Yearbook—1985

Title Page/​Publishers’ Page

1985 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Containing Report for the Service Year of 1984

Also Daily Text and Comments

In harmony with the yeartext for 1985​—“Fully accomplish your ministry”—​Jehovah’s Witnesses press forward in the work their God has given them to do. You will be thrilled by the encouraging report of the past year that is contained in this “Yearbook.”​—2 Tim. 4:5.

Index of Countries

Page

24 1984 Service Year Report, 203 Countries

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times in:

66 Jamaica

111 Zimbabwe

225 The Bahamas

260 Yeartext for 1985

261 Daily Text and Comments

1985 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Theocratic Expansion Moves Grandly Onward!

THE 60th chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy describes in thrilling language the marvelous expansion that is now taking place under the Theocracy. Beginning especially in 1919, the tiny remnant of the anointed ones moved into action to publicize the Kingdom and to expose Satan’s control of the secular and religious segments of this world’s system. From a human standpoint they did not stand a chance of success, but they represented God’s heavenly organization to whom the specific command had been given: “Arise, O woman, shed forth light, for your light has come and upon you the very glory of Jehovah has shone forth.”​—Isa. 60:1.

Yes, amid the thick gloom and darkness of Satan’s world, glory and light from the very Source of all light and truth began to shine forth in ever-increasing brilliance. This was foretold to have a powerful effect: “Nations will certainly go to your light, and kings to the brightness of your shining forth.” (Isa. 60:3) Gradually, the faithful little band of light bearers pushed forward, extending their efforts in ever-widening circles. As Jehovah blessed their activities, evidence of unusual increase became apparent. People of the nations were indeed coming to the light. The marvelous expansion could be seen, as so graphically described at Isaiah 60:5: “At that time you will see and certainly become radiant, and your heart will actually quiver and expand, because to you the wealthiness of the sea will direct itself; the very resources of the nations will come to you.”

We certainly have become radiant with joy over what we see. Our hearts are quivering and expanding with excitement and happiness because of the marvelous theocratic enlargement that is taking place all over the world. What is taking place is being accomplished, “‘not by a military force, nor by power, but by my spirit,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” (Zech. 4:6) No human power could have brought about what we have witnessed in our lifetime.

A great mountain of opposition was raised by Satan’s wicked organization against Jehovah’s tiny army of illuminators right from the beginning of their public activities back in 1919. Without divine protection and backing, the entire organization that Jehovah was using to advance his Kingdom interests would have been destroyed by Satan’s hordes. Zechariah 4:7 refers to Satan’s opposition as a “great mountain,” and these words of Jehovah are addressed to his enemies: “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a level land. And he will certainly bring forth the headstone. There will be shoutings to it: ‘How charming! How charming!’”

Yes, Jehovah has done marvelous things in behalf of his illustrious name and people. The huge mountain of opposition raised by Satan could not thwart the advancement of His great purpose. Before the one pictured by Governor Zerubbabel, the Warrior-King Jesus Christ, the great mountain becomes a level plain. The symbolic temple-building work must go on, until completion, and the Headstone, the Lord Jesus himself, is placed in his exalted position. The Greater Zerubbabel will bring the work of reestablishing Jehovah’s worship at His spiritual temple to triumphant completion. All the Devil’s opposition will have failed, and as the joyful lovers of Jehovah behold the evidence of victory, they will burst forth into tremendous shoutings of praise: “How charming! How charming!” All heaven and earth will ring with songs of praise. All hearts will be overflowing with happiness and gladness.

Does it seem too much, therefore, to expect that “the wealthiness of the sea” and “the very resources of the nations” will come to spiritual Zion? Isaiah’s glorious prophecy from God’s Word portrays the fact that Jehovah will bring prosperity to his people, as we now see happening, and we know that this grand expansion will continue on and on, until the whole earth is filled with Jehovah’s glory.

God’s promise at Isaiah 60:22 is already being fulfilled. We have seen the ‘little one become a thousand’ in many lands. From the tiny group that began this work about 65 years ago, the ‘small one has become a mighty nation.’ As the thrilling reports come in from Jehovah’s worshipers all over the world, they prove that Jehovah is ‘speeding up the work in his own time.’

From Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Australasia and the other islands of the sea come reports of amazing increases. We are overjoyed to be able to present to all of God’s people the heartwarming and encouraging good news of the marvelous things that Jehovah is bringing to pass. The amazing publisher peak of 2,842,531 for the 1984 service year is breathtaking. Worldwide there was a grand increase in average publishers of 7.1 percent. Almost every country reported a publisher increase. The number of congregations, 47,869, almost equals the total number of publishers that were active back in 1931 when we received the “new name,” Jehovah’s witnesses. Millions of the 7,416,974 Memorial attenders need spiritual food and help to become actively devoted to Jehovah. What an influx there would be if all these became active praisers of Jehovah! Theocratic expansion is moving grandly onward! Read the outstanding information as it is presented in this 1985 Yearbook and lift up your hearts and voices in radiant expressions of joy. Let your hearts quiver and expand with excitement as you see what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is doing, and give him the glory and the praise for what has been accomplished.

Joyful News of Theocratic Increase in Africa

“What a Grand Year We’ve Had!”: This is the joyful expression from our brothers in South Africa, as they present their report. “We reached an all-time publisher peak of 34,363 in April.” “For the first time,” they add, “our black brothers have received permission to build their own Kingdom Halls. They can now meet together in vastly improved facilities, and this promises to be one of the greatest steps forward in that field.” The branch also reports the following joyful news:

“This past year we had the first full-scale interracial conventions in this country. The largest of these was in Johannesburg, where we had an attendance of 29,073. A person could attend the meeting of his choice​—Zulu, Sesotho, Portuguese, Greek, English or Afrikaans. The multiracial baptism of 343 was an outstanding example of the unity of Jehovah’s sheep in this country.”

A young woman in Soweto, who had recently graduated as a witch doctor, asked the daughter of an African Witness: “Is there any truth in the world?” This led to the sister’s conducting a Bible study with her, and she immediately began attending meetings. But her mother was furious and told her that if she continued associating with the Witnesses she would have to repay the money spent on her schooling to become a witch doctor and she would also be evicted from the home. But the young woman burned all her demonistic paraphernalia, agreed to repay her mother the money, and continues attending all meetings.

“Much More Work for Us in Zambia”: Jehovah’s servants came to this fine conclusion because of the wonderful events of this past year. They were thrilled beyond measure when 393,431 persons came to the Lord’s Evening Meal. This outstanding figure is nearly seven times the number of publishers (58,925) who reported in January 1984. What a tremendous field this opens up for Zambia!

One brother relates that when a group was returning from witnessing, they came to a roadblock. After routine checking, a policeman asked if they were returning from preaching. The brother replied, “Yes,” adding, “we have been speaking to people who want the truth.” The policeman obtained a copy of The Watchtower, and arrangements were made to take the magazines to the police camp, where the brother established a magazine route.

“Jehovah Is Speeding Up the Increase”: This is the report from Ghana. They began with 22,304 publishers at the start of the service year, and the number rose to 24,551 in April 1984. But what joy came in August when 27,730 reported! Seven new peaks were reached during the eventful year. The outstanding total of 104,151 truth seekers attended the Memorial. Thus, as in so many other countries, there is a wonderful potential for steady expansion. Truly Jehovah is speeding up the increase in its time.

The branch report states that many people ask the publishers for the magazines as they walk along the streets. For example, a publisher relates: “I was surprised when one man who would not usually take any of our literature came to me asking for the magazines. He picked out six different ones. I then suggested a subscription, and, right away, he subscribed for both magazines.”

Thousands Searching for Truth in Zaïre: The branch rejoices to see “thousands of people searching for Kingdom truth and finding it within Jehovah’s expanding organization.” The big news for them during the year was the purchase of two square kilometers (500 a.) of land for the purpose of new branch construction. The new buildings and improved facilities should enable them to “cope with all the increased activity” in their territory. With an attendance of 139,856 at the Memorial, the 32,208 publishers (peak for August) know that a wonderful potential for expansion now lies ahead of them.

“It Has Been a Record Year”: This is how Jehovah’s servants feel in Liberia. Their Memorial attendance was likewise outstanding. With 1,151 average publishers, the remarkable number of 6,440 came to the Memorial, which is over five times that number. The congregation publishers averaged over 12 hours each per month in telling out the good news. The field is ripe for gathering in the meek ones. One three-year-old girl contributed indirectly to the fine increase. It seems that she visited her grandmother who read to her from the Bible Stories book. What the little girl learned made such an impression upon her that she kept talking to her mother about it, until her mother asked the next publisher who called at her door to help her to ‘know the Bible, too.’

Revitalization in Nigeria: The report from this land contains much cause for gratitude. They have had their best publisher report since 1975, with a peak of 113,537 sharing the good news during the 1984 service year. Nigeria is one of the largest members of our worldwide family of zealous witnesses of Jehovah. The fine expansion in Nigeria is a source of great inspiration not only to the rest of our brothers in Africa but to those all over the world.

Satan is angry because of the prosperity of the Theocracy, so he tries by all means to interfere. One brother relates that his house was invaded by radical political party members who tried to make him accept their policies. He says: “They attacked me with a club, but the blow was just like the brush of a feather. My wife protested and received a slap. We prayed to Jehovah, calling on his name. Then the mob became divided over us, fighting among themselves. Some entered our house to destroy our property. But they walked out like sheep. All in all they left us unharmed. After the ordeal, we found that our oldest child had assembled the other children and comforted them from the Scriptures, praying that nothing would harm us. We were happy that the truth had penetrated so deeply into her heart.” The branch commented: “Experiences like these provide optimism for future progress.” We are sure also that, with such unbreakable loyalty, these stalwarts are deeply loved of Jehovah.

Transformed by the Truth: In the Republic of Guinea a special pioneer started a Bible study with a man who was given the Kisi name Sengianndo, which means “one who disagrees.” He lived up to his name, for from childhood on he proved to be belligerent, aggressive, and very difficult to deal with. He was widely feared. However, within a short time after starting to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, Sengianndo began to make dramatic changes in his life. He stopped fighting, quit smoking and heavy drinking, and began to cultivate a Christian personality. He became a mild, peaceable person. This became widely known in the area and deeply impressed many with the dynamic power of God’s message of truth.

Not Overlooking the Incapacitated: This experience from Sierra Leone shows the importance of not neglecting incapacitated persons whom we meet in the field service: A missionary sister started a Bible study with an 18-year-old crippled girl named Jay. She had not attended school because of her physical condition. It takes great effort for her to move about. Using wooden blocks to protect her hands from the ground, she propels herself forward by resting her body weight on her hands and swinging her legs behind her.

Through frequent calls on the part of the missionary, Jay began to learn the Bible’s truths, and she also learned how to read. Although she had ventured out of the small compound where she lives only once in 18 years, she asked if she could attend the Congregation Book Study on the same street where she lives. Imagine the apprehension of those in her family as they watched Jay leave the safety of her house and venture into the street! She has shown tremendous determination to make the truth her own. She attends all meetings, even though on occasion she has to “walk,” in the manner described, for four or five blocks to get a taxi to take her to the Kingdom Hall. She is now talking to others about the truth.

Encouraging News From Madagascar: “Toward the end of December 1983,” states the branch report, “we made an application for legal recognition of our work, and thanks to Jehovah, on February 24, 1984, our request was accepted. This does not mean that the ban imposed in 1970 has been lifted, but we could get registered under a new local association, and great was the joy of all the brothers when hearing the news. Service activity increased so that we reached two outstanding figures in April​—1,708 publishers reporting and 8,977 attending the Memorial.”

Other African countries have sent similar encouraging reports. That vast continent is receiving a most amazing witness. There are millions of people there who can be helped, by means of home Bible studies, to harmonize their lives with Jehovah’s ways. With the many problems and difficulties that our brothers face in Africa, all this theocratic activity could have been accomplished only by Jehovah’s spirit. Now let us look at theocratic developments in another tremendous field, Asia.

Inspiring Reports from Asia

For thousands of years, the religions of Babylon the Great have enshrouded this most populous area in deepest spiritual darkness and mysticism. Now, however, the light of the Theocracy is penetrating that shroud, and great is the joy of those coming into the light. We are truly thankful that such wonderful results are forthcoming.

Progress in Pakistan: To see increase in a Muslim country such as Pakistan is most encouraging. A peak of 231 publishers has now been reached. This was brought about by increased auxiliary pioneer activity. Family ties are so strong that regardless of what religion people profess, it is difficult to break away from family traditions. However, by using 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, one young publisher was able to assist another young man to break away from a Pentecostal group. Now that young man and his friend are preaching diligently and making fine progress toward baptism. Even the most difficult territories are contributing to Theocracy’s increase.

“Accomplishments That Make Us Very Happy”: This is how India describes the past service year. They had five peaks in publishers and have reached 6,552, from 5,842 the previous year. Much of this is due to the work being done by the brothers who speak the local languages. For instance, seven conventions were held in the vernaculars, which enabled those attending to get so much more out of the talks. India’s new branch facilities are nearing completion. The new building is being occupied, and with more equipment, the brothers are looking forward to fine expansion.

A young college student was given the Evolution and Youth books by one of his friends. This young man, a Roman Catholic, believed in evolution and thought that the Bible was unreliable. Reading the two books changed his views. He came to see that there is a true God who holds out a sure hope for the future. Despite opposition from relatives, he studied the Bible with the Witnesses and attended meetings. He also witnessed to his fellow students. Though he was beaten up by some fellow students, he persisted in boldly speaking the Bible truth. The result was that eight of his fellow students were helped to dedication and baptism. He also shared the truth with his family members, and several of them started studying. One of his fleshly brothers got baptized, and his mother is planning on baptism. Three cousins, two of whom were Catholic nuns, also embraced the truth and got baptized. This made a total of 24 people who accepted the truth since he began his bold and zealous preaching four years ago. What a remarkable story!

Little Susan, in her school’s second grade, presented Bible stories so well in class that her teacher, a Roman Catholic, obtained a copy of My Book of Bible Stories. The teacher now uses that book in her religious instruction, and most of the students also have their own copies. Susan’s mother was overjoyed to see that all the first prizes with regard to religious instruction in that school were copies of My Book of Bible Stories.

Advancement in Sri Lanka: Buddhism and other Oriental religions predominate in this beautiful island country that lies about 20 miles (32 km) off the southeastern coast of India. One young sister with an ability to speak persuasively engages regularly in the auxiliary pioneer work. In five months she placed 1,059 magazines and obtained 185 subscriptions, which is about one fifth of the subscriptions reported by that branch for the past service year.

One Roman Catholic farmer, who kept people in fear by his bad temper and conduct, pursued cockfighting as his hobby. People would come from all around to bet as much as thousands of rupees on the fights. Finally, he came to a knowledge of the truth and saw that his hobby was not pleasing to Jehovah. At first his wife was opposed to the truth, but later she joined him. And even though he was offered 1,500 rupees for his famous fighting bird, they had him for supper one night. Now people all around the area wonder at the changes made in this man’s life, and it has resulted in a fine witness for the truth.

Remarkable Events in Japan: “We are thankful to Jehovah that he continues to bless the work in our country.” This is the heartfelt attitude of our brothers in Japan, where so many remarkable events are taking place in connection with Theocratic expansion. In August 1984 this country had its 68th consecutive monthly peak of publishers​—92,022! Territory in Japan is covered more often now, some every seven or ten days. What an industrious people! Jehovah is richly blessing their efforts, as shown by the 1984 Memorial attendance of 224,696!

Japan can hardly keep up with all the needs of the “publisher explosion.” So they have now arranged to build another Bethel home, eight stories high, and a new six-story factory. When we remember that their present huge buildings were dedicated as recently as May 1982, it makes us wonder, “What next?”

A woman learned about the truth through a special pioneer, who patiently made return visits over a period of three years. When the special pioneer sister explained to this lady about love as defined in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, she became convinced that this was the truth. She had been active in her former religion and had led many relatives to it. Now she invited all these relatives and explained to them that she had finally found the true religion, and she encouraged them to learn Bible truths. What was the result? In five years’ time over 50 of her relatives have become Jehovah’s Witnesses. Among them was a carpenter who likewise shared the good news with his workmates, relatives and acquaintances. As a result, 24 of them came into the truth. All these people are mainly associated with three congregations in Toyama prefecture in Japan. Telling the truth to those closely related to you certainly can bring a great blessing. The pioneer spirit prevails all over Japan, as an average of 37 percent of the publishers share in some type of pioneer service each month.

Carrying On in a Troubled Land: It has been another year of war and violence in Lebanon. For more than five months, air service into the country was suspended, and it was difficult to communicate with brothers in lands under the jurisdiction of the branch office. Many brothers were forced to leave their homes and they became refugees in other parts of the country. Some were injured, though none were killed. Conventions were held in small groups, and field service was carried on by using the method that seemed best according to conditions in each area. Through it all, the brothers report, “We have never failed to receive the spiritual food that we need. For this we are thankful and pray that Jehovah will enable his servants here to continue in his service under whatever circumstances may yet come.”

Auxiliary pioneering has proved to be a blessing to many in Lebanon. After the death of her husband, an 84-year-old sister wrote: “All my children had grown up and were married and had families. They did not neglect me, but their visits could not overcome the feelings of loss and loneliness. Then one of the elders in our congregation suggested that I try auxiliary pioneering. I hesitated but finally decided to try it. What a joy! I felt that Jehovah had permitted me to live to this age so that I could experience auxiliary pioneering. I have continued as an auxiliary pioneer every month since.”

Israel Thankful for Increase: It has always been very difficult to witness to people in this land, but the branch is happy to report that they finally reached 300 publishers, for which the brothers are most thankful! Family ties are very strong, and many will not risk the opposition that comes from accepting the truth. But some take a firm stand. For example, one young man prayed to God for the truth, and a few days later he met a friend on the bus; he was invited to join in her Bible discussions. He made fine progress, and despite his father’s threat to ‘break both of his legs,’ he continued his Bible study. He even stood firm on the neutrality issue and endured solitary confinement in prison. He is still standing firm for the truth.

Also in Israel, a Muslim obtained some books at his door, but the Witnesses never returned for a further discussion. So when the Witnesses came the next time, he insisted that they come back, which they did. He began to study the Bible and came into the truth. This emphasizes the need to do what is possible to follow through on all interest manifested.

Thai Brothers Cheered by Baptisms: The recent district convention in Thailand made all in attendance very thankful, because 46 were baptized, which was about 4 percent of the 1,147 in attendance. More and more people in Thailand are rejoicing in the Kingdom hope. A member of the Bethel family in Thailand placed a Bible Stories book with a librarian at a Catholic school and inserted a tract telling about the Live Forever book. Later, a teacher went to the school library, looking for a book to use in teaching her students about the Bible. She found the Bible Stories book and liked it so much that she phoned the sister and ordered 30 copies for the students. When delivering these books, the sister was also able to place copies of the Live Forever book. This gave the sister the idea to visit librarians in the various schools and universities that usually have courses in comparative religion. She was thus able to place 280 books and 240 Life on Earth brochures and to obtain 20 subscriptions.

The Philippines Strides Onward: During the 1984 service year, a peak of 75,257 publishers was attained, and there was an average 8-percent increase over 1983. This is most gratifying and indicates that things are really moving forward in that land. About 200 applications for the pioneer service have been received each month, and as long as that trend continues, there will certainly be continued expansion in the field. In April there was a fine total of 13,984 auxiliary pioneers in the land.

Because of limited funds only the father in a family of seven was planning to attend the district convention in Manila. He is a fisherman, and catches were poor. Yet they prayed to Jehovah to help so that the entire family could attend the convention. Just before the convention the father and his 12-year-old boy went out to fish. They prayed to Jehovah to bless their efforts. After many failures, the boy suggested to his father that they try just one more time, which they did. They were surprised when they hauled in their net to find that they had a catch of over 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of fish! By selling this, they had more than enough for the entire family to attend the convention.

Witnessing on Death Row: For many years elders in the Philippines have taken turns visiting the Muntinlupa National Penitentiary in Metro Manila and conducting Bible studies with those on death row who desired them. On one occasion, while a Bible study was being conducted inside a cell, another prisoner came close and began to listen. He did this during several studies. One day they were discussing the ransom and how Jesus’ sacrifice opened the way for forgiveness of sins. At this, the man who had been listening in on the study asked the elder: “Do you mean that even I could possibly be forgiven after all I have done?” He had been sentenced to death for killing a number of men.

Recently he dedicated his life to Jehovah and requested to be baptized. However, he was scheduled to be executed before the time for baptism in conjunction with the circuit assembly. So he made a request for postponement of his execution, and this was granted. He was baptized on June 29, 1984, and rejoices in his newfound relationship with Jehovah despite his impending execution. Three other condemned prisoners were baptized along with him in a rooftop tank in the prison.

A Bible Study That Produced Much Fruitage: In Korea a pioneer sister started a Bible study with a lady. Soon a Buddhist neighbor lady began to sit in on the study. The pioneer took 10 to 20 minutes during each study to direct remarks to the Buddhist lady to show the difference between the loving, merciful Creator, Jehovah, and the angry false gods that had to be appeased. She explained that Satan and the demons try to destroy people’s faith in God. One day the Buddhist neighbor asked the pioneer what would happen to her and her family if she destroyed all her idols and began to worship Jehovah.

Reassurance was given her, and the congregation elders assisted her in destroying the many idols that she had in her home. Though she was harassed by the demons after that, she knew the source of the problem and that it was not caused by deceased ancestors. In time seven members of this family were baptized​—the lady, her husband and five children. The mother and one daughter are now regular pioneers. And what about the lady in whose home the study was started? She has been baptized, and four of her fleshly sisters are now studying.

Such experiences prove that the truth’s powerful effect is now penetrating the religious barriers of Satan’s world. Truly we have come to the time when people of the nations are learning that “God is with you people,” and they “earnestly go to soften the face of Jehovah.” (Zech. 8:20-23) This is also true in Australia and the Pacific islands, where we will now turn our attention.

Australia and the Pacific Islands Exult in Expansion

“Another Outstanding Year”: This is the way the Australian branch described the 1984 service year. For the first time the number of publishers has gone over 40,000, one reason undoubtedly being that the pioneer spirit has flourished remarkably. During April, 10,250 shared in the pioneer work, which was nearly 25 percent of the total publishers. Work among the aboriginal population continues to expand rapidly. A good number of Bible studies are being conducted with these people, and large groups of up to 100 regularly meet together. These groups are beehives of activity. Quite a number of the aboriginal brothers are sharing in the auxiliary pioneer work.

“A Year of Growth”: This is how New Zealand speaks of the 1984 service year. The service year started with the signing of a contract to purchase a 15-acre (6-ha) block of land on which to build a new Bethel complex. Hundreds of brothers and sisters volunteered to help with the work. Ever since the 1980 service year the number of congregations in this country has remained at 119, but this past service year saw the number increase to 132 congregations. The average number of publishers has increased by 8 percent. “Particularly exciting to us,” said the branch report, “was to surpass 1,000 auxiliary pioneers for the first time.” Bible studies went over 5,000 for the first time, and 18,066 attended the Memorial​—the best attendance yet!

A divorced woman with seven children had a most unhappy and quarrelsome homelife. One day, at the funeral of her own father, she heard one of her grown daughters talking with another woman about the Bible. She went to spend a week at the home of this daughter. Usually they argued and fought, but things were different now. The daughter was so calm and got along so nicely with her family that the mother thought to herself: ‘Is this God whom she calls Jehovah able to remove hatred?’

A month later she started to study, and one by one, the things that she was doing wrong became straightened out, and she was baptized. She now serves as an auxiliary pioneer. Three daughters, one son-in-law and one sister with her two children are studying the Bible. She states: “My family life is so peaceful now. Thank you, brothers and sisters. Thank you, Jehovah!” What a happy outcome!

Guam’s Joyful Report: This branch brings us news that the island groups of the Marshalls, Ponape, Kosrae, Truk, Saipan, Yap, Belau, Kiribati and Nauru are receiving a fine witness on each main island. As one government official in Belau commented recently, “The name of Jehovah is well known in these islands.” During the past year, efforts to reach the outer islands, or atolls, were made by elders and missionaries who traveled there by boat, preached to the local inhabitants in their language and left literature for them to read.

In addition to producing The Watchtower in six different languages during the 1984 service year, the brothers rejoiced to receive the Live Forever book in Kosraean and Yapese. Kingdom News No. 31 in Gilbertese was the first publication that the Society has ever printed in that language. It was enthusiastically received by the people and resulted in new Bible studies. This tract was also produced in Kosraean, Marshallese, Ponapean, Trukese and Yapese. In April, 37 percent of the 614 publishers were in the pioneer service. The branch relates the following experience, showing how one young pioneer was blessed by standing firm for the truth despite strong family opposition:

“In September 1982, a 20-year-old sister became a regular pioneer. Soon severe persecution developed, since her parents had arranged for her to marry an unbeliever. Adhering strictly to the Bible counsel to ‘marry only in the Lord,’ she refused to marry this man. (1 Cor. 7:39) For the next six months, she was virtually a prisoner in her own home.

“She was determined that she would attend the Memorial in March 1983. Three times she asked her father for permission to attend, but he refused to let her go. She informed her parents that she would start attending meetings again. Her father was furious, and when she returned home from her first meeting in six months, he put her out of the house. With just her field service bag and the clothes she had on her back, she left home to stay with her aunt who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The very next day she engaged in field service once again. Now she continues zealous as a regular pioneer. She is conducting ten Bible studies. As for her parents, they apologized for the way they treated her for six months and begged her to return home. She has returned with the understanding that no one and nothing must stand in the way of her serving Jehovah.”

Gladness in Papua New Guinea: The brothers here rejoice because of fine progress toward maturity among the isolated congregations. This is a fine thing and is what will contribute to still more increase. Auxiliary pioneering increased 34 percent, which is further evidence of maturity, and Memorial attendance reached 7,704, over a thousand more than the previous year​—a large field for expansion. A man who was contacted several years ago moved away, returning to his village. He attended a recent circuit assembly. After the assembly he went to the traveling brothers and stated that the village elders from the isolated area in which he lives had made the request that the Witnesses come to this area and take care of all the spiritual interest there. So, here too, they are coming and asking the way to Zion.

Good News From Fiji and Hawaii: The brothers in Fiji reached six new peaks in publishers, the last being in August, with 950 preaching. Many in Fiji are stepping out into the pioneer service and are becoming far more productive. Hawaii, too, was looking forward to fine increases during 1984 and was not disappointed. For the first time, over 5,000 publishers reported, and 23 percent of them were enrolled in some feature of the full-time service during April. Two congregations each reported 37 auxiliary pioneers, while in a third congregation the 31 pioneers were joined by 46 auxiliary pioneers, making a total of 77 pioneers in that congregation for the month of April.

Tahiti’s Spiritual Paradise: As one of the “paradise islands” of the Pacific, Tahiti is also experiencing the blessings of the spiritual paradise. The brothers there saw a 14-percent increase in publishers. They had peaks in Bible studies and return visits, which shows that they are making fine progress in teaching all who are anxious to learn about God’s Word. The brothers are visiting the outer islands with good results. On the island of Hiva Oa, it was necessary to wait until the six families had finished their church services. Then all six families obtained the literature offer, including a subscription for The Watchtower in Tahitian, with the church leader declaring that this was just the kind of literature he had been looking for in order to understand the Bible.

Theocratic Productivity in the Solomon Islands: Surprising progress is taking place there. The brothers were glad to reach a new publisher peak of 640 in April, and the attendance for Memorial was 3,210​—over five times the number of publishers. They have gone out into three new islands during the past year. The Anglican Church has great power in these islands, and one special pioneer was invited by the church leader to speak before the single men. However, when he began to speak about Jehovah, some became angry and wanted to throw him into the sea. One young man faced the group and boldly asked: “Why are you people doing this? Maybe you had better throw the Bible out of your church!” The others turned on him, but he stood his ground. He started to study, adjusted his life and now spends many hours telling others about the good news.

The only publisher on one of the islands relates that a Bible student named Oswald was haled before the church elders and the bishop of the Anglican religion when it became known he was studying with the Witnesses. “Why are you studying with them?” asked the bishop sternly. “They are teaching me the Bible, and it is sweet to me,” was Oswald’s answer. “For many years now I have hungered to know the Bible, and I will not give up what I am learning.” Surprisingly, the bishop turned to the others and said: “Leave him alone! No one should be stopped from learning the Bible if he wants it that much.” The Bible truth is still sweet to Oswald and his wife, and they are learning more of it in their regular studies.

Set Free From Demonism: It was possible during the past service year for the branch in New Caledonia to organize a Pioneer School, with 12 local pioneers attending. Among them was a sister who, before she got the truth, had so many family problems that she used to go to the guérisseur (witchcraft doctor). In fact, she visited all such “doctors” practicing in New Caledonia, spending up to $1,000 a month, and with no results! Then she came in contact with the truth and realized that it was the unique solution to her troubles. She got rid of all her boucans (roots and leaves tied together and given by a guérisseur for protection). After she got rid of these objects, the demons started to harass her. She said she had to pray a whole day to Jehovah. Finally, after 24 hours of struggle, the demons left her. How happy this sister is now as she serves as a pioneer, sharing the truth that sets people free!​—John 8:32.

New Branch Office Established: We do not desire to leave these beauty spots of the earth without referring to what has happened in Western Samoa. The high point of the service year to our brothers there was that a new branch was established in Apia on February 1, 1984. It now oversees the work in Western Samoa, Niue, Tonga and Tuvalu. Also a new congregation has been established in Vavau in Tonga. Whole families are responding to the truth, which means that a more solid condition exists in the congregations. These fine developments are the result mostly of the increased pioneer activity. Parents are being helped to include their children in their studies. One couple was disfellowshipped over 25 years ago. They realized where the truth was but did not try to return to the congregation. However, they brought up their children to follow Bible principles, with the result that their four daughters became active in the field service, engaging in pioneer activity. Now, joyfully, the father and mother have been reinstated and are happily reunited with their family in spiritual matters. What an unusual but gladsome outcome! But let us turn our attention now to theocratic expansion in the continent of Europe.

Heart-Cheering News from Europe

As with other parts of the world, space allows us to present only a few of the branch reports from Europe.

Continuous Increases in Italy: Situated right in the stronghold of Catholicism, the brothers in Italy have seen an amazing reversal take place. Under Fascist rule during World War II, the number of Witnesses in Italy had been reduced to about 100. Now, 40 years later, they have reached the amazing number of 116,555. With every report, the number seems to increase! A tremendous crowd of 250,868 came to Memorial, so the potential becomes increasingly larger.

One young brother enjoyed an extraordinary privilege because of a school assignment. The students were to make a drawing on the subject “Life Yesterday and Today.” Our young brother chose the picture from pages 131 and 150-153 of the Live Forever book. His was judged to be the best in his locality, and on December 2, 1983, he had the opportunity to go to Rome where the president of Italy was on hand to officiate at the proceedings. Young Alessandro carried a copy of the Live Forever book, and when the president came near, he handed it to him. The president thanked the youth and said: “I like this gift.” Other boys, seeing and hearing what happened, wanted to learn more. So this gave Alessandro more opportunities to give a good witness.

Another brother took his copy of the Live Forever book to work at the airport. It was lying on his desk, open at pages 12 and 13, when an airline pilot, along with two flight attendants, came by. He looked at the illustrations and said: “It would be very nice to live like that!” Then he asked the brother where he could get a copy. The flight attendants also wanted copies. Two days later the brother brought them the three copies. A few weeks later the pilot returned and ordered 37 copies. After a month the pilot went to Brother Alfonso again to order 48 copies for other pilots and crew members. Moreover, a colleague saw the book and asked for 31 copies. So, up to this time, Brother Alfonso has been able to place 120 of these fine books in this manner. It indicates how the people of Italy have been starved for spiritual food and why they are responding so well to the truth at present.

“Explosion of Interest on Every Front”: That is how the brothers in Portugal describe their service year. They are breaking out of their present boundaries and need to make ‘the place of their tent more spacious.’ (Isa. 54:2) Publishers, pioneers, Bible studies, yes, all branches of activity have reached amazing peaks, bringing excitement and joy to Jehovah’s people in Portugal. “Kingdom Halls,” says the report, “are overflowing with record meeting attendance. More than 10 percent of all congregations are either building or purchasing larger ones. Even at the branch, departments are crowding into the dining room. Jehovah willing, we hope to break ground next year for the construction of a new Bethel complex.”

The branch shares with us the joy of a previously disillusioned man: “At seeing what religion and politics have produced, I became dedicated to overthrowing the established social order. I joined a group of terrorists and received training in the handling of all types of weapons; I shared in many armed robberies. My life was in constant danger. As time went by, it became evident that we were fighting a losing battle. I was a frustrated man, overcome by complete hopelessness in life. Then a Witness knocked at our door. She told me about God’s Kingdom. Insisting this was a waste of my time, I suggested that my wife listen. She did, and a home Bible study was started. Finally, I agreed to attend the study. Words fail to convey the relief I felt in understanding the driving force impelling mankind toward evil. The marvelous Kingdom promise has given me a sustaining hope and purpose in life. My wife and I are happy now to be dedicated praisers of Jehovah, the true Liberator of the oppressed.”

Increased Field Efforts in France: This country is also advancing with our other happy family members in Europe. There was a 6-percent increase in publishers, reaching an average of 79,568. Auxiliary pioneers increased by 39 percent! Congregation publishers reached an average of 17 hours in the field service.

Jehovah Blesses Neutral Stand: The Netherlands is greatly encouraged by the advancement of theocratic interests there. The brothers report many fine experiences illustrating how people react to the message of life. For example, an interested man worked at the Rotterdam harbor mainly in connection with warships. His employment stood between him and his desire to be baptized. Hundreds had been laid off at the harbors, and anyone who had employment was considered fortunate. Yet this man asked the employer for work on merchant vessels rather than warships. He was not only refused but also threatened with being fired. The man approached Jehovah in prayer and returned to the employer with the same request. He expected to be fired. But he got what he least expected​—work on merchant vessels. He was baptized at the next opportunity.

Ireland on the Increase: The brothers here report a 7-percent increase in publishers and are glad to have the Bible Stories book in the Irish language. One congregation was placing them at the rate of one every ten minutes. The brothers are reaching out into their rural territory, with fine results. On a cold and wet afternoon they came to a lady who had been so depressed that she prayed to God either to ‘take her or to help her.’ It was the very next day that the publishers called! She is now safely in the fold, saying: “I felt like a lost sheep that has finally found its home.”

The Live Forever book was placed with a man named Martin. When a return visit was made on him, he still had not read the book. However, the return visit prompted him to read it. Two things stirred his heart. One was the picture of the priest blessing weapons. This was something he had previously pondered over. The other point was a comment that Satan could cause people to feel too busy to study the Bible. He now decided that he must search out the Witnesses. As he drove into the city, he was praying: “God, if this is wrong, please don’t let me find the hall.” But he found it! The next day he came to the meeting, then to the Memorial and now attends regularly, bringing his two young daughters. He has to care for his wife who has a severe health problem, but he has made fine progress and shares in the field service. He has dedication in mind.

“A Truly Momentous Year”: This is the report from Britain. They were greatly stirred by the 1983 annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held at Leicester. To have members of the Governing Body there and to see at least 3,000 theocratic old-timers on hand had a most stimulating effect upon the country. They had the best pioneer year ever, and during August, they reached 97,495 publishers. Potential for increase is there, as shown by the Memorial attendance of 187,709.

