Preaching And Teaching In Peace And Unity (1960)
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PREACHING
AND TEACHING IN PEACE AND UNITY
PREACHING AND TEACHING IN PEACE AND UNITY
PREACHING AND TEACHING IN PEACE AND UNITY
“Seek peace and pursue it.
For Jehovah’s eyes are upon the righteous.” —1 Pet. 3:11, 12.
ISSUED JANUARY 1, I960, BY THE
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA BROOKLYN, N.Y.
Made In the United States of America
To the Minister of Jehovah’s Kingdom
This booklet Preaching and Teaching in Peace and Unity is written tor persons dedicated to the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, Jehovah God, through Jesus Christ By your study of the Bible and such Bible helps as are distributed by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania you fully appreciate that Jehovah has a theocratic organization. In times past he has worked with his organization of dedicated people on earth in order to accomplish his purpose. Today he is doing the same thing. Jehovah’s witnesses are his name people, and these have been charged with preaching “this good news of the kingdom ... in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness.” To all persons who have dedicated their lives to God and symbolized this by water immersion and who have taken up his service, this booklet is issued.
This booklet offers practical recommendations on how to carry out one’s Christian ministry in peace and unity with his fellow witnesses. That each one may appreciate the Scriptural arrangement of Jehovah’s visible organization, every dedicated witness should read this booklet carefully, study it and then, as far as possible in his circumstances, work in harmony with this organization and these arrangements. When all of God’s ministers understand the various arrangements for helping those in the organization, the whole organization will run with greater smoothness and all will be able to co-operate better with persons that have responsibilities as to the direction of the work. Individually everyone dedicated wants to praise the name of the One to whom he is dedicated, and we know that greater accomplishment will come from this if we do our preaching and teaching in peace and unity to the honor and glory of Jehovah’s name.
From time to time this booklet should be studied in the service meetings of the local congregation in order that all may keep the procedures of the theocratic organization clearly in mind and that new Kingdom ministers may become well acquainted with it, for Jehovah is using this visible organization in this day to fulfill his purpose.
This booklet has been issued to# '
(Name of ordained minister)
(Street address)
(City and State, or •Fntvine'e ' ” ~“
(Signature of overseer who issued Utts booklet)
PREACHING AND TEACHING IN PEACE AND UNITY
CHRISTIANS who have dedicated themselves to Jehovah
God know that over 1900 years ago he sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that those exercising faith in him might have everlasting life. This Son, Christ Jesus, became Jehovah’s chief Minister and Witness and fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1, 2: “The spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to call out liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening of the eyes even to the prisoners; to call out the year of good will on the part of Jehovah and the day of vengeance on the part of our God; to comfort all the mourning ones.” This Christ Jesus surely did after his baptism in the river Jordan. It was there that he symbolized his dedication to the new service of Jehovah, his Father.
2 Now that we have dedicated our lives we must study the pattern that Christ Jesus set and then walk in his footsteps. Outstanding in his ministry was the proclamation: “The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” (Matt. 4:17) Jesus knew that his followers must spread this good news of the Kingdom far and wide, to all nations, and he commanded them: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the consummation of the system of things,” (Matt. 28:19, 20) His faithful followers right down to this day have followed out this command.
3 Now at the consummation of the system of things we see Jehovah God raising up his modern ministers known as Jehovah’s witnesses, and these are formed into a New World society. They are commissioned to "preach the word.” Christ Jesus has come again and he is on his throne in the kingdom of the heavens. That is why Paul was so sincere in saying to a young minister, as recorded in 2 Timothy 4:1, 2: “I earnestly beg you before God and Christ Jesus, who is destined to judge the living and the dead, and by his manifes-
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY 4
tation and his kingdom, Preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season.”
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
4 No matter what conditions exist throughout the world Jehovah’s witnesses continue to go forth preaching together in unity and teaching that Jehovah’s kingdom is the only hope for all mankind. Because of their earnest efforts in fulfilling Jehovah's command, the "other sheep” that Jesus said would be gathered are being brought together into one flock under one Shepherd in the New World society. Al) these dedicated servants of Jehovah God are ministers, and they want to preach and teach together in unity.—1 Pet. 2:21; John 18:37.
6 The world does not like our message, because it is God’s message, and Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.” (2 Cor. 4:4) Therefore persecution and great pressure are brought to bear on persons who preach this good news of the Kingdom by those who oppose the message. No matter what happens the responsibility is upon us to go forward preaching the good news, because we have dedicated our lives to serve Jehovah. “Now we are not the kind that shrink back to destruction, but the kind that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.” (Heb. 10:39) We have declared ourselves as Jehovah’s witnesses and therefore we must continue to preach as such. Jehovah himself has declared, “You are my witnesses.” In carrying out our God-given assignment "each one-will carry his own load of responsibility,” while working closely with Jehovah’s organization.—Isa. 43:8-12; Gal. 6:5.
» There are many things that we must do in order to prove our ministry and be able to carry out our work in peace and unity with the others of Jehovah’s witnesses in the theocratic organization. We must come to an accurate knowledge of the Word of God and obey it. We must not forsake the gathering of ourselves together, because by attending and participating in meetings we shall be able to incite others to love and right works. We must press on to maturity. Our attendance at meetings of Jehovah’s people is essential to .spiritual health and united activity.—Heb. 10:25; 6:1.
7 Co-operation with the service agency of Jehovah’s witnesses, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, is necessary. This Society has been used by the “faithful and discreet slave" in dispensing knowledge to the household ot faith for many years, and Jehovah’s blessing on that arrangement is very manifest. Support the local congregation arrangements for Bible study and field service activity, which is carried on under the supervision of the Society and under the direction of the appointed servants. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is interested in only one thing: the preaching of Jehovah’s kingdom world-wide, which is in vindication of Jehovah’s name and Word.
8God’s Word tells us: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching." (1 Tim. 4:16) A minister teaches, and in order to teach it will be each one’s responsibility, if possible, to go from house to house and preach this good news of the Kingdom. On finding interested persons make back-calls on them, and if they are truly delighted with the message of the Kingdom, start a home Bible study with them. If you have paid constant attention to yourself by attending all the meetings of the Society’s local congregation, you will be a fine, well-qualified teacher and can help these other sheep to see their own responsibility in these last days of the present system of things.
8 All of Jehovah’s dedicated witnesses are full-time ministers, every aspect of their life being affected by their ministry. When eating, drinking, caring for their families and doing secular work, as well as when studying God’s Word, attending meetings and engaging In the actual preaching and teaching work, they "work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah.” (Col. 3:23) Each one must maintain a proper balance in caring for all the various responsibilities that fall upon him as a Christian, doing “all things for God’s glory.”—1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Tim. 5:8.
“WITH THE MOUTH ONE MAKES PUBLIC DECLARATION”
18 If we seek first the Kingdom and Jehovah’s righteousness and want to tell other people about it, it will require time in Jehovah’s service—time in going from house to house so that we can publicly declare the Word of God by our mouths. It is essential that each one make public declaration for salvation. (Rom. 10:9, 10) In addition to each one’s making this public declaration by word of mouth, the Society has published printed sermons in books, booklets and magazines. These, along with God’s Word, the Bible, should be presented to the people so that, when the minister is not at the home to do the talking, the persons interested in God’s
Word can read and study on their own. We want these people to think like Paul, who wrote: “We also thank God incessantly, because when you received God’s word which you heard from us you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God, which is also at work in you believers.”—1 Thess. 2:13.
11 Jehovah’s witnesses are all interested in using the same method of preaching and teaching as that employed by Jesus and his disciples 1900 years ago. Jehovah’s chief Witness preached the kingdom of God at the homes of the people and publicly. It made no difference to him whether few were in his hearing or many. (Matt 9:35; Mark 6:32-34; Luke 5:1-3; 8:1) Jesus having set the pattern, the disciples followed him by preaching in the same manner. (Luke 10:1-5; Acts 5:42; 20:20, 21) Jehovah’s witnesses today can do no better, for the best way for them to preach this good news is to go directly to the people’s homes, call again and again if they show interest, starting a free home Bible study. If the persons we find are other sheep and are to be gathered to Jehovah’s New World society, then we should continue to call on them, having the same idea In mind that Paul had, namely, a “view to the training of the holy ones for ministerial work.” (Eph. 4:12) Thousands upon thousands of persons upon whom we call will appreciate that “this undeserved kindness was given, that [they] should declare to the nations the good news.”—Eph. 3:8.
22 It is not our purpose as Jehovah’s witnesses to convert the world. Jehovah’s witnesses fully realize that it is impossible to do this and that their burden of responsibility is to proclaim the Kingdom message throughout all the inhabited earth for a witness and seek to help persons who are of good will toward God and upright in heart so that they, too, may learn of Jehovah’s purposes. (Ps. 64:10; Matt. 24:14) In doing this work Jehovah’s witnesses are not salesmen or peddlers of the Word of God, but they do use Bibles, books, booklets, magazines, tracts and other printed material, leaving these with interested persons for a small contribution sufficient to cover the cost of printing and handling these publications. Many of the persons met in the witnessing work are unable to contribute, and so millions of copies of booklets, magazines and tracts are given away yearly so that these persons, too, can be comforted. The work of the Watch Tower Society and Jehovah’s witnesses is not a commercial work. The publications are printed so that we can carry out to a
fuller extent our responsibility of preaching this good news of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness,—2 Cor. 2:17.
13 Having this glorious treasure of service and having the privilege of acting as representatives for Jehovah God, Jehovah’s witnesses will at all times conduct themselves as ministers in a manner befitting their representation of the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and his kingdom. Therefore, their appearance will always be one of neatness and cleanliness. Their words will be gracious and they will speak in a kindly manner to the people. They will always have in mind that they are Jehovah's representatives and will act as such: “In no way are we giving any cause for stumbling, that our ministry might not be found fault with.” (2 Cor. 6:3) Our message and deportment will be as “ambassadors substituting for Christ, as though God were making entreaty through us."—2 Cor. 5:20.
TERRITORY
i i Each congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses is assigned a certain section of the country, which we call the congregation’s territory. The congregation should see to it that this territory is worked thoroughly as many times through the year as possible. An effort should be made to witness to the occupants of every home in the territory.
15 Individuals, that is, congregation publishers and pioneers, may have assignments to cover within the congregation’s territory. The congregation should divide its territory into small sections, and if any individual publisher wants one of these sections anywhere in the congregation territory to work himself he may have it if it is not assigned to someone else.
16 The magazine-territory servant will issue all territory, assigning it either to an individual as his assignment or to a congregation book study conductor, who will always hold territory convenient to the service center, the place where the congregation book study is held. Study conductors should check out only the territory they need for group witnessing, returning it in the regular way for checking out again or to get other open territory in the vicinity of the service center. Those persons who attend a congregation book study and who want to work in group witnessing can receive a portion of territory to work from the study conductor at the service center. The study conductor will be the one responsible for seeing that all the territory is properly covered
GROUP WITNESSING 8
before it is checked in. It is hoped that all territory will be covered once every four months.
it All the territory assigned to a congregation—towns, cities, rurals and the business sections within cities—should be worked in the most practical and systematic manner. It is the responsibility of the congregation servant and the magazine-territory servant to see that all persons within that territory are given the opportunity to hear the message of the Kingdom.
GROUP WITNESSING
18 If individuals want to work with groups, this group witnessing may be done from the service center, the Kingdom Hall or some other convenient location selected for field service on weekends, during the week and evenings. Group witnessing is encouraging for those who are newly interested, as it gives them the opportunity of going with someone else until they are thoroughly trained. However, any day may be used for field service, and those who do not find it possible to meet with the group or can save time working alone should be encouraged, to share In the-service sX. times that are convenient to them.
19 When the time for assembly arrives all on hand should co-operate with the one in charge and leave promptly for the field service. If the assembly is at the sendee center or the Kingdom Hall it would be good to have a brief discussion on the daily text, some ccmmenta on the presentation for the month, points from a recent service meeting, or some short experiences. This entire discussion should not last for more than fifteen minutes. Sufficient territory or houses should be assigned to the individuals working them to keep them busy for the hours set aside for service. If an area can be properly worked with two or three publishers, then no more should be sent to that particular section. Larger groups can always be assigned to the more densely populated areas.
so Local conditions will govern the time you should begin service on weekdays or on Sunday mornings. Each congregation servant is acquainted with the general routine of the inhabitants of the territory and he can decide, when it is best to start witnessing from door to door. Every minister of God should devote as much time every week preaching as he can possibly arrange. It is a good thing for individuals to have some territory assigned to them near their homes so they work, as they have opportunity, from house to house, With the most recent publications or magazines. The con-
gregation should do everything it can to make things convenient for the members of the congregation to get out into the field service, for that is our principal method of spreading this good news of the Kingdom.
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE PRF.ArMlNC
81 There are many methods of doing service work, but the most effective way of preaching the good news is for a dedicated person to go from house to house and talk to the people in their own homes. It is by sharing in this activity that one receives the greatest joy and contentment in Kingdom service and is brought on to maturity. Every minister should be equipped to give several three- to eight-minute sermons and particularly have one in mind when he Cails at a house. If circumstances make it evident that a sermon other than the one you had planned, or a different arrangement of the sermon you have, would be more appropriate, endeavor to be flexible in your presentation.
22 Those who are experienced house-to-house publishers have the privilege of assisting others who are new in the truth, or others who wish to observe someone else’s method of preaching, and of taking them along in the service until such time as they wish to go alone. The congregation servant has a responsibility in seeing to it that the newer ones are properly trained to present the truth in a pleasing, clear manner, and he will arrange for them to go out with the more mature publishers in the work. The study conductor can also arrange for the less experienced publishers to be accompanied by the more mature ones, who have greater experience. Being companions in the service in this manner, we shall be able to help one another go on to maturity and, when we are able to present the message without difficulty, then, at every opportunity, we should go alone from house to house. When the circuit or district servant visits the congregation he, too, will be pleased to go with you, to help you improve your house-to-house activity. Every publisher should be able to learn something through this experience. All dedicated servants of Jehovah should strive to do the work just as Jesus did it, going from house to house preaching the gospel. Regularity in this brings rich blessings.
i3 It is recommended that each publisher keep a house-to-house record and make notation on these sheets. It will aid him to know on whom to make return calls and it will assist him to cover his territory thoroughly by calling later on the persons who were not at home.
BACK-CALLS
When, In the house-to-house work, one finds interest and places literature with the interested person, it is the part of wisdom to follow up this placement and see how the person is getting along. Making a back-call on this individual may help to develop it into a home Bible study. It is our responsibility to feed the other sheep. If each publisher keeps a house-to-house record of the literature placed with interested persons, it will be easy to make the return call. It is better for the person making the initial visit to make the return call within a week. It is recommended that on these return calls the publisher have a ten- to fifteen-minute sermon prepared on the subject that was of greatest interest on the first visit, perhaps even conducting a portion of the discussion right out of one of the Society’s publications, along with the Bible.
ss Back-calls may be made on persons who have not obtained literature, or maybe who xeceived only a tract, but who have shown interest. Our purpose is to find the other sheep, and the back-call and Bible study work will accomplish this. Back-calls should be made on the placements of all books, booklets, magazines, subscriptions for The Watchtower and Awake? or on any person whose name is turned in to the congregation with a request that a call be made on the individual.
s'JThe evening is a good time to make these return calls. Groups can meet at the service center and go out from there to the territory worked in previous weeks. Of course, you can make your calls at any time that is convenient. If persons are working in the same territory week after week they will find it very convenient to make back-calls without too much extra effort, because they will be in the location of these persons witnessed to. Plan your back-call work. Having newly interested ones go with you is a fine way to help them get further experience in preaching the good news.
27 When a subscription for The Watchtower or Awake! is obtained, the publisher will find it advantageous to call back and deliver the current issue and talk a little more concerning the kingdom of God. Try to start a home Bible study.
»s When a subscription expires at the end of a year and it is not renewed by the subscriber, the Society sends to the congregation a back-call slip on this expired subscription. These calls should be made immediately, and the publisher getting the subscriber to take The Watchtower or Awake? may count it as a new subscription and should be sure to make back-calls and endeavor to start a Bible study.
HOME BIBLE STUDIES
»Each publisher should endeavor to conduct at least one home Bible study every week. It may require a number of calls on the part of the minister to get a home Bible study started, but if interest is shown in a home, always follow through. Any one of the Society’s publications may be used as a textbook. Some may prefer to have you study The Watchtower with them or certain articles in Awake! magazine or even a booklet. We shall leave it to the publisher’s discretion as to what he thinks best to study with the individual, to get him started in seeking truth. When you do get the study started, it should be weekly if possible.
«• After you have started the study you will have to determine when the student is properly adjusted religiously to show him the Importance of opening each study with prayer and concluding with a prayer, thanking Jehovah through Christ for the Information received. There is no arbitrary ruling as to how the study should be conducted, but be sure that the student really understands the points discussed. We strongly recommend the conductor's urging the students to study the lesson before the conductor comes. Then you can ask the questions on the paragraphs, have the student answer the questions, look up scriptures that are cited, and then read the material in the paragraph. If it can be so arranged, the study should be an hour in length and held weekly. At the end of the month each one conducting a Bible study-should turn in a Bible study report. After proceeding with a private study with an individual or a group for a while, it is always good to invite them to the congregation’s meetings. When you have prepared them for it and think they are ready, invite them to join you in the field service. Encourage them to talk to their own neighbors and to invite their friends to the study if they wish to do so.
81 A home Bible study may be continued with a newly interested person even after he has started preaching the truth. The study will be continued, however, only as long as necessary. He should be brought along to a mature understanding of the truth so that he is able to preach effectively. It would be a very good thing if everyone who goes out preaching would be acquainted with the material in the books "Let Got! Be True" and "This Means Everlasting Life." These two books contain fundamental teachings of God’s Word. Of course, the student should read all the other publications as well, but these, we feel, should be studied, either first in a home Bible study or at some later date. After you have conducted a home Bible study for two or three months, your students should be invited to go with you to the nearest congregation book study at the service center.
32 There is no definite length of time the Society sets for a minister to continue a home Bible study with any particular individual. Each publisher will have to decide for himself how long he should continue. Remember, however, we are gathering the other sheep and it may be wise not to extend our time on one individual too long and thus possibly neglect others in our territory who may show greater progress. If you finally decide to discontinue your study with any individual you should always welcome him to the congregation meetings. If a study is discontinued, the study report should be turned in properly marked. It may be that someone else who has no study will want to take up where you left off, for the sake of experience. Or it may be decided to remove the name from the study record file because sufficient effort has already been put forth.
MAGAZINE ACTIVITY
33 Another method of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom is through distribution of the magazines The Watchtower and Awake! The Society recommends that one day or a few hours a week be set aside by each publisher for the distribution of these magazines, either in house-to-house work or from store to store or on the streets. Generally, Saturday is designated as Magazine Day, but this need not be your congregation’s Magazine Day. It may be any day of the week. However, when the circuit servant visits your congregation he will consider Saturday as the Magazine Day. From experience it has been proved that by going from house to house with the magazines or from store to store a greater distribution of the magazines can be accomplished. You talk to more people in that way, Street magazine work may also be engaged in, but it is important to approach people. We let each publisher decide which type of work he will do. The more people that read them, the better our preaching of the Kingdom good news will be. We may offer both the latest issues of The Watchtower and Awake! on the regular contribution or a copy of either magazine at the regular contribution. It is a good idea to call back on persons who previously took magazines from you in the territory you are working, for very likely they will want them again. Magazine routes may be developed with The Watchtower and Awake! in this way. If, in time, it seems advisable to offer them a subscription, then carry subscription slips with you so that you can obtain their subscription and let the mailman bring the magazine to their home. Fine home Bible studies often develop from return calls on magazine placements.
34 Before the congregation book study the study conductor can arrange for the publishers who attend to do some house-to-house magazine work or even carry on some back-call activity before the study begins. This is a good time to do house-to-house work in the distribution of the magazines. House-to-house magazine work is a good way to start new publishers in the service. There is no need to use a three- to eight-minute sermon. Just a few words, about thirty to sixty seconds, can be spoken and the high points of the magazine mentioned. When you present only magazines, territory can be covered rapidly.
INCIDENTAL PREACHING
85 Being ministers of the gospel, we should be ready to preach the good news at all times and not only from house to house. There are many opportunities to do incidental preaching: to those who visit us, to relatives, during lunch time at work, in trains, on buses and with our friends and persons whom we meet from time to time. It is good to carry the tracts with us so that we can give these people something to read after giving them an oral witness.
83 Aged and infirm publishers can do a great deal of preaching by means of the telephone and letter writing and talking with'the people who visit them.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
37 Public meetings present another field of activity for all Kingdom publishers. While just one person delivers the public talk, still all those in the congregation can advertise it by the distribution of handbills and, where it is found advisable, by the use of placards. They can extend personal invitations to people of good will and then they can help these to attend and, by all means, attend themselves. Congregations should arrange for public meetings just as often as possible. If the local congregation does not have a sufficient number of speakers to have a public talk every week, it can communicate with nearby congregations, expressing the desire to have them furnish speakers from time to time. The Society announces series of talks that can be used by the congregations. In addition to the current series, the subjects of the previous two years may be used and advertised. The Society prints handbills that usually can be ordered and used for a variety of twenty-four different talks. These may be given at the Kingdom Hall or other locations. If it is advisable to speak on some special subject that you feel would be beneficial to the public audience usually attending, such subjects as appear in "Let God Be True” and "This Means Everlasting Life?’ may also be used. Handbills are not furnished for these, but advertising can be done by word of mouth.
as In addition to putting on a series of public talks in your Kingdom Hall for either eight weeks or longer, arrangements can be made for holding public talks in rural sections of the congregation's territory. A thorough witness In this territory should be planned in conjunction with the public meeting series. If there are many locations that can be obtained, such as community houses, lodge halls, schools, private homes of publishers, lawns, fields and parks, you can plan on using some of these, many of which can be obtained at a very reasonable cost or even free.
30 Good sound equipment comes in handy at such meetings; however, it is not always essential. When using sound equipment in parks or at any location, you should conform to local regulations as to operating the equipment. The loudspeakers need only be loud enough to reach the entire audience so that all can hear well.
‘’Public meetings can be arranged at the service center once a month or every other month if it seems to be advisable. In some places you may even want to put on a short series.
41 The Society furnishes printed outlines for all public talks that it recommends for certain periods. The congregation committee should see to it that only brothers who are qualified to deliver a public talk are used. From time to time the congregation may be called upon to furnish a speaker for a funeral service. The Society furnishes an outline for this talk, A competent person should be assigned to handle this assignment unless a special person is requested and can handle the funeral service.
REPORTING MINISTERIAL ACTIVITY
42 The Society as well as the local congregation is interested in knowing how great a witness is given month by month and year by year. We therefore request that all ministers make a weekly report to their congregation of what they have done in the way of preaching the good news.
43 The report slip furnished by the Society enables the publisher to make a daily note of his preaching activity. It can be totaled and turned in at the end of each week by the congregation publisher. The Information desired is:
44 “Books”: The total number printed by the Society and placed with the public and persons of good will, and all Bibles.
4® “Booklets”: Total number placed with the public and persons of good will.
« “Hours in Field Service”: Time spent preaching the Kingdom message to the public and to persons who are not yet baptized. Time to be reported is from when you call at the first house in your territory until you leave your last call. Time doing incidental preaching to those who visit your home or to those at any other place may be counted as time in the field service. Time spent writing letters to give a witness may also be counted.
41 “New Watchtower and Awake! Subscriptions”: Total number obtained as new subscriptions from the public.
43 “Individual Magazines”: Total number placed with anyone other than another publisher.
4» “Back-Calls”; Total number of return calls on persons who have previously showed interest or whose name you were given with the request that you make the call. The person who previously showed the interest should be contacted and a further witness should be given, even if it is not always possible to give a full back-call sermon. A back-call is reported each time you conduct a home Bible study. (Magazine route deliveries are not to be reported as back-calls.)
“At the end of each month publishers conducting home Bible studies should fill out a Bible study report for each study conducted. New studies should not be reported until they have been held twice after the call on which the study arrangement is first demonstrated and there is reason to believe that the study will continue. Pioneers working in congregation territory will turn in their Bible study reports to the congregation also, but the pioneer will report on his own report card, directly to the Society, the number of home Bible studies conducted. The congregation will not report Bible studies conducted by pioneers.
51 Before an individual is invited to go along in the field service, and so appears to the public to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses, the one who is teaching him should explain what the Scriptures say about honesty, relations between the sexes and drunkenness. Be sure that he understands that before one has the privilege of sharing in the field service his life must harmonize with these Scriptural requirements. (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9-11) However, we may study with such a person to teach him the truth; he may even attend congregation meetings in order to acquire the knowledge and strength he needs to make the necessary changes before he qualifies to share in the field service. It is not good to urge people to start out in the service before they understand what it is all about or before they gain deep respect for God’s Word and its righteous requirements.
62 Any person who is morally clean and who shows a sincere desire to serve Jehovah God may share with Jehovah’s witnesses in preaching the Kingdom message and may turn in a report as a congregation publisher even though he is not as yet baptized. If anyone who does go out in the service on his own does not qualify to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses, the assistant congregation servant will not include this report with the congregation’s or post it on a card. (Matt. 6:24; John 15:19; 2 Tim. 2:3; Jas. 4:4) If you take a newly interested person with you in house-to-house work and you are teaching that one how to carry on the witness work and if that one assists by taking part in the conversation with the people of the home, that one, too, may report time in field service. If it is deemed advisable for two persons to work together in some territory, both may count the time but only one may count the back-call or study. No publisher should turn in a report for someone else unless the other person is incapable of making out his own report due to physical handicap or inability to read and write. A person may have a good knowledge of the truth and be able to witness because of hearing the word even though unable to read and write. These persons should be helped to become literate and should be urged to attend the theocratic ministry school, so that they may be helped there to advance to maturity more rapidly and become more able ministers.
53 Parents may take their children out into the field service with them, but it the children are not interested in preaching and are just going along because they must, they should not be reported as publishers. Young ministers may turn in field service reports when they understand what they are doing, show a desire to do that work because they know it is Jehovah’s will and are able to make their own presentation in some feature of the service, even with the magazines. Parents should take their own children into the field service and not place that responsibility upon other publishers. The reason for going out into the field service is to preach the good news, and we should not have any persons going with us in that work unless they want to. The only exception would be in the case of parents, who should take their own children because that is their responsibility. If young children are desirous of going out into the service and they need further training, then it is perfectly proper for them to go out with other publishers who are willing to assist them to attain greater maturity.
54 There are many essential services that we perform daily in connection with our service to Jehovah that we do not report as field service. For example, our personal study, attendance at congregation meetings and public talks, visiting the sick and needy, studying with newly baptized ones, traveling to and from territory, assisting in keeping congregation records, cleaning the Kingdom Hall and arranging seats, and other various duties that are our privilege to perform in God’s service week by week and month by month. AH of these are necessary services and we joyfully do them, but we do not report them as field service time, because the record the Society wants concerning time spent in field service is the number of hours actually spent taking the good news of the Kingdom to those persons who are not already in the truth. By so doing we fulfill our obligation of preaching the good news of the Kingdom in all the world as a witness, in unity with our fellow publishers.
CONGREGATION REPORTS
55 Each minister appointed to preside over a congregation meeting will turn in a study report to the assistant congregation servant at the end of each month. The attendance given should always include the conductor.
88 All public meetings, including those given at service centers, should be reported to the assistant congregation servant so that these will be included in the monthly report to the Society. Pioneers in isolated territory will report their public meetings on their own report cards, which they send directly to the Society. District servants will report public talks given at circuit assemblies.
57 Most individuals desiring to symbolize their dedication are able to do so at circuit or district assemblies. However, should a circumstance arise that would make it necessary to have baptism administered by the congregation or a pioneer, then the number of persons baptized should be noted on the bottom of the monthly report card that is sent to the Society. If the congregation arranges for the baptism, the congregation reports it. Those rebaptized are not to be counted.
88 No later than the fifth day of each month the congregation servant should send in the field service report for the entire congregation. If the congregation is to submit an accurate and complete report to the Society each month, then every congregation publisher must turn in a complete service report and all home Bible study reports by the end of the month.
88 All reports received by the Society’s branch offices are compiled and the monthly report is published in Kingdom Ministry. The annual, world-wide report of the preaching activity of all of Jehovah’s witnesses appears in the Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Through Kingdom Ministry and the Yearbook every minister of the New World society can watch the steady progress and the expansion of the Kingdom work locally, nationally and internationally.
PIONEER MINISTERS
«• This privilege of service is open to all regular publishers who have been preaching the good news of the Kingdom for at least six months since the date of their immersion, have averaged twelve hours, nine back-calls and one home Bible study a month for the past six months, and they should have a favorable recommendation from the local congregation. Pioneers are required to meet a minimum quota of 100 hours a month or 1,200 hours of field service a year. The Society's service year begins September 1 and ends August 31 of the following calendar year.
81 If necessary, a pioneer may engage in secular work to provide things essential for his livelihood. (Acts 18:2, 3; 20:33, 34) This secular work must be viewed as secondary to the pioneer service and thus kept to a minimum. If the pioneer can arrange his affairs to put in well over 100 hours he will receive greater blessings. To help pioneers continue in the service, literature is provided to them at special rates.
62 The Society will furnish pioneer information and pioneer application blanks to any congregation publisher upon request. When the pioneer application blank is filled out it will be turned over to the congregation servant for the committee’s consideration, and then be mailed to the Society. If the applicant has ever been disfellowshiped or put on probation, this should be mentioned in the committee’s comments, stating when and for how long. The Society will decide whether to accept the application or not, basing its decision on the congregation committee's report, the publisher’s field service record for the past year, the committee’s comment on the record, and other information the Society may have available. If the application is accepted, notification of acceptance will be sent to the congregation servant. If the application is rejected, the Society will notify the applicant directly.
63 Anyone making application for pioneer service should do so at least thirty days before he desires to begin pioneering. The applicant for pioneer service may request that he be assigned to work either with a congregation or in unassigned territory. The Society will send pioneer supplies when the individual is enrolled.
34 If, because of sickness or other unavoidable circumstances, one is unable to reach the minimum pioneer requirement for a month, an explanation for the shortage of hours should be noted on the bottom of the pioneer’s report card. The pioneer should arrange to make up the lost time so that he is able to reach at least 1,200 hours yearly, making a monthly average of 100 hours. Each pioneer must make a monthly report regardless of the amount of time spent in the field service. He should save his weekly record sheets for at least one year and make them available to the circuit servant during Uis visits.
03 The primary responsibility of the pioneer is to devote his time to the preaching work, engaging in house-to-house, back-call, home Bible study and magazine activity. He should direct all newly interested ones to the congregation. If working in congregation territory he should attend the congregation meetings, as he did when he was a congregation publisher. Everything that applies to the congregation publisher applies to the pioneer, except that the pioneer will be spending more time in the field service than a congregation publisher and will report direct to the Society.
66 If a pioneer desires a change of assignment he will write to the Society concerning the change. At any time the pioneer does change his assignment he will send in his old assignment card, and if it becomes necessary for the pioneer to stop the pioneer service he will write to the Society and tell them why he is leaving the pioneer service and also return his pioneer identification and assignment card. The congregation and the pioneer will be notified of his removal.
67 If a pioneer goes from one country to another and intends to stay more than three months, he should make a request to the Society to have his pioneer records transferred to the branch ofiice in the country to which he is going. Upon arriving in the new country and wanting to take up the pioneer service there, he will notify the Society’s branch ofiice in that country of his plans and where he hopes to work.
SPECIAL, PIONEER MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES
68 From the pioneer ranks the Society selects and appoints special pioneers and missionaries who are willing to go into unassigned territory and organize a congregation. These ministers must systematically work this territory from house to house and follow up with back-calls. They will gather the interested persons and try to organize them into a congregation so they can represent Jehovah God in that particular territory. A Watchtower study should be started as quickly as possible when the interest warrants it. Have in mind especially the training of the local individuals so they will be able to assume the responsibilities of a local congregation. Usually the special pioneers and missionaries are allowed to remain with the newly organized congregation for a while until such time as it is seen that the congregation can advance by itself.
69 The special pioneer and missionary quota is a minimum of 150 hours and 50 back-calls a month. A special money allowance is granted them each month, for which they are required to meet their hour and back-call quota. In one month of the service year one may have two weeks off, but must meet half the monthly quota to get the allowance. Special assistance is given the special pioneer or missionary at the end of the year for each month that he puts in 150 hours and makes 50 back-calls. This is sent out following the close of the Society’s service year. About every six months the circuit servant will work one week with these ministers in their isolated territory. At the completion of his visit the circuit servant will submit a report on the activity of the special pioneers or the missionaries he visits.
VACATION PIONEER SERVICE
« Any individual that has been a regular publisher for six months and has symbolized his dedication by water immersion may apply for vacation pioneer privileges. Applications for vacation pioneers will be handled in the same manner as was described under the heading Pioneer Ministers.
71 Vacation pioneer service may be enjoyed at any time during the year by a publisher who can spend at least two consecutive weeks as a pioneer, or one, two or more months doing the same. The quota is 100 hours a month except for a two-week pioneer, who is required to report not less than 75 hours for the month. That will mean at least 50 hours during the two weeks of pioneering and 25 additional hours during the remainder of the month. At the end of the month vacation pioneer activity will be reported to the Society on the card provided. The publisher’s record card will be marked to indicate that the publisher was a vacation pioneer for that period.
CONGREGATION ORGANIZATION
n A congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses is one composed of a group of ministers. All these ministers, by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, are determined to preach the good news of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness. They work in the interests of one another and to help the people of good will to gain a knowledge of Jehovah’s truth. They believe in loving Jehovah God first and in following the Second Commandment of loving their neighbor as themselves.
73 When a congregation is organized and enrolled by the Society it is given a definite territory to work in. Bible literature is provided and other supplies are furnished so that members can work together as a congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses. From among the brothers who are most mature the overseer and the other servants are appointed to care for local congregation matters.
74 Congregation meetings will be held in the Kingdom Hall and at service centers. If the group is small and they cannot obtain a Kingdom Hall, then a private home will prove satisfactory. For the well-being of all the ministers of the congregation it is good for them to gather together regularly in meetings. By their studying together they will build one another up in love and in faith. All persons of good will are welcome and are encouraged to attend these meetings.
15 While Jehovah’s witnesses are not trying to gain members, we are trying to gather the other sheep, persons who want to praise Jehovah and gain life in the new world. Therefore the congregation is geared to expand and grow. It would be a reasonable hope of every congregation that they increase their number of ministers preaching the good news in the field by 10 percent annually. By diligent effort and with Jehovah’s blessing each congregation can increase 10 percent over the average number of ministers during the previous year. This increase shotdd be gained, if possible, by the month of December. By the end of April it is hoped to have increased the average number of publishers of the previous year by 20 percent. These new ones associating with the congregation should be cared for, they should be given proper instruction and helped to grow to maturity. At the congregation’s meeting place there should be a chart of the progress of their work.
™ The Society is very much interested in every congregation and, to help them in their spiritual welfare, the Society sends a circuit servant to each congregation once every six months or oftener. On the average of once every six months, a circuit assembly is arranged, to which the Society sends a district servant to serve all the congregations within that circuit. The circuit, district and national assemblies are arranged throughout the world for the purpose of pouring out special spiritual blessings on all of Jehovah's people. In these last days Jehovah has built up a visible organization, and the local congregation is a basic unit of the organization. With all the members of the congregation spiritually healthy, great progress will be made and a wonderful witness will be given to the honor and glory of Jehovah’s name.
ISOLATED PUBLISHERS
n When the Society is advised of a person or a group of persons living in territory not belonging to any congregation the Society will establish a congregation arrangement with these individuals or, if the territory in which they live is not too far from some congregation, will assign their territory to a nearby congregation so they will be part of a congregation of Jehovah's people. The Bible tells us that where 'two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name’ he will be in their midst; so, then, these isolated persons should feel confident and close to the New World society. These isolated ones should try to have Watchtower studies and other Bible studies so that they can keep abreast of the truth, and they should try to carry on all the service activity described in this booklet, all of which is in full accord with Jehovah’s commands.
PUBLISHER’S RECORD CARD
78 When an individual begins to preach the good news and reports his activity to the congregation, a publisher’s record card will be made out for that person. These cards will be divided into two groups, those who have symbolized their dedication by water baptism and those who have not. Each month thereafter his preaching activity will be noted thereon. The number of publishers comprising a congregation will be determined by counting the number of cards in the current publisher’s record card file. These cards will be available to the appointed servants and the book study conductors so they can ascertain the needed information and be in position to render the best assistance to the publishers in the congregation. All publisher’s record cards should be kept eight years by the congregation. Any dedicated publisher who regularly engages in house-to-house witnessing and is able to witness effectively without assistance from someone else may request an identification card from the congregation servant
79 Every individual should try to be a regular publisher. A regular publisher is one who goes out into the field service and turns in his report every month. An irregular publisher is one who does not engage in field service activity and report every month. Anyone who has been serving as a minister of the gospel for six consecutive months is considered a regular publisher, and so it should be with all ministers of the gospel. Certainly in thirty days everyone can find opportunity to preach the good news to some other person and to aid him to a better understanding of God’s Word. With this in mind everyone can be a regular publisher if he tries. When the time comes to select servants or book study conductors, those publishers who are regular and the most mature would be recommended as servants. One who desires to become a pioneer should certainly be a regular publisher before he makes application. By that is meant that he should not have missed a month of field service in the last six months., thus taking good care of his ministerial duties.
so when a publisher moves to another congregation he should take his current publisher’s record card and all previous ones in the file with him and turn them over to his new congregation servant. When the congregation publisher is away from his home congregation for less than three months he should send his report to that congregation by mail. If he is going to be gone for more than three months he should take the cards with him and turn them over to the new congregation.
KINGDOM HALL
81 The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses is the center of New World activity in the community. Its main purpose is its use for congregation meetings. All associated with the congregation should attend the meetings at the Kingdom Hall regularly. In addition to being used for regular congregation meetings and for service, it may be used for wedding ceremonies and funeral services. Such arrangements should be made through the congregation committee.
82 In some communities a congregation is small and a Kingdom Hall is not obtainable, so it may be necessary to use a private home. However, as soon as possible and advisable, arrangements to obtain an adequate Kingdom Hall should be made. The hall should be inviting and kept clean. A sign bearing the words “Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses” will serve to identify your place of meeting. If your hall has a window on street level, It is good to have an attractive display of literature so that passers-by may observe it. The display should be kept up to date, using current literature, and should be renewed or varied so as to be always neat and attractive. Newspapers that publish announcements of times of meetings free should be used, and you should post the times of your meetings prominently in front of your Kingdom Hall.
83 It costs money to keep up a Kingdom Hall, and all those associated with the congregation have the privilege of contributing financially and otherwise to the needs and maintenance of the Kingdom Hall. It would be well for the congregation servant to work out a schedule for the cleaning of the Kingdom Hall, so that it will always be presentable. The congregation itself must decide whether it will rent, buy or build a Kingdom Hall. Usually it is more convenient to rent property to be used as a Kingdom Hall than to buy it However, because of prejudice or other reasons it is sometimes impossible to rent property for meeting places and the congregation may prefer to buy property and build their own Kingdom Hall.
84 At every meeting at the Kingdom Hall there should be someone who is friendly appointed as an attendant or an usher, and strangers especially should be welcomed.
UNITS IN CITIES
w When a congregation in a city has 200 publishers or more it may be wise to form another unit. There may be other reasons for starting a new congregation. The congregation committee should give thorough consideration to this matter. There are a number of things involved: another Kingdom Hall, territory boundaries, availability of servants, and other points. After these things are thoroughly considered the congregation can submit an application to the Society for a new unit. Very often you will be able to wait for the visit of the circuit servant and then discuss the matter. He is in position to offer good counsel as to the making of more units out of your one.
88 The unit will be designated by a local geographic name describing its location, such as, "Central Unit,” “South Unit," or “Brooklyn Heights Unit.” Each unit will function separately as a congregation. The Society will send instructions and supplies to each unit and each unit will make its report directly to the Society.
8T Where two or more units exist in a city the Society will appoint one of the congregation servants as the city servant. The city servant has no jurisdiction over any congregation other than his own. However, the Society may wish to communicate with him relative to matters of a special nature, and advise him specifically as to what is desired. He may be called upon by congregation servants of other units for special counsel, but he is not authorized to make regular visits to other congregations or units.
SERVANTS* QUALIFICATIONS
88 From among all the ministers of the congregation it is necessary to select servants to direct the work of the congregation. These servants must be mature and steady workers in the congregation. No novice should ever be selected as a servant, nor should one who has ever been disfellowshiped. Men should not be chosen according to their natural ability or success in business affairs of this world, but, rather, according to their ability as a minister of the gospel. To qualify as an overseer one should show the fruits of the spirit, as set forth in Galatians 5:22-26. It is a true statement: “If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a right kind of work.” (1 Tim, 3:1) But the individual must be mature and know what kind of responsibilities go with the office of overseer. He should not want the position to lord it over his brothers, but, rather, to minister to them even as Christ Jesus ministered to the disciples. Whenever any person in a congregation is recommended for a servant’s position it would be good to read 1 Timothy 3:2-13 and also Titus 1:5-9 and see if the individual meets the qualifications set out. You will note that the apostle says he should not be a newly converted man, for fear that he might get puffed up. Maturity and long years of service qualify one to take the lead as an overseer.
88 Where there is a scarcity of mature brothers a recommendation may be made of a person who has been a publisher and who has symbolized his dedication at least a year previous. Ministers recommended for servants’ positions should be the ones who have been in the truth longest, for these should certainly be more qualified than those who have been in the truth for only a year. The circuit servant is to assist the servants in the congregation to care for their responsibilities and he is to help bring them on to maturity the best he can during his short visit. If he sees that a brother in a position does not qualify, then he should recommend a more qualified brother, if one is available. Sisters should not be recommended as servants if qualified brothers are available. The congregation committee may recommend individuals for servants' appointment when the need arises between the visits of the circuit servant. Paul says: “Doing nothing according to a biased leaning. Never lay your hands hastily upon any man."—1 Tim. 5:21, 22.
88 If recommendations for servants are sent to the Society, the committee should send in two names for each position to be filled, if such are available. Give the first and the second choice, the full name, age, years in service, date of immersion, whether of the anointed or other sheep, average hours, back-calls and home Bible studies for the past six months. Similar information should be given to the Society for those recommended as study conductors; however, here only one name need be submitted for each recommendation. If the individual was ever on probation, this should be mentioned, as well as the reason for the probation, its length and when it terminated. If a new congregation servant or assistant congregation servant is recommended, a full mailing address and telephone number should be given. Complete and specific reasons for recommending a change should be stated by the committee. All three committee servants should sign the letter when sent to the Society. If the circuit servant is scheduled to visit the congregation soon, the committee can wait until his visit to make their suggestions for a change. At no time is the Society bound by the recommendations made by the circuit servant or the committee, but the Society is pleased to receive and consider the recommendations.
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