Branch Dedications That Glorify God

The highlight of a person’s life is the day he dedicates himself to the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. Similarly, a highlight of the theocratic life of a country’s branch office is the dedication of its facilities to that same Sovereign Lord, who is “the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them.” (Acts 4:24) During this past service year, five branches were dedicated, including the one in Mexico.

Peru

November 6, 1988, dawned with a chilly, gray overcast. But soon, as if encouraged by the happy faces moving toward a special place in Monterrico Chico, Lima, the sky broke out in radiant sunlight. Jehovah’s people were looking forward to a special event​—a joyful conclusion to the project “Expansion—​Bethel Peru.” With hearts full of appreciation, 694 persons gathered in the new Kingdom Hall at the branch, and united by telephone, an audience of 48,150 at an assembly site in Campoy, on the outskirts of Lima, paid careful attention to the dedication program. A surprising attendance, since only 31,000 Witnesses reside in the entire country! Theodore Jaracz of the Governing Body gave the dedication talk.

When plans were made in 1980 for the construction of the original part of the branch, the extent of the increase in publishers was hardly anticipated. Hence, by the time that project was completed in December 1984, it was clear that the branch would soon need to expand again.

The project “Expansion​—Bethel Peru” was a plan to duplicate the existing complex with an antiseismic design and type of construction. The tilt-up system aroused much curiosity. Spectators abounded on the days when a 60-ton crane lifted the heavy panels of prefabricated concrete, weighing several tons each, into place. In all, 120 panels were used. These panels were made complete with embedded tubes for the electrical system, as well as window and door frames set in place. While this fabrication was going on, the brothers in the carpenter shop also worked like busy bees converting beautiful mahogany from the Peruvian jungle into all the needed woodwork.

Lovingly contributing their time and travel expenses, 55 IVCWs (International Volunteer Construction Workers) came from other countries to assist. Being vulnerable to certain health problems, as visitors from other countries usually are, they expressed their gratitude to the two doctors, both Witnesses, who untiringly attended their medical needs. Other essential services were rendered during the entire construction period. For example, two barbers, our brothers, who took turns weekly “opening shop” on site, cheerfully gave haircuts to everyone.

The 60 Bethel family members can attest that the project “Expansion​—Bethel Peru” was born of an urgent need and has been completed with praise for Jehovah.

El Salvador

“Hail the Theocracy, ever increasing! Wondrous expansion is now taking place.” On Saturday, November 12, 1988, 22,091 voices joined together to sing those stirring words in celebration of the dedication of the new branch office and Bethel Home in the Central American country of El Salvador.

The office and residence complex, from its hilly, suburban vantage point, overlooks the capital city, San Salvador, and has a view of several of the volcanoes for which the country is famous.

Brother John Barr, a member of the Governing Body, spoke warmly on the theme: “The Song of Theocracy’s Increase.” The program also featured colorful folk dances presented by a hundred local brothers and sisters.

Over 300 visiting brothers, representing nine different countries in North and Central America as well as Europe, were able to share in the joy of the dedication program. This included several of the 326 IVCWs who had had a large share in the construction.

The first strains of the song of theocratic increase were heard in 1945, when the first two missionaries, Roscoe and Hilda Stone, faced the monumental task of bringing the truth to the one-and-a-half million inhabitants living there at that time. Since then, this song has been sung with ever-increasing volume. This year saw a peak of 17,647 publishers, representing a ratio of 1 publisher to every 322 inhabitants. During the period when the branch was under construction​—from the purchase of the first lots in April 1983 through the two-and-a-half years of construction until the branch was completed in July 1988—​the country experienced a phenomenal 50-percent increase, even though many regular and special pioneers were absent from their field assignments while assisting on the construction. The potential for even greater increase can be seen from the vast number of newly interested ones who came to the 1989 Memorial, which had an attendance of 58,503.

The antiseismic feature of the new construction was also put to an early test on October 10, 1986, when the city of San Salvador was rocked by a severe earthquake. Although the majority of buildings in the city center were destroyed​—with hundreds of people losing their lives and thousands being left homeless—​none of the brothers working on the new branch were injured, and the buildings remained undamaged. With the completion of these modern facilities, Jehovah’s spirit continues to be upon the brothers in El Salvador as they join with their brothers around the world in singing the unceasing song of theocracy’s increase.

Mauritius

Like a jewel surrounded by turquoise-blue sea, coral reefs, and white beaches, this tropical island-nation in the Indian Ocean is the home of over a million descendants of the immigrants of yesteryear. Sugarcane farming brought most of them to Mauritius, where they found an emerald-green landscape speckled with toothlike volcanic peaks. Today, the majority of the population are Hindu Indians, who share the island with Catholic Creoles, Muslim Indians, Europeans, and Chinese. Although English is the official language, most inhabitants speak Creole, a French dialect.

In 1933 the branch in South Africa sent two pioneers, Bert McLuckie and Robert Nisbet, to the island. They planted the first Kingdom seeds. However, it was not until 18 years later, when Robert Nisbet was joined by his brother George that the seeds took root and began sprouting.

In the meantime, the Kingdom news reached the neighboring islands of Réunion and Rodrigues. Today, the Kingdom preaching activity on the islands of Réunion, Rodrigues, and Mayotte as well as the Comoros is also organized under the direction of the Mauritius branch. Actually, there are more of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Réunion than in Mauritius.

After decades of using rented accommodations, a new branch office with Bethel Home and Kingdom Hall was constructed in the inland town of Vacoas. On December 10, 1988, the dedication of this complex took place. How delighted were the 701 persons who heard the dedication discourse delivered by Carey Barber, a member of the Governing Body!

The project aroused the interest of many friendly neighbors. They often remarked on the fine conduct of the young brothers who lived and worked there. One of the neighbors, Amrita, lives with her mother and grandmother in a small corrugated-iron home bordering one side of the property. When she was contacted in the door-to-door ministry in the early stages of the project, she accepted a Bible study. So moved by what she learned, Amrita volunteered her labors every day and helped to cook for the hungry workers. As a result of such wholesome association, she made fine spiritual progress and today is a dedicated, baptized Witness in the full-time preaching work.

What joy the growth of Jehovah’s people in this part of the world has brought to old-timers! In 1951 the first congregation was established, with eight Kingdom publishers. Now there are 2,564 publishers who associate in the 30 congregations on these Indian Ocean islands. The feelings of four foreign full-time workers, who have served here in total for 132 years, were well summed up by Sister Eunice Price when she said: “We planted, we sowed seed, and Jehovah has given growth. What a privilege we’ve had to observe it with our own eyes!”

Japan

Following five years of work by more than 500 brothers, the dedication program for the Japan branch at Ebina was held on May 13, 1989, with Carey Barber, John Barr, and Lloyd Barry from the Governing Body as featured speakers.a The crowd of 3,213 who attended this very happy, special occasion included all the missionaries and traveling overseers in Japan, publishers who had participated in the construction work along with their families, and many faithful long-time publishers. Also included were about 60 guests from overseas, representing 13 branches.

On the day following the dedication, Sunday, May 14, a special meeting was arranged, with 46 places connected by telephone tie line. Thus, 233,780 were able to listen to talks by the delegates from various countries and from the Governing Body. Certainly the events that took place on these two days have become a milestone in the theocratic history of Japan.

Currently, approximately 38 branches are involved in planning or are actually engaged in new construction or expansion of their existing facilities. And the IVCW program has sent out workers to 30 branch locations to assist the local building crews. Truly, in various ways, Jehovah has granted his people great power to ‘give forth a witness’ to his glory and that of his Son.​—Acts 4:33.

[Picture on page 27]

The Mauritius branch contains offices and residential quarters. There is a Kingdom Hall on one side of the property

[Pictures on page 28]

Four separate buildings surrounded by lush tropical gardens make up the 96,000-square-foot [8,900 sq m] Bethel complex in El Salvador. The complex has a new lobby and a dining room seating 200, as well as rooming for 72 Bethel volunteers

[Pictures on page 29]

The branch complex in Peru has a new warehouse and Kingdom Hall, as well as 36 additional rooms, making a total of 58 rooms. The lobby is seen at right

[Pictures on page 30]

In Japan the new eight-story branch residence building has 96,700 square feet [8,980 sq m] of floor space and includes 128 rooms for Bethel volunteers. The lobby is seen at right. The new factory has floor space of 243,000 square feet [22,600 sq m]