Referring to one of the “Victorious Faith” International Conventions held in New Orleans, Louisiana, The States-Item said:

“A sense of brotherhood filled the Louisiana Superdome as young and old, black and white Jehovah’s Witnesses settled down to begin a 5-day learning and sharing experience.

“The atmosphere during this week’s international convention confirms that racial discrimination​—still an issue in some churches—​is not a problem for Witnesses.”

A “Victorious Faith” International Convention was held at Washington, D.C. After viewing the assembly facilities that the Witnesses used there, Brian Murchison wrote in The Washington Star: “The stadium, usually a litterbug’s paradise, looked as if it had come up against a white tornado for the first time. Even at lunch time, volunteers served food and cleaned up almost simultaneously.”

At Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jehovah’s Witnesses met in a stadium. After 20,000 to 25,000 people had been there for a double-header baseball game, there were tons of debris. “This is normal,” said the grounds’ keeper. “You might liken it to wall-to-wall garbage. But Jehovah’s Witnesses cleaned it up in half the time it would normally take.” He added: “In other words, it goes from absolute chaos to efficiency. When you folks leave the stadium, it is ready for the next event. You don’t have to worry about a nail or a piece of glass. It’s clean.”

Consider the case of one man who symbolized his dedication to Jehovah God by water baptism at the Cincinnati, Ohio, international convention. He admits: ‘I had always worn a gun and had it on during the first two Bible studies conducted with me. The hate I had for everything and everybody slowly left, however, and my whole attitude changed so much that my mother encouraged me to keep studying, for my family had thought that the only place for me was jail or death. But prayers to Jehovah changed me.’ Yes, true faith gains the victory over blind hatred and teaches honest-hearted people that they should not “be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another.”​—Rom. 13:8.

Among those baptized at the international convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a 26-year-old man who had become addicted to narcotics while in Vietnam. Notice what initially drew him to true Christianity. He commented: “After returning to the United States, I was attracted by the contrast presented by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many times I observed their happy faces . . . So, one day I just walked up to some Witnesses . . . and I asked to study with them.” Soon the young man realized that he had to stop using narcotics. But participation in a drug-withdrawal program proved useless, and he said: “Jehovah God, through his Word, helped me to conquer the craving; the drug program did not. It was the truth that helped me to overcome drugs.”

But does faith have true meaning for teen-agers? Quite apparently it does. One such young person was so impressed by the drama on Timothy’s life that, on the way home from the convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, he requested an application for regular pioneer service, or full-time preaching work. Schedule changes were made at school and the lad gave a fine witness to his high school principal, who then allowed him to graduate during mid-term. The young man began serving as a regular pioneer on September 1, 1978.

Government officials have also acknowledged awareness of the conventions and activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For example, the mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, where two “Victorious Faith” International Conventions were held, proclaimed June 1978 to be Watchtower Bible and Tract Society month in that city. Similarly, the acting mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, and the governor of New York State, each made proclamations designating certain days as ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses Day’ in connection with assemblies held in their administrative areas.

So, witnessing from house to house and elsewhere is an important part of their regular service to God. However, a special endeavor is being made on Friday morning of the “Victorious Faith” International Conventions. It is being set aside for witnessing activities in the field. And convention delegates are participating in this special effort with real enthusiasm. As an example, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (where the peak assembly attendance was 37,208), an estimated 28,000 Witnesses shared in this activity.

In some cases, news media personnel have accompanied the Witnesses in this special activity. For instance, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, television station sent cameramen along with a group of them. On camera, an interested person was contacted, a witness was given, and arrangements were made for a personal Bible study. This, along with other films from the field, was shown on an evening news program.