• Papua New Guinea
    2011 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • MEMORABLE GATHERINGS

      In July 1955, John Cutforth, a Canadian missionary serving in Australia, arrived in Port Moresby as the first circuit overseer. John took an immediate liking to the tropics, its way of life, and its humble people. Little did he know that he would serve in Papua New Guinea for more than 35 years.

      John brought with him the film The New World Society in Action, a documentary highlighting the organizational work and conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses. During his three-week visit, he showed the film 14 times to audiences ranging from a few hundred people to nearly 2,000. It had a real impact on the local population, many of whom had never seen a film before.

      John’s visit culminated in a one-day circuit assembly at Haima. “When the candidates for baptism were asked to rise, . . . seventy stood up!” recalls Tom Kitto. “Our hearts literally welled up with gratitude to see forty brothers and thirty sisters lined up along the jungle river ready to symbolize their dedication to Jehovah.”

  • Papua New Guinea
    2011 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • PREACHING WITH PICTURES

      In 1957, John Cutforth moved permanently to Papua New Guinea and took up the traveling work there. Since his first visit, he had thought long and hard about the best way to preach to the local people, most of whom were illiterate. Now he was ready to put his ideas into practice.

      When addressing a congregation or isolated group, John first wrote his name and the name of his interpreter on a blackboard. Then, pointing to heaven, he asked the audience, “God, what name?” He wrote their answer, “Jehovah” as well as “Psalm 83:18” at the top of the board. Underneath, to the left, he then wrote the heading “Old World” and drew stick figures of two men fighting, a person crying, a grave, and “Romans 5:12.” On the right, he wrote the heading “New World” and drew two men shaking hands, a smiling face, a grave crossed out, and “Revelation 21:4.” Afterward, he gave an animated talk explaining the drawings. He then invited individuals in the audience to come forward and repeat his presentation. When they had mastered it, he invited them to copy the pictures onto a sheet of paper and use it in their preaching work.

  • Papua New Guinea
    2011 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • [Box/​Picture on page 91]

      He Won the Hearts of Many

      During his missionary service in Papua New Guinea, John Cutforth won the hearts of many. Consider what some of his fellow missionaries and others with whom he worked had to say about him.​—Prov. 27:2.

      Erna Andersson: “John told us: ‘A true missionary becomes all things to all people. If people give you a stump to sit on, sit on it; it is the best they can give. If they give you a roughly hewn bed, sleep on it; it has been made with kindness. If they give you unusual food, eat it; it has been prepared with love.’ John was an outstanding example of a self-sacrificing missionary.”

      Awak Duvun: “During the period of colonial rule, John not only broke down prejudice between black people and white people but destroyed it! ‘Black man, white man​—no difference!’ he often declared. He loved all.”

      Peter Linke: “One afternoon, after traveling most of the day, John arrived at our home in Goroka, dusty and tired. Yet, after dinner he said, ‘I haven’t done anything for anyone else today’ and trudged off into the failing light to visit and encourage a local family. He was always concerned about others. We all loved him.”

      Jim Dobbins: “John taught us to live simply and to teach simply, using illustrations that people could understand, as Jesus did. This enabled us to communicate with those who couldn’t read or write.”