1. How did Manoah respond to the news that he was going to become a father?

THE man’s wife could hardly have brought him more surprising news. After all, the couple was sure that the wife was infertile. However, Jehovah’s angel had appeared to her, and what had seemed impossible was true: Manoah and his wife were going to have a son! No doubt, Manoah was happy, but he was also aware of the great responsibility that rested on his shoulders. In a nation filled with badness, how could he and his wife successfully raise their son to serve God? Manoah “pleaded with Jehovah,” saying: “Please let the man of the true God [the angel] whom you just sent come again to instruct us about what we should do with the child who will be born.”​—Judg. 13:1-8.

2. What does training your child involve? (Include the box “Your Most Important Bible Students.”)

² If you are a parent, you can likely relate to Manoah’s earnest plea. You too bear the weighty responsibility of helping your child to come to know and love Jehovah. (Prov. 1:8) To that end, Christian parents arrange for a meaningful and progressive Family Worship program. Of course, to impress Bible truths on a child’s mind, you need to do more than conduct a weekly family study. (Read Deuteronomy 6:6-9.) How can you meet the challenge of inculcating the truth in your child? This article and the next will examine how parents can follow Jesus’ example. Though Jesus was not a father, parents can benefit from his way of teaching because he taught and trained his disciples with love, humility, and insight. Let us consider each of these qualities, one at a time.

LOVE YOUR CHILD

3. How did Jesus express love for his disciples?

³ Jesus did not hesitate to tell his disciples that he loved them. (Read John 15:9.) He also showed his love by closely and regularly associating with his disciples. (Mark 6:31, 32; John 2:2; 21:12, 13) Jesus was not “all business” with them. Thus, they did not have to wonder whether he truly loved them. How can you imitate Jesus’ way of teaching?

4. How can you convince your children that you love them? (See opening image.)

⁴ Tell your children that you love them, and regularly show them how much they mean to you. (Prov. 4:3; Titus 2:4) Samuel, who lives in Australia, says: “When I was very young, Dad used to read My Book of Bible Stories to me every evening. He would answer my questions, hug me, and kiss me good-night. What a surprise when I later discovered that Dad was not raised in a family where hugs and kisses were common! Yet, he made a real effort to express his love for me. As a result, I developed a strong bond with him, and I felt contented and secure.” Help your children to feel that way by often telling them “I love you.” Show your affection for your children. Talk with them, eat with them, play with them.

5, 6. (a) What does Jesus do for those whom he loves? (b) Explain how proper discipline helps children to feel secure and loved.

⁵ “All those for whom I have affection,” said Jesus, “I reprove and discipline.”a (Rev. 3:19) Although Jesus’ disciples repeatedly argued about who was the greatest among them, Jesus did not give up on them. He also did not ignore it when they failed to respond to his counsel. Lovingly and mildly, Jesus reproved them at a suitable time and place.​—Mark 9:33-37.

⁶ Show your love for your children by disciplining them. It is sometimes enough to explain why a certain course is right or wrong. At other times, a child may fail to apply what you say. (Prov. 22:15) When that happens, imitate Jesus. At a fitting time and place, discipline your child lovingly and mildly through patient guidance, training, and correction. “My parents were consistent in giving discipline,” says Elaine, a sister in South Africa. “If they warned me about the consequences of misbehaving, they would always follow through. But they never disciplined me in anger or without explaining why I was being disciplined. As a result, I felt secure. I knew my boundaries, and I understood what was required of me.”

DEMONSTRATE HUMILITY

7, 8. (a) How did Jesus show humility in his prayers? (b) How can your prayers teach your children to rely on God?

⁷ Imagine how Jesus’ disciples must have felt when they heard, or later learned about, one of his final prayers as a human: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want.”b (Mark 14:36) From Jesus’ pleading words, his followers undoubtedly learned that since the perfect Son of God humbly prayed for divine help, they should do the same.

⁸ What do your children learn from your prayers? True, you do not pray to Jehovah primarily to teach your children. Nevertheless, when you pray humbly in their presence, your children learn to rely on Jehovah. Ana, who lives in Brazil, states: “When there were problems, such as when my grandparents were ill, my parents would ask Jehovah to give them the strength to cope with the situation and the wisdom to make good decisions. Even when under terrible pressure, they left their problems in Jehovah’s hands. As a result, I learned to rely on Jehovah.” When you pray with your children, do not pray just for them. Ask Jehovah to help you too​—perhaps to help you speak to your employer about getting time off for a convention, to give you courage to witness to your neighbor, or to help you in other ways. Humbly rely on God, and your children will learn to do so too.

9. (a) How did Jesus teach his disciples to serve others humbly? (b) If you are willing to serve others, what will your children learn?

⁹ By word and example, Jesus trained his disciples to serve others humbly. (Read Luke 22:27.) He taught his apostles to be self-sacrificing in Jehovah’s service and in dealing with fellow believers. Through your example of humble self-sacrifice, you can teach your children the same lesson. “I never felt jealous because of the time my husband spent with others as an elder,” says Debbie, a mother of two. “I knew that whenever our family needed my husband’s attention, he would give it to us.” (1 Tim. 3:4, 5) Her husband, Pranas, adds: “Later, our children were keen to be involved at assemblies and on theocratic projects. They flourished, made friends, and felt that they belonged!” The entire family now serves Jehovah in the full-time ministry. By the way you demonstrate humility and self-sacrifice, your children are likely to learn how to serve others.

SHOW INSIGHT

10. When a crowd came to see Jesus, how did he show insight?

¹⁰ Jesus showed insight by looking beyond the obvious and discerning why people acted in a certain way. On one occasion, some of his listeners in Galilee appeared eager to follow him. (John 6:22-24) But Jesus, who could read hearts, discerned that the people were more interested in physical food than in what he taught. (John 2:25) He saw what was wrong, patiently corrected them, and explained how they could improve.​—Read John 6:25-27.

11. (a) Give an example that shows how insight can help you determine whether your child enjoys the ministry. (b) How can you make the ministry interesting and rewarding for your child?

¹¹ Although you cannot read hearts, you too can show insight and learn how your child feels about the field ministry. Many parents include short breaks during field service to allow their children to rest and enjoy some refreshments. Yet, you might look beyond the obvious and ask yourself, ‘Does my child enjoy the ministry or only the breaks?’ If you discern that the ministry could be more interesting or more rewarding for your children, set goals with them. Use creativity to help them to have a full share as your preaching companions.

12. (a) How did Jesus insightfully warn his followers about moral uncleanness? (b) How did Jesus’ warning prove to be timely?

