“TRUST in Jehovah with all your heart.” That is the timely Scriptural reminder that was set before us by our yeartext for 1994. (Prov. 3:5) And reports received from around the world show that Jehovah’s servants took it to heart.

Such trust was manifested when arrangements were made for a district convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gbarnga, Liberia, the stronghold of one of Liberia’s main warring factions. There were scores of brothers and sisters in this area, and because of the war, many had not attended any convention for four years. To reach Gbarnga, brothers from the branch office would have to cross the front line, but the road was officially closed. After taking the matter in prayer to Jehovah, the brothers requested special passes. With only a few days to spare, these were granted. There were 17 checkpoints between Monrovia and the front line. When the heavily laden “Watch Tower Relief” pickup pulled up at the checkpoints, the Nigerian soldiers manning them asked for copies of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines.

In Gbarnga, back in 1963, hundreds of conventioners, including Milton Henschel, who is now a member of the Governing Body and the president of the Watch Tower Society, had been arrested over the flag-salute issue. This time the authorities upheld the right of the Witnesses to assemble peaceably. The 651 in attendance at the Gbarnga convention, most of whom were displaced and refugee brothers and sisters, were delighted with the fine program. And how happy they were to receive the relief supplies that the brothers from Monrovia had brought with them! The success of that convention was proof to the brothers that “no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14.

Similar trust was manifested on the island of Lifou in the South Pacific by brothers who did not retaliate when the clergy instigated local authorities to ban their meetings or when they were beaten for witnessing to others. (Rom. 12:17-19) Recently, the situation has improved, and our brothers are grateful to be able to witness more freely. Trust in Jehovah was demonstrated by an 11-year-old Witness in Myanmar who kept in mind Ecclesiastes 12:1 and, as a result, was busy in the field service after school and on weekends, even conducting ten home Bible studies. It was also shown by a former Muslim activist in England who became a baptized servant of Jehovah in spite of severe opposition from his former religious associates.

Jehovah Is Truly Speeding It Up!

Long ago, through the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah foretold that, in the appointed time, He would speed up the ingathering of lovers of righteousness. (Isa. 60:22) The report for the past service year gives evidence that this is exactly what is taking place. There was a peak of 4,914,094 Witnesses, who set aside other interests to share in the work of Kingdom preaching. The average increase for the world was 5 percent. But increases of 20 percent or more were experienced in upwards of 20 lands, and increases of 10 percent or more in another 29 lands.

All together, the preaching of the good news is now being carried on in 232 lands and island groups. And it is being done with zeal. This past year, 1,096,065,354 hours were devoted to the field ministry, 400,393,880 return visits were made on interested persons, and, on an average, 4,701,357 Bible studies were conducted with individuals and groups. This yielded excellent fruitage to Jehovah’s praise, as 314,818 were baptized in obedience to Christ’s command regarding those who would become his disciples. (Matt. 28:19, 20) Said an elderly brother after watching the baptism of an international group of candidates in the northern Caucasus region of Russia: “What a wonderful bouquet God’s Son offered to his Father.”

A significant factor in the speeding up of the work is the number who adjust their affairs in order to share in the pioneer service. In many lands congregation publishers average ten hours or so in the field service each month, but auxiliary pioneers report six times that much, and regular pioneers do half as much again as the auxiliaries. No wonder the increase is often more rapid in areas where there are many pioneers. Last year, a peak of 869,917 worldwide shared in the various branches of pioneer service.

Among the full-time workers were 15,145 members of the global Bethel family. They help to provide literature, supervision, and other beneficial services in support of the worldwide work of Bible education. Of these, 5,082 serve at the world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and at nearby facilities. All of them are members of the Order of Special Full-Time Servants, a religious order that is devoted exclusively to the ministry.

The Memorial report for 1994 shows a total attendance of 12,288,917. This figure includes upwards of 7,000,000 who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses but who did not hold back from assembling with Jehovah’s servants and who have some interest in Bible truth. There is obviously much work that needs to be done to help them to get a clear understanding of the issues involved so that they can take their stand firmly on Jehovah’s side, if that is what their hearts move them to do. (Josh. 24:14, 15; Ps. 83:18) In some lands the Memorial attendance was five, six, or seven times as large as the number of Witnesses. That was true in Madagascar, Chad, and Central African Republic. In Liberia, despite civil war, two isolated publishers gathered 126 people for the Memorial. In Guyana an isolated group of 8 publishers reported an attendance of 867. Attendance in Togo increased 32 percent this year. In Russia the attendance was 55 percent over last year’s figure—a total of 128,049.

“Godly Fear” Conventions

A highlight of the year was the “Godly Fear” District Conventions. As never before, the significance of godly fear and how it should be manifested in our lives was brought into focus. The talks were encouraging, fortifying the conviction that none who continue to serve Jehovah loyally will have done so in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58) There was also a strong note of urgency. After a review of the Bible account of Lot and his family as well as his prospective sons-in-law, the point was made that ‘the faithful slave’ has not been joking when warning of the impending destruction of the present wicked system. (Compare Genesis 19:14, 24, 25.) Now is the time to take action with a view to survival. Attention was also directed to the showdown between Jehovah and Baal in the days of Elijah, and we were reminded: “An even bigger showdown than the one in Elijah’s day is coming . . . And only those unequivocally on Jehovah’s side will survive.”—1 Ki. 18:21-40.

After hearing the program, a convention chairman in Denmark wrote: “There was a strong feeling that the faithful ‘slave’ is really preparing us to go through the great tribulation. Now is the time to live with godly fear so that we can cope with future challenges.”

Joyful International Conventions

This service year also saw a number of special international conventions. These were held in the Orient, in South America, and in Africa.

Two conventions were scheduled for Hong Kong. An outstanding feature of these was the open display of enthusiasm and appreciation on the part of the 3,800 delegates who had come from 33 different countries. For many of the local publishers, this was their first personal contact with the international brotherhood. Language was no barrier as all freely mingled between sessions. Expressions of genuine brotherly affection contributed much to the spirit of warmth and joy.

There have been many tangible results of these international conventions. One woman who had resumed her Bible study just prior to the conventions was so moved by the love and unity of the international brotherhood that she determined to qualify as a publisher and has since been baptized. Another Bible student and his wife were so encouraged by what they saw and heard that the husband handed in his resignation to his employer because the overtime work he constantly had to do was preventing him from attending meetings. Shortly afterward, he qualified to be a publisher.

The arrival of thousands of delegates for the international convention in the Philippines caused quite a stir at the airport in Manila. Overheard was the conversation between two customs personnel. “Are these Protestant delegates?” asked one. “No,” replied the other, “these are Witnesses. They are the only group who can have the whites and the blacks together.”

Five stadiums in Manila were required in order to accommodate the convention. Many were the appreciative comments received from the delegates. A sister from England wrote: “We all speak about the love you showed to us, true love. I myself can’t stop speaking about the pleasantness of the Philippine friends. They are so warm and genuinely hospitable and hardworking in the ministry.”

This series of international conventions also included Chile and Colombia, in South America. The brothers in Chile made great efforts to be present at the convention in Santiago, traveling from as far south as Porvenir on the island Tierra del Fuego, from the northern city of Arica on the Peruvian border, and from distant Easter Island. Although this involved great economic sacrifice, how glad they were that they had not missed this memorable event! Can you imagine what it meant to publishers from isolated groups where from 10 to 15 meet? Here they were in a crowd of 80,891 delegates filling the National Stadium! Their hearts were in their throats. Oh, they had read about large conventions elsewhere, but they had never fully grasped what it means to be among so many brothers and sisters! One special pioneer felt so motivated by the program that he took nine vacation days to read and study the new Proclaimers book and was bubbling over with the information—so much so that he could not keep quiet but had to share points with others whenever possible.

The convention in Chile was followed by one in Colombia, where 3,000 delegates from 31 countries joined local Witnesses in Bogotá. Initially, the immigration officials were somewhat skeptical. After hearing that we expected 40,000 delegates, one official asked: “How many police to control the crowd?” “None,” we replied. We explained that in Chile there were 80,000 in attendance. “How many killed?” he asked. “None,” we said again. “I don’t believe it,” he responded. After the first delegations arrived and he saw that they were all well dressed and orderly, he said: “Now I understand why you don’t need police at your convention.”

At a hotel where 1,500 delegates stayed, the brothers got together in the evenings in the hotel lobby and sang Kingdom songs in several languages. The spirit of this warm international family was truly impressive to onlookers. At the close of the convention itself, the farewell waving of handkerchiefs, the interchanges of gifts, and, of course, the many tears after the closing song deeply moved those who were present. No one wanted to leave even long after the program had ended.

Two more international conventions were scheduled, for Kenya. Nearly 4,000 delegates came from 44 countries, swelling the total attendance to 17,875. The whole of Nairobi, as well as other parts of the country, was buzzing with excitement as the brothers displayed their lapel badges and witnessed informally.

In South Africa, four international conventions were held simultaneously—in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Pretoria. The combined attendance for the public lecture on Sunday was 75,312, and 1,360 were baptized. In addition, 20 smaller district conventions were held in South Africa and other lands served by the South Africa branch, thus more than doubling the above figures.

These conventions were special, as it was the first time that South Africa had had the opportunity to welcome so many delegates from other countries. Visitors came from 34 lands, including Japan, Britain, the United States, Suriname, and various parts of Europe. There were also two buses filled with joyful delegates from Zambia and one bus from Mozambique.

The various language groups met in separate halls. But between sessions they enjoyed associating and eating together. It was heartwarming to see people of different races talking excitedly, sharing little gifts, exchanging addresses, and hugging one another. Here was visible evidence of the foretold unity among Jehovah’s people.—Zeph. 3:9; John 10:16.

When delegates from the United States and Japan arrived at Louis Botha Airport in Durban, some 2,000 local Witnesses were on hand to welcome them with Kingdom songs. The brothers warmly greeted one another and embraced. Some of the other tourists who had arrived with the delegates did not want to go on to their hotels, preferring to remain and witness this remarkable scene. Among those watching was a prominent political leader. In conversation with some of the brothers, he said: “If we had the same spirit of unity as you, we would have solved our problems long ago.”

The joy and the love, the genuine international brotherhood, experienced at all those conventions as well as at the ones held earlier in Kiev, Ukraine, and in Moscow, Russia, can be both seen and felt by anyone watching the Watch Tower Society’s new video entitled United by Divine Teaching.

Only a few hundred—instead of thousands—of international delegates were invited to the convention in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January, but the joy, the enthusiasm, and the love manifested there was no less than at the larger conventions. What a privilege it was for those who were present at that gathering of proved integrity-keepers! Details are reported in the August 15, 1994, Watchtower.

Relief Activity—Evidence of Heartfelt Love

Again this past year, there have been situations in which relief supplies were urgently needed. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to be critical. During the service year, 66 tons of various items were shipped to them. This involved not only a vast amount of paperwork but also great physical danger to those who trucked the relief supplies into the danger zones.

However, with the latest relief shipment, the brothers received other special blessings. In what way? The convoy brought more than food, clothing, and literature. The enlarged team of this convoy was also prepared to encourage the brothers with a special assembly day program, the first that the brothers there had enjoyed in three years. The program was presented in Sarajevo, Zenica, and Tuzla. It was almost impossible to say who was encouraged most—the local brothers or the ones sent to encourage them. The results were outstanding: 726 in attendance and 55 baptized! What joy, and not only for the 219 publishers in the area but also for the visitors!

This has also been a difficult year for the brothers in Angola as civil war continues to ravage the country. Excerpts from a letter written by the presiding overseer of a congregation in an area where there has been intense fighting reflect the conditions these brothers face: “As for us, we are spiritually healthy, but our physical condition is serious. . . . Some brothers no longer have the strength to fulfill their congregation assignments, and this notwithstanding great effort they have put forth.”

When this letter was received, emergency measures were taken to hire a small plane to transport 1,800 pounds [800 kg] of food and medicine to the brothers in this dangerous war zone. Thanks to Jehovah, it reached them safely.

Tragedy in Rwanda

Especially prominent in the news has been the situation in Rwanda and nearby countries. Days before the gruesome pictures and stories on conditions inside Rwanda began appearing in the press, the branch office in Kenya was already involved in the evacuation of three missionaries and in providing support and direction for the brothers innocently caught up in the turmoil. Spontaneously, brothers in Europe, and from as far away as the United States and Hong Kong, offered help.

Right from the start of hostilities, brothers and sisters, both Hutu and Tutsi, risked their own lives to protect fellow Witnesses. Some were spared, but not all. Among the possibly half million Rwandans who lost their lives were hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

One of the traveling overseers in Rwanda risked his life on repeated trips, more than 120 miles [200 km] each way, to bring funds for the brothers not only to supply physical needs but also to evacuate Witnesses to safer areas.

Communication, though erratic, was maintained by the brothers with the branch office through the end of May. It then became necessary to evacuate Kigali, and as the brothers headed north, two of the translation staff were killed at a roadblock. Some 200 brothers and interested persons went east to refugee camps in Tanzania; some, north to Uganda; others, south to Burundi. About 2,000 fled to Goma, Zaire, and to other locations. Both physical and emotional suffering had touched every family. As the refugees crossed the border, what a welcome sight were the Zairian brothers and sisters who were holding up Bible literature as a means of identification. Relief committees were quickly set up in Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira.

Witnesses in Kenya promptly dispatched relief supplies for their Rwandan brothers. During the period from May 23 to July 27, a total of 5,218 pounds [2,367 kg] of clothing were shipped from Kenya to Goma and to the camps in Tanzania. In addition, some 2,437 blankets, 10,994 pounds [4,987 kg] of soap, and 1,515 pounds [687 kg] of medical supplies were shipped from Nairobi. Large canvas tents were also sent to provide shelter for the Witnesses who had become refugees. The brothers in Nairobi worked an extra shift to provide The Watchtower, Our Kingdom Ministry, and other publications in Kinyarwanda and other languages, and these were airlifted to the brothers for their spiritual nourishment.

On July 22 a faxed SOS was received at the branch office in France telling about the critical situation of the refugees. Six weeks earlier, 65 tons of clothing—most of it new—had already been sent from France for the refugees. Now, within minutes, the decision was made to load a cargo plane with further relief supplies. Upon learning of the urgent need for help, the brothers in France, Belgium, and Switzerland contributed the equivalent of some $1,600,000. Food, medicine, water filters, and other important supplies were boxed and transported to the airport in Ostend, Belgium. On July 27 the first shipment was dispatched to Bujumbura, Burundi, in a large cargo jet that the brothers chartered. The following day more medical supplies were sent, and still more two days later. Witnesses from Belgium and France, including a doctor and two nurses, also left for Goma. Working along with local brothers who had medical experience, they endeavored to help those already sick and to avert further loss of life by instituting strict rules of hygiene. Amid all of this, the brothers did not ignore their spiritual needs. They regularly discussed the daily text and made arrangements for meetings.

At the time of this writing, some have begun to return to Rwanda. But their possessions had been looted, and many homes had been completely destroyed. Despite the turmoil, there are apparently sheeplike ones in Rwanda who still need help. Before violence engulfed the land, the Witnesses there were, on an average, each conducting three Bible studies with interested people, and upwards of 10,000 had attended the Memorial.

Providing Vital Spiritual Food

The greatest need of people everywhere is for spiritual food. The Governing Body keenly feels its responsibility to make this available—generous supplies of it and in as many languages as possible.—Matt. 24:14, 45; 28:19, 20.

With that in view, not only does the Governing Body have, in a number of branches, brothers assigned to do writing but the Writing Committee also arranges for the translating of literature. Efforts are constantly being made to train new teams of translators and to equip established teams to do better work.

Among the nations of the world, only three are smaller than Tuvalu, an island country in the South Pacific. In 1994, there were 359 who attended the Memorial there, and of these, just 47 were publishers. But the people of Tuvalu, as those elsewhere, need opportunity to learn about God’s Kingdom. In order to make a regular supply of Bible literature available to them, when a Kingdom Hall was built in Funafuti, Tuvalu, in August, it included office space in which to do some translating. Sixty-four brothers and sisters from Australia, Hawaii, and New Zealand made arrangements to go there for two weeks in August to do the construction work.

Likewise, in Godthaab (Nuuk), the capital of Greenland, there is a new Kingdom Hall that includes offices for Greenlandic translators. In addition to local Witnesses, a team of 80 Danish brothers and sisters shared in this construction project. To care for the needs of the Baltic States, brothers from Finland helped to prepare a fine building in Tallinn, Estonia, and another in Riga, Latvia, with space for Service, Translation, and other departments. In Lithuania, too, a translation team is hard at work.

The translators around the globe have been intensely busy. As a result, this year the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was released in Polish, Korean, Cebuano, Iloko, Tagalog, and Indonesian. Translation teams in Africa also rejoiced to be able to complete work on the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures in three more African languages, namely, Afrikaans, Yoruba, and Zulu, and to send these to Brooklyn for printing and binding. What a boon these will be to the ministry in lands where these languages are spoken!

Another major translation project has involved the book Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom. Already it is available in 28 languages. In addition to English (also English Braille) and Spanish, that includes 11 European tongues, 7 languages of the Orient, and 7 of Africa.

Special emphasis has been given to preparing literature for lands in Eastern Europe and other places formerly under Communist control. This past year, 16 books, in addition to magazines, brochures, and tracts, translated into languages of Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Orient, were made available for use in these areas.

Close international cooperation has also made it possible to increase the number of languages in which The Watchtower is now published simultaneously. A year ago it appeared simultaneously in 81 languages. As of January 1, 1995, a total of 97 languages will have the same material simultaneously. What a fine unifying effect this is having on Jehovah’s people!

Ministerial Training School Extends Into More Lands

When printing that had long been done in Switzerland was assigned to the Germany branch, the size of the Bethel family in Switzerland was reduced. This made space available, and it was decided to use it for the Ministerial Training School. During the service year, the school was also inaugurated in Brazil, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Kenya, Korea, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, and Zambia, making a total of 11 countries. Students from 28 different lands received training. Besides those students who were invited to serve in congregations in their home countries, there were some who were sent to other lands in Africa and Eastern Europe.

Classes were held in 15 countries where the school had been inaugurated prior to the 1994 service year. Students from 36 different lands attended, and they are now caring for congregation and other responsibilities.

When a student from Malawi, where the ban was recently lifted, arrived at the school in Zambia, he was surprised to see for the first time the volumes Insight on the Scriptures, bound volumes of The Watchtower and Awake!, the Reference Bible, the Watch Tower Publications Index, not to mention the Society’s videos and audiocassettes. One of the things he enjoyed most while at school was being able to go from house to house with the brothers.

A letter from students in Kenya expressed appreciation for the patience of the instructors and the personal assistance that was rendered. They were also grateful for the kind hospitality of local brothers who provided accommodations and meals and for the positive changes in themselves, including their heightened spiritual stature.

A student attending the first class of the school in the Philippines wrote: ‘The training has helped me to care for my congregation responsibilities, Scripturally and theocratically, with all seriousness.’ Another wrote: ‘Each day I experienced the joy of being taught by Jehovah. Truly, this is the most wonderful experience I have had in my lifetime.’

There are adjustments that students make in order to attend the school. Many come from congregations where there are few elders and ministerial servants. Some have problems getting leave from their part-time secular work. In a few cases, family members are dependent upon them for support, or they have unbelieving parents. One young brother who was invited to the school in Argentina had just finished a special course in the bank where he worked. He prayed to Jehovah and then approached his supervisor to request the two-month leave. After explaining the reason for the leave, he was told: “If it is for your own good, then you may go.” A young man in Bolivia who had just signed a construction contract received an invitation to the school. There was one problem after another on the job, but he finished the project on the day he was scheduled to travel to the school. “I see that this great privilege is worth any sacrifice. If a person seeks help from Jehovah and works in harmony with his prayers, he gets an answer and a great blessing,” he concluded.

Building on a Global Scale to Fill Urgent Needs

Long ago, Jehovah spoke prophetically to his womanlike organization through Isaiah, saying: “Make the place of your tent more spacious. . . . Do not hold back. Lengthen out your tent cords, and make those tent pins of yours strong.” (Isa. 54:2) What occurred in response to that declaration laid the foundation for the organizational growth that we are experiencing now. Once again, more space is needed. There is urgent need for more halls in which people can gather to be instructed in God’s Word. This involves building, and the past year has been outstanding in its accomplishments in this field.

In Malawi, after many years under ban, the brothers are just getting started again, but they are having large attendances at their meetings. There is a great need for Kingdom Halls. In rural areas they are happy to be able to build Kingdom Halls out of mud bricks and thatched roofing. In the cities they are still meeting in brothers’ homes, in community centers, or out in the open.

In South Africa, though, after decades of using private homes and school classrooms, the congregations are now building their own halls. And new halls often lead to large increases in attendance. When the violence had apparently receded following the elections in April 1994, the Regional Building Committee scheduled a quickly built hall to accommodate the two congregations in Tokoza. In spite of renewed violence in the area, all the volunteers, from a variety of races, were able to go into the township and complete a beautiful Kingdom Hall in a matter of days. A fine witness was given.

During the past four years, 657 new congregations have been formed in Nigeria. It is not unusual for seven congregations to share one Kingdom Hall. The high rate of inflation has made it difficult for the brothers to raise sufficient funds to buy land and building materials. But in 1994 the branch office was able to provide technical assistance and loans for the building or renovation of 709 Kingdom Halls. With this help, the brothers are constructing attractive and permanent Kingdom Halls.

Much Kingdom Hall construction is also taking place in the eastern section of Germany. After more than 40 years of Communist rule, the first Kingdom Hall in eastern Germany was dedicated in July 1992. In the past two years, 36 new Kingdom Halls have been built. These are being used by 94 congregations, so 37 percent of all congregations in that part of the country are meeting in new halls.

While the public watched in amazement, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Estonia built their first Kingdom Hall, at Maardu, with accommodations upstairs for four missionary couples. Brothers and sisters from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and the United States joined the local brothers to accomplish the task in three months.

For decades our brothers in Greece were denied the right to have Kingdom Halls, but to a large extent that has changed. In Athens the former Bethel premises have now been converted into a Kingdom Hall complex, with six halls to care for 18 congregations. In Halkida, as the first quickly built Kingdom Hall in Greece was erected with the help of brothers from all parts of the country, the press and the neighbors watched in amazement.

In Panama seven new Kingdom Halls were built this year with the help of a newly formed Construction Department at the branch. Using 40 full-time volunteers, they are able to complete a new hall in one month. In Colombia the brothers have designed a prefabricated package for Kingdom Halls. Prefabrication is done at the branch; erection, on the building site. Thirty-seven new Kingdom Halls were put up there during the year.

During the 1993 service year—the last for which complete figures are available—50 new Kingdom Halls were constructed or refurbished in Italy. Between September 1993 and May 1994, the paperwork for the construction or refurbishing of about another 60 halls was begun, and it was estimated that 30 more projects would be added to that figure by the end of August 1994.

Spacious Assembly Halls have also been built in many lands. During the year, six new Assembly Halls in Brazil were dedicated to Jehovah, two in the northern part of the country (Recife and Fortaleza), two in the south (Pôrto Alegre and Curitiba), one in Niterói, and one in Pindamonhangaba near São Paulo. Five of these were dedicated on the same weekend, September 11 and 12, 1993. The two halls in the tropical north were left open on three sides to take full advantage of the ocean breezes. At the year’s end, there were 15 Assembly Halls in use; two of these (Queimados, RJ, and Vargem Grande, SP) can each accommodate 7,000 persons comfortably.

Sweden now has five Assembly Halls. The latest one, which was formerly a sports and exhibition arena located at Strängnäs, has been renovated to become an Assembly Hall that seats 10,000 in the main hall. A 156-room hotel only a short distance from the hall was also purchased by the brothers, and this provides housing especially for older ones during convention time. With this large Assembly Hall in the center of the country and smaller ones to the north and the south, it is now possible for the brothers to use their own halls not only for circuit assemblies and special assembly days but also for district conventions. They were especially happy to have with them for the dedication program C. W. Barber and T. Jaracz of the Governing Body, along with about 400 other guests from nearby countries.

Germany added another Assembly Hall during the year; this one in Glauchau, in the former Communist territory of eastern Germany.

In Nigeria, plans and, in some instances, actual construction have been moving ahead on 11 new facilities for circuit assemblies and district conventions. One of these facilities, completed during the year at Akure, will seat 5,500 persons. When a high court judge who was visiting the construction site learned that the workers were all unpaid volunteers, he said: “If something like this was done by my own religion, whoever won the contract would become a millionaire. The workers would steal all the equipment. When my church has a project that will cost ten million naira, we budget twenty million because people are so corrupt.” After observing how the brothers were working so enthusiastically, another visitor, a young man, turned to his father and asked: “Do they read the same Bible as we do?” His father replied: “It is the same Bible. It is only that the way they follow the Bible is different from the way we follow it.” Yes, the contrast between true religion and the false is evident in many ways.

This is by no means the full report. If space permitted, we would like to relate details regarding the fine new Assembly Hall erected by our brothers in South Auckland, New Zealand; the first Assembly Hall in Norway, located so that it can be used by about half the publishers in the country; the sixth Assembly Hall in Japan, making use of tilt-up construction; the new hall in the second-largest city in Portugal, with generous seating facilities as well as overflow provisions that allow for district conventions; the complex of four Kingdom Halls in southern Ukraine, Transcarpathia, with walls that retract in order to form an Assembly Hall; the Assembly Hall in Trinidad that was so urgently needed that it was put to use for nine assemblies even before construction was completed; the open-sided hall that was erected in ten days in Sinamoga, Western Samoa, with international cooperation; the modest-sized Assembly Hall erected in Bethlehem, Israel, when the brothers purchased the roof of a new building with the right to add a second story; the new Assembly Hall, with accompanying district convention facilities, on the Italian island of Sardinia; the accommodations for district conventions added to the Assembly Hall at Prato, Italy; the fifth Assembly Hall in Colombia, to help accommodate the more than 8,000 new ones who were baptized this year; the spacious Assembly Hall built in French Guiana, in addition to four Kingdom Halls equipped with living quarters for special pioneers and missionaries, all built with the help of 761 brothers who paid their own way and flew in shifts from France to accomplish the work in just two months.

Branch Dedications

The explosive growth in the field has also necessitated new and enlarged branch facilities. Some of these were dedicated during the past service year.

Canada

On September 25, 1993, the expanded facilities at the Canada branch were dedicated. Added to the existing facilities, there are a large new administration building, a two-story 200- by 200-foot [60 m by 60 m] section to be used as part of the Printing and Distribution Center, a new residence building that will accommodate some 330 Bethel volunteers, and service buildings. Among the many longtime servants of Jehovah on hand for the dedication program were two members of the Governing Body: Milton Henschel and John Barr.

Why the expansion? The office here supervises the preaching of the good news in a vast territory extending over 3,200 miles [5,100 km] from east to west, and north from the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes up into the Arctic. This is one of the largest countries in the world. There had been an increase of 59 percent in the number of Witnesses in Canada since the branch had moved to its present location at Halton Hills in 1981. More room was needed at the branch to care for the needs of this growing throng. Although the good news has been preached in Canada for some 110 years, this work has taken on new dimensions in recent years as special attention has been directed to foreign-language groups. There are now congregations and regular meetings in a dozen languages in addition to English and French.

Tahiti

Out in the middle of the South Pacific, lovely new branch facilities were dedicated in Tahiti on December 11, 1993. Milton Henschel, a member of the Governing Body, who spoke at the dedication program, reminded all present that, not the beauty of the construction, but the work that will be done inside the building is most important.

The building of such a structure with voluntary contributions and volunteer labor was certainly newsworthy, and TV news reported on the dedication in its international broadcast. Sixty-two years earlier, in 1931, Sydney Shepherd, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, had landed in Tahiti and endeavored to preach. He was followed by Frank Dewar. But neither one of them was permitted to stay very long. Now, however, there are over 1,700 Witnesses in Tahiti and other islands of French Polynesia.

Western Samoa

The gathering of the precious things of the nations reaches out beyond the major nations of the world to the small island groups in the vast Pacific Ocean. Since the work began in earnest in these countries in the 1950’s, 26 Gilead graduates and 24 other missionaries and special pioneers from overseas have served in the five countries under the Western Samoa branch. Fruitage of their work is seen in the 650 publishers now serving on these remote islands. About five years ago, a crucial need developed for new facilities. Why was that?

In addition to brothers scattered among the 59 inhabited islands under the branch, congregations using Pacific-island languages had developed among the large expatriate communities in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and California. Although they are few in number, the spiritual feeding of these dear ones is important. (Isa. 42:10, 12) Jehovah shows concern for his people no matter where they are found. Reflecting this viewpoint, the Governing Body has worked to strengthen translation into the four Polynesian languages used in these islands, namely, Samoan, Tokelauan, Tongan, and Tuvaluan. Brothers and sisters have been trained in translating, proofreading, and the composing of publications on a computer.

Regardless of the small circulation, the same amount of work, manpower, and facilities is needed for translating publications into these languages as for those spoken by millions of people. By 1990 space at the old branch (a converted missionary home) was at a premium. A much larger building was needed, and the Governing Body approved the project.

However, how was the construction work to be done? Traditional houses in Samoa are built with local materials and have no walls, only poles to support the roof, so most local brothers are totally unfamiliar with the building systems used for constructing a modern branch.

The answer came by means of our international brotherhood. The Brooklyn Construction Office and the Regional Engineering Office in Australia prepared the plans, designing the building to withstand earthquakes and cyclones. Forty-four international servants and 69 international volunteers provided the needed expertise during the three and a half years of construction. Not only did they train 38 local brothers and sisters who worked full-time on the project as well as many part-timers but they also enhanced the spirituality of the local congregations. The experience and skills gained on the construction site have already helped local brothers in building Kingdom Halls.

Dedication day was November 20, 1993. John Barr of the Governing Body delivered the dedication talk. All in attendance enthusiastically responded to the resolution dedicating the branch to Jehovah’s service.

Germany

The largest branch-expansion program completed during the past service year was the one in Selters/Taunus, Germany. This marked the culmination of a three-and-a-half-year project during which over 18,600 volunteers helped to more than double the size of what was already the Society’s largest branch office and printery.

On hand for the dedication program on May 14-15 were four members of the Governing Body: Carey Barber, Milton Henschel, Karl Klein, and Daniel Sydlik. In the audience were people of 55 nationalities. In his discourse, Brother Barber pointed out that the upheavals in Eastern Europe had given the brothers greater freedom. “But it would be impossible for them to provide all the literature and magazines needed” to satisfy the spiritual hunger of the people there, he explained. “So the Germany branch supplies it to them, leaving them to get on with the preaching work.” How appropriate, then, that many of the guests at the dedication came from those Eastern European lands! They were delighted as they toured the facilities, observing the bindery and watching the large new offset press in operation. The enlarged facilities will enable the Germany branch to produce up to 1.6 million magazines and 80,000 books per day. Publications are already being printed there in 42 languages for 58 countries.

Only 3,658 were able to attend the dedication program at the branch on Saturday. But all the Witnesses in Germany had contributed to the construction in one way or another, and everyone wanted to benefit from the spiritual upbuilding of that occasion. So on Sunday the program continued at Bethel and at six sports stadiums throughout the country, at which time 177,902 joined in giving praise and thanks to Jehovah. Brother Sydlik summed up how so many felt when he said: “This has been the dedication of dedications. It will linger in our memory for a long, long time to come.”

Other Building Projects

Construction continues at a rapid pace at the world headquarters in New York—on new facilities in Brooklyn, at Patterson, and at Wallkill. At these various locations, upwards of 1,040 brothers and sisters are currently sharing in the construction work. It is hoped that by March of 1995, Gilead School will move to the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson.

The Society also maintains an office in the Czech Republic. A new ten-story building, donated to the Society, has been renovated and put to use as a Bethel Home and office in Prague. A newly built Kingdom Hall and missionary home complex at Maseru, Lesotho, includes an office and a depot for literature.

When three new missionary homes were needed in the Solomon Islands, international cooperation made it possible to fill the need. Groups of brothers in Australia prefabricated some of the essential parts. The Australia branch then collected everything together for shipping to the Solomon Islands. In the meantime brothers in the Solomon Islands prepared the building sites and cut over 40 tons of timber in the forests, carrying it out by hand. Everything was ready just in time for the arrival of 96 brothers from Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii who volunteered their time and the airfare to help with the construction that was to be done quickly on two islands. The three homes were completed in just three weeks.

There was also much work done this past year to bring to a completion the work on branches in Korea, Taiwan, Ecuador, Suriname, and Sri Lanka. In addition, many other projects are under way. There is extensive branch construction that is being done in Mexico (see pages 244-5), Spain, Dominican Republic, Australia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Ireland, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Jamaica, and New Caledonia. After many delays due to opposition, the brothers in France are moving ahead with expansion of the branch facilities in Louviers. Near St. Petersburg, Russia, over 300 volunteers—from Scandinavia as well as from all parts of the former Soviet Union—are working hard to prepare an Administrative Center for the Religious Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.

There is also much construction going on in southern Africa. At present the branches in South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Zaire are building. South Africa is in a position to supply building materials and equipment to several of these branches. For this reason the branch has large purchasing, export, and trucking departments to take care of the needs of that branch and of others as well.

Another huge building, a 13-story branch construction project, is in the planning and design stage in Japan. In addition to ongoing construction at Cesário Lange, Brazil, preliminary work is being done with a view to the building of an office, a warehouse, and residence facilities in São Paulo. And there are numerous other projects in various stages of planning that will help care for the spiritual needs of the great crowd that is embracing true worship.

How is it all possible? By means of Jehovah’s spirit. In response to its operation, Jehovah’s people—those who may have very little materially as well as those who have more—generously give of themselves and of their material means to advance Kingdom interests. And what joy they have as they see Jehovah’s blessing on the outcome!

