earth was surely strengthened.—Matt. 24:45-47.

As I look back on those years when I had plenty of energy and used it in the service of our God, it brings real satisfaction. It has been good to be able to say to any call for special service in behalf of the Kingdom interests, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8) And I would like to say here that I truly appreciate the wonderful work being faithfully accomplished by the Lord’s visible organization. The proof is abundant that there has been a second outpouring of holy spirit in these “last days,” thus explaining the marvelous results. (Joel 2:28, 29) God’s truth is shining more brilliantly now than ever before, and we have greater confidence, faith, courage, vision and determination to keep on serving the Kingdom, putting its interests first in our lives.

In the summer of 1965 I had to relinquish circuit servant duties, my physical ability no longer being what it used to be. I will soon be seventy-two years of age. Despite this it is a real comfort to me to be able to continue as a special pioneer minister, doing what I am able to do, and still depending upon Jehovah’s undeserved kindnesses to make up for my deficiencies.

Atheists in Churches

“Lutheran Church Historian Martin Marty argues that all too many pews are filled on Sunday with practical atheists—disguised nonbelievers who behave during the rest of the week as if God did not exist.” (Time, April 8, 1966) Such is the fruit of religious Christendom, which outwardly professes to be Christian but whose heart inwardly is far removed from true Christianity. In this respect she is like the religious leaders of the first century about whom Jesus said: “You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you, when he said, ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me.’”—Matt. 15:7, 8.

Do You Remember?

Have you read recent issues of The Watchtower carefully? If so, you should recognize these important points.

● What is ‘the spirit that returns to God’ when a person dies?

It is the active force of life, an impersonal force that activates both animal and human souls. It can be likened to electrical power that activates all kinds of electrical motors.—P. 6.

● How many copies of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines have been published and distributed in the past twenty years to carry to all people the good news of God’s kingdom?

More than 1,300,000,000 copies of The Watchtower in 74 languages, and more than 1,100,000,000 copies of Awake! in 26 languages. Laid end to end, they would circle the globe fourteen times.—Pp. 21, 22.

● How many hours did Jehovah’s witnesses devote to preaching the Kingdom message during their 1967 service year?

183,995,180 hours. That means that, on an average, each Witness devoted 168 hours to this service during the year.—P. 27.

● Why did God warn the Israelites to have nothing to do with the pagan inhabitants of the Promised Land?

To protect them against being ensnared in false worship. Though they might begin with apparently harmless social courtesies, these could lead to their eating things sacrificed to false gods.—P. 47.

● Why are Jehovah’s witnesses the target of bitter persecution in the African nation of Malawi?

It is because Jehovah’s witnesses refuse to