¹² Jesus also showed insight by identifying missteps that lead to sin. For example, his followers knew that sexual immorality is wrong. But Jesus warned them about the steps leading to immorality, saying: “Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you.” (Matt. 5:27-29) Those words were very timely for Christians living under Roman rule. At Roman stage plays, “eye and ear alike saw and heard indecencies,” wrote one historian, “and the lewdest scenes were the most applauded.” How loving and insightful of Jesus to warn his disciples about things that would make it hard to stay morally clean!

13, 14. How can you protect your children from unclean entertainment?

¹³ Insight can help you to protect your children from spiritual harm. Today, children may be exposed to pornography and other immoral material at a younger age than ever before. Of course, Christian parents tell their children that unclean entertainment is wrong. However, insight will also help you to understand how your child might become curious about pornography. Ask yourself: ‘What may tempt my child to look at pornography? Does he know why it is so dangerous? Am I approachable so that he will come to me for help if he is ever tempted to look at pornography?’ Even while your children are quite young, you could say to them: “If you ever come across an immoral website and you feel tempted to look at it, please come and talk to me. You don’t have to be ashamed. I want to help you.”

¹⁴ Insight will also help you to choose your own entertainment prudently. “What we as parents approve of in the way of music, movies, or books sets the tone for the family,” says Pranas, quoted earlier. “You can say a lot about a lot of things, but your children will watch what you do and imitate you.” If your children see you carefully choosing clean entertainment, they will probably be moved to make similar choices.​—Rom. 2:21-24.

THE TRUE GOD WILL LISTEN TO YOU

15, 16. (a) Why can you be sure that God will help you to train your children? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

¹⁵ What happened when Manoah asked for help to raise his son? “The true God listened to Manoah.” (Judg. 13:9) Parents, Jehovah will listen to you too. He will answer your prayers and help you to train your children. You can succeed in doing so with love, humility, and insight.

¹⁶ Just as Jehovah helps parents to train their young children successfully, so he can help parents to train their adolescent children. The next article will examine how you can imitate Jesus’ love, humility, and insight as you train your teenager to serve Jehovah.

1, 2. (a) What concerns do some parents have when their children become teenagers? (b) In what ways can Christian youths thrive during adolescence?

CHRISTIAN parents have few joys like that of watching their child get baptized. “It was a highly emotional experience for us. We were, of course, grateful that our children wanted to serve Jehovah,” says Berenice, whose four children were baptized before they turned 14. “But,” she adds, “we also knew that as teenagers our children would face many challenges.” You may understand Berenice’s concern if your child is a teenager or is approaching adolescence.

² While acknowledging that adolescence can be challenging for parents and teenagers alike, one expert on child development states: “Adolescence is not a period of being ‘crazy’ or ‘immature.’ It is an essential time of emotional intensity, social engagement, and creativity.” While they are teenagers, your children can develop a more meaningful friendship with Jehovah, set and pursue goals in the ministry, and use more initiative as they make their dedication and live up to it. They may find adolescence to be a rewarding time of spiritual growth, even as Jesus did when he was young. (Read Luke 2:52.) What role do you as a parent play during those crucial years? Consider how Jesus, after he grew into adulthood, manifested love, humility, and insight. How can these qualities help you to train your teenager to serve Jehovah?

LOVE YOUR TEENAGER

3. Why could Jesus call his apostles his friends?

³ Jesus was a loving and loyal friend. (Read John 15:15.) In Bible times, a master did not normally share his private thoughts and feelings with his slaves. However, Jesus proved to be both master and friend to his faithful apostles. He spent time with them, shared his feelings with them, and carefully listened when they poured out their hearts to him. (Mark 6:30-32) Such loving communication created a warm bond between Jesus and his apostles and prepared them for future responsibilities in God’s service.

4. How can you be a friend to your child while still maintaining your parental authority? (See opening image.)

⁴ “While we as parents can’t be our children’s peers,” says Michael, a father of two, “we can be their friends.” Friends spend time together. Prayerfully consider whether you can adjust your secular work or other pursuits to spend more time with your children. Friends also share common interests. Therefore, make an effort to enjoy things that your teenager enjoys​—his favorite music, films, or sports. Ilaria, who lives in Italy, says: “My parents took an interest in the music I listened to. In fact, my dad became my best friend, and I felt free to talk to him about even delicate matters.” When you are a friend to your teenage children and help them to enjoy “close friendship with Jehovah,” you do not relinquish your authority as a parent. (Ps. 25:14) On the contrary, you show that you love and respect them, and you become more approachable. In turn, they are more likely to share their concerns with you.

5. How did Jesus help his disciples to experience the joy that comes from a busy life in Jehovah’s service?

⁵ Jesus wanted his beloved disciples and friends to experience the joy that comes from a busy life in Jehovah’s service. Therefore, he desired that they zealously participate in spiritual activities. Indeed, Jesus wanted them to be ardent disciple-makers! And he lovingly assured his disciples that he would help them to succeed.​—Matt. 28:19, 20.

6, 7. Why is it loving for parents to establish and maintain a spiritual routine for their children?

⁶ You want your teenage children to remain spiritually healthy. And God wants you to bring your children up “in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah.” (Eph. 6:4) So use your God-given responsibility to establish and maintain a spiritual routine. To illustrate: You insist that your children be educated because their education is important and you hope to instill in them a love for learning. Loving parents likewise insist that their children benefit from the “admonition of Jehovah” at congregation meetings and through other spiritual programs. Because divine education is vital, you try to instill in your children love for spiritual things and appreciation for wisdom. (Prov. 24:14) As Jesus helped his disciples, you seek to help your teenage children to succeed in the ministry by developing in them a love of teaching God’s Word and by helping them stick to a good field service routine.

⁷ How can a consistent spiritual routine help teenagers? Erin, who lives in South Africa, admits: “We children often whined and complained about Bible study, meetings, and field service. Sometimes we deliberately disrupted our family study to try to get out of it. But our parents didn’t give in.” She adds: “That training helped me to develop perseverance. If my spiritual routine gets disrupted now, I have a longing to return to it as quickly as possible. I don’t think I would have developed that longing had our parents not been firm in maintaining a spiritual routine. Had they given in, I am quite sure I would now find it much easier to miss meetings or other spiritual activities.”

TEACH HUMILITY BY YOUR EXAMPLE

8. (a) How did Jesus acknowledge his limitations? (b) How did Jesus’ humility affect his disciples?

⁸ Though Jesus was a perfect man, he humbly acknowledged his limitations and reliance on Jehovah. (Read John 5:19.) Did Jesus’ humility weaken his disciples’ respect for him? Not at all. In fact, the more he relied on Jehovah, the more his disciples trusted him. Later, they imitated Jesus’ humility.​—Acts 3:12, 13, 16.

