September

Meetings for Field Service

SEPTEMBER 5-11

When offering the Creation book

1. What talking points will you highlight?

2. What illustrations might be used?

SEPTEMBER 12-18

Returning on Creation book placements

1. What will you discuss?

2. How will you try to turn call into a study?

SEPTEMBER 19-25

How can we start studies

1. On initial call?

2. With the aid of the Reasoning book?

SEPTEMBER 26–OCTOBER 2

When offering magazines

1. What article will you highlight?

2. Why encourage householders to subscribe?

Congregation Book Study

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation?:

September 5: Pages 27* to 34*

September 12: Pages 34* to 42

September 19: Pages 43 to 50*

September 26: Pages 50* to 57*

*To or from subheading.

Topic for Conversation

The Key to Happiness.

Matt. 5:3​—Being conscious of spiritual need.

Rev. 1:3​—Observing God’s Word.

Set Personal Goals for the New Service Year

¹ Are you happy with your spiritual achievements? It is good to keep moving ahead spiritually, but this requires effort. Setting goals for ourselves and for our families helps. A goal is an end toward which effort is directed. To be pleasing to Jehovah, our goals must be in harmony with his will. Therefore, we make Jehovah’s thinking our own and pursue theocratic goals, just as Jesus did. (John 17:4) We will thus find much joy and satisfaction in our life of service to Jehovah.​—John 15:10, 11.

² What goals have you been able to achieve in promoting Kingdom interests during the past service year? The fact that many reached the goals they had set for themselves can be seen in the number of those who were baptized. Also, tens of thousands enrolled as auxiliary and regular pioneers. Quite a number arranged to serve where the need is greater. Some brothers reached a personal goal when they were invited to Gilead, to Bethel, or to the Ministerial Training School.

GOALS YOU MIGHT CONSIDER

³ Are there appropriate goals that might be attainable for you? In order for new ones to make good spiritual progress, being regular in meeting attendance and joining the Theocratic Ministry School would be fine goals. If you have not been commenting regularly at the meetings, why not make that a goal? Others can benefit from your study and research, and your own grasp of the truth will be strengthened.​—Heb. 10:24, 25.

⁴ Have you qualified to begin sharing in the field ministry? Are you doing so regularly? Are you reading the new publications as they come out, in order to keep up with the fine instruction from the faithful slave? If you have already achieved those goals, then would not dedication and baptism be proper goals for you to consider?

⁵ Are you conducting a Bible study? Have you prayed for help in getting one started? Have you diligently followed up on return visits, offering to study with the interested people you meet? If someone you study with is qualified to share in the field service, are you training him in the ministry?

⁶ Have you set a goal of hours for each month? Or have you tried the auxiliary pioneer service? Perhaps you are even in a position to start service as a regular pioneer, sharing the good news with others 90 hours each month. In time, you may have the joy of receiving the benefits of the special training provided in the Pioneer Service School. Brothers should be reaching out for the privilege of serving as ministerial servants and elders.​—1 Tim. 3:1.

⁷ The personal goals that we set for ourselves should bring us closer to Jehovah and allow us to share more fully in doing his will. Paul said he was “forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead.” He encouraged us to have a positive mental attitude about theocratic pursuits so that “to what extent we have made progress,” we would “go on walking orderly in this same routine.”​—Phil. 3:13, 16.

Start Bible Studies​—Now Is the Opportune Time

¹ During the 1987 service year the average number of Bible studies conducted came close to equaling the total average number of publishers worldwide. What a marvelous potential for increase in Kingdom proclaimers! Are you sharing in this satisfying aspect of disciple-making? Now that many have returned from summer vacations, it is the opportune time to concentrate on starting studies.​—Compare 2 Corinthians 6:2.

² The Our Ministry book, pages 89-91, impresses upon us our privilege of aiding others spiritually by means of home Bible studies. Page 91 urges: “If at all possible, make it your aim to conduct at least one home Bible study regularly in addition to any study you may conduct with children in your family.” This is a fine goal toward which all of us can strive by offering a Bible study at every opportunity.

