field is opening up as never before, and more and more persons are desirous of becoming Jehovah’s “men of goodwill.” There is hardly a Kingdom Hall in the entire country that can seat all the persons who attend meetings, and those who are literally asking for the truth are not a few.

Not all sincere ones move swiftly, and the truth planted in some bears fruit only ‘after many days.’ This has been the experience of a man who, some twelve years ago, read about Jehovah’s witnesses in a book and decided he wanted to know more about them. Choosing the capital city as the most likely place to find them, he made a four-hour trip to Quito. There he hired a taxi to drive at random, asking the driver to stop at intervals and inquire for the Witnesses. After two hours of driving around this way the chauffeur got tired, so a second taxi was hired. Some who were questioned tried to discourage him; others sent him to various religious groups. Finally he located the missionary home, and arrangements were made for a special pioneer to study with him in his own town. In a short time he was baptized. His wife was very opposed and left him, first with their seven children, and then taking with her all of their furniture and moving to another city. She later divorced him and a couple of years went by. But during this time she began to listen to Witnesses who called at her door. A change of attitude later opened the way for her and the brother to remarry. Now he could take the children to meetings, although they were unwilling at first. A family study was started and other sisters in the congregation began befriending his wife. One by one the members of the family accepted the truth. Now the whole family is baptized, one son is a special pioneer and congregation overseer and a daughter is also in the full-time service. Endurance and hope have their rewards.

A point used in our offer of a free Bible study is that we will use any Bible of the householder’s choice. One young woman who accepted a Bible study insisted on using the Catholic Torres Amat translation, as she was convinced that this was the “true” Bible, although she also had another translation. The study was started and the sister made a point of always making comparisons of the various renderings of the Bible texts being used. This method pleased the new student and she began to recognize the need for a clear translation and acquired a New World Translation for herself. Although adamant that she would never cease to be a Catholic, she had her daughter attend the Sunday school of an Evangelist sect. When she came to understand that it was her own responsibility to teach the Bible to the child she stopped sending her there. Visits from an Evangelist missionary and pastor ensued, and these visits involved discussions on controversial doctrinal points. Now well acquainted with several Bible translations, she was able to defend the truth of the Scriptures. This also opened her eyes to the insincerity of those who represent false religion. Now she is a baptized witness of Jehovah and is helping others inside and outside of her own family to flee from Babylon the Great.

Work on the Galápagos Islands is also moving ahead, and now we have almost twice as many publishers as one year ago. All of the publishers live on just one island, however, and transportation to the others is very difficult. The circuit servant now makes occasional two-week visits and, while he is there, one of the brothers makes his yacht—his personal means of living—available for a tour of all the main islands. On the last visit they were able to place 116 Truth books and many magazines among the 4,000 inhabitants of the archipelago. On one of the islands they met up with considerable opposition and could not find a place to stay at first, and a drunkard “bathed” the circuit servant in beer. They later found that the resistance had been instigated by the ex-priest of the island, but despite these efforts they placed literature in every home on the island with the exception of that of the ex-priest. On another island the brothers were hospitably received by a woman who offered them food and refreshment. They tactfully inquired about the chicken soup and found that the chicken had not been properly bled. Kindly they explained what God’s Word says about eating blood. The woman’s reaction? “We are not to blame, are we? It is the fault of the priest, who has never taught us these things. But now that I know what the Bible says I will have to ask God to forgive me and I will never eat strangled chicken again.”

EL SALVADOR Population: 3,424,289

Peak Publishers: 1,755 Ratio: 1 to 1,951

All of us in El Salvador have great reasons for rejoicing in the Lord because of the results of our preaching activity during the past service year. We were able to see one peak after another in publishers, back-calls and Bible studies. Our Kingdom Halls are overflowing with people coming to the meetings.

Some of those that have come to serve where the need is greater have had some fine experiences even during the time that they spoke a limited amount of Spanish. For instance, while an isolated seaport town was being worked a devout Catholic lady was found. After a few studies she decided to rid her home of all the images and religious pictures—items that had been costly and prized over the years. As Jehovah blessed the work in this seaport town and the number of Bible studies increased, a place was sought to hold a weekly Watchtower study to feed the sheeplike persons in this town. This formerly devout Catholic woman was asked if she would like to offer her home for this purpose. She eagerly agreed, but said that she must first ask her husband, who was not studying the Bible with the Witnesses. As the husband was deeply impressed by the truths that his wife and children had learned and could already see the change these had made in them, he readily gave his permission to use his home for the meetings.

Since it is a small town, news that the meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses were being held in this home soon reached the ears of the local priest. In his first attempt to stop the meetings, the priest chose the children as his target, humiliating them in the presence of their schoolmates. The children were very upset and arrived home crying.

The priest then sent for the husband and pressure was applied on him. The priest told him, “If the meetings continue in your house it will bring shame on the church.” Then he threatened to expel the children from school. The priest also accused the wife of having the meetings in their home behind her husband’s back. Even though he had not yet studied, the husband replied: “In my house, I give the orders and my wife has my permission to have these meetings. We are free to worship in any way we desire.” Seeing that his threats had no effect on the husband, the priest quickly apologized and said that the children would gladly be accepted in school. This family’s eyes have been opened still further by this incident, and they continue to cherish their studies with Jehovah’s witnesses. It is a delight to one’s heart to hear them say, “We are proud to have the Kingdom Hall in our home.” As for the children, they will soon be enrolled in another school, not because they were expelled, but because the parents know this is the right thing to do.

FIJI Population: 526,765

Peak Publishers: 453 Ratio: 1 to 1,163

The Fiji branch had the unique privilege of holding two of last year’s international assemblies, in two of the nine countries under its administration. How joyful the brothers were in Fiji, American Samoa, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Niue, Tahiti, Tonga and Western Samoa to welcome delegates from seventeen countries at their two assemblies, one in Suva, Fiji, and the other at Papeete, Tahiti.

Parents can encourage and train their children to take ministerial responsibility by accompanying them on calls and studies and letting them take the initiative while the parents sit in to help out if necessary. A fifteen-year-old youth met a mother of three young children during house-to-house work, placed a subscription with her and started a study. He continued to conduct it himself, and the woman, impressed by his youthfulness and the information, proved to be an apt and appreciative student. Eventually his mother began accompanying him to the study, and in time it was necessary for her to take it over because the woman began a secular job and the study had to be held when the sister’s son was at school. Because the woman was so eager, the study increased to twice a week at a park during lunch-hour breaks. Soon after commencing a study in the Truth book the woman began attending all meetings with her three young children. When the sister commended her on her regularity and fine attitude toward meeting attendance despite an opposed husband, she said, “If I miss a meeting I feel I’ve missed a bus.” Within four months she unhesitatingly responded to the invitation to share in field service and spent a day in unassigned territory.

Also, within four months she conducted a study of her own with her very keen eight-year-old son. Now, we are happy to relate, just seven months after being contacted, the woman is a sister, having been baptized at the international assembly last November, and one of her companions at that baptism was her new “brother,” the youth who commenced the study with her!

When called on the first time, a young Methodist woman was preoccupied with her baby but accepted a “Good News” booklet and an offer of a return call at a more suitable time. Due to the death of a relative, she was not contacted again until the fifth back-call. However, unknown to the sister the woman had read the “Good News” booklet and was so impressed with what she had learned that she was telling all her relatives about it, while the sister, in turn, thought that perhaps the woman was avoiding her. Well, the study was started and right from the beginning the woman relayed what she learned to relatives. Her progress was rapid and she was soon regularly attending meetings and out in field service.

This caused concern to her Methodist minister, because the monthly church discussions were being held in her home. So, in an endeavor to rescue his “straying” sheep, her minister, although living next door and conducting the discussions in her home, made his first personal calls on the woman to express concern for her spiritual welfare. She confidently told him that since studying with the Witnesses she learned for the first time, among other things, that the earth was not going to be destroyed and that not all were destined for heaven. “That’s the trouble with the Witnesses,” he said, “they take things literally.” This served to confirm her newfound faith, for had she not read in Ecclesiastes 1:4 that the literal earth was going to stand forever? Then, on learning that, although her husband had also quit going to church, he had not embraced her new religion the minister again visited her and said: “This just proves that you haven’t found the true religion. It has caused division in your family.” Imagine how thrilled she was to read, at her next study, among Jesus’ words at Matthew 10:34-37, “I came to cause division,” which proved that she really had found the true religion! The minister never called on her personally again.

A few weeks after beginning to study she was holding a study of her own and was regularly attending meetings. Then she started a study while in the ministry and took over another. Both students progressed rapidly and were soon regularly attending meetings and publishing too. We are happy to say that this woman was also baptized at the international assembly. So even if one has occasion to leave just a booklet with a householder, that alone, if the person is truly sheeplike, may move the person to embrace the truth and become fruitful too.

AMERICAN SAMOA Population: 26,000

Peak Publishers: 47 Ratio: 1 to 553

In July 1970 the Tutuila congregation dedicated its new Kingdom Hall, the first to be built in the Samoas. Built by young and old, it was the culmination of long hours and hard work that began in March 1967. Faith in Jehovah, determination and ingenuity overcame lack of funds, materials and other problems. The brothers feel spiritually profited by the experience and are elated to have adequate facilities in a fine hall of their own for the large number of people who attend meetings. In thanking Jehovah for the final results, they also thank their brothers in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and other countries who contributed materially toward building the hall.

While occupied building the hall, the congregation maintained a good field record, even improving its average hours from 13.8 to 14.9, back-calls from 6.2 to 7.0 and magazines per publisher from 16,2 to 21.2. This shows what can be done when servants plan ahead, take the lead and have good cooperation from the brothers.

GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS

Peak Publishers: 11 Population: 55,000

Ratio: 1 to 5,000

The brothers in the Ellice Islands were very grieved at the loss of a zealous sister who died in March. She had been suffering from internal bleeding for the previous two years and needed an operation. However, the doctors refused to perform this unless she consented to take a blood transfusion. For two years doctors, hospital staff, “friends” and close relatives tried to persuade her to take blood. Some tried persuasion by appealing to her motherly love by telling her to think of what might happen to her children if she died. It is a pleasure to report that, despite all this emotional pressure for two years, she remained steadfast for Jehovah’s laws and died a faithful Witness. People still remark on her unswerving faith in a coming resurrection by her God, Jehovah. We can all be encouraged by the sister’s fine course, for it shows that, even on an isolated island, Jehovah’s spirit is there to strengthen one if one remains faithful.

NEW CALEDONIA Population: 100,579

Peak Publishers: 162 Ratio: 1 to 621

Even if little interest is shown but a publication is accepted, it may pave the way for someone else to get the truth. Although little interest was shown, a Paradise book was placed with a householder. A visiting friend read and reread it and was so stimulated that he wrote to the Society’s branch office and requested a copy for himself. This he read and reread, too, and sent another letter to the Society, saying: “Dear Sirs, I have loved reading your Paradise book and would like you to urgently send me the following books [seven in all].” A brother was asked to call, and he did so immediately. The man was overwhelmed with delight when the Witness arrived and the Witness noticed that he already had an excellent understanding of the truth from reading just the Paradise book. Whenever he referred to any subject touched upon in the book, the man immediately turned to the page dealing with it. His progress was rapid and in a short time he read and studied all the publications he had, and his thirst for truth was prodigious. He was also out in the field service and his home was being used as a meeting place for the isolated group in his town. He was so well known in his professional capacity that he was addressed by his professional title rather than by his personal name at the doors, and he has had good success because of the community’s respect for him. He avidly reads the Bible and can quote over a hundred scriptures from memory, although he is not a young man. Today we have the pleasure of his being with us as a dedicated, baptized brother who “accidentally” started on the way to life through someone else’s publication.

NEW HEBRIDES Population: 77,983

Peak Publishers: 14 Ratio: 1 to 5,570

This country is administered by the governments of two great powers, Britain and France, an arrangement called condominium, There are three sets of laws, three currencies, a Joint Court consisting of three judges, three main languages, two kinds of policemen and two sets of weights and measures, to mention just a few points. No wonder, then, it is said that some humorously refer to the Condominium as Pandemonium!

There are many native languages and dialects not understood by tribes within a few miles of each other, so all these people, the British and the French communicate in a common tongue called Pidgin-English. Although brothers serving where the need is greater adequately care for Pidgin- and English-speaking people, the greatest concern is care for the predominant French-speaking population. While on circuit visits there, a French couple concentrates on the French community, but this is always temporary, so obviously the call to French-speaking publishers to serve where the need is greater is urgent here.

Just how determined should one be to attend an assembly? Among six delegates from New Hebrides at the Suva, Fiji, international assembly was a sister with a young child who overcame much opposition to go. When she went to pay for her plane ticket for the following week, she found that her opposed husband had canceled her booking and the only way to get out of the country and to the assembly was to catch that very day’s flight, one week ahead of schedule. With only two hours to prepare, pack and leave a note for her husband, she was on her way to the airport with her child. The plane was delayed almost two hours, during which time she fully anticipated being dragged back home by her irate husband. Happily, nothing stopped her departure and she arrived safely at Fiji. Her joy at the assembly was not lessened any despite the unpleasantness she fully expected to face when she returned home. She was so upbuilt and strengthened that she withstood this on return and has since continued steadfast and happy in spirit, glad that her determination helped her to overcome those obstacles.

NIUE Population: 5,258

Peak Publishers: 13 Ratio: 1 to 405

Does advertising of public talks and special events by congregation publishers bring good results? It certainly does, as shown here. Due to difficulties in transportation to this isolated island, the circuit servant stays a month. During his last visit he encouraged the publishers to advertise widely the Memorial and special public talk, concentrating on Bible students and interested persons. How delighted the 13 Niuean publishers were to have 92 at the special public talk and 112 present at the Memorial. To consolidate this interest, the brothers need mature leadership from brothers serving where the need is great.

TAHITI Population: 98,315

Peak Publishers: 155 Ratio: 1 to 634

The Truth book exerts tremendous power, and following the Society’s suggestion to study a chapter a week, if possible, means that its influence can more quickly envelop a student with Jehovah’s spirit and ensure a rapid change of personality, as shown here.

The force in the Truth book can make even teenagers quickly decide to take a course for the good. A sister relates: “During house-to-house work I met a French woman who listened attentively, accepted the offer, then asked if I could bring a Bible for her teenage daughter. On my return my companion and I were met by the daughter, who asked if we were Jehovah’s witnesses; then she asked us in. We demonstrated the Bible study method with the Truth book and her new Bible, and she was so interested that she asked whether we could study with her twice a week. Noting how interested this serious-minded young girl was, I asked whether we could call and take her to our meetings, as she lived so near the Kingdom Hall. Her parents were agreeable and she never missed a meeting after that. She made rapid progress and changed her youthful habits as quickly as each chapter unfolded and exposed pagan teachings and customs. On her leaving school, her father secured a secular position for her at his place of work, but when she found that this tied her down she secured another and was soon preaching with us. Some months later, we are happy to report, she was baptized at our circuit assembly just before returning to France with her mother.

TONGA Population: 77,429

Peak Publishers: 19 Ratio: 1 to 4,075

A big field is waiting to be harvested in Tonga. So far only a small portion of territory has been covered in house-to-house work. At the present time the government is encouraging overseas investment, and this could well produce an opening for brothers to serve where the need is greater. The Fiji branch office is making arrangements to get the work registered so that application can be made for missionaries to enter Tonga. The brothers in Tonga have done commendably, considering that they have never had any outside help except for spasmodic visits from circuit servants.

WESTERN SAMOA Population: 140,000

Peak Publishers: 92 Ratio: 1 to 1,522

A brother with a family of eleven, including an adopted daughter and pioneer living with them, wanted to get all of them overseas to the international assembly in Fiji. Only one source of finance was available. His employers kept a superannuation fund to be withdrawn on retirement or in very exceptional circumstances. Having worked there many years, the brother figured he would have enough in it to get the family to the assembly. Reasoning that integrity and faith in Jehovah will get one through the coming tribulation whether one has money in a fund or not, he resolved to invest his fund toward guaranteeing his family’s future spiritual survival.

It was not until the week of travel to the assembly that he was able to contact his managing director. Naturally, his director felt as many would. He wondered why a family man would wish to withdraw his only security against the future and chance leaving nothing for them if something happened to him. The brother explained the importance to him and his family as Jehovah’s worshipers of attending the assembly and that this was the only way for them to get to Fiji. His being a respected and trusted employee, his director favorably granted the request and made an unprecedented exception in letting him withdraw his superannuation fund in full. Happy and thankful to Jehovah for this blessing, he went the following day and paid his family’s ship fares to Fiji. The family then joyfully prepared to leave.

Later that week, however, the brother was informed that the ship was strike-bound in another country and would not be sailing as expected. The only other way out of the country, so as to be at the assembly in time, was by air at greater expense. Suffice it to say that the brother and his family enjoyed the assembly, with no regrets. They know that only spiritual steadfastness, faith and obedience to Jehovah will preserve them. in the future and not transient material possessions.

FINLAND Population: 4,692,055

Peak Publishers: 10,620 Ratio: 1 to 442

The 1969 service year has been successful and has had Jehovah’s blessing. The brothers have realized the urgency of the times and have increased their efforts to reach all people loving truth and righteousness. For that reason time spent in the preaching work has increased. The increased use of time has, in turn, meant more literature placements and more home Bible studies. Many sheeplike people have been found and disciples have been made and baptized.

Brother Henschel’s visit was very refreshing, and the brothers at Bethel and also the brothers in the congregations were encouraged by it. His talk to the Helsinki congregation was stimulating, and the brothers still talk about the encouragement it gave them.

Jehovah has provided us with wonderful tools for helping people interested in the truth to come to know him. It also seems as though Jehovah has in some way aroused in people the desire to seek him and his true worship. This is the conclusion one comes to when thinking of the many who have joined with us in serving Jehovah in a short time. The following experience confirms this opinion. Two sisters placed the Truth book with a man and they also left the Bible study folder. The sisters briefly explained the Bible study course and made arrangements to call back and study with him. After the second study the man asked: “Do you Jehovah’s witnesses have any meetings hereabouts and can an outsider attend?” After the first meeting he was asked what he thought of it, and you can imagine the publisher’s joy when the man said he liked it so much that he intended to attend regularly. He said he would buy a bicycle so that it would be easier to get to the meetings, as it was too far to walk. As the study progressed it came out that the man had had a lot to do with other religions and he had made himself a kind of altar for worship and had bought a lot of religious literature. The publisher reports: “When I had conducted the study for three months, I arrived at his home to find him burning the false religious literature and the altar he had made for worship. That evening I placed with him more of our literature, including the ‘Impossible to Lie’ and Life Everlasting books. He then said that he was seriously considering, dedication, and so the ‘Lamp’ book was also procured for him. He started conscientiously to prepare the material in the ‘Lamp’ book, enrolled in the Ministry School and went to resign from Babylon the Great. Now he has been baptized and has also helped his wife to attend meetings and start out in the service. All this has happened in less than six months.”

The following experience reveals the same thing. Two sisters met a young married woman with whom they were able to leave a magazine and the Bible study folder, and they promised to come again when her husband would be at home. The back-call was made, as promised, the following week. A study was started and it has been productive and interesting right from the start. The husband has had many interests, and he is known in the district as an actor and as being, interested in various sports. He is also the shop steward in his place of work. This naturally gave him a wide circle of acquaintances. The man realized this was an advantage, and right after the first study he began to tell others about the things he had learned, inviting them to join in the study. He has had good results in this. Some evenings there have been as many as eleven persons attending the study. He soaks up the truth like a dry sponge soaking up water. Usually he and his wife understand things quite quickly, but the matter of the sanctity of blood required more thorough study. After thoroughly studying and digging into some of our publications and two evenings of discussion, this matter also became clear to them. After three months of study they started to attend the congregation meetings regularly, including the congregation book study. They prepared beforehand the material to be studied, sometimes well ahead of the material dealt with in the study. When the congregation book study got near the material that dealt with leaving “Babylon,” they had also studied it in the chapter “Get Out from Among Them” in the Truth book and they understood that they should resign from the church. They took this step on the same day on which the material was studied in the “Babylon” series at the congregation book study. They started in the service after studying for four months and they symbolized their dedication by water baptism at the district assembly this summer. They were a little worried that they might be running ahead. They came to this conclusion because they had often taken the initiative in making their decisions, but when they were told experiences from the Yearbook in which the same features were apparent, then they were satisfied. They already are making plans so that at least one of them can pioneer, just as soon as they have the opportunity, in other words, as soon as they meet the requirements laid down for pioneers. They are zealously working to that end.

You have no doubt often heard someone say: “We will never become Jehovah’s witnesses.” That is what one woman said when Jehovah’s witnesses called at her door. She was tactfully shown that choosing one’s religion is each person’s own affair, but knowledge is needed in order to make the right choice. The woman took the Paradise book and said her husband was interested in religion. This proved to be true, as he had gone to a lot of trouble to clear up the religious questions in his mind. He had even asked the minister of his congregation to visit him for a discussion, but the minister had never come. The minister had simply said, “I do not have the time.” On the first back-call the man took the Evolution book. After reading it and noticing that it mentioned the ‘Impossible to Lie’ book, he wanted it too. A study was started and this quickly led to results. After two months of study the man began to attend meetings, although he had to travel twenty-five kilometers to do so. He soon started in the field service, going first of all to his neighbors, so that they would know that he had now embraced the religion of Jehovah’s witnesses. His wife, who on the first visit had said that they would never become Jehovah’s witnesses, has been eagerly accompanying her husband from the start. They went together to resign from the church and informed the same minister that he need not come to see them now as they had found the right religion. They started in the field service together and were baptized at the same time. The children have progressed along with their parents. They have not yet been baptized, but have both started in the field service. The family is now very happy that, though they had invited their minister to call, Jehovah’s witnesses came instead.

FRANCE Population: 50,545,400

Peak Publishers: 36,721 Ratio: 1 to 1,376

The past service year was the most remarkable one in the history of Jehovah’s witnesses in France. When righteously disposed persons find the truth, they quickly make a stand for it. In the house-to-house work a pioneer met a married couple with whom he placed the book Is the Bible Really the Word of God? Two days later this man and his wife came to the circuit assembly with their baby. They had already read the book from cover to cover! The following Thursday a home Bible study was begun, and this first study in the Truth book lasted three hours! The following Sunday they came to the public talk and Bible study. Since then they attend regularly, and attend also the midweek meetings. After two months of study, the husband, realizing his responsibility, asked of his own volition if he could share in the house-to-house work.

Children brought up according to Bible principles may even instruct their teacher. A young brother writes to us as follows: “During a course dealing with the Hebrews, I noticed that the teacher was making no distinction between the kings and the judges of Israel. I often raised my hand to give appropriate answers, which were appreciated by the teacher. He was astonished to see that one of his students was so well versed in these things. From time to time he asked me to explain certain events of the time of the judges. At the end of the course he called me on one side and asked me to give a course on the Hebrews for the following week. He was willing to allow me half the time assigned to his course. Needless to say, I accepted this offer with enthusiasm. How surprised my comrades were to see me in the teacher’s place! The course was very lively and I got a good report from the teacher. Together we drew up the résumé.” In this way a fine witness was given, not only to the teacher, but to the entire class.

Children by their good conduct can encourage their parents to make a stand for the truth. A Bible study was held with a woman and her two daughters. These two girls, however, still went to the catechism course. One day the abbot gave an explanation of hell. One of the girls, eleven years of age, could not resist saying that the Bible hell is the grave. This did not please the abbot and he told her to keep quiet. When she got home, the young girl told her mother what had happened. The mother understood that it was time for her to make a choice. This she had not done up till then because of the opposition of her husband, who wanted to be like everybody else. Determined to stick to Bible principles, the mother explained to her husband the position of the children. Finally, with her husband’s approval, she wrote to the abbot to tell him that henceforth her children would no longer attend the catechism course. Three weeks later the abbot came to see them. “Do not think that I have come to reenroll your children for the catechism course. You have done the right thing in taking them away,” he said. Evidently he himself is no longer in agreement with the teachings of the Catholic church. Since then, this woman has made fine progress and now takes an active part in the field service with her two daughters.

More than ever before, the “sheep” are quitting Babylon the Great to join God’s people. A sister writes us the following: “At fifteen years of age I entered the convent called ‘House of Repentance.’ However, I was greatly deceived by my superiors who created fear in me. After six unhappy years I left this place. Later I married and I became the mother to three children. One day I was called on by a lady, a witness of Jehovah. Being extremely prejudiced, I attached no importance to what she said. Then I went to live in another area, and again I was visited by the Witnesses. This time I agreed to have a home Bible study with the aid of the Truth book. Opposition from my family and also from my acquaintances very quickly showed up. I therefore put off the study until later. Being in doubt, I wrote a letter to the priest and asked him for advice. I was very surprised by his reply. He not only approved of my having a study with Jehovah’s witnesses, but, moreover, encouraged me to continue to study with them, stating that Jehovah’s witnesses were in the truth. One Sunday, in the company of my children, I prayed to Jehovah, asking him to send a Witness to see me, because I felt the need of the study. My prayer was answered, for that very morning a Witness knocked at my door. Arrangements were then made to have a study with the whole family. The Truth book gave the replies to all our questions and I quickly understood what God required of his servants. All my family attend the congregation meetings, and these are a source of comfort to us. I am happy to serve the true God and to be at unity with his people, and now to be a ‘sister’—a sister in the truth.”

ALGERIA Population: 12,150,000

Peak Publishers: 74 Ratio: 1 to 164,189

The brothers in Algeria, like their brothers world wide, have shown much zeal and courage during the past service year. They have had to face great difficulties, and in December about twenty publishers were deported. In spite of this opposition, the brothers still in Algeria are maintaining their integrity and are faithfully carrying out their commission to preach, in accordance with Matthew 24:14.

Perseverance in making back-calls often brings results. A publisher received an expired-subscription slip and quickly made the back-call. Unfortunately, in spite of much perseverance, the publisher was unable to contact this person. His frequent calls intrigued the former subscriber’s lodger, who asked if he could give a message to the former subscriber, in order to spare the publisher the trouble of having to come again. Needless to say, a fine witness was given to the lodger, the publisher even beginning a home Bible study. This man also saw the importance of the meetings, and began attending regularly along with the woman with whom he was living. In view of the delicate situation there concerning the Kingdom work, and in case he himself might be deported, the publisher presented this man to other brothers. Sure enough, this publisher was deported, and the study was stopped. Fortunately, thanks to the foresight of the publisher, this kindly-disposed person knew of another publisher. So he went to contact this other publisher at his place of work in order to continue the study.

Although he wanted to become a publisher, it was not possible to accept him as such because he was living in concubinage. It was difficult to settle his situation because of a former marriage. Finally, with Jehovah’s help, he was able to marry the woman with whom he was living and thus both of them are able to share in the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14.

TUNISIA Population: 4,500,000

Peak Publishers: 34 Ratio: 1 to 132,353

In Tunisia, the work of announcing the Kingdom is not done so openly as in countries where the work is legally recognized. As a matter of fact, the brothers are closely watched, but this does not stop them from remaining firm in their integrity.

A kindly-disposed married couple made sure of giving a witness to their parents, friends and neighbors. Some of them agreed to having a home Bible study, while others showed their opposition, going as far as collaborating with the Catholic clergy.

In order to bring this couple back to the Catholic church, a childhood friend (fervent Catholic) organized a discussion in the presence of the Catholic priest. During the discussion, the priest turned toward the friend of this couple and said: “I am more for Jehovah’s witnesses than for the Catholics!” It goes without saying that this remark disappointed the person who was attached to her religion. As for the priest, he had another occasion later on to meet this couple to discuss the Bible. He frankly declared that he did not approve of the course of action of the Catholic church during the course of its history, its teachings, its tolerance of immorality, etc. He added: “You should go to my superiors and tell them why you are leaving the church. They really deserve it.” At the end of the discussion the priest congratulated the couple, accepted the book Is the Bible Really the Word of God? and promised to give them his impressions after having read it.

This couple is happy to see how the truth triumphs and they are preparing themselves for baptism at the next district assembly.

GERMANY, WEST Population: 60,184,000

Peak Publishers: 86,252 Ratio: 1 to 698

A youthful publisher, sixteen years of age, reported that he offered the Evolution book to his biology teacher after he had briefly explained its contents. The teacher stated that he would use material from the book when the evolution theory was considered. “At the time this subject was included in our study program I was greatly surprised when he showed my classmates the book and even read portions out of it. He recommended this book and mentioned that it was written from another viewpoint and it would help young people to form their own opinion. Afterward the two books that I had with me were immediately requested. Since my teacher had encouraged the class, I was able to place fifteen Evolution books the next day. Since my biology teacher instructed three other classes in biology, he also showed them the Evolution book. The next day the teacher came to me and inquired if I could obtain thirty-nine more books for him. Of course, I was happy to do so. The teacher paid for these books and took care of collecting the money from the school classes himself. I was thus able to distribute fifty-six Evolution books in one week. I would like to mention that I did vacation pioneer service in this month and was richly blessed.”

Youthful publishers have had many wonderful experiences due to their good Christian conduct and their neat appearance. A sister was able to start a Bible study with a woman who supposedly never had time. After the first study she was greatly impressed, and when the second call was made she expressed her great joy about the following occurrence. She related that two young publishers had rung her doorbell and, as usual, she looked out of her window and wanted to get rid of them quickly by stating that she had no time. But she just had to take note of their correct and pleasant manner of dress. She was especially pleased with their reasonable and attractive haircuts. She felt that she simply could not send away these two orderly youths. She went down to them and took two magazines. She also mentioned a sister who previously lived on her street. She had noticed the same good qualities about her. She felt that if Jehovah’s witnesses were all such clean people she would have to ask them to come in sometime. She did this and now she is zealously studying the truth of God’s Word.

Staying close to Jehovah’s organization is certainly a protection for us. A brother who often had to make business trips to other countries was faced with problems because he was gone for two or three days and could not attend meetings. It is his desire, however, to be at all meetings, so he has often discussed this with his employer. Generally it is possible to arrange matters so that he can be at the meetings. Of late, however, the difficulties increased and there were often discussions with his employer about this. On February 9 his company had a business transaction with an important customer and it was scheduled that he should fly to a country in the Near East on Saturday, February 21. This trip was to take five or six days. What should he do? He knew that this date was requested by the customer, but also that he would have to miss the meeting on Sunday and could not be in the congregation when the circuit servant came the following week. The brother was determined to share in this special week. He presented the matter to his employer, but his request was rejected and the tickets were purchased and the departure date set. The brother states: “I refused to fly and made one more attempt to change my employer’s mind. Although the atmosphere was very tense, telegrams were sent back and forth and a new date was arranged for the flight. I was very thankful to Jehovah that he gave me the strength to remain steadfast. Two days later I heard over the radio that the plane on which I was to have flown had been sabotaged and crashed. If I had not been determined to have my employer change the scheduled date, I would not be alive to report this experience.”

WEST BERLIN Population: 2,141,000

Peak Publishers: 5,396 Ratio: 1 to 397

Jehovah’s spirit cannot be restrained by the barbed fences or walls erected by man. In the “walled” city of West Berlin Jehovah’s spirit is very active strengthening the ministers of the good news, both young and old. There is a large number of elderly publishers in West Berlin and they manifest great zeal in serving Jehovah despite their infirmities and age. The oldest publisher is one hundred years of age and is still a very active witness for Jehovah. She was quite disturbed one month when her health did not permit her to participate as fully in the ministry as usual. When the circuit servant visited her she expressed her discontent with her report and said that she felt bad because she was able to preach the good news only eight hours during this month. Otherwise she devoted much more time to the ministry.

The assembly in Berlin increased the witness given in the city this past year. During convention preparations a doctor telephoned the convention office and emphatically registered his complaint that he had not yet received his tickets that he had ordered. The convention servant explained to him that he had evidently called the wrong number. He asked if this was the convention office; this was confirmed, but it was stated that it was the Watch Tower Convention office preparing the assembly to be held by Jehovah’s witnesses in Berlin. “Oh, no!” responded the doctor, “those are the people in whose faces I always slam the door.” He explained that he had left the church and did not want anything to do with anyone from the church. It was tactfully explained that Jehovah’s witnesses are not in the churches of Christendom, which surprised him greatly. An interesting discussion then developed and various questions were answered. Finally the doctor inquired what the brother felt about the name Esther, as this was a Bible name. His wife was expecting a baby in the near future and he wanted to give a girl this name. What could be more appropriate than to invite him to the Biblical drama on Friday evening as he could receive a thorough explanation as to who Esther was and what fine characteristics she had? The doctor readily agreed to come and concluded: “Then I have no more use for the theater tickets anyway.”

GHANA Population: 8,545,561

Peak Publishers: 14,223 Ratio: 1 to 601

The influx of newly interested ones did not slow down, but increased this past year. Everywhere circuit servants have been reporting overcrowded Kingdom Halls. ‘Try to find a larger hall.’ ‘See what can be done to enlarge your Kingdom Hall.’ These and similar comments appear frequently on circuit servants’ reports on congregations. So, we have been having growing pains—joyous ones!

There have been many excellent experiences, practically every one of which centers around either our large assembly or the Truth book. We are very happy to share some of these with you. Since the Ghana branch of the Society also supervises the work in Ivory Coast and Upper Volta, we would like to tell you how the Witnesses are getting along there too.

A brother at Mem Chemfe has been associated with Jehovah’s people for nearly fifteen years. His wife never responded to the Kingdom message during all that time. When the time came to attend the “Peace on Earth” Assembly in Accra, this brother invited his wife along to the capital city for sight-seeing while he went to the sessions each day. The wife refused. As she put it, “I don’t know anyone there and I can’t go around the town alone.” The brother gave his promise that he would spend time with his wife and would go sight-seeing with her during some of the assembly days, so off they went. Arriving at the grounds and seeing the thousands of people already there the day before the assembly, the brother’s wife exclaimed, “Are all these people Jehovah’s witnesses?” She was indeed impressed, because the Witnesses were very few back home in her village. Next day the husband invited his wife to go sight-seeing, but she said, “No! I want to go to the assembly to see more.” She had a tour of the grounds, through the departments, and finally to the cafeteria kitchen. How surprised she was to see all the happy workers, both young and old, men and women, working voluntarily. Later the brother found her happily working in the cafeteria. She forgot all about sightseeing until after the assembly. The two of them enjoyed a short tour of Accra and then returned home, where they are now happy companions in Kingdom preaching.

It pays to advertise, as the Tema, Community 2, congregation found out. In preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal, the congregation erected a large electric sign in front of their meeting place upon which was the word MEMORIAL. One thousand printed invitations were distributed to the public and interested ones. The congregation made special arrangements for all interested ones to be called on that very day and then began gathering at 4:30 p.m. to sing Kingdom songs for an hour and a half before the celebration. What was the result? This congregation of about one hundred publishers was delighted to see nine hundred and sixty-six persons at the Memorial that evening. Much interest was aroused, and this is now being diligently followed up by home Bible study activity.

One of the congregations in Koforidua had an unusual experience. The overseer received a letter from a local commercial college stating that the students would be attending one of their meetings. Just before the weekly Watchtower study about one hundred students and their principal turned up. They enjoyed the study and afterward asked many questions of the brothers. All were given the folder Would You Like to Understand the Bible? and the interested ones are being helped. The attendance at the meeting that day was 235 persons.

A full-time publisher was experiencing some difficulties in studying the Bible with an interested friend of his. It appeared that the man was purposely evading him to avoid studying the chapter in the Truth book on “Why It Is Wise to Examine Your Religion.” Seven calls were made, always to find the man absent. The pioneer says: “I decided to go to the house early one morning—about 5 a.m. He was still asleep when I knocked at his door. He came out and, after exchanging greetings, I told him I had come to study only paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this subject. He sensed that I attached a great deal of importance to this, so he agreed. As the discussion progressed he was amazed to learn how many wrong doctrines were being taught in his church. This opened the way for a study to continue in the Truth book. Shortly he began attending meetings and was soon out in the service, getting ready to undergo water baptism. The pioneer’s perseverance and adaptability reaped the desired results.

IVORY COAST Population: 4,100,000

Peak Publishers: 431 Ratio: 1 to 9,513

It has been a very fine year of increase and expansion in Ivory Coast. Congregations have increased from seven to ten. The missionaries have worked hard at establishing congregations in the capital city, Abidjan, and are now spreading out to the interior towns where little witnessing has been done. Good results are being realized and many honest-hearted ones are being found.

A German sister serving as a missionary started a home Bible study with a young man. One week they would study; the next he would say, “Don’t come back.” Then in a few days he would call at the missionary home asking for the study to be renewed. Frequently he would ask questions on spiritism and fetishism that had no bearing on the subject under consideration. When he began to attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall he would always sit isolated in a far corner with a strange expression on his face.

After three months of study they came to the chapter on “Are There Wicked Spirits?” Now the problem came out. This young man, although a Catholic, had been practicing witchcraft and was a strong supporter of fetishism. He had always attended meetings, as he said, “armed with articles of witchcraft in my pocket.” He even told the sister, “Several times I practiced my witchcraft on you but it did not work. God is great!” Finally he destroyed all appendages of demon worship, and from then on made splendid progress.

He enrolled in the Ministry School as a student speaker. He gradually became friendlier. His whole personality changed for the better. Within six months of the first study he joined the congregation in preaching from house to house. Recently he began vacation pioneering with a view to taking up regular pioneer service as a full-time minister of Jehovah God.

UPPER VOLTA Population: 4,955,000

Peak Publishers: 3 Ratio: 1 to 1,651,667

Last year we reported on the activity of one unbaptized publisher working in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Upper Volta. He has continued in the service and done very well. He had the privilege of attending an assembly in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and was baptized there.

GREECE Population: 8,750,000

Peak Publishers: 14,622 Ratio: 1 to 598

The thing that afforded great joy to us and largely contributed to our brothers’ advancement was the printing again of the Greek Watchtower magazine in the local factory of the Society. After a discontinuance that lasted two years and nine months, The Watchtower is now printed anew, from February 1970 onward, on our press, much to the joy of our brothers, each of whom has his own copy and fully enjoys the rich spiritual food provided by Jehovah through his holy organization. It is no longer necessary for the brothers to make handwritten or typewritten copies of The Watchtower’s main articles for their studies. Neither is it necessary any longer for a group to finish the study and then pass the copies on to another group, for them equally to enjoy this spiritual food. Now, thanks to Jehovah, we all have our individual copies, and we all study exactly the same article of The Watchtower in our congregational meetings. Yet this hard experience of ours has had the effect of increasing our brothers’ appreciation for the value of The Watchtower and for the importance of each one having his individual copy.

In a great island of southern Greece, a special pioneer sister called on a young girl who wanted to learn what Jehovah’s witnesses believe. The sister supplied her two magazines and immediately started a Bible study in the ‘Impossible to Lie’ book. The young girl asked the sister to assist her in searching to find the truth. “If I become convinced that this is the truth,” said the young girl, “nothing will be strong enough to stop me.” The study was continued and the young girl made very good progress. However, obstacles began to arise. Fierce persecution rose from her home people, especially from her fiancé, who was most scurrilously insulting her and beating her to loss of consciousness. But the young girl, unshaken, continued her study. On her return home in the evenings, there were waiting for her three priests of the parish, one theologian and two nuns, all in an endeavor to bring the “misled” girl back to the “straight path.” When this method proved unsuccessful, the girl’s fiancé broke into the house wherein the study was conducted with the special pioneer sister, grabbed his fiancée and beat her, while insulting and threatening the sister too. On her crying, the police hurried there and, finally, on false charges laid by the girl’s family and fiancé, the special pioneer was committed to trial. But the young girl now used the knowledge acquired from her study of the truth and thus succeeded in having her parents turn and see the error they had committed. Now all of them attend meetings, three have been baptized, four Bible studies are conducted in her home, and a total of seven persons have come to know the truth from this adventure. Her formerly cruel fiancé, now her husband, is also a publisher.

Persecution sometimes leads honest persons toward a knowledge of the truth. In a town of Thessaly, thirteen brothers were imprisoned because they had gathered for a Bible study. A fleshly brother of one of Jehovah’s witnesses, on learning of this unjust imprisonment and of the fact that the parish priest was the cause, began showing an interest in the truth, although he previously had been an enemy of the truth and even a friend of the priest. He is now regularly studying and attending meetings, in spite of the priest’s opposition. Further, the worldly daughter of one of the imprisoned brothers has also begun to study, and as she avows, “now my mind is opened to discern things.” She is now continuing to attend meetings.

A brother with his wife went from Athens to an island of the Aegean Sea, to work where the need was great. The seed of truth began to produce fruit. An honest man showed interest and a Bible study was immediately started with him. But the matter became known. When the brother left, the policeman, at the priest’s instigation, went there to inform himself as to what this man discussed with his visitor from Athens. “He told me fine things,” answered the interested man. “Just tell me what he said, that I may file a legal complaint against him,” said the policeman. “No, he is a good man,” said the interested one. On the next visit of the brother the interested man made him aware of what had happened. “Don’t be afraid of anything,” said the brother; “they can do nothing against us if you too declare that you are one of Jehovah’s witnesses.” The priest, who had seen the brother go to the interested man’s home, advised the policeman, who was one hour by car away. When he arrived to arrest the brother on the charge of proselytism, the interested householder flatly declared to the policeman that he was one of Jehovah’s witnesses, much to the surprise of the policeman and of the priest. So they were unable to lay a charge against the brother. On the next day it became known to the village inhabitants that the policeman, on his return to the police station, fell down and broke his hand. Also, the priest fell down and broke his foot. He went to Athens for medical treatment of his foot and then went back to the island, to continue the persecution. But in a short while he was struck with heart trouble and died.

GUADELOUPE Population: 300,000

Peak Publishers: 1,435 Ratio: 1 to 209

True Christians are those who obey Christ’s commands. That is just what our brothers have joyfully done in the French-speaking islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique and in South American French Guiana.

A joyful event took place in Guadeloupe with the dedication of a new Kingdom Hall in Pointe-à-Pitre on the Society’s property, including a branch storage and shipping area for literature. Now, in obedience to the command of Jesus in Matthew 24:14 to preach the good news in all the inhabited earth, the work was expanded to another small island, named La Désirade, off the coast of Guadeloupe. People there, too, desire to hear the good news and there are good prospects for more “men of goodwill.”

That God answers prayers of sincere persons can be seen by the following experience. A vacation pioneer met a person who was a member of a sect of Christendom. The pioneer gave her sermon and was ready to leave. But the person said: “Don’t go. Please stay. I have so many things to ask you about. You see, I have been baptized in my religion for two years now, but I feel that the Bible is not being explained to us.” So an upbuilding conversation followed regarding the purpose of God for the earth and mankind. Many of her questions were answered that day. Her own daughter was already interested and even attending meetings. Imagine her joy when she got to know the interest of her mother in the truth. To her daughter she said: “Do you know that just the day before the Witness came to our door, we, your father and myself, knelt and prayed to God asking him to send somebody to give us his light on his Word. God has answered our prayer, because the very next day two of his witnesses came to our door and brought the light that we need so much.” She added: “Please, my daughter, tell that person to come sooner than agreed upon, so that we might study the Bible. I cannot wait until next week!” The study is now going on nicely and good progress is being made.

Do not let yourself be overcome easily by difficulties, because your perseverance can bear fruit in time. A sister writes: “I met a lady who was living in concubinage. She had two children, nineteen and eleven years of age. After a few back-calls and overcoming all sorts of arguments, she started studying. She then understood rapidly that in order to please God she had to change her way of life. However, hardships and heavy pressure soon came from the man with whom she lived. Even her daughter was against her.” This lasted for a time, as the man did not want to lose his concubine. He also developed deep hatred for the publisher and said many unkind words to the sister. The sister started to become discouraged, but, as she said: “I prayed to Jehovah to help me, to give me his strength, so as not to be among those who lack perseverance, and also to help that person. My perseverance was rewarded. Soon afterward my pupil took a firm stand for the truth by cleaning up her life. Her daughter and her son also became interested and are now studying. More than that, they are now three zealous publishers! Truly I appreciate not having given up under pressure. I see now the good fruit of perseverance.”

FRENCH GUIANA Population: 40,000

Peak Publishers: 129 Ratio: 1 to 310

Our brothers have worked hard in French Guiana during the past service year. They have been very zealous in service, and Jehovah has richly blessed their activity. They have seen twenty-seven persons baptized during the service year. There is but one congregation in the capital city of Cayenne. Our brothers have felt the need to obey Christ’s command to make disciples elsewhere. So during the year they have made a real effort to preach the good news of God’s kingdom in other territories. Already they have had good results. There is a small group now organized in Kourou. Moreover, quite a large number of home Bible studies are being conducted. No doubt there are good prospects for our brothers in the new service year.