[Pictures on page 6]

During the past five years, 1,514,287 persons were baptized, thus identifying themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses

[Pictures on page 12, 13]

Warm and happy fellowship was evident at the “Divine Teaching” International Conventions

1. Hong Kong; 2. Philippines; 3. Kenya; 4. Chile; 5. Colombia; 6, 7. South Africa

[Pictures on page 14]

Relief supplies were quickly airlifted to the Rwandan Witnesses

[Pictures on page 21]

Assembly Hall in Strängnäs, Sweden, that seats 10,000 in the main auditorium

[Pictures on page 27]

New branch facilities (clockwise from the top): Canada, Western Samoa, Tahiti, Germany (with its most recent printing press)

Worldwide Report: 1994 Grand Totals

pp. 33–41

Worldwide Report: 1994 Grand Totals

Number of Countries: 232

Peak Publishers: 4,914,094

Average Publishers: 4,695,111

Percentage of Increase Over 1993: 5

Number Baptized: 314,818

Average Pioneer Publishers: 636,202

Number of Congregations: 75,573

Total Hours: 1,096,065,354

Average Bible Studies: 4,701,357

Memorial Attendance: 12,288,917

Memorial Partakers Worldwide 8,617

Number of Branches: 100

During the 1994 service year, the Watch Tower Society spent $50,126,004.05 in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments

[Chart on page 34-41]

1994 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

Worldwide Report

pp. 42–64

Worldwide Report

Africa and Islands Nearby

The continent of Africa is broken up into scores of countries. These are further divided by tribe and language. Outbreaks of violence between the ethnic groups is not unusual. But there are more than 636,000 people out of these nations, tribes, and language groups who are united in worship of the true God, Jehovah. They urge others to “fear God and give him glory,” and many are responding appreciatively to this encouragement.—Rev. 14:6, 7.

Some who were steeped in local superstition and witchcraft have broken free from all of that in order to serve Jehovah. In South Africa, when one door opened in response to their knocking, the Witnesses were confronted by a woman dressed in full Sangoma (witch doctor) regalia. They wanted to beat a hasty retreat, but the woman insisted that they deliver their message. One of the Witnesses used Deuteronomy 18:10-12 to show the Bible view of spiritistic practices. The witch doctor accepted the offer of a Bible study. She said that if she was convinced from her study of the Bible that practicing as a Sangoma was against Jehovah’s wishes, she would stop.

After studying chapter 10 in the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, along with the Bible, she burned all her paraphernalia related to witchcraft and started attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. Though legally married, she had been separated from her husband for 17 years. Now she saw the need to correct that situation. Both are now dedicated, baptized Witnesses.

During the past year or so, some of the most thrilling news has come from Malawi. How Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide rejoiced when they heard that, on August 12, 1993, the 26-year ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malawi had been lifted! This was followed, on November 15, 1993, by the registration of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and, on February 25, 1994, by the lifting of the ban on literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Interestingly, it was just a few weeks after the registration of the Society that the headquarters of the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP), who had so brutally mistreated Jehovah’s Witnesses, was destroyed. All their offices were closed down and many of them were hunted down and killed by the army. Others fled for their lives into Mozambique.

The brothers in Malawi are learning once again how to go from house to house, offer literature, and start home Bible studies. Right after the lifting of the ban on the Society’s literature, a country-wide campaign was arranged for April, during which the publishers distributed, in three languages, the tract What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe? More than 1,000,000 of these tracts were distributed.

For over 30 years, the handful of true Christians in São Tomé and Príncipe, off the west coast of Africa, were persecuted, beaten and imprisoned because of meeting together for Bible study. But in 1993, Jehovah’s Witnesses there were granted religious freedom. Then, in January 1994 they enjoyed a three-day “Divine Teaching” District Convention in the finest, modern air-conditioned auditorium in the country. Excerpts from the program were even broadcast on National Radio.

After the Supreme Court in Zaire restored the legal status of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it became possible to hold district conventions in the country once again. With what response? One in Kinshasa early in the service year packed out the stadium with an attendance of over 70,000. At the first six “Godly Fear” District Conventions in 1994, attendance totaled 120,127, the baptism figure was 1,155, and there were still another 19 conventions in this series scheduled to be held.

In the Koumassi Prodomo Congregation, Côte d’Ivoire, is a ministerial servant who is known as a very mild-tempered brother. But he did not always have that reputation. Before learning the truth, he used to drink heavily, smoke, have bad associations, and often solved his problems with his fists. Those who knew him testify that it was best to be his friend or else to stay clear of him. But he says: “Jehovah had pity on me.” A Bible study was started with him. Gradually he made changes in his life and, in time, got baptized. But how complete was the change? One month before his baptism, this was put to the test when he was attacked by some men. He did not retaliate. Some weeks after his baptism, a similar thing happened. Again he gave evidence that he had put off the old personality that conformed to his former course of conduct, that he had been made new in the force actuating his mind, and that he had really put on a new personality reflecting Jehovah’s spirit.—Gal. 5:22-24; Eph. 4:22-24.

Asia and Islands of the Pacific

In the Orient and the islands of the Pacific, among the 514,847 who are praisers of Jehovah are 152,343 who serve as pioneers.

In Japan, a pioneer who endeavored to make 100 return visits every month decided to start making return calls even on those who had not shown interest on his first call. With that in mind, he began to keep a record of everyone he met in the house-to-house work and then, within seven days, to call on them again. Each time he engaged in house-to-house witnessing, he would also endeavor to make five follow-up calls. He thoroughly prepared what he would say and carried out his service with complete confidence in the message he bore. By the month’s end he had made 241 of such calls. On one of them, he was able to start a study with a person who said: “I’ve always turned you people away. It’s the first time I’ve ever listened.” The loving persistence brought results. By month’s end he was reporting a total of ten Bible studies.

The past few years have seen an influx of many aliens, especially from Asia, into New Zealand. Recently, Korean and Thai study groups have been formed, and the brothers are expecting, soon, the formation of a Chinese congregation in Auckland, where, it is reported, the Chinese population has risen to over 50,000. Other North Island cities such as Wellington and Palmerston North have also reported much interest within the Chinese communities.

Some Bible students have had good success when they responded to the suggestion that they introduce the truth to their relatives. In Tainan, Taiwan, a young housewife started to study. She lives with a large family, many of whom were prominent in the Presbyterian Church. Because her church often criticized the Witnesses for ‘attacking other religions,’ she carefully avoided doing this but concentrated on displaying Christian qualities. She had to ride her motorcycle ten miles [16 km] to the meetings but was regular in attendance. Soon, family members started to notice the changes she was making in her personality. As a result of this and her tactful witnessing, her sister-in-law began to study. Then her own husband agreed to look into what she was learning. Next, his brother and a cousin began to study. Then the mother-in-law showed interest in what the various members of the family were learning. The young woman then witnessed to her own parents, who live 200 miles [320 km] away. They started studying. The young woman, her husband, and two relatives have now been baptized, several other relatives are making fine progress in learning the truth, and another couple from the same church have just resigned so that they can share in the preaching work. What a blessing from Jehovah for recommending the truth to others both by word and by fine conduct!

In 1912, when C. T. Russell, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, visited Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was then known, Matilda was only 12 years of age. She appears, seated on the ground second from the right in the picture on page 239 of the Proclaimers book. Later she served for several years with her husband as a special pioneer. Now 94, she is still busy witnessing. Recently she completed a year of auxiliary pioneer service. She is able to walk a little with a cane—enough to take advantage of the opportunities presented when neighbors, friends, relatives, salesmen, postmen, or anyone else calls. Still she has to do most of her witnessing with a pen. She finds names and addresses in the obituary columns in the daily paper and writes to some of these. How happy she is when replies of appreciation come!

In the Republic of Korea, 31 percent of the Witnesses are regular pioneers, and thousands more share in auxiliary pioneer service. Some territory is covered often. Yet, with pointed, one-sentence comments, publishers are getting positive results even at homes where people say they are not interested. To a Catholic woman who said she did not want to listen, a sister said: “I don’t know what kind of hope you have but”—pointing to the tract Life in a Peaceful New World—“I have the hope of living in this kind of a peaceful new world.” When an elderly lady said she was not interested, a sister pointed to the same tract and asked: “If you were invited to live in the paradise shown in this picture, would you not accept such an invitation?” Both of these calls led to home Bible studies, then meeting attendance, and now both women are progressing toward baptism.

A concerted effort is being put forth in Hawaii to reach people wherever or in whatever way they can be contacted—those who live in lock-out apartments, those at business, and people on streets, in parks, on beaches, and elsewhere. This has resulted in more territory maps for congregations and a more thorough coverage of territory. Telephone witnessing has been fruitful. In this way a sister contacted a young man in the navy who lived in a lock-out apartment building. Sufficient interest was found to arrange for a brochure to be delivered to this man. The follow-up call was made by a brother who started a Bible study in the Live Forever book. As time went by, the man began witnessing to his roommates and his shipmates. In fact, he invited them (one at a time) to sit in on his study. Several weeks into the study, the man asked, “How will Jehovah find all those who want to know the truth before the end comes?” The brother replied: “Do you think it was just an accident that you were contacted by phone in a building that is inaccessible, has never been worked, and at a time that found you at home?” The man thought for a moment and said: “That’s interesting, because just before the phone call, I had wanted to know if there was a way to find out what the Bible really says.”

Can a Witness continue to preach even when faced with an extended hospitalization? This was the challenge that faced a sister on the island of Tarawa, Kiribati, in the central Pacific. Immediately she began placing the “Look!” brochure with as many of her fellow patients as would accept it. One patient, noting that our sister had regular visitors, asked whether these were all relatives. When it was explained that these were her spiritual brothers and sisters, including congregation elders, the woman was deeply impressed. She expressed great disappointment that during the three months of her hospital stay, none of the members of her religion had cared enough to visit her even though they knew that she was very sick. She asked for a Bible study. In time, her husband and mother also agreed to study. Our sister was able to leave the hospital briefly to attend a circuit assembly. What joy she had when a fellow patient and several family members of other patients joined her at that assembly!

Europe

This past year in the countries of Europe, including Russia, which extends beyond the Ural Mountains and into the Orient, 248,763,468 hours were devoted to witnessing about God’s Kingdom. There were 89,578 in this part of the world who got baptized in symbol of their dedication to Jehovah. How are these people being reached with the good news?

In recent years, thousands of refugees have tried to get admittance into Belgium. This has opened up new fields of activity for the Belgian brothers. During the past three years, in a center that houses 480 refugees, the brothers have conducted 160 Bible studies with people from 43 countries. Groups of ten sometimes attend. The interest has been so great that the director of the center arranged a special office in which the brothers could conduct their Bible studies.

A young Catholic refugee from Slovakia requested that his Bible study be held twice a week. When he wrote to his mother and witnessed to her, she visited the local congregation in Slovakia to find out what kind of people her son was associating with. Happily surprised, she accepted a Bible study, and so did her daughter. The young man also wrote to his fiancée. Her older sister tried to discourage her, but soon both of them were studying. As that young man in the refugee center kept on writing to his family, his letters were read by all the members of his family. Now ten Bible studies are being conducted with relatives in Slovakia.

Patience pays off—that is the conclusion of a pioneer sister in the Czech Republic. She relates: “A year ago, I started a study with a young lady. Her interest and attention span for considering Bible thoughts was only 10 to 15 minutes during the first two months. Several times she changed the day and hour of our study. But I never told her: ‘I do not have time,’ or, ‘This study is too short,’ though time is very precious to me and I often lost as much as two evenings in a week in order to have that study for just 10 minutes. But the patience paid off. After two months this young lady suggested that our studies last half an hour and, later, even a whole hour. Today she attends all the meetings, prepares for them, and gives comments. She left false religion and is working toward baptism.”

The Society’s video Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Organization Behind the Name is put to good use. A pioneer couple in the Faeroe Islands, between Iceland and Norway, have two videocassettes that they lend out. At one time they had 14 individuals on a waiting list to see the video. Some who borrow it show it to yet others. A retired schoolteacher who has subscribed for The Watchtower and Awake! for many years borrowed the video. When the brother returned to pick it up, the man was very enthusiastic and said that he had shown it to 14 people in the village. However, the brother could not get the video back because it had been lent to a woman in a neighboring village. The brother was later told that this woman had shown it to 15 people in her village. Over Easter, the schoolteacher showed it to 6 more. The latest news was that the video had been lent to a fisherman. The former schoolteacher handed it to the fisherman on the condition that it should be shown to all 11 persons on board.

When conducting the meeting for field service one morning, an elder in Finland told the group: “We do not know where Jehovah will lead us in the service today, but it is of great importance that we be in the service because then Jehovah can use us in the way he wants.” Later, in the territory, the elder felt strongly that he should call on a certain home they were passing. His companion said that no one was living there, but the elder wanted to go anyway. They met a lady who said that she and her husband had moved in only a short time before. When the brothers told her that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses, she asked them to come into the house, and she explained that her husband would come home any minute. As they entered, she said: “I just prayed to God that he would direct one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to us, as we have just moved to this town. But how could you come so quickly? I offered my prayer only ten minutes ago.” When the husband came in, he also proved to be interested, and a study was started with them right away. Progress was rapid. They were baptized in May 1994.

Making a firm decision to put spiritual interests ahead of material concerns is an important step in growing to Christian maturity. That was true in the case of Jacques, a fisherman in France who works out of a port on the Mediterranean Sea. Jacques had been studying the Bible for only a short time with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He wanted to attend the summer district convention, but it fell right in the middle of the very best fishing period of the year, the time when most fishermen work night and day to bring in the season’s catch. Moreover, Jacques had 12 employees working on his boat. How could he possibly explain that they would not be fishing for several days at the peak of the season? Although he was called a fool and suffered much ridicule, Jacques firmly put spiritual things first and attended the convention with his wife and their two young boys.

On the Monday following the convention, Jacques again took his boat and crew out to fish. When they drew in their nets, instead of the usual haul of 650 pounds [300 kg] or so of sardines, they were amazed to find nearly a ton of bream, highly prized and worth five times what they likely would have caught on the days they missed during the convention! None of the fishermen of the village could remember anyone ever taking such a catch as that!

A young man was witnessed to while he was on a wintertime ski-vacation. Although he was not really interested, he decided to attend a meeting in his hometown in the Netherlands, just to see what it was all about. After attending the Congregation Book Study for several weeks, he agreed to a Bible study using the Live Forever book. After a number of months, he also attended the Sunday meetings, but no real breakthrough was taking place as to a decision to serve Jehovah. The young man had been raised without belief in God. However, when he saw the video The Bible—Accurate History, Reliable Prophecy, it had a profound effect. He asked if he could keep the video for another week. At last he said: “God does exist, and the Bible is his Word.” From then on, progress was rapid, and he is now a zealous Witness of Jehovah.

Middle and South America

What a fruitful field for disciple making this part of the world has become! During the past year, 1,613,268 home Bible studies were being conducted in these lands, and 91,126 students progressed to water baptism.

As a result of witnessing near Lake Titicaca, high in the Andes in Bolivia, our brothers have had some very fine experiences. They found that when they introduced themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses in a rural community called Atahuallpani, many of the people would say they were Jesus Christ’s Witnesses. When asked why they had taken that name, they answered by referring to Acts 1:8. Following a positive discussion of many questions in the presence of the group’s pastors, including the Scriptural basis for the name Jehovah’s Witnesses, the publishers invited the group to the Kingdom Hall in Corpa.

Several weeks later, three of the pastors from the group actually came to the Kingdom Hall. After the meeting, they spoke at length with the elders and invited them to their meeting place to explain more about our Bible teachings. The elders prepared a symposium on ‘Armageddon,’ ‘Who Go to Heaven,’ and ‘Paradise on Earth.’ There were about 50 of their members in attendance. After the talks, the chairman of their group spoke, informing all in attendance that they had been ‘misled and were practicing false religion.’ After that meeting, the pastors and several others warmly embraced the brothers. Many Bible studies were started with members of that group. At this writing, 25 of them have become baptized Witnesses and 10 more are making good progress with their Bible studies. Imagine the joy of this group of sincere persons when they realized that at last they had found the accurate knowledge of God’s life-giving truth!

In the eastern part of El Salvador, the brothers planned a visit to the far reaches of their rural territory in order to preach the good news. After walking for several hours along narrow paths, up and down hills, the brothers reached a small settlement that they had not visited previously. In one house, an 11-year-old blind boy came to the door and listened briefly. Then to the surprise of the brother, the boy stated, “I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Was he really? How surprised the publisher was when the boy began to sing song number 32, “From House to House”! He knew it from beginning to end. He said he could also sing others, and he promptly started into number 105, “Hail Jehovah’s Firstborn!” Next he explained to the brother about the Paradise earth. How had this boy, living in such a remote place, learned all of this? From another little boy who could not even read. That boy’s mother worked for a Witness family in a large city, and the youngster had accompanied his mother to the meetings in the Kingdom Hall. When they went back to the little settlement where they lived, he related to his blind friend all that he had heard. The blind boy has now moved to a larger town, where the brothers are busy helping him to make further progress in the truth.

A special pioneer in northern Brazil writes that when they arrived in their assignment, they learned that there were four publishers who would walk six miles [10 km] to get to the meetings, since there was no bus service on weekends. The pioneers decided to hold meetings in the town where those publishers lived. The first Sunday there were 40 persons present. For the second meeting, the number in the house was the same, but outside was the pastor of the Assembly of God church with 15 of his group. They were invited in, but they preferred to listen from outside. The pioneer relates: “At the end of the meeting, I went out to talk with them and answer their questions. I told the pastor that I too had been a pastor like him. He asked: ‘Then how can you be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses now?’ To answer his question, I invited him to our home, and he agreed. In a few weeks he and some of his group abandoned their church and began to study the Bible with us.”

For the first Memorial celebration in that town, 140 persons showed up a half hour early. Unfortunately, no sound equipment was available. A Catholic lady suggested that she try to borrow the equipment from her church. When she asked the priest about it, he said: “Is this for Jehovah’s Witnesses?” She answered: “No. There are only eight Witnesses. The sound system is needed for the more than 100 Catholics there!” That argument did not work. A Protestant lady made a similar suggestion, but the preacher said: “Not for Jehovah’s Witnesses!” The lady argued: “I and the rest of the members of the church contributed for it, and so we have a certain right to use it!” With that, he let them borrow it. Many new Bible studies were started following that Memorial. Everyone in town was talking about how Jehovah’s Witnesses really help isolated persons.

One afternoon, on the Metro subway train in Caracas, Venezuela, a Witness was seeking a way to preach to a woman beside her. The Witness began to talk about how human society is changing and how that demands that we also adapt.

The woman agreed but said: “That’s what I say to my husband, but he’s stupid. He wants to raise our children in the old-fashioned way. He’s one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

The publisher decided not to identify herself as a Witness. Instead, she said: “The ones I know are excellent people. Tell me, is he a drunkard?” When the woman responded, “Oh, no!” our sister followed up with a whole list of points: “So; is he a drug addict?” “For sure he’s a womanizer and always comes home late.” “Well, does he teach the children bad words?” “I know. You have to work and keep him while he sits at home.” To each, the reply was a firm “No!” often with comments on his fine qualities. So the Witness said: “Well, then, I don’t understand. What is wrong with him?”

The woman thought for a few moments and then said: “Well, it’s that he takes the children to those meetings at the hall for two hours. But I’ve told him not to take them there again.”

“What do they say in these meetings?” the Witness asked. And then: “When your children don’t go to these meetings, what do they do?” Once again the Witness tried to help the woman to reason: “Do you think it’s better for them to watch television, with all its violence, war, murder, and immoral soap operas, than to learn about God? I’ll tell you the truth,” the Witness continued, “there are many pretty women around, career women, after a husband. They have to make do with men as they are, with all sorts of faults. They turn out to be drunkards, drug addicts, promiscuous; they give them AIDS and other illnesses, and the women look miserable. What you’ve got is a saint; don’t you appreciate him? The truth is, I don’t understand you. If you don’t want him, I’ll have him! He’s the sort I’m looking for. If someone like him said to me, ‘Let’s go to the [Kingdom] Hall,’ I’d say: ‘Let’s go!’ and if he said: ‘We have to take the children,’ I’d be delighted. Appreciate what you have.” When the woman got off at her stop, she was smiling, and she thanked the Witness. We hope that she also followed the suggestion to find out what the meetings are all about.

The experience of a sister in Paraguay illustrates that it is wise to act with trust in Jehovah as we make plans to attend assemblies. The assembly was to be in the capital, 360 miles [580 km] away. Our sister had five young children, her husband had abandoned her some years before, and she had very little money. Nevertheless, she began saving what she could so that she would be able to attend with all her children. Yet, when the day for departure came, she still did not have enough to pay for the transportation. What could she do? Since it was a small town and things are dealt with in a cordial manner, she, along with her five children, went to the bus terminal. She explained to the one caring for tickets that she and her children needed to travel to the capital but that she had only enough money for two tickets. To her joy, the ticket clerk told her to board the bus with her family. Then, when collecting the money for the tickets after the trip had begun, he charged for only one ticket, her own. It was a first-class bus, the most expensive one in their town. How grateful that family was not to miss out on the spiritual food at the circuit assembly!

North America and the Caribbean Islands

It was in this part of the world that Jehovah’s modern-day earthly organization began to develop more than 110 years ago. Extensive preaching of the good news has been done here, but the Master of the harvest has not said that the work is finished. Indeed, this past year, tens of thousands got baptized in these lands.

A pioneer in Grenada says that she felt rather discouraged at the prospect of having to go once again into territory that had been worked several times within the past month. But what happened? She writes: “When I called on Rossell (a 16-year old boy) that morning, he had a strange look on his face. At that time I wondered if he was all right. He later explained to me that the ‘strange’ look was due to his not expecting his prayer to be answered so quickly. You see, a week earlier, he sincerely prayed that God would show him the correct way to worship, and here I was talking to him about Jehovah.

“Within a month, he began to attend all the meetings at the Kingdom Hall. He loves to read, and by the end of two months he had completed reading ‘Your Will Be Done on Earth,’ ‘The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah’—How?, Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand!, Mankind’s Search for God, the Reasoning book, The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, the 1991 and 1992 Yearbooks, most of the available brochures, plus the current issues of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. . . . He was baptized this past July at the district convention. He has truly realized the truthfulness of the words of the psalmist at Psalm 145:18: ‘Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, to all those who call upon him in trueness.’”

Interestingly, Rossell had been living in the basement of that house for two years. During that time, neither he nor his aunt had been contacted by the Witnesses, though the territory is worked often. How important to be thorough in our coverage of territory!

A newly associated woman arriving for the final day of the “Godly Fear” District Convention on Antigua was let out of her car near the entrance to the Assembly Hall. Later that morning she discovered that she had lost her hand purse containing over $2,000 EC ($740, U.S.). She recalled seeing it last just before leaving the car. A careful retracing of her steps and a check with parking attendants proved unfruitful. The Witness who had invited her assured her that “if it was found in the lot or in the Assembly Hall, the friends will return it, because Jehovah’s Witnesses are honest and loving.”

The next morning the woman, remembering that inside the purse there was an uncashed check payable to herself, telephoned the business that had issued it. To her great surprise, the businesswoman exclaimed, “A Jehovah’s Witness man just called asking if I knew you and where he could find you. He found your purse outside their convention yesterday.” The woman is more convinced than ever that Jehovah’s Witnesses are truly God-fearing.

Caring for family members who are ill is a responsibility of all Christians whether in full-time service or not. One of our sisters in Alaska figured out a way to continue pioneering even though her daughter’s health required her assistance at unexpected times. This limited her field service to telephone witnessing from her home. Then, after prayerful thought, she decided to carry a cellular telephone with her while in field service. In this way she could be away from home and yet “on call” when needed. She has enjoyed 28 years of pioneer service, and is not eager to let go of that precious privilege.

A sister from the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, found it necessary to take her newborn baby to Puerto Rico for medical attention. One day the head nurse took the sister into her office and said: “How is it that you can come every day to see your baby and do this for three months? The hotel bill must be very high. All the other mothers come over from the islands and then leave their babies here and have to return home.” The sister told her about the Hospital Liaison Committee, and she explained that a married couple had taken her into their home, looked after her, provided transportation to the hospital, and so forth. The nurse asked if she had known these people before. When the sister said, “No, but they are my brothers,” the nurse was amazed. Indeed, the whole staff were impressed. Said the head nurse: “This is the religion that the world needs today.”

‘Look! Fields White for Harvesting’

When emphasizing to his disciples the importance of the ministry for which he was training them, Jesus compared it to a harvest, saying: “Look! I say to you: Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting.” (John 4:35) Later he told them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:37, 38) How fitting those words are now!

The report for the past service year shows that many lands are yielding an abundant harvest of joyful praisers of Jehovah. Among those that reported an increase of 20 percent or more were Albania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Angola, and Mozambique.

Several positive developments have propelled a tremendous theocratic expansion in Mozambique during the 1994 service year. Of these the principal factor has been a massive influx of returning refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from Malawi. Four entire circuits moved back during 1993, at a time when Mozambique had only ten circuits for the whole country. Another factor was the reorganizing of congregations that, because of war conditions, had been cut off from communication with the organization. And many more interested ones are progressing to dedication and baptism.

At the city of Milange, in the province of Zambézia, a circuit assembly was held in November 1993. To their delight, 505 baptism candidates, one quarter of the 2,023 in attendance for Saturday morning, rose to their feet to answer the two questions propounded by the speaker. Then, with beautiful Mount Mlanje in view, this large group, singing Kingdom melodies in harmony, marched through the city center, past the Catholic church, and four miles [6 km] down the road, to the nearest river to be baptized as Witnesses of Jehovah.

Some sheeplike ones take hold of the truth quickly. A missionary recently assigned to Cambodia reports: “One Saturday while witnessing from house to house, I placed a brochure with a young woman. I demonstrated the Bible study arrangement and made an appointment to return in two days to continue the discussion. On Monday after our study, I explained about the meetings and gave her a meeting invitation slip. She looked at it and said, ‘See you tomorrow.’ So on Tuesday she attended the Congregation Book Study. At the conclusion I asked her, ‘Well, when will I see you again?’ ‘Tomorrow?’ she asked. ‘OK,’ I replied, and so we had our third study on Wednesday. At the conclusion of that study, I asked, ‘Well, when will I see you again?’ She pulled out her invitation and said, ‘Tomorrow at the meeting.’ And so in the first week of contact she studied three times and attended all three meetings. She has continued to attend regularly.”

Comparison of the reports from Russia for August 1993 with June 1994 shows an increase of 49 percent in publishers and 87 percent in home Bible studies. Most of the new ones were helped on an individual basis. But in some areas, sizable groups have embraced the truth. A man living in a city near St. Petersburg received a copy of the Live Forever book from relatives in the Republic of Georgia. Because this young man shared what he learned, a group began to meet to study with the aid of the book. On the basis of what they learned, they destroyed their idols and made changes in their secular work. Then they set out to find Jehovah’s Witnesses in order to get help with organizing the preaching work in their area. Some pioneers came to help, and in just four days they started 50 Bible studies. Now there are 22 publishers in the city, 7 of whom are baptized, and each one is conducting nine or ten Bible studies. On the island of Sakhalin, far to the east, there has also been excellent response. In January 1991, there were just eight publishers on the island. Now there are more than 300 zealous publishers associated with six congregations.

Every year the branch in Colombia has a campaign to cover territory thoroughly and, with temporary special pioneers, to reach more towns in outlying areas. This year special pioneers were assigned to 33 towns in isolated parts of the country, especially on the eastern plains. This is a vast area that is mostly jungle with few roads connecting the isolated towns. In spite of the difficult conditions, their efforts resulted in the forming of 22 new groups. In one village a brother met a man who said that his wife liked to read the Bible. Later he suggested that they also visit his neighbor. The neighbor in turn introduced them to another family who wanted to study. In six months five members of these three families got baptized, and now two of them are regular pioneers. Several other relatives and neighbors also started to study. Where there were no Witnesses 18 months ago, 80 are now attending public talks in their own Kingdom Hall.

Until recently, an isolated group in the interior of Guyana had only one baptized publisher, a sister. She has worked very hard among the people, who are Carib Indians. They have built a very nice open-sided Kingdom Hall that seats more than 500. It has sound equipment with battery-operated roving mikes. On Sundays they have the Congregation Book Study and Watchtower Study in the morning, beginning at 8:30. In the afternoon they have the Theocratic Ministry School and the Service Meeting. All of the parts have to be translated into Carib, an unwritten language. To get to the meetings, some walk 25 miles [40 km] the day before. Everybody is seated before the meetings begin, and though the seats are benches with no backs, there is a minimum of movement. On Wednesday nights, reading and writing classes are conducted in English with about one hundred attending. At the time of writing, four couples are planning to get legally married before the district convention. Another 16 have indicated that they are getting their lives in order so that they too can become dedicated servants of Jehovah.

Truly Jehovah is prospering his people. As foretold at Isaiah 9:3: “You have made the nation populous; for it you have made the rejoicing great. They have rejoiced before you as with the rejoicing in the harvesttime.” Wherever we live, whatever our circumstances, may all of us who are servants of Jehovah, the only true God, share as fully as possible in the grand work of Kingdom proclamation now being done.

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

p. 65

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Cyprus

Among those who brought Christianity to Cyprus were the apostle Paul and Barnabas, a native Cypriot. However, they soon met stiff opposition from a false prophet who sought to influence the Roman proconsul. In modern times too, the clergy have violently opposed Jehovah’s servants, but government officials have not always agreed with this.

Guadeloupe

In Guadeloupe, a mixture of cultures—African, European, and Asian—has given birth to a refreshing way of life in which gentleness and kindness are prevalent. These qualities have also helped thousands of people to be receptive to the message of God’s Kingdom and to become worshipers of the true God.

Mexico

A Catholic country? In many respects, yes. Yet, 135 years ago the government ordered the confiscation of all church property. Only recently has it become possible for religious groups to own property again. Why is it that so many people in Mexico today are eager to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses? Read this up-to-date report.

Cyprus

pp. 67–66

Cyprus

WHEN the apostle Paul and his traveling companions preached in Cyprus in the first century, they encountered intense opposition. A false prophet, a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus, sought to influence the proconsul in an effort to hinder their ministry. In view of the methods that the sorcerer employed, Paul straightforwardly described him as being ‘full of every sort of fraud and villainy, a son of the Devil, an enemy of everything righteous, one who distorted the right ways of Jehovah.’ (Acts 13:6-12) In modern times too some clergymen in Cyprus have employed similar methods in their efforts to prevent people there from learning about Jehovah’s grand purpose for blessing all the families of the earth.

But not all the people here in Cyprus agree with what these clergymen say and do. The Cypriots have a reputation for hospitality. Visitors are normally offered a sweetmeat; or if it is a hot summer day, they may be handed a cool glass of lemonade to enjoy while sitting in the shade of a grape-laden vine.

The climate here is temperate. Cyprus is located in the eastern Mediterranean, about 60 miles [100 km] west of the Syrian coast and 40 miles [60 km] south of Turkey. The island itself is beautiful. Sandy beaches reach out toward the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The Troodos mountains, which stretch across the southwestern part of the island, offer a cool, pine-scented environment for those who want to escape the summer heat. Grapevines and fig trees are common sights, as are olive and carob trees. When almond trees are in bloom, the countryside appears to be covered with a blanket of snow. And when the citrus trees blossom, the air is filled with exquisite perfume. In rural areas, shepherds are frequently seen leading their flocks of sheep and of goats to pasture. The way of life of many of these people reaches back to a time long before the Common Era.

Cyprus in History

This island, though only 128 miles [206 km] in length, has in various ways been influenced by all seven world powers of Bible history, and it has, in fact, come under the direct control of six of these. The eighth world power, the United Nations, has also made its presence felt, to keep peace between the Greek-speaking communities and those that speak Turkish.

Christianity was introduced into Cyprus in the early part of the first century C.E. After the wave of persecution that followed the death of Stephen at Jerusalem, some of the disciples who were scattered went to Cyprus and preached to the large community of Jews who lived on the island at that time. (Acts 11:19) Cyprus was later included on Paul’s first missionary tour, about 47-48 C.E. One of his traveling companions was a native Cypriot who had enjoyed association with the apostles of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem after the outpouring of holy spirit in 33 C.E. They had surnamed him Barnabas (Son of Comfort). (Acts 4:34-37) During their ministry in Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas first witnessed in Salamis on the east coast and then worked their way across the island to Paphos on the west. The ruins of Salamis and of Paphos testify to their prominence at the time that Paul and his companions carried on their ministry here.

It was at Paphos that the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus was converted to Christianity in spite of agitation by the sorcerer Bar-Jesus. The proconsul was, as the Bible says, “astounded at the teaching of Jehovah.”—Acts 13:12.

About two years later, Barnabas along with his cousin Mark returned to Cyprus to do further evangelizing.—Acts 15:36-41.

‘The Bible Students Are the University’

In modern times, too, extensive evangelizing has been done in Cyprus. Sincere people have been grateful to learn what the Bible itself teaches, in contrast with the traditions of men. An early indication that such teaching had reached Cyprus appears in The Watch Tower of October 1, 1922. A letter published in that issue indicates that an Armenian clergyman had received a tract showing that the soul itself dies, that it is not immortal. He was grateful for what he read. But he was deeply disturbed by the spiritual state of the churches in Cyprus. Concerning them he wrote: “There are many . . . church buildings here. But there is no spiritual life; it has long been dead. The clergy live a much more degraded life than the common people. There is nothing else left for me, but to lament, weep and cry out like Jeremiah. I am trying to the best of my ability to give the milk of the truth to Greeks, Armenians, Turks, and Jews.” Other Armenians, outside Cyprus, were also doing what they could to share Bible truth with the people of Cyprus.

Then, in September 1924, Cyrus Charalambous returned to his native Cyprus from the United States. He was a Bible Student, and he brought with him many tracts, including a good supply of ones entitled Where Are the Dead? He went to the central post office in Nicosia, the capital, and sent a piece of literature to each one of the headmen of the villages as well as to the teachers in every town and village. In those days mail was taken on the back of a donkey, and deliveries were made to the villages once a week.

One piece of literature, a tract entitled Peoples Pulpit, reached the schoolteacher in Xylophagou, a village in a potato-growing region in the southeastern part of the island. That teacher was visited by a local farmer, Antonis Spetsiotis. Antonis, a studious man, started to look around for something to read. He saw the tract and was soon engrossed in its contents. He discussed it with another villager, Andreas Christou. In time they obtained and read more publications of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. They also shared with others what they were learning, and some of these joined them in a study of the Bible.

