Branch Committee. From left to right, Åke Carlsson, Rune Grahn, Bengt Hanson, and Inge Olofsson

After having assisted Brother Eneroth for years, Brother Bengt Hanson was appointed to take care of coordinator responsibilities.

Asked to relate some of his theocratic history, Brother Hanson recalls: “At 16 years of age, I moved from my father’s farm to a nearby town, where a Bible study was started with some of my brothers and sisters and me. I began to attend meetings. I soon realized what this would mean, namely, reading aloud, leading in prayer, and giving talks before an audience. This was to become a real test for me, since I had great problems in reading aloud and performing in class at school. Love for Jehovah and a fervent desire to devote myself completely to full-time service was of great help. But, I must admit, I was deeply grieved at my handicap. I almost panicked when asked to speak extemporaneously.

“Then, I did something that would be of great importance to me in my life ahead. In despair at my handicap, I prayed to Jehovah and thanked him for opening up my heart to the truth, and I promised to devote my life to his service even, if necessary, unto death. I promised never to withdraw.

“Why did this prayer become so decisive in my life? Because, whenever I have been scared, I have always been able to refer back to it. This has helped me to stick to my duties. So, when looking back over the 40 years since I said that prayer, I must say that Jehovah has​—at times in an almost humorous way—​let me realize what it all involved.

“From then on, I was almost thrown into one assignment after another, requiring full confidence in Jehovah. At the age of 18, half a year after my baptism, I was assigned to give public talks. Within a year, I became a pioneer. Eight months later, I was called to Bethel. Then I was sent out into the circuit work, even though only 22 years old. At the age of 30, I was assigned to district work, but before I got started, my wife, Ulla, and I were invited to attend the first ten-month course at Gilead School in Brooklyn, in 1961. We were then assigned to work at Bethel in Sweden. We are still here, happily serving Jehovah with all our strength.

“Some may wonder if I ever got rid of that original handicap. Well, I don’t want to say I have, even if I believe that I am doing better now. I feel that the Lord’s words to Paul at 2 Corinthians 12:9 also apply to me: ‘My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for my power is being made perfect in weakness.’”