MARTINIQUE Population: 330,000

Peak Publishers: 604 Ratio: 1 to 546

Proverbs 19:20 says: “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, in order that you may become wise in your future.” One of our young brothers experienced the truthfulness of that proverb. This young brother wrote the following: “The Society has always recommended and encouraged speaking about the Bible truths with our schoolmates. I hesitated to do so for a certain period of time. I feared I would be mocked. But finally I seriously took into consideration the Scriptural thought: ‘Listen to counsel.’ One day I spoke to my best school friend. I told him I was studying the Bible. At first he was surprised but showed some interest. This encouraged me to go farther and I spoke more and more about the purpose of God. His interest grew and he started to ask many questions about my Biblical knowledge. He came to have a real interest in the Awake! magazine. I went farther and suggested a home Bible study with the Truth book. He gladly accepted it. But there was a problem to overcome. His parents, unbelievers, did not agree to his studying the Bible. Besides, his busy school schedule did not give him much time. But we looked at our school schedules and found there was a break that could be used for our study of the Bible. We have now studied for four months. He is progressing very well, looking forward to the time he will be able to attend meetings, as his parents do not agree for the present. He even has arrived at the point of taking a firm stand for the truth. He said to me: ‘Satan will not turn me away from the truth. I am convinced that Jehovah will listen to my prayers and in time I will overcome these difficulties. Who knows? Maybe one day my parents will accept an offer of a Bible study too.’” Our young publisher is now filled with joy about his experience. He says: “I am so grateful that I listened to Jehovah’s wise counsel. I encourage you young people in school not to fear to speak about the truth with your schoolmates, as a reward as great as mine could be your lot too!”

Do not fail to make your back-calls when you receive an address of an interested person. Do not give up easily either. The outcome could be the finding of a “sheep.” That is what happened to one sister who had received such an address. She went once but did not succeed. She went back again and met the person, but the individual said she was too busy. However, the sister did not give up. She went again, and through the conversation saw that apparently the lady was looking for the truth. Many questions regarding the various doctrinal aspects of her Catholic religion were answered. Several back-calls were needed to help her. Soon she realized that her religion was not in agreement with the Bible, the word of God. Especially when she learned that Peter was not the first pope were her eyes opened. She said: “If that is so, my Catholic religion is without value and I must start over.” After a few studies she got to know where the truth is. She became fully convinced after a visit in her village by the “missionary fathers” for a “mission.” She was so disappointed that she wept when the sister arrived to study. She acknowledged the spiritual state of starvation in which she had been because of her religion. After a while she went to see the local priest and told him of her decision to quit the church. He said to her: “Why? Have you thought out your decision thoroughly? Did you attend the recent ‘mission’?” She replied: “Your mission? Well, rather than retaining me, it has in fact hastened my decision to leave the church!” He tried to persuade her not to quit, but without success. Now she is a zealous publisher herself and she was baptized during the latest circuit assembly.

GUATEMALA Population: 5,169,732

Peak Publishers: 2,250 Ratio: 1 to 2,298

Ten years ago there were fewer than one thousand publishers in the entire country, but in May of 1970 there were one thousand praisers of Jehovah in the capital alone. Some of the brothers who came here to work where the need is great have willingly moved to the hot coastal sections and to other isolated places and they have been blessed by finding many hearing ears. To some of these brothers, having electricity only a few hours a day and no potable water is not their accustomed way of life, but they balance these inconveniences with the appreciation that their newly found Bible students show for their weekly visits and they thank Jehovah for the invitation to “cast their nets” in other waters.

One Canadian brother tells of his experience in moving to a new home in Guatemala: “Jehovah has kindly placed us in a small town where living is really cheap. We eat well and are free to do good works. My health, poor for years, has markedly improved, perhaps due to pure air and freedom from care. The territory is fine; the small congregation is kind and loving; the countryside surpassingly beautiful, and there is plenty to do. Bless Jehovah, O my soul, for his kind direction, his love, for life so rich in blessings! Big problems to surmount? Mostly self-made fears, which required earnest prayer, even often each day. How were such average people able to move, and seemingly able to stay? Apparently only because it is Jehovah’s will that a great movement take place within the ranks of his people now. What can withstand his will? It cannot fail to sustain us all.”

Contrary to the pretenses of the principal religion of Christendom, the “sheep” have not been fed by them as Jesus instructed Peter at John 21:17. In one special pioneer assignment where the need is very great due to the ignorance of the people under the Catholic religion a Paradise book was traded for eight pounds of Guatemalan black beans. The special pioneer tells the result: “When I made the back-call I found a young boy reading the book, so I started a Bible study with him, but when I called the third time he said that he was Catholic and that he did not want to be under any obligation. I explained that he was not under any obligation and the study continued. When he learned that image worship does not please Jehovah nor is it correct to venerate images, he explained it to his father, who was the sexton of the Catholic church. The boy helped his father to burn their own images in November, and in March the father gave up his position at the church. In June the lad symbolized his dedication to Jehovah and began to conduct a Bible study with his family, who have been made happy and are now attending the meetings. He also held a study with another family, which resulted in some of them dedicating their life to Jehovah. The “seed” of God’s word exchanged for literal seed fell “upon the good soil” and brought forth manyfold.

A circuit servant reports: “In 1962, while visiting a congregation, I found a brother about thirteen years of age very zealous in the service, attending all meetings and participating in them. Nonetheless, two years later I had the unpleasant surprise to find out that he no longer participated in the ministry nor did he attend meetings, and during my visit he only listened from outside the Kingdom Hall. The cause? Perhaps because his father, formerly a zealous Witness, had taken a wrong course and was no longer walking in the truth. This contributed to his losing his zeal and spirituality, and to his seeking worldly companions as well as to making secular education the important thing in his life. However, there was another factor: His mother, a faithful Witness, never gave up in spite of difficulties, always praying to Jehovah that her son might return to the truth. Mature brothers visited the inactive youth to try to build him up and to help him to see his position in the eyes of Jehovah, which was not a favorable one. The help was so constant and fine that the brother was reactivated. By renewed study, regular attendance at the meetings and renewed activity in the service he was stimulated to enroll as a vacation pioneer, and later, arranging for part-time work, he was able to become a regular pioneer. My real surprise came when I was assigned to another circuit. I visited an isolated group in a remote section of Guatemala and found that this brother had been appointed a special pioneer one month before. When I expressed my joy at seeing him again serving Jehovah in this way, he replied: ‘I had to decide between receiving the satisfaction of the world, which could not offer more than momentary pleasure, and serving Jehovah, with the joy of praising his name now and the hope of life eternal in the new system of things.’ Then I thought of the text: ‘Remember, now, your grand Creator in the days of your young manhood, before the calamitous days proceed to come, or the years have arrived when you will say: “I have no delight in them.”’”—Eccl. 12:1.

During the year the publishers were happy to have an abundance of Truth books, magazines, Bibles and other needed literature, and they appreciate the hard work of the brothers at Brooklyn.

GUYANA Population: 710,000

Peak Publishers: 1,079 Ratio: 1 to 658

Jehovah blessed us in many ways here in Guyana as we shared in the disciple-making work during the past service year. Whereas we did not move ahead numerically, our appreciation of sacred things did deepen and our spirituality grew.

Having the opportunity to leave Guyana for the United States, Canada or Great Britain is a tempting offer to many here. One brother who received such an offer talked the matter over with some mature brothers, carefully studied the main articles in the March 15, 1969, Watchtower and other material and, in spite of pressure, decided not to accept the offer even though it would benefit him financially. He said: “I thank Jehovah for providing such material through his visible organization. It was a difficult decision to make, but I made it with Jehovah’s help. I now feel that one good way to strengthen my faith is by increased activity in Jehovah’s service. I want to be a regular pioneer.”

Knowing that by faithfully enduring sickness one can confirm one’s standing before God (2 Cor. 4:16, 17), a sister who has multiple sclerosis has reported a monthly average of 60 hours, 51 back-calls and 3 Bible studies for the year. This sister started serving as a missionary in 1957, meeting the various goals until crippled by the aforementioned sickness. She continues to serve Jehovah joyfully and even helped to make a disciple last year. She says: “It is impossible for a shut-in to get along without the loving care and cooperation of others. So with the help of my husband and many brothers I am able to average about 60 hours a month, place literature and magazines with students and neighbors, type some letters, make visits on the telephone and conduct Bible studies in our home.”

Recognizing the urgency of the times, a sister who is a widow, a mother of six children and a schoolteacher, after hearing a call for more regular pioneers at the “Peace on Earth” assembly, began making plans to enter the regular pioneer work. She began pioneering in January 1970 and has a monthly average of 103 hours, 52 back-calls, 6 Bible studies and 147 magazines. Also during the service year two of her children got baptized and another began publishing. She said: “It is not easy, as there are many other things that can be done with my time, but pleasing Jehovah is of primary importance and the benefits accrued now and in the future from serving him cannot be compared with benefits this world offers. Additionally, being in the work full time serves as a protection, since having plenty to do in the work of the Lord will fill in most of my time.”

We here in Guyana hope to move ahead with the rest of the brothers in the world as Jehovah blesses our work. We are also thankful for the help given us by other branches to support the special pioneer and missionary work here in Guyana.

HAITI Population: 4,000,000

Peak Publishers: 2,049 Ratio: 1 to 1,952

Conduct worthy of the good news can lead an indifferent person to consider the truth more attentively and accept it. A special pioneer relates to us: “In my ministry I had on my magazine route a man who worked as a secretary in the police headquarters. His young son was an avid reader of the magazines but without doing anything about what he read. However, one day he made the decision by himself to study and to come to the Kingdom Hall. Incidentally, he used to run away from every opportunity that was offered him to study the Bible. When he did make an about-face he resisted the materialistic advances of Christendom. What caused this turning around? Here is what the interested person said: ‘I had a good friend, with whom I shared in worldly activities, who agreed to a Bible study with Jehovah’s witnesses. At the beginning he tried unsuccessfully to interest me in the study, but something in him brought me to thinking. His behavior, his language, in a word from every angle there was a contrast between my friend of former times and the person whom I now saw, and this made a deep impression on me. So I accepted the truth. However, very subtly it was sought, in vain, to turn me away from the right path. An Adventist came to tell my father: “I see your son is studying the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses, and it’s a waste of time, for this organization has never offered any possibility for ensuring the material future of its faithful. It would be better for him to come to the Adventist seminary. There he will be able to learn bookkeeping and find a job.” This offer convinced me that these people did not have the truth. Several days later a Protestant introduced himself to me to tell me how much he appreciated my good knowledge of the Bible and that I would be able to profit from this to my own advantage. He promised to take me to a Protestant minister who would give me the necessary training so that I could also be a Protestant minister. “With the cooperation of the faithful you will be able to build a church, and by your way of doing things,” he added, “you will be able to have an increase of the faithful, who will bring you their gift offerings. Thus you will be able to build other churches and I will help you to sell them with a foreign correspondent, after which you will be able to move to a foreign country.” Far from considering such offers as an advantage, I saw a snare in them and I rejected them. Even more, I was enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, and that same week I gave a second student talk. On the following Sunday I went out in the field service with the brother who was instructing me. Now my friend and I are both active publishers, continuing to progress in spirituality.’”

HAWAII Population: 748,182

Peak Publishers: 3,340 Ratio: 1 to 224

A few months ago, an eleven-year-old sister placed magazines with a woman who was familiar with them and seemed interested. She shared this experience with her mother, who accompanied her on the back-call. A study was started in the Truth book and rapid progress resulted as the interested person read the Bible daily along with other publications of the Society, This lady shared some of her knowledge with her husband. He manifested interest in the Bible’s message, and a study was started with him. In one and a half months both husband and wife began attending meetings. After another one and a half months had elapsed, they both began the house-to-house ministry. They both talked to their relatives about the truth and started four Bible studies for the publishers and pioneers.

The interested woman’s father was not interested in the truth in the beginning. However, after having a terrifying experience with the demons and learning from his son-in-law that the demons were responsible for his bad experience, he was willing to begin studying the Truth book, beginning in chapter seven on the subject “Are There Wicked Spirits?” He studied on Wednesday evening, and the next night he came to his first meeting at the Kingdom Hall. After four studies, he began sharing in the ministry. Now his wife, two sons and daughter are studying. His son, after studying two months, began sharing in the ministry. During the year this man, his son, married daughter and her husband all symbolized their dedication by water baptism.

Many fine results were evidenced from the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly in Honolulu in November. This assembly aided a former opposer to search for and quickly find the truth, as this experience bears out. A middle-aged deacon in the Southern Baptist Church taught Sunday school in the Japanese language and was also able to speak well in English. His wife was studying the truth but he was sincerely opposed to the efforts of his niece and her husband to aid him to gain Bible knowledge. Despite this, he attended sessions at the international assembly in Honolulu, was favorably impressed and soon a study was started in the Truth book. After reading the second chapter of the Truth book, he commented on it, saying, “That chapter made me see clearly that the Baptists are teaching false doctrines.” He began attending meetings immediately. In less than a month he submitted a written resignation to the Baptist Church. When visited by the minister and another deacon, he displayed the Truth book and said: “I have learned the truth from this little book. I have been attending your church for many, many years and all I have been taught were false doctrines such as the Trinity! Here, take this book, read it, and you will find the truth too!” He then related the experience in the 1970 Yearbook of a whole Baptist congregation changing to Jehovah’s witnesses, and asked the minister how this could be so. The minister’s reply was: “Well, uh, some churches are stronger than others. If you think you have found the truth, Mr. ————, then that is good for you!”

After four months of study, he is regular in the ministry. At his first assembly he volunteered to work in the cafeteria department. His wife and daughter now both are attending meetings regularly with him, and his son, who attends the University of Hawaii, is also studying. Both the wife and daughter are now regular publishers.

GUAM Population: 98,580

Peak Publishers: 83 Ratio: 1 to 1,188

Placements of literature continue to be very good, as reflected in the experience of one car group of five publishers in the late-afternoon witnessing. They placed a total of 300 magazines in just two hours! Back-calls on these placements are yielding fruit in studies and increased meeting attendances. There is an average of thirty-one interested persons attending the Watchtower study weekly.

During the year, two fine circuit assemblies and one district assembly were enjoyed. Outstanding attendances were realized at these assemblies, especially at the district assembly, when 291 attended the Friday night drama. The missionaries from Palau, Yap and Saipan accompanied by those with whom Bible studies are conducted were strengthened also by the Guam district assembly program and fine association. A fine pioneer spirit exists among the brothers here, and we are happy to note that four publishers became regular pioneers during the year. Many publishers have enjoyed vacation pioneer service, and the prospects for more regular pioneers in the future look very good.

MARSHALL ISLANDS Population: 19,328

Peak Publishers: 55 Ratio: 1 to 351

A cause of joy during the year has been the fine increase in vacation pioneers, with a goodly number of these becoming regular pioneers. A fine missionary spirit exists among the brothers here, and a real willingness to move to outer islands to preach to their inhabitants. During the year one family left Majuro, moving to the outer atoll of Ailinglapalap, where the need is greater. This involved giving up their home and building a new one on a different atoll. They are having good results in the Bible study work and much interest is being kindled, as shown when seventy attended the public talk given by the circuit servant during the year. Much appreciation was shown for a clear explanation presented from the Bible and many asked for Bible studies. Another family plans to move to another outer atoll this year to serve where the need is great. The father of the family plans to become a regular pioneer.

On the island of Ebeye, in the Marshallese chain of islands, a family was contacted by a missionary and a Bible study was arranged. Progress was very slow, and oftentimes during the study the womenfolk were absent. It was learned that these two women were attending religious sessions involving demonistic practices and faith healing. They did not feel this to be wrong, since people of other churches were attending also. After getting the Bible’s viewpoint on such practices they ceased attending such sessions of demonistic origin, began attending congregation meetings regularly and are now making fine progress. These two women joined thirteen others from Ebeye on an expensive plane trip to attend the circuit assembly on Majuro. One of these women has requested that her name be removed from the membership of the Protestant church.

PALAU Population: 12,291

Peak Publishers: 15 Ratio: 1 to 819

A missionary contacted a devout Seventh-day Adventist deaconess and arranged a Bible study. During the study the woman carefully checked the Scriptures for proof, at first having a difficult time accepting the truth on many doctrines. When she found out the truth about the trinity doctrine, she was shocked to learn that her church taught this pagan doctrine. On learning that true Christians must use God’s name, she replied, “We [Adventists] don’t use the name Jehovah and I don’t know why.” When she asked her pastor about this, he replied that God’s name is too sacred to pronounce and that we are not worthy even to mention it. She quickly accepted the truth on Christmas and other worldly holidays that are of pagan origin. Regarding her church allowing such celebrations she said, “Our church says we are different from the world, but now I can see that we are not really different. She and her two daughters began attending meetings and have never ceased despite ridicule from her church friends. During the circuit servant’s visit, she brought six persons to the meetings and three of these are now studying. The pastor of her church made many calls on her, pleading with her to stop attending meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses, but to no avail. The pastor said: “Tell me the truth, are you studying with those people just to find out what they teach or do you believe them?” She said, “I tell you the truth, I do believe them because what they teach is reasonable and there is proof for their teachings in the Bible.” She has severed all connections with the church, begun field service and expressed her desire to be baptized as one of Jehovah’s witnesses.

A nurse, affiliated with the Catholic religion and who had been opposed to the truth, explained to a missionary that she was dissatisfied with the Catholic church, since the spiritual diet did not satisfy her. After her first study she began attending meetings. She also encountered much opposition. First, opposition came at her place of work, the hospital. Fellow employees tried to dissuade her from studying, but her firm reply was, “I love my God Jehovah, I love my Bible study and I love the meetings, so why should I stop?” Next, opposition came from her neighbors, as she always had many friends visiting her. Then family opposition from her mother was encountered when her mother told her she had better come back to the Catholic church because she was making a mistake. However, the biggest test of all came when her husband began to oppose. One evening while she was preparing to attend a meeting, the husband threatened to kill her. While he ran into the kitchen to get a knife, she fled to the meeting and stayed with relatives until the husband’s anger subsided. Then about two weeks later, he threatened to kill her again, and this time she did not have an opportunity to get away. She told him: “Before you kill me I would like to pray first. I want to ask Jehovah to help you.” This caused him to walk out of the house, and this time he was the one that spent the night in the relative’s home. What a joy to see him later attending a meeting: Now he sits in on the family Bible study and asks many questions. He agreed to let his wife attend the next circuit assembly. The final opposition to this lady came from the Catholic priest. After a three-hour discussion in-her home he saw that she was determined to serve Jehovah, and encouraged her to continue her study with Jehovah’s witnesses, but he told her to use the New World Translation rather than the King James, because it had too many errors. In six months’ time this lady was preaching from house to house, conducting two Bible studies and doing incidental witnessing to friends, neighbors and relatives, sometimes until 3 a.m. Her desire is to be baptized soon.

PONAPE Population: 20,093

Peak Publishers: 62 Ratio: 1 to 324

A newly baptized brother is caring well for the isolated group on this island. A local family comprised of three regular pioneers, a wife who often vacation pioneers and their children, moved from Ponape island to Kusaie, where the need is greater. During the spring visit of the circuit servant, attendance was in the fifties. The highlight of the circuit servant’s visit was the Memorial, with a remarkable attendance of 275! This was a ratio of one person in attendance for every fifteen persons on the entire island! Surely, much work lies ahead for these isolated brothers, and, doubtlessly, Jehovah’s blessings will continue with these “men goodwill.”

Two enjoyable circuit assemblies were held on Ponape island during the year, with new peak attendances at both. The receipt of the “Good News” booklet in Ponapean at the international assembly in Honolulu has been a fine aid in working the territory. As a result frequent coverage of territory, many persons who formerly refused to listen are now showing more interest and requesting return visits. A happy and zealous spirit exists among the brothers.

SAIPAN Population: 10,299

Peak Publishers: 15 Ratio: 1 to 687

A lady went to church and offered herself to God in something like a prayer of dedication—of course, one without accurate knowledge. She prayed that God would take her in death for his service. Then, realizing that this probably would not be the right way, as she was a mother with children, she prayed that she would be shown the way to serve God. She prayed again. While praying, a light appeared above the image that was in a niche in the wall and there was a voice that said, “Sacrifice, love one another, love your neighbor.” After this, however, she still was not satisfied with her religion. She attended religious services of many different faiths. She listened to all religious programs available on the radio, She obtained a Bible, studied it, attended religious study classes but still did not feel as though she had found the way. Then she set out to find the missionary sister that had contacted her long previously. A study was arranged, and she began making spiritual progress. When asked if calls could be made on the husband in the evenings, she explained that he had studied to be a Catholic priest and that it would be best for her to explain things to him for a while in order to break down his prejudice first. She accomplished this job well, and in a few weeks the whole family was studying. After six weeks of study, the family attended the circuit assembly in Guam. She and her husband are now both baptized. Her proper dedication and the symbolizing of it by water immersion was not accompanied with lights and miraculous voices, but with the “peace of God that excels all thought . . . by means of Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 4:7.

TRUK Population: 27,453

Peak Publishers: 11 Ratio: 1 to 2,496

A zealous pioneer from Ponape that speaks Trukese was assigned to Truk (island of Moen) this year as a special pioneer. Formerly this brother had attended a Protestant missionary school in Truk. When he started in his new assignment he began to see many of his former friends and had opportunity to witness to them. One of his former friends was a restaurant owner. A Bible study was started with him and conducted during business hours. When customers came into the restaurant during his Bible study, the restaurant owner would explain to them each point he had learned from the Bible. When he visits his home island he shares his newly learned Bible knowledge with others. He is studying regularly and has begun attending meetings.

On the island of Tol, eighteen miles from the island Moen where the missionary home is located, a lone interested man is preaching what he knows about the truth to others. When he visits the island of Moen he always visits the missionaries and asks many Bible questions. Weekly one of the missionaries writes him a letter, giving him a sermon from the Truth book to use the following week. His father, a high-ranking personage in the Protestant church, recently told his son that he knew his son had the truth, but to tone down the message since he was afraid it would cause people to stop coming to his church. This interested person continues to preach to people, thus sounding the warning of the urgency of the times and the need to flee from Babylon the Great.

YAP Population: 7,017

Peak Publishers: 8 Ratio: 1 to 877

A young married man, that is an X-ray technician in the hospital, began studying with one of the missionaries during the year. As he began taking his stand for the truth he met with much opposition and ridicule at work from his fellow employees, and stiff family opposition. Both he and his wife continued to study and, with Jehovah’s help, withstood such pressure. Finally, family opposition reached such proportions that he, his wife and children had to move from a nice home into an inconvenient one without electricity or needed conveniences. During the circuit servant’s visit this man was baptized and his wife shared for the first time in field service. She later attended the district assembly in Guam and there symbolized her dedication to do Jehovah’s will. Opposition and intimidation continue. After her baptism the landlord told them on Friday night that they would have to move out of their house on Saturday. The wife said to the husband early Saturday morning, “Maybe we should stay home from service and try to find some place to stay.” His reply was, “No, we made arrangements to go out this morning. We’ll worry about our house in the afternoon.” When they returned from service, the landlord informed them that they could continue to live in the house.

HONDURAS Population: 2,582,000

Peak Publishers: 1,341 Ratio: 1 to 1,925

A woman who is the director of a Catholic school and the wife of a bank president noticed that one of the students in the school had the Truth book. She took the book away from the student, saying: “You do not know how to read. Let me read it.” After reading the book she wrote to the Society requesting a copy of the New World Translation as advertised on the last page of the book. Shortly thereafter a local pioneer endeavored to start a Bible study with this person, but she always stated that she was too busy. To the surprise of the pioneer, some five months later this same person asked, “When can we start the study?” The study was started immediately, and from the start excellent progress was made. Soon this woman was attending and participating in the congregation meetings and enthusiastically witnessing to her friends about the things that she was learning. Due to her efforts three of her friends began to study, including two more teachers in the same Catholic school. Now this newly interested person wants to be baptized at our next district assembly. She is presently arranging to free herself from her position in the Catholic school so that she can become a true disciple of Christ.

Another woman operated a tavern and had a bad reputation. She was accustomed to wearing a pistol, which caused many to fear her. She also adorned her house with many images and was learning witchcraft. Nevertheless, deep inside, the woman was unhappy and in search of something better in life. When offered the opportunity to study the Bible with the help of the Truth book, she readily accepted and, with the progress of the study, began to put on a new personality. She destroyed her images and started to attend the meetings. However, so-called friends discouraged her by misrepresenting the Witnesses and giving them a bad name. But the sister patiently worked to build faith in the woman’s heart. The woman regained confidence in the sincerity and truthfulness of the Witnesses and now made genuine progress. Within a short period of time she was going from door to door with a Bible in hand instead of a pistol. Presently she is conducting seven of her own Bible studies and plans to be baptized at the next assembly. Meanwhile, one of her Bible students is also conducting two Bible studies, and one of these persons is already attending the meetings at the Kingdom Hall.

What would you do if you found that a person with whom you studied did not even grasp the simple explanation of the truth as explained in the Truth book and evidently would not complete the study of this book in a short period of time? Would you find it hard to continue and perhaps abandon the study? One special pioneer noted that persons who have little or no education often do not comprehend at first even the simple explanation given in the Truth book, but he also noted that some of these people show a genuine thirst for righteousness. When he has encountered this problem he has tried to conduct the first few studies by way of simple conversations, explaining various common Bible accounts and using some of the points and pictures in the Paradise book as a basis for discussion. If the person does not know how to read or write, he also conducts a weekly class with the person using the booklet Learning to Read and Write in Spanish. Now that the new one’s mind is more adjusted to the idea of Bible study, the study is transferred to the Truth book and is conducted on the basis of the six-month program. What has been the result of this method of teaching? A number of such persons are now becoming disciples. One such person who did not know how to read had previously studied with another Witness for two years and had not made any progress. The special pioneer used the above method of study to help the woman to get oriented to Bible study and immediately began to teach her how to read. Her husband told the special pioneer that he would never be able to teach his wife anything. However, in just six months’ time this woman learned to read and, more importantly, learned the truth that leads to eternal life. She, too, plans to be baptized at the very next assembly.

HONG KONG Population: 4,000,000

Peak Publishers: 235 Ratio: 1 to 17,021

The 1970 service year brought many joys and blessings for us all in Hong Kong. Outstanding was the “Peace on Earth” assembly held in October 1969. Your visit, Brothers Knorr and Franz, together with delegates from fifteen different countries will long be remembered. All left the assembly spiritually refreshed and determined to have a full share in the great work yet to be done. This fine spirit among the brothers and the Truth book in the Chinese language have contributed greatly to the excellent witness given during the year. We would like to share with you some of the experiences from our brothers in Hong Kong and Macao.

One special pioneer has persevered in difficult territory for five years, placing much literature, making back-calls and conducting Bible studies, but with little fruitage. One day she placed two magazines with a man who showed mild interest. Unable to call back immediately herself due to having so many calls, she asked her husband to make the call. The husband made the return visit, placed a Truth book with the man and arranged for a Bible study. After the second study this man began attending the Tuesday-evening book study. After the third study he began attending the Sunday meetings and shortly became a regular attender of all the congregation meetings. In just eight months’ time he has made fine progress and is now sharing in the house-to-house ministry. How important to see that all interest is followed up, even though you yourself may have more calls than you can handle.

Being alert to follow suggestions that come through Jehovah’s organization brings rich blessings. One publisher noted the article in the Kingdom Ministry on “Referrals.” Though her time was well taken up with house-to-house work and two Bible studies, she talked to her friends at work about our six-month Bible study arrangement. She was able to arrange with three of her workmates to study the Truth book with other publishers, and all have made rapid progress. Within a year all have become zealous ministers of the good news. Two of them have been baptized and the other looks forward to taking this step at the coming circuit assembly.

MACAO Population: 375,000

Peak Publishers: 7 Ratio: 1 to 53,571

Macao is a Portuguese colony and it is claimed that the majority of people are Catholics. However, the fact is that the majority are atheists. Despite this strong godless element, there are some who are hungering for the truth and who are willing to stand firm. One young woman began learning the truth and had to make a determined stand in the face of family opposition. She was given much work such as housecleaning and cooking for the large family, but, in spite of this, she never missed her Christian meetings or neglected her personal Bible study. As a result she grew in faith and appreciation, and this year she attended the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly in Hong Kong, where she was baptized. Since returning to Macao she has spent a joyful month in the vacation pioneer service.

ICELAND Population: 203,442

Peak Publishers: 132 Ratio: 1 to 1,541

The Truth book has played an important part in the preaching work, and the brothers have been very enthusiastic about distributing it. An eleven-year-old boy took the book with him to school to show it to his classmates, and it resulted in his getting orders for twenty books from his schoolfellows.

A newly interested man who had obtained a copy of the Truth book brought it with him when he had to go to the hospital for some time. Besides that he also read other literature from the Society during his stay at the hospital. The day after he came home from the hospital there were elections and many of his friends were trying to get him to vote, but he refused to do so and told the special pioneer who had contacted him that he would not take any part in politics anymore. He also declared that he wanted to get out of the church as fast as possible. So reading the Truth book in the hospital was of great benefit to him. Since then there has been a regular Bible study with this man and his wife.

This interested man has four grown-up children, and he has used every opportunity to talk to them about his new religion. From the beginning one son showed some interest, and the man asked the special pioneer to call on him. A study was started with this son and his wife and they started to come to the meetings right away, and, having come regularly since, they take part in answering at the book study and the Watchtower study.

An elder son was very opposed to the truth when the father started witnessing to him. When this son later visited his younger brother at his home and found out that he had also begun to study the Bible with the Witnesses, he started to make fun of him, but his brother showed him several things in the Truth book that changed his mind about Jehovah’s witnesses, and the same evening he came with his brother to a public meeting at the Kingdom Hall. On that occasion he got both a Truth book and a Paradise book, and the next morning he went to a bookstore to buy a Bible. He was now very interested to find out if Jehovah’s witnesses were teaching according to the Bible. He was soon convinced that he had found the truth, and when the special pioneer called on him, both he and his wife were happy to have a Bible study. Also this young couple are making fine progress and have begun to attend the meetings in the Kingdom Hall.

The father also started witnessing to an eighteen-year-old daughter, who was living at home. She was very opposed and told her father that she would leave home if he did not stop talking about these Jehovah’s witnesses. When she found out that both her brothers and their wives were studying. and attending meetings, she said that the whole family was going mad. One night she found it hard to fall asleep and wanted to read something, but the only thing she was able to find was that little blue book from the Witnesses. Well, it was better than nothing, so she started reading the Truth book. And what happened? She too was soon convinced that this is the truth. A study was started with her, and now she is doing very well and attends every meeting.

More members of the family have also begun to study because this man, who first showed an interest in the truth, put his light on a lampstand. Now the special pioneer and his wife conduct five studies with nine interested persons in that same family. How encouraging it is to see this big family sitting together at the meetings in the Kingdom Hall.

INDIA Population: 550,000,000

Peak Publishers: 3,347 Ratio: 1 to 164,326

India’s teeming millions do not live in big cities. There are seven cities with over one million people, but many more millions live in hamlets, villages and small towns scattered over vast areas, and this is the real India. It is not surprising, then, that we have only 64 congregations but 105 isolated groups reporting service. There are two whole states with no publishers whatsoever, and six with only isolated groups reporting. Expansion is taking place mostly in the rural areas. Very fine progress has been made during the year in the very primitive Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while on the mainland quite a few publishers who are farmers have migrated to new territories, resulting in the formation of several new isolated groups.

One such group did some witnessing still farther out from their settlement. As a result one person attended a circuit assembly forty miles away. He was so impressed that he returned home and began in real earnest to talk about the truths he was learning. Now there is a new group of about forty persons in that area studying the Truth book in the Malayalam language. The local priest got to hear of it and denounced Jehovah’s witnesses before his congregation as drunkards and rowdies. A woman immediately got up and shouted: “That is false. My son was a drunkard when he attended your church, but now that he is studying with Jehovah’s witnesses you see him carrying a Bible in his hand instead of a bottle.”

The Truth book has certainly done much to help people of all sorts to flee from Babylon the Great. We now have the book in three Indian languages and three more are being printed. A Catholic took the book, read it through before the publisher returned one week later, and remarked: “That book is necessary for all Christians.” A study was started immediately. They came to the subject of worshiping God with spirit and with truth. The following week the publisher found all the religious pictures removed from the walls and in their place a simple Scripture text: “As for me and my household, we shall serve Jehovah.”

The churches of Christendom in India are still well attended, even to overflowing. But increasingly large numbers of churchgoers are beginning to see that there is something wrong with their church organizations. Especially is this so in the case of Roman Catholics because of the many changes that are now taking place in their ceremonies. It is officially announced as an “Indianizing” of the church, but some call it “Hinduizing.”

NEPAL Population: 10,000,000

Peak Publishers: 4 Ratio: 1 to 2,500,000

Nepal is an independent, sovereign state on the northern border of India, famous for its Mount Everest. During the year a family of four moved from India to Katmandu, the capital, and are doing good work there as they have opportunity. It is a Buddhist state with a large admixture of Hinduism. Christian proselytizing is forbidden. However, several subscriptions for The Watchtower and Awake! have been taken, and a limited amount of witnessing is being done, chiefly among the Indian and other communities working there. It is a state slowly emerging from the very primitive past.

INDONESIA Population: 119,000,000

Peak Publishers: 2,563 Ratio: 1 to 46,430

Jehovah’s witnesses in Indonesia responded enthusiastically to the invitation, “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” Jehovah blessed their zealous efforts as many disciples were made, resulting in more than four hundred being baptized. The increase came from people of many tribes and racial origins. To date, persons from at least twenty-two tribes are already among those mentioned in Revelation 7:9, and the discipling work is prospering. They came from all walks of life and from those adhering formerly to the Protestant, Roman Catholic and other “Christian sects,” from the Buddhist and Islam religions and from those who practice animism and from professed atheists. In a land so rooted in mystic, tribal and family traditions and superstitions, it has required good discipling because conditions developed as foretold by Jesus in Luke 21:16, 17, namely, that those discipled would be delivered up by relatives and former friends, becoming the objects of hatred by all people because of his name.

How would you stand up under severe whippings and beatings every time you returned from attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall or book study? This was the experience of a young Chinese girl being discipled by a special pioneer. The information brought out on the soul, trinity and earthly hopes from the Truth book, convinced her that her church was not teaching the truth. The father, a rabid Buddhist, threatened to shear off her long hair if she continued, repeatedly beating her severely. The girl continued her studies at the home of an aunt, has withdrawn from the church and plans on being baptized at the next circuit assembly.

“My life was filled with fear and mystery for three years. I was also a member of a banned political party,” relates a Chinese high-school girl. Although accepting the Paradise book from a Witness, she intended to hide herself because of fear and uncertainty, if the brother returned as promised. He appeared unexpectedly. His friendliness and invitation led to a regular home Bible study. She soon experienced threats and provocation from her schoolmates, teacher and her Buddhist family, who fanatically clung to spiritism and tradition. Persuasion and threats failing, the family refused to speak to her, giving her only disdainful looks. Relates the girl: “I knew this involved my future life and I continued the Bible study even though my family charged that this would prevent me from going on to the Teachers’ College. I remembered Jesus’ words that those who followed him as true ministers would suffer opposition and persecution. Finally, I decided to dedicate my life to Jehovah and be baptized, to become a true minister of God. Now I am filled with joy, serving as a vacation pioneer. The feeling of fear is no longer present, because I know Jehovah is always there to help me.”

A study in the Truth book not only helped a schoolgirl to understand the truth but prepared her to teach classmates. At the Islamic school she attends, religious lessons are given. To the displeasure of her classmates, she refused to attend the lessons, saying that she now had another religion since studying with Jehovah’s witnesses. When small parties were conducted in the school she contributed by singing Kingdom songs, which resulted in interest on the part of some of her classmates. A study was started with five of them, using the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom.” The schoolmaster permitted her to use a vacant classroom while the lessons in the Islamic religion were conducted. Soon two of the classmates began attending meetings. A change of teachers brought a change of attitude. “I don’t want you to make Christians in my school,” said the headmaster. The girl tactfully explained that she did not believe in the doctrines of the “Christian sects,” and only wanted to continue giving lessons to her five pupils. Reluctantly the teacher consented. Later he apologized for his attitude and said she was free to teach. The girl looks forward to being baptized at the next circuit assembly.

“Read the Al-Koran every day” read the writing in Arabic on the walls of the home of an Islamic family. A back-call here on a magazine placement resulted in a home Bible study, using the Paradise book. Now there are writings on the walls that read, “Read the Holy Bible every day,” “‘You are my witnesses,’ says Jehovah,” etc. After three months of study the man offered his home for the congregation book study. Being a musician, he taught his seven children to sing Kingdom songs, and the whole family are now making fine progress.

The discipling work has brought the ire of the Protestant leaders. They circulate pamphlets containing derogatory information about Jehovah’s witnesses and endeavor to use civil and military authorities to stop the work of Jehovah’s witnesses. A brother working from house to house witnessed to a Moslem head of the military court in A————. After hearing the witness, this man informed the brother that the leaders of the local Protestant organization had approached him to have the work of Jehovah’s witnesses stopped. He had asked them, “Do they have a different God from the Protestants?” “Yes,” they answered, “Jehovah’s witnesses have only one God, whereas we have a three-in-one God.” The man answered, “I have never read in your Christian Bible of such a God. Now if you want Jehovah’s witnesses stopped because of believing in only one God, then you had better have the Moslem religion stopped also because we also believe in one Almighty God.” He pointed out to them that this land is not a Christian or Protestant state but that under the state laws each one is permitted to profess the religion of his choice. The man further expressed his appreciation for the teaching done by Jehovah’s witnesses and suggested that they go to the schoolteachers to help them teach the children, as the children no longer had respect for the teachers or for the parents.

IRELAND Population: 4,405,000

Peak Publishers: 987 Ratio: 1 to 4,463

This year has been one of unprecedented progress. September saw a new peak of 880 publishers, an increase of 7 percent over the previous year’s average, and this was followed by eight successive peaks, building up to 987 publishers, an increase of 19 percent.

Two special pioneers who recently moved out to a town that had never been assigned before had a fine experience that illustrates the benefits of leaving a Bible study folder where people are not at home. After completing one side of a street in the house-to-house ministry they were approached by a young man who had found a folder behind his door. He immediately propounded a series of questions and, much to the surprise of the brothers, readily agreed with the answers they gave. He went on to explain that he had lost faith in the Catholic church and that for seven years he had read his copy of the Douay New Testament over and over again. As a result he had come to recognise the falsity of doctrines such as the trinity, immortality of the soul, the use of images and other related teachings. In consequence he had been searching for the truth, but feeling that he was the only one who believed the way he did. He eagerly took the Truth book. Three days later he searched out the two brothers and found them talking to the local priest. The priest was just telling them that they were wasting their time, as none of his parishioners would listen to them, when the young man walked right up and greeted the two special pioneers by saying, “Hello, my brothers!” He was bubbling over with excitement. Having read the Truth book twice, he was convinced it taught the truth, and asked if he could join the brothers in their ministry. The next day he accompanied them as an observer and expressed deep joy and appreciation. In his keenness he urged the brothers to conduct Bible studies with him three and four times a week. Studies in the Truth book were therefore completed in five weeks. From the outset he severed all connections with the church and a local political party and began travelling seven miles each way to attend meetings. Within the first month after being contacted he had read most of the Society’s recent books and had begun giving student talks in the Ministry School. Despite much opposition from relatives and other townspeople, he soon began to share in the ministry and, seven weeks from the initial contact, he attended the district assembly and was baptized. You can imagine how his devotion and zeal have been a source of much encouragement to the special pioneers in their isolated assignment.

The power of the Truth book to deepen appreciation of Jehovah and his Word is highlighted in the following experience, which also shows the effectiveness of giving one of the Society’s books as a present. One interested person, after having a Bible study for more than a year, felt no desire to respond to the things she had learned. Then the study was started again, using the Truth book. Within a few weeks she began to attend meetings and share in the ministry. Her comment was: “That book kept putting me on the spot, and it really deepened my appreciation of the Bible.” Despite financial difficulties, she attended last year’s international assembly in London along with her two children. At the assembly she obtained a copy of the book Is the Bible Really the Word of God? as a present for her husband, it being their wedding anniversary. Her husband had not shown any interest in the Bible and was not favorably disposed toward Jehovah’s witnesses. Seeing her enthusiasm, however, and much to her surprise, he read the book through in one evening. This so established his faith in the Bible as the word of God that he attended the next congregation meeting and requested one of the brothers to study the Truth book with him. The study quickly deepened his appreciation and within three months he was going out in the field service. Both he and his wife are now baptised and conducting a study in the Truth book with another young couple.

ISRAEL Population: 3,923,600

Peak Publishers: 167 Ratio: 1 to 23,495

The receipt of new publications in some of the many languages encountered both in the territory and among the members of the congregations equipped the publishers to accomplish more effective service. Outstandingly, our first bound book in Hebrew, “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie,” as well as the Truth book in Arabic, have proved valuable aids. New peaks were attained in literature distribution as well as in other features of the ministry.

Constant reports of border clashes, along with uncertainty as to the outcome of the situation, distract people’s minds from spiritual matters and foster strong feelings of nationalism and, among the young, a philosophy of ‘live for today.’ However, some do see the need to turn to the Bible as a source of information regarding the future, rather than viewing it as just a book that relates the history of their nation and land. The local publishers go calmly on with their work, sharing busily in all features of the ministry, and some people have responded to the “good news.”

Most of our witnessing is to Jewish families. This requires a different approach to people, but basically the same kind of experiences are encountered. Here, too, the ministry receives heavenly support, as the angels direct the proclaiming of the “everlasting good news.”

There is the case of a man who was formerly a devout believer but who found that his faith in God was slipping away. He prayed to God that someone would show him the way to build true faith, and he looked around for someone who could help him to understand the Bible. In casual conversation with a neighbor from the same housing project, a teacher, he asked: “You’re a teacher. Do you know anyone who could teach me the Bible?” This schoolteacher is a brother in the local congregation. His response was: “Certainly I do, but I don’t think that it would be quite what you had in mind.” He explained our method of study, and a regular home Bible study was started. Instead of the course of orthodox Jewish instruction that he originally sought, this man has now come to see that Jesus is the Messiah, and he has set aside a number of false traditional ideas. He views this course of true Biblical studies as the answer to his prayer for help.

As in other lands, here, too, the message of truth acts like a “sword” in dividing family members, but firmness by the new believer brings a blessing. Calling back at an apartment where the occupants previously had been not at home, a young pioneer sister met a housewife who showed interest. A study was started and held regularly despite protests and opposition from her husband right from the start. Her attendance at her first meeting was under the threat that it would mean the end of their marriage. His opposition was so strong that she was forced to leave home for a short time. All this time the husband had not met the publishers, but the congregation servant and his wife sought him out to try to effect a reconciliation. Their approach was friendly and reasonable, and misunderstandings were soon cleared up. The husband also began to study! Then he had to contend with opposition from his relatives, but he has progressed well. Now the couple stand firm as a united family. The wife was baptized recently, he has taken a determined stand for Christian neutrality, and both are regular in service and at the meetings.

There is a lesson to be learned from the life story of one young man in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 and who has made fine progress in the truth in the last few months. His father was in the truth for many years, but rather isolated for much of the time. He failed to raise his family “in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.” One of his sons became an ardent Communist and confirmed atheist. Because of Communist party activity he was exiled to a desert prison camp for seven years. Over the years he had occasionally read some of the Society’s literature and had heard his father witnessing about a new system of things. In due time he became disillusioned with Communism’s promise of “paradise,” and disgusted with the political and commercial elements of this world. Following his father’s death, he and his wife and children moved from the family home to a town where a congregation is located, taking with him his father’s library of the Society’s literature. Here the Witnesses soon visited him, started discussions and then a regular study, which aided him to build faith in God, the Bible and the Kingdom message. He made fast progress, was baptized at his first assembly and is already serving as a vacation pioneer. During his first month in this service he contacted a very interested family and is now conducting a Bible study himself. He is certainly a fine inspiration to the brothers in the little congregation, as all the family attend meetings and manifest enthusiasm for everything. His father would have been especially happy to see such a change of outlook! And here is the lesson to be learned: It is not sufficient just to have the literature in one’s home and to talk with the children from time to time, but a regular home Bible study with the whole family is vital to train young ones in the way of the truth and to safeguard them from the deceptions of worldly propaganda and the dangers of unwholesome associations. Our new brother is convinced that it would have helped him!

A happy and united spirit prevails among the brothers in their congregations, untainted as they are by any interracial bad feelings and distrust that the local political situation engenders. The truth certainly brings freedom!

ITALY Population: 54,033,652

Peak Publishers: 18,636 Ratio: 1 to 2,899

This has been a special year of activity for Jehovah’s witnesses in Italy. For the first time there have been more than 3,000 new publishers in one year. Besides the work in Italy, the branch office in Rome has directed the activities of Jehovah’s witnesses also in Libya, San Marino and Somalia, and the following are the reports from these countries.

The international convention held in Rome in 1969 brought plenty of fruit. A man casually entered the Sports Palace, where the convention was being held, and listened to a talk. As he enjoyed it, he remained for the entire session. From what he heard for the first time at this convention he realized that he had found the truth. He then came to the branch office, asking how he might get to know the Witnesses better. It was arranged for someone to visit him. He accepted literature, and a Bible study was started. After some visits, he started talking to friends and relatives about the truth. Shortly, he was attending meetings and making comments. His wife was opposed to the truth and was not favorable to the Bible study. But he, without arguing, made her participate in the study and led her to the meetings. Now they both are enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, attend all the meetings and go out regularly in the door-to-door service.

