• Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
    2004 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • Kingdom Hall Construction Brings Praise to Jehovah

      In recent years the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has made a special effort to assist in the construction of Kingdom Halls in lands with limited resources. The brothers in Congo welcomed this development, since there was a dire need for Kingdom Halls. In Kinshasa, for example, there were 298 congregations but not even 20 appropriate halls. Hundreds of halls were needed throughout the country. In April 1999 the Kingdom Hall construction program got under way in Kinshasa. Later, it expanded to the other provinces of Congo. By early 2003 some 175 Kingdom Halls had been completed in both Congos.

      A man who had been in contact with the truth since the 1950’s was very impressed when he observed the construction of a Kingdom Hall opposite his compound. He remarked: “I never took the Witnesses seriously. Now I can see the fruits of their efforts. They built a Kingdom Hall next to my brother’s house, and now one is opposite my compound. It looks like the Witnesses are following me everywhere!” This man accepted invitations to the Memorial of Christ’s death and to the dedication of this new Kingdom Hall. He now attends meetings regularly.

      Three congregations in Matete held their meetings in a dilapidated building, which they purchased in 1994. The brothers did not have any money to fix up the building, so it stayed in that condition for six years. Across the street from this property was a big church. When the church was built, the preacher said that Jehovah’s Witnesses would soon be gone. The neighbors mocked the brothers because they did not have a fine meeting place. Even when the congregation started making blocks in preparation for the construction of a new Kingdom Hall, some neighbors continued to mock. How amazed they were to see the results! Now they say that Jehovah’s Witnesses have the nicest building in the area. One neighbor who had never wanted to speak with the Witnesses was impressed by what the brothers accomplished. She came to the site and promised to listen to the Witnesses the next time they called.

      At one construction site, a woman approached a sister who was cooking food for the workers. The woman asked: “Are you building a church?”

      “We are building our Kingdom Hall,” replied the sister.

      The woman said: “This building will be just like you people. You are always neat and clean. Your church will resemble you!”