A wonderful new experience for Britain this past year has been the construction of their first two “quick-build” Kingdom Halls. The branch reports: “The first hall, at Northampton, took four days. The second, at Dolgellau, in Wales, was put up in less than two days. This event received very wide publicity in Wales through radio, TV and the newspapers. The Cambrian News headlined its article: ‘1,000 Builders Prove Faith Can Work Wonders.’ Commented the paper: ‘Visiting building crews built Kingdom Halls in other parts of the world and in the process have developed a technique of a two-day project considered impossible by most contractors.’ Until the actual building of the hall, there was disbelief among many that such a project could be completed. A woman from the local chapel, contacted in field service, exclaimed: ‘You reckon you’ll build your hall in two days? Why, it’s taken us six years just to get the chapel bell mended!’”

Widening Out in Austria: The branch reports seven peaks in publishers and an all-time peak in auxiliary pioneers. The brothers say: “The pioneer spirit is really catching on, and we have had five consecutive peaks in that field.” They add: “Our Bethel extension project is well on the way. When completed, we will have floor space that is three times as much as we had before.” They are happy to be included in the grand onward movement of Theocracy’s increase.

“Clear Evidence of a Progressive Trend”: This is how the branch in Norway describes most features of the Kingdom work there, after a long period of only slow increase. Younger publishers are showing a growing interest in the pioneer work, and enrollment is increasing from month to month. Interest in the Kingdom message is greater. A new peak of 7,670 publishers was reached, and 14,228 attended the Memorial.

Back in 1972 a sister working unassigned territory in Norway met a woman who had several questions and seemed to be interested, so the sister asked for her address. She wrote two letters regarding the Bible’s good news, but she never heard from the woman. Then 11 years later the sister received a letter from the woman! She stated that her family had been in deep mourning, because a son had been murdered a month earlier. She and her husband decided to try to find some comfort by reading the Bible. Upon opening her Bible, she found one of the letters from the sister. So she wrote the sister for help. The sister contacted a Witness couple who lived about 60 miles (95 km) from this unassigned territory. When they called on the family, a Bible study was started. They are now making fine progress and feel comforted.

“The Grandest Year Ever”: This is the way Luxembourg describes the past service year. During some months the publishers reached an 8-percent increase, and the Memorial attendance was 2,537​—one in every 170 persons in the country! The fifth Portuguese-language congregation was formed, as Jehovah’s Kingdom interests move grandly on.

Spain Moves Ahead: This country has but recently emerged from the oppression of political and religious powers, but Theocratic increase is plainly evident now. A peak of 56,717 publishers have reported, and 125,040 attended the Memorial. The regular pioneer ranks increased by 37 percent.

The branch reports the following experience of a young, steadfast pioneer: Teresa’s father was a pioneer, so when she became 12 years old she also became a pioneer. Everything went well for a while, but her mother became ill and died, placing more responsibility upon Teresa. But she stayed on as a pioneer. Then her father was killed in a tragic auto accident, and now she has to care for her younger sister. However, all these tragedies have drawn her closer to Jehovah, so she stays on as a pioneer and says: “With Jehovah’s help and that of the brothers, I will continue.” Jehovah will certainly richly bless such devotion.

Another experience from Spain illustrates the fact that honesty can be a powerful witness. Taxi driver Antonio was asked to take a couple to a town 17 kilometers out of the provincial capital, Málaga. He was determined to use the time to get in a good witness, which he did. The couple listened respectfully and even asked several questions. Some time later Antonio was approached by a man who asked if he recognized him. Antonio could not remember. “But aren’t you a taxi driver?” asked the man, describing the aforementioned journey. He explained that a few days after listening to the taxi driver’s Bible explanation, Witnesses had called at their door. They accepted a Bible study and were now baptized Witnesses themselves! “But what was it that impressed you the most about what I said?” Antonio asked. The reply: “You charged me only 383 pesetas for the service, when all other taxi drivers charge 500!”

“Everywhere Expansion Is Taking Place”: This is the report from Belgium, where regular pioneers have increased 15 percent. Auxiliary pioneers and publishers have also reached fine peaks during the year. One regular pioneer was richly blessed only 14 days after enrolling. A lady had been praying to God for many months for help, so she accepted a Bible study. Later, her husband, then her daughters, the eldest daughter’s fiancé, five in all, took to the truth.

Vigorous Proclamation of Jehovah’s Name: “This year Jehovah’s name has been proclaimed more vigorously than ever before,” says the branch in Finland. They reached a peak of 15,263 publishers. Pioneers keep increasing. Time in the field and home Bible studies are also increasing with most remarkable results.

“A Year of Many Blessings”: The German people lost much of their religious thinking after going through two world wars, but the branch in the Federal Republic of Germany says: “We can look back upon a year of many blessings.” The completing of the magnificent new branch facilities at Selters was the highlight of the year’s blessings, and now they have most remarkable facilities and a strong base of operations that will be able to care for the country’s needs for a long time to come.

Fine Progress Despite Opposition: The report from Greece is that the Greek Orthodox clergy have stirred up much trouble for the brothers over the years, but the tables are turning. In September 1983 the brothers were able to stand on the streets with the magazines, much to the consternation of their opposers. The clergy continue to make use of the law against proselytism. During the year, about 150 arrests were made. At least 38 cases have been brought before the courts. Of these, 35 were won while another 3 will be going to the court of appeals. The priests have fought hard to win but seem to be fighting a losing battle. In one instance, dozens of buses were on hand to transport demonstrators to a rally against the Witnesses, but there were not enough people to fill even one coach! A local official commented: “The priests have made real fools of themselves.”

Another victory has been won in the courts. In the town of Patras the inhabitants were compelled to pay a contribution for the building of St. Andrew’s Church. This was done by adding an extra charge to the electricity bill. When the brothers refused to contribute funds for the church, the electric company threatened to cut off their power supply. The case went to court. A headline in the newspaper Eleftheri Gnomi summed up the court’s decision. “The 118 Jehovah’s Witnesses Won the Battle in Court​—The Law Regarding Compulsory Payment of Contributions for Building Saint Andrew’s Church to the Electricity Board Was Characterized as Unconstitutional.” The brothers were glad they could still have electricity!

Now let us move on to the reports from other parts of the earth.

Lands Where Our Work is Restricted

Since the Lord Jesus foretold that the world would hate his true followers, it is not surprising that there are bans on Jehovah’s work in some parts of the earth. (John 15:18, 19) In such lands the Kingdom publishers work under a great variety of circumstances, and they have to use good judgment and seek Jehovah’s guidance in finding ways to preach the good news.

The Challenge of Isolated Territory: Informal witnessing is a very important way to reach people in many of these lands, but more systematic preaching is done when possible. For example, in one land where the work is banned, the brothers sent out temporary special pioneers in an effort to work isolated territory. Working small towns posed a challenge for them since, within a short time, all in town get to know of the presence of strangers. So, although this is not usually done in such countries, the first thing the pioneers did was to make a visit on the local police officials to give them a witness. (Matt. 10:18) The result? In 14 places the police officials would not give the brothers permission to preach, but in 75 places there was no objection. In fact, some of the police officials even provided lodging for the pioneers in the police station! So the brothers, under those circumstances, could carry on their work of preaching right from there​—without opposition. The pioneers made return visits on some of the police officials!

Alert to Informal Witnessing: In a European land where the work is banned a Witness reports this experience: “In a railway waiting room I observed a young woman who was weeping bitterly. I turned to her and asked what had happened. The tears became even more doleful, but after a while she told me that her husband threw her out of their house because he was interested in another woman. They had lived together for years, and had two children​—and now she had decided to end it all by coming to the train station to commit suicide. I talked with her for a long time. The message of hope for all heartbroken people had a soothing effect on her. We completed our discussion at the place where she was now living. After some time, even her family conditions improved, so that she returned home. She has the Bible hope in her heart, a hope that saved her from suicide.”

This same land reports an increase in the auxiliary pioneer work. “This represents a big change in the thinking of the publishers during the past 15 years,” says the report. “There are also a few regular pioneers in our country, which is quite an achievement if you consider the way the ministry is performed; that is, searching for opportunities to bear witness and facing some danger every time.”

Refugee Camps in Mozambique: “There are still about 10,000 publishers in the eight circuits covering the camps at Milange on Malawi’s eastern border,” reports the Zimbabwe branch office, “with additional congregations scattered through the west of Mozambique and served by two traveling overseers. Our contact with the Milange camps has been hampered during the year because of lack of good communication. However, from the few reports we have received, we are convinced that our brothers in Mozambique, in company with our brothers the world over, will prove to be ‘not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.’”​—Heb. 10:39.

Integrity in the Face of Brutal Persecution: In one land where the work is banned, scores of our brothers are imprisoned because of their Christian neutrality. A report says: “They are severely beaten, whipped and coerced in every way to violate their Christian conscience. Frequently, prison terms follow one after another. In one case, after brutal beatings failed to break a brother’s integrity, some soldiers conspired to murder him. When a superior officer learned of their plot, he personally intervened and secretly had him transferred to another city, thus saving his life. (Compare Acts 23:12-35.) This past year 14 brothers lost their lives for refusing to compromise their Christian neutrality.” Many more experiences showing that our brothers are enduring faithfully under persecution could be recounted, but we turn our attention now to Latin America.

Grand Progress in Latin America and the West Indies

The same outstanding results of making known the good news also come to us from Latin America and the West Indies. Thrilling events are taking place as Jehovah is speeding up the grand ingathering of his sheeplike ones.

“Never Had Such a Wonderful Year”: So exclaimed a brother in Brazil with 40 years of full-time service. How true that is! Seven new peaks, culminating with 160,927 publishers, were registered during the year, and the amazing number of 474,450 attended the Memorial. Brazil has become one of the “big brothers” in Jehovah’s earth-wide family of devoted ones.

Early in the year all publishers received a personal letter inviting them to consider the auxiliary pioneer service for April. As a result, in some congregations whole bodies of elders and ministerial servants became auxiliary pioneers. A total of 37,404 took part in the auxiliary pioneer work that month. “The pioneer spirit,” said the report, “was so contagious that the Kingdom Halls just hummed with experiences and words of encouragement.”

A mother of 11 children became discouraged because she could not arrange to conduct a home Bible study. However, a brother suggested that she try the auxiliary pioneer work, which she did. She is no longer discouraged, because she now has four home Bible studies!

Yes, amazing things are happening in Brazil. One special pioneer visited a nearby town and placed 41 books. The next month, when he made return visits, the hotel owner informed him that the priest wanted to see him. The priest told him that he had seen the Bible Stories book, and he wanted more copies for his youth club. Then the priest said that he was going to announce at the next Mass that all could obtain copies of the book. The special pioneer returned four times and, all together, placed 220 copies of the Bible Stories book and 170 pocket-size books. He is now holding a number of home Bible studies with the interested ones. Such experiences show what a fertile field exists in Brazil, and that country will certainly go on from one grand increase to still more and more.

Legal Recognition in Argentina: One of the most joyful branches at this time is Argentina, because great victories have come to the brothers during 1984. For at least 33 years bans and laws were enforced against them, but they courageously pressed on, and Jehovah finally gave a resounding victory to our brothers in Argentina. On March 9, 1984, they were informed that at last they were authorized to operate as a legal religion. Another cause for joy was that in recognition of their status as a religious organization and out of respect for freedom of worship, the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses were exempted from participation in patriotic ceremonies.​—For details see The Watchtower of November 15, 1984, page 27.

The enthusiasm of the brothers was reflected in a 10-percent average increase of publishers, going from 43,815 in 1983 to 48,282 in 1984. In April, 19 percent of the publishers shared in the pioneer work, and Memorial attendance reached 109,140. The number of congregations is increasing, with 52 new ones formed during the first ten months of the service year. A new Assembly Hall is being built for use in the Buenos Aires area. The branch facilities are too small to take care of all that is happening, so new property has been obtained. A large factory has been bought and will be made into offices and factory space, and the branch will build a new Bethel home right next to it. “Everything is booming,” says the report. Everyone is amazed but truly happy at what Jehovah is doing.

Two young publishers joined a group of others who decided to spend their vacation in the auxiliary pioneer service. They went into an isolated territory that perhaps had never before received a witness. Tears of joy came to their eyes when they related how the faces of their listeners lit up with enthusiasm when shown the beautiful illustrations in the literature. City officials, school authorities, judges and police listened to the message, and the prayer of these zealous vacationers went up to Jehovah asking Him to give the increase to the seeds they had sown. What a delightful way to spend a vacation!

Bolivia Thrilled With Its Report: What a thrill it was for the brothers in Bolivia to report that they had reached an 18-percent increase in publishers over last year’s average! The congregation publishers averaged nearly 12 hours per month and reported one home Bible study per publisher. A total of 17,671 sheeplike ones attended the Memorial​—that is over four times the number of publishers! Conditions look very favorable for continued expansion. Regular pioneers are constantly increasing in number.

A former chief of police and his wife, who always refused to listen to the truth, began attending charismatic meetings. He obtained a Catholic Bible and by chance opened it to Isaiah 43:10. Calling his wife, he told her that they were no longer going to such meetings. After much effort, they located the Witnesses and are now both baptized and very zealous. Thus Jehovah sees to it that all who sincerely look for him will find him.

Searched for a Bible Stories Book: When a publisher in Guatemala offered the Bible Stories book to a man in a rural area, the man said: “I have been looking in all the bookstores for this book! There is a child here that takes a copy to school and rents it to her classmates for 15 cents a week.” Eagerly the man accepted the book, and a Bible study was started.

Reaching Mayan Indian Villages: “One of the highlights of this past service year’s activity,” reports the branch in Belize, “has been the annual field trip to visit the Mayan Indian villages in the south of the country. To reach these remote villages (12 in number) one must walk 113 miles (182 km) along jungle paths. So, a group of 12 brothers ventured with their backpacks and briefcases, carrying everything they would need for ten days. Their equipment included a small six-volt slide projector and motorcycle batteries. For the first time they showed color slides in these remote villages. A total of 568 people attended the showings telling about the global preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. These hard-to-reach humble people were left with a better understanding of the Kingdom-preaching work.”

Riverboat Witnessing in Suriname: The branch in Suriname tells us: “This past year much work has been done in the interior of the country. Since there are very few roads, transportation is mainly by boat on the rivers. Special pioneers are on most of the larger rivers, busy preaching, and this year we started the work in the deep south on the upper Suriname River. Five special pioneers were assigned there, and three of them went all the way to the Pikin Rio, where the Granman (the chief of the whole river area) lives. He was very friendly and talked for some time with the three brothers. He provided a house for them and asked all the captains of the villages for their cooperation with the Witnesses. The special pioneers built their own boat, and in spite of the fact that they were there only a short time, they started a number of fine Bible studies, and some interested ones are now publishing the good news.”

Costa Rica Shares in Increase: This country had a most outstanding year of theocratic activity. For the first time, their publishers have gone over the 8,000 mark. One reason undoubtedly is that they are conducting about 9,000 home Bible studies. Where that feature of service is stressed, it results in much increase. The pioneers were very busy too. They have doubled in number, and the auxiliary pioneers show a 45-percent increase. Enlarged branch facilities are urgently needed, and a beautiful 15-acre (6-ha) plot of land located in one of the finest farmland areas in the country was purchased. It is 7 miles (11 km) from San José.

One brother tells of being assigned to a better position in the office where he worked, but another employee felt that she had much more seniority. She was told to train the brother for the position, but she made things as disagreeable as she could for him. Another worker approached the brother and told him not to put up with such treatment. He was advised to go to the supervisor and make trouble for her, but this he refused to do. Eventually, the woman became less hostile and even began to engage in friendly conversation with him. Later, she took literature from him and now studies regularly and is progressing in the truth. How much better that Christian course of action than turning her into an enemy and not being able to reach her with the truth!

“Publisher Explosion”: The exciting events in Mexico are referred to in their report as a “publisher explosion.” They happily report a 16-percent increase in publishers, with the peak now up to 151,807. The brothers attribute this mostly to a 26-percent increase in home Bible studies, which rose to 202,132 in June. Because of such studies, whole families are coming into the truth. The Memorial was attended by the amazing total of over 695,000!

The flag-salute issue is very much to the fore in Mexico, with the newspapers and TV making much ado over the situation. In Ciudad Juárez, various ones contacted an army official in an attempt to have him take some action against the Witnesses. He is reported as having said to them: “You should get to know Jehovah’s servants very well. If all the people in Ciudad Juárez were Jehovah’s Witnesses, there would be no more problems.” Some newspapers have also quoted from the School brochure, which has resulted in a very fine witness.

Our brothers in Mexico say: “Truly Jehovah has been good to us this past year.” To which all of us can heartily agree. The field in Mexico is certainly “white for harvesting,” and as the Master of the harvest sends more workers into that productive area, the “publisher explosion” will become still greater to the exquisite delight of all who love Jehovah.​—John 4:35; Matt. 9:37, 38.

Moving Ahead Despite Violent Times: What can our brothers do in El Salvador where violence and lawlessness abound? They answer: “With Jehovah’s help we are content to be serving Jehovah here.” Thus, in spite of all the difficulties involved, 49,344 attended the Memorial​—almost four times the average number of publishers! They have reached a fine peak of 13,427 publishers, who are conducting well over 20,000 home Bible studies. Plans are now under way for the construction of a new branch building in San Salvador. A new Assembly Hall has been purchased in San Miguel, right in the middle of an area of violence, but where there is also fine increase in the Kingdom work. Assemblies are being held here with no serious problems.

The following amazing experience illustrates the power of Jehovah in caring for his people. In a certain good-sized congregation, the surrounding area is sometimes under the control of the civil defense and at other times is controlled by the guerrillas. On an election day, the congregation meetings were held as usual. Some of the brothers hurried home right after the meetings were over, but others remained. A group of guerrillas appeared. These ordered the brothers to attend the meeting the guerrillas were going to hold. The brothers grouped together, and when the command was given for all to shout political slogans, they remained silent. They had to remain standing for over an hour, and then they were all asked to contribute 25 centavos to the cause. An upturned hat was passed around, but instead of dropping in money, they dropped in their magazines. This surprised the guerrillas, but they permitted the brothers to witness to them until 10:00 p.m. Finally, the brothers were allowed to go home, happy that they had maintained their loyalty to Jehovah.

Fine Progress in Chile and Colombia: Chile began the construction of a new branch office on June 4. “In spite of exceptionally heavy rains,” said the report, “the work is advancing, and the zeal displayed by willing workers has not been dampened.” The zeal of the brothers is also reflected by a 14-percent increase in publishers. Bible studies keep increasing. A total of 75,029 attended the Memorial. Auxiliary pioneers increased by an amazing 50 percent! Similarly, in Colombia, pioneer activity has continually increased, with the result that the publishers are growing in number. The city of Bogotá is forming one new congregation each month, and the peak of publishers has mushroomed to 23,117, a commendable 22.7-percent increase over the 1983 average.

Amazing Gains in Venezuela: This country reports with enthusiasm that during some months the publishers showed a 19-percent increase. Pioneers grew in number all year. The Memorial attendance​—12,165 more than in 1983—​was 93,263.

A six-year-old girl successfully showed a householder that God’s name is Jehovah even though she could not read. The lady was so impressed that she not only hugged and kissed the little girl but arranged for a Bible study, and she is now preparing for baptism.

The president of the Anticancer Society of Venezuela was so impressed by the article on smoking in the June 15, 1981, issue of La Atalaya (Spanish edition of The Watchtower) that he ordered 500 copies of the issue. Now all students who are given an assignment about cancer and smoking in their medical classes receive this issue along with their other study material.

“Exciting and Encouraging”: This is how Trinidad described their experiences for the 1984 service year. From January to April they had successive peaks in publishers and were most happy to have 2,082 auxiliary pioneers for April. This represented 54 percent of the publishers reporting for that month! One brother usually reads from the publications during his lunch breaks. This resulted in so much interest among his workmates that he decided to offer the magazine subscriptions to them. “Since they were surprised at their low cost,” he says, “I was able to obtain 36 subscriptions for the month of January.” He was also able to place 107 copies of the Live Forever book. He is now busy trying to develop all the interest that has been created.

Forging Ahead in the Dominican Republic: Blackouts and rioting interfered to some extent with the work in this country, but the brothers reached a total of 8,192 publishers for the first time. The Memorial was attended by 23,000 more than their publisher total, so they feel they have much work to do in helping all these people to make advancement. A circuit overseer invited one congregation of 21 publishers to work with him in the rurals. To his surprise, 41 people showed up, because all the sisters brought along their children. Needless to say, they had a most unusual and enjoyable time in the rurals.

“The Kingdom Increase Is Here”: This is the way our brothers in Guadeloupe feel. They are bubbling over with joy because of increased Bible study activity, which has reached the average of one per publisher, and they recorded a 9-percent increase in publishers for the year. Almost 10,000 attended the Memorial. One housewife, without knowing why, invited a publisher into her home after refusing to listen for ten years. The daughter also listened, and after a somewhat slow start, both mother and daughter became baptized and are zealous publishers of the truth.

Attitudes Changing in Grenada: The outburst of fighting that occurred in October 1983 has shattered some of the easygoing attitudes of many. They are still quite upset by what happened. Many have lost faith in political promises and are beginning to show more interest in the truth. A total of 1,175 came to the Memorial​—three times the number of publishers, so they hope for continued increase in activity with fine results.

We would like to tell you more about Theocratic expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean but we must move on to North America.

North America Strides Forward

Far North Overcomes Prejudices: The brothers in Alaska had a 16-percent increase in publishers over the 1983 average, reaching 1,748 in March. The Memorial was attended by 4,397, so there are many more that can be helped to take up Jehovah’s true worship. They are doing their best to work the bush territory. Upon entering one isolated bush village, the brothers were told by the council representative: “Sorry, but you are not allowed to enter our village.” He was then shown the beautiful pictures in the Live Forever book and was informed that they desired to tell the people what the Great Creator had in store for them. At this, the official said: “You are welcome to our village.”

A highlight of the year was that 230 brothers came from as far away as California to Metlakatla on the Tsimshian Indian Reserve to construct a two-day Kingdom Hall. The local council had opposed the building for ten years, but, finally, allowed it to proceed. In 32 hours a beautiful 32-foot x 52-foot (9.8-m x 15.8-m) structure was completed. Practically the whole village came out to watch, and some said: “That is how we used to work together as a people.” Another two-day hall was finished at Wasilla, 50 miles (80 km) north of Anchorage.

“We Continue to Grow Marvelously”: This is how the brothers in Canada feel about the 1984 service year. Opposers in Canada have falsely proclaimed that the Society is falling apart, but the branch gladly points to 80,939 publishers, for a 10.7-percent increase over the 1983 average. Almost 23 percent of all the publishers were in the pioneer work in April. With that amount of zeal, more wonderful results will be forthcoming.

The Kingdom Halls are bursting at the seams in Canada, so they have built the astonishing number of 22 two-day Kingdom Halls during the service year. They have applications for nine more halls.

Joseph, a Jesuit priest, came to Canada from Czechoslovakia and obtained a copy of the New World Translation. The sister who called on him happened to remark that Peter was never in Rome. He sincerely believed that Peter had functioned there as head of the Catholic Church. However, in his research it became clear to him that Peter sent his greetings from Babylon rather than from Rome. He went to the local Kingdom Hall and was surprised that there was no clergy-laity distinction. He recognized also that the doctrine of transubstantiation was wrong. He later resigned as a Jesuit priest despite much pressure, and now he is a happy Kingdom proclaimer.

“A Banner Year of Theocratic Activity”: This is the report from the United States. Five new peaks of publishers were reached, the August peak being 690,830, for an astounding increase of 20,435 over July’s peak of 670,395 publishers. In April there was an all-time peak in auxiliary pioneers of 93,990. The number of regular pioneers climbed to 29,098 in April, which means that there were 123,442 persons serving as pioneers during that month!

Home Bible studies have advanced to 450,658, and the grand number of 1,611,310 attended the Memorial. What tremendous prospects for future expansion! A new congregation was formed every two or three days on the average, making a total of 159 new congregations formed during the 1984 service year. Subscriptions are running 3.9 percent higher than in 1983 and total magazines 11.8 percent higher. Truly theocratic expansion has come to this land.

In California, a newly interested nurse started a Bible study with one of her patients in a convalescent home. The patient was 100 years of age and years ago had seen the Photo-Drama of Creation. As the lady took in Bible truths, she told others about God’s Word. This brought opposition from the chaplain and others in the home. Undaunted, the young-at-heart centenarian kept on preaching, dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized at the ripe age of 102! Jehovah’s spirit can accomplish wonders.

“KINGDOM INCREASE” DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

If all the 117 “Kingdom Increase” District Conventions in the contiguous United States had been held in one place, there would have been the huge total of 1,159,898 happy attenders. They would also have been thrilled to see 10,625 new brothers and sisters baptized. Truly, the name “Kingdom Increase” was most appropriate, as this mighty throng assembled in 65 different locations throughout the country.

What joy followed the release of the new Reference Bible! How gladly the brothers received the new book Survival Into a New Earth and the excellent brochure extolling Jehovah’s name! Upon the release of the Divine Name brochure in Finland, the brothers exclaimed: “This is exactly what we need.” “We have longed for this.” “The walls of the churches are being made to witness for Jehovah!”

These district conventions were a tremendous source of encouragement to the British brothers. The total convention attendance of 136,524 was a new peak for them, and 934 were baptized. Among the many experiences enjoyed in connection with the conventions was that of a brother and his wife who were traveling to Cardiff when their car broke down. A farmer came out of his house and inquired what he could do to help. They told him they were going to the convention. On learning that they were Witnesses, he said: “There’s a car in the corner of the yard. Take it, enjoy your convention and return it on your way home.” The couple benefited from the high esteem the farmer had for Jehovah’s people.

MORE ENCOURAGING THEOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTS

Meeting the Needs for the Field: To help meet the field needs of Jehovah’s army of witnesses, the Society increased the number of Bethel family members by 9.9 percent, for a total of 7,233 worldwide. Just imagine, during the 1984 service year, these busy workers produced the amazing number of 59,188,650 Bibles, books and booklets! In addition, 503,500,555 Watchtower and Awake! magazines were produced in 102 different languages. Millions upon millions of handbills, tracts and other items were also printed.

Jehovah’s servants are working more vigorously than ever to feed sheeplike people, as foretold at Jeremiah 23:3-6. Worldwide, the brothers personally spent large sums​—in dollars, marks, pesos, pounds, liras, and so forth—​to preach the Kingdom message. The Watch Tower Society also spent the grand total of $19,437,938.73 (U.S.) during the 1984 service year in providing support for the field by caring for the needs of thousands of special pioneers, traveling overseers and missionaries. Jehovah’s people have certainly proved the truth of Acts 20:35: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”

Computer Developments: During the past year Jehovah has given us better equipment than ever before to preach the good news speedily to the ends of the earth. Important tools in this increased publishing capability are the MEPS (Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System) and the MEPS Setter. MEPS is a computer designed and built by the brothers to aid in publishing the good news to all the nations, to all language groups. MEPS does not translate but it enables a person to enter and correct text that has already been translated. It electronically arranges the text into pages that are then sent to the MEPS Setter for producing the pages on film.

MEPS is also used to handle subscriptions, literature orders and other administrative work of a branch office. Presently MEPS is being used in Brooklyn and the following 19 printing branches: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and West Germany. We plan to install this equipment in many more countries. Brothers and sisters from branches have been trained to operate and maintain this equipment. MEPS has the capability of handling languages such as Arabic, Greek, Hindi and Korean. Brothers are presently working on increasing the capability of MEPS to handle Chinese and Japanese. All of this is helping to speed up the work of making disciples of people of all the nations.

Simultaneous Publication: One of the most thrilling developments during the 1984 service year has been the move into simultaneous publication of the same material in The Watchtower in upwards of 20 different languages. This has been made possible, in most cases, by the installation of the Society-developed MEPS computer system. Copy for the English-language Watchtower is sent out to branches for translation. It is then entered and is composed with the help of this equipment. Thus, the same leading series of articles and the study articles are already being published in a number of languages. Around the world they have the same cover design for that issue.

This is proving to be a marvelous unifying force among Jehovah’s people. By early 1985 it is expected that 2,500,000 and more of those attending the Watchtower Study in countries around the world will be studying the same material in the same week. All will be unified in presenting the same message in the field through the Watchtower magazine. This also opens up the possibility of making any important pronouncement worldwide at the same time in this magazine. All of this is part of the grand campaign of unification that Jehovah is now carrying out among his people.​—Eph. 1:9, 10.

EXULTING IN THE THEOCRATIC EXPANSION

It has been most difficult to decide what to include in this exceptional worldwide report for 1984. There is not nearly enough space to tell of all that Jehovah has done through his people during the past year. What is outstanding, however, is the spirit of enthusiasm and joy of our brothers everywhere.

Satan has always tried to bring about dissension among Jehovah’s people, and he has caused some people to attempt to disrupt the peace and unity of the loyal ones. Such disgruntled ones find no happiness with their lot in life, and they are howling at this time because of “breakdown of spirit.”​—Isa. 65:13-15.

Neither these nor all the hordes of Satan can prevent the expansion of Jehovah’s interests in the earth. His command to the obedient ones as found at Isaiah 54:2-4 is to “make the place of your tent more spacious. . . . Do not hold back. . . . Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame.” Indeed! While Satan’s world and all his wicked agents are in anguish, Jehovah’s servants are exulting. This service year of 1984 has surpassed all other years in total accomplishments.

The time is near at hand for Jehovah’s Kingdom to “crush and put an end” to Satan’s entire wicked system. (Dan. 2:44) That righteous Kingdom rule must keep on growing and expanding until it fills the whole earth. Nothing can block this wondrous purpose of Jehovah. Therefore, let all who love Jehovah exult in the tremendous “theocratic explosion” that is now occurring and unite in glorifying him with thanks and gratitude.

[Chart on page 24-31]

1984 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

“Fully Accomplish Your Ministry”

Our yeartext for 1984 encouraged all of Jehovah’s servants to “speak the word of God fearlessly.” (Phil. 1:14) This certainly was done by all our zealous brothers earth wide, and Jehovah gave the wondrous increase that made our hearts so glad. For this year of 1985, the emphasis again is on the urgency of making known God’s Word, by diligently following the Scriptural injunction at 2 Timothy 4:5, “Fully accomplish your ministry.”

The unclean demon forces are gathering the nations to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. They croak forth froglike expressions against Jehovah and continue to wage war against all on his side. However, “the very One sitting in the heavens will laugh; Jehovah himself will hold them in derision. Saying: ‘I, even I, have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain.’”​—Ps. 2:4, 6; Rev. 16:13, 14.

These developments, therefore, place the issue squarely before all mankind: “Where do you stand? Are you for Jehovah or for his adversary, Satan?” The majority are blinded as to what is involved. They have been deceived into taking their stand on the side of the ‘seven-headed wild beast’ organization, but the name of “not one of them stands written in the scroll of life of the Lamb.” (Rev. 13:1-8) In order to have their names written in that scroll, they must learn how to flee out of Satan’s organization and walk in the righteous paths of Jehovah. This can be done only by knowing and being obedient to the Word of God. The time is near at hand when Jehovah will rise up to make the nations know what is involved in these life-and-death matters. (Zeph. 3:8) There will be no doubt as to the issues then.

All who take their stand on Jehovah’s side are pictured at Psalms 96 to 99 as singing or ascribing glory to Jehovah. The thrilling picture there described is, as it were, that of a mighty symphony orchestra made up of millions of human voices, together with the inanimate creation, as they ascribe glory to earth’s rightful Judge and King. Psalm 98:1, 5, 6 says: “Sing to Jehovah a new song. For wonderful are the things that he has done. . . . Make melody to Jehovah with the harp . . . and the voice of melody. . . . Shout in triumph before the King, Jehovah.”

Millions of humans are already singing this song, but at Psalm 98:7, 8 the creative works of Jehovah are invited to add their powerful voices: “Let the sea thunder and that which fills it. . . . Let the rivers themselves clap their hands; all together let the very mountains cry out joyfully.” What a thrilling illustration! Imagine the oceans roaring and thundering in the role of the percussion section of this colossal orchestra. Imagine also the majestic rivers clapping their “hands” in melodious rhythm and the huge mountain ranges crying out in joy!

That is not all. Psalm 96:12, 13 calls upon ‘all the trees of the forest to break out joyfully before Jehovah, for he has come to judge the earth.’ Picture, if possible, billions upon billions of leaves in the forests, singing Jehovah’s praises in sweet violinlike and flutelike voices! Heaven itself joins in the great chorus of hallelujahs as shown at Psalm 96:11: “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be joyful.” How marvelous! In full unity and complete harmony all on Jehovah’s side in heaven and earth and all of his creative works are graphically pictured as ascribing glory and honor to their King.

More than singing is involved as shown at Psalm 100:1, 4: “Shout in triumph to Jehovah, all you people of the earth. Come into his gates with thanksgiving, into his courtyards with praise.” Millions of obedient ones have already come into those sacred courtyards, bringing with them their gifts of thanksgiving and praise. Over seven million attended the Memorial on April 15, 1984, and more than one third of these are actively serving Jehovah as his faithful Witnesses.

These are pictured in God’s Word as sheep. Jesus told his little flock of sheep that he had “other sheep” that he would bring together as one flock with the remnant in his due time. (John 10:16) The false shepherds of Babylon have not fed or cared for these sheep. They need food, water and tender care. However, Jehovah has promised that he himself, ‘will raise up over them shepherds who will actually shepherd them, and none of them will be missing.’ (Jer. 23:4) What comforting assurance!

All who now know Jehovah have the great privilege of caring for these sheep. Parents have the wonderful assignment of bringing up their own children as little sheep of Jehovah. They certainly need much shepherding, as do all the other meek ones of the earth. There is always plenty to do in caring for all these sheep, as Paul assures us at 1 Corinthians 15:58. Those who really keep busy in this manner receive the joy of Jehovah as a bountiful reward.​—Compare Matthew 25:23.

To ‘accomplish our ministry fully’ means that we will become skilled in the whole “art of teaching.” This involves much study and application of God’s Word in our lives. It also includes the public work of being evangelizers. This takes skill and true devotion. Many are now becoming regular pioneers in order to do this work more abundantly. This does not mean that only pioneers can ‘fully accomplish their ministry.’ Every individual who is truly devoted to Jehovah can have that grand privilege. (2 Tim. 4:2, 5) May all of us use every opportunity to “declare among the nations his glory.”​—Ps. 96:3.

May Jehovah’s rich blessings and love be upon everyone who has dedicated his life to our loving God, Jehovah, and to his ministry and service. May He also lovingly care for all who are preparing to do so.

Your brothers,

GOVERNING BODY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Jesus stated that his followers would do greater works of preaching by extending the disciple-making work to the extremities of the earth. (John 14:12; Acts 1:8) How grand that final report will be when the preaching work during this time of the end is fully accomplished, in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14! Yet even now it is thrilling to learn through reports published regularly in the Yearbook of how the Kingdom work was started and how it developed in lands throughout the earth.

This Yearbook will explore the beginnings of Kingdom activity and the progress that has been made thereafter in the following lands:

JAMAICA: Learn how the preaching work got started back in 1897. Read about a visit by C. T. Russell to that island in 1913. You will be amazed at the activity of early full-time preachers who had to travel by foot over mountains and through valleys in order to bring the good news to the people.

ZIMBABWE: This stirring account will greatly encourage you to continue relying on Jehovah. Read about the many difficulties overcome in reaching both the white and the native population in this land when it was under colonial rule. Note the many trials and tribulations endured by Jehovah’s people when war broke out. The account will add much force to the meaningfulness of the scripture: “Many are the calamities of the righteous one, but out of them all Jehovah delivers him.”​—Ps. 34:19.