The truth, when it enters the heart of a person, even if he is very sick, urges such one to share the good news with others. A young man was struck in his early years with a severe form of paralysis. He could not move a single limb nor could he speak, and he could express himself only by moving his tongue. By the age of thirty this young man had got to the point of hating everything. A priest of Christendom, with whom his family was very much tied in, could never give him even the slightest hope. One day a witness of Jehovah came to see him. From the very first visits his relatives noticed the change that was taking place in him. He showed joy over the truth that he learned and the marvelous hope that Jehovah offers. He wanted to share the good news with others, but how could he do it, since he was not able to move even his head of his own will? The only thing he would do was to move his tongue. The person that spoke with him repeated all the letters of the alphabet till the man did not move his tongue, thus showing that was the correct letter. This letter then was written down, and the speaker started all over again with all the letters of the alphabet till the man did not move his tongue out again, thus indicating another letter. Of course, to make up a single word required quite some time, but, with tremendous effort, the young man dictated in this manner, letter after letter, sermons and letters addressed to neighbors, friends and relatives, and was thus able to become a publisher of the good news! A few months after his baptism this young man, struck with influenza, died; but he died with the marvelous hope of the new order where he will be able to express himself audibly.

Children that are well trained by their parents in the Word of God can give a good witness about the truth. A boy, duly trained by one of his parents, understood, from the second elementary class on, about the need to stay aloof from everything connected with Babylon the Great. His father exempted him from the hour of religion. When the schoolteacher thought that there was nothing wrong in his taking part in the school prayers, the boy said that as one of Jehovah’s witnesses he could not compromise under any circumstance. At school the boy had exemplary conduct, and this was noted by the teacher, who, as she was giving prizes one day for those who had behaved best, gave a prize also to this young witness of Jehovah, bestowing on him a badge with a cross on it. The boy thanked her politely but said he could not accept it, as the cross is a pagan symbol. At this point the schoolteacher said that this was impossible, whereupon the boy said that if the schoolteacher wished he would have his mother explain what the Bible teaches about the cross and other subjects. As a result of the visit that ensued, a study was started with the schoolteacher, and now the schoolteacher is a dedicated and baptized witness of Jehovah together with her eldest son, who is also a Ministry School servant in the congregation, while the younger son is a regular publisher of the good news.

LIBYA Population: 1,803,000

Peak Publishers: 41 Ratio: 1 to 43,976

The beginning of last service year coincided in this country with the overturning of the monarchist rule by a council of young military nationalists. Under the former government the theocratic work was already banned, and the change in government has not changed things for us. For years, however, the brothers have operated under hard conditions, and so, trusting in Jehovah and in his organization, they continue to carry out the work as best they can.

Sometimes children manage to give a witness where the efforts of adults have proved vain. The neighbor of a family of Witnesses that had to leave the country went to greet them for the last time. The four-year-old son of the brothers said sadly: “You know, I love you, but why don’t you study the Bible?” The neighbor had never wanted to listen to the good news, though she had lived nearby for the past seventeen years. Now, thoroughly moved, she said to the child: “You are right; I too want to read the Bible!” The brothers gave her a gift copy, inviting her to study it. When she went out of their house, the neighbor met a friend who was living in the same building and who asked her what the book was that she was holding. Upon hearing that it was a Bible, she said: “How come you are reading the Bible?” After she explained how she got it, the neighbor returned with her friend to the house of the brothers to get another copy, and the brothers gave her another copy immediately.

SAN MARINO Population: 18,000

Peak Publishers: 21 Ratio: 1 to 857

During the year a good witness was given quite freely in the Republic of San Marino. The arrangement of splitting up the territory and of working the areas separately so as not to cause difficulties was put into practice.

Though it is forbidden to Italians to preach in this territory, the local witnesses of San Marino are free to carry on the ministry and cannot be chased out of the Republic.

The following experience shows how Jehovah oversees the work so that those that want to can come to a knowledge of the truth. In the work from house to house a lady was found who, after the introductory remarks, asked the Witness whether she was one of Jehovah’s witnesses, and then invited her into the house. She said her husband had studied in Belgium with the Witnesses. She listened with much interest and then said: “I am looking for the truth. I know that the religion of my parents won’t do for me, but I don’t know where to find the truth. Last night I wrote to a Bible society asking for a Bible study. Today God has sent you to me.” A Bible study was immediately arranged, and the next day the publisher returned to speak also with the husband. He said that he had lost sight of Jehovah’s witnesses and that he was now interested in politics, but that he did not know whether he was following the right road or the wrong one. The study was taken up with him too and is continuing with excellent progress. The husband understands what the correct attitude is toward the world, and both husband and wife already attend the meetings, bringing also his sister and brother-in-law.

The faithful and chaste conduct of wives can gain husbands to the truth, as occurred in the following case. A husband considered Jehovah’s witnesses queer people and opposed his wife in every way so as to get her to discontinue associating with Jehovah’s witnesses. But she continued and the husband began gradually to note her conduct, and this made him think that his wife’s religion had something good. He asked for a Bible study and quickly understood the need to share with others the things he learned. But a difficulty arose; his work linked him to the government for three years as band musician, with the obligation of taking up arms in the event of an invasion. As his agreement expired after some months, he decided not to renew it so as to serve Jehovah fully.

SOMALIA Population: 2,745,000

Peak Publishers: 1 Ratio: 1 to 2,745,000

The light of the truth continues to shine forth in Somalia. The sister who for some years has been the only publisher in this territory that is predominantly Mohammedan continues with zeal and determination to devote herself to the publishing of the good news of the Kingdom. A certain number of persons listen to the truth. The local situation is not very sound for Westerners, and many people that had shown interest have returned to their respective countries. The sister also took the opportunity to witness to the students of the Italian school during the hour of religion, even though, for obvious reasons, the friar that had invited her did not repeat his invitation. The good news continues to be preached also in this territory where the need for other publishers is really great.

JAMAICA Population: 1,954,000

Peak Publishers: 5,556 Ratio: 1 to 352

The apostle Paul witnessed to a jailer and got satisfying results. (Acts 16:16-34) We have cases today of jailers witnessing to their prisoners with the same results. There is such an instance in Jamaica. A young man got mixed up in bad company, leading to stealing. He was among those caught and sentenced to prison for three years. A prison warder, one of Jehovah’s ministers, witnessed to the prisoner, eventually placing a “Look!” booklet with him. This changed his outlook on life. When released from prison, he was contacted by a sister who was engaging in the magazine service. The man asked her to come to assist him to understand the Bible. Arrangements were made for the overseer of the congregation to conduct a home Bible study, which began in May of last year, and in November this man symbolized his dedication, gaining real freedom from captivity to false religion.

A thirteen-year-old publisher used to ask himself: “Can I, in my young years, conduct a study?” He found the answer when working with the circuit servant. The two of them started a home Bible study that the young publisher continues to conduct, together with two additional ones that he started by himself since then.

Making melody to our God Jehovah cannot be done by using the religious songs of Christendom in the schools. A young publisher was questioned by the headmistress as to the songs that Jehovah’s people sing in their worship. The student took one of our songbooks, “Singing and Accompanying Yourselves with Music in Your Hearts,” as a gift for the teacher, making reference to 1 Corinthians 8:5; Exodus 6:3 and Psalm 83:18, which she had written above the title of Song 112. The headmistress asked her secretary if she recognized any of the songs, and, of course, she did not. The student was asked to sing one of the tunes and she chose Song 112: “To Whom Do We Belong?” The listeners were delighted to hear the words and melody and thanked the student for the gift. Later the secretary was heard humming the tune as she went about her work.

The name Jehovah’s witnesses is not popular with many persons, and in many cases this is because of not knowing who the true God is. One young lady found out that Jehovah is God’s name and reasoned that if that is his name then Jehovah’s witnesses must be his people. Here’s how it happened: One Sunday morning her mother was approached by the Witnesses in their regular door-to-door ministry. After the discussion the mother approached the daughter with the fact that she had learned that Jehovah is God’s name. This was interesting to both of them. The daughter took up the books that were placed with her mother and read them with pleasure, and when the Witnesses made their return call, both mother and daughter were prepared for a study of the Bible. This was in March. The daughter revealed that she figured it was about time she started learning what the Bible teaches so she could begin serving God. She really meant it, because she began attending meetings that evening and arranged for regular attendance at all other meetings. During the special meetings in April she heard that new ones were encouraged to engage in the field ministry and she volunteered to begin. She did not hesitate, because already she knew that the door-to-door work was important, as she would not be in the truth today if Jehovah’s witnesses had not come to her home. And she feels that there are others that must be found, persons who do not know Jehovah, as was her case. She was baptized in August.

One overseer started a home Bible study with a person who, in turn, invited others to attend. The studies eventually had an average attendance of eighteen persons. Within nine months, eight of the group symbolized their dedication to serve Jehovah.

CAYMAN ISLANDS Population: 9,754

Peak Publishers: 14 Ratio: 1 to 697

The brothers on the Cayman Islands enjoyed their very first circuit assembly during the month of May this year. Since the congregation is made up of fourteen publishers, it was necessary to import the program and participants from Jamaica. A plane was chartered and ninety-four brothers indicated their desire to attend and participate in this assembly as well as to have a part in the field ministry. The excitement that was stirred up could be compared to that aroused for attending a big convention. When a native of the Cayman Islands saw the brothers busy tacking up placards advertising the public meeting he immediately offered his services, showing the brothers the best places for the signs, and he did the hanging himself. Everyone was impressed to see so many persons leaving their homes to come to these islands for a religious convention. It was a common experience for the brothers, when walking to and from the assembly site, to be offered a ride in a taxi and, when their destination was reached, to have the taxi driver refuse the fare, stating he was glad to be of service.

JAPAN Population: 103,100,990

Peak Publishers: 9,478 Ratio: 1 to 10,878

Early in the service year we enjoyed the grand blessing of the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly, held in Tokyo’s Korakuen Cycling Stadium. It was thrilling to see 12,614 attend the public talk by Brother Knorr and to have a record baptism of 798 new brothers and sisters. Within nine months, 81 of these have enrolled as regular pioneers. Indeed, the vigorous pioneer spirit has been a big factor in Japan’s recent increases. Vacation pioneers have increased 49 percent over the previous year, and in just twelve months regular pioneers have increased from 592 to 1,111. New publisher peaks were again recorded every month, with July marking the completion of three full years of successive monthly peaks. August’s peak of 9,478 publishers is a 38-percent increase over last year’s average. Of these, 2,245 were baptized during the year, more than double last year’s 1,023.

The six-story Tokyo branch building, which seemed so large when completed in 1963, can no longer handle all our work. How delighted we were, then, when Brother Knorr approved the purchase of a new property in Numazu City, seventy-five miles to the southwest of Tokyo in the Mount Fuji area! Here nine Japanese-style buildings, located on an acre of land, are serving well for storing and shipping literature and magazines, as well as for a Kingdom Hall, the Kingdom Ministry School and a missionary home.

Our young publishers appreciate the magazines, as shown by the following letter received from an eleven-year-old: “We are overjoyed that there is an article for children in the July 15 Japanese Watchtower. Father and mother are delighted too. We each read and reviewed it, and then studied it with mother. It was very easy to understand. I am now in my fifth year at school and conduct a Bible study with a friend. So, now we are going to study this Watchtower article. Two other school friends, also, said they found the article very interesting. Please give us more articles like these. Greetings to all at Bethel.” The youngsters in this family are following in the steps of father and mother, who are both pioneers.

The thousands of youthful publishers are making a valuable contribution to the work. One young boy, son of a regular pioneer, followed up on what his mother had taught him about the good Samaritan. When an insurance saleslady called at the home one hot summer day, he insisted that she cool off with a glass of lemonade from the refrigerator. The lady made a point of calling again to inquire about the boy’s training, with the result that she herself is now a Witness, baptized and vacation pioneering until she qualifies to be a regular pioneer.

Other new ones, too, are quickly building a heart appreciation of the truth and applying themselves in dedication to Jehovah. In March a student happened to visit a friend’s home while one of Jehovah’s witnesses was conducting a Bible study there. He was interested at once. A pioneer started to study with him, and one quarter of the “Look!” booklet was covered at the first study. The study was stepped up to twice a week, and the booklet was completed the next week. Already the young man’s thinking had made a half-revolution. Five more weeks saw the Truth book study completed. By now, the student was not only sharing enthusiastically in all the meetings, but accompanying the pioneer each day in field service. In April he reported 112 hours of service, placed 161 magazines, made 41 back-calls and conducted a home Bible study himself. In June he was baptized. He has abandoned his previous goal of schoolteaching and now does part-time work while preparing for his new vocation of pioneering.

Toward the end of the year, a sister started a study with a “hippie”-style youth. He came to all the meetings, but seemed to see nothing wrong with his “hippie” appearance. Then he attended the Yokohama district assembly. On the first day he was the complete “hippie.” But by the second day he had had his hair cut. And on the final day he looked all bright and clean with a new shirt.

At the “Peace on Earth” assembly in October, our brothers were delighted to meet at first hand so many of the brothers from other lands, and to hear Brothers Knorr, Franz and Suiter on the program. And when Brother Franz so kindly gave the public talk and closing comments at our “Men of Goodwill” assembly in Yokohama, all who shared therein were again greatly encouraged. All are stimulated to keep giving this witness, even “to the most distant part” of Japan.

KENYA Population: 10,506,000

Peak Publishers: 947 Ratio: 1 to 11,094

The brothers under the Kenya branch are preaching the Word urgently, maintaining exceptionally high service averages and, whenever possible, sharing in the pioneer ministry. Their loving labors have been richly blessed with an abundance of new disciples throughout the territory, which consists of Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Do you thoroughly cover your territory so that no one will miss the message you bear? Two sisters completed a section of territory and were about to return home when one of them, just to make sure every house had been visited, went around to the back of the last house and, to her surprise, found a small cottage. Literature was placed with the family and a lively study was started. After chapter 3 of the Truth book was covered, there was a cleaning out of all images. Studies were requested twice a week, and within nine months the material in the Truth, ‘Impossible to Lie’ and Life Everlasting books had been covered. During this time the family had left Babylon the Great and were publishing. The steps of dedication and baptism were taken despite opposition and pressures from relatives. As one of the family said: “I thank God for the day you knocked on our door. Just think, we could have missed all this!” How happy that sister was that she thoroughly covered her territory that day!

A brother tells of the fine results he has had in building up the appreciation of his Bible students for the meetings. One young Catholic man, on recognizing the truth, resigned from his former church and started attending all the meetings. However, he had to work different shifts and found that every third week he was missing the Theocratic Ministry School and service meeting. He thought about it and decided that, since he gets thirty days’ leave a year, he would take one day of his leave every three weeks. After doing this twice his foreman asked why he did so. He explained. Now his foreman has arranged to change his shift so that he can attend all the meetings. The young man has progressed to the point of publishing and was recently baptized.

Though religious pastors are taking the lead in opposing the Kingdom work, some of them are being obliged to recognize the power of the truth to change lives. When a young man started to study the Bible with the Witnesses, his pastor father became very angry. Then, as time went on, the father observed great changes in the life of his son. About this time another member of his flock, together with his large family, took an interest in the Kingdom message, and as the family made progress he noticed remarkable changes as to cleanliness and attitudes. This also caused him to wonder. But what really did impress him was the change in another of his sons. This older son was very rebellious, drank heavily and abused his family, and the old pastor had done everything he could to help but to no avail. Now for some months the younger son has been studying with his brother and the brother has completely cleaned up his life. This has impressed the pastor so much that he now allows his son to witness to him without opposition.

BURUNDI Population: 3,274,000

Peak Publishers: 46 Ratio: 1 to 71,174

Further fine progress of the brothers in Bujumbura, the capital city, has made it possible to form a healthy congregation there. The increase has been 200 percent over last year’s average in spite of opposition to the preaching work. Seven brothers were imprisoned, and for part of their punishment they were forced to stand in two feet of water for two days. They found many opportunities to preach to fellow prisoners and as a result a number of them have attended the meetings since they were freed. Some brothers were arrested a second time and when they were released they were told to stop their preaching. In answer they repeated the words of the apostles Peter and John: “We cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.”

ETHIOPIA Population: 25,000,000

Peak Publishers: 498 Ratio: 1 to 50,201

This has been an outstanding year in the theocratic history of Ethiopia. A wonderful increase of over 25 percent was enjoyed, field service averages were almost double the suggested goals, and more and more brothers have taken up the full-time service.

Love of God and of neighbor causes some to accept the truth after many years. Back in 1963 a young man heard the truth and sought out his friend to share it with him. Both of them were subjected to persecution by family and friends. The friend gave in under opposition and stopped his study, but the original young man remained firm in his integrity to Jehovah although first he was expelled from school for refusing to be a scout, was imprisoned for some days because of preaching from door to door, and finally was cast off by his parents. He was forced to move elsewhere to earn his living. As the years went by, he constantly thought of his friend and prayed that someday he might help him to take his stand. Eventually, after six years, he was transferred for a six-month period back to his hometown. Could he teach his friend the truth during that time? He writes saying that after four months their study of the Truth book is nearly completed and his friend is publishing. Also other relatives of both these young men are accepting the truth.

There are opportunities to give a witness by our example of honesty. One brother went to the bank to withdraw money from his account. In checking his book he noted that an amount the equivalent of $100 had been overpaid with his interest. He reported this to the auditor, who was surprised at such honesty. He spoke of it as an ‘impossible happening.’ The brother took the opportunity to explain that he was one of Jehovah’s witnesses and that it was unthinkable for him to violate God’s law. The auditor was so impressed that he agreed to have a Bible study.

RWANDA Population: 3,110,000

Peak Publishers: 3 Ratio: 1 to 1,036,667

In March this year it was possible for two special pioneers to enter Rwanda and open up the preaching work in the capital city, Kigali. They have found the people warm and responsive to the Kingdom message, and one interested person has already started out in the service. The pioneers have already started ten studies among the limited number of people who speak Swahili. They are now trying very hard to learn the Kinyarwanda language so that they may give a wider witness.

SEYCHELLES Population: 49,981

Peak Publishers: 9 Ratio: 1 to 5,553

Three years ago a Bible study was started with a man who showed great interest in the truth. After a few studies in the “Good News” booklet, he found better employment on one of the outlying islands and moved out with his family. Every time he returned to the main island, he always took back with him many books and magazines. On reading them he found that he had to make changes in his life, and as he started to talk to others about his new belief, changes did take place. He returned to the main island and started to associate with the group. A Bible study was again started with him and his wife, who by that time was as interested in the truth as he was. They were both baptized during the visit of the circuit servant, and what a great joy it was for them to be among the group of five who made the 1,300-mile journey to the “Peace on Earth” assembly in Nairobi.

SUDAN Population: 15,000,000

Peak Publishers: 54 Ratio: 1 to 277,778

The truth is making steady progress in the vast territory of the Sudan. Until this year no one from South Sudan had shown interest. However, a young man from the south joined in a study that was being held with his landlady. He took a keen interest, obtained a Truth book and soon read it. He was employed as the editor of a Catholic religious magazine. Appreciating the value of our publications, he began to include material from them in his articles. The brother conducting the study asked him: “Is it nice to offer good food in a dirty dish?” The young man got the point and in a short time he resigned in spite of the problem of unemployment and an offer by the priest to raise his salary. He now attends all the meetings and preaches to his friends.

A pioneer teaches language as his part-time employment. He began to give lessons to a schoolteacher and soon found that this man had relatives in the truth in his own country. A study was arranged in the Truth book, and right from the start fine progress was made. After the second study the teacher could see that it was no longer possible for him to lead his class in singing at the church. In order to be relieved of this duty it was necessary for him to present the matter to the president of his community. Before doing so he requested the brother to study with him the chapter “How to Pray and Be Heard by God.” He explained later that his reason for this was so that he would know how to pray for Jehovah to be with him to guide the interview with the president. His wish was granted, and now he is attending the congregation meetings regularly and has many opportunities to witness to his fellow teachers.

TANZANIA Population: 12,231,342

Peak Publishers: 1,222 Ratio: 1 to 10,009

The Tanzanian people are warm and friendly and have a deep respect for God’s Word. It confuses many that their authorities hold that it is unlawful just to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses, when these truly Christian people are so willing and helpful in aiding them to understand the Bible. In a number of places during the year the brothers have been stopped and searched on the streets and in their homes and have been arrested if found in possession of a Bible or Bible literature. Usually they are held a short time and then released. However, in some instances they have been imprisoned without trial for as much as eighteen months. One pioneer, after serving such a sentence, was rearrested shortly after release, simply for possessing a printed list of scriptures. In spite of such treatment, the “good news” has not been hindered; rather there has been fine increase.

Prevented from holding their own assemblies, three hundred of our brothers from southern Tanzania hired four motor coaches for the 900-mile journey to the “Peace on Earth” assembly in Nairobi, at a cost of more than $2,500, paid by brothers who have few of this world’s goods. How would they fare at the border? Would they be turned back? The brothers left everything in Jehovah’s hands. After all, he had invited them to the assembly! The brothers answered the questions, “Who are you?” and “Where are you going?” truthfully and fearlessly. The customs officer kindly said: “Go, and pray for us, please.” Returning home, they were called to the area commissioner, who asked who this man Jehovah was whom they were following. The brothers showed the man from his own dictionary that Jehovah is the Creator, and he admitted that if he were a Christian then Jehovah would be his God. He next asked them where the money came from for the buses. The brothers told him: “From the maize and the coffee we grow. We do not spend money on unwise things or drink.” The commissioner, in dismissing them, said: “I wish I were you. You seem to be humble and clean Tanzanians.”

A sister about to give birth was taken to a hospital and told she would die unless she had a blood transfusion. She explained that she would rather die than violate God’s law on blood. Though about to give birth, she was rudely dismissed from the hospital. Arriving at the hospital in the next town, she had to face the same issue. The sister maintained her faithful stand and, before the doctor could offer further resistance, the sister gave birth outside the delivery room. Mother and child were just fine, without any need for extraordinary medical attention. How happy the sister was that she stood firm in these very difficult circumstances!

UGANDA Population: 9,528,717

Peak Publishers: 97 Ratio: 1 to 98,234

During the service year the circuit servant traveled three thousand five hundred miles through the outlying parts of Uganda. During a six-week trip almost 500 books were placed and a number of subscriptions taken, also the places were located where special pioneers are most needed.

Throughout the territory the people were friendly and showed outstanding hospitality. As in other parts of Uganda, an almost total ignorance of Jehovah’s name was observed. But when God’s name was explained to them it was a delight to the circuit servant to see them busily discussing with their neighbors what they had learned. Visiting one town, he was happy to meet a lady with whom he had studied six years ago in Burundi. While she was preparing refreshments he got into conversation with a district chief who was also visiting the home. It was surprising to hear that the chief was familiar with Jehovah’s name and what it signifies. Who was it that had told him? The lady from Burundi. A book was placed with him, and on the return journey the traveling brother was received very warmly at the chief’s house. He had read the book and remarked how strikingly what he had read concerning the “last days” fit his experience. He had to put up with so much abuse from young people who had previously shown great respect. We look forward to being able to send more special pioneers to serve the needs of such sincere people.

KOREA Population: 31,726,867

Peak Publishers: 12,267 Ratio: 1 to 2,586

The service year started off with an outstanding international assembly in Seoul last October and ended with four fine district assemblies in July and August. The big thing about these assemblies has been the baptisms. Starting off with an amazing number of 1,511 baptized at the international assembly, the year ended with a total of 3,290 baptized. Together with the 2,226 baptized last year, it means that one half of our baptized publishers in Korea were immersed in the past two years. What a great responsibility we have to teach, train and assist the great number of new ones!

One must be careful not to think of them in terms of numbers, for each one of these newly baptized ones is an interesting story in himself. Take the fascinating story of a brother in Inchon who was baptized at our international assembly last October. He had joined the Communist Party in North Korea when he was twenty-five years old and rose rapidly in the ranks. He became a police chief in his county, and after the Korean War started he became a colonel in the Red Army, assigned as a regimental commander. His disillusionment with communism came to a head when he learned that his family had been killed by a fellow communist as a result of local intrigue in his hometown. He eventually deserted the Communist army, and after 187 days of intense efforts to capture him he was finally picked up by the American military forces in the sea where he had been swimming around an uninhabited island for three days. After his defection to the Republic of Korea, he was given special assignments with both the Korean and American military. Finally he was set free of all duties to the government and given a special concession business that was to have provided for him financially. But in time he found that his business grant could be successful only with bribes and dishonesty so he quit and was satisfied with a modest living. Though he had shed communism, he had not yet found another real hope for the future to sustain him and he still held to his atheism. Leaders of false religion had tried to interest him, but to no avail. Then one day a young sister witnessed to him and, though only partially satisfied with her answers, he told her that before he talked to her again he would buy a Bible and for the first time would read it clear through. When she returned she learned that he had sold one of his pigs to buy the Bible and had read it not once, but twice from cover to cover. She introduced him to a mature brother with whom in one year he studied the ‘Impossible to Lie,’ Life Everlasting and Truth books. He showed the district servant recently how he prints his little seal at the place in the Bible where he stops reading each day. He has the proof to show that he has read the Bible through fifty times in the past two and one half years. His wife opposed his new belief at first, but now she and the children are accompanying him to meetings. He is truly happy with the faith he now has, but he says he is sorry it took almost fifty years of his life before he found it.

Although the pioneers and publishers are conducting fewer studies at any one time, on the average, they are actually studying with more people because for dropping the unproductive studies in six months or so. They are now spending their time on the ones who respond. Even so, some pioneers report that they are hard pressed to find time to study with all the genuinely interested ones they find. A special pioneer in the Yungdungpo section of Seoul reports that, after systematically weeding out the unproductive studies, he still has fifteen excellent ones and now he can start a new one only by combining two of his present ones or by turning one over to someone else. He has helped fifteen persons to baptism in the past fifteen months that he has been in his present assignment. (His wife has helped nine to baptism in the same period.) One of his interested persons is conducting a study with someone else and is placing sixty magazines a month even before he is ready to be baptized. This pioneer brother says he endeavors right from the first to reach the heart and make his students feel the urgency of the time in which we are now living.

A brother who is a schoolteacher in a girls’ high school in Chonju learned the truth through a fellow teacher who has been dedicated for a number of years. The newer brother became so seriously ill that he apparently needed surgery. When he refused the surgery unless the surgeon agreed to do it without blood, his fellow teachers forcibly took the first brother to the hospital to influence the newer brother to accept blood. He explained that the matter was up to the conscience of the ill brother. When the high-school girls heard of it they were set to walk out of the school in a protest demonstration unless the teacher accepted the surgery. He was a popular teacher and they did not wish to lose him. When it looked as if death were imminent, the ill teacher wrote a letter to be read to the teachers and students in the event of his death and handed the letter to his fellow teachers. They were touched by his letter, for he explained in detail that he received his life from God and that he must use it in harmony with His laws. His hope was in the resurrection and he alone was responsible for his decision, he wrote. The reason is still unknown to the doctor and hospital authorities, but the brother took a sudden turn for the better and has now recovered without surgery. Now the teachers and students alike are sure that it was this brother’s faith in Jehovah that saved his life, whereas a few weeks previously they were saying his faith was going to kill him.

The pioneer ranks continue to grow and, although the special pioneer work has had splendid results, it is the regular pioneers that are doing the bulk of the work and getting the bulk of the results. Many of these pioneers are housewives, such as the wife of a schoolteacher in Chochiwon. She has three children and none of the conveniences known to the Western world. She does her housework early in the morning or late at night and does her preaching during the school hours of the day. For ten months she was a vacation pioneer, not wishing to take the obligation of a regular pioneer for fear she might miss making the required hours. But now she has been a regular pioneer for three years and she has earned two nicknames from her neighbors: “wood owl” because she is always doing her housework late in the evening, and “jet plane” because she is always in a hurry and walking fast to her territory and Bible studies. She says she does not mind being called those names, as the past three years have been the happiest of her life.

Things are happening here as elsewhere in Jehovah’s wonderful organization. It has been a happy and busy year, but we especially appreciated your visit, Brother Knorr, and Brother Franz’ two visits during the year. Those visits help our brothers, especially the many, new ones, to feel close to the governing body and to understand Jehovah’s backing of his organization. We look forward to still another fine year in 1971 and daily pray for Jehovah’s direction over his people.

Country Reports (Part Two)

pp. 190–304

Country Reports (Part Two)

LEBANON Population: 2,580,000

Peak Publishers: 1,267 Ratio: 1 to 2,036

The past service year has been an outstanding one for Jehovah’s people in Lebanon, the best one yet. It started off with a new peak in publishers in September, and it looked as if we would have another peak in October. But heavy fighting broke out between the army and the guerrillas and there were curfews for over half the month in the main cities, curtailing our activities to the extent that we were not able to reach a new peak in publishers. Then things settled down to some extent and there were new peaks in publishers for the next seven consecutive months. In fact, there were only three months in the year when we did not have new peaks.

The Truth book in the Arabic language, which was available for use during the last half of the service year, was enthusiastically received by Jehovah’s people here and put to good use by them in the field service. It was soon out of stock at the branch office. By means of it we have greatly improved our Bible study service and have been able to assist people of many kinds to learn the truth.

Opposition is not to be feared. Often it increases the spreading of the message of God’s kingdom. The daughter of an assistant priest became interested in the truth, and when her father learned that she was attending the Memorial celebration of Christ’s death he came to drag her out of the Kingdom Hall. Appalled at the large attendance he saw at the Kingdom Hall, he went to the church and turned on its sound equipment full volume and began scolding the villagers for not coming to church, since even Jehovah’s witnesses were filling their local hall to overflowing. As there was no response, not even to his urgings to attack Jehovah’s witnesses in their Kingdom Hall, the next evening he began reading Luke chapter 21 over the loudspeaker, thinking to frighten people into coming to church. But now large numbers of the people began to ask Jehovah’s witnesses to study the Bible with them. The local Theocratic Ministry School servant says that strangers keep asking to be enrolled in the Ministry School and wanting to know when they can have a turn to speak. This congregation of 60 had an attendance of 375 at the Memorial.

The powerful message of truth from God’s Word makes wonderful changes in the lives of those who accept it. A man who was a member of a militant political party, who carried weapons with him wherever he went and who even had a display cabinet in his home for his firearms, was contacted by a Witness in the house-to-house work. Though he was a violent man, feared by everyone in the neighborhood, he listened while the Witness courageously presented his sermon and offered Bible literature, which was accepted. But when the back-call was made, it was the man’s wife who showed interest, while he opposed her study of the Bible. Sometime later he happened to be at home on the day his wife had her study and he listened from an adjoining room. The next day his wife invited him to attend a meeting with her, and he did, with his pistol at his side. But finding such peaceful people there, he became ashamed of his coming among them with a weapon. Since then he has attended meetings regularly, but the only weapon he brings along is the “sword of the spirit,” God’s Word. As a result of his studies in the Bible the firearms display cabinet in his home has now been converted into a library containing literature showing the way to life in God’s new order, and recently he and his wife dedicated their lives to the service of the true God, Jehovah. With such an example, seventeen of his friends and relatives are now studying the Bible to learn the way back to paradise.

ABU DHABI Population: 12,000

Peak Publishers: 2 Ratio: 1 to 6,000

The service year began with two sisters doing what they could in Jehovah’s service in this isolated land. Recently they have been joined by two other members of their family from India. This makes a larger study group and more mutual encouragement. Field service in Abu Dhabi must be done through contacts, as there is no freedom for open house-to-house witnessing. But much can be accomplished in this way.

BAHREIN Population: 200,000

Peak Publishers: 1 Ratio: 1 to 200,000

A sister from England moved to Bahrein during the last month of the service year and has made a start in witnessing to people there. She was baptized only a few months before leaving for Bahrein, and she writes from there: “I do so want to have a share in spreading the good news of the Kingdom. I will try hard to use whatever opportunities Jehovah may open up out here for witnessing.” We pray that she may be able to sow some seed on good soil while she is there.

IRAN Population: 26,985,000

Peak Publishers: 24 Ratio: 1 to 1,124,375

The territory is vast and the workers are few in this land. All the brothers live in the capital, Tehran, but, in addition to working the territory in that city, they do what they can to spread the message of the truth to other parts as well. Some brothers who at intervals are obliged by their circumstances to travel across the country take advantage of the opportunity to speak to people in towns where they stop. In this way much literature has been distributed and a number of studies started that are conducted by correspondence. One such brother and his wife, while having lunch at their hotel, were approached by a man who asked if he had not met them before. They recognized him to be an interested person they had known long before in East Africa. A Truth book was placed, and the next day a study was started. Since then it has been carried on through correspondence.

References from those having Bible studies are a good means of starting other studies. A study was started with a man who had studied the truth years before but who had gotten out of touch with the Witnesses. Through him four other studies were established with his relatives, and two of these studies are attended by more than ten persons. The man’s interest in the truth was so great that he studied twice each week and so finished the Truth book in three months. He now has a regular share in field service himself.

We are so thankful that Jehovah’s angels guide us to sheeplike persons. A woman in Tehran who was dissatisfied with the conduct of the clergy was praying to God to show her the way approved by him. That very day a brother called at her home and a study was started. After a short time her husband was transferred to another part of the country where there were no Witnesses, so the only contact was by mail. She continued to study by herself, however, and when her husband later retired and they moved back to Tehran she immediately contacted the brothers again. She became a regular attender at meetings and, after only two months’ study, started sharing in field service.

JORDAN Population: 2,039,000

Peak Publishers: 30 Ratio: 1 to 67,967

There has continued to be much unrest in Jordan during the year. At one point clashes and heavy fighting between the army and the guerrillas forced the brothers in the capital, Amman, to remain indoors for five days. All during that time there was heard the sound of firearms at all points throughout the city. None of the brothers were injured, however, and when things calmed down they resumed their witness work.

Because of their neutral stand the brothers have been threatened by guerrillas and other extremists. But they remain unafraid in their stand for the truth, and Jehovah is blessing them for it. It became necessary for the brothers to give up their rented Kingdom Hall during the year and to meet for a time in small groups in their homes. Later things improved and they are now adding a room to the home of one of the members of the congregation to be used as a Kingdom Hall.

At the time of this writing there is much talk of making peace in the Middle East. To what extent peace efforts will succeed is not yet clear. But Jehovah’s people here know that true peace will come only through God’s heavenly kingdom.

KUWAIT Population: 733,196

Peak Publishers: 9 Ratio: 1 to 81,466

The few Witnesses in Kuwait all live in and around the capital, Kuwait City. Though they do not have freedom to carry on true worship openly, nevertheless they have been spreading the Kingdom message during the service year. Their special problem was to find a place to hold meetings regularly in an organized way. But that has been solved now by a newly baptized brother and his wife who have opened their home for all meetings.

Prayer to Jehovah, asking for his direction and strength to keep serving him in the face of great obstacles, is necessary for all Christians. A sister who is the mother of six children and whose husband has been opposed to the truth for years realizes this very clearly. For a long time she has endured physical and mental abuse from her husband and has not always been able to get to meetings, due to his moving his family into isolated areas and refusing to provide transportation. She was able to receive spiritual food in various ways, however, and diligently instructed her children in the way of righteousness. Prayer to Jehovah was never neglected, and He has enabled her to remain spiritually strong even in this isolated place and under such circumstances. How happy our sister is that there are now meetings held regularly within easy walking distance of her house and that she and all six of her children are able to attend regularly. Even her husband seems to be less opposed now.

QATAR Population: 55,000

Peak Publishers: 1 Ratio: 1 to 55,000

The one brother in Qatar has carried on by himself during the year preaching the Kingdom good news to those who will listen. In this Moslem land the preaching of Christianity is not looked upon kindly, and the brother is not able to work openly from house to house. But through personal contacts he is able to spread the truth and place some literature, thus opening the way for further calls. We pray that Jehovah may continue to enable him to let the light of truth shine in Qatar.

SAUDI ARABIA Population: 7,100,000

Peak Publishers: 3 Ratio: 1 to 2,366,667

A brother working for an oil company in Saudi Arabia was able to do some good witnessing during the year, making some back-calls and conducting some Bible studies. One of these was with an American girl who studied God’s Word diligently and progressed well. When she departed from Saudi Arabia to return to the United States she was planning to symbolize her dedication to Jehovah by baptism there.

SYRIA Population: 5,738,000

Peak Publishers: 176 Ratio: 1 to 32,602

Though persecution and harassment have continued throughout the year, the brothers in Syria have had their best year of service to Jehovah. At this writing eleven Witnesses are still in prison, where they have been for two months with no charges filed against them. Some of them have large families that are left with no means of support while the family head is in prison. But Jehovah does not leave his righteous ones, and his offspring will not be seen “looking for bread.” These families are being cared for by their Christian brothers. And the good news is being spread inside the prison walls by our brothers there.

Secular employment often opens the way for spreading the good news. One young brother saw an opportunity for this in an official notice that religious instructors were needed in government schools. He took the examination for this position, which he passed easily, and as a result he was able to spend an entire school term instructing students in the true religion. With truly interested students he established home Bible studies.

LEEWARD ISLANDS (Antigua) Population: 61,664

Peak Publishers: 139 Ratio: 1 to 444

During this year in Antigua a goodly number of youths have taken their stand for the truth and are associating with the three congregations. A missionary sister studied with two girls, thirteen and fourteen years of age. Soon they were attending meetings, and, on hearing announcements for field service, they wanted to share. Revelation 18:4 was read and discussed, and they appreciated that they did not qualify for the ministry as long as they accompanied their mother to one of the religions of Babylon the Great and remained a part of it themselves. They explained to their mother that they no longer wanted to go to church because bowing to images was wrong and also the things taught were different from what the Bible teaches. However, the mother insisted that they attend her church. The girls had a problem. They must obey their mother, but they could not remain in Babylon the Great and please Jehovah. They obeyed their mother by accompanying her to church, but they would not participate in the false religious services. When the priest inquired as to the reason, they said they wanted to be Jehovah’s witnesses. It happened that the priest had observed two young brothers going from door to door during a recent assembly and he had used them as a fine example for Catholic youths. The priest told the mother not to force the girls but to let them become Jehovah’s witnesses if that is what they wanted. At the next meeting the girls burst into the Kingdom Hall: “Did you hear the good news? We can now go in the service!” The oldest girl was baptized on April 25, 1970, and at the time of our making this report she is sharing in the vacation pioneer service. The grandmother has now been publishing for three months. When the two girls and their grandmother returned from the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly in St. Kitts, the mother, observing the joy they have in their newfound faith, asked that a Bible study be conducted with her.

One year ago a youth was just starting to attend the meetings. Let him tell how he was helped during the past year. “I was brought up in a Protestant religion and had respect for the Bible, but I always had doubts about some of the teachings, such as the Trinity. Being somewhat shy, I never questioned anyone. When one of Jehovah’s witnesses called and offered a six-month course in Bible study, it sounded good to me. The truths I learned came as quite a blow to me, as they were so different from what I had been taught. But I made the adjustments in my thinking. After being taught how to give a sermon I enjoyed the door-to-door ministry. A few months later a pioneer brother invited me to go to the island of Barbuda, where there are no Witnesses, and spend a month preaching there. This was a wonderful experience. I had the opportunity to defend the truth even before clergymen. It has helped me to see the need to study personally, to prepare for the meetings and to put as much time in the service as possible. I could not be a pioneer then, but I was baptized in April and I am glad to be a vacation pioneer this month. I have also been assigned to assist the literature servant in the congregation.”

ANGUILLA Population: 5,810

Peak Publishers: 15 Ratio: 1 to 387

Breaking free from Babylon the Great and this system of things can require great effort and sacrifice. A young woman had studied for more than one year and wanted to take her stand for Jehovah’s kingdom. She was ridiculed by relatives for leaving the religion she was reared in but which she now knew to be false. The father and provider for her three children was not willing to marry her nor would he provide for them if she left. There was no alternative but to take the three children and go where she could find work to support them. Only her love for Jehovah gave her the courage to make this move. And with loving help from others in the congregation she not only has the joy of sharing in the field ministry but is now a sister in the congregation, having been baptized on August 7 at the district assembly in St. Kitts.

DOMINICA Population: 63,609

Peak Publishers: 186 Ratio: 1 to 342

We are grateful to the Society for the thrilling Bible dramas that we are privileged to have at our district assemblies. These have helped the brothers to grow to maturity and to take on responsibility. The husband of a pioneer sister labored in the forest all year hand-sawing lumber for a new home that they were planning to build. This couple was selected to play the role of a young missionary couple in the drama “Are You a Modern-Day Jonah?” The message of this drama so influenced the husband that he decided to join his wife in the pioneer service. On returning from the assembly they sold their animals and the lumber and wrote the Society that they were free to go to any place on the island where they could be used. He is now the overseer in a small congregation of thirteen publishers that previously had only sisters caring for the work.

Willingness on the part of two pioneer sisters to walk long distances to study with persons on the Carib reserve has resulted in one family’s learning to appreciate Jehovah and his organization. This family, which includes two teen-age daughters, copies the fine example of the pioneers, for they think nothing of trekking the fourteen miles through dense tropical woods to the congregation meetings. To them this effort is small compared to the benefits of association with those who are truly Christians. The mother and her seventeen-year-old son have symbolized their dedication to Jehovah. Now they zealously witness to fellow tribesmen and they had another person accompany them to the district assembly in the capital.

MONTSERRAT Population: 13,430

Peak Publishers: 24 Ratio: 1 to 560

Another year of happy service to Jehovah has been completed. A number of brothers have moved away to other places during the year but have remained steadfast in the truth. The father of a large family has taken his stand for Jehovah. As a result of his kind attention the members of his family are progressing well and are being prepared for publishing the good news. The wife was among the nine delegates that traveled to Dominica for the district assembly.

The husband and wife in another family used to quarrel to the extent that the police had to intervene. The husband accepted the offer of a home Bible study when one of Jehovah’s witnesses called. On seeing the change it made in him the wife began to sit in on the studies. A year has gone by, with peaceful conditions in the home. The husband, wife and daughter are attending the meetings at the Kingdom Hall and are so grateful for the help they have received from God’s Word toward peaceful living.

NEVIS Population: 12,770

Peak Publishers: 31 Ratio: 1 to 412

A sister who has her elderly mother to care for found it difficult to share with the others in the regular door-to-door ministry. To overcome the problem she concentrated on visits with neighbors near her home. With the help of a pioneer sister she now is happy to be conducting three Bible studies every week.

Upon reaching the decision to dedicate her life to Jehovah a sister had the names of herself and her family withdrawn from the church where she had attended. At school the children were required to attend religious services. The mother instructed the children not to attend these religious services, but the teacher would beat them and compel them to attend. The sister wrote a letter to the head teacher explaining why she did not want her children to attend the religious services. She quoted and explained Revelation 18:4 and 1 John 5:21. The words, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols,” so impressed the head teacher that she called a meeting of all the teachers and had the letter read. A good witness was given, and the children are now exempt from the religious services.

ST. EUSTATIUS Population: 1,335

Peak Publishers: 1 Ratio: 1 to 1,335

The one publisher in this little island settlement enjoys her service to Jehovah. While receiving little response from her neighbors and friends, she is having Jehovah’s blessing in the training of her children in Jehovah’s way. Three of her older sons are good publishers overseas. Their letters show appreciation for their mother’s “bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.” Meanwhile, her other children at home are responding well to instructions from God’s Word.

ST. KITTS Population: 38,113

Peak Publishers: 111 Ratio: 1 to 343

Putting Kingdom interests first may at times be a test, but it results in blessings. A woman with a small retail store was studying the Bible with one of Jehovah’s witnesses. She attended some meetings at the Kingdom Hall, but often she allowed her business to keep her at home. Noting her problem, the publisher highlighted that Jehovah blesses those putting the interests of the Kingdom first. The next meeting night the lady had a quantity of buns that had not been sold. She feared they would get stale and not be suitable for sale the next day. She pondered the matter and recalled what the publisher said about putting Kingdom interests first. Her decision was to attend the meeting. That night, after she had retired, a customer came requesting bread, and all the buns were sold. She resolved not to let the business keep her from the congregation meetings, which are so essential for strengthening faith. She is now a publisher of the good news and a sister, for she was baptized at the district assembly.

ST. MARTIN Population: 9,547

Peak Publishers: 58 Ratio: 1 to 165

A seventy-two-year-old brother, who has been nineteen years in the truth, shared in the vacation pioneer service for the first time this year. He said that he always felt it was mainly for the younger ones. But after seeing another brother who suffered from liver trouble and had a lame leg sharing in the vacation pioneer service, he decided to try it. After the month of pioneering he said: “Well, I now realize the joys I have been missing all these years I have been in the truth. I plan to share again, because vacation pioneering has been the best time of my life.” Explaining why he had not vacation pioneered before, he said: “I thought I would not be able to go in the service every day like the pioneers do. But now I realize that you can stay long in the service one day and rest up the next.”

LIBERIA Population: 1,100,000

Peak Publishers: 645 Ratio: 1 to 1,705

The Kingdom work has moved along well during the past year. The spirit of expansion is reflected in the enlarging and modernizing of the Kingdom Hall in the center of Monrovia, improvements at the fine branch location, and, finally, the acquiring of another missionary home in a populous section of the city. We are very grateful to Jehovah God for these many fine blessings.

