months or even take up the regular pioneer service.

⁵ Summer also affords opportunities to preach in areas that are seldom worked. During the 1985 service year, publishers, pioneers, and congregational groups aglow with the spirit worked all but 15 of 287 unassigned territories. One family of six felt greatly blessed because they shared in this special activity. They experienced greater unity as a family and became better equipped to handle God’s Word effectively.

⁶ Can you include working unassigned territory in your plans for this summer? If you are interested but do not know how to arrange for territory, the congregation secretary will be pleased to review with you the directions given to English-language congregations in the Society’s letter of January 1, 1986.

⁷ Another avenue for increased Kingdom activity is evening witnessing. During early evening hours, householders appear to be relaxed and more disposed to listen. No doubt many publishers will want to use the longer periods of daylight to reach people who are not normally found at home earlier in the day.

“DO NOT LOITER”

⁸ This is not the time to loiter at our business but, rather, to “be aglow with the spirit.” May we all prove ourselves industrious and willing workers. (Heb. 6:11, 12) Thoughtful planning now can make this summer a spiritually memorable one. Our being “aglow with the spirit” will produce positive results inside and outside the congregation.

“Work What Is Good Toward All”

¹ We rejoice to see so many new ones flocking into the congregation. (Isa. 60:8) One thing that attracts them to the truth is the love that is evident among Jehovah’s people. (John 13:34, 35) Were not many of us deeply impressed by the warmth and friendliness we experienced the very first time we entered the Kingdom Hall? Having personally experienced God’s love that flows through Jesus Christ and the Christian congregation, we are moved to “work what is good toward all” by assisting and encouraging others.​—Gal. 6:10.

HELP OTHERS PROGRESS

² When we see someone at the meeting for the first time, do we endeavor to get acquainted? We should not feel that only the elders and ministerial servants have this responsibility. It is our personal obligation as well. (Rom. 15:7; compare Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8.) When many in the congregation welcome the new ones, they are impressed with the true Christian love demonstrated. God’s Word speaks very highly of showing love toward strangers. (See Matthew 25:35b and; 1 Timothy 5:10.) Such warmth and friendliness encourage a steady influx of sheeplike ones into the congregation.​—See Isaiah 60:5, 11.

³ Last month, many new ones attended the Memorial celebration, and these need help in order to make spiritual progress. If you know someone who attended the Memorial but who is not presently studying, why not try to start a study? Encourage him to attend the meetings and offer to accompany him to the Kingdom Hall. Encourage him to do personal study, and as he grows in knowledge and appreciation, help him to prepare to comment at meetings. Your patient, loving interest may lead to his gaining Jehovah’s blessing and everlasting life.​—Rom. 15:1, 2.

⁴ Young ones associated with the congregation are also “related to us in the faith” and need our help and encouragement. (Gal. 6:10) Even small children delight in attention from adults. Children who do not have parents in the truth especially need our encouragement. Youths who are orphans in a spiritual sense deserve our loving consideration and attention.​—Jas. 1:27.

ENCOURAGE PIONEERING

⁵ We all appreciate the personal interest that others take in us. Those who are working hard in the ministry, including regular and auxiliary pioneers, benefit greatly when we offer expressions of appreciation for their fine example and personal sacrifices.

⁶ When elders and ministerial servants can arrange their affairs to auxiliary pioneer from time to time or even get into the regular pioneer work, benefits extend to the entire congregation. (2 Cor. 9:2) If you are an elder or a ministerial servant, would reasonable adjustments in your life-style enable you to auxiliary pioneer from time to time or perhaps get into the regular pioneer work? If so, you will experience many blessings and will be in a better position to “work what is good toward all.” As we individually look for ways to help and encourage others, Jehovah will add his blessing.

Use the Reasoning Book in All Features of Your Ministry

¹ Have you been using the Reasoning book in your ministry? Undoubtedly you have already considered various portions of it and have found it very helpful. Of course, it would be beneficial to read it through and become familiar with all the excellent information it contains. A pioneer brother reports that he and his wife have been studying a portion of it every day.

² However, it is not necessary to have read the book completely in order to make use of it in the house-to-house work or when making return visits and conducting Bible studies.

HANDLING OBJECTIONS

³ Likely there are certain objections you encounter regularly as you go from house to house. These may hinder you in your efforts to capture the householders’ interest. They may say: “I’m not interested,” “I’m busy,” or “I have my own religion.” When such conversation stoppers become an obstacle, by all means take a moment between doors to fix in your mind one or more of the suggestions on pages 15-24 of the Reasoning book.

⁴ Your knowledge of the people in the territory will enable you to select a reply that will help you to continue your conversation. Try to use the wording just as it appears in the Reasoning book. It has been very well thought out and used successfully by experienced brothers. In time, you will be able to give excellent answers to a variety of conversation stoppers.

RETURN VISITS AND BIBLE STUDIES

⁵ On your initial visit, you may be able to determine that the householder is particularly interested in a certain subject. In preparation for the return visit, look for this subject in the index of the Reasoning book. If the matter is considered, you will find either a suggestion that provides a direct yet balanced approach or additional Scriptural information that will benefit the individual.

⁶ If a question arises on a Bible study and you determine that it would be best to answer it before you leave, check either the index in the back of the Reasoning book or the list of principal subjects in the front. For example, someone may have told the interested person that Jehovah’s Witnesses are a sect or a cult. The information you need is given on page 202. It is easily located by looking for “Jehovah’s Witnesses” under “Principal Subjects.” The specific information is even more readily found by looking up “Cult” or “Sects” in the index. Feel free to read the answer just as it appears in the book and discuss it further with the Bible student. Do not be concerned that the student observes you looking for additional information in this way.

⁷ Expressing her gratitude for the Reasoning book, one sister wrote: “Your tactful yet bold approach to various subjects that are often difficult to mention is a genuine blessing to us.” As we familiarize ourselves with this fine instrument and use it in the field, we will be more successful in reaching the hearts of those in our territory.

Announcements

● Literature offer for April and May: True Peace and Security​—How Can You Find It? for contribution of $1.00. June and July: You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth for contribution of $2.50. Reduced-size books are $1.25.

● Since many Service Meeting parts now feature or refer to Reasoning From the Scriptures, it is suggested that all include the Reasoning book with their regular meeting equipment.

● Service overseer should check to see that there is always an ample supply of House-to-House Record forms, Field Service Report slips, subscription slips, and so forth. If additional supplies are needed, please request these on the Literature Order form (S-14).

● Distributors’ copies of The Watchtower and Awake! may be released to the publishers for use in the field as soon as they are received, in issue date order. They should not be held for release at a later date. See Cost List, paragraph 49.

● District convention badge cards for 1986 in English and Spanish will be consigned and included with April literature shipments. It will not be necessary to order these. Based on the size of each congregation, consignments in lots of 25 will be made and the literature account will be billed at the rate of two cents per card.

● There will be a district convention in Anchorage, Alaska, July 10-13, 1986. It will be held at the Sullivan Arena.

● A limited number of 1984 English-language Watchtower and Awake! volumes are still available at $5.00 each. Also, the 1985 Yearbook in English is still in stock and may be ordered at $1.00 each.

● New Publications Available:

“Let Your Kingdom Come”​—Hindi

Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation?​—Afrikaans, Swedish

Sing Praises to Jehovah (Large size)​—Portuguese

Sing Praises to Jehovah (Small size)​—Chinese, Portuguese

Survival Into a New Earth​—Arabic

United in Worship of the Only True God​—Thai

Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!​—Ketchi, Kuna, Lushai, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu

In Search of a Father​—Japanese

The Government That Will Bring Paradise​—Sesotho, Tswana

● New Cassette Recordings Available:

Album of Hebrew Scriptures​—Volume 1, Genesis to Ruth (set of 18 cassettes in album; congregation and public: $30.00; pioneers: $20.00)​—English