THE BAHAMAS: This country of many islands has posed a great challenge to the Witnesses. How could they reach the people on the various islands and then cultivate the interest? The use of boats was one solution to the problem. Learn how boats of all types have aided the brothers in giving a witness throughout the beautiful Bahamian islands.

How thrilling it is to have a part in Jehovah’s never-to-be-repeated work in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14! May the reports that follow encourage you to share more fully in giving the Kingdom witness while there is yet time.

Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

THE ISLAND of Jamaica is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Situated in the Caribbean Sea just 95 milesa south of Cuba and about 480 miles from Miami, Florida, its more than 2,300,000 inhabitants enjoy a warm to temperate climate all the year round. The Arawak Indians lived on the island when Christopher Columbus arrived there in 1494; they were the ones who named the island Xaymaca, meaning “land of wood and water.” It is indeed a land of evergreen mountains and valleys, lush tropical vegetation, cascading waterfalls and beautiful white sand beaches fringing a serene blue sea. Visitors have nothing but praise for the scenic beauty of the Paradise Isle, as the land is called.

BIBLE TRUTH ENTERS THE ISLAND

In 1897 something even more beautiful entered Jamaica​—the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Isa. 52:7) This is how it happened: Two Jamaicans who had migrated to Costa Rica learned the truth in that country and felt that such wonderful good news should be taken back to their homeland. So it was that H. P. Clarke and Louis Facey were the first to preach the Kingdom good news in Jamaica.

Reports tell of their going to the village of Camberwell in the mountains of the parish of St. Mary, where they preached to Patrick Davidson and his brother. Both accepted the Bible’s truth and immediately joined in the preaching. The response to the message was encouraging, and on March 26, 1899, which was two years later, 300 persons attended a convention and Memorial celebration of the death of Jesus Christ.

THE SOCIETY SENDS A REPRESENTATIVE

The interested ones were soon organized into study groups. So much interest was found that, six years after the first light of truth reached this land, the Society saw the need to send a representative, J. A. Browne, to oversee the work in Jamaica. Commenting on the work accomplished that year, the Watch Tower of December 15, 1904, page 373, said: “Jamaica was the center of a good work during the past year [1903]. The interested are nearly all blacks, and Brother Browne . . . has apparently been doing excellent service there; not so much in awakening new interest as in crystalizing and really directing and deepening that already started.”

Yes, good progress was being made because Jamaicans were and are a Bible-loving people. From school days they are taught to respect the Bible as God’s Word. Learning to recite Scripture passages from memory is part of their education. So one does not have to begin teaching about the Kingdom by first proving that the Bible is God’s Word, as that is generally accepted by the majority of the population.

CLERICAL OPPOSITION BEGINS

In 1905 a three-day convention in Kingston drew a peak attendance of 600 people. By then 24 colporteurs (the equivalent of today’s pioneers) were busy, distributing literature throughout the island, and the groups were being encouraged by eight pilgrims (traveling representatives of the Watch Tower Society) through Bible talks and their wholesome association. Such activity soon drew the attention of the clergy, who did not respond kindly to the preaching done by the Bible Students.

The last session on the final day of the convention took the form of a question-and-answer meeting. Who should appear but a member of the clergy who had been writing scurrilous material and making violent speeches against the Bible Students! Try as he might to upset matters, the tables were turned, and this opposer was exposed as the false shepherd that he was. As the Watch Tower of November 1, 1905, page 326, reported: “We are glad to believe that his questions were providentially permitted for the enlightenment of our visitors, many of whom, as a result, have become friends to the cause of Truth.”

SPREADING THE WORD DESPITE HARDSHIPS

Taking the message to rural areas in those early days required a great deal of courage, faith and determination. There were no motorcars, no rural transportation and no paved roads. As Brother Browne reported in the Watch Tower of January 1, 1907, page 7:

“The Colporteur brethren should be specially mentioned: the work here is extremely hard, even distressing, and we are sure that it is only the love of the Truth that would lead anyone to give up his life to it.

“There are no facilities for traveling or for conveying books. All the work is done in the mountains and brethren have to walk from 20 to 60 miles, carrying on their shoulders from 15 to 30 books. It is difficult traveling over the mountains and into the valleys, sometimes being overtaken by rain, sleeping out often at night because unable to find lodging, and, being disappointed many times in deliveries, and having to return long distances with the books they carried. And yet some of them call it a joyful privilege to be so engaged. Their appreciation is shown by the fact that others are joining the ranks.”

One brother, Amos Wilkinson, now deceased, told of a night when the only home available to him for lodging in a certain village was the residence of a clergyman. The man had readily agreed to his request to spend the night with him when he heard that he was a visiting preacher. However, as soon as he discovered that Brother Wilkinson was a Bible Student, the clergyman canceled his offer of hospitality and ordered him out of his house.

Leaving the clergyman’s house, Brother Wilkinson passed by the church and, on trying the door and finding it not locked, went in and slept there for the night. In the morning, before departing, he put some of the Society’s tracts in the Bible on the pulpit. Later, on his return to that village, he learned that the same clergyman had used the tracts as the basis for a sermon and afterward had distributed them to his congregation.

In spite of the problems encountered, over 1,200,000 pieces of literature, including tracts, were distributed during the year of 1906 alone. That same year the Society established a branch office in the city of Kingston. The work of Kingdom preaching grew so much over the next nine years that the Jamaica branch was assigned the responsibility of looking after the work in Costa Rica​—the same land from which the first two Jamaican Witnesses had brought the truth.

A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE HITS JAMAICA

On January 14, 1907, a major earthquake almost completely demolished the city of Kingston. Brother Browne wrote to the Society: “We are glad to report that no injury has occurred to any of the Lord’s people, so far as we have heard, save that one interested friend, who was a constant attendant here, was killed. . . . But what makes me sit in wonder continually is that our meeting hall is the only place of religious worship in the city that is standing and in a condition to be used; and it is all brick like the others, save that the two upper rooms which we occupy are of heavy frame set on top of the lower building, making it more dangerous. Our faith has been greatly strengthened by the experience.”​—The Watch Tower, February 15, 1907, page 53.

EXPANDING THE WITNESS

In 1908 a convention was held outside of Kingston for the first time. It was in the small seaside town of Annotto Bay, five miles from Camberwell, the birthplace of the Kingdom-preaching work in Jamaica. This convention had a peak attendance of about 350.

The next four years were marked by intense efforts to spread the Word by printed page and by public lectures. The clergy also stepped up their pressure to discourage the people from reading the Society’s literature. This resulted in the cancellation of orders and in requests for return of funds for literature previously taken, but the brothers were not discouraged. They even pushed out to foreign fields. Two pilgrims were assigned to Costa Rica and Barbados to organize congregations in those countries. By this time the Jamaica branch was also overseeing the work in Panama.

BROTHER RUSSELL’S VISIT

Charles Taze Russell, the first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, made a three-day visit to Jamaica in February of 1913. A convention was planned to coincide with the visit. On the first day about 600 brothers and sisters, as well as interested people from all over the island, came to hear Brother Russell. The Watch Tower magazine reported on the convention and stated: “Some of these dear friends spent nearly all that they possessed to come to the convention. We found them a very interesting company, very earnest for the Lord and for the Truth.”

Typical of the zeal and determination of the Bible Students was that of Sister Eveline Prendergast, who walked 36 miles over dusty roads from Camberwell to attend the convention. Such zeal was also evident in the spirited singing of the Jamaican brothers. Said the Society’s president: “Their singing was excellent.”

The public talk during the convention drew such a large crowd that two auditoriums had to be used, one for the public and the other for the Bible Students. Jammed into the building for the public were 1,800 people, and over 2,000 were unable to get in! Included in the audience were a number of clergymen, some of whom commented on the eagerness of the people to hear the message. An Episcopal minister observed that the secret of the interest lay in the fact that the message was a “Gospel of Hope.”

The press also gave much favorable publicity to the convention. Said The Watch Tower of March 15, 1913, pages 94, 95: “The newspapers, commenting on the people comprising the convention, commented upon their cleanliness, order, etc.; and the fact that they used neither tobacco nor liquors, and needed no attention from the police. . . . They also referred to the fact that money and collections were not mentioned in connection with this convention.” That 1913 convention lived on in the memories of those who were privileged to attend.

TESTS AND TRIALS DURING WORLD WAR I

Like their brothers everywhere, those in Jamaica were eagerly looking forward to the year 1914 and the end of the “Gentile Times.” They, too, were disappointed that their expectation of an early end to Satan’s system was not realized. After Brother Russell died in October 1916, a real test of faith came on them. Many forsook the organization and began to put pressure on the loyal ones. The pressure increased with the visit of Paul S. L. Johnson from the United States. He had left the truth and had come to give support to the disloyal ones. Those who had faith that Jehovah would continue to use the instrument he had been using​—the Watch Tower Society—​remained steadfast and kept the light of truth burning during those trying times.

The sifting in those years caused many to cease associating with the organization. Eventually, they split up into small groups, and today nothing is heard about them. They may be compared to a branch that is broken from a tree. It looks green for a short time but eventually it withers and dies.

There were no external pressures on the Bible Students during World War I. Jamaica was then a British colony, and, although Britain was at war, there was no conscription or draft. So the question of neutrality did not present any problems. It was the internal pressures that tested the brothers severely and slowed down the evangelizing work. But the showing of the Photo-Drama of Creation, Biblical slides in color as well as motion pictures synchronized with phonograph records, helped greatly to keep interest in the Kingdom message alive during that time. The showings drew large audiences.

MILLIONS BOOKLET WIDELY DISTRIBUTED

In the year 1920 the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die was given wide distribution. That title became a catch phrase, which many Jamaicans still remember. The Memorial attendance for the island that year was just 44, indicative of the falling away from the truth that took place during the refining that occurred following the end of the Gentile Times. Those who remained steadfast, though, were not discouraged but continued to do plenty in the work of the Lord, and in 1921 the Memorial attendance rose to 132.​—1 Cor. 15:58.

FAITH-STRENGTHENING PILGRIM VISITS

A visit by pilgrim George Young did much to contribute to the work of strengthening the faith of the loyal ones. His visit to the beautiful north-coast town of Port Antonio resulted in a mighty witness. Said a prominent Catholic and member of the Legislative Assembly after one of Brother Young’s lectures: “I do not care who hears me. I have heard things tonight I never knew were in the Bible. I appreciate the message.”

When Brother Young visited the town of Mandeville, a cool resort city in the central portion of the island, 365 persons came to hear him. Among them was another member of the Legislative Assembly, who welcomed Brother Young and said to the audience: “You will be surprised to see me on the platform. Most people think I never trouble with Biblical matters. They are mistaken. It is the doctrine of eternal torment with its burning and roasting that drove me from the churches!” Visits and meetings to this and other towns laid the foundation for increase in later years.

NO GOVERNMENTAL OPPOSITION

From the latter part of the 19th century, when the truth began to be preached in this country, there had been no governmental interference with the preaching work. However, when the Resolution designated Indictment, adopted at the Columbus, Ohio, convention, July 20-28, 1924, was given wide distribution in Jamaica, the clergy, it is reported, covertly tried to influence the government “to stop the work of the Bible Students.” Far from being scared away and stopping, the small band of Witnesses continued to carry on the work of Kingdom preaching. They walked many miles and also traveled by donkey, mule and bicycle to carry the message to rural folk. One brother reported that he would leave home at 6:00 a.m. to travel by bicycle to the rural territories. Carrying the literature he distributed over a wide area, he would get back home nearly 12 hours later.

GROUP WITNESSING BY BUS

In the late 1920’s the congregation in Kingston obtained a bus so that a group could work the rural territories on Sundays. By means of it, territories far and near received a tremendous amount of sowing of Kingdom seed. In 1929, for example, 23,447 books and booklets were distributed island wide by the small band of loyal Witnesses. Some of the brothers and sisters who traveled on that bus are still alive and active. They have vivid memories of those witnessing trips.

Brother Charles Crawford remembers those days, saying that the brothers and sisters had to get up as early as 3:00 a.m. on Sunday. The bus left at 4:00 a.m. and traveled up to 80 miles. The publishers got off at towns along the route. Since some publishers reached their assignment before the sun was up, they had to wait for hours until the householders woke up. “We had joyful times together,” recounts Brother Crawford, “sometimes placing all the literature we had.” The bus, he said, became such a familiar sight in the rural towns that some people named it Unity. Perhaps this was because of the united spirit and efforts of those who traveled on it. Brother Crawford expressed deep satisfaction at living to see thriving congregations today in the towns he used to visit to sow Kingdom seed with the aid of that bus. He is now 82 years of age and pioneers in a small rural community.

WITNESSING WITH THE PHONOGRAPH AND TRANSCRIPTION MACHINE

The work entered a new phase in 1933 with the introduction of the portable phonograph, the transcription machine and the sound car. These instruments were tailor-made for this land. Here people gather quickly when music is heard, so the sound of the phonograph was the signal for many to gather at their neighbor’s door to hear the Kingdom message. The sound of the more powerful transcription machine induced people to pour out of the bush areas and come to the main roads to see and to listen.

There were three such machines and cars in operation. One sound car was operated by a sister, Amy Foote, who lived in Spanish Town​—the first capital of Jamaica, when it was ruled by Spain. Sister Foote recalled, shortly before her death, that she wrote J. F. Rutherford, then the president of the Watch Tower Society, and asked whether a woman would be permitted to operate a sound car. She got the go-ahead and went enthusiastically to the cities and villages, driving the old Ford car herself and publicly proclaiming the good news. Sister Foote did a man-size job and plowed up the field for further sowing and harvesting!

Another sound car was operated by Robert Logan, a zealous brother who was also a medical doctor. He is still remembered by thousands in Kingston and other towns for his public preaching and use of the transcription machine. His zeal was such that each of his patients had to receive a thorough witness before a physical examination. Even Witnesses had to receive a reminder of what they believed, before their own physical checkup.

The third sound car was operated by Brother P. H. Davidson, the branch overseer. The penetrating sound of the machines drew the ire of the clergy, so that in 1936, at their urging, the government banned their use in public places. This ban was lifted in 1938, however, and the message of the Kingdom again began to bounce from the hills and roll through the valleys into the homes of the people.

IDENTITY OF “GREAT CROWD” STIRS ZEAL

Another milestone in the history of Jehovah’s people was reached in 1935 when, at the Washington, D.C., convention, the “great crowd” of Revelation 7 was positively identified as an earthly class to be gathered before Armageddon. This new understanding served as a stimulus to greater activity, and the records show a steady increase in praisers of Jehovah in Jamaica. The number rose from 100 in 1914 to 390 in 1938, and by 1939 those inviting others to join them in becoming praisers of Jehovah reached 543.

Yes, the work was becoming better organized, and the home Bible study arrangement began to take shape. The gathering of the “great crowd” had begun, and that class was taking on a great share of the work of Kingdom preaching. In fact, they showed as much zeal and fearlessness as those of the anointed remnant.

ENCOURAGED BY A VISIT FROM THOMAS BANKS

In 1936 Thomas E. Banks, a pilgrim from the United States, made a visit to Jamaica. Commenting on the visit, Brother Davidson wrote in a letter to Brother Rutherford, dated May 4, 1936: “I have to thank you personally for your arrangement as president in sending Brother Banks to visit Jamaica. His visit has brought Brooklyn right into Jamaica and has supplied a long-felt desire to see things work here as in Brooklyn, hence our Bethel home, studies, service work, class visits, conventions and public witnessing have all been improved through the example and suggestions of Brother Banks.”

In conjunction with Brother Banks’ visit a convention was arranged in Kingston with a peak attendance of 2,000.

THE POPE GETS A LETTER

Typical of such zeal was that displayed by Brother Ronald Feurtado. He was from a devout Catholic family, and had himself been a zealous Catholic. Upon learning the truth, he felt it was his responsibility to give the pope a witness and to expose the false teachings of the Catholic hierarchy. This he did by letter. The Vatican returned the letter to Jamaica, sending it to the head of the Catholic Church on the island. He, in turn, reported the matter to the governor of Jamaica, since Brother Feurtado was a civil servant. The governor then summoned Brother Feurtado and requested that he write a letter of apology to the pope. This he politely refused to do, since he was convinced that what he wrote was the truth. Brother Feurtado was penalized by being denied promotion, but he died faithful and happy that he was able to give a witness to both pope and governor.

NEW BRANCH OVERSEER

In 1939 the Society sent Thomas E. Banks back to Jamaica to take oversight of the branch office. Said Brother Banks: “In those early years there was not as much office work in the Society’s branch as there is today. So my work consisted principally of traveling all over the island with a sound car that broadcast recorded Bible lectures and also giving Bible lectures in the evenings.”

Brother Banks did much to encourage the brothers and to advance Kingdom interests in Jamaica. He carried on as branch overseer until 1946, when, at the age of 75, failing health and strength made it necessary for someone younger and stronger to assume branch-oversight responsibilities. Said Brother Banks: “I was given the choice of returning to the United States to live with my children or of continuing to live at the Society’s headquarters in Jamaica, where I could do whatever work my health would permit. Since Jamaica was my assignment, I chose to remain there.”

When he reached 93 years of age, Brother Banks commented: “I use every opportunity to talk about Jehovah’s purposes and the truths of his Word with my visitors and by means of correspondence. I am very happy that I can complete my days on earth in my foreign assignment and still in Jehovah’s full-time service. Spending my full time in Jehovah’s service has been the joy of my life, and I look forward to continuing it eternally in association with Jesus Christ and his ‘holy ones in the light.’” (Col. 1:12) He faithfully stuck to his assignment until 1967, when he finished his earthly course at the age of 96.

ZONE WORK ORGANIZED

In 1939 the zone work was organized. The island was divided into four zones. Brothers were appointed as zone servants and were instructed to spend a week with each congregation to strengthen it and to aid it in its field witnessing activity. Brother Charles Laurent was sent to the east zone, Brother Conrad Anderson to the west, Brother Headley Graham to the north and Brother Edgar Carter to the south.

Brother Carter used to recall the days when he was a young, zealous pioneer of almost inexhaustible energy. He did a fine work of organizing congregations in the parishes of Clarendon, Saint Catherine and Manchester. His means of transportation for zone work was a bicycle equipped with a carriage for his belongings. Distance and hills were no obstacle for him. Later, when the zone work ceased, he traveled the length and breadth of the island on his bicycle, serving the congregations as servant to the brethren (circuit overseer). In 1945 he became the first Jamaican to receive training at the Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead. He continued to serve the Jamaican congregations after his graduation in January 1946 but soon became very ill and had to leave the full-time service. Although incapacitated, he remained active in Jehovah’s service until his death in August 1983.

TROUBLE AS WORLD WAR II BREAKS OUT

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the question on the minds of the Witnesses was: ‘What will this mean for the preaching work in Jamaica? Will there be conscription this time?’ Answers were soon forthcoming, as more and more nations became embroiled in total war.

The brothers never stopped their witnessing but continued without letup, declaring the Kingdom as the hope of mankind. There was no compulsory military service. Jamaica was still a British colony and was not required to mobilize, so there was no test on this issue of Christian neutrality. But other tests did come upon the loyal ones. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, the colonial governor banned four Watch Tower publications under an Undesirable Publications Law. The books Enemies, Light (volumes 1 and 2), and the booklet Model Study No. 2 were banned.

Some brothers thought it would be a good idea immediately to get the banned books into the hands of the people, whose curiosity was now greatly aroused as to their contents. For example, Brother Conrad Anderson packed up his books in a carton and labeled it, “For the Montego Bay Police Station.” Every inquirer who asked about the reason for the ban on the books was offered a copy. Eventually the whole carton was placed, so there was nothing left for the police to confiscate.

TOTAL BAN IMPOSED

By the year 1941 the partial ban became a total one. All publications of the Watch Tower Society or International Bible Students Association were prohibited from entering the country. This was announced in the government’s official paper, the Jamaica Gazette, of October 19, 1941. However, the organization was not outlawed, and there was still freedom of assembly.

Did the brothers stop preaching because there was no literature to offer the people? Not at all! Armed with only the Bible, they continued their house-to-house preaching.

NO LACK OF SPIRITUAL FOOD

Were the Witnesses starved for spiritual food because of the ban? Far from it! In miraculous ways publications, including every issue of The Watchtower, reached the island. They were copied by the branch office and sent to the congregations so that not one Watchtower Study was missed. Watchtower magazines, with only the subjects on the cover page, were received in the mail without any problem. Other publications, such as the Course in Theocratic Ministry, were also received, and the Theocratic Ministry School was instituted in the congregations while the ban was still on.

How literature at times found its way into the country is revealed by this experience: Customs officials confiscated Watch Tower publications brought in by contract workers returning from the United States. They would throw the publications on the floor of the port building where the workers landed. A brother who worked at the port would furtively collect some of the literature after the customs officials had left and before the confiscated literature was gathered up for disposal. Yes, many were the ways and means Jehovah used to keep his people spiritually fed!

EFFORTS TO HAVE BAN LIFTED

Efforts were made to have the ban lifted, but without success. A petition dated October 23, 1941, was rejected, and so was a request for the then governor to receive a deputation of local brothers to discuss the matter. Nevertheless, the brothers did not become dispirited but pressed on with the work of Kingdom preaching so that by the end of the war, the publishers had increased from 543 in 1939 to 884 in 1945. Assemblies were also organized, such as the “Call to Action Assemblies” in 1943. The public meeting campaign began here simultaneously with the one in the United States despite the limited number of public speakers.

THE BAN LIFTED

On June 23, 1945, a letter from the branch office brought to the attention of the government the fact that restrictions on the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses had been lifted in England and in many Commonwealth countries. However, it was not until early in 1946 that the government finally notified the branch office that the Jamaican ban on the literature had been lifted and importation was again permitted. The response by the Witnesses was an enthusiastic one. As the 1947 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses reported: “What few books the government had confiscated were released for distribution and in just a month or so practically all of them were placed with the truth-hungry people.” Many were especially anxious to get the book Enemies, which had become famous as the first of the Society’s books to be banned in Jamaica.

POSTWAR EXPANSION BEGINS

In November 1945, William Johnson was assigned to Jamaica as its first Gilead-trained missionary. He suggested some small changes in the only congregation in Kingston. For example, the brothers and sisters had been standing up every time they commented at the meetings, and at the Service Meeting the congregation servant always acted as chairman and sat on the platform for the entire meeting. Brother Johnson pointed out that these things were not necessary, and the brothers gladly accepted the suggestions.

The year 1946 could be termed a watershed year for the work of Kingdom preaching in Jamaica. That year marked the beginning of plans that achieved the most sustained and rapid expansion in the number of Kingdom proclaimers in the history of the work on this island. The stage for this was set by the visit of Brothers N. H. Knorr and F. W. Franz.

Shortly before the visit of Brothers Knorr and Franz, two more Gilead missionaries arrived​—Lee Dillon and Aleck Bangle. They immediately began their missionary work in the capital city of Kingston, with good response from the people.

EXPANSION IN KINGSTON

Shortly after his arrival, Brother Knorr met with the Kingston Congregation, which then numbered over a hundred publishers, and outlined proposals for expansion of the work in Kingston. He proposed that the Kingston Congregation be divided into three congregations and that the second floor of the branch building, which was used as the Kingdom Hall, be converted into a missionary home. The brothers happily agreed. Three congregations were soon organized and were named East, West and Central, according to their location in the city.

During his visit, Brother Knorr stressed the need for the immediate reinvigoration of the Kingdom work, and he voiced his wish to introduce the special pioneer work in the island.

RAPID INCREASE

The East Congregation, with missionary Aleck Bangle as congregation servant, increased from 26 publishers in April 1946 to 67 by August of the same year. Similar increase was seen in the other two congregations. As a result, the number of publishers in Kingston increased to 265 within six months, and the number of publishers island wide reached a thousand for the first time, with 35 serving as pioneers.

Soon, all three congregations bought property and built their own Kingdom Halls. The expansion continued over the years​—rapid at first and steady during the decades of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Today, Kingston and its suburbs have 12 Kingdom Halls, 22 congregations and a total of 2,156 publishers.

THE ROLE OF GILEAD MISSIONARIES

The role played by Gilead missionaries in the expansion of the Kingdom work cannot be overemphasized. A total of 29 missionaries were assigned to Jamaica from 1946 to 1962. Over that period the number of Kingdom preachers increased from 899 to 4,465. And the number of congregations in Kingston, where most of the missionaries were assigned, increased from one to 14 during that 16-year period. Today there is only one of the original group still in missionary service here​—Aleck Bangle, who has completed 38 years of faithful service in Jamaica and now serves as coordinator of the Branch Committee. The need for missionary service has decreased greatly because the country is well served by 153 regular and special pioneers. But the groundwork was laid by the missionaries, some of whom have been reassigned to other countries where the need is greater.

The missionaries were able to penetrate the territories where the more affluent class resided and where local publishers rarely received a hearing. Thereby a good witness was given to this formerly unreachable class.

FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HEARS KINGDOM MESSAGE

Quite a number of prominent people heard the Kingdom message from the late Theodore Nunes, a merchant tailor who had many of those of the upper class among his clientele. He was very zealous and made sure that all of his customers received the Kingdom message in the process of having their suits fitted. Many pieces of literature were placed in this way.

An item about Brother Nunes’ zeal in preaching appeared in the local daily newspaper The Gleaner of June 5, 1980. It told of his being called by the then colonial governor of Jamaica, Sir Edward Denham, to fit a suit for David Lloyd George, the former prime minister of England (1916-22), who was visiting the island. Brother Nunes seized the opportunity to tell him that God’s Kingdom was the only hope for distressed mankind. Lloyd George agreed with Brother Nunes and added that the world “will never get on an even keel again.” At this the former prime minister was asked why he did not then tell the people of England that the Kingdom of God is man’s only hope. Lloyd George responded that the people “do not want to hear it”! Surely, this is just as it was foretold​—that people would “turn their ears away” from hearing God’s truth, preferring “false stories” instead.​—2 Tim. 4:4.

CLERGY REACT TO INCREASED ACTIVITY

As expected, the clergy reacted to this greater penetration of their choice pasture. A pretext for opposition was found in 1952 when plans were submitted to the local Town Council in Kingston for the construction of a Kingdom Hall on a plot of land near the 200-year-old Saint Andrew Parish Church​—a venerable Church of England building that had many of the elite of the land on its membership roll.

The clergy contended that the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses were noisy and would interrupt their church services, and that there would be traffic jams in the area. When the matter came before the Council’s Building Committee, those “reasons” were successfully refuted by the Society’s lawyer, Enos Finlason, himself a Witness. So the Building Committee granted the application and rejected the objections raised by the attorney for the lay body of the Church of England. The issue attracted wide and continuous publicity in the local press, from the time the objection was lodged until the application was granted.

Determined not to be defeated, the clergy and church committee tried to circumvent the decision. They lodged an appeal to the whole City Council​—after the plans were signed by the usual signatories and delivered to the applicants, and building construction was under way.

BUILDING PLANS RECALLED

The mayor, who was a member of the Building Committee and who had voted against the application, ordered that the construction be stopped and the plans be returned. It was claimed that they were not properly signed​—not having been personally signed by the city engineer and the town clerk, as the law requires. The aim of this maneuver was to force another hearing before the Building Committee, during which it was hoped the clergy could influence that committee to have the decision reversed in their favor.

The chairman of the committee, Cleveland Walker, a just man, decided he would seek legal opinion on the objection before another hearing. This he did. The legal opinion ruled that the building plans were properly signed, that they should be returned to the applicants and the construction should continue. The opinion further stated that if failure of the town clerk and city engineer to sign the plans personally made the building illegal, then hundreds of other buildings would have been illegally constructed and would have to be demolished because plans for them had been similarly signed. So again, the Church of England and the Jamaica Council of Churches (representing eight denominations that had sent a letter of protest signed by the heads of their organizations) lost the battle against Jehovah’s people.

The religious opposers then launched an anti-Witness press campaign, led by a widely read columnist. Next, the government, obviously influenced by the religious leaders, refused to renew the expired permit that would allow two missionaries, Louis and Cora Woods, to stay in the country. The local Witnesses gave wide publicity to this. Many congregations passed protest resolutions against the cancellation and forwarded them to the government. Eventually the authorities relented and extended the stay of the missionaries.

LITERATURE RESTRICTED AGAIN

Even before the stay of the Woods was extended, an order was given to the relevant authorities not to sell the Watch Tower Society foreign exchange to pay for Bible literature imported to Jamaica. So a consignment of literature was held up at the port of entry and was eventually burned (except for Bibles), in spite of documentary evidence that the headquarters in Brooklyn was willing to regard the shipment as a gift. After written protests and a petition signed by 145,000 people (more than one out of every 14 people in Jamaica), permission was given to import literature from England but not from the United States. Only Bibles could be imported from the latter country. After more letters of protest and appeals, both locally and in England (since the country was still under British rule), the government finally agreed, on July 19, 1954, to allow the literature to come in from the United States as a gift. That arrangement is still in force due to the continued shortage of foreign exchange.

BROTHER KNORR VISITS AGAIN

Prior to this attempt to silence the Witnesses and to hamper their preaching activities, the brothers were strengthened and prepared for their tests by a visit from Brothers Knorr and Henschel.

Four years after Brother Knorr’s first visit, so much expansion had taken place that it was time to make plans for more expansion. The number of publishers in Kingston had increased by 25 percent. So a building committee under the chairmanship of Brother Robert Clarke was appointed to see to the purchase of property and the construction of two new Kingdom Halls for the two new congregations that were to be formed. One of these was the North Congregation. It was the building of their hall that roused the ire of the clergy as previously described. No wonder that a picture of that hall was published in one newspaper under the caption “The Church That Controversy Built.”

HURRICANE DISASTER BRINGS DISPLAY OF LOVE

In the summer of 1951, a savage hurricane struck Jamaica, killing 168 people. The roof of the building that served as the branch office and missionary home was completely blown off, but none of the brothers were injured. Thousands, including many brothers, were left homeless or lost their belongings. The response from fellow Witnesses in the United States was immediate and generous. Tons of clothing were shipped to provide relief for those who suffered. It was a practical demonstration of the love that binds Jehovah’s people in an international brotherhood. The brothers were greatly encouraged to go forth and comfort those who suffered and to explain to them who is responsible for world distress.

NEW BRANCH HEADQUARTERS

In 1954 Brother M. G. Henschel made a zone visit and recommended that an inspection be made to determine the structural soundness of the branch building. This was done, and the need for new branch headquarters was confirmed. Brother Knorr visited the following year and gave the go-ahead to secure land and make plans for the new branch office and missionary home. A suitable site was soon found at 41 Trafalgar Road in suburban Saint Andrew parish, and building plans were drawn and submitted to the building authority.

By the year 1957 the branch building project was ready to begin. The local Witnesses supported the project with loans and donations. It was on August 31, 1958, that the building was dedicated, before an audience of 1,276.

FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

In 1966 Jamaica was chosen as a site for one of the many international conventions planned for that year. It was the first time the local Witnesses were called upon to be hosts to an international gathering. They enthusiastically arranged for rooming accommodations and tours and took on all the other responsibilities connected with a big convention. They were thrilled to host delegates from 18 countries, including 246 delegates from the British Isles and 218 from the United States. The public talk attracted the highest attendance at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jamaica up to that time​—9,458.

Growth continued as the 1970’s began. In 1970 the number attending the Lord’s Evening Meal was the highest ever​—13,359. During the decade, the preaching continued without letup. There was freedom to preach the good news and to meet together. Still there were problems to overcome​—reminders that enemies of Kingdom truth were still here in Jamaica.

OPPOSITION TO ANOTHER KINGDOM HALL

For example, in 1978, plans were submitted to the local building authority in Kingston to build a Kingdom Hall in the northwestern section of the city. The Town Planning Department requested that the plans be revised so that a more elaborate structure would be built, one that, as they put it, “would uplift this area.” Even though this meant a much more expensive building, the request was complied with, and a design acceptable to all other city departments was approved by the Town Planners and the Building Committee of the City Council.

However, like the Kingdom Hall that stirred controversy in 1952 and 1953, the site was a short distance away from the Anglican church in that community, and the clergyman was totally opposed to having a Kingdom Hall built so near his church.

Construction, though, had already begun when he realized that it was a Kingdom Hall that was being built. The clergyman contacted his political friends on the City Council who, in turn, raised questions as to whether all building regulations were being complied with. One such regulation was that a notice of intention to build must be placed conspicuously on the site, inviting people opposed to its construction to lodge written protest within a specified time. Since the clergyman did not observe such a notice, he thought this regulation had been flouted. To his chagrin, the Town Clerk informed the inquiring councillors that all requirements had been met by the applicants.

CLERGYMAN’S FALSE CHARGE

The next move by this opposer was to circulate a pamphlet charging that the Kingdom Hall was being built with funds provided by the CIA​—the United States Central Intelligence Agency. He made this unfounded accusation because, at that time, charges were being made by some political people, including this clergyman, that the CIA was destabilizing the then government of Jamaica.

Of course, the accusation concerning the source of funds for the hall had no basis, as one writer to a local newspaper was quick to point out in refuting the clergyman’s claim. He wrote: “Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . believe in a future earth cleansed by Jesus Christ in which righteousness is to dwell . . . free from exploitation of man by man. . . . Jehovah’s Witnesses, though, believe in a purely spiritual solution, they do not salute the American flag, or any other flag. Neither do they sing the American or any other national anthem. They are hardly likely to be a C.I.A. church.”

Faced with a fait accompli and unable to prevent the construction, the clergyman wrote to the City Council, suggesting that in the future all applications for church buildings should be submitted to the local Jamaica Council of Churches for their recommendation before approval is given by the Building Committee. The City Council has wisely ignored the suggestion up to this time.

KINGDOM HALL COMPLETED AND DEDICATED

Meanwhile, the Kingdom Hall was completed on schedule, as many brothers and sisters freely gave of their time and abilities to help in the construction, especially on weekends and holidays. The cost of materials rose steeply during construction, which resulted in a doubling of the projected cost. To help meet the increase, several sisters made coconut cakes and pastries, sold them and donated the money. Others collected soft-drink bottles and redeemed them, turning over the funds for the project. So it was that the hall was completed and dedicated on October 15, 1980. The dedication talk was given by Brother U. V. Glass of the Brooklyn Bethel, to an overflow audience of 1,830. Three congregations now meet in this hall, and it is also used as an Assembly Hall for circuit assemblies. So again, Jehovah helped his people to triumph over opposition.

A FLASH-FLOOD DISASTER

The love that binds God’s people together in a worldwide brotherhood was highlighted in June 1979, when an unusual flash flood brought disaster to the western end of the island. The floodwaters washed away houses and bridges, drowned farm animals and destroyed crops. Thirty people lost their lives as torrents of water suddenly engulfed them in the night.

Upon learning of the disaster, Brother Louis Rochester, an elder and city overseer living 70 miles away, acted quickly. He borrowed some money, purchased food items, loaded them on a small truck and headed for the disaster area to provide relief for the affected brothers. With many roads impassable, the journey had to be made by a circuitous route that covered about 200 miles. But Brother Rochester made it, and how grateful the brothers were for his labor of love!

When Brother Rochester returned home, he found 40 cartons waiting for him. These contained donated clothing sent by the branch office. So, accompanied by his wife, he made a second trip and supplied his grateful brothers with the needed clothing. One group of brothers was cut off by a lake created by the floodwaters, and supplies had to be taken to them by boat.