Just one copy of a magazine can produce dramatic changes in a person’s life. A man living in unassigned territory received a copy of Awake! and was so impressed with the presentation “Finding an Answer to the Problem of Race” that he set out at once in search of a woman living in Monrovia, the capital, whom he knew to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses. When he found her residence he learned with dismay that the sister had died more than six months before. Undaunted, this life seeker continued his search for the Kingdom Hall with success and attended his first meeting that very night. A study was arranged with him, and after a few weeks he turned up one morning to engage in field service. Alas, it was then discovered that he had four wives! Unhesitatingly he started arrangements to send away three of his wives. A few weeks later he attended his first circuit assembly, but when he saw all the brothers happily going out in field service without him, he broke down and wept. With determination to put on the new personality he resigned his commission with the militia, gave up a lucrative job at a sugarcane farm and gin factory in order to cut himself free from an illicit relationship with the farm owner’s daughter, and legalized his marriage to his one remaining wife. The financial difficulties he experienced were more than offset by his newfound happiness when he became a dedicated and baptized servant of Jehovah. His illiterate wife began to study, learned to read and write by means of the Society’s reading aid, and now joins her husband in the ministry. Also, contrary to local custom, the brother and his wife eat their meals together. The townspeople, recognizing all these changes, tell them: “Your religion has really made you people civilized!” And it all started with one issue of Awake!

A Lebanese brother who operates the largest shop in an interior town became a vacation pioneer in April. The district servant asked him: “Were you not afraid you would lose business by having to close your shop at times?” The brother conceded: “To be truthful, I must say that I was thinking about that. But now I must say that, during those weeks in which my shop was closed for many hours, I actually had more business than during the weeks it was open all day. More people came to buy during the few hours they knew the shop would be open. At times customers tried to keep me at the shop, but I would tell them, ‘I’m closing,’ and I was gone.” There was also a health problem. “But I did not let this stop me, and after I got out into the service I forgot I was sick. But when I was in the shop all day I was always thinking about it.” So this brother who was very willing to sacrifice material profits for the sake of pioneering found that he had not really sacrificed anything at all; rather he had gained in every way—materially, physically, and certainly spiritually.

Our oldest vacation pioneer was seventy-six years old, but he still felt the need to “do more.” Out of respect for his age he was invited in at every home and people listened to what he had to say. Even though it is difficult for him to climb even one or two steps, he did not exclude house-to-house work from his ministry. In fact, he found he had less pain by using his limbs. Later he was able to report: “Every day I went from house to house, and in the evenings I made my back-calls and conducted Bible studies. I now have four good studies and they are all attending meetings regularly.” Convinced that old age is no drawback to vacation pioneering, he added: “Now I am trying to encourage other older ones to pioneer.”

Military establishments are also places where sheeplike persons may be found. Some brothers decided to journey to an infrequently visited army camp. The major in charge cordially greeted the missionary heading the group, gave permission for the brothers to preach, and assigned his personal secretary as escort. The secretary proved to be very serious about getting camp residents to listen to the message. Finally he explained to the missionary that his views on Jehovah’s witnesses had changed after a sister had been able to answer his many Bible questions, something his religious teachers had been unable to do. Deeply impressed that Jehovah’s witnesses had the truth, he confided: “Since then I have wanted to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses. Tell me, sir, what must I do in order to be one of them?” Needless to say, a home Bible study was arranged. The brothers accepted an invitation to return on the next day; a talk was given to about one hundred soldiers, and sixty magazines were placed. It is well to give attention to every part of our territory assignment.

After working a hamlet without finding any interest, a special pioneer came across a crippled man who listened carefully, but who had no money for literature. So the tract Life in God’s New Order was left with him. Upon returning, the pioneer found that the cripple had read the tract through and through and was really keen about learning more. A study was started at once, and it was not long thereafter that this man was walking on his crutches, preaching to the people at their homes and on their farms. Presently he conducts two studies and looks forward to baptism. Certainly even a tract can nourish a spiritually hungry soul. Do we always have them on hand to use at appropriate times?

LUXEMBOURG Population: 338,500

Peak Publishers: 544 Ratio: 1 to 622

“The truth will set you free,” Jesus explained, and more and more people, even from a small country such as Luxembourg, experience this in their own lives. This is confirmed by a woman who was very much depressed about family problems, not knowing a way out. She prayed much that God would assist her to solve her family problems, but all the prayers were in vain. She went to her fleshly sister, who is one of Jehovah’s witnesses, and she counseled her to direct her prayers to the only true God, to the ‘Hearer of prayer.’ In this way she was informed about Jehovah’s purpose. That evening her prayer was much different than it used to be. Not even two weeks passed until this woman noticed a great change. The seemingly ‘unbearable’ turned out to be bearable, and it even changed toward the good. Because of this experience this woman wanted to learn more about Jehovah, and a Bible study was arranged. More and more persons in this family attended the study. Some time elapsed, and then, all on the same day, seven persons from this family symbolized by water baptism the dedication of their lives to Jehovah. The truth set them free in many respects, because the woman who today is our sister wrote further: “Previously I was smoking, but this problem was solved too because I continued to pray to Jehovah to receive strength.” How important is prayer in practicing true worship!

In a small country where each one knows his neighbor, fear of neighbors and relatives is a great hindrance to some in learning the truth. Because of being afraid of his mother, a young man and his future bride rejected the efforts of his fleshly brother to inform him about God’s Word. Oftentimes he stopped the conversation suddenly. After his marriage he was more open-minded and he was ready to read the Bible and our magazines. Though invited, he was not ready to attend the meetings held in his vicinity, because his mother lives just across from the Kingdom Hall. So he always went to the next city to attend the meetings there. But now, instead of moving to the next city as he purposed to do so as not to encounter family problems, he and his wife are attending the meetings in the vicinity where his mother lives. Both were baptized during the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly. Certainly the truth helped them to realize that fear of man is a snare.

MALAGASY REPUBLIC Population: 7,198,640

Peak Publishers: 469 Ratio: 1 to 15,349

The preaching field is truly large in Madagascar, and Jehovah’s blessings have been made plain by the increase in the number of publishers. But three months before the 1969-1970 service year was over, all missionaries were expelled from the territory. And the work of Jehovah’s witnesses was banned on the last month of that same service year.

Would you call back where a book placement was made with two elderly ladies, when one explained that she, being a midwife, was seldom there and the other said she could not read because she had no glasses? One missionary writes that she is happy that she did. In spite of these difficulties, a very lively study was started in the Truth book. In a short time these two women started, not only to attend all meetings, but to encourage other members of their families to join their study. The son of one, a teacher in a village about forty kilometers away, came regularly each week along with his wife and children, even though at times the road was very bad because of rain. When the missionaries had to leave around seven months after this study had been started, one of the women, who in the meantime had gotten glasses, was already a publisher and had a very good knowledge of the Bible. She along with other members of her family said: “Don’t worry about us. We will never return to ‘Babylon,’ and we who can stay on our island will aid others to know and serve Jehovah.”

During service from house to house two young girls told us to return, for their father would like to see us. The next week we were happy to find thirteen persons waiting for us. The father said: “There are many religions here and we recognize that our own [Catholic] is false. We do not know what to do; we have lost the compass.” The following week we started the study, and seventeen persons were there, some more interested than others. After just one month of study, they started coming regularly to meetings. The father then said: “We have found the compass again, for I know where the truth is.” Some members of the family were preparing to go in service when we received the order to leave the country. This family has written us that they plan to continue no matter what happens. They want to be baptized at the first opportunity and they are continuing their study by correspondence with a brother in another town about 500 kilometers away, as there are no baptized Witnesses in their city since the missionaries had to leave.

A special pioneer studied with a lady who was not legally married to the man with whom she lived. Learning about the high standard of living advocated in God’s Word, she decided to care for the needed formalities so she could have a legal wedding. She went back to her home village for some official papers. There she told her mother of the life-giving truths she had learned. The mother’s response showed her to be a “sheep.” “I also want a share of that water of life,” said she. And at once she cut all ties with her previous Babylonish religion, left her house and all other things she owned in that village and went to the town where she could meet Jehovah’s witnesses and have a home Bible study. Not long after her first attendance at the meetings, she began preaching. Eight months after her first hearing of the truth, she got baptized. She has now vacation pioneered for many months and, despite her advanced age, she has reached an average of 153 hours for these months.

This special pioneer studied with a married couple who hired a young man to help them look for precious stones and also to perform home duties. Unnoticed by the Witness, that young man used to leave his duties and hide behind doors or curtains so that he might hear the truth each time the studies were held. One day the brother was amazed to see him call at the pioneer’s home and ask for a personal Bible study. The young man explained: “I had to leave my ‘patron.’ Each time you conducted the study and at meeting times, he would send me away to perform some duty so that I might not hear the truth you teach!” Then he began selling fish to earn a living. Though getting far less money than previously, he now got more spiritual riches: he had a personal Bible study, began preaching, publicly symbolized his dedication by means of water baptism and, at this writing, he has asked for a renewal of his nonstop vacation pioneering, in which he has spent far more than the required hours. He is now seeking no more for precious stones but for something far more precious in Jehovah’s sight: people who will reflect the light of His truth.

MAURITIUS Population: 807,027

Peak Publishers: 238 Ratio: 1 to 3,391

Jehovah’s servants working on the islands of the Indian Ocean, namely, Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues, have been blessed during this service year. Many have been the expressions of appreciation for the Truth book and the six-month study course. Meeting attendances have improved greatly because new ones are invited earlier and many have started to come to meetings rather than have their study stopped. The following are some experiences had by our brothers on the different islands.

In Mauritius much increase has come this year as brothers have helped their families to get the truth. One brother writes: “Since we have known the truth, my wife and I have made it our duty to share it with our relatives. After three years and very little response we could have easily become discouraged. Then one of my brothers married a girl whose father had been an Adventist for twenty-five years. He soon realized the difference between what he had heard from me and the things his father-in-law was trying to teach him, so he agreed to study with me so as to be able to answer his father-in-law. He quickly realized who had the truth. My brother then began to witness to the other members of the family and this helped my eldest sister to accept a study. My wife studies with her and her three children. The next to want a study was my cousin, with her five children. After three years of witnessing at my place of work I had the joy of seeing my youngest brother, who works alongside me, agree to study with a pioneer associated with the congregation. So many of the family were studying that, even though opposed by her husband, my youngest sister asked for someone to study with her. On my wife’s side of the family we have helped her brother and his wife to start studying. As we live fairly close to one another and we all have the good habit of attending meetings regularly, we cannot help but be noticed as all twenty-two of us arrive at the Kingdom Hall. What has been accomplished has been with Jehovah’s help, but we are not yet satisfied that the job is done, as we still have a few family members to help to come to Jehovah before it is too late.”

A young publisher studied for six months with a lady, but due to opposition of the husband no progress was made and the study was stopped. Awhile later, due to difficulties in the home, the husband himself came and asked that the study be started again with his wife. The young publisher explained that, if he wanted his wife to study again, he must join in and that the family must make the effort to come to meetings. This they did. During the zone servant’s visit the family attended a special meeting in a nearby Kingdom Hall, and the husband realized that such a hall was needed in his town, so he made a gift of land to the congregation so that they could build one.

RÉUNION Population: 441,874

Peak Publishers: 361 Ratio: 1 to 1,224

The largest congregation covers its territory every month, so the brothers were pleased to work for a day in unassigned territory 100 kilometers’ distance. Enough cars were made available so that 56 publishers could take part. The results: 198 hours, 62 books, 9 subscriptions and 302 magazines.

The importance of noting the name and address of interested persons wherever we meet them and passing them on, if necessary, is emphasized by the following experience. A man was contacted while a publisher was working a block of administrative flats. He owned a Bible but had never been visited by Jehovah’s witnesses. His name and address were sent to the neighboring congregation in whose territory he lived. When the visit was made, it was found that he had many of the Society’s publications. He had been very deeply religious, working as sacristan for the church, but the course of action of the religious leaders had so greatly discouraged him that he turned to the Bible to try to find the answers to the questions that troubled him. A study was started with both him and his wife. He is now sharing in the Theocratic Ministry School and will soon be out in service.

The following is a good example of the need to speak to our friends about the good news. A lady who liked to be helpful looked after the children of her friend, one of Jehovah’s witnesses, while she went out in service on Sunday morning. One day the lady and her husband asked her what she did each Sunday afternoon. The sister explained that she went to the Kingdom Hall. “Well, what is that, exactly?” they asked. After a good witness the sister invited them to accompany her and they accepted. They enjoyed the meeting very much and arranged to attend regularly on Sundays and during the week. Seeing their interest, the sister offered to study with them. Both made rapid progress. Quickly they saw the need to take their children out of the school run by the nuns and they themselves talked the truth to all their friends and neighbors. They are looking forward to sharing in the preaching work.

RODRIGUES Population: 23,064

Peak Publishers: 19 Ratio: 1 to 1,214

During this service year we have had the pleasure of seeing the first five Rodrigans dedicate their lives to Jehovah. One was able to make the voyage to Mauritius to attend the assembly there and the others were baptized in Rodrigues during a one-day assembly attended by thirty-one persons.

Starting studies on the first call has been found to be effective and productive. A sixteen-year-old publisher was able to start a study after giving a sermon to a young man whose main interest up to that moment had been worldly pleasures. As the Bible principles were made clear, he made the necessary changes. This resulted in financial savings for him and he was able to save enough to attend an assembly in Mauritius. He was so impressed that he became a zealous publisher of the good news.

With the growth during the service year we are pleased to report that most of the island is being covered regularly, and the most populated parts every other month.

MEXICO Population: 48,813,438

Peak Publishers: 49,031 Ratio: 1 to 985

The six-month study program with the Truth book can, in fact, be carried out in even less time on occasion. A lady learned of the truth through a gift subscription for The Watchtower. When the district servant and his wife visited a neighboring city she attended the circuit assembly. The brother and his wife talked to her and noted a sincere desire to serve Jehovah and to help the people in the small town where she lives. So arrangements were made to study the Truth, book with her. The problem was that there was not sufficient time to give the study as outlined by the Society, because she would be in the assembly city only two weeks and then would return by a small airplane to her town up in the mountains. Therefore the wife of the district servant conducted an intensive study for two weeks. Actually the study was conducted from Friday to Friday in thirty hours, and the complete Truth book was covered. This lady wanted to take advantage of the time available, so some afternoons and evenings the district servant and his wife spent two to three hours answering her many questions. At the end of the two weeks she had all the answers underlined in her book and was very enthusiastic about returning to her isolated town and helping others. She is now conducting eight studies, fifteen attend the Watchtower study and an isolated group has been formed.

A young man had many problems in his family life and he and his wife separated. He visited a priest, to whom he had confessed for a long time, and asked for counsel on his problem. The priest told him: “I have no solution for your problem, my son. If you want to fix up your problems, look up Jehovah’s witnesses; they can surely help you.” For some time he tried to find the truth but without success. One morning a publisher visited him and placed the Truth book. The same morning he read the complete book and visited the office of the Society and asked for more information. He was given the address of a local meeting hall, and that same afternoon he attended the meeting. A study was started with him immediately. He made arrangements for a sister to visit his wife, who was separated from him, to tell her the truth. The wife began to study and attend the meetings. The study of God’s Word helped them to solve their problems, they were reunited, and in three months they were publishing. Later he spoke to his father, brother, sister and nieces. They agreed to study, and he took them to the hall. One niece began to publish immediately on learning the truth. She went in the service every day with the pioneers in the congregation and had excellent results in the field, publishing more than one hundred hours a month. She has five studies, and some of these interested ones are attending the meetings. There are four publishers of the good news in this family in just six months, three have been baptized and the niece filled out an application for the vacation pioneer service.

A letter was received from one of the 4,977 vacation pioneers reporting in April, saying: “For some years I have been a publisher but could not be a pioneer because I am completely blind. But through the encouragement that we received from you in the Informant and from the pioneers in the congregation I made arrangements to be led from house to house, and the brothers cooperated very well. During the month I worked ninety hours. I placed twelve books, which I did by showing the chapters. Since I cannot see, what I have done is memorize the number of pages in each chapter and thus I can show them to the people in the territory. By making good plans to serve as a pioneer, there are no problems that cannot be overcome, since Jehovah is so kind to us and helps us when we serve him to the best of our ability.”

Two young publishers, high-school students, of one of the units in Mexico City presented the Evolution book to their biology teacher before the end of the course. The teacher took the book, apparently without much interest, and did not say anything about it. However, on the day of the final exam the teacher called them privately to express his appreciation for the book, saying that it was excellent and that he had read it several times. Not only that; he also requested fifty more copies of the book, since he expected to use it as a textbook in the next course, because, as he said, “other books only contain trash and false theories.” At the beginning of the next course the young brothers gave him the fifty books he had ordered, but these were insufficient because, on learning of the book, other teachers and students became interested and asked for two or more copies. In two weeks one hundred and seventy-five Evolution books were placed with teachers and students. Young brothers in school have a fine opportunity to show their faith and trust in Jehovah God.

A brother wrote expressing his appreciation for the reading and writing classes: “When the message of the good news was presented to me I could not read or write, so I could not understand the message well. The publisher who studied with me taught me my first letters, and a little later I was invited to attend the local reading and writing class. In about five months I could read some and study the publications for myself. That was about ten years ago. Today, when I see the marvelous privileges that Jehovah has blessed me with, I cannot help but feel grateful for the arrangements made by his organization that helped me to have successful service, because I can conduct my own studies and that has brought me great joy. I have seven fine studies and I have had the experience of helping four persons learn to read and write. Also I have the joyful privilege of serving as a congregation book study servant, and all this, thanks to the reading and writing classes.”

MOROCCO Population: 14,580,000

Peak Publishers: 181 Ratio: 1 to 80,552

We in Morocco had a wonderful time in the field ministry during the past service year.

The following experience shows the wonderful changes that the truth can make when it falls upon good “soil.” A special pioneer was told at one door: “I don’t really see any reason to continue living, since I have no useful and satisfying occupation.” Having an extensive personal library, she said: “Please come in and look at all the books I have read to try to find the answers.” The brother asked her if she had a Bible. When the brother assured her that the Bible had the answers, she wanted one immediately. For some time she stayed up half the night reading the Society’s publications. For years this woman had been taking strong drugs for her nerves and she was a heavy smoker. Her rapid realization of Jehovah’s requirements prompted her to take drastic action. She asked her husband literally to lock her in her room for two whole days, just bringing in her meals. After two days spent studying and praying she had rid herself of these bad habits. It should be mentioned that all this happened during the first week after the special pioneer called on her. The second week was equally eventful. She started out in the field ministry all on her own, placing twelve Bibles and twenty magazines!

At first her husband did not seem interested, but after the second week of the study he decided to join in also. He is the general director of a large firm and, until recently, spent a good deal of his time in raising and training horses for jumping competition. As his love for the truth grew, he realized that too much of his time was being consumed by his horse hobby, and, though he and his wife loved them dearly, their horses were sold to make more time for the preaching activity. At one time his business position was in jeopardy because of his stand for the truth, but he did not let threats intimidate him. He and his wife were both baptized just nine months after their first contact with the Witnesses. The husband, now a brother, is conducting four home Bible studies of his own, and his wife, who has already engaged in the vacation pioneer service, conducts ten!

Young publishers of school age have a special privilege in being in position to give a witness to their schoolmates. In one of the schools here, the history and geography teacher sometimes uses a class period to discuss subjects chosen by the students. During one of these periods, Jehovah’s witnesses were brought up for discussion. As often happens in such circumstances, the teacher, with a wry smile, explained that the Witnesses are a strange group that go around bothering people and refuse all medical treatment, etc. A young sister belonging to this class could keep quiet no longer and asked to be permitted to explain our position on these things. Permission was granted and she gave a detailed explanation of several details, including blood transfusion. The teacher was surprised and said: “I never would have believed that you knew so much! You are one of Jehovah’s witnesses and yet you are normal and a good student!” The other students asked many questions and the majority were very enthusiastic about the discussion. The bell rang, putting an end to discussion for that day. Many of the students as well as the teacher wanted to hear more, and it was arranged for her to prepare and give a talk on Jehovah’s witnesses the following week. During this talk, the sister used her Bible, asking students to read certain texts, and also showed slides of one of our assemblies. Having finished, she asked the teacher if she could offer magazines to her classmates. Thirty magazines were placed, and especially the Awake! with the theme “Is It Later than You Think?” The teacher accepted a copy of the book Is the Bible Really the Word of God? As a result of this witnessing in class a study was started, and now another student has taken subscriptions for both of the magazines.

Young publishers, be sure to take advantage of the excellent opportunity you have to give a witness in your special personal territory at school.

GIBRALTAR Population: 28,000

Peak Publishers: 39 Ratio: 1 to 718

The inhabitants of the “Rock,” as Gibraltar is often called, are certainly hearing the “good news,” thanks to the ardent witnessing of our brothers there. Although many are hearing, one man is making fine progress in learning the Bible’s truth in spite of the fact that he has never heard it. A publisher witnessing in an apartment house observed a man leaving by the staircase. Upon seeing the brother he quickly came back up the stairs and went into his home, closing the door behind him. The publisher thought that the man was perhaps opposed and that he was going to be badly received at this door. He knocked anyway, and, instead of finding opposition, a kindly man greeted him. As the brother started to explain why he had called, the man stopped him abruptly, saying that he was completely deaf. His face lit up with joy as he read Isaiah 35:5 from the brother’s Bible. He went for a pen and note pad, asking the publisher to tell him more. After writing for one and a half hours, the brother was happy to start a home Bible study with this man, take a subscription for each of the magazines and place a copy of the Truth book as well as the book Is the Bible Really the Word of God? The study is continuing and good progress is being realized. His lesson is well prepared in advance, all the answers being underlined. The brother conducting the study has the deaf man read the question out loud and then give his answer. His own comments are written out so that the man can benefit from them. Since meetings are a necessity for Christians, how could this man derive anything from them with his handicap? Well, when he came to the special public talk, the brother furnished him with a typewritten copy of the manuscript. As the speaker covered the material he was able to follow along without missing anything. He also was present for the Lord’s Evening Meal and benefited fully by using the same method. He plans soon to attend all the meetings, and the publisher who studies with him is going to write out the material for him each week. The brother says that this man is a real stimulus to the congregation, especially in his zeal to learn at sixty-four years of age. He is often seen in public places, such as the beach or out in the country, reading his little blue book, with his Bible at his side. He has already had experiences of his own in witnessing to his friends and fellow workers.

NETHERLANDS Population: 12,957,621

Peak Publishers: 18,261 Ratio: 1 to 710

With 1,678 newly baptized brothers this service year, you can imagine how happy the other Witnesses in the Netherlands have been to ‘go and make disciples, baptizing them.’

What can the results be when efforts are made to involve a whole family in a Bible study? A sister placed two magazines on a Sunday with a man who said that he never had time on Sunday because they had seven children to care for. An appointment was made to call on an evening in the week. A study was started with the husband and his wife, who originally did not believe in God. However, their faith grew and soon they attended meetings, and not long thereafter they saw the need for their children to sit in on the study too.

The three smallest ones, six, eight and ten years of age, did not present a problem, but how about the bigger children? One of these even conducted a “beat” band. This boy and his drummer friend were given a positive invitation to share in the study and this really got things started.

The “beat” band was bigger than only these two, and there were fans too. All were invited for the study, and so it was a common sight to see several young people belonging to this band appear for Bible discussions. From this original “beat” band group the circle of interested ones grew wider because they invited other friends of theirs, and soon quite a few of them began attending meetings. They quit smoking, started in the field service and the “beat” band was dissolved. One of the young boys had to face the neutrality issue; he took the right stand and landed in prison, but from prison confinement he studied by mail with his fleshly brother. And what is the result of this growing group? Sixteen persons studied the Bible; the parents, with whom everything started, have been baptized; thereafter two of their sons and six of their friends symbolized their dedication by water immersion, and two others are prospective baptismal candidates. All of this resulted from conscientiously calling back soon after the placement of literature and because the whole family was invited to participate in the study.

A pioneer minister tells an experience showing that God is directing people with a good heart to his organization. A lady was very disappointed about the church and confused too, not knowing where to find the truth. She often prayed to God and, almost every time, after a prayer, in one way or another she was contacted by the Witnesses, but, although she showed interest, she did not follow through on it. Then she moved to a small tourist village where an aquarium happened to be. This lady is not much impressed by an aquarium because she had studied anatomy and evolution and she did not think that there was much to learn in an aquarium. But on a certain day she once more prayed to God for the truth, and the next day she felt a strong urge to visit the aquarium. Here the pioneer minister serves as a part-time tour guide and his employer has permitted him to offer either the aquarium tour publication or the Evolution book after a tour, and during the tour the brother always injects interesting things about creation in his story. The lady was very much impressed by his faith, and after the tour she asked him whether he really believed in God. He was delighted to give her a further witness. The next day the lady was back in a pouring rain and asked the brother to visit her because she was very much afraid that God’s patience would stop if she did not now take up the truth. A fine Bible study is in progress, and the pioneer says that she is learning quickly.

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES (Curaçao) Population: 143,776

Peak Publishers: 339 Ratio: 1 to 424

The census bureau here in Curaçao keeps a progressive inventory of the population of the island by keeping tabs on all persons that enter and leave the island as well as all births and deaths. During the last year there were more than four times as many births as deaths on the island.

Of the many babies born on the island during the year, about one third were born out of wedlock. Immorality poses a problem in our preaching of the “good news.” Many persons admit that we have the truth but do not feel that they can straighten out their lives sufficiently to become Jehovah’s witnesses. Still, many others are doing it, either by getting married or by separating from those with whom they are living outside of wedlock. The truth can set one free in more ways than one.—John 8:32.

Another vice that an accurate knowledge of the truth can help a person to overcome is gambling, a great weakness here. In this connection the importance of a family study and meeting attendance cannot be overstressed, as the following experience shows. The small son of a theocratic family went with his grandmother. The grandmother is not a Witness. They met a woman selling lottery tickets. The grandmother decided to buy a ticket. The woman selling them suggested that the little grandson select the ticket, the idea being that this would bring good luck. The little fellow flatly refused and said: “We [Jehovah’s witnesses] do not live by luck, but my father works hard for us to get money to live on.” The child’s stand on this matter came as a big surprise to the two women. Even though this little fellow is not a publisher yet, his stand for right principles was a good testimony to the truth.

The son of a family of Witnesses had just started to school when he was quite severely punished by the teacher because he refused to join with the class in singing “happy birthday” on the teacher’s birthday. Not having had previous experience with any children of Jehovah’s witnesses, the teacher did not believe the little boy when he said that we do not celebrate birthdays. What made matters worse was the fact that a little worldly playmate joined the Witness child in refusing to sing, so the teacher thought that he was being the “ringleader” in a new kind of rebellion. When the mother of the child went to school and explained the matter to the teacher, she said that she was sorry that she had beaten the child. His firm stand resulted in a good witness.

Here in Curaçao our magazines are really appreciated by people from all walks of life. For example, a Dutchman who was a severe critic of the Bible reluctantly accepted a copy of Awake! in Dutch. He did read it, however, and now he is a regular reader of both magazines. He is amazed at the fine information he receives from the magazines and recently he remarked that the editorial staff of Awake! must be made up of scientists and professors. When going in the magazine work here, we must take magazines in four languages, Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento. One congregation has averaged 18.5 magazines for the year, another congregation has averaged 17, and so on down the line. In many cases magazines pave the way for future progress in the truth.

ARUBA Population: 59,813

Peak Publishers: 169 Ratio: 1 to 354

It is no accident that our yeartext for 1970 is Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples . . . baptizing them.” Never have so many been baptized as Jehovah’s witnesses in one year in Aruba! A total of twenty in comparison with only one the year before.

Of those baptized during the year, one was seventy-seven years of age. She has lived in sight of the sea all her life but had never been in the sea until the day she was baptized. Accurate knowledge of the truth along with a desire to obey Jehovah can cause a person to do things he never thought he could do, such as preach the “good news” of the established Kingdom from house to house, answer the eighty questions in the “Lamp” book and be submerged in the water.

An unusual experience in Aruba concerns a lady who was a pillar in the Catholic church. She even got a home near the church so she could be on hand for all activities. Recently she borrowed a Paradise book from one of her sons and read it. She recognized it as the truth. She phoned a Witness to ask for a Paradise book for herself. When the publishers called on her they found that she had a wonderful knowledge of the truth already. She had cleaned the images out of her home. To help support her family, she loaned money for short terms at a high rate of interest, but now her conscience smote her and she cut her interest rate in half. A study was begun and she immediately began to associate with the local congregation. Her children wanted to have a big celebration for the thirty-fifth wedding anniversary of the parents, but, instead, the mother, father and youngest daughter all went to the circuit assembly and had a most enjoyable time, to the consternation of the older children.

BONAIRE Population: 8,099

Peak Publishers: 17 Ratio: 1 to 476

At the beginning of the service year two special pioneer sisters were sent to Bonaire from Curaçao. They have worked very hard against heavy odds, but not without some good results. For example, the preaching activity has been the greatest ever, with more bound books and magazines being placed, more subscriptions being obtained and more studies being conducted than ever before. With all of this planting and watering, we feel confident that Jehovah will make it grow in due time.

Already the activity of the special pioneers is bearing fruit. One of them placed a Truth book while working from house to house. A back-call was made, a study started. The time of the study was set for the day the husband would be free from secular work so he could attend along with his wife. Soon both husband and wife began attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. Both have started to publish, and now they are planning to attend the district assembly in Aruba, along with eleven others from Bonaire.

NEWFOUNDLAND Population: 510,000

Peak Publishers: 902 Ratio: 1 to 565

Since Newfoundland is an island, part of the work of ministering takes publishers of the good news to the harbor to work from boat to boat. Calling on an officer on one of the boats, a brother was greeted with this comment: “It’s a funny thing that you should be here this morning. Why, only last night I was lying on my bunk wishing I had some good reading like the Word of God, and now here you are offering me these books.” He accepted them readily and arrangements were made for a correspondence course. This publisher was so thrilled with the success he had in the harbor that he enrolled as a vacation pioneer and remained on the list for five months, placing a total of 914 bound books.

Two pioneers were very anxious to reach university students with the Evolution book, so they decided to approach the students as they were on their way to different classes. As a result over 500 Evolution books were placed and some of the students arranged for one of the pioneers to give a talk to the class on the subject “Why Jehovah’s Witnesses Do Not Believe in Evolution.” What a joy it was to the pioneers to see seven of the students attend our meetings in the Kingdom Hall to get more information. The pioneers are still busy trying to reach other students with the Evolution book and the offer of a free home Bible study.

It is really marvelous in this day to see how Jehovah directs his servants to the “sheep.” A publisher writes: “A lady who had been studying with Jehovah’s witnesses for some time found it very difficult to attend the meetings regularly due to family opposition. She loved the truth, however, and used every occasion to speak about it to others. When a Catholic family moved next door to her home, it was not long before she witnessed to the mother. Interest was immediately aroused when the neighbor realized that, after years of attending church, she did not even know the name of God. Something was wrong, she thought. The Catholic couple were so concerned that they could not sleep at night. She tried several times to contact Jehovah’s witnesses, but without success. Finally, in desperation she walked several miles to a pay phone and, after much effort, phoned the congregation overseer and begged for a Bible study. As soon as the study was started, the priest took an unusual interest in the family and decided to take their children on a picnic, hoping that this would influence the parents to discontinue the study. However, the father could see through the hypocrisy of this gesture and refused to have anything more to do with the church. Seeing that he failed, the priest sent several Knights of Columbus members to try to persuade the family to give up the study. But this too failed. After just three studies the whole family attended a circuit assembly and were so delighted with what they heard that the following week they resigned from the Catholic Church. It is a real pleasure to see them at all the meetings and active in the service.

Following the suggestion as to “referrals” proved most beneficial in starting many Bible studies in Newfoundland, and this has contributed to the increase we have enjoyed. A Bible study was started with a man, his wife and daughter. Through “referral” the husband’s sister, her husband plus their five children started studying. This man was a boatbuilder by trade. The boatbuilder’s brother also accepted the six-month Bible study course. It did not stop here, but the boatbuilder’s wife had a mother, a sister and a niece, and a Bible study was started with them too. The boatbuilder’s helper and wife were also interested, and thus another study was started. The helper acquainted his parents with the Bible study course, and still another Bible study was started. Now let us go back to the original study. The husband had a brother who was married; upon hearing of the Bible study arrangement, he gladly accepted the Bible study course. Additionally, through a “referral” a study was started with the husband’s friend and wife. Then the wife’s parents showed interest in a study of the Bible, so still another study was started. Thus through the “referral” method of starting Bible studies thirty persons are being assisted to learn the truth that leads to everlasting life.

The 1970 service year came to a fine close with the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly in Saint John’s. All were delighted to see 47 baptized in symbol of their dedication, and a new peak of 1,659 persons were present to hear the talk “Saving the Human Race—in the Kingdom Way.” All were overjoyed to hear that we would again have the district assembly in Saint John’s next year, August 18 to 22, 1971.

NEW ZEALAND Population: 2,820,814

Peak Publishers: 5,574 Ratio: 1 to 506

The 1969-1970 service year in New Zealand started with mounting excitement in anticipation of the “Peace on Earth” assembly that was held early in November. What a spiritually enriching experience that proved to be! The year ends with four “Men of Goodwill” District Assemblies and an annual report that shows total hours spent in the ministry and total magazines distributed topping the million mark for the first time! For a certainty, the brothers and sisters here have been very busy talking about Kingdom truth to others.

Sometimes the opportunity comes at secular work. When a discussion about the end of the world arose in the office, one young married sister was ridiculed when she suggested that the staff read what Matthew chapter twenty-four in the Bible had to say on the subject. However, a few days later one of the office girls approached the sister to say she had read this portion of the Bible and had been most impressed. A Truth book was placed on a Friday, and on the following Monday the girl asked what she had to do to become one of Jehovah’s witnesses. The first Bible study with this young woman and her husband lasted till 2 o’clock in the morning as their questions poured forth. They were so moved by what they learned that for the first time in their lives they began praying to Jehovah before going to sleep. Following the third study they began attending all meetings, and today, less than a year later, both have conquered the tobacco habit, both are regular publishers and both plan to be baptized at the next assembly. As the wise man said: “In the morning sow your seed and until the evening do not let your hand rest; for you are not knowing where this will have success.”—Eccl. 11: 6.

A special pioneer couple decided they could improve their ministry by giving more attention to not-at-home calls. Almost immediately they started three new Bible studies with persons previously not at home. How glad they were that they had faithfully cared for these calls when one Bible student remarked: “I realize I will have to study and attend meetings as often as possible because I can see that time is running out. Already I feel some appreciation for Jehovah but I am anxious to deepen it further.” As they checked their results in the field this special pioneer couple found that they obtained over 50 percent of their subscriptions when making return calls on those previously not at home. So they decided to conduct a simple experiment. They selected two streets in their territory with 48 houses on them. They found 31 householders home on the initial call and placed 6 magazines. However, when they called back on the remaining 17 who had not been home, they placed 21 magazines, 2 books and a subscription. These pioneers agreed that it took extra preparation at home to list the not-at-home calls and then faithfully call again, but the results were an ample reward.

Another brother has reason to be convinced that previous lack of response by householders should not discourage us from regularly engaging in the house-to-house work. When his car broke down outside a rural house whose occupants had always previously rejected the truth, the situation brought him into conversation with the lady of the house. After some general talk he worked the discussion around to Bible truth. To his surprise he struck a responsive chord. A return call to meet the husband was arranged. On this second call the couple were invited to attend the Memorial. That anyone would travel twenty-five miles to pick them up and take them to a meeting impressed them. They attended and enjoyed the warm fellowship. Soon parents and children were united in a study of the Truth book. The husband wrote a letter of resignation to his church and, with his “sword of the spirit,” he routed the minister who called to try to dissuade him from studying the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses. Now, less than four months later, they are regular in meeting attendance and eager to qualify for a share in telling others the “good news.” Says the brother who had this experience: “Did the angels have a part in directing these sheeplike ones to Jehovah’s organization? Jehovah knows. What I know is that this family is on the way to life and that we should not give up in searching from house to house for His ‘sheep.’”

We in New Zealand greatly enjoyed having so many from other lands share our “Peace on Earth” assembly last November and I know that the brothers and sisters here would want to join in extending warmest Christian love to the whole association of brothers earth wide.

COOK ISLANDS Population: 19,777

Peak Publishers: 9 Ratio: 1 to 2,197

In April of this year a married Maori couple from New Zealand were able to enter the Cook Islands to serve as special pioneers. This was providential as their arrival coincided with the departure of a brother who had been there for over a year on a work contract, serving where the need was great. Although the special pioneers say the abundance of tropical fruit eliminates any possibility of their starving physically, they are interested in another kind of fruitage, that which results from making disciples.

One of the special pioneers started a study with a Pentecostal pastor and it progressed for several weeks. The greater number of his Pentecostal group also began studying the Truth book. However, a visiting representative of the Pentecostal church frightened the pastor and some others into believing that they would be grieving the holy spirit by studying with Jehovah’s witnesses, so their study ceased. Those influenced were mainly the ones who had had the demonic experience of speaking in tongues. Nevertheless, over half the group continues to study with the special pioneer and some are now attending the meetings.

Although a congregation has not yet been formed, all the regular meetings are held each week, and, with only nine publishers, counting the pioneers, some thirty adults plus children attend the Watchtower study on Sunday mornings. On alternate Sundays they have a public talk as well. After lunch the brothers engage in field service with the special pioneers. During July they averaged eighteen hours each in field service and were conducting, on an average, nearly one Bible study each. Jehovah’s blessing on their work has made it necessary to consider obtaining a Kingdom Hall. Truly, theocratic activity is rapidly gaining momentum in the Cook Islands.

NICARAGUA Population: 1,941,934

Peak Publishers: 1,446 Ratio: 1 to 1,343

For some years now we have been unable to do much work in isolated territory due to the great amount of interest manifested in areas where congregations have already been established. Now, however, growth in the organization has permitted us to devote more time and attention to such isolated areas, with excellent results. Two special pioneers were recently assigned to a remote section. From the first week onward meetings were conducted. At the end of the second month sixteen were enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and thirty were attending the Watchtower study. Ten publishers reported an average of thirty-six hours each. After only four months of work in this isolated territory the latest report shows sixteen publishers reporting, and the special pioneer writes that from sixty to seventy regularly attend the meetings on Sundays.

Three radio stations now broadcast the Society’s program. One circuit servant reports that in one community practically everyone listens to the program and with much appreciation. While working from door to door he did not miss the program, as everyone he spoke with had it on and as he left one house he continued to hear the program at the next.

It appears that even some religious leaders are having second thoughts about us. The Catholic bishop and a priest of one city have gone on record as stating that Jehovah’s witnesses do a fine work that is greatly needed. An evangelist preacher studied three chapters in the Truth book and then began to use it, hidden inside his Bible, to teach Sunday school. His sermons were always based on a chapter of the Truth book. Now, however, he has broken away from false worship and has joined us in preaching in the way Jesus commanded. From another town a sister writes: “While I was working from door to door a lady with whom I was talking asked the priest, who was visiting her, if she could take any literature. The priest then asked me how he could obtain all the issues of The Watchtower and Awake! So I offered the subscriptions. He told me to stop by his office at noon. I did and he took both subscriptions and a Truth book also. Later, on a back-call, he obtained the Evolution book, and we are now arranging a time for a study.”

In some sections it still requires great effort to attend meetings. Often those having to overcome the greatest obstacles are the ones who attend more regularly. The district servant reports that twelve publishers must walk two hours each way to attend meetings; seldom do they miss, however. A circuit servant observed that one sister, during the meetings, had tears streaming down her face for about the first fifteen minutes of each meeting. He asked the overseer if he knew why this sister was crying at the beginning of each meeting. The overseer explained that, due to high blood pressure and rheumatism in her legs, it took fifteen minutes or so for the pain to subside enough for her to be able to endure it without crying. Unless bedridden, however, she is the most regular meeting attender of all.

NIGERIA Population: 55,670,052

Peak Publishers: 85,358 Ratio: 1 to 652

The Society’s branch office in Lagos cares for Kingdom work in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Equatorial Guinea.

One of the highlights of the service year was our “Peace on Earth” assembly at Ilesha, December 17-21. The civil war was then at its hottest pitch and it was not possible for our Ibo brothers to attend. Yet we had 97,201. Because of our well-known neutrality as to the rebellion and the civil war the army gave the brothers full cooperation. They not only granted vehicle passes but issued written instructions to all roadblocks, ordering concerning the Witnesses traveling to and from the assembly: “. . . Treat them politely, assist when necessary.”

The attempt of the “Biafrans” to secede and form an independent government failed, and the war ended on January 15, 1970. We immediately made visits to the area, to comfort and encourage our brothers, to reorganize their work, and to relieve their destitution with supplies of food, medicine and clothes. We are grateful for the gift of $10,000 sent by the office of the president to supplement what we collected locally for our relief and rehabilitation program. Our brothers had suffered greatly. Not only had they endured the indescribable effects of air raids, starvation and disease, but as witnesses of Jehovah they additionally had the extreme harassments and persecution due to conscription drives. From the numerous cases of miraculous deliverance our brothers now know Jehovah as a God of saving acts. Some escaped even after being buried alive, shot at by firing squads, beaten and abandoned as dead, tied and set ablaze, and so on. For refusing to join the army a few brothers were beaten to death. About twelve others died directly from the war; a few of them were killed because they would not allow their wives or daughters to be raped. Only about twelve compromised. Approximately two hundred children and a few adults died from the disease known as kwashiorkor. Practically all the Kingdom Halls were looted. Some fifty of them were totally demolished and another fifty suffered partial destruction from air raids and ground fighting.

A military officer of the Biafra army tried all ways to force the brothers to take up arms, but he failed, though other religious people were easily made to enter military service. A report states: “When the war ended, that same officer went to a brother’s home and expressed his desire to become one of Jehovah’s witnesses. The brothers’ integrity and neutrality in the military camp convinced the officer. ‘I know this is the true religion,’ he said. He is now studying for baptism.” This is typical of scores of former Biafran officers and soldiers who are now learning the way of peace with Jehovah’s witnesses.

Biafran newspapers published hostile comments concerning our brothers and public opinion was soon whipped up against them. Clergymen joined the intense propaganda to get everyone involved. Refusal to fall in line was viewed as sabotage and was often followed by looting and physical assault. Many young brothers were dragged forcibly to army training depots and brutally beaten when they refused to become soldiers. Brought face to face with such fiery tests, how would their faith stand up?

Here is the case of a young pioneer. His reply that he was already a soldier of Christ brought a blow across the head with the comment, ‘Your appointment as a soldier of Christ is terminated; you are now a Biafran soldier.’ Far from submitting, his courageous answer was: ‘Jehovah has not yet notified me that my appointment as his soldier is terminated, and my appointment stands until I receive such notification.’ Despite further brutal treatment he remained faithful. In another case, a young Witness was tortured to death in an underground bunker. Many were brutally beaten; others were chased and hunted down like animals. After noting scores of such cases, one circuit servant remarked: “They proved themselves to be built of fire-resistant material.” Another commented: “It is gratifying to reflect on how Jehovah sustained his servants during the turbulent days of the war. He fortified our faith and infused us with courage. We thank the brothers throughout the world whose prayers on our behalf were so wonderfully answered.”

A very prominent polygamist—a former judge of the appeal court, and a chief—obtained the Truth book and a study was arranged. He quickly saw the issue and made up his mind. Calling his four wives together, he explained his stand, arranged to retain his first wife and sent the others away, making suitable provision for their support as long as necessary. However, all four wives exploded in anger; all their families were called, and before many days almost the entire clan had assembled against him to pressure him into abandoning his stand, but to no avail. He made it clear in writing that he was not interested in the return of the bride price and was even prepared to remain alone if necessary. After a considerable time his senior wife returned to him and they are now living happily together. The last report showed him studying for baptism.

God’s Word, as explained through the Truth book, can even convert witch doctors and juju priests. In one instance a study with a juju priest caused him to abandon polygamy, destroy all appendages of demon worship and resign as a priest of the juju cult. As he went from door to door preaching God’s Word the people in amazement asked “Why?” “The juju has no life. I have turned to the Giver of life, Jehovah,” was the reply.

CAMEROON Population: 5,150,000

Peak Publishers: 14,012 Ratio: 1 to 368

The 1970 service year started out with good prospects for an expanded witness in Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Tchad. The banning of the work before the year’s end in three out of four of these territories and the expelling of all foreign missionaries did not detract from the magnitude of the witness given.

The biggest theocratic event of all time in Cameroon was the “Peace on Earth” national assembly held in Douala in early December. More than 27,000 persons attended the public meeting and 1,678 were baptized. During this same month, the Bethel family moved into its brand-new headquarters building, eager to use the new facilities to Jehovah’s praise. Just five months later, on May 14, the government sealed the building shut following the announcement of the ban. The next day, the work was declared banned in Equatorial Guinea. Just two weeks previous to this action, Gabon authorities dissolved the legal organization of Jehovah’s witnesses.

By the use of intimidation, scolding, ridicule, threats, beatings and arrests, the government, through the political party, tried to force the Witnesses to abandon their Scriptural position of neutrality in political affairs. Did they succeed? For the most part the Witnesses here proved to be like the apostles, who were flogged and ordered to stop speaking upon the basis of Jesus’ name and who “went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.” Some fainthearted ones stopped preaching, a few cowardly turned informer against their brothers.

The following experiences underline the brutal methods used to get the Witnesses involved in political elections, as well as the loss of religious freedom in Cameroon.

