welcome to the administrative center of jehovah’s...
TRANSCRIPT
IntroductionWELCOME to the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia. We hope your visit will
be a pleasant one.
The complex of buildings you are visiting is called Bethel, which means “House of God.” This
Biblical name is fitting since those who live and serve here are ordained ministers. They have ded-
icated themselves to Jehovah God and devote themselves full-time to supporting the work of King-
dom preaching.
These facilities are used to support the ministry of over 160,000 Witnesses of Jehovah in more
than 2,400 congregations throughout Russia, and over 4,600 Witnesses in more than 50 congre-
gations in Belarus.
In 236 lands, there are now more than 7,500,000 Witnesses of Jehovah carrying out the com-
mission Jesus gave his followers to preach the “good news of the Kingdom.” (Matthew 24:14; 28:
19, 20) To organize this work, there are more than 90 Bethel homes such as this one worldwide.
Jehovah’s Witnesses in RussiaJehovah’s Witnesses have been active in Russia for more than a century. Thousands of them
were persecuted in the Soviet Union and exiled to Siberia and the Far East. In 1996, a presiden-
tial decree exonerated them as victims of political repression.
Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy freedom of worship throughout Russia. Our activities were
first registered in 1991. In 1999 our religious organization received the official status of a recog-
nized religion in Russia. Construction on this Bethel complex in the village of Solnechnoye, about
25 miles north of St. Petersburg, began in 1992 and was completed in 1997. Later, because of
the tremendous growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, two new residence buildings and a new
storage facility were added. These were dedicated on May 17, 2003. All construction on the Beth-
el complex from its very beginning was carried out by volunteers—Jehovah’s Witnesses from Rus-
sia, Scandinavia, and other countries.
It is our sincere hope that your visit to Bethel will help you to appreciate how Jehovah’s Witness-
es are organized to serve God unitedly as a worldwide Christian brotherhood.WE SINCERELY hope that your visit to Bethel has been a reward-
ing one. No doubt it has helped you to become better acquaint-
ed with the work that Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing to aid peo-
ple in their quest for a better future through God’s Kingdom. May
your visit with us be an encouragement to you in your efforts to
learn more about our loving Creator and to live by his righteous
standards.
Visiting HoursVisitors are welcome to take a guided tour of our facilities from
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
to 3:00 p.m. The tours begin in the main reception lobby. No
tours are provided on the weekend. We appreciate it when large
groups notify us in advance of their visit.
Location: Ul. Srednyaya 6, Solnechnoye, St. Petersburg, Rus-
sian Federation 197739
Telephone: �7 812 702 2690
Web: www.jw.org
You may also visit our Assembly Hall at 21 Kolomyazhskiy
Prospekt, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation 197341.
� 2012 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.Printed in Finland, 201 fo-E Ru
Welcome to theWelcome to theAdministrative CenterAdministrative Center
of Jehovah’s Witnessesof Jehovah’s Witnessesin Russiain Russia
3
The Bethel family in Russia has over
300 members. Each is provided with a room,
meals, and a monthly allowance to assist with
modest expenses. In addition to their activity
at Bethel, each member of the family person-
ally participates in the Kingdom-preaching ac-
tivity with one of the nearby congregations. Al-
though those serving here at Bethel come from
a variety of ethnic groups, they can truly be
called a family because of their unity in serv-
ing their heavenly Father, Jehovah God.—Psalm
133:1.
Each workday morning, the Bethel family
comes together at the breakfast table to con-
sider a Bible text from Examining the Scrip-
tures Daily. A chairman presides over this
15-minute discussion, and members of the
family are asked to comment on the text. After
prayer, breakfast is served.
On Monday evenings, the Bethel family gath-
ers to study the Bible with the help of a Bible-
study publication. Occasionally, there are spe-
cial programs, such as lectures after the family
study. Each family member also makes time
for personal Bible study and has access to our
library that contains more than 3,700 vol-
umes. These include the publications of Jeho-
vah’s Witnesses and other reference works.
Some family members serve in the kitchen
where they prepare three wholesome meals
each day for the entire family. Other family
members do cleaning, laundry, and mainte-
nance. Much of this work contributes to the
high standard of cleanliness.
The Bethel Family
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Preparing a display for a medical conference
Producing publications
Audio recording of publications
A proofreader prepares text received fromthe Translation Department, which is then
read by a reader. A coach checks intonation,and a proofreader checks for correct pro-nunciation and stress. A sound engineer
produces and edits the recording.
Translators work in teams for video andprinted publications
Sign-language workflow
1. Sign-language translation
2. Video recording
3. Proofreading and editing ofsign-language publications
Service DepartmentThe Service Department supports the preaching activity of Je-
hovah’s Witnesses in Russia and Belarus. It handles corre-
spondence with traveling overseers, congregation elders, and
pioneers. It also compiles records of field service activity, con-
gregation territories, and pioneer assignments. Those serving
here schedule circuit and district assemblies and special assem-
bly days. They also arrange various educational programs that
help Jehovah’s Witnesses to become capable preachers of
God’s Kingdom.
Hospital Information DeskThis desk provides the latest information on bloodless medi-
cal procedures to Hospital Liaison Committees, which number
77 in Russia and 5 in Belarus. In turn, the congregation elders
serving on these committees make this information available to
doctors who are willing to provide high-quality medical care with-
out the use of blood.
Translation DepartmentAbout 80 translators serve in our administrative center.
They help to translate Bible literature into Russian, Tatar,
Ossetian, Chuvash, and other languages. Over the years, this
administrative center has supervised about 150 translators
who have translated material into more than 30 of the
languages spoken in Russia. The Russian sign-language
team works with the video team to
provide videos for the growing sign-
language field. It also prepares ma-
terial for sign-language district con-
ventions.
The magazines and publications
translated under the oversight of our
office are composed using the Multi-
language Electronic Publishing Sys-
tem (MEPS), which was developed by
Jehovah’s Witnesses. This computer
system can process text in over 600
languages. Once material for publica-
tion is translated and composed into
pages, it is sent to one of several
branches for printing.
Audio and VideoThis department makes video recordings for sign-language
publications. It also makes audio recordings for convention
dramas, video sound tracks, and audio editions of the Bible
and Bible-based publications. In addition, it records vocal ren-
ditions of Kingdom songs.
Offices and Departments
Public Information DeskThe Public Information Desk supplies
the news media with accurate infor-
mation on our organization’s activities
and important events. It reports viola-
tions of the constitutional freedoms of
Witnesses through various media chan-
nels, including the Web site Jehovah’s
Witnesses in Russia (www.jw-russia.org). It
also assists congregations of Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses who are affected by local media coverage of their activ-
ities.
Legal DepartmentThe Legal Department provides assistance to congregations
and to the registered legal entities used by communities of Je-
hovah’s Witnesses in Russia. The Legal Department also pro-
vides authorities with accurate information about the activities
of Jehovah’s Witnesses as they exercise their lawful right to en-
joy freedom of worship and to preach the good news of the King-
dom.—Philippians 1:7.
Engineering DepartmentThe Engineering Department designs various facilities for the
use of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia. It works closely with mu-
nicipal authorities to meet the requirements for natural resource
consumption, construction standards, and safety.
Kingdom Hall Construction DeskThe Kingdom Hall Construction Desk supports
the construction of Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls,
and other necessary projects. It also assists congre-
gations in obtaining property and permits for build-
ing Kingdom Halls.
Computer DepartmentThose who serve in this department install and
maintain computers and network systems. They also train and
support members of the Bethel family in the use of various com-
puter programs.
MaintenanceThe family members serving here
care for Bethel’s electrical and
plumbing systems as well as for
the machines and equipment used
in the offices and residences. Our
vehicles are maintained in a well-
equipped garage.
ShippingEach month literature comes from Germany prepacked ac-
cording to congregation requests. The literature is then shipped
to congregations all across Russia. Our own Bethel trucks deliv-
er literature to the northwestern part of Russia.