A CIRCUIT OVERSEER’S PERILOUS JOURNEY

Circuit overseer Edgar Patterson was serving a congregation many miles away from the town of Savanna-la-Mar, which was in the disaster area. On hearing of the disaster, he collected food supplies from generous brothers, loaded his car and, accompanied by his wife, set out for Savanna-la-Mar. He reached as far as the coastal town of Whitehouse, 20 miles away, but could drive no farther due to flooded roads. So he hired a small rowboat and traveled by sea for the rest of the journey. It was a rough ride through turbulent waves. Fearing that the boat would capsize any moment, Sister Patterson kept singing Kingdom songs and praying in her heart for a safe journey. The boatman was a good rower, however, and they eventually made it safely to Savanna-la-Mar and distributed the food to the very appreciative brothers and interested persons.

PRESERVED THROUGH POLITICAL VIOLENCE

In 1980 Jamaica held its fifth general election since becoming independent from Great Britain in 1962. That election was preceded by the country’s most violent election campaign ever held. Hundreds of people lost their lives, and preaching God’s Kingdom in certain areas became very hazardous, as gun battles raged on, day and night. The neutrality of Jehovah’s Witnesses served as a protection for them, and not one Witness lost his life. The following experience shows how Jehovah protected those of his people who lived and preached in the most violence-prone areas.

An elder was making a return visit when a gun battle began on the same street. He reported: “At the end of the visit I tried to move quickly out of the area. On my way a group of men approached me and said, ‘You look like a policeman!’ [Many policemen were being killed during that period.] I quickly identified myself as a witness of Jehovah, using the publications I had and some tracts. That satisfied them and saved my life. I gave each one a tract and went my way.”

On her way to a meeting, a sister was stopped and searched by a group of men, who took away her books and money. She told the men: “I am going to the Kingdom Hall, and I need the books you took away and the money is my contribution.” They returned everything to her!

“CAUTIOUS AS SERPENTS”

Jesus’ instructions to his disciples to be “cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves” had to be applied by the Witnesses who lived in those troubled areas. (Matt. 10:16) Some periodically had to change the route that they used for traveling to congregation meetings. Often, brothers had to turn back and try a different route. The physical effort that many had to exert to reach the meeting place sapped the energy of some, but their attitude is summed up in the words of a pioneer who said: “I never missed a meeting during all this time of violence.” Another publisher said: “The Yearbook experiences of what brothers in other countries have suffered certainly helped me.”

Adjustments had to be made in field service schedules in the areas affected by violence. If there was considerable gunfire in an area, field service would be suspended for a few days until things calmed down. The elders took the lead in working with the brothers. So they would be easily identified, the brothers carried copies of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines in their hands. A specific time and place was arranged for the entire group to meet after field service so that all could be accounted for before departure from the field.

NEUTRAL STAND RESPECTED

The neutral stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses with regard to political activity was respected by the majority of the people. For example, in one area the book study center was attacked with stones and other missiles. In the midst of the attack the Witnesses who lived in the home brought out the Watchtower and Awake! magazines and held them aloft while shouting repeatedly, “We are not involved in politics!” Immediately the attack ceased. To prevent any recurrence, the brothers wrote “Jehovah Is Our Salvation” on the wall of the house, and pasted the covers of several Awake! and Watchtower magazines on the windowpanes. Some time after this, the attackers returned to the area. They destroyed many houses with stones, homemade bombs and other missiles, but the home that served as the book study center was left untouched.

On another occasion, while a group of brothers, because of political violence, were moving away from the area in which they lived, 14 armed men stopped the truck containing their belongings and asked the driver: “Who do you have on board​—Labourites or Socialists?” (These were the two factions fighting each other.) The brothers responded: “We are Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Some of the armed men boarded the truck and made a check. They opened the bag of one brother and saw his Bible, Watchtower and Awake! magazines and other Watch Tower publications. That, along with the Witnesses’ explanation that they are neutral with regard to politics because of their faith and confidence in Jehovah’s Kingdom by Jesus Christ, satisfied the men. “All right, you all can go on your way,” the armed men said. The brothers did just that, with expressions of thanks to Jehovah.

On election day, one elder and his wife were taken by force to a polling booth and threatened with violence if they did not vote. They maintained their neutrality in spite of being physically assaulted. Subsequently they had to abandon their home, but loving brothers took them in, and they are still happy and active in Jehovah’s service. Others were threatened because of their neutrality, but Jehovah afforded his people protection and no one suffered serious injury.

A MEASURE OF CALM RETURNS

A measure of calm has since returned to the country. While Kingdom preaching throughout the island has never stopped, the rate of increase has slowed compared to that of the mid-1940’s to early 1960’s. One reason for this is that many publishers have emigrated to the United States, Canada and Great Britain, often due to bad economic conditions in Jamaica.

PROGRESS DESPITE MIGRATION

Nevertheless, a new peak of publishers was reached in April 1984 when 7,517 shared in the preaching work. That same month 6,564 home Bible studies were reported. The Bible study aid You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth has contributed to the tremendous growth in Bible studies. Since its release, over 40,000 copies have been distributed, and it has had a great impact on the preaching work. One newspaper columnist helped to advertise this book. He wrote in praise of it and said, among other things: “The witnesses deserve a hearing. If one can’t allow them to put a foot in the door, then by all means acquire You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth.”

Yes, those who have remained continue to preach the Kingdom good news zealously in order to gather in the many sheeplike people who inhabit this beautiful land. That many more are yet to be gathered is indicated by the large attendance​—23,270—​at the Lord’s Evening Meal in 1984. Yes, there are still some persons who will take a positive stand for the Kingdom as is shown by the following experience.

One man spurned many invitations to come to the Kingdom Hall, although he visited other religious groups. Later he obtained one of the Society’s magazines that discussed the blood-transfusion issue, and he was favorably impressed. Now he wanted to visit the Kingdom Hall. He appreciated the Bible talk highlighting God’s purpose for man. The friendliness of the Witnesses also impressed him. It moved him to find and read every book and magazine that he had got from Jehovah’s Witnesses in the past. Soon he accepted a home Bible study, and now he and two members of his family are dedicated servants of Jehovah.

It is the hope of the over 7,000 Witnesses in this country that, like this family, many more will be moved to seek first the Kingdom, and thereby be assured of the privilege to help make this earth into a paradise of beauty far surpassing that which has earned for Jamaica the name Paradise Isle.

But the history of the preaching work in Jamaica would be incomplete without a report on the Cayman Islands​—a small group of three coral islands that are about 200 miles to the northwest of Jamaica and that are still under British rule.

THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are the islands that make up this group​—inhabited by about 19,000 people. The capital, Georgetown, lies on the largest island, Grand Cayman. The Jamaica branch supervises the Kingdom work here. The late Brother P. H. Davidson visited Grand Cayman in 1929 and sowed the seeds of truth. He made another trip in 1937 and tried to reach as many of the 6,000 inhabitants as he could. He also preached on Cayman Brac. Commenting on his second visit to the islands, Brother Davidson wrote:

“Religions of all shades exist in them. The ex-commissioner of Cayman Brac, H. W. Rutty, has been an ardent believer in the truth for about 25 years. But the people are bitterly opposed to truth. Some send messengers to warn others that the ‘no hell’ man from Jamaica has arrived. I have never seen such opposition anywhere among the ordinary people. Some threatened to do bodily harm.”

CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

The attitude of Caymanians to the truth has undergone dramatic change since those days. What has caused this change? Well, when the Watch Tower Society’s president, N. H. Knorr, visited Jamaica in 1950, he suggested that two missionaries from Jamaica be sent to the Cayman Islands. Aleck Bangle and Louis Woods were selected.

Loaded with 16 cartons of books, they boarded a boat and arrived at Georgetown two days later. They were allowed to land, but the literature was detained because the authorities thought the ban was still in force in Jamaica, of which Cayman was then a dependency. A check of the official government paper, the Jamaica Gazette, confirmed that the ban had been lifted in November 1945, so the literature was released.

The objective of the missionaries was to sow the seed of Kingdom truth all over the islands. Brother Bangle recalls that they procured two bicycles and worked the entire island of Grand Cayman, starting first with the outlying areas, towns and rural villages and then, lastly, the capital. The reason for that strategy, he said, was to cover the rest of the island before the authorities in the capital, Georgetown, could hear of the work and, if opposed, cancel the brothers’ permit to stay in the islands.

Unlike the situation Brother Davidson encountered in 1937, the missionaries found the people most friendly. The missionaries were always invited into the homes, whereupon they would have to listen to the entire family history before finally being able to give a witness. After six weeks the main island was covered with literature, and Louis Woods had gone over to Cayman Brac and worked the entire island. On the two islands some 2,000 pieces of literature were placed​—a tremendous amount of sowing indeed for the period of seven weeks that the missionaries spent on these islands.

WATERING THE SEED SOWN

Follow-up work was done in 1952 by two other Gilead graduates, and several home Bible studies were started. A missionary home was established in West Bay, Grand Cayman, and meetings were organized. By July 1956, eight people joined the missionaries in the preaching work. After ten months the missionaries had to leave the island, but the foundation was laid for future expansion.

In 1959 a congregation of 12 publishers was organized in Georgetown as a result of fine work by special pioneers.

After the special pioneers left the island, Brother Wilbert Sterling, a resident of Grand Cayman, was appointed congregation overseer to look after the Kingdom interests there. He still serves in the congregation as an elder, although he lost his sight many years ago. He is a fine example, and despite his handicap, he continues to give public talks.

Richard Dunning and his wife, Eileen, responded to the great need in Cayman and left England in 1971 to serve there. They have done much to consolidate the interest stirred up by earlier Witnesses. Brother Dunning now has resident status and serves as an elder in the Georgetown Congregation.

A fine Kingdom Hall has been built on a plot of land donated by a Caymanian businessman with whom Brother Dunning had cultivated a friendly relationship. Growth has been steady over the years, and a new peak of 56 publishers was reached in February 1984. Plans are now being made for organizing a second congregation on the main island.

ASSEMBLIES STIR INTEREST

The congregation in Georgetown is part of Circuit No. 2 in Jamaica. But due to the cost of travel it is not practical to arrange a circuit assembly in Grand Cayman, as most of the publishers in the circuit live in Jamaica and could not attend. For the same reason, most of the Caymanian publishers are not able to attend circuit assemblies in Jamaica. To enable the Caymanian brothers to benefit from assemblies, circuit assemblies with a modified program have been held in Georgetown. Chartered planes are arranged and brothers from all over Jamaica are invited to attend.

The first such assembly was held in 1970 with an attendance of 94. Another was held two years later, and two chartered planes transported over 200 brothers. A third was held May 2 and 3, 1982, and again there were two planeloads of brothers from Jamaica. These gatherings have served to encourage the Caymanian brothers and to give a good witness to the Caymanian people.

The people have remained very friendly and responsive, and there is good prospect for further increase. From time to time brothers on contract come from other countries to work in the islands, and that helps to strengthen the congregation organization.

The Cayman Islands are certainly among the islands that have responded to the invitation at Psalm 97:1: “Jehovah himself has become king! . . . Let the many islands rejoice.”

[Footnotes]

[Maps on page 71]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

JAMAICA and the Cayman Islands

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Little Cayman

Cayman Brac

West Bay

Grand Cayman

Georgetown

[Map]

CARIBBEAN SEA

Montego Bay

Falmouth

Savanna-la-Mar

Annotto Bay

Whitehouse

Port Antonio

Mandeville

Spanish Town

Kingston

[Picture on page 68]

Patrick Davidson, first Jamaican to accept the truth in Jamaica (shown witnessing in the Cayman Islands)

[Picture on page 77]

Members of the Kingston Congregation used this bus for rural witnessing on Sundays

[Picture on page 79]

Amy Foote (shown at the right) with the sound car that she operated

[Picture on page 80]

Robert Logan, a medical doctor, witnessed to all of his patients

[Picture on page 82]

Thomas Banks served as branch overseer for many years

[Picture on page 84]

Edgar Carter with the bicycle that he used in the circuit work

[Picture on page 90]

The first Gilead graduates to arrive in Jamaica. From left to right: Lee Dillon, Aleck Bangle, Edgar Carter and William Johnson

[Picture on page 92]

Theodore Nunes, a merchant tailor, witnessed to former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George

[Picture on page 95]

The Kingdom Hall that stirred up clergy opposition during 1952 and 1953

[Picture on page 97]

Present branch headquarters

[Picture on page 103]

The Kingdom Hall completed in 1980, also used as an Assembly Hall

Zimbabwe

TURN to the front inside cover of this Yearbook. Run your finger down to the southern part of the continent of Africa. There you will see a small landlocked country known as Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia and Rhodesia). It lies between the Limpopo and the Zambezi rivers. To the north is Zambia; to the east is Mozambique, with South Africa and Botswana bordering the south and west.

The name “Zimbabwe” comes from several groups of ancient stone ruins in the country, most of which were originally built with mortarless masonry​—a skillful work indeed. The name itself has been explained as meaning “place of stone” or “venerated houses.” Some say it signifies a “court or great place of a chief.” Whatever the exact meaning, it does refer to stone buildings of an impressive nature that give evidence of a once flourishing society. And now it is the official name of the country as a whole.

Politically, for the most part, this country has been quiet. The obvious exception to this was a shooting war of almost a decade in length during the 1970’s. This was a war for majority rule. From the early 1920’s until 1965 the country was a self-governing colony under Britain, with the government in the hands of a white minority. Then in 1965, because Britain refused to grant independence without majority rule, the government declared its own independence unilaterally. Seeds of discontent began to germinate and grow until finally rebellion against minority rule broke out in the form of an all-out war​—one that did not end until 1980. It was in this year that the country experienced its first voting for a majority rule. With it came the new name, “Zimbabwe.”

NATURAL RESOURCES

Climatewise, Zimbabwe has everything one would want and more: cool refreshing rains in the summer and warm, sunny days in the winter. And the temperature? Almost ideal in most parts of the country. In the capital, Harare (formerly called Salisbury), the average maximum temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28° C.) in summer and 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18° C.) in winter.

This equitable climate has contributed much to the agricultural growth of the country, which has just about everything. What stirs your taste buds most? The lush, mild fruits of the tropics, such as bananas, papaws (papayas) or mangoes? We have them. Or do you prefer more refreshing fruits such as apples, pears, peaches or nectarines? If so, Zimbabwe has these too.

As for scenic beauty, in the west is the famous Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. In the east are the beautiful mountainous regions referred to as the Eastern Highlands. In between, scattered throughout various parts of the country, are game parks well stocked with wild animals.

But while there is much to attract the eye, what we really want to tell you about is something most desirable. This relates to the ones mentioned by Jehovah through the prophet Haggai (2:7) as being “the desirable things of all the nations.” Yes, we also have these “desirable things” in Zimbabwe​—people who take up true worship. But how did they get here?

EVIDENCE OF EARLY INTEREST

It is very difficult to ascertain exactly when the message of God’s Kingdom first reached this country. However, it is a matter of record that by 1910 much of the Society’s literature in English was in circulation in Malawi (then Nyasaland) to the north, as well as in South Africa. At least by the early 1920’s the message contained in this literature was filtering into Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) by means of itinerant workers. From this small beginning, study groups began to be formed in various centers from Mutare on the Mozambique border to Hwange, a large mining town near the Victoria Falls in the west.

One of those who learned the truth in those early days was Hamilton K. Maseko, who is still serving faithfully as an elder in Pretoria, South Africa. He says: “In 1924 I traveled from Nyasaland to Bulawayo, where I began associating with the Bible Students. What these people studied made sense and gave me an understanding of the promises of the Bible.” He stayed for two years before going on to South Africa.

Another one of the early preachers of God’s truth in Zimbabwe was Nason Mukaronda. In fact, he appears to have been the first one to be baptized in this country. That was in 1924. He entered the full-time ministry in 1947, became a circuit overseer in 1948 and is still going strong as a special pioneer at 82 years of age.

SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT

Due to circumstances in this country, the development of interest in the Kingdom message took place along two lines, according to race. First, let us consider the early progress made in the African-language field.

The year that the truth really began to take hold seems to be 1924. It was then that Nathan Muchinguri first learned the truth, in the Eastern Districts. He says: “The people who brought the truth to us were two men from Nyasaland. They not only taught us doctrinal truths but also said that if we wanted to be God’s people we must be clean in heart and action.” He was baptized that year and was later used by the Society as the first translator of Bible literature into Shona, the language spoken by the majority of the people.

Two others who featured prominently in those days were Wilson Stima and Robin Manyochi. Brother Stima first became interested in the truth in Malawi in 1925. He then came to Zimbabwe and settled in Mutare where he proved to be a great help to the newly formed group there. He later moved to Bulawayo and in 1948 became one of our early pioneers. Brother Stima, who is now 76 years of age, has been serving as a special pioneer since 1955.

The other brother, Robin Manyochi, first started his theocratic career in 1929. This was in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. However, he was baptized in Salisbury (now called Harare) in 1932. When he arrived in Harare it was not long before he got in touch with Willie Kuchocha and a few others who formed the only congregation in the area.

Soon, however, they realized that not all in the congregation were genuine witnesses for Jehovah. But let us have Brother Manyochi relate what happened:

“In 1932, a letter was received from the Cape Town office saying that we should begin preaching from house to house; until then we had not been doing this. Only Brother Kaunda, his wife, Willie Kuchocha and I, of all those in the congregation, felt we should follow the instructions. For this, however, we were expelled from the congregation. But later others realized that the house-to-house work was Scriptural, and they started associating with us. And what about those who opposed this way of preaching? Later, in 1933, the authorities, disturbed by the increased activity, deported the former overseer and his assistant, thinking they were still the ‘ringleaders’ of the congregation.”

Brother Manyochi had many colorful experiences in his early years in the truth. On one occasion he was brought before the local district commissioner because of his preaching work. When asked where he had learned these things, he said to the district commissioner: “From the Bible, the book you brought to us here in Africa. I am just explaining to the people what I learned from the Bible.”

Robin Manyochi is now 85 years old. He and his wife, Rosie, are still special pioneering, after several years in the circuit work. Of interest is a recent report from a circuit overseer concerning Brother Manyochi. He says: “This old man is doing a wonderful work. He has many Bible studies. Most of the publishers are depending upon him.”

EARLY BEGINNINGS IN THE ENGLISH FIELD

Now let us go over to the English field. Strangely, seeds of truth began to be planted about the same time as in the vernacular field, although from different sources. It began in 1921 when three brothers from the South Africa branch in Cape Town, Henry Ancketill, P. J. deJager and P. Williams, made a brief trip to this country and gave talks in Bulawayo and Salisbury. These were followed in 1924 and 1925 by others, mainly for the purpose of trying to get the work legally established, but without results.

These English-speaking Witnesses were all very much limited in what they could do, since they were prohibited from making contact with the African people, who made up, by far, the largest portion of the population. However, seeds of truth were being sown.

One place where these seeds of Kingdom truth really took root was on a large 1,500,000-acre (610,000-ha) ranch in a remote corner of the country, where Jack McLuckie was working. That was in 1928. Jack’s wife, Dorell, was in South Africa at the time, and it was there that she was contacted with the Kingdom message by Jack’s brother, Bert. As a result, Jack received the seven volumes of Studies in the Scriptures.

Jack enjoyed these so much that immediately he had a great desire to pass on this good news to his friends. But this was no easy task. The nearest post office was 56 milesa away, and neighbors were few and far between. Transport was only by mule or oxcart. Undaunted, Jack wrote for booklets to distribute. At social gatherings on the farm he never missed an opportunity to give a witness concerning the Kingdom. In fact, Jack, his brother Bert (known affectionately as “Uncle Jack” and “Uncle Bertie”), and their families became so zealous that in the whole southern part of the country the truth became known as “the McLuckie religion.”

ON INTO THE 1930’S

Still determined to get the Kingdom message firmly established among all races, the South Africa branch in 1932 sent four pioneers, one of whom was Robert Nisbet, now in Australia. This trip was not without its troubles. These pioneers had been in the country only ten days when they were called to the Criminal Investigation Department. Some days later, they were ordered to leave within 48 hours and told there would be no appeal. They did appeal, however, and as Brother Nisbet reported: “We were allowed to stay six months provided we did not work among the Africans.” This seemed to be the big fear of the authorities at that time.

Little in the way of results came out of that 1932 visit. However, another trip was made in 1938 and it bore more fruit. By that time there were enough publishers for the first English-speaking congregation to be formed.

REMOVING THE BARRIER OF SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT

While this was going on, someone else appeared on the scene who was to contribute much toward more firmly establishing the work, especially in the Bulawayo area. This was Willie McGregor, who, at 80 years of age, is serving as an elder in one of the Bulawayo congregations. Brother McGregor, who was baptized in Scotland in 1924, came to Zimbabwe in 1929 as a young bank clerk. In 1933 he settled in Bulawayo. There he proved to be very useful to the brothers during some very difficult years.

Please keep in mind that during all these years the government was very uncooperative toward the Witnesses, especially with regard to the African brothers. As Robert Nisbet put it: “The opposition from both the government and many white Rhodesians had been, humanly speaking, overwhelming.” The opposers exerted constant effort to prevent the Kingdom message from spreading into the vernacular field.

In view of this, it is interesting to learn about the first organized interracial Watchtower Study in the country. It was conducted by means of two translators. But let Willie McGregor tell it:

“When the study had been in progress for about half an hour, we saw 12 to 15 mounted police approaching us. This caused a certain nervousness. I asked the brothers to continue our study just as we had been doing. On arrival, the police circled the study (held in the open under a tree) a short distance away but within earshot and with the heads of the horses pointing toward us. The police remained until the closing prayer when, at a signal, they turned their horses and rode off.” No arrests, no interference. Was this a breakthrough of the barrier of separate development? Small indeed. But it was a start.

LEGAL BATTLES ESTABLISH THE GOOD NEWS

Not having been able to prevent the truth from getting well rooted in Zimbabwe, officials took a new turn in their opposition. In fact, the year 1936 began a decade of what turned out to be the most intense official persecution in the history of the work in this country.

In that year the government enacted the Sedition Act and declared 14 of the Society’s publications to be seditious. In 1937 this resulted in a test case that was heard in the courts. Here is how Willie McGregor describes what happened:

“The decision of the Magistrate of Bulawayo that the publications were seditious was appealed, and the High Court at Bulawayo found the publications not to be seditious under the Sedition Act.” Showing how determined the government of that time was to stop the distribution of our Bible literature, “the government then appealed this decision to the Appellate Division at Bloemfontein, South Africa. In March 1938 that court upheld the judgment of the High Court, Bulawayo, that the literature was not seditious and dismissed the appeal with costs.”

This case resulted in a fine witness. The Bulawayo Chronicle reported the court’s opinion in full. George Phillips, from the Society’s Cape Town office, sat beside the Society’s counsel in court and helped him to find appropriate scriptures and to explain extracts from the publications that had been declared to be seditious. The Society’s advocate, incidentally, was Mr. Hugh Beadle, who later became Chief Justice of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

OPPOSITION INTENSIFIES

In 1939 opposers launched a more intensified campaign to curb the activities of the now growing, but still small, group of zealous Witnesses. By now there were 477 publishers in the country, of which about 16 were white. It was against these latter ones that the opposition was particularly directed.

In that same year a family moved to Zimbabwe, a move that was to have a profound effect upon the Kingdom work during the next few years. This was Jack McLuckie’s brother Bert, his wife, Carmen, and their children. Even today at 85 years of age, Bert McLuckie is known for his fiery deliveries and his untiring zeal for Jehovah. This zeal led him and his family into many interesting and exciting experiences, as we shall see.

During 1940 the activities of Jehovah’s people became the subject of much concern and discussion, especially among religious leaders. Newspapers published letters that were intended to bring Jehovah’s work into disrepute. To counteract this, the Society’s Cape Town office printed a tract entitled Religious Intolerance in Southern Rhodesia. It was addressed “To All Order-Loving Rhodesians.” This tract was delivered to every home, office and place of business in Bulawayo and its district.

Then in November 1940, the government took advantage of war hysteria and banned the importation and distribution of all the Society’s literature. The handful of brothers, along with such zealous ones as Jack and Bert McLuckie and Willie McGregor, decided to test the validity of this restriction. So out they went with the literature. That is when the fireworks began. The police made arrests! Court cases followed! At the start, most cases were thrown out of court. But this soon changed.

One interesting incident occurred when both Bert and Jack McLuckie found themselves in court. Jack was one of those who disliked being let off on technical grounds. He would rather have gone to prison. You will enjoy having Bert tell you what happened:

“I was given permission to question the witnesses against Jack. As there is a strong family resemblance, I asked the witnesses if they could swear that it was Jack who had approached them and not I. On admission that they could not be certain, the case was dismissed, much to Jack’s chagrin.”

Quite a number of brothers landed in prison during those days, some for distributing banned literature and some over the issue of Christian neutrality. Among these was Willie McGregor. Brother McGregor, who by this time was a bank official, was dismissed from the bank. He says of his imprisonment: “I was the only prisoner in the European jail undergoing hard labor. Although others were sentenced for murder, robbery and violence of different kinds, they played chess and dominoes and read books to pass the time while I was put to work painting down the pipes and woodwork on the outside of the building.”

WINDS OF CHANGE IN THE 1940’S

The earlier part of this decade saw little change in official attitude toward the Kingdom work. In 1942 (the year Bert McLuckie spent another four and a half months in jail) the brothers took excerpts from the Yearbook and printed a booklet entitled Jehovah’s Witnesses: Who Are They? What Is Their Work? More arrests followed! The fact that there was no publisher’s name in the booklet made no difference. Among those arrested were Willie McGregor and Gerry Arsenis, a newly baptized Greek brother in Salisbury (now called Harare).

Gradually, however, the situation began to change. Evidence of a softening up began to show itself. In a long letter to the Bulawayo Chronicle a woman wrote: “McLuckie himself came to our house. He came very quietly, clutching a Bible in his hand, and when I answered the door he spoke courteously: ‘I have a message for you, would you like to hear it?’ I replied heatedly, ‘Haven’t you people learned a lesson yet?’ To which he replied, ‘What do you mean? Do you mean because we have been in gaol?’ I said, ‘Yes’ and called my husband to deal with him. What could one do; he was so polite, clutching a Bible, the man of the house could not kick him off the door step or even call up the police; there was nothing in his behaviour that we could complain of. He had us stumped, and went away as quietly as he had come.”

Throughout the years of World War II the number of publishers went on increasing, reaching 1,090 in 1943. The following year, in spite of restrictions against the work, two conventions were arranged for the vernacular-speaking brothers and one small one for the English-speaking congregation. The total attendance of 1,101 for these three assemblies helps us to see that during all this time while the white brothers were facing such difficulties, the African Witnesses were still very active.

RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

In 1946 the government decided to lift the restrictions on the importation and distribution of the Society’s literature. This caused great joy among the brothers. However, much training was needed in the house-to-house service. By this time also the field needed more leadership. A big step forward in meeting this need was taken on July 1, 1947, when Bert McLuckie was assigned to open a depot for the Society in Bulawayo, under the direction of the South Africa branch.

PIONEER WORK GETS A START

Until now very little has been said about the pioneer work. This feature really got started in 1947. Before, there were only two or three pioneers in the field, and in some years there were none. Then in 1947 we had three pioneers, two of whom were Nason Mukaronda and Robin Manyochi.

From then on the pioneer work began to grow rapidly. In 1949 we had an average of 114 pioneers, but in 1950 the number jumped 156 percent, to 292. The year 1949 also saw our first special pioneer, Zachariah Noah. So things were beginning to move.

ORGANIZING FOR THE WORK AHEAD

Up until now the work in this country was being supervised by the South Africa branch. But in 1948 a change took place that had far-reaching effects. January of that year saw the arrival of our first Gilead School graduate, referred to in the Yearbook as our “gift from Gilead.” This was Eric Cooke. Just shortly after his arrival two visitors also appeared, Brothers N. H. Knorr and M. G. Henschel. Their visit resulted in another great step forward in the direction of improved leadership and organization of the congregations. This was the establishment of a branch office on September 1, 1948, with Eric Cooke as the branch overseer.

It was clear that the field needed closer supervision. By now the number of publishers exceeded 3,500, and these were serving in 117 congregations. So in 1948 these congregations were grouped into five circuits. You can imagine the work our circuit overseers had to do​—five of them in a country roughly 400 miles square. While some of their traveling was done by bus or train, most of it was by bicycle. But it was a start.

ADDITIONAL HELP FROM GILEAD

You will remember that, all along, the work was hampered by the fact that the European brothers could not work in African areas. In fact, white brothers could not go into what were then called Native Reserves even for supervisory purposes. It was under these circumstances that four Gilead graduates of the tenth class arrived on the scene, in February 1949. These were George and Ruby Bradley, Myrtle Taylor and Phyllis Kite. Eric Cooke and Myrtle Taylor later married and are now serving as missionaries in South Africa.

While the four new missionaries were given permission to stay in the country, it was only on a probational basis. Why? Because, according to the Chief Immigration Officer, Jehovah’s Witnesses were still “under a cloud.” However, after several months of working among the whites in Bulawayo, Eric Cooke was called to the immigration office and told that the period of probation was over. Permanent residence was granted to all four, a victory that was to open the way for other Gilead graduates to come into the country in the years ahead!

INCREASES FOLLOW

While this victory did not remove the restrictions on whites working in areas set aside for Africans, it did do much to establish the Kingdom work in English-speaking areas more firmly. For instance, in Bulawayo, where the branch and missionary home first operated, the English congregation, in 1949, increased in publishers by 54 percent.

From this congregation came one of our first pioneers to go to Gilead School, Doreen Kilgour. She graduated in 1956 and, after a few years here in Zimbabwe, was transferred to South Africa where she did missionary work until February 1983. At that time she returned here to care for her aged mother. She continues to set a fine example as a special pioneer.

During this period, increase was coming rapidly. In the three years from 1948 to 1951 the peak of publishers rose from 4,232 to 9,088; congregations from 117 to 191 and circuits from five to seven. The 1951 service year enjoyed a 37-percent increase in the average number of publishers.

UNEXPECTED HELP

Let us for a moment dwell on the feeling many had developed against Jehovah’s Witnesses​—that of uncertainty as to their motives. Illustrating this was the experience of George Bradley in Salisbury during the month of June 1950, after the branch office and missionary home had moved to the capital city.

While doing street work, Brother Bradley was approached by a well-dressed man who seemed rather shocked at seeing The Watchtower and Awake! so openly displayed. He asked: “Is this not communist?” Being assured that it was not, he said: “Well, I am Dendy-Young, a member of Parliament, and I must say that I am completely in the dark as to your work.” He took two magazines and asked us to visit his office the next day.

At this visit Mr. Dendy-Young stated that the magazines were completely innocuous and asked for a letter clearly stating the motives and purposes of our work. Why this request? Because Parliament was going to debate the Subversive Activities Bill, and Mr. Dendy-Young was of the impression that Jehovah’s Witnesses were going to be discussed in connection with it. He wanted to read to Parliament a letter that would give the facts. True to his word, the whole letter was read.

While the Bill did become an act of law, it has never been applied to the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

IMPORTATION PROBLEMS

One big battle in the early 1950’s involved the importing of Bible literature into the country. Ever since a depot was established in 1947, import permits were granted yearly on the basis of a limited allocation of American dollars. So when we made application early in 1950 we expected the same thing. Quite surprisingly our request was refused. When the branch made application on the basis of a free-gift arrangement, even this was refused. What were we to do?

The only thing to do was to continue applying, in the hope that the officials would relent and let us import literature. Finally, in August 1951, it was agreed that we could import literature on a free-gift arrangement. This would mean that no foreign currency would be going out of the country, and so it would not affect the external resources of the government.

The first license we were given under this arrangement was to the value of $11,200. This, we thought, must have been a mistake. So we decided to take advantage of it for fear we would not get another one. With this in mind we ordered the full amount, which included 32,000 copies of the book What Has Religion Done for Mankind? We are glad that this book proved to be a fine aid in Bible study because we continued offering copies from that original order until 1975​—24 years later!

BETTER ORGANIZATION TO MEET NEEDS

The years following the formation of the branch office in 1948 proved to be years of very rapid growth. Figures can be dry. But sometimes they tell a tale. For instance, in 1949 we had five circuit assemblies with a total attendance of 7,415, with 647 baptized. In the next three years 5,186 were baptized in symbol of their dedication to Jehovah. That was 1,587 more than the average number of publishers in the whole country the year the branch was formed.

Then something else happened. In December 1952 we had another visit from Brothers Knorr and Henschel. This time, at an open-air convention right in the middle of a heavy rainy season, our visitors spoke to an attendance of 15,000, twice as many as we had in 1949.

All of this meant that better organization was required. So, during this visit, a home was bought right in the center of the capital city. It was to serve as a missionary home and also as the location of the branch office for the next 20 years.

DISTRICT WORK BRINGS BENEFITS

Until 1953 the work of the district overseer was handled from the branch office. But now it was clear that a permanent district overseer was needed. For one thing, the number of circuits had risen to 13. So from this time on, there were permanently assigned district overseers, who, for the next several years, were mainly Gilead graduates.

Although the district overseers were still barred from certain areas, their work did have its benefits. For one thing, it helped many farmers and miners to become free of wrong impressions concerning our work.

An example of this was when a circuit assembly was arranged at Mberengwa, a small village in a large European farming and mining area in the southern part of the country. While preparations for the assembly were going on, Ruby Bradley was out witnessing and called on a retired gentleman living at a mine. This man showed considerable prejudice against our activity. He was deeply concerned about the effect it would have on the African people.

After he got his feelings off his chest, Sister Bradley asked him: “Will you just give me a chance to explain what our work is all about?” To this he agreed. So for the next few minutes she explained the nature and purpose of the Kingdom work. She also told him what managers of large mining companies (one of whom he knew) had said about the honesty and reliability of the African Witnesses. The man was very impressed with what he heard​—so much so that he took four books and a subscription for both The Watchtower and Awake!

That visit proved to be very beneficial. Opposition to our assembly was strong, and we knew that efforts were going to be made to stop it. This honest man took it upon himself to correct the misunderstandings. He went to the local village hotel, where many were gathered, and told them what he had learned. We had no further trouble in that area in connection with assemblies.

The interest developed in the Kingdom message in these outlying areas at that time was outstanding. Often the district overseer and his wife would run out of literature, so they resorted to offering subscriptions.

Another benefit that the district work brought was the showing of the Society’s films, beginning with The New World Society in Action in 1954. The first showing was at a circuit assembly. The total number of publishers in the circuit was about 700, but the attendance reached 3,378. What a thrill that was! Other films shown since that time continued to draw large crowds, many of whom expressed surprise at the worldwide scope of Jehovah’s organization.

A CLEANSING WORK BEGINS

Already mentioned was the fact that in the early 1950’s we had very rapid growth. However, this was not to be without its problems. It became apparent that large numbers were being baptized who never really had cleansed themselves from wrong customs and practices. For one thing, many were baptized who were merely attenders at circuit assemblies and who had not really made a dedication to Jehovah. With some it was merely a passing phase, with others nothing more than curiosity over something new.

In addition to this, many had not properly legalized their marriages. You see, before the white man came to this country, marriages were performed according to African custom, which included go-between, bride-price, and so forth. Such practices continued even after the government required registration of marriages with the civil authorities. To cope with the problem, the government decided to give validity to all tribal marriages that took place prior to January 1, 1951. However, from that date on, all marriages have had to be legally registered in order to have official recognition. Customs, of course, die hard. So, many continued sticking to their old practices.

The Society, however, could not accept tribal marriages entered into after January 1, 1951, when they were no longer recognized by the government. (Rom. 13:1, 2; Luke 2:1-5) This whole matter was carefully examined, and the congregations were notified of the Scriptural requirements. All those married since January 1951 and whose marriages had not been legalized were given six months to have them registered. If, by the end of that time, the couples had done nothing and there were no extenuating circumstances, then the only course was to disfellowship them.