9. When you humbly apologize and acknowledge your limitations, how may this affect your teenage children?

⁹ We have many limitations, and unlike Jesus, we are imperfect and make mistakes. Humbly acknowledge your limitations and admit your mistakes. (1 John 1:8) After all, whom do you respect more? A boss who admits when he is wrong or one who does not apologize? When your teenager hears you apologize for your mistakes, his respect for you is likely increased. He may also learn to admit his own errors. “We admitted our mistakes, and that moved our children to open up to us when they had a problem,” says Rosemary, a mother of three grown children. “We realized our limitations, so we taught our children where to find the best solutions to their problems. When they needed help, we always referred them to our Bible-based literature, and we prayed together.”

10. How did Jesus show humility when commanding his followers?

¹⁰ Jesus had the authority to issue commands to his followers. Humbly, though, he often gave reasons for a command. For example, he did not just tell his followers to seek first the Kingdom and God’s righteousness but said: “And all these other things will be added to you.” After saying, “Stop judging,” Jesus gave this reason: “That you may not be judged; for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged.”​—Matt. 6:31–7:2.

11. When appropriate, why is it wise to explain the reasons for a parental rule or decision?

¹¹ When appropriate, explain the reasons behind a rule or a decision you make. If a teenager understands your thinking on the matter, he is more likely to obey you from a willing heart. “Giving reasons helps teenagers to trust you because they see that your decisions are not arbitrary or capricious but reasonable,” says Barry, who raised four children. A teenager is also maturing into an adult with his own “power of reason.” (Rom. 12:1) Barry explains: “Teenagers need to learn to make sensible decisions based on reason rather than emotion.” (Ps. 119:34) When you humbly give reasons for your decisions, your adolescent can sense that you recognize that he is progressing toward maturity, and he learns to make his own decisions with his “power of reason.”

SHOW INSIGHT, AND UNDERSTAND YOUR TEENAGER

12. How did Jesus use insight to help Peter?

¹² Jesus showed insight and understood where his disciples needed help. For instance, the apostle Peter meant well when he urged Jesus to be kind to himself in order not to be killed. Jesus, however, knew that Peter’s comment reflected faulty thinking. To help him and the other disciples, Jesus gave frank counsel, stated the consequences of a self-sparing attitude, and outlined the blessings of a self-sacrificing spirit. (Matt. 16:21-27) Peter learned the lesson.​—1 Pet. 2:20, 21.

13, 14. (a) What may indicate that your teen’s faith is wavering? (b) How can you use insight to understand and really help your son or daughter?

¹³ Pray to Jehovah to give you insight so that you can understand where your teenager needs help. (Ps. 32:8) For example, what might indicate that your child’s faith is wavering? Perhaps his joy is waning, he is speaking critically of fellow believers, or he has become secretive. Do not hastily conclude that these are signs of a double life involving serious sin.a On the other hand, do not ignore such signs or dismiss your teenager’s isolation as a mere phase.

¹⁴ Like Jesus, ask questions kindly and respectfully. As drawing a bucket of water out of a well too quickly will cause you to lose some of the water, confronting your teen too forcefully may make you squander a valuable opportunity to learn his thoughts and intentions. (Read Proverbs 20:5.) Ilaria, quoted earlier, states: “During my adolescence, I became torn between walking in the truth and spending more time with my classmates. This inward battle affected my mood, and my parents detected that. One evening, they simply mentioned that they had noticed that I was a bit down, and they asked me what the problem was. I burst into tears, explained the situation, and asked for help. They hugged me, told me that they understood, and promised to help me.” Ilaria’s parents immediately began assisting her to forge new and better friendships in the congregation.

15. Explain how Jesus showed insight when dealing with others.

¹⁵ Jesus also showed insight by seeing where his disciples needed help and where they excelled. For instance, when a man named Nathanael heard that Jesus had come from Nazareth, he said: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) Based on that comment, how might you have labeled Nathanael? Critical? Prejudiced? Faithless? Jesus exercised insight and looked for the good in Nathanael. Jesus called him “truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” (John 1:47) Jesus could read hearts, and he used that ability to look for the good in others.

16. How can you help your teenager to develop good qualities?

¹⁶ You cannot read hearts, but with God’s help you can exercise insight. Will you use that ability to look for the good in your teenager? No one wants to be labeled a “troublemaker.” In thought or word, never label your son or daughter a “rebellious teenager” or a “problem child.” Even if your teen is struggling, let him know that you see his potential and heartfelt desire to do what is right. Note any signs of growth and progress, and commend him. Help him to develop his good qualities by giving him increased responsibility when possible. Jesus did that with his disciples. About a year and a half after meeting Nathanael (also called Bartholomew), Jesus selected him as an apostle, and Nathanael proved to be a zealous Christian. (Luke 6:13, 14; Acts 1:13, 14) Your commendation and encouragement will help your child to feel that he is, not someone who always fails to measure up, but a capable Christian whom Jehovah can use.

TRAINING THAT REAPS INDESCRIBABLE JOY

17, 18. Your persistent efforts to help your teenager to serve Jehovah can lead to what outcome?

¹⁷ As you raise your children, you may sometimes feel as did the apostle Paul, who became a spiritual father to many. He experienced “tribulation and anguish of heart” because of “the depth of love” he had for his spiritual children in Corinth. (2 Cor. 2:4; 1 Cor. 4:15) Victor, who raised two sons and a daughter, says: “The teenage years were not easy. Yet, the good times outweighed the challenges we faced. With Jehovah’s help, we enjoyed a close friendship with our children.”

¹⁸ Keep working tirelessly to train your children to serve Jehovah. As you show the depth of your love for them, may you experience the indescribable joy of seeing them come into the truth and remain in the ranks of spiritual children who “go on walking in the truth.”​—3 John 4.

What evidence is there that the ancient city of Jericho was conquered without a long siege?

According to Joshua 6:10-15, 20, Israelite forces marched around Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they went around the city seven times, and God caused Jericho’s formidable walls to fall. This allowed the Israelites to enter Jericho and conquer it. Does archaeological evidence corroborate what the Bible says about the short siege of Jericho?

In ancient times, it was common for attackers to besiege a fortified city. Regardless of how long a successful siege lasted, the victors would plunder the city’s riches, including any remaining provisions. In Jericho’s ruins, however, archaeologists found large supplies of food. In this regard, Biblical Archaeology Review states: “The most abundant item found in the destruction, apart from pottery, was grain. . . . This is unique in the annals of Palestinian archaeology. Perhaps a jar or two might be found, but to find such an extensive amount of grain is exceptional.”

According to the Scriptural account, the Israelites had good reason not to plunder Jericho’s grain. Jehovah had commanded them not to do so. (Josh. 6:17, 18) The Israelites attacked in the spring of the year, just after harvesttime when grain supplies were abundant. (Josh. 3:15-17; 5:10) The fact that much grain remained in Jericho indicates that the Israelite siege was of short duration, just as the Bible describes it.

JEHOVAH is a generous God. (Jas. 1:17) From the dark expanse of the starry heavens to the verdant blanket covering the earth, Jehovah’s creation sings of his generosity.​—Ps. 65:12, 13; 147:7, 8; 148:3, 4.

The psalmist’s appreciation for his Creator was so deep that he was moved to compose a song extolling the works of Jehovah. Read Psalm 104, and see if you do not share his sentiments. The psalmist said: “I will sing to Jehovah throughout my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.” (Ps. 104:33) Is that your desire too?

SUPERLATIVE EXAMPLE OF GENEROSITY

Jehovah wants us to follow his example of being generous. He also provides sound reasons for us to be generous. Note what he inspired the apostle Paul to write: “Instruct those who are rich in the present system of things not to be arrogant, and to place their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all the things we enjoy. Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life.”​—1 Tim. 6:17-19.

When Paul wrote his second inspired letter to the congregation in Corinth, he emphasized the proper attitude to have toward giving. “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart,” said Paul, “not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7) Next, Paul mentioned those who benefit from generous giving: the recipients, whose needs are satisfied; and the donors, who are enriched by spiritual blessings.​—2 Cor. 9:11-14.

Paul concluded this section of his letter by referring to the strongest evidence of God’s generosity. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable free gift,” wrote Paul. (2 Cor. 9:15) Jehovah’s gift evidently includes the sum total of all the goodness that God extends to his people through Jesus Christ. It is so lofty that words cannot fully describe its value.

How can we show appreciation for all that Jehovah and his Son have done and will yet do for us? One way is by being generous in the giving of our time, energy, and resources to advance the pure worship of Jehovah, whether it is a small amount or a greater portion.​—1 Chron. 22:14; 29:3-5; Luke 21:1-4.

1. What is God’s dominant quality, and how does knowing this make you feel about him?

JEHOVAH’S inspired written Word, the Bible, tells us that “God is love.” It says not merely that love is one of his many admirable qualities but that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) It is his dominant quality, his most important one. Jehovah does not just possess love​—he is the personification of it. How wonderful it is to know that the Creator of the universe and of all living things is a God of love! Everything he does is guided by that quality.

2. Of what does God’s love assure us? (See opening image.)

² The warm, benevolent affection that God has for his creatures assures us that all his purposes for the human family will be fulfilled in the best possible way and will result in the greatest benefit to all who come under his rulership. For example, out of love Jehovah “has set a day on which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed,” Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:31) We can be confident that this will come to pass. For rightly disposed and obedient humans, favorable judgment will result in a truly blessed future that will go on and on throughout all eternity.

WHAT HISTORY HAS DEMONSTRATED

3. What do you think life would be like if God did not love mankind?

³ Imagine what life would be like if God did not have love for mankind. We merely have to look at the awful history of this world with its human rulerships under its unloving and wrathful god, Satan the Devil. (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19; read Revelation 12:9, 12.) This shows us how horrible the future would be if the universe were to function without the operation of God’s love.

4. Why did Jehovah permit rebellion against his righteous rule?

⁴ When rebelling against Jehovah’s rule, the Devil influenced the first human pair to do the same. He challenged the rightfulness and righteousness of God’s universal sovereignty. In effect, Satan claimed that his rule would be better than that of the Creator. (Gen. 3:1-5) Though Jehovah permitted Satan to try to prove his side of the issue, such permission was temporary. In his great wisdom, Jehovah has allowed enough time to pass to expose very clearly the inadequacy of any rule other than his. The miserable record of mankind shows that neither humans nor Satan can provide what we need in the way of good rulership.

5. What has mankind’s history clearly demonstrated?

⁵ Just in the past 100 years, over 100 million people have been killed in the wars of the nations. Today, world conditions keep getting worse. This is just what God’s Word foretold would happen in “the last days” of the present system of things when “wicked men and impostors [would] advance from bad to worse.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 13) History has demonstrated beyond any doubt the truthfulness of what the Bible says: “I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jer. 10:23) No, Jehovah did not create humans with the ability or the right to direct their affairs independent of him.

6. What purpose is served by God’s temporary permission of wickedness?

⁶ In addition to showing how futile human rule is, God’s temporary permission of wickedness serves another long-range purpose. It provides permanent testimony that only God’s rule can be successful. After Jehovah destroys wickedness and those who cause it, if anyone ever again would challenge Jehovah’s way of ruling in love, there would be no need for God to permit the challenge to stand. He could use what has happened in mankind’s history as the just reason to remove such rebels quickly, not allowing them to establish wickedness once again.

JEHOVAH’S LOVE ALREADY SHOWN

7, 8. What are some of the many ways in which Jehovah has displayed his great love?

⁷ Jehovah’s great love has been displayed in many ways. For example, note the magnificence of the universe. There are billions of galaxies, each containing many billions of stars and planets. In our own Milky Way galaxy, one of those stars is our sun, without which the multitude of life forms on earth would not exist. All these creations give evidence of Jehovah’s Godship and of his qualities, such as his power, wisdom, and love. Yes, God’s “invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship.”​—Rom. 1:20.

⁸ On earth, Jehovah created everything for the benefit of his creatures designed for earthly life. For humans, he made a beautiful paradise garden and gave them perfect minds and bodies capable of living forever. (Read Revelation 4:11.) Moreover, “he gives food to every living thing, for his loyal love endures forever.”​—Ps. 136:25.

9. Besides love, what does Jehovah’s personality at times allow for, and why?

⁹ While Jehovah reveals himself as the God of love, he also expresses hatred for what is bad. For example, Psalm 5:4-6 says of Jehovah: “You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness . . . You hate all those who behave wickedly.” And it adds: “Jehovah detests violent and deceptive people.”

SOON​—THE END OF WICKEDNESS

10, 11. (a) How will Jehovah deal with wicked people? (b) How will Jehovah reward rightly disposed people?

¹⁰ Because he is a God of love and he hates wickedness, Jehovah has purposed to rid the earth​—as well as the rest of the universe—​of evil when the issue regarding rulership is settled to his satisfaction. God’s Word promises: “Evil men will be done away with, but those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth. Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more . . . The enemies of Jehovah will vanish like glorious pastures; they will vanish like smoke.”​—Ps. 37:9, 10, 20.

¹¹ On the other hand, God’s Word also promises: “The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.” (Ps. 37:29) Such upright ones “will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” (Ps. 37:11) This will come to pass because our loving God always does what is in the best interests of his faithful servants. The Bible tells us: “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4) What a marvelous future awaits all of us who truly appreciate Jehovah’s love and obey him as our Ruler!

12. Who can be viewed as “the blameless one”?

¹² Jehovah’s Word tells us: “Take note of the blameless one, and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful. But all the transgressors will be destroyed; the future of wicked people will be cut off.” (Ps. 37:37, 38) “The blameless one” comes to know Jehovah and his Son and obediently does God’s will. (Read John 17:3.) Such a person takes seriously the words of 1 John 2:17: “The world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.” As the world’s end draws near, it is urgent that we “hope in Jehovah and follow his way.”​—Ps. 37:34.

GOD’S GREAT ACT OF LOVE

13. What great act of love has Jehovah performed in behalf of sinners?

¹³ Although we are imperfect, we can ‘follow Jehovah’s way.’ We can also have a close personal relationship with Jehovah because of his great act of love. He provided the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, opening the way for obedient humans to be freed from sin and death inherited from Adam. (Read Romans 5:12; 6:23.) Jehovah had complete confidence in his only-begotten Son, who had been faithful to him in heaven for countless ages. As a loving Father, God was no doubt pained at the unrighteous treatment that Jesus received while on earth. However, Jesus faithfully upheld God’s sovereignty and demonstrated that a perfect human can maintain integrity to Jehovah under the most trying of circumstances.

14, 15. What was accomplished by Jesus’ death?

¹⁴ Jesus maintained his integrity and upheld Jehovah’s sovereignty under the severest of tests, dying as a faithful servant of his Father. How grateful we should be that by his death, Jesus also paid the ransom price needed to redeem mankind and open the way to everlasting life in God’s promised new world! The apostle Paul showed what a loving act that was on the part of both Jehovah and Jesus by stating: “Indeed, while we were still weak, Christ died for ungodly men at the appointed time. For hardly would anyone die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone may dare to die. But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6-8) The apostle John wrote: “By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins.”​—1 John 4:9, 10.

¹⁵ Regarding God’s love for humankind, Jesus said: “God loved the world [of redeemable mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God’s love for humans is so great that he does not withhold good from them regardless of the cost to himself. His love is everlasting. We will always be able to count on it. “I am convinced,” wrote Paul, “that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”​—Rom. 8:38, 39.

KINGDOM RULERSHIP NOW IN ACTION

16. What is the Messianic Kingdom, and to whom has Jehovah entrusted Kingdom rulership?

¹⁶ God’s love for mankind is evident in the arrangement he has made for the Messianic Kingdom. Jehovah has already placed this government in the hands of his Son, who loves mankind and is superbly qualified to rule. (Prov. 8:31) At their resurrection, Jesus’ 144,000 heavenly joint heirs take with them the experience of human life. (Rev. 14:1) The Kingdom was the main theme of Jesus’ teaching, and he taught his disciples to pray: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth.” (Matt. 6:9, 10) What blessings the fulfillment of such prayers will bring to obedient mankind!

17. Contrast the rulership of Jesus with that of sinful human rulers.

¹⁷ What a contrast there is between Jesus’ loving heavenly kingship and the rulership by humans who have led many millions of people to their death in warfare! Jesus truly cares for his subjects and reflects God’s marvelous qualities, especially love. (Rev. 7:10, 16, 17) “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you,” said Jesus. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for yourselves. For my yoke is kindly, and my load is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30) What loving assurance that is!

18. (a) What has God’s Kingdom been doing since its establishment? (b) What will we consider in the next article?

¹⁸ Bible prophecy shows that God’s heavenly Kingdom was established when Christ’s presence began in 1914. Since then, there has been a gathering of the remaining ones who will rule with Jesus in heaven as well as of “a great crowd” of people who will survive this system’s end and be ushered into the new world. (Rev. 7:9, 13, 14) How large is the great crowd now? What is required of those making up this group? The next article will examine such questions.

1, 2. How do the Scriptures show the importance of love?

LOVE is Jehovah God’s dominant quality. (1 John 4:16) His first creation was Jesus, who existed with him in heaven for many aeons and learned God’s loving ways. (Col. 1:15) By his entire course, including his life on earth, Jesus showed that he fully understands what a loving God Jehovah is, and he imitates that love. Thus, we can be confident that the rulership exercised by Jehovah and Jesus will forever be guided by the quality of love.

² When asked which was the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus stated: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’”​—Matt. 22:37-39.

3. Who is our “neighbor”?

³ Notice that Jesus placed love of neighbor second only to love of Jehovah. This shows how important it is to display love in all our relationships. But who is our “neighbor”? If we are married, our closest neighbor is our marriage mate. Also close to us are those who make up the Christian congregation, that is, fellow worshippers of the true God. Others are the individuals whom we meet in the ministry. How is love for neighbor to be demonstrated by those who worship Jehovah and follow the teachings of his Son?

SHOWING LOVE FOR OUR MARRIAGE MATE

4. Why can marriage be successful despite human imperfection?

⁴ Jehovah performed the first marriage by creating Adam and Eve and bringing them together. He purposed for them to have a happy, enduring union and to fill the earth with their offspring. (Gen. 1:27, 28) However, rebellion against Jehovah’s sovereignty marred the first marriage and brought sin and death to all mankind. (Rom. 5:12) Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us how we can succeed in marriage. They contain the very best counsel on this subject because they originate with Jehovah, the Originator of marriage.​—Read 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

5. How important is love in a marriage?

⁵ God’s Word shows that love​—warm personal attachment or deep affection—​is essential for humans to enjoy happy relationships. This is certainly true in marriage. In words directed to the congregation, the apostle Paul said: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:4-8) Reflecting on and applying such inspired words will surely increase the joys of marriage.

6, 7. (a) What does the Bible say about headship? (b) How must a Christian husband treat his wife?

⁶ Because of the headship principle that exists throughout God’s arrangement of things, love is especially important. Paul explained: “I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn, the head of a woman is the man; in turn, the head of the Christ is God.” (1 Cor. 11:3) But headship is not to be exercised in a domineering way. For example, Jehovah exercises his headship over Christ in a kind, unselfish way, and Jesus responds to it. He appreciates God’s loving headship, for he declared: “I love the Father.” (John 14:31) It is unlikely that Jesus would have felt that way had Jehovah been harsh or dictatorial in his dealings with his beloved Son.

⁷ Although a husband is the head of his wife, the Bible instructs him to ‘assign her honor.’ (1 Pet. 3:7) One way husbands can honor their wives is by taking into consideration their needs and giving them first choice in some matters. Indeed, God’s Word states: “Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself up for it.” (Eph. 5:25) Yes, Jesus even gave his life for his followers. When a husband imitates the loving way in which Jesus exercises headship, it is much easier for a wife to love and respect him and be in subjection to him.​—Read Titus 2:3-5.

HAVE LOVE FOR FELLOW WORSHIPPERS

8. How should worshippers of Jehovah view fellow Christians?

⁸ Throughout the earth, there are millions who worship Jehovah and bear witness to his name and purpose. How should each worshipper of Jehovah view his fellow Witnesses? God’s Word answers: “Let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.” (Gal. 6:10; read Romans 12:10.) The apostle Peter wrote: “Now that you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart.” Peter also told fellow believers: “Above all things, have intense love for one another.”​—1 Pet. 1:22; 4:8.

9, 10. Why do God’s people have unity among themselves?

⁹ Because we have intense love for our fellow servants of Jehovah, we make up a unique worldwide organization. Moreover, because we love Jehovah and obey his laws, he supports us with the most powerful force in the universe, his holy spirit, or active force. This enables us to enjoy wonderful unity as a truly international brotherhood.​—Read 1 John 4:20, 21.

¹⁰ Highlighting the need for love among Christians, Paul wrote: “Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.” (Col. 3:12-14) How thankful we are that love​—“a perfect bond of union”—​prevails among us regardless of our background or national origin!

11. How do love and unity identify Jehovah’s organization?

¹¹ Genuine love and unity identify Jehovah’s servants as the ones who practice the true religion, for Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples​—if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:34, 35) And the apostle John wrote: “The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Whoever does not practice righteousness does not originate with God, nor does the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:10, 11) Love that results in extraordinary unity marks Jehovah’s Witnesses as Christ’s true followers, the ones whom God is using to serve his purpose to have the good news of the Kingdom preached in all the inhabited earth.​—Matt. 24:14.

GATHERING “A GREAT CROWD”

12, 13. What is the “great crowd” now doing, and what will its members soon experience?

¹² The vast majority of Jehovah’s servants are part of “a great crowd . . . out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.” They are “standing before the throne [of God] and before the Lamb [Jesus Christ].” Who are they? “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” for they exercise faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Members of the growing “great crowd” love Jehovah and his Son and “are rendering [God] sacred service day and night.”​—Rev. 7:9, 14, 15.

¹³ Soon God will destroy this wicked world in the “great tribulation.” (Matt. 24:21; read Jeremiah 25:32, 33.) But because of his love for his servants, Jehovah will preserve them as a group and will usher them into his new world. As foretold nearly 2,000 years ago, God “will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” Do you yearn to live in Paradise after “the former things have passed away”?​—Rev. 21:4.

14. How large has the great crowd become?

¹⁴ When the last days began in 1914, there were only a few thousand servants of Jehovah worldwide. Motivated by love for neighbor, and with the backing of God’s spirit, a small remnant of anointed Christians persevered in the Kingdom-preaching work. As a result, today a great crowd with an earthly hope is being gathered. Our ranks have grown to about 8,000,000 Witnesses associated with more than 115,400 congregations throughout the earth, and we continue to grow in number. For example, over 275,500 new Witnesses were baptized during the 2014 service year​—an average of some 5,300 each week.

15. Describe the scope of the Kingdom-preaching work that is now being done.

¹⁵ The scope of the preaching work is remarkable. Our Bible-based literature is now published in over 700 languages. The Watchtower is the most widely distributed magazine in the world. Over 52,000,000 copies are printed each month, and the magazine is published in 247 languages. Upwards of 200,000,000 copies of our Bible study book What Does the Bible Really Teach? have been printed in more than 250 languages.

16. What accounts for the spiritual prosperity of the earthly part of Jehovah’s organization?

¹⁶ The remarkable growth that we see today is the result of our faith in God and full acceptance of the Bible​—Jehovah’s miraculously inspired Word. (1 Thess. 2:13) Especially outstanding is the spiritual prosperity of Jehovah’s people​—despite the hatred and opposition of Satan, “the god of this system of things.”​—2 Cor. 4:4.

ALWAYS SHOW LOVE FOR OTHERS

17, 18. What attitude should God’s servants have toward unbelievers?

¹⁷ What attitude is required of Jehovah’s servants toward those who do not worship the only true God? In our preaching work, we meet with varied responses​—some favorable, some hostile. Regardless of how people react, however, God’s Word shows the standard that his servants must maintain. It states: “Let your words always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person.” (Col. 4:6) When we make a defense before everyone who demands of us a reason for our hope, we do so “with a mild temper and deep respect” because we are motivated by neighbor love.​—1 Pet. 3:15.

¹⁸ We show love of neighbor even if our message is rejected by an angry householder who berates us. We imitate Jesus: “When he was being insulted, he did not insult in return. When he was suffering, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the One [Jehovah] who judges righteously.” (1 Pet. 2:23) Whether we are with fellow believers or others, we show humility and apply the counsel: “Do not pay back injury for injury or insult for insult. Instead, repay with a blessing.”​—1 Pet. 3:8, 9.

19. What principle did Jesus give regarding opposers?

¹⁹ By maintaining a humble attitude, Jehovah’s people obey an important principle given by Jesus. In his Sermon on the Mount, he declared: “You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:43-45) Yes, as God’s servants, we must learn to ‘love our enemies,’ regardless of their attitude toward us.

20. Why will love of God and neighbor permeate the new world? (See opening image.)

²⁰ In all areas of life, Jehovah’s people must show by their attitude and actions that they love Jehovah and their neighbor. For instance, even if some do not respond favorably to the Kingdom message, we show neighbor love when they are in need. The apostle Paul wrote: “Do not owe anything to anyone except to love one another; for whoever loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. For the law code, ‘You must not commit adultery, you must not murder, you must not steal, you must not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this saying: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor; therefore, love is the law’s fulfillment.” (Rom. 13:8-10) As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we show genuine love in this disunited, violent, wicked world that is under Satan’s control. (1 John 5:19) Surely, love will dominate every activity on earth in the new world after Satan, his demons, and rebellious humans have been removed from the scene. What a blessing it will be when all inhabitants of the earth love God and their neighbor!

1. How important was the preaching work to Jesus? Explain.

JESUS loved to talk about God’s Kingdom. According to the Bible record, he spoke more about the Kingdom than about any other subject​—referring to it more than 100 times during his ministry. The Kingdom was truly dear to his heart.​—Read Matthew 12:34.

2. How many may have been present when the commission at Matthew 28:19, 20 was given, and why can we draw that conclusion?

² Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus met with more than 500 prospective Kingdom proclaimers. (1 Cor. 15:6) Perhaps it was on that occasion that he gave the command to take the Kingdom message to “people of all the nations”​—a daunting task back then!a This great work, Jesus foretold, would be carried on right up to “the conclusion of the system of things,” and that has proved to be the case. Quite likely you are having a share in the fulfillment of that commission and prophecy.​—Matt. 28:19, 20.

3. In what three areas have we been well-equipped to carry out the commission to preach the good news?

³ After giving the commission to preach, Jesus promised his followers: “I am with you.” (Matt. 28:20) So this vast preaching work would be carried out under his direction. And our God has equipped us with “every good thing” to help us fulfill that commission. (Heb. 13:20, 21) In this article, we will consider three of these good things: (1) the tools we have been given, (2) the methods we have used, and (3) the training we have received. First, consider some of the tools we have used during the past 100 years.

THE KING EQUIPS HIS SERVANTS TO PREACH

4. Why have we used a variety of tools in our preaching work?

⁴ Jesus compared “the word of the Kingdom” to seed that is sown on various types of soil. (Matt. 13:18, 19) A gardener may use a variety of tools to prepare his garden to receive seed. Similarly, over the years our King has given us tools to use to help prepare the hearts of millions to receive the Kingdom message. Some tools were useful for perhaps a decade or so, while others have proved to be of timeless value. But all these tools have allowed us to develop our skills as evangelizers in some way.

5. What was a testimony card, and how was it used?

⁵ One tool that helped many get started in the ministry was the testimony card, which Kingdom publishers began using in 1933. The card was about three by five inches (7.6 by 12.7 cm) in size and contained a brief Bible message. From time to time, a new card containing a new message was issued. The presentation was simple! C. W. Erlenmeyer was about ten years old when he first engaged in this form of witnessing. He explained: “The standard introduction was, ‘Would you please read this card?’ After the householder read the card, we would present the literature and be on our way.”

6. What practical purpose did the testimony card serve?

⁶ The testimony card was helpful in more ways than one. Although having a strong desire to share in the preaching work, some publishers were shy and did not know what to say. Others had plenty to say. They would tell the householder everything they knew in just a few minutes, but their presentation was not always tactful! In contrast, in a few concise, well-chosen words, the testimony card “did the talking” for the publisher.

7. What challenges did some face in using the card?

⁷ There were challenges, of course. Grace A. Estep, a longtime Witness, recalled: “At times, we would be asked, ‘Well, what does it say? Can’t you just tell me about it?’” Moreover, some householders could not read what was on the card. Still others, thinking that the card was theirs to keep, accepted it from the publisher and closed the door. If the householder was very opposed, he might tear the card to pieces. Nevertheless, our brothers were learning to meet the public and to identify themselves openly as representatives of the Kingdom.

8. Explain how the portable phonograph was used. (See opening image.)

⁸ Another tool that was used in the 1930’s and early 1940’s was the portable phonograph, which some brothers nicknamed Aaron because the machine did most of the talking for them. (Read Exodus 4:14-16.) With the householder’s permission, the publisher would play a four-and-one-half-minute Bible lecture, and then he would offer some literature. At times, entire families gathered to listen to a recorded message from the Bible! In 1934 the Watch Tower Society began producing portable phonographs especially designed to be used in the ministry. Eventually, recordings covering 92 different subjects were made available.

9. How effective was the use of the phonograph?

⁹ On hearing one of the recorded Bible talks, a householder named Hillary Goslin obtained the publisher’s permission to borrow the phonograph for a week in order to acquaint his neighbors with the Kingdom message. When the publisher returned, he found several newly interested ones waiting for him. In time, a number of these dedicated themselves to Jehovah, and Hillary’s two daughters eventually attended Gilead School and received a foreign assignment. Like the testimony card, the phonograph helped many to get started in the preaching work. Later, the King would put words in their mouths by means of the Theocratic Ministry School.

USING EVERY POSSIBLE METHOD TO REACH PEOPLE

10, 11. How were newspapers and the radio used in spreading Bible truth, and why were these methods effective?

¹⁰ Under the King’s direction, God’s people have used a variety of methods in order to reach as many as possible with the good news. This was especially important when ‘the workers were few.’ (Read Matthew 9:37.) In the early 20th century, newspapers were used to reach large audiences in areas where Jehovah’s people were few in number. Each week, Charles Taze Russell would telegraph a sermon to a newspaper syndicate. In turn, the syndicate retelegraphed the sermon to newspapers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It is estimated that by 1913, Brother Russell’s sermons were reaching 15,000,000 readers by means of 2,000 newspapers!

¹¹ After Brother Russell died, another effective method of spreading the good news began to be used. On April 16, 1922, Joseph F. Rutherford made one of his first radio broadcasts, speaking to an estimated 50,000 people. Then, on February 24, 1924, the organization’s first radio station, WBBR, began broadcasting. Regarding this new method of reaching people, The Watch Tower of December 1, 1924, observed: “We believe that the radio is the most economical and effective way of spreading the message of the truth that has yet been used.” Like the newspaper, the radio was useful for reaching large audiences in areas where few Kingdom publishers lived.

12. (a) What features of public witnessing do you enjoy most? (b) What can help us to overcome any fears we might have about engaging in public witnessing?

¹² Increased emphasis is now being placed on public witnessing: at bus stops, train stations, parking lots, in public squares, and markets. If engaging in some of these features of service makes you nervous, why not give prayerful thought to this comment of longtime traveling overseer Angelo Manera, Jr.: “We looked at each new feature of service as another way to serve Jehovah, as another way to prove our loyalty to him, as another test of our integrity, and we were eager to prove ourselves willing to serve him in any way he asked.” Engaging in a new feature of the work, perhaps one outside our comfort zone, helps us to build trust and faith in Jehovah, leading to greater spirituality.​—Read 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10.

13. What need is being filled by our website, jw.org, and what experiences have you had in directing people to it?

¹³ Many publishers have enjoyed directing people to our website, jw.org, where they can read and download Bible-based literature in over 700 languages. Each day, over 1.6 million people visit our website. As the radio did in the past, our website today is reaching people with the good news, even in remote areas.

TRAINING MINISTERS OF THE GOOD NEWS

14. What training did Kingdom publishers need, and what school has helped them to become effective teachers?

¹⁴ We have considered a few of the tools and methods that have been used to spread the good news. However, what of the training we have received? Suppose the householder objected to what he heard on a phonograph recording or expressed interest in what he read on the testimony card. Publishers needed to know how to overcome objections tactfully and how to teach honesthearted ones skillfully. Doubtless moved by God’s spirit, Nathan H. Knorr saw the need to train publishers to use the gift of speech in the ministry. The solution? The Theocratic Ministry School, which was first organized in congregations in 1943. That school has helped us to become effective teachers.

15. (a) What have some experienced when handling a part on the Theocratic Ministry School? (b) How has Jehovah’s promise recorded at Psalm 32:8 proved true in your case?

¹⁵ For many, it took time to get used to speaking before an audience. Julio S. Ramu recalled his first talk in the school back in 1944. The subject? Doeg, a man mentioned in only five verses of the Bible! “My knees were knocking together, my hands were shaking, and my teeth were chattering,” Julio said, adding that he had to build the entire talk around those five scriptures. “I gave my talk in three minutes. That was my first experience in platform speaking, but I did not quit.” Children too joined the school, although it was not necessarily easy for some to present a talk to the congregation. Angelo Manera, mentioned earlier, remembered a first student talk given by a young lad who had just started public school. “He was so nervous that when he started his talk, he began to sob. But determined to give it, he sobbed his way through the entire talk.” Have you held back from commenting or participating in meetings in other ways because of shyness or some limitation? Ask Jehovah to help you overcome your fears. You may find that he will help you just as he helped those early Theocratic Ministry School students.​—Read Psalm 32:8.

16. What purpose has been served by Gilead School (a) in the past and (b) since 2011?

¹⁶ The training available to Jehovah’s people is not limited to the Theocratic Ministry School. Missionaries and others have greatly benefited from attending Gilead School. According to one instructor, an objective of the school is “to instill in the students a more intense desire to share in the evangelizing work.” Gilead was inaugurated in 1943, and since then over 8,500 have been trained. Gilead-trained missionaries have served in some 170 lands. Since 2011, enrollment is limited to those who are already in special full-time service​—special pioneers, traveling overseers, Bethelites, or field missionaries who have not attended Gilead.

17. How effective has training at Gilead proved to be?

¹⁷ How effective has this extra training been? Consider an example. In August 1949, there were fewer than ten local publishers in Japan. By the end of that year, 13 Gilead-trained missionaries were busy preaching there. Today, there are some 216,000 publishers in Japan, and nearly 42 percent of them serve as pioneers!

18. Name some of the other schools that have helped qualified Witnesses to grow spiritually.

¹⁸ Other schools, such as the Kingdom Ministry School, the Pioneer Service School, the School for Kingdom Evangelizers, the School for Circuit Overseers and Their Wives, and the School for Branch Committee Members and Their Wives, have contributed immeasurably to increased spirituality and the effectiveness of Jehovah’s people. Without a doubt, the King is continuing to train his subjects!

19. What perceptive comment did Charles Taze Russell make about the preaching work, and how has this proved to be true?

¹⁹ More than 100 years have elapsed since the birth of God’s Kingdom. Our King, Jesus Christ, continues to train us. Shortly before his death in 1916, Charles Taze Russell showed remarkable foresight regarding the extent to which the preaching work would be accomplished. He told a close associate: “The work is increasing rapidly, and it will continue to increase, for there is a world-wide work to be done in preaching the ‘gospel of the kingdom.’” (Faith on the March, by A. H. Macmillan, p. 69) How right he was! And how grateful we are that the God of peace continues to equip us for this most enjoyable work! Indeed, he gives us “every good thing” we need to do his will!

IT IS the spring of 1931. The entrance to the famous Pleyel concert hall in Paris swarms with delegates from 23 countries. Large taxicabs drop off their fashionable passengers in front of the hall, and soon the main auditorium is packed. Almost 3,000 people have come, not to listen to a concert, but to hear Joseph F. Rutherford, who was then taking the lead in our preaching work. His powerful talks are interpreted into French, German, and Polish. Brother Rutherford’s booming voice resounds through the hall.

The Paris convention marked a turning point in the Kingdom-preaching work in France. Brother Rutherford called on the international audience​—young Christians in particular—​to serve as colporteurs in France. John Cooke, a teenage English delegate, never forgot the stirring exhortation: “Nothing under the sun should stop you young folks from going into the colporteur work!”a

In addition to John Cooke, who later became a missionary, many others responded to this Macedonian call. (Acts 16:9, 10) In fact, the number of colporteurs in France grew from 27 in 1930 to 104 in 1931​—an exceptional increase in just one year. Since most of these early pioneers did not speak French, how would they cope with the language barrier, meager means, and isolation?

COPING WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

Foreign colporteurs relied on testimony cards to speak for them about the Kingdom hope. A German-speaking brother who boldly preached in Paris recalls: “We knew that our God is a mighty one. If our heart was beating in our throat when we engaged in the ministry, it was not out of fear of man but because we were afraid we might forget the little phrase: ‘Voulez-vous lire cette carte, s’il vous plaît? [Would you please read this card?]’ We were convinced that our work was really important.”

When preaching in apartment buildings, colporteurs were often chased away by caretakers. One day, two English sisters who knew very little French found themselves face-to-face with an aggressive concierge who asked them whom they wanted to see. Trying to calm the angry caretaker, one sister noticed a small enameled plate on a door. On it were the words: “Tournez le bouton [Ring the bell].” Thinking that this was the householder’s name, she replied cheerfully: “We have come to see Madame ‘Tournez le bouton.’” A good sense of humor greatly helped these zealous colporteurs!

LITTLE MEANS AND ISOLATION DID NOT STOP THEM

In the 1930’s, most people in France had to put up with poor living conditions, and the foreign colporteurs were no exception. Concerning what she and her pioneer partner experienced, an English-speaking sister named Mona Brzoska said: “Our accommodations were generally of a very primitive nature, and one of the big problems was the heating in the wintertime. We were often obliged to make do with a freezing cold room where we had to break the ice on the water in the jug in the morning before we could wash.” Were early pioneers discouraged by the lack of comfort? By no means! One of them nicely summed up their feelings when he said: “We did not own anything, but we lacked nothing.”​—Matt. 6:33.

These courageous colporteurs also had to overcome isolation. In the early 1930’s, the number of Kingdom publishers in France did not exceed 700, and most of them were scattered throughout the country. What helped isolated colporteurs to remain happy? Mona, who faced this challenge with her pioneer partner, explained: “We had to fight this isolation by regularly studying together the Society’s publications. Since back in those days we [made no return visits and conducted no home Bible studies], in the evening we had time to write to our family and especially to other pioneers, to share our experiences and encourage one another.”​—1 Thess. 5:11.

Those self-sacrificing colporteurs maintained a positive outlook despite obstacles. This can be seen from letters they sent to the branch office, sometimes decades after pioneering in France. Looking back on those years, Annie Cregeen, an anointed sister who traveled the length and breadth of France with her husband from 1931 to 1935, wrote: “We had a very happy and eventful life! We pioneers were a close-knit group. As the apostle Paul said, ‘I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making it grow.’ This is thrilling to those of us who had an opportunity to help so many years ago.”​—1 Cor. 3:6.

Those early pioneers indeed left a legacy of endurance and zeal for consideration by others who want to expand their ministry. Today, there are some 14,000 regular pioneers in France. Many are serving in foreign-language groups or congregations.b Like their predecessors, they do not let anything under the sun stop them!​—From our archives in France.