Getting Needed Encouragement

After World War II, Slovakia once again became a part of Czechoslovakia. From 1946 to 1948, nationwide conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses were held either in Brno or in Prague. We from eastern Slovakia traveled by special trains arranged for the convention delegates. You might call the trains the singing trains, as we sang all the way.​—Acts 16:25.

I especially remember the 1947 convention in Brno, where three Christian overseers from the world headquarters, including Brother Nathan H. Knorr, were present. To advertise the public talk, many of us walked through the city with sandwich signs announcing the theme. Our son, Eduard, who was then only nine years old, was very unhappy that he did not get one. So the brothers made smaller signs not only for him but also for many other children. This younger group did a fine job of advertising the talk!

In February 1948 the Communists came to power. We knew that it was only a matter of time before the government would take steps to restrain our ministry. A convention was held in Prague in September 1948, and we had strong emotions as we anticipated another ban on our public gatherings, after just three years of freedom of assembly. Before leaving the convention, we adopted a resolution that, in part, stated: “We, Jehovah’s Witnesses, who have assembled ourselves together . . . , are determined to increase this blessed service still more, and, by the Lord’s grace, to persevere therein in season and in times of trial, and to publish the gospel of God’s kingdom with yet greater zeal.”

[Picture on page 27]

Advertising the convention in Brno, 1947