may reflect upon his ministry and observe that he has not as yet assisted anyone to become a disciple to the point of dedication and baptism. Bible literature is placed and return calls are made, and in some instances a Bible study might be started for a period. While the expected results may not have been forthcoming as yet, it is good to remember that one’s ministry is not a failure because he has not as yet helped one to become a disciple. No, his ministry is a working reality; he has still been active in preaching the good news and in holding high Jehovah’s great name. He has been faithful in the ministry, and this has helped him in working out his integrity and love for Jehovah. Now, with application of teaching methods and help from more experienced ministers, perhaps it will be possible not only to start a Bible study but also to hold this regularly and thus share in ‘making disciples.’

19. Summarize the four reasons why our ministry is successful.

¹⁹ Why is your ministry successful? Never forget that it is in more ways than one! We will continue to work for and confidently look to Jehovah for increase, but, as we approach the end, we will not be discouraged if the increase becomes slower in some parts of the world than in others. In fact, we are forewarned that the time will come when none will want to listen to Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. Nevertheless, with Jehovah’s unfailing help, we will faithfully preach the final witness as a warning of Jehovah’s coming execution of the wicked, we will maintain our integrity in the face of opposition and adversity, and, above all, we will hold high Jehovah’s great name. “My Father is glorified in this, that you keep bearing much fruit and prove yourselves my disciples.”—John 15:8.

Giving a Witness Worthy of the Kingdom

What shows that the Watch Tower Society early saw the need of giving a witness worthy of the Kingdom?

The witness about the Kingdom that the Society early appreciated must be given was that mentioned by Jesus in his great prophecy: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” “Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first.”—Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10.a

The Watch Tower Society early pointed out that only truly enlightened Christians familiar with Bible truth regarding the paradisaic destiny of the earth could properly fulfill Jesus’ prophecy and that this must be done by all available means. To this end, among other things, it encouraged public lectures, the full-time house-to-house preaching activity and the publishing of sermons in newspapers, and it produced a Biblical slide and motion picture drama that coordinated the human voice with it, this being far ahead of the times.

How has the witness about the Kingdom greatly increased in spite of opposition?

Eight of the leading members of the Watch Tower Society, including the president, were arrested and spent nine months in jail in 1918 and 1919. Many other Witnesses were arrested and suffered mob action throughout the United States prior to and during World War II. In particular were the Witnesses persecuted in such totalitarian lands as Nazi Germany. Yet in spite of all such persecution the numbers of the Witnesses steadily grew; in fact, tenfold from 1928 to 1948, and nearly a million