• Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
    1985 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • ENCOURAGED BY A VISIT FROM THOMAS BANKS

      In 1936 Thomas E. Banks, a pilgrim from the United States, made a visit to Jamaica. Commenting on the visit, Brother Davidson wrote in a letter to Brother Rutherford, dated May 4, 1936: “I have to thank you personally for your arrangement as president in sending Brother Banks to visit Jamaica. His visit has brought Brooklyn right into Jamaica and has supplied a long-felt desire to see things work here as in Brooklyn, hence our Bethel home, studies, service work, class visits, conventions and public witnessing have all been improved through the example and suggestions of Brother Banks.”

      In conjunction with Brother Banks’ visit a convention was arranged in Kingston with a peak attendance of 2,000.

  • Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
    1985 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • NEW BRANCH OVERSEER

      In 1939 the Society sent Thomas E. Banks back to Jamaica to take oversight of the branch office. Said Brother Banks: “In those early years there was not as much office work in the Society’s branch as there is today. So my work consisted principally of traveling all over the island with a sound car that broadcast recorded Bible lectures and also giving Bible lectures in the evenings.”

      Brother Banks did much to encourage the brothers and to advance Kingdom interests in Jamaica. He carried on as branch overseer until 1946, when, at the age of 75, failing health and strength made it necessary for someone younger and stronger to assume branch-oversight responsibilities. Said Brother Banks: “I was given the choice of returning to the United States to live with my children or of continuing to live at the Society’s headquarters in Jamaica, where I could do whatever work my health would permit. Since Jamaica was my assignment, I chose to remain there.”

      When he reached 93 years of age, Brother Banks commented: “I use every opportunity to talk about Jehovah’s purposes and the truths of his Word with my visitors and by means of correspondence. I am very happy that I can complete my days on earth in my foreign assignment and still in Jehovah’s full-time service. Spending my full time in Jehovah’s service has been the joy of my life, and I look forward to continuing it eternally in association with Jesus Christ and his ‘holy ones in the light.’” (Col. 1:12) He faithfully stuck to his assignment until 1967, when he finished his earthly course at the age of 96.