Yearbook—2000
Title Page/Publishers’ Page
pp. 1–2
Title Page/Publishers’ Page
2000 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Containing Report for the Service Year of 1999
“We are not the sort that shrink back . . . but the sort that have faith.”
Pressures of many kinds put our faith to the test. As the end of the old system draws near, such pressures are increasing. But people who have genuine faith do not shrink back. How timely is the encouragement in the above scripture at Hebrews 10:39, which has been designated our yeartext for the year 2000!
[Picture Credit Lines on page 2]
Picture credits: Cover and page 150: Mountain High Maps® Copyright © 1997 Digital Wisdom, Inc.; page 168: DÖW, Vienna, Austria; background on page 169: YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, courtesy of the USHMM Photo Archives
Contents
p. 2
A Letter From the Governing Body
pp. 3–5
A Letter From the Governing Body
“GOD is love.” (1 John 4:16) Yes, Jehovah is the personification of love. How thrilling it is to live in this time when we see the many ways that God’s love is being manifested and the evidence that Jehovah’s loving purpose is moving irresistibly toward fulfillment!
As God’s people, we have the privilege to be witnesses of the Most High. (Isa. 43:10-12) Of his ancient name people, Jehovah said: “Owing to the fact that you have been precious in my eyes, you have been considered honorable, and I myself have loved you.” (Isa. 43:4) These words also apply today to spiritual Israel. Additionally, Jehovah loves all those belonging to the great crowd, who have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. Just think of it! Jehovah says: “I myself have loved you.” In your mind, can you hear Jehovah saying that with reference to you?
Although we are surrounded by many in the world whose ‘love has cooled off’ and this may tend to discourage us, what a tremendous encouragement comes from constant realization of the fact that we are the object of Jehovah’s love! (Matt. 24:12) As Witnesses of Jehovah, we are also witnesses of his great love because we personally experience his love in our daily lives. Because Jehovah loves us, he blesses our individual and collective activity in preaching the good news. The Governing Body recently lowered the monthly hour requirement for regular pioneers to 70 and for auxiliary pioneers to 50. This has led to an upsurge in the number of pioneers. During the past service year, on an average, 738,343 Witnesses were active as special, regular, or auxiliary pioneers. The combined number constituted an increase of 5.7 percent over the preceding year’s average. As a result of zealous preaching and Jehovah’s blessing, each week, on an average, 45 new congregations were formed. Every weekend baptisms are performed around the world. During the past year, each week 6,220, on an average, were baptized in symbol of their dedication and as an expression of their love for Jehovah. The number worldwide preaching the good news has now reached a peak of 5,912,492.—Matt. 24:14.
Meditating upon God’s love causes us to grow in our love for Jehovah. We can show our love for him by reading the Bible or listening to a recording of the Bible each day. We usually take time for what we love. If we love Jehovah, we will put forth earnest effort to arrange our daily schedule to make room for the reading of a portion of the Bible. At the same time, meditating upon what we read will cause our love for Jehovah to grow. Love and accurate knowledge ought to go hand in hand. It is good to abound in both and neglect neither. Philippians 1:9 says: “This is what I continue praying, that your love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment.”—See Psalm 119:97.
Our love is directed not only toward Jehovah but also toward all our brothers in the world. We have “love for the whole association of brothers.” (1 Pet. 2:17) Early in the service year, many of you enjoyed loving fellowship with delegates attending international conventions. Others were built up by fellowship at district conventions.
Throughout the past year, tens of thousands of brothers suffered hardships as a result of civil wars and disasters. Relief campaigns were arranged to assist those in need. In many cases such assistance was extended also to neighbors who are not Witnesses. This is part of our showing love for the people in the world. As Christians, we ‘love our neighbor.’ (Matt. 22:39) However, we need to keep in mind that our main responsibility is to share zealously in the lifesaving work of preaching and teaching—a work that is more important than any humanitarian activity.—Matt. 28:19, 20.
Living in a world where violent and immoral entertainment becomes more widespread and the quest for riches is glorified, we need to deepen our love for Jehovah so as to be able to resist enticement from the world. (1 John 2:15) Regular meeting attendance will help us toward this end. The psalmist David ‘loved the dwelling of God’s house’ and desired to bless Jehovah “among the congregated throngs.”—Ps. 26:8, 12.
Deepening our love for Jehovah fortifies us to stand firm in the face of persecution. Similarly, we are strengthened by the conviction that no creation “will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Rom. 8:39.
We are pleased to inform you that effective October 1999, four anointed brothers were appointed to serve on the Governing Body with us. This was announced at the annual meeting. The average age of the newly appointed brothers is 57, and their average years in full-time service is 31. Their names are Samuel F. Herd, M. Stephen Lett, Guy H. Pierce, and David H. Splane.
Whether you are aged, in the prime of life, a youth, or a child, be assured that the Governing Body loves you dearly.—1 John 3:23; 2 John 1.
“May mercy and peace and love be increased to you” as you “keep yourselves in God’s love.”—Jude 2, 21.
Your brothers,
Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Highlights of the Past Year
pp. 6–14
Highlights of the Past Year
The annual conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are among the outstanding events of the year. The series of district conventions that began in mid-1999 featured the theme “God’s Prophetic Word.” The program emphasized the value of daily Bible reading and reinforced this with a drama involving the account about Jacob and Esau. Talks included an overview of prophecies found in the book of Daniel and a detailed discussion of the book of Habakkuk. The program highlighted the nearness of the end of the old system. In addition to discussing the work of witnessing now being done, it focused our thoughts on the exciting prospects that are embraced in Jehovah’s heartwarming promise to ‘make all things new.’—Rev. 21:5.
The conventioners were delighted to receive, in 47 languages, the new book, Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! In Korea there was added joy—yes, overwhelming enthusiasm—upon receiving the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Korean.
Amazingly, although war had raged for months, in Yugoslavia it was possible to release the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures in Serbian. As a result of close international cooperation, the Christian Greek Scriptures was also being released in Croatian and Macedonian in adjoining lands. These publications were greeted with tears of joy.
There was special reason for joy in Yugoslavia. Through the month of March, the country had prepared for a war. Bombardment of Belgrade would mean that telephone connections would become unreliable, and there would be difficulties in forwarding material from the translators in Belgrade to the printery in Germany. On Tuesday, March 23, it became so certain that air attacks would begin that the brothers who were preparing for this convention release in Belgrade determined to work all night. By the next morning, the necessary electronic files were on their way. A few hours later, the bombing began. Despite being forced into bomb shelters, the translation team was happy!
Their joy was made complete when the printed Bible was released amid great enthusiasm four months later at the Belgrade convention. When everyone had obtained his personal copy, the convention site quickly emptied. The brothers were going to their accommodations to read the Bible! Surrounded as they are by a world in which ethnic and religious divisions have resulted in murder and seething hatred, they were convinced that they could have received no finer gift.
The following weekend, the first in a series of eight conventions was held in Indonesia, a major country in the Orient that has also been plagued by violence from religious and political factions. At the convention in Jakarta, there were 15,666 on hand from many parts of the country. For the first time, the baptism was held right at the convention site, and there was great enthusiasm as the audience watched on large TV screens while 430 were baptized. Excitement reached its peak, however, when the announcement was made that the complete New World Translation in Indonesian had already been printed and, hopefully, would soon be available for distribution.
Pursuing God’s Way of Life
Of course, the 1999 service year began back in September 1998. During the opening months of the service year, the “God’s Way of Life” International Conventions continued. Many had already been held in the United States and Europe. But from September to January, 13 more of these international conventions were held in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.
The first of these in the 1999 service year was held in São Paulo, Brazil, from September 18 to 20, 1998. Conventions were in progress simultaneously in 16 other locations, including the mammoth Maracanã Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro. Thousands of delegates came from 15 lands. Included among them were 54 missionaries, 23 of whom had gone from Brazil to serve in Mozambique. On Sunday when a resolution was presented declaring that God’s way is the very best way of life, an amazing total of 516,333 at these 17 locations adopted it by responding with a thunderous Sim (Aye)!
On the same weekend, 63,886 more delegates packed the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, Korea. During the days prior to the convention, 3,046 overseas delegates were welcomed at the airport by hundreds of Korean Witnesses, including sisters in colorful traditional garb. Following the final talk, as the foreign delegates headed to their buses, thousands of conventioners formed what some described as a corridor of love, and as the delegates passed through it, the Korean Witnesses called out to their visitors, “See you in Paradise!” and, “We love you!” Tears of joy welled up in the eyes of many.
The tears of the delegates in Seoul had scarcely dried when Hurricane Georges hit Puerto Rico. The next international convention was due to start in Puerto Rico the following Friday. Would that be possible? As a result of the storm, it was expected that the whole island would be without electricity for weeks. The water supply was cut off; the San Juan airport was closed; the homes of the local brothers who were intending to accommodate hundreds of delegates from overseas were affected. Because of the disaster, only one of the four planned assembly sites, the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, remained available for our use. Surprisingly, however, each problem was dealt with one after another. The attendance at that convention reached a peak of 15,065!
Over a month later, from October 30 to November 1, three international conventions were held in Australia (in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney). John Barr, Milton Henschel, Lloyd Barry, and Theodore Jaracz, of the Governing Body, attended those conventions. The latter two once served in Australia. Many zealous missionaries who had been sent out from Australia were also present.
Toward the end of 1998, further international conventions were held in Africa. In Nairobi, Kenya, brothers from 16 different lands rejoiced to be numbered among the 24,502 who gathered at the Moi International Sports Centre in December.
The following week four international conventions were held in South Africa (in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria), with a total attendance of 83,858, and 1,626 got baptized. The international conventions were followed up by a series of 18 district conventions. These were attended by 53,901, and a further 1,065 were baptized. At this time the complete New World Translation was released in Tsonga. The love and unity evident among all these conventioners was tangible evidence that they truly fit the description given by Jesus when he said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:35.
On the same weekend at the end of December, a convention was held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. The program was in French, English, and Twi. While there are only about 6,000 publishers in the country—and perhaps 500 who came from outside the country—the attendance reached an amazing 16,009 who wanted to learn about God’s way of life!
Finally, to conclude this worldwide series of 32 international conventions, the more than 19,000 publishers in Costa Rica were delighted to have 34,431 gather there during the first three days of 1999. At the airport some 4,000 local Witnesses shared in welcoming delegates who arrived on 42 international flights. They formed a corridor of Witnesses applauding and greeting the arriving delegates with “Bienvenidos, hermanos!” (Welcome, brothers!) The affection expressed by the brothers even moved a vendor at the airport to request a home Bible study!
The series of international conventions had a positive effect on many non-Witnesses who observed the love shown among the delegates. It also strengthened the international ties among Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves. It was visible evidence that Jehovah is, in fact, gathering “a great crowd . . . out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues”—people who look to Jehovah and to his Son, Jesus Christ, for salvation—with a view to their preservation into His new world of righteousness.—Rev. 7:9, 10.
Loving “in Deed and Truth”
The love shown by Jehovah’s Witnesses for one another goes beyond smiles and handshakes at their Kingdom Halls. It involves more than extending hospitality to convention delegates from other lands. As students of the Bible, Jehovah’s Witnesses well know what is written at 1 John 3:17, 18: “Whoever has this world’s means for supporting life and beholds his brother having need and yet shuts the door of his tender compassions upon him, in what way does the love of God remain in him? Little children, let us love . . . in deed and truth.” Violent storms, droughts, and civil wars during the past year have forced many of Jehovah’s people into such circumstances of need. How has the international brotherhood responded?
In September 1998, floods ravaged Chiapas State in Mexico. A few weeks later, Hurricane Georges ripped through St. Kitts, Nevis, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti and then hit the southern part of the United States. About a month after that, Hurricane Mitch, with winds of 180 miles per hour [290 km/hr], slammed into Honduras, inundated portions of Nicaragua, and then tore a swath through El Salvador and Guatemala before it subsided in Mexico. In addition to 50 Kingdom Halls and 2 Assembly Halls, more than 1,800 homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were either demolished or severely damaged. Crops were destroyed. Personal possessions were ruined. In some places, entire congregations had to be evacuated.
The need for food, water, clothing, and medicine was great. Witnesses in areas not affected by the storms quickly responded. In some places, as soon as they heard about the damage, Witnesses began to show up at the branch office with food, clothing, and money to help their Christian brothers. Where brothers could not get through to disaster areas with cars or trucks to bring relief supplies, they used canoes, bicycles, and backpacks. Local elders did what they could to help get roofs back onto the brothers’ homes. Doctors who are Witnesses made their services available.
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses coordinated the providing of financial help as well as the shipping of urgently needed food, clothing, and building supplies from nearby countries. Shipments were made by chartered plane, by ship, and by truck. Brothers and sisters in the disaster areas expressed again and again their deep appreciation for the love shown by the worldwide brotherhood.
Regional Building Committees, which are designed to help with Kingdom Hall construction, were mobilized to help clean up and repair homes. Seven groups of about 30 volunteers each from the United States traveled at their own expense to spend a week repairing homes of fellow Witnesses in St. Kitts and Nevis. Another 600 volunteers flew down to Puerto Rico to help with repair and reconstruction there. In harmony with the Bible’s guideline at Galatians 6:10, they put principal emphasis on helping their spiritual brothers and sisters. But they also repaired the roof of a school and repaired homes for some elderly neighbors who had no children to assist them. In the Dominican Republic, local Witnesses cleaned up the area around a hospital.
In Puerto Rico a group of brothers traveled to the mountain town of Yabucoa to help reconstruct a house where a Witness lives with her non-Witness husband. The neighbors had ridiculed her when she had said that she knew that her Christian brothers would come to help. When the brothers arrived, she was overjoyed. In a few hours, some 200 onlookers had gathered across the street. All day long they watched while the crew of brothers worked. After hanging the front door, the brothers presented our sister with a bouquet of flowers and the keys to her rebuilt home. When the lights were turned on, the neighbors applauded. As a result of what they saw that day, many on that street who formerly had avoided the Witnesses were now willing to listen to the Kingdom message.
Meanwhile, in Europe severe flooding in western Ukraine in November and in South America an earthquake in Colombia in January caused further disaster. And the same sort of loving help was given by Jehovah’s people.
When civil war in Angola escalated once again during 1999, this resulted in more than 1,700,000 refugees. The brothers have worked diligently to help fellow Witnesses who became refugees, along with many others, to have the basic necessities of life. The 34 tons of food and clothing that were sent from the Italy, Portugal, and South Africa branches were distributed to those who had to abandon both their homes and their cities. It was even possible to get some of these supplies into war zones where bombing has continued for months.
As the service year began, the Congo (Kinshasa) branch notified the Governing Body that in the aftermath of civil war, the branch was in need of relief supplies to assist over 200,000 people. Immediate arrangements were made for the branches in Britain, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and South Africa to ship food and provide funds for purchasing additional supplies in other African countries. More than 75 tons of humanitarian aid were gathered and sent by air from Jehovah’s Witnesses in Europe.
But the fighting in Congo was not over. New crises developed. On February 7, 1999, the following announcement regarding the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo was made to the Bethel family at the world headquarters in New York: “Due to the civil war, 30,000 publishers in the East of the country are dependent on relief. The branch office in Kinshasa is unable to contact these brothers due to the war. However, the Governing Body has approved for Belgium to bring relief by air. The first flight is during this week and a second mission will start on February 20. With the second mission a medical team will be sent.” The brothers from Europe worked along with 11 officially appointed relief committees made up of Jehovah’s Witnesses in East Congo.
Some of the refugees had fled to nearby countries. Thousands had gone into neighboring Zambia. There relief agencies provided much help; the Witnesses supplemented this with blankets, clothing, and cooking and farming utensils. When one aged brother received a blanket, he fainted. He had never before been given a new blanket that would be his own. As a circuit overseer headed for Zambia, he found a disabled brother under a tree. The circuit overseer loaded him onto his bicycle and pushed it. When the hills were too steep, the brother would get off, and with patches of tire tied to his knees and hands, he would exert himself to move forward on all fours until they got to the top. Eventually, they arrived safely in Kaputa, Zambia. There the branch supplied all with literature in Swahili to use at their congregation meetings. In April, at a meeting with more than 2,000 of these refugees, brothers from the branch office gave loving spiritual encouragement. And the refugees—both adults and children—most of them without songbooks, sang with all their hearts such songs as “Jehovah, Provider of Escape,” “Jehovah Is Our Refuge,” “We Thank You, Jehovah,” and “God’s Promise of Paradise.”
Zeal in Preaching the Good News
Even more noteworthy, however, is the love shown by Jehovah’s Witnesses in proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom. In response to the direction given by Jesus Christ, they endeavor to reach everyone possible with the good news. (Mark 13:10) In doing so, they give of themselves and their resources freely. During the past year, a peak of 5,912,492 shared in this activity, and they devoted 1,144,566,849 hours to this ministry. Many Witnesses arranged their affairs to serve as regular pioneers or as auxiliary pioneers.
These pioneers come from backgrounds of many sorts. Thousands are young people who have finished their secular schooling or who have arranged their schedule of classes so that they can pioneer while attending school. Others are housewives; some are men who also work to support their families. A Christian elder and family head in St. Lucia is able to pioneer because he is careful to ‘keep his eye simple.’ (Matt. 6:19-22) When recently offered a high-paying secular career opportunity, he turned it down because it would have meant putting in more hours of secular work, missing Christian meetings, being away from his family for six months, and giving up the pioneer ministry. He chose to seek first the Kingdom, confident that Jehovah would continue to bless his efforts to provide for his family.
A 95-year-old Witness in Antigua has enjoyed auxiliary pioneer service once or twice a year for as long as she can recall. Explaining why she continues to put forth this effort, she says: “Jehovah has given me extra mightiness and energy, and I view it as an opportunity to show my love for him.”
A sister in Denmark who is in her mid-60’s decided that she would be an auxiliary pioneer. Why? She explained: “I believe it was my Bible reading that prompted me. . . . I am convinced that just as you can be influenced badly by the television, for example, you can also become influenced for the good by reading Jehovah’s Word every day. That has given me strong motivation.”
Because of the increased pressure being felt by people everywhere in providing adequately for their physical needs, in January 1999 the Governing Body made an adjustment in the hour requirement for regular pioneers (reducing it from 90 to 70 hours per month) and for auxiliary pioneers (from 60 to 50). What a blessing that has proved to be! It has enabled many who were already pioneering to stay on the list, and thousands more have enrolled. To many, it was further evidence that “the Lord is kind.”—1 Pet. 2:3.
During the months following the adjustment, the branch in Australia saw an increase of more than 400 percent in the number who enrolled as regular pioneers. Colombia saw an increase of nearly 300 percent. In Ukraine the number of pioneers went up every month, and the report shows 42 percent more than there were last year. In Micronesia more than one pioneer, on an average, was added to every congregation. In Liberia, where most of the brothers live a hand-to-mouth existence, subsisting from day to day on what they earn from petty trading, eight consecutive peaks of regular pioneers followed the adjustment in the hour requirement.
The ranks of auxiliary pioneers also swelled. In Austria during the first three months of 1999, there were 56 percent more than the preceding year. During the same period, Malaysia reported 103 percent more auxiliary pioneers. Denmark experienced a 91-percent increase during the first six months of the year. In Korea, where January is a favorable month for added activity, 57 percent were in some form of pioneer service that month.
Meanwhile, the “Pioneers Assist Others” program continues to yield good results. A sister in the Filipino Congregation in Anchorage, Alaska, said: “I have been associated with the truth for 11 years. Field service was just a routine, as I went without any goals in mind.” But after working for a period with a local pioneer, field service became more meaningful for her. She appreciated the urgency of the work. She became more interested in the people and was able to start home Bible studies. In South Africa a pioneer sister helped another publisher to find greater satisfaction by talking to passersby and not simply waiting for people to answer the intercom. They would also sit down together and discuss various goals in the ministry. By the end of the six-month program, that publisher was a regular pioneer. Together with the one who assisted her, she is now finding more joy in the ministry than she ever had before.
Bible Truth in Printed Form
Ever since the days of Moses, Jehovah has provided spiritual instruction in written form. This has always been reinforced with oral instruction. But the printed page has been an important factor in spreading the good news. Both the Bible and literature explaining it have been published in large quantities. This past year alone, 1,026,706,628 copies of The Watchtower and Awake! were printed; 41,579,805 books and 71,221,759 brochures and booklets along with large numbers of tracts were produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is being done in 332 languages.
People in many places have benefited from this activity. The coral atolls making up Tuvalu have a population of just 9,403. The Watchtower is printed in their language, and 45 people there now worship Jehovah. Though the Central African Republic is remote from the industrialized world, The Watchtower and Awake! are widely distributed there—in Arabic, English, French, Lingala, Sango, and Zande. There are 2,305 Witnesses in that land, and well over five times that number came to the Memorial this past year. Angola is torn by civil war, and many people are destitute, but this past year The Watchtower began to appear monthly in Umbundu to benefit two circuits of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Angola and the many people whom they help spiritually. Over 26 million magazines were placed in Ukraine this past year. After looking for the true God for 20 years, one man was convinced that he had found the truth when he read a single issue of Awake! The 107,045 publishers in Ukraine were delighted to see another 12,320 baptized during the year.
In Colombia the tract What Hope for Dead Loved Ones? was put into the hands of a distressed woman. She had never been interested in religion, but her son had died in an earthquake, and this subject did interest her. It led to a home Bible study. In Lithuania a Witness handed a woman the brochure Does God Really Care About Us? The woman was desperately in need of the help that only God can give. She agreed to have a home Bible study and quickly progressed to dedication and baptism. Yes, the publications are appreciated by many and are valuable tools in making known the good news.
Taught by Jehovah
In many and varied ways, Jehovah continues to teach his servants, to equip them for work they are currently doing, and to prepare them for future activity. (Isa. 54:13) In addition to that, personal invitations are extended to people in more than 230 lands to benefit from Jehovah’s marvelous program of education. Millions who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life” have responded, and this past year 4,433,884 home Bible studies each month, on an average, were being conducted free of charge with such ones. (Acts 13:48) What blessings they received as they saw the Scriptures opened up to them in a manner that they could really understand!
The teaching provided by Jehovah through his organization also includes specialized training of various kinds. Again this year, thousands benefited from the Pioneer Service School when they completed their first year as regular pioneers. During the service year, 40 branches also hosted the Ministerial Training School. Qualified brothers attended from the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and islands of the sea—89 lands in all. There were 2,174 who received this special schooling. Branch Committee members from 43 countries were brought to the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York, for a special two-month program of training. Students attending Gilead School, where they enjoyed a comprehensive five-month study of the Bible, were given assignments as preachers and teachers of God’s Word in 31 different lands.
Additionally, a new school for traveling overseers was initiated at the Watchtower Educational Center. The first class, with 48 members, enrolled in May for an eight-week course. In attendance were circuit and district overseers from the United States and Canada. The training they received was divided between classroom instruction and activity in the Service Department. Every aspect of their work was given attention, and this will be of great benefit to the many thousands of brothers and sisters in the congregations and circuits that they serve. The wives of the traveling overseers, who accompanied their husbands, divided their time at Patterson between a Bethel work assignment and field service with the surrounding congregations. Each week they also attended a school lecture that was specially beneficial for them as well as for the brothers.
“It Will Turn Out . . . for a Witness”
Jesus foretold that his followers would be “haled before kings and governors.” The extent to which this has occurred around the globe during the 20th century adds to the evidence that we are living in the last days. Why does this occur? It is not because Jehovah’s Witnesses are lawless. On the contrary, it is ‘on account of the name of Jesus Christ’—because they recognize Christ as heavenly King and because, like Jesus, they are “no part of the world.” Jesus also foretold that it would “turn out . . . for a witness.” (Luke 21:12, 13; Matt. 24:9; John 17:16) That has certainly proved true during the past service year. A witness was given to officials in many lands as earnest efforts were made to defend the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to worship without hindrance.
In 1998 a case involving Jehovah’s Witnesses in Bulgaria was given attention by the European Court of Human Rights. What led up to it? The Bulgarian government had deprived Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as some 20 other religious groups, of legal recognition. An appeal to the Bulgarian Supreme Court had been denied because, among other things, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity and in other non-Biblical doctrines of Christendom. This led to arrests, the breaking up of meetings for worship, and the confiscation of religious literature. The European Court urged Bulgaria to settle matters with Jehovah’s Witnesses on a friendly basis. As a result, in October 1998, Bulgaria again gave legal recognition to Jehovah’s Witnesses. This made it possible to send four missionaries from the 106th class of Gilead to Bulgaria to assist the local publishers in sharing the Kingdom good news with the people there.
Legal problems involving Jehovah’s Witnesses in France have also resulted in an extensive witness. The Witnesses have been publicly defamed. Anticult associations have fomented negative press reports about them. In 1996 a parliamentary report classified Jehovah’s Witnesses as a ‘dangerous cult,’ and in January 1999 the government imposed a 60-percent tax on all contributions received by them, though nothing like this had been done to any other religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses responded with a three-day campaign, starting on January 29, 1999, in which they distributed 12 million copies of a tract entitled People of France, You Are Being Deceived!
On the first day of the campaign, a press conference was held to explain what was being done. By midday, TV and radio stations were relaying the information. Over 60 national and regional newspapers and magazines reported on the activity, using such headlines as “Jehovah Takes France as a Witness” and “Operation ‘Truth’ by Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
On the opening day, tens of thousands of publishers distributed the tract outside train stations, factories, offices, shops, markets, and elsewhere. Few people refused it.
A brother preaching near a prison was approached by a guard. On being offered a tract, the guard said: “I’ll need more than that; there are a lot of people inside.” In another instance, some elderly people returning to their retirement home by coach expressed disappointment because they had not received the tract. The driver asked those who wanted a copy to raise their hands; then he drove to a spot where he had seen a Witness and requested the number needed.
On the other hand, at a market in the city of Grenoble, a woman who received the tract hurled abuse at the Witness who had given it to her. Our brother remained calm. However, stall holders and shoppers, drawn by the woman’s shouting, suddenly cried out: “Long live Jehovah!” At that, the opposer left.
What was the overall result? Congregations throughout France were galvanized by this activity. Hundreds who had become inactive felt their hearts impelling them to share in this special campaign. Publishers in all parts of the country expressed deep satisfaction at having the opportunity to defend their faith in this way. The branch office received thousands of phone calls and letters from the public. Some showed intolerance. Many expressed support. Throughout the weekend, people asked to be visited, and many home Bible studies were started.
And what about the tax imposed by the government? In response to the action taken, high officials have been confronted with extensive legal documentation about Jehovah’s Witnesses—a witness indeed! The tax ruling is being appealed and will be contested all the way to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
For years the Borough of Oradell, New Jersey, U.S.A., had interfered with the preaching of the good news. The borough took the position that Jehovah’s Witnesses could not conduct their public ministry unless they first obtained a permit and wore a distinct badge. Repeated efforts to convince the mayor and the borough council of the unconstitutional nature of these requirements were unsuccessful. Finally, to contest the local law, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Federal Court in the District of New Jersey. This was the first time that such action to enforce our right to engage in the public ministry had been taken in the United States in the past 50 years. In our complaint to the court, it was appropriate to explain the nature of our activity and its Scriptural basis; thus a fine witness was given.
On March 8, 1999, the Federal District Magistrate Judge met with representatives of our Legal Department and the Borough of Oradell and directed the borough to change its laws. On March 16, at their borough council meeting, the council and the mayor passed a resolution exempting religious organizations from the permit and badge requirements. The good news can once again be preached without unconstitutional restraints in Oradell!
Any time that Jehovah’s name or his name people are mentioned in court, during a parliamentary session, or in a congressional hearing, individuals “in high station” who may not often hear the Kingdom message are given a witness. (1 Tim. 2:2) But at times, the opportunity to witness is much more direct and extensive. That has been true in Russia.
In a cramped courtroom in Moscow, Russia, a determined effort was made from September 1998 to March 1999 to ban the religious activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow. However, far from silencing Jehovah’s Witnesses, this courtroom provided a unique setting for a powerful witness to be given.
The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office, later joined by the Moscow Department of Justice, in conjunction with an antisect organization with connections to the Russian Orthodox Church filed unfounded charges seeking the liquidation of the Moscow Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Normally, a court handling a civil law case would view critical analysis of religious teachings and beliefs in a courtroom as inappropriate. However, the charges involve the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, so these became the focus of the trial.
In court, the prosecuting attorney argued that our literature incites religious enmity. How? We teach that we have the true religion. At that, a defense attorney, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses himself, provided copies of the Bible to the judge and to the prosecutor and then read Ephesians 4:5: “[There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Continuing with his Scriptural defense, our Russian brother refuted other accusations contained in the prosecutor’s complaint by citing such scriptures as James 1:27, John 17:16, and Revelation 18:1-4, which show the need to be ‘separate from the world.’ The prosecutor countered with the argument that the last scripture, dealing with Babylon the Great, insults other people’s religion when it is applied to them. Later, however, a professor of philosophy and university lecturer commented: “When the experts accuse Jehovah’s Witnesses for their teachings, they do not realize that they are actually making accusations against the Bible.”
The trial afforded opportunity to read to the court from the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses that the prosecution had included in its complaint. This time, however, quotes were read in context so that our beliefs were correctly presented, thus dispelling any basis for legitimate accusations of wrongdoing. No fewer than five scientific studies were presented by leading Russian professionals refuting the prosecutor’s claims. Emphasis was also given to international court decisions and treaties requiring respect for freedom of religion.
How would Jesus have fared under the 1997 Russian law that provided a basis for the prosecutor’s legal action? During the trial, a Canadian attorney on the defense team, also one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, dealt with this. He stated to the court: ‘It is true that Jesus criticized religious leaders of his day, applying to them the words found at John 8:44, 45: “You are from your father the Devil.” As shown at Matthew 15:2-9, Jesus condemned traditions that were contrary to God’s Word. By what he said at Matthew 10:34-37, was Jesus trying to destroy families? No, he was simply stating an inevitable result because of the way humans react. Also, Luke 18:15, 16 points out that Jesus invited young children to come to him. Was he thus luring teenagers and minor children into Christianity? And why did religious opposers want to stop Jesus from preaching? John 11:47, 48 shows that it was because many were following Jesus, and the Jewish clergy felt that they were losing members. We might see some similarities in that today.’ It was obvious that if Jesus Christ were preaching in Moscow, the charges that are being lodged against Jehovah’s Witnesses in this case could also be lodged against him. But who is in error? Obviously, the ones making the accusations, for Jesus “committed no sin.”−1 Pet. 2:22.
In response to questions raised by the prosecution regarding teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Russian attorney who is our brother read from the Bible at Daniel 2:44, 45 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Later that afternoon testimony was presented by a third-generation Witness whose life history demonstrates that Jehovah’s Witnesses have been in Russia for decades. His testimony was also a reminder of the suffering that Jehovah’s Witnesses endured during their exile to Siberia and as a result of other acts of oppression during the years of ban by the Soviet regime.—See Awake!, April 22, 1999, pages 20-5.
A third defense attorney also represented Jehovah’s Witnesses. She is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but she is very fair-minded and is experienced in defending human rights issues. Even she had opportunity to open the Bible and direct the court to various passages. After pointing to Revelation 14:1; 16:16; 20:6; and Psalm 37:9, 10, she challenged the prosecutor’s religious “expert” to show where Jehovah’s Witnesses are wrong. He was unable to do so.
Interestingly, on April 29, 1999, the national Russian Ministry of Justice reregistered Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious organization. However, that did not result in dismissal of the case in Moscow nor in a court ruling in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Rather, the trial court is awaiting an analysis of the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses by an “expert” panel appointed by the judge. Whatever conclusion is reached, we can be assured that “it will turn out . . . for a witness.”—Matt. 10:18.
In addition to the witness given to officials in the courtroom, news regarding the trial was carried throughout Russia in newspapers and on TV networks. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia also made daily coverage of the trial available to the press and the public. Full quotes were provided from Watch Tower publications that were being misrepresented by the prosecution, and much background history was given regarding the Witnesses. At least seven prominent international news services had representatives on hand at various times during the trial. Keen interest in the proceedings was shown by embassies of other nations and by human rights organizations. On March 11, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on Russian officials at all levels to guarantee freedom of religion and thus to live up to the international agreements to which their government is a party. The following month, 11 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe signed a further document expressing concern over developments in the court case in Moscow.
Meanwhile, the brothers in Moscow and throughout Russia are well aware that they are “objects of hatred” by opposers of the Kingdom message. There was a gas bombing of a congregation meeting in St. Petersburg. An opposer attacked an elderly sister with a weapon when she was out in the field service. And cancellation of rental contracts deprived 2,000 Witnesses in Moscow of their meeting places, forcing them to search elsewhere. Then in August when Jehovah’s Witnesses held a convention in Moscow despite efforts to prevent it, the stadium had to be vacated on Saturday afternoon because of a bomb threat. Nevertheless, 600 were baptized at that convention, and over 15,100 people returned on Sunday to hear the rest of the program.
In view of the many and diverse pressures brought against Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide as they carry out their ministry, it was appropriate that responsible brothers met during April 1999 to discuss current needs in ‘defending and legally establishing the good news.’—Phil. 1:7.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are firmly convinced that as the Bible says, no weapon that is formed against “the servants of Jehovah” will succeed. (Isa. 54:17) And at Jeremiah 1:19, the promise is made: “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.’”
[Picture on page 6]
Daniel Sydlik releasing “Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!” in English
[Picture on page 6]
Chong-il Park releasing the “New World Translation” in Korean
[Pictures on page 12, 13]
Nairobi, Kenya—one of 32 international conventions
[Pictures on page 14]
Upper left: Relief supplies being loaded in Belgium for shipment to Africa. Bottom: Refugees from Congo receive instruction and join in singing heartfelt praises to Jehovah
[Pictures on page 20, 21]
Literature being prepared for shipping from the world headquarters
Worldwide Report: 1999 Grand Totals
pp. 31–42
Worldwide Report: 1999 Grand Totals
Watch Tower Branches: 109
Number of Lands Reporting: 234
Total Congregations: 89,985
Worldwide Memorial Attendance: 14,088,751
Memorial Partakers Worldwide: 8,755
Peak of Publishers in Kingdom Service: 5,912,492
Average Publishers Preaching Each Month: 5,653,987
Percentage of Increase Over 1998: 2.0
Total Number Baptized: 323,439
Average Pioneer Publishers Each Month: 738,343
Total Hours Spent in Field: 1,144,566,849
Average Home Bible Studies Each Month: 4,433,884
During the 1999 service year, the Watch Tower Society spent $64,475,225.00 in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments
[Chart on page 32-39]
1999 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE
(See publication)
[Maps on page 40-42]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
INDIAN OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
PUBLISHER TO POPULATION RATIO
1 to 30-500
ALASKA
AMERICAN SAMOA
ANDORRA
ANGOLA
ANGUILLA
ANTIGUA
ARGENTINA
ARUBA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
AZORES
BAHAMAS
BARBADOS
BELAU
BELGIUM
BELIZE
BERMUDA
BONAIRE
BRAZIL
BRITAIN
CANADA
CAPE VERDE
CAYMAN ISLANDS
CHILE
COLOMBIA
CONGO, DEM. REP.
COOK ISLANDS
COSTA RICA
CUBA
CURAÇAO
CYPRUS
DENMARK
DOMINICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ECUADOR
EL SALVADOR
ESTONIA
FALKLAND ISLANDS
FIJI
FINLAND
FRANCE
FRENCH GUIANA
GABON
GEORGIA
GERMANY
GHANA
GIBRALTAR
GREECE
GREENLAND
GRENADA
GUADELOUPE
GUAM
GUATEMALA
GUYANA
HAWAII
HUNGARY
ITALY
JAMAICA
KOSRAE
LUXEMBOURG
MADEIRA
MALAWI
MARQUESAS ISLANDS
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MARTINIQUE
MEXICO
MOLDOVA
MONTSERRAT
NEVIS
NEW CALEDONIA
NEW ZEALAND
NICARAGUA
NIGERIA
NIUE
NORFOLK ISLAND
NORWAY
PANAMA
PERU
POLAND
PORTUGAL
PUERTO RICO
RÉUNION
ROTA
ST. EUSTATIUS
ST. HELENA
ST. KITTS
ST. LUCIA
ST. MAARTEN
ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON
ST. VINCENT
SAIPAN
SAMOA
SAN MARINO
SEYCHELLES
SLOVAKIA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
SPAIN
SURINAME
SWAZILAND
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
TAHITI
TINIAN
TOGO
TOKELAU
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS
TUVALU
UKRAINE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
URUGUAY
VENEZUELA
VIRGIN ISLANDS (BRITISH)
VIRGIN ISLANDS (U.S.)
WALLIS & FUTUNA ISLS.