Cleopas, a theologian of the Greek Orthodox Church, was one of those who showed interest. Although he became a friend of Jehovah’s people, he never took a positive stand for the truth. Yet, he used to say: ‘Catholicism is the kindergarten, Protestantism is the elementary school, but the Bible Students are the university.’

However, not everyone spoke kindly of the Bible Students. The informal witnessing done by Antonis Spetsiotis and Andreas Christou brought upon them the anger of their village. The archbishop of Cyprus was informed, and theologians were sent to counteract the influence of the two brothers. During the next two years, a number of debates were held—a theologian on one side, Brother Spetsiotis on the other. No halls were rented for these occasions; the local coffee shop served well, since that is where people gathered. Eventually both of the brothers were excommunicated from the Greek Orthodox Church and were forbidden the right to be married or buried. In fact, when a child of Andreas Christou died, the local priest actually did refuse burial for the child in the village cemetery unless Andreas would attend the church service on Sunday morning. What was the outcome? Well, the child was eventually buried, but Andreas did not go to church.

Meanwhile, Tryfon Kalogirou, a health inspector from a village in the Nicosia district, was learning the truth. As he visited the villages in connection with his work, he made good use of the Bible to expose the teachings of hellfire and the Trinity. However, after one of his legs was amputated because of disease, people would taunt him, saying that God was punishing him for having changed religions. This caused him much suffering, just as the twisted arguments of Job’s companions added to Job’s grief. (Compare Job 4:7, 8; 12:4.) However, Tryfon remained a faithful brother until his death in 1960.

Zealous Pioneers Spread the Good News

A fine impetus was given to the work on the island in 1934 when two pioneers, Brothers Matheakis and Triantafilopoulos, arrived from Greece. The headquarters office in Brooklyn, New York, dispatched 43 cartons of books in Greek, in Turkish, and in other languages, for their use. These brothers were zealous but had to contend with much indifference at first. Misled by the clergy, the people thought the brothers were Communists or Protestants and were warned that they were trying to change people’s religion. However, people in the larger towns, particularly businessmen, were curious and wanted to know what this “new religion” was all about.

The pioneers received from Brooklyn the names of a few subscribers for the Society’s magazines. One subscriber was Cleopas, the theologian. He obtained many of the Society’s publications and even invited the pioneers to his home for a meal on several occasions. He also took Brother Matheakis along to the Hellenic Club in Larnaca, where he introduced him as ‘a man from Athens representing an organization publishing useful books explaining the Bible.’ That evening Brother Matheakis was able to place 84 bound books and 120 booklets as well as take 10 subscriptions for The Golden Age.

From Larnaca, on the southeast coast, the two pioneers made their way to Xylophagou, some 16 miles [26 km] away, where they met up with Antonis Spetsiotis and Andreas Christou. These two brothers were doing the best they could to share what they had learned, but how happy they were for the opportunity to come to a more accurate understanding of the Scriptures! The first congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus was formed in their village.

On to Famagusta the pioneers went. This was a place of orange groves and windmills near the ruins of ancient Salamis. While the pioneers were preaching there, a letter arrived from the Society. It notified them that a Greek-speaking couple by the name of Lagakos would be coming from Egypt to help with the work. What welcome news! On their arrival, the group decided that Brother and Sister Lagakos would concentrate on the towns while the other pioneers witnessed in the rural areas.

Soon another congregation was formed. This one in Nicosia. Inside the old walled part of the town, there was a sizable Turkish-Cypriot population, and the brothers had their meeting place in a home owned by a Muslim.

Gradually, further results were forthcoming. Some of the Greek-Cypriot brothers took hold of the pioneer service. One of these was Christos Kourtellides, a short man with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. What an outstanding example of courage and loyalty he set! During his 17 years in the pioneer service, he covered almost all the 650 villages on the island. It was not an easy life. When no hospitality was offered, he often slept outdoors. Even his death opened the way for a good witness. The priest in his native village refused permission for him to be buried in the local cemetery. Appeal had to be made to the commissioner of the district. When his body was eventually interred, 150 were present to hear the funeral talk.

The return of Brother Triantafilopoulos to Greece and the departure of the Lagakos couple for Syria meant the end of the original band of pioneers. However, in 1938, there were four local pioneers and seven congregation publishers telling the good news, and 40 persons attended the Memorial of Christ’s death.

That same year Panagiotis Gavrielides, together with a neighboring family, came in contact with the truth. Amid great persecution the mother of that family and her three daughters, together with Panagiotis, formed a small group for Bible study and service in the village of Polemidhia. Regarding the reaction of the villagers, Panagiotis said: ‘When our small group met together, it was a usual thing for us to hear loud bangs on the door and windows. One man was so opposed that he went to the house of the sisters and beat them up. I too had to go to the hospital for treatment. Strangely, however, a few days later, as that same man crossed a bridge while riding atop a lorry on his way home from work, he fell into the river below and was killed.’

Wartime Censorship

During the second world war, censorship regulations were seized upon as a basis for confiscating literature published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Magazines for Bible study that were sent to Cyprus were not received by the brothers. Instead, these were stacked up at the general post office in the capital.

With virtually no literature, how did the Witnesses cope? On sheets of paper, they printed extracts from the Society’s earlier publications and distributed these in the field ministry. From time to time, when a copy of The Watchtower reached them, they quickly translated it and used it for study. Assemblies were also held during this time. And as the number of publishers increased, an additional congregation was formed.

Finally, a few months before the end of the war, 3,000 magazines and 17 cartons of our books and booklets were released. Of course, the post office staff had watched the pile grow, and some of them showed interest. As a result, it was possible to place 45 books with them.

Could They Get Married?

Other situations involving Jehovah’s Witnesses also kept officials aware of the Witnesses’ presence. In 1939, Brother Matheakis wanted to get married. But getting married in those days was not easy for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus. Why? Because the authorities would not acknowledge Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group and so would not grant permission for a civil marriage. Wartime conditions hindered efforts to contact the brothers at headquarters in Brooklyn to ask for advice. Eventually the branch office in London issued a certificate stating that Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus were connected with the International Bible Students Association in England. On the strength of this certificate, the British authorities in Cyprus agreed to a civil marriage for Brother Matheakis.

Over the years this faithful couple became well-known for their hospitality. Their home was always open to the brothers, and they are remembered for their kindness to all those in need.

Arrival of Gilead Graduates

The first Gilead graduate who arrived on the island was Antonios Karandinos, a Greek who had been residing in the United States. He came in 1947, when there were just 33 Kingdom publishers here. He had worked as a seaman and was a robust fellow. He was also a staunch supporter of the truth, and this was important in dealing with the tough opposition that he encountered during his ministry in Cyprus.

The opposition was especially fierce when the brothers began to offer the magazines in street witnessing. In Famagusta, a man operating as a tool of the church constantly harassed them. He would incite people against the Witnesses. As a result, on one occasion Brother Karandinos found himself surrounded by a mob, and this caused obstruction of traffic. Brother Karandinos and the instigator of the trouble were taken to court; both were fined. Other episodes followed. At times the brothers had to call the police to extricate publishers from a mob.

It was a happy day for the brothers in 1948 when two more missionaries, who had to leave Greece, arrived in Cyprus. In May of the same year, Don Rendell, a graduate of Gilead’s eighth class, also arrived, having had to leave Egypt. That year the Society established a branch office in Cyprus, with Anthony Sideris as overseer. Over a period of years, other Gilead graduates were assigned to Cyprus, and missionary homes were set up in some of the main towns. These brothers proved to be a great asset in organizing the congregations in a theocratic way and in taking the lead in training the publishers in the field ministry.

Before they could give much help, though, they needed to be able to speak Greek, and that led to some humorous incidents. One brother, when quoting Revelation 12:7, said, ‘Michael and the English battled the dragon,’ instead of “Michael and his angels,” because “angels” and “English” sound very similar in Greek. But householders very often paid attention to a foreigner who tried to speak their language. In one instance after a new brother had been baptized, he said to one of the missionaries: ‘The thing that impressed me when you called on me was the fact that, though you are a foreigner, you were taking the trouble to learn my language. It made me feel that I ought to look into what you had brought me.’

Church Stirs up Curiosity About the Witnesses

Although there were, on an average, only about 50 publishers of Jehovah’s Kingdom on the island in 1948, the Orthodox Church felt obliged ‘to put an end to this heresy,’ as they expressed it. What tactics did they use? An encyclical was published denouncing us, and this was printed in many of the daily newspapers and was read in the churches throughout the island. Children were sent out to distribute copies from door to door, and copies were pasted on walls and telegraph poles. We were branded as unpatriotic, antichrists, and agents of Zionism.

How did Jehovah’s people react? Well, the people were now curious about the Witnesses. They wanted to know why the church so strongly opposed us. So our brothers undertook a four-month campaign in which 72,000 booklets were left in the hands of the people—seven times as many as the total pieces of literature that had been distributed during the entire previous year. This gave people an opportunity to find out for themselves what Jehovah’s Witnesses teach. Many read our publications out of curiosity. On the other hand, some brothers were beaten and stoned. In Limassol a brother and sister were taken to court, charged with proselytism and troublemaking, and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.

Discussion at the Archbishopric

During this time, Don Rendell met an influential gentleman in Nicosia who was closely associated with the Orthodox Church. Regarding the experience, Brother Rendell later said: ‘After an interesting discussion, I left the man the book “Let God Be True,” and on a return visit he wanted to know more. However, he said he would like to hear a discussion between me and the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church, with whom he was acquainted. “Would you be willing?” he asked.

‘Brother Sideris, the branch overseer, agreed to accompany me to the archbishop’s palace. On arrival, we were told that the archbishop was “indisposed” but that we could speak with a theologian of the church who was attached to the ecclesiastical court. After a lengthy discussion, I asked the theologian what the position of the Greek Orthodox Church would be when there was a conflict between the Bible and the traditions of the church. He answered that the church would accept the traditions of the church. And he certainly did! When Colossians chapter 1, verse 15, was quoted, which says that Jesus is “the firstborn of all creation,” he immediately exclaimed: “That is the heresy of Arius!” It was obvious who were the true supporters of the Bible.’

Plenty of Free Advertising

Despite continuing opposition, the average number of publishers rose from 141 in 1949 to 204 in 1950, and 241 attended the Memorial celebration in 1950. During that year a circuit assembly was arranged in Paphos, where the apostle Paul had preached. A cinema was rented, but the local bishop and other prominent people in town brought pressure on the owner in an effort to get him to break his contract with us. The local council tried to force us to call off our assembly by limiting the number of people who could be in the cinema and by imposing an exorbitant tax on use of the building. When efforts were made to see the British commissioner for the district to resolve the situation, these were all blocked. So the branch overseer, himself British, made a personal visit to the commissioner’s home and explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses were being harassed by the local officials. We greatly appreciated what the commissioner did to help us. A large yard adjoining the cinema was made available, and this provided plenty of room for those who could not be seated inside.

The bishop of Paphos was furious. Like the ancient sorcerer Bar-Jesus, who tried to turn the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the preaching of Paul, the bishop employed all his wonder-working “ecclesiastical magic.” (Compare Acts 13:6-12.) He had a leaflet distributed to notify people that the two pioneer Witnesses living in the Paphos district were excommunicated. This was quickly followed by another leaflet denouncing Jehovah’s Witnesses as the “heresy known as chiliasm,” which, it said, was “a satanic invention of the unhealthy imagination of the last century.” In support of the church, young folks distributing leaflets took up positions alongside each publisher who was witnessing on the street. Anyone who showed interest in what the Witnesses were doing had opposition leaflets thrust at him by these youths.

Some newspapers, but not all, joined in the attack on Jehovah’s people. In 1950 the New Political Review of Paphos declared: “The followers of Jehovah already number hundreds in our district. They will grow to thousands by tomorrow and will endanger the very existence of our church. For these reasons it is necessary for our Holy Synod and our bishops to get on the move and to investigate this terrible matter immediately and without postponement or delay.” Another newspaper, Paphos, obviously getting in a gibe at the church, stated in its issue of May 4, 1950: “The condition of poverty and misery that holds sway in some villages, as well as the extensive property owned by the monasteries and the church, all these things have created the right climate for the growth of the chiliastic belief. We mention for example one village, namely Episkopi, where almost all the land belongs to the church and its inhabitants work as slaves renting land or entering into partnership. . . . No wonder then if half the population of this village became Jehovah’s Witnesses. . . . From the above the Cyprus church should understand that it will not prevail with a paper fight. The chiliasts have found the Achilles’ heel of clericaldom . . . It is not sufficient to fight them with leaflets.”

With all this publicity, Jehovah’s Witnesses became the talk of the town. The interest of the people being now thoroughly aroused, large numbers of them turned out for the public talk at the cinema. At least 500 were present.

First Visit of the Society’s President

An event that brought great joy to the Cypriot brothers was the visit, in December 1951, of Brother Knorr accompanied by Milton Henschel. The Royal Cinema was the site for a three-day assembly. It was a modern building, and Brother Knorr commented: ‘We would like to have a place like this for our circuit assemblies in New York.’ A three-day assembly had been planned, but because the Royal Cinema was in a residential part of the old city, the Pallas Cinema in the center of Nicosia was booked for the public talk to be given by Brother Knorr on Sunday morning. Arrangements were made to give full publicity to this talk. Four large banners prepared in Greek and English were mounted on the side of the Royal Cinema. Two hundred posters were distributed throughout the capital. Advertisements were flashed on the screens in the largest cinemas. English, Greek, and Turkish newspapers carried announcements of the public talk “Will Religion Meet the World Crisis?” Not surprisingly, personnel at the leading Communist newspaper said that they could not advertise the talk ‘because it was against party line,’ and members of the staff at the leading nationalist newspaper said that they ‘must first have the approval of the archbishop.’

With all the publicity, we wondered how our religious opposers would react. We soon found out. One night the banners on the Royal Cinema were ripped down. We informed the police. The archbishop had a leaflet printed in which he urged: “ATTENTION! KEEP AWAY FROM THE MILLENNIALISTS.” Part of the leaflet said: ‘Do you see? They have invited a stranger also to uphold them. . . . They are wolves in sheep’s clothing who come to devour the sensible sheep of Christ. . . . Do not approach them, don’t give them any attention. Ignore them, maybe they will come to their senses and be corrected. From THE HOLY ARCHBISHOPRIC.’

Would it be possible for Brother Knorr to give his public talk at the Pallas Cinema without disturbance? Let an eyewitness describe the scene. Don Rendell recalls: ‘It was just after 10:00 a.m. when I approached the cinema. There were police outside the entrance, and I could see a crowd of young men milling around with the intention of getting into the cinema to cause trouble. As there were brothers who knew many of the troublemakers, they were assisting the police who were keeping the mobsters away from the entrance. I had to push my way through them to get in. At 10:30 a.m., Brother Knorr began his talk with 420 present. But the religious hooligans outside started to bang on the doors. This was quickly stopped by the police. But the question now was, How will we be able to get out of the cinema after the program? The brothers decided that, with the help of the police, they would keep the mobsters at the front of the cinema. Then at the end of the talk, we were asked to leave the building by a rear exit, and this we did quietly, thus avoiding any confrontation.’

Church Bells Signal Another Attack

In 1952, Famagusta was a lovely town with orange and lemon groves and a long sandy beach. This town on the east coast of the island is just a few miles from the ruins of the ancient city of Salamis, where the apostle Paul and his companions preached. But Famagusta today, since the Turkish invasion in 1974, is for the most part a ghost town, with very few inhabitants. However, in 1952, Jehovah’s Witnesses had planned an assembly to be held in one of the town’s cinemas. Well aware that the Greek Orthodox Church had declared all-out war against Jehovah’s Witnesses and because of what had occurred at previous assemblies, we requested that the police be on hand. Sunday morning was beautiful, and the brothers were looking forward to the public talk scheduled for midmorning. However, ten minutes before the talk was due to begin and with 350 already seated in the cinema, there were indications that trouble was brewing. Antonios Karandinos, a missionary in the town, was one of the attendants at the front entrance of the cinema. This is how he described what happened:

“Just 10 minutes before the public talk was due to begin, the bell of a nearby Orthodox church began to peal. This, as we understood later, was the signal for priests and scores of secondary-school youths to begin a march on the cinema. What a sight came into view! There were priests heading a mob of youths bent on getting into the cinema. We braced ourselves for trouble. The door to the cinema was closed, and when they tried to force their way in, I was manhandled by a priest and my clothes were torn. The situation became more menacing, so police reinforcements were requested and were soon on the scene. Thwarted in their endeavor to break up the meeting, the mob shouted and raved against us outside the cinema.”

Their efforts frustrated, the priests led the mob back to the church. Jehovah had given us the victory.

Lawbreakers Taken to Court

Earlier, the bishops, priests, and theologians of the church had been sent out to towns and villages throughout the island to urge the people: “When Jehovah’s Witnesses visit your village or town, throw them out!” Not everyone did the clergy’s bidding. The brothers continued to find sheeplike ones. But such incitement was bound to have repercussions. Sister Galatia Matheakis tells about one incident in which she was involved:

‘Early one Sunday morning, 20 of us assembled for field service. Three villages had been selected. It took us about two hours to make our way to the territory. In the largest village ten of the brothers worked from house to house; the remaining ten were divided up to work the other two villages. In one of the smaller villages, the brothers had been driven out by 10:30 a.m. The largest village had almost been completed, with good results, when the fury of mob violence broke out. Chairs were brought down on the heads of two brothers witnessing in the center of the village, and stones were hurled at them as they left the village. The village priest then gathered a mob about 200 strong to round up all of us. Armed with heavy sticks and beating tin cans, they made a search for us. First a brother and a sister were found. Sticks landed across the back of the brother, and stones were hurled at the sister. The same happened to most of us. We were marched through the village. The marks left from the beatings served as a testimony against these villagers when some of the brothers had to report to a government hospital for examination.’

Our brothers filed a complaint in court. After hearing the testimony for three days, the judge said: “I have believed the evidence of the complainants in toto and I find the accused guilty on all counts. . . . I do not believe the allegation that the complainants were teaching that Christ was a bastard, etc. . . . The complainants went to the village of the accused in order to teach their creed; they did so peacefully and the accused had no right to attack them.”

Between 1952 and 1953 two missionaries, Antonios Karandinos and Emmanuel Paterakis, had to leave Cyprus. These brothers had put up a hard fight for the faith while in Cyprus, and they are remembered with affection.

Viewing The New World Society in Action

In 1955 we received the Society’s film The New World Society in Action. Large audiences turned out to see it. Not only the brothers but also worldly persons got a better insight into Jehovah’s organization.

Among the many interesting experiences was the following: In the village of Xylophagou, with a population of 1,500 inhabitants, the proprietor of the local cinema agreed to let us use his cinema without payment. On the evening the film was to be shown, the local priest sent a villager to write down the names of all who were present. With what result? When the priest asked for the list of names, the villager replied: “Seeing that nearly the whole village was present, how could I write down all the names?”

Times of Change

Since 1878, Cyprus had been under British control. But in the 1950’s, Greek Cypriots, under the direction of Archbishop Makarios, promoted a campaign for ENOSIS, or union with Greece, on the basis of such mutual ties as language and religion. The Turkish-speaking segment of the population opposed it.

Nevertheless, there was agitation for independence from British colonial rule. From 1955 to 1960, an organization called EOKA pressed the issue of independence by means of guerrilla attacks on the British. Jehovah’s Witnesses are completely neutral in such political matters, but they could not help being affected by what was going on around them.

One of the first incidents in this campaign took place in Famagusta quite close to the Society’s branch office. A British military camp nearby came under attack. Understandably, the five missionaries living at the branch, all of whom were British subjects, felt considerable pressure.

On another occasion, Dennis Matthews and his wife, Mavis, two missionaries, had just arrived home. When they opened the back door, a bomb exploded in the home of a neighbor, a British serviceman. While the person who had placed the bomb was being chased into an orange grove across from the missionary home, shooting broke out. Soon there was a knock on the door, but the missionaries were afraid to open up, so they called out to find out who was there. It was British servicemen, who were anxious to know if the occupants were safe.

Once when Brothers Rendell and Gavrielides were in Xylophagou to help with preparations for a circuit assembly, there was a great commotion outside during the congregation’s weekly Watchtower Study. British soldiers appeared in the doorway. They notified us that on the outskirts of the village, a British soldier had been killed and another severely injured. As a result, the whole area was now under curfew, and they asked Brother Rendell to tell all those in the hall to go to their homes immediately. The following day, all the male inhabitants of the area, including Brother Rendell, though he was British, were rounded up and put into a barbed-wire enclosure for interrogation. Of course, Jehovah’s Witnesses were not involved in the killing, so they were eventually released and continued their preparations for the upcoming assembly.

Time and again, however, theocratic activities had to be curtailed on short notice as confrontations between EOKA and the British forces brought curfews and other restrictions. No one could be on the streets after nightfall, so meetings had to be held during daylight hours. There were periods when people were confined to their homes for as much as four days. Everyone was suspicious of his neighbor and was fearful of expressing an opinion. However, despite the restrictions, Jehovah’s Witnesses continued to comfort honesthearted ones.

End of Colonial Rule

The struggle against British rule in Cyprus continued until 1960. Then at midnight on August 16, Cyprus became a republic and eventually a member of the United Nations. Amid scenes of great rejoicing, Greek Cypriots at last felt free from foreign domination. But was this true freedom? How did Jehovah’s Witnesses fare under the new republic? Let the historical facts speak for themselves.

Before the end of the year, there were two bomb attacks against the Witnesses. Who was responsible? The first took place in Xylophagou. Two bombs were placed on the veranda of the Kingdom Hall. The attack was obviously against Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group. Since the bombs exploded after midnight, no one was injured, although damage was done to the Kingdom Hall.

In the second incident, a bomb was thrown at the home where four special pioneers were living in Pentayia. Fortunately, they were out in the field ministry at the time. The owner of the house knew who was responsible and said: ‘I will visit the bishop and ask him to pay for the damage caused. At the same time, I am going to tell him that if he wants to gain followers for Christ, he must do this by preaching as Jehovah’s Witnesses do and not by violence.’

A brother and his family who had moved to the village of Liopetri to help the small congregation there also became targets of intolerance. Threats such as ‘we will burn him alive’ or ‘we must kill him’ were not uncommon. It was after midnight when a number of masked fanatics surrounded the brother’s home and began firing their pistols, shouting to the brother that if he did not leave the next day he would be killed. Since the police would not give protection to the brother and his family, they decided to move out of the village. Nevertheless, in spite of all attempts to intimidate the brothers in Liopetri, there is a congregation in the village today, and recently the brothers were able to build a fine new Kingdom Hall.

A despicable incident took place on the evening of September 11, 1962. Andreas Psaltis and his wife, Nina, together with Eunice McRae, were in the Famagusta missionary home when masked men entered through a window. They beat up Brother Psaltis. Then they tied up the two sisters and subjected them to indignity by shaving their heads. (Compare 1 Corinthians 11:6.) After ransacking the house, they left.

Finally, in December 1963 tension between the two major ethnic groups on the island reached a breaking point. Violence erupted. There was particularly fierce fighting in a suburb of Nicosia, the town called Trachonas, where there was a mixed population of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. There were a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses who lived in Trachonas, and they had built a large Kingdom Hall there. At the risk of their lives, brothers living outside that district got food to fellow believers in the troubled area. Sadly, however, one brother, Andronicos Michaelidis, was stabbed to death when trying to get to work.

A Test of Integrity

In 1964 the young male Witnesses in particular were faced with a test of their integrity. A conscription law was approved by the Cyprus government as the conflict between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities continued. Witnesses of military age who were called up for military service had a serious decision to make. Under pressure, would they adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ? In the depths of their heart, were they truly Christian neutrals? (Matt. 26:52; John 17:15, 16) Would they continue to trust in Jehovah with all their heart?—Prov. 3:5, 6; Isa. 2:2-4.

Many showed such faith. However, some compromised and ceased to be part of the neutral Christian congregation. Other young Witnesses chose to leave the island, with the result that the average number of publishers dropped from 516 in 1963 to 394 in 1966. The congregations felt somewhat discouraged.

Measures were taken to strengthen the faith of the brothers. To this end, one-day assemblies were arranged where timely Scriptural counsel was discussed. The results proved encouraging. But the tests were not all past.

Framing Mischief by Law

In June 1966 another blow was aimed at Jehovah’s organization. The Council of Ministers presented to the parliament a bill that could greatly affect the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was a bill prohibiting proselytism, and it stipulated that anyone who visited people at their homes for that purpose or who distributed religious literature in order to proselytize not only would be subject to imprisonment for up to two years but would have to pay a fine as well.

Many protests were lodged with the Cyprus House of Representatives, and visits were made to resident representatives of the British and United States governments. A letter was sent by the Society to the Secretary General of the United Nations. As a result of appeals from many quarters, the bill has to date not been presented for ratification.

Building Program Gets Under Way

As the work of Kingdom proclamation expanded, there was a growing need for suitable meeting places. In 1967, when the publishers here numbered just 431, the Society’s branch in Cyprus started a building fund, and the brothers were enthusiastic about the prospects.

We were very much encouraged by Brother Henschel during his zone visit in April 1968. At that time a new missionary couple, Louis Kopsies and his wife, Stella, arrived on the island. Brother Kopsies gave valuable assistance to the building program by helping to organize the work and giving of himself in an exemplary way.

An important step in our plans for building was the formation, in March 1960, of a local corporation called The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Congregation (Cyprus) Ltd. The charter included, among other things, arrangements for holding title to property.

The first project was the building of a spacious Kingdom Hall in Famagusta, with room for 230. Not only did this facility serve the local congregation but, along with an adjoining courtyard that was covered by a huge grapevine, it also provided a location in which to hold circuit assemblies.

Next to receive attention was the Society’s branch office. For about 20 years, we had used rented premises. Now the Society purchased a piece of land at Agios Dometios, a suburb of the capital. Here the brothers built a new four-story building, including a Kingdom Hall on the first floor. This building was dedicated in 1969 by F. W. Franz, who was then vice president of the Watch Tower Society.

Meanwhile, a beautiful Kingdom Hall had been built in Xylophagou, the location of the first congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus, formed in the early 1930’s. There had been much opposition in this village when the first ones that showed interest in the truth here started to witness to others. But as the villagers watched the brothers and sisters work together for three weeks, 15 or more hours a day, to build their Kingdom Hall, there were some who could not help being favorably impressed. Now there is a Kingdom Hall that seats 450 people right in the center of the village. In and around it, there was also ample room for holding assemblies and conventions.

Limassol, the second-largest town in the island and a seaside resort on the south coast, was the next town to get its own Kingdom Hall. In addition to the Kingdom Hall, provision was made for a missionary home upstairs. In 1974, when the branch premises had to be vacated in Nicosia, part of the space upstairs was adapted for use by the office.

The Biblical town of Paphos was also given attention. Although increase here came very slowly at first, in more recent years there has been tremendous growth in the Paphos area. The Kingdom Hall that was originally constructed has had to be enlarged and now accommodates two congregations.

A fine Kingdom Hall was constructed in the town of Larnaca, and a prefabricated hall in the village of Liopetri has now given way to a more suitable meeting place for the people in what are called the kokina choria, or red-earth villages, because of the red soil.

Zealous publishers and special pioneers have also been busy in the beautiful but wild northwest corner of the island, an area well known to tourists for its so-called baths of Aphrodite. Because of response to the Kingdom message, a plot of land was purchased in Polis Chrysochous. A Kingdom Hall that seats 70 people has now been built and is being used as a center for divine education in that area.

Marriages and Burials

Because for many years we were not recognized by authorities here as a religion, marriages and burials for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus have not been easy. As far as most Greek Cypriots were concerned, a person could be married or buried only by the established church of Cyprus. However, in 1948 the Society’s lawyer on the island filed application with the British colonial authorities to have a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses certified by the government to perform marriages. How glad the brothers were when an announcement appeared in the government gazette in 1949 that a Witness, Savvas Droussiotis, had been certified for the performing of marriages! Later on, other brothers were also authorized by the government to provide this service.

The matter of burial also posed a problem, as there was often opposition from Orthodox priests who refused to allow Jehovah’s Witnesses or their children to be buried in what the church viewed as “consecrated ground.” In the towns, where each religious denomination had its own cemetery, this problem was particularly acute. In villages the situation was somewhat different; taxes paid by residents covered burial in the local cemetery. However, in some cases the clergy disputed this right. It was not easy for our brothers to deal with these problems at the same time that they were endeavoring to cope with the loss of a family member. The problem needed to be resolved.

Finally, in 1950, the authorities granted Jehovah’s Witnesses the right to have their own burial ground. A brother donated a piece of land outside the capital for this purpose. Years later, in 1989, a second cemetery was necessary, and we were granted permission to use a piece of land in the village of Nissou, where the present branch office of the Society is located. These provisions have proved to be a great blessing to Jehovah’s people and have helped to counteract the claim of Orthodox priests that ‘if you become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you will be buried like a dog.’

Although Jehovah’s Witnesses had been granted the legal right to perform marriage ceremonies, efforts were made, in 1971, to interfere with this right. We were informed by the District Officer of Nicosia that before a marriage could be performed, the parties to the marriage must produce a certificate from the archbishopric to the effect that they were no longer members of the Greek Orthodox Church. As was to be expected, the archbishopric was unwilling to issue such certificates. This virtually meant that none of Jehovah’s Witnesses could get married. However, with the help of some freedom-loving officials who realized that the requiring of such certificates was a move instigated by the priests, that requirement was eliminated.

“Divine Victory” International Assembly

In November 1972, Brother Knorr visited Cyprus in connection with plans for the “Divine Victory” International Assemblies. Tours of the Bible lands were being arranged along with the conventions. To our delight, Cyprus was to be included, and an international convention was to be held in the capital, Nicosia, in July 1973.

We immediately made efforts to secure a stadium or other suitable location for the convention, but we had no success, mainly because officials and businessmen feared the reaction of the Church. So we decided to use property surrounding a large Kingdom Hall in Trachonas. The Society already owned a plot of land across from the Kingdom Hall, and we were able to rent adjoining land. It was quite an undertaking for us to build an overhead covering of bamboo canes for the entire area, to shelter delegates from the heat. Daily, in heat of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit [40° C.], our brothers and sisters worked to accomplish the task.

One of the biggest problems, however, was to get sufficient water to care for the convention’s needs. The winter prior to the assembly had seen little rainfall, and water was being rationed to three days a week. What could be done? A brother whose home was next to the Kingdom Hall had a well in his garden. He was willing to let the brothers use it, but no water had been taken from the well for some time. How much would it yield? Brothers cleaned it out, installed a pump, and then waited with bated breath to see the result. An ample supply of water began to flow! But was it suitable to drink? Tests were made. The result: 100 percent suitable! It seemed like a modern-day miracle. How grateful we were to Jehovah for this solution to a major problem!

Because of increased activity around the Kingdom Hall, opposers soon became aware that something special was taking place. Then, before daybreak one morning, the brother whose house adjoined the Kingdom Hall was awakened because his bedroom became illuminated by flames. A stack of bamboo canes was burning fiercely on the site. Arson! Our enemies were on the warpath again. From then on, greater precautions were taken to assure security.

The Society had requested that, for the benefit of the many visitors who would come to the island and who would not understand the Greek language, skits be prepared to depict local customs and the life of the inhabitants of the island. Each morning from 8:00 to 9:30, before the regular convention program, these informative skits were presented and were much enjoyed by all who were present. There were also tours to historic places associated with the Bible record.

Having an international convention in Cyprus was an exciting and upbuilding experience for the local brothers. It afforded them opportunity to associate personally with Witnesses of many nationalities. This helped to broaden their awareness of the international brotherhood. Furthermore, the publicity that resulted from opposition by the Orthodox Church in connection with this convention helped more people in Cyprus to be keenly aware of the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

1974—A Year of Change

Cyprus was a mecca for tourists. The economy was booming. Many Cypriots thought that everything was just fine. But that underwent a dramatic change on July 15, 1974.

For a long time the islanders had been politically divided. There were two opposing factions in the Greek-Cypriot community. On the one hand were the supporters of the president, Archbishop Makarios; on the other, supporters of the late general Georgios Grivas, the well-known EOKA leader who had headed the revolt against British colonial rule. In an armed coup, President Makarios was overthrown and many lives were lost. But these events were just a prelude to more tragic happenings.

After being in England for 14 years because of ill health, Don Rendell had returned to Cyprus in 1972 and was serving as circuit overseer. At the time, he was living on the north coast of the island, just 40 miles [60 km] from the southern coast of Turkey. This is how he described what occurred:

‘Together with my companion Paul Andreou, I was living in the village of Karakoumi, about one and a half miles [2 km] to the east of Kyrenia. About five o’clock in the morning of July 20, I heard a loud explosion. From our kitchen window, I could see a column of smoke rising from the harbor area of Kyrenia. A Turkish radio station on the island announced that because of the unstable conditions that had developed as a result of the Greek-Cypriot “coup,” troops from mainland Turkey were arriving on the north coast to protect the Turkish-Cypriot minority living in Cyprus. We soon realized that we were in a theater of war. We counted 75 helicopters overhead. Paratroopers were being dropped just beyond the mountains that surround the town. Bombardment from the sea and the air continued for some days; then we were obliged to leave our home late one evening as Turkish troops advanced on the village.

‘After some days in the mountains, we returned to our home but were soon surrounded by Turkish troops. We were not molested. We wondered what had happened to the brothers of our small congregation in Kyrenia. We eventually found the family of Brother Kyriazis—seven Witnesses in all—and we were overjoyed to see one another. The following day, we were sitting under a tree in their garden, studying the day’s text, when Turkish troops arrived. We were told to go indoors. Soon we were taken to the Dome Hotel, which was under the control of UN troops. Paul and I were not permitted to return to our home, but together with Brother Kyriazis and his family as well as about 650 other people, we were kept in the hotel there in Kyrenia. After a few days, because I was British, I was taken to Nicosia, walked through no-man’s-land, and was released. But our Greek-Cypriot brothers were kept in the hotel for several months before their release. During that time, they kept spiritually strong by having regular meetings to study the Bible, and they kept busy sharing the Bible’s message of comfort with the others who were being held captive in the hotel.’