On the morning of June 7, election day, the Brigade Commander of the local Gendarmerie (military police), accompanied by three gendarmes, came to Brother N————’s house to get him to vote. Not finding him, they came back that afternoon with the Sub-Prefect and a group of local party members. They broke down the door of his work place and, amidst great applause and jeering, he was taken out and ordered to board a truck, where, he says: “I found eight brothers already arrested, covered with blood.” Before leaving town, he was ordered out of the truck by the Sub-Prefect, who then gave orders to have him beaten by the crowd there. The Sub-Prefect kicked the brother near the heart—he fell unconscious. En route to the police station in the next town, other Witnesses were picked up. Arriving at the town, the Sub-Prefect made the brothers get out of the truck and lie on their stomachs to receive another beating before finally entering prison. A total of seventy-eight Witnesses were held until June 12, when several prominent authorities came to speak to them. The Sub-Prefect asked: “How many are no longer Jehovah’s witnesses?” No one answered. Brother N———— continues, “I along with twenty-four brothers were singled out as the most stubborn ones. We were taken to M———— and held at the B.M.M. (most feared police). There we were whipped: I received forty-seven strokes. On the 24th of June, we were released.” During this time Brother N————’s house was searched and all his personal publications were confiscated.

During July, nine brothers having large families were imprisoned. These brothers were held without trial for several months in Yaoundé, the capital city, then sent to special “centers.” Called “Civic Re-education Centers,” these are located far away from populated areas. The resulting isolation is apparently an essential factor for inculcating “good citizenship” into these Christians.

By using brutal tactics, our opposers hope to frighten the Witnesses into denouncing their religion. In the town of K———— a brother reports that the day following the elections his house was surrounded by gendarmes and political party members. Forcing the doors and windows, the crowd took several brothers for interrogation. He writes: “After lengthy questioning, trying to get us to renounce being Jehovah’s witnesses, we declared openly and absolutely that, ‘WE WILL NEVER RENOUNCE THE NAME OF JEHOVAH THE SUPREME GOD.’ We were excessively beaten until our skin ruptured, but we did not deny our faith. During the five days that we spent at the brigade, we were subjected to forced labor without rest from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. After a few days of hard work, certain gendarmes exclaimed in all honesty that they had never seen such people, for we were always happy, working with great joy. They called us ‘The respectable and honorable people.’ We had a brother in our cell who was born in 1911 and had eighteen children. He was strong and firm. He told the commander that he would serve Jehovah forever.” These brothers were held another ten days and then released.

Since the ban, no public preaching is allowed. However, this does not stop the faithful Witnesses from fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples.

It is our hope that the government will revoke its decision against the peaceful Witnesses in these countries when worldwide concern is shown by fellow Witnesses and freedom-loving people everywhere, prompting them to write to government officials in Cameroon expressing their shock and dismay at the brutal tactics used against the Witnesses as well as the false charges presented against them. Whatever the outcome, our faithful brothers echo Paul’s words at Romans 8:38, 39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Population: 244,574

Peak Publishers: 443 Ratio: 1 to 552

The humble, truth-loving people of Equatorial Guinea long for the time when paradise will be restored to earth under the righteous government of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

During the past service year a missionary couple was assigned to the capital, Santa Isabel, with a view to working among the natives. The response was gratifying; many listened to the Kingdom truth and made steady progress. Then came May 15 with an official ban on the work of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the territory. The special pioneers were the first to be rounded up and sent back to their homelands. The homes of the local brothers were searched, Bible literature was confiscated and some were detained. They were later released with a warning not to preach or hold any further meetings.

Most of the correspondence received has come from Nigerian brothers who have returned from that territory. This includes the majority of the publishers, though a handful still remain in the territory and are continuing the work. Not all reports have come through. One report mentioned that all our magazines were separated from the other mail in the post office and stacked up in a heap instead of being delivered. Despite this, the shepherding work continues, and recently, when a visiting brother was in one congregation, there was a baptismal service. At that time eight persons, four of whom are natives, symbolized their dedication to the Most High God.

NIGER Population: 2,870,000

Peak Publishers: 27 Ratio: 1 to 106,296

During the past service year the Kingdom work has steadily progressed, with a good witness being given in some of the principal towns. The circuit servant reported that in Niamey, the capital, almost everyone who can read now possesses the Truth book. However, the ones responding to the truth are not the native people but strangers from other African countries who are doing secular work in Niger. There are only a few of the native Moslem people studying with the brothers.

Toward the end of the service year the special pioneers in Niamey received a letter from the Minister of Interior stating that the work of Jehovah’s witnesses would not be tolerated in Niger, just as it has not been in Cameroon, Gabon and Madagascar. As a result, the six special pioneers and one regular pioneer in Niamey returned to Nigeria. It has left the little group of publishers remaining in Niamey in a weak position, but they stand firm in spite of difficulties. It is apparent that the religious clergy there had something to do with influencing the mind of the Minister of Interior to send this letter to the brothers. An appeal has been made to him to reconsider his decision, in the hope that freedom of worship will be granted to Jehovah’s witnesses.

A prominent member of the Baptist Church in Niamey who persecuted the brothers and was the backbone of the church traveled to Nigeria to an area where there are many brothers. The brothers were able to study with him and he had a change of heart, progressing rapidly in the truth. As a result, he was one of the 3,425 persons baptized at the Ilesha national assembly in Nigeria. This was a real blow to the Baptist people remaining in Niamey, and strong warnings were given to them by their pastor not to have anything to do with Jehovah’s witnesses.

NORWAY Population: 3,867,419

Peak Publishers: 5,555 Ratio: 1 to 696

Many people in Norway live in unassigned territory, so we have encouraged the brothers to have these in mind during their vacation. This past summer many families and groups of publishers responded, and unassigned territory with approximately 530,000 people was worked. We have also encouraged the brothers to move to places where the need is greater, and many families have done so and had rich blessings.

One brother noticed that the Kingdom Ministry encouraged the publishers to visit fleshly relatives to witness to them. He set aside one evening a week for this purpose and first went to visit his sister. Not wanting to hurt the feelings of her brother, she agreed to having a study, although she was rather unwilling and passive. After a short while, however, she became very much interested, and now both she and her husband and daughter partake regularly in the meetings and are about to start out in the service. Another brother has also shown interest. A study has been started with his family, and they are now attending meetings.

Young Christians can give a fine witness at school by keeping their neutrality. A fifteen-year-old schoolgirl had the following experience: In connection with a national peace celebration, there was to be two minutes’ silence in class, and afterward all the pupils were to stand and sing a patriotic song. Our young sister talked to the teacher in advance and explained that she could not take part. The teacher said she could be exempt, but wanted her to explain her view to the class later. She bravely did so, mentioning that this was a matter of principle to her and was not meant to be a provocation. At the conclusion she gave all her classmates a folder. One week later she approached them in the schoolyard, asking if they wanted to accept the offer of a Bible study. As a result, seven of them came to her home to discuss the Bible, and two of them were willing to have a Bible study for six months using the Truth book. This young sister is a very modest girl, but, relying on Jehovah, she was able to give this witness and was richly blessed.

The following experience stresses the need of calling again even on persons who several times have been unwilling to listen. Two sisters were working from door to door. One of them said: “This woman has proved to be an opposer every time I have called on her, but I think we should try again.” The same woman came out, and they had not spoken many words when she asked: “Are you Jehovah’s witnesses?” Quite amazed, the sisters were asked to come in. The woman told them she had a brother who had always been rather wild, but he had changed completely after starting to study with the Witnesses. Seeing this, she decided to speak to the Witnesses the next time they called at her door. A study was started right away.

This has been a wonderful service year. Of the many outstanding events, we would like to mention the release of the Evolution and Life Everlasting books in the Norwegian language, and the district assemblies, where 7,849 attended and 172 were baptized. We are very thankful to Jehovah for these blessings.

OKINAWA Population: 968,000

Peak Publishers: 450 Ratio: 1 to 2,151

The Okinawan brothers can look back on another year of increase and blessings from Jehovah. The average number of publishers has gone up from 210 in 1966 to 402 this year, nearly twice the number of publishers in just four years. The brothers are combing the territory, and the “sheep” are coming in from all walks of life. This year we have quite a number of young ones coming into the way of the truth. Many who have just finished high school and young university students firmly take their stand for the truth, although their parents oppose, and some have become pioneers.

Since the houses here are not numbered as in Western countries, and there are no names or numbers for the streets, the only way we can cover the territory thoroughly is to work around a block at a time, going into all the lanes until we meet the publisher coming the other way. Here is an example of how the “sheep” are found and how they respond to the truth no matter how many times they may be called on in the same day. One group-witnessing day in February when we were offering the Watchtower subscription an interested university student subscribed from the first publisher that called. A few minutes later another publisher called and placed the Truth book with her. A few minutes later a third publisher called and, seeing that she had already subscribed and had a book, gave her own phone number and the Kingdom Hall address and invited her to attend. That Sunday morning this interested person phoned the third publisher and attended the Kingdom Hall study with her. She wanted to study twice a week, so arrangements were made. She progressed very fast. Just one and a half months after she attended the first meeting, she started out in the service. Within three months she finished the Truth book, and she was baptized at our June circuit assembly, four months after she was first contacted.

Providing accommodations for the circuit servant during his visit may help one’s mate to appreciate the truth, as this experience shows. Since they had extra room in the home, a sister asked her husband if it would be all right to have the circuit servant stay at their home. The husband said that he had no objections. Until this time, although the sister talked to him, he had not shown any interest and would keep away when she was studying. However, each night when the servant came home, the husband would ask questions, and when kind and logical answers were given from the Bible he began to realize that his wife had the truth. The kind and good impression left by the servant during the week moved him to begin to study. Now he is a brother, and since he has a store, he has arranged his affairs with his wife so that he could be a pioneer, which privilege he is now enjoying.

Displaying the fruits of the spirit at your place of work may help others to see the truth, as this experience shows. A brother employed by Northwest Airlines as an airplane trouble-shooter mechanic has conducted himself so differently from others that a fellow mechanic noticed his kindness and his willingness to help, in contrast to others who do not want to help or show others the secrets of their trade. When asked why he was so different, the brother explained that this secular work was secondary, his chief work being for the Kingdom. The man wanted to know more, so a study was started during their rest period and soon he began to learn the truth. He started conducting a study with his family at home and all began to see the difference between this and other religions. They began to attend meetings and enjoyed the upbuilding association of the brothers. Next he wanted to straighten out his affairs so he and his family could serve Jehovah. First he needed to take care of the family altar, since he was the firstborn and the tradition here is that the firstborn should take care of the family altar and look after all the dead ancestors, offering incense, etc. So he called all the family together and explained that he would not care for this altar of the dead anymore because he was becoming a Christian, but he would take care of his father while alive. The family all readily agreed to remove the altar from his home and all were happy about his caring for the father, because until then the care of the father had been their headache. Furthermore, the altar for the dead would not bring hardship on their pocketbook. This man and his family are studying hard so they can soon become Jehovah’s witnesses.

Making back-calls where even one magazine has been placed may bear fruit, as this experience shows. A missionary working in a crowded section of Naha City met a young woman who took just one Watchtower magazine when she offered two. A back-call was made and a study was started. The woman was very sickly, going to the doctor every other day. Sometimes she had to study lying down. Then they moved to a home where they had a yard and a big garden space, and she suddenly seemed to get well. Instead of visiting the doctor she was now working in the garden. She progressed spiritually and began to attend meetings.

The strong stand for the truth brought some family opposition, but she progressed and began to go out in the service. Her husband’s opposition increased, but this did not slow her down. On meeting nights he would lock her out so she could not come in the house. So she used an old blanket and slept out in the garden under a corrugated metal sheet. Every Thursday night so far her husband shuts her out, so she has everything prepared to sleep under the stars, despite a definite danger of poisonous habu snakes in the area, not to mention the numerous mosquitoes. When asked about it, she said it was nothing compared to what our brothers are experiencing in Malawi and other places. Her positive attitude is bringing her Jehovah’s blessing. She hopes to be baptized at the coming district assembly.

PAKISTAN Population: 131,000,000

Peak Publishers: 159 Ratio: 1 to 823,899

The value of house-to-house work in making disciples is illustrated in the experience related by a new publisher. “It all started when I looked out the window and watched a group of people disperse to various homes. I felt sure that they were Christians. I was very excited because we are the only Christian family in our lane and I wanted them to come to our home to talk about the Bible. Every day since I had converted from being a Muslim about ten years ago I had read and loved the Bible. Then I saw them move on to other homes, so I moved from window to window watching for them to come to my door. As soon as they knocked I rushed to open it, lest they move off. The sister read to me things from Revelation which I had never noticed before, and as I listened I knew that they were true. She then offered me the Truth book, and when I asked my husband for the money it happened to be the only amount we had. I said, ‘Never mind, I want that book.’ Later in the day I sold some old books and newspapers to get money for the day’s food, and I received exactly the amount I had given. The sister arranged to come back to start a Bible study, and from that time onward I have never looked back. I thought that when I changed from a Muslim to a nominal Christian I would never leave my new religion, but to my amazement I changed without an argument. Now I attend meetings with my husband and I witness to all my relatives and friends and, each day, study with my two children. How thankful I am to have found the truth with Jehovah’s people!”

A Japanese man, who works at planning parks in Pakistan, and his wife were contacted in the house-to-house ministry. As the husband’s knowledge of English progressed, the Bible study was held in two languages, the wife’s answers being given in Japanese and translated into English by her husband. Originally of the Buddhist faith, they quickly changed, burned all their Buddhist books, wrote to all their relatives about their new belief and started witnessing to friends and fellow workers. This resulted in opposition, particularly at work, where the men got together and burned the booklets and Watchtower magazines that this interested man had distributed among them. During this time they had attended only the Memorial and an occasional public talk. We discussed with them the article “What Are You Doing About What You Have Learned?” from the March 1, 1970, Watchtower, and immediately following this they attended the circuit assembly held locally and have been to every Sunday meeting since. This in spite of the fact that the husband understands only about 60 percent of what is said, and the wife barely 5 percent. The husband is now sharing in the house-to-house ministry, and looking forward to planning a far bigger park after Armageddon.

AFGHANISTAN Population: 14,000,000

Peak Publishers: 7 Ratio: 1 to 2,000,000

A very fine year’s activity has been carried on by the small group of publishers in Afghanistan. The circuit servant is able to visit twice a year and the brothers never fail to attend the three assemblies held in Pakistan each year.

Having spent some twelve years of serving where the need is greater in this difficult assignment, the overseer of this fine group writes concerning the year’s activity: “The service year has been a splendid and a blessed one. Even as riots and demonstrations passed through town we had a quiet life and fruitful activity. To reach a small settlement of Germans working in the southeast of the country we spent almost three days in traveling, crossing four mountain passes and had time to do only one hour of field service. Nevertheless, the people were really astonished that Jehovah’s witnesses had found their way to them, and the three publishers were blessed in placing forty-five magazines during their visit.”

PANAMA Population: 1,425,343

Peak Publishers: 1,905 Ratio: 1 to 748

We have had our biggest year in Panama in theocratic activities as the truth has continued to spread to all parts of the Republic. The organization has grown spiritually as more and more of the publishers have become better qualified as mature servants and public speakers, and this, in turn, has resulted in a fine witness throughout the country.

Incidental witnessing can produce fine results as this experience shows. A circuit servant writes: “While traveling on a bus from one congregation to another I took advantage of the time to talk to other passengers about the Kingdom. A young man sitting at my side showed unusual interest, and when I showed him the Truth, book he immediately contributed for it, giving me his name and address to be sent on to the nearest congregation. Imagine my delight and surprise when I visited the congregation about four months later and saw him sitting in the audience, and it was an even greater joy to see his name on the schedule to work with me in the house-to-house ministry. He had not waited for someone to find him, but rather had looked up the brothers to ask them for a Bible study and had made good progress.”

From time to time it is good to call back on those who have known something about the truth but have never done anything about it. A pioneer minister reports: “When I arrived in my new assignment I learned of a family that had previously studied the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses but had quit. They agreed that they needed to get started again and it was arranged even though the man did not seem to be so enthusiastic about it. From the very first study it was clear what their problem was. Although they had been living together for several years and had five children, the parents were not married but were living in fornication. As the study started I emphasized the fact that we are living in the ‘last days’ and that those not on Jehovah’s side are in grave danger. It seemed to make a profound impression upon him, and that very week the entire family came to the public talk and Watchtower study. With just a month of Bible study they saw the need to set their lives in order, obtained a marriage license and, during the visit of the circuit servant, got married, starting out in the field ministry that very week. I was very happy to see the two of them get baptized at our recent circuit assembly, and now some of the children are beginning to publish. All this in less than six months from the time I first called on this family that had known about the truth for years but had never done anything about it.”

During the latter part of the year many of the school-children of dedicated parents have had problems because of not taking part in nationalistic ceremonies and some have been expelled, while great publicity has been given the matter by certain radio commentators. However, the effect so far has been to awaken more interest in the truth and more persons have been inquiring about our position in the matter, so that a wider witness has been given than would have been otherwise. We confidently trust in Jehovah for his blessing and protection during the coming year so that an even greater witness might be given and more of the sheeplike ones be gathered in as disciples.

PAPUA Population: 600,597

Peak Publishers: 554 Ratio: 1 to 1,084

From the branch office here in Papua we have the privilege of looking after the work of Jehovah’s witnesses in Bougainville, Manus Island, New Britain, New Guinea, New Ireland and the Solomon Islands as well as Papua. We have had many wonderful blessings this year, not the least of which was our first international assembly, during October. The brothers and other interested persons are still talking about how wonderful it was to be together with their brothers from different parts of the world during that assembly. Later in the service year we received another fine blessing with the release of the Truth book in the Melanesian-Pidgin and Police Motu languages. The brothers were thrilled and the public acceptance of this book has been tremendous, over 8,000 copies being placed with the public during the last five months of the service year.

Do you pass up the opportunity to witness to the clergy in your territory? If so, you may miss some very fine experiences in helping them to flee from Babylon the Great while there is yet time. We are told at Acts 6:7 that “a great crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith” in the days of the apostles. It is not surprising, then, to see honest-hearted ones today responding to the call to get out of Babylon the Great, just as this experience shows. Some years ago, a retired pastor of the United Church was contacted by a local congregation servant in the house-to-house work. After hearing what the brother said, he asked where the brother got all of his information. The brother replied that it came from the Bible and that he used the Watchtower magazine to help him get the proper understanding. Later, people of the village began to make fun of him because he had listened to the brother. ‘Why do you listen to those Witnesses?’ they asked. ‘Because these ordinary men from the village know more about the Bible than I, who have gone through a religious seminary,’ was the humble reply. As time went on, this man’s sons became Witnesses, until only the old man and his wife, who opposed the Witnesses and her husband violently, were left. The old pastor did not let his wife’s very vocal opposition deter him. At first, he would come in after dark so that the village people would not see, and then, as he became stronger spiritually, he would walk right into the meeting in front of everyone.

Now it was time to prepare to go to the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly. The wife saw her children preparing to make the trip, and her husband was making his own preparations to be in attendance. ‘What am I supposed to do?’ she said to them. Her husband and children told her that they would be very happy to have her come with them to the assembly. The result? What she saw at the assembly provided a shock for her. Where were the arguments, abusive speech and even fights that were so common at large gatherings of her own religion? Yes, the fine conduct of the brothers and sisters at the assembly caused her to have a change of heart. At a recent circuit assembly in their village, what a joy it was to hear them relate how they came to know the truth, leaving Babylon the Great and becoming publishers of the good news of God’s kingdom.

BOUGAINVILLE Population: 72,490

Peak Publishers: 16 Ratio: 1 to 4,531

Clearly showing the important part subscriptions can play in getting the good news into isolated areas is the following experience. “One morning a sister busy at secular work was approached by a local man who requested a ‘booklet.’ A short discussion with him soon revealed that the man wanted a ‘booklet’ to come to him in his village like the one his friend was getting. With that he pulled out a subscription copy of The Watchtower with the wrapper still on it. His subscription was promptly written out, to his great satisfaction. He said that the first subscription coming to his village had caused many people to become interested in this magazine, as it had been passed on to all in the village.”

Have you ever had to wait for the doctor to see you in his office? A sister found herself in that position and used the time to witness to a man who was also waiting for the doctor and place a Bible with him. Two months later the man was contacted on business, and when the business had been completed a further witness was given and the Truth book was placed. He was so pleased to see such a book in Pidgin that he obtained two additional copies. Awhile later he turned up at the sister’s home; this time he wanted an English Bible and four more copies of the Truth book. He said that the people in his village were very happy to get the spiritual food in the form of the Truth book and that they would like to have the brothers visit them in the village. Since his visit, two other men from the village have visited this sister’s home to obtain copies of the Truth book for themselves. Two Bibles and nine Truth books placed as a result of taking advantage of waiting time to do incidental witnessing! Could you do the same?

MANUS ISLAND Population: 20,647

Peak Publishers: 17 Ratio: 1 to 1,215

The brothers continue to give a fine witness in this island territory. The regular pioneer is working diligently, and by means of his kind efforts in the ministry the work has a fine name throughout the outer islands.

Sometimes when it is easy for us to get to circuit assemblies we tend to take them somewhat for granted. The publishers on this island have not found it easy to attend circuit assemblies in the past, as the trip to the nearest one would cost them almost as much as they receive in a month’s wages. So, they were most appreciative when the Society arranged for their first small circuit assembly this year, as you can see from the letter we received from them at the close of the assembly: “The first assembly was a great success. The local brothers contributed generously to cover the costs of the assembly. After paying the expenses we had $33.00 left over and we are sending that to you as a donation. All of us feel that this assembly was the best gift we have ever had.”

With an average attendance each day of fifty-two persons, we can see that there are good prospects for further increase in this territory during the coming service year.

NEW BRITAIN Population: 154,188

Peak Publishers: 98 Ratio: 1 to 1,573

Although the number of publishers on this island decreased during the year as five pioneers and six publishers moved out to serve in other areas, fine progress has been made in opening up new areas of interest on the island. Seven new isolated groups have been started, with good prospects for further expansion during the new service year.

What can result from the magazines you place when doing street magazine work? A circuit servant reports on what happened in one case: “During my visit to the isolated group I learned about another village, a day’s walk away, where the people were supposed to be interested in the truth. I decided we would make the trip starting the following morning. As dusk approached on the following day, we came upon the village we were looking for. We were met by two women who were curious to know who we were, as very few Europeans visit the area. I explained that we were witnesses of Jehovah, and one of the women immediately replied, ‘I am a Witness too.’ Then they took us on into the village to meet the other twelve who claimed to be Witnesses. What a group of happy faces there were that evening as we talked about the truth. They had first heard of the truth as a result of a trip made to the main town by one of the men. While there he obtained several copies of The Watchtower from a publisher who was doing street magazine work. At the invitation of the publisher he attended several meetings. Upon his return to the village he told the people what he had heard and, in his own way, he held a study with the interested ones, although he was unable to read. The little group made good progress in spite of the strong opposition from the Catholic church. Even though they had very limited knowledge of the truth, they clung firmly to what they knew, and so were able to survive the persecution. What a joy it was for me to help one of these men so that he would be prepared to conduct a regular weekly Watchtower study, even though he had never been to a meeting or spoken to any Witnesses other than ourselves! We were surprised to see how much of the truth they were able to learn from a few back issues of The Watchtower. With a study using the Truth book in Pidgin now organized for them, these interested persons should be able to make fine progress in their study of the truth.”

“We think it proper to hear from you what your thoughts are, for truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.” (Acts 28:22) These words spoken to the apostle Paul clearly show how opposition to the truth backfires on the clergy, actually stimulating interest in the truth in many cases where there was none before. Illustrating this, a special pioneer reports: “We are having a lot of good experiences. And the local Catholic priest is giving us a lot of attention during his services. One day after completing a number of studies along one road, I was riding up the road when a woman rushed out and stopped me, asking for the little book. What had prompted her interest? She said: ‘The priest told us that when you Jehovah’s witnesses come around we are to tell you we are too busy to listen. But my husband and I decided we must ask you why it is that he tells us we cannot listen to you, when you are only teaching the Bible.’ We are happy to tell you that this woman and her husband have begun a study of the Bible with us and are keen to understand Jehovah’s will.”

NEW GUINEA Population: 1,357,455

Peak Publishers: 361 Ratio: 1 to 3,760

“For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) The truthfulness of this principle is borne out by this experience sent in by one of the circuit servants: “During my last visit to the congregation I was happy to be approached by an older woman who wanted to become a publisher. She explained that she had wanted to become a publisher as far back as 1967 but, as she was the third wife of a polygamist, she was unable to. It seems that when she heard the truth in 1967 she stopped having relations with this man. But, since she was a good cook and housekeeper, the man insisted that she look after him in these matters. To the native people, this meant she was still his wife. During the past three years she has worked to overcome this problem and now she has cut herself off entirely from him. She is living separately and has handed over her duties to another woman. She wanted to know if there was anything else she had to do before she could become a publisher!” By her actions she has certainly shown that Jehovah’s commandments are “not burdensome,” and we are happy to report that she is now a joyful publisher of the good news.

Children of all ages benefit from being required by their parents to pay attention at meetings, as this experience shows. The family attended a public talk, illustrated with pictures, on the weekend. During the time for drawing lessons at kindergarten the following week, the young boy remembered part of the talk and picture he had seen at the meeting. and drew this on his paper. Prominent in his drawing was the name “Jehovah.” When the teacher examined the drawing she wanted to know who this “Jehovah” is. When the boy replied that Jehovah is the true God, the teacher was amazed and commended him. She also put his picture, with God’s name boldly in evidence, on display for all the mothers to see on their visiting day. How true the words, “Out of the mouths of babes . . . [who pay attention during meetings] you have furnished praise.”—Matt. 21:16.

NEW IRELAND Population: 50,129

Peak Publishers: 40 Ratio: 1 to 1,253

Following Brother Knorr’s suggestion to provide small circuit assemblies for the brothers where it is too expensive for them to travel, the first circuit assembly was held on New Ireland during the year. Jehovah’s blessing was evident from the beginning, for, although we have had a peak of forty publishers during the year, average attendance each day for the assembly was seventy-three, with ten persons being baptized.

The powerful effect the Bible truths contained in the Truth book are having on people’s lives is illustrated by the following experience from a special pioneer. “During the two years that we have worked the East Coast we have had many fine experiences, one of which involved a Roman Catholic catechist. This man was among the first contacted by us. When given a witness he listened politely but would not accept any literature. Before leaving, we invited him to attend the group study, which was being held not far from his home. Several weeks later, who should appear at the study but our friend the catechist! After the study he was invited to have a personal home Bible study. As this was before the Truth book was released in Pidgin, we started his study in the ‘Good News’ booklet. Not long after, the material from the Truth book was brought out in The Watchtower and we changed over to a study of that material. With the completion of the first couple of chapters I began to see real changes in his life. By the time the six months were up, he had rid himself completely of local custom and severed his ties with Babylon the Great. He was one of those baptized at our first circuit assembly. Three weeks later he vacation pioneered. Now he is preparing to become a regular pioneer so that he can have a greater share in sounding down the truth into the hearts of others on this island.”

SOLOMON ISLANDS Population: 139,730

Peak Publishers: 553 Ratio: 1 to 253

How do young people feel about their family study? The following experience related at a recent circuit assembly shows the appreciation felt. “From the time I was a young boy my father and mother always studied with me. When I grew up I went to H———— to work. Even though I had left home my parents still thought of me and wrote letters to me. They would always put Scriptural counsel in these letters and I would get my Bible out and read the texts. The young people around me tried to get me to join with them in their parties, and when I told them I had to go to the meetings they tried to convince me that I should wait until I was older and then I could think about the Bible and meetings, but now while I was young I should just have a good time. At these times I always remembered the good things my parents taught me, such as the counsel at Psalm 1:1: ‘Happy is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked ones.’ I must thank my parents for the family study. Now I am a publisher, and today at this assembly I symbolized my dedication to Jehovah by baptism.” What blessings flow to parents who fulfill their God-given responsibility to teach their children!

The wisdom of the counsel given through the “faithful and discreet slave” to terminate Bible studies after six months where the people make no effort to show they are ‘deserving ones’ is shown by the following experience. (Matt. 10:11) “I placed a Truth book with a man in a village near K————, and he agreed to the six-month study program. In just a few weeks the Adventists began visiting him, and then the United Church pastor came. Although he was regular in preparing his study, he did not respond to invitations to attend meetings. Finally, at the end of six months, the matter was explained to the man and then I discontinued the study. A few weeks went by and then the man appeared at the meetings of the K———— congregation. He became a regular attender. When I heard he was attending meetings I immediately visited him and the study was resumed. He told me that when the study was stopped because of his lack of progress it made him think. He considered more of the Truth book material himself and contrasted how much he was learning with what other religions were offering him. This led him to conclude that Jehovah’s witnesses must have the truth and he determined to associate with us. Now he is considering dedication and baptism.”

“Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you,” was David’s counsel at Psalm 55:22. Do you have a physical handicap that obstructs fulfillment of your desire to serve Jehovah more fully? Then take courage from this experience of one whom Jehovah has sustained. “When I was a very young boy I was struck down with polio, which left me paralyzed from the hips down. As I grew up and learned the truth I was determined to serve Jehovah, and in 1959 I was baptized. On the rough bush tracks I could not use a wheelchair, or crutches, so I learned to walk with my hands, using wooden blocks in each hand to protect them against the rough ground. Although it was a very slow way to travel, I was happy that I could move about in my service to Jehovah. After tasting the vacation pioneer work in 1963, I made up my mind that, with Jehovah’s help, I would become a regular pioneer. So I set to work getting ready for this big step. With the loving assistance of the brothers in the congregation, I built myself a house. Then I planted a small garden of taro, sweet potatoes, cabbage and bananas to care for my needs. By spending just two afternoons a week looking after it I can spend the rest of my time in Jehovah’s service. I am happy to say that I have begun my pioneer work now, and I have had some very fine blessings as I witness to the nearby villages. Some of the brothers helped me to get a small canoe, and now I am able to visit some of the nearby islands also. I am thankful to Jehovah for this wonderful privilege and to my brothers and sisters who are always willing to go with me in the ministry so that, as Paul said, there is always an ‘interchange of encouragement.’” In addition to his pioneering, this brother is also now a congregation servant. Truly, Jehovah does sustain those who cast their burdens on him in full faith!

PARAGUAY Population: 2,379,000

Peak Publishers: 803 Ratio: 1 to 2,963

The brothers in Paraguay have many things to be thankful for as they reflect back on the 1970 service year. It is evident that Jehovah’s blessing has been upon their efforts to preach the good news of the Kingdom, and fine increases have resulted. Two new Kingdom Halls were constructed. Two new missionary homes were opened to house some of the thirty-one missionaries serving here, and the special pioneer ranks were strengthened with the addition of ten qualified workers from neighboring Argentina. Also very much appreciated are the several families and individuals who have moved here to serve where the need is great. A fine potential for future increase exists in that 2,152 interested persons attended the Memorial.

A zealous desire to put Kingdom interests first can overcome great obstacles. An isolated group of seventeen publishers, with attendances of up to forty at meetings, had outgrown the facilities that a private home can provide. They badly needed their own Kingdom Hall but had no money and no prospects of work in order to earn some, that is, on an individual basis. However, they were able to make an agreement with a logging operator whereby they, as a group, would clear ten acres of land (with axes and machetes) in exchange for building materials and some money. Enemy pressure to stop the building work was brought to bear but was overcome with official help, and the Kingdom Hall, with a small room for the visiting circuit servant, was finished in good time. Imagine their joy on seeing sixty-seven present for the dedication! Four interested families belonging to this group could not attend the evening meetings as they lived seven miles from the hall and had no means of transportation. Appreciating the Bible counsel ‘not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together,’ they sold their outlying farms and bought land closer to the Kingdom Hall, so that now, in this sparsely settled rural community, virtually all the land close to the Kingdom Hall belongs to the brothers, and now their only problem is that they have to walk quite a distance to get to their territory.

When the truth penetrates the heart, it can move even young people who are newly associated to take a firm stand in spite of parental opposition. A young girl in her teens learned the truth from an aunt with whom she was visiting. Anxious to share the truth with her mother, she wrote her of the things she was learning, but the mother’s response was to obtain the services of a psychologist, who wrote the daughter in an effort to discourage her. So convinced was the psychologist of the rightness of the mother that she offered her services without charge. In an emotionally charged letter she wrote of the ‘pain and anguish that a humble mother was suffering as a result of the ingratitude of a daughter’ and said that the daughter ‘had the pride of Satan toward her mother’ and that her new religion ‘separated her love from her mother.’ ‘Did she not have shame, did she not have a heart?’ The letter also accused the daughter of permitting herself to be led astray by “ignorant and unscrupulous persons.” Despite the emotional appeal, the daughter stood firm on the side of the truth.

Frustrated, the mother came to Paraguay and, with relatives in a town some twenty miles distant from where her daughter lived, she arranged a large birthday party and then sent word to her daughter that she had arrived and wanted to see her. The girl prepared herself with answers for the many questions that she felt sure her mother would ask, but, on arriving, she found this “surprise” birthday party, with many friends and relatives of her mother present. When it came time to blow out the candles on the birthday cake, the daughter refused and this so enraged her “humble” mother that she grabbed the girl by the hair and almost pushed her face into the cake, thus forcing her to blow out the candles. When the food was passed around, the girl refused to eat the chicken, for she knew that it had been improperly killed, being strangled as is the local custom, and not bled. All her efforts to explain were in vain. Again the mother lost complete control of herself and began to strike the girl about the face again and again in front of everyone present, until finally the girl, with her mouth bleeding, was able to free herself and flee to the highway, where she caught a bus that took her back to the capital and her aunt. She has since then dedicated her life to Jehovah and is making fine progress in the ministry.

PERU Population: 13,586,000

Peak Publishers: 4,518 Ratio: 1 to 3,007

Daily we preach to people in our door-to-door work Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:7, that besides wars and food shortages, there would be earthquakes in one place after another. A very violent earthquake struck Peru on May 31 of this year. To Jehovah’s witnesses living in the disaster area, it brought home quite vividly how Jesus’ words are being fulfilled. To have experienced such a cataclysmic earthquake, to have survived it, and to know that yet even worse things will come upon the inhabited earth in the near future only serve to bring them closer to Jehovah’s organization. Many interesting experiences were had during and after the quake, and they all show that Jehovah God can and does protect his obedient people if that be his will at any given time.

Obedience of one daughter to her mother’s instructions resulted in her safety. This mother, a person interested in the truth, had to leave the town of Huaraz five days prior to the earthquake. To her daughter, who also studies the truth with her, she gave the following instructions: “Remember, I will not be here Sunday to go to the Kingdom Hall with you. But Sunday at 3 p.m. close up the store, go home and change, and be at the meeting. When I come home you can tell me what you learned.” When Sunday arrived the daughter had not forgotten that she was to go to the Kingdom Hall. Promptly at 3 p.m. (one hour before meeting time) she closed up the store, which was located in the center of town, and went out to the family farm just outside of town, to change and clean up. She was all ready to start for the Kingdom Hall when the quake hit. She ran to the center of the large open patio in the house and was safe. If she had not obeyed her mother, there is no doubt in her mind that she would have died. The downtown house where the shop was located was in shambles. The streets nearby were all filled in with heavy adobe bricks from fallen houses.

The wife of the Bible study servant of the Huaraz congregation is not one of Jehovah’s witnesses, although she is kindly. Being a businesswoman, it was her custom to go to the center of Huaraz on Sunday afternoons to buy up stock for her business. Doing so, she missed the Sunday afternoon meetings at the Kingdom Hall with her family. This greatly disturbed the husband and on Sunday, May 31, he was urging his wife to make an adjustment in her schedule so that she could attend the public talk and the Watchtower study. She had many arguments why she could not. He persisted, using his Bible to present his reasons why she should come along with him and the children. Because of the discussion she delayed leaving, and then the earthquake began. All her arguments were shaken to the ground. By running into the wide passageway by the house she and her family were not hit by the falling debris. Where she might have been in the center of town hundreds of people died, and she knew she would have been just one more victim if her husband had not been persistent. Now she never misses a meeting, and she is quite content to listen to what her husband has to tell her. Later, both she and her husband remarked that their young children called out the name Jehovah in their fright, while the neighbors round about were shouting out the names of saints and false gods. How profitable had been the family study, and now the wife attends that too.

The brothers in the disaster zone did not miss the purpose of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. The very next day found many of them occupied either cleaning up their Kingdom Halls to the extent possible for the meeting on Tuesday, or out going from ruin to ruin comforting mourning ones. On Wednesday, aid was on its way. Jehovah’s family reacted earth wide with messages of concern, material aid and, most important, prayers. This part of that family here in Peru is grateful and takes this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to all.

Recently the Watchtower magazine showed that King Sennacherib of ancient Assyria pictured the nationalistic power of today and that it would come up against Jehovah’s people in these “last days.” In the towns of Ilo and Toquepala in southern Peru, children of Jehovah’s witnesses were called in before the school authorities because of not singing the national anthem. They were suspended for three days, then for fifteen days, and, after a third episode, they were expelled from school. Much pressure was brought to bear upon the children to get them to obey the school authorities as being more important than what their parents had taught them from the Sacred Scriptures. One professor said to one of the children: “If your mother was before the court sentenced to die, and to save your mother, the court said you must go and set fire to a house nearby, would you not obey the court? Your parents will suffer now if you do not sing the national anthem and you have to leave school.” The child answered: “I would not set fire to the house, for that is wrong. Even if my mother died, I know she would be resurrected. Besides, you would not ask me to burn down a house.” The professor was embarrassed and had nothing more to say. Thus, in spite of threats and pressure, the children maintained their integrity toward Jehovah and did not bow to the will of mere men.

The wise man Solomon said, “Even a child is known by his deeds, according as his conduct is crooked or straight.” (Prov. 20:11, AT) This is true of “Flor,” whose name, in English, means “flower.” In school she is truly like a flower in a thirsty desert. During classes of religion at school, the teacher often asked Flor her opinion because her comments were so reasonable. Flor was studying with Jehovah’s witnesses and she did not hesitate to speak out what she was learning. By the following year she knew enough to request exemption from the religious classes, as she wanted to break away from religious Babylon the Great and dedicate her life to Jehovah. Exemption was asked for and received. Nevertheless, after the discussions in their religious studies, her schoolmates still came to ask her, “Well, what does the Bible really say?” During recess one day, she saw the girls practicing “mental telepathy.” So Flor got out her Bible and showed the girls in Deuteronomy 18:10-13 that such things are detestable in Jehovah’s sight because they leave individuals open to the influence of the demons. Now there is no practicing of extrasensory perception among that group of girls. Flor has a reputation in her school for always having a ready answer from her Bible.

The brothers were reminded time and again of the love and concern their brothers felt for them in their time of need. Especially were they pleased with the clothing received, and all the brothers in the earthquake zone and all the regular and special pioneers and missionaries, who also received of the clothing to replenish what they so unselfishly supplied to the brothers, asked me to convey their thanks and appreciation.

PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC Population: 37,000,000

Peak Publishers: 54,789 Ratio: 1 to 675

A wonderful year of blessings has been enjoyed. It started with the thrilling “Peace on Earth” assembly in Manila and ended with 7,145 new disciples having been baptized! Truly we can thank Jehovah from our hearts as did David: “You have crowned the year with your goodness.”—Ps. 65:11.

Conscious of teaching according to individual needs, a brother studying with a family of seven spent some time after each study to make personal application of points learned, with good success. When he observed specific needs or problems among any family members, he used this time to discuss frankly the Scriptural principles involved. When idols remained in the home even after studying the matter in the Truth book, he spent the time to impress this more deeply on their hearts, and the next week the idols disappeared. A tour of the Bethel home prompted the father to make up a family schedule of chores and preaching, but when his children failed to follow his schedule he became very downhearted. Discerning the problem, the brother spent the study hour discussing the role of children in the family, using the March 1, 1970, Watchtower article, “Youths, Do You Respect Your Parents?” Applying this, the family progressed well, and in May the three older teen-age children spent 115, 92 and 97 hours respectively in the field service, two of them starting new Bible studies. In July, the parents and four teenage children were baptized together, grateful for the loving, personal care shown during their eleven months of study.

Not being ashamed to identify herself in high school as one of Jehovah’s witnesses brought unexpected dividends to a fifteen-year-old sister. One day her teacher in literature class forgot her assignment book and borrowed the sister’s notebook to check the class assignment. On the inside page the sister had written a brief prayer to Jehovah and, seeing this, the teacher asked to what religion she belonged. Upon being informed, the teacher said, “I too am one of Jehovah’s witnesses, but I have been inactive for six years.” Because of fear of losing friends she had never spoken of Jehovah in the school. On observing how fearlessly the young sister spoke of the truth to her classmates, she was so strengthened that she immediately began attending meetings again. Soon she was active in service and her chemical engineer husband began to study too. At the “Peace on Earth” assembly the husband was baptized, and in December the couple vacation pioneered together. All this because a young schoolgirl was “not ashamed of the good news”!—Rom. 1:16.

Even the very young can conduct productive Bible studies. A nine-year-old girl was trained from an early age by her parents and pioneer sister. Since she was placing as many as fifty magazines a month, her sister helped her to start calling back on those her own age. She soon found two young girls who were willing to study with her. She conducts her studies faithfully each week and prepares well in advance, asking her sister for help on difficult points. When the circuit servant visited, she successfully conducted her study while he observed. She was so encouraged that she now has three more studies, making five in all! Two of them are regularly attending meetings in the Kingdom Hall and one is sharing in the ministry, even conducting one of the studies under the supervision of the nine-year-old!

Even older publications can bring spiritual food to meek ones. In a very remote section of northern Luzon is an area accessible from the highway only by riding logging trucks and then by walking for thirty-six miles over mountain trails and rivers, a trip that takes a day and a half. A group of publishers made this trip during unassigned territory work, and when they arrived they were surprised to find several interested persons who had had some contact with the truth years ago, but who had only a copy of the book “Let God Be True” and a special issue of The Watchtower. They were meeting every Sunday to study these publications over and over again, and some of them were actively preaching from house to house what they knew, one even being called a “pioneer” by the others because of his zeal. Society-appointed pioneers were sent to aid them, and now there is a flourishing group of fifteen publishers who spend over seventeen hours a month in service and conduct, on the average, more than one Bible study each.

PORTUGAL Population: 9,470,000

Peak Publishers: 7,498 Ratio: 1 to 1,263

“Serve Jehovah with rejoicing. Come in before him with a joyful cry.” (Ps. 100:2) This is the spirit being manifested by the brothers in this land as another very prosperous year comes to a close. This year has seen the work spread to many towns and villages. In one case, a man was so opposed to his wife’s studying the Bible that he moved from Lisbon to a small village of no more than one hundred inhabitants with the express purpose of cutting off her association with the Witnesses. The interested lady kept studying alone and at every opportunity spoke the truth to her neighbors. Shortly after, she was overjoyed to learn there was a newly formed congregation only fifteen miles from her village. When the overseer made his first visit to the interested lady’s home, he was truly surprised to meet a group of twenty persons she had gathered together for the occasion. Within several months this group has prospered so much that regular congregation meetings are now being held in this village, and we are happy to report that the opposing husband has become interested in the truth.

Can elderly people participate in the ministry? Consider this example: A sister who is eighty-eight years of age could no longer go from house to house and manifested concern about how to share regularly in the service. It was suggested that she use the obituary column in the newspaper and write letters to bereaved families. This she did. For a long time no replies were received; nevertheless, she persevered in writing. Can you imagine her joy when one day the following letter, which we quote in part, was in her mailbox: “Although I do not know you, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the loving words you wrote us. They sparked a desire to learn more about the Bible . . . I must tell you of something strange that happened today. Two ladies called at my home to talk about God’s kingdom . . . I mentioned to them that I had received a letter from someone I didn’t know with a similar message. These two ladies left me a book and I am going to give it careful attention as they promised they would call back to help me understand it.” Our two sisters did call back and a Bible study was started. We are happy to say that the interested lady is already attending meetings along with her husband and son.

Many devout, practicing Catholics are readily perceiving that this is Jehovah’s day of salvation. A publisher placed a booklet with a Catholic lady who later showed the booklet to her husband. On making the first back-call, the Witness was able to talk to the man of the house as well as read several Bible texts. The man expressed strong doubt that these texts would be in a Catholic Bible and reaffirmed the fact that his was a practicing Catholic family. Several days after this first back-call, the man could no longer restrain his curiosity. He went to a Catholic bookstore and requested to purchase, as he says, “a real, legitimate Catholic Bible.” For the first time in his life he began reading the Bible and, indeed, confirmed what the publisher had told him. A Bible study was immediately started. Within four months the man symbolized his dedication to serve Jehovah by water baptism. But this is not all! The publisher who made the first call and conducted the study was not baptized, although knowing the truth for several years. The zeal and earnestness for the truth on the part of this interested man and wife so stimulated the publisher that he realized it was high time to dedicate his life to Jehovah. What a thrill that the publisher was also baptized on the same day.