YAP
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
1 to 501-5000
ALBANIA
ARMENIA
BELARUS
BENIN
BOLIVIA
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
BOTSWANA
BURUNDI
CAMEROON
CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.
CHUUK
CONGO, REP.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
CROATIA
CZECH REP.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
FAEROE ISLANDS
HAITI
HONDURAS
HONG KONG
ICELAND
IRELAND
JAPAN
KAZAKHSTAN
KENYA
KIRIBATI
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
KYRGYZSTAN
LATVIA
LEBANON
LESOTHO
LIBERIA
LIECHTENSTEIN
LITHUANIA
MACAO
MACEDONIA
MADAGASCAR
MALTA
MAURITIUS
MAYOTTE
MOZAMBIQUE
NAMIBIA
NAURU
NETHERLANDS
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PARAGUAY
PHILIPPINES
POHNPEI
RODRIGUES
ROMANIA
RUSSIA
RWANDA
SABA
SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE
SLOVENIA
SOUTH AFRICA
TANZANIA
TONGA
VANUATU
YUGOSLAVIA, F.R.
1 to 5001+
BANGLADESH
BULGARIA
BURKINA FASO
CAMBODIA
CHAD
COMOROS
ETHIOPIA
THE GAMBIA
GUINEA
GUINEA-BISSAU
INDIA
ISRAEL
LIBYA
MALAYSIA
MALI
MONGOLIA
MYANMAR
NEPAL
NIGER
PAKISTAN
SENEGAL
SIERRA LEONE
SRI LANKA
TAIWAN
TAJIKISTAN
THAILAND
TURKEY
UGANDA
Worldwide Report
pp. 43–64
Worldwide Report
Building to Accommodate a Great Crowd
In 1935, Jehovah’s Witnesses learned from the Scriptures about God’s purpose to gather a great crowd now, during the present system of things, with a view to their serving Jehovah forever on a paradise earth. (Rev. 7:9, 10) In that same year, for the first time, one of their meeting places in Hawaii was called Kingdom Hall. Now thousands of such Kingdom Halls are overflowing with people who have embraced the Bible’s heartwarming promises and who recognize its righteous standards.
Regular attendance at Kingdom Hall meetings numbers in the millions. With hundreds of thousands of people getting baptized each year, there is a pressing need for more Kingdom Halls. A survey in 1998 indicated that some 8,000 more Kingdom Halls were urgently needed in 40 developing countries. What was accomplished during the past year with a view to filling that need?
Regional Kingdom Hall Offices were established in such key locations as South Africa, Australia, and Germany. From these bases of operation, project overseers are beginning to help in organizing Kingdom Hall building programs in East and West Africa, the Asia-Pacific area, and Eastern Europe, respectively. Thus far, 77 international servants are assisting with this work in 21 countries of Africa, 7 in Eastern Europe, and 4 in the Asia-Pacific area. Two countries in Latin America are also being helped. Where possible, efforts are being made to establish full-time Kingdom Hall Construction Groups. To the extent possible, local building methods and materials are being used, and local brothers are being encouraged to participate in the building process. Initially, however, one or two international servants may take the lead in these groups to provide necessary training. Where meeting places are urgently needed but the economy makes it virtually impossible for the local brothers to purchase building materials, the international brotherhood endeavors to assist in this too.
After the brothers in Ghana were given help to streamline their Kingdom Hall construction program, they were able to build 13 Kingdom Halls this past year instead of 4, which had been the average in recent years. In Burundi, with international help, 11 Kingdom Halls were built in just a few months. It happened that the Kingdom Hall in Gitega, Burundi, was the first building erected on the hill where it is located. In harmony with local custom, many citizens in that area now refer to that hill as the Mountain of Jehovah.
Liberia experienced a 40-percent increase in publishers in 1998 and a 19-percent increase in 1999. After years of civil war in the country, most of the congregations need Kingdom Halls. Yet, the majority of our brothers there face serious economic problems, including unemployment. How grateful they are for the financial help provided by their brothers in other lands to make it possible for them to build needed Kingdom Halls! They are also grateful for the assistance of five international servants who came to help organize the building work.
In Nigeria more than 1,800 more Kingdom Halls are needed. In Abeokuta, Nigeria, the unity and diligence among the local Witnesses who were sharing in the construction work moved even a leader of a nearby church to volunteer to assist. She is now serving Jehovah with the congregation whose Kingdom Hall she helped to build. In Togo there was such stiff opposition to the building of a Kingdom Hall in one village that the brothers moved the project to another location. But after the opposers saw what a nice Kingdom Hall was being built, they asked if another hall could be built on the disputed land.
In Sri Lanka congregations have been meeting in private homes, in small temporary buildings made of thatched coconut leaves, and under awnings in backyards. How grateful they are to be getting more suitable, dignified places of worship! Thirteen Kingdom Hall projects are now under way in Sri Lanka, 20 more are in the planning stages, and 50 are proposed for the next five years.
When there is a suitable Kingdom Hall, people more readily gather to benefit from the instruction that Jehovah is providing. Thus, when a large, new Kingdom Hall was built in a suburb of Lima, Peru, attendance increased in each of the three congregations using it, and within a year 75 new publishers began to share in the field service.
In larger cities where there are many congregations, good use is made of property by erecting buildings that contain more than one Kingdom Hall. On the weekend of May 29 and 30, three such Kingdom Hall complexes were dedicated in Romania. One of these in Cluj-Napoca included four Kingdom Halls; another contained two. The following day, in Târgu-Mureş, a complex containing seven Kingdom Halls was dedicated.
Providing Assembly Halls
For larger gatherings, Assembly Halls are being built in many lands. In Estonia two Kingdom Hall/Assembly Hall complexes were dedicated during the year. Each complex contains three separate Kingdom Halls that join to provide one large Assembly Hall. An outstanding event for Poland during this service year was the dedication of three Assembly Halls on one weekend. Two members of the Governing Body, Theodore Jaracz and Daniel Sydlik, shared in this special occasion and gave encouraging talks in each of the halls. An amphitheater with 6,400 seats was added to the largest of the halls, in the city of Sosnowiec, and the facility was used for five district conventions during the month of July.
In the United States, where there are now 980,419 Kingdom publishers, four more Assembly Halls were dedicated this past year, bringing the total to 40. In Brazil, where there are 528,034 publishers, their 17th Assembly Hall was dedicated. This is a two-auditorium facility that seats 10,000, about an hour’s drive from São Paulo. Two more open-sided Assembly Halls were dedicated in Nigeria during the year—one at Ota and another at Ibadan, with seating capacities of 10,000 and 5,000 respectively.
Other facilities are also being provided to support the global program of Bible education.
Watchtower Educational Center
In 1986 some of the first necessary legal steps were taken with a view to building what is now the 28-building Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York, United States. In 1989 it was finally possible for construction to get under way. By 1994 various offices related to the educational activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses began to make use of the buildings. In 1995, Gilead School was transferred to the facilities. Schools for Branch Committee members and for traveling overseers also operate there. Finally, in 1999 the dedication program was held. (A report regarding this was published in The Watchtower of November 15, 1999.) Tens of thousands of Witnesses and other interested ones tour the facilities each year, and they rejoice at seeing what has been achieved with their own voluntary contributions, the united efforts of willing brothers and sisters and, above all, Jehovah’s blessing.
Needed Branch Facilities
The increase in the number of praisers of Jehovah in many lands has also made the building of new branch offices necessary. Such branch offices, as well as the world headquarters, are staffed by Bethel family members, who are included in the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.
BOLIVIA: Outstanding theocratic expansion led to the dedication of new branch facilities in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on March 20, 1999. From 714 publishers at the time the former branch was dedicated in 1968, the number of Kingdom proclaimers in Bolivia has grown to an all-time peak of 15,388, and attendance at the Memorial in 1999 totaled 53,312.
The new branch office, located in Bolivia’s tropical lowlands, was built entirely by local labor—a great part of it having been volunteered by the Witnesses—and with a tasteful use of local materials. The result is a design that achieves a tolerably cool environment without air-conditioning and that blends beautifully with the wooded property. During a visit by Gerrit Lösch, of the Governing Body, these facilities, along with the first Assembly Hall in the country, were dedicated to Jehovah. Present for this happy occasion were thousands of Bolivian Witnesses as well as visitors from 11 lands, including ex-missionaries who had served in Bolivia at some point during the 54-year history of missionary service there.
MOZAMBIQUE: “Jehovah is great and much to be praised.” (Ps. 48:1) That is a favorite expression among Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mozambique, and it was heard often on December 19, 1998, when new branch facilities were dedicated in Maputo, close to the Indian Ocean. A few years ago, this might have seemed impossible. Jehovah’s Witnesses had been under government bans for more than two decades, down till 1991. In that year they numbered just over 6,000. By the end of 1998, a peak of 29,514 publishers reported. New branch facilities were needed.
How was the branch built, since the majority of Mozambican brothers had no experience in this sort of construction work? Help came from many international servants and volunteers, and they trained the local Witnesses while the job was being done. Guests from 15 countries were present for the dedication, and that same weekend, at Matola, 16 miles [26 km] away, the first Assembly Hall in Mozambique was also dedicated. Indeed, Jehovah is great! Without his loving care, his servants in Mozambique would never have witnessed these historic events.
NEW CALEDONIA: On October 24, 1998, a new branch office and an Assembly Hall were dedicated in New Caledonia. The facilities more than tripled the size of the branch. Three translation teams function here to serve the needs of New Caledonia and its dependencies.
The dedication was a happy and colorful occasion. Featured on the program was an audiovisual display that showed highlights of the construction project. It was a special delight to Jehovah’s Witnesses in New Caledonia to have with them on that occasion Lloyd Barry, of the Governing Body, to give the dedication discourse.
SENEGAL: Since the first Witness of Jehovah arrived in Senegal in 1951, much effort has been put forth to reach the millions of people living in this branch territory. There have been 194 missionaries from 18 lands who have served here. Hundreds have been assisted by them to join in serving Jehovah in this territory, where over 90 percent of the population is non-Christian.
Construction of the new branch at Cape Almadies, on the outskirts of Dakar, involved methods new to most people in that area. As a crane lifted into place each large prefabricated panel, observers applauded and cheered. Everything was square, straight, and just so. At the conclusion of the dedication program there on the westernmost tip of the African continent, on June 19, 1999, all in attendance joined heartily in singing “We Thank You, Jehovah”!
Africa
The modern-day history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Africa dates back to the early 1880’s. By the 1920’s intensive public preaching got under way on that continent. This past year a peak of more than 830,000 Witnesses throughout Africa shared in telling their neighbors and others about “the magnificent things of God.”—Acts 2:11.
It has been a great encouragement to see many youths making school their territory for witnessing. Dorcas, a young sister in Mozambique, has made it her personal goal to witness to the principal and all the teachers at her school, as well as her classmates. She presently conducts eight Bible studies, and six of her Bible students regularly attend meetings. Three others progressed to baptism and then qualified to become regular pioneers. Four of Dorcas’ teachers have at various times accepted her invitation to attend congregation meetings. Dorcas’ father is now studying with one of them. Another teacher, to whom Dorcas began to witness five years ago when she was going to another school, finally responded to her perseverance and agreed to study the Bible with her with a view to sharing in true worship.
Since 1995 added attention has been given to the estimated five million hearing-impaired persons in Nigeria. After seeing that talks were interpreted into sign language at a district convention, many hearing publishers wanted to learn how to communicate in this language. In a little over a year, 216 publishers and pioneers from 61 congregations learned enough sign language to conduct Bible studies and interpret meetings. Over 80 congregations now have meetings interpreted for the benefit of the deaf.
As a young woman in Côte d’Ivoire, Florence decided to become a nun. But she was discouraged by teachings said to be a mystery for which no explanation was given, and she was shocked by repeated immoral advances by a priest. She left the convent. Later, in Burkina Faso, Jehovah’s Witnesses met her in their house-to-house ministry. Study of the Require brochure and the Knowledge book quickly led to her becoming a happy servant of Jehovah.
Twice during the year, Kingdom Halls and private homes in Bangui, Central African Republic, were opened to Witnesses who found it necessary to flee across the river from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. In July over 200 brothers, sisters, and their families, as well as other people, had to cross over to Bangui. While most of the refugees were crowded together out in the open at the port, our brothers were cared for both physically and spiritually. Meetings in Lingala were arranged for them at two Kingdom Halls, and all five weekly meetings were conducted. A local authority who observed all of this said: “It is marvelous what you have done, opening your hall to house these poor people. You have to be commended for this.” Another man who passed the hall stopped a missionary and stated: “You people live up to what you are preaching. My best wishes. God will bless you for this.”
While hospitalized some years ago, an unbaptized publisher in Ghana, though quite sick, witnessed from hospital bed to hospital bed. Some appreciated what she told them; others spurned it; one woman listened but apparently without reaction. Years later, while attending one of the “God’s Way of Life” District Conventions in Ghana, that publisher, now a special pioneer, met a woman whom she recognized. “What brings you here?” the pioneer asked. “Jehovah is great,” the lady said. “I have always wondered if I would ever see you again to thank you for the Kingdom truth you planted in my heart at the hospital. I was too sick to react then, but I could not help thinking and meditating on what you said about life in Paradise under God’s Kingdom, where ‘no resident will say: “I am sick.”’ As soon as I left the hospital, I looked for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they started to teach me more. Shortly thereafter, I relocated. At my new station, I looked for Jehovah’s Witnesses and continued my Bible study. The result is that tomorrow I am getting baptized at this convention.” The two women hugged each other and shed tears of joy. That hospital witnessing had, indeed, borne good fruit!
In Mali a woman physically disabled for 13 years because of witchcraft came in touch with Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was able to get around only by crawling on her hands and knees. A Bible study was started. She was told about our congregation meetings, but in view of the extent of the woman’s disability, our sister held little hope that she would get to the Kingdom Hall. However, the truth had touched the woman’s heart. Imagine how surprised the brothers and sisters were to see the woman in front of the Kingdom Hall, waiting for the meeting to start. A brother who owns a car arranged to take her home afterward. As her study progressed and her faith in Jehovah grew, she was freed from bondage to the wicked spirits. Slowly, she began to regain the use of her legs, and after six months she was able to walk again! She is now a baptized servant of Jehovah.
During the lunch break on the second day at his new work place, a regular pioneer in Uganda started a conversation with a workmate in this way: “Hello, I am finding it quite challenging to know the names of all my workmates.” “Oh, don’t worry,” his colleague said, “you will soon be all right. I am called William.” “Thank you for this introduction,” replied the pioneer. “That was kind. But I know that knowing other people’s names is a worldwide problem.” “What do you mean?” asked William. The pioneer continued: “For example, if you were asked for the name of the Creator of the universe and all living things, could you easily give it?” The discussion on God’s name led to a Bible study the next day. William invited the pioneer to his home to talk with his family. Now five members of that family are baptized Witnesses. Before the Memorial the pioneer went from office to office inviting colleagues to this important event. What a joy to see 40 attend!
Many people in Africa have suffered because of wars being fought in their countries. Oftentimes they have had to flee from their homes. But if the refugees are Jehovah’s Witnesses, they keep on preaching the good news. Many brothers and sisters in the capital of Guinea-Bissau, in West Africa, fled 144 miles [240 km] to the town of Buba. A brother and his wife live there, but there was no congregation. Soon after the Witnesses from the capital arrived, however, meetings were organized, and the work of witnessing moved ahead. Before long, 40 persons were attending the meetings and 70 Bible studies were being conducted.
Thirty publishers in the Giteranyi Congregation in Burundi walked about 100 miles [160 km] to attend their circuit assembly at Kayanza. The trip took three days. Those who had bicycles would give others a ride for a distance, return to get those who were walking behind, transport them to a point some distance ahead, and so forth. The entire family of Nzeyimana Jean—wife, mother-in-law, and seven children, including one who has polio and uses a cane—made the journey. With great joy, all arrived at the assembly site.
The Americas
By the 18th century, the complete Bible was available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, which became the most widely used languages in the Americas. In the latter part of the 19th century, Jehovah’s Witnesses, as they later came to be known, undertook a program of Bible education that by 1935 had penetrated almost every country in the Americas. Now there are 2,769,625 zealous Witnesses in these lands.
In some places the weather gets very cold, but the preaching of the good news continues. An elder from the North Pole Congregation in Alaska informs us that door-to-door work continues even in temperatures of -35 degrees Fahrenheit [-37°C], and meetings are held even when temperatures reach -55 degrees Fahrenheit [-48°C]. Serving under these conditions requires endurance.
In some big-city territories, there are many buildings where, because of the fear of crime, householders seldom give publishers the opportunity to speak to them face-to-face. In Argentina when witnessing in such a building, a publisher spoke through the intercom to a lady who listened attentively. Arrangements were made to continue the conversation on another occasion. Many return visits were made without face-to-face contact. Nevertheless, interesting conversations were held, and scriptures were read through the intercom. Finally after four months, the lady invited the publisher into her apartment and a Bible study was started. The publisher’s patient perseverance was rewarded.
There are over 17,000 nursing homes in the United States, where hundreds of thousands of senior citizens are housed. How can this elderly population be reached with the good news? Some congregations have had good success by approaching the activities director of such a facility and volunteering their help in meeting the spiritual needs of the residents. In one case it was explained that volunteers from the congregation would be pleased to conduct a free weekly Bible study with anyone who wished to attend. The offer was gladly accepted. Oftentimes, the staff, family members, and other visitors and volunteers would join in the study. The activities director wrote: “This study group provides spiritual support and continues to enhance the well-being of our residents. They absolutely love the Bible study.” She appreciated how mentally stimulating it was to the older ones. To the delight of the staff, one elderly woman who had not spoken since arriving at the nursing home began to comment in the study. An older man who had never attended any of the other group activities in the home was eager to attend the Bible study.
A sister in Chile, while witnessing in a cemetery, spoke to a woman who had lost her 12-year-old son in an accident. This grieving mother visited her son’s tomb twice a day. The Witness shared with her the resurrection hope, and a Bible study was started. The woman spoke to her neighbor who had also lost a young son in death and who made daily trips to her son’s tomb. She too began to study. This woman’s mother, while visiting the cemetery, asked her priest to conduct a service for her deceased grandson. Because of the priest’s unpleasant reply, she stopped attending church and began studying the Bible. Now these three women share their newfound hope with others in the cemetery.
Would you allow Jehovah to use you to help someone learn the truth even though your personal abilities were limited? A missionary in Costa Rica did that. She could not yet communicate well in Spanish. Nevertheless, she started a Bible study with Ana, a devout Catholic. The brochure What Does God Require of Us? was used along with the Bible. Ana’s eyesight is not good, so she simply listened as the paragraphs and the scriptures were read; then she commented on them. One week Ana made the following encouraging comment to the missionary sister: “It does not bother me that we cannot communicate perfectly. Many of the things we have discussed are different from what the Catholic Church teaches. If I had received lengthy explanations, perfectly phrased, I wouldn’t have believed them, but you are showing me these things straight from the Bible without a lot of extra words, so I can see that it is really what the Bible teaches.”
In Nicaragua, Witnesses have put forth a special effort to take certain issues of Awake! to schoolteachers. The subject “What Hope for Today’s Youths?” is an example of the type featured. The value of such information is obvious. In one city, although one teacher objected, the director of a school asked the Witnesses to give a presentation to the whole body of students. A one-and-a-half-hour symposium was presented, and many of the students requested literature. Afterward, the teacher who had previously objected now wanted the Witnesses to repeat the presentation at the school where she was the director. This was done. A Bible study was started with her, and she now wants the Witnesses to give talks to the students each month.
Eurasia
The name Eurasia refers to Europe and Asia as one continent. There Jehovah first declared the good news to Abraham. (Gal. 3:8) There, too, Jesus Christ laid the foundation for a work of evangelizing that has extended down to our day. (Matt. 28:19, 20) Jehovah’s Witnesses endeavor to share the good news with people in all the approximately 80 countries in Eurasia. In addition to the hundreds of languages in which the Watch Tower Society was already printing Bible literature, since 1995 it has added another 36 languages meant to reach a further 170,000,000 people in this part of the earth. Among these languages are Punjabi (Nastaliq), Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajiki, Azerbaijani, and Mongolian.
During 1999, serious problems intensified in Kosovo. Close to 800,000 ethnic Albanians from Kosovo became refugees in neighboring countries. Nearly 500,000 of these fled into Albania. Among the refugees were 14 of Jehovah’s Witnesses along with their 8 children. The Albanian Witnesses opened their homes and helped these brothers through a very difficult time. As the ethnic conflict grew worse, the priorities of the Kosovar brothers became clearer. They wanted to be sure that their Serbian brothers were safe. In turn, the Serbian Witnesses were making special efforts to contact their ethnic Albanian brothers to be sure of their safety. What love, in contrast with ethnic hatred manifest around them! After four months the Kosovar brothers were eager to return home. They were not concerned about taking a lot of material goods with them. Rather, they requested boxes of literature to use in bringing to others the comforting message of God’s Kingdom.
When a Witness in Belgium spoke to a woman through an intercom, the woman frankly told her that for the moment she was in no mood to talk about such things. Our sister offered to call her back later by phone. The woman was surprised when she actually did receive the phone call a few days later. She explained that she had to move and that she had asked the Public Welfare Office to assist her in finding another apartment. After another phone conversation, they lost contact, so the Witness decided to write her a letter and send it to the Public Welfare Office. The letter was placed in the woman’s file, and contact was reestablished when she finally received the letter a few weeks later. It was just at that time that Our Kingdom Ministry stated: “If we all make a united effort to start studies and if we pray for Jehovah’s blessing upon our endeavor, we will surely find new studies!” After offering a fervent prayer to Jehovah, our sister phoned the woman to tell her that she was eager to study the Bible with her. The woman agreed. Now she and her husband attend the congregation meetings, and she is sharing with family and friends the good things she is learning.
On a rainy day, a temporary special pioneer and her partner were talking with shopkeepers in a town in Malaysia where little witnessing had been done. A secondary-school student, who had paused nearby while waiting for the heavy rain to stop, approached them and asked for the literature that they were offering. The provision for free home Bible studies was explained to her, and the pioneers pointed out where they were staying. About one week later, she phoned. She had read all the literature and wanted more. A Bible study was started. This girl is an avid reader and asked for more publications after almost every visit. At times she called up late at night to request literature referred to in the publications. As the pioneers were in that town only temporarily, the study was conducted partly in person and partly through correspondence. Within two months the girl finished the Knowledge book. She was preaching to her friends and on the bus too. She has made good progress and is now an unbaptized publisher, eager to qualify for baptism.
A Witness in Italy made friends with a new neighbor. The neighbor had returned to Italy from Germany because her husband had been promised a job. However, the job did not materialize. So leaving his family in Italy, her husband went abroad again to find work. While he was away, the Witness couple helped his wife with shopping, took her son to school, invited her and her children for some meals, and gave her the moral support she so much needed. The woman asked why they were doing all of this. The reply? “Because as Jehovah’s Witnesses, we love our neighbors.” The woman said that she had never had the time to listen to the Witnesses, but now she was curious to know what they believed. A regular Bible study was conducted with her; she also began to attend congregation meetings. In the meantime her husband returned home. The Witnesses offered him a Bible study too, but he refused because he did not have peace of mind. He was again having difficulty finding a job. When the family moved to another part of Italy, the Witnesses obtained the address of the Kingdom Hall there and encouraged the woman to go to the hall. However, she was very timid, so she did not go. Nevertheless, our sister called her every week and kept her interest in Jehovah alive. In time, when the woman saw two Witnesses doing street witnessing, she asked them for a Bible study. She also began to attend meetings. In the meantime her husband had found work. He too asked for a study. Both are now dedicated and baptized Christians. Their two oldest children are also baptized, and the third child is an unbaptized publisher.
A pioneer in Luxembourg was keenly interested in reaching everyone in her territory. At one house the blinds were always shut, and no one was at home. However, one day when the pioneer was on her way to pick her daughter up from school, she noticed a car in front of that perpetual not-at-home. Obviously, she had not intended to go out in the field service just then, but she did not want to let the opportunity slip by. She rang the bell. The man who answered said that he was not really interested in the Bible, but he did want to know more about Jesus Christ. She left with him the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. After she and her husband had made several return calls, a study was started. But at first, the man agreed to study only once every three weeks because he had a full schedule. Slowly, however, he began to get a new outlook on life. He realized that he needed to invest more time in learning and doing God’s will. He gave up his avid pursuit of table tennis, to which he had devoted four nights a week. When he came to understand clearly the matter of Christian neutrality, he quit his job and accepted work that paid less than half as much. How did he feel about making such a change? He said: “I was glad to do it. After all, I dearly wanted to get my life into line with Bible principles. I continued to progress in the truth, so that nothing more stood in the way of my becoming an unbaptized publisher and, five months later, symbolizing my dedication to Jehovah by water baptism.” How grateful he is to that pioneer sister for so thoroughly performing her ministry!
Islands of the Earth
Jehovah invites all the earth, including those who inhabit the islands, to rejoice in his kingship. (Ps. 97:1) Already at Pentecost 33 C.E., natives of the island of Crete were among those who received this invitation. In the 20th century, tens of thousands who live on the islands of the earth have responded to it. In the Philippines, 132,496 tell others about the glories of Jehovah’s kingship. On the islands that make up Japan, 222,857 share in that happy service. Even islands where there are just a few inhabitants are having opportunity to rejoice in the good news of God’s Kingdom.
Kindness shown by a young pioneer brother in Samoa helped to overcome prejudice toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. He went to the outpatient clinic at the local hospital, was given a number, and was told to wait for his turn to see the doctor. However, when his number was called, he was sitting next to an elderly woman who seemed sicker than most of the others present, so the brother kindly asked the nurse if he could give up his turn to this woman and then take hers. The nurse was surprised but agreed. By the time the brother was again called, one of the chiefs (matai) from his village had come and was sitting next to him. Since the man was sicker than our brother, the brother again forfeited his turn in order to allow this man to see the doctor without delay. Later on, our brother met the elderly woman again, this time in the market. She was very happy to see him and asked if he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. On receiving an affirmative answer, she said that she had been unreceptive when the Witnesses had called on her in the past, but now she knows that they truly love their neighbors. Her address was obtained, and a regular Bible study was started. What about the village chief? He explained to the pioneer’s father that while he previously had no respect for the Witnesses, he now welcomes them to his home. He came to the Memorial and said: “What you start off disliking, you can end up liking.”
Is it practical to try to start Bible studies in business territory? Sometimes it is. A special pioneer in Cyprus was regularly delivering the magazines to a businessman. When the man expressed appreciation for what he was reading, the pioneer demonstrated the Bible study arrangement, using the Require brochure. The study is held right there at the man’s place of work, but taking into account the circumstances, the pioneer limits it to 10 or 15 minutes each time.
In Guadeloupe special emphasis has been given to street witnessing. With a publisher-to-population ratio of 1 to 55, is street witnessing really needed? More and more, when at home, people are engrossed in watching satellite and cable television. It is easier to get them to stop and listen to the good news when they are away from home. A circuit overseer reported that a group of 15 publishers doing street witnessing in St. Martin distributed 250 magazines, as well as tracts, in about two hours. Of course, some who gladly accept literature may say they are too busy to talk. But when circumstances in life stimulate a person’s spiritual appetite, priorities may change. Thus, in the city of Les Abymes, such a person was full of questions after her father died. Now she wanted to study almost every day—first using the Require brochure, then the Knowledge book. She also does research in the Reasoning book and writes out cited scriptures on a sheet of paper. She says she feels “like the king in Israel who made his own copy of the Scriptures.” She has come to the conclusion that perhaps “all so-called Christian religions have the Bible, but only one puts it into practice—Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Hatsuko is a single parent in Japan who is bringing up two children. To support her family financially, she holds two jobs. What time does she have to witness to others about Jehovah and his loving purpose for mankind? It takes her about 20 minutes to go to each of her places of work by bicycle. She decided to use that time every day to witness. She speaks to people she meets—passersby, customers at vending machines, delivery people, construction workers, and so on. At first it took great effort because she is shy. She decided that rather than talk at length herself, it would be better for her to let the magazines talk. Also, by praying before going out, she gradually found it easier to talk to people. She has continued to witness in this way for the past two years and now places 200 to 300 magazines each month, including those she places on her magazine route on the streets.
The video Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Organization Behind the Name has been a powerful instrument in developing people’s appreciation for the organization that Jehovah is using. A woman in Australia had received the Society’s magazines and other literature for a period of five years. Then one week the Witnesses left the video for her to watch. On the next visit, she invited the publishers into the house. The woman had watched the video and been moved to tears. She had trusted the Witnesses that visited her, but now she felt that she could trust the organization too. That day a formal study of the Knowledge book was started with her, and the next week she attended meetings at the Kingdom Hall.
Whom do people ask for advice? Sometimes it is a newspaper or magazine columnist. A pioneer in New Caledonia realized that one such query to a secular magazine had been nicely answered in an issue of Awake! She wrote to the inquirer and sent her letter to the publisher of the magazine, with the request that it be forwarded. She said that she had valuable information on the subject, cited the theme, listed some of the subheadings, included a few choice quotations, and offered to share the material. Soon an answer came, the magazine was sent, and this opened the way to provide further spiritual help.
Publishers in Ireland are meeting people in their territory who have come from Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Orient. A Belfast congregation arranged for a public talk and Watchtower Study to be held in Mandarin Chinese. There were 22 interested persons present. This came about as a result of the good work being done by a missionary couple among Chinese people who are either working or going to college in Belfast. Since 1993 the missionaries have conducted Bible studies with 75 persons from 17 provinces in China and from various cities in Taiwan. Contact has been maintained with many interested ones after they have returned to China. On one occasion a couple were enjoying a Bible study; then the wife had to return to China, saddened because she thought that she would not be able to continue her Bible study there. However, some weeks later the husband excitedly related that he had received a message from his wife saying that Witnesses had called one day while she was at work and had left a note saying: “Your friends in Ireland asked us to call. We will call again.” And they did! Another couple wrote from China: “We miss you very much. There have been so many things worth remembering, but we must say that the most valuable thing has been to study the Bible with you. It seems that the Bible is now the cornerstone in our life.”
[Pictures on page 49]
(1) Mozambique, (2) Senegal, (3) New Caledonia, (4) Bolivia
Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times
p. 65
Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times
Britain
If you live where the good news has been preached for many years, what opportunity is there today to have a meaningful ministry? Jehovah’s Witnesses have been preaching in Britain for 118 years. Yet, many doors of opportunity continue to be open for British Witnesses who put the doing of Jehovah’s will first. Much can be learned from the spirit they show.
Czech Republic
For 46 years Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned in what is now the Czech Republic. The tests of loyalty that they faced furnish many lessons that can benefit every true Christian. During those years of oppression, Jehovah continued to sustain his people spiritually. The things that he provided and the ways in which he did this are marvelous indeed.
Madagascar
Many plants and animals that are found nowhere else on earth thrive in Madagascar. But of even greater importance to Jehovah’s Witnesses are the people who show an interest in the Creator of these things. On this Big Red Island, attendance at the annual Memorial of Christ’s death grew from 7 in 1956 to 46,392 in 1999.
Britain
pp. 67–72
Britain
At its peak the British Empire spanned the world. In the days of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), it was said that “the sun never set” on its realm. During the 20th century, however, that great empire came to be replaced by the Commonwealth of Nations.
How extensive is the Commonwealth? It covers about one fourth of the land surface of the earth and includes about one fourth of its population. Although politically independent, the 53 members of the Commonwealth acknowledge Britain’s Queen as the symbolic head of their cultural and economic association.
During the past 50 years, immigrants from these countries and others have transformed Britain itself. It has become a cosmopolitan society of some 58 million inhabitants.
Multiracial, Multifaith
On June 22, 1948, the Empire Windrush, a converted troopship, docked at Tilbury, near London, and 492 Jamaicans stepped ashore—the first of a quarter of a million Caribbean immigrants. These happy, lively West Indians had heartfelt respect for the Bible. But they were shocked to discover that many of the British no longer professed a deep faith in God. What had brought about the change? People were sickened by religion’s involvement in the senseless slaughter during the two world wars. In addition, faith in the Bible had been seriously undermined by critics who held that science and religion were incompatible.
Since the 1960’s, Indians, Pakistanis and, more recently, people from Bangladesh have thronged to Britain’s shores. The 1970’s saw many Asians who had been living in East Africa seek a haven here. From outside the Commonwealth, Greek and Turkish Cypriots arrived, also Poles and Ukrainians. Following the 1956 revolution in Hungary, 20,000 refugees fled from there to Britain. More recently, Vietnamese, Kurds, Chinese, Eritreans, Iraqis, Iranians, Brazilians, and Colombians, among others, have taken up residence here. By the mid-1990’s, 6 out of every 100 residents of Britain belonged to an ethnic minority.
Nowhere is this more evident than in London, the capital of Britain. Visitors who walk the streets, travel on the double-decker buses, or ride trains in the underground tube, or subway, quickly notice the multiracial mix of the city’s residents. Indeed, nearly one quarter of the population of London has come from overseas. Reflecting this diversity, schools now offer children education that accommodates various religious preferences—among them, Christian, Muslim, and Hindu. This does not mean that Britain is especially religious. To the contrary, at this point in history, the vast majority of Britain’s population takes a largely secular, materialistic view of life.
In contrast, there are more than 126,000 of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain. They too come from diverse backgrounds. However, they firmly believe in God—not a nameless deity, but Jehovah, who warmly invites people of all national backgrounds to walk in his ways and benefit themselves by applying his loving counsel. (Ex. 34:6; Isa. 48:17, 18; Acts 10:34, 35; Rev. 7:9, 10) Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize the Bible to be God’s inspired Word. They have deep faith in God’s provision for salvation through Jesus Christ. Their hopes for the future are built around God’s Kingdom and the Bible’s teaching that God’s purpose is for the earth to become Paradise. (Gen. 1:28; 2:8, 9; Matt. 6:10; Luke 23:43) They zealously proclaim this good news to others. Their earnest desire is to “do all things for the sake of the good news” so that they might share it with others.—1 Cor. 9:23; Matt. 24:14.
How did the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses get started in this part of the world?
Sharing With Others
During the last two decades of the 19th century, Britain was in the throes of urbanization. From the villages of rural England, Scotland, and Wales, people flocked to towns and cities. The traditional craftsmen were joined by many unskilled and semiskilled laborers. After 1870, compulsory school education heralded an age in which knowledge would be readily available to more people.
In 1881, J. C. Sunderlin and J. J. Bender—two close associates of Charles T. Russell, who was then taking the lead in the work of the Watch Tower Society—arrived from the United States of America. They brought a message that has changed the lives of thousands in Britain for the better. One starting in Scotland and the other in England, they distributed the heart-stirring publication Food for Thinking Christians. In London, a railroad shunter, Tom Hart, accepted a copy on his way home from work early one morning. What he read awoke his interest and led to many discussions about Christ’s return. Impelled by what he had learned, Tom enthusiastically shared his newfound knowledge with his wife and his workmates. Soon this small group, who became known as Bible Students, began distributing tracts to passersby in their neighborhood. Similar groups sprang up in other cities throughout Britain. All of these were keen to spread Bible truths.
By 1891, when C. T. Russell personally made his first visit to Britain, interest in the Bible’s message moved about 150 persons in London and a similar number in Liverpool to attend a lecture on the subject “Come Out of Her, My People”—that is, come out of religions that bear the imprint of ancient Babylon. (Rev. 18:4, King James Version) “England, Ireland and Scotland are fields ready and waiting to be harvested,” Brother Russell reported. The work of sharing the good news with others proved fruitful, and by the turn of the century, ten small Christian congregations had been formed. To make spiritual food in the form of Bible publications more readily available to them, the Watch Tower Society established an office in London.
First Branch Office
In 1900, E. C. Henninges, another close associate of C. T. Russell, arrived at the port of Liverpool, in the northwest of England, and traveled to London in search of premises to lease for use as a literature depot. On April 23 he secured property at 131 Gipsy Lane, Forest Gate, in the east of London. There the first branch office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society began operating. Now, a century later, there are more than 100 of such branch offices in strategic locations throughout the world.
On June 30, 1914, a new legal servant for Jehovah’s organization in Britain—the International Bible Students Association—was incorporated in London. At that time the Britain branch cared for the Kingdom work throughout the British Isles, including Ireland. Since 1966, however, the whole of Ireland has been supervised by a separate branch located first in Dublin and now to the south of it.
International Moves
The interest of the brothers in Britain was not limited to the British field. They knew that Jesus Christ had foretold that the good news of God’s Kingdom would be preached in all the inhabited earth before the end would come. (Matt. 24:14) During the 1920’s and early 1930’s, many brothers from Britain sought to expand their field of preaching by taking up missionary work in other lands. It was a big move, and Jehovah blessed their self-sacrificing spirit.