What was the outcome of that military action? Turkish troops occupied about one third of the island. Over 200,000 people had become refugees. Jehovah’s people were among them. Over 300 brothers lost all their earthly possessions. Four congregations were dispersed. The Bethel Home withstood the onslaught, but the scars of war showed in the bullet-ridden shutters of the building. Valuing life more than property, we decided to vacate the branch premises. Nevertheless, when the fighting died down, efforts were made to retrieve some of the files from the Society’s office. We found that soldiers had already raided the branch premises. The front door had been forced open, and a soldier had written across one of the walls: ‘God doesn’t love us because we didn’t find anything of real value here.’

Immediately a committee was formed to care for the needs of our refugee brothers. Those who had not been directly affected by the conflict opened their homes to their Christian brothers. Relief supplies from Jehovah’s Witnesses in Greece and funds from the Britain branch soon arrived. The local brothers really appreciated the concern shown by the Governing Body in helping them in their hour of need. What a marvelous bond of union holds all of Jehovah’s servants close to one another!

Provision of an Assembly Hall

With the movement of Turkish Cypriots from the south of the island to the north, a Turkish cinema in the town of Limassol became available to us, and we signed a contract with the Turkish owner before he left. The building had been badly damaged during the hostilities. But the brothers worked hard to repair the roof and generally make the place usable. One of the congregations in the town was able to use a part of the building for its meetings. The cinema could seat 800 persons, and there was an area around the cinema that could be used for convention departments. Getting a suitable site for our conventions had always been a problem, so this was just what we needed.

Before long, though, after the former owner died, there were some in authority who wanted to take the cinema away from us. But eventually an arrangement was worked out with the authorities for us to use the cinema and part of the surrounding property. Over the years many improvements were made to the building until it reached a standard that was acceptable for the worship of our God, Jehovah.

When we obtained the cinema, it provided enough room for all the Witnesses in Cyprus. However, in 1994, we planned to hold three district conventions there, to accommodate the Witnesses and interested persons who would attend.

An Issue of Christian Conscience

During 1978/79 there were various newspaper reports dealing with the neutral stand taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses with regard to military conscription. Because the law made no provision for conscientious objection, several Witnesses were sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

Since 1980, at least 130 of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been imprisoned for their neutral stand, and some have been sent back to prison for second, third, and fourth terms. Of interest is the case of 28-year-old Georgios Anastasi Petrou. On July 1, 1993, he was convicted as a conscientious objector for the fourth time and was sentenced to prison for six months. All together, his prison terms have amounted to two years and two months. Regarding this Witness, the newspaper Cyprus Weekly of September 9, 1993, reported the protest of Amnesty International, saying: ‘Unfortunately, there is nothing to stop the authorities from imprisoning him a fifth, a sixth, a seventh time. Isn’t it time the authorities stopped harassing him?’

Every week various elders visit our brothers who are in prison for reasons of neutrality to discuss with them The Watchtower as well as other upbuilding Scriptural information. We appreciate the cooperation of the prison authorities that has made this possible. The brothers facing the neutrality issue view it as a test of faith and as an opportunity to devote more time, while in prison, to personal Bible study. Characteristic are the following comments by some of them: ‘We are prepared to stay in prison as long as Jehovah permits it,’ and, ‘Never before have we done so much studying.’

Government ministers are receiving many letters of protest from human rights organizations asking that the Cypriot authorities resolve the issue of conscientious objection. As a result, a number of newspaper articles have recently urged the authorities to bring their legislation into line with what is now common in Europe. For instance, the newspaper Alithia, of January 24, 1994, said concerning conscientious objectors: ‘This matter must be settled as soon as possible, in line with suggestions of Europe and the UN.’

The European Parliament has urged member states of the European Community to give legal recognition to conscientious objection to military service. In 1993 an extensive article published in the Cyprus Law Tribune urged the authorities in Cyprus to give serious thought to what countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have done in dealing with this situation.

New Branch Premises

In 1981, changes at the administrative level were made at the Society’s branch. To care for the needs of the branch, Don Rendell, who was then serving in the Greece Bethel, was asked to return to Cyprus to take over the duties of Branch Committee coordinator. The following year, a Greek-Cypriot couple, Andreas Kontoyiorgis and his wife, Maro, who had been serving as special pioneers in England, were added to the Cyprus Bethel family. As the premises in Limassol were proving to be too small, the Bethel family was overjoyed in 1985 when the Governing Body gave permission to build new branch facilities.

Although the brothers were eager to move ahead with the work on the new facilities, there were problems that had to be dealt with. Where would the new building be erected? It was decided that land owned by the Cyprus Corporation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Limassol should be used for this purpose. During 1987, architectural plans were submitted to the local municipal authorities, and request was made for a building permit. However, as soon as it became known that Jehovah’s Witnesses planned to build, representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church canvassed the neighborhood in order to obtain signatures on a statement of protest. As a result, the authorities refused to issue a permit to build. The reasons given were “in order to safeguard public safety and order which will be endangered if the permit was granted” and also “the purpose of the proposed building.”

Since the ruling was obviously one based on religious prejudice, the brothers took the matter to court. There the decision was in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The judgment stated that the municipal authority had “no authority for refusing the issue of a building permit for reasons of public safety or public order.” The judgment continued: “However, the other reason given, namely the ‘purpose of the proposed building,’ . . . does disclose the real reason why the applicants’ application was refused.” It was beneficial to have that matter settled judicially.

Even before the court rendered its decision, however, it became increasingly apparent that it would not be wise to locate the branch office in an area where there was such fierce opposition. Providentially, at that time a brother who owned a property in the village of Nissou, just a few miles from Nicosia, offered to sell it to the Society. On an acre [0.4 ha] of land, there was a building that consisted of four apartments. To the rear of the building was a citrus orchard, and at the front was a patio surrounded by flowering shrubs and palm trees. Next door was the local Kingdom Hall. The property was ideal for the branch. There was more space than would have been available in Limassol, very few alterations were needed, the property was centrally located, and the neighborhood was friendly. After approval was granted by the Publishing Committee of the Governing Body, the property was purchased in 1988, and in June of the same year the Bethel family moved in.

Legal Decisions Assist the Work

In addition to the legal case regarding proposed branch premises, there have been other occasions when it was necessary to take action to ‘legally establish the good news’ in Cyprus. At times appeals had to be made to the island’s Supreme Court.—Phil. 1:7.

One fundamental point that needed clarification was: Are Jehovah’s Witnesses what is legally termed a “known religion”? If so, then they should be treated the same as other already existing religions. Article 18 of the Cyprus Constitution says:

“1. Every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

“2. All religions whose doctrines or rites are not secret are free.

“3. All religions are equal before the law.”

Legal authorities have defined a “known religion” as a “religion that can be ‘known’ by anyone; a religion whose dogmas and principles are not secret, and its worship takes place publicly.” Jehovah’s Witnesses meet all these criteria.

Yet, in the field of education, Jehovah’s Witnesses were being discriminated against. Schools refused to list “Jehovah’s Witnesses” as the religion of students, although noting the religion of a student on school reports is customary. The matter was taken up with the education authorities. The Ministry of Education stated: ‘We do not have in mind the existence of a religion with the name Jehovah’s Witnesses. We understand Jehovah’s Witnesses are a movement or organization.’

In a memorandum to the minister of education, dated April 16, 1991, the attorney general reviewed the matter in the light of the Cyprus Constitution. He then rendered the opinion that Jehovah’s Witnesses are a “known religion,” so the students’ religion should be shown on their school reports.

This opinion of the attorney general had a favorable effect on other legal developments involving Jehovah’s servants in Cyprus. A nine-page memorandum issued by his office stated that ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses should be treated in the same way as those of the mainstream religions of Cyprus. At a time when there was renewed pressure from opposers, this served to fortify a decision made by the authorities in July 1990 regarding Jehovah’s Witnesses. On the basis of that decision, elders and ministerial servants in the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses were exempted from military service because they were recognized as being ministers of religion.

Another development following the opinion of the attorney general involved taxes. On June 17, 1992, the Ministry of Commerce made known its decision that the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses would be exempt from paying land tax, and taxes already paid since 1981 were refunded.

Needless to say, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus are grateful to those in authority who set aside prejudice and treat all religions with impartiality.

The Ingathering Continues

In modern times, it was some 70 years ago that the preaching of the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom reached Cyprus. What has been accomplished since then?

From one end of the island to the other—in towns, villages, and out in the countryside—people have been given opportunity again and again to hear the Bible’s message. Some prospective members of the heavenly Kingdom were found here. Now many more are being gathered with a hope of eternal life as worshipers of Jehovah on a paradise earth. By the early part of 1985, there were upwards of 1,000 in Cyprus who were publicly singing the praises of Jehovah.

But the ingathering did not stop then. By March 1994, there were 1,544 active Witnesses in Cyprus, and 3,141 attended the Memorial. So, many are still responding to the program of disciple making and are showing a desire to learn all the things that Jesus commanded his followers. Throughout the island, there are 16 congregations, and they show a zeal for Jehovah’s service. During the past service year, there has been fine evidence of a growing pioneer spirit, especially among the younger Witnesses. During March, a total of 295 Witnesses, which was 19 percent of the total publishers, participated in some form of pioneer service.

Progress has also been made in training the brothers to take on more responsibility. This has been so particularly with regard to congregation elders as well as convention and assembly organization.

Perseverance is required on the part of the publishers to keep on covering their territory regularly. Fear of man is still prevalent in Cyprus, where communities are close-knit, especially in rural areas.

When love for Bible truth takes hold in the heart of a young person, it is sometimes that young one who helps the rest of the family to surmount the barrier of fear. That was true in a family of six (father, mother, and four young children) in a small village. A pioneer started to study the Bible with the mother. After the third study, she attended a meeting with the Witnesses. But when family opposition arose, she stopped the study. However, her nine-year-old daughter cried without letup until, at last, the mother agreed to resume the study. Soon the entire family began attending meetings. In 1994 this woman was baptized. Her husband is now studying, and that daughter also continues to study.

As the publishers faithfully share in the ministry, they continue to locate such humble ones. They also learn to cultivate the fruits of God’s spirit. And they give evidence that they are loyal supporters of Jehovah’s sovereignty.

True Liberation for Honesthearted Cypriots

The history of Cyprus records the domination of its inhabitants by foreign powers. Many Cypriots have given their lives in what they understood to be the cause of freedom. However, the results have not always been what they envisioned. In this generation, many individuals have lost their ancestral lands, and at present they see no hope of returning to these. That is also true for some of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It has not been easy for them.

But true freedom is not dependent on where one lives or what property one has. This freedom is the sort that results from an accurate knowledge of the truth. Such knowledge, found in the Bible, frees people from superstition and unwarranted fear. It replaces religious intolerance with love for God and for one’s fellowman. It shows the way to deliverance from bondage to sin and death for all who put faith in the loving provision for salvation made by Jehovah God through Jesus Christ. It is to this good news that Jehovah’s Witnesses direct people of all sorts.

Yet, as was true when the apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas preached in Cyprus, religious leaders oppose the preaching of such good news. Throughout their modern-day history in Cyprus, Jehovah’s servants have been opposed primarily by the Greek Orthodox Church. But the Witnesses have ever been mindful of what is written at Jeremiah 1:19: “They will be certain to fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for ‘I am with you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘to deliver you.’”

They are confident that Jehovah will continue to deliver them from their enemies and that soon he will deliver them through the coming great tribulation into his new world. Then what is stated at Micah 4:4 will be true not only in a spiritual sense but also in a literal way: “They will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble.” True, there are Cypriots who can even now sit under their vine and fig tree, but they do not do so without fear. However, in “the inhabited earth to come,” of which the Bible speaks, it will be possible to enjoy such conditions with no fear of crime, of war, or even of sickness and death. That will be true liberation! Yes, Jehovah promises: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “These words are faithful and true.”—Heb. 2:5-9; Rev. 21:4, 5; Ps. 37:9-11.

[Map on page 66]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

CYPRUS

Paphos

Nicosia

Limassol

Larnaca

Xylophagou

Famagusta

Salamis

[Pictures on page 71]

Antonis Spetsiotis (right) and Andreas Christou, the first Witnesses in Xylophagou

[Pictures on page 72, 73]

The apostle Paul preached to Sergius Paulus in Paphos in spite of opposition from a sorcerer (At left: Ruins of the proconsul’s palace)

[Picture on page 76]

Panagiotis Gavrielides

[Picture on page 79]

Nikos and Galatia Matheakis, zealous Witnesses known for their generous hospitality

[Pictures on page 80]

A few of the early Gilead-trained missionaries:

1. Don Rendell

2. Anthony Sideris

3. Emmanuel Paterakis

4. Antonios Karandinos

[Picture on page 81]

A few of the sisters who served as missionaries in Cyprus (from left to right): Jean Baker, Yvonne Warmoes (Spetsiotis), Nina Constanti (Psaltis)

[Picture on page 86]

N. H. Knorr (2nd row, right) with Cypriot brothers and missionaries

[Pictures on page 87]

An exciting assembly was held at the Royal and the Pallas cinemas in 1951

[Picture on page 91]

Witnesses ready to leave for their territory, in 1955

[Pictures on page 100]

International convention under bamboo covering, in Nicosia, in 1973

[Pictures on page 107]

Assembly Hall in Limassol

[Pictures on page 108, 109]

Present branch office and Bethel family in Cyprus

[Picture on page 115]

Branch Committee now serving in Cyprus (from left to right): Andreas Costa Efthymiou, Andreas Kontoyiorgis, James Petridis

Guadeloupe

pp. 117–116

Guadeloupe

PICTURE yourself in the West Indies, on a small island south of Guadeloupe. You are in a town of just 6,000 inhabitants where very little that is exciting ever takes place. But today, from a boat that regularly hauls people and supplies, tons of iron pipes and aluminum sheeting are unloaded onto the wharf. Within a day that metal is moved to the edge of town and put together. An Assembly Hall with room for nearly a thousand people is erected. No signs are needed to advertise the event. Everyone knows that there is only one group that could organize such an assembly here.

Then a week later, three more boats land simultaneously. The whole town watches as a thousand people—men, women, and children—walk from the wharf to the assembly site. They are carrying suitcases, camp beds, and water supplies. These people are Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are in town not only to attend an assembly but also to talk to the residents about Bible truth. Over the years, everyone in Guadeloupe and on the surrounding islands has met them often.

How did Bible truth first reach these islands? What sort of people live here? What kind of islands do they inhabit?

A Mixture of Cultures

Island of Beautiful Waters—Karukera, as the Carib Indians called it—was the name of Guadeloupe long before Columbus reached here in 1493. No doubt the Indians had in mind the refreshment of Guadeloupe’s many waterfalls and the beauty of the water surrounding Guadeloupe. But we will tell you later about another kind of water that is flowing in abundance in Guadeloupe today. What it produces is even more beautiful.

Guadeloupe is, in reality, two islands, with a number of smaller dependencies (Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, La Désirade, Îles de la Petite-Terre, Saint-Barthélemy, and part of Saint Martin). On a map, the two principal islands look like a butterfly with outspread wings. In the west is Basse-Terre with its mountainous volcanic range; in the east is Grande-Terre, a tableland with a mosaic of hillocks. Their beauty is enhanced by beaches with turquoise water, green countryside, and tropical forest with numerous waterfalls.

People from a variety of races have come to the shores of Guadeloupe. The Arawak were the first inhabitants; later came the Caribs, preceding any European settlers. It was not until more than 140 years after Columbus’ voyage, which was financed by Spain, that Europeans settled in Guadeloupe; these settlers were French, not Spanish. Gradually they eliminated the Caribs, built sugar mills, and imported slave labor.

Politically, Guadeloupe is a department of France, and many Frenchmen have come to live here in recent decades. But the main islands are inhabited largely by black people whose ancestors were snatched away from the African coasts by the slave trade. However, about 10 percent of the population have descended from workers brought from India following the abolition of slavery in Guadeloupe in 1848. The islands of Les Saintes and Saint-Barthélemy, which are two of the six dependencies, are peopled mainly with Blancs-pays (local whites), whose Breton and Norman ancestors were among the first colonial settlers. There are also a few Lebanese and Syrian families who operate business establishments here.

Most of the population are viewed as being Roman Catholics. The Indian community, however, though Catholic through integration, keep up Hindu rites. Their sacred poles with brightly colored flags are seen here and there in the countryside. The beliefs of quite a few are still imbued with ancestral superstitions well maintained by the quimboiseurs (sorcerers).

Nevertheless, people here usually have respect for the Bible. They believe that it is God’s Word. To pray, many make use of excerpts from the Psalms. In fact, the Bible is often left open, sometimes beside a lighted candle, at a psalm supposed to bring protection and blessing to the home.

The mixture of various cultures—African, European, and Asian—has given birth to a way of life in which gentleness and kindness are prevalent. These good qualities make many of the people pleasant to talk with and receptive to the Kingdom message.

Humble Beginnings

The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Guadeloupe is a good example of what Jehovah’s spirit can accomplish with sincere and humblehearted people who accept the divine invitation to “take life’s water free.” (Rev. 22:17) Guadeloupe had been visited by the Witnesses as early as 1936. However, in 1938, on the docks of Pointe-à-Pitre harbor, some witnessing on a regular basis got under way.

Electrification of the island had only begun, and just a few cars could be seen in the streets. The harbor was busy. Boats of all sizes were anchored there. Merchants and their employees were moving about, as were the dockers, who handled voluminous bags, heavy crates, and huge barrels. During the noon break, a certain man had the custom of sitting in the shade on a doorstep, surrounded by workers. He spoke about the Bible. This man, in his forties, was Cyril Winston. He was married and was a native of Dominica, an island to the south of Guadeloupe. Tall, with gray eyes and fine presence, he spoke quietly in Creole. He was a full-time preacher, or pioneer, who also worked hard to provide for the physical needs of his family.

Condé Bonchamp was among the first who listened attentively to Cyril Winston. “We were working together as dockers at the harbor,” he said. “At noontime, several other workers and I sat around Cyril, as we enjoyed listening to his explanation of the Bible. In a short while, he gathered together a small group from Dominica who were working with us, and he organized meetings. There were five persons in attendance.”

As a meeting place, Brother Winston rented a room in the case of René Sahaï and his wife. The West Indian case is a structure made of boards nailed to a beam structure, with a corrugated-iron roof. Inside, the rooms are separated by partitions with openings at the top for air circulation. Voices can easily be heard over the dividing wall, so, on meeting days, Mrs. Sahaï would listen to the talks. In this way, she and her husband became interested in Bible truth.

Noéma Missoudan (now Apourou) recalls her first contact with this group: “I was disturbed by the fact that my husband had started to come home late on certain days. I was afraid that he could be interested in another woman. One evening I followed him. It was December 25, 1939. He stepped into a case in a Pointe-à-Pitre suburb. A few minutes later I got inside that house. What a surprise to find myself in the midst of a group of about 12 persons! I sat down and listened.” In this way she started to attend the meetings. As there was no electricity, each one had to bring along a candle.

Wartime Hardships

After Germany invaded Poland, France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. The French Antilles felt the impact, because commerce with France soon came to a virtual stop. In 1940, Guadeloupe came under the authority of the French Vichy government, which collaborated with the Nazis. Communications with the United States came to a standstill. Guadeloupe could no longer export its rum and bananas, nor could it import food supplies and other products. A shipment of Bible literature sent from New York was even burned up on the docks of Pointe-à-Pitre harbor.

However, in 1940, the small group that had been meeting for Bible study in a suburb of Pointe-à-Pitre began to function as an isolated group of Jehovah’s Witnesses, under the direction of the Watch Tower Society. It was the first one in Guadeloupe.

Zeal Along With Freedom From Fear of Man

Some who were attending the meetings of that group quickly made the truth their own. Thus, in September 1940, Brother Winston baptized seven persons in La Lézarde River, near Petit-Bourg. But why in a river when there are many beaches that are easily accessible? The brothers thought that it was more appropriate. Jesus himself was baptized in the Jordan River, was he not? Of course, all that is really needed is any body of water that allows for immersion.a

Those early disciples in Guadeloupe manifested sincerity and zeal, along with absence of the fear of man. Recalling the early days, Brother Bonchamp said: “On Sundays we were out in the preaching work. We had no training and very little knowledge; each one would speak in whatever way seemed best to him. Convinced that I was responsible to convert as many people as possible, I took a position in front of the Catholic church at Pointe-à-Pitre just at the end of the Mass and shouted: ‘People of Pointe-à-Pitre, listen to Jehovah’s Word . . .’ I had read that such was the way prophets of old used to preach. After I spoke for a while, a crowd gathered. Some listened, while others started to make noise. The gendarmes’ headquarters was nearby, and my wife and I were arrested. We spent the following night in the station.” But that did not discourage them from future service.

Olga Laaland, a young man of 20 years, was another who did not hold back when he learned the truth. On the second Sunday that he met with the small group of Witnesses, he joined them in the witness work. He became a very zealous and progressive brother, one with no fear of man. Endowed with a stentorian voice, he could not be passed unnoticed.

However, the tests of faithfulness those Christians faced involved more than public witnessing.

Test of Humility During Isolation

The brothers had only a limited amount of material for Bible study. Most of the 30 persons who were associated with the isolated group of Witnesses here had not yet reached spiritual maturity. Wartime restrictions deprived them of further contact with the Society’s headquarters. Furthermore, at this same time, Cyril Winston fell sick and returned to Dominica, where he died three months later. The brothers loved him, but now they allowed serious difficulties to develop among themselves. They wanted to serve Jehovah, but they were seeing the organization largely from a human viewpoint. Brother Sahaï, in whose home the meetings were held, felt that he was in charge. Others disagreed. Internal strife reached a climax by November 29, 1942, when the great majority, led by Brother Missoudan, decided to withdraw and to meet in another place. Brother Sahaï continued holding meetings at his home. The differences between the two groups were not doctrinal; they involved personalities.

In spite of the rift, both groups shared in witnessing, and people listened. On both sides there were sincere brothers and sisters. But when Bible principles are not applied, conditions develop that are not proper for Christians. “There should not be divisions among you,” the Bible exhorts. ‘Earnestly endeavor to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.’—1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-3.

During this crucial period, Brother Sahaï succeeded in reestablishing communication with the Society’s headquarters. The Society appreciated his efforts in doing that as well as his persistent efforts to get Bible literature into the island during the war. A letter was sent to Guadeloupe on February 16, 1944, appointing Brother Sahaï to be company servant (presiding overseer). By that time, he was 30 years old. Though of humble status and frail in appearance, he was a very outspoken and resolute man.

After appointing Brother Sahaï to serve the congregation, the Society wrote to the other group, saying: “You brethren there, who are separated . . . , should from henceforth unite and cooperate with him in advancing the kingdom interests. As Christ is not divided . . . so the body of Christ on earth must be united . . . We believe that your devotion to the Lord and the kingdom will induce all concerned to lay aside any personal feelings you may have in the matter, and wait upon the Lord to render any judgments that he may feel necessary to execute upon anyone doing wrong, and each one go ahead and serve the Lord.” However, the efforts toward reconciliation were awkward. Not everyone agreed that Brother Sahaï had the needed qualifications for his assignment. Though many wanted the groups to be united, it was hard for them to lay aside personal feelings. Because the brothers lacked spiritual maturity, the cleavage continued until 1948.

In 1944 the congregation acknowledged by the Society reported just nine publishers.

Meetings That Were Definitely Public

To spread the Bible’s message of truth, the Witnesses delivered discourses right in the streets during the mild tropical evenings. The speaker talked loud enough not only to be heard by his immediate audience but also to draw the attention of passersby. Brother Laaland, with his mighty voice, often shared in this privilege of service. The scene that he recalls is this: “After sundown, we gathered together in a circle under a tree or on a street corner. In the midst of the group stood the speaker; others lighted the scene by means of torches. The program began with song and prayer. The talk itself might last 30 minutes or an hour, depending on what the speaker had prepared. The subjects did not vary much, as their main object was to strike down false religion.”

As a result of these meetings, a number of people were helped to learn the truth. But not everyone appreciated the talks. Sometimes, under the cover of night, people hurled stones at the group. Nevertheless, the brothers would not move away until the meeting had concluded. They reasoned: “If soldiers are ready to face guns during wartime, why should we not be ready to receive a few stones for the sake of the good news?” (2 Tim. 2:3) A few publishers even sustained head injuries. One evening when a sister was holding a big oil lamp for the speaker, a stone hurled at the lamp missed its target and hit the head of a listener instead. When that person died later in the hospital, the offender was taken to court and severely punished.

A Brother Receives Some Training

In 1945, Brother Laaland decided to go to French Guiana, where his mother was living. There was no congregation where he settled, near Saint-Laurent du Maroni, but that did not discourage him from witnessing.

The Yearbook later reported: “Two brethren went to French Guiana in January. While contacting the people in St. Laurent the brethren were told ‘there is a man farther up the river who speaks just like you.’ The brethren hired a car to seek this man, and, sure enough, there they found a man who had come from Guadeloupe and he was giving public lectures. He hadn’t any literature; but he was not quiet about the Kingdom. His greatest foe was the priest, who was busy warning the people not to listen to what this ‘crazy man’ has to say.”

When the brothers returned to Paramaribo, Suriname, where the Society had a branch office, Brother Laaland went with them. There he met pioneers who encouraged him to get into the full-time service. He learned how to follow up on interest and conduct home Bible studies. While in Paramaribo, he also learned much about the theocratic organization and how it functions—and he found that he had much to learn! After three months, he was appointed to serve as a special pioneer and was sent back to Saint-Laurent.

Cultivating Oneness of Spirit

Meanwhile, the Society was aware of the perilous condition existing in Guadeloupe, with two groups endeavoring to serve Jehovah but not in unity with each other. In 1947, Joshua Steelman, an English-speaking circuit overseer, was sent over from a neighboring island to visit the Pointe-à-Pitre Congregation. Brother Steelman was welcomed with much joy, and 26—obviously including individuals from both groups—shared with him in the field service during the week of his visit. However, he could not speak French and, as he explained in his report, the brothers could not read and translate instructions received in English. Organization was desperately lacking. The brothers were studying one of the Society’s books three times a week, but there were no Watchtower magazines. Nevertheless, Brother Steelman pointed out, there was a strong desire to share in the field service. However, his admonition given with a view to reuniting the two groups yielded no immediate results.

Then, at the Society’s request, Brother Laaland moved back to Guadeloupe in 1948. As soon as he arrived, he started to work toward the reconciliation of the two groups. Some of the brothers were so earnest in their desire to be reunited that they got up at 4:00 a.m. and went up onto a hill to pray for Jehovah to bless the efforts to achieve unity. That same year, about March, unity was restored after a rift of over five years. The average number of publishers jumped from 13 in 1947 to 28 in 1948, with a peak of 46. As Psalm 133:1 says: “Look! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

Nevertheless, not everyone was pleased with this reunification. A few made it plain that they wanted no part of it. Some founded a sect called “Le Messager de Sion” and then prepared tracts and distributed them in front of the meeting place of their former Christian brothers. One of their leaders bought a motorbike so that he could follow the Witnesses and undermine their activity as they shared in the field service. However, on one of these expeditions, he collided with an ox-drawn cart filled with sugarcane, and he died in the hospital. After that his group was not heard from anymore.

Cultivating oneness of spirit, however, involved more than meeting together and going into the field service together. (Eph. 4:1-3) Locally, at this time, sisters were forbidden to wear jewelry, to cut their hair, or to attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall without wearing a head covering. This was a result of misunderstanding certain counsel in the Scriptures. They needed further help in order to be at full unity with the worldwide association of Jehovah’s people. Some of that help came later in 1948 when the Society sent two missionary graduates of Gilead School to Guadeloupe.

The First Two Missionaries

The French authorities granted Kenneth Chant and Walter Evans, both Canadians, one-year permits of residence for Guadeloupe. With their presence, there was increased activity in the congregation. But this also gave rise to opposition, evidently instigated by the clergy. Early in 1949 the two missionaries were given official notice to leave the island at once.

Still, their short stay had strengthened the brothers spiritually. The local brothers more clearly understood Bible principles, and they were beginning to make progress in applying the same organizational arrangements that were being employed by Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.

A Congregation in Desbonnes

Gradually the seeds of truth began to sprout outside of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest town in Guadeloupe. The foundation for the second congregation was laid in 1941 when Duverval Nestor was sick in the hospital in Pointe-à-Pitre. There he first heard the truth and accepted it. After he returned home, the brothers continued to visit him and to strengthen him. An Adventist preacher tried to dissuade him and even said: “I used to think that your house would be a fine temple for the Lord.” Well, as it turned out, when that second congregation was organized, in 1948, it was the home of Brother Nestor that was used as a Kingdom Hall. It was located in Desbonnes, a village nestled at the foot of a mountain, 16 miles [26 km] from Pointe-à-Pitre.

Today there is a thriving congregation of over one hundred publishers in Desbonnes, meeting in a beautiful Kingdom Hall that was built in 1989.

Zealous Noontime Witnessing

At Port-Louis, about 12 miles [20 km] north of Pointe-à-Pitre, Georges Moustache was privileged to sow further seeds of Kingdom truth after the good news was taken to him there in 1943. Recalling those early days, he said: “At the Beauport sugar factory, every day at the noon pause, I gave an extemporaneous talk in the carpentry shop where I used to work. An elderly seminarian who was harassing me challenged me one day: ‘If you are worshiping the true God, here is the smith’s hearth alight; try to walk on the fire!’ My voice resounding throughout the shop, I replied: ‘Go away, Satan, because it is written: “You must not put the Lord, your God, to the test!”’”—See Matthew 4:5-7.

On Sundays, Brother Moustache used to walk for many miles [kilometers] to witness further to fellow workers who showed a desire to hear more. He often stayed in the field service from eight o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock at night, sometimes without food. A leader of the little group of Adventists at Port-Louis was among those visited by Brother Moustache each week, and soon he became a Witness. Others also accepted the truth, among them Daniel Boncœur, who carries on faithfully until now, and Alfred Cléon, who was serving faithfully as an elder when he died in August 1993.

Waters of Truth Flow in Basse-Terre

During the decade of the 1940’s, the waters of truth began to flow, at first a little and then abundantly, in Basse-Terre, the administrative capital of Guadeloupe. When he was in Pointe-à-Pitre, Eugène Alexer, a carpenter, heard Cyril Winston explain Bible truths. In 1948, the Alexer family took their stand for true worship. Regular meetings were held in their home in Basse-Terre. One year later, a young man named Verneil Andrémont joined them. Every Sunday either Brother Missoudan or Brother Moustache—and later, Brother Laaland—traveled by bus the 37 miles [60 km] from Pointe-à-Pitre to Basse-Terre to help the interested ones there. Their efforts were rewarded. Now, some 45 years later, eight congregations flourish in that area: three in Basse-Terre, one in Gourbeyre, two in Baillif, and two in Saint-Claude.

At the same time, in the town of Moule, on the east coast of Grande-Terre, a small group was started after a brother from Pointe-à-Pitre went there to witness. The Ruscade family were among the early ones in that area to take their stand for the truth, and meetings were held in their home. Anasthase Touchard, the first one in that group to become a Witness, later proved himself to be a very devoted elder, and he served as such until his death in 1986. Five congregations, of over one hundred publishers each, are now active in that area.

A Priest Attracts Some Listeners

One Sunday in 1953, after a group of about 20 publishers had spent the morning witnessing in the village of Lamentin, in northeastern Basse-Terre, they held a public talk in the village square, which, of course, was in front of the Catholic church. After an opening song, the Bible discourse began. Infuriated, the priest banged the big church doors in an effort to drown out the speaker’s voice. As a result of the violent banging, however, a statue broke loose from the wall and smashed in front of the church. With redoubled rage, the priest set all the church bells ringing. Many people came running. Some were shocked by the priest’s conduct. It was impossible to continue with the talk in that location, but a shop owner invited the speaker to deliver the discourse in front of his house. This was done, with a fine attendance.

Today, three congregations of more than one hundred publishers each are flourishing in that parish (or district). This is also where we have built our spacious Assembly Hall.

Youths took the cue from the clergy and also endeavored to disrupt our public talks. During a talk delivered in the country near the village of Sainte-Rose, a group of Catholic boy scouts surrounded the speaker and the few other Witnesses present. Some started to blow their bugles, and others beat on the bottom of big iron cooking-pans to drown out the speaker’s voice. Léonard Clément did not try to shout over the noise; instead, as he continued, he simply mimed his talk, using gestures and lip motion. Before long, the boy scouts gave up and left. Then our brother went on with his talk. In this area, too, interest was gradually cultivated, and there are now three congregations.

The End of an Epoch

Those outdoor public meetings in Guadeloupe are now a thing of the past. In 1953, after riots broke out at political meetings, the authorities forbade all outdoor public meetings as well as use of loudspeakers in outdoor locations. From then on, the brothers had to find other places to hold meetings.

Nevertheless, from 1938 to 1953, the outdoor public talks helped to give a powerful public witness. The publishers were courageous and zealous in supporting this activity. Most of them traveled to the meeting locations on foot; some rode, with two on a bike. When they had some spare money, they rented a bus for the day. Back then, out of 100 publishers, only one had a car—an old Ford.

1954—A Marked Year!

When Brother Knorr, then president of the Society, and his secretary, Milton Henschel, were returning from South America early in 1954, their plane landed at the Pointe-à-Pitre airport. It was very early in the morning, but local brothers were on hand to meet them. Brother Knorr assured them that more missionaries would be sent just as soon as possible to help them.

His promise was fulfilled not long after that. On March 17, 1954, two passengers got off a plane that landed at the Pointe-à-Pitre airport. But no one was on hand to meet them because the flight was considerably behind schedule. However, the gendarmes offered to take the two over to Brother Laaland’s dry-cleaning shop. These travelers, brothers who had recently graduated from Gilead School, were from France. There was Pierre Jahnke, a tall brother, and Paul Touveron.

A few days after the two missionaries landed, Brother Henschel arrived. Meanwhile, the Society’s missionary boat Faith was in the harbor, and the crew were busy making arrangements for a convention to be held in a local school beginning on March 26.

