34567JULY 2019

STUDY ARTICLES FOR:SEPTEMBER 2-29, 2019

ON THE night before our Lord Jesus was put to death,he said that all who choose to be his disciples will be hat-ed. (John 17:14) Up until now, faithful Christian Wit-nesses of Jehovah have been persecuted by those whooppose true worship. (2 Tim. 3:12) As the end of this sys-tem of things draws closer, we expect our enemies to op-pose us even more.—Matt. 24:9.

2 How can we prepare ourselves now to face persecu-tion? We do not need to imagine all the things that couldhappen to us. If we did, we could be overwhelmed withfear and anxiety. We could allow imagined threats to de-feat us even before any real test comes. (Prov. 12:25; 17:22) Fear is a powerful weapon that our “adversary, theDevil,” tries to use against us. (1 Pet. 5:8, 9) What canwedo now to strengthen ourselves?

3 In this article, we will consider how we can strength-en our bond with Jehovah and why it is vital that we dothat now. We will also discuss what we can do to build upour courage. And finally, we will examine how we cancope with hatred from opposers.

HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BOND WITH JEHOVAH4 Be convinced that Jehovah loves you and that he will

never abandon you. (ReadHebrews 13:5, 6.)Many yearsago, The Watchtower observed: “The person who knows

1. Why do we need to prepare for persecution?2-3. (a) What should we recognize about fear? (b) What will we con-sider in this article?4. According to Hebrews 13:5, 6, of what must we be convinced, andwhy?

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Prepare Nowfor Persecution“All those desiring to live with godly devotion in associationwith Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.”—2 TIM. 3:12.

SONG 129We Will Keep Enduring

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We do not want to behated. But sooner orlater, all of us will haveto deal with persecution.This article will help usto face persecution withcourage.

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God best will trust him the most in timeof test.” How true! To face persecutionsuccessfully, we must love Jehovah andtrust in him completely, never doubt-ing that he has affection for us.—Matt.22:36-38; Jas. 5:11.

5 Read the Bible daily with the goal ofdrawing closer to Jehovah. (Jas. 4:8)As you read, focus on Jehovah’s tenderqualities. Feel his love and affection ex-pressed in the things he says and does.(Ex. 34:6) Some may struggle to be-lieve that God loves them because theyhave never been shown love. If you facethat challenge, trymaking a list each dayof ways that Jehovah has shown mer-cy and kindness to you. (Ps. 78:38, 39;Rom. 8:32) As you consider your ownexperiences and meditate on what youhave read in God’s Word, you will likelybe able to list many things that Jeho-vah has done for you. The more you ap-preciate what Jehovah does, the stron-ger your bond with him will be.—Ps. 116:1, 2.

6 Pray regularly. Imagine a young boyin his father’s loving embrace. The boyfeels so secure that he openly talks to hisfather about both the good and the badthings that happened to him that day.You can enjoy that same type of bond ifyou draw close to Jehovah in heartfeltprayer each day. (Read Psalm 94:17-19.) As you pray to Jehovah, “pour outyour heart like water” and tell your lov-ing Father about all your fears and anxi-eties. (Lam. 2:19) What will be the re-

5. What will help you to feel Jehovah’s love?6. According to Psalm 94:17-19, how can heartfeltprayer help you?

sult? You will experience what the Biblecalls “the peace of God that surpasses allunderstanding.” (Phil. 4:6, 7) The moreyou pray this way, the closer you will feelto Jehovah.—Rom. 8:38, 39.

7 Be convinced that the blessings ofGod’s Kingdom will come true. (Num. 23:19) If your faith in such promises isweak, it will be easier for Satan and hisagents to terrify you. (Prov. 24:10; Heb.2:15) How can you build confidence inGod’s Kingdom now? Make it a studyproject to examineGod’s promises abouthis Kingdom and the reasons why youcan be certain that they will come true.How will that help? Consider the ex-ample of Stanley Jones, who was im-prisoned for seven years because of hisfaith.�What helped him to endure faith-fully? He said: “Being fortified with a

� See The Watchtower, December 15, 1965, pp. 756-767.

7. Why must you be convinced that the promisesGod makes about his Kingdom will come true?

The 2018 regional convention pro-gram concluded with a powerful newsong entitled “Give Me Courage.”After the convention, an eight-year-old girl named Lumia wrote: “I wouldlike to thank you for the new song.It touched my heart! During the song,I decided that when I go to the secondgrade, I will tell my classmates thatI am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I amsure that Jehovah is with me.”

“Give Me Courage”

4 THE WATCHTOWER

knowledge of God’s kingdom, being sureof it, never doubting it for a moment, Icouldn’t be moved.” If you have strongfaith in God’s promises, you will drawcloser to Jehovah and you will not givein to fear.—Prov. 3:25, 26.

8 Regularly attend Christian meetings.Meetings help us to draw closer to Je-hovah. Our attitude toward attendingmeetings is a good indicator of how suc-cessful we will be at dealing with perse-cution in the future. (Heb. 10:24, 25)Why so? If we allow small obstacles tokeep us from attending meetings now,what will happen in the future if we haveto risk our safety to meet with fellow be-lievers? On the other hand, if we devel-op a firm resolve to attend meetings, wewill not give in when opposers try tostop us from gathering together. Now isthe time to develop a love for our meet-ings. When we love to attend meetings,no opposition, not even a governmentban, will stop us from obeying God rath-er than men.—Acts 5:29.

8. Our attitude toward meetings is a good indica-tor of what? Explain.

9 Memorize your favorite scriptures.(Matt. 13:52) Your memory may not beperfect, but Jehovah can use his pow-erful holy spirit to bring those scrip-tures back to your mind. (John 14:26)Note what one brother who was impris-oned in East Germanyand put in solitaryconfinement said: “What a blessing itwas that by then I had learned severalhundred scriptures by heart! I could fillthose empty days by meditating on avariety of Bible subjects.” Those scrip-tures helped our brother to stay close toJehovah—and to endure faithfully.

10 Memorize and sing songs that praiseJehovah. When imprisoned in Philippi,Paul and Silas sang spiritual songs thatthey knew from memory. (Acts 16:25)Similarly, when our brothers in the for-mer Soviet Union were exiled to Siberia,how did they strengthen themselves?Sister Mariya Fedun recalled: “We sangall the songs that we knew, the songsfrom the songbook.” She said that those

9. Why is memorizing scriptures a good way toprepare for persecution?10. Why should we memorize songs?

ISAIAH43:10

Memorizing scripturesand Kingdom songs nowcan serve you wellduring persecution(See paragraphs 9-10)

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songs encouraged all of them and helpedthem to feel closer to Jehovah. Do youfeel strengthened when you sing your fa-vorite spiritual songs? Then memorizethose songs now!—See the box “Give MeCourage.”

HOW TO BUILD UP YOUR COURAGE11 To face persecution, you need cour-

age. If you feel that you lack that quali-ty, what canyou do? Remember that truecourage does not depend on your size,strength, or ability. Consider the exam-ple of young David when he faced Goli-ath. Compared with that giant, Davidwas smaller, weaker, and poorly armed.David did not even have a sword.Yet, hewas full of courage. David boldly ran tofight that arrogant giant.

12 Why was David so courageous? Hefirmly believed that Jehovah was withhim. (Read 1 Samuel 17:37, 45-47.) Da-vid did not concentrate on how big Goli-ath was compared with him. Instead, hefocused on how tiny Goliath was com-

11-12. (a) According to 1 Samuel 17:37, 45-47,why was David courageous? (b) What importantlesson do we learn from David’s example?

pared to Jehovah. What do we learnfrom this account? We will feel coura-geous if we are confident that Jehovah iswith us and if we are certain that ouropposers are tiny in comparison to Al-mighty God. (2 Chron. 20:15; Ps. 16:8)How can we build up our courage now—before persecution comes?

13 We can build up our courage nowby publicly preaching the good newsof God’s Kingdom. Why so? Becausepreaching teaches us to trust in Jehovahand overcome any fear ofman. (Prov. 29:25) Just as our muscles are strength-ened when we exercise, our courageis strengthened when we preach fromhouse to house, in public places, infor-mally, and in business territory. If we de-velop the courage to preach now, we willbe well-prepared to keep preaching evenif our work is banned.—1 Thess. 2:1, 2.