In 1926, Edwin Skinner left Sheffield, in the northern part of England, to serve in India. His humility helped him to persevere in that assignment for 64 years, until his death in 1990. Unforgettable and loving William Dey from Scotland, an inspector of taxes and quite a wealthy man, gave up both his position and his pension to become branch manager of the Society’s new Northern European Office, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Soon afterward, Fred Gabler accepted Brother Dey’s invitation and traveled to Lithuania, there to be joined by Percy Dunham, who later went on to serve in Latvia. Wallace Baxter took oversight of the work in Estonia. Claude Goodman, Ron Tippin, Randall Hopley, Gerald Garrard, Clarence Taylor, and a host of others from Britain pioneered the work in Asia. Another Scot, George Phillips, served for many years in South Africa. Robert and George Nisbet, also from Scotland, pioneered in East and South Africa.
Stalwarts Help on the Continent
In the 1930’s, many British pioneers answered a call for assistance in publishing the good news in Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal. John and Eric Cooke were among these.
Arthur and Annie Cregeen recall their activity where there were no congregations in the south of France. They met up with Polish brothers who manifested great zeal and hospitality. Annie remembers the time when they invited the brothers to their accommodation at Le Grand Hôtel de l’Europe, in the town of Albi. “The building may have been grand in Napoleon’s day,” she later wrote, but its glory had faded. She continued: “The group arrived Sunday afternoon, and we had a fascinating study of The Watchtower. Five different nationalities, each with the magazine in its own language, and the common means of communication was ‘Pidgin French.’ We read the paragraph in our own magazine in turn and explained in our broken French what we’d read. But what a good time we all had!”
Sadly, such happy times in foreign service did not last. John Cooke, then in southern France, stayed as long as he could. He finally cycled out and was evacuated to England just before German tanks rolled in. The outbreak of World War II, on September 1, 1939, had led to conflict between Britain and Germany, with serious repercussions for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain and elsewhere.
As the nations plunged into all-out war against one another, Jehovah’s Witnesses took a firm stand as Christian neutrals. They clearly understood that obedience to God ought to take priority in a person’s life. (Acts 5:29) Since they sincerely prayed for God’s Kingdom to come and knew what Jesus Christ said about the identity of the ruler of the world, they firmly believed that it would be wrong for them to favor one side or the other in a conflict between factions of the world. (Matt. 6:10; John 14:30; 17:14) Jehovah’s Witnesses personally took to heart what the Bible says about ‘not learning war anymore.’ (Isa. 2:2-4) At first, some of them in Britain were exempted as conscientious objectors to war. Later, however, both judges and the media claimed that people became Witnesses in order to avoid joining the armed forces. As a result, some 4,300 were thrown into prison. This number included many sisters who refused to do work that supported the war effort. Following the war, however, the Witnesses continued to demonstrate that what motivated them was the desire to please God and to advertise his Kingdom as the only hope for humankind. (More details regarding the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain during those early days can be found in the 1973 Yearbook.)
A Two-Language Convention in England
Through the years, conventions have been a highlight in the lives of Jehovah’s people. On one occasion, key convention discourses delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Society were conveyed by radio to many other lands from a convention in London. Delegates from more than 50 foreign lands attended conventions in London during the 1950’s and 1960’s. But everything on the program was in English. That changed in 1971.
Preparations were well in hand for the “Divine Name” District Assembly to be held at Twickenham, London, that year. In Europe the Witnesses were preparing to attend conventions with the same theme. Although the Kingdom work was still under ban in Portugal, thousands there prepared to travel through Spain to Toulouse, France. Their spirits were high. Then news came of a cholera outbreak in Spain. Only those vaccinated against cholera could travel through that country. However, there was insufficient vaccine available for all from Portugal who wanted to attend the convention. When a case of suspected cholera was discovered in Toulouse itself, the authorities issued a firm cancellation order. What were the Portuguese brothers to do now? One brother said: “Well, there is always London.”
W. J. (Bill) Bull, Twickenham convention overseer, a brother known for his calm, friendly attitude, recalls what happened. “Some 800 to 900 made their way to Britain, 112 arriving by plane and the rest by coach. We had less than a week to prepare for this influx. Brothers traveled to Dover to welcome the Portuguese delegates who arrived by ferry, most of whom spoke little or no English.” Accommodations were found for them all, mainly in the homes of the London brothers. One of the large cafeteria marquees was transformed into a suitable venue for Portuguese sessions, and the Portuguese happily joined their British brothers to view such convention dramas as Jehovah Blesses the Loyal Ones and Make Jehovah’s Purpose Your Way of Life and to listen to other portions of the program. A local newspaper, the Middlesex Chronicle, reported on August 13, 1971: “Their arrival made this the first bilingual Witness convention ever held in this country.”
The Portuguese brothers gave delightful reports on the progress of the Kingdom work in their land, after which a brother overseeing the work in Portugal addressed the convention to thank the British brothers for their hospitality. “You have given us so much,” he said, “your time, your home, your attention, your kindness, your tender care in this gigantic city and, most of all, your love. Be assured, brothers, London will always bring back the most pleasant memories.” When the Portuguese brothers expressed their thanks in song, there was hardly a dry eye anywhere in the audience, so touched were all present by the expressions of heartfelt gratitude.
Introducing Them to Jehovah’s Loving Family
It was not only at convention time that attention was needed by people whose native tongue was not English. The immigrant population in Britain was growing. This presented a challenge in connection with the preaching of the good news. What could be done?
English-speaking publishers were eager to help those who had come from other nations and who spoke other languages. Where possible, the Witness would endeavor to offer the householder something to read in his own language. But communication was a problem. However, among those who came from abroad were some of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and this helped to bridge the gap.
In the 1960’s, Greek-speaking Witnesses who had come from Cyprus were busy sharing the truth with others in England who spoke Greek. Italian Witnesses were sharing Bible truth with their fellow countrymen who had moved to London.
A young German Witness named Franziska arrived in England in the spring of 1968 to work as an au pair, a girl who does domestic work in return for room and board and the opportunity to learn the family’s language. After attending the “Good News for All Nations” District Assembly that year, she enthusiastically enlarged her share in the field ministry and presented the newly released book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life to other au pair girls living nearby. As a result, she started four Bible studies. One of these students was a Swiss girl with whom Franziska studied in German. When the girl began to attend the meetings of the congregation, she could see for herself the love in Jehovah’s household. (John 13:35) By the following year, this interested girl had made such good progress that she dedicated her life to Jehovah and got baptized. She later became a pioneer and even helped her own mother to accept the truth. But this was only the start of Franziska’s efforts to witness to au pair girls.
“Whenever I call from house to house and meet an au pair girl,” Franziska relates enthusiastically, “I tell her that I was an au pair girl once. Immediately, we have a common bond. What I always emphasize is that when I came to England, I didn’t know anybody apart from one sister. Nevertheless, I was made to feel welcome in the congregation. So I always try to get them quickly involved with the congregation so that they can see that we are one big family.”
In 1974, Franziska married Philip Harris, and together they now serve at London Bethel and with the Northwood Congregation. Franziska has been visiting one house in that territory for over 13 years. She explains: “Bethel received a letter from a French au pair girl asking for a Witness to call. Witnesses in France had given her the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, and she wanted to know more. Although her English was still limited, I could see that Nathalie was thirsting for the truth. She made good progress and soon attended meetings.” Before returning to France, Nathalie became a Kingdom publisher, and now she and her husband serve as pioneers in the Arabic field there.
The family who employed these au pair girls had a system. Before one au pair girl left, the next one would arrive. For a few days, the former au pair girl taught the new employee the jobs to be done in the home. When Nathalie was about to leave, Franziska advised: “Before you return to France, tell the next au pair girl how the Bible study has really helped you, and see if she’s interested.” The next au pair girl was Isabelle, also from France, and, yes, she was interested. Franziska studied with her too. Isabelle was followed by a second Nathalie, who soon began to attend meetings. When she returned to France, she got baptized as well.
Another girl, Gabriela, came from Poland. She had never had any meaningful contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and she told Franziska that she did not like Germans because of the bad reputation they had in Poland. Franziska explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses never engaged in warfare. “During World War II, you would never have found any of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the army,” she reasoned. “Did you know that we were persecuted? We were in concentration camps because we refused to heil Hitler and to support the Nazi regime.” Gabriela expressed amazement, and her anti-German feelings soon disappeared. Following a regular Bible study with Franziska, Gabriela became an unbaptized publisher and later symbolized her dedication to Jehovah at a convention in Twickenham. Over the years, Franziska has conducted Bible studies with 25 au pair girls from ten different countries and has had the joy of introducing them to Jehovah’s loving family.
Meetings in Their Own Language
Of course, not everyone could make rapid progress in the truth by studying the Bible in English or by attending meetings in what to him might be a foreign language. What could be done?
When Greek-speaking Witnesses from Cyprus began to find interest among their fellow countrymen in England, arrangements were made in London for some meetings to be held in Greek. By 1966 they began to benefit from a regular Congregation Book Study in their language; then a monthly public talk was added. In 1967 the first Greek congregation in London was formed, and another Greek group began to hold meetings in Birmingham.
The Italians began with a public talk and a Watchtower Study at the Islington Kingdom Hall in London in 1967. This was followed by more Italian meetings in other locations. Here is an example of how things developed: Vera (Vee) Young started to study the Bible with an Italian lady in Enfield, north London. As her appreciation grew, she commented: “It’s a pity that there isn’t something in Italian for some of my friends.” This prompted Vee’s husband, Geoff, to speak to a circuit overseer. Together they found a Greek-speaking brother who had served as a pioneer in Italy. “I gave the talk in English,” Geoff relates, “and the Greek brother interpreted it into Italian.” About 30 persons attended, and some of them made good spiritual progress. In time the Italian-speaking Witnesses were ready to form a congregation. Since then, on an average, a new Italian congregation has been added every five years.
Growth continued in the Greek field. In 1975, arrangements were made for them to enjoy an assembly. At that time Geoff and Vee Young were pioneers in their late 40’s. Their two children were grown, and both had married “in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:39) Since Geoff and Vee no longer had elderly parents to care for, they were in a position to accept other privileges of service. To Geoff’s surprise, he received an assignment to organize an assembly for all the Greek-speaking brothers living in Britain. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Geoff recalls. “When I arrived at the assembly site, to my untrained eye, it appeared that there was a civil war going on!” Perhaps it was just a conservative Briton observing Greek exuberance. The Greek brothers were simply explaining to one another the best way to go about the work. Over 400 attended that assembly.
Other language groups also developed. In 1975 a Spanish congregation began to function. In London, the first public talk in Gujarati was given in 1977. Two years later, a small Gujarati assembly was held. At about the same time, a Punjabi circuit assembly was held, with an attendance of some 250.
“A Fine Body of People”
During the early years, the larger conventions were often held in London. By the 1960’s, annual conventions were being held in cities of various sizes throughout the country. Sometimes, there were just four; other years, smaller facilities were used, and the number of conventions ran up to 17. Soccer stadiums, auditoriums, and an ice rink were rented. In 1975, an effort was made to hold a convention at Cardiff Arms Park, in Wales.
Though the fine reputation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is known in most of Britain, officials who are responsible for sports stadiums and who have not experienced firsthand such large gatherings of the Witnesses may at first be wary of renting their facilities to them. That was true in the case of Cardiff Arms Park. Negotiations started with the Rugby Union Board in Wales. Lord Wakefield, then chairman of Rugby Union Football for the whole of Britain, had kindly told our brothers that if they experienced any difficulties in their negotiations at the board meeting in Cardiff, they should ask the board members to telephone him. How grateful the brothers were to have such help! As the negotiations reached a critical point, a telephone call to Lord Wakefield succeeded in breaking the impasse. Jehovah’s Witnesses had been holding conventions at Twickenham, in London, since 1955, and Lord Wakefield explained to his colleagues in Wales how much he and his board had appreciated having the Witnesses use the Twickenham facilities each summer. He assured them that they had nothing to worry about, adding: “What a fine body of people the Witnesses are!” A deal was quickly concluded, and for many years the Witnesses have used Cardiff Arms Park as a regular convention venue in Wales.
Assembly Halls of Our Own
In addition to annual conventions, we also hold smaller assemblies during the year. In 1969 the number of Kingdom proclaimers in Britain was 55,876, but within four years those sharing the good news with others increased to 65,348. Up till then, halls had been hired to accommodate our circuit assemblies, but it was becoming more and more difficult to find suitable locations at reasonable prices.
By the 1970’s, it was obvious that we needed our own assembly halls. Meetings of responsible brothers were held, and the search for suitable sites got under way. At first they planned in terms of renovating existing buildings. Early in 1975 they negotiated the purchase of a vacant movie theater in Manchester, in northern England. After months of renovation, the first Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in England was dedicated on August 31. It was ready just in time for the new program of circuit assemblies starting in September.
Two years before this, in the southeastern part of the country, assembly overseers had met to consider how they could obtain a hall in London. Denis Cave, a member of the committee assigned to locate a suitable building, remembers the shock he felt when the assembled brothers unanimously agreed to look for not one but two halls—one north of the River Thames and the other south of the river—and this despite the high cost of property in the area!
An unused cinema in the town of Dorking, 20 miles [30 km] south of London, seemed a good possibility. But real estate speculators moved in and offered a high price for the building. At first disheartened, Denis received a surprise when the town’s chief executive phoned him and requested that he and another Witness attend a meeting. In addition to lifting planning restrictions so that the building could be used for worship, the authorities agreed to purchase the cinema and then offer it to the brothers on an indefinite lease renewable every three years.
That hall served well for over a decade, until the town decided to make other use of the building. To replace it, the brothers obtained a 28-acre [11 ha] site not far from London’s Gatwick Airport. It included buildings that could be incorporated into a fine Assembly Hall structure. Local controversy arose over access to the new building by means of some narrow country lanes. Understandably, nearby residents wished to protect their privacy and remain as undisturbed as possible. Would the Witnesses respect directions to follow carefully designated routes and speeds when they traveled to the Assembly Hall? A news report of the local Planning Committee meeting stated: “In normal cases, the committee felt, it would be impossible to enforce such conditions. But the Jehovah’s Witnesses were different.” The Committee chairman added: “Many other groups or organisations would like to say that their members will comply in this way. But this is the way this organisation operates.” This new Surrey Assembly Hall at Hays Bridge opened with a circuit assembly on May 17 and 18, 1986, exactly one year after the site had been acquired.
Simultaneous with the work on the Dorking Assembly Hall in 1975, the Witnesses in north London refurbished the former Ritz Cinema in New Southgate. This mid-1930’s building had closed as a cinema in the spring of 1974. For a short while, it was a synagogue. When the Witnesses acquired it, the building was in an “acute state of disrepair,” according to Roger Dixon, an architect. “The structure was basically sound but not waterproof,” he recalls. “To disguise the dilapidated condition, the interior of the auditorium had been painted black!” The task of renovating it proved daunting at first. Nevertheless, some 2,000 skilled and semiskilled volunteers completed the job in just four and a half months.
At the same time, work was under way on an Assembly Hall in the West Midlands. In 1974 the brothers had managed to purchase a former movie theater in Dudley. Renovation of this facility took longer, but by September 1976 it too was ready for use.
Building New Assembly Halls
The increase in Kingdom publishers continued, from 71,944 in 1974 to 92,616 in 1984. Many were located in the heavily industrialized urban areas in the north of England. Plans were made to build a hall in South Yorkshire.
Construction began in September 1985 on what has come to be known as the East Pennine Assembly Hall. It is a steel-frame structure seating 1,642 persons, with a 350-seat Kingdom Hall for the local congregation. The building was designed with a roof that has a 42-meter [138 foot] span, making it most attractive. The magazine The Structural Engineer dubbed this unusual design “the octagonal solution.” Rotherham Borough Council awarded the Assembly Hall their top design prize.
Noble Bower, a member of the project committee, worked on the site from the beginning and later served as the hall’s first overseer. His jovial but no-nonsense demeanor encouraged the more than 12,500 brothers and sisters who helped during the 14-month construction period. To make it possible for the work to continue through freezing fog, subzero temperatures, and snow, the brothers erected a scaffold frame around the area to support a protective plastic sheet. Into this, industrial heaters blew hot air. Nothing stopped the work on this important project. Brothers from far afield came to encourage the volunteer workers.
For Noble and his wife Louie, the most unforgettable day was when the Assembly Hall was dedicated to Jehovah, on November 15, 1986, during a visit by Theodore Jaracz, a member of the Governing Body.
With Assembly Halls in the north of England, the Midlands, and the southeast, what could be provided to accommodate the brothers in the western part of England and Wales? In October 1987 a suitable piece of land was located at Almondsbury, north of the city of Bristol. But the needed zoning permits were not obtained easily. Repeated efforts were required until permission was finally granted in February 1993.
Construction then moved ahead in earnest. What a joy it was when, on August 5, 1995, the time arrived for the dedication of this, the sixth Assembly Hall in England! John Barr of the Governing Body spoke on the theme “Filling the Earth With the Knowledge of Jehovah.” All present appreciated his kindly reminder: “Never forget that your territory forms just a small part of Jehovah’s footstool. He is just as interested in your part of the earth as in any other, so keep in mind the worldwide scope of the Kingdom work.”
The very next week, Brother Barr spoke at the dedication of a new Kingdom Hall complex at Edgware, north London. Here the brothers had built a fine structure comprising three Kingdom Halls with dividing walls that would fold away to open the whole area into an Assembly Hall that could be used by the foreign-language congregations. By this time the response in the foreign-language field had added a significant dimension to Kingdom preaching in Britain.
“Always Wanted to Do More”
For some Witnesses, sharing the good news with others has included looking for ways to expand their ministry. Commendably, many British brothers and sisters have taken steps to reach out and serve where there is a greater need. As was true of many zealous pioneers in the 1920’s and 1930’s, this has often meant moving to another land. Moving abroad has enabled these brothers and sisters to produce Kingdom fruitage in their new home and at the same time encourage the local brothers. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, families from Britain moved to Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
At the age of 57, Vera Bull, whose two daughters were grown and married, sold her home on the Isle of Wight and went to Colombia with a group of young pioneers from the Ealing Congregation in London. She quickly learned Spanish and soon was conducting 18 Bible studies. Some 30 years later, she is still serving there, surrounded by many spiritual children.
Tom and Ann Cooke, together with their daughters, Sara and Rachel, had already served in Uganda for a number of years when conditions there made necessary their return to England in 1974. The following year they were on the move again—this time to Papua New Guinea. There Sara married a special pioneer. Later the family transferred to Australia, where Rachel married a fellow Witness. In 1991, Tom and Ann took up a new assignment in the Solomon Islands, where Tom serves as Branch Committee coordinator.
For others, their move abroad has been for a more limited period. Nevertheless, whatever experience they gained from life overseas has proved invaluable to them. Barry and Jeanette Rushby are two of these.
“Ever since I’ve been in the truth, I’ve always wanted to do more,” said Barry. When he married Jeanette, a pioneer sister, the two of them responded to an appeal in Our Kingdom Service for brothers to serve in Papua New Guinea. “It was an answer to our prayers,” they both acknowledged. The brothers at the branch in Port Moresby wanted them to serve in Goroka, in the center of the country, but Barry’s work permit was valid only for the island of Bougainville. On their arrival in Papua New Guinea, how delighted they were to learn that the authorities had changed Barry’s work permit and assigned him to Goroka!
Barry took up his post as a schoolteacher, and Jeanette pioneered with the congregation of 18 publishers. “One of the things I learned,” Barry recalls, “was that when it was time to attend the congregation meetings, nothing distracted the brothers, not even the extreme weather of the rainy season. They had no vehicles, and they often walked one or two hours to the meetings, entering the Kingdom Hall absolutely drenched! But they were always there.”
After Barry and Jeanette had spent six happy years serving in Papua New Guinea, conditions changed for foreigners. Barry decided that it would be wise for them to return to Britain. However, with their experiences abroad, they were determined that now both of them would be in full-time service. But where? They wanted to serve where there was a special need. After consulting with the Society and their circuit overseer, they moved to Boston in Lincolnshire. They quickly found a place to live, but Barry could not find part-time work that would allow him to pioneer with Jeanette. Nevertheless, with faith in the promise of Jehovah’s help if they put the Kingdom first, they decided to start pioneering on September 1—whether Barry had a job or not! On September 1, they had their overcoats on and were about to leave for field service when the telephone rang. A Post Office official asked: “Would you like a part-time job?” Barry replied: “Wonderful! When would you like me to start?” The man answered: “How about tomorrow?” Jehovah had blessed their efforts to put his service first. (Matt. 6:33) Four years later, another unexpected call came for Barry and Jeanette—an assignment to care for the operation of the East Pennine Assembly Hall.
Offering Themselves Willingly
The spirit of willingness to serve is characteristic of Jehovah’s people. King David of ancient Israel sang to Jehovah: “Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. . . . You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.” (Ps. 110:3) That willing spirit is demonstrated by many in Britain who have made themselves available to share fully in promoting the interests of true worship.
All who were giving of themselves in full-time service, both young and old, were greatly encouraged by an announcement made at the “Joyful Workers” District Assemblies, in 1977. At the seven convention locations throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, a total of 110,000 persons applauded with delight when the speaker announced the arrangements for the Pioneer Service School, which offers a two-week course of Bible study coupled with opportunities for application in the field ministry. It provides advanced training for those who already have at least one year of experience in the pioneer service. After receiving this training, some of these pioneers are able to help open up territories where little or no witnessing has been done.
The school was launched in Britain in March 1978 in the northern city of Leeds. Ann Hardy, one of the pioneers attending that first class, remembers what a happy time it was. “We were so built up spiritually,” she recalls. “The school certainly gave us new insight into the need to take a real interest in the people we meet in our field ministry.” With her husband, she now serves as a member of the Bethel family. Andrea Biggs, a mother of four who attended the school in Pontypridd, Wales, exclaims: “If that is a taste of things to come, then Jehovah has a real treat in store for us, and now I long for that new system as never before!” Some 740 classes have been held to date, and the 20,000 pioneers who have attended agree with those sentiments. Not a few, after attending the school, determined to make the pioneer service their career.
After gaining experience in pioneer service, hundreds have volunteered to serve at the Britain branch as members of the Bethel family. There are currently 393 in this Bethel family, and 38 of these have been serving at Bethel for 20 years or more.
Among those serving at Bethel is Christopher Hill. Why did he apply for this service? He answers: “I started to pioneer in 1989. But I wanted to prove to Jehovah and to myself that I was in full-time service because I loved him and not simply because my mother and father were pioneers. I wanted the truth to be my whole life, not just a part of it. I knew that Bethel service, while being a challenge, would enable me to do that.”
Geraint Watkin is also a member of the Bethel family. In the early 1980’s, he turned down a university education in favor of pioneer service. He supported himself with part-time work on his father’s farm. He enjoyed the pioneer work and hoped that someday he might become a missionary. So why did he apply for Bethel service? An article in The Watchtower in 1989 deeply influenced him. There he read the life story of Max Larson, a member of the Bethel family in the United States. Brother Larson said: “I firmly believe that Bethel is the best place on earth this side of the coming earthly Paradise.” Geraint noticed that, after requesting an application for Bethel service, Brother Larson had kept the matter before Jehovah in prayer. Geraint promptly followed that example. About ten days later, he received a phone call inviting him to become a member of the Bethel family in Britain. In Bethel service, he uses experience he gained on his father’s farm to care for a farm that supplies food for the Bethel family in London. At one time farming was simply a means for him to support himself in the pioneer work. He views the farming he now does as his “Bethel assignment from Jehovah.”
Theocratic construction projects attracted other Witnesses. While Denise (Teddy) McNeil pioneered, her husband, Gary, did secular work to provide for the household. Then in 1987 they both volunteered to help with Bethel construction in London. Though they did not receive an invitation at that time, in 1989 they were invited to become members of the Bethel family. With the circuit overseer’s counsel, “Never turn down an assignment from Jehovah,” ringing in their ears, they accepted. There Gary’s electronic skills and Teddy’s background as a dental nurse have proved most valuable. They have also shared in developing interest in the Polish- and Bengali-speaking fields in the London area.
Willie and Betty Stewart, as well as others, offered to help with construction as international volunteers. Willie, a plumber and a heating engineer, took an early retirement at 55 years of age. The Stewarts then shared in construction projects in Greece, and later in Spain, Zimbabwe, and Malta. Betty helped with housekeeping, laundry, and even some plumbing. They worked hard, and they felt richly rewarded spiritually. Says Willie: “We have made friends all over the world and from all age groups.”
Special Training for Qualified Brothers
Another door to enlarged service opportunities opened in 1990 with the inauguration of the Ministerial Training School in Britain. Here was a further opportunity for single brothers who were serving as elders or ministerial servants to receive specialized schooling, with a view to serving wherever they might be needed in the global field. The eight-week school course nicely balances instruction in Bible teachings and organizational matters. The first class in Britain was held at the East Pennine Assembly Hall. Two district overseers from the United States, James Hinderer and Randall Davis, served as the instructors. Three experienced circuit overseers from Britain—Peter Nicholls, Ray Pople, and Michael Spurr—were also in the class, to receive training for teaching future classes. Addressing the graduating class on June 17, 1990, Albert D. Schroeder, of the Governing Body, said to those of the students who were being assigned to serve in Britain: “You fine young men are needed to develop the work here. This will be a real shot in the arm for the British field.”
Among the graduates of the Ministerial Training School is Bharat Ram, who came from a Hindu family. He is now married and serves with his wife in the northwest of England, where there are many Gujarati-speaking people for them to help. John Williams, from Wales, was surprised to be assigned to work at the branch in Zambia, where skills that he had were needed, and later to missionary service in Kitwe, Zambia.
Gordon Sarkodie, who was born in Ghana, moved to England with his family when he was 12 years old. While he was still a teenager, his interest in Bible truth was aroused by a Witness who delivered The Watchtower and Awake! to Gordon’s father. A Bible study led to his baptism in 1985. As an auxiliary pioneer, he was conducting so many Bible studies that his pioneer friends suggested that he enroll as a regular pioneer. When he attended the Pioneer Service School at the end of his first year of full-time service, the circuit overseer encouraged him to apply for the Ministerial Training School. Moved by a desire to be better able to assist young ones in the congregation, Gordon did apply. He attended the seventh class of the school in Britain. After graduation he served in London for two years. Then he was assigned to be a missionary in Zambia. He was willing to make himself available for whatever use Jehovah directed, so Gordon’s training progressively led to added privileges. After 12 weeks of training in Cibemba, one of the local languages, Gordon was appointed to be a circuit overseer in the Copperbelt Province. He has also had the privilege of training others for the circuit work.
British-born Richard Frudd was brought up by Witness parents. Having dedicated his life to Jehovah, he felt that he was in no position to lay down conditions on how far that dedication would go. He made himself available. In 1982 he enrolled as a pioneer. He applied for the Ministerial Training School and graduated in 1990. He too was assigned to Zambia. After studying Cibemba and gaining some experience in his new assignment, he was appointed to be a circuit overseer, and he has also served as an instructor in the Ministerial Training School held at the Zambia branch.
To date, 433 students have graduated from 19 classes of the Ministerial Training School in Britain. Of this number, 79 are at present serving abroad, 4 are serving as circuit overseers, 12 as Bethelites, and 308 are sharing the benefits of their training by serving as pioneers in Britain.
Moving Into Missionary Fields
Among the pioneers in Britain, hundreds have offered to serve wherever they may be needed in the world field. Many of them have been trained at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, in New York. Altogether, 524 from Britain have graduated from Gilead. They have served in 64 lands, in all parts of the earth.
Some British pioneers had already shared in foreign service before being invited to Gilead. That was true of John and Eric Cooke, who had served in France and Spain. After attending Gilead, Eric was sent to Africa, and John served first in Spain and Portugal, then in Africa. It was also true of Robert and George Nisbet, who had served in South Africa for 15 or more years before attending Gilead and thereafter served in Mauritius and later back on the African continent. Claude Goodman had already served for 20 years in India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Burma (now Myanmar), Thailand, and Malaya (now included in Malaysia) before he attended Gilead; then he was sent to Pakistan. Edwin Skinner had pioneered in India for 20 years before attending Gilead, and then he continued to serve in India for another 43 years until he finished his earthly course in 1990.
Others got a preliminary taste of foreign service by sharing as international volunteers on construction projects. That was true of Richard and Lusia Palmer, who had served for various periods in Greece, Tahiti, Spain, and Sri Lanka between 1989 and 1994 and then had stayed in Sri Lanka to pioneer for over three years until they were invited to Gilead.
Applicants for Gilead have been encouraged to view the missionary service as their life’s work. Most of them take up their assignments with that outlook, and some have set fine examples in this regard. At least 45 who went out from Britain and who are still in missionary assignments have been there for 20 years or more. Of these, 9 are in Central and South America, 11 in Asian lands, another 11 in Africa, 4 in Europe, and 10 more on various islands.
Included among the longtime missionaries is Anthony Attwood, who served for 49 years in Nigeria. He was transferred to London Bethel in 1997 because of certain immigration regulations, but his heart is still in Nigeria. He says: “Serving in Nigeria was a wonderful privilege. Those were years well spent. I encourage all young people who have been blessed with the truth to grasp every privilege that is placed before them. Jehovah will never let you down. I know that from experience.” Olive Springate, sent to Brazil in 1951 as a missionary, was joined by her sister Sonia in 1959. Denton Hopkinson and Raymond Leach arrived in the Philippines as missionaries in the early 1950’s, and that continues to be their home. Malcolm Vigo, who began his missionary service in Malawi and stayed there for ten years until deported, now serves in Nigeria with his wife. Many more could also be mentioned, and each one has had a life rich with blessings from Jehovah.
Some who undertake missionary service have had to grapple with serious problems in order to continue. After several years in missionary service in Brazil, Eric and Chris Britten were forced to return to England for a time because of illness. Later in the same year, they accepted an assignment in Portugal, where the work was under ban. When expelled from Portugal after seven years because of their work of Bible education, they continued in full-time service in England. But then they wrote to the Society to ask about the possibility of another missionary assignment. Soon they were back in Brazil, where they engaged in both missionary work and circuit work. They served faithfully together in Brazil until Eric died in August 1999; Chris continues to serve there.
After some years, Scriptural obligations toward family members may require an adjustment in one’s activity. That was true of Mike and Barbara Pottage, who served in Zaire for 26 years and then returned to England in 1991 in order to help an aged parent who was living in distressing circumstances. But their hearts were in the full-time service, and they managed to serve as special pioneers while caring for family responsibilities. In 1996 they were able to return to the missionary field for three more years in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, and they are currently members of the Bethel family in Britain. Since they first took up service in Zaire, they have seen the number of proclaimers of God’s Kingdom in that part of the world grow from 4,243 to more than 108,000. They have vivid memories of the time, about a year after their arrival, when Jehovah’s Witnesses were granted legal recognition in the country. And the first convention the following year, held in Kinshasa, though attended by just 3,817, is still a highlight to them. What a joy it was when in 1998, in spite of the unsettled conditions in the country, 534,000 who had benefited from divine teaching gathered to celebrate the Lord’s Evening Meal!
Providing Suitable Kingdom Halls
As the number of congregations in Britain continued to grow, providing suitable Kingdom Halls became an ongoing challenge. Some congregations met in hired halls and other locations, not all of which were appropriate for groups of Christians who come together to worship our magnificent God, Jehovah. Suitable meeting places were badly needed.
Obtaining property for Kingdom Halls has not always been easy. At times opposition has been quite intense, especially where religious prejudice exists. Nevertheless, reliance on Jehovah and perseverance on the part of responsible brothers has brought success, much to the surprise of opposers.
In the early 1970’s, one of the congregations in Swansea, Wales, offered to buy an unused chapel for use as a Kingdom Hall. A deacon of the church that owned the building said that he would rather die than see it sold to the Witnesses. As a result, the chapel was sold to the Post Office for use as a temporary telephone exchange. However, in 1980, when they no longer needed the building, the Post Office put it up for auction. One of the congregation elders learned about this and discussed with his fellow elders how much they could bid. A surveyor estimated that the building together with the land on which it stood was worth £20,000 ($32,000, US). How delighted the brothers were when they succeeded with a bid of £15,000 ($24,000, US)! After suitable renovation, the building was dedicated to Jehovah.
When increase within the congregation in the southwest seaside town of Exmouth led to formation of another congregation, the brothers decided that a new location was needed for a larger Kingdom Hall. They discovered that the district council owned a site already zoned for religious purposes. The Witnesses negotiated to purchase it. Then the council made the unusual stipulation that contracts for the sale of the land could not be completed until the building was finished. Construction was finished in 1997. Happily, the council kept its side of the bargain. The congregations that use the hall see it as evidence of Jehovah’s blessing on their efforts to promote the expansion of true worship in their area.
A First in Europe
Even when property could be obtained, construction of a new Kingdom Hall often took years. Yet, in the ten-year period ending in 1982, the number of congregations in Britain had increased from 943 to 1,147. Something needed to be done so that the building work could keep pace with the growth.
In September 1983 a group of brothers from the United States and Canada who were experienced in construction work arrived in Northampton, 63 miles [101 km] north of London. They had been dealing with the need for rapid construction and came to share the practical solutions that had been developed. They worked alongside the local brothers to help them build a new Kingdom Hall economically and quickly. “A group of Jehovah’s Witnesses have recently achieved in four days what the normal contractor would take six months to do,” reported Building Design magazine the following month, “and they’ve done it at a quarter of the cost.” Jehovah blessed the construction of this quickly built Kingdom Hall, the first of its kind in Europe.
The next year, over 1,000 volunteers helped to build a Kingdom Hall in the Welsh town of Dolgellau. This time the project was completed in two days instead of four. The 33 local Witnesses were assisted by others from Wales, England, and the United States. Brothers from France and the Netherlands were also on hand to see how it was done, and on their return home, they began to teach others how to follow similar methods.
The assistance by brothers from abroad benefited Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain, and they in turn offered to help others. Two congregations in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, did this in an unusual way. In 1986 the congregations were busy preparing to construct a new Kingdom Hall to replace the wooden building they had been using. When they heard that the Cobh Congregation, in Ireland, was holding meetings in a converted garage with 45 to 50 people present, they decided to help. They offered their old building with all its contents, including chairs and sound equipment, to the Witnesses in Cobh. When they found that the window frames needed replacing, local brothers donated enough to cover the cost. Nearby congregations contributed money for new roof trusses. On top of all of this, the Norfolk brothers paid all the shipping costs.
“The dismantling of the hall proved to be a formidable task,” recalls Peter Rose, a presiding overseer in King’s Lynn. “Each piece had to be removed without damage, individually numbered, and then reassembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle.” In May 1986, when they finished the dismantling, they packed all the pieces in a container and shipped them across the Irish Sea to Cobh. The brothers in Cobh planned to erect their new hall on the weekend of June 7 and 8—the very same time that the brothers in King’s Lynn were to build their new Kingdom Hall. Both Kingdom Halls were completed that weekend.
Providing Finances and Experienced Help
The British edition of Our Kingdom Ministry of April 1987 contained an insert that drew attention to the establishment of a Society Kingdom Hall Fund to “provide adequate low-cost financing” for both new construction and the purchase and remodeling of buildings. In this way an equalizing of resources was made possible. (2 Cor. 8:14) The article concluded: “Whilst recognizing the magnitude of the task at hand and appreciating the generous contributions congregations have made (and are making) to new Assembly Halls, we must fully trust in Jehovah to help us meet the present need for Kingdom Halls.—Prov. 3:5, 6.”
The following year, the Governing Body, through the branch office, arranged for committees of brothers to be available in various parts of the country to share their professional experience and to help organize the construction of Kingdom Halls. By 1998, sixteen Regional Building Committees had been appointed. These committees have already helped with construction and renovation of more than 700 Kingdom Halls in Britain.
The majority of the brothers who serve on these committees have families to care for. Some have been able to devote more time to this work; others, less. Michael Harvey, a father of five, with the cooperation of his wife, Jean, chose to put Kingdom Hall construction ahead of other things. Husband and wife have both learned the value of Jesus’ advice to keep the Kingdom first in their lives. (Matt. 6:33) “Jesus’ words have taken on a whole new meaning to us,” says Michael. “Jehovah has never ever let us down.” Jean agrees: “When Rachel, one of our daughters, was about nine years old, she was quickly growing out of her clothes. I didn’t have enough money to buy her anything new, so we were trying to make do by mending clothes and altering them to fit. Then, the day before our circuit assembly, Michael’s sister sent us two new outfits that she had bought on sale. They fitted Rachel perfectly—and it was perfect timing for the assembly!” While two of their sons share in the construction work, Jean and the girls keep house and care for some work connected with the building projects. “Our work on construction brings us together,” Michael explains. “Really, it’s a family project.”