As the program started, the atmosphere was joyful, though the brothers were a bit tense, anxious that everything should go smoothly. After a few talks and demonstrations, a makeshift screen was hung up. Then they saw for the first time the Society’s film The New World Society in Action. Right before their eyes, they could see clear evidence that strengthened their conviction that this is God’s organization. All in attendance were deeply moved as they saw how the organization operates in peace and unity. The sisters also took note of the fact that in other countries their Christian sisters wore jewelry, though not in a lavish way. Further, those attending the convention were encouraged by the knowledge that two missionaries were in their midst, brothers who had been sent by the organization and whose example in Jehovah’s service would strengthen the congregation. Great was the excitement that evening—too great for the presiding overseer of the Pointe-à-Pitre Congregation, Clotaire Missoudan. He went home and that same night died in his sleep, without his wife being aware of it until morning.

On the second day of the assembly, Brother Henschel announced the establishment of a branch office of the Watch Tower Society in Guadeloupe. It was to care for the preaching of the good news in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Pierre Jahnke was appointed to be the branch servant. The closer organizational direction that was greatly needed in these islands was being provided.

Following the assembly, the two missionaries got to work. They rented a small wooden house to provide a location for the branch office. Later, the Society bought a modest pavilion at the Raizet city garden, where the office operated until December 1966. In addition to caring for work at the branch, Brother Jahnke shared in the field service in Pointe-à-Pitre, spending as much time as possible with the brothers. Meanwhile, Brother Touveron visited congregations and isolated publishers as circuit overseer until he found it necessary to return to France, after about a year.

Help From a Floating Missionary Home

Appreciation for Jehovah’s organization was stimulated by the periodic visits of missionaries who traveled from island to island by boat. For about a decade, the Society had boats that served as floating missionary homes in the West Indies. At first it was a 59-foot [18 m] schooner called Sibia, and later this was replaced by a larger boat, the Light. A 72-foot [22 m] twin-screw boat named Faith was also used. Even though the missionaries aboard the boats spoke English (and most of the publishers in Guadeloupe did not), their visits were very much appreciated. The publishers here still remember the zeal of those missionaries as they worked along with local publishers, devoting full days to the field service.

On their last visit, aboard the Light in 1956, the missionaries spent July 26 to August 7 preaching on the islands of Marie-Galante and La Désirade. On Marie-Galante, they showed the film The New World Society in Action. Said one person in the audience: “If you had given me ten thousand francs, you could not have made my heart as glad as it is tonight!”

Pioneers Sent From France

Good progress was being made in Guadeloupe and its dependencies. To keep the work moving forward, the Society sent two more pioneers from France. Nicolas and Liliane Brisart arrived in December 1955. Brother Brisart is one whose disposition is both dynamic and jovial. On their arrival, they were assigned to the densely populated suburbs of Pointe-à-Pitre.

In that territory, many people live in wooden houses that each rest on four stones to keep the floor about 20 inches [0.5 m] off the ground. The houses are all very close to one another. While making calls there one day, Brother Brisart had an accident that is still a source of humor to him. He recalls: “I went along with my wife to a Bible study that she conducted with an elderly lady, but her wooden house appeared to be older than she was herself! Welcomed to step in, I moved toward the center of the small room when, all of a sudden, the floor gave way and I passed through it! I apologized profusely, but the poor lady was far more embarrassed.”

Brother Brisart and his wife worked that territory for about eight months and then were assigned to circuit work. In 1958 they were invited to the 32nd class of Gilead School and thereafter were reassigned to Guadeloupe. When Brother Jahnke got married and started a family in 1960, Brother Brisart became the branch servant. He still serves as coordinator of the Branch Committee, and Brother Jahnke, who remained in Guadeloupe, serves with him on that committee.

Opposition Presents a Test of Faith

Because of religious opposition that has at times been truly virulent, many among those who have accepted the truth as set out in the Bible have had to take their stand under very difficult circumstances. Flora Pemba was one of these. With her husband, she had started to examine the Bible. However, when some neighbors started to pressure them, her husband, who was running a small family grocery, gave up his study out of fear of losing his customers. But his wife endured and made good progress spiritually. The home atmosphere became tense. The man even threatened to kill his wife. After she discovered a big knife under his pillow, she ran away, fleeing 10 miles [16 km] through tropical forest and banana plantations, and took refuge with a family of Witnesses. While hiding from her husband, she decided to get baptized, saying: “If I must face death for my faith, I want to be counted among Jehovah’s servants!” Thus, in 1957, before sunup one morning she got baptized in the sea.

Despite her efforts at reconciliation, she lost her fleshly family. But in accord with Jesus’ promise at Matthew 19:29, she gained a large spiritual family. This faithful sister took up full-time service, and she is still a pioneer in Lamentin more than 30 years later!

An Unforgettable Convention

When the Divine Will International Assembly was held in New York City, in 1958, delegates from 123 countries and island groups were in attendance. Nineteen Witnesses from Guadeloupe were among them. What they saw and heard broadened their appreciation for the theocratic arrangement. Said Verneil Andrémont, who was one of those delegates: “That convention was a revelation for me. I understood how things must be done.” The branch overseer, expressing the general feelings of the entire group, wrote: “How wide open were our eyes to register all we could see, and our ears so we could understand! Not just the unusual extent of land, which is surprising when coming from one of the small islands of the Caribbean, nor the tremendous buildings towering high up in the air, nor the astonishing heavy traffic in the streets, but having before one’s eyes the amazing sight of great crowds, yes, all brothers and sisters from the four corners of the earth, peacefully and unitedly worshiping the one true God. Two huge stadiums were filled with them!”

Even in what some might view as small matters, that convention affected the lives of our brothers. For instance, Léonel Nestor, a 78-year-old brother whose house was also used as a Kingdom Hall, felt the need to paint it so that it would better represent Jehovah’s organization. As a result, that Kingdom Hall was the first house to be painted in his village.

Small Beginnings at Anse-Bertrand

Up to 1958, not many people living in the parish of Anse-Bertrand, located at the north tip of Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, had had opportunity to hear the Kingdom message. But that year, Marc Edroux showed a Bible to Donat Tacita, a friend who was a baker, and said: “This book is the Word of God!” Both of them were practicing Catholics. Later, when a door-to-door salesman offered Donat a Bible, he bought one for himself and started to read it. Though he could not read French well, he made use of a dictionary. He also invited his friend Marc Edroux to come to his house, and the two of them, along with Donat’s wife, read and endeavored to discuss the Bible on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Eager to understand more, Donat looked for the man who had sold him the Bible, but in vain. However, a neighbor said that he had a cousin, Georges Moustache, who was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and who would be glad to help. Based on what he learned from his neighbor about Jehovah’s Witnesses, Donat even visited some people to witness to them, because he did not want his faith to be a dead one.—Jas. 2:26.

About half a year later, when Donat heard from the neighbor that Jehovah’s Witnesses were going to hold a convention near Pointe-à-Pitre, Donat, his wife, and Marc Edroux decided to attend and get baptized. Up to that time, they had never met one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. When they arrived, the Witnesses welcomed them. The three explained their wish to serve Jehovah and be baptized. The brothers kindly asked them a number of questions and then explained that, before baptism, they needed a home Bible study. The hearts of that group were touched by the warm brotherly atmosphere of the assembly. They went back to Anse-Bertrand filled with strength and determination. Their progress in Bible study was rapid, and about half a year later they got baptized.

They eagerly shared Bible truth with others in their village. But there was intense opposition. When Brother Brisart visited them as circuit overseer, the local Catholic priest did everything in his power to prevent him from staying. Donat had rented a room in which the circuit overseer and his wife could stay. But after the first day of field service during their visit, the priest intervened and demanded that the key be returned. Failing in that, he went to the owner of the place and threatened to excommunicate the owner’s mother if he did not get the key returned. Hearing that, the poor woman fainted! The next day, the priest tried again, through a lawyer, but without success, because such a thing was illegal. During that visit of the circuit overseer, a number of sheep were located and Bible studies were started. Some months later, early in 1960, a circuit assembly was held in that village, to give a further witness. When the baptism was held, more than 500 people from the village went to the beach to watch. No house-to-house work was done that day. Every Witness was down at the beach, surrounded by a group eager to learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses and the message they preach.

Since then two congregations have been formed in Anse-Bertrand. Donat Tacita has served as a special pioneer for 22 years and is an elder in Anse-Bertrand.

Seeking a Thief—Finding a Sheep

One day in the early 1960’s, a gendarme visited the missionary home in Le Raizet. He was inquiring about a theft that had occurred in the neighborhood. Brother Brisart and his wife were at home, and they seized the opportunity to witness to the officer. After listening, the man asked: ‘How can I get a Bible? Have you any address to which I can write? The things you are talking about are very serious ones and they give me food for thought!’ Right away, he received a Bible, along with some other literature. One week later, he wrote a letter with many questions. Soon a Bible study was being held twice a week.

Brother Brisart, telling about the outcome, said: “Even if that gendarme did not find the thief, we, by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, found a sheep!” That former gendarme is now an elder in one of the Pointe-à-Pitre congregations.

Finding a Place for Assemblies

As the organization grew in Guadeloupe, there was a problem that needed to be solved. Where could we find facilities in which to hold our assemblies? For more than ten years we had used a private school in Pointe-à-Pitre as well as the city festival halls at Abymes and Capesterre. But these halls had become too small for us. We had to try something else.

Next to Brother Laaland’s shop was an empty lot. The owner kindly made it available for us free of charge for our circuit assembly in late December 1964. Within a few days, we erected a wooden structure of posts set into the ground and joined together overhead by boards. Over this we spread tarpaulins as a roof covering. The sides were wide open, thus making access to the seating area easy. The joy and diligence of the local brothers as they worked were a source of great encouragement to those Witnesses who came to help. And what a blessing to have nearly 700 in attendance—a new peak! It was obvious that we needed our own facilities for future assemblies.

The brothers designed a unique structure, using iron pipe for framework and aluminum sheets for roofing. There was room for 700 seats. And the entire “Assembly Hall” was portable! There were about 450 publishers in Guadeloupe at that time, so we felt that there would be plenty of room.

The structure was first used for an assembly in the vicinity of Basse-Terre, in January 1966. When it came time for the public lecture, an enthusiastic crowd of 907 persons crowded in and around the Assembly Hall to listen. Already it was too small! In the years that followed, we had to enlarge it again and again.

Circuit assemblies often fell in November, a rainy month. Because of bad weather, there was often much mud, and we learned that it was wise to come fitted out with high-top boots! The full-moon weekend was customarily chosen for the assembly so that the brothers could return home at night with the help of that natural lighting. The moonlight also made it easier to do some of the dismantling immediately following the closing session of the assembly.

The ability to move our hall and thus to hold our assemblies in any parish in our territory had an excellent effect on the preaching of the good news in Guadeloupe. Furthermore, setting up and dismantling that hall three times a year provided opportunity for our brothers to learn to work together and to cultivate the spirit of self-sacrifice. No doubt about it, the blessing of Jehovah was upon that arrangement!

A Different Way of Life

When Armand and Marguerite Faustini moved from France to Guadeloupe in 1963 to help with the ministry, they found that life here was a little different. At first they were surprised when householders, without coming to the door, would simply call out: “Please come in.” People were of humble circumstances and had little money but were often glad to exchange fruits and vegetables for Bible literature. So, as the Faustinis proceeded in the field ministry, they sometimes found themselves carrying not only literature but also bananas, mangoes, yams, and eggs.

They were assigned to do circuit work, and Brother Faustini recalls: “The brothers welcomed us very warmly, but on the matter of punctuality, serious progress had to be made. In the country, most of them had no watch and so determined the time by looking at the sun. Sometimes, as a result, meetings started as much as an hour late. With the change of seasons, we had some surprises!”

Some Help for Marie-Galante

The same year that the Faustinis arrived in Guadeloupe, the island of Marie-Galante, about 25 miles [40 km] south of Pointe-à-Pitre, was given a special witness. Brother Faustini along with a group of 16 auxiliary pioneers spent a whole month there witnessing to the island’s 14,000 inhabitants. The Society’s film The New World Society in Action was shown there several times during that month. Then, a few years later, special pioneers were assigned to witness on that island. Two of them, Frédéric Ferdinand and Léo Jacquelin, reared their families there.

In order to give support to the special pioneers on Marie-Galante, we decided to transport our Assembly Hall to the island in April 1969 and hold an assembly there. The circuit overseer, Brother Faustini, reported: “It has been a unique assembly. Imagine the amazement of the people of Grand-Bourg, a little town of 6,000 inhabitants, as they witnessed the ‘invasion’ by one thousand Witnesses who landed from three boats, each one with a jerrican containing 20 liters [5 gals] of water in his hand! In that period of drought, water was scarce, and the island’s inhabitants were appreciative that their visitors brought along some water, thus saving the cistern supply. It was the first time that they had watched such a scene—an unending line of people who went from the docks through the town to the assembly site. The inhabitants of the whole island received visits from the Witnesses, in some cases several times the same morning. Within a few days, they had the opportunity to know and appreciate God’s organization.” There are now three congregations on Marie-Galante.

After about ten years, Brother and Sister Faustini had to go back to France. Later, they were able to return to the Caribbean, and Brother Faustini is now a member of the Martinique Branch Committee.

Waters of Truth Shared on La Désirade and Les Saintes

After the last visit by the Society’s boat Light in 1956, little witnessing had been done on La Désirade, another of Guadeloupe’s island dependencies. But in 1967, the Society assigned Médard and Turenna Jean-Louis, special pioneers, to serve there. The island, 7 miles [11 km] long and 1.5 miles [2.4 km] wide, was mostly barren and had no running water, but 1,560 people lived there, and they needed to be given the opportunity to hear the Kingdom message. From 1969 to 1972, two more special pioneers served there. Another special pioneer, Jacques Mérinon, endured from 1975 to 1988, despite the hard conditions.

After many years, a small congregation was established. Henri Tallet, a doctor, along with his family, was serving there in 1987. With the help of many brothers, especially those from Moule and Saint-François, he organized the building of a Kingdom Hall.

Two years later, La Désirade was devastated by Hurricane Hugo. A brother observed: “The Kingdom Hall was greatly damaged. But the love of the brothers came to the rescue, and soon we received what was necessary to fix the hall and the damaged houses of the publishers. We were the first on the island to start repairing, while keeping up our preaching work, and people in the territory took due note of it. Since then, we are better accepted when we preach.”

Eight miles [13 km] from Basse-Terre are Les Saintes, islands with 3,000 inhabitants. By September 1970, two special pioneers, Amick Angerville and Jean Jabés, were assigned there. Much patience was required, but finally in 1980, a small congregation was established, and now there are 18 publishers.

Saint Martin Hears the Good News

The northern part of Saint Martin, located about 155 miles [250 km] northwest of Pointe-à-Pitre, is also a dependency of Guadeloupe. The island is half French and half Dutch, but English is generally spoken. Regardless of the language used by individuals, however, they need to hear the good news.

It was early in the 1940’s that Georges Manuel, a native of Saint Martin, learned the truth while he was in Guadeloupe. In 1949 the Society’s boat Sibia anchored off Saint Martin for the first time, and the crew went ashore to talk to the people about the Bible. Next, Georges Dormoy and Léonce Boirard, the harbormaster, got baptized. By 1953, there were six publishers on the island.

Among those who accepted literature was Charles Gumbs, though he was not a very religious person. But when he read The Watchtower, he became convinced that he had found the true religion. He shared with his brother Jean and his sister Carmen what he had learned. After she had studied for a while, Carmen Gumbs and her daughter Léone Hodge went to the missionary home at seven o’clock one morning and asked to be baptized. Satisfied that they knew what they were doing, the brother on hand called another brother, and the baptism service took place before breakfast!

They truly did understand what dedication to Jehovah means. The next year, 1959, Léone began to engage in full-time service, followed a little later by her mother. Thirty-five years later, these two faithful Christian sisters are still special pioneers.

A Congregation on Saint Martin

In time, a considerable number of Haitians started moving to Saint Martin to work. Some of them accepted the truth, and in 1973 a French-speaking congregation was established. Two special pioneers, Jonadab and Jacqueline Laaland, helped to build up that congregation until their departure for Gilead School.

Then, in 1975, there was an event that was a real turning point for the Kingdom work in Saint Martin. On February 13 and 14, a convention was held on Marigot soccer field. Parts of our portable Assembly Hall had been taken there by boat in order to provide covering. This assembly made a very strong impression on many of the islanders. It helped them to appreciate that the handful of Witnesses on their island were part of a great organization.

Within a few years, Saint Martin’s population has increased from 8,000 to 28,000 inhabitants because of the development of tourism. A beautiful Kingdom Hall with 250 seats has been built in the residential district of Marigot, and there are now two French-speaking congregations on that island.

Some Opposition on Saint-Barthélemy

Saint-Barthélemy, 130 miles [210 km] northwest of Guadeloupe, is another one of its dependencies. At one time it prospered because of the buccaneers who used it as their center of operations. Today it is a location for luxury vacations. The inhabitants, about 5,000 in number, are descendants of Breton and Norman sailors, as well as Swedish settlers. They are people with pleasing manners; they work hard and are devoutly Catholic. Would some of them accept the Kingdom message?

In September 1975, Jean and Françoise Cambou, a young couple from France who served as special pioneers, moved to the island to give the inhabitants that opportunity. Despite strong opposition from the clergy, they sowed seeds of truth abundantly during the three years that they were on the island. Years later, Jean’s brother Pierre, along with his wife, Michèle, spent two years on Saint-Barthélemy as special pioneers. Their work was fruitful. A small study and service group was established, and it was built up afterward by four dynamic sisters, special pioneers: Patricia Barbillon (now Modetin, a special pioneer with her husband in the Dominican Republic), Jéranie Bénin (now Lima, a member of the Guadeloupe Bethel family with her husband), Angeline Garcia (now Coucy, and working Spanish-speaking territory in Guadeloupe), and Josy Lincertin. Eighteen publishers now report activity with that congregation.

Maintaining Christian Neutrality

In all nations, Jehovah’s Witnesses are neutral as to the world’s conflicts. Since they do not share in such conflicts, they do not train for them. No man tells them what to do; it is God’s own Word that they obey. (Isa. 2:2-4; Matt. 26:52; John 17:16) Adhering to that Word presents individual Witnesses with tests of faithfulness.

When a young man in Guadeloupe got baptized in the mid-1960’s, he knew that he would soon face such a test. To strengthen his faith, he immediately entered the auxiliary pioneer service. When called up for military service, he explained to the authorities his position as a Christian. What resulted? He was put into jail, alone in a cell. Threats were made: “If you do not change your mind, you will be held in prison for at least two years. Moreover, you will be alone in a cell all that time, so think well—alone for two years!” But our brother replied: “Well, that is what you think, but I will not be alone as you say, not at all! Jehovah God will be with me and will strengthen me by his spirit.” Surprised by his answer, they left him. His firmness, calmness, and good conduct impressed them, and as a result, they began to show respect for him. They realized that nothing could change his decision to stay faithful to “his Jehovah,” as they put it.

Months went by, and the time came for the 1966 district assembly bearing the theme “God’s Sons of Liberty.” What a surprise when that brother was released and was present on the opening day! During one of the sessions he related his experience. He did not know that an army officer was present, in civilian clothes. After the session, the officer went up to the brother and warmly congratulated him for holding firmly to what he believed. Then, turning to another brother present, the officer said: “All your brother said is exactly true; all happened as he told us. I was in that affair. Here you have a man of value, worthy of respect, faithful to his God, firm in his decision. He knows what he wants, and when he has said No, it is No, and nothing can change his mind in that.” Then he added: “Do you know what my wife said to me? She said: ‘Don’t think that you men have done that by your own will. No, but it is his God, Jehovah, who has done that for him in order for him to attend his convention. His God, Jehovah, is stronger than our god!’” The officer was visibly moved and concluded by saying: “I have admiration for you, and if in the past I had had the chance to know what you know about God, I certainly would not be what I am today.”

New Challenges

With the development of tourist trade and commerce since 1970, Guadeloupe has become more prosperous. Changes have taken place in the territory. People have moved in from other islands, especially from Dominica and Haiti. By January 1987, it was necessary to form an English-speaking congregation in Pointe-à-Pitre. Additionally, people seemed to be more and more in a hurry. In our door-to-door ministry, it became necessary to use direct and effective introductions in order to get people to listen.

Within the theocratic organization, there were also important changes. By 1972, in harmony with what was taking place worldwide among Jehovah’s Witnesses, a body of elders, instead of a single overseer, was providing supervision for each congregation. Before that, we used to refer to “Brother So-and-So’s congregation.” The congregation overseers enjoyed the respect of all and had much authority. Nevertheless, these brothers welcomed the changes that brought organizational arrangements into closer harmony with the Scriptures. After the changeover, Brother Brisart declared: “We are touched by the fine spirit demonstrated by our brothers. Doubtless, it was a test of humility for each one of them. We are proud to see that all of them have passed it with success.”

The Kingdom Ministry School also contributed to an improved spiritual condition in the congregations. The first class in Guadeloupe, back in 1961, was attended by 19 elders. But 30 years later when elders from the entire archipelago gathered for instruction, there were 300 present. On an average, each congregation now has five elders caring for its spiritual needs.

These spiritual shepherds have demonstrated loving concern for the flock not only under relatively normal conditions but also during times of crisis.

Respect for God’s Law on Blood

Because some medical personnel do not show sufficient respect for the rights of patients, Jehovah’s Witnesses have faced difficult situations in their efforts to conform to Jehovah’s requirement to abstain from blood. (Acts 15:28, 29) The elders wanted to provide more help for Witnesses faced with a medical crisis. Thus, early in 1987, the Branch Committee met to discuss the situation with two Witnesses who were also doctors. It became apparent that better contacts were needed with medical staffs. A committee was assigned to care for this. They set up a meeting with anesthetists at the hospital, and this proved to be very beneficial.

Along with Jehovah’s Witnesses in most other parts of the world, the brothers in Guadeloupe now have Hospital Liaison Committees. Seventeen brothers have been well trained for this service at seminars conducted by the Society.

A Volcano Threatens

Other crises have involved natural disasters. In 1976, Soufrière, a volcano that had long been dormant, came to life again. Early in the year, tremors became more and more frequent. About nine o’clock in the morning on July 8, a fault ripped open on the side of the mountain, releasing a big cloud of gas and vapor. Volcanic ash began to fall on Basse-Terre and neighboring villages. People as well as the land became coated with gray dust. On August 15, because of intensifying seismo-volcanic activities, the authorities ordered the complete and immediate evacuation of 72,000 persons. It was not until five months later that they were permitted to return to their homes.

Seven congregations were evacuated. Immediate help was provided to see that our brothers had lodging during this time of distress. Publishers who had formerly met and worked together were now scattered here and there. In order to provide needed spiritual help, a special meeting was held with the elders and the ministerial servants. They were all urged to seek out and find the publishers from their respective congregations and to keep in close contact with them. Special arrangements were made to keep the flock from scattering. They would attend the congregation meetings in the area where they were housed, but arrangements were also made for them to attend a Congregation Book Study specially established for them and to be presided over by an elder or a ministerial servant from their original congregation. This proved to be a real blessing. Not one of the sheep got lost!

A Nightmare Night

Thirteen years later, another crisis struck. On Saturday, September 16, 1989, Hurricane Hugo mercilessly pounded Guadeloupe. This was not the first time the island had been ravaged by a hurricane. In 1966, Hurricane Ines had ripped the roofs off most of the wooden houses, and the electric power was shut down for a month. But what happened in 1989 was far more devastating. Wind gusts, some of them reaching over 160 miles per hour [260 km/hr], pounded the island for hours. It seemed that the night would never end. When dawn at last came, the sight was staggering. The streets looked like battlefields littered with debris. Some 30,000 were homeless. Among the Witnesses, 117 houses were destroyed, and 300 others were seriously damaged. Eight Kingdom Halls were partly destroyed, and 14 others were damaged.

When Hurricane Ines had brought ruin back in 1966, Jehovah’s Witnesses from Puerto Rico, Martinique, French Guiana, and Saint Croix had brought in relief supplies. But when Hurricane Hugo ravaged Guadeloupe in 1989, the Governing Body quickly made relief funds available. Then the brothers from Martinique, France, and elsewhere rushed in needed food, clothing, and materials for rebuilding. Some came personally to offer help. The brothers and sisters in Guadeloupe were deeply touched by this outpouring of love. They have not forgotten what was done in their behalf.

Other events, too, have strengthened the ties of international brotherhood.

First International Convention

In 1978 the publishers in Guadeloupe had the great privilege of hosting an international convention. Attendance reached a peak of 6,274, and that at a time when we had only 2,600 local Witnesses. What a joy to welcome delegates from Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, the United States, and elsewhere! When a local hotel manager suggested that the brothers in charge of rooming raise the hotel rates by 10 percent and that this amount would go to them, the brothers refused, explaining that it would be dishonest. The manager felt ashamed for having made the suggestion and said: “Well, you Jehovah’s Witnesses, you are truly different. I made that suggestion because it had already been accepted before by other religious groups. . . . But, truly, you are different!”

The success of that convention made more obvious the urgent need to find a permanent location for our assemblies.

A New Assembly Hall

Our portable Assembly Hall had been enlarged several times. It had become a group of structures weighing some 30 tons, with a seating capacity of about 5,000 persons. It was a gigantic task to transport, erect, and dismantle it for every assembly. But it is obvious that Jehovah was aware of our needs.

With the generous offerings of all the congregations on these islands, a well-situated plot of over 13 acres [5 ha] was purchased. The next year, 1980, we used the new location for the first time—still with our portable Assembly Hall. On that occasion, for the “Divine Love” District Convention, attendance reached a new peak of 7,040. But this time it was not necessary to dismantle everything after the last session. What a relief!

For a number of years this new arrangement was used. Then we realized that the time had come to build something more permanent. Qualified brothers set to work, and a spacious hall was designed, one with open sides for natural ventilation. The new Assembly Hall was to be semicircular, with seating for 4,000. The construction permit was obtained, and work started in 1987. By July, six months after work at the construction site had begun, two thirds of the project was completed, and we were able to use it for our two district conventions that year. Henceforth, no more mud and high-top boots!

Changes at the Branch

While all of this was going on, changes were taking place at the branch office. In February 1976, throughout the world, oversight at the branches of the Society was changed. Instead of having one principal overseer at each branch, arrangements were made for a committee of three or more members to care for that responsibility, under the supervision of the Governing Body. In Guadeloupe, Nicolas Brisart, Pierre Jahnke, and Jean-Pierre Wiecek were entrusted with this oversight. When Brother Wiecek, who was a missionary, found it necessary to return to France, he was replaced by Flavien Bénin. Then Paul Angerville and, later, Jean Cambou, a circuit overseer, were invited to serve on the Branch Committee.

Technical advances made at the world headquarters and in various branches also benefited Guadeloupe. The Watchtower for study was received at the same time as it was by the brothers in other lands. Our Kingdom Ministry in French was printed at the same time as the English. Thus, in various ways we felt more at unity with the rest of the organization. Although situated on a few islands in the midst of the sea, we do not feel isolated. We are serving “in unison” with our Christian brothers.—Isa. 52:8.

Suitable Quarters for a Growing Branch

Back in 1966, the Society had purchased a house at 46 Morne Udol, close to Pointe-à-Pitre, to serve as the branch office. Later, this was enlarged by constructing another building next to the house, one that included offices and literature storage as well as a Kingdom Hall. But in view of the increase in the number of praisers of Jehovah in Guadeloupe, something larger was needed. Thus, at the end of 1988, the Governing Body approved the construction of a completely new Bethel Home and branch office.

However, finding suitable property on an island as small as Guadeloupe is a challenge. But Jehovah, the Owner of the earth, can provide what is needed, and he did. We were able to obtain a plot of land of about 2.5 acres [1 ha] located on a hill overlooking the sea at Sainte-Anne. Preliminary drawings, as well as blueprints, were supplied by the Society’s construction office in New York. Michel Conuau, a French architect, provided valuable assistance. Approval to build came through in record time, thanks to the mayor of Sainte-Anne, the local council, and the city planning offices.

Construction work began in September 1990. Volunteers from 14 lands shared their knowledge and experience and helped with the work. In two years, not only had the construction work been completed but strong bonds of friendship had been forged between the Witnesses in Guadeloupe and the volunteers from other lands alongside whom they had worked. Back in 1954, when Milton Henschel was on hand to announce the formation of the Guadeloupe branch, there were 128 publishers here. He was also present on August 29, 30, 1992—when we were reporting 6,839 publishers—to dedicate our fine new branch facilities to Jehovah God. With a friendly spirit, our neighbors have named this “the small village of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

Our Territory, a Challenge

The limited territory in Guadeloupe is a challenge that each publisher has to accept. On an average, we have just 12 homes for each publisher. How do we deal with that situation? Preparation is essential. A pioneer sister explains: “I get people used to seeing me. I still find new studies by means of a deeper work. I think of my territory in terms of individuals.” A service overseer in one of the Pointe-à-Pitre congregations, where the ratio is one publisher to every 28 inhabitants, says: “People are ready to listen if only we have something interesting to say.” Although once in a while a publisher will ask: “Where are we going to preach?” the ever-increasing number of Bible studies (now over 8,500) encourages us to keep on preaching the good news.

Direct use of the Bible is a major factor in the effectiveness of our ministry. The people in general in Guadeloupe respect the Bible as the written Word of God, and they are impressed when we show them how it explains current events. Effective use of illustrations also encourages people to think. Our aged brothers and sisters in particular bubble over with imagination in that field. The way of life here when they were young encouraged contemplation of nature. So they may illustrate the Kingdom message by referring, as Jesus did, to the natural things around them.—Matt. 6:25-32.

Fairer Than Ever

Jehovah has accomplished great things in Guadeloupe by means of his spirit. He has found humble people who, like the potter’s malleable clay, have not refused to be shaped according to his will. In this, his day for ‘rocking’ all the nations with his judgment messages, Jehovah is also gathering out “the desirable things” and bringing them into the earthly courtyard of his great spiritual temple. (Hag. 2:7) In 1968, thirty years after Cyril Winston’s arrival in Guadeloupe, we reported 1,000 publishers for the first time. By 1974, that figure doubled. The 3,000 mark was attained in 1982. Seven years later, the 3,000 had become 6,000. Today, more than 7,250 publishers gather in 86 congregations. Even though the ratio is 1 publisher to every 53 inhabitants, we are still determined to keep busy preaching and teaching, looking to Jehovah for his blessing. The “Island of Beautiful Waters” has become, in a spiritual sense, fairer than ever. No doubt many more people will yet answer the call “Come!” And they will receive “life’s water free.”—Rev. 22:17.

[Footnotes]

a Compare Acts 2:41, which tells of the baptism of about 3,000 people, evidently not in the Jordan River—which would have required a walk of about 20 miles [30 km] one way for the baptismal candidates—but in pools in or near Jerusalem.

[Map on page 116]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

GUADELOUPE

GRANDE-TERRE

Pointe-à-Pitre

BASSE-TERRE

[Map on page 151]

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GUADELOUPE

Saint Martin

Saint-Barthélemy

La Désirade

Îles de la Petite-Terre

Les Saintes

Marie-Galante

[Picture on page 120]

Condé Bonchamp, one of the first in Guadeloupe to listen appreciatively to the good news

[Picture on page 123]

The husband of Noéma Missoudan (now Apourou) was coming home late; she followed him—into a meeting of Bible Students!

[Picture on page 124]

René Sahaï baptizing new Witnesses in 1945

[Picture on page 125]

Olga Laaland at convention in France, reporting on work in Guadeloupe

[Picture on page 130]

Duverval Nestor first heard and then accepted the truth while in a hospital

[Picture on page 131]

Georges Moustache did daily noontime witnessing at his place of employment

[Picture on page 133]

Basse-Terre Congregation at the end of the 1950’s

[Picture on page 136]

Busload of publishers leaving for field service in the countryside

[Picture on page 138]

Missionaries on the boat “Light” shared zealously in giving a witness

[Picture on page 139]

Nicolas and Liliane Brisart were first sent to Guadeloupe from France, in 1955

[Picture on page 141]

Flora Pemba, who took her stand for Jehovah in the face of severe tribulation

[Picture on page 142]

Left to right: Mickaëlla and Donat Tacita, with Marc Edroux, in 1994

[Picture on page 143]

Verneil Andrémont, one of Guadeloupe’s 19 delegates at the 1958 international convention

[Picture on page 146, 147]

Guadeloupe’s portable Assembly Hall

[Picture on page 150]

Armand and Marguerite Faustini, who served for 10 years in Guadeloupe; now in Martinique

[Pictures on page 158]

Over 100 years of age; each serving Jehovah for upwards of 30 years

Laurentia Jean-Louis

Catherine Gumbs

[Pictures on page 161]

Assembly Hall at Lamentin

[Pictures on page 162]

Guadeloupe branch office and Bethel family

[Picture on page 167]

Branch Committee (from left to right): Paul Angerville, Nicolas Brisart, Pierre Jahnke, Jean Cambou

Mexico

pp. 169–168

Mexico

MENTION of Mexico makes many people think of colorful Mexican dancers, guitarists playing romantic serenades, and sleepy little towns with houses of whitewashed walls and red-tiled roofs. Others think of a traffic jam in a megalopolis such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Monterrey. Some call to mind a people who are humble and hospitable, who smile and offer a friendly handshake. Mexico is all of that but also much more.

It is a land where there is spiritual prosperity. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses are active in more than 230 lands, since 1987, worldwide, well over 10 percent of the home Bible studies conducted by them have been in Mexico. And this program of Bible education is yielding results. During the past five years, 154,420 in Mexico have presented themselves for baptism in symbol of their dedication to Jehovah.

But there is still much to be done in order to give a thorough witness throughout Mexico. The population totals upwards of 87 million. The official language is Spanish; yet, other languages as well as dialects are also spoken. Though not everyone in Mexico has received a thorough witness, Jehovah is gathering people for his service out of all the varied groups that make up the nation. How is this being accomplished? To answer that, we invite you to come with us on a journey through the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico.

First, though, you will find it helpful to know something about the Mexican people themselves and events that have shaped their outlook.

Background of the Mexican People

What is their origin? The most widespread theory is that the first tribes that populated Mexico were of Asian ancestry and that they crossed over to what we now know as the Americas by way of the Bering Strait. They were well established in Mexico long before the Common Era.

More than one major tribe of Indians is prominent in Mexican history. There were the Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, and Toltec. When the Spanish began to occupy the West Indies during the 1490’s, the Aztec ruled much of what is now south-central Mexico. Their capital city, Tenochtitlán, had a population that some have estimated as being 250,000. But in 1521, when the last Aztec emperor surrendered to Hernán Cortés, this land came under the control of Spain.