ANGOLA Population: 5,300,000

Peak Publishers: 355 Ratio: 1 to 14,930

The transforming power of God’s Word is illustrated by the following experience. A lady encountered in the door-to-door ministry showed genuine interest in the truth but sadly mentioned that her life was a tragic failure, since her husband had acquired considerable fame for having relations with many women. The publisher comforted the lady by assuring her that knowledge from the Bible is more powerful than most people imagine and that if her husband learned what God thought of adulterers he might well change his course of action. A return visit was arranged for a time when the husband would be at home. How happy was the wife, as well as the publisher, when the husband manifested deep respect for God’s Word and agreed to a home Bible study. After the third study the couple completely destroyed all images from their home. Shortly after, the husband recognized how displeasing to God his immoral life was and completely terminated his adulterous ways. Within six months both husband and wife made such fine progress that they were baptized. Recently the husband refused a promotion from his employer since it would interfere with regular meeting attendance, and this new, zealous servant of God is already serving as an assistant servant in the local congregation.

AZORES Population: 348,000

Peak Publishers: 87 Ratio: 1 to 4,000

Resistance to God’s message of truth by the clergy is really helping free people from “Babylon’s” bondage. A youngster called the parish priest to the street, saying that the lady passing by had a purse full of books and was teaching the Bible. The priest stopped the Witness and demanded by what authority she was teaching the Bible. The sister calmly read several texts from the Bible while many in the neighborhood gathered around to listen attentively. The priest turned to his followers, saying, ‘Don’t believe what this woman says, because her Bible is full of errors.’ The Witness replied that if the priest had a better Bible she would be glad to see it. The priest excused himself saying he could not attend to her at the moment, but an appointment was made for her to come to the church and see “a real Bible.” On the appointed day, not only the Witness turned up but also the same curious neighbors. However, this time the priest allowed only the Witness to enter the church. After threatening her to stop preaching, he quickly ushered the sister out, loudly telling the gathered crowd to avoid listening to this false preacher. Some in the crowd showed discontentment, as the priest did not show “a real Bible” and read from it as the Witness had done. Then, shortly afterward, the priest himself was expelled from this parish for bad conduct. Final results? Several Catholic women in this previously difficult territory are regularly studying the Bible with our sister.

CAPE VERDE ISLANDS Population: 218,000

Peak Publishers: 8 Ratio: 1 to 27,250

A book and booklet sent through the mail about ten years ago have produced a wonderful blessing. The man who received this literature did not take hold of the truth. But one day, several years ago, this man offered a friend the “Good News” booklet, knowing he was a God-fearing man. After reading it, the friend anxiously returned, looking for more literature. He was very happy to receive the book “Let God Be True.” He studied it carefully, all alone, for an entire month and readily understood the truths of God’s Word. Since he could not find anyone on the island who could help him study the Bible, he wrote to the Society for additional publications. He diligently studied everything he received, dedicated himself to Jehovah and started zealously preaching to others. You will be thrilled to know that last year this isolated publisher was baptized by a brother visiting these islands. Two of his friends with whom he had studied were also baptized the very same day. A small isolated group has been formed. Our isolated brothers are rejoicing, since this year five were baptized. They are deeply grateful for the privilege of planting and watering the seeds of truth and seeing the rich blessing of Jehovah, who truly “makes it grow.”—1 Cor. 3:7.

MADEIRA Population: 300,000

Peak Publishers: 79 Ratio: 1 to 3,797

Never underestimate the value of meetings. Attending just one is sufficient to change a person! An interested man studied for three months, with constant opposition from his wife. When invited to his first meeting, he was determined to go and said his wife would have to stay home alone if she did not want to accompany him. Living in an isolated area and being rather nervous, she was afraid to stay home alone, so decided to accompany her husband. She made it clear though: ‘I’m not going to learn about this religion.’ But she could not resist the appealing message of truth, and this first meeting aroused her desire to study the Bible. Although not wanting to manifest immediate interest due to her previous opposition, she shortly afterward joined her husband in his Bible study. Quickly she verified the truth of Paul’s words: “We are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5) After several months of study, both husband and wife were baptized on the same day. The opposing wife has turned out to be a zealous publisher and has already served as a vacation pioneer this year.

PORTUGUESE GUINEA Population: 625,000

Peak Publishers: 1 Ratio: 1 to 625,000

How would you feel if you had moved to a land under strict military rule and were the only Witness in the entire country? The sister who went to this country told us how she felt. A month quickly passed without speaking the good news to a single person and she decided it was time to get busy in the ministry. She went out in the service but returned home overcome by fear. Her conscience then bothered her. She took herself to task and recognized that her faith was at stake. That same day she went out again and decided there was no better place to start preaching than with her next-door neighbor. The results were amazing. The man immediately showed interest in the truth and a Bible study was started. A group of ten persons regularly studying grew from this very first call. Although the sister has since left this country, that first Bible student is quite well grounded in the truth and is now conducting a weekly Bible study with the small group of interested people. We hope they will get the sense of the Word and eventually take their stand for the truth.

PUERTO RICO Population: 2,688,289

Peak Publishers: 6,940 Ratio: 1 to 387

The work of spreading the Kingdom message has gone ahead rapidly in Puerto Rico, and hundreds of meek persons are accepting the truth of God’s Word. Over 1,500 more publishers are preaching in every corner of the island this year and the Kingdom Halls are overflowing. This is true also of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, which are cared for by the branch office in Puerto Rico.

The 1970 Yearbook mentions a “hippie” who began to preach to his friends, and we are now pleased to tell the good results of his work. This former “hippie” is now a regular pioneer and has used his knowledge of the “hippie movement” wisely, since he was once a leader of a colony of fifteen “hippies.” These persons used all the various types of drugs and at first thought that the brother was out of his mind. However, he persisted and some of them came to the Kingdom Hall to see for themselves. And what is the result? All of these are now free from the use of drugs and all of them are studying the Bible and some are now conducting Bible studies with others. The psychiatrist who used to treat them now sends his difficult cases to the pioneer brother to handle since such a great change has come over him. What a wonderful sight it was to see eight of these former “hippies” stand up to answer Yes to the questions propounded at the baptism talk at the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly in August of this year, and how good it is to know that the majority of this former “colony” are now dedicated, baptized servants of Jehovah.

How true it is that all kinds of people are embracing the truth. A pioneer writes: “I started a Bible study with a family that included the man, his wife and several children, and all were delighted with the first chapter that we studied, ‘Building a Happy Family Life.’ The study progressed well, but we soon found out certain things about this family. 1. The children were well known in the neighborhood as the wildest and most misbehaved of all. 2. The parents were spiritists, the man being a medium. 3. The parents were not legally married. As the study progressed great changes came over the family. The man and woman legalized their marriage, with their children (most of the eight) and three grandchildren present, and the children began to take on the new personality, to the surprise of the neighbors. However, the family was still bothered by the demons and even I felt strange during the study, but upon studying the chapter on ‘wicked spirits’ the family threw out all their books and other appendages of demon worship and all their religious pictures, and now they are no longer bothered by demons. The change in this family has caused many persons to think, and especially so since they can be seen attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall and taking part in the preaching work from house to house.”

How important it is to follow up all placements is shown by the following. A pioneer offered the Truth book to a middle-aged lady who at once said she had the book and also the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. She said that the person who placed the books with her said he would come back to study, but never appeared. She even showed the pioneer how her daughter had all the answers of the first chapter underlined because the publisher had showed them how to do this. She wanted the pioneer to study with them, but the pioneer had so many studies that she just could not see where to fit them in. But seeing the great interest, she said she would do her best if they would come to the meetings at the Kingdom Hall first. She and her twelve-year-old daughter came that Sunday and then on Tuesday night to the service meeting and to hear the circuit servant, who was visiting that week. Then they came on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. After they had attended five meetings at the Kingdom Hall they had their first study at home. Her daughter reads aloud so that the mother can prepare her lesson, and now the pioneer is teaching this meek person how to read. She regularly attends all the meetings with her daughter and is looking forward to field service. What a wonderful blessing was missed by the publisher who placed the book and Bible but who never returned.

Do you always make every effort to contact persons whose subscriptions have expired, even when just a post-office box is given as the address? One publisher tried to find the street address of one such subscriber but could not do so, and so decided to write. How happy she was to receive a letter in reply, in which was included the $1.00 for the subscription and an invitation to visit the writer. The publisher hurriedly visited this person and found her to be a very meek sixty-eight-year-old lady who readily accepted a home Bible study. Now the study is progressing very well, and all because a publisher took the time and initiative to contact this interested person by writing a letter.

Many brothers write to say how much they appreciate the Truth book, because it almost teaches the people by itself. In one congregation a man stood at the door of the Kingdom Hall to listen to the Watchtower study and so a book was placed with him and the promise was made to visit him in his home. Upon visiting this man, how surprised the publisher was to find that he had studied and underlined eighteen chapters of the book, and he said that he had looked up all the texts in the Bible. He said, “Jehovah’s witnesses have the truth,” and he began to “preach” to the pioneer publisher. From what he had learned from chapter five of the Truth book he had argued with a Methodist minister, using the Bible texts. It was after this that this man had his first home Bible study.

VIRGIN ISLANDS (British) Population: 10,500

Peak Publishers: 53 Ratio: 1 to 198

For many years the Kingdom message was taken mainly to the people of just the large island, Tortola, but during this service year two families moved out to two other islands to serve where the need was greater and so now more people are hearing the good news.

The big event of the year was the circuit assembly held on Tortola. The local publishers had to look for rooms for around 200 of their brothers and so a great witness was given. One lady offered to house a couple, but just two days before the assembly she telephoned to say she would not do so because the Witnesses were not a charitable organization. A visit was made and it was found that the real problem was pressure brought to bear on her by the members of her church. A Bible discussion followed, with the result that she decided to house the brothers and was so pleased with them that she is now studying the Bible with a local publisher. Another lady said she would take a couple, and then she too began to receive criticism from the church members, but she quickly saw their hypocrisy and so offered to take two couples instead of one. Many honest-hearted persons could see the love of Jehovah’s people as compared with the great lack of love of the members of false religion. The fifty brothers of the local congregation were delighted to see 383 in attendance to hear the public talk. Later the film was shown on the island of Virgin Gorda. The generator for the electricity was loaned by the local priest and around one third of the total settlement came to see the film. There are four publishers, but 140 were on hand for the showing.

VIRGIN ISLANDS (U.S.) Population: 67,196

Peak Publishers: 270 Ratio: 1 to 249

The seeds of truth once sown in the heart of sheeplike persons can have a great effect on their lives. A back-call was made on a young lady whose name had been sent to the congregation, and the publisher who made the call was happy to find that it was a person with whom he had studied around seven years previous. This lady had left the island to study in the U.S.A., but even though pressured by classmates to smoke marijuana, she refused because she remembered the things learned in her Bible study. Later she married and, since her husband was in the army, she moved to another location, but she continued to search out the Witnesses so that she could study. Upon returning to her home due to her husband’s being sent to Germany she continued to study despite opposition from her family, and now is baptized. Her young sister is attending meetings and sharing in the field service, while her husband, who has now returned home from the army, is also participating in the work of preaching the Kingdom.

Babylon the Great is losing many of its members, and some of these are from the “high places” in her organization. One such lady, after studying five chapters of the Truth book, was amazed to see that her religion was not measuring up to the Bible. She was president of a certain order of women within the church over all the U.S. Virgin Islands and was also treasurer and Sunday-school teacher. Said she, “Just think, after all these years as a member of my church and trying to live right and be good and now I find out after so short a time studying the Bible that I wasn’t really so good after all.” She began attending meetings but thought she would ask her priest concerning the Bible, only to be told that she should not put too much hope and trust in the promises of the Bible. She continues to study and attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall and is progressing toward maturity.

Many are those who learn the truth because of the “good works” of God’s people. A man was not particularly interested in the Kingdom message but observed the conduct of one of the brothers who worked with him. At one time a fellow worker acted in a very mean way toward this brother but the brother kept calm and controlled and did nothing offensive. Later on, this same man came in contact with another Witness and again noticed his outstanding conduct. Therefore he decided to study the Bible. In a short time he started in the field service, obtained eighteen subscriptions from relatives and friends during his first month of preaching and was then baptized. As he himself said, “How happy I am to have found the truth.”

RHODESIA Population: 5,188,400

Peak Publishers: 11,598 Ratio: 1 to 447

We were thrilled to have a share in a publisher increase of 6 percent this service year. This is the best increase in Rhodesia since 1954 and makes all of us very happy. It is evident that Jehovah has richly blessed the united efforts of his people in this land. The zealous activity engaged in resulted in many interesting and helpful experiences, which we are pleased to share with you as received from Rhodesia, Malawi and Mozambique.

For several years it was not possible to hold circuit assemblies in the greater part of this land, but we rejoice to say that during the past year this problem has been overcome. Deep appreciation has been shown by many. Long distances have been travelled in order to be in attendance. In one area where transport is very expensive two elderly sisters, a younger sister and seven small children walked seventy miles in order to attend their circuit assembly. Many miles of this journey were through a wild-animal infested area, but they arrived safely. These two older sisters and two of the children returned to their homes in the same manner.

As in other lands our brothers have come under pressure to break God’s law concerning the wrong use of blood. The following experience will show to what extent some men will go to have their own way. The brother who tells the experience is working in a mine as a security guard. As he was preparing to depart from his home to the Watchtower study on Sunday, the mine captain arrived with orders that all people of the village were to report to the office to see the doctor. These orders were obeyed, and upon arrival the brother was ordered to line everyone up and then he was called to the head of the line. The doctor informed the brother that he was going to take a half pint of blood from each person. To this our brother replied: “As a God-fearing Christian I cannot give any blood for transfusion, and you cannot take my half pint of blood. The principle for my stand is shown at Leviticus 17 verse 14.” At this the mine captain became very angry and began shouting, in front of all the people of the village. The brother was then taken inside the office and threatened that if he did not agree to their request he would be dismissed from work that very day. The brother, however, did not have to wait to decide what he should do, because he had already made his decision, so he said: “Everything that you want to do, you can, but I cannot break God’s law even as it is stated at Acts 5 verse 29.” They tried by physical force to make our brother submit to the doctor, but they failed. Then the doctor asked if there were any more of Jehovah’s witnesses in the line outside. Nine of our other brothers and sisters were brought into the office. The mine captain repeated again the reason why they were called and threatened that if they refused they would be dismissed from work and would not even be allowed to sleep in the kraal that night, Nevertheless, the entire group remained firm for the truth in obedience to Jehovah’s law on blood. With that the group was locked in the office while the rest of the villagers were handled by the doctor. The doctor then returned to our brothers and sisters and, after scolding our brother as a ‘false leader,’ told them that the mine captain had decided not to dismiss them from work after all. But the mine captain strongly warned that, since there were only ten Witnesses now, these must not ‘deceive,’ any more in the village. Our brother joyfully reports that just two and one half months later seven more were baptized at a circuit assembly! The brother adds that instead of the brothers’ being dismissed from work, the mine captain was dismissed just two weeks after this incident. How wise it is to make important decisions such as this one prior to being presented with an issue, and then leave it to Jehovah to supply the strength needed to endure!

In this and other lands many people have not had the privilege of getting a good education. But this need not be a hindrance to serving Jehovah if they deeply love Him, as is shown by this experience. Upon entering a new area of territory this brother went to the compound manager (village supervisor) of a mine to advise him of his entry and his purpose in being in the area. After telling the manager what his religion was, he was asked: “How far did you go with education?” The brother replied: “I went nowhere with it.” With that the brother was dismissed and told to be on his way, but the brother asked permission to speak to the people in the village, to which the manager said: “And what are you going to say to them?” The brother gave his well-prepared sermon and the manager’s curiosity was roused to the point of asking the brother to come to his house for further discussion. The result was that a Bible study was started with this man, and it continues with as many as fifteen attending weekly. The manager has already made progress toward becoming a Christian by stopping smoking and also by refraining from drink, which was a snare to him. So this brother, although of very little education, was able to speak clearly about God’s Word and his loving purposes for men of all kinds. So if you love Jehovah, do not hesitate to put your trust in him wholeheartedly.

MALAWI Population: 4,042,412

Peak Publishers: 19,050 Ratio: 1 to 212

Concerning the early Christian congregation it is recorded: “Then, indeed, the congregation throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit it kept on multiplying.” (Acts 9:31) This has been the experience of our brothers in Malawi during the past service year, though, of course, they have had to continue to exercise caution regarding their meetings and preaching activity, since they are still under ban.

In October the president of Malawi issued a decree that no one should be forced to buy a political card. This has proved to be of great assistance to our brothers, since their refusing to buy such cards was often the cause of their receiving much brutal treatment. It is most encouraging to be able to report that the figure of 19,000 publishers has been passed for the first time. As conditions eased, it became possible in November 1969 to encourage applications for vacation pioneer service once again and to add new names to the regular pioneer list. Many of these are able to meet their goals of hours, back-calls and Bible studies regularly, even though most of their witnessing must be done incidentally, as with all publishers throughout the country. A goodly number of those who have served as vacation pioneers have now been enrolled as regular pioneers.

As a result of current expansion and to cope with the needs of the field, nine new congregations and several new isolated groups were formed during the year. A circuit servant in whose circuit two new isolated groups were established told us how this came about. A brother took the opportunity to approach a man who had been active in politics up until 1967 and, referring to Matthew 24:9-14, spoke to him concerning the end of this system. The brother was invited to the man’s home, where a Bible study was started with him and his wife. Later, the man left the house and came back with a group of his friends. The brother was fearful that he was going to be turned over to the authorities because of being caught in the act of witnessing. However, the man reassured him with the words, “Do not be afraid, for there are many of us interested here.” At that time there were six adults with their children. The man continued: “We have come to the conclusion that yours is the true religion. We have examined all things as you have. You know that I was area chairman for the Youth League from its beginning until 1967, but I have seen the uselessness of it. Please continue speaking without fear here because we very much want to study the Word of God.” As the brother continued to study with the group, this man saw the need to make changes in his life. Although he was a politician, he had not paid his taxes from 1960 until 1969, but he remedied this when his Scriptural responsibility was explained. He and his wife also took steps legally to register their marriage, and they were baptized in May. There are now seventeen publishers and interested persons associated with this newly formed isolated group, in an area regarded as difficult territory before the ban.

The exodus from Babylon the Great continues as the truth from God’s Word is sounded down into the minds and hearts of sincere persons. A man who was a Sunday-school teacher in the Presbyterian church responded favorably to a brother’s incidental conversation on the theme of the true religion. The brother was able to start a Bible study with this person and later invited him to the Memorial. The man was deeply impressed with the unity and harmony among the brothers and has now progressed to the point where he and his wife have left the Presbyterian church and are sharing regularly in the ministry.

Consensual marriage is a problem to be overcome by persons wishing to be used in Jehovah’s organization, but God’s Word is a power for assistance in this matter. (Heb. 4:12) The following letter, received by a brother in February, indicates this:

“My wife and I wish to let you know how happy we are with the aid that we are getting from you. Through your teaching you have answered all our questions that remained unanswered for a long time in our hearts. It seems to us rather amazing because everything is plainly pointed out from God’s Word.

“We have now come to know that God does not approve of any organization that misrepresents him. Therefore, brother, my wife and I wish once more to let you know that we have cut off all relations with our old church. How happy we are that our son will not receive the type of instruction that has ruined the faith of millions of persons in God and his Word the Bible.

“It is our desire to become Jehovah’s witnesses and we hope to ask you soon about baptism, as our marriage is soon to be legally registered.”

This interested man and woman were legally married in June and are waiting to be baptized at the first opportunity.

Because of having to carry on the witness work secretly, our brothers have devised many ingenious methods of doing so. One brother found an interested man but was unable to study with him openly because of hostile party members who lived in the same village. So they decided to hide a metal box in the ground beneath a tree some distance away from the man’s village and use it as their “post office.” The brother would put Bible questions and scriptures in the box, and the man would come and collect these and leave his answers there for the brother. Thus a regular study was conducted with the man, who then became strong enough spiritually to attend meetings and has now been baptized.

There have been a few cases of beatings and violent opposition, as in one congregation where the brothers’ houses were burned down and their property destroyed. The brothers in neighboring congregations collected clothing and food for these brothers and supplied their needs. The brothers in Malawi are very grateful for the prayers and material assistance of their brothers earth wide and ‘always thank God for them.’—1 Cor. 1:4.

MOZAMBIQUE Population: 6,650,000

Peak Publishers: 3,145 Ratio: 1 to 2,114

For years now this country has been fighting a guerrilla type of campaign against the terrorists who would like to overthrow the Portuguese regime and make the country independent. Due to the tense-situation, which causes the authorities to be apprehensive, and the neutral position of our brothers being well known, the Kingdom work has met with much opposition in some areas. One of the circuit servants and his wife, along with twenty-four other brothers, have now been in prison for many months.

As far as we know, the brothers in prison are not being badly treated. One group of sixteen are all together in the same prison and are able to enjoy fellowship and meetings together. The authorities had them separated at first; but they gave such a fine witness to their fellow prisoners that it was decided that it would be ‘safer’ to keep them all together! In caring for the families of the brothers in prison, the brothers who are free have shown the loving spirit that identifies true Christians. (John 13:34, 35) A collection is maintained for these needy families and a note of authorization is given to them regularly, enabling them to go to a store and make purchases to the value stated on the note. This means that the local brothers are regularly providing the means of life for about eighty persons, including adults and children. They have been doing this for almost a year now.

What do you do when someone with whom you have been studying for some time has made no progress? Do you follow the Society’s counsel and tell the person you will have to end the study so as to spend your time better with someone else? A sister who had been studying with a young married woman felt that the study was not making much progress, the reason being that the woman missed many studies and did not prepare. Often visitors would turn up at study time and she would put the study off. Since the Witness felt there was still interest there, she was reluctant to give up the study, but she decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with the lady. She said to her, “L————, what comes first in your life?” The young woman looked surprised and said, “Why, God, of course.” The sister then said, “No, L————, excuse me, but that is not true. What happens when visitors turn up at study time? You put off the study even though we have this appointment to study God’s Word. I think you put your visitors in the first place and not Jehovah.” The sister then kindly explained that she would have to stop the study if things went on in the same way as she had many other people to call on and did not want to waste her time. The young woman was concerned and said that she did not want the sister to stop studying with her. The next week when the sister arrived the woman was waiting and had her book underlined. She had been up since 5 a.m. to prepare for the study. She never missed the study from then on and was soon attending the meetings and sharing in the ministry. The changes she had made in her life awakened the interest of her husband, and the study was then turned over to a brother who arranged to study with the whole family. He reports that all in the family are now making fine progress.

Because of setting a fine example in conduct and patiently persevering with their preaching work, in some areas the brothers have been able gradually to break down opposition. On one occasion five sisters who were on their way to Bible studies were encountered by a Catholic priest who tried to forbid them to continue preaching and reported them to the district commissioner. When this official learned the nature of their work, the five sisters were allowed to continue with their preaching and the Catholic priest was reprimanded. In another area a mob was incited to break up the celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. The mobsters came armed with bows, knives and knobkerries, but when they reached the meeting place and saw the brothers peacefully listening to the Bible being explained, they laid aside their weapons one by one and sat down to listen attentively. After the meeting was concluded, the sisters prepared food for the ‘visitors.’ As a result, one of the would-be mobsters attended the special talk on March 29, had a Bible study and began publishing and was baptized when the circuit servant visited the congregation in July.

SENEGAL Population: 3,600,000

Peak Publishers: 177 Ratio: 1 to 20,339

With the urgency of our times and the progressive trend of Jehovah’s organization it is only reasonable to expect that every year will bring even greater blessings. Stimulated by the “Peace on Earth” District Assembly, Jehovah’s faithful servants in Senegal started off the 1970 service year with greater zeal and determination. The experiences that follow are from the Republic of Senegal and then from Gambia, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Mauritania.

Has it ever happened that you wished you could meet one of Jehovah’s “sheep” during the course of your house-to-house ministry? In any event, that was the desire of two sisters who had the following experience. “We were working a certain territory in a city considered difficult. We had just had a rather animated discussion in an apartment with an Evangelist minister’s wife and were sure that her shouting had closed all the rest of the doors to our message. But imagine our great surprise when at the next door a kind young lady invited us in! After we concluded the sermon she exclaimed: ‘Then do you represent the same organization that prints this magazine that I was just reading when you knocked at the door? I find it so interesting and different from all other religious publications!’ It was The Watchtower. This young woman was originally Catholic but had for several years undertaken a study of religion. As she lived in a non-Christian land she had heard of the merits of the Koran and so began to study it seriously, even to the point of saying her prayers five times a day and keeping the fast of Ramadan. But this only proved to be another deception. She prayed incessantly to God to help her and it was in this frame of mind that we found her, making it rather easy to establish a Bible study on the spot. Progress was rapid despite certain family hindrances. Several months later when she visited her family in her home country she was eager to share the good news with them and was greatly blessed—four of her brothers as well as another couple of friends not only have embraced the truth but today are very active and fruitful publishers in Jehovah’s service. Encouraged by these results, she redoubled her efforts in her personal study and Christian ministry and was baptized at the last circuit assembly.” Indeed, there is no better method to locate ‘faithful persons, who, in turn, will be adequately qualified to teach others’ than in the house-to-house ministry.—2 Tim. 2:2.

A brother baptized at our recent circuit assembly writes: ‘I received my first religious instruction at a Catholic mission school in a village in southeast Togo. I had only a vague knowledge of God and his purpose for the earth, because the catechism replaced the Word of God for us at school. Naturally, I was counseled not to read the Bible, but I was curious and wanted to know why it was not a good book to read! One day I was able to buy a very small copy so I could read it secretly, but the problem now was to find a spot where I would not be caught by the sexton. Suddenly I spied an ideal location—and so it’s in a coconut tree that I started secretly reading God’s Holy Word, the Bible! I was shocked by God’s condemnation of worship offered to him through the use of images. I questioned the priest about it, but he did not even try to hide his anger at my inquiry. I completely lost faith in my former religion and then spent years without even thinking about God. Recently, though, in Senegal I had the opportunity to meet one of Jehovah’s witnesses who helped me get a much more accurate knowledge of the Bible than I had got in that coconut tree. What a joy it now is to be a sharer of this good news with others, a regular attender at congregation meetings and a dedicated one of Jehovah’s blessed people!”

GAMBIA Population: 316,000

Peak Publishers: 9 Ratio: 1 to 35,111

The brothers in this territory continue facing great opposition and many difficulties, but their zeal and determination remain strong. They very much appreciate the practical help of the organization in the form of the regular visits of the circuit servant.

‘Out of the mouth of babes you have furnished praise’ can be appreciated from the following account. “On Sunday I was working in the service with a twelve-year-old publisher. When I stopped to conduct a Bible study I suggested that he, together with an older brother, work the rest of the homes in the compound. To my surprise he did not return to meet me, so after the study I went to find him. He was surrounded by six young men, well educated, who were pelting him with questions on the inspiration of the Bible. I admired his courage as he enthusiastically thumbed through the Bible to answer their many queries. It reminded me of Jesus at the age of twelve in the temple. One of the young men said to me: ‘This boy is very conversant with the Bible and he has convinced me. You are welcome in this house, please.’ He wanted many more of his questions answered, so the young publisher started a Bible study with the group in the Truth book. This future brother has now asked to be given an assignment on the Theocratic Ministry School program each week to help him progress. For the past six months he has averaged 37 hours in the ministry each month, conducted 10 back-calls and 1.8 Bible studies.”

When we follow the circuit servant’s instructions we can get good results. On his recent visit he suggested that parents study with their children, if possible, rather than another publisher doing it. We immediately arranged for one sister to study with her children, and the results have been outstanding. The children have responded remarkably to the efforts of their mother. They are now always the first to arrive at the meetings, are well prepared and participate regularly. The mother, her twelve-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter are enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, and two younger members of the family support the meetings exceptionally well, even the very youngest, one year old. The family is making rapid progress. Each member old enough has a special day during the week set aside for service, apart from the weekend when all the brothers in the congregation share in the field ministry together. On the average during the past six months, as a family they have spent 90 hours in the service each month, made 26 back-calls and conducted 4 Bible studies. What a fine blessing to see the enthusiastic response to the loving efforts of a mother helping her family to serve Jehovah.

A most commendable example of this family’s progress was their stand in upholding true worship by refusing to share in false religious services and traditional burial customs when the sister’s mother died recently. Our sister made it clear to all the people in Bathurst that Jehovah’s witnesses do not participate in interfaith movements. This stand had a great impact on the people, as it is the first time that a local Gambian, and a woman at that, has taken such a firm stand for the truth.

MALl Population: 4,200,000

Peak Publishers: 6 Ratio: 1 to 700,000

In spite of the difficult conditions and the many obstacles due to isolation in this hot territory the little group of publishers and the special pioneer steadfastly continue putting forth a good effort in making disciples, baptizing them. Following are some experiences sent in by the special pioneer.

“Some people who sigh and cry because of world conditions take immediate action when contacted with the Kingdom message, as the following experience highlights. I was going from house to house one morning and met a young non-Christian man who was totally perplexed over the world situation. I explained how God’s Word foretold these present wicked conditions but also gives the remedy and only solution —seeking Jehovah and making peace with him. He accepted the Truth book, and arrangements for a Bible study were made immediately. Since then the study continues regularly, and now this young man is making plans to travel the great distance to attend the ‘Men of Goodwill’ District Assembly in Dakar in December of this year.

“A publisher relates that, while he was engaged in the ministry, he met a young student girl of the Assikia Camarad College in Bamako. The young student related that the Professor of Philosophy, a Catholic priest, denied the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ, explaining that in this twentieth century it is impossible to believe in such things as a virgin birth. The publisher kindly showed the student the Bible passages showing how Jesus was definitely conceived by holy spirit and that Mary was a virgin up to the time of his birth. Since that day this young student, a Catholic herself, has broken away from her former religion and its worship. She is now studying the Bible with the aid of the ‘Impossible to Lie’ book and is making fine progress.”

MAURITANIA Population: 1,000,000

Peak Publishers: 2 Ratio: 1 to 500,000

Like a small oasis in a vast desert the two isolated publishers have done an excellent work in this sunburned and uninviting territory. Although regular witnessing is almost unthinkable due to unfavorable conditions, by using wisdom and tact they have exploited every opportunity for incidental witnessing. With Jehovah’s protection and undeserved kindness they have accomplished a considerable volume of work. Being mindful of their difficult circumstances, we constantly remembered them in our prayers and spared no efforts to help them through encouraging correspondence and by providing them with spiritual food, which they received without difficulty. And how happy we were to receive their field service reports regularly every single month during the service year! It is sincerely hoped that the good seed planted may sprout and grow and produce the desired results to the glory of our Great Creator, whose unfailing promise is that ‘the wilderness and the waterless region will without fail blossom, and it will really be joyful with joyousness and with glad crying out,’ as described by His prophet Isaiah, in chapter 35.

SIERRA LEONE Population: 2,183,000

Peak Publishers: 851 Ratio: 1 to 2,565

It has been a very encouraging year for the brothers in Sierra Leone. For the first time in the history of the work, more than one hundred persons were baptized in one year. The future looks bright too, as three times as many persons attended the Memorial as the peak number of publishers. Many experiences were sent into the branch office during the year. Here are a few of them from Sierra Leone and the Republic of Guinea.

Many new territories were opened up by the special pioneers during the year. In one of these localities, pressure was brought on the paramount chief by a religious leader of Christendom to oust the newly arrived special pioneers. He said: “It would be unwise to allow another religion to operate here. You already have too many religions in your chiefdom.” The pressure became so intense that it resulted in the chief’s convening a meeting of the peoples of the chiefdom. The chief put the problem before his people. One leading man of the community got up and said: “The first strangers [of false religion] came in the name of God. The second strangers [Jehovah’s witnesses] have come in the name of God. We say Jehovah’s witnesses ought to be allowed to stay. Since they have been here they have been preaching to people in their homes and warning them against evil.” The paramount chief replied: “Jehovah’s witnesses are doing well in our chiefdom. Even for those that do not want to listen they return with their message. Since the Witnesses arrived, the morality of our community has improved. Fights have been reduced. Jehovah’s witnesses can stay!”

Do you feel reluctant to witness in your own neighborhood or hometown? Here in Sierra Leone, pioneers often request to be assigned to their hometown. This has proved very successful, as these pioneers know the local language and customs. Also because of their honesty and high moral standard, they soon win deep respect from their fellow townspeople. Several new congregations have been established as a result of the assignment of pioneers and special pioneers to their hometown.

The problems of illiteracy and those involving marriage are gradually being overcome. One young man, having nearly completed the Truth book, wanted to share in the ministry, but his marriage was not in order. For three months he tried to persuade the woman with whom he was living to legalize their marriage in the Kingdom Hall. Finally she agreed to attend one meeting to see the setting. Although this woman had been reared as a Moslem, the greetings and friendliness of the brothers impressed her so much that she agreed to legalize the marriage in the Kingdom Hall. Upon legalizing their marriage she expressed the desire to join the study, although she was illiterate. When her husband saw the changed attitude of his wife, he set about to teach her to read and write. In just three and a half months she could pick up any of the Society’s publications and read reasonably well. This has set a fine example for the many husbands in our country that have illiterate wives.

What can one do when the mail service does not always encourage persons to subscribe for magazines? Build a magazine route, of course! One pioneer now has 273 persons on his magazine route. Not only has this meant fine magazine placements, but these calls have been the source of most of his Bible studies, as well as many Bible studies that he has turned over to others.

One pioneer said that she liked the home Bible study work so much because, not only did it give her opportunity to assist persons to serve Jehovah, but it gave more opportunities to communicate with Jehovah in prayer. This sister, conducting fifteen studies each week, summed it up this way: “This means that, besides all the prayers offered when in the other features of the ministry and on other occasions, I am able to pray to Jehovah thirty times a week on behalf of my Bible studies. These prayers seem to have a beneficial effect and strong influence on the progress of the students.”

We have had many expressions of joy from regular and vacation pioneers during the year. Here are a few samples of their letters:

A brother wrote: “In one month of vacation pioneering I placed more books and magazines than I did in two years as a congregation publisher.”

A sister said: “I was afraid I could not meet the 100-hour goal, as I have five children to look after. But I filled out an application. The first week I was sick. What could I do in the three weeks left in the month? Prayerfully I worked hard and was able to report 102 hours for the month. My eldest son said to me, ‘Mom, you really helped us in our studies during the month, you ought to be a vacation pioneer all the time.’”

Another writes: “A person with whom I study asked ‘Is it because Armageddon is so near that you studied twelve times with me this month?’ Of course, it was because I was vacation pioneering.”

Do we sometimes feel that we work our territory too often? A pioneer sister reported that during the circuit servant’s visit she was assigned to work the same street that she covered the previous week. She was apprehensive at first, but at the first house a man greeted her heartily. He said he had quit attending church six years ago and had been praying for God to show him the true religion. He accepted the Truth book at once and a study was started two days later. After a few months he began to publish and is looking forward to being baptized at our national assembly in December.

GUINEA Population: 3,608,000

Peak Publishers: 166 Ratio: 1 to 21,735

We are glad that a fine increase in publishers appears in this year’s report; also we are happy that the brothers were able, for the first time since inaugurating the work there, to gather in circuit assembly. Many messages of appreciation were received by the branch office in Sierra Leone because this had at last become possible.

People sometimes are preached to in a country other than their own because it is easier to reach them. For example, three doctors from Communist China, working in one of the hospitals in Guinea, were present when a pioneer brother offered the magazines to one of the patients. One of the doctors started chiding the patient for taking the magazines, saying, “Only persons with little learning read this kind of literature.” One of the other doctors set out to ridicule the pioneer brother by asking how the earth came to be, its shape, and its movement in respect to the sun, etc. This pioneer, although formerly illiterate, had mastered the information in the Paradise book on the formation of the earth and how day and night came to be, and so forth. The doctors were amazed at the brother’s answers to their questions and at the scriptures supporting his conclusions, which were read by his young son. As a result the pioneer brother was able to obtain two subscriptions from the doctors.

Sometimes it is difficult to open up the mind of a Moslem, but many African Moslems are getting their eyes opened. Here is how one brother reasoned with a Moslem leader. The Moslem had asserted that Mohammed was the greatest of all prophets and of men who had lived on earth. The brother asked, “Adam or Mohammed, which ‘descended from the other?” The Moslem had to admit that Adam lived before Mohammed and that Mohammed must have descended from Adam. The brother then asked, “For whose sin is the human race dying and, if Mohammed did die, for whose sin did he die?” This left the Moslem puzzled, but it opened up a fine opportunity for the brother to give a witness concerning the greatest of prophets, Jesus Christ. He explained how salvation could come only through him and that he was the God-sent One. He presented, too, the evidence that there were hundreds of witnesses who lived in the first century that testified to this fact. The brother concluded, “A righteous judge could only decide a case after hearing all the witnesses.” This brought a favorable response and opened up the way for the Moslem to enjoy a free home Bible study.

SINGAPORE Population: 1,865,000

Peak Publishers: 218 Ratio: 1 to 8,555

While Singapore celebrated its fifth anniversary of independence amid economic prosperity and growing nationalism, Jehovah’s people continued to advance true worship. A onetime Roman Catholic, in his final year of secondary-school education, was contacted by a classmate who had been studying with Jehovah’s witnesses. He was impressed with the good conduct of the classmate and began reading some of the publications of the Society, along with a chapter of the Bible each day. Soon he was motivated to speak up in school about the matter of eating blood. On completion of his final examinations he came to his first meeting at the Kingdom Hall and was impressed. He noted the keen desire of all to please God and to uphold Bible principles. He agreed to a regular Bible study. The pioneer conducting the study says: “I followed the recommended progressive Bible study method and the student soon realized the importance of extensive reading of other Watch Tower publications. Progress was rapid and he began applying godly principles in his life. He had a temporary job but wisely overcame obstacles to attend all the meetings, and he also began in the field service. Over a period of six months this person progressed to the point of dedication and baptism. He stimulated a group of five others, including a classmate, to become praisers of Jehovah too.” Getting them to meetings early in the study program makes a deep impression on the newly interested ones. The pioneer continues: “With this spirit in the congregation we have seen the Kingdom Hall meeting attendance grow from 55 to 115 in the last six months.”

A sister eighty-two years of age is a great inspiration to us all. She is regular at meetings and in the service. Because she has arthritis and high blood pressure her doctor advised her not to do any travelling on buses or climbing of stairs. “My dear,” she said, “travelling on buses and going from house to house seems to have a good effect on me, in fact, has kept me going up till now. Please don’t tell me not to do that.” She has a special interest in subscribers for the magazines, not only in new ones but in getting renewals. She keeps a record of all her subscriptions in a notebook and when they are due for renewal she goes back. During the last subscription campaign she got fifty renewals for The Watchtower and Awake!

Good results have come from a Bible study by correspondence. Some years ago a family in Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia, was visited by the circuit servant and subscriptions for our two magazines were taken. Each year they were renewed and on subsequent visits the circuit servant noted there was real interest manifest in the truth. He arranged for a sister in Singapore to write to a daughter in the family. The study progressed nicely and the student was notified of the various requirements of a Christian witness, step by step. However, she needed some association, and toward the end of 1969 she arranged to come the 600 miles by air to the district assembly. She really enjoyed the program and was very much strengthened by the association with so many new brothers and sisters. Then she was taken witnessing after having a discussion of the points in the “Lamp” book. She has reported as a publisher since then, conducting as many as five Bible studies a week. In April this year she wrote to say, “Oh, yes, I’m glad to tell you that Susan my sister, with whom I’ve gone through the ten questions, is a publisher. She will be sending in her report for April.” How wonderful it is to receive two field service reports from that isolated area, and to know that so much help was given by correspondence.

MALAYSIA Population: 8,967,000

Peak Publishers: 168 Ratio: 1 to 53,375

Following race riots last year this country continues under emergency rule. Our brothers have persevered in getting the good news preached and a large amount of literature has gone out into the homes of the people. With some endurance increase is coming.

Some are reluctant to terminate a study if the person will not make a move to do something about the truth, but a special pioneer sister tells of the benefits of doing this. She made a back-call on a lady who had taken the Truth book, but found that she was not interested so suggested that she talk to her husband, which she did. The husband was willing to listen and a study was started. He showed interest in the study but had doubts and was slow to believe the things he was learning. He did not believe that there were people who practiced the true religion. For his own conviction and investigation he was invited to the Kingdom Hall, where he would meet with others of Jehovah’s witnesses, but he excused himself, saying he was too busy. This went on for some time and he would not make the effort to come to a meeting, so the sister said she would terminate the study but left an open invitation for him and his family to come along to the Kingdom Hall. She relates, “To my surprise, the following week he was there at the Sunday study and has been attending almost every week, occasionally making a comment.” He has now requested to continue his home Bible study. He would not have made this progress had the study not been terminated.

A special pioneer asks: “Do you feel nervous and shy when working busy offices and business territory? I do. And yet it was while witnessing in such heart-thumping territory that I met a typist in a lawyer’s office who listened meekly to my sermon and took the ‘Impossible to Lie’ book. After a few weeks I called back and arranged a Bible study: Since she is from another town, and rents a room with some other girls, I suggested she come over to my room for a study. She agreed and soon began to realize how interesting and upbuilding the Bible was. I really had found a ‘sheep’ and I wanted to help her as much as I could. To aid her to get to the service meeting I offered to take her on the back of my motor scooter. She accepted and enjoyed the educational program, especially the part we sisters have on the Ministry School. Next I helped her to get to the congregation book study and soon she was taking in all the meetings, and sharing in the field service. She told me that she had always wanted to be a Christian and was very happy to accept the book I had offered and the Bible study. She even thought to herself that perhaps God answered her prayer and sent me to her. I certainly appreciated that, because it was only with Jehovah’s spirit that I could witness in business territory. During this time her parents in her hometown had been calling to say that a better job was open closer to home, but in appreciation for the truth learned and the need to associate with the congregation she declined. In my heart I was happy for having been used to find this ‘sheep’ in business territory and I hope that you will enjoy this same experience one day.”

For years now we have not been able to get missionaries into Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia. Over the years, one Dyak man has accepted the truth and was baptised by the circuit servant. However, Jehovah had a way of getting other dedicated Witnesses in there. A local man went to England to study. While there he learned the truth and was baptised. Along with this he married while there, and his wife too is dedicated. On their return to Kuching, what a joy it was to meet with the other dedicated brother, and now we have a small group of Witnesses in that town, holding meetings and reporting service regularly.

SOUTH AFRICA Population: 19,618,000

Peak Publishers: 21,716 Ratio: 1 to 903

This has been our finest year in disciple making to date. More than 2,500 new disciples have been baptized, a peak beyond our fondest expectations and, in this multiracial country, they came from “all” nations—black, white and colored. We started our first Greek congregation, and our Portuguese congregation has grown to over one hundred publishers.

An outstanding feature of the service year was the great increase in book distribution. We have never seen books go out at such a fast rate before, especially the Truth book, which we used in seventeen languages. Whereas in previous years we shipped out an average of 117,000 books a year from the branch, this year we shipped out no less than 435,000. We, here in South Africa, deeply appreciate the diligent work of our brothers in Brooklyn to supply us with all the literature we need in this great disciple-making work.

A brother tells how he has been ‘buying out the opportune time’ by using his lunch hour wisely. Three years ago he met an interested person working in the same building. The brother used every lunch hour to stimulate this person’s interest and then invited him to attend a circuit assembly. The man was most impressed by the good conduct of the brothers and started attending meetings regularly. Since then he has been baptized and is now a servant. Meanwhile the brother was assisting another interested person working nearby. He writes: “He was impressed with the way we spent our lunch hour.” This man is now also baptized and a servant. Yet another case was a “prominent figure in politics,” also working nearby. He, too, now attends meetings, shares in the service and gives talks in the Theocratic Ministry School. So the lunch-hour group grew to four. Number five was a spiritually weak brother who joined the group and is being spiritually built up. They always start their lunch-hour discussions with the day’s text and experiences from the Yearbook. He concludes his letter: “I remember the apostle’s admonition that, ‘whether you are eating [lunch] or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory.’”—1 Cor. 10:31.

The Indian population in South Africa is now yielding many disciples who show great zeal. A new Indian publisher, an employee at a large hotel, offered the subscription to all his Indian workmates. He obtained forty-six subscriptions in one day! A sister witnessed to an Indian lady on a bus and took her address. Although she did not think there was much interest, arrangements were made for a pioneer couple to make the call. They found the lady eagerly waiting for them. She took the Truth book, and a study was arranged. At the first study she told the pioneers that she had already read through the book and got rid of her Hindu “sacred lamp” and religious pictures! She expected trouble from her family but, having found the truth, was not anxious. A request for a daily study was reduced to two per week. Her husband then joined in and the next week both attended the public talk. After only four months they are regular at meetings, have become publishers and the husband has read the Bible right through. Both are conducting studies, and already some of their newly interested ones have gotten rid of objects of demon worship and are attending meetings. Truly, they are getting out of “Babylon” fast.

A newly interested person who had only had three studies wanted to attend the national assembly. His employer refused his request for time off, on the ground that he is the only ice-cream maker in the town and it was midsummer. So, unknown to his employer, he worked many extra hours and made much additional ice cream. He then said to his employer: “I’m leaving for Johannesburg. In the refrigerator you will find sufficient ice cream for a week, so you have no need to worry.” On his return from the assembly he was offered a partnership in the business! This man wishes to be baptized at the next opportunity. If you want to attend assemblies, be determined!