For some Kingdom Halls built in the 1980’s, volunteers to do the work numbered in the hundreds, even thousands. With a view to simplifying the work, Brother Harvey traveled to Denmark to consult with brothers who were working on Kingdom Halls there. Further help came when the Society notified congregations that when new Kingdom Halls were needed, the Society could provide a selection of designs already prepared. As a result, fewer volunteers are needed, the amount of work has been greatly reduced, and modest but suitable Kingdom Halls have been built throughout Britain.
More Than a Good Story
The united effort to build a Kingdom Hall and the speed with which it is accomplished result in a fine witness to the public. Newspapers often report on what is done. In 1990, Victor Lagden, a photojournalist from the Evening Echo, a local newspaper, covered the three-day construction of a new hall on Canvey Island, on the north side of the Thames Estuary. When he arrived at the construction site on Friday morning, he found little more than building supplies. Pinned to the door of a trailer was a notice that read “Press Office.” “It was the only upright structure on the site at the time,” Victor recalls. “But what did make an impression on me were the construction workers—men and women, young and old, working together.” Victor took a photograph of the site and left. Then he asked his editor if he could return to the site at intervals over the weekend to see whether the Witnesses’ claim that they would build a hall within three days proved to be true. He and three other reporters covered the progress of the work.
On Sunday, Victor attended the very first meeting held in the new hall. As a result, a double-page spread graced his newspaper under the headline “Great Jehovah!” Later, one of the local elders visited Victor. A Bible study was started with him. “Within three weeks,” Victor relates, “I learned God’s name, and instead of simply pleading in my prayers, I was now giving thanks—thanks to Jehovah.” Victor is now a baptized Witness of Jehovah.
‘Widening Out’
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, much witnessing was done among the immigrant population in Britain—most of it by Witnesses who were themselves immigrants and who spoke the various languages. But more help was needed.
By 1993 two million people of Asian background lived in Britain, 1 in 28 of the population. Many had come from the Indian subcontinent; others, from East Africa. There were already some 500 Punjabi-speaking and 150 Gujarati-speaking publishers associated with English congregations, and they were conducting over 500 Bible studies in those languages. But by no means were all the immigrants being given opportunity to benefit from the good news of God’s Kingdom.
Recognizing that a person who speaks only English may feel inadequate when trying to witness to people of a different language and culture, the branch office exhorted the local Witnesses to develop an expansive love for people of all races and a Christlike spirit in caring for the welfare of others. They were encouraged to “widen out.” (2 Cor. 6:11-13; Phil. 2:1-4) Our Kingdom Ministry explained: “We want the people in our territory to sense in us the warmth and interest that Jesus Christ expressed in his ministry.” The Witnesses in Britain were told: “A vast missionary field has in effect come to us!”
In showing concern for those speaking foreign languages, all the British Witnesses were encouraged to refer foreigners encountered in their territories to the appropriate foreign-language congregations. Thus whether individual Witnesses could speak another language or not, they all could share in caring for the vast missionary field that had moved into England. Actually, the territories for the foreign-language congregations are mainly made up of such referrals.
Consequently, in 1996, Grace Li visited the home of a lady from Vietnam who lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, in northeast England. The woman speaks Chinese. Grace received a warm welcome and an immediate invitation into the house. She learned that the woman was a refugee who had suffered much during the war in Vietnam. She had lived in England for some ten years but still spoke English poorly. She explained to Grace that she had been near to despair often and had no one to whom she could turn for help.
She also told Grace that four years previously she had received a book with many beautiful pictures but could not understand it because she did not read English. However, whenever she felt depressed, she would look at the pictures, as this helped to relieve her depression and fill her with hope. She took the book from the bookshelf, handed it to Grace, and asked if she would read it for her so that she could find out what it was about. It was the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth! Grace replied that she could do something better than read the English book to her. Grace reached into her bag and pulled out a copy of the same book in Chinese. The lady could hardly believe her eyes. At last, she could learn the Bible’s message! She immediately agreed to a Bible study.
As part of the ‘widening out,’ the branch office gave special attention to helping the ethnic groups grow spiritually and organizationally. Colin Seymour and his wife, Olive, had already served for 20 years in visiting congregations throughout Britain. Both demonstrated genuine interest in those they served, and this had become especially apparent during their visits to the congregations on the islands of Malta and Gozo, in the Mediterranean Sea. They even attempted to comment in Maltese during the congregation meetings, endearing themselves to the local brothers.
In September 1994, Colin was appointed to be the circuit overseer for the non-English-language groups and some of the foreign-language congregations throughout England. He carefully assessed each group’s development toward becoming a congregation and strengthened the congregations that were already functioning. Although at first this circuit was the smallest—only 12 congregations with about 750 publishers—it developed within three years to become the largest circuit, with 1,968 publishers, among whom 388 served as pioneers. Since then the number of foreign-language circuits has increased to three.
Learning a New Language
In order to share life-giving Bible truths with immigrants who speak other languages, some British Witnesses have shown personal initiative in learning another language. Among these is Elisabeth Emmott, who has pioneered in various parts of England. First she tried to learn Punjabi to help people in her territory. Then in 1976, in a new assignment, she began working on Urdu. Next it was Gujarati. To help interested ones, she would also search out Indian and Pakistani publishers at conventions. In the case of Clifton and Amanda Banks, attending a convention in Russia in 1993 got them started. Back home, they obtained a Russian-language course from the local library, moved into an area where Russian-speaking people are located, and began pioneering with the Russian congregation there. But finding time for language study when a person is caring for secular responsibilities and a family, as well as a full program of activity in the congregation and in the field ministry, is not easy.
Because of the special need in England, encouragement was given to pioneers who wanted to broaden out their ministry in this way. Without relinquishing their pioneer service, they learned the rudiments of a language. In order to get needed instruction, some pioneers took a brief course in the basics of their new language—with interesting results.
Christine Flynn, who has been a pioneer for 21 years, along with seven other pioneers decided to enroll in a Gujarati language course in 1996/97. The teachers were an Indian married couple who were, to say the least, surprised when so many English-speaking students joined their course. “They altered many of the classes to assist us,” Christine relates. “They helped me prepare field service presentations and even attended some of our meetings.”
At about the same time, Christine started a new secular job. At her place of work, she met a young Gujarati-speaking woman. When Christine greeted her in Gujarati, the young woman expressed amazement and wanted to know why she was learning the language. Christine explained and gave a fine witness, to which the young woman responded: ‘No other religion would encourage its members to learn such a difficult language. You must really have something important to say.’
Pauline Duncan, also a pioneer, applied herself to learning Bengali in 1994. At first she found it very difficult. “Many times, I supplicated Jehovah with tears, telling him how hard this language is and that I felt like giving up,” she admits. “But with Jehovah’s holy spirit, as well as my determination and effort, I have passed the hard stage and am happy I did not give up because now I am having wonderful results.” Beverley Crook, another pioneer, says regarding the effect her learning Bengali has had on the people she visits: “Since I have learned the language, there has been a complete transformation in my ministry. The Bengali people know that we must love them because we have taken time to learn their language.”
Jennifer Charles, a pioneer in one of the French congregations where there are many refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, says: “Learning a new language has helped me to understand how those in my territory feel when they come to a country where they are not able to speak the language.”
For a number of years, many pioneers, including single sisters who are able to serve where the need is greater, have been encouraged to speak to their circuit overseer about moving to nearby congregations where a need exists. Some have chosen to learn a new language in order to help out in the foreign-language field. In the Greater London area, over 100 pioneer sisters have done this. Their ministry among those who speak languages other than English has been fruitful. With their help many people have studied the Bible and attended Christian meetings.
When the Missionary Spirit Continues
For various reasons, some who were missionaries have found it necessary to return to Britain. Many of these have continued to do fine work.
After having been in missionary service for 14 years, Wilfred and Gwen Gooch transferred from Nigeria to the branch in London in 1964. This was not because they were discontented with service in Nigeria; they loved it. Rather, Wilfred had been assigned to care for oversight of the Britain branch. By their positive attitude, however, they were able to encourage many pioneers in England to make themselves available for service in whatever way Jehovah might direct through his organization. Wilfred would often say: “You’ll learn more in one year as a missionary than you would in 30 years as a pioneer.” What he meant was, not that you would learn more about the Scriptures, but that you would learn more about yourself and about life and about how to get on with your brothers and sisters.
John and Pat Barker, graduates of Gilead’s 45th class, returned to England when they were about to become parents. But they had worked hard to learn Mandarin so that they could witness to the Chinese in Taiwan. Back in England, they kept on the lookout for Chinese people with whom they could share the good news. After their children had grown up and married, they both enrolled as regular pioneers and they now enjoy a fruitful ministry with a congregation that includes a Mandarin-speaking group in the Midlands city of Birmingham. Several with whom they have studied have returned to China with a good knowledge of the truth.
David Shepherd, formerly a missionary in Ghana, now has a wife and three children. But David continues in full-time service. What has contributed to this? He explains: “When I saw how little the brothers in Ghana had, it helped me try to keep my own life as simple as possible.”
Facilities Adequate for the Work
Printed Bible literature has played an important part in spreading the Kingdom good news. In the early 1970’s, the branch in London fulfilled a strategic role in supplying such life-giving spiritual food to many other lands. Much of it went to countries in Africa; some, as far as Australia.
Gradually, other printing branches took over some of the magazine production, while the pressroom in London concentrated on English, Dutch, and Swahili. Nevertheless, the two MAN letterpresses in England still had a very full schedule. To meet it, in 1977, one of those presses also ran a night shift every third week.
It was time to enlarge the Society’s facilities in London. At Watch Tower House in Mill Hill, which had been in use since the late 1950’s, there was no longer enough space to care for the amount of printing that the branch was doing. Planning restrictions prevented development of more factory space at Watch Tower House, so the Governing Body agreed to relocate the factory and, at the same time, to enlarge the existing Bethel home to house the increasing number of brothers needed for the work.
Finally, 33,000 square feet [3,000 sq m] of factory space was located at Wembley, some eight miles [13 km] away. The two-floor building provided ample room for an enlarged factory as well as an apartment, a kitchen, a dining area, and reception facilities. Factory operations were moved to this location in 1980, existing equipment was supplemented with a new five-unit Harris offset press, and within two years the yearly production of magazines reached 38,328,000.
Meanwhile, work got under way on a new wing for Watch Tower House in Mill Hill, providing an additional 41 rooms for the Bethel family, as well as an enlarged dining room and kitchen. John Andrews, a district overseer who had an architectural background, was called to Bethel to work with the project team. Witnesses from many parts of the country volunteered to work on weekends. Despite heavy snow and extremely low temperatures during the winter of 1981/82, work continued apace. A number of non-Witness personnel were employed as subcontractors and worked alongside the brothers. In just over two years, the new wing of the building was ready to use. This was at about the same time as another outstanding event.
A Mammoth Undertaking
In June 1982 the Governing Body accepted an invitation from the Branch Committee to hold in Britain the 1983 annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. This event was to be doubly important because the branch planned to have the dedication of the new London Bethel extension on the same weekend that they would be hosting the annual meeting.
“About eight o’clock one morning, I received a phone call from Peter Ellis at Bethel,” recalls Dennis Loft. “He asked me to book the De Montfort Hall for October 1.” This had been the venue for a memorable assembly September 2-10, 1941, when the Children book was released. At that time, in the middle of World War II when our brothers had taken a courageous stand for Christian neutrality, Albert D. Schroeder, now a member of the Governing Body, was the branch servant in Britain. What a marvelous occasion this annual meeting was to be for surviving older ones to renew their acquaintance with loyal servants of Jehovah from earlier days!
The 1983 annual meeting was the first such meeting to be held outside North America. Plans got under way to link the program from Leicester with the Dudley Assembly Hall in the Midlands. In this way more brothers could enjoy the occasion. First to be invited were those who had served Jehovah for 40 or more years. Word was sent to branches throughout Europe, inviting members of the Bethel families for the weekend. It was quickly realized that there would not be enough room at London Bethel to accommodate all these European delegates. Plans were therefore made for a rooming operation to house all the visitors.
Meanwhile, Brother Loft had contacted the Leicester City Council, only to be informed that one of the city’s largest companies would be holding an annual dinner dance the very weekend that we wanted to book the hall. Inquiring further, Dennis learned that the event was actually going to be on September 30 but that because there was always so much cleaning to be done afterward, the hall was booked for the following day as well. “If we took on the responsibility of cleaning the place, could we book it for October 1?” Dennis asked. The administrator agreed, and Dennis sighed with relief, although at the time he little realized the enormity of the undertaking.
At midnight on September 30, organized in groups under captains, 400 brothers set to work to clean away the debris from the social occasion. They also replaced the tables with 3,000 chairs in readiness for the meeting. It was a daunting task to be accomplished in only eight hours. Dennis recalls: “The unique feature was that very few of these brothers had been invited to the annual meeting, and yet, just to be able to have a part in it, even just to prepare for it, is something that they talk about to this day.” The brothers carpeted the platform and banked it with flowers. At 8:00 a.m., the hall was immaculate. The hall staff stood by in amazement. The brothers recognized that this meeting had the potential for being something very special. They were not disappointed.
An Unforgettable Meeting
Among the 3,671 present for the spiritual feast at Leicester were 693 delegates from 37 other branches. Many of those in attendance were anointed brothers and sisters. Reg Kellond, from Telford, and Emma Burnell, from Paignton, both 99 years of age, were the oldest delegates from Britain. Janet Tait, from Glasgow, as well as Mary Grant, Edith Guiver, and Robert Warden, each in the ninth or tenth decade of life, had learned the truth before World War I. What a lifetime of experience each had had in Jehovah’s service! They shared in the witness work as the number of praisers of Jehovah in Britain increased from a few thousand to 92,320. They were eagerly awaiting the encouragement that members of the Governing Body were to offer.
Albert D. Schroeder spoke on the theme “Keep Hoping in Jehovah, That You Do Not Tire Out,” based on Isaiah 40:31. He also interviewed some faithful brothers: Robert Warden and Harold Rabson, both from Glasgow and baptized in 1913 and 1914 respectively; Robert Anderson, who had been a pioneer for 51 years; and Ernie Beavor, who had been a circuit overseer for 17 years and whose three children had been in missionary service. All of them spoke enthusiastically of their many years in Jehovah’s service. Daniel Sydlik, another member of the Governing Body, spoke on the theme “The Best Is Yet to Come.” It was a talk that the brothers remember to this day.
“When we received our invitation,” one brother wrote, “memories of that wonderful wartime assembly at the De Montfort Hall in 1941 flooded back. Surely, that convention, held as if by a miracle in the midst of war-torn Britain, was the best we had attended—but ‘the best was yet to come.’ We came away from this meeting with hearts overflowing with gratitude to Jehovah, determined to continue loyal to our Creator; to his King, Christ Jesus; and to the organization that He is so clearly using.”
After this event many of the delegates traveled to London to enjoy the dedication program for the Bethel extension. The sessions were tied in by telephone to the North London Assembly Hall, allowing many more the opportunity to listen to the dedication discourse presented by Frederick Franz, then president of the Society.
A Better Location for the Printery
The branch facilities were still not ideal. Watch Tower House was located in Mill Hill, but the factory was eight miles [13 km] away, in Wembley. Twenty-five to thirty Bethel brothers regularly traveled there for work.
Years earlier, N. H. Knorr, who was then president of the Society, had observed that a building belonging to the U.K. Optical company and located across the road from Watch Tower House would make ideal premises for a printery. At that time, however, it was not available. But in September 1986 at a meeting organized by the Post Office, Philip Harris, the overseer of our Shipping Department, heard that the U.K. Optical company would be vacating those premises at Bittacy Hill. Immediately, arrangements were made to acquire this five-acre [2 ha] property. Two months later the sale was completed, and at the same time, negotiations to sell the Wembley factory were successfully concluded. Then, construction on the new factory began in earnest.
First, old buildings at the rear of the Bittacy Hill site were demolished to make way for the new factory. As excavation progressed, the brothers discovered that this area had been used as a dump for industrial waste. By the time all the rubble had been removed, it was evident that a large basement could be added to the building plans. More than 5,000 volunteers, from both Britain and overseas, spent over half a million hours on the project. The result was a fine factory and garage that could serve for years to come.
The second phase of the construction involved the demolition of the old U.K. Optical office and factory block to make room for the new office building. To maintain an appearance similar to that of other buildings in the neighborhood, the local planning authority insisted that our new office block be built with bricks. This was achieved by using half bricks set into concrete panels. The IBSA House quickly took shape as its 157 brick-faced panels were lifted into place. The manager of one company who visited the site soon afterward asked how many bricklayers we had employed. “Surely at least fifty,” he mused. He shook his head in disbelief upon learning that only six women and two men had done it all!
In 1993 this new office and factory complex at the top of Bittacy Hill was ready for use. It was dedicated during a visit by Albert D. Schroeder of the Governing Body. By that time 127,395 were sharing in field service throughout the country—a cause for joy indeed!
Help on an International Scale
The Society’s branch in Germany stepped in to help print English magazines during the transfer of our printing operations from Wembley to the new location at IBSA House. Soon, however, the printing operations were resumed in London, and tens of millions of magazines setting out life-giving truths were streaming from the presses in our new factory.
Although far from East Africa, the London printery has long produced a regular supply of magazines for that part of the world. Both English and Swahili editions of the magazines are regularly shipped there. The islands of the Caribbean likewise receive their supplies from Britain. For many years ships carrying bananas have taken cargo from the West Indies to the west coast of Britain. They return with freight for the islands, and this regularly includes magazine shipments transported free of charge because of the Society’s charitable status.
When outgoing containers are being prepared for export by the Shipping Department, empty space is utilized to send a variety of needed supplies to brothers in areas where economic circumstances are difficult. Tens of thousands of surplus chairs from Kingdom Halls throughout the country have thus been transported to such countries as Liberia, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. There they are put to use by congregations that are now bursting at the seams with interested persons eager to learn the good news of God’s Kingdom.
When war conditions in Bosnia in 1994 necessitated relief operations for our brothers there, the branch in Austria gladly provided food, clothing, and other supplies. But when authorities in Bosnia decreed that future shipments must be sent to a legally registered organization, the branch in Britain was asked to help. Legal papers were prepared in English and Croatian, notarized, and dispatched by courier. The relief convoy had already left Vienna when the papers arrived. Traveling by automobile, brothers caught up with the convoy at the border and handed over the legal papers, just in time for the relief shipment to go through!
In August 1998 when arrangements were being made to move printing operations from France to England, 50 members of the Bethel family in Louviers were transferred to the London Bethel to help with the added work load. After extensive negotiations, it also became possible in 1999 to move the large web-offset press and other printing equipment from Louviers to London. While the French Bethelites endeavored to learn English and the British Bethelites tried out some French expressions, all were united in speaking the “pure language” of Bible truth and thus were able to work shoulder to shoulder to accomplish tasks that honor Jehovah.—Zeph. 3:9.
Reaching Out to the Islands
Over the years, the Britain branch has looked after the preaching work in a number of islands in various locations. Some of these are included in the British Isles. The Isle of Wight, off the south coast, has seven thriving congregations. The Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea, has a prosperous congregation of 190 publishers. The Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland, are home to over 60 publishers, who regularly witness in the remote hamlets. The Orkney and the Shetland islands, off Scotland’s northeastern tip, both have growing congregations that give a thorough witness to those isolated from the mainland. Indeed, the pioneers in the Shetland Islands extend their territory out into the North Sea as they visit the fishing boats and preach to the sailors on board.
The two congregations on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, care for witnessing on the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark. This has required considerable effort. As an example, a regular witness has been given to the inhabitants of Sark—now 575 in number—since the early 1980’s. A pioneer from Guernsey who preached on Sark met a young man whose mother was a Witness elsewhere in the British Isles. At first the young man did not show interest, but after further discussions, a Witness couple started a study with him and his girlfriend—a study that was conducted largely through the mail. Congregations from both Guernsey and Jersey shared the expense of sending a pioneer to Sark and Alderney once a month. With such personal help and studies by mail, both the young man and his girlfriend gradually made spiritual progress. To provide further help, an elder conducted a study by telephone, using the book United in Worship of the Only True God. In April 1994, both the young man and the young woman, now his wife, were ready for baptism. At present they benefit from and share in congregation meetings by a telephone hookup when weather conditions do not permit them to make the sea crossing to Guernsey. Truly, an earnest effort is made to help everyone to benefit from the good news.
Three congregations are thriving on the nearby island of Jersey. These congregations take turns with the ones on Guernsey in hosting an annual district convention attended by some 500 local Witnesses and about 1,000 visitors from other parts of Britain. Additionally, since many Portuguese-speaking seasonal workers come to this island, some local publishers have studied Portuguese in order to be able to share the Kingdom message with them more effectively.
Much farther away are the Falkland Islands. Many of the islands’ 2,200 inhabitants have their roots in the Shetland Islands and other parts of Scotland. Arthur Nutter and his wife, along with their children, moved to the Falkland Islands from England in 1980 to share in giving a witness. Two years later, because of developments in world affairs, it seemed wise for the Britain branch to give general supervision to the preaching work there. Although the Falkland Islands are some 8,000 miles [13,000 km] from London, visits were made to serve the small congregation. That arrangement of supervision from Britain continued for 15 years.
As it has for most of the past 50 years, the Britain branch also supervises the activity of Jehovah’s people in Malta, in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. There on Malta the apostle Paul was shipwrecked on his way to Rome in about 58 C.E. (Acts 28:1) Nearby is Gozo, a smaller and dependent sister island. Today, both are home to thriving congregations of Jehovah’s people.
Although some witnessing had been reported from Malta since 1936, it was not until the 1970’s that the Kingdom work became well established among the Maltese population. Repeated efforts were made to share the good news with people there, but the Roman Catholic Church held a firm grip on both government and private life.
Gesualda Lima was a girl of 13 when she first heard her mother explain to the family what she had been told by a neighbor who was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. That was in 1970. “When I heard the name Jehovah, to me it was something special,” Gesualda recalls. (Ps. 83:18) Later her parents opposed her interest in the Bible’s message. Undeterred, she continued to study the Bible, began attending meetings, dedicated her life to Jehovah, and was baptized. In 1981 she married Ignazio, a lively Italian with irrepressible zeal. Together they have been privileged to serve as full-time ministers in Malta, and they have helped about 100 others to learn the truth. The majority of these are Maltese.
Joe Axiak, a watchmaker by trade, is a largehearted, kindly Maltese man who first heard about the truth from his uncle’s family. But being then of an independent nature, Joe left home and traveled to Australia. When he began to associate with Jehovah’s Witnesses there, one of his brothers warned him: “If our mother hears that you are going to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she will die, and I’ll burn this hall if you go there again.” However, Joe persisted, and it paid off. Now he and seven of his brothers and sisters, including the brother who threatened him, are serving Jehovah.
After Joe returned to Malta, he got married, and he and his wife, Jane, decided to give special attention to the territory on the island of Gozo. Every weekend, they traveled there by ferry. But after their son, David, was born, the traveling was too much, so they decided to settle in Gozo. What a joy it was to them when in 1984 a congregation was established! Now there are 27 publishers on Gozo. They meet in their own Kingdom Hall and regularly preach the good news to others.
If Only It Was in Maltese
Expressing Bible truths in their own language, Maltese, has helped more of these island folk to make progress in gaining an accurate knowledge of Jehovah and his ways.—Col. 1:9, 10.
Helen Massa, one of Gesualda Lima’s Bible students, remembers when all the meetings were held in English. Although it was sometimes a struggle to understand what was being said, Helen treasures memories of the fine instruction given. She often speaks of the patient teaching by an English brother, Norman Rutherford, who served in Malta in the late ’60’s and early ’70’s. Norman and his wife, Isabel, graduates of Gilead’s 11th class, always acted cautiously because they were foreigners. Their desire was to stay and support the local brothers and sisters, who took a courageous stand in the face of religious and family opposition.
In the early 1970’s, Joe Micallef, a journalist who was fluent in English, was delighted when Norman Rutherford agreed to study the Bible with him. He remembers: “I would ask a question, and I would have been happy with yes or no.” But Norman realized that there was more to teaching than simply answering questions. “He would go into detail, explaining why it is yes or why it is no.” This strengthened Joe’s faith.
Although the first meetings Joe attended were in English, after a while some in attendance were assigned to summarize in Maltese the main points of paragraphs from The Watchtower. That was not always an easy thing to do. Joe’s brother, Ray, decided he would write down his summary but found it easier to translate the whole paragraph. “When Peter Ellis, who visited Malta as a traveling overseer, saw what was happening,” Joe continues, “he suggested that we purchase a duplicating machine.” Thus, in 1977 the first typewritten copy of the Maltese Watchtower appeared. When the brothers needed help with making or correcting the stencils they typed, who better to ask than someone involved in the printing business—journalist Joe! “Look,” exclaimed Joe, “somebody has to take on the responsibility for getting this job done!” The brothers replied: “Well, whom do you suggest?” to which Joe answered: “I don’t know, but I’m willing to try.” Thus began Joe’s involvement with the translating of Maltese publications. Of course, today arrangements to translate publications are made through the Writing Committee and are not undertaken independently.
In 1979 the first printed issue of the Maltese Watchtower appeared. A team of translators gradually took over the work, and presently The Watchtower appears semimonthly and Awake! is published monthly in Maltese. Further progress came in January 1998 during the visit of a zone overseer, Douglas Guest, when the new translation offices, missionary home, and Kingdom Hall at I.B.S.A. House in the town of Mosta were dedicated. The next day 631 gathered to hear reports on the progress of the Kingdom work in Malta.
Trained to Provide Loving Oversight
Showing loving concern for his people, Jehovah foretold through the prophet Jeremiah: “I will raise up over them shepherds who will actually shepherd them.” (Jer. 23:4) To that end Jehovah has not only provided elders among his people but also given them instruction and training so that they are able to provide the sort of loving oversight that he wants for his sheep.
Since 1960, qualified brothers in Britain, as in other lands, have benefited from training received at the Kingdom Ministry School. This arrangement started as a four-week course, which was later reduced to two weeks. Traveling overseers as well as those having oversight in the congregations were invited. Classes were conducted at London Bethel. Then, to make the instruction more readily available, the school went on the road, with class sessions in various parts of the country. The congregations and, in turn, the whole organization benefited.
During 1977 a further 15-hour course was held for all elders. Similar sessions of varying lengths have been held since then. Careful attention has been given to such subjects as how to imitate Jehovah as loving shepherds of the flock, how to teach at congregation meetings, how to carry out the evangelizing work within each congregation, and how to uphold Jehovah’s righteous standards. For the sessions of the Kingdom Ministry School in Britain in 1997, invitations were extended to 11,453 elders and 10,106 ministerial servants.
They Make Themselves Available
In addition to the elders who serve in the congregations, other qualified men serve as traveling overseers, caring for groups of congregations that make up a circuit and groups of circuits that make up a district. There are 77 of such traveling overseers caring for the 1,455 congregations and 70 circuits throughout Britain at present. These are men who, in addition to meeting the spiritual qualifications, made adjustments in their lives so that they would be available for such service.
Back in the early 1970’s, a traveling overseer encouraged David Hudson to pursue a theocratic career. But at the time, David was heavily committed to his secular job as divisional manager with a reprographics company. Then suddenly the company decided that his job was no longer needed. Now he appreciated the comment by Lyman Swingle, a member of the Governing Body, at a meeting in Cardiff, Wales, in 1984. Brother Swingle had compared careers in the world to ‘polishing the brass on a sinking ship.’ David and his wife, Eileen, began to adjust their affairs so that they could pioneer. They gave up their comfortable home with stables and horses, and they built their lives more fully around their relationship with Jehovah. Since 1994, David, accompanied by his wife, has been caring for responsibilities as a circuit overseer. Both of them agree that the joy of serving Jehovah far outweighs anything of a material nature that they have given up.
When Ray Baldwin was learning the truth in the mid-1970’s, he became firmly convinced that the preaching of the good news deserved all the time that he could give it. As a result, even before his baptism, when offered a promotion at his secular work on the condition that he move to another town, he declined and requested part-time work instead. After he got baptized, he promptly enrolled as an auxiliary pioneer. Not long after he married, he and his wife, Linda, laid plans to get into the regular pioneer service. To make himself more available for theocratic activities, Ray next quit his job with a supermarket and took up window cleaning. Since September 1997 he too has been serving as a circuit overseer.
Other brothers have been willing to take on responsibility in connection with Hospital Liaison Committees, which provide loving support to Witnesses who are faced with medical emergencies. This has involved time for training—and that is only the beginning. In October 1990 three representatives from Hospital Information Services in Brooklyn arrived to conduct a seminar in Birmingham, England. One hundred and fifty-two brothers from Belgium, Britain, Ireland, Israel, Malta, and the Netherlands received fine instruction on how to help medical authorities understand our position on the blood issue. The visitors from Brooklyn shared in training the delegates to present the reasons for our stand to hospital authorities in both London and other major centers.
After a second seminar, at Nottingham in February 1991, Hospital Liaison Committees went into operation throughout the country. The following year 16 more committees were appointed, and these brothers received training at a seminar in Stoke-on-Trent. To extend the cooperation between Witnesses and the authorities, yet another seminar, held at the Surrey Assembly Hall in June 1994, offered training on how to approach judges, providers of social services, and pediatricians. This laid the basis for much greater cooperation with the medical profession. After personal contacts had been made, it was possible to list over 3,690 doctors in Britain who had expressed their willingness to respect the Witnesses’ views on blood and medical treatment.
The chairman of the Hospital Liaison Committee in the Luton area, north of London, readily admits that when he started to work on this committee, he did not realize all that would be required of him physically and emotionally. He is grateful for the loving support of his wife, who also deeply loves Jehovah and her Christian brothers and sisters. Gradually, he has built up a fine working relationship with both the medical and the administrative staff at a major hospital in his area. “When our brothers face medical emergencies, we have to be constantly ready to give support,” he observes. The spirit in which this service is rendered has opened the way to give a fine witness on many occasions.
Taking Up Service at World Headquarters
From among the brothers whose theocratic careers began in Britain, some have been invited to serve in Brooklyn, New York, at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
John E. Barr, born in Scotland in 1913, learned the truth from his parents. Though shyness during his teen years made it very difficult for him to converse with people at their homes in the house-to-house work, with Jehovah’s help he overcame that obstacle. In 1939 he accepted an invitation to take up Bethel service in London. During the difficult World War II period, he served for several years as a traveling overseer, until he was asked to return to London Bethel in 1946. Twenty-one years after first becoming a member of the Bethel family, he married Mildred Willett, a zealous sister who was a graduate of Gilead School’s 11th class and who then joined him in Bethel service. In 1977 he was invited to become a member of the Governing Body. When he told Mildred, she at first thought he must be joking, but he was not. And so it was that the following year, the two of them transferred to the world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. They continue to serve happily there.
Others too were invited to become members of the headquarters staff. Among them was Allan Boyle, who was born in Liverpool and had taken up service at London Bethel. To make fuller use of his abilities as an artist, the Society invited him to transfer to Brooklyn in 1979. Eric Beveridge was living in Birmingham when he got baptized in 1949. After 21 years of missionary service in Portugal and Spain, he and his wife, Hazel, became members of the Brooklyn Bethel family in 1981. Robert Pevy, born in Sandwich, Kent, in the south of England, had served in Ireland for nine years and then had been in missionary service with his wife, Patricia, in the Philippines for nine more years when they too took up service at the world headquarters in 1981.
Changes in Branch Oversight
Over the years a number of spiritually qualified men have taken a lead in shouldering responsibility in the Britain branch. After Albert D. Schroeder was forced to leave England during World War II, A. Pryce Hughes was appointed to be overseer of the branch—and that at a time when he was still serving a prison term because of his Christian neutrality! Brother Hughes’ adherence to the principle of Christian neutrality had been thoroughly tested. He had been imprisoned over this issue during World War I and twice more during World War II. With genuine appreciation for Jehovah’s direction of His organization, Brother Hughes continued to care for oversight of the branch for more than 20 years. Those who served with him still remember his kindly manner as well as the fact that regardless of what responsibilities he carried, his love for the field ministry remained strong.
When the arrangement to have a committee—instead of an individual—supervise the work in each branch was instituted in 1976, Wilfred Gooch was appointed as coordinator, and with him were John Barr, Pryce Hughes, Philip Rees, and John Wynn. Several of that original group have died. Other brothers have been added to the Branch Committee, which currently includes John Andrews, Jack Dowson, Ron Drage, Dennis Dutton, Peter Ellis, Stephen Hardy, Bevan Vigo, and John Wynn.
The Joy of International Conventions
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a global brotherhood. Thus, when it became possible to meet together freely in lands in Eastern Europe after decades of harsh repression, there was great joy among the Witnesses worldwide. What an appropriate time to hold international conventions in lands where for so long this had not been possible! This would result in spiritual upbuilding as well as a fine public witness. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain have been pleased to have a share in this.
In 1989, when three large “Godly Devotion” Conventions were arranged for Poland, delegates from at least 37 lands flocked together for those historic occasions. Included among them were 721 from Britain. Regarding the spirit shown at the convention in Poznan, Poland, David and Lynne Sibrey recall: “It was extraordinary!” They add: “We had never experienced an atmosphere like it. What a joy to mingle freely with thousands of our brothers from Russia and Eastern Europe who had previously met only in small groups! Some, we learned, had attended even at risk to their lives. It was overwhelming for them—and for us!” The following year, after border controls were lifted between East Germany and West Germany, 584 from Britain were among the enthusiastic audience in Berlin at a convention that was truly a victory celebration. In 1991, when 74,587 crowded into Strahov Stadium in Prague, in what is now the Czech Republic, 299 from Britain were delighted to be there. That same year, Britain was also well represented among the Witnesses from 35 lands that assembled in Budapest, Hungary. In 1993 there were 770 delegates from Britain at the convention in Moscow, Russia, and 283 attended at Kiev, Ukraine. Those were all historic occasions, never to be forgotten.
Further international conventions attended by British delegates have been held in Africa, Latin America, North America, and the Orient. As the Witnesses enjoy close fellowship on such occasions, bonds of Christian love are strengthened. Here is tangible evidence that as foretold in God’s Word, they come from “all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.”—Rev. 7:9, 10.
From Varied Backgrounds
Those who have responded to the Bible’s message and become Jehovah’s Witnesses in the British Isles come from various backgrounds. Because of their love for Jehovah, many have made significant changes in their lives so that they can serve him fully.
Donald Davies, a Jamaican-born professional jazz drummer, came to England in 1960. Though he received some Bible literature in 1969, it was not until 13 years later, when two Witnesses talked to him about the importance of God’s name, that he took a real interest in the Bible. (Ezek. 38:23; Joel 2:32) Later that year he and a musician friend attended a nearby district convention. He soon began to apply what he was learning. Without discussing the matter with anyone, Donald realized that he would have difficulty pursuing his career in music and at the same time serving Jehovah. So he sold his musical instruments and commenced pioneering in 1984, a privilege he still enjoys.
Tony Langmead was an officer in the Royal Air Force when his wife began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Her conduct on becoming a Christian won him over “without a word.” (1 Pet. 3:1, 2) He left the air force in order to pursue a life of peace as a servant of Jehovah.—Isa. 2:3, 4.
Frank Cowell was raised in the Anglican faith, but in time he began to search elsewhere for the truth. A visit to a Kingdom Hall led to a study of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He now works as a professor of economics in London, but when his college schedules seminars on evenings that congregation meetings are held, his decisions show that he is first of all one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Susannah was a member of the Royal Ballet when a chance meeting with a former school friend led to a Bible study for her. As a baptized Witness, she decided to curtail ballet performances and become a dance instructor in order to buy out time for a new career as a pioneer, thus building her life around her ministry. Now married, she and her husband, Kevin Gow, are learning Mandarin in order to share the good news with the growing number of Chinese in Liverpool.
Rene’s sister Christina was a Witness, but Rene thought that religion did not make sense, so she refused to listen. Later, however, when working in London, she frequently visited the British Museum. On one visit she became fascinated with the explanation given by a tour guide on the connection between the Bible and various museum displays. She remembered some of the things her sister had tried to tell her. Soon Rene Deerfield became a Witness too.
Andrew Meredith was serving a prison term when he began to study the Bible. This led to major changes in his way of life. After his release, he married a Punjabi Witness, and together they carry on their ministry among the Punjabi-speaking people in east London.
Daksha Patel was born in Kenya to Hindu parents, and she herself was a devout Hindu. But when she studied the Bible with Witnesses in Wolverhampton, England, she realized that she was learning the truth. When old enough to make her own decisions in life, she got baptized and then became a pioneer. She and her husband, Ashok, now serve as members of the London Bethel family. In connection with that service, they have traveled to India, Nepal, and Pakistan to help with translation of Bible literature.