14 We can learn much from the ex-ample of two faithful sisters who dis-played remarkable courage. Nancy Yuen

13. How can we build up courage? Explain.14-15. What lessons can we learn from NancyYuen and Valentina Garnovskaya?

stood no more than five feet (1.5 m) tall,but she was not easily intimidated.� Sherefused to stop preaching the good newsof God’s Kingdom. As a result, she wasimprisoned for some 20 years in Com-munist China. The officials who interro-gated her said that she was “the moststubborn person” in their country!

15 Similarly, Valentina Garnovskayawas imprisoned in the former SovietUnion on three separate occasions andfor a total of some 21 years.� Why? Shewas so determined to keep preachingthat officials labeled her “an especiallydangerous offender.” What made thesetwo faithful women so courageous?They were convinced that Jehovah waswith them.

16 As we have discussed, to build cour-

� SeeThe Watchtower, July 15, 1979, pp. 4-7. See also thevideo Jehovah’s Name Will Be Made Known on JW Broad-casting˙. Look under INTERVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES.� See the 2008 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses,pp. 191-192.

16. What is the key to true courage?

age, we must not focus on our ownstrengths and abilities. Instead, we mustbelieve that Jehovah is with us and thathe is the one fighting for us. (Deut. 1:29,30; Zech. 4:6) That is the key to truecourage.

HOW TO COPE WITH HATRED FROM MEN17 We enjoy gaining the respect of oth-

ers, but we must not make the mistakeof measuring our worth by how popu-lar we are. Jesus said: “Happy are youwhenever men hate you, and when theyexclude you and reproach you and de-nounce your name aswicked for the sakeof the Son of man.” (Luke 6:22) Whatdid Jesus mean?

18 Jesus was not saying that Christianswould enjoy being hated. Instead, hewas being realistic. We are no part ofthe world. We live according to Jesus’teachings and preach the message thathe preached. As a result, the world hates

17-18. As recorded at John 15:18-21, what warn-ing did Jesus give us? Explain.

Courage comes fromhaving confidencein Jehovah and hisKingdom(See paragraphs 7, 14-15)

Stanley Jones fortifiedhimself with a sure knowledgeof God’s Kingdom

Nancy Yuen refusedto stop preaching the goodnews

Valentina Garnovskayawas convinced thatJehovah was with her

6 THE WATCHTOWER

us. (Read John 15:18-21.) We want toplease Jehovah. If men hate us becausewe love our Father, that is their problem.

19 Never allow anything that mere hu-mans say or do to make you feelashamed of being one of Jehovah’s Wit-nesses. (Mic. 4:5) We can learn to copewith fear of man by considering the ex-ample set by the apostles in Jerusa-lem just after Jesus was put to death.They knew how much the Jewish re-ligious leaders hated them. (Acts 5:17,18, 27, 28) Yet, every day they contin-ued to go to the temple and publiclyidentify themselves as disciples of Je-sus. (Acts 5:42) They refused to cower infear. We too can defeat our own fear ofman by regularly and publicly identify-ing ourselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses—atwork, at school, and in our neighbor-hood.—Acts 4:29; Rom. 1:16.

20 Why were the apostles happy? Theyknew why they were hated, and theyconsidered it an honor to be mistreat-ed for doing Jehovah’s will. (Luke 6:23;Acts 5:41) The apostle Peter later wrote:

19. How can we imitate the example of the apos-tles?20. Why were the apostles happy even thoughthey were hated?

“Even if you should suffer for the sake ofrighteousness, you are happy.” (1 Pet. 2:19-21; 3:14) When we understand thatwe are hated for doing what is right, wewill never allow the hatred of men toparalyze us with fear.

YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM PREPARING21 We do not know when a wave of per-

secution or even an outright ban will af-fect our worship of Jehovah. However,we do know that we can prepare now bystrengthening our relationship with Je-hovah, by building up our courage, andby learning to cope with hatred frommen. The preparations that we makenow will help us stand firm in the future.

22 But what if a ban on our worshipdoes come? In the following article, wewill discuss principles that will help uscontinue serving Jehovah evenwhen un-der ban.

21-22. (a) What have you decided to do to pre-pare for persecution? (b) What will we consider inthe next article?

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PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Page 4: During familyworship, parents use flash cards to help theirchildren memorize scriptures. Page 5: On theway to a meeting, a family practices singing King-dom songs in the car.

WHAT DO THESE VERSES TEACH YOU ABOUT PREPARING FOR PERSECUTION?

˛ Psalm 116:1, 2 ˛ 2 Chronicles 20:15 ˛ 1 Peter 3:14

SONG 118“Give Us More Faith”

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IN 2018, more than 223,000 publishers of the goodnews lived in lands where our spiritual activities werebanned or severely restricted. This is not surprising. Aswe learned in the preceding article, true Christians ex-pect to be persecuted. (2 Tim. 3:12) No matter where welive, secular authorities may suddenly and unexpectedlyban us from worshipping our loving God, Jehovah.

2 If the government where you live decides to ban theworship of Jehovah, you mayask yourself such questionsas these: ‘Does persecution mean that we have lost God’sfavor? Will a ban end our worship of Jehovah? Should Imove to a land where I can worship God freely?’ In thisarticle, we will discuss those questions. We will also con-sider how we can continue to worship Jehovah when ourwork is under ban and what traps we must avoid.

DOES PERSECUTION MEANTHAT WE HAVE LOST GOD’S FAVOR?

3 If a government bans our worship, we might wronglyconclude that we do not have God’s blessing. But remem-ber, persecution does not mean that Jehovah is unhappywith us. Take, for example, the apostle Paul. He certain-ly had God’s approval. He had the privilege of writing14 letters of the Christian Greek Scriptures, and he was

1-2. (a) Why should a ban on our worship not surprise us? (b) Whatwill we consider in this article?3. According to 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, what persecution did the faith-ful apostle Paul experience, and what do we learn from his example?

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Keep WorshippingJehovah When Under Ban

“We cannot stop speaking about the things we have seenand heard.”—ACTS 4:19, 20.

SONG 122Be Steadfast, Immovable!

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What should we do ifthe government bansour worship of Jehovah?This article will providepractical suggestionson what to do and whatto avoid so that wewill never have to stopworshipping our God!

an apostle to the nations. Yet, he facedintense persecution. (Read 2 Corin-thians 11:23-27.) We learn from theapostle Paul’s experience that Jehovahallows his faithful servants to be perse-cuted.

4 Jesus explained why we should ex-pect opposition. He said that we wouldbe hated because we are no part of theworld. (John 15:18, 19) Persecution isnot a sign that we lack Jehovah’s bless-ing. Instead, it indicates that we are do-ing what is right!

WILL A BAN ENDOUR WORSHIP OF JEHOVAH?

5 Mere human opposers cannot stampout the worship of the almighty God,Jehovah. Many have tried and failed.Consider what happened during WorldWar II. At that time, governments inmany countries intensely persecutedGod’s people. The work of Jehovah’sWitnesses was banned not only by theNazi party in Germany but also by gov-

4. Why are we hated by the world?5. Can mere humans end the worship of Jehovah?Explain.

ernments in Australia, Canada, and otherlands. Yet, note what took place. In 1939when the war began, there were 72,475publishers worldwide. Reports showedthat by the end of the war in 1945, withJehovah’s blessing, there were 156,299publishers.The number of publishers hadmore than doubled!

6 Rather than intimidate us, oppositioncan motivate us to serve Jehovah morefully. For example, one couple who hada young child lived in a country wherethe government decided to ban our wor-ship. Instead of shrinking back in fear,the couple began regular pioneering.Thewife even quit her well-paying job todo so. The husband said that the banmade many people curious about Jeho-vah’s Witnesses. As a result, he found iteasier to start Bible studies. The ban hada positive effect on others as well. An el-der in the same country commented thatmany who had stopped serving Jehovahbegan to attend meetings and were re-activated.

6. Rather than intimidate us, what can oppositiondo? Give an example.

With Jehovah’s backing,we can fearlessly meetfor worship(See paragraph 12)

7 When our enemies ban our worship,they hope to make us afraid to serve Je-hovah. In addition to the ban, they maycirculate false stories, send officials tosearch our homes, drag us to court, oreven imprison some of us. They hopethat we will be terrified because theymanaged to put a small number of us inprison. If we were to allow them to in-still fear in our heart, we might even be-gin to “ban” our own worship. We wouldnot want to become like those describedat Leviticus 26:36, 37. (Read.) We willnot allow fear to cause us to reduceor to stop our spiritual activities. Wetrust completely in Jehovah and refuseto panic. (Isa. 28:16) We prayerfully seekJehovah’s guidance. We know that withhis backing, not even the most powerfulhuman government can prevent us fromfaithfully worshipping our God.—Heb.13:6.

SHOULD I MOVE TO ANOTHER LAND?8 If the government where you live

bans our worship, you may wonder ifyou should move to a country whereyou can serve Jehovah freely. This is apersonal decision that no one else canmake for you. Some might find it help-ful to consider what Christians in thefirst century did when they were perse-cuted. After enemies stoned Stephen todeath, the disciples in Jerusalem movedthroughout Judea and Samaria and evenas far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Anti-och. (Matt. 10:23; Acts 8:1; 11:19) How-

7. (a) What do we learn from Leviticus 26:36, 37?(b) What will you do when under ban?8-9. (a) What personal decision will each familyhead or individual need to make? (b) What will helpa person to make a sound decision?

ever, others might note that after an-other wave of persecution afflicted thefirst-century Christians, the apostle Pauldecided not to move away from areaswhere the preaching work was opposed.Instead, he risked his safety to spread thegood news and to strengthen the broth-ers in cities that were suffering intensepersecution.—Acts 14:19-23.

9 What do we learn from these ac-counts? Each family head must make apersonal decision about moving. Beforedeciding, he should prayerfully and care-fully consider his family’s circumstancesand the positive and negative effects amove might have on them. In this mat-ter, each Christian must “carry his ownload.” (Gal. 6:5) We should not judgeothers for the decision that they make.

HOW WILLWE WORSHIPWHEN UNDER BAN?

10 How can you continue to worshipJehovah while under ban? The branchoffice will give the local elders instruc-tions and practical suggestions abouthow to receive spiritual food, how tomeet together for worship, and how topreach the good news. If the branchoffice cannot contact the elders, then theelders will help you and all in the congre-gation to continue your worship of Jeho-vah. They will give direction in harmonywith the guidance found in the Bible andin our Christian publications.—Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 5:29; Heb. 10:24, 25.

11 Jehovah has promised that his ser-

10. What direction will the branch office and theelders give?11. Why can you be certain that you will have spir-itual food, and what can you do to protect thatsupply of food?

10 THE WATCHTOWER

JULY 2019 11

vants will be well-fed spiritually. (Isa. 65:13, 14; Luke 12:42-44) So you can be cer-tain that his organization will do every-thing possible to provide the spiritualencouragement you need. What can youdo?When under ban, find a good place tohide your Bible and any other spiritualfood you might have. Be careful never toleave such precious material—whether itis in printed or electronic form—in a lo-cation where it could easily be discov-ered. Each of us must take practical stepsto remain spiritually strong.

12 What about weekly meetings forworship? The elders will arrange foryou to attend meetings in a way thatwill not attract unwanted attention.Theymay direct you to meet in small groups,and they will likely change the meetingtimes and locations frequently. You canhelp keep everyone who attends safe byspeaking quietly when coming to or leav-ing the meetings. You may also need todress in a way that does not attract atten-tion.

13 Regarding the preaching work, cir-cumstances will vary from one locationto another. But we love Jehovah and en-joy telling others about his Kingdom, sowe will find a way to preach. (Luke 8:1;Acts 4:29) Commenting on the preach-ing of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the for-mer Soviet Union, historian Emily B.Baran said: “When the state told believ-ers that they could not evangelize theirfaith to others, Witnesses chatted [with]their neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

12. How can the elders organize meetings so asnot to attract attention?13. What can we learn from our brothers in the for-mer Soviet Union?

When these actions landed them in la-bor camps, Witnesses sought out con-verts among their fellow prisoners.” De-spite the ban, our brothers in the formerSoviet Union did not stop preaching. Ifever the preaching work is banned whereyou live, may you have that same deter-mination!

TRAPS TO AVOID14 Be cautious about sharing informa-

tion. During a ban, we must recognizewhen it is “time to be silent.” (Eccl.3:7) We must safeguard sensitive infor-mation, such as the names of our broth-ers and sisters, the locations where wemeet, how we carry out our ministry, andhow we receive spiritual food. We wouldnot reveal these facts to the secular au-thorities; nor would we share them withwell-meaning friends or relatives in our

14. Psalm 39:1 can help us to avoid what trap?

Despite government bans,we will not stop preaching(See paragraph 13)

12 THE WATCHTOWER

country or in other countries. If we didfall into this trap, we would put the safe-ty of our brothers at risk.—Read Psalm39:1.

15 Do not allow minor issues to divideus. Satan knows that a divided housecannot stand. (Mark 3:24, 25) He willconstantly try to cause divisions amongus. In that way, he hopes that we willstart fighting one another instead offighting him.

16 Even mature Christians need to beon guard not to fall into this trap. Con-sider the example of two anointed sis-ters, Gertrud Poetzinger and Elfriede

15. What will Satan try to do to us, and how canwe avoid his trap?16. What fine example did Sister Gertrud Poetzin-ger set?

Lohr. They were imprisoned togetherwith other Christian sisters in a Nazi con-centration camp. Gertrud became jeal-ous when Elfriede gave encouraging talksto the other sisters in the camp. Later,Gertrud felt ashamed and pleaded withJehovah for help. Shewrote: “We have tolearn to accept it when others have great-er abilities or are more highly favored.”Howdid she overcomeher jealousy? Ger-trud focused on Elfriede’s good qualitiesand pleasant disposition. In this way, sheregained her good relationship with El-friede. Both survived the concentrationcamp and served Jehovah faithfully untilthey finished their earthly course. If wework hard to overcome differences withour brothers, we will avoid the trap ofdisunity.—Col. 3:13, 14.

17 Avoid being presumptuous. If weheed the direction we receive from trust-ed, responsible brothers, we will avoidproblems. (1 Pet. 5:5) For example, in aland where the work is under ban, theresponsible brothers had directed thatthe publishers not leave printed litera-ture in the ministry.Yet, a pioneer broth-er in that location felt that he knew bet-ter and distributed literature. What wasthe result? Shortly after he and some oth-ers finished a period of informal witness-ing, they were questioned by the police.Apparently, officials had followed themand were able to retrieve the literaturethey had distributed. What do we learnfrom this experience? We need to followdirection even if we feel that we knowbetter. Jehovah always blesses us whenwe cooperate with the brothers whom he

17. Why must we avoid being presumptuous?

We need to know when to be silent(See paragraph 14)

has appointed to take the lead among us.—Heb. 13:7, 17.

18 Do not make unnecessary rules. If el-ders make unnecessary rules, they willcreate a burden for others. Brother Ju-raj Kaminsky recalled what took placeduring the ban in former Czechoslova-kia: “After the responsible brothers andmany elders were arrested, some of thosetaking the lead in congregations andcircuits began prescribing rules of con-duct for the publishers, making lists ofdos and don’ts.” Jehovah has not givenus authority to make personal decisionsfor others. Someone who makes needlessrules is not protecting his brother’s safe-ty—he is trying to become the master ofhis brother’s faith.—2 Cor. 1:24.

NEVER STOP WORSHIPPING JEHOVAH19 Our chief adversary, Satan the Devil,

will not stop trying to persecute Jeho-vah’s faithful servants. (1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 2:

18. Why must we avoid making unnecessaryrules?19. Despite Satan’s efforts, what reason for confi-dence does 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8 provide?

10) Satan and his agents will try to banour worship of Jehovah. However, thereis no reason for us to be paralyzed byfear! (Deut. 7:21) Jehovah is on our side,and he will continue to support us even ifour work is banned.—Read 2 Chronicles32:7, 8.

20 May we have the same resolve as didour first-century brothers, who told therulers of their day: “Whether it is right inthe sight of God to listen to you ratherthan to God, judge for yourselves. But asfor us, we cannot stop speaking about thethings we have seen and heard.”—Acts 4:19, 20.

20. What is your resolve?

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PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS All images depictWitnesses serving in lands where our work isrestricted. Page 9: A small group gathers for ameeting in a brother’s storeroom. Page 11: AChristian sister (on the left) who is casually con-versing with a woman looks for an opportunityto discuss spiritual things. Page 12: A brotherwho is being interrogated by police refuses toreveal information about his congregation.

HOW WILL THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES HELP YOUTO KEEP WORSHIPPING JEHOVAH WHEN UNDER BAN?

˛ Leviticus 26:36, 37 ˛ Psalm 39:1 ˛ 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8

SONG 73Grant Us Boldness

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THE apostles must have been full of anticipation as theygathered on a mountainside. Jesus had, after his resur-rection, arranged for them to meet him at that location.(Matt. 28:16) That was perhaps the occasion when “heappeared to more than 500 brothers at one time.” (1 Cor.15:6) Why had Jesus called his disciples to this meeting?To give them an exciting mission: “Go, therefore, andmake disciples of people of all the nations.”—Read Mat-thew 28:18-20.

2 The disciples who heard Jesus’ words became part ofthe first-century Christian congregation. The primarymission of that congregation was to make more disci-ples of Christ.� Today, there are tens of thousands oftrue Christian congregations throughout the earth, andthe primary mission of those congregations remains thesame. In this article, we will consider four questions:Why is disciple-making so important? What does it in-volve? Do all Christians have a part in making disciples?And why do we need patience for this work?

� EXPRESSION EXPLAINED: Disciples of Christ do more than learn what Jesustaught. They put what they learn into action. They try to follow Jesus’ footsteps,or example, as closely as possible.—1 Pet. 2:21.

1-2. (a) According to Jesus’ command recorded at Matthew 28:18-20,what is the primary mission of the Christian congregation? (b) Whatquestions will we consider in this article?

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“Go . . . Make Disciples”“Go, therefore, and make disciples of peopleof all the nations.”—MATT. 28:19.

SONG 60It Means Their Life

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The Christian congrega-tion has a primarymission—to help peoplebecome disciples ofChrist. This articleprovides practicalsuggestions that willhelp us carry out ourmission.

WHY IS DISCIPLE-MAKINGSO IMPORTANT?

3 Why is the disciple-making work soimportant? Because only disciples ofChrist can be friends of God. In addi-tion, those who follow Christ improvetheir lives now and have the hope of en-joying endless life in the future. (ReadJohn 14:6; 17:3.) Certainly, Jesus hasentrusted us with an important respon-sibility, but we do not do this workby ourselves. The apostle Paul wroteabout himself and certain close asso-ciates: “We are God’s fellow workers.”(1 Cor. 3:9) What a privilege Jehovahand Christ have given to imperfect hu-mans!

4 The disciple-making work can bringus much joy. Consider the example ofIvan and his wife, Matilde, in Colombia.They witnessed to a young man namedDavier, who told them: “I want to makechanges in my life, but I can’t.” Davierwas a prizefighter who used drugs, drankexcessively, and lived with his girlfriend,Erika. Ivan explains: “We began visitinghim in his isolated village, which meantriding our bicycles many hours alongmuddy roads. After noticing improve-ments in Davier’s behavior and attitude,Erika joined in the Bible study.” In time,Davier gave up drugs, drinking, and box-ing. He also married Erika. Says Matilde:“When Davier and Erika got baptized in2016, we remembered that Davier usedto say, ‘I want to change, but I can’t.’

3. According to John 14:6 and 17:3, why is thedisciple-making work so important?4. What can we learn from the experience involv-ing Ivan and Matilde?

We just couldn’t hold back our tears.”Without a doubt, we feel intense joywhenwe help people become disciples ofChrist.

WHAT DOES DISCIPLE-MAKINGINVOLVE?

5 We take the first step in making disci-ples when we “search out” those withthe right heart condition. (Matt. 10:11)We prove that we truly are Jehovah’sWitnesses by witnessing to all whomwe meet. We prove that we are genu-ine Christians by following Christ’s com-mand to preach.

6 Some people are eager to learn Bibletruths, but many we meet may seem tobe indifferent at first. We may have tostimulate their interest. To be success-ful in the ministry, we need to have awell-thought-out strategy. Select specif-ic subjects that will likely interest thoseyou will meet.Then plan how you will in-troduce the topic.

7 For example, you might ask a house-holder: “Would you mind if I ask youropinion on something? Many problemsfacing us today affect people around theworld. Do you think that it would take aworld government to solve the world’sproblems?” Then you could discuss Dan-iel 2:44. Or you might say to a neigh-bor: “What do you think is the key toraising well-behaved children? I wouldlike to hear your opinion.” Then discuss

5. What is the first step in making disciples?6. What can help us to be successful in the minis-try?7. How might you start a conversation with some-one, and why do you think it is important to listenand show respect?

JULY 2019 15

Deuteronomy 6:6, 7. Whatever subjectyou choose to discuss, think about thepeople who will hear you. Imagine howthey will benefit from learning what theBible really teaches. When talking withthem, it is important that you listen tothem and respect their viewpoint. Thatway you will understand them better,and they will be more likely to listen toyou.

8 Before a person decides to study theBible, you may need to invest time andeffort in making return visits. Why? Be-cause people may not be available whenwe call on them again. Also, you mayneed to return several times before thehouseholder feels comfortable enoughwith you to accept a Bible study. Remem-ber, a plant is more likely to grow when

8. Why does making return visits require persis-tence?

it is watered regularly. Similarly, an in-terested person’s love for Jehovah andChrist is more likely to grow when weregularly discuss God’s Word with thatperson.

DO ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE A PARTIN MAKING DISCIPLES?

9 Every Christian minister is involvedin helping to find honesthearted ones.We could liken this work to findinga lost child. In what way? Considerthe real-life example of a three-year-old boy who wandered away fromhome. About 500 people were involvedin searching for him. Finally, some20 hours after the child went missing, avolunteer discovered the little boy ina cornfield. That volunteer refused to

9-10. Why can we say that every Christian minis-ter is involved in finding honesthearted ones?

Witnesses worldwide are involvedin the search for deserving ones(See paragraphs 9-10)

16 THE WATCHTOWER

JULY 2019 17

take credit for locating the boy. He said:“It took hundreds of people to findhim.”

10 Many people are like that child.They feel lost. They have no hope,but they want help. (Eph. 2:12) Overeight million of us are involved in tryingto find these deserving ones. You maynot personally find someone who willstudy the Bible with you. However, oth-er publishers working the same territorymay find someone who wants to learnthe truth found in God’s Word. When abrother or sister meets someone whobecomes a disciple of Christ, everyonewho shared in the search has good rea-son to rejoice.

11 Even if you are not presently con-ducting a Bible study, you can assist in

11. Even if you are not conducting a Bible study, inwhat other ways could you help to make disciples?

making disciples in other ways. For ex-ample, you can welcome new ones andbefriend them when they come to theKingdom Hall. In that way, you can helpto convince them that love identifies usas true Christians. (John 13:34, 35) Theanswers you give during the meetings,though brief, can teach newly associat-ed ones to express their convictions in asincere and respectful manner. You canalso accompany a new publisher in theministry and help him to use the Scrip-tures to reason with people. By doingthat, you will be teaching him to imitateChrist.—Luke 10:25-28.

12 None of us should think that we needexceptional abilities to teach others tobe disciples of Jesus.Why not? Considerthe example of Faustina, who lives in Bo-livia. She could not read when she beganassociating with Jehovah’s Witnesses.Since then, she has learned to read to alimited degree. She is now baptized, andshe loves to teach others. Usually, sheconducts five Bible studies each week.Although Faustina cannot yet read aswell as most of her students, she hashelped six people to the point of bap-tism.—Luke 10:21.

13 Many Christians are very busy car-ing for important responsibilities. Still,they make time for conducting Biblestudies, and they get much joy fromit. Note Melanie’s example. She wasa single parent, raising her eight-year-old daughter in Alaska. She also had a

12. Do we need exceptional abilities to make disci-ples? Explain.13. Even if we are very busy, what are some of theblessings that we can enjoy in the disciple-makingwork?

18 THE WATCHTOWER

full-time job and helped care for a par-ent with cancer. Melanie was the onlyWitness in her isolated town. She usedto pray for strength to face the coldand go out preaching because she reallywanted to find someone with whom shecould study the Bible. Eventually shemet Sara, who was thrilled to learn thatGod has a personal name. After sometime, Sara accepted a Bible study. SaysMelanie: “On Friday evenings, I wouldbe exhausted, but my daughter and Iboth benefited by going out to con-duct that study. We enjoyed research-ing answers to Sara’s questions, and wewere so pleased to see her become Jeho-vah’s friend.” Sara courageously facedopposition, left her church, and gotbaptized.

WHY MAKING DISCIPLESREQUIRES PATIENCE

14 Even if your ministry seems to beunproductive, do not give up hope offinding potential disciples. Rememberthat Jesus likened disciple-making tofishing. Fishermen may spend manyhours before they catch any fish. Oftenthey work late at night or early in themorning, and sometimes they have tosail long distances. (Luke 5:5) In likemanner, some disciple-makers spendmany hours patiently “fishing” at differ-ent times and in various locations. Why?To improve their chances of meetingpeople. Those who put in the extra ef-

14. (a) How is disciple-making like fishing?(b) What effect do Paul’s words recorded at 2 Tim-othy 4:1, 2 have on you?

Patiently assist your studentsto make spiritual progress(See paragraphs 15-16)

fort are often rewarded by meeting peo-ple who are interested in our message.Could you try preaching at a time of daywhen you are more likely to meet peopleor at a location where you are more like-ly to find them?—Read 2 Timothy 4:1, 2.

15 Why does conducting Bible studiesrequire patience? One reason is that weneed to do more than help the studentcome to know and love the doctrinesfound in the Bible. We need to help thestudent come to know and love the Au-thor of the Bible, Jehovah. And in addi-tion to teaching a student what Jesus re-quires of his disciples, we need to helpthe student come to know how to live asa true Christian. We must patiently as-sist him as he struggles to put Bible prin-ciples into practice. Some are able tochange their thinking and habits in just afew months; others take longer.

16 A missionary in Peru had an experi-ence that illustrates the benefit of beingpatient. “I had studied two books with

15. Why does conducting Bible studies require pa-tience?16. What did you learn from the experience involv-ing Raul?

a Bible student named Raul,” says themissionary. “But he still faced seriouschallenges in his life. He had a stormymarriage, used foul language, and hadchildren who found it difficult to respecthim. He came to the meetings regularly,so I continued visiting him to help himand his family. More than three years af-ter I met him, he qualified for baptism.”

17 Jesus told us to “go . . . make disci-ples of people of all the nations.” To ful-fill that commission, we often have tospeak with people whose way of think-ing is very different from our own, in-cluding those who do not belong to anyreligious organization or who may notbelieve that God exists. The next arti-cle considers how we can present thegood news to people with different back-grounds.

17. What will we discuss in the next article?

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PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Pages 16-17: A manleaving on vacation accepts literature from Wit-nesses at an airport. Later, while sightseeing, hesees other Witnesses doing public witnessing. Af-ter he returns home, publishers call at his door.Page 18: The same man accepts a Bible study.Eventually, he qualifies for baptism.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ Why is disciple-makingimportant?

˛ Who is involved in makingdisciples?

˛ Why does disciple-makingrequire patience?

SONG 68Sowing Kingdom Seed

20

FOR thousands of years, the majority of people in theworld seemed to have some form of religious belief. Butin recent decades a remarkable change has taken place.More and more people do not view themselves as reli-gious. In fact, in some countries the majority of the popu-lation describe themselves as not being religious.�—Matt.24:12.

2 Why do a growing number of people consider them-selves to be nonreligious?� Some may be distracted bypleasures or anxieties. (Luke 8:14) Some have becomeatheists. Others believe in God but think that religion isold-fashioned, irrelevant, and incompatible with scienceand logical thinking. They may hear friends, teachers, ormedia personalities say that life evolved, but they rarelyhear logical reasons for believing in God. Others are re-pelled by clergy who are greedy for money and power. Insome places, governments officially limit religious activ-ity.

3 Jesus expects us to “make disciples of people of all thenations.” (Matt. 28:19) How can we help nonreligious

� According to surveys, some of those lands are: Albania, Australia, Austria,Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, HongKong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.� EXPRESSION EXPLAINED: In this article, the term nonreligious refers to peo-ple who either do not belong to an organized religion or do not believe in God.

1. What change has occurred in some areas in recent decades?2. What might explain why so many people are not religious?3. What is the purpose of this article?

STUDYARTICLE 30

Reaching the Heartsof Nonreligious People“I have become all things to people of all sorts, so thatI might by all possible means save some.”—1 COR. 9:22.

SONG 82“Let Your Light Shine”

PREVIEW

We may meet non-religious people moreoften now than everbefore. This article dis-cusses how we mightshare Bible truth withthem and how we canhelp them to cultivatetrust in the Bible andfaith in Jehovah God.

people to learn to love God and becomedisciples of Christ? We must recognizethat a person’s reaction to our messagemay depend on where he was raised. Forexample, people with a European back-ground may not respond the same way asmay those who come from Asia. Why? InEurope, many know something about theBible and are familiar with the idea thatGod created all things. But in Asia, themajority of people know little or nothingabout the Bible, and they may not believein a Creator.The purpose of this article isto help us reach the hearts of all thosewe meet in the ministry, no matter whattheir background may be.

MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE4 Be Positive. Every year, there are non-

religious people who become Jehovah’sWitnesses. Many already had high moralstandards and felt disgusted by religioushypocrisy. Others had low moral stan-dards and many had bad habits that theyneeded to abandon.With Jehovah’s help,we can be sure that wewill find thosewhoare “rightly disposed for everlasting life.”—Acts 13:48; 1 Tim. 2:3, 4.

5 Be Kind and Tactful. Often, people re-spond well to our message, not becauseof what we say, but because of the waywe say it. They appreciate it when we arekind, tactful, and genuinely interested inthem. We do not force them to hear ourpoint of view. Instead, we try to discernthe reasons for their view of religion.For example, we learn that some do notlike talking about religion with a strang-

4. Why can we keep a positive attitude?5. What often makes people respond well to ourmessage?

er. Others feel that it is bad manners toask a person what he thinks about God.Still others feel embarrassed to be seenreading the Bible, especially with one ofJehovah’s Witnesses. Whatever the case,we try to be sensitive to their feelings.—2 Tim. 2:24, ftn.

6 What can we do if someone seemsuncomfortable when we use such wordsas “Bible,” “creation,” “God,” or “reli-gion”? We can imitate the apostle Pauland adapt our approach to them. Whenspeaking with Jews, Paul reasoned fromthe Scriptures. However, when he spokewith Greek philosophers at the Areopa-gus, he made no direct reference to theBible. (Acts 17:2, 3, 22-31) How can wefollow Paul’s example? If you meet a per-son who does not accept the Bible, itmay be best not to make direct refer-ences to it when reasoning with him. Ifyou sense that a person might be un-comfortable being seen reading the Bi-ble with you, try showing him scripturesin a less obvious way, such as on an elec-tronic device.

7 BeUnderstanding and Listen.We musttry to understand the factors thathave influenced the people we meet.(Prov. 20:5) Consider again Paul’s exam-ple. He grew up among Jews. He sure-ly had to adapt his preaching to Gen-tiles, people who knew little or nothingabout Jehovah and the Scriptures. Wemight have to do some research or con-sult experienced ones in the congrega-tion so that we can empathize with and

6. How did the apostle Paul show that he wasadaptable, and how can we imitate him?7. To be like Paul, as described at 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, what might we have to do?

JULY 2019 21

22 THE WATCHTOWER

understand the people in our territory.—Read 1 Corinthians 9:20-23.

8 Our goal is to find “deserving” ones.(Matt. 10:11) To be effective, we must in-vite people to express their opinions andthen listen attentively. A brother in En-gland asks people for their opinion abouthow to have a happy marriage, how toraise children, or how to cope with injus-tice. After listening to their comments,he says, “What do you think of this ad-vice written nearly 2,000 years ago?”Then, without saying the word “Bible,”he shows them well-chosen scriptures onhis phone.

REACH THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE9 We can reach the hearts of people who

usually avoid talking about God by dis-cussing something that is already close tothem. For example, many marvel at na-ture. So we might say something like thefollowing: “You probably know that manyinventions came about when scientists

8. What is one way to start a conversation aboutthe Bible?9. How might we help people who usually avoidtalking about God?

copied things that already existed in na-ture. For instance, microphone designersstudy ears, and camera designers studyeyes. What comes to your mind when youthink of nature? Do you think that it isa marvelous force, a person, or some-thing else?”After listening attentively, wecould add: “When engineers learn fromthe design of ears and eyes, we mightwonder whom they are learning from. Iwas intrigued by something an ancientpoet wrote: ‘The One who made the ear,can he not hear? The Onewho formed theeye, can he not see? . . . He is the Onewho imparts knowledge to people!’ Somescientists have come to a similar conclu-sion.” (Ps. 94:9, 10) We could then show avideo from jw.org˙ under “Interviews andExperiences” in the series “Viewpoints onthe Origin of Life.” (Look under PUBLI-CATIONS ˛ VIDEOS.) Or we could givethem either the brochure Was Life Creat-ed? or the brochureThe Origin of Life—FiveQuestions Worth Asking.

10 Most people long for a better fu-ture. However, many fear that the earth

10. How might we start a conversation with some-one who is not inclined to talk about God?

Adapt your approach when witnessingto those who are skeptical about the Bible(See paragraphs 5-6)

JULY 2019 23

will be destroyed or be made uninhabit-able. A traveling overseer in Norway saysthat people who are not inclined to talkabout God are often willing to talk aboutworld conditions. After greeting people,he says: “What do you think about ourprospects for a better future? Does ourbest hope lie with politicians, scientists,or someone else?”After listening careful-ly, he reads or quotes a scripture thatpoints to a bright future. Some are in-trigued by the Bible’s promise that theearth will last forever and that good peo-ple will live on it eternally.—Ps. 37:29;Eccl. 1:4.

11 We do well to use a variety of ap-proaches with those we meet. Why? Be-cause each person is unique. What at-tracts one may repel another. Somedo not mind discussing God or the Bi-ble, while others respond better to amore indirect approach. In either case,we should take the opportunity to speakto all sorts of people. (Read Romans 1:14-16.) Of course, we keep in mind thatJehovah is the one who makes the truthgrow in the hearts of those who are righ-teously inclined.—1 Cor. 3:6, 7.

SHARING THE TRUTHWITH PEOPLE FROM ASIA

12 Worldwide, many publishers aremeeting people from nations in Asia,including some who come from placeswhere governments have put limits on re-ligious activity. In a number of Asian

11. Why should we try a variety of approaches, andhow can we imitate Paul’s example, as describedat Romans 1:14-16?12. What can we do to reach people from Asianlands who have not thought about the idea of aCreator?

countries, many have never given seri-ous consideration to the idea of a Cre-ator. Some are curious and accept a di-rect offer of a Bible study, but othersinitially hesitate to explore new ideas.What can we do to reach them? Someexperienced publishers have success bystarting a casual conversation, showingpersonal interest, and then when appro-priate relating how their life improvedwhen they started applying a specific Bi-ble principle.

13 Many people are first attracted tothe practical wisdom found in the Bible.(Eccl. 7:12) In NewYork, a sister who vis-its Mandarin-speaking people says: “I tryto take an interest in people and listen tothem. If I learn that they are new immi-grants, I might ask: ‘How are you settlingin? Have you found work? Are the localpeople treating you well?’” Sometimesthis opens the way to introduce a Bibleteaching. When appropriate, the sistermay add: “What would you say is the keyto getting along with people? May I showyou a proverb from the Bible? It says:‘Beginning a fight is like opening a flood-gate; before the quarrel breaks out, takeyour leave.’ Do you think that this ad-vice could help us to get along with oth-ers?” (Prov. 17:14) Such conversationscan help us to identify people who wouldwelcome further visits.

14 What about those who tell us thatthey do not believe in God? A broth-er with much experience preachingto nonreligious people in the Far East

13. What can attract people to the Bible? (Seecover picture.)14. How does one brother in the Far East help peo-ple who say that they do not believe in God?

explains: “Typically, when a person heresays, ‘I don’t believe in God,’ he meansthat he does not believe in worshippingtraditional gods. So I usually agree thatmost gods are man-made and are not real.I often read Jeremiah 16:20: ‘Can a manmake gods for himself when they are notreally gods?’ Then I ask: ‘How could wetell a real god from man-made ones?’ I lis-ten carefully, and then I read Isaiah 41:23:‘Tell us what will happen in the future, sothat we may know that you are gods.’Then I show an example of how Jehovahhas foretold the future.”

15 A brother in East Asia uses the fol-lowing approach when making return vis-its. He says: “I show them examples ofBible wisdom, fulfilled Bible prophecies,and laws that control the universe. ThenI show them how all of it points to aliving and wise Creator. When a personaccepts the possibility that God exists,I start showing him what the Bible saysabout Jehovah.”

16 When we conduct Bible studies withpeople from nonreligious backgrounds,

15. What can we learn from the example of abrother in East Asia?16. According to Hebrews 11:6, why do studentsneed to have faith in God and in the Bible, and howcan we help them develop it?

we must continually build up their be-lief in the existence of God. (Read He-brews 11:6.) And we need to help themto build faith in the Bible. This might re-quire that we repeat some points a num-ber of times. During each study session,we may need to discuss evidence that theBible is God’s Word. This may includea brief discussion of the Bible’s fulfilledprophecies, scientific and historical ac-curacy, or practical wisdom.

17 We help people to become disciplesof Christ by displaying love for them,whether they are religious or not. (1 Cor.13:1) As we teach them, our goal is toshow that God loves us and wants us tolove him. Every year thousands who pre-viously had little or no interest in religionget baptized because they have grown tolove God. So be positive, and take a lov-ing interest in all sorts of people. Lis-ten to them. Try to understand them. Byyour example, teach them to be disciplesof Christ.

17. What effect can our love have on people?

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PICTURE DESCRIPTION Page 22: A brotherwitnesses to a fellow hospital worker, who laterexplores our Online Bible Study Lessons.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How can we maintain apositive attitude in ourministry?

˛ How might we reach thehearts of nonreligiouspeople?

˛ Why should we sharethe truth with everyonewe meet?

SONG 76How Does It Make You Feel?

JULY 2019 25

When I finally overcame my doubts andstarted pioneering, a door opened toa life that surpassed all my expectations.(Eph. 3:20) But you may wonder how thathappened. Let me start from the beginning.

I was born in Berlin, Germany, just a fewmonths after World War II broke out in 1939.

As the war neared its end in 1945, Berlincame under heavy aerial bombing. Duringone bombing raid, our street was hit, andmy family and I escaped to an air-raid shel-ter. For our safety, we later fled to Erfurt,my mother’s birthplace.

Mother searched eagerly for the truth.She read the works of philosophers andexamined various religions but was not sat-isfied. About 1948, two of Jehovah’s Wit-nesses called at our home. My mother invit-ed them in and raised one question afteranother. Less than an hour later, she toldmy younger sister and me, “I have found thetruth!” Soon after that, my mother, my sis-ter, and I were attending meetings in Erfurt.

In 1950 we moved back to Berlin, wherewe associated with the Berlin-KreuzbergCongregation. After another move withinBerlin, we attended the Berlin-TempelhofCongregation. In time, Mother got bap-tized, but I hesitated. Why?

OVERCOMING MY SHYNESSAND RELUCTANCE

I made little progress because I was veryshy. Although I went in the ministry, for twoyears I never spoke up to give a witness.Things changed when I spent time withbrothers and sisters who had proved theircourage and devotion to Jehovah. Somehad endured Nazi concentration camps orEast German prisons. Others had riskedtheir freedom, smuggling literature intoEast Germany. Their example deeply im-pressed me. I reasoned that if they hadrisked their lives and freedom for Jehovah

LIFE STORY

Jehovah’s BlessingsSurpassed All My ExpectationsAS TOLD BY MANFRED TONAK

‘I OUGHT to be a pioneer. But canpioneering really be that exciting?’I wondered. I loved my job inGermany, where I managed foodexports to exotic places in Africa,such as Dar es Salaam, Elisabethville,and Asmara. Little did I know thatone day I would serve Jehovahfull-time in those and many otherplaces throughout Africa!

and their brothers, then I at least shouldwork on being less timid.

I started to overcome my shyness whenI participated in a special preaching cam-paign in 1955. In a letter, published in theInformant,� Brother Nathan Knorr an-nounced that the campaign was one of thebiggest the organization had ever arranged.He said that if all publishers took part,“we should have the most wonderful monthof witnessing ever experienced on thisearth.” How true that was! Not long after, Idedicated myself to Jehovah, and in 1956,I got baptized along with my father and mysister. But soon I faced another importantdecision.

For years, I knew that pioneering wouldeventually be the right career to pursue, butI kept postponing it. First, I decided to do anapprenticeship in the wholesale and import-export trade in Berlin. After that, I wanted towork for a while in my profession to gainexperience and expertise. Therefore, in 1961,I accepted a job in Hamburg, Germany’s big-gest port city. The more I got into my job,the more I wanted to postpone entering full-time service. What would I do?

I am grateful that Jehovah used lovingbrothers to help me establish spiritual prior-ities. Several of my friends had startedpioneering and set a fine example for me.In addition, Brother Erich Mundt, a con-centration camp survivor, encouraged meto trust in Jehovah. He said that in theconcentration camp, brothers who relied onthemselves later became weak. But thosewho trusted fully in Jehovah remained faith-ful and became pillars in the congregation.

Also, Brother Martin Poetzinger, who laterserved on the Governing Body, kept en-couraging the brothers, saying, “Courage isthe best asset you can have!” After medi-

� Later called Our Kingdom Ministry and now replacedby Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook.

tating on these words, I finally quit my sec-ular job and began pioneering in June 1963.That was the best decision I could everhave made! After two months, even before Istarted looking for a new job, I was invitedto serve as a special pioneer. A few yearslater, Jehovah surpassed all my expecta-tions. I was invited to the 44th class ofGilead School.

LEARNING A VALUABLE LESSONAT GILEAD

“Do not give up quickly in your assign-ment” was one of the most profound les-sons I learned, especially from BrothersNathan Knorr and Lyman Swingle. Theyurged us to make our assignment a success.Brother Knorr said: “What will you focuson? The dirt, the bugs, the poverty? Or willyou notice the trees, the flowers, and thehappy faces? Learn to love the people!” Oneday, when Brother Swingle explained whysome brothers quickly gave up, he struggledwith his emotions as tears welled up in hiseyes. He had to interrupt his talk to regainhis composure. I was deeply touched andwas determined to disappoint neither Christnor his faithful brothers.—Matt. 25:40.

When we received our assignments, someBethelites curiously asked a group of uswhere we would be going. They comment-ed positively on each assignment until Isaid: “Congo (Kinshasa).” They paused andonly said: “Oh, Congo! May Jehovah bewith you!” In those days, Congo (Kinshasa)was big news with war, mercenaries, and as-sassinations. But I kept in mind the lessonsI had learned. Shortly after our graduationin September 1967, Heinrich Dehnbostel,Claude Lindsay, and I set off for Congo’scapital, Kinshasa.

AN EXCELLENT TRAINING GROUNDFOR MISSIONARIES

After we arrived in Kinshasa, we studiedFrench for three months. Then we flew to

26 THE WATCHTOWER

JULY 2019 27

Lubumbashi, formerly Elisabethville, nearthe border of Zambia in the far south ofCongo. We moved into a missionary homein the center of the city.

Since much of Lubumbashi was un-touched territory, we were thrilled to be thefirst ones to share the truth with many ofthe residents. Before long, we had more Bi-ble studies than we could conduct. We alsowitnessed to officials who worked for thegovernment or the civil police. Manyshowed great respect for God’s Word andour preaching work. The people mainlyspoke Swahili, so Claude Lindsay and I alsolearned that language. Soon afterward, wewere assigned to a Swahili-speaking con-gregation.

Although we enjoyed many wonderfulexperiences, we also faced challenges. Weoften had to put up with drunken gun-wielding soldiers or troublesome policemen,who made false accusations. Once a wholegroup of armed policemen stormed intoour congregation meeting at the missionaryhome and took us to the central policestation, where they kept us sitting on theground until about ten o’clock in the eve-ning before they released us.

In 1969, I was assigned to the travelingwork. In that circuit, I got a taste of theAfrican bush, with long walks through tallgrass on muddy trails. In one village, a henwith her chicks roosted under my bed atnight. I will never forget how she gave an

A. With my parents and sisterin Germany, c. 1950

B. When I started pioneering, 1963

C. Me, Claude, and Heinrichin our missionary assignmentin Lubumbashi, Congo, 1967

D. Speaking at a convention inAsmara, 1992

E. In the traveling work in theEthiopian countryside, 1996

A B

C D E

28 THE WATCHTOWER

enthusiastic start to the day with a loudwake-up call before daybreak. I have fondmemories of talking with the brothers aboutBible truths while sitting around a campfirein the evenings.

One of the greatest challenges was deal-ing with false brothers, who supported theKitawala movement.� Some of them had in-filtrated congregations and held positionsof responsibility. Many of these ‘hiddenrocks’ were exposed by genuine brothersand sisters. (Jude 12) Eventually, Jehovahcleansed the congregations and laid thefoundation for phenomenal growth.

In 1971, I was assigned to the branchoffice in Kinshasa, where I cared for variouswork assignments, such as correspondence,literature orders, and service matters. AtBethel, I learned to organize the work in ahuge country that had a limited infrastruc-ture. Occasionally, our airmail took monthsto reach congregations. The mail would beunloaded from an airplane onto boats thatafterward got stuck for weeks in a thick car-pet of water hyacinths. Nevertheless, thework got done despite these and other chal-lenges.

I was amazed to see how the brothers setup large conventions with only limited funds.They carved platforms out of termite hills,used long elephant grass as walls and, inrolled form, as cushions for seating. Theyturned bamboo into framework for buildingsand reed mats into roofs or tables. And theysliced up tree bark to use in place of nails. Icould not help but admire these resilient andingenious brothers and sisters. They becamevery dear to my heart. How I missed themwhen I had to leave for a new assignment!

� “Kitawala” is derived from a Swahili term that means“to dominate, direct, or govern.” The goal of this move-ment was political—to establish independence from Bel-gium. Kitawala groups acquired, studied, and circulatedpublications of Jehovah’s Witnesses and twisted Bibleteachings to support their political views, superstitiouscustoms, and immoral way of life.

SERVING IN KENYAIn 1974, I was transferred to the

branch office in Nairobi, Kenya. We hadmuch to do, as the Kenya branch supportedthe preaching work in ten nearby coun-tries, some of which had banned our work.I was repeatedly assigned to visit thesecountries, especially Ethiopia, where ourbrothers were persecuted and faced severetrials. Many of them were brutally mistreat-ed or put into prisons; some were evenkilled. But they endured faithfully becausethey had a good relationship with Jehovahand one another.

In 1980, my life took a delightful turnwhen I married Gail Matheson, who is origi-nally from Canada. Gail and I were in thesame class of Gilead. We had kept in touchby letter. Gail was serving in her missionaryassignment in Bolivia. After 12 years,we met again in New York. Soon thereafter,we got married in Kenya. I am very grate-ful to Gail for her truly spiritual outlook andexemplary contentment. She continues tobe my precious support and loving compan-ion.

In 1986, Gail and I were assigned to thetraveling work while I at the same timeserved on the Branch Committee. The trav-eling work included serving in many of thecountries under the Kenya branch.

I fondly remember making preparationsfor a convention in Asmara (in Eritrea) in1992 when our work was not under ban inthat region. Sadly, we could find only anunattractive barn that looked even worseon the inside than it did on the outside.On convention day, I was amazed at howthe brothers transformed the interior intoa place worthy for worshipping Jehovah.Many families brought decorative cloth andskillfully covered anything unsightly. We en-joyed a happy and thrilling convention with1,279 in attendance.

JULY 2019 29

The traveling work was quite a change forus as accommodations varied greatly. Oncewe stayed in a luxurious guest wing in aseaside villa; another time, we were in ametal shack in a workers’ camp, with rest-rooms over 300 feet (100 m) away. But re-gardless of where we served, the memorieswe cherish most are of the busy days inservice with zealous pioneers and publish-ers. When we received our next assignment,we had to leave behind many dear friendswhom we would miss very much.

REAPING BLESSINGS IN ETHIOPIADuring the late 1980’s and early 1990’s,

our work was legally established in severalcountries under the Kenya branch. As a re-sult, separate branch and country officeswere set up. In 1993, we were assigned toserve at the office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,where after decades of underground activi-ty, the work was now legally recognized.

Jehovah has blessed the work in Ethiopia.Many brothers and sisters took up thepioneer ministry. Over 20 percent of all pub-lishers have served as regular pioneerseach year since 2012. In addition, theocrat-ic schools have provided needed training,and over 120 Kingdom Halls have been built.In 2004 the Bethel family moved into a newfacility, and an Assembly Hall on the sameproperty has also proved to be a blessing.

Over the years, Gail and I have cherishedclose bonds of friendship with our brothersand sisters in Ethiopia. Their warmth andkindness are truly endearing. We haverecently been struggling with health issues,which made it necessary for us to bereassigned to the Central Europe branch.There, we are lovingly taken care of, but wedeeply miss our dear friends in Ethiopia.

JEHOVAH MADE IT GROWWe have experienced how Jehovah has

made his work grow. (1 Cor. 3:6, 9) For ex-

ample, when I first witnessed to Rwandanminers in the Congo’s Copperbelt, no pub-lishers were reporting in Rwanda. Now thereare over 30,000 brothers and sisters inthat country. In 1967, Congo (Kinshasa) hadabout 6,000 publishers. Now there aresome 230,000, and more than a millionpeople attended the Memorial in 2018. In allthe countries that were once cared for bythe Kenya branch, the number of publishershas increased to more than 100,000.

Over 50 years ago, Jehovah used var-ious brothers to help me take up the full-time ministry. Although I still struggle withshyness, I have learned to trust fully inJehovah. What I have experienced in Africahas helped me to cultivate patience andcontentment. Gail and I admire the dearbrothers and sisters who show outstandinghospitality, resilience, and trust in Jehovah.I feel deep gratitude for his undeservedkindness. Jehovah’s blessings have indeedsurpassed anything I could ever have hopedfor.—Ps. 37:4.

THE Bible is filled with heartfelt expres-sions from men “with feelings like ours.”(Jas. 5:17) For example, we can readily em-pathize with Paul’s candid admission foundat Romans 7:21-24: “When I wish to dowhat is right, what is bad is present withme. . . . Miserable man that I am!” Suchhonest feelings reassure us when we con-tend with our own imperfections.

Paul expressed other sincere feelingstoo. At Galatians 2:20, he stated his con-viction that Jesus “loved [him] and handedhimself over for [him]” personally! Doesthat describe “feelings like ours” as well?Perhaps not always.

If we contend with feelings of lowself-worth because of past sins, we may attimes struggle to accept Jehovah’s loveand forgiveness, let alone to view the ran-som sacrifice as a personal gift to us. DoesJesus really want us to view the ransom inthat way? If so, what can help us to dothat? Let us examine those two questions.

JESUS’ VIEW OF HIS SACRIFICEYes, Jesus wants us to view his sacrifice

as a personal gift. How can we be sure ofthat? Picture the scene recorded at Luke23:39-43. A man hangs on a torture stakenear Jesus. He admits that he is guilty ofpast wrongdoing. The crime must havebeen serious because this cruel punish-ment was reserved for criminals of the low-est sort. Distressed by his plight, the manbegs Jesus: “Remember me when you getinto your Kingdom.”

How did Jesus respond? Imagine him ashe painfully adjusts his head to make eyecontact. Although in agony, he musters upa warm smile and reassures the man: “Tru-

ly I tell you today, you will be with me inParadise.” Jesus could simply have remind-ed the man that “the Son of man came . . .to give his life as a ransom in exchangefor many.” (Matt. 20:28) But did you noticethat Jesus kindly emphasized the person-al nature of his sacrifice? He set a friendlytone when he used the personal pronouns“you” and “me.” And he kept it personalwhen he alluded to the man’s prospect, tolive on a paradise earth.

No doubt, Jesus wanted this man to ac-cept his sacrifice as a personal gift. If Je-sus felt this way about a criminal who hadnot even had an opportunity to serveGod, he would surely feel this way about abaptized Christian who is serving God.What can help us, then, to cultivate such awholesome feeling about ourselves despiteour past sins?

Did Jesus Really Die for Me?

30 THE WATCHTOWER

WHAT HELPED PAULPaul’s ministry influenced the way he

viewed Jesus’ sacrifice. How so? He ex-plained: “I am grateful to Christ Jesus ourLord, who imparted power to me, becausehe considered me faithful by assigning meto a ministry, although formerly I was ablasphemer and a persecutor and an in-solent man.” (1 Tim. 1:12-14) Paul’s assign-ment reassured him of Jesus’ mercy, love,and trust in him personally. Jesus likewiseentrusted us with a personal ministry.(Matt. 28:19, 20) Can it affect us similarly?

Albert, who recently returned to Jehovahafter being disfellowshipped for almost34 years, explains: “My sins are always be-fore me. But when I am in the ministry, I feelthat, like the apostle Paul, I have personallybeen given a ministry from Jesus. It buildsme up and keeps me feeling positive aboutmyself, my life, and my future.”—Ps. 51:3.

Allan, who lived a life of crime and vi-olence before he learned the truth, admits:“I still think of all the harm I caused to peo-ple. At times, it makes me depressed. ButI thank Jehovah that he allows a sinner likeme to bring the good news to others. WhenI see people’s reaction to the good news, itreminds me of how good and loving Jeho-

vah is. I feel that he uses me to assist oth-ers who are struggling with a similar back-ground.”

Our personal ministry allows us to fo-cus our energies on positive actions andthoughts. It reassures us of Jesus’ mercy,love, and trust in us.

JEHOVAH IS GREATER THAN OUR HEARTSUntil Satan’s wicked system is done

away with, our hearts may continue to con-demn us because of our past errors. Whatwill help us combat such feelings?

“I love that ‘God is greater than ourhearts,’ ” says Jean, who often struggleswith feelings of guilt over the double lifeshe led when she was young. (1 John 3:19,20) We too can take comfort in knowingthat Jehovah and Jesus have a much bet-ter perspective of our sinful condition thanwe do. Remember, they lovingly providedthe ransom, not for perfect humans, butfor repentant sinful ones.—1 Tim. 1:15.

We assure our hearts of this precioustruth when we prayerfully meditate on theway Jesus treated imperfect humans andwhen we do our best to fulfill the ministryhe has assigned us. By doing so you, likePaul, can say: Jesus “loved me and handedhimself over for me.”

As you study withpeople of all sorts,assure them ofJesus’ mercy andlove for them

JULY 2019 31

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The Watchtower (ISSN 0043-1087) July 2019 is published by Watch-

tower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; L. Weaver, Jr., Pres-

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This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwideBible educational work supported by voluntary donations. To makea donation, please visit donate.jw.org.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from themodern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

COVER PICTURE:Many Kingdom publishers show personalinterest in others from non-Christian landsand share with them the practical wisdomfound in the Bible (See study article 30,paragraphs 12-13)

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WAS IT DESIGNED?The Amazing Arm of the OctopusThe highly flexible arm of the octopushas inspired engineers to develop a roboticarm to help doctors perform minimallyinvasive surgery.

In JW Library, go to PUBLICATIONS˛ ARTI-CLE SERIES˛WAS IT DESIGNED?

On jw.org, go to BIBLE TEACHINGS˛SCIENCE & THE BIBLE˛WAS IT DESIGNED?

THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES“I Was Digging My Own Grave”´Oscar is convinced that he would not bealive today had it not been for God’s Word.What moved this former gang memberfrom El Salvador to turn his life around?

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IN THIS ISSUE�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Study Article 27: September 2-8 2Prepare Now for Persecution�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Study Article 28: September 9-15 8Keep Worshipping Jehovah When Under Ban�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Study Article 29: September 16-22 14“Go . . . Make Disciples”

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Study Article 30: September 23-29 20Reaching the Hearts of Nonreligious People�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

LIFE STORY 25Jehovah’s Blessings SurpassedAll My Expectations�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Did Jesus Really Die for Me? 30