The Aztec were sun worshipers, and they also worshiped natural forces such as rain and fire, to which they attributed the preservation of life. With the arrival of the Spaniards, there was a clash of cultures. Under Spanish rule, the Roman Catholic religion was imposed on the Indians by state decree. In time, the human sacrifices associated with their former worship ceased, but other beliefs and practices were merged with their new religion.

In addition to the exploitation by European rulers, there was a subtle oppression based on the new religion. How so? Education was controlled by the church and was put within the reach of only rich and influential classes, while the common people were kept illiterate and ignorant. This made them easy prey to religious fanaticism.

Nearly three centuries passed, during which Roman Catholic beliefs and customs became part of the fabric of life of the people; then, in 1810, rebellion against Spanish rule broke out. It was led by a priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, and marked the beginning of the wars leading to independence. The new state and the Roman Catholic Church continued to be closely allied, and the people continued to profess the Catholic faith.

Nevertheless, with the passing of time, the government became convinced that religion was doing more harm than good, so among the Leyes de Reforma (Laws of the Reformation) was a law enacted in 1859 to separate Church and State. This law also ordered the confiscation of all church property.

Late in 1910 the country was convulsed again by revolution, this time in an effort to throw off the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz. The success of this led to a new attempt in 1917 to enforce the Laws of the Reformation. At this time, freedom of religion was established by law in Mexico but with certain stipulations that were especially meant to restrict the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. As the revolution cooled down, something else that would bring even greater freedom was gaining momentum. It was the spread of good news about God’s purpose for humankind.

An Album of Spiritual Events

The account of the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico is like a collection of pictures, a precious historical album. The first page of our album goes back to 1893. In that year a man in Mexico named Stephenson wrote a letter showing interest not only in studying Bible truths but also in sharing these with other people in Mexico. The letter was addressed to the Watch Tower Society’s office in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (U.S.A.). It said: “I enclose five dollars. Kindly take out one year’s subscription for me to ‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ and for the remainder send me as many of the three volumes of ‘Millennial Dawn’ as the money will buy, as I wish to send them to several friends both here and in Europe. I hope to find, in the ‘Watch Tower,’ articles which may do good in this country if translated and published in Spanish; I might even undertake the translation of the ‘Dawns,’ if I had the funds to have them published.”

This happened during the era of Porfirio Díaz—a time when there was a very religious aristocratic class and a very poor working class in Mexico. That working class was devoutly religious and was dominated by the Catholic clergy. In 1910-11, widespread violence and bloodshed led up to a change in administration. Díaz was forced from office.

After the dust of revolutionary turmoil had somewhat subsided and the country had been physically and economically ruined by war, some people began to look for God. Those who had fled north to the United States began to return, and among the things that some brought with them were treasures in the form of books explaining the Bible. There were also Bible Students from the United States who made repeated trips into northern Mexico to share the good news with the people there. As a result, a few isolated individuals in Mexico came to know the truth and did what they could to spread it to others.

First Attempts to Organize

Abel Ortega, a young man intent on studying medicine, traveled to San Antonio, Texas, in 1917. There, from a Brother Moreyra, he learned about God’s purpose for mankind. Abel changed his plans; on returning to Mexico, he was equipped with a better plan, The Divine Plan of the Ages. His uncle, who had arranged for his medical education, was not pleased, nor was he impressed with his nephew’s new beliefs. As a result, Abel had to leave home. He moved to the outskirts of Mexico City, to a settlement known as Santa Julia. There, under the abundant foliage of a big tree, he began to hold meetings. Within two years, the group consisted of about 30 people.

As the number grew, it became obvious that they needed an appropriate meeting hall. This they found in the center of the city. By 1919, small assemblies of the Bible Students, four days in length, were also being held in Mexico.

Shortly, however, Abel Ortega became fascinated with a new religious group in France. He ceased to walk with his former Christian brothers. Divisions took place, and few were left who were trying to do Jehovah’s will.

Society’s Spanish Office in Los Angeles

In our historical album for this time period, we find a tall, slim Colombian, Roberto Montero, who learned the truth and was baptized in the United States in 1914. His initial zeal led him to strive to do everything possible to spread the good news. For a time he worked in the Brooklyn Bethel Home when C. T. Russell was still president of the Watch Tower Society. “Evidently between 1917 and 1918,” according to his daughter, María Luisa Montero (de Bordier), “Brother Rutherford [the Watch Tower Society’s second president] sent my father to Los Angeles to take care of a Spanish-speaking group that had formed here and also to take charge of the production of La Torre del Vigía, which is now La Atalaya [The Watchtower], in Spanish.” Thus, Roberto Montero established an office in Los Angeles, California, and there began to translate the Society’s publications into Spanish and to send these to Spanish-speaking people who requested them.

From there the magazine La Torre del Vigía reached Mexico. Sometimes it was sent monthly; sometimes, every two months. That same office in Los Angeles also distributed the books penned by Pastor Russell. The Divine Plan of the Ages and the Scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation became quite widely known in Mexico.

A Branch Office in Mexico

In spite of the problems experienced by the group formerly associated with Abel Ortega in Mexico City, there were righthearted Mexicans who were hungry for the truth and who continued to study the Bible with the aid of the Watch Tower publications. From various parts of the Republic came letters requesting literature. As a result, late in 1920 Roberto Montero made a tour of Mexico and visited some of those showing interest. He met with the group in Mexico City—then about 13 people—also with groups that were developing in Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, and Veracruz.

By 1925 several classes, or congregations, had been formed. Within the next few years, the number of such classes rose to nine. However, by 1929 only four remained.

Then, late in 1929, Brother Rutherford gave special attention to Mexico, establishing a branch office in Mexico City. David Osorio Morales, a young brother from the United States, was put in charge of the work. With better organization locally, the preaching of the good news made greater progress.

In those days, the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the government was tense. Some Catholic churches had been closed. When Mexico’s archbishop, Don José Mora y del Río, denounced provisions of the Constitution in 1926, he was put in jail. All of this triggered the start of the Cristeros war. Once again, soldiers and armed opposition forces went into action in the center of the Republic. After about four years of fighting, an agreement was reached, and worship was resumed in the churches. But the relationship between Church and State was simply one of mutual toleration. The Constitution of 1917, which restricted religion, continued in force. Among the Mexican people, there were some who were hungering and thirsting for righteousness, but few knew where to find it.

Registration With Government Authorities

On May 23, 1930, the Society’s branch office made application to the Secretariat of Government to register the International Bible Students Association. Among the basic objectives set out was the following:

“That the International Bible Students Association has the objective of spreading, by every means possible, the principles and truths that contribute to the refinement of all social classes, but especially of the lower class, pursuing the elevation of its status economically, as well as morally, mentally and physically.”

Reference was made on the application to the fact that, in pursuing its goals, the Association distributed printed material besides making use of other means of communication, that it arranged for public lectures in which subjects were examined in the light of the Bible, and that it organized classes for study. At that time the Mexican government was trying to put an end to religious fanaticism as well as to the ignorance that breeds it. For this reason, the application emphasized the educational aspects of our work. Regarding the nature of the religious activity of the Association, Part “e” of the Second Clause stated:

“That its members have a deep reverence, and by word and deed they give praise to the Creator of heaven and earth, Jehovah God, and express their sentiments without the use of rituals and ceremonies, etc., but only by arguments and reasonings that convince and satisfy the heart, being irreconcilably anticlerical and opposed to the control of the conscience and the bridling of reason.” Following that, it was unequivocally stated that we “do not form a religious sect,” and eleven points were cited in support thereof.

On June 2, 1930, we received an answer from the Secretariat of Government that said: “This Secretariat authorizes the operation that was solicited for the International Bible Students Association, as long as said association does not violate what is decreed in laws dictated on the matter of religious worship and external discipline . . . ”

Later, on December 14, 1932, a new application was filed, to change the name from International Bible Students Association to Sociedad de la Torre del Vigía (Watch Tower Society), without changing the precepts that had already been stated. However, additional clarifying paragraphs were added, including the following:

“We do not take any part in politics. We believe that Jehovah [is] the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and that the Bible is his Word that reveals his purposes for the human race. That he has promised to establish his government and authority over the earth, under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we are already in the time of the establishment of this government, which will be for the happiness of all nations of the world.”

Another paragraph further stated the neutral position of the Society. The Ministry of Government acknowledged receipt of the application on December 20, 1932. Thus, over 60 years ago the legal agency used by Jehovah’s Witnesses was registered with the Mexican authorities. In harmony with the objectives set out at that early date, the preaching of the good news has spread throughout the country.

The Good News Reaches Chiapas State

Even before that registration, the good news reached Chiapas State, in the southern part of the country, and it was taken there by someone who was not a Bible Student, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then called. From that area, a well-to-do man named Del Pino went to Europe to study medicine. While there, he also learned much from the Bible Students. On his return to Mexico, he prepared a hall to which he would invite his workers on the Montserrat Hacienda as well as local Evangelist ministers. He knew how to find things in the Bible, and he got considerable enjoyment out of explaining doctrinal truths to those who had gathered.

One who listened to these discussions with a receptive mind and heart was young José Maldonado, who, in 1924, was working on the hacienda. There is no evidence that his employer, Doctor Del Pino, ever actively associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses, though he did receive the Watch Tower publications. However, the Bible truths that young José heard stirred up in him the desire to have a share in preaching Bible truth. In 1927, José became established in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and from there he spread the good news and distributed Bible literature throughout the State of Chiapas—this without any training from the organization. In another city, Tapachula, near the Guatemala border, Josefina Rodríguez also began to preach the Bible’s message at that time.

After a few years, a brother by the name of Carreón visited both José Maldonado and Josefina Rodríguez. He used the home of Brother Maldonado as his center of operations, returning there for literature supplies every four or five days as he worked all the region along the Pacific Coast between Arriaga and Tapachula. The scenery there was beautiful, but the mountain roads were not good, so most travel was on foot. In the evenings, Brother Carreón would give talks and afterward offer the Society’s publications. Much literature was placed in this way. However, he combined his preaching activity with the selling of merchandise.

At a convention in Mexico City in 1931, the colporteurs were instructed to concentrate on distributing Bible literature instead of on selling other products. Brother Carreón took offense at this and left the organization. Then he threw in his lot with a man named Pérez, in Veracruz. In time, they formed a group called Estudiantes Nacionales de la Biblia (National Bible Students).

As for José Maldonado, right from the start he had been impressed with the fact that Jehovah’s organization is international. He was deeply moved by what he heard at that convention in Mexico City. The program highlighted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses and the responsibility that goes with bearing that name. Before the convention concluded, Brother Maldonado had decided to devote his full time to preaching as a colporteur. Truly, there was a great need for preachers of the good news. At that time, there were only 82 Witnesses in the entire country.

“We Have Plenty of Territory in Mexico”

The following year, with a view to expanding his service, Brother Maldonado expressed the desire to preach in Guatemala, which adjoins the State of Chiapas. The Society’s Mexico branch replied: “Dear Brother Maldonado: We have plenty of territory in Mexico. We could say that the territory is virgin. There are around 15,000,000 inhabitants in Mexico. At least 7,000,000 testimonies will have to be given and we have only given 200,000 . . . There is still enough work for about 100 colporteurs for the next five years. At the moment we only have 33 in the field. So you can just imagine how much work we still have to do in this country.” (A testimony was a verbal witness about Jehovah and his purposes accompanied, where possible, by the placement of some literature.)

Brother Maldonado and his wife accepted assignments to witness in the State of Morelos, to the south of Mexico City; afterward, the State of Chiapas again, and later on, Guerrero, some distance to the west of Chiapas. ‘When we got to Guerrero State, we bought a donkey called Volcán that my wife became very fond of,’ Brother Maldonado tells us, ‘because around Arcelia there was no transportation. On one side of the donkey we put the literature, and on the other a suitcase with our clothing.’

The end of 1933 found Brother Maldonado in Veracruz State on the east coast. While he was there, new equipment for use in the preaching work was sent from Mexico City: an electric transcription machine. When it was used along with a loudspeaker, a recorded Bible discourse could be heard by a large audience. Brother Maldonado used this equipment at congregation meetings and in other locations to give a public witness. As he and his wife traveled to isolated places to witness, they transported the machine on the back of a donkey (not Volcán, because he had been sold in a moment of necessity).

Brother Maldonado sums up his work this way: “From 1931 to 1941, I was a pioneer. I traveled, because then a pioneer worked whole states not just one settlement.”

For a number of years, they carried their small child with them. At times, they were threatened with pistols or shotguns. Brother Maldonado was thrown into prison, and on one occasion he was beaten. When their daughter got to be seven years old, they felt that it would be wise to settle in Mexico City. There they continued to share in the service. Later on, he dropped out of the organization for a while, but in time, he returned, and he continued to serve Jehovah until his death.

Northern States Receive a Witness

Meanwhile, in the northern part of the country, a number of people, without knowledge of one another, were crossing the border from the United States to share the Kingdom message with the Mexican people.

Among these was Manuel Amaya Veliz, a tall, thin young man who had heard the truth from a fellow worker in El Paso, Texas, in 1922. At that time he was active in a group that agitated for reform. He explained his situation like this: “I had some half-crazy ideas. I very much liked anything that attacked the clergy, capitalism and politics.” On the invitation of his work companion, he went to hear a talk given by Roberto Montero. Though indecisive at first, Manuel began to serve as a Kingdom publisher in 1928. He symbolized his dedication by baptism in 1931 and was appointed “class director” in El Paso. However, he wanted to do more to spread the truth.

“I had been praying to Jehovah that he permit me to come to Mexico to do the Kingdom work,” he later commented. When there was a shake-up in the place where he worked, his severance pay provided the money he needed in order to move. Thus it was that in the same year he got baptized, he and his wife loaded a 1926 Model T Ford and a small trailer with what belongings they could not sell and headed south to Ciudad Camargo, in the center of Chihuahua State.

In order to raise some money, Manuel spread out on the ground in the marketplace some merchandise that he had brought with him. “Just as soon as I had got together a few centavos, I went to Mexico City and presented myself at the branch office,” he recalled. Arrangements were made for him to start a preaching campaign beginning in Ciudad Camargo.

Brother Amaya’s Preaching Campaigns

“I began working in my own way, but always in accord with the organization,” Brother Amaya said. He had a good assortment of the Society’s books in Spanish—Deliverance, Reconciliation, Creation, Government, Prophecy, Life, and Light. He gave a witness and left as much literature as he could. Some people began to show interest.

Brother Amaya made tours again and again until he had covered both Chihuahua State and Durango State—a large portion of north-central Mexico. In order to make sure that he would have an ample quantity of literature to use, he requested that the Society send shipments to various towns along his route, to be claimed upon his arrival. When he placed literature, he often bartered for foodstuffs, since many of the people were too poor to give a contribution.

In the State of Coahuila, in the region called La Laguna, he met a man who told him: ‘I too am a Witness.’ It was Florentino Banda, who had moved south from Texas in 1933. Together they worked the area, and then Brother Banda followed up the interest when Brother Amaya returned to his home in Ciudad Camargo. Later, Brother Banda, accompanied by his wife, served as a traveling overseer.

Brother Amaya was very successful in helping people learn the truth and become zealous servants of Jehovah. In Valle de Allende, Rodolfo Maynez learned the truth with Brother Amaya’s help. On several occasions Brother Maynez defended the truth before the authorities, and on one occasion, he challenged the local priest to a debate. There, in Valle de Allende, Brother Amaya also helped the Bordier family. Gildardo Bordier later served at the Society’s office in Mexico; then he married Roberto Montero’s daughter, María Luisa. These two have continued faithful up to the present time.

Manuel Amaya served Jehovah faithfully until his death in 1974. In time, his wife, Angelita, joined him in Jehovah’s service. She served faithfully for more than 50 years before her death in 1990.

How Was the Work in Mexico City?

Following the establishment of the branch office in Mexico City in 1929, the preaching of the good news made greater progress. By the following year, 3 classes were functioning in the capital and 19 in the rest of the country.

Among those who showed spiritual hunger was a young man in Mexico City who belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church. Along with another Greek, he frequently examined the Scriptures in his place of business. One day in 1929 his friend came into the store with the book The Divine Plan of the Ages. What they read delighted them. They obtained more literature—books and booklets. “Those booklets and the book Deliverance really impressed me,” Hércules Dakos said as he related his first impressions.

The very week that he was first invited, Hércules attended a meeting to study La Torre del Vigía. That day he went home with a box of books and booklets—for himself and to share with others. He soon began talking to both friends and customers about the good news of God’s Kingdom. That same year, 1929, he got baptized. The next year, eager to share the truth with his relatives, he was packing his bags to visit Greece.

After a year and a half, Hércules returned to Mexico more enthusiastic than ever. He found that the congregation with which he had been associated had doubled in size.

He gave special attention to the Central Square in Mexico City. In the government buildings, he found many who were willing to listen. To reach the president, Hércules wrote a letter; and a reply from the president’s secretary asked that he please deliver some literature.

A few months after Brother Dakos returned from Greece, added stimulus was given to the work in Mexico.

Brother Rutherford Visits Mexico

From November 26 to 28, 1932, a national convention was held in Mexico City. Brother Rutherford and Eduardo (Edwin) Keller were present from the Society’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. During that visit, Brother Rutherford gave discourses on five radio stations. The programs could be heard throughout the country and were well received.

While in Mexico, Brother Rutherford made arrangements to replace the branch overseer because it was found that he was engaging in conduct improper for a Christian. Roberto Montero was invited to move to Mexico to take charge of the branch. However, since he could not come right away, Brother Keller was left to supervise matters temporarily.

Brother Montero arrived in April 1933. The recent problems in oversight had adversely affected the field service; much spiritual upbuilding was needed. A report in the November 1933 Boletín (Bulletin, now Our Kingdom Ministry) disclosed: “The number of workers dropped from a peak of 253 in 1932 to a peak of 105 in 1933 . . . The number went down to 48 in February.”

The Montero Family Becomes the Bethel Family

How was the branch office organized when the Montero family arrived in Mexico? The son, Roberto, Jr., who now lives in Los Angeles, California (U.S.A.), tells us:

“I arrived in Mexico City with my family at five years of age. We lived in a three-story house (including a basement) that the Society later bought to become the first branch office of La Torre del Vigía. . . .

“A short time later, my father invited Brother Samuel Campos to work in the branch office in accounting, and since he was bilingual, he helped my father translate the literature into Spanish. My mother took care of the field service reports and the files. Over the years my father taught me and my sister to type and do shorthand so that we would be able to help out in the office.

“After becoming proficient in this, we would come home from school and, among other things, make a clean copy of the translation manuscripts and help with correspondence. We considered this a great privilege. With the passing of time, other brothers came to work at the branch, [Mario] Mar and his wife, Conchita; José Quintanilla and his wife, Severa; Carlos Villegas; and for a short time, Daniel Mendoza. . . .

“Among Brother Mar’s many responsibilities was supervising the press that was bought in order to print El Informador, now Our Kingdom Ministry, as well as different kinds of handbills, invitations, and other forms that were used in the office. Brother Alfonso García, another brother that was serving in Bethel, and I worked under his supervision handsetting the type, running the press, and operating the paper cutter that was used to cut the forms to their final size. We were about 13 or 14 years old when we began to do this work. We learned so much that has been useful on becoming adults, just like the young brothers do now when they serve in the different Bethel homes.”

The Whole Republic Was His Territory

There were others who also came from the United States because they heard that the need was great south of the border. Pedro De Anda, baptized in 1925, was one of these. An American brother who had spent some time in Mexico talked to him about the fertile field for Bible truth in Mexico. Without hesitation, Brother De Anda moved to Mexico. “I came into the city of [Nuevo] Laredo with great eagerness to serve,” he tells us. From that border city, he worked his way south to Monterrey, then on to Zacatecas State.

Equipped with a phonograph, he arrived in the town of Concepción del Oro, Zacatecas, and went to the town square, where he put on a record to play. What was the reaction? He tells us:

“A very rich and fanatical man showed up during the course of the talk and began speaking to the people that had gathered, telling them that we were enemies of the Virgin and of the Catholic Church . . . They began to pick up sticks and stones with the intention of killing us; so I said: ‘Townspeople, just a minute! We are not animals that you should treat us like them. We are human, and what we are doing is trying to bring you a message of life!’ I asked them if I had perhaps forced anyone to believe my message. After that I thanked them for their attention. Then we gathered up our literature and the phonograph and walked away.”

Later on, at the home where Brother De Anda was staying, a heavily armed group gathered. What now? These were the Baptists of the town. They considered themselves “brothers” of Pedro De Anda and had come to defend him! He expressed appreciation for their gesture but explained that it was not necessary, since he had Jehovah as his protector.

Brother De Anda gradually extended his territory to cover the whole Republic, working not only in the north but also in the states of Durango, Puebla, Veracruz, and Chiapas.

‘Send a Publisher’

When Mario Mar was learning the truth in 1934, he never did meet one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. How, then, did he become a publisher himself? He says: ‘One time when there was sickness in my family I went over to a neighbor’s house. I found the books Creation and Reconciliation, and because of the distressing situation I was in, I began to read them.’ Later, after moving from the United States to San Miguel de Camargo, Tamaulipas State, he wrote to the Society. “At the time many religious processions were being held in the town because of the drought,” he recalls. “So I told them to send a publisher to talk to the people because they were very fanatical. La Torre del Vigía answered that my request was very good and that they were therefore appointing me to start the preaching work there. They sent me 75 booklets in Spanish with titles such as World Distress—Why? The Remedy, Righteous Ruler, and Dividing the People.”

Using the booklets, Mario began preaching the good news first in San Miguel de Camargo, then in the surrounding towns. He liked this work, so he wrote to the Society to ask about serving in other places. The Society immediately replied that his territory would be the northern part of the State of Nuevo León. Without hesitation, Mario went to work. “I was going around as a pioneer without having been baptized,” he says. Furthermore, he had had no training, but Jehovah helped. Mario’s wife also began to accompany him.

Later, when she became ill, Mario again wrote to the Society for direction, asking where it would be best for them to settle down for a while. The Society sent them the address of Román Moreno in the city of Monterrey. At last they met fellow Witnesses of Jehovah. Now Mario and his wife could attend meetings, and before long, they got baptized.

At a convention held in Monterrey in 1935, Brother Mar was invited to serve at the branch office. In time, he was frequently sent out as a zone servant, or circuit overseer.

Many brothers throughout the country remember Brother Mar as one of the first to acquaint them with the truth. He served faithfully until his death in 1988. His wife continues to be a loyal servant of Jehovah.

Bible Truth Spreads in the Northwest

As was true elsewhere, in the north and the west—in the states of Baja California, Sonora, and Sinaloa—groups of Jehovah’s Witnesses were springing up during the 1930’s.

At the beginning of that decade, Luciano Chaidez, who lived in Culiacán, Sinaloa State, met a woman who was always talking against religion, saying that they were all condemned to destruction. Some people thought she was crazy, but the woman was merely repeating what she had learned from books that had been sent to her by her sister in the United States. Luciano obtained from her one of those books—the Spanish edition of The Harp of God—and read it three times. He became convinced of its truthfulness, so he wrote to the Society. In response, they sent him literature with which to begin the colporteur work in the area. Later on, when he attended a convention in 1934, he got baptized.

When Brother Chaidez went to the port city of Mazatlán as a colporteur (pioneer), he found Gilberto Covarrubias associating with the small group of Witnesses meeting there. With encouragement, Gilberto made good progress. He well remembers his baptism. The brothers led him into the sea and told him to go down under the water and hold his breath as long as he could. When he came up, they pronounced him baptized. Of course, that is not the way we do it these days. But Gilberto proved to be zealous in Jehovah’s service, and he contributed to the spreading of the good news by leading the local Witnesses in the field service as they preached in all the towns around Mazatlán.

In the same area, Pedro Saldívar had been put in jail, accused of a crime that he had not committed. To help him pass the time during the more than three months that he was confined, his daughter took him books and magazines to read. One day among the items that she brought was a booklet by J. F. Rutherford. The message that it contained about God’s purpose to establish a righteous new world greatly consoled Pedro. Not long afterward the real culprit was found, and Pedro was set free. Immediately he set out to find more literature like the booklet that he had read. He obtained some. Before long, a Witness neighbor took him to the meetings, where Gilberto Covarrubias was taking the lead. As Gilberto had done, he too undertook a preaching campaign. He worked his way north through Sinaloa and to the northern part of the State of Sonora. He is still remembered there as one of the first colporteurs to spread the Kingdom message in that region.

It is true that some of their preaching campaigns took them far afield, but the number of Witnesses was few and the territory was vast. When the Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Congregation was officially formed in 1938, the entire State of Sinaloa was assigned as its territory.

A Treasure and a Dead Donkey

To the west of Sonora State is Baja California, a peninsula parallel to the northwest coast of the Mexican mainland. In 1934, about two thirds of the way down the peninsula, a young Witness was talking to people concerning the Bible. Good results came from his work, but what became of him?

Esther Pérez tells us: “It was in 1934 that a young fellow came to La Purísima, Baja California State, to speak about the Bible. . . . My father was working . . . for the government and he told us that he had received letters from the Society asking about the young fellow, but they did not know anything about him.” The young man had disappeared. “The authorities investigated to see if they could find the body, but nothing was found except the skeleton of a donkey that had been tied up . . . The people who found that also found a suitcase full of books with colored covers. . . . They took the suitcase into town and began reading the books. Even though they did not understand them, they realized that those books quoted from another one—the Bible.”

It was never known for sure what happened to the young Witness. But people were reading the literature he had brought, and some of them were keenly interested in understanding the Bible.

In contrast, a Protestant in the town seized the opportunity to get a following for himself. He organized into a group those who showed interest in reading the books. Later, they subscribed for La Atalaya and began studying it. Sister Pérez tells us what developed:

“Since the Protestant man made himself head of the group, he did not want anyone to communicate with the Society. But then a letter came from the Society asking if there was some means of transportation available so they could send a representative to visit. Mister Juan Arce (the Protestant) told my father not to answer the Society . . . Nevertheless, my father and another man by the name of Francisco did secretly write a letter to the Society, saying that there was transportation and that a representative of the Society could come. . . . I happened to be in town when the brother arrived, a young man called Terán Pardo. . . .

“Even before the brother got up the next day, the whole group was there waiting to greet him and ask him questions. The brother scheduled a meeting for the afternoon and all of us were present, about 25 in all. After his talk the brother asked: ‘Who wants to go out and serve Jehovah?’ Everyone raised his hand, and then he said: ‘Come tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m., and I will give you instructions about how you are going to do the work.’ Early next morning we were all there. The brother gave us a card and told us to present the card and afterward offer the booklets. I remember that I was assigned to go with my mother. On returning, we were so happy because we had been able to leave booklets with the people.” Of course, the Protestant withdrew, and they never saw him again at the meetings.

Overcoming Obstacles in the Southeast

Meanwhile, in the southeast the preaching work was being done with great difficulty. In the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, there was much poverty, especially in the more remote places in the hills. How would the Kingdom message reach these people?

Daniel Ortiz was living in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas State, in 1932, when he learned the truth. He and his family immediately accepted the message. Though they had no instructions on how to conduct meetings, his family along with others—a group of 12 in all—studied together, using the Society’s publications. Later on, when Brother Ortiz made a trip to Mexico City to the branch office, he obtained literature to share with others. He returned home (now in Cintalapa) bubbling over with enthusiasm. As the group shared in the field service, some carried their literature in knapsacks, others wrapped it up in paper, but he had a boxful suspended by cords from a pole carried between two publishers. He expected to place much literature, and he did.

While attending a convention in 1934, the Ortiz family were invited to join the pioneer ranks. Their territory would be Tabasco State. Brother Ortiz relates: “I bought two horses, one for the load and the other for my 12-year-old daughter, Estela. We were five in all. My 15-year-old daughter, a married daughter, and another 15-year-old brother accompanied us.”

They covered many towns in Tabasco and placed a lot of literature. But in Tapijalapa they were arrested and taken to the military headquarters. “The mayor was a colonel,” Brother Ortiz later related. “He asked me harshly if I did not know that this kind of literature was prohibited in the state. I answered by saying that I thought that we were in the Mexican Republic and that I had my credential issued by the Secretariat of Government. He answered that it was worth no more than the paper it was written on. They took all our valuables away from us and all the literature we had in our bags.”

Of greater concern to Brother Ortiz, however, was the welfare of two of the group who were in another town. Brother Ortiz’ daughter and another sister were witnessing together there. The police knew that two were missing from the group, so they sent men to look for them. “This was about six o’clock in the evening,” Brother Ortiz says, “and the town was 20 kilometers [12 miles] away over mountainous terrain and it was pouring down rain. I figured that they would get there around midnight. I hated to think what could happen to these sisters, two girls, 16 and 20 years old, in the hands of those [men]. One of the girls was my daughter, so imagine what thoughts stormed my mind!” He prayed earnestly until sleep finally overcame him. How relieved he was next morning to find that Jehovah had answered his prayer and that the two girls had not been molested!

After the group had been detained for several days without sufficient food or sanitary facilities, a soldier escort was assigned to take them out of the state. On being released, one of the first things they did was to get some soap, find a river, and then wash both themselves and their clothing. Free again, they went right on preaching the good news, but now in Chiapas State. Regardless of obstacles, they never tired of exploring the land to find Jehovah’s precious sheep. They were true pioneers.

At that time, the Mexico branch also cared for Guatemala. Brother Ortiz was frequently asked by the Society to go into that area to help find and feed sheeplike ones.

At 80 years of age in 1972, Brother Ortiz was still serving as a pioneer. He had many fond memories of activity that he had shared in over a period of four decades, but he was also keenly interested in continuing to do what he could in Jehovah’s service. He said:

“Even though my years drag me down, Jehovah continues to renew my strength, and I feel happy at seeing the increase in the people that bear his name. This fills me with rejoicing and impels me to greater activity . . . I am thankful but lack words to express my gratitude, and this makes me concentrate the little energy I have to continuing on.”

We have related here only a few of the experiences of Jehovah’s servants from before World War II. It is not possible to include everything in this account. Most of those who shared so zealously in spreading the Kingdom message in Mexico during the 1920’s and 1930’s have died now. But everyone who faithfully continued to serve Jehovah, whether in some outstanding manner or in ways known only locally, left an example worthy of imitation.

First a Waltz, Then a Vigorous Discourse

From 1938 until 1943, sound cars served very effectively to spread Bible truths in this part of the world. Seven of these vehicles equipped with loudspeakers on the roof and a transcription machine inside were put to use in Mexico. They broadcast dynamic Bible lectures originally given by Brother Rutherford and thereafter recorded in Spanish with the voice of Eduardo Keller.

Among the brothers who shared in sound-car work were José Quintanilla (later lovingly called “Grandpa” in the branch office), Daniel Mendoza, and Víctor Ruiz. About a year after José Quintanilla and his wife first received some of the Watch Tower publications, they were sharing in Bethel service. “I did not understand much about the work because so little time had passed since I began to get acquainted with it, nor did I have much secular education,” recalls Brother Quintanilla. Even so, he immediately accepted the invitation to help in repairing automobiles that were to be used in spreading Bible truth. After he had shared in the work for a few months, the brothers realized that José had not yet been baptized. He was told that if he wanted to continue in Bethel service, he would have to get baptized. Promptly he complied with that Scriptural requirement, in August 1938.

How was the work with these sound cars carried out? Generally five brothers traveled together. On arriving in a settlement, they broadcast an informative Bible discourse so that everyone could hear. Then two brothers would preach from house to house on one side of the street and another two brothers on the other side of the street, while the driver stayed with the car to answer the questions of curious people. Brother Quintanilla modestly tells us: “About all I did was talk to the ones who approached and present the literature to them.”

On occasion, in order to attract the attention of the people, recordings of waltzes were played before the lectures. Just imagine the people’s surprise—after listening to some music, they heard a lively discourse exposing false religion!

Daniel Mendoza, who shared in this work, relates: “At first the people would be enthusiastic . . . but then they would slip away to advise the priest. Soon the whole town would get into an uproar and some would come with sticks and stones to drive us away.”

In one town, a tall, strong man tried to turn over Brother Quintanilla’s sound car. He had just lifted one side in the air when he was knocked to the ground. Surprised and scared, he ran away, shouting, “Don’t get close; that thing has the devil!” What had happened? A strong electric shock had taken him by surprise. You see, Brother Quintanilla had wired the electrical system to the chassis of the car. Though we would not recommend that today, he used it to protect himself and the equipment from extremely violent people.

Even when use of the sound cars was phased out, portable phonographs were used by individual Witnesses. About 300 of these phonographs were made at the branch. Again, “Grandpa” Quintanilla was an able associate in the project. He recalls making the phonograph cases and then fitting in the speakers and motors. He says: “They would be tested to see if they worked well and would continue to serve well, and then they were sent out to the brothers to use from house to house.”

Of course, after a time, with the help of presentations and sermons printed in the Informador (Informant, now Our Kingdom Ministry), as well as the training received in the Theocratic Ministry School, the publishers learned much about conversing with people and answering their questions with quotations from the Bible.

Gilead Graduates Arrive!

A multifaceted program of education was introduced among Jehovah’s Witnesses beginning early in the 1940’s, and it had a profound effect on the global work of Kingdom proclamation. Part of that program involved training branch personnel to handle their work in the same way as was done at the world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Nathan H. Knorr, who had become the Watch Tower Society’s president in 1942, took the lead in this. The Mexico branch benefited from this in a very direct manner when Brother Knorr visited here for the first time, in February 1943. During his visit, at a special meeting held with publishers from areas throughout the country, he urged them to overcome the heritage of illiteracy that hindered people of Latin America who had for so long been influenced by Roman Catholicism. He also did much work with the branch staff, and by the time he left, the branch office and the Bethel Home were well equipped and much better organized.

There was still much work to be done in Mexico. Since World War I, there had been a gradual increase in the number of praisers of Jehovah in Mexico, but it was slow. In 1943, there were 1,565 publishers who reported activity each month, and they were working hard. Congregation publishers were witnessing, on an average, 28 hours each per month. Regular pioneers averaged 137 hours monthly.