It was encouraging to see that large numbers of those in this position, because of their love for Jehovah, immediately took steps to put their marriages on a proper Scriptural basis. This was not a simple matter. Often it entailed going to neighboring countries, or having relatives come from these countries, before permission was granted for Witnesses to go ahead with the registering of their marriages.

There were quite a few, however, who did not really want to bring their lives into harmony with Jehovah’s will. So the early part of 1955 saw the disfellowshipping of hundreds who would not accept Jehovah’s standards of righteousness. It has been very encouraging to see that, after all these years, some who were disfellowshipped during that time have recently legalized their marriages, have been reinstated and are now happily serving Jehovah.

A SETBACK IN PIONEER SERVICE

In 1949 the pioneer service began moving ahead. In that year we had 114. Just three years later, in 1952, there was an average of 949 pioneers, plus 6 special pioneers. This was wonderful! As time went on, however, it became obvious that a very large number of these pioneers were not sending in accurate reports. Many of them, rather than report the actual time spent in field service, would report the quota of 100 hours. Why was this? Because many of them could neither read nor write and so could not keep a proper record of their field service.

In 1955 this matter was taken up with the Society’s headquarters, and the branch office was advised that only those who could read and write should be on the pioneer list. So down went our number of pioneers. Of course, this was done gradually, as circuit overseers visited the congregations where these pioneers were serving. We are happy to say that even into the 1970’s some of these rejoined the pioneer ranks as a result of the congregations’ reading and writing classes.

THE STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION

It seems appropriate here to bring in again the matter of better supervision of our congregations in the Communal Lands. Until this time the district overseers, who were Europeans, still did not have permission to enter these areas of the country. This meant that virtually half the country was out of bounds to them. While they could serve the circuit overseers and attend circuit assemblies, it had to be outside these areas. This greatly hindered the efforts of the Society to strengthen the congregations in Communal Lands.

What was to be done? The basic problem was that we were not a recognized religion. So the question was, How were we to get recognized?

Lester Davey, who had come from Gilead School in 1954 and who was now serving as branch overseer, felt that having the right to perform marriages would be a great step toward recognition. As far back as 1949 application had been made for the right to have Witness marriage officers, but this had consistently been turned down.

One of the big obstacles to having Witness marriage officers was the fact that all of Jehovah’s Witnesses are ministers. The official argument was that, since the Christian Marriage Act provided that any minister of a recognized religion could perform marriages, any of Jehovah’s Witnesses would be able to do so. Assurance was given, however, that it would be only those serving as special representatives of the Society, those who had special ordination certificates, who would be used for this purpose.

At last, success! In May 1956, seven Gilead graduates and Bethel brothers were appointed as marriage officers. A big step forward toward full recognition!

FURTHER VICTORIES

About this time, in June 1956, we were able to welcome an American couple, Bud and Joan Miller. After going through Gilead, Brother Miller was sent out to become branch overseer. Under his direction the struggle continued for right of entry of the European traveling overseers into the reserves. It was at this time that the decision to let the Witnesses have marriage officers proved to be providential. Continual correspondence was carried on with the office of the Secretary of Native Affairs. The following are some quotations from letters from that office:

September 27, 1956: “Re: Entry of European Supervisors into Native Reserves. The matter is under consideration.”

December 8, 1956: “Only those European supervisors of the Society who are registered as marriage officers with the Department of Justice and Internal Affairs will be permitted to enter the native reserves and native areas.”

January 14, 1957: “I now forward permits for the gentlemen mentioned to enter native reserves and native areas.”

At last the district overseers were able to visit congregations with the circuit overseers in a vast area, which, until that time, they had not been allowed to enter. Truly Jehovah was directing matters in order that his will might be done in all parts of the country.

REASONS FOR THE DECREASES

In addition to what has just been mentioned, there are other reasons why, for a period of time, our rate of increase greatly slowed down. In order to be sure that only those who really qualified were baptized, it was made a requirement that all baptismal candidates first go through a course of study, not unlike what is now outlined in Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry. When this was done, each candidate was approved by the congregation overseer. But that was not all. Candidates were further interviewed by the district overseer at circuit assemblies and by special representatives of the Society at district conventions.

Well, you can imagine what the results of this must have been! Yes, a decrease in the number being baptized. For instance, in 1957, at a convention attended by 16,000, only 100 were baptized​—quite a drop from the previous number. The ultimate result of this, however, was spiritually strong congregations​—congregations made up of those who were really putting on the new personality through accurate knowledge.​—Col. 3:10.

Another reason for a slowing down in the rate of increase in publishers was the matter of incorrect reporting. This matter had been handled as far as pioneers were concerned, but many publishers were reporting incorrectly.

The effect of such happenings can be seen in the five years from 1957 to 1962. During that period 3,600 new ones were baptized, but with no increase in publishers. In fact, from 1962 to 1967 we continued to decrease. It was not until 1968 that the number of publishers began to go up again.

FULL RECOGNITION STILL AHEAD

Strange as it may seem, recognition could be given to Jehovah’s people by one government department without others necessarily doing so. Thus, while the Department of Justice and Internal Affairs, as well as the Department of Native Affairs, finally gave the Witnesses recognition, the Department of Education still refused. This presented complications. In what way?

Most of the schooling away from the large centers at that time came under the control of religious organizations. Government regulations required that students be enrolled in the schools without discrimination and that children were not to be given religious instruction contrary to the wishes of their parents.

Some religious organizations followed government regulations on the matter, but others would not. These latter ones were determined not to let the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses receive education in their schools unless they would also attend Sunday school and other religious classes outside the school syllabus.

Don Morrison, who, with his wife, Marj, arrived from Gilead School in 1955, and who was doing district work, says: “Some religions openly declared that they would expel any of Jehovah’s Witnesses who did not comply and would also keep them from reentering the next year.” When the matter came before the Department of Education, however, the schools would claim lack of facilities. They could take only so many students, but they would always make sure that the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses were not among them. Others reported to the Department that their reason for expelling the children was “disobedience.” This “disobedience” was their refusal to attend Sunday school, which the Department of Education did not require them to do.

So with this issue, as with others, recognition as a religion became a must.

As far back as 1950, the Department of Education notified all schools that adult Jehovah’s Witnesses were not to be allowed into the schools for the purpose of giving religious education, even to instruct the children of Witnesses. In 1956 came the same answer: “I have to advise you, with much regret, that the Minister is not prepared to recognize the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania as a religious denomination for the purpose of giving religious instruction to pupils in school.” A similar reply came in 1957.

It was not until years later that the Department of Education finally changed its stand on the matter. But more about that later.

EXPERIENCED BROTHERS STRENGTHEN THE FIELD

At this point, to give you an idea of the caliber of most of the missionaries who were sent to this country, it would be good to mention two couples.

The first couple, Ted and Joyce Buckingham, arrived here in June 1959, after graduating from Gilead School. From then until their transfer to Sierra Leone in the mid-1970’s, they served mainly in the English field, in circuit work. For more than a decade these two traveled from one congregation to another almost every week. Their field was the whole country, which was one circuit. After Brother Buckingham became seriously ill while in Sierra Leone, they left to serve in the branch office in London. The brothers here still have a warm affection for them.

The other couple is John and Val Miles. These folks, an American couple, were transferred here from Zambia in June 1960, because of the need of a district overseer. They could no doubt write a book about their experiences. But here is one. They were visiting a small congregation close to the main road. Brother Miles relates:

“For the week we decided to camp at a lovely secluded wayside on the main road close to the congregation. However, the local brothers felt we should camp at another place even closer. Although we would have preferred the place we chose, for the sake of convenience we decided to move to the closer spot.

“During the week, while we were having our evening meal, we heard something like gunfire, but dismissed it as the sound of a truck backfiring. Next day, while eating lunch we heard on the radio that there had been a gun battle between the police and ‘freedom fighters’ right at the lay-by where we had planned to camp. During the battle three ‘freedom fighters’ were killed, and some police were wounded. You can imagine how we felt when, later, we saw the bullet holes in the camp table and benches and the surrounding trees. How thankful we were to Jehovah that we were moved to change our camping grounds!” Brother and Sister Miles are now serving faithfully in Lesotho.

DISTRICT EXPERIENCES

Would you like to hear more about the unusual experiences of some of the district overseers and their wives? We already mentioned Don and Marj Morrison. On one occasion in the western part of the country, at a place called Kariba, Brother Morrison was sitting outside his tent one evening, doing some typing. Sister Morrison had gone to bed in the tent. As she says: “I was lying there in bed when I heard a strange puffing noise. I called Don, but he did not hear me. Again I heard the noise. This time I went out where Don was, to tell him about it.”

“I then took the torch [flashlight],” says Brother Morrison, “and went into the tent. There, between the edge of the tent and some literature in the tent I could see the middle section of a snake, thicker than your fist. Quickly I went out and, taking an iron pipe, went around the back of the tent. There was the tail end of the snake sticking out. I hit it with the pipe. Suddenly the head of the snake appeared and it raised itself, puffing at me. It was a puff adder. I had already crippled it, and now I finished it off with the iron pipe.” Needless to say, Sister Morrison did not sleep too well that night.

“Our first experience with scorpions,” says Ruby Bradley, “was the first time we put up our tent in the district work. We were just ready to go to bed when we noticed something crawling in under the tent. It was a scorpion. Quickly we killed it. But then another came, and another. It was not until we had killed four of them that we realized it was our light that was attracting them. So we decided the best thing to do was to put out the light.”

In March 1962, another missionary couple arrived here, John and Irene McBrine. Brother McBrine had gone through the ten-month course at Gilead School and was sent here to take over the duties of branch overseer. First of all, however, he did some district work to get used to the field. He tells us what happened:

“George Bradley from the branch office took Irene and me to a small circuit assembly in the bush about 55 miles from the nearest town. As it happened we caught the tail end of a hurricane, and it was raining in torrents.

“The location for the assembly was across from what had been a small stream. But now it was a raging river. It was quite evident the assembly sessions could not be held that night, so the African brothers found what shelter they could.

“What were we to do now? Actually, there was nothing we could do but wait. Soon after our arrival we had erected our tent. But fearing it would leak in the heavy storm, we three decided to sleep in the van, George trying to lie across the front seat, and Irene and I were in the back portion. Well! What a night that was! Outside, the storm’s fierceness became more intense with the increasing velocity of the wind. At one point we looked into the tent, and what did we see? The entire floor was under four inches of water! We were thankful we had decided to sleep, or try to sleep, in the van.

“The next morning things looked brighter. The rains had eased off. Soon the local brothers found a schoolroom where we could have our assembly program. The warmth of our brothers, who endured much more than we ourselves did, more than made up for all we went through.”

CLOUDS BEGIN TO FORM

As we approached the mid-1960’s, rumblings of unrest began to be noticed. In former days, traveling overseers had to protect themselves against wild animals. Some overseers had even tied themselves in the high branches of trees overnight when they were traveling from one congregation to another, in order to protect themselves from prowling beasts. But now there were dangers from a different source​—from humans. (Compare 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.) Political intimidation began to show itself.

One of the first brothers to feel the effects of this was Arimon Muringa, who was serving as a congregation overseer in the capital city. On January 12, 1965, he was arrested. Why? Because it was said he had been identified “as one of many who had in the past been guilty of acts of violence.” This, of course, was false. But he had to go through a month of the most trying of experiences before being proved innocent.

Having been given a 90-day sentence, without trial, Brother Muringa made application for an appeal. He was told there would be no appeal. Not satisfied with this, John McBrine, representing the branch office, appealed directly to the Minister of Law and Order. This, plus an excellent recommendation from Brother Muringa’s employer, finally resulted in his release, after one month in prison.

But how was he treated in prison? He said: “The prison authorities treated me well, but some of the prisoners were brutal toward me. I was beaten so badly on two occasions that I lost consciousness both times. This was to try to force me to become a member of their political party. These beatings were inflicted on my naked back by means of a heavy belt and then by heavy slaps on my face from the hands of at least nine men at each beating.”

Through it all Brother Muringa maintained such fine Christian conduct that, toward the last, some of his former tormentors began to stand up for him. His uncompromising stand was to prove to be a great source of encouragement for others later on.

LOCAL DISTRICT OVERSEERS

For years the missionaries did the bulk of the supervisory work. As we entered the 1960’s, however, it seemed wise to make more use of local brothers. This move proved to be providential.

The first local brother to serve as district overseer was Isaac Chiadzwa, who entered this work, together with his wife, Ivy, in December 1962. Then, in 1966, another experienced local brother, Sizulu Khumalo, went into the district work. He proved to be an excellent help to the brothers during the years of extreme difficulty and hardship ahead.

Having such brothers in the district work was a real blessing. For one thing, being familiar with the local language and customs, they could do much more in getting to the root of the problems of the publishers. They knew their brothers and what they were faced with. Being natives, they could move about much more freely than the missionaries. Tensions began to mount, and strangers quickly came under suspicion. As things later turned out, we were sure it was Jehovah’s direction that local brothers were now being used.

EMERGENCY REGULATIONS AFFECT CIRCUIT ASSEMBLIES

When the Rhodesia government declared its independence on November 11, 1965, emergency regulations were instituted. These affected our activities. For one thing, the government required us to present to the Censorship Board a sample of all publications, including every issue of the magazines, that came into the country. This was more of an inconvenience than anything else, for not once did they find anything in our publications that prevented the literature from entering the country.

What affected us more were the rigid controls on public meetings. Gatherings of more than a few persons were forbidden except by permission of the Regulating Authority. Although, strictly speaking, this did not apply to purely religious meetings, such gatherings were prohibited in some of the troubled areas.

It became quite frustrating. For just about every time the branch office applied to the Regulating Authority for permission to have a circuit assembly, it was turned down. So, finally, it was decided not to have circuit assemblies. Instead, we would concentrate on district conventions, which were in well-protected places.

Imagine our surprise when, one day in 1969, we received a letter from some congregations in Bulawayo, and along with it was a circuit assembly program! Yes, they had put on their own assembly, making up their own program, giving out assignments and arranging for a cafeteria. While it may be that they should not have gone ahead this way on their own, it turned out for the best. At that assembly hundreds of our brothers gathered together.

This gave us ideas. Instead of the Society’s applying to the Regulating Authority on behalf of the circuits, why not let the local brothers do the applying to the local authorities? So again circuit assemblies were arranged. The circuit overseer selected well-known local brothers to put in the application. It worked every time. From then until now we have been having our circuit assemblies in all areas, even though the emergency regulations continue. Obviously this was Jehovah’s direction.

A LONG-STANDING ISSUE DECIDED

At this point let us go back to the struggle for full recognition as a religious organization. You may remember that Jehovah’s people already gained this recognition from two of the government departments, the Ministry of Native Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs, but not from the Ministry of Education.

Thus it was that, in February 1966, the branch office once again brought this matter to the fore by writing a detailed letter stating our request to be recognized as a religious organization. On March 8 came the answer: “I regret that after consideration I am unable to accede to your request.”

Immediately we got on the telephone and, after much discussion, arranged an interview with the Minister. This was for March 23. After the interview, four months went by and no answer. Were they going to ignore our request?

Then on July 21 we received a letter from the Minister of Education: “We have now been thoroughly into this question and decided to put Jehovah’s Witnesses on the official list of religious denominations recognized by the Ministry of Education.” Victory after a 16-year struggle! Not only did this open up the way for Jehovah’s Witnesses to enter schools to give religious instruction but it also solved the problem of our children being expelled from school. For this victory we gave thanks to Jehovah!

MISSIONARIES FROM MALAWI

The year 1968 began a new chapter for our branch, the oversight of the Kingdom interests in Malawi. The initial reason for this was the ban placed on the Witnesses in that country in October 1967. In November 1967, the missionaries were expelled from Malawi. Of these missionaries two couples were finally assigned to Zimbabwe, Keith and Anne Eaton and Hal and Joyce Bentley.

A UNIQUE ASSIGNMENT

The Bentleys had a unique assignment. This was to serve in Mozambique, which, until the ban, had come under the direction of the Malawi branch. If you check a map of Africa, you will see that Mozambique is a long, rather narrow country on the east coast of Africa. It stretches up from South Africa, along the eastern border of Zimbabwe, then up either side of Malawi. The Mozambique government has never recognized the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Thus far, all efforts to get legal recognition have failed. But let us listen to Brother Bentley as he tells us about their assignment:

“It was about February 1962, when Joyce and I were first assigned to Mozambique. Our first trip was by plane from Blantyre in Malawi to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), the capital of Mozambique. There we found a small group of interested persons meeting inside the army compound in the home of an army sergeant.

“After a few trips this way, it was decided we should travel by road and take our camping equipment with us, entering the country as tourists. To do this, we used a Volkswagen van. The roads down the coastline through Beira were mostly gravel and horribly corrugated. The distance is about 1,000 miles.”

Due to warring conditions in Mozambique, the Bentleys later found it necessary to go from Beira to Lourenço Marques via Salisbury. This meant a trip, one way, of over 1,300 miles. They made this journey every six months. Quite a bit of traveling by road! They were blessed, however, as they watched the congregation grow.

After a few years, the Bentleys limited their trips to the northern part of the country. “We learned later that this change was probably Jehovah’s maneuvering,” said Brother Bentley, “as the secret police in Lourenço Marques were waiting to pick us up the next time we visited there.”

The Bentleys had many exciting experiences​—arrests, near-arrests, orders to leave the country. But they were able to do a fine work, strengthening many new publishers and interested ones. Sister Bentley tells of one experience in Beira:

“A young woman who had been studying in Portugal moved to Mozambique. She wrote to the Society, asking if the study could be continued. We were given the name and address. When we called at the apartment a woman came to the door. We asked her: ‘Are you Clotilde de Gomes?’ ‘I am Clotilde but not de Gomes,’ was the reply. ‘I am Clotilde de Almeida.’ Not wishing to miss an opportunity to witness, we explained why we were asking for the other woman.” Quickly this woman went to call a neighbor. Later the original Clotilde was also contacted. What was the outcome?

Sister Bentley tells us: “The original one we wanted to see is now a dedicated Witness; her husband is an elder; her five children, her husband’s parents and brother are all Witnesses. The second woman is baptized as are also the neighbor woman, her husband and son.”

When asked how they felt about that assignment, Brother Bentley summed it up: “There were times when we felt that it would be nice to be somewhere away from the heat and humidity and free from the feeling that we could be arrested at any moment. Looking back, however, we realize that we had a wonderful privilege of service in that assignment and that Jehovah’s blessing and protection never failed to be with us.”

The Bentleys were later transferred to Botswana, where they continue setting fine examples as missionaries.

PERSECUTION IN MALAWI

But now let us go back to the banning of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malawi in October 1967. Following this ban, there was a wave of persecution described in one magazine as “the most brutal, inhuman persecution of Christians in this twentieth century.” This same article declared: “To match the harrowing accounts of suffering, cruelty and obscenity . . . , one would have to go back to the extermination of the early Protestant Waldenses in southeast France and Italy in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.”

Why were these atrocities committed? Because of the strictly neutral stand that Jehovah’s people maintain in political affairs. Asked at the time why these true Christians were subjected to such treatment, one Witness, Brother Justin Zacuruka, declared: “Because we refused to buy a political card.” Yes, as is the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses the world over, these Christians refused to violate their Christian neutrality, even though they had to endure the cruelest of treatment. In fact, some even lost their lives.

The attitude of all the loyal ones could well be summed up in the words of one older brother, Samson Khumbanyiwa, who lost his home, furniture, clothing and everything he had. He said: “I know that I am never alone, and Jehovah has protected me.” It is true, as the psalmist says: “Many are the calamities of the righteous one, but out of them all Jehovah delivers him.”​—Ps. 34:19.

RELIEF FOR THOSE IN NEED

Because of the intensity of the persecution, thousands of the Witnesses in Malawi found it necessary to flee the country. Some went to Zambia, only to be returned to Malawi. Thousands of others fled into Mozambique, to Milange, across the border from Malawi. Here they remained until about 1970, when they began to filter back into their home country.

In Mozambique our brothers were safe from the hands of their persecutors. But now they faced other problems. They were without food, clothing or shelter. These were all left behind in the flight. So what were they to do?

Happily, although the Witnesses have never had legal recognition in Mozambique, these refugees were treated with the greatest of kindness. The Mozambique authorities provided trucks for the transportation of our brothers into the country to a place called Mocuba, about 100 miles from the Malawi border. Here they gave them land and provided houses, axes, hoes and seed. They also supplied 200-poundb bags of meal (ground maize) each day for their food. This was a great relief for our brothers and made them feel it was Jehovah’s way of providing for them.

More relief, however, was required. In addition to what was being provided by the Mozambique government, there was a dire need for food, clothing, blankets and medicines. How were these needs to be met? The only way to transport these things from Zimbabwe was by road, and this through Malawi! With what had just happened in Malawi, would there be any chance of getting through with the necessary goods?

AN EXCITING TRIP

It was with these questions in mind that John McBrine and Jim Mundell, a missionary who, with his wife Kathy, had just been deported from Zambia and was temporarily in Zimbabwe, set out on February 22, 1968, from Salisbury with a Volkswagen van packed full with donated clothing and blankets. Prior to departure they had done everything possible to obtain customs clearance for their load through the various border posts. This, however, was not possible due to regulations and restrictions. So the only thing left was to rely entirely upon Jehovah for guidance and direction. Each border post was a cause for concern, but each one was passed without difficulty. It was as if the angels were present all the way through.

The trip was not an easy one. It was 400 miles from Salisbury to the Mozambique border on the eastern side of Malawi. Most of the road was extremely rough, and it was even more so for the remaining 100 miles to Mocuba.

SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS

Of course, one of the first things John McBrine and Jim Mundell wanted to do was to visit the brothers in the two camps in which they were located. So off they went first thing the morning of February 24 to see the camp administrator about this. How disappointed they were when the administrator said that this would not be possible! Why? Because Jehovah’s Witnesses were not recognized by his government.

The administrator was a kindly man, however, and suggested that they wait until he took the matter up with government headquarters. This they did​—for three days. The answer finally came back: ‘There were no Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mozambique, only refugees whom the government had helped for humanitarian reasons. If they trusted the camp administrator they should leave the clothes with him; if they could not, take them back.’ Disappointment! Traveling all that way and not even being able to see those loyal brothers who had endured so much! Sadly, there was nothing they could do about it.

Now they had to decide what to do with the clothing and blankets. What could they do but trust the administrator? This they did.

Of course, the clothing and blankets transported in the van were nowhere near sufficient for the needs of the Malawi brothers. However, the two brothers also had funds that were contributed for the further needs of these brothers. An agreement was entered into, signed by the two brothers, the government administrator and an Indian trader. The contributed funds were given to the administrator, and an order, equaling this amount, was given to the trader. He was to supply dresses, trousers and more blankets. The administrator would then pay him the money and deliver the goods to the camps where the brothers were.

A HAPPY ENDING

A sequel to this account shows the outcome of the trip. On the way home, while still in Mozambique, the two brothers saw some African men alongside the road with large loads of folded blankets on their bicycles. Yes, they were brothers! And they had received these things from the administrator. Of course, our two travelers were happy to know that the administrator was sticking to his word and was acting quickly. But the greatest happiness came from knowing they had at least contacted some Witnesses from the camps. As would be expected, this proved to be a great interchange of encouragement, for the travelers as well as the brothers from the camps.

From that time on, the two countries, Malawi and Mozambique, came under the supervision of the Zimbabwe branch. Malawi remained under our branch oversight for several years, and Mozambique continues to be our responsibility.

WITCHCRAFT​—ANOTHER ISSUE TO FACE

It was about this time that many of the brothers in Zimbabwe had another problem to face. Witchcraft has been practiced here for centuries. But it was about the year 1969 that it took a twist that brought it into prominence. In order to help you understand the problem that it presented to our brothers, it seems advisable to give a little of the background of the matter.

Although almost all the African people in Zimbabwe are nominally Christian, with a small percentage being Muslim, superstition and witchcraft are still widespread. There are witch doctors with their bones, animal skins, feather headdress and incantations.

Witchery is divided into two classes: the muroyi, who is a witch or practicer of black magic, and the n’anga, who is a diviner or healer. The muroyi is the killer. He casts spells on people and is said to be responsible for untimely and strange deaths. He is outlawed and, if found practicing, can be apprehended and prosecuted.

The n’anga, on the other hand, is not necessarily a killer. He is a healer, although n’angas are sometimes used to cast death-dealing spells on others. He is said to be able to break the spell of the muroyi. The n’anga can be legally registered with the government.

By the year 1969, the n’anga was coming into prominence as one who could ferret out practicers of witchcraft. This was so not only in communal lands (formerly reservations) but also on farms and mines where often hundreds of workers lived with their families. Whenever there was a report of witchery, the community would call for the n’anga. Then all in the community would be summoned to appear before him.

After going through incantations, the n’anga, helped by his singers, would call upon the spirits for information about who was practicing witchcraft. If the culprit was “identified,” the chief would then turn him over to the court, where he would be judged under the Witchcraft Act. Of course, he still had to be proved guilty under the normal procedure of law.

OUR BROTHERS TESTED

But why did this present an issue for our brothers? Although the n’anga is considered to be a healer and a good man, still he is involved in spiritism. And here is where the problem arose for the brothers. Naturally, when the community was called before the n’anga the brothers would refuse to go. So the chief, or mine or farm manager, whichever the case might be, would have them forcibly brought in.

The great majority stood firm, but sad to say, there were a few who compromised under these circumstances. Later some of these genuinely repented and are now happily serving Jehovah once more.

The general attitude of the brothers was well exemplified in the experience of Paul Ndlovu, who at the time was serving as a special pioneer. He was 67 years of age and crippled from a stroke. When he was forcibly brought before the chief, he was told: “You had better kneel down [in recognition of the n’anga] just like everyone else is doing.” His answer was clear: “I will not bow down to any man because this is false worship. You well know that I am a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I am not able to obey your command in this respect.”

This brother’s firm stand caused the chief to become very angry. He called four policemen to put handcuffs on him and force him into the room with the n’anga. As Brother Ndlovu puts it: “They then pushed me into the room where I found some singers waiting to greet me with their ceremonial songs, as is the custom.” And what did he say to them? “I am not participating in demonism, and I will never kneel before you because I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

The brother’s firm stand was rewarded by the n’anga’s accepting and contributing for a copy of the Truth book!

VICTORY FOR TRUE WORSHIP

It was not long before this practice began to spread throughout all parts of the country, bringing many tests upon Jehovah’s loyal ones. An experience of a congregation located at a mine in the northern part of the country shows the extent to which they would go to try to break the integrity of God’s people. Because of reports of witchcraft being practiced, the senior employees requested the hiring of a n’anga. The police report on this event tells us what then happened:

“The proposal was put to the Mine Manager who agreed after checking the Nganga’s [now spelled n’anga’s] credentials and finding them in order, on condition that everyone [italics ours] in the compound participated. This was agreed to by the senior employees.

“On the day the Nganga carried out his ritual, all the people in the compound, with the exception of Jehovah’s Witnesses, . . . went before the Nganga. The senior employees attempted to persuade the sect, . . . but they still refused. They were taken to the Mine Manager, but to no avail and they told him they would prefer to leave their employment than go before the Nganga.”

This is exactly what happened. All our brothers were dismissed from their employment. But then what happened?

The whole congregation moved to another mine, where the brothers all obtained employment. So they still had a complete congregation, with all the responsible brothers and one pioneer. Furthermore, this mine was located in unassigned territory, an area that suddenly became cared for by a fully organized congregation! In fact, even the name of the congregation did not have to change because its name was Chrome, and they moved from one chrome mine to another.

And what about the mine manager who dismissed all his employees who were Witnesses? He was very sorry when he realized that he had chased away his best workers. In fact, later on he reemployed some of them. As he said to the district overseer who was in the area: “I sent away the best workers I had.” A fine witness indeed resulted because of the faithfulness of our brothers!

ENTERING THE 1970’S

The year 1960 saw an all-time high in the average number of publishers​—12,487, with a peak of 13,493. From then until 1967 the trend was downward. In fact, the number of publishers went down to an average of 9,384, which was the lowest since 1952. This was due largely to cleaning out from the organization those who were not really Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Then from 1967 the upward trend began again, so much so that in 1971 we had an average of 11,430, with a peak for that year of 12,456. This trend continued until 1976, when once again the number of publishers started on the way down. Why so? Because from then until the end of the decade, this country went through what must have been the darkest years of its history. How did this affect our brothers? For an answer, let us go back to where we enter the 1970’s.

This decade proved to be one of many trials and testings for Jehovah’s people. Among these were tests regarding employment, the neutrality issue and the ravages of war, including such things as loss of homes, livestock and fields, as well as physical abuse and even death itself. There were also attempts by opposers to pressure the government to ban the Kingdom work. It reminds us of the words of the apostle Paul after he was stoned and left for dead just outside Lystra. He said: “We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.”​—Acts 14:22.

JEHOVAH PROVIDES HELP

How would Jehovah’s people be prepared to face the trials that were ahead? Providentially there were two ways by which this was done. One of these was through the arrangement of having the Governing Body appoint elders and ministerial servants in the congregations. It was in 1972 that this arrangement began, and it could not have come at a more appropriate time.

It was heartwarming to see the response of the brothers to the Scripturally supported direction by the Governing Body as to the appointment of these brothers. As the Scriptural qualifications were examined, several congregations found themselves without either elders or ministerial servants. As one congregation wrote: “After discussing the qualifications, along with the circuit overseer, we found that no one qualifies as elder or ministerial servant. But we shall strive to meet the requirements next year.”

James Mubata, a member of the Branch Committee, who has been in Bethel since 1966, recently commented on the almost immediate effects of the elder arrangement on the congregations. He says: “Not only did more brothers with teaching qualities become available for the benefit of the congregations, but also those already used as teachers began to improve as they applied themselves. In addition to this, the cleanness of the congregations received much better attention. Prior to 1972 the servants in many congregations were not quickly handling cases of uncleanness. But almost immediately after the establishment of bodies of elders these cases were given attention. So much so that for some time we were busier than ever before, handling such cases.”

This whole arrangement gave the congregations a tremendous boost spiritually. Brothers who were disqualified because they did not give proper supervision to the spiritual growth of their families became conscious of the need to apply the Scriptural counsel. Other brothers who until then were not given the opportunity to put their skills, abilities and spiritual advancement to the best use were now using these to the advantage of the congregations. Out of it all came a much stronger organization that was clearly in a better position to help the brothers meet what was to come in the years ahead.

NEW BRANCH FACILITIES

The other timely provision from Jehovah was the building of a fine new three-story Bethel home. During his visit in 1971, Brother Knorr gave many hours of attention to our need for a more spacious home and branch office. At the time of his visit, several members of the Bethel family were living in nearby apartments, and the office and shipping facilities were woefully inadequate. Since 1953 we had been living in a single-story house with only five bedrooms. In fact, at the time of Brother Knorr’s visit three of these bedrooms had been converted into offices. So it was decided that new facilities should be sought.

After several fruitless attempts to get permission to build just what we wanted somewhere else, it was decided to tear down our old home and build new facilities on the spot. This building project began in December 1972. Ten months later we moved in. What a happy occasion that was!

While this construction was not one of the “two-day wonders” seen nowadays in the construction of Kingdom Halls, it certainly was something that was talked about in the neighborhood. Indeed, a fine witness was given, both to local officials and to people in the surrounding area. The fact that hundreds of people, male and female, little children and old men, were helping in some way was a cause for much comment.

One who commented favorably was the municipal building inspector. Although at first he was quite cool, gradually he warmed up to the friendliness of everyone. His comment was: “You’re making good progress. You’ve got some good labor there. You wouldn’t get that if you were paying for it.” Another man, a building contractor working across the road, said: “It is good to know that there are still people who believe strongly enough in something to do something like that.” Actually our fine building was constructed almost 100 percent either by volunteer labor or under the direction of such volunteers.

While it would be impossible to mention by name all those who showed such willingness and self-sacrifice, we do think that mention should be made of some outstanding examples. Take, for instance, Peter Drewett. He left his secular employment and came to the city with his wife and daughter to live in a trailer for the duration of the whole project. Then there was Noel Ellerman who, with his wife and two children, moved their tiny trailer right onto the dusty site. There they lived, right in the middle of things, for about eight months. We must also mention Eric Cargill, a businessman who not only provided essential building equipment and some of his own labor force but also spent half his time every day on the project until it was completed.

THE TOBACCO ISSUE

As mentioned earlier in the account, the beginning of the 1970’s brought several issues to the fore. One of these was the matter of growing tobacco or working on farms or for firms having to do with the production and processing of tobacco. In Zimbabwe this became quite a problem, since tobacco is one of the principal sources of income for the country. It is the principal export product and brings in much sorely needed foreign currency.

As far back as 1972, the brothers working in such places were beginning to question the Scripturalness of their employment. In fact, when brothers were first being recommended as elders or ministerial servants, several declined on grounds of conscience. As one traveling overseer put it: “There are a number of brothers who would have qualified as elders because of their fine records. They themselves have asked not to be recommended as elders or ministerial servants because they work on a farm where tobacco is grown and packed. Because of their conscience they have asked not to be recommended.”

Some who had been growing tobacco soon stopped doing so, and others made similar plans. One expressed it this way: “Many of us put away our second wives when we understood how God viewed it, so quitting tobacco-growing must be easy.”

BROTHERS STAND FIRM

It was good that the brothers were already reasoning this way because this line of thinking was to make it much easier for them just two years later. It was in the early part of 1974 that the Kingdom Ministry contained a special insert headed “Harmonizing Our Employment with ‘Love of Neighbor.’” This insert clearly presented the Scriptural view of the matter. Tobacco smoking is a defilement of the flesh and hence a disfellowshipping offense, according to 2 Corinthians 7:1. That being the case, would it be right for a Christian to grow this plant, or process and sell it to others? The obvious Scriptural answer is, No. We could not do that and still show love to our neighbors. This is the way the insert reasoned.

The response of the brothers was nothing short of thrilling! Try to imagine yourself in the position of these brothers. Suppose you have a very responsible job on a tobacco-producing farm. With it comes a house and possibly a tract of land where you can graze some of your own cattle. Now all of a sudden you are faced with a big decision. Your employer tells you that if you do not want to work in the production of tobacco, you will have to find employment elsewhere. You may have several small children. What are you going to do?

Well, our brothers did it! Yes, they were willing to give up all of this rather than be separated from Jehovah’s organization. Many suffered severe financial losses. But they maintained favor with Jehovah. You could count on your fingers the number of those who had to be disfellowshipped. How our hearts went out to the dear brothers who stood so firmly for God’s righteousness!

MIXED REACTIONS

Of course, this stand of the brothers caused a widespread reaction, most of it adverse. Newspaper articles and letters to the editor became regular features. Members of Parliament voiced their criticism inside as well as outside Parliament, some of them vehemently. Showing how far it went, one writer in a monthly magazine stated: “The Jehovah’s Witnesses have been severely criticized inside and outside Parliament. . . . Under new legislation they can now be stripped of their citizenship and lose their immunity against deportation.” He called it “a storm in a teacup.”

The farmers themselves had mixed reactions. Some of them were malicious. Some wrote to the Society, saying what they thought about Jehovah’s Witnesses; others used the telephone. However, they still would like to have had Jehovah’s Witnesses in trusted positions on their farms.

Thus there were several farmers who tried very hard to accommodate the brothers. Rather than lose good, reliable workers, they were willing to give them jobs that did not involve the production of tobacco. This, of course, the brothers appreciated.

There is the experience of one brother who was employed as a tobacco salesman. Realizing he could not remain in this type of work, the brother turned in his resignation, which his employer refused. So the brother just did not turn up for work. When his employer came to his house to find out why he was not at work, the brother explained the situation. Thereupon the employer commended the brother for his honesty and stressed that he did not want to lose him as an employee.

Taking advantage of this situation, the brother then laid down the terms under which he would remain there. Not only was he to be free from work involving tobacco but he also wanted time off for all meetings. To this the employer agreed, although it meant a reduction in pay for the brother.

“From my experience,” this brother concluded, “I have learned that as long as we endure when we encounter problems at our places of secular work we will be blessed. I also learned the importance of being more concerned with our spiritual growth as we advance with Jehovah’s organization.” This brother is now serving as an elder.

THE GOOD NEWS SPREAD THROUGH ADVERSITY

Actually, this shifting around of the brothers did much to spread the good news of the Kingdom. Through it even new congregations were organized in formerly isolated areas. For instance, one brother owned a mine in isolated territory. The brothers got to know that he needed laborers and that he was willing to help out the needy ones. Soon he had 20 brothers working for him. These, plus their families, were formed into a congregation that continues to exist. Others also were quick to help out where they could.

Some who found themselves unemployed because of the tobacco issue went back to their homes, where, often, there were no congregations. As a result, Jehovah’s Word was being preached in areas where it had not been preached before.

But how did all of this end? Strange to say, it was the Tobacco Association itself that finally settled the matter, by the simple process of publishing an announcement by the chairman of the association in one of its monthly bulletins to tobacco growers. This announcement stated that it was a religious matter for the Witnesses and should not become an issue. An interesting comment was made in the June 1974 issue of Rhodesia Tobacco Forum. It said on page 27, regarding Jehovah’s Witnesses: “In the same article [a newspaper article] the Secretary for Agriculture . . . was reported to have described the move as ‘apparently a deliberate attempt to cause a dislocation in the economy.’ However, the numbers involved would hardly appear to warrant such an assumption.” This comment by the Rhodesia Tobacco Association itself seemed to quiet things down, so that the brothers were no longer harassed. Indeed, a fine witness was given regarding the loyalty of Jehovah’s people.

NEUTRALITY ISSUE COMES TO THE FORE

While the tobacco problem was affecting our African brothers, another issue came to the fore, also in 1972, that at first involved only our white brothers. This concerned a Christian’s neutrality in the affairs of the nations. The issue did not become a widespread problem until there began what became known as the “liberation struggle” or, as others called it, the “terrorist war.” The problem arose, of course, as a result of compulsory military service for white males.

With the intensifying of the struggle, especially along the borders of the country, more efforts were made to involve the entire population in national defense. Conscription, however, was at first confined to white males. This involved quite a number of young Witnesses, many of whom had to serve prison sentences, some more than once, because of conscientiously maintaining their course of Christian neutrality.

The nature of the draft was such that men were given call-ups for certain periods of the year, after which they could follow their secular employment. So a brother could be brought before the courts each time he conscientiously refused to obey a call-up, which meant he could be exposed to the possibility of one term of imprisonment after another. In fact, some even received call-up papers while they were still in prison!

Young married men with families found it especially difficult, not only because they had to leave behind their families when they went to prison but also because of their employment. Often these brothers would lose their employment when they went to prison, necessitating their looking for another job when they came out. When doing so, they would invariably be asked about their military status. When a prospective employer was told the facts, the answer would often be: “I am sorry. I would like to give you employment, but I cannot do so unless you have done your military training.” For some, this became a very big problem.

AN EARLY EXAMPLE

One of the first ones to endure these trials was Bob Hawkes. He had already done military training when he first began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He had only been studying for six months when, in January 1973, he was ordered to report for duty. Shall we let him tell his own story?

“Because of what I learned in my studies of the Bible I decided not to go. At this time Molly, my wife, was about two months pregnant.”

What happened when he failed to report?

“I was summoned to appear in court and given an effective 30 days in jail with three months’ suspended sentence.”

Did he find it a hard test to go through?

“Very much so. Here I was, not even baptized and sitting behind bars. Now I was all alone in a very strange world. It was all so very confusing. Then Molly got upset and wrote me a letter indicating she was going to leave me. On top of that, my father came to see me, bringing a lot of literature condemning the Witnesses. I let him know that whatever happened I was determined to stick to my conscientious stand. My only comfort was in prayer to Jehovah.”

TROUBLES COMPOUND

When Bob Hawkes was released from prison, he found his troubles were far from over. At home, Molly, his wife, handed him his army kit and suggested he go to the “bush,” that is, to the battlefield. Says Bob: “I told her she must never try to force me to go and not even to mention it again.”

Then Bob went back to his employment only to be told he was fired on the spot. “When I told Molly I had been fired,” says Bob, “it’s a wonder she stayed with me, seeing she was still cool toward the truth.”

Shortly after this, Bob was baptized. Then back into prison again, this time for six months, plus the three months suspended on the previous occasion. All together he was in prison three times, the last time for eight months.

AND WHAT ABOUT MOLLY?

We might ask, “Molly, what have you to say about all of this?”

“While we were studying, the truth did not really mean much to me. With Bob it was different. As soon as he learned something, he made changes. Consequently, smoking, parties and other things had to stop. Then I became pregnant, and the blood issue bothered me. Our entire life was being affected.

“Then Bob went to prison. This I felt was terrible. How could he do all of this to us? It was then that I decided to give him an ultimatum. So I wrote and threatened to leave him. Deep down, however, I knew I didn’t really mean it and couldn’t go through with it.”

What made Molly change and accept the truth?

“Much of it was due to the kindness shown by the sisters. There were parcels of groceries, meat, bread, as well as other material assistance. But, in addition, there was the loving concern of the brothers and sisters who would build me up spiritually. Gradually this influenced me. It made me think. So I started working toward baptism. I was baptized just after Bob got out of prison the last time.”

Brother Hawkes received one more call-up after that. This time, however, he was not imprisoned because of his plans to accept employment in another country.

This experience is typical of what several of our brothers went through. In fact, as the age of conscription went up, to 50 and, finally, even to 60, quite a number became involved. But more about that later.

POLITICAL OPPOSITION BEGINS TO SHOW

With all this publicity over such issues as tobacco and Christian neutrality, you can well imagine that the Witnesses were in the news. Abetted no doubt by some irate members of the public who were annoyed by the neutral stand of the Witnesses, some Members of Parliament began agitating for government action to curb the preaching work.

In addition to being objects of criticism and attacks through the news media, the Witnesses also became a popular subject for discussion in parliamentary debates. This was particularly so on December 4, 1973, when Parliament debated amendments to the Defence Act and the Citizenship Act. Following are some excerpts from these debates:

“The beliefs of this sect [Jehovah’s Witnesses] are the very antithesis of the reputable and established churches.”​—Minister of Defence.

“In brief it is intended . . . to provide that a Jehovah’s Witness sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or more without the option of a fine for an offence involving refusal to obey orders on the grounds of religious conscience may suffer loss of citizenship and, in the case of a non-citizen, may be deported.”​—Minister of Defence.

“These convictions [of conscientious objectors in general] generally relate to the question of the taking of human life and can be accommodated by allocation to non-combatant duties. . . . The exception . . . is the cult or sect known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses whom I feel are a pernicious organization, with no foundation for and no justification in their attitude towards military service.”​—Member of Parliament.

“What we are seeking to ensure is that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have an impact and influence upon young men who are liable and who are doing their military service.”​—Minister of Defence.

It seems that the courageous stand of the brothers was having an impact in more ways than one.

TENSION MOUNTS

Toward the end of 1974 one could feel the tension increasing. This was indicated in a letter from this branch to the Society’s headquarters, dated October 8, 1974. In part, it referred to a rumor of a “full-scale inquiry” into our organization and then said: “At date of writing we have not heard any more, neither have we been contacted by the authorities. Rumors have been heard that some action will be taken by December, but we have not been able to confirm any of these.

“Throughout the country a large portion of the populace is very definitely ‘up in arms’ against our activities, especially our house-to-house ministry.”

“No Jehovah’s Witnesses” signs began to appear everywhere. In fact, one enterprising person started selling them from house to house. He did quite a business for a while.

PROPOSED ACTION

In the early part of February 1975, the branch office came into possession of the minutes of a very significant meeting. It was a meeting of the National Executive of the Rhodesian Front, the ruling political party at that time. Much of this meeting, held on January 31, 1975, was about Jehovah’s Witnesses. A number of points were presented as to why they felt some action should be taken against Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Well, you can imagine how we were feeling about that time! What was going to happen? Would Jehovah’s Witnesses be banned? Would the missionaries be deported? We just did not know what to expect.

While those who presented these suggestions to the government were themselves members of the ruling party, some of them, in fact, Members of Parliament, it seems that the government itself took a more rational view, for neither then nor at any time later was any official action taken against the preaching work or the organization. We are very grateful to Jehovah for that.

NEUTRALITY IN “HOT” AREAS

It was not only the military issue that required the brothers to take a firm stand on separateness from the world but other situations also arose. (John 15:19) For example, Brother Will Vosloo had a farm that turned out to be in a truly “hot” area during the war. It was 39 miles from the congregation where he served as an elder. Just beyond was a stronghold of the “freedom fighters.” Many were the clashes between these and the government’s security forces.

One day, shortly after his baptism, Brother Vosloo and his wife, Gisela, were sitting in their home, reading from the Bible at Psalm 112:7, which says: “He will not be afraid even of bad news. His heart is steadfast, made reliant upon Jehovah.” Within an hour a member of the police appeared, warning people that “terrorists” were in the area. He insisted that the farmer arm himself for protection. Brother Vosloo refused.

He explains: “From that time on, more and more pressure was put on me to share in the protection of our community. My neighbors could not understand my attitude​—to them I was cowardly. In field service one day a man said to me: ‘You will be the first to run away when things get really hot.’ He was wrong. Today I am still on the farm, but they are all gone.”

NEUTRALITY A PROTECTION

Although harassed by neighboring farmers, Brother Vosloo and his family did receive comfort from an unexpected source. One day a circuit overseer came to see him and said: “I am your brother from across the Umfuli River. You must not worry. The people in that area know all about your neutral stand. You will be safe.” These words proved to be true.

One day shortly thereafter, when Brother Vosloo’s tractor drivers were working in the field, they were suddenly accosted by a band of guerrillas. They said: “We know that man. We do not want to burn his tractors.” Sure enough, although neighbors had their tractors burned, as well as pump installations destroyed, Brother Vosloo’s equipment remained intact. Later, while he and his family were away on vacation, several farm homes in the area were destroyed, but the Vosloos’ house remained intact. All of this because of their known stand of neutrality in political affairs.

This went on for quite a few years, in fact, right up to the end of the war. Even delegations representing the community would visit the Vosloos and try to pressure and “shame” them into arming themselves for their own protection, as well as that of others. Everyone else in the area traveled heavily armed. But Brother Vosloo quotes Gisela as saying adamantly, “No gun or rifle.”

Things began to get worse and worse: Local country stores were being burned down. Land mines were planted on the roads. A curfew made it extremely difficult for the children to travel to school. So, finally, Brother Vosloo decided to rent a house in town where his family could live while he continued to work the farm. But through it all, he feels that his real protection resulted from his neutral stand and his complete trust in Jehovah, as it is written: “Whenever you lie down you will feel no dread; and you will certainly lie down, and your sleep must be pleasurable. You will not need to be afraid of any sudden dreadful thing, . . . for Jehovah himself will prove to be, in effect, your confidence, and he will certainly keep your foot against capture.”​—Prov. 3:24-26.

A PARADOX

It is a strange thing indeed: The very stand that sent our young white brothers to prison gave our African brothers a freedom that often was not enjoyed by other organizations, religious or otherwise.

As time went on, the increase of guerrilla activity in some areas resulted in a step-up of security measures. Meetings were prohibited; schools and stores were closed. The brothers had to be particularly cautious in their field ministry and the way they gathered together for Christian worship.

In February 1973 a circuit assembly was scheduled for one of these areas. Would we be allowed to hold it? With full faith in Jehovah’s direction, the local brothers approached the chief for a letter to take to the district commissioner. While he would not deliver the letter at that time, he did allow the brothers to begin preparations.

When the district overseer, Isaac Chiadzwa, came to the area later, he went to the district commissioner’s office to report his presence and obtain permission to enter the area for the circuit assembly. “When I asked for permission to enter the Dotito area,” he said, “everyone in the district commissioner’s office laughed and thought I was mad. How surprised they were when they later heard one of the officials saying, ‘We know you people. We know your position regarding the present conditions.’”

Sure enough! Permission was granted for the assembly! The only restriction was that we were not to have any evening sessions. Even the chief was surprised and impressed!

Brother Chiadzwa said that in the district work at that time he encountered many roadblocks. He relates: “Always I was let through because I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At one roadblock everyone was ordered to unload his vehicle for inspection. As soon as I jumped out of the van, a policeman saw my briefcase. After opening it, he asked me who I was and what I was doing. When I told him I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he instructed me not to unload my van, which, incidentally, was filled with literature and all our equipment. When another policeman heard this, he wanted to know why the van should not be unloaded. I could hear the first one saying, ‘He is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We do not have problems with these people.’”

The district overseer said that the brothers in that area all carried the Society’s literature with them, even when working in the fields. Many times it saved them from beatings and other ill-treatment. Strange indeed how the same group of people who could be anathema to the authorities in the one instance could be so highly favored in another!

We have more to tell you about this later on, but now let us go back to Malawi.

PERSECUTION IN MALAWI

When we last spoke of the brothers in Malawi, they had fled from their home country to Milange in Mozambique, east of Malawi. In about 1970 many of them started filtering back to their homeland, where they tried to pick up where they had left off. But this situation did not last long.

In 1972 another wave of cruel persecution struck our brothers. The San Francisco Examiner called it a “religious war” and said: “It’s a very one-sided war, pitting force against faith.” The pattern followed very closely the wave of persecution in 1967, only this time it was much more intense.

The Youth League and the Young Pioneers movement took the lead in this “war.” “They organized themselves into bands, ranging from a dozen or so on up to as many as a hundred. They then went from village to village, armed with sticks, knobkerries, pangas and axes, searching out and attacking Jehovah’s Witnesses and their properties.”​—Awake! December 8, 1972.

There were rapings of our sisters and cruel beatings with planks that had spikes in them. One brother had dry grass tied to his body, and then this was set afire. He was literally burned to death.

Brother Michael Yadanga and his family were set loose in the center of a game reserve with wild animals all around. They had to walk several miles to get a bus. When they got back home, attempts were again made, with threats, to persuade them to buy a political party card. Brother Yadanga’s answer to them was: “I’ve lost my teeth because I would not buy a card. I’ve lost my job because I would not buy a card. I was severely beaten, my property was destroyed and I was forced to flee to Zambia​—all of this because I would not buy a card. I am not going to buy one now.” Later, warned by a friendly member of the Youth League that they were coming after him, this brother and his family fled to Mozambique.

Added to the beatings and other physical cruelties were the closing of businesses, the freezing of bank accounts, the confiscating of property, the destroying or stealing of crops, and the forcing of Witnesses out of employment. What did they do? They did the only thing they could do​—they fled the country.

This time most of them fled to Zambia. Over 19,000 of them set up a refugee camp at Sinda Misale.

HELP FROM WORLDWIDE BROTHERHOOD

It was not long before help started coming to these brothers. From all parts of the earth it came, in the form of money, clothing, food and other items. The brothers in Zambia quickly provided thousands of pounds of foodstuffs, blankets and bedding, garden tools and other things. Truckloads of tarpaulins, blankets, plastic sheeting, shovels, axes and other items came from South Africa, our brothers driving 1,500 miles to Sinda Misale to deliver these goods. Although these experienced many difficulties, they delivered the goods under Jehovah’s loving guidance. All in all, many, many tons of food, clothing, medicines and other items were provided for the brothers at Sinda Misale.

ON THE MOVE AGAIN

Sad to say, this respite was only temporary. The Zambian government, under the pretext of moving these brothers to another place, actually sent them back to Malawi. There the persecutions started all over again. So the brothers once more fled their homeland, this time to Mlangeni in Mozambique west of Malawi.

Soon there were 12 refugee camps set up in Mozambique, with a peak of about 34,000 living in them. Later, in 1975, the Mozambique government forcibly repatriated our brothers from the Mlangeni area to Malawi. From there the majority fled east back into Mozambique, where many of them are today.

At this point we believe you would be very interested in experiences recounted by Cyril and Ina Long. They were living in Blantyre, Malawi, when the persecution broke out again in 1972. They reported:

“One family was crossing a bridge over flooding waters when they were accosted and asked for their political party cards. When the parents explained why they did not have any, the children were thrown over the rail of the bridge into the raging waters below. One of the children was a six-month-old baby. Fortunately, the older children were able to swim and saved the baby. With Jehovah’s hand over them, all escaped death.

“Another brother was beaten unconscious and then had petrol poured all over him. He was set afire and burned to death. Sadly, his wife, who was pregnant, and his six children were forced to watch the whole cruel procedure.”

PROVIDING HELP FOR THE PERSECUTED

Brother Long realized that something was going to have to be done to help the brothers who were being robbed and beaten. So arrangements were made for a secret rendezvous where fleeing brothers and sisters could be picked up and transported to the border. In the first load there were about 30 transported in two Volkswagen vans. Several came with bicycles but realized they could not take them, so they just threw them into the bush on the roadside, knowing they would never see them again.

“All along the road,” says Ina, “there were roadblocks, and each time the brothers and sisters would lie flat on the floor of the van, covered with blankets. Cyril, being white and the only one visible, was waved on without searching. At three o’clock in the morning they safely reached the refugee camp in Mozambique.

“Some days later we were approached by a circuit overseer with the report that there was an urgent need for medicines and blankets, as the camp in Zambia had nearly 12,000 people living in the open. It was winter and many suffered from colds, diarrhea, sore throats, and so forth. Moreover, several had cuts, bruises and bad burns from the ill-treatment they had received. What could we do to help them?

“Following fervent prayer to Jehovah, we decided to approach a chemist [pharmacist] and ask to buy medical supplies. This was a dangerous thing to do because he could easily have reported us to the authorities. However, we approached him and told him the situation.

“As it turned out, this chemist was angry because the government had forced him to fire one of his most trusted employees, who was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. So rather than report us, he was only too happy to be of assistance.” Imagine the surprise and joy of Cyril and Ina Long, when they went back the next day for their order and received two huge boxes of medical supplies as a free gift for the brothers in the refugee camp! When they tried to pay for these supplies, they were told by the chemist: “It is the least I can do for such loyal people who are being treated so disgracefully.”

Shortly afterward, Cyril Long and another brother made a nocturnal trip to the camp, this time with a load of blankets. Brother Long said: “Tears came to our eyes at what we saw: A whole family of six huddled under one blanket, trying to get warmth from one another’s body; a sister so badly beaten and burned with hot logs that she could not lie down. They had to prop her up with grass bundles.”

To close this account we want to tell you one more experience that really moved Sister Long. Because the government froze all the bank accounts of the brothers, no one could withdraw funds to pay for public transport for escape. She said: “Two brothers approached us and said: ‘We were able to withdraw our savings before they were frozen. We have bought bus tickets for our family and have this money left over. Could you please give it to others who need it?’ Even though these brothers had lost their own jobs, their brotherly love moved them to share with others what they had left, knowing that Jehovah would provide!”

No doubt as Cyril and Ina Long let their minds go back to that occasion, their own faith in Jehovah’s loving care becomes stronger and stronger.

A TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE

It was in 1975, while the refugee camps still existed in Mozambique on the west of Malawi, that a problem arose similar to one experienced in the early Christian congregation. (Acts 6:1-6) This was over the distribution of relief goods. It was decided that the best way to settle this would be by a personal visit of a brother from the branch office. So in February 1975, Keith Eaton, a member of the Branch Committee, set out for these camps. Getting there was not easy. The trip had to be made in a roundabout way by air. He went from Salisbury to Beira on the east coast of Mozambique, where he stayed overnight, visiting a few brothers there. Then he went to Tete on the Zambezi River and on to Vila Coutinho (now Ulongue), where there were six refugee camps at the time.

One of the things that made it difficult to reach this destination was the fact that Mozambique was in the throes of a changeover from Portuguese minority rule to black majority rule. So crossing the border was not easy, especially for strangers to the area.

However, with the help of brothers who met him at the Vila Coutinho airport, Brother Eaton was able to visit the camps. There he discussed the problems of the brothers, listening to their heartrending reports on their situation and offering helpful suggestions. There is no doubt that this personal contact with a representative of the Society did much to encourage the brothers.

APOSTASY IN THE CAMPS

When the brothers finally got settled in camps east of Malawi at Milange, Mozambique, they became quite well established. However, further problems arose in time.

In 1976 some suddenly started to claim to be of the anointed and began holding special meetings separate from those of the congregations. They advocated teachings that were unscriptural. According to them, they were of the anointed, and since 1975 Jehovah was no longer dealing with the congregations through the elders but through these individuals.

One of the ringleaders was found naked by the police near Mount Mlanje on the Mozambique border and was escorted back to the area of the refugee camps in eastern Mozambique. He told his followers that, like Moses, he was obeying a call from Jehovah to go up the mountain to receive instructions. Sad to say, these false teachers professing to be of the anointed gained quite a following, and the apostasy was not halted until over 500 had been disfellowshipped. A good number of those who were misled eventually realized their error, returned with a repentant attitude and have been reinstated in the congregation.

We are very happy over the fact that two of the brothers in Mozambique responsible for the work in that land were able to attend the five-week Gilead course for Branch Committee members. This has helped greatly toward providing good theocratic supervision of the work in that country.

WAR BRINGS INCREASED PROBLEMS

Now back to Zimbabwe. As the war began to grow in intensity so also did the problems that our brothers had to face. Life became quite hectic. In many areas a normal life was out of the question. For many, there was no knowing what the next day was going to bring. Try to put yourselves in the place of the family of this brother who wrote to the Society:

“I am writing to tell you what happened to my family, my wife and five children. They narrowly escaped death while working in my maize field. Soldiers on both sides started firing at one another across the field. My family lay flat on the ground as bullets passed over them. Mortar shells exploded just ten yards away from them. They were caught in the cross fire, and yet they escaped unharmed. I believe this was because of Jehovah’s protection. The trees around my home were badly damaged as they were hit with bazookas, but my home was not damaged.”

This brother also tells of a different kind of problem that arose:

“Soldiers came to our home in the evening. They asked me several questions, and I told them that I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They wanted to take my daughters for the night. On their own initiative, my daughters refused and said they would not go. The men threatened to kill them, but still the girls resisted. They had in mind the words of Jesus at Matthew 10:28 and Revelation 2:10, which we had earlier discussed in our family study. Finally, the men decided to leave them alone.

“The girls of the world who consented to go with the soldiers were sexually abused. We are grateful to Jehovah for the way he continues to care for us in these perilous times.”

Sad to say, not all our young sisters escaped so easily. Michael Chikara, a traveling overseer, tells of what one young sister went through. First, she was hit on the chin. Then “while she was recovering from this wound a group of men overpowered her and raped her, with the result that she now has a child.”

Brother Chikara also tells of an experience related to him by a 17-year-old sister. This is her sad story: “I was forcibly taken by soldiers and beaten on four different occasions, twice by soldiers on one side and twice by those on the other side.

“The first time I was beaten I was uncertain if I would even live. While I was recovering from this beating, soldiers of the other side came to the area, collecting all the young girls and forcing them to attend their meetings.

“On this occasion one man demanded that I spread a blanket for him on the ground and insisted that I sleep with him. I ran away, crying, followed by this man. Another one joined him in trying to force me to commit an immoral act. I was struck down with the butt of a gun, but as I fell I cried out loud so that eventually they left me. I then mingled with a big crowd of people who were present and was later helped home in the dark without the knowledge of those who had accosted me.

“A few months later another band of soldiers came to our area and took me, along with nine other girls, claiming that we had been serving as girl friends for those on the opposing side. Of course, in my case this was not true. All of us were beaten until we were not able to move for weeks. All together, I was beaten four times.”

This fine young sister continues to remain spiritually strong even though she is the only one in her family who is in the truth.

ABDUCTIONS​—A COMMON PRACTICE

It became quite a common practice in certain areas for young teenage children to be abducted. Bands of soldiers would come to small villages and order all out into the open. Then, while the adults were forced to sing songs, soldiers would pick out young boys and girls in their mid-teens. The practice was to take the young boys for training as soldiers and the young girls to serve as cooks and for immoral purposes. Some parents never saw their children again.

At times even our brothers had to suffer this terrible heartache. A pioneer brother wrote to the Society as follows: “My daughter and five other young ones were abducted. All six were dedicated, baptized Witnesses.” Some of our Christian brothers had the sad experience of seeing their children return, not as Witnesses, but as soldiers trained in the art of warfare. However, such cases were very rare.

A BRAVE LITTLE WITNESS

One thrilling case was that of Catherine Mbona, a 14-year-old sister in the Eastern Districts, who was abducted. Her parents (her father, Michael, has been a pioneer for many years) wondered if they would ever see her again. Imagine their joy and relief when, a few days later, she was returned to their village, unharmed.

“What did they do to you?” they asked Catherine. “Nothing,” she said.

“What were you doing, then, all the time you were away?”

“I was speaking to them about Jehovah. I was witnessing.”

A few days later the leader of the soldier band appeared in the village and sought out the girl’s parents. The parents were quite apprehensive as to the reason for this visit. However, this man had made a special journey to the village to commend the parents on how well they had brought up their daughter.

PROTECTED VILLAGES

Because more and more villages were becoming “hot” areas, and also because some of them were being used as hideouts and strongholds for guerrilla forces, the government started moving the people of these villages into fenced-in areas, or protected villages, locally known as “keeps.” Although this was done with a view to protecting the people, it did result in their having to leave behind homes, property, cattle, crops and all but the few belongings they could carry with them.

As far back as 1973 one of the circuit overseers, Reuben Mpedza, reported: “Concerning the Mukumbura, Musingwa and Chiutsi congregations, people in these areas are being moved by the government to any particular place they want them to stay. Some of our brothers now do not have any homes due to their being moved.”

You can imagine what it must have been like, suddenly finding yourself and your family in a fenced-in area without anything but the barest of belongings. No house, no sanitation​—nothing but the open ground to sleep on. How did our brothers react to this? The circuit overseer said in his report: “It is still an encouraging fact to know that despite these obstacles brothers are zealously preaching to others about Jehovah’s Kingdom as the only hope for distressed humanity.”

It is interesting to see the difference in attitude toward these “keeps” on the part of people in general and Jehovah’s Witnesses. While most were lamenting their material losses, the Witnesses were busy adjusting themselves to the new situation. In fact, because people were so close together, the brothers found it much easier to reach them with the Kingdom message!

In one such place, the older sisters were very happy. Previously they could not auxiliary pioneer because of the curfew and the fact that the people in their congregation territory were very scattered. But as they said: “Now all the people are close together, and it will be easy for us to serve as auxiliary pioneers.”

Of course, this moving about of the people, putting them in these protected villages, did have the effect of disrupting the organizational care of some of the congregations. Circuit overseers often did not know whether or not the congregation they were to visit would be there when they arrived. However, when the protected villages were done away with at the end of the war, the brothers gradually returned to their former homes and tried to continue where they had left off. Some congregations that had not received a visit from a circuit overseer for two or three years were once again being served by a traveling overseer.

ORGANIZED TO MEET THE SITUATION

It is not difficult to see that during the war, changes would have to be made to cope with the different circumstances.

One arrangement made to help the elders was for special meetings to be held once every year, conducted in each circuit by the circuit and district overseers, using a program prepared by the branch office. This program dealt especially with the needs of the brothers at the time. This arrangement was very much appreciated by the elders, who felt it was just what they needed to help them in their shepherding work under such adverse conditions. Not only the elders themselves but also several of the brothers wrote to let the Society know how much they were benefiting from the training received by the elders.

There is no doubt whatever that this special arrangement, plus the regular training of the elders through the Kingdom Ministry School and the special meetings at the circuit assemblies, contributed greatly toward the united stand of the brothers all during the war.

“TIE HIM TO A TREE AND LET HIM DIE”

It was just after he attended one of these special elders’ meetings that Jeremiah Chesa, a brother well up in years, had quite an experience. Brother Chesa lives in a rural area. He related:

“A band of soldiers took me from my home at night into the bush; then I was asked, ‘Where were you on Saturday and Sunday?’ I told them I had gone to a religious meeting. ‘Do you know, old man, that this is the end of your life? We have already killed people more special than you, a poor dog.’ They then shouted, ‘Let us kill him!’

“However, one of them said, ‘Rather, let us tie his hands and legs to a tree and leave him there to die on his own.’ After getting a rope, they then said, ‘Tell us now what you choose​—to die or to stop worshiping your God.’

“‘Frankly,’ I said, ‘I do not want to cheat you by saying I am going to quit worshiping. I worship day and night.’

“Angered at this, someone shouted, ‘Tie him to a tree and let him die there!’ So I spent the whole night tied to a tree.”

The next day, around noon, a hunter happened to pass by and saw Brother Chesa tied to the tree. Although the hunter was shocked and a bit fearful at what he saw, this man did have the courage to release our brother, who then made his way home. But what next? Brother Chesa’s story continues:

“A few days later the soldiers came to my house and wanted to know how I had got free from the tree. They took me into the bush and asked who had released me. I said my reply was in the Bible at Psalm 146:5-7. Orders were given for this scripture to be read.

“Five persons who were ordered to reread the passage were beaten because the leaders thought they were not reading it correctly. It was interesting to listen to their conversation. ‘Who actually released him?’ ‘We had better leave him alone and let him go.’ ‘You are lucky, old man.’”

What was it that suddenly changed the minds of these would-be killers? The scripture they read says in part: “Happy is the one . . . whose hope is in Jehovah his God . . . Jehovah is releasing those who are bound.” Brother Chesa went back home a free man.

“JEHOVAH . . . IS ALWAYS WITH YOU”

This was the expression of a non-Witness woman to one of our faithful sisters. What were the circumstances that prompted those words? Brother Tauzen Chawanda has the answer for you in an experience that he and his wife went through while working on a tea estate in the Eastern Districts:

“On December 23, 1976, a band of soldiers came to my house in the compound. Some of the soldiers were sent to all the homes to gather the people together. We were taken to the factory area and were told to sit in a circle. My wife and I were the only Witnesses.

“Next, they told all the women to stand back and see how their husbands were going to be killed. Out loud my wife and I prayed to Jehovah for protection. As my wife was stepping back, a woman said to her, ‘It’s better for you because Jehovah is your Savior, and he is always with you.’

“Once the women were out of the way, the soldiers said to the men: ‘We told you that you were not to work but you continued doing so.’ With that, two soldiers fired their machine guns into the men. Then the soldiers hurriedly departed.

“As soon as this happened the women ran back to their husbands, not knowing whether their men had been killed or not. When my wife tried to pick me up, I told her I was all right, but she did not believe me at first. All the other women found that their husbands had been killed, and they went back to the compound. Later, I also went back, to find they were all gathered at our house.

“As I came up, the woman who previously had spoken about Jehovah’s protection was saying to my wife: ‘I told you​—Jehovah is with your husband. See, he is back alive because of God’s protection!’”

ASSEMBLING TOGETHER UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS

We are happy to say that during all these trialsome times it was possible to continue having district conventions and circuit assemblies. This was because, for the most part, they were held in the safer areas of the country. There were a few times when the brothers from circuits in dangerous areas had to join with their fellow Christians in another circuit. But at least they had the program and were kept spiritually strong.

Congregation meetings in many places, however, were more of a problem. This was mainly due to curfews that restricted movement from one place to another. Since the Memorial celebration must be held in the evening, it sometimes posed a great problem. Usually the curfew was from dusk to dawn, although at times it was from as early as 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the following day.

One fine arrangement for overcoming this problem at Memorial time, especially in small rural congregations, was for all the brothers to go to the home of one brother. There they would celebrate the Memorial of Christ’s death at the proper time. Of course, after that they could not return home, because under curfew regulations they could go no more than a few feet from the brother’s house. So they would spend the evening singing Kingdom songs and relating experiences. Then the next morning they would return to their homes, happy at having been able to obey Jesus’ command to assemble for this most significant occasion.​—1 Cor. 11:23, 24.

INTERESTED ONES HELPED

Actually these special arrangements for the Memorial, along with other congregation meetings, did much to help interested ones in those areas, as well as the brothers themselves. Out of fear of beatings or other mistreatment, interested ones would hesitate to attend the meetings openly. But they did seem to get encouragement from this idea of staying overnight.

One brother from a congregation of 13 Witnesses wrote to the office to say how thrilled they were to have 106 attend the Memorial celebration​—over 90 more than the number of publishers!

Another brother, Michael Mafara, who was serving as a special pioneer at the time, had a unique way of overcoming the curfew problem and helping even interested ones. In his area the curfew was very strict. Movement away from home was allowed only from noon to 2:00 p.m. each day. In the congregation the brothers were scattered into three groups, and the only way to travel was to walk. What could be done?

Well, Brother Mafara got an idea. He designated three homes where meetings could be held. During the two hours of freedom to travel, all the brothers and sisters would go to one of these homes. There they would remain until noon the next day, at which time they would return to their homes. At the next meeting time all would go to one of the other places, and so on. This afforded them many hours for meetings and fellowship, strengthening one another spiritually.

As to the results, Brother Mafara writes: “When I visited these groups, I found that even interested persons had come and were staying overnight to attend the meetings. Although there are only 13 publishers in the congregation, during the time of this curfew the attendance came to be 21​—more than before the curfew was imposed.”

“LIKE A HIDING PLACE FROM THE WIND”

The prophet Isaiah spoke of those who would be serving as shepherds and overseers in Jehovah’s visible organization. He likened them to “a hiding place from the wind and a place of concealment from the rainstorm.” (Isa. 32:2) Our loyal traveling overseers proved to be just that, all throughout the war years.

Courageously they would endure all sorts of hardships for the sake of their brothers. Some would walk for days through bush country, up and down mountains, crossing dangerous rivers, sleeping all night in the open​—all in order to reach isolated congregations and publishers, to encourage them to remain firm in the faith.

To illustrate this fact, we would like to relate the experience of one of the circuit overseers, Isaiah Makore. He, together with another brother, Obet Sose, traveled 80 miles by bicycle to a remote and dangerous part of the country to visit three tiny congregations in this area. On the way back they were accosted by “freedom fighters.” But let us have the circuit overseer relate the account:

“When we had traveled about nine miles, we suddenly saw men with guns from the bush calling us. We stopped and went with our bicycles to where they were. We soon were stripped of such things as our new wristwatches, money, and so forth. Included among the money I had was that given to me by the congregations we had just visited, for sending on to the Society for their accounts.

“While this was going on, we were also being questioned as to who we were and what we were doing there. It seems that these men suspected we were government agents or employees. Not knowing what would happen to us, I silently prayed to Jehovah for help, especially so as not to compromise. Later, Brother Sose told me he had been doing the same thing.

“Finally, we were able to convince these men that we were Jehovah’s Witnesses and ministers of religion. I was quite surprised when they handed back all the money they had taken from us, although they did keep our watches and one or two other items.

“They then told us we could go, and we were just about to leave when we heard the sound of an approaching army vehicle. The battle was on! Soon we were lying flat on the ground with bullets going every which way. Happily, we came out of this unscratched, and we continued cycling back the 127 kilometersc to our base.”

ENDURING TORTURE

Some of our traveling overseers, along with brothers and sisters, were subjected to cruel torture. One example was that of John Hunguka. Generally the neutral stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses was known and respected. In this case, however, it seems that John’s firm stand as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses prompted the terrible treatment he received. He relates:

“I was walking on my way to the next congregation. On the road, I was to meet a brother who was going to accompany me. Just as we met we suddenly were surrounded by soldiers. They had with them an electrical machine that they used for torturing people into revealing information concerning those in the opposing camp.

“Brother Mukwambo was the first one to become subjected to this form of torture. Repeated shocks were sent through his body as they tried to extract from him information that he did not have. While this was going on, I was ordered to sit with my back toward them so I would not see what was going on. It was then that I offered a silent prayer to Jehovah, asking him to help us both maintain our faith firmly. Brother Mukwambo finally lapsed into unconsciousness.

“After this, I was interrogated. When they learned I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, one of the soldiers started putting electrical shocks through me until I went unconscious. When I regained consciousness, they started questioning me again. I repeated my neutral stand. It seems that every time I mentioned Jehovah’s Witnesses their anger increased.

“Next they made me undress and attached their machine to my private parts, subjecting me again to the shocks. Then, threatening to kill me if I reported what they had done to me, they let me go. With Brother Mukwambo’s help, I was able to get to his house. The next day the brothers put me on a bus to Mutare, where I received medical treatment.”

How did John Hunguka feel about this experience? “I did not doubt Jehovah’s protection through all this persecution. Rather, it drew me closer to him than ever before. I was determined to continue visiting the brothers in those areas despite problems.” And that is exactly what he did, for the very next week he was back in the same area continuing with his circuit work.

BACK TO THE NEUTRALITY ISSUE

While our African brothers, especially in the rural areas, were having their faith greatly tested, several of our white brothers were still having to defend their faith before the courts. In fact, by now many more were involved, since the call-up age had gone up to 50 years.

This did have a good aspect to it in that these older brothers, many of them elders, were in a better position to speak out boldly concerning their loyalty to the Messianic Kingdom. They gave many a fine witness. For instance, Gordon Hein said kindly, but firmly, to the Exemption Board: “You can stand me up against that wall and shoot me, but I will not compromise on my stand for Jehovah and his Kingdom.”

Another one who had an opportunity to give a fine witness before the Exemption Board was Koos deWet. In spite of the fact that this brother presented his Scriptural stand very clearly and forcefully, the Board refused his request for exemption. Brother deWet relates what then happened:

“After they had decided not to grant me an exemption, the Director of Security Manpower came to inform me privately of their decision. In conversation I drew to his attention the fact that not a single witness of Jehovah was among those who were fighting against this country. He replied that he was aware of that. ‘And why are you aware of that?’ I asked, and added, ‘Because Jehovah’s Witnesses in these countries around us are making exactly the same stand as I have made before you today.’

“He then admitted that although he had looked upon Jehovah’s Witnesses as a nuisance, he had over the years come to realize that they have the most desirable religion.”

NEUTRAL STAND WIDELY KNOWN

By now it was becoming clear throughout the entire country that Jehovah’s Witnesses were not on either side. Our brothers in communal areas can well testify to this fact.

This experience took place in 1978. An announcement had been made concerning the “Victorious Faith” District Convention. The brothers in the Hurungwe area wanted to attend the convention. To do this, they would have to hire a bus. But, now, let David Mupfururirwa relate the account. He was a district overseer at the time and is presently serving along with his wife, Betty, as a special pioneer.

“The ‘freedom fighters’ controlled this particular area, which included the use of buses to and from the area. No one could hire a bus or even leave the locality without the permission of the ‘freedom fighters.’ But even if permission was granted, there would still be troubles. Why? Because along the way there would be a roadblock by the government security forces. They knew that a bus could come along only if it had permission from the guerrillas. So such buses became suspect and were thoroughly searched, including luggage and parcels, for bombs or other lethal weapons.

“Under these circumstances, word got to the commander of the ‘freedom fighters’ that the Witnesses were trying to hire a bus. Certain ones were then sent to the bus owner to ask if this was true. He told them that it was Jehovah’s Witnesses who wanted to hire the bus but that he had not made any decision. This news went back to the commander. As was reported to the brothers, the conversation went something like this:

“‘Commander, did you know that the people who were hiring the bus are Jehovah’s Witnesses?’ ‘Yes,’ was the reply. ‘Then why did you not say so before! We would not have wasted time checking on them. You know they are neutral in politics. They are not a threat to us. In fact, I feel much better among them than I do among ourselves. We will allow them to hire the bus.’

“Later, when talking to the brothers, the bus operator said: ‘You people are backed by Jehovah! Other churches have tried to hire buses but have been refused, by both the “freedom fighters” and the security forces.’”

ANOTHER HURDLE TO OVERCOME

Off the brothers went, heading for Chinhoyi and the district convention. But then they came to a roadblock. This time it was the security forces. Everyone was ordered out of the bus and told to open his luggage and parcels. Just as the brothers began to do this a soldier asked where they had come from and where they were going. One brother said: “We are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and we are going to Chinhoyi for our religious convention.”

“Are all of you Jehovah’s Witnesses?” asked the soldier.

“Yes, sir,” came the answer.

“Then put back your luggage and carry on to your convention.”

As they were getting into the bus, the following conversation was overheard between two of the soldiers:

“Hey, why are you letting that bus off?”

“They are Jehovah’s Witnesses, the most peaceful citizens you can ever come across. We can’t waste time on them.”

Incidentally, regarding this convention, the “freedom fighters” in the area sent word to the brothers that they were not to worry. There would be no interference with the convention. And that proved to be true.

DARKEST DAYS OF THE WAR

By now we were entering into the most crucial time of the war. There was no place of safety. As more pressure was put upon the government forces, the battle line could be anywhere in the country​—city or rural area. By the early part of 1978, bombs and hand grenades were going off in cities and towns. In the capital city a bomb blew out the side of one of the Woolworth buildings, killing and maiming several people. In Mutare a woman walked into a department store with a grenade tied to her leg. It exploded, killing her, as well as others.

Because of this, rigid security measures were instituted. You could not enter a store without being searched. Rural gravel roads were loaded with land mines, and travel on most of the highways was permissible only in convoy under army protection and during daylight hours.

THE CONGREGATIONS AFFECTED

All of this, of course, greatly affected congregation activities, which, in many places, were interrupted. Circuit overseers were finding they could not reach some of the congregations in their circuits. In an effort to overcome this, reliable local brothers were assigned to do the best they could to keep in touch with these congregations. Being local, they had an advantage over the traveling overseers, who were often strangers to the area.

In spite of this arrangement, some congregations were so completely cut off that nothing was heard from them for two or three years. Stories reached the branch office of whole congregations having to flee from their homes, living in caves in the hills until such time as they could safely return.

Such conditions, of course, had quite an effect on the reports received by the Society. In fact, there was a steady drop in the number of publishers reporting, on the average, from 12,127 in 1976 to 10,087 in 1981. Much of this was due to the conditions existing during that time.

As soon as they were able to do so, the circuit overseers started getting in touch with these “lost” congregations. One very encouraging report came from John Hunguka. He wrote:

“These brothers and sisters have not had a visit from a circuit overseer for two years, due to the war conditions. It is encouraging to hear how they faced the problems. Parents stood firm to protect their children from intimidation, violence and armed rapists. They upheld the Bible’s high moral standards. They still are conducting themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses in spite of being separated from others for at least two years.”

Brother Hunguka goes on to state that some became inactive during that period of time, and a few compromised on their neutral stand out of fear. How thrilling it was, however, to learn that by far the majority of our brothers endured all these tests without violating their dedicated relationship with Jehovah!

THEY TRUSTED IN JEHOVAH

As we look back over those most critical years, one thing stands out very clearly. Jehovah’s loyal ones ‘trusted in him with all their hearts,’ and he, in turn, gave them his protection and help to endure. (Prov. 3:5) Our reflecting on a few experiences might help to impress us with this fact.

Consider the situation of Eric and Jane Hitz, who, during much of this time, served in the circuit work for the English-speaking congregations. Please keep in mind that especially during the later years of the war most of the main roads could be traveled only by convoy, and many of the gravel roads were riddled with land mines. Furthermore, gangs of men could appear suddenly at any time.

Well, Brother and Sister Hitz had to travel many of these roads. In spite of pressures to the contrary, they were determined not to carry arms for protection; rather, they trusted in Jehovah. Brother Hitz said: “Often we were told that we were mad to travel on certain roads and that we would never get through alive. But Jehovah protected us. The loving concern of the brothers we were visiting at these times was most outstanding and made us feel it was worth it all.”

Sister Hitz relates that on one occasion they, for some reason, left a congregation a day later than they were supposed to. The next day as they were traveling along, they saw the charred vehicles of a convoy that had been attacked. Had they traveled the day before, as was intended, they would have been in that convoy. “This was only one of many similar experiences,” she adds.

This faithful couple later went to Gilead School and are now enjoying their missionary work in Switzerland.

Another example of full trust in Jehovah was that of Stephen Gumpo. He and his wife, Gladys, are now serving in Bethel. While in the special pioneer work, Brother Gumpo had the same experience with the electric torture machine as did John Hunguka. “When you are attached to that machine,” he observed, “it is the easiest thing in the world to do anything, to lie, to compromise, anything to get rid of the excruciating pain. It was only in Jehovah’s strength that I was able to endure and remain faithful to him.” Brother Gumpo related that others had died from the same treatment.

RESURRECTION HOPE, A HELP TO ENDURANCE

Although there are many examples of Jehovah’s evident miraculous protection and deliverance from certain death, it does not mean that death will always be avoided. Sometimes ‘faithfulness unto death’ is the means by which we prove our loyalty to Jehovah and thus are assured of “the crown of life” through the resurrection.​—Jas. 1:12.

It was sad and yet encouraging to read a letter from a very faithful brother, Tembe Mtshiywa, who has shown his trust in Jehovah by a firm belief in the resurrection. He lost three sons because of the war. Two of them were killed when their car was attacked; and the third one, Abutte, a young brother who was serving in the circuit work, was murdered while bicycling from one congregation to another. As far as we know, he was the only one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who was killed during the war because he was a Witness.

Brother Mtshiywa says that great pressure was put on him by friends and relatives and even by the chief of the area to appease his ancestors, claiming that the calamity that came upon him was because of his rejecting ancestor worship. However, he firmly resisted this pressure, maintaining a strong faith in the resurrection hope. He says that the comfort he received from the brothers and from Jehovah’s organization did much to sustain him. This brother is still serving as a pioneer and an elder.

“JEHOVAH KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER”

How true these words have proved to be! (2 Pet. 2:9) One who can certainly testify to this is Jeremiah Mupondi. He is a young special pioneer with one ear. How did this come about? He relates:

“We had just parted company with the circuit overseer and a group of publishers when we arrived back home [in the rurals] to find a group of soldiers waiting for us. They had seen us with the circuit overseer and thought we were sell-outs. They said they were sent to get us.

“In the course of the conversation, efforts were made to try to get us to shout slogans, such as ‘On with the war!’ ‘Down with Jesus!’ We steadfastly refused. Next, they tied the brothers’ hands behind their backs with wire. They also took our literature and burned it.

“With us was one young sister. They demanded that she admit she was forced to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. When she refused, they beat her until she went unconscious. When she awoke, she heard them saying that she had confessed to being forced to become such. From the ground she yelled out: ‘That is a lie. I did not say that!’ Again she was beaten to unconsciousness.

“Another brother and myself were forced to lie on the ground. This brother was beaten until he nearly went blind. As for myself, they grabbed me by the ear and brandished a knife, saying that if I did not repeat the slogans they would cut off my ear. I remained silent. True to their threat, off came my ear. It was then that I began to draw heavily on the power of the resurrection hope.

“Next, our persecutors turned to Sister Muchini and threatened to cut her five-month-old baby into pieces if she refused to say the slogans, ‘On with the war!’ and ‘Down with Jesus!’ In the face of this threat, and knowing what they had already done, this loyal sister refused to repeat the slogans. They must have been impressed, because the baby was not killed.

“Finally, we were let go. However, ten days later another gang accosted us with the same threats and beatings. All five of us continued to remain faithful.”

On this last occasion Brother Mupondi said to the men who were so cruelly mistreating them: “We are not going to leave our preaching work and our gathering together, whether this is a cause of death or not. We are determined even to die for the name of Jehovah.” It was then that some of the persecutors were heard to say, as they walked away, “Jehovah is the true God.”

Just after this experience both Brother Mupondi and his older brother began pioneering. Since then he and his partner, Arnold Chamburuka, have had many thrilling experiences in the special pioneer work.

REHABILITATION AFTER THE WAR

At last the war came to an end. After a short interim rule under a British governor from the beginning of 1980 until April of that year, this country came under its first majority rule. At that time it also received its new name​—Zimbabwe.

Now a time of rehabilitation began, both in the country in general and also among Jehovah’s people. However, while the rehabilitation program instituted by the new government has been, and continues to be, fraught with problems, with Jehovah’s people it has been steady progress all the way. Indeed, it makes one think of the situation among the members of the Christian congregation of the first century. After quite a period of trouble and persecution, the account says at Acts 9:31: “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.”

That is the way it seemed to be here. Under the government’s amnesty program, our brothers in prison were released and allowed to go back to their normal pursuits. Brothers who had sent their families into the cities and towns for protection during the war were once again reunited with their loved ones. Congregations that were once disrupted were now becoming stabilized again. Indeed, under an atmosphere of peace the work of Kingdom witnessing began to take an upward swing, and in just two years there was the following fine increase:

Average Average Memorial

Publishers Pioneers Attendance

1981 10,078 560 28,103

1983 11,552 750 33,914

As you can see from these figures, it did not take our brothers long to get into good, wholesome theocratic activity. In fact, the averages for the individual publishers have seen a healthy increase, showing that individually the brothers and sisters are doing much more than they were prior to 1981.

INTEREST IN THE KINGDOM MESSAGE GROWS

For a short time after the end of the war, people had no time to listen to the Kingdom message. Many promises had been made during the war, and now people hoped to realize the fulfillment of these promises. But it did not turn out this way.

The aftermath of the war soon became evident​—an increase in crime and violence, something almost foreign to the country before the war. Even shortages of necessities were becoming a big problem for the first time. Kidnappings as well as dissident activities made some areas of the country dangerous to move around in.

All of this had quite an effect on many people, who were beginning to have serious doubts as to man’s ability to handle his affairs. Many of these began to call to mind the stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the war​—that of remaining firm for God’s Messianic Kingdom as the only remedy for man’s ills. As one person said in a letter to the Society: “I was very much against you people because of your stand during the war. But now I realise that you are really the people of God.”

In fact, never has the branch office had so many letters asking for help from Jehovah’s Witnesses as it has been getting since the war ended. For example, there was a letter received from an interested person, who said: “I was delighted to read about such good news because I used to drink and smoke and was involved in politics until I was given a book by a friend. I used to feel bound, but now I feel free. I am asking to study the Bible with you, please. Can you send me a Bible so that I can study with Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

The brothers in the congregations have been having similar experiences. Rabson Daniel, a circuit overseer who has been in the full-time service for 34 years, wrote about the situation. He said that, in some areas, at the end of each month the people have been coming to the homes of the brothers for magazines. One pioneer sister, while preparing for magazine work, placed all her magazines before she left home, with people who came to her door!

A school headmaster recently wrote to the Society, asking for 45 copies of any book or booklet that we felt he could use as a basis for religious instruction. From another school the branch office received this letter:

“I am writing on behalf of the staff and students in Nyangani Secondary School. Established in 1981, we are a developing school which in the past few months has undertaken the formation of a library. Naturally we consider religious education an essential aspect of education. Recently a few of your publications were donated to us and we found them excellent for our needs, and would now like more information. As an example of this, Awake! is easy to read and covers a wide range of articles.

“If you have any booklets with current prices they would certainly be helpful to us in the future.”

PROBLEMS STILL EXIST

Of course, the changed circumstances did not mean that God’s servants were now free from problems. The conditions that faced the people in general also faced them. Dangerous areas due to antigovernment activity, crime and bomb scares were still things with which to contend.

In addition to these conditions, other problems continued to confront our brothers, further testing their faith. Many of these arose from the efforts of local political organizations to compel the Witnesses to get involved in political affairs. Our consistent refusal to become involved caused much harassment​—but it also resulted in many fine opportunities to give a witness before local authorities, as well as to groups of people.

Ben Mapuranga, a circuit overseer, tells of one brother, Tauzen Brown, who was brought before a crowd of over 400 people to explain the reason for his refusal to take out political membership. But first Brother Brown had to explain why he refused to repeat a political slogan. After that he gave an excellent witness in defense of God’s Kingdom and Christian neutrality.

When he finished, the chairman asked all of Jehovah’s Witnesses present to stand up. When they did so, he asked them: “Do you agree that you also do not take out political cards?” “Yes!” they all said with enthusiasm. They added, “We agree because we are also ministers of God.” With this the people shouted for them to be beaten, but the chairman said: “They must not be beaten. These people are innocent. Let them go to their homes. They have explained their stand.”

OFFICIAL ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WITNESSES

While all over the country local political groups, especially the youth movements, have tried to force our brothers to compromise on their neutral stand, the official position of the government on this matter has been very encouraging. The general policy has been to let Jehovah’s people continue in the Kingdom work unmolested.

In the early part of 1983, there was a political rally in a town, and it was attended by a cabinet minister. At the conclusion of his talk the meeting was thrown open for questions. One question had to do with Jehovah’s Witnesses because of their refusal to support political activities. The cabinet minister asked the crowd: “Did Jehovah’s Witnesses fight against us during our freedom struggle?”

“No.”

“Are they fighting against us now?”

Again, “No.”

“Then leave them alone. They are not our enemies.”

In other parts of the country similar questions have been asked with similar answers being given.

“LET THEM GO AND CARRY ON”

A recent experience sent in by district overseer Caleb Mandiwanza provides further insight into the present view that the government authorities have toward the Kingdom work. He tells us of two brothers in a rural area who were brought before the officials of the local political party to explain why they refused to take out party cards. The explanation was not accepted. Instead, the party officials decided to send these two brothers to the party headquarters at a larger center. Here they had another opportunity to explain the Scriptural reason for their stand.

Once again there was confusion as to what should be done. So the two were sent to the police headquarters. The police suggested a telephone call to the government headquarters in Harare. This was done. The reply? “The government knows that organization. Let them go. Do not bring them in again. Let them go and carry on with their preaching work. Do not bother them or call them to your [political] meetings.”

“FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOOD NEWS”

Writing to the Philippian congregation, the apostle Paul said that the things happening to him “turned out for the advancement of the good news.” (Phil. 1:12) This is also true for our day. The experience just related resulted in a very fine witness in the home area of the two brothers, with one person officially resigning from her religion and asking for a Bible study with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Another experience demonstrates this even more so.

Kenias Chemere, a special pioneer, had several studies with teachers, headmasters and others. Six of these realized they were learning the truth and so resigned from membership in the local political party. This caused a furor. The local councillor took the matter up and even ordered all of Jehovah’s Witnesses out of the territory of his jurisdiction within a few weeks.

Following up on a suggestion from the branch office, the special pioneer and the circuit overseer, Steyn Madakuchekwa, took the matter to the district administrator. From there it was taken up by the police. The outcome was that the councillor who ordered the Witnesses out of the area was given warning to leave Jehovah’s Witnesses alone. So also was the chairman of the local political party. As he said to Brother Chemere: “Your matter is finished. We have been given a strong warning.”

The result? Certainly “for the advancement of the good news.” New Bible studies have been started. Those already showing an interest in the truth have been moved to take a firm stand, some even preparing for baptism. Although the special pioneer was due to be moved to another assignment, the circuit overseer urged that he be allowed to remain there because of the sudden upsurge of interest in the Kingdom message.

Two other young special pioneers who had a similar experience recently wrote about the results in their area. They said: “A certain man, who was so opposed when the whole congregation took a neutral stand, is now studying the Bible with us. He is making fine progress. He stopped smoking in one week, after smoking for 25 years. When he learned that his religion was part of Babylon the Great, he stopped association with it.”

Many more similar experiences could be related to demonstrate the ‘large door of activity’ that has been opened to us. (1 Cor. 16:9) We thank Jehovah for giving us such a fruitful field. But, as Paul also said, “there are many opposers.” This is to be expected. However, due to official action to prevent our brothers from being intimidated, the situation has become much calmer, and we are enjoying more freedom in our work.

ZEALOUS FOR FINE WORKS

Our brothers have been quick to take advantage of present circumstances to further the interests of the Kingdom. The publication My Book of Bible Stories has enjoyed tremendous popularity among students and teachers. One brother, Sheva Mawasu, who is a schoolteacher, says that “the headmaster concluded that the Bible Stories book suited well the syllabus for Scripture education. I am glad to say he is using this book now in his class.”

This same brother took advantage of the situation and arranged for the publication Learn to Read and Write to be used for grade II students and Your Youth​—Getting the Best out of It for the upper grades.

Another very enterprising young brother found out how to overcome a problem in school. This brother refused to sing political songs and share in prayer with others at school. He also refused to engage in certain types of entertainment. Here is what happened:

“When the headmaster was told that I was not sharing in singing and praying, he called me to his office. He asked me why I was not sharing, and I gave him the reasons. I then asked him if he wanted us to sing our songs. To this he agreed. Soon the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses and others, as well as the teacher, were singing the song ‘Worship Jehovah During Youth!’”

This young brother, Jerasi Nyakurita, served as an auxiliary pioneer while at school and is now a regular pioneer.

INTEREST STIRRED

All this activity, as well as the excellent articles in the Watchtower and Awake! magazines and the other publications, has stirred a great amount of interest in the Kingdom message. Letters of appreciation continue to pour into the branch office. For instance, here is a quote from a letter sent in by a young high school student:

“I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your kindness because it seems to me as if God himself has blessed me. I am grateful to you for sending your loyal, loving messenger to help me. I wish to encourage all of Jehovah’s Witnesses to keep doing their work, including the printing of such useful books as Choosing the Best Way of Life. I have not come across anything I can criticise in your books.”

Some interested persons are even using the publications to study with others in areas where there are no Witnesses at present. One such person sent money to cover the cost of four subscriptions for The Watchtower. In his letter he wrote: “We are down in remote country where we are starting to read Nharire [The Watchtower in Shona]. We will soon ask you to send a leader to help us. We have about seven families, approximately 12 people.”

Even local authorities are now welcoming the Witnesses. A special pioneer was just recently assigned to an isolated area. Brother Chinamhora, who owns property in the area, went to see the local authorities about having the special pioneer there. The village chairman of the local political party said to Brother Chinamhora: “That is good news to hear. Bring him to us, and we shall tell the party that we will have a preacher going from house to house and they are not to worry him.”

The local subchief commented: “It is a good thing. It makes the place full of love and drops crime in the country.” If you were a special pioneer, would you not like an assignment like that?

DROUGHT A PRESENT PROBLEM

During the past three years a problem of a different kind has arisen. Like some other countries in the southern hemisphere, Zimbabwe has been hard hit by drought conditions. In fact, it has proved to be the worst on record. In some places cattle are dying like flies. Wild animals are eating the bark off trees, stripping them, just to get moisture for their bodies. This, of course, has greatly affected the people, including our brothers.

Concerned brothers and sisters have been quick to rally to the needs of their less fortunate fellow Christians. One way in which this problem is now being met is through the circuits. The district overseers discuss the matter with the elders at circuit assemblies. Then they are charged with the responsibility of taking whatever help is donated and passing it on to where it is needed most. This arrangement prevents any possibility of unscrupulous postal agents’ stealing clothing and food that is sent for relief. Several letters have been sent to the branch office, expressing gratitude for the help given.

As we come to the conclusion of this report we do so with great rejoicing. For the past 24 years we had not been able to pass our all-time peak in publishers of 13,493. However, in April of 1984 we reached a new peak of 13,621. Additionally, our previous high for regular and auxiliary pioneers was 1,191, but in April our figure was 2,114, nearly double the previous peak! Our Memorial attendance for 1984 was over 38,000, which is three times the number of publishers and some 4,000 more than the peak attendance of 33,914 in 1983! Indeed, Jehovah is giving the increase!

JEHOVAH OUR HELPER

The saying, “Oh, for the good old days,” need not be in the vocabulary of Jehovah’s forward-looking people. We have too much ahead of us to begin longing for the past. However, we can reflect upon the past with much profit. And as we do so, we can come to only one conclusion, that expressed by David in Psalm 34:19: “Many are the calamities of the righteous one, but out of them all Jehovah delivers him.” How true this has been in Zimbabwe!

Reflecting upon the early days when the Kingdom work in this country was just getting a footing, we think of such stalwart ones as Nason Mukaronda, Robin Manyochi, Wilson Stima, Willie McGregor, the McLuckies and others. All of them are still going strong in their advanced years. How happy they must be to see the way in which Jehovah has sustained his people through all their trials and brought them to their present state of spiritual prosperity!

We are grateful to the government authorities who have taken such a fine attitude toward our work. We pray concerning them “in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness.” (1 Tim. 2:2) But at the same time we know that it is Jehovah who protects his people and lovingly cares for them, as he leads them on to final deliverance into the righteous New Order of his making. Whatever may come, he will prove to be our “fortress in the time of distress” as well as at all other times, because we take refuge in him.​—Ps. 37:39, 40.

[Footnotes]

[Map on page 173]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

ZIMBABWE

Chinhoyi

Victoria Falls

Harare

Hwange

Mutare

Bulawayo

ZAMBIA

BOTSWANA

MOZAMBIQUE

Ulongue

Tete

Milange

Mocuba

Beira

MALAWI

Mt. Mlanje

Blantyre

INDIAN OCEAN

[Picture on page 114]

In 1924 Hamilton K. Maseko (left) began witnessing in Bulawayo. Nason Mukaronda was the first one to be baptized in this country (1924)

[Picture on page 117]

Wilson Stima (age 76) and Robin Manyochi (age 85) learned the truth in the 1920’s. Both are special pioneers

[Picture on page 119]

Part of the McLuckie family, who were prominent in the early preaching work in Zimbabwe and Malawi

[Picture on page 122]

Willie McGregor went to Zimbabwe in 1929 and contributed greatly toward establishing the Kingdom work in the Bulawayo area

[Picture on page 127]

Eric Cooke (shown with his wife, Myrtle) became the first branch overseer in Zimbabwe

[Picture on page 129]

Convention in Zimbabwe during Brother Henschel’s visit in 1955

[Picture on page 130]

Baptism at the 1955 convention

[Picture on page 143]

John Miles (shown with his wife, Val) served in the district work and in the branch office from 1960 until 1979, when they were assigned as missionaries in Lesotho

[Picture on page 145]

Gilead graduates presently serving in Zimbabwe. From left to right, back row: George Bradley, Irene McBrine, Lester Davey, Keith Eaton, Don Morrison; front row: Ruby Bradley, John McBrine, Anne Eaton, Marj Morrison

[Picture on page 146]

As a circuit and district overseer, Gilead graduate Sizulu Khumalo has been of great help to the African brothers

[Picture on page 151]

After serving in Malawi, Hal and Joyce Bentley were assigned to Zimbabwe

[Picture on page 164]

Zimbabwe branch office, completed in 1973

[Picture on page 195]

Jeremiah Chesa was tied to a tree and left to die

[Picture on page 203]

Traveling overseers John Hunguka (who was tortured with an electric machine) and Michael Chikara

[Picture on page 212]

When Jeremiah Mupondi refused to shout slogans, such as “Down with Jesus!” his ear was cut off

The Bahamas

EARLY Spanish explorers called it Bajamar, meaning “shallow sea.” The name Bahama Islands (islands of the shallow sea) is derived from this word. The 700 islands and about 2,300 rocky islets and reefs of the Bahamas are scattered over a hundred thousand square milesa and lie about 50 milesb off the coast of Florida. They stretch southeastward 550 miles, almost as far as Haiti.

Since the days of Columbus, visitors have enthusiastically commented on the natural beauty of the islands, their beaches with pink and white coral sands, the clear and beautiful blue-green water and the many coral reefs. Here, too, are the lovely sea gardens where myriads of gorgeously arrayed fish swim in among the enchanting coral formations. There are also many submarine banks, such as the Great Bahama Bank. This is a vast underwater plateau of sand that reaches nearly to Cuba in the south. It has a water depth ranging from about 6 feetc to more than 24 feet. These features, plus an excellent climate, have attracted many visitors; so it is no wonder that the Bahamas have become famous as an international tourist center.

Even though the 700 islands and 2,300 cays stretch out over so many miles of ocean, the actual land area of the islands covers about 5,300 square miles and thus, all together, is about the size of the state of Connecticut. The Bahamas gained their independence from Great Britain in 1973, and today they are home for over 210,000 people. Two thirds of the population live on the important island of New Providence. It is here that the capital, Nassau, with its excellent deep-water harbor, is located. Another major island and the next most populated is Grand Bahama. About one fourth of the population live on the other islands, known collectively as the Out Islands. These include Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, the Exumas, the Inaguas, Long Island, Mayaguana and San Salvador. As you can note from a map, most of the Bahamian islands are long, narrow strips of land. Tourism is now the main industry, followed by farming, fishing, salt production, the refining of petroleum and the refueling of ships.

THE GOOD NEWS REACHES THE BAHAMAS

The earliest reports of the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in these islands go back to around 1926, when Brother and Sister Edward McKenzie of Jamaica talked to the people in Nassau about Jehovah’s Kingdom. In 1926 two other Jamaicans, Clarence Walters and Rachel Gregory, came to spread the good news to the people of the Bahamas. Within a short time, Aubrey and Martha Blackman accepted the truth and were baptized. In 1928 there were seven preachers of the good news on these islands.

In February 1929 Brother C. J. Woodworth of the editorial staff of The Golden Age (now Awake!) made a two-week visit to the Bahamas. Two Canadian and five Bahamian publishers greeted Brother Woodworth on his arrival in Nassau. Among the five local ones were Brother Walters, Sister Rachel Gregory and Brother and Sister Blackman.

During his visit Brother Woodworth traveled by the mail boat Priscilla to Norman Castle in Abaco, where he gave talks and placed Bible literature. Brother Woodworth recounted what happened one evening on board the boat as it lay at anchor: “The steward came up to me, saying, ‘We heard of your talks at Norman Castle. We have no time to get a church, but if you are willing to speak in the open square, we can guarantee you a good audience.’ The canvasser [as Brother Woodworth referred to himself] said, ‘Let’s go!’ It is a novel experience to stand out in the square of a strange town, open with a hymn, and then start preaching. But an audience of 75 paid close attention to the end.”

On returning to Nassau, he did much witnessing in company with the local brothers. Continuing to refer to himself as the canvasser, Brother Woodworth said: “In a few hours on Friday and Saturday the canvasser [distributed] the rest of the 170 bound books and 100 booklets that he had brought with him from Miami. They were [distributed] in 1 1/2 blocks, and the map shows 74 1/2 blocks yet to do, though many of these blocks had already been worked locally. On Sunday night there was another meeting in the public square, an excellent audience of about 250. . . . Monday night there was a meeting in a Baptist church with 30 in attendance. Altogether the trip to the Bahamas was the happiest event of the canvasser’s life.”

The little band of seven publishers continued preaching in Nassau, and in 1932 they were joined by E. P. Roberts from Trinidad. Those who heard his Bible talks say that he was a dynamic speaker. He gave lectures regularly in many public buildings in Nassau. Among those who heard and ‘received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind’ were Julia Archer, Alice Ambrister, Bertha Sturrup and Blanche Edgecombe.

In attendance at one of these public meetings in the Palace Theatre was a policeman, who, many years later, stated: “What I heard that night convinced me that this was the truth! He proved from the Bible that what I had been taught in church was not so.” This man was Donald Oscar Murray (affectionately known as D. O.), who was to become one of the pillars of the Kingdom work in the Bahamas. A small place on Blue Hill Road was rented, and the meetings were held there.

FIRST PIONEER FOR THE BAHAMAS

In 1933 Sister Rachel Gregory began pioneering in the Bahamas. She had left her home in Jamaica in 1926 to serve where the need was greater. During the 1930’s she would often go to the Out Islands on small mail boats then plying from Nassau. With baggage and books, plus the phonograph, balanced on her head, she often had to wade ashore where there was no dock. She continued her tireless efforts to bring the Kingdom good news to others until her death in August 1972. Those who knew her say that she was small in stature but strong in spirit.

BROTHER WALTERS TAKES THE LEAD

In 1933 E. P. Roberts left the Bahamas, and the meetings were transferred to the tiny lean-to at the back of Brother Walters’ home on the corner of Taylor and Market streets. Brother Walters used a sound car to play Bible lectures by the Society’s president, J. F. Rutherford. Brother J. A. C. Royal had a store on East Street, and Brother Walters often played the Bible recordings in front of that store, where he also distributed tracts. By now the group had grown to include the Neeley family, the Andersons, the Wilsons, the Royals and Mr. Lightbourne.

The zealous lead provided by Brother Walters came to an abrupt end in 1942. One evening, after leaving his small grocery store on Blue Hill Road, he remembered something and had to return to the store to get it. In doing so, he surprised two youths who were burglarizing his store. One of these struck Brother Walters a fatal blow. This was indeed a setback for the little group that was struggling to keep the witness work alive. The two intruders were apprehended, found guilty and were executed.

In the wake of this turn of events, Brother D. O. Murray was given the responsibility for taking the lead among the group.

BAN ON THE SOCIETY’S LITERATURE

By now World War II was raging, and the nationalistic fervor reached the Bahamas. Brother Murray relates: “The police called me and asked me to come to the station to explain the booklet Who Shall Rule the World?, which they heard was being distributed. I told them that I would have given them a copy, but this publication was out of stock. When they asked me about a radio that they heard we were using to broadcast to Germany, I assured them that the rumor was false.” Despite the bold witness given by Brother Murray on that occasion, a few days later the local newspaper, The Guardian, published word of an official ban on the importation of the literature of the Watch Tower Society.

The brothers, however, received some literature via Grand Bahama from Florida and were overjoyed to receive this spiritual food during the ban. During this time the authorities said that anyone having the Society’s literature was to turn it in. If one was caught with the literature, it would mean three months in prison. Brother Murray related that on one occasion he was told to bring all the literature down to the police station. He told them that it was not his property, and that if they wanted it, they would have to come and collect it from his house. They never came.

Brother Murray further recalls that the brothers at that time misunderstood the ban to be on the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses and not just on the literature. Due to this misunderstanding, there was a marked decrease in the activity of the brothers in the field during that time. For the year 1946 there were only three publishers reporting. The preaching work dropped to its lowest point since its beginning.

MISSIONARIES STIMULATE THE WORK

Shortly afterward, the witnessing work was reinvigorated. On March 1, 1947, Brother Murray stood expectantly on the dock in Nassau awaiting the arrival of the ship Yarmouth, which had withstood the unusually severe winter voyage from New York. On board was a young woman by the name of Kathleen Fairweather, a graduate of the eighth class of Gilead School. She describes her arrival: “Dazed and a little debilitated, I stared at the serene blue waters of Nassau harbor. Blue skies, white clouds, clear jade- and emerald-green waters all bathed in brilliant sunshine​—what a contrast to the angry Atlantic Ocean! A man in a khaki government uniform came forward and introduced himself as Brother D. O. Murray.”

Also on board that ship were George and Nancy Porter of the same eighth class of Gilead School. Sister Porter recalls: “The first meeting we went to is something I do not think we will ever forget. There were about nine or ten present. Brother Murray was chairman and opened with a prayer, thanking Jehovah for the arrival of the missionaries. Help was needed, he said, and ‘we have prayed for assistance for so long.’ Brooklyn had promised to send help, and now we were here. The prayer was so touching that it made us feel that we wanted to stay and never wanted to leave.”

At this first meeting, arrangements were made for field service. Sister Mae Royal was there and she recalls: “Much of the meeting was spent demonstrating better methods of doing the house-to-house work. In fact, the first two weeks were spent largely in helping the brothers to improve their door-to-door witnessing. The first territory we worked as a group was directly across the street from the meeting place. Sister Gregory and I called on a house at the corner of King and Market streets. I prayed that no one would answer the door. Much to my consternation the door swung open and the man’s gaze went past me to Sister Gregory, whom he recognized. He smiled broadly. It was all I needed to give me the courage to start. This was after I had been associating with the small group for six years. We needed help and appreciated it.”

At the first Memorial celebration after the arrival of the missionaries there were 23 persons in attendance. Among them was Gilead graduate Frieda Pulver, who had arrived as a partner for Sister Fairweather.

PETITION TO THE GOVERNOR

Within weeks the missionaries received shocking news. A letter from Immigration Officer P. S. Brice informed them that they must “arrange to leave the Colony forthwith.”

“On the advice of a lawyer, we worked on a petition to the governor, our only means of appeal,” stated one of the missionaries. “With the local Witnesses, we organized to get as many signatures as possible in the six days left to us. We went to as many homes as possible each day, explaining the situation, reading the petition to them and obtaining signatures. We were well received as a whole, and many people expressed indignation that those who preached the Word of God were being put out. All together we obtained over 2,400 signatures. Then we submitted the petition to the colonial secretary through whom it would go to the governor. The colonial secretary, a Welshman named Evans, was offhandedly reassuring. Before very long we heard the results​—we could stay!”

So now it was “on with the work”! The group of 3 publishers active at the beginning of the year grew to 27 by August 1947. The seeds of truth had begun to bear fruit as some of those studying with the missionaries began to take their stand for Jehovah’s Kingdom. Among these “firstfruits” were Rowena Bowe, Corda Archer, Harry Petty, Rosa Mallory, Naomi Johnson, J. H. Johnson, Wellington Bain, Jeraldine Fernander and others.

A NEW ERA DAWNS

In 1948 a new era dawned for the preaching work. This was the result of a new means to reach every corner of the Caribbean with the good news​—the Society’s missionary boat Sibia. This boat was to visit all the islands of the Caribbean that had no one active in preaching the good news. The Sibia’s first stop was the Bahamas. This 60-foot schooner, a floating missionary home, had a crew of four: Gust Maki (captain and navigator), Arthur Worsley (missionary home overseer), Stanley Carter and Ronald Parkin. Even today many have vivid memories of the visit by the Sibia. Gust Maki recalled: “In December 1948 four of us on the Society’s boat arrived in Nassau harbor. We wanted to see the four missionaries and the faithful publishers in Nassau. I recall that there was a fine, zealous pioneer sister who had done much Kingdom preaching in many of the islands.” This would be the sister from Jamaica, Rachel Gregory, now deceased, whose daughter, Alma, is still serving as a faithful Kingdom publisher with her family in Jamaica.

THE SIBIA SAILS TO THE OUT ISLANDS

The brothers on the Sibia spent considerable time on the island of Eleuthera. They also visited Andros, Abaco, Bimini, Cat Island, Long Island, Harbour Island, the Exumas, the Inaguas and Rum Cay. Some of the 3,278 pieces of literature they placed found their way into almost every home the brothers went to, although there were many settlements that they were unable to reach. Brother Arthur Worsley, who was in charge of the boat’s missionary activities, related:

“Preaching in the islands was so refreshing. With the nine-foot draft of the Sibia, shallow water was sometimes a handicap, but we went to all of the larger islands, though at times our keel barely cleared the bottom. It was quite commonplace for someone with whom literature had been placed to ask if he could continue along with us and carry our bag. They were so delighted with what they learned that sometimes, before we could even begin our own presentation, they would start telling about the books. In many instances, books were placed at the insistence of the individual who had come along with us. I remember, too, their beautiful way of acknowledging our introduction, saying: ‘Thank you, Sir, and may it please God we be strangers no longer.’

“The people on some of the islands were very poor, and on the island of Bimini one man obtained a whole carton of Bibles because they were only one dollar each, and he felt that no one should be without a Bible. He then gave them out with the kind suggestion that they be paid for, a few cents at a time, whenever the person could spare them. One man had several of our books but did not have enough money for the Bible, so I gave him one and made the gift acceptable by saying: ‘You can send me the money whenever you have it.’ A year later I received a letter from him, thanking me for the Bible and enclosing a dollar.

“Some people still had cherished copies of the Society’s literature dating back to The Harp of God. They were delighted to know that the books being presented were published by the same organization. Many proved by their conversation that they had digested much of the information they had read.

“Sometimes whole families would be out in the fields when we called, but, after coming home and seeing the Bibles and books of their friends, they would be waiting at the dock early next morning to get some for themselves. Some would come out to our boat and bring little gifts of fish, fruit or coconuts, for which we always gave them extra reading matter.

“The public meetings were difficult to arrange in some places and quite easy in others. In many instances it simply meant getting up and speaking. These talks were given in schools, churches, private homes, stores, barrooms, at docks, under trees​—whenever there was an opportunity, many times without the benefit of lights or notes. It was quite often difficult to get the people to disperse after the talk, and many seemed never to have enough. We regretted that we could not spend more time with them.

“Frequently, while coming home from a long hard day in the service, we would have the pleasure of hearing people reading aloud to themselves as we passed by their small dwellings. Many of them would call to us and express their pleasure with the book and thank us again for calling on them.

“A great deal of literature had been placed in the major islands, and many friends had been made because of the truth, so we were all very sad at the thought of having to leave. There was much more work to do; in fact, our boat could not approach some of the islands because of the shallow water. But the hurricane season was due, and the Bahamian waters were so shallow that there would be few places for the nine-foot-draft Sibia to find shelter. So, after seven months of most enjoyable preaching, we set our course for the Virgin Islands.”

INCREASE DESPITE CLERGY REACTION

All this preaching activity caused great distress to the religious leaders. One religious leader could not suffer in silence any longer, and so he made this plea in The Parish News, a portion of which reads:

“I am a little disturbed by the people who have come to sow seeds of dissension in the parish. They are called Jehovah’s Witnesses. Please be careful and firmly reject the doctrines of these people. They no doubt will tell you that what we are teaching you is wrong, yet good church people receive these people in their homes and let them try to explain their own book to them. Remember that the church existed long before the Bible. . . . Any time you want to know anything that you do not understand please consult your parish priest. He will put you right. Do not listen to the people who do not know what they are talking about.”

The facts show that the “good” people of the Bahamas were more inclined to listen to the truth of the Bible than to take to heart the frightened cry of The Parish News. As proof of this, the average number of publishers in the Bahamas grew from 33 to 52, a 58-percent increase in one year. The attendance at the Memorial was 112​—more than twice that of the previous year.

MORE BOATS TO EXPAND THE WITNESS

In 1954 two other boats were used to cover the islands of the Bahamas. The Kirkwood II went to Andros, Berry Islands, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera. The Faith went south to the Exumas, Long Island and Cat Island. On board Kirkwood II was its owner, Arthur Hill, Sr., also Jack and Nettie Copple, the Porters, Bill Prince, Dick Ryde and Kay Fairweather. No small number of hardships were encountered in preaching to the people living on the islands, but the joyful response of many humble persons more than compensated.

For example, Nancy Porter describes their method of covering Eleuthera: “They put Kay Fairweather, my husband and me off at Hatchet Bay close to the north end, and then the boat went to the southern end over 60 miles away where Dick Ryde and Bill Prince disembarked. We met three or four weeks later at Palmetto Point.”

But where did they stay each night? “People in those days,” she explained, “opened up their homes and appreciated the message and our visits. There was a very kind man living at Palmetto Point who put his home at our disposal. The boat had gone on to another island, and when the brothers finished there, they returned and picked us up.”

Sister Fairweather had also been aboard the Faith on a trip to the southern islands. She shares some of their experiences with us: “The first landfall that we sighted after leaving Nassau was Bell Island in the Exuma chain, and six of us went ashore in the dinghy, anxious to get started after a day and a half on the boat. There turned out to be only two small palmetto-thatched houses there, with just three people and these were almost illiterate. However, some literature was left, and we proceeded to other cays.

“On a typical day two would be left on the boat, and the other eight would pile into the dinghy and go ashore. Two groups would be formed to go in opposite directions and would call at every house, proceeding away from the boat. A halt would be called at lunchtime for a half-hour break, and then it was back to the field. Since we placed much literature, each of us carried two bags. The people seldom had the opportunity to buy anything to read. By nightfall we might be many miles from the boat.

“Then we had to retrace our steps in as direct a way as possible back to the boat, which was anchored up to half a mile offshore because of the shallows. We had a loud whistle to blow to signal the boat. A dinghy would then push off from the boat, and we would climb aboard for the trip back. This was often a wet ride, as the dinghy was usually overloaded. Tired, not to say exhausted, we had something to eat, and then we went to bed.”

Through much effort, expense and time the Kingdom good news was reaching people of the Out Islands.

BROTHER KNORR’S FIRST VISIT TO THE BAHAMAS

In December 1950, the then president of the Watch Tower Society, N. H. Knorr, and his secretary, M. G. Henschel, made their first visit to the Bahamas. Brother Knorr delivered the discourse “Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth?” to 312 people packed into the meeting place they were using at that time, The Mothers’ Club Hall. Quite a few dignitaries of the town were present, including a member of parliament and the editor of one of the two daily newspapers. That night Brother Knorr announced the establishment of a branch office in the Bahamas. Shortly afterward Brother August Claude Blum, a British citizen and a graduate of the 16th class of Gilead School, was appointed to be branch overseer. During this visit arrangements were made for organizing the circuit work. Also the first Bahamian special pioneer, Harold E. Clarke, was appointed and sent to Andros.

DISSENSION BREAKS OUT

One of the characteristics of the subtropics is that the weather can change suddenly. The day can begin cloudless, sunny and blue, and without warning thick, great clouds can cover the sky, producing torrential rains. Similarly the bright and optimistic spirit enjoyed by the brothers at the end of 1950 was soon overshadowed by regression caused by dissension. This brought about a polarizing of the brothers into two camps. To help restore unity among the brothers, the Society sent John Jones, a Canadian of the 18th class of Gilead School, to the Bahamas to serve as branch overseer. During this period of difficulty there was a decrease in the work so that from an average of 110 publishers in 1951 there was a decline to 92.

True, the brothers in Nassau had been shaken somewhat by the trials they had endured. But, in the final analysis, their faith had been strengthened. The most pressing need now seemed to be to add impetus to the work in the Out Islands. While the brothers on the boats had been doing a fine job of distributing literature, there was a need for more permanence in the settlements. This need was met to some extent in 1954 with the arrival of four new missionaries from the 23rd class of Gilead School.

THE WORK DEVELOPS IN ELEUTHERA

Two of the new missionaries, Arthur “Bud” Hill and his wife, Shirley, were assigned to the island of Eleuthera. This name means “freedom” and is derived from the Eleutheran Adventurers, a band of English Puritans who left Bermuda in search of freedom; they were dissatisfied with religious conditions, and in 1648 they established a colony on the island.

One of the persons that the missionaries soon found was Mrs. Angie Rankin at Governor’s Harbour. She had shown interest when called on earlier by Kay Fairweather in Nassau. Her response to Bible truth was immediate, and so was opposition from her father, who escorted her to the Anglican church of which he was a catechist. She refused to participate in the ritual, and due to this suffered much abuse from her family and husband.

Brother Hill relates: “Shirley had to study with her under a tree because neither we nor any of our literature was allowed in the house. She progressed to dedication and has been able to bear up under continued opposition for many years.” She has served as an auxiliary pioneer a number of times and today is one of the diligent proclaimers of the good news with the Rock Sound Congregation.

If you look at the map of Eleuthera you can see that it is very long but narrow, so narrow that at one place the waves of the ocean often wash completely over, with no connecting road. From this point north the brothers would walk in order to work the settlements.

In one of these settlements, The Bluff, a lady showed interest. She was a Sunday-school teacher, and her husband was the Church of God minister and very opposed, even to the point of forbidding the Witnesses to enter his property. The study had to be conducted outside the fence, and, finally, she took her stand for the truth. The small community was very disturbed when she left the church. Now that she had become a Witness she wanted to share in the house-to-house work, but the neighbors would not invite her in nor give her a hearing. What could she do?

She took her book bag and walked all around the various streets so everyone could see her, and she also talked to anyone she met. Thus she witnessed. Now 17 years later Sister Lula Hudson is still active and often serves as an auxiliary pioneer. Jehovah has blessed her faithfulness, and she has been able to help four persons to dedication and baptism. As yet there is not a congregation in her area. Her husband now listens to the message of truth and is pleased to have visiting Witnesses stay in his home.

PIONEERING AT ROCK SOUND

Brother and Sister Harold Clarke volunteered to take up a pioneer assignment at Rock Sound, Eleuthera. Brother Clarke relates: “It was in February 1962 that we landed at Rock Sound and were happy to meet the two missionaries, Bud and Shirley Hill. Since the Hills were now preparing to be parents, it was necessary for them to move to Nassau, where there was better opportunity for Brother Hill to find employment. To keep ourselves spiritually strong, we set about organizing meetings in the Rock Sound area, going over all the assigned meeting parts. Since the people showing interest lived on the southern tip of Eleuthera, 30 miles away, how would we get them to the meetings?

“Our first means of transportation was a tiny English Hillman car. Sometimes there were up to 13 persons squeezed into the small car, and I would be driving with some of the little ones sitting on my shoulders.

“It took real faith that Jehovah would provide for us in his service. Sometimes our funds would run out. I recall that on one Friday the car was completely out of gas, and we were due to go 35 miles to conduct a study with an interested family in Governor’s Harbour. My wife suggested that I telephone them and tell them that we were unable to come. But I decided to wait for a little while. I went to check my post office box for letters. There was a letter from a Polish sister in New York whom we had met during the 1963 convention. After reading the letter, I noted at the bottom a P.S., which read: ‘Enclosed you will find $5 which you might need for gas.’ I went home overjoyed and off we went to our Bible study.”

A BRUSH WITH DEATH

You would think that on a quiet subtropical island the last thing you would have to concern yourself with would be the threat of death for faithful service. Yet the Clarkes faced such a test from a most unexpected quarter. Brother Clarke continues:

“Once while we were at the dining table in our home someone shot at us through the window. Although I saw nothing but a car disappearing around the corner, I learned several days later that a former brother had taken a shot at us. In fact, he admitted that on several occasions he had aimed his gun at us but could not pull the trigger. Not realizing that this idea was still in his mind, we visited his home some time later to see his sick child, since the rest of the family was still in the truth. What we did not know was that before he had gone to sleep he had said that if I came there, I was not to enter his house or he would kill me. We went into the house and I even went into the room where he was sleeping but did not disturb him, and apparently Jehovah allowed him to continue sleeping. When he awoke and found out that we had been there, he jumped into his car and came speeding to catch us.

“About four miles down the road I said to my wife: ‘Let’s turn off and check a plot of onions.’ We later appreciated that this must have been by Jehovah’s direction. He continued on to Rock Sound, went to our house, found no one and then went to the police station where they took away his gun. After we arrived home the sergeant came and told us what had happened. We reflected on the 23rd Psalm as we appreciated Jehovah’s loving care and how he protects those who are serving him.”

The same congregation continues to thrive, and all were delighted recently to move into a newly constructed Kingdom Hall. This is the second Kingdom Hall that the brothers have built in Rock Sound and represents Jehovah’s blessing on their hard work and self-sacrificing spirit. Brother Clarke serves as a member of the Bahamas Branch Committee.

SPIRITUAL PROGRESS IN GRAND BAHAMA

About 50 miles off the Florida coast lies the country’s fourth-largest island, Grand Bahama, which is the site of the giant Freeport industrial-residential-resort complex. Freeport is only a small portion of this flat island, whose pine forests have supported lumbering operations for some years. While the Hills were getting settled in Eleuthera, their fellow graduates, American Gordon Swisher and New Zealander William Mayer, were using their ingenuity to adapt to their first exposure to the then undeveloped island. On arrival they found three interested persons, Henrietta Pinder, Mrs. Barr and one other, who formed the nucleus of what would become the congregation. One can certainly admire the true pioneer spirit of these two missionaries as they put personal comfort secondary to bringing the good news to these humble people.

After about two years they were reassigned to Nassau, where Brother Swisher became the new branch overseer to replace John Jones, whose departure became necessary for health reasons, and Brother Mayer became the islands’ first circuit overseer. In their place Brother Charles Anderson served as a special pioneer. In 1956, the year of his appointment, the congregation consisted of six adults and two children. They met in a dance hall belonging to one of the local sisters. Shortly thereafter the congregation was blessed with other pioneers.

By 1961 tremendous industrial expansion was going on in Grand Bahama. The government of the Bahamas had granted permission to developers to create a city that would become a free port to attract industry and duty-free shoppers. Almost overnight a modern metropolis materialized out of what had been, up to that time, mainly pine forest.

Among the thousands attracted by opportunities that this created were many brothers from other parts of the Bahamas and all parts of the world. Soon the small Kingdom Hall that was built in Eight Mile Rock was too small. In this congregation of cosmopolitan character many skills were then represented among the brothers. So in 1972 they constructed a Kingdom Hall that was truly a credit to Jehovah’s name. It is one of the most tastefully designed meeting places of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Bahamas.

Since that time the original concept of Freeport has undergone great changes. The government of the Bahamas has made its presence felt to a much greater degree, and the city has become largely Bahamian in character. The thriving congregations in Freeport and Eight Mile Rock are today less cosmopolitan but certainly no less active in getting the good news preached to the inhabitants of Grand Bahama.

THE KINGDOM WORK STARTS IN ACKLINS

To explain how the Kingdom work got started in one of the most southeasterly islands of the Bahamas, you would have to understand the common Bahamian expression “going on contract.” In the years immediately after World War II, there was a shortage of manpower in the southern United States to service the fruit-growing industry. To fill the need, a recruiting drive was launched in the Bahamas to attract Bahamian labor primarily for fruit picking. Bahamians would sign a contract to work for a certain period. Thus the expression developed “going on contract.”

In 1951 Wilbert Cox of Acklins was one of these contract workers. He had never heard of Jehovah’s Witnesses while in the Bahamas, as very few boats had penetrated to his area of the island at Snug Corner. The Witnesses contacted him in Florida, and he was impressed by the hope of living forever on the earth, and also by the fact that the brothers would drive the six miles back and forth to the migrant labor camp to help him get to the meetings. After three months he lost contact with the Witnesses because he was transferred to another part of Florida. But in 1954 he was contacted again at Deland, Florida, and this time he took the initiative to ride a bus 30 miles to the meetings. The brothers would help him to return.

In 1955 he went back to his home island of Acklins as a baptized Witness full of zeal and optimism, anxious to share the truth with the people of his island. In the 29 years since then, no one on Acklins has taken a stand for the truth except his own family. This is in spite of the fact that his exemplary conduct and Christian neutrality have earned for him the reputation of being “the only true minister of God in Acklins”!

ANOTHER CONTRACT WORKER LEARNS THE TRUTH

Another Bahamian contract worker, Thomas Dawkins, learned the truth in a similar way. Thomas was a staunch member of the Gospel Hall religion in the Bahamas, and he did almost everything possible to avoid speaking to the Witnesses. When on contract in Florida, he always tried to avoid having a conversation with the Witnesses. Early one morning he went out to get some fresh air, and as he was sitting on an old orange crate outside the home where the workers lived, a Witness approached. Thomas was still in his pajamas. As soon as he spotted the sister coming, he tried to get inside the house, but in his haste to flee, his pajamas caught on a nail in the orange crate and were badly torn. Too embarrassed now to scurry away and with the Witness so close, he felt constrained to sit on the crate and listen to the Kingdom message. To his surprise he found the information interesting, and a Bible study was arranged. He began attending meetings and in time was baptized. Years later, Brother Dawkins and his wife moved to Marsh Harbour, Abaco, to give support to the small group that had been formed into a congregation in 1971.

FIRST KINGDOM HALL IN THE BAHAMAS

But let us go back to the year 1954 and to the capital, Nassau, on the island where two thirds of the population reside. Here the brothers were working hard on the first Kingdom Hall in the Bahamas. A unique arrangement provided the funds to build this hall. Brother Gus Gravas, a Greek brother from Florida, visited the Bahamas to witness to Greek-speaking people in Nassau. While in Nassau he was moved by the brothers’ need for a permanent meeting place. So he arranged to send them regular shipments of used clothing. The brothers sold the clothing and the funds were applied to the building program.

How delighted the brothers were that, within a year, they were able to purchase two lots at 500 pounds (about $1,400 U.S.) each, in Centreville, a prime location for a new hall! Although this financial arrangement came to an end when the government banned the importation of used clothing, the Society made a loan so that the brothers were able to complete their Kingdom Hall. It was on this site in 1958 that the brothers constructed the branch office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, as well as a missionary home. Two Canadian brothers, Hall Olson and Albert McBrine, who had come to serve where the need was greater, became the backbone of the construction project. At the same time that the Centreville Kingdom Hall was taking shape, another Kingdom Hall was being constructed on Quakoo Street, on a piece of land donated by Brother and Sister Blackman.

FURTHER EFFORTS TO REACH THE OUT ISLANDS

In 1960 Gordon Swisher, who had been the branch overseer up to that time, left to get married, and the Society appointed George Jenkins as his replacement. The following year saw two noteworthy events, the visit of M. G. Henschel in February and the “United Worshipers” District Assembly, July 27-30. The historic site of the convention was the Royal Victoria Hotel, built in 1863 as the first major hotel in the Bahamas. The attendance rose to a peak of 800, far surpassing any previous gathering of the Witnesses in the Bahamas. During Brother Henschel’s visit the matter of doing more to reach the Out Islands with the good news was discussed. In response to the call for serving where the need was greater, Brother and Sister Porter volunteered, and they were assigned to Long Island, Bahamas, where they carried on missionary service for the next 11 years.

Brother Porter recalls: “To get all the interested people assembled in one location for the meetings on Sundays, we would start early in the morning and drive from where we lived almost to the ends of the island in both directions. By midnight we had driven over 200 miles, but it was worth it. For example, at 72 years of age, grandmother Ritchie, with whom we studied, shocked everyone in her settlement by witnessing boldly to the parish priest. Years later the grandchildren in this family moved to Nassau, took their stand for the truth and today two of the boys are elders.”

The small congregation that now has its Kingdom Hall at Glintons continues to give the Kingdom witness to the people of Long Island.

THE SOUTHERNMOST ISLAND OF INAGUA

Inagua, the southernmost island in the Bahamas, is home for thousands of pink-plumed flamingos, the national bird of the country. They are protected in a special wildlife preserve. But what had been done to reach the people of this out island with the good news?

In 1960 Brother and Sister Robert Perrin were sent to Inagua as special pioneers. They found the people extremely receptive, and within a short time they were conducting some 20 Bible studies a week. Needless to say, this disturbed the religious leaders on the island, and so they exerted pressure on the local government representative. Within a year the clergy succeeded in having the Perrins deported. Since then, special pioneers have been sent to the island on several occasions. The result has always been the same: Many Bible studies are conducted and many subscriptions obtained, but it has not been possible for any Witness to settle there.

BRANCH CHANGES

To improve the operation of the branches worldwide, the Society invited branch overseers to attend a ten-month course at Gilead School. Brother George Jenkins had the privilege of attending this course during 1962, at the conclusion of which he and his wife were reassigned to Costa Rica. One of his classmates, Emil H. Van Daalen (earlier a graduate of Gilead School’s first class), who had been serving in Puerto Rico, was appointed to be the new branch overseer in the Bahamas. From that time until they were reassigned to the southern United States in December 1981, Brother Van Daalen did a great deal to encourage the brothers to work the Out Islands. The brothers responded, as is indicated by the following experience related by Brother Van Daalen:

“One of the problems in the Bahamas is that of reaching the people that live on the Out Islands, especially on the small out-of-the-way cays. To solve this problem, the brothers put forth diligent efforts, such as they did in August 1966, when six brothers traveled over the open seas 60 miles in two 15-foot outboard motorboats to the small island of Grand Cay, where about 200 people live. It is not known whether anyone had ever visited this island with the message of truth before. The circuit overseer reported: ‘Literature was left in almost every home. The people proved to be very friendly, even offering to lead us to the next house and introduce us.’ On the way back one of the motors stopped and the boat had to be towed, but the brothers felt well rewarded in spite of the danger involved.”

“A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE”

Summing up his many years of Kingdom service in these picturesque islands, Brother Van Daalen wrote: “Serving in the Bahamas proved to be a wonderful experience. My wife, Bettyjane, and I found that the people there are friendly, religiously inclined and tolerant. They are willing to spend time discussing the Bible.

“During the 18 years that my wife and I were in the Bahamas, the Kingdom-preaching work made fine progress because of our heavenly Father’s blessing. Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known in the islands, and many fine brothers and sisters are expending themselves to search out the humble sheeplike ones while there is yet time. We are sure that Jehovah will move the hearts of others to assist where there is need.”

BROTHERS WITH BOATS RENDER ASSISTANCE

In the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s brothers from the United States again visited the Bahamas. They worked under the direction of the branch office and used boats to reach the widely scattered islands and cays. Among them were Richard and Ilona Farris and their four children; Eddie and Gary Irons; Jack and Ethel Miller and three children; Joe and Dorothy Miller and two boys; Allen and Betty Doe, and the Walters family. The Farris family went down to the island of Mayaguana, where they were able to assist Susanna Ford and her sister, Angie, to the point of their being baptized. Up to that time the interested people on Mayaguana had been helped by correspondence Bible studies conducted by Sister Fairweather in Nassau. The work in the Bahamas by the Farris family was cut short by the untimely death of Richard Farris. Several years later, however, the remainder of the family was able to return on their boat to Andros to witness on that island with Allen and Betty Doe. The Millers worked at South Andros (later transferring to Grand Bahama), and the Irons at Cat Island.

Before leaving for the Bahamas, Allen and Betty Doe constructed a trimaran sailboat because its shallow draft was very suitable for the “islands of the shallow sea.” Life was not always easy on a boat. Sometimes the weather would not cooperate. For example, a circuit assembly was scheduled in December 1972 at Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Allen Doe tells us about their trip from Morgan’s Bluff, Andros, to Marsh Harbour, Abaco:

“The weather started out absolutely beautiful​—sunny with a 10-15 knot breeze from the southeast. Suddenly a black line of clouds appeared in the northwest. The unexpected storm hit with fury. We turned the boat around and headed for a small indentation, called Hole in the Wall, in the shoreline at the southeast corner of Abaco Island. The wind turned to the northeast and increased to at least 50 knots. The waves in the anchorage became eight feet high, pounding the boat mercilessly while we were anchored. At ten that night one of the anchor lines snapped like a piece of string. We were soaked from the waves crashing over the boat. We learned the true meaning of the scripture ‘pray incessantly.’

“When the morning dawned, we decided to brave the ocean rather than stay in that anchorage. It was good that we did because the only remaining anchor line was almost chafed through. But at first we were not sure that we had made the right decision​—the seas were 30 feet high! The boat rode them well, surfing down the huge seas. Soon we were in the lee of the island and reached a safe harbor at Sandy Point. But we were still 50 miles from the assembly at Marsh Harbour. The roads were flooded from the storm, so we had to wait several days until the water subsided.

“Then we rode our little motorcycle to the assembly. We had to stop and wade through water up to our knees at least four times before reaching the assembly site on Sunday afternoon​—just in time for the public talk! How happy we were to be with our brothers and sisters and how happy they were to see us, for they had feared that we were lost at sea! Many brothers were not able to attend, but, thankfully, no brothers were injured or killed.”

THE LARGEST ISLAND

Andros is the giant of the Bahamas, being over 40 miles wide and 100 miles long. From 1950 onward special pioneers have done much good in preaching to the humble people of this island. For several years, following up the fine work of Jack Miller and his family, the southern part of Andros was the assignment for a group of pioneers that, at various times, included Yvonne Dean, Shirley Corsey, Donna Schorer and Debbie Sands. Sister Sands had been preparing to join a convent as a nun when she learned the truth through her brother. Although very young, she exhibited the same zeal for true worship that she had shown in her former religion. Through the combined efforts of these pioneers many have learned the truth, but they have generally moved to other areas. Today there are scattered pockets of publishers along the length of the eastern shore.

REACHING BIMINI WITH THE GOOD NEWS

East of Miami, in the Straits of Florida, is the island group of Bimini. Though the brothers on the Sibia preached to the people there, how did those people receive a witness in more recent times? A group of brothers from the Fort Lauderdale area used an airplane to travel back and forth to the island to carry on the ministry there. Brother Dean Tarbert rented and flew the plane. Though no congregation was formed, the people received a thorough witness, and interest was found. It just awaits further watering, and Jehovah will make it grow.

AN INCOMPARABLE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

In every part of Jehovah’s international organization, conventions have figured prominently in the gathering and training of his people. In the Bahamas no convention has yet eclipsed the 1971 “Divine Name” District Assembly held at Arawak Cay. It has been the only official international convention held here. Finding a facility that was reasonable in price and yet adequate for the expected influx of foreign visitors was a challenge. The brothers solved the problem by renting a 400- by 40-foot newly constructed customs warehouse standing on a man-made island in Nassau harbor. To turn this place into a convention center required the brothers to improvise as they had never done before.

Imagine the setting: The convention delegates sat in this long, narrow hall, with cooling sea breezes, listening to a discourse given by a speaker standing against the backdrop of Nassau harbor with majestic cruise ships tied up at the dock. With the influx of over 1,500 delegates from all over the world, the 409 local Witnesses thrilled to host 2,036 for the public talk.

CIRCUIT VOYAGES

The first circuit overseer, Bill Mayer, traveled by mail boat to visit and encourage the brothers in all corners of the islands. Although the waters of the Bahamas are renowned the world over for their clarity and beauty, this may not always have been appreciated by a seasick circuit overseer on a cargo-laden, creaking workboat, reeking of diesel oil, with 270 miles yet to go on the voyage.

After Brother Mayer married and eventually returned to New Zealand, a zealous young American brother came to the islands as a tourist, fell in love with them and decided to combine the two things he loved most, preaching the good news and being near the water. Within a short time Brother Ronald Deaumler was appointed as circuit overseer. He married soon thereafter and was accompanied on his circuit voyages by his wife, Helen, until they were invited to Gilead School and assigned to Ecuador.

The first Bahamian circuit overseer was Brother Allison Dean, a grandson of J. H. Johnson and one of about 40 members of that family now in the truth. After marrying Canadian Betty Jean McDonald who was serving as a special pioneer, he continued serving the congregations. Today they have a family, and Brother Dean serves as a member of the Branch Committee.

Another local brother, Frederick Lord, and his wife, Gloria, took up the circuit work until Canadian missionary Steven Ray replaced him in April 1974. Presently the congregations are being served by missionary Anthony Reed who had served five years at Brooklyn Bethel. Burleigh and Alice McKee were transferred from Antigua to the Bahamas, arriving in May 1981, to continue missionary work, and Brother McKee serves as coordinator for the Branch Committee.

WORKERS NEEDED

The Exuma cays and islands extend for 140 miles, beginning at a point some 40 miles southeast of Nassau. Here live 3,670 people. Cat Island to the north has a population of another 2,000, and there are San Salvador and other smaller islands that are populated but are not being worked on a regular basis. There is need here for persons who are well grounded in the truth and who have an independent income, to move to these areas to help spread the good news. It may be a practical arrangement for brothers on two or three boats to make regular visits to the islands where the population is small and where little or no witnessing is done. Is there anyone who can meet the above requirements and respond?

EXCELLENT FUTURE PROSPECTS

From that small beginning in 1926 when Brother and Sister Edward McKenzie came to the Bahamas from Jamaica to spread the comforting message of God’s Kingdom, there has been fine progress. There are now more than 600 very active proclaimers of the good news in the Bahamas. With 2,244 in attendance at the 1984 Memorial, the future is full of excellent prospects. We here in the “islands of the shallow sea” look forward to further increase that will bring more praise to our God Jehovah.

[Footnotes]

[Map on page 226]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

the BAHAMAS

Grand Cay

Little Abaco

Grand Bahama

West End

Freeport

Eight Mile Rock

Bimini

Great Abaco

Marsh Harbour

Sandy Point

Hole in the Wall

Harbour Island

Eleuthera

The Bluff

Hatchet Bay

Governor’s Harbour

Palmetto Point

Rock Sound

Berry Islands

Morgan’s Bluff

New Providence

Nassau

The Exuma Cays

Andros Island

Cat Island

San Salvador

Rum Cay

Long Island

The Exumas

Crooked Island

Acklins Island

Snug Corner

Mayaguana

Little Inagua

Great Inagua

ATLANTIC OCEAN

[Picture on page 232]

The first four missionaries to the Bahamas: Nancy Porter, George Porter, Kathleen Fairweather and Frieda Pulver

[Picture on page 239]

To reach the Bahamian islands with the good news, this floating missionary home, the schooner Sibia, was used

[Picture on page 250]

Kingdom Hall, Centreville, Nassau, built in 1954. Behind it is the branch office and missionary home, built in 1958

[Picture on page 255]

This trimaran sailboat was used in preaching the good news on Andros and other islands

[Picture on page 257]

Allen and Betty Doe on their motorcycle

Yeartext for 1985

“Fully accomplish your ministry.”​—2 Tim. 4:5.

All of us who have dedicated our lives to Jehovah as his witnesses have been assigned a share in the ministry of the Word of God. We are eager to be “at this ministry,” as counseled by our fellow witness Paul. (Rom. 12:7) And what a fine privilege and responsibility this is! Given the unique time in which we live, the rapid developments leading to the greatest crisis in human affairs, and the urgent need for a warning and a hope for survival to be extended to people, we alone have the information that can turn many to righteousness. So being “at this ministry” means shedding abroad at every opportunity the light of Kingdom truth.​—Dan. 12:3.

Each of the prophets and apostles was a faithful minister of Jehovah. Jeremiah’s long and loyal service comes to mind. No threat or persecution brought upon him by enemies of the truth could divert him from his commission to witness to great and small. Ezekiel, for his part, demonstrated a readiness to do anything that Jehovah commanded, regardless of what ridicule it brought upon him. (Jer. 1:18, 19; Ezek. 3:7-9) The apostle John continued active in a most unpopular cause and through many trials that culminated in the privilege of writing down the words of the glorified Christ. (Rev. 1:9-11) Others, listed in Heb chapter 11 of the letter to the Hebrews, gave undeniable testimony to their faithfulness in the ministry by enduring trials patiently.

And now, what about Jehovah’s Witnesses in this year 1985? Neither smug indifference on the part of many nor harassment and obstacles placed in our way by religious and political enemies of truth shall we allow to interfere with the work that has been assigned us by the Most High over all the earth. We know that our God calls for self-sacrifice, for setting aside our own selfish will and any personal ambitions we at one time might have entertained. Our foremost reason for living today is to put the interests of God’s Kingdom and its proclamation first. We keep in mind the apostle Paul’s excellent advice, namely, to “keep watching the ministry which you accepted in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”​—Col. 4:17.

Thus, Jehovah’s people move forward into another year in which our God has provided yet a little more time for ‘the desirable ones of all the nations’ to heed his message and find safety in the theocratic organization. (Hag. 2:7) This great work deserves all the time and effort we can muster, for it is truly life giving.

We know that ours is a precious ministry, a privilege never to be repeated, one that involves God’s holy name and the possibility of everlasting life for fearers of Jehovah. So the words of the apostle must be uppermost in our minds: “Fully accomplish your ministry.”​—2 Tim. 4:5.