An African sister, six months pregnant, suddenly started hemorrhaging. At the hospital the doctor ordered a blood transfusion. The sister and her husband explained their position but were ridiculed by doctors and nurses. She was examined every half hour. Later one of the nurses informed her that she could not detect the fetal heartbeat and believed that the baby had died inside her. The doctor now wanted to remove the “dead” fetus, but only with a blood transfusion. The couple stood firm in spite of heavy pressure and threats of legal prosecution. The sister insisted that she still felt fetal movements and asked them to reexamine her. They did, but said the baby was dead. The couple left and went to another hospital. En route the husband encouraged his wife with the promises of everlasting life for sticking faithfully to Jehovah’s laws. On arrival at the other hospital their stand on blood was explained and the nurse on night duty asked them to sign a statement to that effect. An examination revealed that the baby was still alive and that her trouble was placenta previa. The sister recovered quickly but had to see the doctor every second week. This doctor agreed to perform the cesarean section without blood. When the time for delivery came she was admitted to the hospital, but while the staff was preparing for the operation, she gave normal birth to twin boys. The matter of blood transfusion never came up. How happy the couple are that they remained faithful to Jehovah!

The South Africa branch also cares for the work in Ascension Island, Botswana, Lesotho, St. Helena, South-West Africa and Swaziland.

ASCENSION ISLAND Population: 1,527

Peak Publishers: 2 Ratio: 1 to 764

For a while two publishers reported field service, but when the sister on the island left for a three-month vacation in the British Isles no reports were received from the remaining publisher. Although not reporting, this eighteen-year-old unbaptized publisher continued to stand firm for the truth. When he was asked by his employer to paint military or church buildings, he refused. Even the head foreman with all his arguments could not make him change his mind. The foreman was impressed by his firm stand and assigned him other work that would not violate his conscience. This new publisher is now returning to St. Helena, where he hopes to be baptized.

BOTSWANA Population: 611,000

Peak Publishers: 202 Ratio: 1 to 3,025

New disciples are being made of peoples of all nations. Although there is no segregation practiced in Botswana, many communities still look down on persons of a different race, like the Bushmen who are considered inferior and not suitable for marriage to those of the local tribe. The truth found a local man living consensually with a Bushman woman. A study was started and soon they learned that it was necessary to get legally married. Would this man marry the Bushman woman or separate from her as others expected him to do? He legally married the Bushman woman, both were immersed at the recent circuit assembly and within one year they learned to read and write. They are now giving a fine witness to all those in their community, making disciples of still others.

A Bible study was started in the Truth book with a man who made fine progress, but, because his marriage was not registered, he could not be invited out in field service. Like the Samaritan woman mentioned at John 4:28, 29, he started speaking to his friends about the things he had learned and he used the Truth book to answer all their questions. One woman he spoke to accepted the truth and soon became a publisher; she, in turn, is helping five other individuals to learn about the truth, and two of these are already attending meetings. At last this man has legalized his marriage, and his wife is now studying with him. In July he could be invited out in the field service for the first time. He is happy and hopes to make fine progress in making disciples of still others.

LESOTHO Population: 885,000

Peak Publishers: 406 Ratio: 1 to 2,180

A special pioneer, taking up his assignment in May, started off the first week by inviting all he met to come and see how Jehovah’s witnesses conduct the Theocratic Ministry School. Forty-six came to see how he and his family put on a full school. He then invited all to the Watchtower study, and thirty-six attended. Since then the average for the school has been twenty, and for the Watchtower study thirty per week. Already six of these with whom he has been studying have started out in field service.

An auxiliary policeman who hated the truth took it upon himself to arrest two brothers for preaching the good news from house to house. These were accused before the chief of being against the government, but the chief did not agree. He knew the brothers well and knew that they had been going from house to house peacefully long before the state of emergency was declared. He said: “These people are not troublemakers nor are they seditious.” The chief then turned the tables on the persecutor and accused him of being against the government because of harassing people and arresting them on the slightest pretext; he accused him of making his own laws and regulations. This was a serious charge. A few days later this persecutor had to appear before the chief to give an account of himself, but he became afraid and fled over the border.

After a long struggle and much delay, the brothers in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, have been granted a piece of ground on which to build a Kingdom Hall. This will be the first proper Kingdom Hall for Lesotho. Although of meagre means, the brothers are enthusiastic and have already made 800 concrete blocks to be used in building the hall.

ST. HELENA Population: 4,722

Peak Publishers: 51 Ratio: 1 to 93

What a fine year we have had in the service of our Grand Creator, Jehovah! No less than twenty new disciples were baptized. Our district assembly and the instructive dramas gave many a great start in their dedicated life. Now several brothers are making fine progress toward becoming servants.

Children often help unbelieving parents to see the truth. A man writes: “I have been encouraged by many Witnesses before, but the truth did not seem to reach my heart until my wife and children started a Bible study and attending meetings. They would encourage me to attend, but I always put up many objections. One day after a public talk they asked me questions about Ecclesiastes 12, but I had no answer. The next Sunday I again declined to go with them. So my children asked me if I really loved them. ‘Yes.’ Would I like to see them get destroyed? ‘No.’ So they said: ‘Then you must do something about remembering your Creator now.’ This got me thinking. When they set out for the Kingdom Hall, I quickly got ready and went along. From then on I have been attending regularly. A brother helped me by studying the Truth book with me every day at work during the lunch hour. With every study the Bible became clearer to me and I could see that I had been wasting precious time. Before long I started in field service, dedicated my life to Jehovah and was baptized with my wife at the last assembly. I find it a real pleasure spreading the good news of God’s kingdom during the short time remaining.”

Another publisher tells his story: “For years Jehovah’s witnesses called at my home. I would invite them in and listen but did not take them seriously. I was not an opposer; I knew what they said was true. I was supposed to be a member of the Church of England but never could go to church. I often took the magazines from the Witnesses and read them. One day I took the Truth book and read it almost right through, but still did not take it to heart until a little later one of my workmates, a Witness, talked to me about how near we are to the end. It started me thinking. He encouraged me to bring the Truth book to work and we studied during the lunch hour. I found it very interesting. When we came to the point in the second chapter about the two roads, I began to think seriously about my position and how vital it was to get onto the narrow road to life. When my workmate offered to have a Bible study at home with my whole family, I gladly accepted. Before we had completed the Truth book, my wife and I decided to dedicate our lives to Jehovah to do his will and we began sharing in the ministry. We were baptized at the district assembly during March. We have enjoyed many privileges at meetings and in the service and we are looking ahead lot more.”

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA Population: 610,000

Peak Publishers: 226 Ratio: 1 to 2,699

The truth is going into all parts of this vast, sparsely populated country. This year we received the “Good News” booklet in Kwanyama, which is the language of 350,000 people in Ovamboland. Thousands of copies of this booklet have already been distributed, reaching into the heart of Ovamboland.

Living up to Bible principles often gives a good witness. A brother was offered some “biltong” (dried meat from a wild buck) by a friend. The brother inquired into the matter and found that, although the buck had been bled properly, it had been shot on the national road, which is illegal. The brother refused to take any of the biltong and explained that the buck was really stolen. Since biltong is a delicacy, the friend was very surprised and listened attentively to the brother’s explanation of the Bible principles involved. The friend told these things to his wife and they asked the brother to study with them. They are now regular meeting attenders and are looking forward to baptism at the next assembly.

Do you take full advantage of opportunities to witness to your relatives? If not, here is an experience that will encourage you. A young couple traveled to a distant town to pay a visit to relatives who are Witnesses. The brother explained the truth to them and answered many questions. He then notified the congregation servant in their hometown. Before the latter could make a call, the young couple phoned him to request a study. The study was started on the weekend, and that same day the couple attended the public talk, Watchtower study and final talk of the circuit servant. On his next visit the circuit servant found them already engaging in the service. He took the husband out in service with him and started a study with one of the husband’s old friends. The new publisher is now thrilled to be conducting his own study.

SWAZILAND Population: 420,000

Peak Publishers: 634 Ratio: 1 to 662

Young publishers can also conduct studies, even with adults. A thirteen-year-old schoolgirl is conducting a study with a married woman every week. Within two months they have completed the “Good News” booklet and are starting the Truth book. The student is already attending the meetings.

What a variety of ways there are for humble people to come in contact with the truth! A young Swazi girl, employed as a domestic servant by an English couple, noticed a Truth book in their home. She borrowed it and, although not knowing very much English, understood enough to make her set out to look for the people distributing such literature. One Sunday she found the Kingdom Hall of the Swazi-speaking congregation. She stayed for the Watchtower study and arrangements were made for a study with her. From that day she became a regular attender at all meetings and was soon sharing in the field ministry. She is now preparing for baptism.

SPAIN Population: 32,111,788

Peak Publishers: 11,041 Ratio: 1 to 2,908

A good deal of publicity was generated in the nation’s press, as well as excitement among the Spanish brothers, when it was announced on July 14 that the request filed more than two and a half years ago for legalization of the “Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses” had finally been approved by the government. Such legalization will facilitate activities such as the importation of Bible literature, the opening of Kingdom Halls, as well as the holding of larger assemblies of Jehovah’s people. Nevertheless, the past year’s theocratic achievements were registered before legalization went into effect, as a reminder to all that it is not by human means, but ‘God keeps making it grow.’ And how Jehovah’s blessing upon the association of Christian ministers in Spain has been in evidence during the past twelve months, as their total number first passed the 9,000 mark, later broke through the 10,000 mark, and reached a peak of 11,041 by year’s end.

Thorough and regular coverage of the territory brings results. A witness was given to two clerks in a store. One liked what she heard, but a terrible fear of excommunication kept her from expressing herself. She had been a nun engaged in foreign missionary work until tropical fevers forced her return to Spain and, later, family obligations caused her to leave her religious order. Some months later, other Witnesses calling from door to door visited her home, where another witness was given. As the former nun continued ‘examining the Scriptures as to whether these things were so,’ her fear subsided and a regular Bible study was started. Even strong opposition and physical pressure by nuns from a nearby convent could not now deter her in her determination to flee from the world empire of false religion, and now this former nun is a baptized witness of Jehovah.

When a publisher found that one of his Bible students was not at home, he decided to use the hour to make calls on the neighbors in the block. Upon making the very first introduction the young householder asked: “Are you one of Jehovah’s witnesses?” Upon answering “Yes,” he was invited in and was told that, just the night before, the woman had prayed that God would send someone to conduct a Bible study with her, for she felt so isolated. Now the lady is making steady progress in her understanding and appreciation of the truth. How important it is to make efficient use of ministerial time when studies fail!

Calling from house to house, a sister found a very religious housewife, blind for eight years, who accepted the Paradise book as well as the offer of a free home Bible study. But how does one go about studying with a blind person? The sister instructed the housewife’s seven-year-old daughter to read aloud to her mother during the week, including the questions at the bottom of the page. The mother indicates to her daughter which key words should be underlined. Thus the study’s benefit is double, and the child progresses at the same pace as the mother. Now with clear spiritual vision, she has proceeded to rid her home of objects of false worship and looks forward to the bright prospect of recovering her physical sight in God’s new order.

ANDORRA Population: 19,545

Peak Publishers: 17 Ratio: 1 to 1,150

Jesus’ exhortation to “exert yourselves vigorously” is particularly significant to the Andorran brothers who live high in the Pyrenees mountain range, which divides Spain from France. Obstacles to ministerial service and meeting attendance include not only the difficulty of travel during the winter months, but, more in particular, the fact that the tourist economy of the country often requires employees to work long hours every day. A sister was alert to place the Truth book with a male employee while shopping, and soon a Bible study was started and he was invited to meetings. A few weeks later the student’s employer required that he work even longer hours, which would have deprived him of attending meetings. His appreciation had already grown to such a point that he decided to quit and look for a job that would allow his regular attendance at congregation meetings. Other opportunities in the same line of work only offered additional conflicts with meeting times, so the student accepted work, that he had never done before, as a bricklayer’s helper. Although he was not used to working outside in the cold in winter, he commented: “I prefer to work in the cold and have more time for personal study, and now I have Sundays free too for participation in the field ministry.” The brother has now been baptized and is making additional adjustments in his secular schedule in order to participate in the full-time ministry.

CANARY ISLANDS Population: 1,178,383

Peak Publishers: 367 Ratio: 1 to 3,211

The brothers in the Canary Islands are careful ‘not to neglect the house of our God,’ especially in regard to the summer district assemblies. Up to this time they have had to be held in faraway foreign lands. Not only do distance, and wages lower than in other European countries, discourage foreign travel, but the year-round semitropical climate of the islands encourages many workers to forsake annual vacations, for they can enjoy a weekend or holiday at the beach any time of the year. Thus they receive a double paycheck by working during the vacation period. The custom has become so accepted that brothers find it difficult to obtain their vacations during the time of the summer district assembly. In one case a family head with three small children to support requested the three weeks that he would need in order to travel to France for the district assembly. Although his initial request was approved, a foreman later informed the brother that no vacations would be granted during the summer months, and this decision was approved by the owner. The brother continued to follow his savings plan for his family’s summer trip, and at the proper time presented his resignation to the owner of the factory. Not wanting to lose a conscientious worker, the owner approved the extra-long twenty-one-day vacation period needed, and in addition promised him a raise upon his return. In a similar fashion, a majority of the brothers from the islands were able to obtain vacations and make the long trip to attend the Spanish district assembly held at Toulouse, France.

SURINAM Population: 385,000

Peak Publishers: 561 Ratio: 1 to 686

Keeping in contact with those whose Bible studies have been discontinued, and doing so through a magazine route, can bear fruit, sometimes years later. A missionary did this, and because of changed circumstances in the life of a lady she finally asked for a Bible study again. It was explained that she would have to be serious this time because the time is very short now. The six-month course in the Truth book was started and within a few weeks she began regularly attending all the meetings with her children. Now she does incidental witnessing to others and speaks about starting out in the preaching work. What a joy to see that the seeds of truth were not sown in vain!

Even if we do not possess much knowledge of the truth and are not baptized yet, we can still accomplish much if we have appreciation for Jehovah’s organization. This is demonstrated by what a mother of six children did. Every time her husband saw her reading a Watch Tower publication, he burned it—at least that is what he said. Every time she tried to attend the meetings she came home to a locked door and had to stay all night in the chicken house. He continued burning the literature even though she tried hiding it behind pictures and under floorboards. Finally she got tired of this, because every time she had prepared her lesson for her weekly Bible study, her study book disappeared. So she went to the Kingdom Hall and bought ten Truth books, but, sure enough, one after another they disappeared. Finally one day her husband approached her and said: “Okay, you win. This is beating the wind. Keep your books. Study with Jehovah’s witnesses. Do what you want to with the children. I can’t fight against the tide anymore.” And, to her great surprise, he presented her with all the books that he had “burned”! Now she is able to attend the meetings and there is plenty of study material in the house.

The following experience shows how opposition can be overcome. A lady was forced to have her Bible studies outside her home, because her husband was opposed. Also she had to attend the meetings secretly. Then the time came that she wanted to symbolize her dedication to Jehovah by water baptism at the “Peace on Earth” assembly. The opposition from her husband increased. He told her to choose between destroying all the publications of the Society and leaving their home together with the books. So she decided to stay with her brother during the assembly. To her surprise, TV cameramen were busy taking pictures during the baptism. What would happen when her husband would see her on TV getting baptized? After being built up spiritually she returned home to her husband, wondering how she would be received. To her surprise, his attitude had changed completely. He had watched the news on TV and saw the baptism. The result was that he wanted to attend the meetings in the Kingdom Hall and also desired a personal Bible study. He realized that he had been spiritually blinded by his church. But she has seen more blessings from Jehovah due to her steadfastness. This is what she wrote: “My father had been a great source of encouragement to me during all the trials. With much patience I have been able to teach him the truth in his own dialect. And for me it is one more reason to thank Jehovah, for at our ‘Men of Goodwill’ assembly he symbolized his dedication to Jehovah by immersion at the age of 111 years.”

SWEDEN Population: 8,013,696

Peak Publishers: 11,696 Ratio: 1 to 685

A young Catholic accepted the answers he got from the Bible, and a regular study is now going, four hours or more at a time. He contacted the priests and questioned them and took good note of the differences. After a short while his fiancée took part, and later his younger brother. In five weeks he read all the Society’s books that have appeared since 1955 and one volume of Awake! In spite of hard opposition at home he left the Catholic church. A little later the girl took the same step and left the Swedish state church. And the younger brother subscribed on his own initiative for the magazines. All three are now taking part in the service. His older brother studying in Stockholm is also regular in the service and studies with a couple of his fellow students. The girl, who studies at the University of Lund, had two friends with her at the Memorial and has decided to drop her plans for becoming a physician. Both she and her fiancé are considering getting part-time jobs and, in time, entering the pioneer service. The girl’s two brothers are now attending meetings and there are good prospects that they will soon become regular publishers.

A sister writes: “I felt really downhearted when I had to leave the full-time service because of sickness, after two years of pioneering. But that feeling did not last long, because during my two periods in the hospital I had so many positive experiences that I really felt like an ambassador. The first time I was in, I was placed alongside a lady that had had so much contact with Jehovah’s witnesses that she had refused blood transfusion. She had prayed to God that there might come a Witness to use the bed beside hers. I quote a few lines out of a letter I got from her today: ‘I often think back to the time in the hospital. And that that old woman, who had a broken leg, was removed and you came alongside, so that we could speak to one another.’ Then I really got the strength I needed. It is as if I had got extra time to live. For the doctors did not try to hide that they did not believe I would survive the operation.’ I have heard that she is really making good use of the extra time she speaks of, that is, to make progress in the truth. It might not be long before she dedicates herself.

Another Witness writes about his experiences while in a hospital: “I was there in order to undergo an operation. At first there had to be tests taken for about one week, and I went around and comforted the patients with the truths about the Kingdom. Among them was a state church priest with whom I had long discussions, and he did admit that much of what I was saying was the truth. A young man that had had a stomach operation was very downhearted. I sat at his bed and spoke of how the kingdom of God was going to make all sound of health and that death shall be no more, and there was a marked improvement of his condition, giving him a more balanced view. One nurse had noted how I went to the patients and especially this young man, and one day smilingly said to me: ‘What are you doing with my patients?’ When I told her, she stated: ‘Then it must be for that reason that our ulcer patient has got his appetite back and new courage to live on!’ I then said that spiritual therapy, besides that which the doctor can give them, is very important. ‘Yes, you are right,’ she answered, ‘and I wish you good success in your evident ability to encourage the patients.’”

One young wife got interested and wanted a study, but her husband forbade it, stating that the Witnesses were just lazy people that did not want to do any real work. After a couple of weeks, seeing that the wife did not give in, he decided to get more information so as to be able really to protect his wife against these folks. Reluctantly he followed her to some of the Witnesses and also attended a meeting and right away understood that this is the truth. And after a while he became even more eager than the wife to study our literature. One day he read in the “Sanctified” book, looked up the scriptures in his Bible, looked in the Truth book to see if those scriptures were dealt with there also, and even searched in the “All Scripture” book to find out who were the writers of the Bible books and when these were written, etc. This went on for four hours and he did not allow himself to be disturbed. Within three months after the first visit both of them withdrew from the state church, as they desired to take part in the witnessing work and be baptized.

SWITZERLAND Population: 6,184,000

Peak Publishers: 7,545 Ratio: 1 to 820

The past service year has been a year of intense activity in many respects among the Lord’s people in Switzerland, and we have been richly blessed. Eight times we reached a new peak in publishers. This is something quite exceptional for Switzerland.

This year will also stand out prominently because we had the great joy of moving into our new factory and Bethel home in Thun. How grateful we are to have appreciably more space in which to accomplish our work! The new rotary press was delivered in the spring and was erected by our own brothers. In June we were already printing on our new machine. All the other machines that were in Berne were moved and reerected in Thun by the end of August.

Indelibly impressed on our minds is also the visit of Brother Knorr here in the middle of May and the meetings held with branch servants from Europe in the new Bethel in Thun. The Bethel family and publishers from Berne and Thun will long remember how Brother Knorr lovingly explained the purpose of the new Bethel, and then formally dedicated this beautiful building to the furtherance of Jehovah’s true worship.

Visiting inactive publishers can often produce gratifying results. About three years ago a circuit servant visited a family who had been inactive for a long time. At first this married couple were not very enthusiastic about the visit of the circuit servant, but nevertheless the words of this special representative of the Society must have had their effect, because the whole family attended the public lecture on Sunday. Slowly father and mother began to attend the meetings again with the children. Then father began to study with his children and started in the field service again; in fact, he even enrolled as a vacation pioneer several times.

Meanwhile the son also began to take part in the field service and was baptized. He applied for pioneer service and a few months later he was assigned as special pioneer and is very successful in this service.

Here is an experience he reported right at the beginning of his special pioneer assignment: “I had the opportunity to study the Bible with a mother and her fifteen-year-old daughter with the aid of the Truth book. Sometimes she spoke about a son who was eighteen years old but hardly ever at home. In answer to my question as to the reason, she explained that he played in a ‘Beat Band’ and was in a Town Youth Orchestra, and on the weekends he was either traveling or with his girl friend. This presented a problem. I wanted at least to encourage this son to take part in the study. With the help of his mother I was able to arrange an appointment to meet him one evening at their home. As he entered the room where I was awaiting him that evening, I thought for a moment that the daughter was standing before me, as his hair came down to his shoulders. As I recovered from my first surprise, I began to talk to him about music, which quickly led into a Bible subject, and only after three and a half hours our conversation came to a successful conclusion. He agreed that he would likewise take the time to participate in the study.

“The study developed so well that I looked forward each time to the next visit, although I never arrived home before eleven o’clock. Already after the third study he had his hair cut. After the fourth study he left the ‘Beat Band’ and after the fifth he resigned from the Town Youth Orchestra and made a clean break from Babylon the Great. In place of these things he came regularly to the congregation meetings. During this time he also gave up smoking and severed his friendship with the young lady when she wanted nothing to do with the truth after he had given her a good witness. Very early in his study he perceived that the Bible permitted no compromises whatsoever. All these things he left behind him in such a short time that one naturally asked how he had accomplished it. Well, the explanation he himself gave with the words: ‘You know, without Jehovah’s help, I could never have managed it.’

“After a three-month study he began to tell others about what he had learned. He was not satisfied with spending just the morning in the service, but reserved the whole of Saturday. How great was his joy, and also mine, when he placed a Truth book at the very first door where he presented his first sermon!” This young man was baptized at the circuit assembly held at the end of December. What a great change was effected in this young man by the truth, so that over a period of around three months he became a completely transformed personality!

LIECHTENSTEIN Population: 21,758

Peak Publishers: 9 Ratio: 1 to 2,418

The message of Jehovah’s established kingdom is being preached in this little country as never before. Many people wish to learn more of the only hope for those living in this doomed old system, and willing publishers are zealous in offering this help.

One of our faithful sisters died. She did not neglect to write in her will the desire to be buried by Jehovah’s witnesses, and that no cross be raised on her grave. Such a thing had not been heard of before in the whole country. It was also the first time that a funeral talk was given here by one of Jehovah’s witnesses. As it happened to be a holiday, many people attended and heard a wonderful witness as to the condition of the dead and the resurrection hope. Many voices of appreciation were heard afterward regarding these Bible explanations. Now, standing out among all the crosses in that cemetery, there is one grave with just a small stake and a name tablet. This unusual spectacle continues to be a topic of discussion among the people, and when the publishers call at their doors they have the opportunity to answer questions in connection with our beliefs.

TAIWAN, REPUBLIC OF CHINA Population: 14,000,000

Peak Publishers: 1,135 Ratio: 1 to 12,335

The service year began in Taiwan with the occupation and dedication of the new branch-missionary home building, followed by the memorable Taipei international assembly in October. Because this assembly was all-Chinese in language an Amis-language district assembly was held in December. More than 1,400 attended, making it the largest assembly in Taiwan since the 1963 around-the-world assembly held in the Amis territory. All of this, combined with the restarting of the Kingdom Ministry School in May 1970, contributed to making this service year the most outstanding for growth in Taiwan in the past eight years.

The use of the six-month study program with the Chinese Truth book also contributed greatly to this progress, as evidenced by many experiences. For example, a missionary doing magazine work placed two magazines with a woman who said she had read them before. The missionary offered her a study and this was started immediately. Although the woman was Buddhist of background, she covered a chapter per week and came to meetings right from the start. She readily accepted the Bible truths, for, as she said, “Buddhism has nothing to offer” regarding the future, and the few churches she had attended had in no way satisfied her curiosity about the Bible. After studying for eight months and completing the Truth book and other material, she was baptized as a true disciple of Christ Jesus.

Even in the Amis territory the Chinese and Japanese Truth books have helped to produce good fruitage. One sister had undergone severe opposition from her husband for more than ten years, often being beaten for attending meetings and going in service. One day the husband saw the Truth book on the table and started to read it. It roused his interest so that he agreed to a study with a local pioneer. Rapid progress was made and he was baptized at the district assembly last December. He now takes the lead in teaching his own family the truth and in other Christian activity.

In the Paiwan tribe, where we have just three congregations now, the newest of these was formed in a place where there had been an isolated group a long time. A special pioneer was assigned to this village and was soon able to start studies with the ‘leaders’ of the two local Protestant churches. They made fine progress, one of these women getting baptized at the “Peace on Earth” assembly in Taipei last year and the other at a later circuit assembly. This created quite a stir in the village, and many more started to study as they saw the beneficial changes the truth wrought in these two and others who were studying. The newly formed congregation is now enjoying an average attendance of about 200 percent at all their meetings. So the work is expanding among the smaller tribes also.

Some young children are demonstrating that they have firm faith in Jehovah. One, in third grade of primary school, faced an issue similar to that faced by Daniel’s three friends. When she took the same stand as the three Hebrews she was threatened, cajoled, beaten and finally made to stand in the hot tropical sun for half a day, but she remained firm in her faith. Finally she was released and sent home, and her parents wanted to know why she had been beaten. At hearing her explanation her parents used questions to find out how the experience had affected her faith. They were thrilled to find that she was even more determined to be a faithful servant of Jehovah.

An American couple came to Taiwan in connection with the husband’s secular work and to serve where the need is greater. Two English-language studies were turned over to them to conduct. At one of these it happened that visitors often dropped by during the study and the study would be continued during the visitors’ presence. One of these visitors came several times, and at the end of the closing prayer one day it was noticed that she had tears in her eyes. The ensuing discussion led to a study with her. Three weeks later an antagonistic visitor sat in on the study. She came back three weeks in succession, during which time her attitude softened some. When she heard the date 1914 mentioned she wanted to know what that meant. A study was started and both of these students have now completed the Truth book in six months and the three women are anxious to get started in service and be baptized soon. At present the original two studies have developed into eight, with seven persons attending the English meetings that are held in Taipei. Certainly Jehovah has blessed these efforts to serve where the need is greater by drawing sheeplike ones to one of the only two Bible studies in English conducted in this city of almost two million.

The local publishers and missionaries would like to say “Thank you” to the Society and their brothers around the world whose contributions made possible the building of the fine new branch office here in Taipei with its spacious Kingdom Hall and accommodations for eighteen missionaries. All the missionaries have also asked that their appreciation for the assistance to attend one of the “Peace on Earth” assemblies last year be expressed to all the brothers for this loving provision.

THAILAND Population: 33,522,238

Peak Publishers: 380 Ratio: 1 to 88,216

The past service year has been a very blessed one for Jehovah’s servants in the four countries under the Bangkok branch, and the brothers had many fine experiences in the ministry, a few of which are given here.

Toward the beginning of the service year a young isolated publisher had the opportunity to prove his integrity under test when his headmaster in school noticed that the boy did not share in saluting the flag and called him into his office. The headmaster did not listen to the boy’s attempt to explain God’s law regarding image worship but tried to make him return to Buddhism by commending him for his good qualities and by offering him advantages in school. When the boy stood firm for Jehovah’s exclusive worship, the headmaster changed his tactics and threatened the boy with expulsion from school, had him stand in front of all the students, denounced him as no good and told the other students not to associate with him. With Jehovah’s help the boy bore the ostracism and was able to finish school. This incident caused countrywide adverse publicity through every radio station and newspaper, but this did not dampen the zeal of the brothers for true worship.

The truth of God’s Word has power to make people change their way of life, as illustrated by the following experience. A married couple had accepted the booklet Living in Hope of a Righteous New World and both showed great interest in the good news when the publisher, one of their neighbors, visited them regularly during evenings after work. When the husband had finished reading the booklet he told his wife that he would quit the ways of the world and that he wanted to live according to the ways of God. He said that he would stop drinking, gambling, smoking and running around with the crowd. He had just sent one of the children to buy three cigarettes and was smoking one. He said that after these three cigarettes were finished he would stop. His wife replied, “If you are going to stop, you may as well stop right now. You could throw these three cigarettes away couldn’t you?” He agreed, followed the suggestion and did not smoke anymore. He confessed later that it was not easy to stop smoking after having been addicted to that habit for thirty-six years, but whenever he got the craving for a smoke he would pray to Jehovah for strength. Attending all the meetings regularly helped him too. He got baptized at our district assembly.

A special pioneer sister tried to apply the Society’s counsel to draw the husbands into the study when studying with wives. Usually she had good success. But in one case the husband did not like it at all that his wife would study the Bible and opposed her violently, so the wife left home and went back to her mother with no intentions of returning. She came to the house of the sister to tell her about her move. The sister gave her counsel from the Scriptures to practice endurance and to try to be a good wife so that she might be able to help her husband to see the truth too. So the wife agreed to return to her husband. Upon her return she told her husband that if it had not been for the counsel of the publisher according to the Bible she would certainly not have come back. This made the husband appreciate the influence the sister was having upon his wife and he went and bought vegetables and fruit, brought it to the house of the sister and thanked her for her assistance. Since then he has been sitting in on the Bible study, and it is hoped that he might see the truth.

CAMBODIA Population: 6,000,000

Peak Publishers: 4 Ratio: 1 to 1,500,000

During the first part of the service year there were four publishers of the good news active in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Three French sisters had moved there to serve where the need is greater and they were doing a fine work. When the war started in Cambodia in May, circumstances forced them to leave the country. Nevertheless, in the time that they were there these zealous sisters stirred up the interest of a few persons, and during the visit of the circuit servant one new publisher started in the service.

One of the French sisters, upon returning to France, took up vacation pioneering and expressed her intention to get into the regular pioneer work. Serving where the need is greater even for a short time has proved to be a fine blessing for this sister, helping her to see ever clearer the importance of the preaching work.

LAOS Population: 3,000,000

Peak Publishers: 23 Ratio: 1 to 130,435

After a number of years of seemingly standing still we have finally started to move forward in Laos, with six new publishers started in the last six months. A concerted effort was put forth to lay a right foundation by building up love for Jehovah’s service and his fine principles. It is a joy to us all to see these local brothers stay out for four solid hours of preaching and get better results than we missionaries. One of the newly started publishers is an invalid as a result of polio. She has this to say:

“Knowledge of Jehovah’s promise of a new system of things where the lame will walk again has given me something to live for. For ten years now I have been unable to walk more than a few feet, even with crutches, but by a study of God’s Word and a growing appreciation for his organization I have seen the necessity of attending all congregational meetings regularly. Although I cannot go from door to door, I am now a publisher by writing letters and by incidental witnessing. I am now looking forward to being baptized at the next assembly.”

Another of our new publishers is only twelve years old, but a tender age is no barrier to zeal. In this young girl’s mind everything dates from the time she began to believe the truth. She is always the first one at the rendezvous. She was quite saddened her first time out in the service when her missionary companion suggested taking her home after only two hours of witnessing. Ever since then when she goes out preaching she stays out from eight till twelve noon. She uses every occasion that arises to do incidental witnessing and by this means she has started a Bible study with a schoolmate who is also now attending meetings.

VIETNAM Population: 17,414,000

Peak Publishers: 52 Ratio: 1 to 334,885

Fine progress was made in Saigon this past year, seven presenting themselves for baptism at the circuit assembly there. Many fine experiences were had by the publishers.

A missionary started a study with a thirteen-year-old girl who soon began to show extraordinary interest in the Bible. She began attending meetings and participating in them. Within six months she indicated that she was ready for field service. Her parents at first agreed that she could go; however, shortly after she started, they began to oppose. She was no longer permitted to go in the service or to the meetings, but she put forth effort to continue her personal Bible study with the missionary. Sometimes the missionary would leave home at 6:30 a.m. in order to reach the girl’s home by 7 a.m., the only time available for her to study. When her parents would no longer permit this arrangement, the young girl left early for school and would meet the missionary at the home of one of the publishers for her Bible study before going to school. During this time, more than two years, she was ridiculed and at times beaten for not joining in the worship of the ancestors.

Finally her parents decided to send her far away from contact with Jehovah’s people, so for three months the Witnesses did not know what was happening to the girl. After three months in “exile” the parents visited the girl and found that she had been witnessing to all the relatives, and some of them were becoming interested. So they decided to bring her home and let her do as she pleased. She went to the Kingdom Hall with the announcement, “I have permission from my parents to attend meetings, go in the service, get baptized and become a pioneer.” Since then she has hardly missed a day in the service; one month she put in more than 130 hours. She convinced her mother that she should get rid of her idols and had the joy of having her mother attend her baptism. On the very day she was baptized she filled out her application for six months of vacation pioneering and wants to be a regular pioneer as soon as she is eligible.

It has been suggested that we try to study with whole families, but since in this world families seldom do things together, arranging for a family study is not easy. One of the missionaries writes: “I studied with the husband three months before I was able even to meet his wife, who was always out in the kitchen. When, after three months, he took his altar and images down, I realized that his worship was affecting his family, and so I made another attempt to meet his wife. This resulted in her joining the study with her husband. The seven children were my next goal. The parents agreed, so I began studying with the two oldest girls. They learned quickly, and gradually we persuaded the timid younger ones to sit in. Now to amalgamate the two studies and we would have a family study! With Jehovah’s blessing it was accomplished.

“Soon the father followed the counsel of Jehovah’s organization to read the Bible with his family daily, and then he began to study regularly with them. Meetings and field service became a part of their now-happy life. Fearsome superstitions had been replaced by a wonderful hope for the future. When the wife was asked by a neighbor what nerve pills she was now taking that seemed to help her so much, her reply was, ‘I don’t need my the nerve pills anymore since I started studying the Bible.’ Obstacles and problems came up too, but how helpful to have family members who also love Jehovah. It was with great joy that I witnessed the baptism of three members of this family at our assembly. Two of the daughters put in pioneer hours previous to their baptism and are hoping to be real pioneers soon.

“This happy theocratic family has been a fine example and a source of encouragement to many other Vietnamese people. After one newly interested family of ten attended the congregation book study at their home, they exclaimed: ‘We want a happy family like that. If we study diligently for three months, could we go out and preach like they do? And do you think you would have room if we brought our eight children to your meeting hall?’ The next meeting seven of them came to the Kingdom Hall. How good to have found another family who see what wonderful blessings can come from worshiping Jehovah together as a family!”

TOGO Population: 1,950,000

Peak Publishers: 1,595 Ratio: 1 to 1,223

In his first letter to the Corinthians, 1Co chapter three, verse six, Paul said: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making it grow.” So planting and watering on our part are required in order to allow God’s spirit to operate freely and make it grow. With this understanding all publishers have been working hard during the past service year, and Jehovah kept making it grow. During the service year 246 publishers got baptized, many new isolated groups started operating, and three new congregations had to be formed as well as a new circuit. The prospects for further growth are very good. During the Memorial time we had 1,470 publishers, but 4,994 attended the Memorial. In Lomé, the capital city, every fiftieth one of its inhabitants was in one of our Kingdom Halls on that evening. We also conduct 2,600 home Bible studies, and if we keep on watering, we are sure that Jehovah will give further growth.

A special pioneer started a Bible study with a Catholic man. Any time the pioneer came, the man had many questions on doctrines. But his harsh tone of voice disturbed his wife, who was a fetish worshiper. One day, in the presence of the publisher, she talked to him about his harsh manner. The special pioneer explained to the woman that her husband’s hot arguments were only due to the fact that he did not yet understand the points. The woman was impressed by the contrasting calmness, despite her husband’s heat in the arguments; she began to take interest in the truth, and he cooled down to a serious Bible study. The man made progress and applied things he learned from the Bible. The woman noticed the change in his life and applied also for a Bible study. She made rapid progress, putting away all her fetish practices. But he became somehow reluctant due to the fact that he was a prominent member of the church and also a polygamist. Both were invited to the district assembly, which they attended, and after their return they became more zealous in the truth. The man stopped going to church and gave up all his positions. After attending another assembly he straightened out his marriage affairs and began publishing. His wife too started out in the service as well as their sons, daughters and his sister-in-law who had been a fetish priestess. They are now enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and they are preparing for baptism at the next assembly.

One congregation servant writes: “In our territory are mostly Presbyterians and they oppose us, even calling us false prophets. But our endurance, good conduct and our recent circuit assembly changed the situation. The catechist in town told his church members that they are not good Christians but only church-goers, but Jehovah’s witnesses are the right kind of Christians. Then he explained and said: Witnesses are hardworking people, zealous in the service, lovely in their manners, and they are doing the work that Christ and his apostles did. The best example was their recent assembly in town. They all came from different localities; they gathered as a family. Throughout their stay their methods of studying the Bible and their tranquillity dominated at their assembly even though they are many. Then he spoke about the cafeteria and he said that the food was served without any seniority, and he urged his church members to do things as Jehovah’s witnesses are doing. This gave many fine opportunities in the field service, and since then we had to arrange a new congregation book study to help the many newly interested ones to study God’s Word in order to get out of Babylon the Great.”

TRINIDAD Population: 981,689

Peak Publishers: 2,133 Ratio: 1 to 460

The 1970 service year has now drawn to a close and has been a year of many blessings and experiences both in Trinidad and in Tobago. From its beginning it has been a year of making disciples and baptizing them. Our “Peace on Earth” assembly at the beginning of October saw 152 get baptized, and during the rest of the year more and more took this important step, until at the year’s end there were a total of 284 newly baptized ones, which causes rejoicing on our part.

The most momentous event of the year and one that has had some impact on the preaching work was the effort of radical elements to overthrow the government during April, with the consequent declaration by the government of an emergency that still continues. Just how far-reaching the effects of this disturbance and the following emergency will be is yet to be seen. One effect was that all public assemblies other than regular religious services in established meeting places must have the permission of the Commissioner of Police. And so we had to secure this permission for our circuit assemblies. This proved easy to obtain and our assemblies went off very smoothly, with the exception of our largest one, in Port of Spain during July. Here we saw a demonstration that impressed more strongly on our minds that the work is really under angelic supervision.

Just before the assembly was to begin, the circuit servant was informed by the Commissioner of Police that, while we could hold the assembly, we could not use any sound equipment. An interview with him proved fruitless. A delegation then attempted to see the Minister of National Security and failed. A second attempt was made to get the Commissioner to change his mind, but he emphatically stated that he would not change his mind. As a result the Friday program was put on with no sound equipment at all, to an audience of over 1,300. Saturday morning a brother who had formerly been a policeman and was a rookie with the Commissioner attempted to have an interview, only to be told that the Commissioner was not in his office on weekends. Well, all efforts had been exhausted now, and it appeared that we really could not use sound equipment for the entire assembly. Then about noon on Saturday a young woman who was interested and who had attended Friday night and could not hear made up her mind to do something about it. She decided to phone the Commissioner at his residence, although she was not acquainted with him. First, she said, ‘I prayed that Jehovah would soften his heart.’ And the Commissioner granted this request of a person not one of Jehovah’s witnesses and who did not represent them in any way! The sound was fine for the remaining days of the assembly, and 2,187 attended the public talk.

When a piece of literature is left in a home, one can never tell what it will lead to. The Truth book was placed with a lady in Norway. She left it on her table, but never got around to reading it. Her brother, visiting her from Trinidad, picked it up and started reading. He recognized it as the truth, something he had always wanted. He got in touch with the publisher who had placed the book with his sister and obtained more literature. He visited the branch office in Norway for further information, and on his return to Trinidad a study was started with him. He is making good progress, and is witnessing to all his friends who will listen. As he himself puts it: “Just think, if my sister had not bought that book I might never have learned the truth.”

Physical infirmity need not make one inactive or unproductive. A sister who is elderly suffered a stroke and was confined to bed. The problem of becoming irregular in the field service arose, so it was thought that those with whom she had been conducting studies should be invited to her home to continue their studies. They willingly agreed. Now, months later, the studies are still being held. One student is preparing for immersion in October and another has expressed her desire to take part in the ministry. All together, eleven different persons are continuing to take in knowledge of Jehovah. The sister conducts three studies and assists with one that her daughter conducts. She averages three to five hours weekly.

We have had a busy and enjoyable year in promoting Jehovah’s true worship and are now preparing for the coming service year. There is yet much work to do in this part of the “vineyard,” and prospects for further increase and improvement are encouraging. We had hoped that by now we could inform you that we had a site for a branch building and were ready to build, but we are still waiting for the Cabinet to reply to our application for land. We sincerely hope that during the coming year we may get a suitable site and begin our long-delayed construction of the new building.

TOBAGO Population: 38,861

Peak Publishers: 95 Ratio: 1 to 409

This was Tobago’s finest year of increase since 1956. Not only in publishers was there increase, but general improvement and advancement were experienced. At the year’s end a fine spirit prevailed in the two congregations, and the future prospects look bright. Many interesting experiences were enjoyed.

It pays to call on the not-at-homes, as this sister can testify: “One day while making a back-call, I noticed a woman in a house where no one had been home. I called at the door and the woman was very happy to see me. I discussed the current sermon and offered the Truth book and the six-month Bible study course, which she accepted right away. I remember her remark: ‘God really sent you here to teach me and these children.’ I invited her to the Memorial, which she attended. Since then she has attended other meetings and is making fine progress with her studies. As God’s servants we are not alone, but our ingathering work is having angelic supervision. Do you, when witnessing, think of this, even as the lady said: ‘God sent you here to teach me and these children’?”

Another publisher relates how the Truth book really helps sincere ones to apply to their lives what they learn. “Once I placed the Truth book with a woman. When I made the first back-call, she invited two of her friends to join in with her. As the study progressed we got to chapter three, which asks, ‘Who Is God?’ On paragraph 23 John’s warning to ‘guard yourselves from idols’ was discussed. Then she removed the false religious objects from the wall. Afterward she remarked: ‘I need not tell you I have cleaned the house already, so no more images or gods.’ As Jesus says, in our making disciples we must teach them to observe all the things he commanded.”

URUGUAY Population: 2,800,000

Peak Publishers: 3,199 Ratio: 1 to 875

Jehovah’s witnesses and their literature are becoming well known in Uruguay. One sociology professor often analyzes Awake! articles in his advanced classes for teachers, and in one interview he commented: “I often read and advise others to read the Awake! magazine. Articles such as ‘The World in Ferment,’ ‘The Population Crisis,’ ‘Why the “Hippie” Movement?’ are some of the most courageous expositions available to comprehend the modern world. I have found these facts and figures truly revealing.”

One city congregation worked isolated territory for the purpose of finding the newly interested ones and developing Bible studies with them rather than just trying to increase their placements of literature. Many studies were begun. Seeing the good prospects in this area, the Society assigned two pioneers to give better attention to this small nucleus. Only seven months later they began building a Kingdom Hall and formed a congregation. These twenty new publishers are zealously building their new Kingdom Hall while at the same time maintaining their field ministry well above the suggested congregation goals. How happy the brothers are who viewed the people in their former isolated territory as prospective “sheep” needing proper spiritual feeding through back-calls and Bible studies, rather than only a means of increasing their literature placements!

In one small town a modern “Saul of Tarsus” appeared. This lady hated the Witnesses and unhesitatingly made her dislike known to others. Eventually her parents began to study with the Witnesses. In order to thwart the study she went to the home of her parents. Instead of entering and disrupting the study immediately, she decided to listen first from outside the window. The subject dealt with the condition of the dead. This really touched her heart and it dawned on her that this is the truth. That night her mind kept going over the points she heard, and she could not sleep. Next day she visited the publisher and requested a personal study. Almost from the beginning she sincerely applied what she learned, throwing away her images, etc. She also began attending meetings and went out in the ministry within one month. She reviewed the eighty questions in the “Lamp” book and got baptized in one month and a half, along with her thirteen-year-old daughter. After two months both are conducting their own Bible studies with others and are zealous preachers, in spite of strong opposition from the head of the family. No, we should not hastily judge those who are opposed, since they may someday become our zealous, loving brothers and sisters.

After one sister read the suggestion that publishers might inquire of their Bible students as to whether they knew of anyone who would also like to study, she began putting it into practice. As a result of this, the publisher was able to start seven new Bible studies. Many have found that a good source of new good Bible studies is the recommendations from their present older students.

FALKLAND ISLANDS Population: 2,300

Peak Publishers: 2 Ratio: 1 to 1,150

During the past year Bible studies have continued with interested persons in the islands by means of letters and tape recordings. In August and September a missionary couple was assigned to work the city of Port Stanley and they revisited the many persons who had previously manifested a sheeplike disposition. This year the missionaries were able to resume many of the Bible studies and also succeeded in having them come together for regular group meetings, book studies, and a weekly Watchtower study. Having regular weekly Bible studies has meant a remarkable step forward and will help them to grow in knowledge and understanding. It is hoped that the group will diligently continue with the same arrangement of weekly meetings after the missionaries complete their work in the islands. The need is still great for an English-speaking family to move there and care for the interest personally.

VENEZUELA Population: 10,467,000

Peak Publishers: 7,387 Ratio: 1 to 1,417

Toward the end of his first letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote these encouraging words: “Consequently, my beloved brothers, become steadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58) The zealous publishers in Venezuela have had plenty to do during this past service year, and as a result they have had a wonderful increase in the number of publishers. It was a joy to see 1,133 new publishers symbolize their dedication by water immersion. The following experiences show how the fruitful labor of the publishers has not been in vain.

A congregation overseer relates his personal experience. “My experience might be of some encouragement to persons who have certain physical handicaps to trust in Jehovah with all their heart. (Prov. 3:5) I was a sincere, almost fanatic Catholic, a good contributor and with materialistic ideas.

“In 1960 in a traffic accident I lost instantly and totally my left leg. It was so serious that it took me eight months to recover fully from the fractures of the other leg and an arm. Naturally, as anyone without Bible knowledge might reason, at times I felt so discouraged that I even thought of suicide. My outlook on life changed when, in 1962, I obtained the Paradise book, which I read in about a week. It proved so interesting that I was almost convinced it was the truth. I wrote the branch office asking for more of the same literature and a Portuguese Bible, because I wanted to share these good things with my parents. But the result was far different from what I imagined, for when my mother knew I was studying the Bible she said she suffered more than when I had the almost-fatal accident.

“In 1963 a trip was arranged to Portugal to visit the Catholic relatives, as my parents thought perhaps they could separate me from the Witnesses. That year there was a lot of persecution in Portugal and it took me about two months to find a Kingdom Hall—but what joy when I finally did! Contrary to what my mother had hoped, many of our family already were interested in the truth. Now came the test: A month later when we were attending a meeting the police came and all of us were arrested and taken to court. (Awake! 5/22/64, ¡Despertad! 8/22/64) In spite of the short time that some of us had studied, all kept integrity, and I was baptized a month and a half later. In November that same year we returned to Venezuela, my parents no longer opposed but in favor of the truth.

“The local congregation servant mentioned the need of servants in the congregation, although I thought I could not enjoy the privilege due to my physical condition. He encouraged me and later I was appointed study conductor and since then have enjoyed many privileges in Jehovah’s service. How certain it is that Jehovah imparts strength to the one who trusts in Him with all his heart. I, who thought at first that I could not even be a publisher, now have been a regular pioneer for two years. I was able to attend the ‘Peace on Earth’ assembly in New York and visit Bethel, besides having the privilege of serving as an overseer in one of the units in Valencia, and what joy to see ten publishers of this congregation, including my parents, baptized at the last circuit assembly!”

Incidental witnessing proved fruitful for a publisher in Caracas. “In the office of the oil company where I work, I’m always alert to preach incidentally to fellow workers. On one occasion I was talking to an engineer about the good news. He knew that I was one of Jehovah’s witnesses, and he said that if a Witness called at his door he’d throw him out because no one has the right to go to his house and tell him the Catholic religion is false. At that I asked, ‘If I were the person, would you do it? He said, No, of course not, we’re fellow workers.’ So I asked his address, but he refused, saying, ‘Someday you might just happen to find it.’ A few weeks later in the preaching work my wife and I did just that. The man and his wife listened respectfully as we witnessed for about an hour, and from his own Bible, as I knew he was prejudiced against other translations. They were surprised at what they read. The Truth book was placed and the Awake! on the question of the end of the churches.

“On Monday at the office I asked what he thought of the literature. He said he would like us to visit again. How pleased we were on arriving to find he had listed twenty questions on paper. With Jehovah’s help we were able to give a Bible answer to all, and at this point I remembered John 10:14, because the couple began to recognize the voice of the Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ. A study was arranged, and at the close of the first study they asked to study twice a week. Two months later the wife wanted to participate in the ministry. Having by now a good knowledge and having separated from Babylon the Great, she was invited. The following week the husband wanted to go, but he was encouraged first to stop smoking, which he did. Both began to associate with the congregation immediately, and after five months of study were active and zealous publishers. At the last circuit assembly they were baptized.”

Sincere persons, regardless of age, quickly see the need of abandoning Babylon the Great. In the magazine work a special pioneer met a lady who, after the brief introduction, asked, “Are you Catholic?” “No,” the publisher replied, “I’m one of Jehovah’s witnesses.” “Oh,” said the householder, “in that case, come in. I was a Catholic for many years but haven’t been to church for a long time because I realize it isn’t the true religion.” The publisher offered her the magazines and at the same time mentioned the Bible study course with the Truth book. The first study was conducted in her bedroom, due to noise in the living room. The room was filled with images, and during the study she said: “I have these because since childhood I was taught to believe in them, but if it’s incorrect I’ll take them down.” The lady was surprised at the information presented in chapter three of the Truth book along with the Bible proof and definitely did take them down. The first meeting she attended was the Memorial and she was very impressed by what she heard and saw. Since then she has continued coming to the hall and has studied twice a week. She also began witnessing to the neighbors and suggested that she would like to accompany the sister in the ministry. Knowing she gambled for money, the publisher told her there were certain requirements to be fulfilled, and included in the information given her was that point. The following week she had resolved not to gamble anymore. She always expresses appreciation for the teaching method of Jehovah’s witnesses. This humble person is seventy-three years old.

YUGOSLAVIA

Our brothers in Yugoslavia continue to preach the good news of the Kingdom, and as a result of this a good witness was given in the past service year and a goodly number of persons have become disciples. The Council’s Voice, a religious journal published in Yugoslavia by Archbishop’s Religious Board, had this to say about our activity there: “If the Catholic laity would be active messengers of their religion as are the zealous Witnesses of Jehovah, this sect would not be any problem at all for the Church.”

In a village the brothers were active several Sundays. When they went to make back-calls on one of the following Sundays, they became aware that the clergyman of the village had collected all literature from those who had received such. He told the surprised householders: “Tell those who brought you these publications to come to me and get them back from me.” Upon this, two brothers went to the house of the clergyman, and a considerable group of spectators gathered around the house in order to watch what would happen now. When the two brothers met the clergyman, he shouted: “Oh, it is you; get out of here!” He chased the brothers out of the house, even resorting to physical force and calling for the police. Outside of the house the brothers asked: “Where is the literature?” The pastor shouted: “Everything is burnt, everything is burnt! Go ahead and file a charge if you wish! I have two doctor titles. How can you talk to me about matters of faith?” The brothers remained very calm during all this and then one of them said: “Christ has promised the kingdom of God to the mild-tempered ones. Have you never heard of it, seeing that you have two doctor titles?” Then the brothers left and the clergyman went into his house, filled with indignation. To the crowd the brothers promised to bring new literature the next Sunday. When they went there the next Sunday they were told in the first house that the clergyman had died on the very same day that this had happened, at night. The brothers were also told that the new clergyman who took over the office had no objection if people read the literature of Jehovah’s witnesses. And now the brothers could place a lot of literature in this village, the incident having become known and discussed everywhere. So oftentimes the wrath of our enemies contributes to a greater witness.

ZAMBIA Population: 4,500,000

Peak Publishers: 50,655 Ratio: 1 to 89

Jehovah’s witnesses in Zambia took to heart the fine encouragement that the Lord gave the apostle Paul through a vision, as recorded in Acts chapter 18, verses 9 and 10: “Have no fear, but keep on speaking and do not keep silent, because I am with you and no man will assault you so as to do you injury; for I have many people in this city.”

Just as the Lord assured the apostle Paul that he would be given protection to ensure that no one assaulted him and did injury to him until the preaching work was accomplished, so Jehovah’s witnesses in Zambia are very grateful that Jehovah made it possible for them to carry out their Christian ministry in peace during the 1970 service year. Disciples for Christ the King were made, resulting in a new peak of 50,655 publishers by the end of July. It is just as the apostle Paul acknowledged: “The word of God is not bound.”—2 Tim. 2:9.

This experience illustrates the power the truth has in transforming the lives of people who accept it. It started in this way:

A certain man had a house servant whom he employed to cook for him. However, his house servant did not perform his duties properly and faithfully. When a circuit servant came to serve a nearby congregation, a special effort was made tactfully to call on various persons to see whether they were interested in the truth. This house servant was contacted by one of the publishers and a Bible study was established with him.

This person began to come to the meetings conducted at the Kingdom Hall. In just a very short period his entire conduct was changed, so much so that even his master noticed a great change in the way he performed his duties in the home. He took the trouble to investigate what brought about this change in his employee. When it was explained to him that his house servant was studying the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses and that he was now regularly attending their meetings, he summoned the servants in that local congregation to come to his house.

The brothers went to his house, but, of course, not knowing what it was all about. When they arrived they were surprised to see that the man was in a very good mood. He began to thank the brothers for having helped his employee to change his conduct so that now he had proved to be such a fine worker. Then he remarked, “To show you how much I appreciate the fine work you have done, I am giving you a piano for your use at the congregation meetings.” His house servant is still making a fine progress in the truth along with his family.

Other Countries Where Jehovah’s Witnesses Work Under Difficulty

pp. 304–317

Other Countries Where Jehovah’s Witnesses Work Under Difficulty

What has been happening world wide in the way of increase in publishers of the Kingdom has happened, on the average, in all the countries where Jehovah’s witnesses work under difficulty. In fact, they have enjoyed a 6.5-percent increase. It is very difficult to get accurate reports, but throughout the year we have had reports that 9,766 newly interested persons were baptized, symbolizing their dedication to the doing of Jehovah’s will. It is marvelous how Jehovah’s holy spirit works on his servants no matter where they are on the earth. Even though Jehovah’s servants in these troublesome countries do not have close communications with Jehovah’s visible organization in other parts of the world, they do manage to receive the spiritual food, and, of course, deep down in their hearts is the desire to preach the good news of God’s kingdom. It is with real joy that we set out some experiences of the activity of some of the great crowd of faithful witnesses working in truly difficult lands.

BULGARIA

The situation for our brothers in Bulgaria has not improved. Public preaching is not possible. There are only a few brothers in Bulgaria. But in spite of the difficult situation, they do some preaching, using the Bible and what little they have in the way of the Society’s publications in their own language. As a result of this, some of Bulgaria’s friendly population become interested in the truth. Only time will tell, when the “great tribulation” is over, how many persons in Bulgaria took their stand for Jehovah’s kingdom, in spite of the many difficulties caused by the government.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

A sister was conducting a Bible study with an interested family for one and a half years. In the course of time she learned that the wife had had a quarrel with a lady in the neighboring house for a long time. Once when the sister went to conduct this Bible study she happened to meet that other lady and she witnessed to her about the Kingdom. Surprisingly, this woman right away showed a keen interest in the message, and a Bible study was started with her immediately. The sister did not visit both ladies on the same day, in order to avoid complications. But, nonetheless, these came. One day the lady with whom the first study was held said to the sister: “I noticed that you also make visits on our neighbor, don’t you?” “That is so,” answered the sister. “In that case, please don’t visit us anymore. I don’t want your visits anymore,” was the reaction of the lady. Whatever our sister then said was in vain. The study was discontinued. Now our sister concentrated her efforts on the second study and this lady made progress almost day by day. When they got to the subject of prayer, it was shown to her that our acts have to be in harmony with our prayers. At this point the lady felt that she had to correct something in her life, namely, her relations with her neighbor. So she took the initiative and went to the other lady and showed her goodwill in order to settle the quarrel. She was successful. Not only was the quarrel ended, but the lady who actually was the first to have a Bible study said: “Now I see what I have lost by having ceased my study.” The first study was taken up again. There is peace between the two ladies and both are making fine progress toward maturity. Indeed, the truth has unifying strength.

A brother was driving his car through a Gypsy village when his car broke down. He needed help, and one of the villagers, a tractor driver, was willing to repair the car for fifty crowns. A number of onlookers came and, while the car was undergoing repair, the brother tried to give them a witness. By what he said the hearers became aware that he was one of Jehovah’s witnesses. They asked him where he lived. He told them the name of the town nearby. They were favorably impressed and told him that all Gypsy families in that town also are Jehovah’s witnesses and that since the time they started reading the Bible they became very nice people. And suddenly the man repairing the car turned to the brother and said: “If you are a witness of Jehovah I shall repair your car free of charge.” And he refused all payment when the brother wanted to pay for his work. This shows that, although there is much hatred in the world against Jehovah’s witnesses, there are also numerous people who are friendly because they observe the good conduct and the good works of Jehovah’s servants.

EAST GERMANY

The publishers have been busy preaching and teaching to make disciples and their efforts have been richly blessed. Many people realize the futility of looking any longer to the promises of men for a better future. When they are reached with the Kingdom message they readily listen to the truth.

A girl of sixteen years who went to high school learned the truth. After a study of just three months she understood that God requires of us exclusive devotion and that true Christians do not learn war anymore. So she asked her teacher to be excused from rifle training for reasons of conscience. She had to defend her decision before the school director the next day. He shouted at her, but even after a discussion of two hours he could not change her mind. Then she filed her resignation from the FDJ, a political Communist youth organization, and this proved to be even more of a test. They talked to her for hours, offered her a good social position and a place where she could study to become a veterinarian. They tried through her friend to talk her out of her new faith. Then the school put up the gist of her resignation on the notice board at school to have her fellow students express themselves about it. But all of these pressures did not make her give up her stand. Finally they made her leave school this year, because of “not being bearable for the school because of her social inactivity.” She has now taken up the ministry and is looking forward to getting baptized.

Another typical situation showing the circumstances under which the message is preached and how rapidly it spreads is reported by a publisher. She had a study with a young woman who soon started to tell her workmates of the fine things she learned. A young woman showed some interest. She wanted to attend the study, but the Witness felt it might be better not to have her come to that study before she really knew her and so suggested calling on her at her own home. The woman had some excuses, but then the sister learned that the woman’s husband was also interested. What was now to be done? The sister asked her husband to do some initial witnessing in the neighborhood where that new couple lived. He found real interest in that family and a Bible study was started with them. But very soon their faith in God and his Word was put to the test. They had just reached chapter two in the Truth book when the fleshly sister of the woman visited them. She had not been with them for several years. But her aim was just to keep them from continuing their Bible study. This was in vain though. A few days later a policeman called on them to inquire with whom they were studying and where that man lived. He pointed out to them that such a study is an unlawful thing. All these efforts only increased the interest of these people. They had learned in their study that neighbors and friends who want to prevent us from studying cannot give us everlasting life. In the meantime the woman got another workmate and her husband interested. A Bible study with them resulted after the second back-call.

The Truth book has helped many people to make fast progress. A man opened the door on an initial call of a publisher. The Witness started to give his presentation, but the householder interrupted him angrily, saying: “Go on, leave me alone. I am through with the church. How do things look in Ireland? There Christians fight each other.” The publisher was able to mention that there are Christians who do not share in these conflicts. The householder said Jehovah’s witnesses are the ones. “Look, I am one of them,” the publisher replied. He was invited in. He started a Bible study in the Truth book on the second call. Both husband and wife and three of their five sons attend the study. Chapter two caused them to resign from church. Chapter three brought the removal of the religious images they had hanging on the walls in their home. They no longer eat blood sausage, and Christmas was out for them even though grandma protested strongly. The woman has started in the witness work. When the recent political elections came up they took their stand for Christian neutrality, even though it meant a severe test for them because people are strongly pressed to vote. They are looking forward to getting baptized to symbolize their dedication to Jehovah.

Two young sisters used their school vacation to preach the message in a territory where the need is greater. Not being familiar with the territory, they unknowingly called at the home of the policeman of the village. They gave a witness to his wife and then he stepped in. The sisters told him they are Jehovah’s witnesses and desired to find people in that village who still believe in God and the Bible. He checked their personal identification cards. He expressed his best wishes and let them go on. But things did not run as smoothly as they thought. Another police official called the secret police, and at noontime the sisters were arrested and transported to the headquarters. They preached the truth to all the policemen with whom they came in contact and were able to give a good witness to several officers. Each sister was interrogated separately for three and a half hours. They tried to threaten the girls, to intimidate them; they shouted at them, then were kind again, and so on. Finally the officials decided to expel them from the county. The chief said he had never experienced such a thing, and one sister replied that he too needed to hear the good news in order to make a decision about his own future. The sisters expressed their appreciation to the officials for being able to preach God’s message to them and pointed out the wise counsel given by Gamaliel to stay away from the possibility of working against God.

While a brother was in a city to do some business, a young blind man approached him, asking him to lead him over to the other side of a broad street. The brother felt pity for the young man and started to tell him about the wonderful time when all the ailments of mankind that physicians cannot cure will be healed under the Kingdom rule of Christ. The blind man agreed, and the brother gave him a thorough witness. He promised to visit the man, who lived in an institution for the blind. He did so several times and after a while the back-call address was turned over to a publisher living closer. He was able to get to a regular study with that young man. The man severed his connection with false religion and he is now looking forward to symbolizing his dedication in the near future.

HUNGARY

Persecution sometimes comes in a very severe way from members of one’s own family. This happened in a family in Hungary. In Hungary, as in other lands, a goodly number of young folks are joining God’s organization. Two fleshly brothers, aged seventeen and eighteen, often visited their grandmother and she witnessed to them about Jehovah’s kingdom. This lady has been studying with Jehovah’s witnesses for many years and yet she was not dedicated. So these boys were not satisfied with what they heard from her. Therefore a young sister started a study with them based on the Paradise book. The truth greatly impressed the boys and so one day they came home and told their parents that they had decided to become Jehovah’s witnesses. Their father, a post official, became so indignant that he took a piece of cable, and, getting rid of every humane feeling, he started to beat his sons brutally. The unpleasant scene lasted for a considerable time, so that the boys fainted. The father got a bucket with cold water and poured it over the boys; then he took up his beating again after they had regained consciousness. On one boy he even broke a handle of a shovel. But the two boys remained steadfast. Theirs was the truth backed by the power of Jehovah’s invincible spirit. Then their father began to cry and urged his sons to stop having anything to do with this new religion. This also did not work, so the father expelled them from his home and upon this he denounced himself and his sons to the police.

The father then hired his relatives to attack the sister who studied with the boys. The young sister was threatened, insulted and beaten, but a brother living in the same house intervened and finished all this. The two boys encountered difficulties at their place of work and were molested by the police. But they were of good courage, whereas their parents had to consult a nerve doctor, since their nerve condition had become so bad. They, told the doctor that their condition was due to the “mental disease” of their sons. The doctor asked the parents to send their sons to him for examination. The boys showed up to see the doctor. They told him with conviction about their wonderful hope, based upon the solid foundation of God’s Word. After hearing this the doctor held that they were perfectly normal and sound. He told them that they had a legal right to have the religion of their own choice, seeing that they were over sixteen years of age. This surprised and impressed the parents and they changed their minds somewhat. The boys were admitted to the home again and they show love and respect for their parents, and obedience except in matters having to do with principles of their “new religion.” The study continues.

POLAND

A peculiar situation has developed in the country. The publishers in many places can call upon people at their homes without being molested by the police, and they appreciate such considerate treatment by the authorities. Government officials occasionally pick up publishers to talk to them kindly about improved relations and more tolerance toward Jehovah’s witnesses. Yet in the course of the year several other publishers were arrested and imprisoned. Among them there are individuals who suffered in Hitler’s concentration camps and under interrogation and in prisons during the harsh Stalin era because of their faith as Christians.

A number of brothers arrested were put on trial for their Christian activity. Their defense attorneys endeavored in court to show the absurdity of such trials. One brother had been given a sentence of four years and six months in prison. Upon his appeal his case was reheard in the superior court. The lawyer told, the court: “Let us stop deceiving ourselves. Jehovah’s witnesses have been in existence for a hundred years now. Can their existence then still be looked upon as a secret thing?” He called to attention their high moral standards and their good influence upon the community and pleaded for the acquittal of the brother. The judge indicated that he would agree, but . . . The sentence was lowered, though, to two years and six months and, because of an amnesty, the brother has to serve only one year and three months.

Another incident demonstrating how many officials personally feel about our work was reported from Warsaw. An attorney of the prosecution saw his friend reading a copy of the local issue of the Watchtower magazine. “What are you reading there? Don’t you know that it is banned?” His friend told him: “What do I care whether it is legal or illegal? The important thing is that it is good material.” The attorney said: “Just keep on reading; read it. I read it too.”

A young girl had shown some interest at the initial call of a publisher. He made a back-call and introduced the Truth book right at the beginning. When he began to read from it, the girl’s brother stepped in from his room telling the publisher they did not need such instruction. The publisher replied that the girl had invited him and he wanted to keep his promise. As he continued, the man tried to interfere again, but then the parents calmed him down, because they found the book to be very interesting. The young man left the room. But after a while another young man joined the study group and, shortly thereafter, a second one. Finally the girl’s brother came in again and began to listen attentively. The contents of the book overcame even the strong bias of this man.

A group of brothers went into the service to preach in a village on a Sunday morning. At the same time a group of trackers of the governmental radio and television service went into that same village to search for sets being operated without having been registered. Somebody informed the police of the brothers’ activity. When they arrived, both groups had already completed their work and were waiting at the bus stop for the next bus. The police happened to start checking the identity of the group of radio workers. After they had checked a number of them and learned the reason why all of them had come into the village, the police terminated their investigation. When they passed by the brothers, one of the policemen remarked to the other, “These are no cats.” “Cat” is a derogatory expression meaning heretic and is commonly used as an abusive word for Jehovah’s witnesses. Thus they were blinded and did not see the people they were looking for.

ROMANIA

Our brothers in Romania are going through many hardships. There were inundations that flooded vast regions of the country and due to this many of our brothers suffered material loss. Besides that, the Romanian government has not stopped its persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses. In 1970 two brothers were sentenced to prison terms of nine and ten years. It sounds almost unbelievable that honest men whose only “offense” was the private study of the Bible and telling others about it are treated in such a way. No doubt the government takes such action to frighten Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the land. A brother from Romania wrote in a letter: “We in Romania are severely persecuted by the state and there were a number of condemnations, because we spread the gospel. We have been tortured and taunted. Drugs were given to some brothers and due to this a number of them had to be brought to a mental clinic. We implore you to remember our imprisoned brothers in your prayers. We know that all this is a test that we have to endure. But we shall go on courageously preaching the good news as commanded in Matthew 24:14. But once again we urge you with all our heart, don’t forget us!”

TURKEY

That Jehovah’s witnesses in preaching the good news are doing an educational work in the real sense of the word can be seen from the following experience. A sister writes: “I became acquainted with a Moslem woman who could not read or write. Although her family had tried many times to teach her, they could not succeed. Of course, after I began to talk about the truth to her I suggested that we should study the Bible together. However, since she was unable to read, she progressed very slowly. So I encouraged her to learn to read and write, otherwise she would never be able to prove her faith from the Bible. Fully understanding that she was really learning the truth gave her so much incentive to accept my offer to help her to learn to read and write—besides learning the truth—that really in a comparatively short time she learned to read. Since then she has always prepared her lesson very well and never misses an opportunity to assemble together with other fellow believers. After several months she has progressed so well that she is now a publisher and has expressed the desire to be baptized at the next opportunity. All this was related to her aged mother, and especially that she had now become a Christian. Of course, this fact upset her Moslem mother very much, so that she decided to see her daughter immediately. When her mother came, I had a good opportunity to witness to her. After learning all the facts, and particularly after seeing her daughter so well educated, a thing that the family had tried in vain for many years to achieve, she was so much impressed that she said: ‘The first thing that I have to do now is to return to my village and let everyone know that my daughter has found the true religion!’”

God’s Word can also make a great moral change in one’s life. A brother reports the following: “One day when engaging in the field ministry I passed by a traditional ‘kahvehani’ (a so-called coffee shop). Screaming voices hit my ears, and through thick clouds of cigarette and pipe smoke I could see young and old men sitting around tables, talking, drinking and playing cards or gazing with dull eyes into emptiness. Yes, this was the place in which I had spent a great part of my life. Day after day, sometimes all day long until late into the night, I had sat in such a ‘time-killing’ place slowly killing myself too, because my health became weaker and weaker. At that time I had no hope, but just wanted to die. Then one day a Witness came to my door and spoke about the wonderful hope God’s kingdom holds out for all mankind. Although studying was certainly nothing I was accustomed to, I immediately realized that this is the truth and eagerly began to study the Bible. Now I am baptized and a happy man, because I have a hope and a purpose in life. Of course, my change in life did not go unnoticed by my friends. As a result I have wonderful opportunities to witness to them, hoping that one day at least some of them may change and follow the way toward everlasting life. I am certainly very grateful to Jehovah, who has helped me to become free from my former futile life.”

Being alert in the field service makes one a useful instrument in the hands of the angels. A young sister relates: “Although it was a very hot day, I still decided to make one more call. Seeing an elderly woman sitting in an open door, I approached her, asking where I could find a certain house, but she could not help me. However, seeing that I was very tired, she said, smiling and in an ambiguous way: ‘Who knows whom you are really looking for?’ Well, this gave me a good opportunity to witness to her, explaining the work I was doing. The woman, about seventy years of age, was really very happy to hear about the promise of a new paradise that will be very soon established here on earth. She was surprised that, although she had read her Bible from childhood on, she never had found such a wonderful hope in it. So she invited me to step in, and our discussion continued. Now we are studying the Truth book each week and the woman is making good progress. Really a lost ‘sheep’ had been found.”

Many of our readers will still remember from last year’s report about the court case pending against thirteen brothers. We have to report that this case is still pending because the required report from law experts has not yet been presented. Meanwhile, some other arrests have taken place in various cities. Although the Witnesses were always released after several hours of inquiry, in one instance a trial will be held. In two other cases the judges dismissed the cases because they immediately understood that Jehovah’s witnesses are law-abiding people, that they do not mix in politics or make propaganda for selfish gain or for exploiting the people as has been falsely charged by ignorant and fanatical persons. Of course, all this interference has not dampened the zeal and joy of our brothers, and they faithfully carry on to help honest people gain a real hope. Their efforts were blessed with an 8 percent increase last service year.

UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

The brothers in Russia send their heartfelt greetings to all their brothers throughout the earth. They have had another fine year of progress, despite increased efforts by the authorities to keep the people from learning the truth. They tried to do so by means of massive atheistic propaganda and by putting pressure on the publishers of the good news. In general, the people have become somewhat more approachable as to conversation about God and the Bible. Several years ago everybody strictly avoided listening to such talk.

The authorities published a new book of 216 pages entirely devoted to Jehovah’s witnesses, one specially designed to equip their atheist propagandists and to scare the population away from involvement with Jehovah’s witnesses. The title of the book is “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Our work is portrayed as making good friends with the Capitalistic Western world, aiding them by means of our doctrines to keep the masses subdued under their exploitative grip and at the same time instigating the people in Eastern countries to reject the Communist system. Falsified quotations from our literature are offered as “proof” of these lies. Just to give you an idea of how brazenly they twist the truth, we here quote a statement that they say came from our booklet Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near. They assert that it says: “The USA are that blessed people whose God is Jehovah.”

But such insincere and unreasonable handling of our work by the authorities is having the opposite effect. Instead of keeping the people away from Jehovah’s witnesses, they hasten the decision of those who somehow get acquainted with us. As soon as these find out how deliberately they have been misinformed by their authorities, it is not hard for them to see where truth is offered and where error is found.

A few years ago some brothers moved to a small city where the need was great. Their faith and effort have been blessed richly. There are now thirty associating with the group, and ever more people continue to show interest in the good news. In another congregation there are ten new publishers who got baptized this summer.

The strong prejudice planted in the minds of the people will be overcome by what they learn of Jehovah’s witnesses themselves. A family was called on at their home. They listened to the presentation of the publishers, but then suddenly said they did not want such a heavenly kingdom and sent the publishers away. Sometime later the publishers made another call on that same family. This time the sixteen-year-old daughter was present and showed keen interest. When the publishers were again told to leave, she followed them outside and asked them to return. She suggested that they call when her grandpa was out at his work. The publishers did so. After a while the girl felt that her grandfather ought to hear about it. “He is not very good to us and is a drunkard too, but maybe he will listen to you,” she said. When the publishers talked to him, he got angry and told them to leave the house. The girl then started to attend meetings. Her grandfather got to know about it, but it must have made him think the matter over. He asked the girl to send the publishers to him again. Now he showed a different attitude toward the truth. He was really interested. He changed his way of life and became a publisher himself. He did much to help the other members of the family, and all of them have become dedicated Christians.

One night a sister living in a house near a railroad freight yard heard a knock on the door of her house, where she was living with her sister. There was an elderly man outside in the dark. He had to watch the remainder of a carload that had not been taken off by the trucks. He asked for something to read, because it would be a long night for him. There were several other houses in the neighborhood, but the man had called at her house. The sister started witnessing to him and offered him part of her handwritten copy of “Let God Be True” to read. He took it and left. After a while he knocked again and asked for a copy of the Bible. The next night he again had to do watchman’s work and he again talked to the sisters about the truth. This was the last night for him as a watchman, but the sister arranged to call on him at his home and she started a fine Bible study. It did not take long until the man talked to his daughters living in town and they joined the study too.

There was a publisher in Siberia who had accepted the truth with all his family. He wanted to bring the truth to his relatives who lived several thousand miles away. He traveled there and started to preach to his cousin, a young woman of twenty-eight years. She actually became interested. Now they tried together to locate a Witness in that city of about half a million population. They searched for four months, but had no success. Finally the brother learned that in a neighboring city people knew a woman who had been preaching to them when they made their purchases in the market or when waiting in line for their turn in the stores. They found the sister, but, having been through many a sad experience, she did not trust them, as they were complete strangers to her. So she did not show up for the appointment made with them. They had to go to her a second time and beg her to come. Then she brought them into contact with other publishers who were able to put her in contact with publishers in her own city. A publisher who came to the first appointment with that interested woman was very much impressed with the great interest of the woman. The appointment was to be at eight o’clock at night at a bus stop. But the publisher went there with another sister at six o’clock because they were able to go earlier than expected. When they arrived at the bus stop they were surprised to see this woman and her cousin already sitting there, waiting for them two hours in advance, because they wanted to be sure not to miss them. They went to the woman’s home and talked the truth to her for three hours, because the young woman wanted to hear ever more about it. The publisher never in all her life had met anyone who paid attention as incessantly as this woman did. They all were overjoyed. The brother left the next morning to go back to Siberia, having accomplished his heart’s desire. The woman made fine progress and has already expressed the desire to get baptized.

UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC

In spite of continued persecution from the police and other officials, the witness work has gone ahead in the United Arab Republic during the past service year. More brothers were deported, but, even so, the number of Witnesses in the country has increased. Jehovah keeps blessing his people for their firm stand on his side.

During the year one of the overseers whom the police had been hunting for a long time was arrested. Through treachery they were able to locate the house where he was staying and came early one morning to arrest him. He was in bed with a painful illness at the time. After searching his house and taking various items, they carried him to the car and took him to the police station. There he was questioned as to the whereabouts of other Witnesses they were looking for and was beaten severely for refusing to betray his brothers. This treatment continued for eleven days, the first three of which he was not given any food. At night he was put in a cell so badly infested with vermin that at times he had to spend the whole night standing. At other times he was put among depraved prisoners who were worse than the vermin. Finally he was sent to a desert prison camp where he remains till now, nearly ten months at this writing. He is not treated so badly now, and he is able to do considerable witnessing among the other prisoners. From there he was able to smuggle out a letter in which he writes, among other things, the following:

“I do not know what the result will be, nor till when I will be in this concentration camp, but I thank Jehovah that I have the Bible, and I pray always to him to strengthen me for the sake of his name and to enable me to keep my integrity before him. I am confident of your prayers that he may strengthen me and encourage me. To all of you I send my warm Christian love.” We do, indeed, pray that Jehovah will continue to be with this faithful brother.

When unbelieving relatives come to visit, why not turn the conversation to the truth, especially when they come at a time when you are just ready to leave for field service anyway? That is how one of our sisters reasoned, and with good results. While waiting for a sister with whom she had an appointment for field service, a knock came at the door right at the appointed time. Feeling sure it was her field service companion, the sister opened the door and was surprised to find her unbelieving relative standing there. Something had detained the sister and she never did come for the appointment. So why not witness to the relative? The person listened with rapt attention to all the sister had to say and then began to ask many questions. Noting such interest, the sister started a study with her relative in the Truth book right then, and the study has continued regularly. Later the relative confided to the sister that she felt God had answered her prayer. She had been reading the Bible but had not been able to understand it and had prayed to God to give her understanding. She is now very zealous for the truth, declaring it to all who will listen. How glad our sister is that she took the opportunity to witness to a visiting relative.

“Do Not Loiter at Your Business”

pp. 318–320

“Do Not Loiter at Your Business”

Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have taken Paul’s advice to heart. They have not loitered at their business, and they can truthfully say they are “aglow with the spirit.” (Rom. 12:11) Indeed, they have made themselves slaves for Jehovah, and as the year’s report shows, many of them had to endure tribulation. They have persevered in prayer. They have shared with the holy ones according to their needs. They have followed the course of hospitality. As the 1,483,430 Christian witnesses gathered together in the 26,524 congregations, they saw in the Kingdom Halls their text for the year, namely: “Go therefore and make disciples . . . baptizing them.” (Matt. 28:19) Now as they reflect over the past twelve months they can truthfully say that Jehovah blessed them in their efforts, for, indeed, they did make disciples.

They were not only people who said they believed, but those who said it proved it by their works, as 164,193 dedicated their lives to God and were baptized. What a happy year Jehovah’s witnesses have had! What fruitage has been brought forth! Briefly let us review a few things that happened.

During the year there were, on an average, 13,426 special pioneers, including the missionaries engaging in the full-time service, putting in around 150 hours each month in the preaching work. There were about 800 more special pioneers than during the previous year. Throughout the entire world there were, on an average, 75,445 regular pioneers in addition to the special pioneers. This figure, of course, included 2,326 circuit servants and 290 district servants around the world. The average number of Christian witnesses engaging in the house-to-house work full time came to 88,871.

It was the congregation publishers, of which there were, on an average, 1,295,911, that helped these full-time workers stay in the field. In addition to their great shout of praise to Jehovah, they made contributions that helped keep the missionary and special pioneer, circuit and district servant in the full-time work. The Society spent $6,657,001.65, of which $5,874,970.56 was used to assist missionaries and special pioneers financially so that they could continue in the work. The balance of $782,031.09 covered the expenses of traveling representatives, circuit and district servants, going from congregation to congregation in different parts of the world.

The Society very much appreciates the generous contributions on the part of all of Jehovah’s witnesses. Every dedicated Christian witness of Jehovah has contributed something to advance the Kingdom witness. The widow’s mite, added to the gifts of those who could give more, has made this help given to missionaries, special pioneers, circuit and district servants possible. The Society wishes to thank all of you for your generous assistance.

The chart on pages 36 to 43 brought out some very interesting figures, but we might mention in the conclusion of this report that publishers have reported that they placed in the field 17,261,660 bound books, which is about three million more than last year. Additionally, they placed 10,207,675 booklets, obtained 2,464,196 new subscriptions and distributed, world wide, 204,758,521 magazines. That is what they reported doing, but many millions of tracts and handbills were distributed too.

Just think for a moment about what the printing plants of the Society had to do during the past twelve months! They actually finished 29,138,291 bound books and made 13,965,784 booklets. The Society’s many printing plants produced magazines, and the total came to 177,038,027 Watchtower magazines and 171,719,337 Awake! magazines. The magazines alone saw an increase in printing of 23 million over the previous year.

All of those who were aglow with the spirit certainly were not loitering. They were busy! And what joy they had! Together they all are rejoicing in the hope that is set before them. Some have endured tribulation, like those in Malagasy, Cameroon, behind the Iron Curtain. They may have lost all that they had in a material way, like our brothers in Peru and in the eastern part of Nigeria. When one takes a general look at the world one sees nothing but distress, and when we read the newspapers it sounds as though every man’s hand is against his neighbor. Civil war seems to be the order of the day. But as for Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, no matter what occurs they appreciate how Christ suffered and that he suffered for all of us. Peter put it this way: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Pet. 2:21) So today Jehovah’s witnesses can preach just as Jesus preached and take the persecution that he took, go from house to house as he did, and be faithful even to death as our Master admonished us all to be.

So let all of us together fight a fine fight for the faith and not loiter at our business. Look ahead now to the work to be done in the 1971 service year and have joy and gladness that you are counted worthy to share in this God-assigned work. Remember that there are still thousands of people in all nations to be discipled. At the same time we will continue to give the witness, even to the ends of the earth.

All of the branch servants sending in their reports made the special request that their love and greetings and the love and greetings of the brothers in their land be sent to all of their fellow Christian workers in all other parts of the earth. It is a pleasure through this means to extend to each one the brotherly love and tender affection that each one of us has for the other.

Our cup of joy is overflowing and this is due to the fact that we have kept very busy. This we desire to do in the future. May Jehovah’s rich blessing go with all of you, and remember that the prayers of your brothers always are ascending to the Most High God in behalf of one another. The love we have for Jehovah and for his Son, Christ Jesus, and for one another, will carry us through even the most difficult times. Be assured of my prayers and my warm love for all of you, as together we continue to be Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, bearing the good news of the Kingdom even to the ends of the earth.

Your fellow servant,

N. H. Knorr, President

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

Annual Meeting

pp. 321–322

Annual Meeting

In accordance with the provisions of law and the charter of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the annual meeting of its members was held on October 1 1970, at the Society’s registered offices, 4100 Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213. At 9:55 a.m., A. D. Schroeder, who is one of the instructors for the Kingdom Ministry School, spoke to the audience of 2,659 on the day’s text. Promptly at 10:00 a.m. the President of the Society, N. H. Knorr, called the meeting to order and asked G. M. Couch to open with prayer.

The report of the Secretary and Treasurer, Grant Suiter, showed that on October 1, 1969, there were 471 members and that during the course of the year there was a drop in membership of thirteen persons, twelve by death and one by expulsion, thus leaving the membership at 458 as of October 1, 1970. Four hundred and forty-eight of these members responded either in person or by proxy to the annual meeting announcement and so there was a quorum to transact the business of the day. Two vacancies on the board of directors were occasioned by the expiration of the terms of T. J. Sullivan and Grant Suiter. Both of these brothers were nominated for reelection and they were unanimously voted in again as directors of the Watch Tower Society for a period of three years.

The question was put before the members as to whether they would want to accept an invitation from the committee of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall located near Buckingham, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia, to meet there on October 1, 1971. The motion was made to accept the invitation, and it was unanimously voted that the next annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania would be held in Buckingham, Pennsylvania.

Some brothers had come from faraway places, and the President of the Society invited them to make reports on the work of Jehovah’s witnesses in their lands. G. G. Reuter of Germany was asked to speak, also H. E. Shalkoski reported on the work in Jamaica, where he is branch servant. Hong Kong was represented by the branch servant, K. N. Gannaway.

The President of the Society then spoke to all assembled on the subject “Worldwide Witnessing Versus World Conversion.” The material covered proved to be very upbuilding. Proof was presented showing that, just as in the days of the early Christians when a worldwide witness was given, so today a worldwide witness is being given. Shortly after noon the meeting was adjourned and closed with prayer.

On Friday morning, October 9, 1970, all the members of the board of directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania assembled in the Office of the President. Prayer was offered to Jehovah God, thanking him for his guidance and direction, and it was requested that his holy spirit continue to guide his servants during the days ahead. The board of directors unanimously reelected N. H. Knorr as president, F. W. Franz as vice-president, Grant Suiter as secretary and treasurer and J. O. Groh as assistant secretary and treasurer. The other members of the board of directors are M. G. Henschel, L. A. Swingle and T. J. Sullivan.

A brief report was made on the accomplishments during the past twelve months and what the plans for the future are. The meeting adjourned with a prayer.

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

On Saturday morning, January 3, 1970, in accordance with notice to the membership the annual meeting of the members of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., was held at the offices of the Society, located at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201. The vice-president, F. W. Franz, presided in the absence of N. H. Knorr, who, while present by proxy, was personally in Mexico at the time of the meeting. All fifty-four members were present in person or by proxy. The terms of L. K. Greenlees, N. H. Knorr and M. H. Larson expired. All three were renominated and unanimously elected as directors for an ensuing term of two years. A very interesting report was made by H. E. Miller on the field service activity in the United States. M. H. Larson spoke relative to the publishing work of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. G. M. Couch noted that there were 1,325 persons then at Bethel, with 71 more members situated at Watchtower farms. The meeting had been opened with prayer by W. P. Heath, and it was closed with prayer by A. B. Tedesco.

The annual meeting of the board of directors was held immediately following the meeting of the members, and the entire membership of the board was present, with the exception of N. H. Knorr, who was absent and in Mexico. The vice-president, F. W. Franz, presided and the meeting was opened with prayer by G. M. Couch. All the officers of the Society were nominated and elected to succeed themselves, namely, N. H. Knorr as president, F. W. Franz as vice-president, Grant Suiter as secretary and treasurer and J. O. Groh as assistant secretary and treasurer for the ensuing term of one year. F. W. Franz offered the closing prayer.

Yeartext for 1971

pp. 323–325

Yeartext for 1971

“You will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.

Jesus Christ spoke these words just before ascending into the heavens. These were among the last words that he spoke to his faithful followers while on earth. This must have made quite an impression on them. Jesus, of course, gave them a promise that he would help them because he did say: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.” Jesus, for three and a half years, spent his time preaching in Israel, on both sides of the Jordan River, and his disciples traveled with him. There is no question about his preaching in the great city of Jerusalem and in the land of Judea. We know of the account, too, where Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in Samaria and he told this woman: “You worship what you do not know.” (John 4:22) The disciples had experience in witnessing at these locations and now the command was to give an even greater witness. But this command, to go to “the most distant part of the earth”—that was new.

Very likely the disciples did considerable thinking about this in the ten days that followed until the holy spirit actually came upon them. In the second chapter of Acts we are told that the 120 that had faithfully followed Christ Jesus were gathered together in an upper room, and “they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.” (Acts 2:4) This was a big help. If the disciples had to go to the most distant part of the earth to preach, they could talk to these people in their own tongue. And, as Jesus suggested ten days previously, they were to receive power when the holy spirit arrived. In other words, they were going to receive the power that would really make them active and prove that Jehovah was backing them up in all their service. But just think of the advantage they had of being able to speak in tongues of various nations.

In fact, on that very day there were individuals from fifteen different locations, some from Europe, Asia and Africa, there in Jerusalem, and they were able to understand what the disciples were saying in their languages. Some said: “How is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born?” (Acts 2:8) Yes, they heard the disciples speaking in their tongues about the magnificent things of God. They were all astonished and were perplexed and said to one another: “What does this thing purport to be?” (Acts 2:12) Truly it was an amazing thing! These visitors from different parts of the earth there in Jerusalem on this day of Pentecost did not appreciate at that moment that these disciples of Christ Jesus had received power through holy spirit so that they could preach to all these different kinds of people. Please keep in mind that this was accomplished on the very first day that they received the holy spirit, and the account tells us that on that day about three thousand souls were added. Those added were not just emotionally excited about the message that Peter delivered on that day. The account tells us that they embraced the word heartily and were baptized and “they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to sharing with one another, to taking of meals and to prayers.”—Acts 2:42.

There is good reason to believe that these people from Europe, Asia and Africa who were now baptized, on returning to their own countries, started to tell others about the good things they had heard. Of course, what they had heard was concerning Jesus Christ. Jesus had told his followers that they would be his witnesses to the most distant part of the earth. These traveling to their homelands were also going to share in giving the witness concerning Christ.

But this was not the end of the witnesses of Jesus and the work they had to do. After three and one half years of concentrated effort on the part of the Jewish disciples in reaching the people of the Jewish nationality, the call went out to people of the nations and they were to be included among the true followers of Christ Jesus. Cornelius was the first Gentile to be begotten by holy spirit and to be baptized. After that many other Gentiles entered the congregation of God. Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Luke and others traveled all over the area, and a detailed record is made of their travels throughout Asia and Europe.

It is evident that in the days of the early church the good news was preached far and wide. The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, and said that the good news was being preached in “all creation.”—Col. 1:23.

The words of Jesus Christ have an even greater fulfillment today. And God’s holy spirit is operating upon his faithful Christian witnesses as they do the same work. The report in this 1971 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses proves that. It can be said right now that followers of Christ would “bear witness for me in Jerusalem and all over Judea and Samaria and away to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NEB) There is no corner of the earth where Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have not reached. It can be said that in these “last days,” now that Jesus Christ has taken his position in his heavenly kingdom and is directing the work of his witnesses, we are truly doing what he wanted done, and on a greater scale than ever before. What a joy it is for Jehovah’s Christian witnesses to share in this and to gather together so many more people with the right heart to take up the work of preaching. Not only have Jehovah’s witnesses been preaching to the ends of the earth, but they have also been making disciples. Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19) Just look at what happened during the past year! There were 164,193 persons who dedicated their lives to the doing of Jehovah’s will and, of course, they have accepted Christ Jesus as their redeemer and they witness for him too. They, along with all the rest of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, are declaring the good news. What will 1971 bring forth?

The work is not done, not as long as the “great tribulation” has not started. People can still flee, and we want to help just as many as possible to flee from Babylon the Great, and to get out of Christendom, and let them prove, too, that they are witnesses of Christ Jesus and of Jehovah God, and may they, too, help others to hear about God’s kingdom, even to the ends of the earth.