WITH AID OF REASONING BOOK

³ Have you tried offering a Bible study on the very first call? On page 12 under “Home Bible Study,” the Reasoning book suggests two introductions that take this direct approach. These let the householder know that our purpose in calling is to offer a free home Bible study. No matter what presentation we use, we can offer to demonstrate how we conduct a study. Many householders already have some of our literature that could be used. Or a tract may be used as a basis for starting the study. This can be done even when the literature offer has been refused, if it seems appropriate and the householder is agreeable. For example, when we offer the Creation book, the individual may say he is not interested in creation and evolution. We might then offer to show him how we conduct a Bible study using chapter 19 of the Creation book, “An Earthly Paradise Soon to Come.” Depending upon the person’s interest, we could select appropriate material from chapters 16 through 20.

⁴ Another method for starting Bible studies involves using the Reasoning book on return visits. When making arrangements to call back on an interested person, raise the question, “Will planet Earth be destroyed in a nuclear war?” Then instead of simply telling the householder that the answer will be given when you return, have him write down three or four Scripture references taken from pages 112 and 113 of the Reasoning book. Invite the householder to read these scriptures in preparation for your next visit. Return as soon as possible within the week, and look up the scriptures together. Discuss how each one relates to the questions raised. Then raise another question that will be answered on the following visit. Again give the householder several scriptures to look up before you return.

⁵ It is good to show the interested person that you are obtaining your information from the Reasoning book. In time his attention can be directed to the Live Forever book for a regular home Bible study. As you can see, this method is effective even if the householder does not at first accept literature but does show concern over world conditions and wants to know what the future holds.

⁶ Keep in mind Jesus’ words to his disciples at Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples.” Would you like to take part in this lifesaving work by conducting a home Bible study? Even if you are already conducting one, do you have room in your schedule for another one or two? Make the starting of studies a matter for prayerful consideration as you ‘buy out the time.’​—Eph. 5:15, 16.

Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 5

Song 79

10 min: Local announcements. Appropriate Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry and “Provision for Pioneers.” Encourage magazine activity for second Saturday of month. Suggest appropriate talking points as time allows.

20 min: “Presenting the Good News​—With the Creation Book.” Questions and answers. Include brief demonstration on how you would offer Creation book to a youth. Also, briefly demonstrate key points from paragraphs 4-6. (Start demonstrations after last scripture in Topic has been read.) Conclude with local experiences on placing Creation book.

15 min: Youths​—Could You Conduct a Study? To be handled by an elder. Inform congregation how many publishers under 20 years of age there are in congregation and how many of these are conducting studies. Consider room for improvement. Teenagers may be able to start studies with classmates, using Creation book or Youth book. May assign exemplary youths to relate experiences. Select just a few that seem most appropriate. (See yb88 p. 53 pars. 1-3; w84 4/1 p. 30 par 4; yb71 p. 150 par. 1.) Younger ones may be able to start studies with other youngsters in either Bible Stories or Great Teacher books. (See yb75 p. 13 par. 4; km 8/73 p. 4 par. 6; yb70 p. 93 par. 2.) Youths can try to start studies with people they contact in service. (See w82 1/1 p. 24 par. 7; yb71 p. 264 par. 2.) If local experiences are available, use these to illustrate points.

Song 221 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 12

Song 128

12 min: Local announcements. Accounts report. Mention acknowledgments of donations to Society. Read and comment briefly on “Hospital Information Services.”

18 min: “Set Personal Goals for the New Service Year.” Question-and-answer coverage. To show progress made, you may wish to ask if some began commenting at meetings, started conducting Bible studies, auxiliary pioneered for the first time, or took up regular pioneering during the past year.

15 min: Our Congregation’s Activity. Presiding overseer discusses with congregation the work accomplished during the past service year. Use Congregation Analysis Report (S-10) as basis for pointing out where progress was made and what needs attention. Tie in appropriate points mentioned by circuit overseer during his last visit.

Song 166 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 19

Song 194

5 min: Local announcements. Encourage all to share in magazine work on fourth Saturday of month.

17 min: “Start Bible Studies​—Now Is the Opportune Time.” Audience discussion of article. In connection with paragraph 3, have capable publisher give brief demonstration of second introduction under “Home Bible Studies” on page 12 of Reasoning book. After considering paragraph 5, begin another demonstration with householder politely refusing literature offer. Publisher then asks whether householder has ever wondered if the earth will be destroyed in nuclear war and allows response. Publisher then offers to return and discuss subject. Suggests householder write down certain scriptures and read them later but before the next visit. Brother handling part should be warm and enthusiastic, inviting all to share in Bible study work.

13 min: How Are We Doing in Bible Study Activity? Discussion of congregation’s activity by service overseer. Give number of Bible studies being reported. Source of joy to see interested ones respond to truth. (Acts 11:18; 15:3) Subtract number of family studies reported to show how many studies are being conducted in territory. Compare magazine and literature placements with number of return visits reported. Is this an area where Bible studies could be cultivated? Compare the average number of Bible studies (including family studies) per publisher with national average. Give appropriate commendation and encouragement. Can include experiences about starting and conducting Bible studies.

10 min: Conduct Family Studies. To be handled by respected family head. Remind parents of God-given responsibility. (Eph. 6:4) Helpful suggestions offered in The Watchtower, August 1, 1986, page 28, and November 1, 1986, page 24. Explain how family study with unbaptized children may be reported. (km 6/83, Question Box, par. 2) Interview parent who has had good results from regularly studying with his or her children.

Song 168 and concluding prayer.

WEEK STARTING SEPTEMBER 26

Song 143

12 min: Local announcements. Theocratic News. Prepare for subscription offer that starts this coming weekend. Demonstrate tie-in of offer with Topic for Conversation. Encourage all to offer subscriptions on first Sunday of month.

10 min: Joys of Pioneering. Interview some regular pioneers who have been to Pioneer Service School as to how the school benefited them. (If there are no regular pioneers in congregation who have been to the school, may ask for field experiences from pioneers or those who have auxiliary pioneered recently.)

13 min: “Report Field Service Accurately.” Congregation secretary handles discussion with audience.

10 min: Local needs or talk on “Becoming an Ordained Minister​—God’s Way!” from The Watchtower of June 15, 1988, pages 28-31.

Song 196 and concluding prayer.

June Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

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

Sp’l Pios. 249 123.5 74.9 49.9 5.3

Pios. 55,053 75.5 33.1 25.5 2.8

Aux. Pios. 29,419 58.6 25.7 15.3 1.5

Pubs. 653,298 9.8 6.0 3.6 0.5

TOTAL 738,019

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 6,076

Announcements

● Literature offer for September: Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? for a contribution of $3.00. Small-size book is $1.50. October: Subscriptions for either Awake! or The Watchtower or for both magazines. One-year subscriptions are on a contribution of $5.00 each. Six-month subscriptions are $2.50 each. November: New World Translation with the “Kingdom Come” book for a contribution of $5.00. December: My Book of Bible Stories or You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth for a contribution of $3.00. Small-size Live Forever book is $1.50.

● We are pleased to announce that a new Cost List has been prepared. Four copies are being sent to each congregation. They should be distributed to the secretary and to the brothers caring for literature, magazines, and accounts.

● The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on September 1 or as soon as possible thereafter.

● It is important that brothers planning charters to visit Brooklyn Bethel or Watchtower Farms first correspond by mail with the office at each location. Please provide information on the number coming and the dates for each location. The Society will provide directions and the route chartered buses should take. Address your mail to the Bethel Office, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201 and Watchtower Farms, Route 1, Box 300, Wallkill, NY 12589.

● Congregation reports should be sent in on time. Even if this means a few reports have to be counted the next month, congregation reports should be sent in by the sixth of the month whenever possible. However, we do NOT require congregations to send reports by express mail if they are a little late in being sent.

● An adjustment is being made in the way the Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting are conducted during the visit of the circuit overseer. Starting in September 1988, after the opening song and prayer there should be a half-hour school featuring a ten-minute instruction talk with no review, the Bible highlights, the Bible reading, and one other student talk. That will be followed by a half-hour Service Meeting, which can be adjusted so as to have either three 10-minute parts or two 15-minute parts, with the opening announcements being eliminated. After a song, there will be a half-hour program by the circuit overseer, followed by a concluding song and prayer. The entire program will be one and a half hours, excluding songs and prayers. This arrangement will offer the circuit overseer the opportunity to see how both of these meetings are conducted in the congregation.

● New Publications Available:

Insight on the Scriptures​—English

Revelation​—Its Grand Climax at Hand!​—English, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish

● New Cassette Recordings Available:

Listening to the Great Teacher (set of four tapes and a book in an album; congregation and public: $10.00; pioneers: $7.50) ​—English, Spanish

● Special-Purpose Articles on Drugs: The December 8 issue of Awake! will have a series of articles on the growing menace of drugs. It will show how the problem has developed and what we can do to protect ourselves. This issue should appeal to social and law-enforcement workers, and it would be ideal for youths to place with schoolmates and teachers.

● The following literature price adjustments are effective September 1, 1988. Please note that for some items only the pioneer rate or only the public rate is affected. Each new price is indicated by an asterisk (*).

Cong. and

Item Pio. Public

Byington 6.00* 10.00*

Aid 6.00 10.00*

“All Scripture” 2.00* 3.00*

Concordance 5.00 7.00*

Index (1930-85) 5.00* 7.00

Reasoning 1.00* 1.50*

Report Field Service Accurately

¹ Shortly now the new Yearbook will be coming out with the worldwide report for the 1988 service year. We eagerly look forward to receiving this publication so that we can read about the recent accomplishments in the preaching activity throughout the earth. (Isa. 60:22) Since all publishers contribute to this annual report, what can we individually do to ensure that it is accurate?

² At Matthew 24:14 we read of our commission to preach in the last days of this system. We can show our respect for Jehovah’s organizational arrangements and demonstrate our appreciation for the small part we have by conscientiously reporting our field service at the end of each month. Do you regularly and accurately report your service?

WHAT TO REPORT

³ Only whole hours should be reported to the congregation. An incomplete hour can be carried over by the publisher and be included in his report the following month. For the sake of accuracy, it is best to write down the time spent, literature placed, and the number of return visits made each time we go out in the field service. Then by simply totaling these figures at the end of the month, we will not have to estimate what was accomplished. The Field Service Report slip furnished by the congregation makes this record easy to keep.

⁴ Do not forget that a return visit should be counted each time you conduct a Bible study. At the end of the month, a Study Report slip for each Bible study conducted should be filled out and turned in along with your Field Service Report slip. After filling out each Study Report slip completely and accurately, the total number of different Bible studies conducted during the month should be written in the appropriate box at the lower right-hand corner of the Field Service Report slip.

⁵ It seems appropriate to include a reminder that your field service time should start when you begin your witness work and end when you finish your last call in each witnessing period. Thus, time taken for refreshments or meals during a break from field service would not be counted as field service activity. Those giving public talks may count the time actually spent delivering these. (See Our Ministry, page 104, paragraph 1.) By being conscientious in reporting our field service, we will all contribute to the accurate report that is published in the Yearbook.

⁶ Since the secretary has to send the congregation’s field service report to the Society by the sixth of the following month, it can easily be seen why it is important for each publisher to turn in his field service report promptly at the end of the month. Out of consideration for this arrangement, each publisher will want to follow this direction carefully. The secretary has only six days in which to gather all the reports together, total them, and mail the congregation’s report so that the Society receives it in time to include it with the field service activity of over 8,000 other congregations in this country.

⁷ Each publisher who willingly cooperates with the above organizational arrangements can have the satisfaction of knowing that he has contributed to making an accurate report on the worldwide activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Compare Ezekiel 9:11.) May all of us turn in field service reports that are accurate and on time!