In that year the Society inaugurated a school that has exerted a tremendous influence on the work of Kingdom preaching and disciple making. The Watchtower Bible College of Gilead had been established. (Later the name was changed to Watchtower Bible School of Gilead.) Its purpose was to prepare experienced pioneer ministers for service wherever they might be needed in the world field. On February 1, the first classes began. Plans were laid to send some of the graduates to Mexico.

At first, the brothers encountered legal obstacles when trying to obtain visas for the graduates of Gilead. World War II was still under way; besides that, in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas State (on the border with the United States), persecution had broken out against the Witnesses, and some had been put in jail. This situation was holding up the paperwork for visas. The branch overseer at that time, Juan Bourgeois, relates the following in his 1945 report:

“When the Watchtower Bible College of Gilead and its purpose were first announced, we here in Mexico anxiously awaited the date of the first graduation because we were confident that a good number of the graduates, especially trained for foreign Theocratic service, would be sent to work in the practically virgin territory of Mexico. It was to be expected also that the adversary would become frantic and would go to any extreme to impede the entry of our brethren. In August 1943, the Society informed us that if we could obtain the necessary permits for their entry into Mexico, about 30 of these instructors (Gilead graduates) would be assigned to work in Mexico.

“Every effort was put forth by us to obtain the permits, but an unbelievable number of obstacles presented themselves to prevent the entrance of these instructors into Mexico. We had practically given up, thinking Jehovah willed otherwise, when Brother Knorr arrived here in February of this year. He refused to take ‘no’ for an answer and made some special arrangements, and lo, the ‘impossible’ was accomplished! In March the barriers were let down to admit Brother and Sister Anderson, and shortly thereafter, in April, seven more Theocratic instructors, graduates of Gilead’s first class, were admitted into the country.”

Fred and Blanche Anderson

Fred and Blanche Anderson were beloved ones of the anointed remnant who devoted the greater part of their lives to full-time service in Mexico. Because of an accident that had occurred when he was young, one of Brother Anderson’s legs had to be amputated when he was in Mexico. Even so, using crutches, he persisted in working the territory in Mexico City. Fred Anderson was good-natured and cheerful. The presence of Brother Anderson and his charming wife (who was affectionately called Blanquita by her Christian sisters) filled the hearts of many Mexicans with love and appreciation.

Brother Anderson’s own expressions tell much about him. He said: “We gladly and prayerfully began to adjust our lives and train ourselves for [service abroad]. Gilead training helped us immensely to do this. For five and a half months, we worked and sweated and strained to cram as much as we possibly could into our craniums, but those months went by in a flash! And, before we knew it, it was graduation day. We thought our joy was full at Gilead—that we could not possibly be happier or be closer to God. But we had much to learn, and this we did in our foreign assignment.”

After a number of years in that assignment, he said: “How many of these humble people we have helped to come into Jehovah’s glorious light of truth we do not know. But we do know how great our joy has been in sharing Jehovah’s goodness.” The Andersons served for many years in the circuit work in Mexico and, afterward, in the Mexico Bethel, where they ended their earthly course—he in 1973, and she in 1987.

Companions for Half a Century

After her first decade in Mexico, Rosa May Dreyer, another Gilead graduate, wrote that of the 21 originally assigned to Mexico, 11 had been able to remain. She added: “These eleven I am sure will say with me: ‘I would not by choice be anywhere else.’”

Because of obstacles to entering the country, Rosa May Dreyer and Shirley Hendrickson served for two years near the Texas-Mexico border. During that time they were learning some Spanish. Shirley, though a cheerful person, remembers that their territory there was difficult. So she was delighted with what she found in Mexico City. In the beginning, no local publishers were assigned to accompany them as they had expected. Instead, someone took them to a corner and said, “Here is your territory,” without any on-the-spot training. Furthermore, their knowledge of Spanish was limited. Nevertheless, instead of getting discouraged, they carried on their activity as well as they could. Shirley says about those times: “I remember the first building I went into, trembling a little, and at the first four doors I placed the four books I was carrying and had to return home for more literature. With that I took heart and never had any more trouble.” A few years ago, Shirley attended the wedding of a granddaughter of a woman with whom she had conducted a Bible study during her early years in Mexico. What a joy to find 50 descendants of that family serving Jehovah! One had served as a traveling overseer, and another one was a member of the Bethel family.

Shirley and Rosa May were service companions from 1937 (before going to Gilead together) until 1991, when “Rosita” died in her assignment in Mexico. Fifty-four years of service—nearly all of it together!

Some Others Who Came

Altogether, 56 Gilead graduates from other lands have come to Mexico to share in the grand work of divine education being done here. In addition to those already mentioned, there were others from Gilead School’s first class: Rubén Aguirre, Charlotte Bowin, Maxine Bradshaw, Geraldine Church, Julia Clogston, Betty Coons, Russell Cornelius, Dorothea Gardner, Verle Garfein, Frances Gooch, Elva Greaves, Thurston and Marie Hilldring, Fern Miller, Maxine Miller, and Pablo Pérez. More graduates arrived as recently as 1988. The service in the field rendered by all of these brought joy to them and to others. There were also unexpected, but happy, developments.

For example, after two years in Mexico, Charlotte Bowin was assigned to El Salvador. Then, in 1956, she became the wife of Albert Schroeder, one of her former Gilead instructors, who later became a member of the Governing Body.

In 1949, Maxine Miller married Samuel García, a Gilead graduate who was from Mexico and who at the time served in the Mexico branch as the legal representative of the Society. When she arrived in Mexico City in 1946, there were just four “companies.” By 1961, there were 70. And by early 1994, the number of congregations in Mexico City and its suburbs had grown to 1,514. What marvelous expansion she saw! Was her full-time service all joys and nothing else? “No, that is not true,” she once commented. “There are trying moments and difficult experiences too, but the joys far outweigh the sorrows, and it is these joys that stand out when I look back on the way that I have gone in the pursuit of my purpose in life as a servant of Jehovah God.” She died while faithfully serving in her assignment in 1992.

After Esther Vartanian had been serving in Mexico for about eight years, she and Gilead graduate Rodolfo Lozano, who had recently arrived in Mexico, got married in 1955. While living at the branch, she witnessed in the city and helped many people to come to know Jehovah. She had great success in helping entire families. Even though a husband at first might refuse to study, she always made sure that he was eventually included. Her particularly kind manner of talking with people made many respond to the message. She would approach them, speaking Spanish with her foreign accent, and say: “Honey, quiero hablarte de algo muy importante. [Honey, I want to talk to you about something very important.]” They listened. Now Sister Lozano and her husband both serve as members of the Mexico Bethel family.

Loving Christian Overseers in the Branch

Of course, some of the Gilead graduates sent to Mexico were assigned to care for responsibilities in the branch office, and they did excellent work. Before that, Juan Bourgeois, who was branch overseer after Roberto Montero, cared for that assignment from 1943 to 1947, when he had to return to the United States. Then, Pablo Pérez, a graduate of Gilead’s first class, became branch overseer for three and a half years.

Since then others have carried that load of responsibility and rendered loving oversight. Among them were Rodolfo Lozano for four and a half years, George Papadem for two years, and Samuel Friend for seven and a half years. William Simpkins began to care for branch oversight in 1965, and when the Branch Committee arrangement was instituted in 1976, he continued to serve as part of the Mexico Branch Committee until 1986. Each one made valuable contributions to the Kingdom work here in Mexico. After having served for many years in Colombia, Robert Tracy arrived in Mexico in 1982, and since then he has served as the Branch Committee coordinator.

Keeping in Touch With the “Companies”

Regional and zone (circuit) servants endeavored to visit and upbuild Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout Mexico during the 1940 service year. Then, after an interruption for a time, the work of traveling overseers was again instituted. This time, specialized training was given to the brothers before they were sent out.

Visiting the “companies” involved much more than buying a bus or train ticket and then making the trip. The majority of companies were small and completely isolated from highways or railroads. Before the brothers could be sent out, the branch office wrote each group to ask how to reach the location of their company. One company replied: “The only line that passes near this place is a telegraph line.” The branch reported to Brooklyn: “To reach some companies, the servant must go by mule or by foot, sometimes days at a time. The publishers are overjoyed at the visit, and all the people of good-will for miles around are gathered when he arrives.”

To assist in strengthening the brothers, in the mid-1940’s some of the Bethel family offered to use their vacation to visit companies as assigned by the office. Samuel and Alfonso García were sent to Silacayoápan, Oaxaca State. After traveling a day by bus, they spent two more days in arranging for the use of horses, and then they continued on horseback for another two days to their destination. Five happy days were devoted to working with the local Witnesses in the field service; they also held a baptism; then they prepared to return to Mexico City. But the local Catholic priest had been irritated by their work and had stirred up El Presidente, the local mayor. That night a mob of about 25 men broke into the home of the Witness with whom the brothers were staying. Samuel García remembers it vividly.

The mob was armed with machetes, swords, knives, clubs, and pistols. They seized the brothers, forced them outdoors, and beat them unmercifully. When the Christian sister in whose home they were staying tried to intervene, she and one of her sons were beaten. The left arm and fingers of one of the brothers were cut clear to the bone. While being further beaten and threatened, they were marched out of town. But where were they being taken? Samuel García recalls: “They attempted to hang us from some trees, but when we showed no fear and made Jehovah our full confidence, they let us go. We had to walk two days through the mountains in order to get to a highway.”

Meanwhile, news of the trouble got to the branch office. The Society sent an urgent appeal to the governor of the State of Oaxaca. Finally, when the two brothers arrived back at Bethel, the one on guard duty hesitated to open the door because he did not recognize them, they had been mistreated so badly. But as Brother García looks back on what happened, what he remembers is this: ‘Jehovah did not forsake us.’ And what about the sister in whose home they had stayed? She wrote to the office asking for more literature so she could keep on witnessing.

From One Assembly to the Next

A few years before those events, Adulfo Modesto Salinas, a lively young lad, attended his first national convention. It was in 1941 at the People’s Theater in Mexico City. At that time the idea that he would someday be a traveling overseer never crossed his mind.

Gonzalo Rodríguez, a servant to the brethren (as circuit overseers were then known), encouraged Adulfo to serve at Bethel. As a result, in December 1947, Adulfo reported for Bethel service in Mexico City. That same year, circuit assemblies began to be held in Mexico. At first, Bethel brothers organized them and served on the program. Then, in 1951, Adulfo Salinas was appointed to be the first district overseer in the country, assisting circuit overseers and serving at circuit assemblies. Rodolfo Lozano and Samuel García provided him with helpful training at his first assemblies. Then they left him to continue his route alone. That year, 18 circuit assemblies were held throughout the country.

In the beginning, arrangements for assemblies as well as the duties of the district overseer were not well defined. At some assemblies there was no circuit overseer, so local brothers did what they could to organize matters. The district overseer had to be a jack-of-all-trades. On arriving at the assembly site, he would help the brothers set up the departments. He carried the sound equipment with him, also stoves and other kitchen equipment for the cafeteria. Leonor Salinas helped her husband prepare many things for the assembly. All day they would be out in the field service, and in the evening they would assist with assembly preparations.

Brother Salinas remembers that at the first circuit assemblies, there was no detailed program to follow. The brothers were given opportunity to ask questions, and he would endeavor to answer them. They asked such questions as, “Is it permissible to wear rings and bracelets?” “Is it a crime to kill animals?” and “What is the meaning of the number 666?” In order to give sound answers, he had to take along many of the Society’s publications.

Gradually, the details related to circuit assemblies were worked out. Everything operated more smoothly.

After Brother Salinas had been serving as district overseer for some 13 years, he was invited to attend Gilead School, in 1964. In preparation, he had to learn English. This was hard for him, but he benefited from the course and then was sent back to Mexico to continue in the district work. He is still in full-time service, although with some health problems. His wife, Leonor, who has been with him since 1955, has been a fine support. Brother Salinas states: “Glancing back to 1941, when I learned the truth, I find that [over 50] years have already gone by, and during all that time, I have been learning wonderful things from God’s Word. I was under 20 years of age in 1941. I am grateful to Jehovah and to his organization for having changed my life from one without a future to a life with purpose.”

Great Effort Made to Attend Conventions

Year after year national conventions were held in Mexico City, and these were attended by a majority of the Mexican brothers. But for some, this involved considerable hardship because of lack of funds. When the conventions were small, everyone who attended from outside the capital was housed at Bethel. Then, early in the 1940’s, rooming was arranged in the homes of various brothers. The poverty of many of our brothers tore at our hearts, and we were deeply moved by the effort they put forth to come from the provinces to Mexico City in order to enjoy spiritual food.

How glad we were when arrangements could be made to hold conventions nearer to their homes! Now they would not have to travel so far. Even so, some of the brothers still had to make great sacrifices to be in attendance. In 1949, as an example, 20 delegates from Tabasco State—18 men and 2 women—traveled over 200 miles [320 km] on foot in order to get to a convention in Veracruz State. They made the trip in 15 consecutive days! Altogether the round trip required some 35 days.

La Torre del Vigía de México—A Cultural Society

You will recall that back in 1932 La Torre del Vigía de México had been authorized by the government. However, there were obstacles because of the restrictions that the law imposed on all religions. Objections were raised to the house-to-house activity of the Witnesses, since the law stipulated that ‘every religious act of public worship must be held inside the temples.’ For the same reason, objections were raised to our conventions in public places. This was a problem, because these conventions were constantly getting larger. Owning property also presented problems, because the law required that every building used for religious purposes had to become federal property.

For these and other reasons, the Society decided that it would be wise to reorganize, with a view to giving greater emphasis to the educational nature of our work. Therefore, on June 10, 1943, application was made to the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs to register La Torre del Vigía as a civil society, and this was approved on June 15, 1943.

With this rearrangement, singing at our meetings was discontinued, and the meeting places became known as Halls for Cultural Studies. No audible prayers were said at meetings, though nothing could prevent a person from saying an earnest prayer silently in his heart. Every appearance of a religious service was avoided, and truly our meetings are designed for education. When Witnesses in other lands began to call their local groups “congregations,” the Witnesses in Mexico kept on using the term “companies.” House-to-house visits by the Witnesses continued, and with even more zeal; but direct use of the Bible at doors was avoided. Instead, publishers learned the texts by heart so that they could quote them. They also made good use of the book “Make Sure of All Things,” which is a compilation of Scripture quotations on many subjects. Only on return visits and on studies (which were termed “cultural” instead of “Bible”) was the Bible itself used.

The principal work of Jehovah’s Witnesses remained the same, namely, preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom.

The Literacy Classes

In keeping with the charter of La Torre del Vigía, we carried on a literacy campaign, in addition to educating the people in the teachings of the Bible. Thus, on May 17, 1946, La Torre del Vigía registered with the government a center for literacy classes in Mexico City. These were conducted by José Maldonado.

Since the government was interested in promoting literacy, it provided first-reader textbooks for use in the classes. Later on, when the Watch Tower Society printed in Spanish the booklet Learn to Read and Write, this was used. The government appreciated what was being done. In a letter dated January 25, 1966, the government said: “By agreement of the General Director, I am pleased to congratulate your Institution . . . for the patriotic cooperation that you have been giving to the illiterate people of the Republic. . . . I hope that your enthusiasm does not diminish for continuing this persistent fight against illiteracy in which all good Mexicans are engaged.”

From the time that the classes were inaugurated up until 1966, there were 33,842 persons who were taught to read and write. And, as of 1993, the total was 127,766. In addition, 37,201 people had been helped to improve their reading and writing skills. While these people were studying reading and writing, they were also learning to appreciate spiritual provisions—the Bible study literature produced by the Society, as well as the company meetings.

Moral Cleanness of Jehovah’s Organization

When the arrangement for circuit assemblies got under way, there also began a period of increased cleansing in Jehovah’s organization. A custom that was very deeply rooted in Mexico in those years was for a young man to “steal” a young woman and live with her without being married. Accustomed to the old ways that were permitted in false religion, couples generally did not get married. They simply lived together in a consensual relationship. That was the situation of many when they began to associate with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Brother Salinas appreciated Bible principles about morality and helped the brothers to understand these. (Matt. 19:3-9; Heb. 13:4) Wherever he went he encouraged them to legalize their marriages.

This was not new to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Back in its issue of September-October 1924, La Torre del Vigía had discussed the question: “Would it be appropriate to elect as elder of a Class a brother who is not legally married to his mate?” The answer: “It would be entirely improper.” Scriptural reasons were given for this. It was also recommended that persons who had not yet straightened out their marital affairs not be baptized. Nevertheless, in Mexico there were many company servants who were not legally married.

However, in 1952, for the benefit of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide, specific instructions were given about putting one’s life in order if one wanted to continue being part of Jehovah’s organization. In some cases men had been married, then separated, and then had begun living with another woman, without being divorced from the first nor married to the second. Some had married again without being divorced from a previous wife. Thus, it required great effort on the part of these brothers to straighten out their lives in order to serve Jehovah.

It was a joy to see how the brothers responded by making the necessary arrangements to legalize their marriages. In some companies groups of 20 couples, and more, were married at the same time. Nevertheless, there were some who, in spite of Jehovah’s righteous standards, did not want to change their way of life. Some of these left; others were disfellowshipped.

One brother remembers that when he and his companion went to get married, following the instructions of the organization, his children went along with them. When the judge asked: “Is it your will to be united with this woman, accepting her and having her for your wife until death do you part?” he hesitated before answering, and his little girl with a worried expression encouraged him, “¡Dí que sí, papacito! [Daddy, please say yes!],” with which he quickly gave an affirmative reply to the judge.

It Took Time and Patience

It took time for some to adjust to the high moral standards of Jehovah’s organization, especially in relation to marriage and the use of liquor, but gradually the brothers came to appreciate the importance of conforming to Jehovah’s ways.—1 Pet. 4:3.

In its report on the 1953 service year, the branch office said: “We finished what we had started the previous year, namely, the cleaning out of the organization of those not deserving to be in it. This caused the number of publishers to drop considerably for the first five months of the service year. It dropped as low as 7 percent below last year’s average, but from February on, it picked up to the extent that by the end of the service year we had reached a 9-percent increase over last year’s average.” Finally, properly cleansed, Jehovah’s organization in Mexico was ready to enter a period of spiritual prosperity that has extended down to the present time.

Conventions That We Never Forget

There are some conventions that have never been forgotten by those who were present. One of these was held in Mexico City on April 13-15, 1945. None of the delegates arrived in a personally owned automobile. More than 200 came on a train from Monterrey. A sign on the outside of one of the coaches announced where they were going, and at stops all along the way the delegates witnessed to vendors and curious folk who came alongside. To get to the convention, a family group with a baby walked from their home in Chihuahua for seven days and then took the railroad. N. H. Knorr and F. W. Franz were also on hand, from the world headquarters in New York. On the first day of the convention, 717 of the 1,107 present were out in the field service to announce the public discourse, “One World, One Government,” to be given by Brother Knorr at the Arena México. And that talk was given successfully, despite efforts of Catholic hecklers to break up the meeting.

Some of the most memorable conventions have drawn the Witnesses in Mexico close to their Christian brothers in other lands. An outstanding one of these was the Divine Will International Assembly, held in New York in 1958. Delegates from 123 lands were present, among whom were 503 who had traveled from Mexico. They had opportunity to hear, meet, and associate with fellow Witnesses from all parts of the globe. Another such heartwarming convention was held in Mexico City, in 1966, when hundreds of delegates from about a dozen other lands traveled to Mexico to join their brothers there for the largest convention sponsored by La Torre del Vigía in Mexico up to that time. More than 30 times as many were present on this occasion as had been in attendance in Mexico City for the convention in 1945.

The Society’s Motion Pictures

Toward the middle of the 1950’s, the Society introduced another feature in its program of education. Brother Salinas recalls: “Something that contributed greatly to the work was the Society’s 16-mm motion pictures The New World Society in Action, The Happiness of the New World Society, Divine Will International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Proclaiming ‘Everlasting Good News’ Around the World, and God Cannot Lie. You could see the impact these had on the people who did not know our work well.” The first motion picture presented the operation of the Society’s offices. The next three films showed conventions that were held in various parts of the world. The last one helped audiences to visualize principal Bible events and to understand their significance for our day.

These films were often shown in the patio of a home or in some rented hall. Invitations were distributed; as a result, many people attended. Afterward they would take down names of the ones who wanted more information.

In 1958 in Tenexpa, Guerrero, arrangements were made by the Witnesses to show the Society’s current film in a lot next to their meeting place. When the brothers were cleaning the lot up, the unexpected visit of a policeman raised doubts about whether they would be able to have the showing. The policeman told the company servant that he had to go and see the mayor. So the brother went, and the mayor asked him, “Where are you going to show the film?” When he heard the reply, he said: “Why don’t you show it here in the bandstand in the square?” “Well, if there is no objection . . .” The mayor made arrangements for electricity to be supplied. Benches were taken out of the cinema, and some people even brought their own chairs because there was seating for only 900 people. About 2,000 came, and they turned the event into a festival, setting out food for all to enjoy. Indeed, every time that Brother Salinas showed the Society’s films in the northern states of the Republic, there was an attendance of 500, 800, or up to 1,000.

Branch Facilities to Keep Pace With the Work

When Roberto Montero and his family made up the Bethel family in Mexico, the home into which they moved at 71 Melchor Ocampo Street, in Mexico City, provided ample space for accommodations and for the branch office. There were only about 100 Kingdom proclaimers active in Mexico at that time. But by 1946, the number of active Witnesses had increased to 3,732, organized into 223 companies. To care for the extensive program of education that the Witnesses were carrying out throughout Mexico, enlarged facilities were needed. Appropriately, in that year a new branch office and Bethel Home adjoining the former structure were completed and put to use.

By 1962 those facilities were being used to the limit, so another five-story addition to the branch was inaugurated. This included a small printery to produce the Spanish Informant (now Our Kingdom Ministry) and forms that were used in the branch office and by the 27,000 then active in the work of theocratic education in Mexico. Under the supervision of that office, the Kingdom Ministry School was also providing instruction for the company overseers and special pioneers scattered throughout the country.

Continued Religious Fanaticism

Although the government had tried for decades to put an end to religious fanaticism, and though the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses was well-known throughout the country, the progress being made by the Witnesses in educating the people infuriated the clergy. During the 1960’s the opposition in some places became more fierce than ever before.

For example, in the town of Los Reyes de la Paz, México State, a circuit assembly was scheduled for August 4 and 5, 1963. When the assembly began, the local priest, using loudspeakers placed on the walls of the church and aimed directly at the assembly place, tried to drown out the program. Emotional speeches were given, and insults were hurled against the Witnesses to whip those in the church into a frenzy. Hundreds of Catholics who were usually calm and friendly were provoked to violence. They rushed out of the church grabbing sticks and clubs and stones. Now out of control, the mob hurled themselves against the Witnesses who had assembled. More than 30 Witnesses were injured. Two of their homes were also stoned, and walls were torn down.

However, thanks to the timely intervention of the federal highway police, the brothers who had come from out of town were able to leave safely. Finally, on Monday the angry mob was dispersed by the army.

The daily newspaper Excelsior of August 6, 1963, gave this report: “The parish priest of Los Reyes, Jesús Meza, pointed out by the judicial authorities as the promoter of the riots, fled out of town in a car and escorted by hundreds of his parishioners, armed with stones, clubs and machetes.”

But that mob action helped to open the eyes of some honesthearted people. After a time, when the Witnesses once again preached in that town, they had very good results. The people were ashamed of their conduct, and little by little they began to listen. When the mob action took place, there were two companies in the area. From these, some 50 more have sprung up.

Religious Intolerance in Sahuayo

Another town where shameful persecution erupted was Sahuayo, Michoacán State, in August 1964. Special pioneers were preaching zealously there. They were already having some meetings with a small group of interested persons. On the other hand, they were threatened and insulted by mobs gathered by the local priest. People from Sahuayo, as well as from nearby Jiquilpán, joined in this ill-treatment. Not just once but several times the brothers had to stand up against mobs of 200 to 300 people.

On August 13, the situation became very tense when upwards of 5,000 people surrounded a pioneer’s home. They had brought along gasoline, intending to set the house on fire and burn it down along with its inhabitants. A brother, five sisters, and a six-year-old girl were in the house. A few policemen tried to stop the inflamed mob, but they were not having much success. However, at the crucial moment, three truckloads of soldiers unexpectedly appeared on the scene. Quickly the Witnesses were rescued and the mob was forced to disperse. In commenting on the situation, the newspapers expressed deep regret over the intolerant behavior of the clergy, who had caused the problem.

The situation was so dangerous that it was deemed wise to move the special pioneers out of the area. In time, however, the Society sent pioneers to nearby towns, and they cautiously worked their way toward Sahuayo and Jiquilpán. They had so much success that in 1974, ten years after that persecution, a company was established in Jiquilpán, and in 1990 another one was established in Sahuayo.

The Man Reached for Something in His Back Pocket

In view of the violent persecution that had occurred, could you blame the Witnesses if they were at times a bit apprehensive? José Mora recalls such an experience in Jalisco State. He laughs about it now, but at the time he was not so sure.

He had just quoted to a man the scripture at Psalm 115:16: “As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men.” The man quickly thrust his hand into the back pocket of his pants. Brother Mora thought that he was reaching for a weapon. What a relief when he pulled out a book containing the New Testament and the Psalms! The man checked the scripture in his own Bible and accepted the message. Very soon this man and all his family became Jehovah’s Witnesses. “He had noticed that I became a little nervous, though,” says Brother Mora; “so now, once in a while when we see each other, we remember that incident and laugh.”

A Gratifying Response in Recent Years

Despite the persecution, the number of praisers of Jehovah continued to increase throughout the country. The preaching of the good news became more effective as the brothers grew in understanding of Biblical and organizational matters. Gradually the publishers became more conscious of the need to follow through on interest shown and to care for the sheep. As a result, the number of Bible studies increased. In 1970 there were, on an average, 43,961 studies conducted each month; ten years later, the figure had risen to 90,508. Some of these were with people who progressed very rapidly.

That was true of Lino Morales and his wife. Lino had gone with a friend on a devotional visit to an image of the Virgin in a town in Guatemala. (He lived in Mexico, in Chiapas State.) They had agreed to go in separately to say their prayers before the image. Lino relates: “When he did not come out for a long time, I very respectfully peeked inside the door of the chapel, and what blasphemy! My friend was lifting up the skirt of the Virgin! When I hollered at him, ‘What are you doing?’ he quickly pretended that he was praying. I called to him in a challenging way to come outside, and when he did I put up my fists to hit him. It took him a while to convince me of what he had been doing. When I calmed down, he told me that he had become disillusioned with the image because when he kneeled to kiss the feet of the image, he realized that only the face and feet were smoothly polished but that underneath the dress were just small pieces of wood.”

That, coupled with the death of his little boy, profoundly influenced Lino’s outlook. What happened next? His wife remembers: “Two women came to my door and talked to me about the Bible and soon convinced me that they were speaking the truth. They left me a book and promised to return later. Right after they left, it began to rain. As the rain continued, the two women returned, but now with their husbands, looking for cover from the rain. But the rain did not let up all afternoon, and they had to sleep overnight at my house. We took advantage of that time—they in sharing, and I in learning, Bible truths. They left early the next day, promising to return. The one who took the lead in speaking was a regular pioneer. He and his wife were from the southern part of the state; their companion was Caralampio from the town La Trinitaria. Much to my surprise, my husband came home that same day in the afternoon. (Lino worked far away at a rural school.) After supper I told him that some preachers had visited me and left me a book. We began to consider it together along with the explanation that they had given me, and we could not put it down. When we realized it, the night had gone by and the day was beginning to break. We never did get to sleep.”

Lino’s wife began to prepare their breakfast while Lino saddled up the horse. That morning he traveled 12 miles, all the way to La Trinitaria, in order to look for Caralampio. He found the house, but no one was at home, because Caralampio was out preaching. Nevertheless, Lino left a message with the next-door neighbor. “I returned home a bit dejected,” remembers Lino, “but, what a surprise! Early the next morning, I heard someone knocking at the door. When I went out, there the preachers were! At about seven o’clock in the evening, they had received the notice that we had been looking for them. They immediately got ready and traveled on foot all night, arriving at my house when it was getting light. So within less than 48 hours of their leaving that book, and in spite of the distance and its being nighttime, those preachers were already making a return visit.”

The return visit lasted three days! During that time they taught Lino and his wife the basic truths from God’s Word. On the fourth day both of them accompanied the Witnesses in preaching to others. With this beginning, a large family started to serve Jehovah.

‘Return My Son to Life, or I Will Throw You Out’

Edilberto Juárez, in Oaxaca State, also accepted the truth rapidly. “I was in mourning over the death of my brother and my son who had committed suicide on the same day,” he recalled. “On observing this fatal happening, I immediately turned to my gods (the images) that occupied the whole wall of one side of my house and I said to them that they must return my son to life, and if not, then I would have to throw them out. After eight days, on seeing that those gods did not show their power at all, I cleaned them out of my house. I shed bitter tears at the loss of my loved ones.

“A schoolteacher approached me and tried to console me. He gave me a New Testament and suggested that I read it, but since I had never seen a Bible, it did not interest me and I stored it away. About that time a Pentecostal visited me. While we were talking, I noticed a man with a briefcase. The Pentecostal recognized him as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and suggested that we invite him in because he would know more about the Scriptures. The Witness came in and, on learning that I was in mourning, began to talk to me about the resurrection. This really did interest me very much.”

This Witness began to visit Edilberto regularly, even though doing so required that he make a long trip on foot. “Then I began to talk to others about my new faith,” Edilberto said. “Three of them became interested in the truth and began meeting at my house; so when the publisher visited us, we were four studying the Bible.”

Short Courses for “Cultural” Studies

The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, the book called ‘the blue bomb’ at that time, was published in 1968, and we were encouraged to study it with people in six months. But not everyone took that long. In one case the study was conducted in less than two weeks. The branch office reported on it this way:

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

Before leaving the city at the end of the second week, she got baptized. Back home, she was soon conducting eight studies herself, a Watchtower Study was conducted with 15 in attendance, and an isolated group was formed. Now there is a congregation in her locality.

Elder Arrangement Benefits the “Companies”

In harmony with Scriptural counsel from the faithful and discreet slave, new arrangements for oversight of “companies” were instituted in 1972. The one “company servant” who supervised everything was to be replaced by a body of elders. To the extent possible, that was done. But then, as now, there were many companies in which the publishers were grateful to have in their midst even one brother, or possibly two, who qualified to be elders. Many who had been company servants became elders under the new arrangement, but some did not really meet the Scriptural requirements. Those who qualified could not be persons who treated the flock with harshness, as some had done in the past. (1 Pet. 5:2, 3) With two or more Scripturally qualified men serving as a body of elders, the organization has become more compassionate in caring for the needs of the flock, thus more closely imitating Jesus Christ, the Fine Shepherd.

Right down to the present, there is a need for additional qualified men to serve as elders. Because of the rapid growth in the number of Witnesses, many congregations (referred to as “companies” until 1989) are cared for by just one elder and several ministerial servants; in some cases, ministerial servants handle all the responsibilities. In Tantoyuca, Veracruz, there were two congregations but only one elder. Along with his family, Enrique Hernández Montes (an elder and a pioneer) moved into the area to be of assistance. In the congregation to which he was assigned, there were so many interested ones that not everyone could fit into the Kingdom Hall. It was necessary to organize the group into two sections and repeat the meetings for the second group. In Palmillas, Sinaloa, a few years ago, the one elder found that he had 21 individuals who wanted to get baptized at the next assembly. He did his best to review the questions for baptismal candidates with all of them.

Even where the number of qualified brothers is very limited, the arrangement for shared responsibilities is resulting in better attention to the sheep.

There Came a Time of Sifting

There were strong expectations concerning the year 1975 and what it might mean in the fulfillment of Jehovah’s purpose. Some set their hearts on that date as the time when the old system would be destroyed and God’s new world would be established. When those expectations were not realized, there were some who ceased serving God. A number became apostates. But the vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses were motivated by love for Jehovah. They knew that God’s Word would never fail.

With full confidence in Jehovah, during 1975-76 the worldwide organization geared up for further growth. We have not been disappointed. And Mexico has had a noteworthy share in the expansion that has taken place. What has contributed to this?

Large Families United in Serving Jehovah

Families in Mexico are large. So when a Bible study is established, there are frequently three, four, or more persons participating. As a rule, families stay united, and the children are very respectful of their parents. One result of this is that if the parents embrace the truth, the children do also. When Bible counsel is applied, family ties are further strengthened, and entire families often share together in Jehovah’s service.

Young folks are made to feel part of the congregation arrangement. At the meetings, everyone greets the others present with a warm handshake—and young ones are included. Seldom do children manifest an attitude of indifference at the meetings. They all want to participate, and they are eager to help out in other activities around the hall.

Entire families are often seen sharing in field service together. In some cases the effort is made for the majority of the family to share in the pioneer service. For example, in the Oriente Congregation of Zapata, Morelos State, Guilebaldo Hernández and his wife have three daughters who are special pioneers and three who are regular pioneers (in isolated territory). Their two sons are publishers and ministerial servants, and their other two daughters (11 and 12 years old) are unbaptized publishers. In this family of 12, there are 6 congregation publishers and 6 pioneers!

In the Estrella Congregation in the city of Aguascalientes, in Aguascalientes State, Sabino Martínez Durán serves as an elder and a regular pioneer. His wife and daughter are also regular pioneers. A son is a regular pioneer and a ministerial servant in the same congregation. Another son is a member of the Mexico Bethel family, and yet another son is sharing in construction work at the branch.

Parental Respect Produced Good Results

Without doubt, the respect that Mexican family members have for one another contributes to the spread of the Kingdom message. This is further illustrated in an experience in Chihuahua State.

The elders in Navojoa, Sonora State, heard that in El Trigo de Russo, located in the mountains in Chihuahua State, there were people who were studying the Bible with the help of the Society’s publications, such as the Truth book. An elder and a ministerial servant made a difficult all-day trip to verify the report and to help these newly interested ones. They found that a schoolteacher and his wife, who were not Witnesses, were conducting Bible studies with the people. They were meeting twice a week and had an attendance of 25 to 30. How had this come about?

