Special efforts are made to preach the good news to those of this great variety of language groups. Already there are Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Samoan congregations, as well as eight Filipino congregations using the Iloko dialect. When individuals who do not understand English show interest in the good news, they are referred to the appropriate congregation. Even the local telephone directory is used to locate foreign-speaking people. In this way, no stone is left unturned in presenting Kingdom truth to “all sorts of men.”​—1 Timothy 2:4.

Growth of “Pioneer Spirit”

Over the years the pioneers have been of great help to the congregations. Despite the high cost of living and other economic difficulties, persons from various backgrounds and different age groups have taken up the full-time service. Reports for 1982 indicate that an average of 20 percent of Hawaii’s publishers were in the regular or auxiliary pioneer service, working with almost all the 59 congregations in the state.

One of these congregations has 95 publishers and 29 pioneers. An elder in that congregation, who has been pioneering for 20 years (17 of those years as a special pioneer), says this about how he helps others to take up the pioneer work:

“An advantage of being a pioneer as well as an elder is that I am able to work with the publishers in the field service each day and get to know them and their circumstances well. . . . But before working with someone to encourage him to pioneer, I always make it a point to pray for Jehovah’s direction and guidance to say the right things and for Jehovah’s spirit to be on the publisher to open his heart. With Jehovah’s help I try to reach the person’s heart, explaining from the Scriptures the urgency of the times, the importance of the preaching work, why pioneers are needed and how pioneering would be of great help to him.

“If he feels he can’t spend 90 hours a month in the preaching work, I go over a practical schedule with him, showing how 90 hours can be met, with time left over for himself and other responsibilities he might have.

“If he lacks confidence because of the economic situation, from the Society’s publications I share with him experiences of those in similar circumstances who are now pioneering. Additionally, I use scriptures that would help him draw closer to Jehovah and that would give him the needed encouragement to look on the positive side.

“When he feels that he will be without transportation or other assistance, I assure him that all the brothers and sisters in the congregation will help him in any way possible to enjoy the pioneer service. Negative thinking is thus removed by the practical solutions offered.”

Among the 90 whom this elder has assisted to enroll as pioneers are brothers and sisters now serving at Brooklyn Bethel and as missionaries in Japan and Micronesia. In conclusion the elder makes this observation: “The main thing is to work with different ones in the field and to instill the ‘pioneer spirit’ in the congregation.”