April

Meetings for Field Service

MARCH 30–APRIL 5

With Topic for Conversation

1. What introduction will you use?

2. What do John 17:26 and Psalm 83:18 highlight?

APRIL 6-12

With the magazines

1. What points will you highlight in current magazines?

2. What information from title page can be highlighted?

APRIL 13-19

Offering subscriptions

1. Why is a positive approach necessary?

2. To whom can we offer subscriptions?

APRIL 20-26

What would you say if

1. Someone says he does not believe in God? (rs pp. 145, 150)

2. Householder believes all religions lead to God? (rs p. 149)

APRIL 27–MAY 3

What would you say if

1. Someone says it is not important to use God’s name? (rs pp. 149, 196)

2. The person’s Bible does not use the name Jehovah? (rs pp. 193-4)

Topic for Conversation

Who Is God?

John 17:26​—Why Jesus made known God’s name.

Ps. 83:18​—What God’s name is.

Feature The Watchtower During April

¹ When The Watchtower first appeared in July 1879, only 6,000 copies were printed once a month in just one language. Now, 107 years later, over 12 million copies of each issue are printed, most of them semimonthly, in 103 languages. Such growth gives evidence of Jehovah’s approval of this instrument that he is using for making known the truth regarding his Kingdom.

² Whether you have been reading The Watchtower for a relatively short time or you have read it for many years, we are confident that you appreciate the spiritual benefits received. The Watchtower has brought you a Scriptural hope. It has strengthened your trust in the Kingdom of God as the only means by which lasting peace will come to our earth. It has alerted you to the dangers of these critical times that mark “the last days.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Its pages have helped you to receive “comfort from the Scriptures” and reliable guidance based on God’s Word, the Bible. (Rom. 15:4; Ps. 119:105) While reflecting on these and other benefits, are you not moved to tell others about the value of The Watchtower? During April, a one-year subscription will be offered for a contribution of just $4.00.

BE POSITIVE IN YOUR OUTLOOK

³ God’s wisdom and not human reasoning is stressed in The Watchtower. Such wisdom is desperately needed by everyone today. It can improve lives and help develop right motives. This is necessary in order to “keep living.” (Prov. 9:1-6) Being thus convinced, we will offer the subscription with a positive attitude, recognizing that we have what others need. Carefully go over each issue to find statements that you believe may be helpful to householders. Such advance preparation will aid you in reflecting a positive spirit when presenting these magazines in the ministry.

⁴ The cost of The Watchtower is minimal when compared with the value in benefits to the reader. So confidently present the subscription at every opportunity. Some publishers may wish to offer Awake! subscriptions along with The Watchtower. A one-year subscription to both magazines is $8.00, a small cost compared with that of many worldly publications.

THE WATCHTOWER HELPS MAKE DISCIPLES

⁵ Be determined to follow up all placements and endeavor to develop the interest shown. Some brothers work up magazine routes with those who take single issues of the magazines. If a person reads a copy of The Watchtower or Awake!, he may become interested. So call back and present the next issues, highlighting a specific article that you feel would interest him. After reading a few issues, he may wish to subscribe. Subscribers also can benefit from your calling back to help them search out valuable points in the magazines.

⁶ Featuring The Watchtower during April should bring us joyful satisfaction. Having benefited from the magazine ourselves, we can confidently present it to others. By encouraging them to subscribe and read these valuable magazines, we can help them to take their stand on Jehovah’s side.

Participating in the Ministry Each Week Brings Increased Joy

¹ “We cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) This expression of the apostles Peter and John revealed that the preaching of the good news was an essential part of their lives. Concerning all the apostles, the Bible account tells us that “every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.”​—Acts 5:42.

² This constancy in sharing the good news was also characteristic of the apostle Paul, who “would give a talk in the synagogue every sabbath and would persuade Jews and Greeks.” (Acts 18:4) Even as a prisoner confined to his own house under guard, he would regularly preach and teach the good news of the Kingdom.​—Acts 28:30, 31.

³ Regularly sharing the good news brought many blessings and joys to our brothers in the first century. Some who were considered unlettered and ordinary acquired boldness and skill as they imitated Jesus in their speaking. (Acts 4:13) What a joy it must have been to know that their teaching brought salvation to many honesthearted ones!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WEEKLY SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

⁴ A schedule for witnessing regularly each week can help you to enjoy such blessings. Our calendar specifies the first Sunday of each month as well as the second and fourth Saturdays as special days for the field ministry. Do you follow this schedule? By doing so and adding one more weekend, you would enjoy weekly participation in the field service. Many have arranged their affairs to share in service at least every weekend. Congregations arrange meetings for field service every Saturday and Sunday. Many of them have midweek arrangements as well.

⁵ If you are not sharing regularly in the ministry on the first Sunday and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, why not set this as a goal to strive for as you endeavor to have a share in the ministry each week? Your book study conductor will be happy to provide the help you need to develop a practical schedule that conforms to your personal circumstances. Remember, the good news “has to be preached” in all the nations. (Mark 13:10) So why not prayerfully consider the suggestions here given in order that you, too, may have a share each week in this important work?

BLESSINGS YOU CAN ENJOY

⁶ It may be that you are not able to share the good news to the extent that pioneers do. However, if you do so regularly each week, your ministry will be more effective and your enjoyment will increase proportionately. When the 70 were sent out by Jesus, they “returned with joy,” telling of their experiences. (Luke 10:17) Even under difficult circumstances, frequent participation in the preaching work will increase your joy.

⁷ All are encouraged to schedule time to share the good news with others each week. As you do so, your skills as a teacher will improve and your joy will increase, all to the glory and honor of Jehovah.

Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples

WEEK STARTING MARCH 29

Song 49

10 min: Local announcements. Encourage all to support field service arrangements on first Sunday in April. There is still time to submit an application for auxiliary pioneer service during April. Encourage distribution of Kingdom News No. 33, Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? (Note km 1/87 pp. 7-8.) Briefly review how to fill out subscription forms. (Note 9/85 letter “How to Handle Subscriptions Properly” [S-11].)

15 min: “Feature The Watchtower During April.” Question-and-answer consideration of article. Encourage all to have positive attitude in offering subscriptions.

15 min: New Topic for Conversation. Discussion and demonstration. Review presentation and illustrate how articles “God​—Is He a Real Person?” and “God’s Wisdom​—Can You See It?” from the April 1 and 15 issues can be tied in with theme. Assign qualified pioneer or publisher to give presentation, offering Watchtower subscription. For additional field points, refer congregation to section on “God” in Reasoning book, pages 145-51.

5 min: Talk. Encourage publishers to make list of relatives and interested persons they will yet personally invite to the Memorial. May use information under “Memorial” on pages 266-9 of the Reasoning book when inviting others. Announce what arrangements have been made for the Watchtower Study during week of Memorial.

Song 112 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING APRIL 5

Song 16

10 min: Local announcements. Encourage all to support magazine day on Saturday, April 11, as well as special arrangements for field service on Sunday. Review one or two articles in current issue of Awake! that could be featured. Suggest all bring new Index to Service Meeting next week.

20 min: “Participating in the Ministry Each Week Brings Increased Joy.” Question-and-answer consideration of article. Emphasize value of personal schedule and use of calendar provided by Society.

15 min: Service overseer interviews several auxiliary pioneers. What motivated them to auxiliary pioneer during April? How have they organized their personal and household affairs in order to devote 60 hours to the ministry? How have other family members cooperated? What benefits have they received? Highlight joy that comes from pioneer ministry. Encourage all in congregation to support pioneers in the field during month. Mention that May has five full weekends and would be a good month to auxiliary pioneer.

Song 19 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING APRIL 12

Song 46

10 min: Local announcements and selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Accounts report. Mention Society’s acknowledgment of any contribution appearing on monthly statement.

15 min: Make Good Use of Watch Tower Publications. Talk. Highlight practical references provided on subjects such as “Ministry” or “Medical Treatment” in Watch Tower Publications Index. Emphasize how new Index is valuable in finding answers to questions, doing research, preparing talks, and so forth. Highlight points on pages 5 and 6. Where new Index is not available, explain and demonstrate use of available indexes and/​or table of contents and scripture and subject indexes in individual publications. Encourage all to make good use of Society’s publications in finding answers to Bible questions. Do personal research; seek direction from elders when necessary. Only as last resort write Society. (Note km 5/83 p. 8.)

20 min: “Prepare Students to Share in the Ministry.” Question-and-answer consideration of article handled by secretary. Highlight need for publisher conducting Bible study to determine when student is ready to participate in field ministry.

Song 121 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING APRIL 19

Song 204

10 min: Local announcements and Theocratic News. Encourage all to participate in magazine work on Saturday, April 25. Follow through in assisting interested persons who recently attended Memorial to support congregation meetings regularly.

20 min: “Presenting the Good News​—In an Effective and Orderly Manner.” Questions and answers. When considering paragraph 4, have brief demonstration of brother showing new publisher how to keep house-to-house record and explaining need to take good care of territory map card so that it does not become misplaced or damaged.

15 min: Personally Benefiting From Reading The Watchtower. Qualified brother interviews two or three publishers who have been subscribers for many years and who are good examples in congregation. How many years have they personally read The Watchtower? How has this publication aided them spiritually? What features do they especially enjoy? How do they feel about offering The Watchtower on a subscription basis?

Song 92 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING APRIL 26

Song 43

15 min: Local announcements. Encourage all to offer subscription on first Sunday and all during May. Review talking points from May 1 and 15 issues on subjects “Do All Prophecies Come From God?” and “What Has God Done for You?” Review information in Question Box.

15 min: “Teaching With Illustrations.” Talk by school overseer based on March 15, 1987, Watchtower, page 8. Include points from School Guidebook, study 34, pages 168-71 as time allows.

15 min: Local needs or review highlights from most recent visit of circuit overseer, emphasizing one or two points congregation is to work on.

Song 211 and concluding prayer.

Announcements

● Literature offer for April and May: Watchtower subscription for one year for a contribution of $4.00. Six-month subscriptions are $2.00. Where subscriptions are not obtained, two magazines and a brochure can be offered for 70¢. June: Any combination of five 32-page booklets on a contribution of 25¢. With a view to starting home Bible studies, one of the following booklets should be included in the combination: A Secure Future​—How You Can Find It, Is There a God Who Cares?, There Is Much More to Life!, or another booklet appropriate to the territory. Try to place all older stock.

● District convention badge cards for 1987 in English and Spanish will be consigned and included with April literature shipments. It will not be necessary to order these. Based on the size of each congregation, consignments in lots of 25 will be made, and the literature account will be billed at the rate of two cents per card.

● New Publications Available:

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures​—With References (Rbi8)—​Spanish

Aid to Bible Understanding, Volume 7 (Pau-Sin)​—German

You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth (Large size)​—Armenian

“Look! I Am Making All Things New” (Brochure)​—Armenian, Cibemba, Ewe, Ga, Twi

School and Jehovah’s Witnesses​—Arabic

The Time for True Submission to God​—Arabic

● New Cassette Recordings Available:

Genesis (set of four; congregation and public: $6.00; pioneers: $5.00)​—Danish

Exodus (set of three; congregation and public: $4.50; pioneers: $3.75)​—Danish

The First of Samuel (set of two; congregation and public: $3.00; pioneers: $2.50)​—French

The Second of Samuel (set of two; congregation and public: $3.00; pioneers: $2.50)​—French

Numbers (set of three; congregation and public: $4.50; pioneers: $3.75)​—Italian

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (set of three; congregation and public: $4.50; pioneers: $3.75)​—Japanese

● The following publications are now available in grade-two English Braille:

Reasoning From the Scriptures (four volumes) in vinyl binders for purchase only: $32.00.

Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace” (four volumes) may be requested on loan or purchased for $5.00.

Jehovah’s Witnesses​—Unitedly Doing God’s Will Worldwide (one volume) may be requested on loan or purchased for $1.00. (Also available in grade-one Spanish and French Braille.)

“Look! I Am Making All Things New” (one volume) may be requested on loan or purchased for $1.00. (Also available in grade-one Spanish and French Braille.)

As a reminder, The Watchtower is available in grade-two English Braille. One year semimonthly subscription is $6.00.

To obtain Braille publications, please send in a separate order. Include the remittance, if purchased, and the name and address of the person that will use them. Mark your order: ATTENTION: BRAILLE DESK.

Prepare Students to Share in the Ministry

¹ During the past service year in the United States, an average of 486,426 home Bible studies were conducted each month. Many new ones are making spiritual progress by taking in knowledge of Jehovah and associating with the organization. They are making the needed adjustments in their personal lives, and eventually we want them to make public declaration of their faith by joining with us in the preaching and disciple-making work.​—Rom. 10:10.

² From the time you start a Bible study, you may be able to encourage the student to speak to others about what he is learning. Suggest that he talk with relatives, neighbors, work associates, and others on an informal basis. As you inculcate the truth into his heart and mind, he should be motivated to do this. Highlight the importance of the preaching and disciple-making work as emphasized by Jesus and his disciples. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Relate positive field service experiences that you and others have had as well as those recorded in the Yearbook and other publications of the Society.

DETERMINING IF STUDENT QUALIFIES

³ At the appropriate time and in keeping with the student’s advancement, invite him to share in the organized field service of the congregation. Remember that as the one conducting the study it is your responsibility to determine if the student is qualified before inviting him to accompany you in the field service. He must have already brought his life into harmony with Jehovah’s righteous standards. Factors that should be considered are outlined on pages 98-9 of the Our Ministry book.

⁴ There is no need to pry into the student’s personal life by asking embarrassing questions. However, as you progressively come to know the student, you can observe whether he is living in harmony with the information that he has learned. If there are questions about certain aspects of his personal life, you may simply have the student read appropriate Bible texts and then express himself as to his understanding of the application or meaning. Often this will enable you to see whether he has sufficient knowledge of the truth and comprehends what is required of one who engages in the ministry. When you are convinced that he sincerely desires to identify himself with the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses and qualifies to do so, you can invite him to accompany you in the field ministry. Prepare for the field ministry together, and progressively help the student to participate.

ASSISTANCE FROM ELDERS

⁵ When a new person turns in his first field service report, additional steps must be taken to make sure that the individual qualifies to be counted as a publisher and thus become recognized as an approved associate. On the basis of the student’s first field service report, the secretary or another member of the Congregation Service Committee will discuss the student’s progress with the publisher who is studying with him. Thereafter it would be good for the publisher to be present when the elder has a talk with the individual who submitted his first field service report. After commending the new one for the progress he is making, the elders will kindly explain all that is involved in being counted as a publisher. If the student qualifies as an approved associate, he will be informed that a Congregation’s Publisher Record card will be made out in his name and be included in the congregation’s file.​—See om pp. 105-6.

⁶ As we study doctrinal truths with Bible students and direct them to the organization, let us also encourage and prepare them to share the good news with others. In time, with Jehovah’s blessing, they will qualify to become regular proclaimers of the good news.

January Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios. 268 130.0 84.4 56.7 6.1

Pios. 52,671 80.8 37.8 29.1 3.0

Aux. Pios. 26,422 58.5 27.1 18.1 1.6

Pubs. 655,256 9.3 6.2 3.8 0.5

TOTAL 734,617

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 2,377

Presenting the Good News​—In an Effective and Orderly Manner

¹ Jesus instructed his disciples: “Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving.” (Matt. 10:11) Today, we follow a similar procedure, expending much effort and millions of hours in searching out those who desire to listen. How is it possible for us to present the Kingdom message worldwide in an orderly manner?

² Congregations receive assignments of territory, whether in city or in rural areas, from the branch office. (1 Cor. 14:40) This is consistent with the pattern that existed in the first-century Christian congregation. (2 Cor. 10:13; Gal. 2:9) Having well-defined territory assignments is essential if the Kingdom work is to be cared for in an effective and orderly manner.

BALANCED COVERAGE

³ The overall arrangement for working congregation territory comes under the supervision of the service overseer. However, a ministerial servant may do the actual assigning of the territory. He should review the records periodically and note territories that have not been worked for some time. He will let those requesting a territory know which ones need to be covered and will keep a meaningful record of the work that is being done. Our goal is to work all territories at least once each year. Every time a territory is covered, the brother who cares for the territory records should be notified by the one holding the territory.

⁴ What else is involved in thoroughly working the congregation’s territory in an effective and orderly manner? We want to reach as many people as possible. Can you present the good news to someone in each house in the territory that you work? Good house-to-house records need to be kept so that further attempts can be made to talk with those who were either not at home or busy on the initial call. It may be that some in your territory will have to be reached by letter, telephone, or other means, such as street witnessing. (See km 9/76 p. 8; km 11/85 pp. 5-6; km 3/84 p. 5; km 4/84 p. 3.) The service overseer and Congregation Book Study conductors will offer suggestions in accord with local conditions and individual circumstances.

⁵ Because we are sincerely interested in helping all those living in our territory to hear the Kingdom message, we should be determined to call repeatedly, using a variety of approaches along with designated literature and magazine offers. As we find interest, we want to follow through in developing it.

⁶ Genuine love for Jehovah and for our fellowman should motivate us to work closely with the service overseer and Congregation Book Study conductors so as to care well for the part of the field that has been entrusted to our care. Jehovah will bless our sincere effort to present the good news in an effective and orderly manner.

Congregation Book Study

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace”:

March 29: Chapter 1

April 5: Chapter 2

April 12: Chapter 3

April 19: Chapter 4

April 26: Chapter 5

Question Box

● When can a new Bible study be reported, and with whom may studies be counted?

A new home Bible study may be reported as such when it has been conducted two times after the call on which the study arrangement was demonstrated and there is reason to believe that the study will continue. A Study Report form should be made out and turned in each month.

A return visit and the time spent are counted each time a home Bible study is conducted. If circumstances require that another publisher accompany the one who conducts the study, and if both share in the study in a meaningful way, both may count the time. However, only the conductor of the study will report the return visit and the Bible study. Ordinarily it should not be necessary for more than two publishers to be involved in teaching at a home Bible study.

Home Bible studies should be continued with new persons until they have completed studying the two books that will establish them in the truth, such as You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth and United in Worship of the Only True God. The study, return visits, and service time may be reported until completion of these two publications even if the person gets baptized before finishing both books.

At times an elder on the Congregation Service Committee may request a publisher to conduct a home Bible study with someone who is already baptized but who has become inactive. This is in keeping with the Society’s arrangement to build up such ones who desire help. In such a case, the study may be reported along with the related return visits and field service time.​—Note om pp. 103-4.

Parents are responsible before Jehovah to instruct and train their own children in right worship. (Deut. 4:9; Eph. 6:4) A regularly conducted family Bible study is most beneficial in this regard. A family head or parent may report a regularly conducted family Bible study if nonbaptized members are included. Up to one hour of service time and a return visit may also be counted each week that the study is conducted.​—See km 6/83 p. 4.

Theocratic News

◆ Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) saw a new peak of 2,388 publishers in November. With an average of about two Bible studies per publisher, further increases no doubt will be seen.

◆ El Salvador’s new publisher peak for November was 15,141, a 5-percent increase over the same month one year ago.

◆ Switzerland reported several new peaks for November, with 13,999 publishers, 88,265 return visits, and 8,838 Bible studies.