They Keep On Giving a Witness
Jehovah’s Witnesses rejoice as they see many more embrace the worship of Jehovah each year. Since 1972, the number of active Witnesses in Britain has nearly doubled, now totaling 126,535.
Are those who now show interest in the Bible’s message people who have never before met Jehovah’s Witnesses? A few are, and they are being found as the Witnesses step up their work in places of business and on the streets. One Witness, preaching in business territory for the first time, contacted a company receptionist who showed much interest. A return visit two days later quickly led to a Bible study, which gave her an opportunity to decide whether she would walk in Jehovah’s way. The woman had never before met Jehovah’s Witnesses because she worked all week and was usually out of her house on the weekend.
More often, those who listen are people whose circumstances in life have changed—perhaps as a result of getting married, having children, growing older, or suddenly becoming ill. Now they long for answers to questions that in the past were simply put aside.
Thus, in August 1995 an 85-year-old woman who had been raised as a Baptist willingly accepted the brochure Does God Really Care About Us? She had many times asked that question but had not received a satisfactory answer. She agreed to study the Bible. As she learned God’s requirements and became impressed with his loving care, she realized that she needed to make changes in her life. She stopped smoking—a habit of some 60 years. She began to attend the local congregation meetings, and in September 1997, Catherine May was ready for Christian baptism. While getting ready to go into the water at a circuit assembly, she noticed another baptism candidate, an elderly lady like herself. What a surprise! It was her own fleshly sister, Evelyn, who lived in another town. Neither had known that the other was studying. Tears of joy flowed as these dear elderly ones, united through dedication to Jehovah, now became spiritual sisters.
Some who welcome the Witnesses have been deeply disturbed by recent developments in their own church. Maurice Haskins had first received literature from Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1939. But he was a staunch supporter of the Church of England and a member of the local church council. Some 56 years later, a Witness going from house to house spoke with Maurice’s sister-in-law. She requested that the Witness return to see Maurice, who, according to her, had questions about the Bible. When visited, Maurice immediately asked the Witness to show him scriptures that explain the Bible’s view of homosexuality and of the ordination of women. Later he agreed to a Bible study using the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. Changes did not come immediately. But later, at a meeting with the bishop, what he had learned moved him to take a firm stand on the issue of appointing a woman as vicar. (1 Tim. 2:12) Soon he resigned from the Anglican Church, began attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall and, at the age of 84, was ready for baptism.
Other people are helped by Witnesses who show discernment and persistence. When one woman identified herself as “an atheist and a humanist,” Jacqueline Gamble politely inquired what the woman believed in. The reply was: “In people and life.” The woman was busy, so our sister left a tract and promised to return. Accompanied by her husband, Martyn, Jacqueline visited the home again and referred back to the comment about “people and life.” When they learned that the householder’s husband, Gus, had similar views and was a social worker, they arranged to meet him. Christine, the wife, started to study the Bible and progressed to the point of baptism. But Gus refused to visit the Kingdom Hall. He did notice, though, that since Christine had begun studying with the Witnesses, his children were growing up to be very respectful, in a way that was not characteristic of many other young people.
The turning point for Gus came in 1978. During an international convention in Edinburgh, Scotland, his wife hospitably offered coffee to a group of publishers who were witnessing in her area. Among them were certain members of the Governing Body. Before they left the house, they washed the dishes they had used. When Gus returned home that evening, Christine excitedly told him of her unexpected visitors. “I cannot imagine a cardinal visiting us and washing the dishes!” Gus observed. A little later, when on vacation in France, Gus went with his family to a Kingdom Hall. He was overwhelmed by the welcome they received and the love shown. He soon realized that he would find such love only among the true disciples of Christ Jesus. (John 13:35) Back in Edinburgh, he soon began to study, got satisfying answers to questions that had bothered him, and dedicated his life to Jehovah.
Of course, where people in the territory show little or no interest, it takes endurance and a positive attitude for Jehovah’s Witnesses to keep calling on them. It would be easy to become discouraged after experiencing hours of rebuffs and apathy. How do the Witnesses handle this? “Apathy is a difficult and challenging problem,” acknowledges Eric Hickling, from Louth in Lincolnshire. Meditating on examples from the past helps him persevere. “I pray hard and often. I think of Moses, Jeremiah, Paul and, of course, Jesus.”
Faithful perseverance and Jehovah’s blessing are two of the most important factors contributing to the increase that has been experienced. Thirty-nine years ago, Frank and Rose Macgregor took up an assignment in a town where people were very religious and did not welcome Jehovah’s Witnesses. How did they view that assignment? Frank recalls: “I was very shy and felt totally inadequate. But my wife and I looked on it as an assignment from Jehovah.” This helped them to maintain a positive attitude. “We prayed that local people would accept the truth.” As a result of such faithful service, there is now a congregation of 74 publishers, two thirds of whom have learned the truth in that very town. The Macgregors do not boast about this; they are simply grateful that they could be used by Jehovah.—2 Cor. 4:7.
Geoff Young, a longtime Witness who continues to have some share in making visits to congregations, explains: “I often ask the brothers how they fared in their ministry that day.” If some reply negatively, he asks them to think of the many positive things they have accomplished. He reminds them: “We took Jehovah’s side. We lived up to our dedication. We cooperated with the ‘angel flying in midheaven.’ We shared in encouraging others to get to know Jehovah. We gave a witness as a warning.” Then he reasons that if they have accomplished all of this, how can they say that they have had a bad time? “People react according to their circumstances and what is in their hearts,” Geoff continues. “What counts is our faithfulness in giving the witness and telling the good news.”—Rev. 14:6; 1 Cor. 4:2.
Rejoicing in “the Blessing of Jehovah”
Many in Britain have been active Witnesses of Jehovah for 20, 40, 50 years, or more. How do they feel about what they are doing? At Proverbs 10:22, the Bible says: “The blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.” Tens of thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain can personally testify to the truthfulness of that statement.
“The greatest privilege entrusted to us humans.” That is how Cornelius Hope of Basingstoke, now in his mid-70’s, describes the Christian ministry after sharing in it for half a century. Anne Gillam, who was baptized nearly 50 years ago and whose husband is a circuit overseer, speaks of her ministry as her “way of showing love for Jehovah and his Son.”
Dennis Matthews, baptized in 1942, explains: “I find the ministry like food—spiritually strengthening. There is satisfaction in doing God’s will whether people listen or not.” His wife, Mavis, adds: “Having served Jehovah from my youth onward, I feel that no better life is possible.”
How do longtime Witnesses feel about the people and their response? After more than 40 years in Jehovah’s service, Muriel Tavener says: “People need us more than ever because they do not get true spiritual help from any other source.” And what happens when they accept that help? Her husband, Anthony, puts it this way: “To see people accept the truth and make changes in their lives is to watch a miracle as Jehovah’s spirit draws people to worship him.”
There is satisfaction in sharing with others the hope that only God’s Word can give. When Fred James, city overseer of Plymouth, Devon, and his wife look back over their years of service, they count more than 100 persons whom they have helped progress to baptism. Many of these now serve as elders, ministerial servants, and pioneers. All three of their sons shared in pioneer service when they left school and now serve as elders. One of them, David, a Gilead graduate, serves as a missionary and a member of the Pakistan Branch Committee. What a richly rewarding life Brother and Sister James have had!
Years of faithful service have allowed many Witnesses in Britain to see fine results from their ministry. Richard and Hazel Jessop have been serving Jehovah for half a century or more, most of it in full-time service. They have helped many to see the privilege of dedicating themselves to Jehovah, all of whom are precious to the Jessops. However, their study with Jack and Lyn Dowson continues to be especially memorable. It began with a friendly visit between people of similar background. (Hazel and Jack are both from northeast England.) Soon it became a Bible study. However, at one point Jack said that they ought to stop the study for a while. Richard replied: “No, you can’t do that. You’ve got to finish the book first, and then you can leave it if you wish.” Well, they did not “leave it.” Instead, they dedicated themselves to Jehovah, got into the pioneer work, and became members of the Bethel family. Jack now serves on the Branch Committee.
The way in which some young ones have responded to Bible truth has brought special pleasure to others. Robina Owler and her husband, Sydney, who are pioneers in the Dundee area of Scotland, have found special pleasure in the progress made by Paul Kearns, who began to come to their home for Bible studies when he was 12 years old. The truth quickly took hold in his heart, but because his father forbade further studies, Paul waited until he was older and was attending college in Aberdeen before he continued his Bible study. He made rapid progress. After baptism, he set pioneering as a goal. In 1992 he attended the Ministerial Training School. While serving as an elder in Sheffield, he applied himself to learn Spanish, and in 1998 he was assigned to missionary service in Panama.
Over 10,000 in Britain are in the pioneer service. The blessings that go with this service are treasured by them. As an example, Bill and June Thompstone had been married for over eight years and were pioneering when their first child was born. In time, they had three girls. They endeavored to keep pioneer service prominent in their family life. The schedule was full, but doing things together as a family helped them succeed. “We always made time for the girls,” Bill explains. “When they became teenagers, it did not change. When they wanted to go ice skating, bowling, swimming, or to play ball games, we went too.” Now the three girls are married and serve as regular pioneers. They all enjoy what Bill calls “the finest way of life.”
Today, 77 brothers (most of whom are married) serve as traveling overseers in Britain. This is a life that involves an intense schedule, week after week, year after year. Geoff Young shared in this service until advancing years and health problems made an adjustment necessary. He and his wife, Vee, lived out of a suitcase and stayed in a different home each week. How does Vee feel about that sort of life? “It wasn’t very difficult,” she answers, “because we added to our Christian family each time we visited a congregation. We felt the warmth of the brotherhood wherever we went. Whatever assignment Jehovah gives us can only enrich our lives.” While enjoying the present, they keenly anticipate what the future holds. Geoff explains: “This system is finished now. It’s as good as over. After that we’re going to have the wonderful prospect of having a share in the restoration of this earth to paradise conditions. The Bible studies that there will be once the resurrection starts—what a tremendous work to be accomplished!” His wife adds: “It’s a marvelous feeling to know that there’s nothing that can oppose Jehovah successfully.”
Advocating “God’s Way of Life”
It was an exciting occasion, in July of 1998, when nine international conventions featuring the theme “God’s Way of Life” were held simultaneously in Britain—in Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Norwich, London, Bristol, and Plymouth. Delegates from more than 60 lands were present. The full program was presented not only in English but also in French, Spanish, and Punjabi. The following weekend the convention was held in Greek.
Four members of the Governing Body—John Barr, Theodore Jaracz, Albert D. Schroeder, and Daniel Sydlik—were in attendance at the British conventions, and when they spoke, the convention sites were all linked together electronically. An added thrill was the presence of missionaries who were currently serving in foreign fields. Of the hundreds from Britain who have been sent into missionary service, 110 were in attendance at these conventions. Their zeal and spirit of self-sacrifice were inspiring to all who heard them interviewed on the program.
What was seen and heard at these conventions deeply touched the hearts of those who were present, even young ones. The resolution that was adopted during the final session of the convention spelled out the godly way of life in which all were determined to walk. After the program, the four-year-old son of a Witness couple from Darlington said: “Mummy, I really love Jehovah. I love you and Daddy so, so much, but I love Jehovah more.” When asked why, he explained that Jehovah gave us the hope of Paradise and he sent his Son to die for us, “so I need to love him more.”
At the conclusion of the program in both Edinburgh and London, the delegates from various lands waved handkerchiefs to one another and then burst into prolonged applause. Even after the program was over, many continued singing Kingdom songs, thus giving heartfelt praise to Jehovah.
The Witness That Has Been Given
An extensive witness has been given in Britain. It got under way in 1881 when hundreds of thousands of Bible tracts were distributed in the principal cities during a period of just a few weeks. Some of the seeds sown then began to bear fruit. In a six-month period in 1914, the “Photo-Drama of Creation” was exhibited in 98 cities to a total audience of 1,226,650. When World War I broke out, there were 182 congregations in Britain. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, the witness was intensified as increased numbers of those associated with the congregations shared in the house-to-house ministry, giving a personal witness to householders. Since World War II, a further 650,746,716 hours have been devoted to the ministry in Britain, 297,294,732 return visits have been made on interested people, and 74,105,130 books and booklets in addition to 567,471,431 magazines have been placed with the public. On an average, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain call on people in their homes two to three times a year.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are so well-known for their door-to-door evangelism that on opening their doors and seeing well-dressed people, many householders immediately ask: “Jehovah’s Witnesses?”
Earth Filled With the Knowledge of Jehovah
In 1891 as C. T. Russell viewed the British field, he saw it as being “ready and waiting to be harvested.” The harvesting that is being done during the conclusion of this system of things is obviously near its end. And what a magnificent harvest it is proving to be! In the year 1900, there were just 138 Bible Students (as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known), mostly spirit-anointed Christians, in Britain. Now the number is 910 times that. Back then the legal agency used by the Bible Students was opening its first branch office outside the United States. Now there are 109 branches around the globe. On the mainland in the Americas, there are 24 branches. Another 25 are located in Europe. There are 19 on the African continent. In Asia and on islands in various parts of the globe, there are another 41 branches. Working in cooperation with these, 5.9 million Witnesses share in magnifying Jehovah’s name and making known the good news of his Kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ. And they are determined to keep on giving a witness until God says that it is enough.
Life-giving waters already flow abundantly from the heavenly throne of Jehovah God and of his Son, Jesus Christ. With intensity the invitation is being given: “Let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life’s water free.” (Rev. 22:1, 17) During the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ when the dead are raised, no doubt billions more will have opportunity to avail themselves of this loving provision, which can make everlasting life possible for them. The program of divine education that has been carried out thus far is just a beginning. Before us, in God’s new system of things, lies the time when in full measure “the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.”—Isa. 11:9.
[Map/Pictures on page 86, 87]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
ENGLAND
Assembly Halls conveniently located throughout the country: (1) Manchester, (2) North London, (3) Dudley, (4) Surrey, (5) East Pennine, (6) Bristol, (7) Edgware
[Pictures]
East Pennine
Edgware
Surrey
Manchester
Bristol
[Full-page picture on page 66]
[Pictures on page 70]
Tom Hart
[Picture on page 72]
The Society’s first branch office
[Pictures on page 72]
The facilities currently in use
[Pictures on page 74, 75]
They moved out to serve in foreign fields: (1) Claude Goodman, (2) Robert Nisbet, (3) Edwin Skinner, (4) John Cooke, (5) Eric Cooke, (6) George Phillips, (7) George Nisbet. Background: Colporteurs traveling to East Africa
[Picture on page 79]
Franziska Harris shows special interest in au pair girls
[Picture on page 90]
Vera Bull, serving in Colombia
[Picture on page 90]
Barry and Jeanette Rushby—“always wanted to do more”
[Picture on page 92]
Pioneer Service School at Dudley Assembly Hall
[Picture on page 95]
Britain Bethel family at morning worship
[Picture on page 96]
Graduation of the first class of Ministerial Training School in Britain
[Picture on page 102]
First quickly built Kingdom Hall in Britain (Weston Favell, Northampton)
[Picture on page 107]
Michael and Jean Harvey
[Picture on page 108, 109]
Pioneers who chose to serve with foreign-language congregations
[Picture on page 116, 117]
A. D. Schroeder interviewing old-timers at annual meeting in Leicester in 1983
[Picture on page 123]
Pioneers from the Shetlands approaching a fishing boat in their offshore territory
[Picture on page 131]
John and Mildred Barr
[Picture on page 133]
Branch Committee (left to right). Seated: Peter Ellis, John Wynn. Standing: Bevan Vigo, Stephen Hardy, John Andrews, Ron Drage, Jack Dowson, Dennis Dutton
[Pictures on page 138, 139]
The work of witnessing is not yet completed
[Pictures on page 140, 141]
Some who look back on many years of faithful service: (1) Sydney and Robina Owler, (2) Anthony and Muriel Tavener, (3) Richard and Anne Gillam, (4) Geoff and Vee Young, (5) Fred and Rose James, (6) Cornelius and Riky Hope, (7) Dennis and Mavis Matthews, (8) Richard and Hazel Jessop
Czech Republic
pp. 149–223
Czech Republic
The ties of international brotherhood took on added meaning for Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Czech Republic in 1998. International conventions featuring the theme “God’s Way of Life” were being held around the globe.
There were 345 from the Czech Republic among the 42,763 delegates who gathered for the convention in Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.A. They had assembled from at least 44 lands—of the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Another 700 from the Czech Republic, along with 700 from Slovakia, were at the convention in Nuremberg, Germany, which was one of five simultaneous German conventions having a combined international audience of 217,472.
When the Czech delegates were warmly welcomed on arrival at the convention cities, when they were lovingly accommodated in the homes of Christian brothers whom they had never met before, and then when they heard the enthusiastic applause of welcome to the international delegates on the opening day of the convention, they were deeply moved. In Nuremberg, Witnesses from the Czech Republic and from Slovakia greeted one another with great feeling, embracing and often weeping for joy at the opportunity to be together again. These were occasions never to be forgotten.
That same year, thousands more attended similar conventions right in the Czech Republic. There, in addition to the program that was presented at the larger conventions, the delegates were delighted to receive the newly completed Czech translation of the two-volume Bible encyclopedia Insight on the Scriptures.
These were indeed happy events in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Czech Republic. But the road leading to them has been long and difficult. It all began over 100 years ago, and these recent events could not have taken place without the loving help of Jehovah God.
In 1891, C. T. Russell, who was then president of the Watch Tower Society, visited Prague, though very briefly, on a trip through Europe. During the years since then, Jehovah’s Witnesses have experienced periods of much growth, as well as times of hardship, persecution, and sifting. Their work was completely banned for 46 years. Even when not under ban, the Witnesses were not always favored with legal recognition.
The experience of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Czech lands has been like that of the prophet Jeremiah, to whom Jehovah said: “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.’”—Jer. 1:19.
Known as Czechia
In October 1918, following political negotiations in the world’s diplomatic centers, the Republic of Czechoslovakia was formed in Central Europe. It had been temporarily dissolved during World War II but then had reemerged after more than six years of Nazi oppression. It had also endured more than four decades of Communist rule. Then, after 74 years, this political entity ceased to exist. In 1993, what had been the eastern part of the country became the Slovak Republic. The western portion, including Bohemia, Moravia, and part of Silesia, became the Czech Republic—in short, Czechia.
The Czech Republic measures about 300 miles [500 km] from east to west and approximately 150 miles [250 km] from north to south. In the north and west are beautiful forested mountains; there is also much fertile farmland interlaced with rivers. But as is true in much of Central Europe, environmental pollution presents a serious problem. Most of the people live in cities or towns.
A concise report of the development of the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in all of the former Czechoslovakia between 1912 and 1970 was published in the 1972 Yearbook. Further details are provided here, but this report focuses principal attention on what is now the Czech Republic.
Religious Heritage
Prague, the capital, is sometimes called the city of a hundred spires. But even the numerous church spires were not able to prevent the Czech Republic from becoming what it is today—a land that is basically atheistic. It was not always this way, however.
At the request of Prince Rastislav, a Moravian ruler, Byzantine Emperor Michael III dispatched a religious mission to Moravia in 863 C.E. Constantine (later known as Cyril) and Methodius, the two men making up the mission, were clergymen from Thessalonica, Greece. In addition to their conducting religious services in the local language, Constantine devised an alphabet suitable for the Slavonic language, which was spoken by the Moravians. Then, making use of that alphabet, he proceeded to translate parts of the Bible. However, the gaining of a clear understanding of God’s Word came much later.
Declaring an Urgent Message
In 1907, about 16 years after C. T. Russell’s brief visit to Prague, an elderly Bible Student (as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known) began to visit northern Bohemia once a month to distribute Bible literature. This was Brother Erler, who came from Dresden, Germany. He zealously witnessed in Liberec and other towns for two or three days at a time. He distributed C. T. Russell’s book The Battle of Armageddon and proclaimed with conviction that world catastrophe would occur in 1914.
By 1912 a number of enthusiastic individuals were sowing seeds of Bible truth, forming small groups, and baptizing. When the world war broke out in 1914, that came as no surprise to the Bible Students, though not all their expectations were realized in that year.
During the early years, the literature distributed here by the Bible Students was in German. Some of the German-speaking population received it appreciatively. Charlotta Jankovcová, from Plzeň, recalls that her mother obtained some of Brother Russell’s books from a Bible Student who came from Dresden and who called at their home in 1925. Soon they began to attend meetings. She says: “There was much personal study and preparation for meetings. Every week, we spent the entire Sunday in field service. We were Bible Students, we studied The Watch Tower, we read books, and we also had the Bulletin [now called Our Kingdom Ministry].”
Gradually, literature was translated into Czech. In 1922 the exciting publication Millions Now Living Will Never Die was made available, and three people engaged in full-time service as colporteurs to distribute it among the Czech population. At least by 1923, a 16-page edition of The Watch Tower was made available here each month in the Czech language.
To further the preaching of the good news in the Czech lands, in 1923, Antonín Gleissner, together with his wife, was sent to Bohemia from the Watch Tower Society’s branch office in Magdeburg, Germany. Under the supervision of Brother Gleissner, who had already conducted meetings in the town of Most in 1916, the Society opened a literature depot there.
In 1928 the branch office in Magdeburg began to give closer supervision to the work in Czechoslovakia. This resulted in improved organization of groups, greater effectiveness in the field ministry, and better coordination of the work of the colporteurs. In connection with this, each group, as well as the colporteurs (forerunners of those now known as pioneers), was assigned definite territory in which to preach. The report from Czechoslovakia that year shows 25 small groups consisting of 106 proclaimers, also 6 colporteurs. Altogether, they placed 64,484 books and booklets and about 25,000 magazines, thus directing interested ones to God’s Kingdom as the solution to mankind’s problems.
The following year, Otto Estelmann arrived from Germany with the Watch Tower Society’s thrilling “Photo-Drama of Creation.” It was shown to audiences from one end of the country to the other. The high point in this activity was reached in the latter part of 1933 when the brothers rented the Kapitol, the largest cinema in Prague, for four consecutive showings of the “Photo-Drama.” So many people came that the cinema was booked for two more evenings. Names and addresses were turned in by many who wanted to be invited to further Biblical talks. Of course, as the growth of the organization became manifest, there was also opposition. That is what Jesus had told his followers to expect.—John 15:18-20.
Some Who Embraced the Good News
During this period, the good news reached a man who later played an important role in the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in this country. His name was Bohumil Müller. At the end of his earthly course in 1987, he could look back on more than 55 years of faithful service, including about 14 years spent in concentration camps and prisons because he would not compromise his faith.
In 1931, at 16 years of age, Bohumil was learning to be a typesetter. His brother, Karel, was learning bookbinding. Their father, Tomáš Müller, was a leading member of the Unity of Brethren, which took great pride in its old tradition and history. Karel’s boss gave him tickets to see the “Photo-Drama of Creation.” After the first showing, Karel came home excited. He described everything he had seen and heard, and he gave his father two books in German that he had obtained. The following evening he returned home even more excited and brought with him the book Creation in Czech. As he described his impressions, he mentioned that he had turned in his address at the end of the program in order to be invited to further Bible discourses.
About a month later, when the family had just finished their Sunday lunch, the doorbell rang. Bohumil Müller later wrote: “Father went to answer. For a while he conversed with the visitor in the hallway but then returned to the kitchen with a look of surprise on his face. His first words were: ‘Never have I experienced anything like this. Just imagine, a man takes the trouble to visit us on Sunday to invite us to a talk! It is a talk of the Bible Students. We from the Brethren would never do that. We’re too lazy!’” Later the Müllers began to meet regularly with the small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In time, Bohumil dedicated himself to Jehovah, but he did not get baptized until about two years after that. By that time he was already serving as an assistant to the congregation overseer (then called the service director), conducting meetings, and working in the Bethel Home at the Society’s Prague office. The seriousness of Christian baptism was not fully appreciated by all the Witnesses at that time.
At about this time, Libuše Štecherová, Bohumil’s cousin, learned the truth. She got baptized more quickly. Sister Štecherová later said: “My uncle, Tomáš Müller, was a very religious man. One summer afternoon in 1932, he told me of God’s name, Jehovah, about the future of the world, and about the remarkable Bible meetings of a group called Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the end, he left me the book Deliverance by J. F. Rutherford. I began to comprehend that there was something my Creator wanted me to understand. At my very first service meeting, I heard about a baptism that was to take place in Prague for the second time ever. I sat there and listened but had no idea of what was soon to take place. On the way home, Uncle Müller asked me, ‘Wouldn’t you like to be baptized too?’ ‘But I still don’t know anything,’ I objected. ‘You are like a proselyte,’ Uncle continued. ‘You know the Bible. You just need to realize the times we’re living in and what God’s will is for you.’ So I asked him to sign me up for baptism, and on April 6, 1933, I was baptized.” She did learn what Jehovah’s will was for her, and she served him faithfully until her death in 1995.
In those days home Bible studies were not conducted with newly interested persons. Training for the field service frequently consisted simply of going to one door with another Witness to observe and then being sent off on one’s own.
Many women learned the truth during those years. The ministry became the most important thing in the lives of a considerable number of these, and they accomplished much. They often took their children with them, and as a result, the children experienced Jehovah’s blessing firsthand. Blanka Pýchová began to go in the field service with her mother when she was ten years old. Regarding one incident she recalls: “My mother and I were assigned to work a village. Mother told me to work around the village square while she worked the surrounding houses. As I reached the square, I realized with horror that it was full of geese. I wasn’t afraid of any animals except geese. They hissed at me, and when they tried to bite me, I used my book bag as a shield. But it wasn’t easy, so in desperation, I prayed: ‘Lord Jehovah, please help!’ All of a sudden, the geese fled, and next to me stood a huge Saint Bernard. I petted the dog, and he followed me from house to house. The geese dared not approach me again.” Her mother later made sure that Blanka discerned Jehovah’s loving care in what had happened.
Reaching People in Many Ways
In 1932 another tool became available for use in the ministry in this part of Europe. The Golden Age magazine (now known as Awake!) made its appearance in Czech. That year 71,200 copies were placed in the hands of the people. After reading The Golden Age, many people were willing to accept other literature that discussed the Bible more extensively.
In order to give everyone possible the opportunity to benefit from the good news about God’s Kingdom, pioneers were sent in from Germany. They lived modestly so that they could devote themselves to this work. Of the 84 pioneers who reported during 1932, there were 34 from Germany. For many of these, this meant learning a new language. Until they mastered it, what could they accomplish? Oskar Hoffmann, a German brother who served in Prague, said: “Though I did not know the language of the country, I daily called on people in their homes. To help them understand why I was calling, I asked them to read a testimony card, which contained a short printed sermon in their language. By this means thousands of Bible publications were placed in the hands of the Czech people.”
Special government legislation against the influx of foreigners required that most of the pioneers from abroad leave in 1934. But much good work had been done. During that year the pioneers had witnessed in most areas that were not assigned to a regular group.
The same year that the foreign pioneers had to leave the country, the Society provided the local Witnesses with Bible talks recorded on phonograph disks. The local brothers showed commendable initiative. The Prague Congregation bought a motorcycle, an Indian 750, with a sidecar on which they mounted an amplifier. Upon arriving at a town square or any other open area in a village, they placed the amplifier on a tall tripod and played a musical recording while they made calls from house to house. When a number of people were attracted by the music, the brothers would play a record with a short Bible sermon. In this way they were able to witness to hundreds of people in several villages during a single Sunday morning.
Legal Registration
Measures had been taken in 1930 to provide a legal foundation for the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Czechoslovakia. This involved the forming of corporations that could hold title to property, obtain literature, and perform other necessary services.
A special meeting was held in Prague at which the participants welcomed a plan to form two corporations and approved their charters. The first corporation was named Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (Czechoslovak Branch). It handled the task of obtaining publications, caring for meetings, and distributing literature. The second corporation was called Mezinárodní sdružení badatelů Bible, československá větev (International Bible Students Association, Czechoslovak Branch), with its seat in Prague. It provided a legal agency to supervise the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Czechoslovakia. Three offices of the Czechoslovak Branch of the International Bible Students Association were set up, each to handle matters in a different part of the republic. The work in the Czech lands was supervised by an office in the city of Brno with Antonín Gleissner as its chairman. These corporations helped to facilitate the evangelizing work in Czechoslovakia.
Three years later, in 1933, the Watch Tower Society opened a branch office in Prague, where it carried on printing operations. This was needed because of the difficult situation in Germany following Hitler’s rise to power. Bans had been imposed there, and the Society’s branch in Magdeburg had been confiscated. Edgar Merk, from Magdeburg, was appointed branch servant in Prague. Karel Kopetzky, from Prague, was assigned to oversee the Bethel Home and the office.
However, not everything went smoothly in Prague. As a result of personal pride and other factors, there were conflicts between these two brothers. In 1936 the branch in Prague was put under the supervision of the Society’s Central European Office, which was located in Switzerland. Shortly after this, Karel Kopetzky and Josef Güttler, both of whom held positions of responsibility in the Society’s legal corporations in Czechoslovakia, resigned. They were replaced by Josef Bahner and Bohumil Müller. The new branch servant was Heinrich Dwenger, a mild-tempered and loyal servant of Jehovah who had already cared for a variety of theocratic assignments. With loving supervision, the congregations continued to share joyfully in publishing the good news of God’s Kingdom—news that was greatly needed by people in an increasingly unstable world.
Strengthened by International Gatherings
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Czechoslovakia well knew that the Witnesses in other countries were holding conventions, and they strongly desired to hold a convention in Czechoslovakia.
A large international meeting, as it was then called, was arranged for Prague, to be held from May 14 to 16, 1932, in Varieté-Theater. This was the first of such international conventions in this country. The public discourse was timely, featuring the theme “Europe Before Destruction.” The program was interpreted into Czech, German, Hungarian, Russian, and Slovak. The attendance was 1,500. A powerful witness was given. During the days of the convention, more than 21,000 pieces of Bible literature were placed with the people as delegates shared in the house-to-house ministry.
In 1937 another international gathering was held in Prague. Hundreds of visitors came from such places as Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Germany. “It was a wonderful convention!” Brother Müller later recalled.
The preaching of the good news continued to progress throughout Czechoslovakia. During 1937 the Witnesses were making good use of 7 amplifiers and 50 phonographs to play recorded Bible discourses. That year they used this equipment in 2,946 public presentations for audiences totaling 31,279. A report on the work in Czechoslovakia for that year stated: “Throughout the country the work of preaching the good news was moving forward. It had been heard by people in large towns as well as in villages, even reaching palaces and mountain homesteads.”
The Looming Nazi Threat
World War II was drawing near. Tensions were increasing in Europe. How would Jehovah’s Witnesses deal with the situation? Conscientious objection to military service was not yet widely known in Czechoslovakia. No major traditional religion upheld Bible standards to the point of maintaining Christian neutrality. The first person imprisoned as a Christian neutral in this country was Bohumil Müller. He wrote: “I was to take up military service on October 1, 1937. My conscience, however, told me that God does not want his servants to ‘learn war.’ (Isa. 2:4) I relied on Jehovah to give me enough strength and endurance for the trials ahead. Because of my stand, by the end of March 1939, I had been summoned before a military court four times and each time sentenced to several months in prison. Looking back at those days, I can now say that I am grateful for those trials because they prepared me for much worse times to come.”
As the threat of Nazism increased, pressures upon Jehovah’s servants multiplied. On the frontier near the border with Germany, opposition intensified. In August 1938 the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses were prohibited, so they began to assemble in small groups. Libuše Štecherová wrote: “During 1938 political tension mounted, and we had to train ourselves to witness under new circumstances. Later, during the war, we would acquaint ourselves well with a person before speaking to him about our faith.”
During 1938, Germany moved to take over the Sudetenland, which was then within the borders of Czechoslovakia. In an effort to avert war, Britain and France acquiesced to Hitler’s demand that the Sudetenland be part of Germany, and the people living there found themselves under Nazi domination.
German Occupation Begins
On March 15, 1939, German forces occupied all of Bohemia and Moravia. Hitler designed a new political state called the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, which had its own president and puppet government.
Quickly the Gestapo took action against Jehovah’s Witnesses. They came to the Watch Tower Society’s Prague office on March 30. On April 1, Bohumil Müller was released after serving a prison term for being a Christian neutral. On his way from prison to the train station, he phoned the branch office. He later said: “I told them I would come the next day to do whatever I could. Three of us were at Bethel that day. There was much work to do. Some of the printing equipment was already prepared at a port for shipment to the Netherlands. The rest needed to be packed immediately. Brother Matejka and I took care of this task while Brother Kapinus was clearing the offices and Bethel premises. In the meantime we were also translating magazines—The Watchtower and Consolation (now Awake!). We also managed to move out a large quantity of Czech books and booklets that the Gestapo had not been interested in during a raid in March. Nevertheless, the Gestapo visited the branch several times during the liquidation.”
After the occupation began, it was evident that conditions for preaching would be very difficult. Many brothers left Czechoslovakia. Brother Dwenger left for Switzerland just the evening before the Gestapo came to arrest him. Brother Müller was also preparing to leave. He had received the necessary permission from State authorities to do so when a letter arrived from the branch in Bern indicating that it would be beneficial if he could continue in his assignment, providing needed oversight and encouragement to the brothers in Czechoslovakia. Brother Müller immediately agreed, and in order to keep from changing his mind, he destroyed his passport.
Forty-eight years later, he said: “If someone would ask me now if I ever regretted not leaving Prague in the spring of 1939, I would definitely answer, ‘No!’ I never regretted staying. In time, I realized that this was where I belonged. Here is where Jehovah and his organization put me. Why, all the cruel suffering and beatings that I often endured were far outweighed by the joy I felt as I observed the growth of the work from year to year and the increase in the crowd of joyful worshipers of the Almighty around me!”
From 1939 on, arrests took place at the hands of the Gestapo. Otto Buchta, a spiritual pillar in the Brno Congregation, was among those arrested, and he later died in Mauthausen concentration camp. In the autumn of 1940, Brother Kapinus, who had earlier served in the branch office in Prague, along with other brothers and sisters in Moravia, was arrested. Nevertheless, faithful witnesses of Jehovah continued to preach the Word wherever they could.
Some who had served Jehovah in more favorable times forsook his worship and joined forces with the enemies of his people. Karel Kopetzky had been a very capable, zealous brother. But when Brother Müller, formerly his coworker, met him in 1940, Kopetzky was a different man. It happened this way: The brothers had mimeographed a Bible publication and put it into envelopes for mailing. Brother Müller put them in a bag and rode his bicycle from one post office to another in Prague. He dropped a few envelopes into each mailbox. He said: “When I entered one of the post offices, I saw a man waiting at the counter, dressed in the uniform of a member of the SS. I stopped, but before I decided what to do, the man turned around and we stood face-to-face. For a moment we stared at each other. Much to my surprise, I was looking into the face of a former brother, Karel Kopetzky! I quickly regained my composure, walked to one of the counters and grabbed a form, exited the post office, and sped away on my bike.”
The following year Brother Müller, who was then providing oversight for the work in this country, was arrested and taken to the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Preaching in the ‘Fiery Furnace’
Over the years, much has been written about the concentration camps and the suffering of our brothers there. Among those who were in the camps were Jehovah’s Witnesses from Czechia. We will not dwell on the details of their suffering but, rather, on how they were spiritually upbuilt and how they upbuilt others even in that ‘fiery furnace.’—Compare Daniel 3:20, 21.
In those days people around the world knew the name of the Czech village Lidice. On June 9/10, 1942, at Hitler’s direct command, the whole village was razed to the ground in retribution for the death of a German officer. Its name was to be blotted off the map of Europe. Božena Vodrážková, who survived that horror, later recalled: “The Gestapo rounded up our whole village. All the men were shot, the children taken to unknown destinations, and the women transported to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. There I met Witnesses of our Lord Jehovah . . . Once a friend told me, ‘Božena, I have spoken with the Bible Students. They speak remarkable things. It sounds like a fairy tale, but they claim that what the Bible says is true, that God’s Kingdom will come and do away with evil.’ Later I met them personally. They witnessed to me about God’s Kingdom, and I felt very much attracted to their message.” Yes, she became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Many prisoners were deeply impressed by the conduct of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the camps. Alois Miczek recalls: “During the war I was imprisoned for my Communist activities and placed in the Mauthausen concentration camp. The Witnesses there were somehow able to obtain The Watchtower and other literature, which they used in teaching some fellow prisoners, and the SS were incapable of preventing this. So as a warning, the SS decided to shoot every tenth Witness in the camp. They lined up all the Witnesses, and every tenth one was taken aside under armed guard. But all of a sudden, as if it had been prearranged, the remaining 90 percent of the brothers turned and started walking toward the group selected for execution. ‘If you want to shoot every tenth one, shoot us all!’ The entire camp was awestruck by this gesture, and the SS were so impressed that the command was reversed. I was an eyewitness to this event.” (John 15:13) And how did it affect his life?
His daughter, Marie Gogolková, explains: “Observing Jehovah’s Witnesses at Mauthausen led my father to embrace the truth. He was baptized immediately after the war, and he zealously preached about God’s Kingdom and helped many people to learn the truth.”
Oldřich Nesrovnal, from Brno, was also in a concentration camp. Why? He had an aversion to war, so he tried to escape across the border to Switzerland. He was caught in the process, accused of espionage, and deported to Dachau. He recalls: “In the prisoner train that carried us to the camp, I spotted a quiet 13-year-old boy sitting near the window reading something. It seemed he was trying to hide what he was reading. I asked him what it was, and he replied: ‘The Bible.’ He told me he wouldn’t give up his faith in God. I didn’t understand, but I stuck with the boy. His name was Gregor Wicinsky; he was from Poland. The next day I learned that he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He had refused to sign a list of items that he had to turn in. The list was in German, and he was afraid he would be signing a compromising statement. He was beaten, but even that did not break him . . .
“I wrote Mother, asking her for a Bible, and remarkably enough, it arrived. I began reading it regularly. A certain man from Ostrava [in Moravia] observed me. He asked if I understood what I was reading, and I told him I understood about half. ‘And would you like to understand more?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘So meet me tomorrow after 6:00 p.m. at such-and-such place.’ This was the first time I was at a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The meetings were held daily after 6:00 p.m., and three times on Sunday. Both the conductor and the topic were preassigned. My ‘teacher’ was the literature servant. He was the camp’s cobbler, and all the hand-copied literature was hidden under the seat of his work stool. I didn’t hear of Gregor again, however, for a year and a half. Then at the end of 1944, I watched a crowd of prisoners returning from various side camps, and I spotted my Gregor. He appeared to be almost half a meter [1.5 feet] taller but terribly thin. After quarantine he joined us at the meeting. We warmly welcomed each other, and then he said, ‘I prayed to the Lord Jehovah not to leave you here alone.’ Jehovah had answered his prayer.”
Memorial in a Concentration Camp
Was it possible under such circumstances to commemorate the Memorial of Christ’s death? Yes, indeed! But at times, individuals wondered how it could be done. Božena Nováková explained: “The Memorial was approaching. I felt horrible because I believed that I wouldn’t be able to partake of the emblems. But Jehovah took care of things. He knew my desire, so on the day of the Memorial, I was called to one of the barracks. Several sisters of various nationalities were already there. The Memorial, including the partaking of emblems, took place without disturbance. Thanks, glory, and honor be to our God, Jehovah, and to his Lamb!”
But how had the unleavened bread and the wine been obtained? She added: “It happened that nearby, in the town of Fürstenberg, there were some Witnesses of Jehovah working at a State farmstead who managed to supply us with the emblems.”
After this blessing Sister Nováková had another experience—difficult, yet faith strengthening. She recalled: “One day I was called to the washroom. It was a washroom with showers, but when the showers were turned on, there was gas instead of water. Poisoned women, sometimes still alive, were thrown into ovens. I wasn’t aware of it until a female guard told me: ‘So you, Bibelforscher [as Jehovah’s Witnesses were called], you’re going into the gas! Now let’s see if your Jehovah will save you!’” As Sister Nováková turned away, tears filled her eyes, and she prayed: “Father Jehovah, please, if I am to die, may your will take place. But I pray in behalf of my children. I fully entrust them into your care.” Relating what happened then, she said: “As I was praying, the door opened and the head doctor entered, saw my purple triangle, and said: ‘Bibelforscher, what are you doing here? Who sent you here?’ I answered that I had been sent by the guard. He said: ‘Get out of here! Your place is there!’ and he pointed toward the door. As I was leaving, I heard the guard remark: ‘Now I believe that their Jehovah is protecting them.’”
Witnessing During Nazi Occupation
Although no field service reports were compiled during this time, the preaching of the good news continued in Czechoslovakia. Rǔžena Lívancová, from the town of Kladno, wrote: “Mother taught us to have faith in God, not the way the priests taught, but so that we would respect people. In 1940 a sister from Prague witnessed to us. So I started learning about our wonderful God and loving Father, Jehovah. In 1943 my mother, my sister, and I were all baptized.”
Even at that time and under wartime conditions, Jehovah was drawing “those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life.” (Acts 13:48) František Šnajdr, from Prague, said: “We were a Catholic family but never went to church. I was a machinist, leading an ordinary life. I frequented pubs, where I played cards. A certain man would come, have a glass of beer, and witness to those present. They would make fun of him. But as I played cards, I would listen to him with one ear. He spoke about the 24th chapter of Matthew. I liked it and told him so. So he invited me to his home. When I arrived, a meeting was under way. There were already seven at his home. I asked, ‘Tell me please, when is the priest coming?’” But no priest was coming. Josef Valenta, who was sitting right there next to František, was presiding.
František continued studying the Bible, and in August 1942 he got baptized. The following year he was arrested by the Gestapo. But Jehovah continued to provide needed help so that he could grow spiritually. František explained: “In Mauthausen I met Brother Martin Poetzinger. He was a courageous and discreet brother. He made me a pair of slippers, and always provided me with literature. We held regular meetings—in secret, of course—every Sunday, right on the ‘Platz’”—evidently the area used for the roll call of prisoners.
Jan Matuszný also came to realize that he needed spiritual help. He later wrote: “During the war I worked in a mine. With my two brothers, I played in a miners’ band. I smoked and drank. I was in such a deplorable state that my hands would shake like the hands of an old man. One day when I was drunk and feeling miserable, I started praying to God loudly, asking him to help me somehow find my way out of my problems.”
Soon after this, a Witness who was calling on this man’s fleshly sister spoke at length with him and gave him a Bible as well as three booklets. As he read them, he became convinced that what he was learning was the truth. He quit smoking, abusing alcohol, and playing in the band, and he began attending meetings. He was baptized in 1943 in a fish pond. He added: “We held meetings all through the war. We were taught the meaning of the word ‘compromise’ and that it is better to die than to betray a brother. This served as a good foundation for the persecution that lay ahead”—yes, persecution that came even after the war ended.
Using Well a Period of Relative Peace
After the war ended, there was a period of relative freedom and a measure of peace for Jehovah’s people from 1945 to 1949. It was a time of rebuilding and a time when our brothers engaged in their God-given work of preaching with renewed zeal.—Matt. 24:14.
The first thing that needed to be done was to locate all the congregations and individual publishers. Some had died, others had moved, and thousands who were of German nationality and who had lived near the borders were in the process of being deported. Brother Müller, who was perhaps one of the first brothers to arrive home, worked hard to reestablish communication between congregations. He also tried to contact the Society’s branch offices in other countries, but without success at first. Then early in June a telegraph message got through to Bern, Switzerland. Letters from Bern began to arrive, each containing several pages of The Watchtower in German. Translation quickly got under way. In August 1945 the brothers in Prague released the first postwar issue of The Watchtower in Czech, printed on a mimeograph.
Many people remembered what the Witnesses had preached before the war, and some of them were now willing to listen. Public Bible talks—not recorded speeches, but ones delivered by qualified speakers—began to be featured. Hundreds attended. The first talk, on the theme “Freedom in the New World,” was given on November 11, 1945, in the hall of Prague’s Agricultural Stock Market. The audience of some 600 showed much enthusiasm. In the course of three years, 1,885 of such public talks were given in Czechoslovakia. Many who are now Jehovah’s Witnesses say that they were drawn to the truth as a result of those talks.
One such person is Tibor Tomašovský, who now resides in Bohemia. A Witness who was engaging in his secular work met Tibor and, in the course of conversation, mentioned the Bible. Tibor was impressed by his modesty and invited the Witness to his home. This led to an invitation to a meeting. Tibor later said: “What my wife and I experienced at that meeting was indescribable. Never had I heard such an outstanding talk. Three different speakers took turns giving the talk. ‘These must be highly educated people,’ I told the person sitting next to me. ‘No, they’re just farmers.’ What we heard was so wonderful that we didn’t want to return home. The following week in the office, I couldn’t concentrate on my work and I couldn’t wait for Sunday. We never missed a meeting.”
Among the places where the Witnesses carried on their ministry were labor camps where, after the war, prisoners of war and Germans awaiting deportation were held. A report concerning the activity at that time says: “With much success the brothers have been calling on Germans, mostly Nazis, in labor camps.” Would their changed circumstances make them more receptive to Bible truth? Jehovah’s Witnesses wanted to give them that opportunity.
In November 1945 an official appointment of Brother Müller to be branch overseer arrived. The following summer the brothers managed to buy a practically new four-story building in Suchdol, near Prague. This provided a quiet workplace and good accommodations for the Bethel family. The country was divided into circuits, each made up of about 20 congregations, and circuit assemblies began to be held regularly. This proved to be a rich blessing. Such assemblies were always associated with the house-to-house ministry, and a fine witness was given by means of the public lecture on Sunday afternoon. As the Theocratic Ministry School began to function in the congregations, more brothers, with the help of Jehovah’s spirit, became qualified to give public talks and publishers became better teachers.
Conventions were also arranged. The discourses “Be Glad” and “The Prince of Peace” were featured at a convention attended by 1,700 in Besední du̇m, a club facility in Brno, in 1946. Franz Zürcher from Bern, Switzerland, was present for the occasion. The following year, when another convention was held in Brno, three members of the world headquarters staff—N. H. Knorr, M. G. Henschel, and H. C. Covington—served on the program. The public talk, “The Joy of All the People,” was advertised throughout the city with posters and leaflets, and 2,300 came to hear it. Many turned in their addresses and expressed a desire to be invited to future meetings.
Early in 1948 there was a crisis in the government. The Communists came to power. Jehovah’s Witnesses continued zealously preaching the good news. They experienced a 25-percent increase in the number of Kingdom proclaimers during that year. In September another convention was held—this one in Prague. The public talk featured the timely theme “Kingdom of God—Hope for All Mankind.” And in view of what lay ahead, the talk “Keeping Integrity Under Trial” also proved to be most appropriate. Even while the convention was under way, enemies of Jehovah’s people were preparing to attack.
Dark Clouds Gather Again
Less than four years had passed since the brothers were released from prison, but the climate abruptly changed. At a circuit assembly in Karlovy Vary, in western Bohemia, in November 1948, storm clouds appeared. The assembly itself was not interrupted. However, as Brother Müller delivered the public talk on Sunday afternoon, November 28, some of the back seats in the hall were occupied by State Security agents in civilian clothes. That same day when Brother Müller was eating his evening meal, Oldřich Skupina, the overseer of the Karlovy Vary Congregation, found him and excitedly told him that the State Security had searched the homes of several brothers and confiscated their literature.
Brother Müller endeavored to phone the Prague Bethel, but no one answered. Something serious had obviously occurred there too. He quickly returned to Prague. However, as he neared the Bethel building, he saw two men who were pretending to be workmen but who were watching the Bethel Home. At Bethel he met a brother who reported that several State Security agents had searched the entire premises and sealed the office. Within 45 minutes of his arrival, two officials from the Ministry of Interior appeared at the Bethel Home and announced that the building had been confiscated. Brother Müller protested, pointing out that a confiscation must be preceded by a court order. After they left, he managed to move some of the files that the State Security had not found to his parents’ house. But when he returned to Bethel, a State Security agent was waiting with orders to arrest him and the two sisters who were with him. The other members of the Bethel family had already been arrested.
Had a court order been issued that quickly? No. Months later, while the brothers were under detention, Brother Kapinus, who was among those being detained, received a letter. It contained the decision of the Ministry of Interior, dated April 4, 1949—over four months after the fact—to discontinue the Society’s activity and confiscate its property.
In spite of this, in July the State Court stopped criminal proceedings against the brothers because of lack of evidence. They were released from preliminary confinement. Nevertheless, they did not leave the building of the State Court as free people. Two officials from the Ministry of Interior stopped them and informed them that by a decision of the Communist Political Commission, they were being sent to a labor camp for two years. What could not be accomplished by legal process was simply being done by arbitrary decree. Brother Müller was transported to Kladno, where he worked in a coal mine.
The wave of arrests that swept across the country brought much hardship to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Yet, what the Communist officials expected did not prove true. They had told Brother Müller when he was in prison: “Cut off the head, and the body will die.” They thought that he and other responsible brothers were “the head,” but they failed to discern that the real Head of the Christian congregation is the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.—Eph. 4:15, 16.
True Worship Continues
Despite the pressure of those dark days, true worship did not cease. Soon the brothers began to make arrangements to keep the work of bearing witness to Jesus as the Messianic King moving ahead. Josef Skohoutil, of Prague, explains: “A few days after the beginning of the persecution, I was visited by Brother Gros, a local overseer. He gave me the names of ten publishers and told me to take care of them.” For a while they still attempted to witness from house to house, but gradually they learned other methods to do the work.
Though many brothers were in prison, the ones outside kept on meeting together. Public halls could not be used, but assemblies with an abbreviated program were held in large apartments. At times, larger assemblies were held out in the forest. The first of these was in Oldřichov, near the town of Nejdek, in 1949. A slope with protruding rocks provided a seating area to accommodate the 200 who attended. Nearby was an abandoned house, barn, and pond. For the baptism, they put up a partition in the barn to provide changing rooms for men and women. They cleaned the pond and arranged wooden stairs leading into the water. Thirty-seven were immersed on that occasion.
What about obtaining Bible publications for study? An account submitted by Brother Vykouřil, from Teplice, is revealing. It says: “In 1950 only three of us remained in Teplice. We would receive a French Watchtower from a sister in Switzerland, by mail. For a time the contact had been lost, but after some time it was restored. I started receiving letters in symbolic language. In those letters it was requested that I find someone who knew someone else who, in turn, knew still another person, and thus contact would be reestablished. The brothers taking the lead were in prison, so we had to reestablish organizational contacts. We functioned without any official assignments—everyone did what was needed. We never stopped receiving The Watchtower, however.”
This was the beginning of one of the most difficult periods in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in this land. It was only due to Jehovah’s hand that the work did not stop. Instead, despite many trials, it continued to increase.
A Brief Reprieve
Unexpectedly, early in 1950 all of Jehovah’s Witnesses, both brothers and sisters, were released from the labor camps. What awaited them? Brother Müller recalled: “I was happily surprised by the good organization that had been built up in our absence.” Jehovah’s spirit had moved younger brothers, including Jan Sebín and Jaroslav Hála, to take a zealous lead. Jaroslav’s father had been arrested in 1948 (and later on, he died in prison), but Jaroslav became an example and great source of encouragement to many brothers and sisters. They found that the number of active Witnesses throughout the country (the former Czechoslovakia) had increased by 52 percent within two years, from 1,581 to 2,403. The following year saw a further 38-percent increase.
When the book “Let God Be True” was published in Czech in six parts, in 1951, this provided the basis for further growth. This publication would serve as a basis for home Bible studies. It contained what students needed in order to get a good start in a life of service to Jehovah.
However, Communist officials were not viewing the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses kindly. The year 1952 opened another extended period of severe persecution for Jehovah’s people.
Into the ‘Fiery Furnace’ Again
On February 4, 1952, in the early morning hours, Brother Müller was again arrested by the State Security. This time he was blindfolded as he was driven to prison. He later wrote: “For the next 14 months, I was not allowed out of my cell of solitary confinement without a blindfold. About every other day, the interrogating officer led me to his office. Here I underwent long interrogations during which they tried to persuade me to admit that I had been involved in espionage and also that I had committed treason. Numerous police reports were written, then destroyed, and new reports were written. The interrogators kept trying new methods in an effort to include in the report at least a subtle innuendo of guilt. I repeatedly refused to sign such reports. Some 16 years later when I was free, an official from the Ministry of Interior told me that I had been on a list of people to be liquidated. On March 27, 1953, I was taken blindfolded to a court hearing at Pankrác. Both of my coworkers and I were put under tremendous psychological pressure. The hearing lasted two days. It was held in absolute secrecy. The seats for the public were occupied solely by interrogators from the Ministry of Interior.”
As it turned out, February 4, 1952, had been a day of numerous arrests throughout Czechoslovakia. On that day the State Security had arrested a total of 109 of Jehovah’s Witnesses (104 brothers and 5 sisters).
Among those taken to prison on that day was Emílie Macíčková. She relates: “On February 4, 1952, when my husband was in the hospital, three men and one woman of the State Security came to our home at 3:30 a.m. I was immediately arrested. They made a thorough house search and confiscated what they found. They took me to the Regional Police Department in Ostrava. There were already plenty of us Witnesses. We were being arrested by the gross. They put us into newly blanched but evil-smelling cold cells, gave us cold water for washing, and then locked the iron doors. Whenever they took us somewhere, they put black glasses on us. They dispatched sneaks to our cells, but we spoke with them about nothing but God’s Kingdom. Those cat’s-paws even sang our Kingdom songs and pretended to pray—to such an extent our enemies went in their efforts to break us, but Jehovah strengthened us!”
A Monstrous Trial in Prague
This was a time when there were many political trials in Czechoslovakia. The sentences resulting from these trials were extremely severe—either many years of imprisonment or death. The trial of Jehovah’s Witnesses on March 27 and 28, 1953, took place during this period. Behind closed doors, there were two mock trials of principal overseers of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The second one took place a month after the first. The sentences were as follows: “Müller and Fogel: sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. The accused Sebín, Gros and Hála: 15 years; Nahálka: 12 years; Novák: 8 years; and Porubský: 5 years. All of the accused are liable to confiscation of property and loss of citizenship rights.”
The only information made available to the public regarding these trials was in the newspapers. What did they say? An example is this distorted report that appeared on March 30 in the Communist daily Rudé právo (The Red Law): “American imperialists, in their hatred for the people’s democratic Czechoslovakia, shun no means of leading our working masses away from the road to Socialism . . . The circuit court in Prague dealt with one form of destructive activity by the American imperialists . . . On trial were the leading members of a religious sect whose adherents call themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses. This organization, directed in Brooklyn, U.S.A., and which has been banned in our country since 1949 for its destructive tendencies, has smuggled into Czechoslovakia cosmopolitan ideologies which under the veil of pure Christianity are designed to undermine the morale of our working masses, to encourage hatred toward the State and its laws, and which began preparing its adherents for eventual war in which they would play the role of the fifth column.”
This twisting of facts in order to justify the actions of the court set a precedent that was imitated throughout the country.
Finding Sheeplike Ones in the Prisons
Even in prison, however, there were opportunities to witness. Resourcefulness was needed, but our brothers found a way. There were people in prison who responded favorably to Bible truth. One of these was František Janeček, from Čáslav. He recalls: “During the war, I had participated in the Resistance movement. In 1948, I disagreed with the new form of violence, and since I openly opposed injustice, I was sentenced to 11 years in prison. In jail I was allowed to have a Bible, and I even taught it during periods free from work. The brothers, therefore, took me for a priest. We stayed in different barracks, but sometimes we had night watches, called fire watches, outside our barracks. One night when I was on watch, it was very cold and there was a star-filled sky. Another prisoner also starting his watch duty came out of the neighboring barracks. I said to him, ‘So you too are here serving Pharaoh, eh?’ ‘And do you know who Pharaoh was?’ he asked me. ‘Yes, the ruler of Egypt.’ ‘And do you know whom he foreshadowed?’ ‘No!’ ‘So come over here, and I’ll tell you.’ We walked together for two hours, and he gave me a good explanation. I made rapid progress. God loved me and saw my desire for the truth.” František joined with Jehovah’s Witnesses in studying the Bible, and soon he was reporting between 70 and 80 hours in Jehovah’s service each month.
Many who learned the truth in prison were baptized there. How was that done? Ladislav Šmejkal, who learned the truth when he was a political prisoner, explains: “At the mine where we worked, we had access to cooling towers of large mine compressors. In June 1956, along with several others, I was baptized in the reservoir of one of these towers. It wasn’t easy because we had to do it during a short break before the afternoon shift. We took our underwear, went to the tower, were baptized, quickly changed, and then reported for work.” They were grateful that Jehovah had helped his servants to find a way to symbolize their dedication in obedience to the command of Jesus Christ.—Matt. 28:19, 20.
“Saints” in the Coal Mines
The ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was enforced in various ways and to differing extents. It was not the same at every place or at all times. Under all circumstances, the brothers endeavored conscientiously to maintain their Christian integrity. As a result, many of them were imprisoned.
Then, in 1958, as a result of a government decree, exemption from military service was granted to coal miners who were under 30 years of age. Instead of waiting until they were arrested and sentenced to prison—perhaps to work in the mines—some brothers maintained a measure of freedom by taking up work as employees in the mines. (Prov. 22:3) So it happened that “saints” or “priests,” as people called these Witnesses, came to be on payrolls in many mines. And since there were many of Jehovah’s Witnesses in certain mines, they began to form strong congregations in which brothers grew to spiritual maturity, becoming qualified ministers.
For ten years, Eduard Sobička worked in a mine in the village of Kamenné Žehrovice, near the town of Kladno. He says: “As far as I remember, the largest number of brothers working at one time in the mine where I was employed was about 30. We worked on different shifts, and set a rule for ourselves to avoid sticking so close together that we would separate ourselves from the other miners. Nevertheless, the ‘saints,’ as we were commonly referred to, attracted much attention. We were mocked and insulted but secretly respected at the same time.” There in the mines, they seized opportunities to witness, and when interest was shown, they would also lend precious Bible literature.
On Vacation With Other Witnesses
Although those were hard times, vacations also had a place in the lives of Jehovah’s people. When carefully planned, such vacations became a time not only for physical refreshment but also for spiritual upbuilding. At a time when meetings were held with a maximum of 10 people in attendance, imagine what it was like for perhaps 30 of Jehovah’s Witnesses to be together for a week or two!
Making wise decisions as to whom to invite was important. Those making the plans endeavored not to give preference to the young over the elderly or to brothers over sisters. An effort was made to include several spiritually mature Christian brothers, who would provide needed oversight.
A main concern was that there be a balanced spiritual program. The daily schedule was something like this: Morning prayer, daily text, and Bible reading. On some afternoons there were hour-long meetings. In the evening there was often a spiritual gathering with a prearranged program. The rest of the day was free. The friends could study, go hiking, go swimming, or the like. The ministry was usually associated with a hiking trip, but again there were unwritten rules to follow. Try to imagine a group of 20 hikers. In villages, in the forest, and in fields, they would find local people. Upon meeting someone, a brother or a sister would leave the group and try to strike up a conversation. The rest of the group continued on their way.
These vacations, enjoyed by a group, resulted in much good. They were faith strengthening, and they served to spread the good news. These group vacations were an integral part of the modern-day history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in this country. At no time, however, could Jehovah’s servants afford to let down their guard spiritually.
A Cunning Attack
Satan the Devil, “the father of the lie,” seeks to undermine confidence by distorting facts and by misrepresenting faithful servants of God. (John 8:44) He used that tactic to weaken ancient Israel, to turn first-century Jews against Christ, and to try to disrupt the early Christian congregation. (Num. 13:26–14:4; John 5:10-18; 3 John 9, 10) Some people who serve his ends are seeking prominence for themselves. Others may feel that what they are saying is right, but they express strong opinions when they do not know all the facts. Satan can use both, and he did so in this country.
The situation during the late 1950’s was difficult for the brothers in Czechoslovakia. Many were in prison. Communication with the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses had been disrupted. Some with initiative gave directions that reflected their own opinion instead of being firmly based on the Scriptures. (Titus 1:9; Jas. 3:1) Reacting to the pressure of the times, some individuals took firm positions on matters without having all the facts. (Compare Proverbs 18:13, 17.) A few began “to draw away the disciples after themselves.”—Acts 20:30.
Regarding the events of that period, Brother Müller later wrote: “One day in January 1956 in Valdice prison, I was taken to an office where two men were waiting for me. They claimed to be from the Ministry of Interior. They tried to persuade me that we should ‘ease down’ on some of our religious teachings. We could not agree on that, and the interview was therefore short. In 1957 two other officials from the Ministry of Interior visited me. That three-hour discussion had a completely different spirit. I was able to explain openly the views and attitudes of the Witnesses regarding various issues. They were interested in our attitude toward military service, blood transfusions, labor unions, and a number of other things. At the end one of them asked me: ‘Mr. Müller, do you think we can be friends?’ I replied: ‘People who are friends are very close and have many common interests. We Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in God. But you Communists are atheists. We cannot have a common ground. But I think that we can live and exist side by side.’ The official said: ‘I am glad for your reply because otherwise we couldn’t trust you.’ I had the impression that this final question was asked in order to determine if there could be any meaningful dialogue between us in the future. And if so, it would bring us one step closer to a solution to our situation.”
That conversation resulted in somewhat more open communication between certain brothers and the government authorities. However, because of the climate that existed then, some Witnesses who learned of those interviews felt that these responsible brothers had compromised. No doubt some who reacted in that way were moved by a strong desire to avoid any compromise of Christian principles. However, a few who were peremptory in their manner freely expressed their distrust of the brothers who had spoken with government officials. But was their distrust well-founded?
Other factors were involved as well. Juraj Kaminský, who has loyally served Jehovah for over 50 years, explains: “After the responsible brothers and many elders were arrested, some of those taking the lead in congregations and circuits began prescribing rules of conduct for the publishers, making lists of dos and don’ts.” How much better it would have been “to promote obedience by faith,” as the apostle Paul did! (Rom. 16:26) Because the law required people to vote, some Witnesses would go to the polling place but, for reasons of conscience, would not cast a ballot for a political candidate. Others felt that these ones were compromising. Some of the brothers, perhaps understandably, had strong feelings against the authorities because of the mistreatment of their Christian brothers. Brother Müller comments: “I was very troubled by this situation, so in the autumn of 1957, I wrote a letter [from prison], which was to help the brothers put things in perspective.” One of its paragraphs read:
“There is another pain in my heart. . . . I call to the minds of the brothers that our meetings are devoted to the study of Scripture and to training Jehovah’s Witnesses to be better, more qualified ministers. It is clearly unacceptable to discuss politics or to voice any anti-State opinions at meetings, regardless of where they are held and regardless of whether merely two are present or there are many. Brothers, keep this in mind, and do not allow any such discussions. Do any of you hold grudges against the regime because I and other brothers are in prison? Then I beseech you in my name, and in the name of the other brothers, to let go of such feelings. Do not give in to wrath and animosity, for we have presented our case to God and you do likewise.”—Rom. 12:17–13:1.
Faithful brothers and sisters were greatly encouraged by this letter. Jan Tesarz said: “We received his letter, written in prison in 1957. No sign of compromise, but Christian reasonableness!” Yet, not all took that view. Brother Müller’s letter became the subject of controversy and much speculation.
Separated From the Congregation
After a large-scale amnesty for political prisoners was announced in May 1960, most of Jehovah’s Witnesses who were in prison were freed. It was a wonderful feeling! Despite threats, they promptly resumed preaching the good news. Many of these had in mind the example set by the apostles of Jesus Christ, who when released from custody prayed for boldness to keep on preaching the word. (Acts 4:23-31) But new trials awaited them.
Doubts and distrust had developed among the brothers. When a letter was sent by Brother Müller to the brothers in order to clarify matters, some who had strong and critical opinions did not allow the letter to be read to the congregations. In 1959 the number of active Witnesses in Czechoslovakia was 2,105, but over 1,000, while still claiming to serve Jehovah, no longer did so in unity with their former Christian associates. Those taking the lead among these separated ones even claimed to have the approval of the headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and of N. H. Knorr, who was then president of the Watch Tower Society.
Further developments added to the suspicions held by those separated ones regarding their former Christian associates. Government officials in Czechoslovakia had by this time generally come to realize that Jehovah’s Witnesses are not American imperialist spies, as had been charged. They also knew that it had not been possible to stop the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses or to persuade them to compromise their faith. Therefore, the government, a totalitarian Communist regime, took steps to have a dialogue with the Witnesses. It was a forced dialogue. The aim of the State Security was to ensure that religious feelings would not be used against the regime but, if possible, would be used to support it. Sometimes the contacts took the form of a summons of Brother Müller or one of the traveling overseers to the police station for interrogation. On occasion, there was what appeared to be a friendly conversation in a café.
Some observers, not knowing all the facts, thought that the brothers who were involved in these discussions were collaborating with the State Security. The names of some of these brothers were even put on a list of alleged collaborators, and it was charged that they modified articles for publication to suit the desires of the State Security.
Loving Encouragement to “Seek Jehovah”
Brother Knorr was greatly concerned about the Lord’s work and about those who were endeavoring to serve faithfully with Jehovah’s organization. On December 7, 1961, he wrote a letter to the brothers in Czechoslovakia in which he drew attention to such scriptures as Micah 2:12 and Psalm 133:1. He explained the Society’s stand on various matters and expressed his support of particular brothers who had been entrusted with responsibility. This was, in effect, loving encouragement to the brothers to “seek Jehovah”—to discern how Jehovah’s spirit was operating to fulfill his word and then to work in harmony with the agencies that Jehovah was using. (Zech. 8:21) Here is one paragraph from that letter:
“My Dear Brothers: . . . Communications reaching me have indicated that the majority of the brothers in Czechoslovakia are theocratically maintaining their Christian unity, but because of poor communication facilities a few have let rumors and gossip create questions in their minds with the resulting failure of some to cooperate or turn in their service reports. This can only lead the few to unhappiness and troubles, and it has already done so. Therefore I write to let you know that the Society recognizes Brother Adam Januška and Brother Bohumil Müller and the brothers working with them as the responsible Christian overseers in Czechoslovakia and I bid you to bear in mind the words of Paul at Hebrews 13:1, 7, 17. These brothers are interested in you and are trying to help all to be faithful to Jehovah God. So humbly work with them and they will work with you, all to the praise of Jehovah.” Sadly, however, not long after this letter was received, it was necessary to disfellowship Adam Januška for conduct unbecoming a Christian.
Brother Knorr’s letter was appreciated by some, but not everyone allowed himself to be readjusted by its counsel. In fact, in 1962 the problems escalated. A series of articles was published in The Watchtower explaining Christian responsibilities first to God and then to the secular ruling authorities, “the superior authorities” referred to at Romans 13:1. What was published represented a correction in our understanding. Those who had shown themselves to be distrustful and critical spread rumors that the articles were in fact fabricated by Brother Müller under the direction of the Ministry of Interior. What should be done? Instead of using all their time to try to convince those who did not at that time want to be convinced, the brothers directed their attention to preaching the good news to those who were hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
In later years some who had abandoned the organization saw the evidence of Jehovah’s blessing on it and asked to return. There were others, however, who remained disassociated until 1989 when the Governing Body sent a kind letter addressed “To Those Who Desire to Worship Jehovah and Serve Him Unitedly.” That letter drew attention to such prophecies as Zechariah 8:20, 21 and Isaiah 60:22, which are now undergoing fulfillment. It emphasized Scriptural counsel and standards found at Matthew 24:45-47, 1 Corinthians 10:21, 22, and Ephesians 4:16. Then the letter said, in part:
“We are sorry to hear that you have found yourselves, up to the present time, not in active association with the theocratic arrangement and procedures followed by God’s people in all other parts of the earth. We are writing to encourage you to give evidence of your desire to work in harmony with Jehovah’s visible organization as it is constituted worldwide and as it exists in your country. You can demonstrate this righteous desire on your part by accepting brothers whom we have selected. They are ready to arrange for and to read this letter to you. You can fully trust the brothers who come to you and identify themselves through this letter as being authorized by us. It is their privilege to invite you to return to the one flock and no longer be separated.—John 10:16.”
This action on the part of the Governing Body did much to repair what remained of the damage done by Satan’s cunning attack on congregations at a time when they were cut off from free communication with the rest of Jehovah’s visible organization.
Organizing and Training for Further Service
After the release of the Witnesses from prison in 1960, there was yet much to be done in connection with preaching the good news in the Czech lands. To accomplish it, proper organization and good training would be important. Achieving these objectives under the difficult conditions that then existed gave satisfying evidence of Jehovah’s loving protection and blessing.
A great step ahead in theocratic organization was the institution of the Kingdom Ministry School in 1961 to provide specialized training from the Bible for traveling overseers and congregation servants (now known as presiding overseers). Karel Plzák, from Prague, who then served as a circuit overseer, remembers the first class. It was to be held near Karlovy Vary. As it turned out, the State Security also learned about its location. Consequently, a last-minute arrangement was made for the brothers to get together in a private cottage.
Many young brothers back then appreciated the importance of Jehovah’s service. Some matured quickly and were soon invited to benefit from the Kingdom Ministry School. One of these, Jaromír Leneček, served as a congregation book study conductor at the age of 14. At 16 he was appointed to be the assistant to the congregation overseer, and at the age of 20, he was invited to attend the Kingdom Ministry School. Now he is a member of the Branch Committee.
A further program of training instituted in 1961 greatly contributed to improvement in the quality of the field ministry. An experienced publisher would be assigned to train a less experienced one. They would prepare together and work in the field service together. The aim was to help the trainee sufficiently so that he, in turn, could assist others. At that time it was possible to witness only informally, but the training enabled many to become effective praisers of Jehovah.
Under a totalitarian regime, the mails are often carefully monitored by the government. So in Czechoslovakia traveling overseers became an important link in theocratic communication. Each visit of the circuit overseer was a keenly anticipated event. Eduard Sobička recollects: “A traveling overseer had to have a secular job and therefore was able to work with congregations every other weekend from Friday to Sunday evening—a total of about 5 days during a month. This is the same amount of time that the circuit overseers in lands without legal limitations work with a congregation in one week. For this reason a circuit usually consisted of only six congregations.” Through these brothers, communication was maintained with the congregations, and they were kept up-to-date.
When Caution Was Forgotten
At times when the work was prospering, it was easy to forget that Jehovah’s Witnesses were still under ban. The brothers charged with oversight encouraged soundness of mind in all activities. But some were not content with the methods being used. They wanted faster results.
One day in 1963 in a Prague park, two brothers gathered a crowd of people together. One of the brothers stepped up on a bench and began to deliver a sermon. When a man in the crowd voiced objections, the brother called him the Devil’s agent. The police arrived and had the brothers identify themselves, but it did not end there. That incident provoked a large police operation. Within a few days, over 100 brothers and sisters from Prague were taken into custody. This resulted in two things—court trials, and a lesson for the brothers. Six of those arrested were brought to trial and sentenced.
This incident did not slow down the ministry, but it did remind the brothers of the need for practical wisdom. (Prov. 3:21, 22) That was especially important in the late 1960’s when hopes were raised for the lifting of the ban.
Freedom of Worship on the Horizon?
The year 1968 saw unexpected changes. So-called reformist Communists took power and began working toward democratization. These changes were welcomed by the people, and there was talk of “socialism with a human face.”
How did Jehovah’s Witnesses react to these changes? Reservedly. Although they welcomed the liberalization of the system, hoping that perhaps the ban would be lifted, they avoided hasty steps that they might later regret. This proved to be a wise course. (Prov. 2:10, 11; 9:10) Following eight months of relative freedom, the armies of five Warsaw Pact countries entered the territory of Czechoslovakia. Some 750,000 soldiers and 6,000 tanks put an end to “socialism with a human face.” The people were devastated. However, the neutral conduct of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the “Prague spring” greatly helped them in later years because the State authorities had to admit that Jehovah’s Witnesses pose no threat to the government.
Amazingly, after those events Czechoslovak citizens had the opportunity, for a short time, to travel freely to Western Europe. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses made use of this situation, mainly because of the “Peace on Earth” International Assemblies planned for that year. Some 300 brothers and sisters from all over Czechoslovakia traveled to Nuremberg, West Germany, the nearest convention city. It infused them with added spiritual strength. Very soon, however, the borders were again closed.
The early 1970’s saw the beginning of a period called political normalization. Sympathizers with the 1968 reform movement were systematically removed from political and cultural life. Nearly 30,000 people were affected. Almost one fourth of the officers of the State Security had sympathized with the reform, and these lost their jobs. Some people said that the Dark Ages were back.
Although this period was different from the 1950’s, it was a time when the State Security again kept a close watch on the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In some parts of the country, brothers were imprisoned. The Witnesses did not stop preaching, but they were more cautious.
“Six Thousand Years of Human Existence”
In 1969 the Watchtower magazine in Czech began publishing a series of articles based on the book Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God. Chapter 1, under the subheading “Six Thousand Years of Human Existence Closing,” contained an explanation of the Jubilee and of Bible chronology. This material influenced some in a positive way; it also led to many questions and much speculation.
The office in Czechoslovakia sent a letter dated February 22, 1972, to all congregations. It set out a lengthy explanation of reasons why we should not make any definite assertions about the date when Armageddon will strike. It pointed out that no publication of the Society had said that Armageddon will come in a certain year. The letter concluded: “Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world are familiar with these facts, and no one should add any personal claims as to what will happen before or during the year 1975. There are no Scriptural grounds for any claims, and they could have a detrimental effect on the preaching work. Strive, therefore, that you ‘all speak in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.’ (1 Cor. 1:10) For concerning that day and hour nobody knows.”—Matt. 24:36.
What Did Occur
In February 1975 several brothers were arrested in a police operation. More arrests followed in the course of the year in various parts of the country. Stanislav Šimek, from Brno, who had previously been imprisoned a number of times, says: “On September 30, 1975, I was arrested and both my apartment and work place were searched. The police confiscated five sacks of literature. I later found out that some 200 State Security agents had taken part in the operation. They searched 40 homes and confiscated half a ton of material. We were sentenced to 13 or 14 months in prison.”
House searches were very unpleasant. Homes of overseers often had congregation reports, and these were difficult to keep well hidden. However, on more than one occasion, Jehovah blinded the eyes of those who wanted to cause harm to his servants. Brother Mařák, from Plzeň, recalls: “I was then serving as a field overseer. And in a cabinet with glass doors, I had a large envelope containing service reports, donations, and a list of the names of all the elders and ministerial servants. When the men conducting the search approached the cabinet, my wife looked at me and began silently begging Jehovah for help. The men peered through the glass right at the large gray envelope, but it was as if their eyes were blinded and they did not see it. We thanked Jehovah from the bottom of our hearts for this protection.”
The dealings of the State authorities with our brothers sometimes had an amusing side. Michal Fazekaš, baptized in 1936 and imprisoned several times, had the following experience: “In 1975, I was sentenced again. This time I was put on probation. It is interesting, however, that in the same year, on the 30th anniversary of the end of World War II, my pension was raised as a reward for ‘working to weaken the armed forces of the German Reich’ because I had been sent to a concentration camp for my Christian neutrality.”
Mapping Out Congregation Territories
On February 1, 1976, a five-member country committee was established to care for the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Czechoslovakia. It included Ondřej Kadlec, Michal Moskal, Bohumil Müller (coordinator), Anton Murín, and Eduard Sobička.
Later in that year, Ondřej Kadlec privately visited the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Finland. In the Service Department, he noticed a map of Finland indicating the district, circuit, and congregation territories. Back home at a meeting of the country committee, he suggested doing the same in Czechoslovakia. Brother Müller firmly pointed out that such a map could create suspicion on the part of government officials and thus cause untold harm. Brother Kadlec recalls: “I had absolutely no desire to bring the subject up again. But just two months later, Brother Müller brought it up himself.” The need for such an arrangement had become evident. Soon all congregations were involved in it.
But how should the territory of Czechoslovakia, with 220 congregations in 8 districts and 35 circuits, be divided? The task was assigned to Jaroslav Boudný, from Prague. He relates: “There was a lot of room for personal initiative. And working alongside Brother Müller, who was very thorough in his work, was wonderful. Full of enthusiasm and with much prayer, I threw myself into my assignment. It required recording thousands of border points of the congregation territories and lots of drawing.”
Reaching Out to Other Territories
After the initial assignments of territory to the congregations were made, those congregations that could handle unassigned areas were invited to do so. The willingness of many congregations to accept these extra assignments was touching, especially in the case of congregations around Ostrava, in Moravia. Some had to travel up to 120 miles [200 km] to reach the territory.
How was the work organized? The brothers would go for a full weekend; they left on Saturday morning and returned home Sunday evening. The cars were always full, and the brothers cared for their own expenses. Publishers might make such a trip every other week.
The publishers were encouraged to behave as tourists, to leave their car outside the village, to walk through the village only in one direction, to start a friendly conversation and gradually shift to giving a witness and, in case of opposition, to return to the original theme and conclude in a friendly manner. In a period of ten years, there were only rare cases of difficulty.
To reach other territories, some pioneers who had been recommended by the elders were assigned for limited periods. As had been done in earlier years, they were usually sent for a week or more. Among the first in Prague were two sisters, Marie Bambasová and Karla Pavlíčková, who had been partners for nearly 30 years. Karla recalls: “Marie retired in 1975. On her second day of retirement, we were on our way to pioneer in Moravia. It was a period of persecution, so such service could be dangerous, and especially where we were. We served near the Austrian border. A local sister instructed us: ‘Don’t take any literature with you. And if someone catches you, tell them you’re on a little trip, then leave the area, and don’t return to me. I’ll send your things to you later.’ But Jehovah blessed us. Our first experience with this kind of service was wonderful. We pioneered like that every year and were always sent to different places.”
At times those pioneering trips took them even farther afield. “Brother, there is a need in Bulgaria! You speak Russian and would therefore be good for the job.” That is what a brother from Prague was told in the late 1970’s. He and his wife volunteered to travel to Bulgaria regularly, sometimes even twice a year, and continued doing so for 13 years.
Was there not enough work at home so that Czech publishers had to travel to Bulgaria, into much more difficult conditions? There was plenty to do in Czechoslovakia, but there was also a strong desire to provide assistance wherever it was needed.
The brother from Prague who shared in that activity comments on the Bulgarian field in those days: “Bulgarians are by nature very hospitable. That enabled us to get close to them. In time we came to understand what things were like for them. They would share the truth mainly with family members. The idea never occurred to many of them that they could approach people on the streets. On one occasion, when I was assigned to conduct the Memorial in Sofia, I took advantage of the presence of a number of publishers. Using experiences and demonstrations, we showed the publishers how to witness more ‘safely.’ It was important not to say, ‘I study the Bible,’ but rather to strike up a conversation on a neutral subject and gradually shift to the Bible. We might say, ‘I heard somewhere that the Bible says . . .’ The publishers gladly accepted this new method of service, and the message about God began to spread beyond their circle of close acquaintances.”
Zealous Activity Upsets Officials
Any increased efforts in the preaching of the good news were quickly observed by our persecutors, even though our brothers endeavored to be discreet. The congregation in Nejdek, near Karlovy Vary, is one that attracted the attention of political officials and the police. Juraj Kaminský, who for many years served as a traveling overseer, says: “At one time they even seriously believed that the work in the entire country was directed from Nejdek. The Communist dignitaries held frequent consultations on how to prevent our activity. Once, experts came all the way from Prague, and a conference was held in a hotel in Karlovy Vary. In attendance were two government officials, representatives of ministries, and the police. Some two hundred were present.
“The speaker had our Truth book at the speaker’s stand. He elaborately described the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses, pointing out that we are very thorough and capable organizers. As he reached the climax of his praise of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he declared: ‘All the better we must be to prevent them from going beyond our reach!’”
Persecuted for Honoring Jesus Christ
It was impossible to conceal from the Communist police the date of the Memorial of Christ’s death. Božena Pětníková, who was living in Prague, reminds us of such an occasion: “In those times there were few brothers in the congregations, and sisters were, therefore, assigned to conduct meetings in private homes. We used to have ten, at most, at the meeting. Back in 1975 our group was to meet for the Memorial at a place where no meeting had been held so far. After about 40 minutes, we were disturbed by ringing of the bell and by furious kicking at the door. The hullabaloo continued, and the householder opened the door. Three men entered the room, two in police uniforms, one in plain clothes. ‘Look at that! Mrs. Pětníková, we had no idea we would find you here! What are you doing here?,’ asked the civilian. ‘We are celebrating the Memorial of Jesus Christ. Sit down, please, and let us finish the celebration,’ I replied calmly. But they, of course, refused. They asked for our identity cards, and gradually they interrogated everybody regarding the reason why the person was there. Then an older sister was next in line for interrogation. I was a bit afraid of what she would say. But her response was encouraging to all of us: ‘I am a Witness of Jehovah, and I honor Jehovah,’ she said. ‘Be happy you are so old,’ replied the policeman, who was surprised to see her courage. Then they forced us to leave, and at the local police station, I had to sign that I had conducted the Memorial.”
Twelve years later, in 1987, in some places in Bohemia, the State Security arrested many brothers in connection with the Memorial. Their main interest was in knowing where the Memorial had been held and who had conducted it. At one location at the conclusion of the Memorial, all in attendance were identified by the police and one brother was taken into custody and interrogated. At still another place, criminal charges were made against three sisters, and the reason given was that they had been visiting a woman and “studying literature of a banned religious sect called Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Another sister, Miluše Pavlová, was sentenced to imprisonment in Pardubice, not because she had been caught doing anything, but on the basis of suspicion. The official reason for the sentence was the following: “The expertise indicates that the accused had been disseminating and copying banned literature. The court of appeals reaffirms the original decision, adding, ‘She was sentenced to serve as a deterrent to herself as well as to others.’”
Providing Spiritual Food
Providing Bible literature for study was done with great care during the Communist era. The average Witness did not know how it was translated, printed, and then made available for use. The translators and proofreaders, as well as those involved in printing and bookbinding, were not known openly.
A translator would type up a Watchtower article in Czech and hand it over to a proofreader, not to see the material again until it was used at congregation meetings. Everything, including books and brochures, was translated in this way. Nevertheless, the quality of translation was relatively good. The Awake! magazine was not translated during that time.
Even bodies of elders did not know who in their own congregations were involved in translation. At times when as a result of additional translation work, these brothers showed a decrease in their field ministry, the elders would try to assist them, believing that they were perhaps cooling off spiritually. But the translators and proofreaders would not disclose what they were doing.
Under these very difficult circumstances, a most remarkable project was undertaken. The entire New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures was translated into Czech. Between 1982 and 1986, it was also printed and bound in five volumes right there in Czechoslovakia, and a copy was supplied to each Witness family. In a similar way, work was done to produce the New World Translation in Slovak, but it was not completed until later.
How They Got Literature Into Print
In the 1950’s brothers who were not in prison put forth much effort to make sure that their Christian brothers and sisters would be spiritually fed. For a time after the ban was imposed and the responsible brothers were arrested, there was often just one copy of The Watchtower to be shared by several congregations. The situation gradually improved. In time, there was one copy per congregation, and later, one per family. The publishers would make handwritten notes. They had no typewriters.
Juraj Kaminský, from the Nejdek Congregation, describes a typical situation that confronted the brothers. He says: “When the brothers finally were able to obtain a typewriter, it was an old machine. The man who sold it to them dug it out of a hole in the ground right in front of their eyes. Later, they found ways to buy new machines and also equipment for enlarging photographs.”
Various ones were involved in reproducing literature. Many sisters, some over 70 years of age, learned to type. The brothers even managed to smuggle literature into prisons. In 1958, they began to produce photographic miniatures of The Watchtower. As many as three of such photographic copies would be hidden in a bar of soap or in toothpaste and sent to the brothers in prison. They would then make their own handwritten copies and destroy the originals.
In 1972, Herbert Adamy was invited to assist in the reproducing of literature. He was assigned to coordinate literature production for all of Czechoslovakia. He recalls: “In the beginning the literature was produced by hand by hundreds of publishers in the congregations. In the end—just before the fall of the Communist system—we had a complex of modern, well-equipped underground printeries capable of producing many times more literature than was needed at the time.”
Regarding the time when they were using their first mimeograph, Brother Adamy says: “About four times a year, the whole printery had to be moved to a predetermined location that was not easily detectable. During one ‘operation’ the team printed, assembled, bound, and shipped about 12,000 books. An operation lasted about a week. The workers got up at 4:00 a.m. and often went to bed after midnight. When an operation was completed, I would take the parcels of literature to the nearest train station. Here they were handed over to a courier, who transported them sometimes 600 kilometers [400 miles] away.”
In time, at production centers that they built themselves, the brothers began secretly to manufacture their own mimeographs. Altogether, they made 160 of such machines, and some were supplied to the brothers in Romania.
In the 1980’s the brothers in Czechoslovakia began to use offset printing, which greatly improved the quality of their work. To do this, they built their own offset printing machines. Within a year and a half, they had built 11 of these, with electronically controlled rotary paper feeders. A single press was capable of producing 11,000 good quality impressions per hour.
Two Prague Printeries Raided
Toward the end of 1986, the State Security managed to locate and shut down two of our printeries. After a raid on one of these, a report appeared in an internal bulletin of the Ministry of Interior. A copy of it was given to the Witnesses by a friendly policeman. First, there was the customary propaganda that endeavored to link the Witnesses with foreign political movements. Then the report gave details of the police operation and told of the sentences given to the Witnesses. It concluded with this surprising admission: “The Jehovists conduct themselves very nicely toward outsiders. They are willing to help and are hardworking, but that is as far as it goes. They are not willing to expend themselves in Socialist Work Brigades and the like. No case is known of a Jehovist stealing, smoking, abusing alcohol or drugs. . . . Not one of them has ever been prosecuted for any moral delict or property-rights offense. Members of the sect strive to speak the truth. They never give out the names of others, but only refer to them as ‘brother’ and ‘sister.’ They always speak only about themselves, and if they are called upon to give specific information they remain silent, not only when they are accused, but also when called to witness.”
Of course, the closing down of one or two printeries did not stop the work of proclaiming God’s Kingdom. The year 1987 saw further increase. A new peak of 9,870 publishers was reached in the Czech lands. On an average, 699 shared in either auxiliary or regular pioneer service.
Was Legal Registration Possible?
In 1972 when the provision was made worldwide for a body of elders to supervise the activities of each congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the same arrangement went into effect in Czechoslovakia. In 1976 a five-member country committee was appointed to care for the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses within the country.
Yet, neither Jehovah’s Witnesses nor a corporation to care for necessary business affairs for them was legally registered, and they had no office in Czechoslovakia from which to carry on their work. So in March 1979, an unfinished three-story house in Prague was purchased in the name of two individual Witnesses. Groups of 10 to 12 volunteers came for week-long shifts to work on the house. They traveled to Prague from as far as the remote side of Slovakia. Within six months, the residence could be occupied, and a year later, the part that would serve as an office was ready. The building served as a suitable office until the spring of 1994.
In the late 1970’s, it seemed that negotiations could begin with a view to achieving legal registration. So on June 1, 1979, a letter was delivered to the Secretariat for Religious Affairs With the Presidium of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The letter stated: “Kindly allow us to request an interview on behalf of a religious group known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. We would like to inform you of the desire of certain individuals who occupy positions of responsibility within the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses to consider with you the rectifying of mutual relationships between this religious group and the current system of laws of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.”
The reply came almost a year later, and discussions took place on April 22, 1980. Following this, an application for the registration of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was submitted to the Ministry of Interior. Apart from the charter, it contained a well-reasoned 13-point statement. Point five stated:
“Should Jehovah’s Witnesses be recognized by the State, entire congregations would hold meetings in places designated for this purpose. Congregations would not have to be divided into little groups. Meetings would be conducted by qualified people, and that would afford the Watch Tower Society better oversight of its congregations. The State authorities would also be better informed of the activities of congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Representatives of the State could at will visit public meetings to be sure that these gatherings are harmless and beneficial.”
No answer was ever received.
Extensive Interrogations by State Security
The atmosphere in 1985 betrayed uneasiness in the political system. It was very sensitive to anything that posed a threat to its stability. As a result, interrogations of our brothers were more frequent. Many of these took place in Prague. Numerous brothers were given a so-called warning by the chief of police. This amounted to being put on permanent probation.
In the course of that year, the congregations received five letters from the Prague office of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with kind but firm encouragement to follow the principle in Philippians 4:5: “Let your reasonableness become known to all men.”
Interesting Suggestion by State Security
Then at the beginning of 1988, the State Security suggested that the local responsible brothers arrange for a representative of the Society’s world headquarters to visit for unofficial talks with some officials from the Federal Ministry of Interior. On the agenda would be “some aspects of our relationships . . . , as preparation for possible future discussion with authorized State officials.” This was certainly a change.
Before arrangements for that meeting were finalized, the “Divine Justice” District Convention was held in Vienna, Austria. With the full knowledge of the authorities, a relatively large group of Witnesses from Czechoslovakia attended.
Meanwhile, arrangements gradually progressed for discussions between members of the Society’s headquarters staff and dignitaries from the Ministry of Interior. A meeting between the two sides was finally held on the morning of December 20, 1988, in a conference room at the Forum Hotel in Prague. The Society was represented by Milton Henschel and Theodore Jaracz from the Governing Body and Willi Pohl from the branch in Germany. The brothers from the Governing Body had no high expectations. They knew that patience and time would be required. In any case, it was a large step forward. No doubt that meeting was a significant factor in what occurred the following year.
Major international conventions had been scheduled for three cities in Poland. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Czechoslovakia wanted to attend. The matter was discussed with State Security officials. How excited the brothers were when permission was granted for 10,000 of them to travel to Poland! That number represented more than half of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Czechoslovakia at that time. Some grew fearful when the Ministry of Interior required a list of all who would be going. But those who did make the trip were built up beyond all expectation—by the convention program featuring the theme “Godly Devotion,” by the enthusiastic spirit of the conventioners, and by the marvelous hospitality shown by the Polish Witnesses.
Keeping in Focus Our God-given Work
Later that same year, on November 17, 1989, a student uprising erupted in Prague. The Communist regime reacted with brutal force, sending special police units to disperse the demonstrators at Prague’s Národní třída (National Avenue). This led to a spontaneous peaceful protest movement against the Communist government. It was later referred to as the Velvet Revolution. For Jehovah’s Witnesses this situation required special caution because emotions ran high, and it was not easy to maintain Christian neutrality.
On November 22, 1989, our Prague office sent a letter to all congregations in Czechoslovakia. In part it said: “How fine it is that the brothers are focused on their evangelizing work, not allowing anything to distract them. . . . We greatly appreciate the good work and discretion of our dear brothers and sisters. Their ministry and its results testify to the fact that Jehovah is with his Witnesses in this country also. We cherish that and pray to Jehovah God that we remain in his favor. Be assured of our love and accept our brotherly greetings.” In the service year that had ended shortly before this, the peak number of publishers in the Czech lands was 11,394—another fine increase.
By the end of 1989, Czechoslovakia had a new government. Our country committee immediately sought ways to legalize the status of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some members of the committee visited the Presidium, and the document resulting from this visit was very important at that time. This document, signed by a responsible official, stated:
“On the basis of an announcement made by the preparatory committee of the church of Jehovah’s Witnesses, we take into account that by January 1, 1990, the church will renew its activity which was interrupted by the Fascist regime in 1939 and again banned on April 4, 1949.” That document represented one of the first steps toward legal registration.
The Long Road to Registration
Although the government had acknowledged the renewal of activities of “the church of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” it took almost another four years of patient effort before the Society was legally registered in the Czech Republic.
On January 12, 1990, an official application for the registration of the Religious Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses was filed with the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The whole procedure was handled in close cooperation with the Governing Body, the legal department at headquarters, and local lawyers. On March 1 and 2, Brother Henschel visited Prague. Accompanied by Brothers Murín and Sobička, he paid a visit to the prime minister’s office and to the Ministry of Culture. Both visits were meant to add weight to our request for a quick registration. However, nothing tangible resulted because new registration laws were as yet nonexistent. After this we tried many things, including petitions and talking with the prime minister.
On March 19, 1992, a law on the registration of new churches and religious societies was passed. It stated that the registration procedure would begin only if the religious society’s application was accompanied by 10,000 signatures of its adult adherents. (The so-called traditional churches that had functioned legally for decades under the Communist regime were registered automatically.) So Jehovah’s Witnesses were informed that they needed to apply again, supplying all the required data. Then on January 1, 1993, during preparatory proceedings for the registration, a further change occurred when Czechoslovakia was divided into two countries, the Czech and the Slovak republics. But at last, on Wednesday, September 1, 1993, the Czech Press Agency received the following report:
“Today, September 1, 1993, at 10:00 a.m., representatives of the Religious Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses were presented with registration documents at the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. Representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses thanked the ministry officials and informed them that they will not require any financial support for personal benefit, nor any direct financial assistance from the State. The registration goes into effect today.”
This important development was reported in the press. In some newspapers, it was merely a short notice. In others the report was highlighted with such headlines as “Jehovists Got What They Waited For” and “Jehovah’s Witnesses a Recognized Religion.” Did that mark the end of persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Czech Republic? Not at all!
Within a few days, a campaign of ruthless attacks through the media began. Characteristically, the greatest freedom for attacks against Jehovah’s Witnesses was provided in the religious press. Biased articles contained questions that were asked of the Witnesses during the registration process together with speculation by the writers regarding the answers given. On one hand, the charge was made that spokesmen for the Society had been deceptive when saying that Witnesses were not forced to believe or practice certain things. On the other hand, the answers given were claimed to be a betrayal of the organization’s own principles.
This antagonistic campaign marked the beginning of a new era, not an era of cruel imprisonments, but an era when Jehovah’s Witnesses would be held up to ridicule. This was a time when every Witness of Jehovah would have to stand up to another kind of assault on his faith and his loyalty to Jehovah God and His organization.
Acting in Faith
Jehovah’s Witnesses did not wait until the legal registration was completed before they began to hold public meetings—even large conventions—right in Czechoslovakia. They had notified government officials that they would be renewing their public activity in January 1990. That very month a special program was arranged for all congregations. It featured the timely theme “Benefit by Obedience to Divine Commands.” This was basically a two-hour circuit assembly. The meetings were modest in size, but rented halls were used. One or two congregations convened at each location. This was followed by larger circuit assemblies in the spring.
All went well with those assemblies, so arrangements were made for a district convention—a four-day national convention—in Prague that summer. The Evžen Rošický Stadium in Prague was rented for the occasion, and two members of the Governing Body, Brothers Henschel and Jaracz, served on the program. The peak attendance was 23,876, and 1,824 were baptized. The convention was an absolute triumph of pure worship. The atmosphere strongly resembled that of the Polish conventions held the preceding year, but this was happening at home and it was in Czech and Slovak! The deep emotional impact of the occasion found its expression both in smiles of joy and in tears of heartfelt appreciation.
For 40 years the words “Jehovah’s Witnesses” had been only whispered in public in Czechoslovakia. Incredible rumors had been circulated about this group, which was often referred to as an “illegal sect.” Now everyone, including journalists, could take a closer look at the Witnesses. The press reports on the convention were by and large favorable. They expressed amazement at what the Witnesses had done to the stadium before their convention. For two months they had worked—some 9,500 volunteers, spending 58,000 hours to clean it thoroughly, repair the benches, improve the sewage system, and whitewash the entire stadium. A reporter for the daily Večerní Praha (Prague Evening Newspaper) marveled at the smiling faces, the harmonious mix of people from all parts of Czechoslovakia as well as other lands, and their clean speech.
That year another important event took place. On August 30, 1990, a Kingdom Hall for the Bechyně Congregation was dedicated—the first in the country.
All of this led up to yet another event, a truly stupendous one.
A Never-to-Be-Forgotten Convention
Plans were made to hold an international convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Prague from August 9 to 11, 1991! The first step was to rent a stadium. Which one? The Spartakiad Stadium in Prague, one of the largest in the world. Since Jehovah’s Witnesses were not yet legally registered in Czechoslovakia, the entire stadium was rented privately by Anton Murín, who was then coordinator of the country committee. This was a courageous move. It was an act of strong trust in Jehovah, and Jehovah blessed it.
The Rooming Department would have a gigantic task, and oversight for this was assigned to Lubomír Müller. Brothers of the Governing Body well knew the importance of good accommodations. So Brothers Henschel and Jaracz personally undertook an inspection tour of the proposed hotels all over Prague. They entered hotel rooms and even tested out the beds. Hotels with communal bathrooms and toilets in the hallway were out of the question, they said. Why? Brother Henschel explained: “Under normal circumstances, it would be sufficient because the guests come and go at different times. The convention delegates, however, generally leave and return at the same time. Can you imagine the scene at the rest rooms? We can’t do that to our brothers.” The local organizers were receiving practical training when they saw members of the Governing Body show personal interest in the welfare of each delegate.
Peak attendance at this “Lovers of Godly Freedom” International Convention was 74,587. Of these, 29,119 were from Czechoslovakia, 26,716 were from Germany, and 12,895 were from Poland. The remaining 5,857 delegates came from 36 other lands. It was wonderful to see the baptism of 2,337 new ones, including 1,760 from Czechoslovakia, 480 from Germany, and 97 from Poland.
The high point of the entire convention was undoubtedly what happened on Saturday, August 10. Spontaneously, the entire Czechoslovak section rose with thunderous applause—applause that continued without letup for ten whole minutes! Faces were radiant with delight. What was the reason for all of this? At the conclusion of a discourse delivered by Albert Schroeder, a member of the Governing Body, he had first introduced to the audience a new book in English—which was somewhat of a disappointment—but then surprised them by announcing the release of newly printed single-volume editions of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in both the Czech and the Slovak languages! Tears of joy streamed down the faces of many of the conventioners.
The convention left a deep impression on the hearts of the delegates. And what about the press? As always, some reports were biased and some were friendly. On Monday, August 12, under the heading “Strahov Was Crowded,” Venkov, deník českého a moravskoslezského venkova (Countryside, a Daily of the Czech and Moravian-Silesian Countryside) reported:
“From Friday to Sunday, an international convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses was held in Prague, attended by 75,000 delegates from all corners of Europe, America, and Japan. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been active in Czechoslovakia since 1912. Delegates of Jehovah’s Witnesses were noted for their considerateness and self-discipline. The convention itself was orderly and very well prepared. Although it started raining during the Saturday baptism, the audience stayed in their places and welcomed the new members with long applause.”
All of this—yet, legal registration was not achieved for another two years.
Time for Expansion
Though the legal process was moving slowly, the needs of the theocratic organization were increasing as its activity picked up pace in this country. Since 1980 the brothers had used a three-story house in Prague as a central office, with limited housing space. When the work began to be carried on more openly in 1990, they refurbished that building. Apartments were eliminated, and the entire building was converted into offices. But what kind of offices? Larger rooms were separated by wooden partitions to form smaller work areas. These served not only as offices but also as bedrooms for the workers, so their bed was right next to their office desk. More space was needed.
In the spring of 1993, a new ten-story building in Prague was donated to the Society to be used in promoting Bible education. Volunteers from all parts of the country shared in refurbishing it. On May 28 and 29, 1994, a dedication program was held. Dozens of Jehovah’s Witnesses who for many years had maintained their loyalty to Jehovah under the Communist regime were invited. Albert Schroeder, of the Governing Body, served on the program, and there were others present from Austria, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United States.
When Czechoslovakia was divided into two separate countries in 1993, both of the countries were still served by one country committee, under the supervision of the Austria branch. However, conditions in both lands were changing. The following year a country committee was appointed for each of these countries. Then on September 1, 1995, a branch office went into operation in the Czech Republic. Jan Glückselig, Ondřej Kadlec, Jaromír Leneček, Lubomír Müller, and Eduard Sobička were assigned by the Governing Body to serve on the Branch Committee. Later on, Lubomír Müller was assigned to special service in Russia, and Petr Žitník was appointed as a new member of the Branch Committee in the Czech Republic.
“Quick-Construction” Kingdom Halls
The congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses needed places in which to meet. Finding suitable places for such meetings is not an easy thing in the Czech Republic. Many hall owners refuse to rent to Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is partly due to misleading propaganda, both new and old, about the Witnesses. Many congregations therefore seek opportunities to build a hall or to remodel an older building. Of all the methods tried for erecting new buildings, the most practical has proved to be the quick-construction method. On November 20, 1993, the first Kingdom Hall built in this manner in the Czech Republic was dedicated. The hall was constructed in the town of Sezimovo Ústí and is being used by two local congregations.
The number of Kingdom Halls has continued to grow. As of May 1999, the 242 congregations throughout the country were using 84 Kingdom Halls that belong to the Witnesses themselves. The brothers and sisters in the Czech Republic are well aware that without the financial help that has come from fellow servants of Jehovah in other lands, they would not have been able to build so many beautiful Kingdom Halls. The generosity of our international brotherhood has deeply touched the hearts of the Czech brothers. They earnestly desire to express their gratitude to their brothers in other lands and to Jehovah, who engenders such a spirit in the hearts of his servants and who has produced such a superb organization.—2 Cor. 8:13-15.
The Hidden Traps of Freedom
The euphoria over the fall of Communism in 1989 is long gone, and many new problems have surfaced. On the one hand, there is the previously unknown opportunity to acquire wealth by hard work. On the other hand, there exist social insecurity, a rapidly growing crime rate, inflation, and other negative factors influencing human relations. The rising standard of living promotes materialism, competitiveness, and envy. Many city dwellers have a cottage in the countryside where they like to spend time. A growing number of people are going abroad on expensive vacations. The newly acquired democracy has brought the freedom to criticize anything at any time. It has opened the way for propaganda about immoral life-styles. Under Communism this was unthinkable. People were not prepared, the new situation surprised them, and some of them have been overwhelmed.
This spirit has also had its effect on some of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A number have ceased serving Jehovah because of becoming engrossed in a materialistic way of life, giving excessive attention to social activities, turning away from the Bible’s high standard for marriage, or becoming critical of everything—including Jehovah’s theocratic arrangements. Others who chose to remain in the organization tried to remake congregations to conform to their own thinking. Of course, this caused tension until remedied by steadfast overseers.
In the Czech Republic today, those who endeavor to serve God find that they are surrounded by a society that is atheistic and evolution oriented. It is a society in which religion is viewed as childish tradition or philosophical eccentricity. An aggressive mass media constantly attacks Jehovah’s Witnesses. This presents tests of faith that are as penetrating as those faced in the crucibles of Nazi and Communist prisons and in the chicanery of those that used these. The large majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses stand firm in faith in the face of these tests.
In spite of the attitude of many regarding religious matters, an outstanding legal decision was handed down in the Czech Constitutional Court in the spring of 1999. An article in the Czech newspaper Lidové Noviny (People’s Daily) of March 11, 1999, announced: “Common Sense Spreads Out From Brno,” which is the site of the Constitutional Court. The court ruled that no conscientious objector could be tried twice for refusing military service. This brings a measure of relief to a good number of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The outcome of this case has been widely acknowledged to be a positive contribution by Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Czech legal system.
Impelled by Love
Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Czech Republic continue to share the good news of God’s Kingdom with their neighbors. Their desire is to help many more of them to know our loving God, Jehovah, and to appreciate the marvelous provisions that he has made for all who exercise faith. To reach them, however, the Witnesses often need to overcome the feeling of people—shaped by often-repeated slander—that Jehovah’s Witnesses are “a dangerous sect.” They may also need to overcome a feeling of disdain for religion as a whole, which has resulted from decades under an atheistic regime. Are they succeeding in this?
It is noteworthy that in 1999 when the 16,054 who were then Jehovah’s Witnesses gathered in their 242 congregations to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ, thousands more joined them. The total attendance was 31,435.
The desire of Jehovah’s Witnesses is to help each one of these to run successfully, with endurance, the Christian course. While preaching to the public, they also endeavor to help one another to remain firm in faith. They well know that when describing the events of our day, Jesus said: “By endurance on your part you will acquire your souls.” (Luke 21:19) And the apostle Peter was inspired to write: “The end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have intense love for one another.” (1 Pet. 4:7, 8) That love continues to impel them to share precious Bible truths with others and to draw together in unbreakable Christian unity.
[Blurb on page 165]
“I never regretted staying. In time, I realized that this was where I belonged”
[Blurb on page 168]
“‘If you want to shoot every tenth one, shoot us all!’ The entire camp was awestruck”
[Blurb on page 184]
“Mocked and insulted but secretly respected”
[Blurb on page 187]
“No sign of compromise, but Christian reasonableness!”
[Map on page 150]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
GERMANY
POLAND
SLOVAKIA
AUSTRIA
CZECH REPUBLIC
BOHEMIA
Prague
Lidice
Kladno
Karlovy Vary
Most
Teplice
Liberec
MORAVIA
Brno
SILESIA
[Full-page picture on page 148]
[Picture on page 153]
Brother Erler, from Dresden
[Pictures on page 155]
Otto Estelmann showed the “Photo-Drama of Creation” throughout the country
[Picture on page 157]
Bohumil Müller
[Picture on page 167]
Božena Vodrážková learned the truth in a concentration camp
[Pictures on page 169]
František Šnajdr and Alois Miczek—both incarcerated in Mauthausen concentration camp
[Picture on page 173]
Many gathered for public talks after World War II
[Pictures on page 175]
Bethel family and branch office after World War II
[Picture on page 178]
Meeting out in the woods in 1949
[Picture on page 185]
Group vacations provided opportunities for spiritual upbuilding
[Picture on page 194]
Jaromír Leneček, a Branch Committee member, zealous in service since his youth
[Pictures on page 207]
Milton Henschel and Theodore Jaracz, along with others, worked toward legal registration
[Picture on page 210]
Czech delegates at convention in Poland in 1989
[Pictures on page 216]
International convention in Prague in 1991—an extraordinary event
[Picture on page 218]
The Czech translation team
[Picture on page 223]
Branch office in Prague
[Picture on page 223]
Below: Branch Committee (from left to right): Jan Glückselig, Jaromír Leneček, Ondřej Kadlec, Petr Žitník, and Eduard Sobička
Madagascar
pp. 225–224
Madagascar
Situated off the east coast of Africa, Madagascar is sometimes called the Big Red Island. It is big indeed, being the fourth-largest island on earth, and its soil is red in color.
A French scientist called Madagascar “the naturalists’ promised land” because of its rich and varied plant and animal life. Some 80 percent of its 10,000 species of flowering plants are found nowhere else on the planet. There are nearly 1,000 types of orchids alone, one of which yields a major export crop—vanilla. The island also abounds with fascinating animal life including ring-tailed lemurs and a variety of chameleons, which have a prehensile tail and feet that grasp like hands. All but a dozen of its 400 species of amphibians and reptiles are unique to this island.
Most attractive to Jehovah’s servants, however, are the people. There are over 14,000,000 inhabitants of Madagascar, making up about 20 ethnic groups. The people of the highlands, in the center of the island, have Asian features, with light-colored skin and straight, black hair. It is believed that they originally came from what is now Indonesia. Those living along the coast reflect an Afro-Arab background. A blending of these features results in people who do not seem to show their age; frequently, parents look as young as their teenage children.
The Malagasy have one of the highest birthrates in the world, and 80 percent of the people make their living from the land. This is taking a heavy toll on the “promised land.” More than half of Madagascar’s once-luxuriant forests have been either wiped out or degraded.
Despite that, Madagascar continues to prosper as a “promised land.” In what way? It is rich in appreciative people in whose hearts the seeds of Kingdom truth will thrive. Many are grateful to hear the good news that “Jehovah himself has become king!” They rejoice that his rulership will do for humankind what no human government could ever do.—Ps. 97:1.
Who are the people that have really helped the inhabitants of this big island to appreciate what Jehovah’s kingship means? Although about 40 percent of the population belong to Christendom’s churches, their missionaries failed to implant the Christian way of life into the hearts of the Malagasy. A native Malagasy once said: “Let me tell you something, monsieur. We Malagasy are merely vaccinated with Christianity. There is not one Malagasy, no, not one, not even among the evolved [Europeanized] people, who would think of building a house without consulting the soothsayer as to the auspicious day to start. The old beliefs are not dead.” Animal sacrifices are still offered on high places and on mountaintops. Ancestor worship is the norm, and witch doctors have a strong hold on the people. Everyday life of an individual seems to be governed more by the dead than by the living.
God’s Personal Name Well-Known
Although having little success in helping people to lead a Christian way of life, Christendom’s missionaries have in a sense made known the name of Jehovah through their translations of the Bible. Already in 1830 the “New Testament” was published, and by 1835 the whole Bible was available in Malagasy, making the Malagasy Bible one of the oldest vernacular translations in Africa. The Protestant version of the Malagasy Bible uses the name Jehovah even in the Christian Greek Scriptures, and the Catholic version uses the form Iaveh in the Hebrew Scriptures. (Ps. 83:16, 18 83:17, 19; Matt. 4:7, 10) As a result, the name Jehovah is frequently used in everyday life. While traveling in a local taxi, you may see such Bible verses as “Jehovah is my Shepherd” displayed in Malagasy. (Ps. 23:1) You may also see a Bible verse with the divine name printed on a piece of material called a lamba, which is worn by women.
Yet, who have helped people here not only to know God’s name but also to recognize Jehovah as the Sovereign of their lives?
Good News Reaches the Big Red Island
In 1925 the Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known, began to help people in Madagascar to understand God’s Word. Then in September 1933, the island received a more extensive witness. Two courageous men with missionary zeal, Robert Nisbet and Bert McLuckie, arrived at the coastal town of Toamasina from South Africa via Mauritius. They were preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. Since the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Africa was limited in those days, they endeavored to make known the Kingdom good news to as many people as possible in a short period of time. Robert Nisbet recalls: “Our French literature went out rapidly. We just gave a testimony to the Kingdom, placed literature, and then moved on to other unworked territory.”
