Announcements

◼ Literature offer for January: Any 192-page book published prior to 1988 may be offered. Branches that do not have older 192-page books may offer Mankind’s Search for God. February: The new book Draw Close to Jehovah will be featured. Branches that do not yet have this publication may use the Creation book or the Revelation Climax book as an alternative offer. March: Feature the Knowledge book, with an effort to start home Bible studies. April and May: Feature individual copies of both The Watchtower and Awake! When making return visits on interested people, concentrate on placing Worship the Only True God. Every effort should be made to start a home Bible study, especially if some individuals have already studied the Knowledge book and the Require brochure.

◼ Starting in February, and no later than March 2, the new public talk for circuit overseers will be “Deliverance From a World of Darkness.”

◼ Congregations should make convenient arrangements to observe the Memorial this year on Wednesday, April 16, after sundown. Although the talk may start earlier, the passing of the emblems should not begin until after sundown. Check with local sources to determine when sundown occurs in your area. Where a number of congregations normally use the same Kingdom Hall, perhaps one or more congregations can obtain the use of another facility for that evening. Where possible, we would suggest a minimum of 40 minutes between the programs so that all may benefit fully from the occasion. Consideration should also be given to traffic conditions and parking, including the dropping off and picking up of passengers. The body of elders should decide what arrangements would be best locally.

◼ As of this issue, the list of new publications available will no longer appear in Our Kingdom Ministry. The “Announcement to All Congregations” with this information will continue to be mailed to all congregations each month. As a reminder, once the “Announcement to All Congregations” is received, an announcement should be made at the next Service Meeting regarding the items that may be of interest to your congregation. The announcement may then be posted on the information board. After that, the literature servant should retain it in his file.

◼ For those who wish to make donations to the worldwide work electronically, a set of instructions is available to explain this arrangement. For further information, call or write to Watch Tower, Office of the Secretary and Treasurer, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483, (718) 560-5000.

Presentations for Draw Close to Jehovah

◼ With Bible in hand, say: “Many people who believe in God would like to feel closer to him. Did you know that God invites us to draw close to him? [Read James 4:8.] This publication is designed to help people use their own Bible to draw close to God.” Read paragraph 1 on page 16.

◼ With Bible in hand, say: “Today injustice abounds. It is just as described here. [Read Ecclesiastes 8:9b.] Many wonder if God even cares. [Read the first two sentences of paragraph 4 on page 119.] This chapter explains why God has permitted injustice for a time.”

Question Box

◼ When is it appropriate to form a foreign-language group?

When a congregation’s territory includes a sizable foreign-language population, the elders should do what they can to organize the preaching work in that language. (km 7/02 p. 1; km 2/98 pp. 3-4) It may be that the foreign-language community is widely scattered throughout the territories of two or more neighboring congregations. In such a case, the circuit overseer(s) will provide needed direction, thus helping the congregations involved to cooperate in the preaching activity. Periodically, a public talk or Watchtower Study may be arranged to determine the extent of support for the meetings in the foreign language.

A foreign-language group can be formed when the following requirements are met: (1) There are publishers or interested ones who best understand the good news in the foreign language. (2) A qualified elder or ministerial servant is available to take the lead and conduct at least one weekly meeting. (3) A body of elders is willing to sponsor the group. When these requirements have been met, the elders should inform the branch office so that the group can be formally recognized and further instructions can be given.

Most groups begin by holding the Congregation Book Study on a weekly basis. Later, the elders may approve of adding other meetings, such as the Public Meeting and the Watchtower Study. Assignments No. 2, 3, and 4 on the Theocratic Ministry School may be presented in an auxiliary classroom if a qualified elder or ministerial servant conversant in the language can serve as the counselor. However, the group will join the congregation for the speech-quality talk, instruction talk, Bible highlights, and Service Meeting. Meetings for field service may also be arranged for the group.

All in the group work closely under the oversight of the body of elders. The elders should provide balanced direction and show initiative in caring for the needs of the group. When the circuit overseer visits the sponsoring congregation, he will also arrange to work with the group in order to build it up spiritually. With Jehovah’s blessing, the foreign-language group may in time become a congregation.