Presenting the Good News​—With the Creation Book

¹ The evidence abounds that a Creator exists and that he is interested in his creation. (Rom. 1:20, 21) Our study of God’s Word has convinced us beyond any shadow of doubt that man got here by creation, not by evolution. (Rev. 4:11) During September we have the opportunity to direct the attention of others to the truth about creation as we offer the book Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation?

² In addition to our regular house-to-house ministry, we can offer the Creation book while engaging in street work and while witnessing informally. It is an attractive book that may well appeal to salesmen, businessmen, and others with whom we occasionally have dealings. Then there are those on our magazine route. Might they not enjoy reading this fine publication? There may also be people on whom we call or with whom we study who do not yet have this book but who would appreciate reading it.

³ Youths in the congregation, you have a territory of your own in which to share this excellent publication, and that territory is in school. Have you tried just carrying a copy of the Creation book with you to school? People who are curious may ask questions and give you the opportunity of showing them the book. If you carry one to school and leave it visible on your desk or read a portion of it in the lunchroom, you may find others asking how they might obtain a copy. Of course, outside of school hours, you could take the initiative and show others the book, talk to them about it, and offer them a copy for the regular contribution.

⁴ This is the season when the new school year starts. So all of us can be awake to opportunities of offering this publication to youths we may meet in service. When we meet parents at the door, after considering the Topic for Conversation, we can present the book and explain how helpful it will be for their children. Since evolution is taught in school, the book will help their children to understand what the Bible and true science have to say about creation.

⁵ There are many older people who do not believe in evolution and who may not be particularly interested in that subject. But usually they are concerned about the suffering they see in the world and may want to know whether there is any hope for the future. For such ones, we might highlight chapter 16 or 19.

⁶ If a householder raises questions about belief in the Bible, you can point out that chapters 17 and 18 will answer the questions “Can You Trust the Bible?” and “The Bible​—Is It Really Inspired by God?” The contents of these chapters may be just what he needs to restore his faith in the Bible as a book of truth.

⁷ We want as many people as possible to appreciate that Jehovah is the Creator. (Acts 17:24-28) So we do well to extend to everyone the opportunity to obtain and read Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation?

Hospital Information Services

You will be pleased to know that a new department, Hospital Information Services, is now functioning at Brooklyn. It will try to help you if it has not been possible for you or a nearby hospital committee to find a cooperative doctor or surgical team when needed. This would be when doctors you have contacted have refused to proceed with needed surgery or treatment unless you permit the use of blood transfusions.

It is not, however, a department for finding you a new family doctor because you have moved or your former doctor has retired or died. You can ask in your own congregation for the names of doctors the local brothers go to for general medical attention.

The new department also supervises the work of 96 hospital committees across the country. At present these committees are busy updating our list of helpful surgeons. They are also now visiting various hospitals to try to develop improved arrangements for treating Witness patients. (Compare Proverbs 17:17.) More information concerning the operation of this department and its service will be provided later.

Elders who make up the hospital committees sometimes have to make long-distance calls to various specialists and treatment centers in their efforts to aid a brother in finding a surgeon who will respect his stand on blood. Of course, when this is the case, the costs for these calls are obviously those of the patient, as are all other expenses of his illness and medical care.​—Rom. 13:8.

With you we pray that this new arrangement will prove to be a protection and help for our brothers.​—John 13:35.

Theocratic News

◆ Belize showed an 11-percent increase over last year’s average with a peak of 809 publishers in April. Memorial attendance of 4,057 was outstanding.

◆ Hawaii reached a new peak of 5,729 publishers in April. The dedication of their new branch facilities was held on April 3 with 8,715 in attendance.

◆ Papua New Guinea had a new peak of 2,013 publishers in April, their first time over the 2,000 mark.

Provision for Pioneers

Arrangements have been made for regular and special pioneers to meet with the circuit and district overseers on Friday afternoon of the week of the circuit assembly. This meeting is especially designed to encourage and assist the pioneers in their ministry. Details as to the time and place of the meeting in each circuit will be furnished by the circuit overseer.