After covering Toamasina, Brothers Nisbet and McLuckie headed inland to Tananarive, the capital. Tananarive is the French name for Antananarivo, which means “The Town of a Thousand.” Its name was derived from the fact that King Andrianjaka encircled the city with a camp of a thousand men to protect it when he proclaimed this city the capital of his kingdom in 1607. Bert McLuckie gives his impressions of the capital: “Tananarive was horseshoe in shape, with the railway station at the open end of the curved hill. Inside the ‘horseshoe’ was the main business center, surrounded by the residential area. Literally hundreds of steps on the hillside enabled inhabitants to reach their homes.”
How did people in the capital respond? Robert Nisbet observes: “They readily took French literature, and some subscribed to The Golden Age (now Awake!) in French. Because many asked questions, we returned to a number of them for a further discussion.” Recalling their experiences, Brother Nisbet said: “We were greatly attracted by the very intelligent native people.”
However, the two brothers had a communication problem, since very few people understood English. Nevertheless, they tried to reach as many people as possible until their literature stock was exhausted. Although no group or congregation was established during their month-long visit, they spent 185 hours telling others about Jehovah, placed 214 books and 828 booklets, and obtained 21 subscriptions. Seeds of truth had been sown, but another 22 years would pass before these received enough attention for them to grow and flourish.
Malagasy Embrace the Truth
In October 1955, following the “Triumphant Kingdom” Assembly in Paris, two special pioneers from France arrived in Tananarive via the coastal town of Toamasina. Getting off the train, they stood for a while in front of the station. They looked around and saw the “horseshoe” with thousands of houses perched on the hillside as if they were on shelves on a wall. Adam Lisiak, a former coal miner of Polish descent, said to his partner, Edouard Marlot: “Look, Edouard, this is all our territory!” Edouard responded: “Adam, what are we to do here? People here are educated; we are not. What can we do, Adam?” Yet, they accomplished much good on this island.
At that time Madagascar was a French colony. Since The Watchtower was banned in France and the French territories, they offered the French Awake!, which was available only on a subscription basis. In the first six months, 1,047 subscriptions were obtained. Brother Lisiak used to tell how after they repeatedly used the same copy of Awake! as a sample, the magazine became just a bundle of paper, no longer legible. Still, subscriptions were obtained just by showing this paper bundle.
Brothers Lisiak and Marlot did not waste time. They worked the territory and conducted home Bible studies. Soon a primary school gave the Witnesses free use of its classroom to hold their meetings. The benches were wooden, and everything was meant for young children—not so comfortable for adults. Still, no one complained.
After six months the first Malagasy publisher, Rabehasy Noël, reported field service. Then, other publishers joined in the field activity. At the end of the 1956 service year, a group of eight applied to form the Tananarive Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (You will observe that in Malagasy usage the given name appears last.)
Among the first in Madagascar to show interest was a young Malagasy woman, Razanaboahangy Narcisse. In 1956, Narcisse noticed two men regularly passing by the shop where she worked. One day, one of the men came into the shop and bought a few slices of ham. After he left, all who worked there had a small tract in Malagasy—Life in a New World. “I was not interested in the message,” says Narcisse. “Yet, my mother, knowing that I was fond of reading, subscribed to the Awake! magazine in French and agreed to a Bible study for me, without even asking me.” Narcisse began to study with the Witnesses, but she hoped that they would leave her alone once they found out that she was not really interested. However, she became more interested than she at first thought. When she studied what the Bible says about the soul and understood that ancestor worship is wrong, she realized that she was learning the truth.
By 1959, Razanaboahangy Narcisse was ready to symbolize her dedication to Jehovah by water baptism. Then she enrolled in the full-time ministry. Later she married Edouard Marlot. As a full-time minister, she set a fine example of perseverance in her service.
Right to the end of his special service in Madagascar, Brother Lisiak’s territory was Antananarivo. He had calls and studies everywhere. To many people he was known as that vazaha (white person) who has no hair. Often householders would just touch their own head, and you could tell that Adam had been there. Rasaona Gervais, a brother in a French-speaking congregation in Antananarivo, recalls: “Brother Adam was very patient but firm. When I was studying, I would ask others to tell him that I was not at home, but Adam would come back again. Right from the beginning, he invited me to attend the meetings, which I did. He was faithful to Jehovah’s organization and taught me to cultivate the same spirit.”
In 1970, Brothers Lisiak and Marlot were reassigned to the nearby French island of Réunion. Brother Lisiak later returned to France, where he died in Marseilles in January 1988. Edouard Marlot is in Réunion with his family.
More Pioneers Help With the Work
Much was being done to keep the Kingdom message before the people of Madagascar. A married couple from France, Antoine and Gilberte Branca, arrived in 1957 and thereafter served in Antananarivo. Gilberte was a graduate of the 24th class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, and later her husband also attended Gilead. After their daughter, Anna, was born in 1961, they stayed right there in their assignment. Simone Berclaz, with whom Gilberte had studied in Switzerland, also moved to Madagascar to assist in the work.
Two more special pioneers, Florent and Henriette Chabot, came to Madagascar from France in 1960 and started serving in Diégo-Suarez (now called Antsiranana), in northern Madagascar. “In those days,” recalls Brother Chabot, “when pioneers left their homes and families for distant countries, many of them thought they would not return before Armageddon and bade their final adieu to their families. That was exactly how we felt.”
One man with whom Brother Chabot studied had his first contact with the truth when he bought some sugar. A Chinese businessman who subscribed to Awake! used its pages to wrap his merchandise. Was the magazine wasted? Ratsimbazafy Charles bought some sugar from the man. It was in a cone made from the last page of one of the magazines. Charles read an advertisement for the book “This Means Everlasting Life” and wrote to the France branch to obtain the book. Meanwhile, Brother Chabot met him, placed the book with him, and started a Bible study. He made rapid progress and began to come to the meetings.
But Charles had to get his family life sorted out. He had separated from his wife and was living with another woman by whom he had children. To be acceptable for Christian baptism, he needed to be properly married. (Heb. 13:4) Although he started the legal process in 1960, it was 1967 before he had all the paperwork completed. At that point, however, the town hall of Diégo-Suarez burned down, and Charles’ personal documents were destroyed. (Eccl. 9:11) He had to do all the work again, but this time it took only a year. The authorities were very much impressed by his determination to conform to godly standards. At last, he was eligible to become a Kingdom publisher and to get baptized! His wife also got baptized. Charles has served as an elder in Diégo-Suarez and in Antananarivo.
Struggling With the Language
In 1961, Laval and Irene Carbonneau, who were in the circuit work in the French-speaking part of Canada, arrived in Madagascar as missionaries. They moved into an apartment on the ground floor of a Malagasy-style house—with a small bedroom, a small dining room, a small kitchen, a small cold-water bathroom, and a small closed-in veranda. “Rats, mice, and cockroaches came free with the house,” recalls Brother Carbonneau. “My wife got to the point where she could recognize one of the rats by his half-bitten tail. Whenever she met him, she would call him ‘Monsieur le Prince’ and ask politely to pass.”
Laval could speak French and his wife was learning it, so they could communicate with the people. But that was not true of Raimo and Veera Kuokkanen, who arrived from Finland at the end of January 1962. It was not difficult to recognize them when they got off the plane. Having left Finland in the cold of winter, they were wearing fur hats and other heavy, warm clothes. Changes would certainly be needed in this tropical heat. Raimo spoke English but not French. Veera spoke neither. Irene Carbonneau used English to teach them French, so Raimo had to translate everything from English into Finnish for his wife. However, as Veera had had all her schooling in Swedish, grammatical points had to be explained in Swedish. Happily, Raimo knew some Swedish too. Sound complicated? It was. But after about two months, the light began to dawn. They began to recognize some words in French. Even after they mastered French, however, they had to learn Malagasy.
A few years later, when his language instructor was no longer available, Brother Kuokkanen found himself interpreting into French for Malcolm Vigo, a visiting zone overseer. Brother Kuokkanen still remembers that when Luke 9:62 was quoted, he did not know the French word for “plow.” When he tried to describe it, the audience opened their eyes wide in amazement because his description did not fit the way plowing is done in Madagascar, where zebu bulls are used. On another occasion when endeavoring to state in French that the brothers in Malawi were holding meetings under a mango tree, he put the whole congregation on the tree. He had to learn to laugh with those who simply could not help laughing.
Another missionary couple, Samuel and Thelma Gilman, arrived from the United States in April 1962. Sam well remembers communication problems he faced. “In order to get established in our new home, we needed a long pipe for use in closets. So Brother Kuokkanen and I went to a corner hardware store to ask for a pipe, six meters [20 feet] long. We used the word from a small dictionary that we carried with us. Imagine the looks on the faces of those in the store when we asked them if they had a pipe—a smoking pipe—six meters long!”
Visits from Headquarters
With the help of overseas ministers, there was further increase in the number of those in Madagascar who were proclaiming that “Jehovah himself has become king.” The 1959 service year saw a peak of 41 publishers. In that year N. H. Knorr, then president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, personally visited Madagascar to encourage the brothers.
Four years later when Milton Henschel, Brother Knorr’s secretary, visited African countries, Madagascar was again on the itinerary. He gave special attention to the missionaries and the special pioneers here. All those present were very much encouraged. Brother Henschel shared with them experiences from his own pioneering days. Before the end of that service year, Madagascar passed the 100-publisher mark.
Following Brother Henschel’s visit, local brothers and sisters were invited to take up service as special pioneers. Being native to the land, they could most effectively spearhead the work of opening up new territories. Andriamoara Félix was one of that group. He started his special-pioneer service in 1965. Since then he has served as a traveling overseer and for many years as a member of the Bethel family in Madagascar. Even after he and his wife, Honorine, had a family, he continued in the full-time ministry. His wife works part-time in the Translation Department at the branch.
Did their zeal for Jehovah’s service benefit their children? Their daughter, Miora, is now married and serves with her husband as a special pioneer. Their son, Timoty, who is still at home, serves as an auxiliary pioneer from time to time.
A Branch Office for Madagascar
When the preaching of the good news in Madagascar got under way on a regular basis in 1955, the work was supervised by the Mauritius branch. From 1959 through 1962, supervision came from the France branch. But starting in 1963, Madagascar had its own branch office. Raimo Kuokkanen was appointed to be the branch servant. Initially, he was able to care for most of the routine work himself.
At first the office was simply a rented house that also served as a missionary home. That house was not ideal, however. After the missionaries moved in, some local people asked if they were not afraid to live in a house that was haunted. Sure enough, strange things did take place in that house. As an example, when a missionary couple saw the handle of their door turning, they opened the door to see who was there, but apparently, there was no one in the hallway. The missionaries learned that a spirit medium had lived in that room. They made a careful search to see if anything had been left behind that the spirits were using as a contact. Firmly nailed to the threshold of their room was a coin. With considerable effort the brother removed it. Then the strange occurrences stopped.
When questioned about the situation, the owner of the house acknowledged: “Yes, it is a haunted house, but I thought because you are missionaries and God’s people, you would have nothing to fear.”
Producing Literature in Malagasy
With the progress of the preaching work, more literature in the Malagasy language was needed. Until 1963 there were only a few tracts, such as Life in a New World and Hell-Fire—Bible Truth or Pagan Scare? There was also the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom,” which had been published in 1959. The more educated people spoke and read French, so the publishers used literature in that language. Still, there were many people who preferred to read in their native language.
When approval was given to produce The Watchtower in Malagasy, more help was required by the branch. Rasoamalala Louise, a Malagasy sister, translated from French. She did the work in her own home, and she wrote everything out by hand. At the branch, Veera Kuokkanen typed the translated text onto stencils, and brothers operated the mimeograph machine.
The first printing of The Watchtower in Malagasy, released in September 1963, totaled about 600 copies. At that time it was a monthly edition that included only the study articles. The publishers were delighted. They obtained hundreds of subscriptions during the first subscription campaign when the Malagasy edition was used. Within a few months, the branch was mimeographing 3,000 copies every month. Three brothers took turns running the mimeograph machine almost day and night.
One of the brothers remembers: “We needed at least 16 wax stencils for each issue of The Watchtower. For one magazine, we put together eight sheets of paper, printed on both sides. This meant printing over 24,000 sheets of paper to produce 3,000 copies of The Watchtower. We had eight piles or more of printed pages laid out on a table, and we walked around it 3,000 times, gathering the pages one after another. Then the sheets were stapled together. Yes, everything was done manually.”
In time, the Society arranged for the Switzerland branch to print the Malagasy Watchtower. Now it is printed semimonthly in Britain and has a circulation of 26,000 copies. Using it, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Madagascar are able to partake of the same spiritual meal simultaneously with fellow believers all over the world.
Little by little the translation work progressed. Three months after the release of The Watchtower in Malagasy, the local Witnesses also had the Bible study book “Let God Be True” in their native tongue. Upon receiving it, Rakotomaro Justin, a special pioneer who was doing much to help others learn the truth, held the book in his hand for a long time without saying a word. Then he exclaimed: “Oh, how good Jehovah is! He has given this book to us.” Pioneers took cartons of them in order to place the books in the hands of spiritually hungry people.
On the Road With Circuit Overseers
At first there was only one congregation on the whole island. But as new missionary homes were opened and special pioneers were sent to various locations, more were formed. During the 1964 service year, two new congregations were established. To assist the three congregations that were then operating, the branch arranged for them to be visited by a circuit overseer, Laval Carbonneau, along with his wife, Irene. They traveled by rail. It was an adventure—an enjoyable one. On one occasion, for example, they felt something pecking their legs. A goose, traveling under the bench, wanted a little attention.
When the Carbonneaus had to leave Madagascar to care for family responsibilities, Raimo Kuokkanen took over the circuit work. Whenever possible, he and his wife, Veera, traveled by train. Between the coastal cities, passenger boats were used. Sometimes they had to travel in ‘taxi-brousses,’ or ‘bush taxis,’ which had a capacity of 15 people but were always overloaded. Those were trips that lasted from early in the morning until late in the evening. During the rainy season, when the bush taxis could not get through, the Kuokkanens traveled by air. But it was nothing fancy. The local airline had old DC-3 planes, and the runways were simply grass fields. The visits with the various groups were opportunities for a warm interchange of spiritual encouragement.
For a while Brother Kuokkanen served as both the circuit overseer and the district overseer. Also, out of necessity he had to handle circuit and district mail at the branch. But he worked hard to train local brothers. In time, a local special pioneer, Rajaobelina Célestin, qualified to become the first Malagasy circuit overseer.
Hindus Turn to Worship of Jehovah
As the preaching work progressed, all sorts of people were contacted. (1 Tim. 2:4) Missionaries placed many books and magazines with the Asians who had businesses in the capital city. Dirajlal Bagvandjee, a young Hindu known as Dirou, was one of them. When a missionary would come to his shop with magazines, he gladly took them. Then when his uncle died in 1963, Dirou started wondering: ‘Why do people die, and what is the condition of the dead?’ He asked himself why God allowed such a good man to die. He also pondered whether there was any hope of seeing the dead again.
Shortly thereafter, Simone Berclaz met him as she witnessed from house to house. On a return visit, she used the Bible to answer his questions about the condition of the dead and to explain the wonderful hope of the resurrection. (Eccl. 9:5; Acts 24:15) At first he was confused because he was trying to fit it all in with his Hindu belief in transmigration of souls. Such a belief provides no hope of seeing dead loved ones again. Once he sorted everything out, however, Dirou could see how wonderful the Bible hope of the resurrection is.—John 5:28, 29.
After a few weeks of Bible study, Dirou started attending all the meetings. Then opposition arose, especially from his father and friends. Nevertheless, Dirou finally came to the conclusion that “the Bible is logical, truly God’s Word.” The following year he dedicated himself to Jehovah and got baptized.
However, Dirou’s father continued to oppose and sent two Protestant pastors to convince him that he should return to the religion of his parents. When Dirou asked them why they did not teach his father the truth about sin, death, and the ransom, the pastors argued that the fifth commandment instructs a man to honor his father and mother. Dirou asked them whether it would be right for him to obey the fifth commandment—to honor his father’s wishes—and thus disobey God’s first commandment—not to worship any other gods. The pastors could not reply, so they left. Next, they went to the branch office and asked the Witnesses to convince Dirou to return to his father’s religion. “Seeing this hypocrisy made my faith even stronger,” says Dirou.
His father then went to magicians and politicians for help, after which he put an article making false accusations against the Witnesses in a local paper and stopped talking to Dirou. Dirou’s parents had five sons and three daughters, and as a whole the family thought that Dirou’s religion was disrupting their family relationship. Nevertheless, Dirou was convinced that his first obligation was to obey God.—Mark 12:28-31.
In February 1967, Dirou became a special pioneer, and the following year he married Simone. After they were forced to leave Madagascar in June 1970, they served in Kenya for three years and then in India for nearly 20 years. In India he served on the Branch Committee.
But what happened to Dirou’s family? With the passing of time, his father started reading the Bible and Bible publications, his mother became very open to Bible truth, and his brothers and sisters as well as nephews and nieces became baptized Witnesses. Altogether, 16 individuals from his family became worshipers of Jehovah. Some are serving at the branch in Madagascar; others help with international construction projects. The Bagvandjee family is an example of the fine fruit on this spiritually fruitful Big Red Island.
Missionaries Lay a Foundation
The Watch Tower Society continued to send missionaries to help with the preaching of the good news in Madagascar. Among them were Margarita Königer and Gisela Hoffmann, German sisters who came in March 1966. Sister Hoffmann tells her impressions: “Madagascar has a peaceful atmosphere, far away from the busy and hectic life in Europe and America. One of the first things that amazed me were the huge aloe plants. Back home I had cultivated them in a flowerpot, and I was proud when they reached the height of five inches [15 cm]. Yet, here I saw them as high as houses! And returning from our first meeting in the evening, I saw the stars closer than I had ever seen them before. Here we started an uncomplicated life.”
The two sisters quickly realized that the local inhabitants were very warm and hospitable. Sister Königer said: “We found people to be quite cultured. Even old grandmothers out in the villages liked to read the Bible and Bible literature. In order to obtain books, they loved to trade. Children came running behind us to barter rice for Watchtower and Awake! magazines.” These two sisters together with the Brancas opened up the preaching work in Fianarantsoa and strengthened a small group in Ambositra. Both cities are located to the south of Antananarivo.
There were also other courageous missionaries who opened new territories. Hugh Haisley and Thomas Baynes served in Toliara, a coastal city in the southern part of Madagascar. Mary Dolinski from Canada served in Taolanaro with Edouard and Narcisse Marlot.
In 1961, when the first missionaries were sent to Madagascar, there were just over 75 publishers reporting. By 1970, after nearly a decade of disciple making, those missionaries rejoiced to see a peak of 469 publishers—a 525-percent increase! But a dark cloud loomed ahead of them. Already since 1967, no new missionaries had been allowed entry into Madagascar.
At 4:00 p.m. on June 5, 1970, the storm broke. The Security Police went to the branch and told Samuel Gilman that all the missionaries were to report to the Security Police the next day. The missionaries in the capital at the time—Brothers Gilman, Kuokkanen, and Lisiak—appeared before the director of the Security Police. In very few words, they were told that all the missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses must leave the country immediately, on the plane that night! “Do not look for the reason because you will never find it, just leave now,” they were told. Some had obtained new three-year visas a few days earlier. When they pointed out that the visas were still valid, the director asked them to present their passports. He then stamped on their visas Annulé (Void), and the brothers were told that they were now in the country illegally.
The missionaries were not able to leave that night. Early Monday morning they went to the consulate or embassy of the country of their origin and asked for help. Nevertheless, by Saturday, June 20, 1970, all 20 missionaries had to leave the country. Most of them went to Kenya. The French citizens left for Réunion, which is French territory. Brothers and sisters from all parts of Madagascar came to bid them farewell. The local Witnesses were crying, and the missionaries were crying. Some of them had been in Madagascar for many years, and it was their home.
While in Madagascar the missionaries had endeavored to teach people to build their faith on God’s Word, to put their confidence in Jehovah, and to appreciate the role of Jesus Christ in God’s purpose. (1 Cor. 3:5-14) Appropriately, at his last meeting before leaving the country, Florent Chabot said: “If you have become followers of the missionaries, after their departure you will not be able to continue as Jehovah’s Witnesses. But if you have become Witnesses of Jehovah, even after the missionaries depart, you will continue to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
The Ban
A ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was made public on August 8, 1970, in the Official Journal of the Malagasy Republic. What would happen to the Malagasy Witnesses? Upon being asked that question, the Minister of Interior said: “Do not worry. After the missionaries leave, we will take care of them.” He then made a motion with his hands as if to crush something.
Fortunately, though, there was no severe persecution against the local Witnesses. Yet, how did the local brothers and sisters feel when the missionaries were deported? Ravelojaona Rahantamalala, who as a young girl had known the missionaries, said: “As the missionaries had to leave, many local brothers were disheartened. Some no longer wanted to be identified as Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
The year report for the 1971 service year showed a 12-percent decrease in the number of publishers. Apparently, some yielded to fear of man and stopped proclaiming the good news. (Prov. 29:25) However, the majority gave evidence that their faith was strong. And in the third year, Madagascar began to see growth again.
At first, the meetings were held at various locations in the homes of the brothers, with three or four families in attendance. The number attending the meetings gradually increased. In the Manakambahiny area of Antananarivo, Sister Ravelojaona made her home available as a place for meetings. Thanks to Jehovah, even during times of civil unrest, no serious incident occurred. “At least ten congregations were formed from that small Manakambahiny group,” says Sister Ravelojaona. “Jehovah blessed our preaching and disciple-making efforts all through the years of the ban.”
Trained for Oversight
A committee was established to assist with the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses locally and to keep in touch with the Governing Body. Responsibility for the Kingdom preaching work in Madagascar was placed on the shoulders of local Witnesses. During the ban, the brothers used the nickname Ineny, meaning “Mom,” to refer to the Society. Well, immediately after the ban was imposed, Ineny provided needed help. How?
Milton Henschel from the world headquarters visited Madagascar as a zone overseer. He made specific arrangements to care for the spiritual needs of the Malagasy brothers. Two responsible brothers were invited to travel to the world headquarters of Jehovah’s visible organization for training. They benefited greatly, in spite of problems with language, and became better qualified for the work ahead.
Brother Henschel also recommended that a Malagasy special pioneer attend Gilead School. This would equip him to do more in taking the lead in the Kingdom-preaching activity. Andriamasy Théodore, a young man who spoke English and who had helped with translation of correspondence, was selected. Regarding the training that he received at Gilead, he says: “It was an intensive five-month Bible training that built good study habits in me. Working half days in various Bethel departments gave me many opportunities to see how Jehovah’s visible organization operates. Fellowship with anointed brothers and sisters was one of the most rewarding experiences I had at Gilead. I learned much from their generosity, hospitality, and humility.”
After Brother Andriamasy returned from Gilead, he was assigned to the field in order to make good use of what he had learned. The training he had received strengthened his faith and enabled him, in turn, to encourage his Christian brothers during those difficult years. He still serves part-time in various assignments at the branch. Lately, he has been teaching new missionaries the Malagasy language.
Continuing to Serve Despite the Ban
Jehovah’s Witnesses kept a low profile during the ban, but they continued to carry on true worship. Every issue of The Watchtower was translated without fail. (Isa. 65:13) They met in private homes to encourage one another. (Heb. 10:23-25) Circuit overseers visited the congregations; district conventions and circuit assemblies were organized, and even large-scale gatherings were held in the forest. There, away from the city, attendance sometimes reached as many as 1,500. In 1972 an office along with a literature depot was established in a rented apartment. A responsible brother from each of the 11 congregations then existing would pick up literature at the depot. Brother Andriamoara, who took care of the depot for a while, recalls that the brothers carried away cartons of literature openly, in full view of the neighbors.
During the first few years of the ban, the Witnesses were very cautious. Sometimes they felt that they were under police surveillance and were being followed. For that reason most of their witnessing was done informally. When house-to-house calls were made, they went to one house on one block and then a house on another. Instead of carrying their literature in a briefcase, they would use a sack or a basket, so that it appeared that they were going to the market. Yet, for the most part, they were able to conduct Bible studies undisturbed. Brother Rakotojaona, who now serves at the branch with his wife, Lea, recalls that when he started to study in 1972, his study was held without any special effort to conceal it.
Cautious Overmuch?
Ineny continued to make arrangements for visits by zone overseers. These loving arrangements encouraged the brothers and sisters and helped them to deal constructively with their situation. In 1973, for example, when André Ramseyer visited Madagascar, he realized that the brothers were being overly cautious. Brother Andriamoara recalls how Brother Ramseyer reasoned: “Has anybody been in prison because of being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses? No. Have you had other difficulties? No. So maybe you are too cautious. Is it perhaps exaggerated cautiousness? We should not be fearful.” How helpful that visit was! From then on the local Witnesses preached more openly and boldly. As a result, during the 1974 service year, a new peak of 613 publishers reported, exceeding by 30 percent the previous all-time peak recorded before the ban!
Regaining Legal Status
Toward the end of 1983, the brothers—under the name of a local cultural society—applied for legal recognition of their activity. On February 24, 1984, that recognition was granted, but it did not mean that the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was lifted. Nevertheless, this new development brought great joy to the brothers. Field service increased, and two outstanding peaks were reached in April—1,708 publishers reported field service and 8,977 attended the Memorial. Thus, the number of publishers had increased 264 percent and the Memorial attendance had risen 606 percent.
Although they had legal recognition as a cultural organization, in 1993 the brothers filed an application for Jehovah’s Witnesses to be legally recognized as a religious association. A few months later, on October 4, 1994, that legal status was granted. What a joy! Now they could openly be known once again as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
More International Help
Even before that, however, in 1987 it became possible for missionaries to return to Madagascar. In September 1991 the Kuokkanens, who had been special pioneers in Helsinki, Finland, arrived back in Madagascar, and Brother Kuokkanen was appointed to be the Branch Committee coordinator. “Madagascar had changed,” says Brother Kuokkanen. “Some of the brothers and sisters we had known earlier were still there, but many had passed away. The majority of the publishers were new in the truth.” There was a lot of office work to handle. Yet, what a joy to see a new publisher peak of 4,005 in August 1991!
Dirajlal Bagvandjee and his wife, Simone, who had been expelled with the others in 1970, were also invited to return to Madagascar. Being a very good negotiator, Brother Bagvandjee helps the branch in obtaining permits, customs papers, and other official documents. Since 1992 he has been serving as a member of the Madagascar Branch Committee. Often, officials are astonished when an Indian, a former Hindu, talks about Jehovah, Jesus Christ, and God’s Kingdom.
The New Branch Complex
Ever since the branch’s establishment in September 1963, facilities in a variety of locations have been used. From 1972 to 1987, an apartment was adequate to provide an office and literature depot. Then a larger house was rented. During those years the members of the Branch Committee, having families to care for, did most of their work at home.
As Bible education expanded in Madagascar, however, facilities better suited to the work were needed. Property was purchased about three miles [5 km] from the Ivato International Airport. Three years later, in April 1993, construction got under way with the help of brothers from overseas. Walter Elkow, a Canadian with much experience in such work, came to oversee this 30-month project. Other international servants followed, and many international volunteers paid their own way to help with the construction for three months or more. At its peak, the crew consisted of 110 international and local workers. On the weekends, the number of volunteers swelled as brothers and sisters from local congregations pitched in to help.
The encouragement was mutual. Although many of the international workers did not speak the local language, these mature brothers and sisters set fine examples in the field ministry. As an example, David Smith, who assisted for about two years as a heavy-equipment mechanic, was not able to speak Malagasy, but he knew that The Watchtower and Awake! in Malagasy could give a good witness. So with a friendly smile, he would stand on the street holding the magazines in one hand while displaying the suggested contribution in the other. He would place as many as 80 magazines in a day.
The fine new branch facilities are truly a gift from Jehovah! When the branch was dedicated on December 7, 1996, 668 old-timers were invited to be present. What a happy event! Then the next day, 7,785 attended a special talk held on an open field that was named Gileada. Why there? This land, about four miles [6 km] away from the branch, had been purchased for the erection of an Assembly Hall. What a sight—a hillside full of brothers and sisters in their best clothes and with colorful umbrellas to protect them from the sun!
Growing Ranks of Full-Time Servants
Since the first Malagasy pioneers started their full-time service in the 1960’s, the ranks of these diligent workers have increased steadily year after year. About 1 out of 6 Kingdom proclaimers in Madagascar is now in the pioneer service. Many young brothers and sisters have made this their career. To strengthen the pioneers, the Pioneer Service School was inaugurated in 1979 in Madagascar, as it had been in other lands. Andriamasy Théodore and Andriamoara Félix, who had been in full-time service for many years, were the instructors. Since that time hundreds of pioneers have benefited from this instructive course.
One of the subjects discussed at length in the school involves showing personal interest in others. Many of the pioneers have really taken that to heart. For example, in 1998 when assigned to a small town called Soanierana-Ivongo on the east coast, Randriamampianina Niaina and his wife, Veroniaina, saw the need for such personal interest. The woman who owned the house where they settled had a son who was disabled as a result of polio. The special pioneers took time to share with the boy the Bible’s precious promises concerning life in God’s new world. The young man gladly studied the Bible with Niaina and Veroniaina. But his family did not approve. The mother even told the special pioneers to tell her son that they no longer had time to study with him. But, of course, they could not do that. The young man’s love for Jehovah and His ways grew rapidly. In eight months he got baptized. At that, the pioneers were ordered to move out of the house.
Did the personal interest shown in this young man cease? Not at all. His wheelchair was in very bad shape—and now it is completely broken. Although a new one had arrived for him, his former church would not give it to him because he had changed his religion. So the brothers in the congregation help the disabled brother to attend the meetings.
In recent years, the Society has been sending temporary special pioneers to unassigned territories in order to give more people the opportunity to benefit from the Kingdom message. In November 1997 two brothers were sent to Mahaditra, a small town in which only one publisher lived. Amazingly, in October of the following year, a congregation of 14 publishers was established. The two temporary special pioneers are no longer temporary but permanent special pioneers in that town.
In June 1996 two others went in to Mahasoabe, a small town that was virgin territory. They were not able to leave the territory after three months, as scheduled—the people begged them to stay. After six months, an isolated group was established, and three months later, the group became a congregation with five publishers and two regular pioneers. The two original “temporary” special pioneers are still with the congregation, taking good care of it. In dozens of unassigned territories, similar results have been repeated.
New Wave of Missionaries
Madagascar is a fruitful field. Upwards of 20,000 home Bible studies are being conducted—more than two per publisher. From the Gilead Extension School in Germany, six missionaries were sent to Madagascar in 1993 to help with the work. They opened a missionary home in Toamasina, the second-largest city in Madagascar, situated on the east coast. Daniel and Hélène Kmita, seasoned missionaries serving in the Seychelles, were reassigned to the Big Red Island. Five regular pioneer couples from the French-speaking part of Canada also volunteered to serve here. Ivan Teyssier, a French missionary who had served in Paraguay for many years, came to help with work in the branch. Dante and Christina Bonetti, who had been in Madagascar as international servants during the branch construction, were invited to return as missionaries. These newcomers have done much to enhance the pioneer spirit among the local publishers. Some have learned Malagasy so well that they have qualified to serve the Malagasy-speaking congregations as circuit overseers.
Traveling to Encourage Congregations
When the circuit work started here in 1963, the circuit overseer had only three congregations to visit in the whole country. Now 17 traveling overseers are serving 253 congregations and groups. Traveling in the rural areas is still not easy. During the rainy season, dirt roads are cut off in many places, and circuit overseers have to walk long distances. To visit some congregations, they may have to walk on muddy paths for days—one way! (Compare 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.) Sometimes brothers from one congregation accompany the circuit overseer to help carry his luggage to the next. While crossing rivers—often without bridges—they wrap everything in a plastic bag to keep it dry and they carry it on the head. During the rainy season, the water may come up to their armpits.
Although their means are limited, the local brothers are very hospitable and do their best to welcome the traveling overseers and their wives. The encouragement is mutual. How satisfying it is to be with brothers and sisters who are endeavoring to do their best to please Jehovah! (Rom. 1:11, 12) And what a privilege it is to strengthen the faith of these dear ones who are precious to Jehovah!
When a Cyclone Hits
Life in this part of the world includes coping with cyclones. Every year there is a season when cyclones hit the islands of the Indian Ocean. The branch closely follows the weather reports and prepares to help the brothers in the affected areas. In 1997 a number of cyclones hit Madagascar, including the notorious Gretelle, which swept across the southeast coast. Two larger towns and many villages were devastated. About 100 of Jehovah’s Witnesses were living in the affected area.
The branch quickly dispatched a small truck and a four-wheel-drive vehicle loaded with relief supplies, tools, and some building materials. A doctor went along with the relief team. To get to some places unapproachable by motor vehicle, the team also used small boats.
It took two days to reach their final destination, Vangaindrano. Relief work started immediately. Food and shelter were provided. The doctor examined every Witness family and provided needed medicines. Non-Witness families also benefited. When most of those on the team returned, two stayed behind for about a month to rebuild the houses of the brothers. The branch office received many letters of appreciation for the help the Society had provided. Even some non-Witnesses declared: “Your religion is truly Christian!”
Jehovah Keeps Making It Grow
The missionaries and those who through them became disciples in Madagascar planted and watered seeds of Kingdom truth. The very first report from Madagascar was sent in by Robert Nisbet and Bert McLuckie in 1933. Twenty-two years later, the work was renewed, and the 1956 service year saw a peak of eight publishers. By the time the missionaries were deported in 1970, there were 469 Kingdom proclaimers in the country. The missionaries were no longer able to help as they had been doing. But “God kept making it grow.”—1 Cor. 3:6.
Those who formerly served in Madagascar and later had opportunity to return there saw evidence that those with whom they had studied Bible truth were producing fruitage of their own. For example, Ramanitra Hélène, who was 15 years old when Irene Carbonneau studied with her, had contracted polio and could not walk properly. In spite of that limitation and the opposition from her family, Hélène insisted on becoming a publisher of the good news. Even after the Carbonneaus went home to Canada, she continued to make progress. When Irene returned for a short visit in 1995, Hélène exclaimed: “All in my family have accepted the truth except my father!”
With Jehovah’s blessing, by 1980 the little one in Madagascar had become a thousand, with a peak of 1,021 proclaimers of God’s Kingdom. (Isa. 60:22) In 1993 the publisher peak exceeded 5,000, and it reached a remarkable all-time peak of over 10,300 in 1999.
What About the Future?
A bright future lies ahead for the Kingdom preaching work in Madagascar. In 1956 seven people attended the first Memorial ever celebrated on this island. The attendance kept growing until an all-time peak of 46,392 attended in 1999. In the same month, there were 10,346 publishers throughout the island. Why, on an average, every publisher brought three interested persons along with him to this most important event!
This Big Red Island continues to be a paradise for all who, moved by love for Jehovah and fellow humans, want to share Bible truth with others. There are tens of thousands of humble people here who want to know more about Jehovah. They are not prominent in the world, nor are they rich materially. Their diet usually consists of just rice, a little meat, and some herbs. In many towns and villages, people have neither electricity nor running water. In the villages, bread is not always available, not to speak of butter and cheese. Still, our dear brothers and sisters thank Jehovah for their daily sustenance and enjoy their simple lives. Rather than being ‘anxious about what they will eat or what they will drink or about their bodies as to what they will wear,’ they endeavor to keep on seeking first the Kingdom and God’s righteousness. (Matt. 6:31-33) They are grateful for the privilege of serving Jehovah, the Universal Sovereign, and they join with the psalmist in saying: “Jehovah himself has become king! Let the earth be joyful. Let the many islands rejoice.”—Ps. 97:1.
A Malagasy proverb advises: “Be like a chameleon—keep one eye on the past and the other on the future.” It is good to keep one eye on the past to learn from previous experiences. But no benefit comes from trying to relive the past. It is the future that is open to us. The best of times lie ahead. Jehovah has set before us life—eternal life—in a global paradise filled with people who truly love one another. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Madagascar are determined to keep their eyes fixed on that goal.
[Full-page picture on page 224]
[Pictures on page 230]
(1) Rabehasy Noël, (2) Robert Nisbet, (3) Bert McLuckie, (4) Adam Lisiak, (5) Edouard Marlot, (6) Narcisse Marlot
[Picture on page 233]
Raimo and Veera Kuokkanen
[Picture on page 235]
Andriamoara Félix, one of the first local special pioneers
[Picture on page 236]
Everything was done manually
[Picture on page 237]
Rasoamalala Louise, a longtime translator
[Picture on page 245]
Andriamasy Théodore teaching Malagasy to new missionaries
[Pictures on page 251]
The completed branch complex and the Branch Committee (left to right): Eleha, Raimo Kuokkanen, Dirajlal Bagvandjee