• Highlights of the Past Year
    2003 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • Branch Dedications

      During the 2002 service year, a branch dedication took place on the beautiful Caribbean island of Trinidad. Branch facilities there were dedicated to Jehovah in 1985, but since then Trinidad has had a 94-percent increase in publishers. Consequently, the branch facilities had to be extensively renovated and an addition constructed that doubled the floor space. The branch now enjoys new residences, offices, a library, a reception lobby, a dining room, and a kitchen. The adjoining Kingdom Hall was also renovated and enlarged. This project was accomplished entirely by local volunteers.

      On September 29, 2001, some 220 delegates from 14 lands as well as 695 local brothers and sisters assembled for the dedication. They listened to stimulating reports on the theocratic history of the work, including the roles played by Evander J. Coward and William R. Brown. Several foreign missionaries, including one 88-year-old sister who is still in the regular pioneer service, related some touching experiences concerning their assignments in Trinidad more than 50 years ago.

      Stephen Lett of the Governing Body gave the dedication discourse. In developing the theme “Appreciating Jehovah’s Past and Present Houses of Worship,” he emphasized that people, not buildings, worship Jehovah. Consequently, Brother Lett lovingly encouraged the brothers to be appreciative worshipers by their obedience and conduct.

      The following day a special meeting was held in the city of Port of Spain for those who could not be accommodated at the dedication program itself. More than 13,000 attended. On the neighboring island of Tobago, over 300 brothers listened to the program by means of a telephone hookup. Brother Lett delivered the talk “Safeguard Your Relationship With Jehovah by Cultivating Humility.” All in attendance were “nothing but joyful” over the dedication of these expanded branch facilities.​—Deut. 16:15.