The schoolteacher’s mother, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, had visited her son. During her stay she had preached to some people in the area and had placed Truth books with them. Seeing the interest that these people manifested, she pleaded with her son and daughter-in-law to help them. This couple were not Jehovah’s Witnesses, though the mother had instructed him in Jehovah’s ways when he was young. Because of his love and respect for his mother, the son agreed to study with the people, and of course, the daughter-in-law was willing to cooperate. As they studied with the group, their own interest was awakened. Within four months they had completed the Truth book. The two brothers from Navojoa made arrangements for regular visits to be made by elders and other publishers. The first ones in that group to become publishers were the schoolteacher and his wife. They were baptized at the district convention in 1989. In June 1990 a congregation with ten publishers was formed in El Trigo de Russo, and almost everyone living in that area is having a Bible study.

Gilead Cultural School Fills a Need

Many young pioneer ministers in Mexico have had the desire to serve in other countries where the need is greater. However, because of the great need already here in the Mexican field, they were not encouraged to move abroad, and very few were invited to attend Gilead School. Besides, attending Gilead School required that they learn the English language, which was difficult for some. During 1980-81, however, 72 young Mexican pioneers were able to receive special training in the Gilead Cultural School of Mexico for service wherever they might be needed in Latin America.

Since they would have no difficulty with the language and they were going to countries that have cultures very similar to Mexico’s, these graduates could easily adapt to the countries to which they were assigned.

New Branch Facilities Dedicated

As organizational growth continued, the offices at 71 Melchor Ocampo Street became too small to care for the work that was being done there. In 1973, La Torre del Vigía bought land outside of Mexico City, in the settlement called El Tejocote, and there a new and spacious Bethel Home was built to accommodate more than one hundred people. The Bethel family moved there, and it was dedicated in April 1974. It seemed that it would provide ample space to enable us to care for the work for many years. But not so! As the tempo of growth in the number of Witnesses sped up, it became necessary to expand, so added facilities were dedicated in 1985, and further additions in 1989.

In addition to providing office facilities and space to house the members of the Bethel family, provisions were also needed to produce large amounts of Bible literature for the Mexican field. It was becoming increasingly difficult to receive supplies of magazines from outside the country. We wanted to print our own, but the law did not permit a civil society to do this. To accommodate the situation, in 1983 we arranged for a local commercial firm to print La Atalaya and ¡Despertad! We also experimented with having books printed and bound by various publishing houses. However, the best that we could get at a reasonable rate were paperback editions. Poor quality and late delivery were constant problems.

At this point it was decided to form another society specifically for publishing. Its operation conformed to all the legal requirements for such an operation in this country. A factory about 15 minutes away from Bethel was purchased and remodeled, and a new printery was installed there. What joy when it was announced that in Brooklyn the Watchtower Society had put two M.A.N. rotary presses on board a ship bound for Mexico! But what a disappointment it was to learn that when the boat had encountered a severe storm en route, the presses had practically been destroyed! Roberto Gama, a member of the Branch Committee, traveled to the port of Veracruz to receive the presses—or what was left of them. He gave way to tears when he saw them.

Would it ever be possible to reconstruct those presses? Perhaps at another time and under other circumstances, the presses would have been scrapped. But in this case, they had to be made to function, and it was not an impossible task for brothers who had learned how to improvise and make use of anything at all in order to provide the necessities of life. The Society sent two brothers from Brooklyn to help the Mexican brothers, and with great effort and perseverance, along with patience, the broken parts were repaired or replaced and the first press was installed. Thanks to Jehovah, it worked! Afterward the second press was made to work.

It was a real joy when La Atalaya of October 1, 1984, came off the press. ¡Despertad! started coming off the press with the issue of May 22, 1985. What a relief it was finally to cut ties with worldly printing firms!

Two new four-color Hantscho web offset presses were expected to arrive in 1987, so the factory was enlarged to make room for them. In September 1988 “¡Mira! Estoy haciendo nuevas todas las cosas” (the brochure “Look! I Am Making All Things New”) came off the press in full color! Since then all the necessary books and magazines for Mexico, as well as for many of the Central American countries, have been printed here. The two four-color presses print four million magazines a month.

Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico

The organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses has always operated along the same basic lines in Mexico as in other parts of the world. Also, since 1931, the brothers have individually identified themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Yet, for many years, in Mexico, it was necessary for the organization to function as a civil and educational society, as explained earlier.

However, during the decade of the 1980’s, changes began to take place. Government representatives repeatedly visited some of our meeting places and insisted that they be registered with the government as places for religious meetings and that these become federal property. On the other hand, it became more and more difficult to rent public places for our conventions and assemblies because the authorities insisted that the law prohibited religious meetings in public places.

This led to meetings with government representatives in 1988. We learned that the authorities, even though they had no complaint against our organization as to comportment, felt considerable distrust because of what others had told them about our organization and our attitude toward the national emblems. Furthermore, they had the idea that our organization operated underground since the meeting places could not be easily identified. At our meetings with the authorities, they received an ample witness as to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Our position of Christian neutrality was made clear, also our respect for government authority, balanced with insistence on refraining from what to us is idolatry. The conclusion drawn from these interviews was that our organization should operate openly as the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses, even if it meant that all of our meeting places would become government property. This would allow the authorities to get better acquainted with our work, and this, we felt, should have positive results. Even so, there was no solution regarding how we would be able to hold large conventions.

In 1989, with the approval of the Governing Body, a letter was written to all the “companies” saying that as of April 1, we would be operating in Mexico as a religious organization. Afterward, in the June issue of Nuestro Ministerio del Reino (Our Kingdom Ministry), which was changed from being called Informador (Informant) de la Torre del Vigía, further details were given. From then on, the Bible would be used from door to door, and prayers would be offered at meetings. Later, we began to sing songs at the meetings.

You can just imagine the rejoicing this brought to the congregations! Tears of joy streamed down the faces of the brothers in the Halls for Cultural Study, or Study Halls (which now became Kingdom Halls), and at the conventions and assemblies, when collective prayers and singing began. Furthermore, direct use of the Bible in our door-to-door witnessing infused the brothers with increased zeal, made their work more effective, and gave them great satisfaction. Without fully realizing it, we had also established a foundation from which to defend our Christian way of life legally.

Witness Children Under Strong Pressure

The children of Jehovah’s Witnesses have always been subjected to strong pressure because of not saluting the flag—any flag. Individually or accompanied by their parents, the children explained their position to their teachers. Sometimes their explanation was accepted, but in the majority of cases, they were expelled from school. When the children were expelled, the parents would look for a school with teachers who were more tolerant so that the children could continue their education. However, nothing much could be done legally, since there was no basis for defending the children’s rights before the authorities.

As the number of publishers increased, pressure on the Witness children increased. Newspaper articles criticized the position taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since we were now operating in Mexico as a religious organization, the time had come to embark upon a campaign in defense of the Christian conscience of Witness children in the schools.

Fight for Freedom of Conscience in the Schools

In 1989, strong appeals were made to the federal authorities for the right of the children to be educated, in accord with what the Constitution of the country guarantees. Witness lawyers throughout the country cooperated with the committees that were established to coordinate the handling of these cases under the direction of the Legal Department of the branch. When confronted with a legal suit, many school officials backed down. More than one hundred cases have been taken to court. Forty-nine have been decided in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and 28 are still pending. Twenty-eight cases have been appealed to the Magistrados de los Colegiados de Circuito (courts that are superior to federal judges), and in these, 14 favorable decisions have been rendered, setting a precedent for the lower courts. The children have not been granted any exemptions, but the judges have ruled, in accord with the law, that no child may be deprived of an education for any reason. When education officials have acted arbitrarily, in many cases federal authorities have intervened. Some public education officials have become more reasonable about the matter, and they have sent out some favorable directives.

A program was organized for Witnesses to visit school officials in all parts of the country to give them firsthand information about the position of Jehovah’s Witnesses as to civil ceremonies. Biblical and legal information was shared with them. Many of them knew very little about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Bit by bit the officials have come to realize that the refusal of Witness children to share in certain ceremonies is a conscientious stand based on religious principles and that, nevertheless, the children are respectful of national symbols and are respectful of the authorities. (Ex. 20:4; Rom. 13:1) Even though the problems have not been completely solved, a good witness has been given to judges, school officials, and teachers, and as a result, some of them have shown interest in the truth.—Matt. 10:18-20.

One federal judge in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, who rendered a favorable decision is now being visited by the brothers. He recently told them that he had nearly finished reading the book Life—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? Then he opened his desk drawer and said, “I’ve got the Bible here that you left me, and these books are my best companions.”

Another federal judge, a woman, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, who had handed down a favorable decision, asked the brothers to explain to her clearly our position of Christian neutrality. She appreciated the explanation and indicated that, even though she had not understood our position clearly before, she was glad that her decision, which was in accord with the law, had been in our favor. She also accepted some Bible literature.

Conventions and Assemblies—A Grand Witness

How has our holding of conventions and assemblies been affected by the fact that our organization is now recognized not merely as a cultural society but as the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses? In 1988 when this situation was first presented to the authorities, they simply directed us to the law that makes no provision for religions to have public meetings outside their normal meeting places. At that time they suggested that, instead of using public places, we have our own large facilities for conventions and assemblies. We persisted and asked if we could obtain special permission to hold our large gatherings in public places. They said that we could turn in our applications, and these would be considered. They did not prohibit our having large meetings, because we have always had them and other religions have also carried out public religious functions. One of the Society’s responsible brothers remembers how that meeting concluded: “When we took our leave, I said, ‘Well, then, it is understood that we are going to continue as we have been doing until there is some other arrangement.’ They agreed, and we exchanged our good-byes in a cordial atmosphere.”

So the Society continued to arrange for conventions and assemblies, but we began to use lapel cards, just as the Witnesses do throughout the rest of the world. We also began to sing and pray at our conventions. Instead of avoiding publicity, we kindly received reporters. Government inspectors who attended the conventions at various locations have been favorably impressed. And, with Jehovah’s blessing, the conventions have given a great witness to his name.

During the final months of 1993, there were 161 “Divine Teaching” District Conventions held in 74 cities, with an attendance of 830,040 and a baptism figure of 15,662. This was certainly in contrast with the early beginnings.

“A Wake-up Call to the Catholic Church”

Numerous newspapers in the country have spoken very positively about some of our recent conventions, and this, in its own way, has given a witness that reflects well on Jehovah’s name. El Norte of Monterrey, Nuevo León State, dated October 27, 1991, said: “Even though 25,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses were at the Monterrey Baseball Stadium, inside there was no garbage, no shoving, no shouting, nor was it necessary to have police patrols . . . The crowd, children, adolescents and grown-ups, came to the event in formal dress; the men were distinguished by the use of a tie and the women by their long skirts of subdued colors. In almost everyone’s hand was a copy of the Bible, the Witnesses’ own translation called the New World Translation, which they all used whenever the speakers made reference to some chapters of the book.” In the same city another news report quoted the words of a Catholic monsignor who said: “The message that the Annual Meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses left was a wake-up call to the Catholic Church to reinforce its faith.”

A reporter present for a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Arena México described what she saw and heard and then said: “As for myself, I go away meditating. I look around at our parishes, our communities, I look inside myself and feel ashamed of the poor testimony that I have given of the faith I profess and in which I firmly believe. . . . And so I take my leave of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, examining my conscience and asking for the strength to become a true witness for the true faith.” In the northern city of Monclova, Coahuila State, the newspaper La Voz said: “We must admit the truth of what they are accomplishing . . . Not many days ago, in this same place, the Catholics had a meeting in which even the state leader of the Catholic Church was present and the stadium never looked as clean as it does now . . . even after three days of meetings and, before they abandon the stadium, they will leave it clean . . . With a certainty we dare say that the only time this park looks nice and ‘usable’ is when Jehovah’s Witnesses have their meetings in it.”

The Question of Appropriate Use of Blood

Our present status in Mexico as Jehovah’s Witnesses has also put us in a better position to defend our Bible-based position on blood. It has always been difficult for our brothers to get attention in the hospitals. Doctors in Mexico are not accustomed to having their knowledge and authority over the care of hospital patients questioned. Brothers who needed operations would explain their religious stand to the doctors, but only in a very few cases was their conscience respected. They had to go from one institution to another trying to find doctors who would treat them without the use of blood.

With a view to improving the situation, a medical seminar was held in Mexico from January 25 to 27, 1991. It was directed by brothers from Brooklyn. Following that, a Hospital Information Desk was set up at the branch office, and Hospital Liaison Committees were formed throughout the country. Since then the medical institutions in the country have been receiving a mountain of testimony about the position of Jehovah’s Witnesses on blood.

In April 1991 some of the brothers working with the Liaison Committees were invited to Acapulco, Guerrero State, for the First Latin-American Congress on Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banks. Present were representatives from 12 Central and South American countries. In a speech entitled “Organization, Standardization, and Legal Framework,” it was mentioned that “Jehovah’s Witnesses are a group that, because of their religious convictions, object to the use of blood, which makes it imperative to look for alternatives.” The doctor who presented this information spoke briefly about the Hospital Liaison Committees. Beforehand, an interview had been held with this doctor and he knew how we are organized. There was a session for questions, and when some insisted that life should be saved in spite of religious convictions, the doctor simply said, “If you want to avoid having legal problems, you had better treat this religious group with respect.” Then he added that, according to the General Law on Health, the consent of the patient must be obtained before blood is used.

Another series of talks was held in the auditorium of the Superior Court of Justice. During one of these, a lawyer presented two questions that affect Jehovah’s Witnesses: “Is it legal to deny health services to Jehovah’s Witnesses just because they do not donate blood?” and, “Is it correct and legal to transfuse blood by force into Witness patients?” The Legal Director of the Health Secretariat showed that nothing in the law requires a patient to donate blood in exchange for medical attention. He stated: “Medical attention is an obligation that the General Constitution of the Republic places on all institutions, and it should be given without any restriction. To deny medical attention is a crime.” These speeches opened the way for some very positive interviews with officials of the Health Secretariat.

A report from the Hospital Information Desk says: “An interview was held with the Legal Director of the Health Secretariat in Mexico. The arrangement for the Hospital Liaison Committees was explained, and he thought this was most exceptional. Then he asked us to explain directly from the Bible the basis for our religious position. He seemed to understand it very well and said that he would put us in contact with other medical authorities in order for them also to hear our position and the arrangements that we have. One of the interviews that followed was with a doctor who is head of Transplant Registrations and who has operated with good success on Jehovah’s Witnesses for kidney transplants. These interviews have proved to be very interesting, since the doctors are impressed by the way we have become organized on a worldwide scale in order to reach a better understanding between Witness patients and the hospital personnel.”

The Numbers Speak

While all of this was going on, the publishers continued very active in preaching the good news. Outstanding growth has taken place since 1931, when 82 reported having shared in the field service. By 1961 we had a peak of 25,171 publishers. Bible study activity had improved, but there were not yet many brothers trained to conduct studies. Little by little the publishers were being educated, and this led to their having greater success in the house-to-house work, in making return visits, and in conducting Bible studies.

So by 1971, there was a new peak of over 50,000 publishers. For seven years out of eight, we had an increase of more than 10 percent; sometimes it went up to 14 percent. Besides, nearly every year during the 1970’s, more than 5,000 people were baptized. It took only ten years after 1971 to add nearly 50,000 more publishers to the ranks. In 1981, there was a peak of 101,171. By this time the number of Bible studies had nearly caught up with the peak number of publishers, and from then on there was, on an average, more than one home Bible study per publisher.

The zeal of the brothers for the field ministry has not abated. The 1994 service year ended with a peak of 404,593 publishers. Bible studies now average more than 535,000. Attendance at the Memorial celebration in 1994 was 1,379,160, which indicates that 1 out of every 63 persons in the country attended. The chart below shows how the activity of Jehovah’s servants in this country has increased during the years since 1931.

As the chart shows, the decade starting in 1981 saw an upsurge in the number of home Bible studies, from an average of 100,636 in 1981 to 472,389 in 1991, an increase of 369 percent in ten years, and it has not stopped!

It is very easy to start Bible studies in Mexico. As an example, a publisher in Monterrey, Nuevo León State, offered a Bible study to a woman the very first time he spoke to her at the door. She accepted right away. Later he inquired why she had so readily agreed to have a Bible study in her home. She replied: “You are the first person who has ever offered to study the Bible with me.”

“The Publishers Are Bubbling Over With Enthusiasm”

Many persons have asked: “What is the secret to the outstanding increases in Mexico in the past decade?”

One of the members of the Branch Committee replies: “Everywhere you go in the country the publishers are just bubbling over with enthusiasm, and the whole country seems to be on fire with the truth. The brothers are full of experiences in the field service and ask to hear yours too. The truth envelops the brothers, and their lives revolve around the truth. The publishers are very zealous and preach the good news of the Kingdom wherever they go, and Jehovah has blessed their efforts. Proverbs 10:22 sums it up nicely in these words: ‘The blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich.’ It is also very common for persons to begin attending meetings at the same time they start having a Bible study. They start to study with the idea of becoming Jehovah’s Witnesses. This helps them to progress rapidly in the truth.”

The Ministerial Training School

Now there is an added provision to help brothers in Mexico to become better equipped to take care of the productive field—the Ministerial Training School. The first class in Mexico began in November 1991. Twelve classes have been held since then. It is an eight-week course prepared by the Teaching Committee. The material is especially designed to equip elders and ministerial servants to fill urgent needs in the theocratic organization. Under the supervision of the Service Committee of the Governing Body, qualified single brothers in Mexico are invited to attend in order to be trained with a view to taking on added responsibilities in areas where the need is greater. In some cases this means serving in other countries.

The brothers have responded enthusiastically. When the announcement about this school was first made, 600 filled out preliminary applications! Because so many young brothers are continuing to make themselves available, two classes are being held simultaneously more than once a year. As a result, better care is being given to the flock of God in this part of the world.

Pioneers Continue to Open Up Isolated Territories

With more than 9,800 congregations throughout the country, all the cities and towns are now assigned as congregation territory. Still, there are numerous isolated territories. Many pioneers are making themselves available to reach these. They obtain part-time work, or their families assist them in various ways, so that they can serve in these areas.

Besides these, there are 671 special pioneers who are serving at present, mostly in small congregations and out-of-the-way places not previously reached with the good news. They are doing a fine job.

Among the special pioneers are some who have served as what we might call itinerant pioneers. They move from place to place within a given area in order to reach people who live in territories that are almost inaccessible. These brothers use a small covered pickup truck that carries an ample supply of literature and is equipped for sleeping. Thus, they have a place to sleep when nightfall overtakes them. But in the mountains they frequently have to leave the truck at the end of the road and strike out on foot, carrying food and other supplies in knapsacks on their backs. For the past five years, several groups of brothers have been assigned to this work by the Society, with excellent results.

The following is an example of the many interesting experiences these zealous brothers have enjoyed: “In the town of Altamirano, Guerrero State, we found many people interested in the truth of God’s Word. In just one month we began 40 Bible studies in the homes of interested people. One was with a Catholic man whose house was full of images. When it was explained to him and when he read in the Live Forever book about how wrong idolatry is in Jehovah’s eyes, he broke up all his images. We invited him to the 1991 district convention, and he attended along with six other people. He began to attend all the meetings, even though he had to travel 45 kilometers [28 miles] to get there. He is now fulfilling the requirements to be a good publisher.”

As a result of the labors of these pioneers, much Bible literature has been distributed, and small congregations have been established in places where there had previously been no Witnesses. Expressing how he felt about this work, one of the pioneers wrote: “We visited lovely places and fine people who were willing to listen. Many even cried and asked us to stay with them longer, and really, it made you want to stay with them because of the need there is . . . It also made us realize how loving Jehovah is to use his servants to take the good news to these people who are poor and humble and who live in such isolated territories.”

‘More and Better Halls’

It seems that there is just not enough time to do everything that needs to be done in Mexico. The construction programs have been extended to include Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls. Our motto has become, “More, better, and bigger Kingdom Halls,” and the brothers throughout the country are enthusiastically building better meeting places. With over 800,000 people attending the district conventions, it has become difficult to rent appropriate facilities. Attention is being given to building Assembly Halls that can accommodate not only circuit assemblies but also small district conventions. Under the present laws, and with Jehovah’s blessing, there are very fine prospects in this regard.

An outstanding project was completed in the border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas State. There, a generous person donated about 10 acres [4 ha] of land for the building of an Assembly Hall. The brothers from eight surrounding circuits worked on the project enthusiastically, making great personal sacrifices in order to build an Assembly Hall to accommodate 3,600 people. It sets a pattern that we hope to follow in other parts of the country. In November 1992 that Assembly Hall in Reynosa was dedicated by Albert D. Schroeder, of the Governing Body.

For a number of years, we have had two small Assembly Halls in Mexico City. Each of these holds about a thousand people. But on May 9, 1993, in the suburb of Tultitlán, a beautiful hall that accommodates 3,000 people was dedicated by John E. Barr of the Governing Body. In just one year, enthusiastic brothers from Mexico City had constructed it. This fine Assembly Hall is truly an honor to Jehovah.

Building on a Larger Scale Than Ever Before

The activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses has continued to expand at an explosive rate. Within just the past decade, the number of Witnesses has increased from about 150,000 to over 400,000. The number of individuals and family groups with whom home Bible studies are conducted has soared from about 180,000 to over 535,000. Large amounts of Bible study literature are needed. Last year, more than 30,000,000 books, booklets, and magazines explaining the Bible, in addition to millions of tracts, were distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico. A new branch construction project is under way—larger than ever before. It will provide housing to accommodate about 800 additional Bethelites. The factory size will be quadrupled. This is a building project that will require some five years and much international cooperation.

We look forward to having a factory that is capable of producing Bibles, books, booklets, magazines, and other literature in sufficient quantities to satisfy the spiritual hunger of sincere people not only in Mexico but also in other Latin-American countries.

Spiritual Shepherds for the Flock of God

The brothers who compose the Branch Committee supervise various areas of work at the branch office and elsewhere, and they travel regularly to serve at assemblies and conventions. This helps to keep them in close contact with all aspects of the work being done here in Mexico. Their wives loyally support them in the heavy responsibilities they have. As a group, these brothers have served an average of 41 years since baptism, and 37 years full-time. All are members of the Bethel family.

Working out in the field are 34 district overseers and 446 circuit overseers. There are 9,810 congregations, and an average of 20 new congregations are formed each month. Consequently, these traveling overseers, along with the elders and ministerial servants in the congregations, keep very busy taking care of the flock. We have, on an average, 1.7 elders and 2.8 ministerial servants per congregation. Thus, many congregations urgently need additional qualified brothers. Furthermore, the constant increase in publishers leads to the formation of more congregations, and all of these need qualified elders and ministerial servants. The few who are serving in each congregation do fine work in shepherding Jehovah’s little sheep.—John 21:15-17.

New Law on Religious Associations and Public Worship

For the past 135 years, Mexico has had a policy of separation of Church and State. In 1865, the situation became so tense that relations between Mexico and the Vatican were severed. In view of its past experience with religion, the government imposed restrictions affecting all religions. Nevertheless, when Carlos Salinas de Gortari began his term of office as president of the Republic in December 1988, one could foresee that there would be a change in policy regarding religion and that there would be a rapprochement with the Vatican. At the time of the president’s inaugural speech, high-ranking representatives of the Roman Catholic Church were present.

Naturally, questions arose as to how this might affect the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. After this manifestation of goodwill toward the Catholic Church, the Catholic clergy pressed for changes in the Constitution in order to give more freedom to religious organizations. This issue was debated in the press constantly for two years, thus preparing the way for religious organizations to have legal standing in Mexico. Up until then, religion had only had a de facto existence but no legal standing or rights. It was clear that the clergy were seeking not only legal recognition but also privileges that have to do with politics and education. Moreover, in their declarations, some Catholic priests insinuated that Jehovah’s Witnesses should be restricted and not be given legal status. Finally, in January 1992, Congress made some modifications in what the Constitution said about religion. Later, in the month of July, bylaws were drawn up to put the changes into force. These were called the Law on Religious Associations and Public Worship.

The intent of the law was to give more freedom to religious associations. This law provides that religious organizations can now own property. They are also authorized to hold religious meetings and manifestations outside their temples. One article mentions patriotic symbols, and one could surmise that this was promulgated with Jehovah’s Witnesses in mind. However, on May 7, 1993, the Secretariat of Government granted recognition to La Torre del Vigía and to Los Testigos de Jehová en México. We have confidence that the new law will permit the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses to move ahead in Mexico and that we will be allowed to carry on with full liberty, availing ourselves of legal rights and privileges that were not open to us previously. Without realizing it, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico were preparing for this freedom even before the law was passed.

Much More to Tell About Mexico

It would be impossible to include here all that has happened in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico. What we have seen is just a brief review of our historical album. Some of the early scenes were somewhat like faded photographs in black and white. The more recent events have movement and life of the sort that are better captured on a videotape.

For persons only recently associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses, the trials confronted by those who shared in opening up the work in Mexico may come as a surprise. They are accustomed to a spiritual paradise where there is an abundance of spiritual food, where there are hundreds of thousands of God-fearing associates, and where service to God is carried out in a well organized manner. Even so, in many parts of Mexico, Jehovah’s Witnesses still have to put forth great effort to get to their meetings. Some still need help with reading in order to benefit from the spiritual provisions that are available. Also, there are still traveling overseers who must wade rivers and climb mountains to reach congregations that they serve. For those in the cities, life may seem to offer more in a material way, but there are also more temptations. Regardless of the pressures that they experience, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico are delighted to be united with their Christian brothers and sisters worldwide in serving Jehovah—a work that brings them true joy and contentment.

Although you now know much about the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico, you have by no means become acquainted with all your brothers and sisters here. Yet, all of them have interesting experiences that they can relate. Furthermore, there are still multitudes whose hearts we hope to reach with the good news. It is our earnest hope that they too will become part of that rapidly expanding family that looks to Jehovah as its God and Father. And if we are impressed with the expansion in recent years, what will we say after Armageddon, when Jesus Christ begins to raise from the dead the millions of Mexicans who are now in their graves and gives them opportunity to learn about Jehovah and His righteous ways? So by no means does this report contain all the news from Mexico. Some of the most thrilling events lie ahead. With Jehovah’s blessing, there will be much more to tell.

[Chart on page 242]

PEAK PUBLISHERS AVERAGE PUBLISHERS BIBLE STUDIES

1931 82

1941 859

1951 10,335 8,366 5,409

1961 25,171 22,235 18,198

1971 54,384 51,256 50,270

1981 101,171 98,610 100,636

1991 335,965 319,634 472,389

1994 404,593 388,623 535,912

[Map on page 168]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

MEXICO

Monterrey

Guadalajara

Mexico City

Veracruz

[Picture on page 170]

Some aspects of Aztec religion were merged with the Catholic faith

[Picture on page 175]

Group of Bible Students in Mexico City, about 1920

[Pictures on page 177]

“Bulletin” announcing registration of the Society in Mexico, with publisher identification card

[Picture on page 178]

José Maldonado, one of the early pioneers in Mexico

[Pictures on page 184]

Manuel Amaya and the transportation he used as a pioneer

[Picture on page 188]

Pedro De Anda preached throughout the country

[Picture on page 191]

After reading the Society’s literature, Mario Mar accepted an assignment to preach before ever meeting a Witness

[Picture on page 192]

A convention of Witnesses (Testigos) in Mexico City in 1934

[Pictures on page 198]

Early pioneers with their means of transport in the State of Veracruz

[Picture on page 200]

Fred and Blanche Anderson, Gilead graduates who devoted the greater part of their lives to service in Mexico

[Pictures on page 202]

Shirley Hendrickson (left) and Rosa May Dreyer—service companions for over 50 years

[Pictures on page 207]

Others of the Gilead graduates who have served in the Mexican field: (1) Elizabeth Tracy, (2) Jean Friend, (3) Esther Lopez, (4) Rubén Aguirre, (5) Russell Cornelius, (6) Esther Vartanian (Lozano), (7) Mildred Simpkins, (8) Maxine Miller (García)

[Pictures on page 209]

Some who have helped with oversight in the branch

(1) Rodolfo Lozano, (2) George Papadem, (3) Samuel Friend, (4) William Simpkins, (5) Robert Tracy

[Picture on page 210]

Adulfo and Leonor Salinas; his assignment as district overseer kept them traveling for many years

[Pictures on page 223]

Branch facilities used in Mexico since 1985

[Pictures on page 236, 237]

Happy Kingdom proclaimers now in Mexico

[Pictures on page 244, 245]

(At left) The Mexico Bethel family in 1993—and still growing! (Below) New branch facilities being erected to care for needs of rapidly expanding congregations in Mexico

[Picture on page 252]

The present Branch Committee in Mexico (from left to right): Robert Tracy, Roberto Gama, Carlos Cázares, Santos Estrada, Juan Angel Hernandez, and Rodolfo Lozano

Jehovah’s Word Will Not Return to Him Without Results

pp. 253–255

Jehovah’s Word Will Not Return to Him Without Results

IN YOUR Bible, please read Isaiah 6:6-10. With your mind’s eye, watch in amazement as Jehovah’s seraph cleanses Isaiah’s lips with a glowing coal taken from the temple altar. Listen intently as Jehovah asks: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Where is Jehovah’s servant to go, and what is he to do? Jehovah commands: “Go, and you must say to this people, ‘Hear again and again, O men, but do not understand; and see again and again, but do not get any knowledge.’”

Does this mean that there was no hope for the nation? Do the final words in Isa 6 verse 10—“that they may not actually turn back and get healing for themselves”—mean that Jehovah’s dealings with Israel had failed? Certainly not!

Jesus Christ himself quoted from this inspired account when discussing the effects of his own outstanding ministry upon the spiritually blinded Jews of his day. He was the greatest of all teachers who ever walked the earth. Jehovah’s spirit was upon him in abundance. Yet, the experience of the Son of God was like that of Isaiah; so Jesus declared: “They have heard without response.” (Matt. 13:13-15) What an awful calamity! Was Jesus’ dynamic ministry a failure? Again we must say, ‘No, emphatically no!’ In the very next verse, Matthew 13:16, Jesus said to his disciples: “However, happy are your eyes because they behold, and your ears because they hear.” Yes, some of the seeds of truth fell on good soil and bore the desired fruitage. The Christian congregation, spiritual Israel, was brought forth. And now, in our day, what a joy it is to see millions of earth’s desirable ones responding favorably to the Kingdom good news!

Isaiah accomplished Jehovah’s purpose in Israel. We know for a certainty that Jesus also did. None of Jehovah’s word, none of what he has purposed, will ever fail. It will all be accomplished to his glory.—Isa. 55:11.

Psalm 46:8 declares that Jehovah “has set astonishing events on the earth.” Particularly since the years 1919-22, he has used what was at first only a small band of Kingdom proclaimers to carry his inspired words of life to the very ends of the earth. In the face of violent opposition by those whom Jesus compared to “ravenous wolves” and “offspring of vipers,” the good news has been preached by an ever-increasing number of zealous Witnesses. (Matt. 7:15; 23:33) These latter ones were appreciative enough to ‘turn back and be healed’ by Jehovah, the Great Life-Giver, and now they are helping others to be healed. In order to accomplish this work in atheistic lands, as well as in countries dominated by false religious shepherds, opposition comparable to a “great mountain” has had to be overcome. Before the Greater Zerubbabel, it has been reduced to “level land,” as foretold at Zechariah 4:7. Truly, the victorious King, Jesus Christ, goes on “conquering and to complete his conquest.”—Rev. 6:2.

How faith-strengthening it is, for instance, to read in the 1995 Yearbook about Jehovah’s servants in Mexico! There, in the past decade, worshipers of Jehovah have increased from about 150,000 to some 400,000. It is almost incredible!

The increase is equally amazing in the Balkans and the Baltic States, as well as in Hungary, in Russia, Ukraine, and other countries of the former Soviet Union. Italy has passed the 200,000 mark, and Japan is nearing it. Despite the turmoil in Africa, fine progress is being made in Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zaire. And how good it was to learn that Jehovah’s Witnesses in Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Guinea, Burundi, Nepal, Lithuania, and Moldova had received legal recognition and that they could proceed freely in their lifesaving ministry!

In the Orient, Hong Kong had the unusual blessing of being host to two of the “Divine Teaching” International Conventions. Those conventions constituted an extraordinary event in the history of Jehovah’s servants in Hong Kong. In his own time and way, may Jehovah turn his attention yet further to that huge bloc of mankind of which the population of Hong Kong is only a small part.

Throughout the earth almost eight million lovers of Jehovah attended conventions during the 1994 service year. In the United States branch territory, 168 conventions were held at 65 locations, with a total of 1,481,258 in attendance. This was 45,598 more than anticipated! Those baptized totaled 13,742. All these new evangelizers will certainly help to keep spreading the Kingdom good news among the nations.

Throughout Russia, Ukraine, and the Balkans, 41 “Godly Fear” District Conventions were held, with 368,891 attending and 20,367 getting baptized. In spite of the strife and turmoil in the Balkans, the report from that part of the field was enthusiastic and optimistic. The brothers there rejoice in the prospects for further advancement. What joy these fine reports bring to all of us!

There is no reason to be anxious about the fulfilling of Jehovah’s purposes. They cannot fail. He did not create the earth simply for nothing; he formed it to be inhabited. (Isa. 45:18) At Isaiah 66:22, 23, Jehovah assures us: “‘Just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making are standing before me,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘so the offspring of you people and the name of you people will keep standing.’ ‘And it will certainly occur that from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath [or, from month to month and from week to week] ALL FLESH will come in to bow down before me,’ Jehovah has said.” Jehovah’s word cannot possibly return to him without results.

May all the millions now associating with Jehovah’s active servants be motivated to take up his sacred service. Along with the millions already serving Jehovah, may they join in praising his name and in sharing the Kingdom message with other people. ALL FLESH—all who continue to live—must come in and bow down before him. Are you serving Jehovah? If not, now is your opportunity to take up true worship. The time is growing shorter. Do not delay. Make friends with Jehovah and survive into his new world.

May yours be the blessed eyes that see and the blessed ears that hear, and may you be moved to act upon the knowledge you gain. Let the life-giving truth sink deeply into your mind and heart, and then share it with others. In this way fill your life with purpose as you use it to Jehovah’s glory, to the saving of others, and to your own eternal joy.

Your brothers,

Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses