1982 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses

Source: jw.org

Contents

Title Page/Publishers’ Page

Index of Countries

1982 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Chile

Italy

“Your Labor Is Not in Vain”

Yeartext for 1982

Title Page/Publishers’ Page

1982 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Containing Report for the Service Year of 1981

Also Daily Text and Comments

Jehovah’s Witnesses are grateful for the privilege they have ‘to make known to the sons of men Jehovah’s mighty acts and the glory of the splendor of Jehovah’s kingship.’—Ps. 145:12.

Index of Countries

Page

24 1981 Service Year Report, 206 Countries

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times in:

34 Chile

113 Italy

260 Yeartext for 1982

261 Daily Text and Comments

1982 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Marked Evidence of Increased Kingdom Fruitage!

Throughout the past year, Jehovah’s Witnesses have kept before themselves Psalm 145, particularly the yeartext from Ps 145 verses 10 and 11: “Your loyal ones will bless you. About the glory of your kingship they will talk.” How, then, did their work of talking about Jehovah’s kingship progress during the 1981 service year, the period of 12 months, September 1980 to August 1981 inclusive?

This public preaching by Jehovah’s Witnesses is truly an essential part of their worship of Jehovah. The 145th Psalm beautifully describes what Jehovah’s worshipers do, and this his witnesses have done during the past service year. They have exalted and blessed their “God the King.” (Ps 145 Vs. 1) They have praised his name, making Jehovah’s wonderful works their concern. (Ps 145 Vs. 5) To others they have spoken of God’s goodness, graciousness and mercy. (Ps 145 Vss. 7, 8) In all of this they have emphasized Jehovah’s kingdom and have warned of Jehovah’s purpose to annihilate the wicked. (Ps 145 Vs. 20) Truly they have demonstrated that they desire to see “all flesh bless his holy name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Ps 145 Vs. 21) Some highlights of the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses as ministers of the message of Jehovah’s kingdom during their past service year are set out in this Yearbook report. It is our hope that this report will prove to be interesting and stimulating to those who read it.

The work that is being accomplished by the earth-wide congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is very significant, and the understanding and appreciation of this can lead to wonderful personal blessings. As the report shows, there are millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and persons who have associated with their congregations, and in addition, there are many persons who have some interest in what Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing. As in the first century, there is increase “from day to day.” (Acts 16:5) Would it not be a wonderful development if all these millions of persons understood and appreciated the significance of the increasing proclamation of the message of Jehovah’s kingdom, and in love for Jehovah dedicated themselves to him? They could then share more fully in informing other persons of Jehovah’s kingdom and his purposes. Should they choose to do so, what a tremendous increase in the activities outlined in the 145th Psalm would result, all to Jehovah’s praise!

Significant it is that following the establishment of Jehovah’s heavenly kingdom by Christ Jesus in 1914, and as early as the end of World War I in 1918, there were 3,868 proclaimers of the Kingdom message. This little band was active in 14 countries. Ten years later their ranks had grown to a total of 23,988 active in 32 countries, and by 1938, 47,143 were proclaiming the message of God’s established kingdom and his purpose toward mankind in 52 lands of the earth. Coming down to 1948, we find a peak of 260,756 reporting their ministry in 96 countries, which grand worldwide total increased in another 10 years to 798,326 in 1958, the number of countries reached by them increasing that year to 175. Then the peak of Kingdom proclaimers grew by 1968 to 1,221,504; 1978, 2,182,341; 1981, 2,361,896, and the lands reached totaled 206 nations and island groups all around the globe.

These Kingdom proclaimers, Jehovah’s Witnesses, recognize that their work of preaching and teaching the life-giving truths contained in God’s Word the Bible is definitely part of their worship of Jehovah and constitutes a major portion of their public ministry. It has been said that their house-to-house ministry is a “trademark” of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is to be expected in the case of true Christians in view of the Bible’s precedents and commands.—Matt. 4:17; 28:19, 20; Acts 10:42.

Indicative of what can be accomplished if all who are associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses participate in telling others of Jehovah’s Kingdom arrangement is the Memorial attendance of the past three years. Celebrating the Memorial of the death of Christ Jesus each spring, according to the reports received from around the world, were 5,323,766 in 1979; 5,726,656 in 1980; and 5,987,893 on April 19, 1981.

The chart appearing on pages 24-31 shows that during the 1981 service year 2,361,896 persons were active publishers of the Kingdom message. This is a thrilling figure because it is the highest in the history of the Christian congregation. That is a joy to us, and we feel it will be a joy and an encouragement to you. As we have seen, twice that number associated with the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses for the celebration of the death of our Redeemer, Christ Jesus, now our reigning King. What a wonderful opportunity lies before these persons to demonstrate individually their love for Jehovah, and their loyalty to his kingdom, by each one’s calling the attention of others to Jehovah’s loving purposes. In this way these join in demonstrating their appreciation of the great significance of the Kingdom proclamation, which in itself is part of the evidence that God’s kingdom has been established in heaven.—Matt. 24:14.

CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION

Through their religious organization, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (and related religious associations, corporations and societies in various countries), Jehovah’s Witnesses operate 96 branches throughout the world. The branch offices oversee the proclamation of the Kingdom message in the various countries as this is carried on by the ministers of God’s kingdom, Jehovah’s Witnesses. During the past several years reports have been published by the Society relative to expansion of branch facilities. In some countries this expansion has been in the form of enlarging existing facilities. In others there has been a relocation of branches; land was acquired and new structures were erected. All this expansion has been done to provide adequately for the needs of each branch in its handling of the increase in the work of the Christian congregation.

These branches and their facilities are provided for the sole purpose of equipping the modern-day Christian organization to do the great work of which Jesus spoke and which is due to be accomplished in these “last days.” (Matt. 24:14; 2 Tim. 3:1) Jehovah’s Witnesses are formed into a worldwide ministerial organization preaching the Kingdom message in 206 lands and islands of the sea. Many of the branches have printeries where Bibles, books and magazines, as well as other literature, are produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses for Bible study and for aiding others to learn of Jehovah’s provisions through Christ Jesus, mankind’s Redeemer. Since it is incumbent upon Jehovah’s Witnesses to do this preaching work, their production and distribution of the Kingdom message by printed page in the publications they provide is an essential and integral part of their faith and worship. The printing and distribution of their publications spread the truths contained in the Bible far and wide. This work is an evidence of the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a manifestation of their integrity, and is essential for the building up of the faith of other persons. So, all this Bible literature produced by the various printing branches is prepared in order to help persons grow in knowledge of Jehovah’s grand purposes.

We are very grateful that it has been possible to meet the needs of the branches with respect to their facilities. The costs monetarily have been high, as a result of the worldwide inflation. In each branch where it has been necessary to undertake these projects, Jehovah’s Witnesses have provided funds to meet the needs. This they have done by the gifts and loans that they have made to the Society for these specific purposes. We here express sincere appreciation for the support that Jehovah’s Witnesses in general have given to these efforts. On every hand we see evidence of Jehovah’s blessings on these projects and also on those who have made them possible, not only by means of financial support but by their labor in the construction of these facilities.

Just one example: the branch in Japan, engaged in a large construction project that they anticipate finishing in the summer of 1982, reports that during August 1981, they had a new peak of 63,447 publishers, a 12-percent increase over the same month of 1980. Outstandingly, the branch says: “There were some 44,000 publishers when we started the construction, but we have increased 44 percent in three years. We had 62,000 Bible studies when the construction began, but now some 90,000 studies are reported, a 45-percent increase. This is very encouraging to us as we see the nearness of the end. The pioneer spirit is still strong, almost every month the rate of the pioneers has been around 30 percent to 33 percent of all publishers; among them 10,238 are regular pioneers.”

A contrast in size, but similar in spirit, the Solomon Islands branch also refers to their branch office and Bethel home which was dedicated in June 1981. The branch says, “after working on the renovations and extensions to the original property since 1978, the brothers were keenly looking forward to seeing the completed project and sharing in the dedication weekend. Many had been saving their money for some time for the trip over from their home island of Malaita, and for a week or so before the dedication the interisland boats were crowded with brothers and sisters, some bringing live chickens, pigs and bags of sweet potatoes and cassava to share a meal together at the dedication. Others were coming from Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and as far as the United States for the occasion. They went through the fine two-story building to see the results of the brothers’ work.” Here, as in the many other projects, the bulk of the labor was supplied by Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is very much appreciated.

As observers know, the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses provide Kingdom Halls for their congregation meetings and other activities. Jehovah’s Witnesses provide the facilities for the printing of the Kingdom message, and they also distribute the publications in their efforts to help people to understand the Bible. This entire service is a work of ministry, of worship of Jehovah and proclamation of the message of his kingdom and the day of his vengeance.

THE INTERNATIONAL BETHEL FAMILY

Each branch is staffed by ministers who comprise the Bethel family and in the printing branches these ministers produce the Society’s publications as part of their sacred service. An example of the dedication and productiveness of these faithful ones in the various branches is seen in the activities of the Bethel family in the United States. In order to meet the demands upon the branch organization, these have worked many thousands of hours in addition to their regular daily work. Those looking after the Bethel home in Brooklyn had to do so, and the same was true of the work force at the Brooklyn printery, where just one example is that there were only five weeks of the year that the pressroom was running on its normal single shift. With the conversion to offset printing, the requirement of extra hours will continue for an indefinite time. In the United States branch a large number of the Bethel family are serving at Watchtower Farms where there are both farming and printing operations, the latter producing the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. There also, extra hours were willingly devoted by the Bethel family in order to meet the needs of the work. Indeed, Bethel is a place for production, and we wish to express appreciation for the diligence of the international Bethel family everywhere in caring for their assignments.

In reporting their activities, the branches throughout the earth have expressed their warm love for the entire brotherhood of the earth-wide Christian congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We are very glad to convey here to all these this assurance of love and loyalty from Jehovah’s people everywhere.

THE CONGREGATIONS ARE APPRECIATED

As the chart shows, the end of the service year finds 43,870 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. Christians sincerely appreciate the congregations, their meetings and their ministerial activities, and often they must put forth great effort to attend the Kingdom Hall where each congregation gathers. Jehovah’s Witnesses know the spiritual value of attending, and so real effort is expended by them, not only to reach the people with the Kingdom message and to study the Word of God with interested ones, but also to fortify themselves spiritually by taking advantage of the congregation provisions.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

For instance, in Papua New Guinea one young minister walks seven hours each way every week to conduct a Bible study with a married couple, and this couple in turn walks seven hours each week to attend the public talk and Watchtower study at the Kingdom Hall. In thus making the meetings of the congregation a high priority, these persons are showing heavenly wisdom and appreciation of spiritual things, which are of real value. In that same country a small group of ministers who are serving as pioneers walked 25 miles to attend the meetings of the nearest congregation, and then they returned the same distance to their territory to do their ministry among the people.

The activity of congregations is most interesting and effective. In Chile, a small congregation of 21 publishers had ordered 1,000 handbills for the special talk in April 1981, but due to problems in the mail, the handbills arrived the night before the talk was to be given. This was the first Sunday of the month, and all 21 publishers covered a good portion of the town with the invitations, making short visits on the people from house to house. They managed to distribute all the handbill invitations and how overjoyed they were that afternoon when 98 persons attended the public talk!

In all the congregations of Jehovah’s people, there is a program of Bible instruction, generally comprising five meetings weekly. Every week there is a public meeting and study of the Watchtower magazine as well as congregation studies in another of the Society’s publications. Also, there is the Theocratic Ministry School and the service meeting. These combine to give needed information, counsel, guidance and assistance in spiritual matters. They constitute a major portion of the feeding on spiritual truths needed by each servant of Jehovah. In these and other areas the congregation provides essential services for Christians. The Scriptures show that an individual cannot serve Jehovah on his own, cannot come to an understanding of His Word by himself, nor cope with the difficult “last days” without the congregation. The outcome of all those who endeavor to do so proves the truthfulness of God’s Word on this matter.—Prov. 18:1.

Wherever you live, in all probability there is a Kingdom Hall within your reach. Perhaps you have never attended any of the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but whether you have or not you are invited to attend, and we believe that you will find the occasion to be interesting, encouraging and spiritually upbuilding to you. Generally you will find those who attend the meetings to be friendly and helpful, and you will certainly be welcomed.

PUBLISHERS, OLD AND YOUNG

Seven columns of the chart of the year’s activity have to do with “publishers.” You will see the peak or largest number of publishers reporting in any one month in each of the countries listed and the ratio of publishers to population of the country. The average publishers are shown with a percentage of increase or decrease as compared with the preceding service year of 1980, and for that year the average number of publishers is listed. Then we have the figures for newly baptized, and pioneers.

The term “publisher” is a convenient one to use in referring to ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses participating in the public preaching from house to house and contacting the general public with the Kingdom message in other ways. These have reported their activity to the congregations with which they are associated, and it is from these individual reports that the worldwide report is compiled. In some lands communications are difficult, and there are persons living there who are ministers but whose reports are not received for some reason. Perhaps some overlook reporting, and so the figures given are conservative. Pioneer publishers are those who are spending their full time in their public ministerial activities.

The contributions that the Society receives from Jehovah’s Witnesses enable the Society to care for the needs of those who are devoting their full time to the ministry in the capacities of missionaries, circuit and district overseers, and special pioneers. During the past service year of 1981, the cash costs for supporting these full-time ministers throughout the world totaled $21,116,480.89. This compares with $22,588,894.17 for the service year of 1980, and $20,136,626.07 in 1979. These funds have been well spent in aiding Jehovah’s Witnesses in their special full-time service, and we are most appreciative that Jehovah’s people as a whole have made this possible.—1 Cor. 4:2.

Jehovah’s Witnesses know that there is no furlough in their spiritual warfare, and some of them are advanced in years. Others are young in years, many being young adults. These young people are finding the Christian ministry to be advantageous in every way, and especially is the good relationship with Jehovah, as a result of the individual dedication each one makes, essential during these difficult times when the serious problems of youths are so many and so devastating to young lives. Ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are also parents endeavor to discharge their God-given responsibility toward their children with respect to matters of worship, and such is a blessing to entire families.

Young ministers have many fine opportunities to uphold Jehovah’s righteous standards. (Eccl. 12:1) An example of this is in the report from Hawaii where a young minister still in high school used a class assignment to share Scriptural views with her classmates. She states, “I had an assignment to give a speech with a convincing argument. So I decided to talk on abortion. I began my research and found information in the book Aid to Bible Understanding [a Watch Tower publication] on the definition of abortion. The May 22, 1980, issue of the magazine Awake! provided me with all the rest of the material I needed.

“The day came for my talk and the whole class was in attendance, which was very unusual. As I began my introduction, the students acted childishly and joked about what I was saying. But as I continued, fully convinced that the information would be beneficial for them, their attitude changed and they began to listen with more interest. Whenever they asked questions, I referred to Bible principles, which gave them something to think about. Last of all, I read to them ‘Diary of an Unborn Child’ from the Awake! [May 22, 1980]. There was complete silence. Some of the girls had tears in their eyes, while the students who had had so much to say in support of abortion remained silent.

“Then the teacher said that she was pregnant and was seriously contemplating having an abortion. She expressed how thankful she was to have a fuller understanding of the Bible’s view, especially how God feels about life and how he knows of every living creature under the heavens. Now she could never go through with the abortion.

“The students applauded, and I was so happy I used the opportunity to give a witness. Later on I was informed by the same teacher that she gave birth to a healthy baby.”

Sweden reports in regard to a teenager who received his teacher’s permission to conduct a 20-minute session in class with questions and answers about Jehovah’s Witnesses. The interest was so great that the session was prolonged and lasted three hours and 15 minutes. After the session all his 23 classmates asked for literature, and 55 bound books were placed. The young brother is arranging to become a regular pioneer. How worth while this young life!

In Africa, Christian parents were becoming very concerned about their teenage daughter because of her becoming more worldly in dress and association, but they hesitated to restrict her too much in case it might push her further away from the truth. Then came a crisis when the girl said she could not fight against the world. The parents prayed and discussed the situation, and then the father had a straight talk with his daughter. There was no outburst by the girl who said, “I have been praying that daddy would do something about it because I could not cope on my own.” She wrote to the circuit overseer, “When mom and dad clamped down on me, I knew they loved me and wanted me to be in the same happy family with them in the new order.”

With Armageddon drawing ever nearer, how encouraging for young people is the following from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who has been a faithful missionary for many years. She states:

“I was born in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II. My parents felt that Armageddon would be right on its heels, so we children were encouraged from our very tender years to use our time wisely in this dying old system in Jehovah’s service. From the year the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead opened, when I was only four years old, my mother would talk to me about it and to have it as my goal. At the age of six years, after my first school term, I vacation pioneered. Each succeeding summer vacation I pioneered until I graduated from high school at which time I entered the pioneer service. Another thing that contributed to my formation was that, during my teenage years, my father arranged his work schedule so that he could be a regular pioneer, setting a good example for us children.

“I married a pioneer brother who had the same desire as myself, to go to the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, and as a couple that long-desired goal was achieved in 1960. That same happy year saw my brother invited to Bethel and my parents enter the circuit activity.

“I thank my parents and Jehovah God for the good training and encouragement I received in my youth that have contributed to more than 20 years of real joy in full-time service.”

My Book of Bible Stories continues to be a most effective instrument for use by younger and older ministers alike in assisting people to give attention to God’s Word. In an African country, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who works in a small factory displayed two copies of My Book of Bible Stories on his desk, one in English and the other in Afrikaans. He has placed more than 190 copies so far. A man who took a book gave it to his son, and the boy took it to school. The boy’s teacher read it and then ordered five copies, which they now use in the school class for morning worship.

In Sardinia, a 12-year-old girl is always ready to take the initiative in talking about the truth of God’s Word, and to this end she brings My Book of Bible Stories to school with her. She reads it during the school period for teaching the Catholic religion, from which class she has been exempted. A Catholic priest noticed her reading the book and asked to see it. After having examined it, he expressed his appreciation for it and invited the girl to read one of the stories to the entire class. After this was done, it was arranged for our young sister to read a story to her class every week, explaining it to her classmates. The priest has obtained a copy for himself so he can read this in other classes.

Somewhat similar is the experience of one of our young brothers attending school in Chile. There an 11-year-old lad has a regular assignment to teach his class religious subjects for which he uses My Book of Bible Stories, even giving his classmates written tests and grading them.

When a seven-year-old boy took his copy of My Book of Bible Stories to school, the teacher saw it and requested that the missionary of Jehovah’s Witnesses who left the book with the boy’s mother come to the school. The missionary paid a visit to the school and the teacher took 40 books for his entire Bible class, inviting the missionary to attend the weekly classes for discussions on the book.—Matt. 21:16.

This is a sampling of what is being done with the splendid publication My Book of Bible Stories and of the very commendable efforts on the part of publishers of all ages.

THE DAILY TEXT

Following the reports on the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in various countries, the daily text and comments appear in this Yearbook. They are provided as an aid for daily Bible reading. Upon your arising, at the breakfast table or another family meal, during the evening, or at some other convenient time every day, your reading of the text and printed comments will be of value. Many read, not only the Scripture text as quoted in the Yearbook daily, but also the context in the Bible and make reference to The Watchtower from which the printed comment is taken.—Acts 17:11.

This Yearbook provision is much appreciated by Jehovah’s people. An example of this is reported from Australia. This concerns two of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a mother and her daughter, who live 20 miles apart on separate cattle stations. They wanted to have a daily text discussion, and so by means of their local radio network, known as the flying doctor radio network, they would discuss the text for the day every morning at 8:30. The daily discussion could be heard by all in the area if they desired to listen in. A woman 50 miles away, at 8:30 in the morning, told her visitor, “You will have to excuse me now, it’s time to go and listen to the text for the day.” This text discussion that is so important to these two women has been beneficial to listeners up to 360 miles (580 km) away. We encourage you to read the text and comments daily.

“NO PART OF THE WORLD”

True Christians have always been neutral as far as the politics and controversies of the nations of the world are concerned. During this time of increasing violence, violence such as the world has never before known, the neutrality of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not only a demonstration of loyalty to Jehovah and his kingdom but also a protection to Jehovah’s people. The position of Jehovah’s Witnesses with respect to this issue is clear and is well known in all lands. No doubt it is difficult for the officials of some nations to understand the neutrality of Jehovah’s Witnesses clearly, but the position of Christians has been plainly stated in the Bible and in the literature of the Witnesses. Hence, there should be no occasion to have any doubt as to where they stand nor as to the correctness of the position they take or have, that is, neutrality respecting the controversies of the world and the politics of the nations. This, of course, is necessary because Jehovah’s Witnesses are followers of Christ Jesus, and that was his position.—John 15:19; 17:14.

From a Latin-American country that is going through a period of tremendous crime and violence, filling the people with a paralyzing fear, come reports of the safeguard Christian neutrality is to Jehovah’s Witnesses in that land. There are more publishers of the Kingdom message in that strife-torn country than ever before, and they are conducting many thousands of home Bible studies with the people, even though their activity involves inconveniences and traveling under dangerous conditions. By identifying themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses many have had Jehovah’s protection. Their record of strict neutrality in political matters and of true Christian conduct has served as a protection, as the following experiences illustrate:

At 5:00 a.m. a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses waited for a bus to take them to their assignment for their work of preaching and teaching the Bible. Suddenly a group of masked and heavily armed men approached them and asked what they thought of a particular political group. The brothers explained that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses and did not take part in political matters. Their explanation was accepted and the group of men began to search the houses in the town looking for arms or enemies. As they were about to enter a brother’s house that also served as the local Kingdom Hall, they asked the neighbors if there were arms there. The answer was, “Only Jehovah’s Witnesses live in that house.” At that, the group decided not to enter because “those people do not have any problems with anyone.” By 8:50 a.m. the group of men had left the town and within a few minutes the military forces arrived and they too began a house-to-house search. In front of the Kingdom Hall they asked if the group of men had entered. The answer was, “No, because only Jehovah’s Witnesses live there.” So the soldiers said, “Well, we will not go in either because they are respectable people.”

Those who are dedicated to Jehovah and who take their stand squarely for his kingdom are indeed in a blessed position. They wisely identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses before belligerent forces of the world so that the respect that they deserve can perhaps be shown to them by such opposers. This has occurred in innumerable cases in all parts of the earth. In all countries, regardless of the state of the country with respect to armed hostilities, Christian neutrality must be maintained. Every one of Jehovah’s Witnesses confronts the issue in one way or another. Jehovah has made ample provisions for fortifying all spiritually, and we are wise in taking advantage of these.

STIRRING KINGDOM LOYALTY DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

While reports are coming in from many parts of the globe as to the stimulating success of the 1981 district conventions, the report for the United States is now complete: One hundred district conventions were held with the all-time peak attendance of 1,057,237. The number baptized was 8,734. The convention program was most upbuilding, and reports from all parts of the field show the appreciation of Jehovah’s people for this fine spiritual provision.

GILEAD TRAINING EXPANDED

Since 1943, when the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, located in New York State, began training full-time ministers for foreign service, well over 6,400 have graduated. These have been sent to more than 100 countries of the earth.

At the graduation of the 69th class of Gilead School, held in New York on Sunday, September 14, 1980, the announcement was made that an extension of Gilead training would be established at the Society’s branch office in Mexico. This began November 24, 1980, with 24 students enrolled. On Sunday, February 1, 1981, the 24 students graduated and received diplomas. They were assigned to eight countries in Central and South America. There was great joy on the part of all who attended this first graduation of the Gilead Cultural School of Mexico.

The second class commenced February 16 with 23 students. They graduated on Sunday, April 26, to serve in eight Latin-American countries. The third class began May 11 and graduated on Sunday, July 19. These 24 graduates were assigned to seven Central and South American countries. So, all together 71 graduates of the three classes have been sent out as teachers.

During the 1981 service year the 70th and 71st classes attended the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in New York. The 70th class began October 20, 1980, with 49 students from 10 countries. All 49 graduated on Sunday, March 8, 1981, and were sent to 18 countries. The 71st class enrolled on April 20, 1981, with 27 students from eight lands. These graduated on Sunday, September 13, 1981, and were sent out to 13 countries.

For 1981 we are glad to report that the number of graduates for the New York school comes to 76 and for the school in Mexico to 71, bringing the combined total to 147 graduates assigned to 39 countries. This is the largest total for any one year since 1968. It is most encouraging to see well-trained persons going forth to many lands for the purpose of making known the good news of the Kingdom while there is yet time.

THE MOTIVE THAT IS WORTH WHILE

Jehovah’s Witnesses are active in behalf of other people as they engage in their earth-wide ministry. They are consistent in their stand on issues in whatever part of the world they may be situated, and they are unique in their high regard for the Word of God and their determined efforts to adhere to Jehovah’s requirements and principles. What is their motive? Several things are involved:

There is their recognition of what Jehovah God has done in their behalf, and so out of appreciation for this, they have love for God, and this is strengthened by their appreciation for what Jehovah is now doing and will yet do in their behalf. They know that if a person loves God, he will keep his commandments, and they know that one of his commands is to preach the good news of his established kingdom. Out of love for Jehovah they desire to do what they can to counteract the reproach that has come upon God’s name because of his being falsely blamed for mankind’s troubles and being slandered by false religious doctrines. So, basically it is love for Jehovah that moves his witnesses to continue as his ministers.

Then there is the matter of love for their fellowman, for their neighbor. They desire to put the spiritual interests of others ahead of their own personal convenience, being concerned with the destiny of other humans. So, it is really out of love for neighbor that they go from house to house, make return visits on those who are interested in the Word of God and conduct Bible studies with those who love the truth. This is out of neighbor love, neighbor affection.—Matt. 22:37-39.

Furthermore, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God’s Word, and they know that “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” They want to sow generously and reap generously.—Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:6.

Also, their own lives, as well as the lives of other persons, are involved because they do wish to be “clean from the blood of all men,” that is, free of bloodguilt, which would result from failure to warn of the coming judgment.—Acts 20:26; Ezek. 33:6.

So there are these high motives involved in the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the fact that they are preaching the Kingdom message worldwide is indeed significant. It constitutes a major part of the sign evidencing the establishment of the heavenly kingdom of Jehovah and its progress toward eliminating God’s enemies, so that it might truly bring about God’s purposes in respect to this wonderful earthly home he has made for man.

[Chart on page 24-31]

1981 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Jehovah’s Witnesses preach the “good news” today in 206 lands. What a great prophet Jesus Christ was to foresee such global Kingdom preaching! (Matt. 24:14) How the preaching work was started in these various lands has proved to be inspiring reading. In the next 223 pages, consider the lives and activities of many of the persons who shared in starting and developing the Kingdom-preaching activity in the following two countries:

CHILE: The desire to open up the preaching work in Chile grows within a brother pioneering in Argentina. He goes to Chile in 1930, the only Witness in all the land. As he preaches, the first one to respond asks: “And the others, when will they come?” With complete faith in Jehovah, the pioneer replies: “They will come.” And come they did! From 28 publishers in 1939, the Kingdom proclaimers have grown to over 16,000 today!

ITALY: When the Society’s first president, C. T. Russell, visits Italy in 1891, he interests a Waldensian professor in the truth to the extent that he begins to translate the Society’s publications into Italian. During the Mussolini era, the clergy, backed up by Fascist henchmen, do all in their power to crush completely the few Kingdom proclaimers. But Jehovah provides escape. Read how the Kingdom publishers have grown from about 90 at the end of World War II to over 90,000 today! It is one of the most thrilling stories ever told about the acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in modern times.

Your reading these stirring reports of Christian faith will encourage you to carry on in the ministry that the Lord Jesus has given us—the preaching of the “good news” worldwide.

Chile

CHILE is a land rich in contrasts! It stretches along the western coast of South America for 2,650 miles (4,265 km)—more than half the Pacific coastline of the continent. This makes it a land of unlimited variety, from the torrid deserts of the north to the fjords and glaciers of the south. Within this area lie rugged mountains rich in mineral ore, desert plains utterly barren, fertile valleys, forests, myriads of shimmering lakes and isles, and glacial areas hemmed in by a thundering ocean on the west and the formidable Andes Mountains on the east. Its elevation runs from sea level to the flanks of the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, Mount Aconcagua, which towers about 23,000 feet (7,000 m) on the Chilean-Argentine border.

Chile’s northern sector is, more than any other part of the earth, nearly an absolute desert. Why, there are points in the Atacama Desert where not a drop of rain has fallen in 20 years! Yet in the southern part of the country there is an annual rainfall of over 100 inches (250 cm).

Though largely composed of mountains, the country has a central zone where about 67 percent of the people live. It is one of the garden places of the world. The central zone has a climate similar to that of California and favors the growing of fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, grapes, figs, oranges and lemons.

In the south of the country is the lake region. Here is found the famous Lago de Todos los Santos, also called Lake Esmeralda. Theodore Roosevelt once called this lake “the most beautiful lake I have seen in all the world.” It lies nestled between mountain peaks, and its emerald-colored waters are disturbed only by waterfalls that plunge down the mountainsides into this placid lake.

In addition to the mainland, Chile has a number of islands: The Juan Fernández Islands are situated 365 miles (587 km) west of the city of Valparaíso. Among these islands is found the famous Robinson Crusoe Island. Easter Island is located some 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the coast of Chile and its people are of Polynesian origin. Here are found hundreds of monstrous, eyeless stone statues that have long perplexed archaeologists.

Spanish is the language of Chile, and its people are largely of Spanish background, though influenced greatly during the last 100 years by the Germans, the British and the Americans. About a third of the population have mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry. The Indians gave Chile its name, calling the region chilli, meaning “place where the land ends.” That is precisely how it must have looked to early natives as they gazed out at the apparently endless reaches of the Pacific Ocean.

THE “GOOD NEWS” REACHES CHILE

The preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom began in Chile with the arrival of Richard Traub. Brother Traub had learned the truth in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and had dedicated his life to Jehovah in 1925. While he was pioneering in Argentina near the Andes Mountains, a desire grew within him to open up the preaching work in Chile. Brother Juan Muñiz, the then branch overseer in Argentina, agreed that it seemed to be a good idea. Brother Traub was assigned to Chile.

He arrived in Santiago on the evening of April 30, 1930. Of course, there was no one to meet him at the train station, and that night he stayed at a nearby hotel. The next day he rented a room. Brother Traub tried to cash a check that had been given him to help him to get started, but he could not get the money immediately, since the bank had to find out if there were funds to cover the check. In the meantime his money and gifts of food ran out, and our self-sacrificing pioneer brother went for eight days without eating!

Although he had no literature to offer, on May 4, 1930, he began to work from house to house. It was with full confidence in Jehovah and with a true missionary spirit that Brother Traub began his work as the first Witness among the 4,000,000 people living in this land at that time.

The Roman Catholic religion had been the state religion until the year 1925 when a new constitution, separating Church and State, was adopted. While working from house to house, Brother Traub was questioned by the police, but when he explained the nature of his work he had no difficulty whatsoever. He found there truly was freedom of worship.

Brother Traub described his feelings during those early times this way: “Each Sunday as the hour of the Watchtower study drew near I would walk to Mount San Cristóbal and under the shade of the trees immerse myself in study and prayer. Yes, I felt very lonely and had a consuming desire to talk to another brother about the truth, but following my private study I felt strengthened and was filled with the realization that I was not alone. I was ready for another week’s work.”

INTERESTED PERSONS ARE FOUND

While witnessing from house to house, Brother Traub met a God-fearing man by the name of Juan Flores. He accepted literature and asked many questions. At the time he was being visited by the Seventh-Day Adventists. However, after listening to a discussion between them and Brother Traub, Flores decided to study the book The Harp of God.

“Thereafter,” Brother Traub relates, “I rented an apartment and began to invite people to a public Bible lecture and Bible study each Sunday. Juan Flores, the first person who responded to an invitation, asked: ‘And the others, when will they come?’ My answer was: ‘They will come.’” And within a short time they started to come.

In the area called the Quinta Normal, Brother Traub found a man who accepted literature and who then invited him to give Bible talks at his evangelist church. Juan Flores accompanied Brother Traub and listened to him share the Kingdom message with those gathered. They were invited to return. The evangelical preacher was happy because attendance was up and the collection plates full after a visit from Brother Traub. Brother Traub did not agree with the collection plates, so he gave a talk at the church based on John 10:12 and the “hired man.” With that the majority of the churchgoers, among them a young lady, Consuelo Galvez, began to attend the meetings conducted by Brother Traub. In time the evangelist preacher was left alone, his group having disappeared.

Juan Flores invited Brother Traub to live at his home on Concón Street and to use it as a meeting place. (It has since been enlarged, and to this day it is used as a Kingdom Hall.) After a little more than 10 months of activity the time had arrived for the interested ones to be baptized. So Brother Traub wrote Brother Muñiz and asked if he might come for that historic occasion.

On February 13, 1931, the first baptism in Chile was conducted by Jehovah’s Witnesses with Brother Muñiz giving the talk. The eight persons baptized on that occasion were Juan Flores, his wife Teresa, his mother Delfina Villablanca, Juan Castillo, Pedro Ortiz, Roberto Rojas, Margarita Sandoval and another Sister Flores. According to Brother Traub, all eight continued faithful. Sister Villablanca became a pioneer and served as such until her death. Juan Flores helped to organize a small congregation in Illapel. But there was more to come!

On March 29, 1931, five more were baptized, among them Consuelo Galvez, who was to become Sister Traub and his faithful companion until her death. In less than a year 13 were baptized.

Meanwhile, other new ones were taking their stand for true worship. The work in Santiago was taking hold, but what about scattering the seeds of truth in distant places?

ANOTHER ENERGETIC PIONEER ARRIVES

One of the early pioneers to come to Chile was Kathe Palm, and she played a dramatic role in answer to the above question. We will let her tell us something about her zealous work in the Chilean field. Sister Palm writes:

“Hilma Sjoberg sent money to the Watch Tower Society headquarters in November 1934 to pay for a trip from the United States to Colombia by ship. The Society asked me if I wanted to help Sister Sjoberg in South America. What a wonderful provision! So by December I arrived in Buenaventura, Colombia. Sister Sjoberg arrived from Ecuador. We went to Bogotá for about a year and placed cartons of books. Then Sister Sjoberg had to return to Texas. She advised me not to stay alone in Colombia and suggested that I write to a brother who had opened up the work in Chile.

“Finally, the invitation arrived to come to Chile, as Brother Traub’s home was open for a pioneer. The whole country was the territory! How to get there? The best way was by ship, so back to Buenaventura. The port captain told me of a Chilean ship that was to arrive shortly. So the door was opened.

“‘Yes, we will take you,’ said the captain of the freighter. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I will not take the only money you have ($15), although I’ll accept some of those books that you have there. Now go ashore and get your things, and I’ll show you to your cabin.’ After 17 days of a wonderful voyage with lots of witnessing to the crew and a few passengers, we arrived in Chile. Brother Traub was waiting for me at Valparaíso. That was in February of 1936.”

In Santiago Sister Palm especially enjoyed the sight of the snow-covered mountains in the background and an entire avenue of pink Japanese cherry trees in bloom. What scenery! But on with her story:

“The first territory that Brother Traub gave me was the center of Santiago. Here were the government palace, government buildings, all offices and businesses. I placed many books in this territory, often entire sets of all the current books published by the Watch Tower Society. As for the government palace, no one objected in office after office except one, the telegraph communication—they must not be disturbed. On the last floor I found the palace library. The librarian recognized the books at once and told me the titles of all that he already had, so I left him Vindication, (Book One) in both English and Spanish, as these were the newest then, and he was very pleased to get them. One man even told me that he would like to change places with me as far as government was concerned, for he recognized the far superior value of working for the theocratic government.

“While working the business district in 1936, I met a jeweler with a German name. So I witnessed to him in German and showed him the Vindication book. When he saw Jehovah’s name in it, he turned white and shouted at me to get out of his place, otherwise he would get his revolver and kill me. Shouting, he shook his fist at me and then banged it down so hard on the showcase that he broke the glass and cut his hand! By that time I had my book bag ready and made a prompt departure. Trembling on the street, I went next door to a German art shop. ‘No,’ they said, ‘we do not wish to comment on this man, for we only know that he is a fanatic Nazi.’ Those were the days prior to World War II.”

PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH APPRECIATED

Before the war broke out, Sister Palm relates, Brother Traub was able to get one of the Society’s portable phonographs, with short recorded Bible lectures on 78-rpm discs. How delighted he was with it! “Why,” says Sister Palm, “he even managed to copy the phonograph so that quite a few of the Chilean brothers could have their own Chilean-made model.

“Years later, the second officer of the ship that had brought me to Chile went to the Watchtower headquarters on one of his visits to New York. There at 117 Adams Street he contacted Brothers Fred Peach and Harry Pinnock, who sent me the newest vertical-type phonograph with more records and newer ones too. This one could readily be used at the doorsteps, and, oh, what attention it gained, for nobody had ever seen anything like it! Also the one-hour recorded talks were used on the Santiago radio stations. A few years later they were heard on almost all the radio stations of the main towns of the provinces.”

SPREADING SEEDS OF TRUTH UP NORTH

Brother Traub thought it would be well for Sister Palm to spread the seeds of truth in the northern part of the country. “He assigned me to start working the farthest north in Arica and up the fertile valley of Azapa,” she reports. “So I worked from door to door in each town and always tried, and generally succeeded, to place the entire set of those beautiful, rainbow-colored books in the public library, school libraries and union halls.

“Every mining camp, every nitrate camp, every company town, large or small, as well as big copper- and iron-mining towns, was witnessed to from door to door. It was necessary to have cartons and cartons of books sent ahead to each new address. Almost all my witnessing work was done on foot. I found a saddlebag like one used on burros and would fill it on one side with about 30 books and on the other side with some 150 to 200 booklets. Then I would carry it on my shoulders, using another full handbag of literature for use at each call. It was also necessary to carry a blanket, a toothbrush, and so forth, as one usually found lodging each night where one stopped.

“In Copiapó I found a sulfur mine high on the slopes of the Andes Mountains. Here lived about 30 to 40 workers and the families of the administrator and his assistant. They were surprised to have a woman visit them. How did I ever get there? I happened to find a man who was driving to the mine, and he was glad to take me along. ‘Yes,’ he stated, ‘I will see to it that one of the two ladies up there will give you lodging.’

“Then everybody at the mine told me: ‘We don’t use money here; all our wages are paid to us in the town office when we get our leave.’ So the administrator authorized everyone to take what literature he wanted and just sign his name and the amount on a list. I placed all the literature I had and took orders for much more. This I delivered to the office in town. All the workers seemed anxious to read the publications, and they were ever so pleased with the ‘good news.’”

In 1939 Sister Beta Abbott, who had been serving in Cuba, sent word that she would be coming to Chile. Sister Abbott was assigned to witness to the Americans who were working high up in the copper mine of “El Teniente,” just south of Santiago. She was able to work there only a short time, as the altitude was too much for her. But the town at the base of the mountains, Rancagua, was fine.

There at Rancagua Sister Lucila Reyes offered her lodging in her hotel. She stayed there several years. Sister Reyes and her husband had found the truth a few years before, when Brother Traub explained the “good news” to them. Before this, an evangelical pastor often visited the Reyes family. This clergyman insisted that if they wanted to obey God they had to get rid of all the hotel’s supply of wine (which provided quite a good business). Well, poor Mr. Reyes poured all his chuicos (10-liter jugs) of wine into the sewer! Then Brother Traub came and explained Bible truths. “What!” Mr. Reyes said, “wine is not forbidden?” Oh, that was music to his ears, as Brother Traub proved it with their own family Bible. The Reyes home and hotel were always open for any and all Witnesses.

In 1949 we had a national convention in Rancagua, and Sister Reyes, now a widow, emptied her hotel to have it ready for as many assembly delegates as she could. A “sandwich parade” (a parade of brothers with big placards on front and back advertising the main lecture) was held in the center of Rancagua. There were problems, though, when the school director refused to allow the brothers to use the school’s hall, even though the Ministry of Education had authorized its use for our convention. When Mr. Daniel González, a judge of the appellate court, heard about this, he took a trip to see this director and asked him why some weeks earlier he had authorized a Catholic function in his school’s hall. Being confronted with this fact, he could hardly continue to refuse. A marvelous assembly was held in Rancagua.

Years later Sister Abbott moved to Santiago. Since she had always maintained herself with her excellent sewing, she found it easy to get work from ambassadors’ wives and others in prominent positions. This gave her the opportunity to witness to these people. She often remarked that it must be the hand of Jehovah, because when Witnesses called at these elegant homes, the maids would never let them in to speak with the owners. After many years of faithful service, Sister Abbott died in 1975 at the age of 93.

COVERING THE SOUTHERN REGION

Since the southernmost province of Chile, Magallanes, can best be worked in the summer months, Brother Traub had Sister Palm travel by boat to Punta Arenas. Ten cartons of books were sent there for her use.

In contrast to the dry north Sister Palm now found herself among greenery, rowboats, sailboats, launches, small steamers, islands and more islands. How enjoyable! Finally, after several days of travel through fjord and glacier country, the town of Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan was reached. Sister Palm continues:

“Of all the Chilean towns, I always liked it the best. It has no flies, no fleas, no bedbugs and no beggars, and one sleeps more soundly and wakes more refreshed than in any other place I have visited.”

Witnessing in Punta Arenas required having literature in more than the Spanish language. There are many people of Yugoslav descent, and one could find many estancias (large sheep ranches) administrated by Englishmen. The estancias can have as many as 80,000 sheep on 250,000 acres. Till this day it makes for a picturesque scene to see the sheepherders riding their horses, accompanied by their well-trained dogs, against a backdrop of majestic mountains covered with glaciers that come down to the edge of beautiful lakes.

The people in this isolated region of Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales are well known for their friendliness and hospitality. Upon coming to an estancia, one is immediately invited into a large kitchen where a pot of coffee or of a mate (herb drink) is ready along with some bread. At mealtimes there is always a cordero asado (roast lamb) with as much as you want to eat. Much interest was found, and the response to the preaching work was good.

From Punta Arenas one can travel to Tierra del Fuego—Land of Fire—the name Ferdinand Magellan gave this island in 1520 while passing through the strait named after him. Sister Palm reached the small town of Porvenir on this island and had the privilege of spreading the seeds of truth in this distant part of the earth. A kind Estonian family gave her lodging for several weeks so that she could visit all the estancias in that region.

BACK NORTH

Winter was approaching, so it was time to head north by steamer. Sister Palm’s return trip took her to Chiloé Island. She writes: “As I went on to smaller ports on the island I found kind people. They always listened and had many questions and wondered how it could be possible to have been lied to for so many years about purgatory and hellfire. They nearly always took some literature.

“Near one small port the priest had managed to spy on my work. So when I did not watch closely enough, one of his dupes stole my saddlebag filled with books, also my handwoven, bright-colored Bolivian blanket. On reporting it to the police, they just shrugged their shoulders. But as I went on that day with what I had in my handbag a man came along the road. He had already heard of the theft and he wanted me to know that he and his wife and others were sorry. ‘Please come with me to my home,’ he said, ‘for my wife has a new blanket for you [handmade, of course] and please spend the night with us.’ So I went. It was an even better blanket; a larger poncho. I bought it at once; it was quite reasonable. I stayed the night with them, answering many of their Bible questions.” (After more than 35 years of use Sister Palm still has her Chiloé poncho.)

Moving north as instructed by Brother Traub, Sister Palm visited Osorno. The governor of this province was pleased to receive her. He showed her the book Government, which he had read and enjoyed. Then he promised that in Osorno no one would hinder our work, and that proved to be true.

On to the province of Valdivia. Here Sister Palm went to the seaport of Corral. She relates: “I found a union hall to play our one-hour lecture ‘Face the Facts’ and the hall was filled with the people I had invited. They even brought some of that beautiful national flower, the copihue, along with fern leaves to decorate the hall. So as to banish the smell of stale cigarette smoke in the hall I got some eucalyptus leaves to burn and it helped scent the air. A young girl went up to the gallery to look down on our decorations and said: ‘Hum, just like Atkinson’s perfume.’ (A famous English perfume in Chile.) Did I laugh! After the discourse the visitors took along their gifts of booklets and magazines and asked when would they hear more of those good things.”

ANOTHER ZEALOUS PIONEER

This account of scattering the seeds of truth along the length and breadth of Chile would not be complete without telling about another zealous pioneer, Theodore Laguna, who came here from the United States. Brother Laguna attended the 1935 convention in Washington, D.C., and heard the stimulating discourses of Brother Rutherford urging the Lord’s people to consider the possibility of carrying the good news of the Kingdom to South America. Brother Laguna was fired with enthusiasm and made plans to move. On arriving in Chile in 1936, he took up the preaching work in the city of Concepción. After several years of pioneering, Brother Laguna married and began to raise a family in the city of Chillán, where he helped the spiritual growth of the congregation there.

These self-sacrificing pioneers, before the arrival of graduates from the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, played an important role in those early days of the preaching work. Many seeds of truth had been scattered from Arica to Punta Arenas and even to Tierra del Fuego. Though lying dormant until more preachers of the “good news” could reach them with additional waters of truth, they were planted and were awaiting the moment to blossom and grow to Jehovah’s praise.

FIRST KINGDOM HALL—FIRST CONVENTION

In 1944 construction began on the first Kingdom Hall to be built in Chile. A sister donated the property in Santiago, and the brothers went to work with brick and mortar. It was finished in August of that year, in time for the first convention ever held in Chile.

The public talk was “Peace—Can It Last?” with 250 persons in attendance. Four radio stations carried the lecture, and two of them continued to broadcast the Society’s programs for the rest of the year.

MISSIONARIES AND A BRANCH OFFICE

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1982 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses