1992 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses
Source: jw.org
Contents
Title Page/Publishers’ Page
Index
Jehovah’s Witnesses—1992 Yearbook Report
Worldwide Report—1991 Grand Totals
Worldwide Report
Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times
Kenya and Nearby Countries
Solomon Islands
Coping With the Turbulent Seas of Restless Mankind
Title Page/Publishers’ Page
Title Page/Publishers’ Page
1992 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Containing Report for the Service Year of 1991
While people of the world push more and more for independence, may we, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, adhere closer and closer to one another as we rejoice in our unifying hope and keep steadfast in prayer. Thus, for 1992 our yeartext is: “Rejoice in the hope. . . . Persevere in prayer.”—Rom. 12:12.
Index
Index
Page
3 Highlights of reports from around the world
33 1991 Service Year Report, 211 Countries or Territories
Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times:
66 Kenya and Other Countries
208 Solomon Islands
253 Coping With the Turbulent Seas of Restless Mankind (Letter from the Governing Body)
Jehovah’s Witnesses—1992 Yearbook Report
Jehovah’s Witnesses—1992 Yearbook Report
SOUTH of the Cogamis River sat the Lydian city of Philadelphia. Perched on a hilly plateau in the region’s fertile heartland, it presided over a broad valley leading west through Sardis to Smyrna on the coast of the Mediterranean. Philadelphia, now named Alasehir, in western Turkey, was once a prosperous center for wine production. Little wonder that its chief deity was Dionysus, the god of wine! But in stark contrast to the mirth that stems from wine sipping, the city was also the location of what Jesus called “the synagogue of Satan.” (Rev. 3:9) It was in this unseemly environment, where holy acts of conduct would seem out of place, that a congregation of true Christian workers flourished. It was one of the seven that Jesus Christ personally addressed in the book of Revelation. A door to theocratic activity had swung open before those loyal worshipers of Jehovah.
“I know your deeds—look!” stated Jesus, the holder of the key of David and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. “I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut—that you have a little power, and you kept my word and did not prove false to my name.”—Rev. 1:5; 3:7, 8.
Imagine, Christ’s fearless followers, a small, close-knit band who struggled against persecutors, were the ones blessed with a widely opened door of sacred service! No such privilege went to the religious leaders or the rulers of the city. They had earned no favor with Jesus as they wielded their power in Philadelphia—a choice spot because it lay on the frontier of culture and acted as the gateway to central Asia Minor. On the other hand, Jesus encouraged the Philadelphia congregation to take full advantage of their opportunity to preach the Kingdom of God. They had endured and shown that they had enough power, with help from God’s spirit, to continue with further deeds in Jehovah’s service. Neither Gentile nor Jewish opposition had stopped, nor will it ever stop, the Kingdom proclamation work.
Today’s Opened Door
Today, as a result of the preaching spearheaded by the anointed brothers of Christ, large numbers of people have entered through the opened door into Kingdom service. As you consider the worldwide service report, no doubt you will agree that during this past service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses have truly marched through a gateway of activity.
Peak publishers: 4,278,820, a 6.5-percent increase over the 1990 service year. A new high in the average number of pioneer publishers: 558,514. Total hours spent preaching the good news: 951,870,021.
What good results have come from all this theocratic activity during the 1991 service year? For one, 300,945 newly dedicated servants of Jehovah have been baptized. For another, there were 3,191 more congregations than in 1990—an average increase of 8.7 per day—resulting in a total of 66,207 congregations in 211 lands. Also, the total number of branch offices has increased from 93 to 97, including 2 branches in countries that were formerly behind the old Iron Curtain. And lands that have come legally to recognize Jehovah’s Witnesses are Mozambique in Africa, Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean west of Africa, Nicaragua in Central America, Paraguay in South America, Bulgaria in Europe, and Russia and the Ukraine in the Soviet Union.
How thrilling it is to see the prospects for future growth as evidenced by the number of those at the Memorial of Christ’s death. On Saturday, March 30, the night of the sacred celebration, the attendance was 10,650,158!
In Mexico, the Memorial attendance was 1,230,099, an 8-percent increase over the year before. This means that 1 out of every 67 inhabitants of Mexico was present for that celebration. And Brazil, with 302,367 publishers, had 897,739 persons in attendance, 106,813 more than the previous year. No wonder that, on the average, one new congregation had to be formed each day during the service year in Brazil, and 21 new circuits and two new districts began to function on September 1, 1991. The Memorial celebration in the Philippines brought joy to the brothers as they welcomed 332,830 to their places of meeting. This is three times their peak number of publishers. Eastern Europe also experienced a good increase in Memorial attenders. The Soviet Union reports 108,633 in attendance, 43 percent more than last year! Poland had 200,422 persons fill the Kingdom Halls and other facilities on that sacred night.
Violence marked the night of the Memorial in many townships in South Africa, causing many interested persons to stay home because of fear of being molested while traveling to or from the site of the Memorial. To give an example of the difficulties that some individuals faced, consider the situation of the Montebello Congregation in the rurals of Natal. This is a small congregation of ten publishers who have just built and dedicated their own Kingdom Hall. On Saturday morning, factional fighting broke out in that area. An elder in a neighboring congregation was assigned to give the talk. As he and his wife approached the village of Montebello, a local man who knew this brother asked him: “Where are you going?” He explained that they were going to the Kingdom Hall, where he would give the Memorial talk. The man then warned: “No, you must not go there because that is where people are killing one another.”
Sure enough, as the brother got near the hall, he counted ten dead bodies, victims of factional fighting. In spite of these dangers, 16 attended the Memorial. The hall was the only place in the area that had lighting. All the homes were in darkness out of fear of attracting troublemakers. After the Memorial the brothers and interested persons all slept at the home of a brother near the hall. The next morning, after they returned home, the factional fighting broke out again.
“Generous in Your Contribution”
The amazing growth of Jehovah’s people worldwide has meant an increase in the number of full-time ministers serving in missionary homes, as well as the number of special pioneers and traveling overseers. Although they are all volunteers who receive only a small monetary reimbursement for necessary personal items, nevertheless, the housing, feeding, and general care of these dedicated workers in their field service assignments required $40,219,589.01 last year. You are to be commended for your generosity, just as the apostle Paul commended the congregation in Corinth for their readiness to share. He wrote concerning the glory that goes to God “because you are submissive to the good news about the Christ . . . and because you are generous in your contribution.”—2 Cor. 9:13.
When honesthearted people see the earnest effort that Jehovah’s Witnesses put forth to advance the good news, even in the way they work together to build a new branch facility, many desire to do what they can to help further the Kingdom work. Ruth, a schoolgirl in Nigeria, is an example. After she visited the Bethel and factory complex at Igieduma, which was officially completed in April 1990, she wrote:
“I felt so happy to see the beautiful buildings and amenities provided at Igieduma Bethel. All of these were made possible by the voluntary contributions of brothers and sisters. While I was thanking Jehovah for this great work at Igieduma, a question came to mind. What had been my contribution toward the erection of these structures? Being a schoolgirl of 16 years of age, I had nothing to contribute financially. However, at the time of my visit, I had a hen that was laying eggs. Later it hatched them. On the day the hen came out with her chicks, I selected one of them and named it Igieduma Fowl. Unfortunately, some weeks later the chickens were plagued with a disease. One by one they died, including the mother. But Igieduma Fowl refused to die! Recently I sold the fowl and am now sending the money as my ‘widow’s mite contribution’ to the spreading of the good news.”
Another example comes from Ecuador, where a pioneer is studying the Bible with a blind couple who have begun attending meetings. Soon they wanted to know how they could prepare for the meetings. So the pioneer began recording the Watchtower lesson and book study material on tape. Do they appreciate this help? One day as the husband tended his stall at the market, a customer told him that she was giving him a bill equal to about five dollars for the goods she bought. In reality, she gave him a bill worth less than 50 cents. The loss was equal to a month’s rent for the blind couple. Nevertheless, this disappointment did not keep them from being present that night for the meeting. And, before leaving, he asked for the contribution box so that he could put in something for the Kingdom work. Noting this, the pioneer said: “Their appreciation really amazes me.”
Surmounting a Wall of Prejudice
Jehovah’s Witnesses highly value life, and they seek good medical care. But they do not take blood transfusions; this is a nonnegotiable religious stand. (Acts 15:29) How is it possible to overcome the wall of prejudice and rejection that the Witnesses often meet on the blood issue? HIS (Hospital Information Services) at Brooklyn trains and supervises elders to assist fellow Witnesses in a time of medical need. One instructor from this department said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses do not bang their heads against this ‘wall’ but rather try to surmount it. We are reminded of Psalm 18:29: ‘By my God I can climb a wall.’”
Since 1988, by means of 32 seminars, HIS has trained and set up 811 Hospital Liaison Committees in 62 major branches in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific area. These committees, made up of 3,846 elders, serve certain special needs of the 3.4 million Witnesses who may be hospitalized in those lands. Have the seminars equipped the elders to do this effectively?
One elder said: “We were equipped to make our viewpoint clear, with firmness and due respect but without being shackled by fear.” Another delegate said: “We learned how we can point to real alternative nonblood treatments, refer to medical sources, or offer to arrange contacts in order to uphold the principle of abstaining from blood.” A chairman of the department of surgery at one major hospital said: “You men, as I perceive it, are on the cutting edge of medical and legal information on blood use.”
Of course, expert medical knowledge was not the main point. A delegate observed: “Human knowledge was not the focus of attention, as it was constantly pointed out that Jehovah and his holy spirit are behind the arrangement.” A brother who came from what was formerly East Germany said: “The seminar also worked as an incentive to show even greater interest in sick brothers.” Yes, true Christians are under obligation to visit and be helpful to ailing fellow believers. (Compare Matthew 25:36.) Offering help and encouragement to brothers in emergency situations, including those who face a confrontation on the blood issue, is an expression of Christian love.—Eccl. 4:12.
‘Stretching out the Tent Cloths’
“Make the place of your tent more spacious. And let them stretch out the tent cloths of your grand tabernacle.” (Isa. 54:2) What Isaiah wrote about the birth of a new nation may, in principle, be applied to the growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Presently, more than 20 branches around the world are involved in major construction projects, to say nothing of the number of Assembly Halls and Kingdom Halls being built.
In the United States, there has been much progress during the last year on the construction of the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, N.Y. The 670-acre [270 ha] site is strategically located in a scenic rural area approximately 70 miles [110 km] north of Brooklyn and 45 miles [70 km] east of Watchtower Farms, Wallkill, N.Y. Construction is continuing on a number of buildings. Two of these are five-story residential buildings, while another is a three-story building for a kitchen and a dining room that will seat over 1,600 people. There are more than 650 brothers and sisters working on the project each day. More than 80,000 persons have visited the construction site since the visitors’ center opened in September 1990.
In Japan, when construction of the Tokai Assembly Hall started, a neighbor strongly opposed the project and tried to organize a campaign to stop construction. He came every day to check what was being done on the property, always grumbling. But one day when he came to the site, saw in hand, the brother in charge of construction stopped him. To the brother’s surprise, the man said: “I’ve been watching what you’ve been doing until now. And it looks like the bamboo grove is blocking your way. Let me share in volunteer service today.”
Not only do halls and branch buildings need to be built or enlarged but the number of languages in which we print literature also needs to be ‘stretched out.’ For example, the Computer Department at Watchtower Farms supports the Society’s worldwide computer system identified as MEPS. This system now assists with the composition, translation, and publication of written material in 205 languages.
Ministerial Training School—An International Door Opens
During the 1991 service year, the Ministerial Training School was conducted for the first time in languages besides English. These were French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The United States had its seventh class convene in Belleville, Michigan, and the eighth class in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The second and third classes in Britain were conducted in Surrey and Manchester. Foreign-language classes were held in Creil, France; Möllbergen, Germany; Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain.
Each morning the students assemble in a dining room at the school location, usually an Assembly Hall or a Kingdom Hall with auxiliary rooms, to consider the daily text as it is done in all the Society’s branches. As part of their training, students are assigned to comment on the daily text or to offer prayer at mealtimes. After breakfast, school begins at 8:30 a.m. There is a one-hour break for the noon meal, and then from one to two in the afternoon, the students engage in their work assignments, which may involve cleaning, washing the dishes from the noon meal, taking care of maintenance and repair jobs at the facility, or caring for the grounds outside. At 2:00 p.m. they resume their classroom activities. After classes they enjoy the evening meal at their accommodations, and they finish the evening with three hours of homework.
In harmony with the school’s purpose, these graduates are encouraged to be found faithful in doing the will of God whole-souled as they dutifully care for their various congregation responsibilities and other assignments.—1 Cor. 4:2; Eph. 6:6.
Legal Cases Open Doors for Preaching
“I well know that Jehovah will execute the legal claim of the afflicted one, the judgment of the poor ones,” stated David when subjected to persecution. (Ps. 140:12) Jehovah will come to the defense of his faithful worshipers in his due time and in his own way. He is on the side of the oppressed, the afflicted, and the wronged. In certain lands he may even use the legal system to open, or keep open, the door for the preaching work.
To assist in keeping the door open, the Legal Department in Brooklyn, with its staff of some 40 brothers and sisters, works under the direction of the Governing Body to care for necessary legal matters. Although legal systems vary from country to country, the great majority derive from nearly uniform principles of “natural justice” and “common,” or constitutional law. Recent world events like the impending economic unification of much of Western Europe and the dramatic political changes in Eastern Europe also highlight the increased interdependence of legal systems. As a result, the Legal Department is increasingly involved in assisting the Society’s branches when these are confronted with legal matters, such as our rights relative to the refusal of medical use of blood and the public ministry.
Restoring Property in Africa
When the 14-year ban in Benin was lifted last year, the government returned a number of previously confiscated Kingdom Halls, as well as the former missionary home in Porto-Novo and the former branch office building in the financial capital, Cotonou. These buildings are being renovated, and the government has permitted eight missionaries to enter the country.
When the ban came suddenly in 1976, our missionaries had less than a day to pack their bags and leave Benin. What happened to the branch literature and equipment at the branch office that the government seized? The answer became known finally in November 1990, when a man telephoned to say that some things belonging to the Witnesses had been stored at a house in the capital. Could the brothers come and collect them? To their astonishment, the brothers found over 5,000 books and booklets, including the personal libraries of the missionaries. Other items belonging to the Society included two washing machines, a gas cooker, gas bottles (some still filled with gas), a water heater, a bathtub, and a lawn mower. Though some of the books had yellowed, most of the material recovered was in good shape despite 14 years of storage. The books were made available to the brothers, who snapped them up to complete their personal libraries.
Publishing in Europe
A report from France states that after numerous efforts for more than a year, on May 16, 1991, the France branch finally received governmental permission to use their new four-color press. The first full-color issues of our magazines that were sent out to the congregations were The Watchtower of July 15 and Awake! of July 22.
Although Yugoslavia has been shaken by unrest, the Kingdom work continues, and in contrast with previous years, there were no fines imposed by the authorities because of the house-to-house preaching work. The full-color literature and magazines, which are printed in Germany, have greatly boosted the preaching activity in Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Slovenian, as well as in Albanian. Thus, despite legal roadblocks, Kingdom preaching advances. Jehovah’s work prevails!—Jer. 15:20.
Translation Services—A Tool to Spread the Good News
The confusion of man’s language during the building of the Tower of Babel caused the human family to become multilingual instantly. This created the need for a new profession—that of interpreter, or translator. In contrast, at Pentecost 33 C.E., holy spirit miraculously enabled men and women to speak in the languages of people from 16 different districts of the Roman Empire, without losing their own language. Although no superhuman translation occurs today, nevertheless, spiritual food is regularly supplied in more than 175 languages, much of it simultaneously.
All Watch Tower publications are first prepared in English, a language spoken by almost 9 percent of earth’s population. To dispense this material in the languages of the world, the Society has more than 900 skilled translators in 65 branches globally. The Writing Committee of the Governing Body orchestrates the worldwide translation effort from headquarters in Brooklyn. This includes establishing new translation departments, arranging for the training of translators, answering questions from branches, and providing appropriate tools for research. To assist this translation endeavor, in April 1989 a new department called Translation Services was formed.
Since words often have multiple meanings, translation is not a mechanical process of making a word-for-word replacement from a dictionary. Idioms present unique problems to translators because they cannot be translated literally. For example, the English expression “bite your tongue” in the June 8, 1991, Awake! does not mean to ‘inflict personal injury’; it means to ‘keep quiet.’ Also, the full sense of the original must be accurately conveyed in the translated language. Moreover, the spoken and written word is alive because it grows, expands, and changes as usage alters over time. A few years ago, who had heard of “glasnost,” “perestroika,” “right to life,” “pro-choice,” and “computer hacker”? Such expressions present a never-ending challenge for the translators.
Working closely with the writing staff of the Society, translators try to capture the exact strength and flavor of the English text. To ensure consistency, translators are provided with comments bracketed in the text that explain idioms and other grammar-related aspects of the English. How have the branches responded to this service?
Germany writes: “Our translators welcomed this long-awaited feature with great enthusiasm.” Ghana says: “The system of inserting the meaning of certain expressions has in a large way relieved us of much time-consuming research and pondering over the English material to be translated.” And Italy states: “We find it useful also when the Latin names for plants and animals are given. This saves a lot of time that the translator can now devote to the actual translation.”
Translation of the Bible is another major undertaking of the Society. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is currently available in whole or in part in 13 languages, and translation into 20 more languages has been approved. Until now, translators have labored an average of 15 years to translate it. In order to reduce the time needed for Bible translation, the Writing Committee directed an investigation to evaluate the effectiveness of computers. Human minds are infinitely superior to computers because they can get the sense of expressions and are able to select the “correct words of truth.” (Eccl. 12:10) However, it was found that computers can be very useful tools. So Bible translators take advantage of a flexible computer system to store and retrieve vital information on Bible words and expressions. It has exhaustive research capability to locate the Society’s explanations of Scripture texts. It is hoped that this will speed up Bible translation while maintaining the highest quality.
The Society is committed to giving the good news the widest possible publicity. The Watchtower, as of the January 1, 1992, issue, is translated into 113 languages, with 66 of these appearing simultaneously with the English. In other words, 95 percent of Jehovah’s Witnesses receive the same spiritual food at the same time. New publications are appearing in additional languages, including Albanian, Cambodian, Estonian, Georgian, Macedonian, Ndonga, and Nepali. The Governing Body will continue to direct efforts to strengthen the translation teams for the enormous task ahead. With Jehovah’s smile of approval, this should result in even more Bibles and Bible study aids being made available for all peoples, nations, and tongues.
Conventions That Open Doors to Godly Freedom
“I will laud you in the big congregation; among a numerous people I shall praise you.” (Ps. 35:18) Jehovah’s Witnesses take hold of opportunities to praise the Universal Sovereign, and they do so unanimously at their annual district conventions. During the past service year, when the “Pure Language” conventions remaining from 1990 were wrapping up in one part of the globe, the 1991 conventions with their theme “Lovers of Freedom” began in another section of the earth.
The highlight for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brazil took place during the months of August, September, and October 1990. It was the series of four-day “Pure Language” conventions. Some of the 110 conventions that were held in 68 cities scattered throughout the vastness of Brazil were international and served also delegates from many other countries. There was a total of 548,517 persons in attendance, and the 13,448 baptized delighted all.
These international conventions received good coverage by the local press and television. Jornal da Tarde, in a full-page report, said: “Contrary to other religious events, the convention gives no evidence of fanaticism—no one shouts, the religious hymns are soft, there are no showy cures nor persons with sacks after the money of the faithful. There is, on the other hand, an atmosphere of complete attention.”
This past year the “Lovers of Freedom” District Conventions held in Brazil in July and August 1991 were also a great success, and the discourses helped our brothers to cherish more deeply their God-given freedom. A festive atmosphere prevailed at these three-day spiritual feasts. The total attendance for all 98 conventions combined was 482,034, with 8,991 persons baptized.
In Italy a Catholic priest was one of the 245,161 people who attended the “Lovers of Freedom” District Conventions. He mingled with the crowd at the convention held in Brescia on July 19 to 21. He was so moved that he put a note in a contribution box. He wrote: “I am a Catholic priest, naturally in plain clothes, who wanted to see personally what these people, whom the church has always considered as just a handful, really do and say. Well, the 15 minutes that I spent in this stadium was enough for me to realize just how much time I had wasted until now. You are really an example to follow. You have made me think, and you have used that which I should use more often—the Bible. Who knows, one day I may also be with you, dressed in tie and jacket.”
Eastern Europe was the stage for three international conventions this past service year. Budapest, Hungary, hosted 40,601 delegates; Prague, Czechoslovakia, saw 74,587 attend; and Zagreb, Yugoslavia, greeted 14,684 conventioners. Delegates from the four corners of the earth made the crowded streets around the convention sites beautiful by their cheerful presence. Joy abounded among the delegates as they received good Bible instruction and renewed old acquaintances and made new friends.
The international convention held at Nepstadion in Budapest, July 26 to 28, had delegates visiting from 35 countries. It had been only two years, since June 1989, that Jehovah’s Witnesses were recognized legally. By contrast, several years ago, at the time when the stadium was being constructed, some of the brothers were in prison for their religious beliefs. The jailers bragged to them: “You’ll never see this stadium.” One of our brothers replied: “Who knows? Maybe someday Jehovah’s Witnesses will be there.” Because of that statement, he was beaten. But how happy that brother was to be present at this convention and to see the stadium filled with over 40 thousand in attendance!
Conventions were held openly for the first time in the Soviet Union. Tallinn, a coastal city in the now independent nation of Estonia, provided an ironic setting for some convention attenders. From the site where 447 persons were baptized, the brothers and sisters could see an old fortification that in 1950 and 1951 was used as a holding prison for some of them while they were awaiting their time to be carted off to prison camps in distant Siberia. Thus, sobering memories were momentarily awakened at this time of great rejoicing.
Branch Dedications: Another Opened Door of Opportunity
“Happy are those dwelling in your house! They still keep on praising you,” sang the faithful sons of Korah. (Ps. 84:4) Today, branch facilities open doors of opportunity to advance the worship of Jehovah. And when a new facility is dedicated, it is a special opportunity to sing praise to Jehovah.
Fiji
Tuesday, December 25, 1990, was a beautiful, warm, tropical day in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Thousands gathered for the dedication program of the newly completed branch office and residence extension. Fiji is made up of over 800 islands, of which about a hundred are inhabited. Fiji is home to more than 736,000 people, known for their contagious smiles and kind hospitality. It was not until 1913 that the first Witness of Jehovah arrived in Fiji. By the 1930’s, there was only a small band of three families holding meetings in Suva. In 1940 the work was officially banned. Following World War II, the ban was lifted. Hence, the way was opened for the first Gilead missionaries to enter Fiji on April 5, 1947, to work along with the 12 publishers then active in the service.
In 1957, Len Helberg, now living in Australia, and Len Heatley, a local pioneer, were sent to Gilead School. Upon their return to Fiji a year later, a branch office was opened in Suva. “We did not think it was a branch in those days,” recalls Brother Heatley. “We called it a ‘twig.’” Brother Helberg added: “But Jehovah knew what he was doing.” There was one congregation in Suva in the late 1940’s, but the good news has now spread throughout the whole South Pacific, so that today there are branch offices also in New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Western Samoa.
Lyman Swingle of the Governing Body delivered the dedication talk to 434 persons in attendance at the actual branch location and to an additional 3,489 at a nearby stadium hooked in by telephone landline to hear the day’s program. Considering that there are fewer than 1,600 publishers in Fiji, that was an excellent attendance. That evening, the Fijian brothers treated many of the delegates to a festive two-hour performance of singing and dancing.
Greece
April 13, 1991, was a historic day for the 334 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Greece, the date set for the dedication of the new branch facilities situated at Eleona, a rural area some 40 miles [70 km] north of the capital, Athens.
The day for the dedication dawned with overcast skies. Rain seemed imminent. But the lowering clouds could not detract from the serene beauty of the green carpet of barley fields around the 54-acre [22 ha] site dappled with blood-red poppies and yellow daisies. As representatives from all the congregations began to arrive, so did the rain, but this did not dampen the joyful spirit of the 3,815 persons present. The dedication program was also relayed by telephone to assembly grounds near Athens and Thessalonica and to the island of Crete. This link tied in a total of 13,484 persons.
The first convention in Greece was held 66 years ago, in 1925. Yet, the Greek Orthodox Church still actively opposes the Witnesses, as if they were a new religion. The clergy even organized a demonstration outside the premises at Eleona during construction of the branch. Riot police were on hand to maintain order and protect the property. The opposition backfired—the project was finished six months ahead of schedule.
Two members of the Governing Body, Milton Henschel and Albert Schroeder, were present for the dedication program. The day ended with a meal shared by the Bethel and construction families, as well as the delegates that had come to Greece for the occasion. The visitors enjoyed some traditional Greek dancing performed by brothers and sisters.
Hong Kong
On January 1, 1980, the branch office moved from a tiny facility to a more spacious and quieter one at 4 Kent Road in the suburb of Kowloon Tong. These premises were to serve the needs of the branch very well for eight years. Time then came for further expansion. Right on time a beautiful building suitable for a small branch office and Bethel Home became available at 12 Kent Road, and this was purchased. However, after only three years, it became obvious that another property would soon be needed. Again Jehovah provided.
One afternoon, a Catholic priest living at 16 Kent Road told the Branch Committee coordinator, “Our friends have gone.” He was referring to a Chinese family who owned 14 Kent Road. This family had moved out that weekend, and their house was for sale. It was ideal. The property at 14 Kent Road is an excellent addition to our other properties at numbers 4 and 12. This is a two-story, white reinforced-concrete building. The Bethel family now numbers 19, and there are accommodations for 30.
January 15, 1991, was the evening set aside for the dedication of this additional property. Lloyd Barry, a member of the Governing Body, gave the dedication talk, “Jehovah Keeps Making It Grow.” He is familiar with Hong Kong, having first visited there in 1956 with Nathan H. Knorr, then president of the Watch Tower Society. Since that time Brother Barry has often visited the branch, serving as zone overseer. His talk traced the history of the work from early beginnings down till today, when there are 2,320 publishers in 23 congregations in Hong Kong.
New Caledonia
Tucked away in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean is New Caledonia—the “Island of Light.” It is an island with natural sites of extraordinary beauty that have always been a favored haven for artists and a source of inspiration to them. In recent years, an increasing number of people have looked for a light that brings eternal life.—1 John 1:5.
Since 1977 the branch office has been located in a missionary home. Two existing bedrooms were converted into offices for use during the day. Translation, composition, and printing, as well as the handling and shipping of publications, were all done in an area measuring only about a thousand square feet [100 sq m]! This explains why the Governing Body approved the construction of a new Bethel building with a total area of more than 12,900 square feet [1,200 sq m]. It has six bedrooms and is located in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia. The main excavation started in January 1989.
The small group of 9 publishers back in 1956 has grown to 1,265. Including the Witnesses in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands, the branch office is now caring for the needs of more than 1,400 publishers. On December 15, 1990, the audience of about 2,700 were happy to hear David Mercante from the Society’s world headquarters, who was serving as zone overseer, deliver the dedication discourse. After the program, brothers from different islands put on a musical program with Kingdom songs and local dances.
Philippines
In 1972, when the branch was last expanded, there were 54,212 publishers in the Philippines. By the time new branch construction got under way in May 1988, the number of publishers had increased to more than 97,000.
The spiritual harvest began when the message of the good news was first heard on January 14, 1912, at the Manila Grand Opera House. Charles T. Russell, the Society’s first president, delivered the talk “Where Are the Dead?” to an audience of about a thousand. These early seeds of truth gradually bore fruit, and by 1930 a regular weekly Bible class was being conducted, with about ten in attendance. The first Philippines Bethel was a rented apartment, which began to be used in June 1934. The first parcel of land at the present location of the branch office in Quezon City was purchased in December 1947, and the building on it began to be used as a branch office in February 1948. Additional buildings were erected on the original two-acre [1 ha] property in 1953, 1962, and 1972.
With the growth of publishers during the 1970’s, there was a real need to “stretch out the tent cloths” of the branch. (Isa. 54:2) Initially, the neighbors were contacted to see if any would be willing to sell. No one was interested at that time. In fact, one neighbor said: “Chinese do not sell property. They only buy.” Amazingly, one by one, the neighbors who originally showed no interest in the Society’s inquiries to buy their property began to offer their lots and houses for sale. Over a period of six years, ten plots of land were purchased, thus tripling the property owned by the Society.
Construction of the 2-story factory and 11-story Bethel Home began in May 1988. International servants and local volunteers cheerfully joined forces to erect the new branch. The Japan branch helped with drawings from their engineering department and with monetary contributions to augment the Filipino brothers’ contributions.
Jehovah’s direction was repeatedly seen. For example, when procuring the roof sheeting and floor decking, the brothers learned that only one company in the Philippines handled the design that was needed. However, the branch project was number 301 on that company’s waiting list. An appointment was made to speak directly with the vice president of the company, and the volunteer nature of our work was explained. The board of directors of that company approved our request, and the branch order was moved to number 1 on the production list. This was very providential, as just after the delivery of the materials, workers in that company went on strike.
April 13, 1991, dawned bright and clear. The audience of 1,718 were delighted to welcome John E. Barr of the Governing Body for the dedication address. His subject? “Song of Theocracy’s Increase.” What an appropriate theme not only for this branch dedication but for all others.
[Chart on page 22]
Conventions Held in the Soviet Union and in Estonia
Date City Attendance Baptized
July 13, 14 Tallinn, Estonia 4,808 447
July 19, 20 Usolye-Sibirskoye, Siberia 4,205 543
Aug. 2, 3 Kiev, Ukraine 14,654 1,843
Aug. 3, 4 Lvov, Ukraine 17,531 1,316
Aug. 24, 25 Odessa, Ukraine 12,115 1,943
Aug. 31 Chernovtsy, Ukraine 14,137 1,126
–Sept. 1
Sept. 7, 8 Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan 6,802 602
Grand Total: 74,252 7,820
(Baptism total is an amazing 10.5 percent of peak attendance total.)
[Graph on page 18]
(For fully formatted text, see publication.)
Progression of Simultaneous Publishing
The Watchtower
Year Languages Published Simultaneous Languages Published
1980 106 0
1985 103 24
1991 110 65
Number of Languages
140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
Awake!
Year Languages Published Simultaneous Languages Published
1980 34 0
1985 54 14
1991 64 30
Number of Languages
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Simultaneous Publishing Benefits 95% of Jehovah’s Witnesses
[Picture on page 5]
Last year, 10,650,158 people earth wide attended the annual celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal
[Pictures on page 12]
Most of the graduates of the eight classes held this year are now serving in the six countries where the school has been held, but others have taken up assignments in the following countries: Austria, Benin, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Caledonia, Portugal, and Romania. Shown above is the first class in France and in Germany
[Picture on page 13]
All the ministerial servants and elders who graduated from the school this year have been assigned different service privileges. Depending on their previous experience and present qualifications, these include special pioneer assignments, missionary service, circuit work, and branch work. Shown above is the first class in Italy and the first one in Spain
[Pictures on page 20]
This little Polish delegate was one of 74,587 who attended the convention at Prague, Czechoslovakia
[Pictures on page 21]
Conventioners of Prague were moved to tears when the New World Translation Bible was released by A. D. Schroeder in the Czech and Slovak languages
Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb held international conventions. Delegates at Zagreb, Yugoslavia, rejoiced to sing Kingdom songs during the noon break
[Pictures on page 22]
Tallinn, Estonia, now independent, was the site for the first convention ever held in the Soviet Union
The book “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” was released in the Russian language and in other Eastern European languages
[Pictures on page 27]
Fiji
The Fiji branch in Suva, the capital, was dedicated on December 25, 1990. The reception area is tastefully decorated
[Picture on page 27]
Greece
On April 13, 1991, the new Greece branch facilities at Eleona were dedicated
[Picture on page 28]
Entrance courtyard to the new Greece branch
[Picture on page 28]
The reception area at the Greece branch is ready to welcome visitors
[Picture on page 28]
Hong Kong
The new addition to the branch facility in Hong Kong was dedicated on January 15, 1991
[Picture on page 29]
New Caledonia
The New Caledonia branch building in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia, was dedicated on December 15, 1990
[Picture on page 29]
Philippines
April 13, 1991, was the date for the dedication of the new Philippines branch complex in Manila, with office building and 11-story residence building. Printery is at far right
[Picture on page 30]
The 500-seat Kingdom Hall at Philippines branch office
[Picture on page 30]
Dining room with capacity for 400 at Philippines Bethel Home
Worldwide Report—1991 Grand Totals
Worldwide Report—1991 Grand Totals
Number of Countries 211
1991 Peak Publishers 4,278,820
1991 Average Publishers 4,071,954
Percentage of increase over 1990 5.9
1990 Average Publishers 3,846,311
1991 Number Baptized 300,945
Average Pioneer Publishers 558,514
Number of Congregations 66,207
Total Hours 951,870,021
Average Bible Studies 3,947,261
Memorial Attendance 10,650,158
During the 1991 service year, the Watch Tower Society spent $40,219,589.01 in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments
Memorial partakers worldwide: 8,850
Number of branches: 97
[Chart on page 34-41]
1991 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE
(See publication)
Worldwide Report
Worldwide Report
Africa
The wicked, writes the psalmist, “sits in an ambush” and “from concealed places he will kill someone innocent.” (Ps. 10:8) Down through the centuries, worshipers of Jehovah have been innocent victims of the viciousness of the wicked. It is no less so today in some parts of Africa.
Civil war in Liberia killed 33 of our brothers and forced many others to flee the country and seek refuge in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, escaping with only the clothes on their backs. Relief committees, set up in two cities on the borders of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, not only have looked after these destitute refugees but have also sent aid to the remaining suffering Witnesses in Liberia. Witnesses in Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana trucked tons of clothing, as well as medicine, food, and money, into Liberia. The brothers in Abidjan have also rushed to the rescue and are tenderly caring for a large group of refugees who also are in dire need of help.
Many of these brothers have undergone hair-raising, traumatic experiences. For example, an elder serving in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, recounts: “On July 27, 1990, my family and I were forcibly removed from our home at about two in the morning. The rebels marched us outside, where we joined several hundred of our neighbors. We were assured that after a brief search of the area, we could go back home. Well, we never did see our homes again. Instead, we were led to the main refugee camp 30 miles [50 km] away. I carried my wife’s aunt, who is an invalid, on my back the entire distance. We prayed constantly to Jehovah for strength, as we saw dead bodies strewn about everywhere.
“After about an hour of nightmarish staggering with the rebel escort just behind us, we fell into an ambush by government troops. Bullets were flying from all directions as we dived for the ground. Many people were killed; some escaped. Suddenly, I realized that my own 14-year-old son was missing! Quickly, 45 of us townspeople were captured and taken to an abandoned gas station. There it was decided that all of us would be executed. A soldier took his gun to fire at me, but he could not fit the ammunition clip into his gun. At that moment, the group’s commander arrived and ordered that we be taken to the military barracks. That night, nine persons were executed. We prayed to Jehovah to help us remain faithful.
“The next morning the commander decided that all of us could leave. He even offered to drive us in one of his trucks. We declined and asked instead for a wheelbarrow in which to carry my wife’s aunt, and then we set off by ourselves. Halfway to our destination, the army trucks zoomed by. As they reached the intersection in front of us, a deafening explosion ripped the air. Heavy machine-gun fire followed for almost 30 minutes. Stray bullets were zipping in all directions while we scrambled for cover. The military convoy that had offered to transport us had been completely wiped out. How thankful we were not to have accepted the commander’s offer of a ride!
“Although my wife was five months pregnant, she managed bravely to walk 36 miles [58 km] in just one day. We still faced a problem of escaping. A Lebanese brother, learning of our predicament, arranged to pay our fares on the only means of transport out of the country, an old bus.
“We finally made it safely across the border into Côte d’Ivoire. We were very sad, though, because we had lost track of our 14-year-old son during the ambush mentioned earlier. We thought he was dead, killed. However, to our greatest joy, we learned six months later that he had survived. Arrangements were made for him to join us here in Côte d’Ivoire.”
Other Witnesses had terrifying experiences. Clement from Nigeria had lived for 17 years in Monrovia, but he had to flee. Rebel forces were hunting for all Nigerians and Ghanaians in the country. If caught by the rebels, he would be shot. As many as a hundred checkpoints, from Monrovia to Danané in Côte d’Ivoire, lay between Clement and safety. He was able to talk his way through most of these checkpoints by saying that he was an alien desiring to leave the country. At one checkpoint, his explanation did not work. He was to be executed. Clement decided to give a good witness before he would be put to death. He preached to the commander about God’s Kingdom and showed him the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Perplexed, the commander bellowed: “Listen, we have a work to accomplish for the moment. When this is taken care of, we will turn our attention to what you are saying. Now, just leave!”
Later, as Clement had the calmness of mind to reflect on this incident, he said he knows what Proverbs 18:10 means when it says that the name of Jehovah is a strong tower. It was only by using Jehovah’s name and preaching about God’s Kingdom that he was able to maneuver his way through the remaining checkpoints. Eventually, he crossed over the border into Côte d’Ivoire. He had reached safety! Recently some of the branch personnel have been able to return to Liberia.
Not all countries have so sad a story to tell. Mozambique gives us good reason to rejoice. On February 11, 1991, the government in Maputo granted legal recognition to the corporation named Jehovah’s Witnesses of Mozambique. We are very grateful indeed for this development because it means that missionaries can now be given residence in Mozambique. Literature and magazines can be imported without hindrance. Missionary homes have been established in three cities, housing a total of 18 missionaries. A Society-owned depot is located at each of these homes.
Nevertheless, young ones are called upon to maintain their neutrality and display their loyalty to Jehovah during the ongoing guerrilla war in that country. A 12-year-old girl who is deaf and mute was kidnapped for immoral purposes by the rebel forces. But her parents had trained her well in Bible principles. When her captors wanted to violate her, she staunchly refused. The young sister would point to heaven to show that immorality was against God’s law. Because of her firm resolution, her captors beat her viciously one day and left her for dead. Two months passed before she returned to her parents, accompanied by a woman who had been with her during her captivity. “I don’t know what you taught this young girl,” the woman said, “but I’m impressed by her moral conduct. She never gave in to pressure from the soldiers. She was just outstanding! What is your religion?” Because of the firm stand of this deaf sister, the woman is now studying with the Witnesses and making fine progress in learning the truth.
Asia
“Your blessing is upon your people,” sang King David of old. (Ps. 3:8) Today, Jehovah’s blessing is upon his people too. Jehovah’s Witnesses living in countries situated in Asia can give positive testimony to that fact.
In Korea a sister’s life was saved in a rather unusual way by having her Medical Document on her person. As she was getting out of her parked car, she was suddenly attacked by four men, who forced her into the back of her car and onto the floor. She offered her ring and purse for her freedom, but they were not satisfied. The dreadful thought that they might sexually attack her rushed through her mind. She began screaming at the top of her voice. “We will have to kill her,” growled one of the men. She was stabbed in the leg and thigh. Then they taped her eyes shut and her feet together. Desperately, she began praying and weeping out loud, using the name of Jehovah.
Abruptly, the men became stone-quiet. At last, one asked: “Lady, are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” They had found her Medical Document as they rummaged through her purse. They decided not to kill her but drove her to a place near her home, left her in the car, and quickly disappeared. The sister prays that all these men will repent of their lawless action and become worshipers of Jehovah.
As is true for many countries, more and more housewives in Japan are joining the labor force, which makes it difficult to reach them at home with the good news. So a pioneer sister in Niigata City decided to take the Kingdom message to the center of the city—where the people were. She signed out a business territory from her congregation and began preaching, briefly offering a home Bible study to the businesspeople she would meet. She used the brochure “Look! I Am Making All Things New” and followed up the interest by making return visits on all persons who showed even a little interest. She suggested to interested ones that they could study in a teahouse, in a department-store lounge, or at a park for 30 minutes during lunch break. She concentrates on only one particular point during each study session and has been conducting up to eight studies at a time in this business territory.
More than 60,000 Filipinos have come from the Philippines to work as domestics in Chinese homes on the island of Hong Kong. The majority of these workers are Roman Catholic. One sister met such a person in an elevator and simply asked her if she was interested in learning more about the Bible. The reply was: “I have been praying to learn more about the Bible.” A Bible study was started just that quickly.
In Cyprus a young publisher from Nicosia wrote: “My name is Marcos; I am 12 years old. In the class for religious instruction, the teacher planned three lessons about religion. I made sure I brought to class the book Mankind’s Search for God. Before the first lesson began, I showed the book to my teacher. She paged through it and placed it on her desk. A little later she said to the class: ‘I am going to use Marcos’ book for the lessons, as it contains more thorough information than the book provided by the school.’” Young Marcos concludes: “I encourage all young publishers to have always with them some of the Society’s literature at school.”
Lucas, a Roman Catholic by birth, started studying the Bible in Sri Lanka. He was one of a crew of four men who worked on a fishing boat owned by a Buddhist. His employer desired the blessings of the sea gods on his fishing business, so he asked the crew to make a pilgrimage to a famous center of worship for adherents of both Hinduism and Buddhism. Lucas explained that he would not be able to participate, since he believed that Jehovah is the only true God. “Either join us or you’re fired!” snapped the owner. Lucas resigned immediately. He returned to his village and in just a few days found a job on another boat. Now he is able to study regularly.
When Bangnam, a young married woman who lives in Thailand, began studying the Bible, her parents fell sick. The parents consulted a witch doctor who said that the spirits of their dead relatives did not approve of their daughter’s changing her religion and if the parents wanted to recover, they must stop their daughter’s Bible studies. The parents begged their daughter to quit the study. The special pioneer who was studying with Bangnam showed the parents from the Bible that it could not be the spirits of the dead causing the trouble, but instead, it was wicked spirits. (Eccl. 9:5, 6) The parents then concluded that they should send their daughter far away. However, the sister showed them how the Bible teaches children to love their parents and how Bangnam wanted to live with them to care for them because she loves them. When the mother heard this, she relented and agreed to go with the sister to town to see a medical doctor. The doctor found nothing wrong with her. On the way home, a rainstorm developed, and as it was getting quite late, the special pioneer suggested that the mother spend the night with her at her home. Next morning Bangnam’s mother woke up refreshed and was very excited, since she had slept well all night, without any problem breathing. When the father learned about this improvement in his wife’s health, he agreed to get rid of all their spiritistic trappings. Quickly his health improved as well. Bangnam is now baptized, and her husband is progressing toward dedication.
Than lives in Myanmar. He was a soldier, but his military career ended in bitter disappointment. His life of despair started this way: During intense fighting with rebel forces, a shell exploded near a bunker where he had concealed himself. The bunker collapsed, burying half of his body. After he was dug out from under the rubble, he discovered, to his dismay, that he could not move his legs—he was paralyzed. Soon the army discharged him. In his hopeless state, he began to brood over his misfortune, lost all faith in God, and contemplated suicide. About this same time, a special pioneer brother was visiting Than’s neighbor, regularly conducting a Bible study. Once Than learned who the regular visitor was, he invited him into his home also. The pioneer comforted Than with the Scriptures. A Bible study was started. It did not take long for him to recognize the ring of truth, and he enthusiastically started witnessing to others. He also wanted to attend the meetings at the Kingdom Hall, which is about five [8 km] miles away. He acquired an old pair of bicycle wheels and built himself a wheeled cart. With great determination, he pulls and pushes himself up and down the slopes leading to the Kingdom Hall and attends meetings regularly. His bitter disappointment has been replaced by a radiant hope of a better future.
Europe
“Our soul is like a bird that is escaped from the trap of baiters. The trap is broken, and we ourselves have escaped. Our help is in the name of Jehovah.” (Ps. 124:7, 8) How well this psalm describes our brothers in Eastern Europe!
The past service year was a remarkable one in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Soviet Union. Besides record peaks in the publisher and pioneer ranks, seven peaks in book placements and ten peaks in magazine placements gave added reason for our brothers to rejoice in their newly obtained freedom. These peaks were attained because, for the very first time, shipments of literature could be received.
On Monday, March 18, 1991, the branch in Germany dispatched the first truck, containing about 20 tons of literature, to the Soviet Union. Prior to this, the brothers received their literature in small parcels by mail. How did the arrival of the first truckload of literature turn out?
It was midnight in the city of Lvov, when a local elder answered an unexpected telephone call. It was the Germany branch on the other end of the line notifying him that a large truck with a yellow cab and a blue body was being loaded with literature stamped for its destination, the Soviet Union. They agreed upon a rendezvous—the Polish-Soviet border. By the time the Soviet Witnesses arrived at the border on Wednesday, the weather had turned bitter. Undaunted by the biting cold and rain mixed with snow, the brothers resolutely took turns in scrutinizing each truck as it approached the border. One of them exclaimed: “We’ve been waiting for decades for this memorable moment. Therefore, we consider it a privilege to wait for hours or perhaps even days.”
Finally on Friday, March 22, at exactly eight in the morning, a truck with a yellow cab and a long, large blue body could be seen rolling toward the border. From the depths of the brothers’ hearts, prayers rose heavenward. The truck passed over the border and entered Soviet soil. When the two puzzled customs officers gazed at the amount of literature, they wondered how to handle this situation and began to discuss the matter. After a document and cargo check, the officers nodded their heads and, with a quick wave of their hands, allowed the truck to pass through. “Our joy was unbounded!” said the brothers in retrospect. “After many decades of severe persecution, our brothers are finally supplied with an abundance of spiritual food.”
A permit to unload the cargo was issued. More than 70 brothers waited eagerly to help with the work. They formed two “conveyer” lines, with literature packages moving systematically, almost in musical rhythm, from hand to hand. On the next day, Saturday, brothers came from faraway territories throughout the vast land to pick up the literature. Two brothers who had traveled about 2,200 miles [3,500 km] were the first to arrive. “Jehovah God did what no man is able to do, and we were eyewitnesses of these happenings,” said the one.
From the city of Dresden in what was once known as East Germany comes this experience: “For a long time, my wife and I had been trying to win my parents over to the truth, but all we received was opposition. However, in November 1988 my wife had to go to the hospital for three weeks. We had no choice but to leave our 18-month-old daughter, Sara, in Grandma and Grandpa’s care.
“Things started happening right on the first day. At the breakfast table, Sara wondered why Grandma and Grandpa just sat down and started eating. So she nudged Grandma, folded her hands, and said: ‘Grandma, pray!’ She bowed her head and shut her eyes tight. Grandma did not respond; Sara repeated her request. Finally, my mother realized what Sara wanted, so she said grace in the Lutheran manner. That evening my mother asked me which religion we were affiliated with. She only knew that we had resigned from the church. She had never allowed us to explain anything else. I explained things to her. Grandma agreed to treat Sara the way she was used to being treated by us, so I gave her My Book of Bible Stories, since Sara was used to hearing a story every evening.
“Sara talked Grandma into reading three or four stories each night. My parents were surprised at Sara’s Bible knowledge, since she would sometimes interrupt the stories and finish the account herself. My mother began getting curious about the things she was reading to Sara night after night. In May 1990 we began a home Bible study with my parents. Soon, they resigned from church membership and came to the meetings with us. A year later, in May 1991, my mother became an unbaptized publisher and is now preparing for baptism. My father is also progressing very well. We thank Jehovah for having used our little girl and the Bible Stories book in order to accomplish something we tried to do for such a long time without success.”
…