How happy the brothers were to organize circuit assemblies under the protection of a legal ordinance! The first series consisted of 11 assemblies with a total attendance of 11,214 persons and 465 baptized.

The assemblies drew a strong reaction from the local churches. The clergy had fiercely fought to prevent Jehovah’s Witnesses from receiving legal recognition in this fruitful territory, which the clergy considered their domain. At Gandajika in Kasai Province, the religious leaders protested to the mayor. Because the mayor did not yield to their intimidation, they sent youths to the assembly site to disrupt the gathering. It so happened, however, that a Bible-based film was being shown at the assembly, and a large crowd had come to see it. Soon the troublemakers also settled down to watch it. What they saw impressed them. As each reel was changed, the crowd, numbering several thousand, shouted: “Long live Jehovah’s Witnesses!”

Traveling to Serve Circuit Assemblies

In 1964 there were enough circuits in Congo to form two districts. In 1969 a third one was formed, in Kasai, and by 1970 there were four. Because of the poor roads, it was often difficult for district overseers and others to travel to assemblies and conventions. To illustrate, let us accompany a district overseer, William Smith, on a journey to a circuit assembly.

“Rain had deluged the countryside, so the rivers were swollen. Our destination was Kamina, where a circuit assembly was scheduled to be held. To reach there we had to travel more than 200 miles [320 km]. The heavy rains transformed some roads into a sea of mud, and in other places, water made the roads disappear. One valley had become a lake. Cars, trucks, and government vehicles were parked everywhere as people waited for the waters to subside. Many expected to be delayed for two weeks.

“I knew that the brothers were eagerly anticipating the assembly program. Some would have walked for days to attend. I asked if there was any way to bypass the valley. To my surprise, people told me that Jehovah’s Witnesses had built a small byroad, but because the ground was so soft, the Witnesses would not let anyone use it until the district overseer had passed on his way to Kamina.

“Brothers from two villages had worked all day, all night, and on into the next day to cut a new stretch of road, which bypassed the impassable section of road. I soon found the brothers and prepared to drive the jeep on the road that they had built. Quite a crowd of people had gathered to see if the jeep could get through. How disappointed we were to see the jeep sink into the soft earth just a few yards past the entrance to the new road!

“Though the brothers pushed, the vehicle did not budge. They had worked so hard, and disappointment showed on their faces. Nevertheless, they had not lost their determination to get the district overseer to the assembly. The onlookers, thinking that the new road was more of a hazard than a help, went back to their vehicles. The brothers decided to try again. This time they unloaded everything from the jeep, which was heavy with literature, sound equipment, a generator, and other things. The brothers dug and pushed, and the spinning wheels started to inch the jeep forward.

“One hour later, shouts of joy and the singing of Kingdom songs celebrated our successful passage through the mud. The brothers had accomplished what those sitting in their vehicles thought to be impossible. The assembly was a fine success, thanks to the hard work of the brothers. Jehovah was with his people and helped them to do his will.”

[Picture on page 208]

Assembly in Kolwezi, 1967