‘Impi Akuyona Eyenu, NgekaNkulunkulu’
NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUW. GLEN HOW
Phakathi neminyaka engamashumi ayisithupha edlule, oFakazi BakaJehova baye balwa izimpi eziningi ezingokomthetho eCanada. Ukunqoba kwabo kuye kwaqashelwa umkhakha wezomthetho. Ngenxa yeqhaza engiye ngalibamba kwezinye zalezi zimpi, i-American College of Trial Lawyers isanda kungamukelisa i-Award for Courageous Advocacy. Emcimbini wokwamukeliswa umklomelo, kwaboniswa ukuthi amacala ahilela oFakazi BakaJehova “ayisivikelo esibalulekile ngokumelene nokweqisa kukahulumeni . . . , ngoba aba umhlahlandlela wokwakha isiphakamiso samalungelo esiqashelwa yizinkantolo, esiqaphela futhi sivikele inkululeko yabo bonke abantu baseCanada.” Ake ngihlangayele nawe eminye imininingwane yala macala asenkantolo futhi ngikutshele ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ngihileleke kwezomthetho noFakazi BakaJehova.
NGO-1924, uGeorge Rix, uMfundi WeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, wavakashela abazali bami eToronto, eCanada. Umama, uBessie How, owesifazane onomzimba omncane, wamamukela ukuze baxoxe. Ngangineminyaka emihlanu ubudala, futhi umfowethu, uJoe, eneminyaka emithathu.
Ngokushesha umama waqala ukuya emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli eToronto. Ngo-1929 waba iphayona, noma isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele, futhi waqhubeka enza lowo msebenzi kwaze kwaba ngo-1969, lapho eqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni. Wasibekela isibonelo esihle ngokuphikelela nangokukhuthala enkonzweni futhi wasiza abaningi ukuba bazuze ulwazi lweqiniso leBhayibheli.
Ubaba, uFrank How, wayeyindoda ephansi eyayiwuphikisa ekuqaleni umsebenzi ongokwenkolo kamama. Nokho, ngokuhlakanipha umama wayemema izikhonzi ezijikelezayo, ezinjengoGeorge Young, ukuba zivakashe futhi zikhulume nobaba. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, isimo sengqondo sikababa sathamba. Njengoba ayebona umphumela ozuzisayo weqiniso leBhayibheli emkhayeni wakhe, waqala ukusisekela kakhulu, nakuba engazange abe nguFakazi.
Ukwenza Isinqumo Sokukhonza UNkulunkulu
Ngo-1936, ngaphothula esikoleni esiphakeme. Eminyakeni yami yobusha, ngangingenaso isithakazelo ezintweni ezingokomoya. Sasiphakathi koKuwohloka Okukhulu Komnotho, futhi amathemba omsebenzi ayefiphele. Ngakho ngaya e-University of Toronto. Ngo-1940, nganquma ukuya esikoleni somthetho. Umama akazange amangale ngalesi sinqumo sami. Lapho ngiseyingane, ngokuthukuthela wayevame ukuthi: “Leso sigangi siqala impikiswano nganoma yini! Ngokunokwenzeka siyoba ummeli!”
Ngo-July 4, 1940, ngaphambi nje kokuba ngiqale esikoleni somthetho, uhulumeni waseCanada wavala umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova ngokungalindelekile. Lesi kwakuyisikhathi senguquko ekuphileni kwami. Lapho uhulumeni ehlasela le nhlangano encane yabantu abangenacala, abathobekile, kwacaca kimi ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babengabalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso. Njengoba ayeprofethile, baba “izinto zokuzondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yegama [lakhe].” (Mathewu 24:9) Nganquma ukukhonza Amandla Aphezulu asekela le nhlangano. Ngo-February 10, 1941, ngabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwami kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngobhapathizo lwamanzi.
Ngangifuna ukuqala umsebenzi wokuphayona. Nokho, uJack Nathan, ngaleso sikhathi owayehola emsebenzini wokushumayela eCanada, wangikhuthaza ukuba ngiqede ukuqeqeshwa kwami kwezomthetho. Ngakho ngenza kanjalo, futhi ngaphothula izifundo ngo-May 1943, ngemva kwalokho ngaqala ukuphayona. Ngo-August, ngamenywa ukuba ngiyokhonza ehhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society eToronto futhi ngisize ngezinkinga ezingokomthetho oFakazi BakaJehova ababebhekene nazo. Ngenyanga eyalandela ngabhaliswa enhlanganweni yabameli e-Ontario, eCanada.
Ukuvikela Izindaba Ezinhle Ngokomthetho
IMpi Yezwe II yayisiqalile, futhi oFakazi babesavinjelwe eCanada. Abesilisa nabesifazane babeboshwa ngoba nje bengoFakazi BakaJehova. Izingane zazixoshwa esikoleni, ezinye zifakwa ngisho nasemakhaya okutholwa. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi zazenqaba ukuhlanganyela ohlotsheni lokukhulekela kobuzwe, njengokukhulekela ifulege noma ukucula ingoma yesizwe. UProfesa William Kaplan, owabhala incwadi ethi State and Salvation: The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Their Fight for Civil Rights, wathi “oFakazi babehlushwa emphakathini futhi beyizisulu zokuphazanyiswa nokuhlaselwa ngokuqondile uhulumeni onobandlululo nayizakhamuzi ezinobutha ezazivukwe usinga nokushisekela izwe kwezempi.”
OFakazi babefuna ukuba umsebenzi wabo uvulwe kodwa behluleka. Kungazelelwe, ngo-October 14, 1943, wavulwa. Noma kunjalo, oFakazi babesagqunywe emajele nasemakamu okufukuza, izingane zazenqatshelwa ukufunda ezikoleni zomphakathi, futhi i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society kanye ne-International Bible Students Association, inhlangano eyayingabanikazi bezakhiwo zethu eToronto, yayisavinjelwe.
Ekupheleni kuka-1943, ngathatha uhambo oluya eNew York noPercy Chapman, owayeyinceku yegatsha laseCanada, siyobonana noNathan Knorr, ngaleso sikhathi owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society, kanye noHayden Covington, isekela likamongameli weNhlangano nomeluleki kwezomthetho. UMfoweth’ uCovington wayenokuhlangenwe nakho okuningi kwezomthetho. Ekugcineni wanqoba emacaleni angu-36 kwangu-45 eNkantolo Ephakeme yase-United States.
Kancane kancane oFakazi baseCanada bathola inkululeko. Ngo-1944 izakhiwo zegatsha eToronto zabuyiswa, futhi labo ababekade bekhonza lapho ngaphambi kokuvinjelwa babuya. Ngo-1945 inkantolo ephakeme yesifundazwe sase-Ontario yamemezela ukuthi izingane akumelwe ziphoqelelwe ukuba zihlanganyele ezenzweni eziphikisana nonembeza. Yayala ukuba izingane zesikole ezazixoshiwe zamukelwe futhi esikoleni. Ekugcineni, ngo-1946 uhulumeni waseCanada wabakhulula bonke oFakazi emakamu okufukuza. Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaMfoweth’ uCovington, ngafunda ukulwa ngokukhuthazela nangokuphikelela kula macala, kodwa ngaphezu kwakho konke, ukuthembela kuJehova.
Impi YaseQuebec
Nakuba inkululeko engokwenkolo yoFakazi BakaJehova yayisihlonishwa ezingxenyeni eziningi zaseCanada, kwakunendawo eyodwa eyayihlukile—isifundazwe saseQuebec, esasiphethwe amaKatolika angamaFulentshi. Lesi sifundazwe kwase kuyiminyaka engaphezu kuka-300 silawulwa ngokuqondile iSonto LamaRoma Katolika. Izikole, izibhedlela nezinkonzo zomphakathi eziningi zaziqondiswa noma zilawulwa abefundisi. Kwakukhona nesihlalo sobukhosi sikakhadinali wamaKatolika eceleni kwesihlalo sesikhulumi endlini yesishaya-mthetho eQuebec!
Ngokwesazi-mlando saseQuebec uGérard Pelletier, undunankulu nommeli omkhulu waseQuebec, uMaurice Duplessis wayengumashiqela owayebangele ukuba lesi sifundazwe “sibuswe ngamanga, ukungabi nabulungisa nenkohlakalo, ukusetshenziswa okungafanele kwamandla, ukudukisa abantu abanganaki nokunqoba kobuwula iminyaka engamashumi amabili.” UDuplessis waqinisa umbuso wakhe wezombangazwe ngokubambisana noKhadinali WamaRoma Katolika uVilleneuve.
Ekuqaleni kwawo-1940, kwakunoFakazi abangu-300 eQuebec. Abaningi, kuhlanganise nomfowethu uJoe, babengamaphayona akwezinye izingxenye zeCanada. Njengoba umsebenzi wokushumayela wawanda eQuebec, amaphoyisa endawo, ecindezelwa abefundisi, aphindisela ngokuhlukumeza oFakazi ebabopha ephindelela futhi esebenzisa imithetho yokuthengisa ngokungeyikho emsebenzini wethu ongokwenkolo.
Ngase ngivame ukwehla ngenyuka phakathi kweToronto neQuebec kangangokuba ekugcineni ngabelwa ukuba ngithuthele eQuebec ukuze ngisize abameli abangebona oFakazi ababemelela abafowethu nodadewethu abangamaKristu. Nsuku zonke kwakuwumsebenzi wami ukuthola kuqala ukuthi bangaki ababeboshwe ngayizolo futhi ngiphuthume enkantolo yendawo ukuze ngenze amalungiselelo okuba bakhishwe. Ngenhlanhla, uFakazi owayecebile, uFrank Roncarelli, wayekhokha imali yebheyili kwamaningi ala macala.
Kusukela ngo-1944 kuya ku-1946, inani lamacala okwephulwa komthetho landa lisuka ku-40 laya ku-800! Akukhona nje ukuthi iziphathimandla zazibabopha futhi zibahlukumeze njalo nje oFakazi kodwa izixuku ezingalawuleki, zishukunyiswa abefundisi bamaKatolika, zazibahlasela nokubahlasela.
Ngo-November 2 no- 3, 1946, kwaba nomhlangano okhethekile eMontreal ukuze kuxazululwe le nhlekelele. UMfoweth’ uKnorr wanikeza inkulumo yokuphetha, eyayinesihloko esithi “Yini Esiyoyenza?” Bonke ababekhona bajabula lapho bezwa impendulo yakhe—wafunda ngokuzwakalayo ipheshana manje eliyingqopha-mlando elinesihloko esithi Inzondo Evuthayo YaseQuebec NgoNkulunkulu NoKristu Kanye Nenkululeko Iyihlazo Lalo Lonke ElaseCanada. Kwakuyipheshana elinamakhasi amane elalivutha bhé—ukudalulwa okunemininingwane kwamagama, izinsuku nezindawo lapho abefundisi babeshoshozele khona iziyaluyalu, isihluku samaphoyisa, ukuboshwa kwabantu nobudlova besixuku ngokumelene noFakazi BakaJehova eQuebec. Aqala ukusakazwa kulo lonke elaseCanada ngemva nje kwezinsuku ezingu-12.
Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, uDuplessis wamemezela obala “impi engenalo uzwela” ngokumelene noFakazi BakaJehova. Kodwa ngobuwula wayesisiza. Kanjani? Ngokuyala ukuba noma ubani osakaza Inzondo Evuthayo YaseQuebec abekwe icala lokuvukela uhulumeni—okuyicala elibomvu ekugcineni elasuswa ezinkantolo zaseQuebec layoqulwa eNkantolo Ephakeme eCanada. Ethukuthele, uDuplessis akazange awugqize qakala lowo mphumela. Khona-ke wayala ukuba uFrank Roncarelli, owayekade engumthombo wethu oyinhloko wemali yebheyili, aphucwe imvume yokuthengisa uphuzo oludakayo. Ingenalo iwayini, indawo enhle yokudlela kaMfoweth’ uRoncarelli yavalwa ezinyangeni ezimbalwa, futhi walahlekelwa kakhulu ngokwezimali.
Ukuboshwa kwabantu kwanda. Kunokuba sibhekane namacala angu-800, ngokushesha sazithola sibhekene nangu-1 600. Abameli namajaji amaningi bakhononda ngokuthi la macala oFakazi BakaJehova ayeminyanisa izinkantolo zaseQuebec. Lapho sisabela sasikisela ukuba basebenzise ikhambi elilula: Amaphoyisa mawabophe izigebengu kunokuba abophe amaKristu. Lokho kwakuzoyixazulula inkinga!
Abameli ababili abangamaJuda abanesibindi, u-A. L. Stein waseMontreal noSam S. Bard waseQuebec City, basiza ngokusimelela emacaleni amaningi, ikakhulukazi ngaphambi kokuba ngibhaliswe enhlanganweni yabameli yaseQuebec ngo-1949. UPierre Elliott Trudeau, kamuva owaba undunankulu waseCanada, wabhala ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova eQuebec “baye benziwa inhlekisa, bashushiswa, futhi bazondwa yiwo wonke umphakathi wethu; kodwa ngokusebenzisa umthetho baye bakwazi ukulwa neSonto, uhulumeni, isizwe, amaphoyisa nendlela umphakathi obabheka ngayo.”
Isimo sengqondo sezinkantolo zaseQuebec sabonakala endleleni umfowethu, uJoe, aphathwa ngayo. Wabekwa icala lokuphazamisa ukuthula. Umahluleli uJean Mercier wanika uJoe isigwebo sezinsuku ezingu-60 ejele. Khona-ke, ehluleka ukuzibamba, wamemeza esesihlalweni samajaji ethi wayefisa ukuba uJoe adilikelwe yijele!
Elinye iphephandaba lathi uMercier wayala amaphoyisa aseQuebec ukuba “abophe bonke oFakazi abaziwayo noma abasolekayo.” Isenzo esinjalo sabonisa ukuthi laliqinisile ipheshana lethu elithi Inzondo Evuthayo YaseQuebec. Lezi ezinye zezihloko eziphambili zamaphephandaba aseCanada ngaphandle kwaseQuebec: “Izikhathi Zokungazi Zibuyile EQuebec” (The Toronto Star), “Ukubuya KweNkantolo Yamacala Ezihlubuki” (The Globe and Mail, Toronto), “Iphunga Elibi LobuFasi” (The Gazette, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia).
Ukuzivikela Ecaleni Lokuvukela Uhulumeni
Ngo-1947, ngasiza uMnu. Stein ekuqulweni kwecala lethu lokuqala lokuvukela uhulumeni, icala lika-Aimé Boucher. U-Aimé wayesakaze amapheshana eduze komuzi wakhe. Ecaleni lika-Aimé sabonisa ukuthi Inzondo Evuthayo YaseQuebec yayingewona amanga kodwa yayisebenzise ulimi oluqinile ukuze ikhononde ngezenzo zobudlova ngokumelene noFakazi BakaJehova. Sabonisa ukuthi babengazange babekwe icala labo ababenze lezi zenzo zobudlova. U-Aimé wayebekwe icala lokuveza lezo zenzo obala. Isinqumo sabashushisi sabonisa ukuthi: Kwakuyicala ukukhuluma iqiniso!
Izinkantolo zaseQuebec zazinamathele encazelweni engacacile eneminyaka engu-350 ubudala, echaza inkulumo ethi “ukuvukela umbuso,” eyayisikisela ukuthi noma ubani ogxeka uhulumeni wayeyobekwa icala. UDuplessis naye wanamathela kuleyo ncazelo ukuze avimbele ukugxekwa kukahulumeni wakhe. Kodwa ngo-1950 iNkantolo Ephakeme YaseCanada yakwamukela ukusikisela kwethu kokuthi ekubuseni kwanamuhla kwentando yeningi, “ukuvukela umbuso” kusho ukushoshozela ubudlova noma izenzo zokuvukela uhulumeni. Inzondo Evuthayo YaseQuebec yayingenawo amazwi ashoshozelayo anjalo futhi ngenxa yalokho, yayiyindlela yokukhuluma ngokukhululekile engokomthetho. Ngalesi sinqumo esisodwa esiyingqopha-mlando, wonke amacala angu-123 okuvukela uhulumeni ahoxiswa! Ngazibonela mathupha indlela uJehova asenza sanqoba ngayo.
Ukulwisana Nokubekelwa Imingcele
IQuebec City yayinomthetho owenqabela ukusakazwa kwezincwadi ngaphandle kwemvume yomphathi wamaphoyisa. Lokhu kwakuwukubekelwa imingcele okuqondile, ngakho-ke kuwukwephula ilungelo lenkululeko engokwenkolo. ULaurier Saumur, ngaleso sikhathi owayekhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo, wayegwetshwe izinyanga ezintathu ngenxa yalo mthetho futhi ebhekene namanye amacala.
Ngo-1947 samangalela iQuebec City egameni loMfoweth’ uSaumur ukuze sivimbele ukusetshenziswa kwalo mthetho ngokumelene noFakazi BakaJehova. Izinkantolo zaseQuebec zasilahla, futhi saphinde sadlulisela icala eNkantolo Ephakeme YaseCanada. Ngo-October 1953, ngemva kokuqulwa kwecala izinsuku ezingu-7 phambi kwamajaji angu-9 aleyo Nkantolo, isicelo sethu sokuvinjwa kwalo mthetho semukelwa. INkantolo yaqaphela ukuthi ukusakaza izintshumayelo zeBhayibheli ezinyathelisiwe kuyingxenye eyisisekelo yokukhulekela kobuKristu koFakazi BakaJehova futhi babevikelwe ngokomthetho ekubekelweni imingcele.
Ngakho ecaleni lika-Boucher kwanqunywa ukuthi lokho oFakazi BakaJehova ababekusho kungokomthetho; kodwa isinqumo ecaleni lika-Saumur sabonisa ukuthi kumelwe bakusho kanjani futhi kuphi. Ukunqoba ecaleni lika-Saumur kwaholela ekuhoxisweni kwamacala angu-1 100 eQuebec. Futhi amacala angaphezu kuka-500 eMontreal ahoxiswa ngenxa yokuntuleka kobufakazi. Ngokushesha wonke amacala ahoxiswa—kwakungasekho macala eQuebec!
Ukuhlasela KukaDuplessis Kokugcina
Ingasekho imithetho ayengayisebenzisa ngokumelene noFakazi BakaJehova, ekuqaleni kuka-January 1954, uDuplessis wafaka umthetho omusha, iSiphakamiso No. 38, amaphephandaba awuchaza ‘njengomthetho omelene noFakazi BakaJehova.’ Wawubonisa ukuthi labo abasola noma ubani ukuthi ubehlose ukusho inkulumo “echaphayo noma enendelelo” babengafaka icala ngaphandle kobufakazi obuphathekayo. Njengommeli omkhulu, uDuplessis wayengathola isinqumo senkantolo esenqabela umuntu obekwe icala ukuba anikeze ubufakazi obala. Lapho lo myalo ususetshenziswe koyedwa, wonke amalungu esonto lalowo muntu nawo ayenqatshelwa ukukhuluma. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wonke amaBhayibheli nezincwadi zenkolo zalelo sonto zaziyothathwa zishiswe, futhi zonke izindawo zalo zokukhulekela zaziyovalwa kuze kube yilapho sekukhishwe isinqumo, okwakungase kuthathe iminyaka.
ISiphakamiso No. 38 sasiwukuvuselelwa komthetho owasungulwa ekhulwini le-15 eNkantolo Yamacala Ezihlubuki yaseSpain ngaphansi kukaTorquemada. Lowo owayebekwe icala nabangane bakhe babephucwa wonke amalungelo ngaphandle kobufakazi bokwenza ububi. Ekhuluma ngeSiphakamiso No. 38, amaphephandaba amemezela ukuthi amaphoyisa esifunda ayeyalwe ukuba avale wonke amaHholo OMbuso OFakazi BakaJehova nokuba athathe futhi ashise amaBhayibheli abo nezinye izincwadi. Bebhekene nalolu songo olubi, oFakazi BakaJehova basusa zonke izincwadi zabo ezingokwenkolo kulesi sifunda. Nokho, baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela obala kodwa besebenzisa amaBhayibheli abo nje kuphela.
Lesi siphakamiso saqala ukusebenza njengomthetho ngo-January 28, 1954. Ngo-January 29, ngo-9:00 ekuseni, ngangimi emnyango wenkantolo ngizomelela bonke oFakazi BakaJehova esifundeni saseQuebec, ngifuna isinqumo esimelene ngokuphelele nalo mthetho ngaphambi kokuba uDuplessis aqale ukuwusebenzisa. Ijaji alizange lisikhiphe isinqumo sesikhashana esivimbelayo ngoba iSiphakamiso No. 38 sasingakasetshenziswa. Kodwa lathi uma uhulumeni ezama ukusisebenzisa, ngangingabuyela kulo ukuze lisivikele. Isenzo sejaji sasinomphumela ofanayo njengezwi lesivikelo lesikhashana, ngoba noma nini lapho uDuplessis ezama ukusebenzisa lo mthetho, wayeyovinjwa!
Ngesonto elalandela, sasimi ngomumo ukuze sibone ukuthi kukhona yini amaphoyisa ayezokwenza esebenzisa lo mthetho omusha. Akwenzekanga lutho! Ukuze sithole isizathu, ngahlela ukuba sizwe amanzi ngobhoko. Amaphayona amabili, uVictoria Dougaluk (kamuva owaba ngowakwaSteele) noHelen Dougaluk (kamuva owaba ngowakwaSimcox), angena endlini ngendlu nezincwadi eTrois-Rivières, idolobha uDuplessis akhulela kulo. Akwenzekanga lutho futhi. Ngesikhathi odade bematasa, ngacela uLaurier Saumur ukuba ashayele amaphoyisa esifunda ucingo. Ngaphandle kokuzichaza, wakhononda ngokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babeshumayela futhi amaphoyisa ayengawulandeli umthetho omusha kaDuplessis.
Ngokuzenyeza, leli phoyisa lathi: “Yebo, siyazi ukuthi lo mthetho usuyasebenza; kodwa osukwini olulandelayo oFakazi BakaJehova bathola umthetho omelene nathi, ngakho ayikho into esingayenza.” Ngokushesha, sazibuyisa zonke izincwadi zethu kulesi sifunda, futhi eminyakeni eyishumi leli cala lisadluliselwa ezinkantolo eziphakeme, umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela waqhubekela phambili ngempumelelo.
Ngaphezu kwalo myalo, senza isicelo sokuba kuchithwe iSiphakamiso No. 38. Ukuze siveze ubufakazi bokuthi lo mthetho wawubhekiswe koFakazi BakaJehova ngokuqondile, sanquma ukuthatha isinyathelo esinzima—sokuthumelela uDuplessis amasamanisi, amphoqelela ukuba abe khona ecaleni futhi anikeze ubufakazi. Ngamfaka imibuzo amahora amabili nesigamu. Ngokuphindaphindiwe ngambuza ngokumemezela kwakhe obala amazwi athi wayesungula “impi engenalo uzwela ngokumelene noFakazi BakaJehova” nangamazwi akhe athi iSiphakamiso No. 38 sasiyoba isiphelo soFakazi BakaJehova eQuebec. Ethukuthele, wangihlasela ngokuqondile: “Uyindoda engenasimilo neze!”
Ngaphendula ngathi, “Mnu. Duplessis, ukube besixoxa ngobuntu, nami bengingasho okuthile ngawe. Kodwa njengoba sikhuluma ngolunye udaba, ngicela uchazele inkantolo ukuthi kungani ungawuphendulanga umbuzo?”
Ngo-1964, ngakhuluma phambi kweNkantolo Ephakeme YaseCanada ngimelene neSiphakamiso No. 38. Kodwa inkantolo yenqaba ukwenza isinqumo sokuba ungabi ngokomthetho ngoba wawungakaze usetshenziswe. Nokho, ngaleso sikhathi uDuplessis wayeseshonile, futhi akukho muntu owayesenendaba neSiphakamiso No. 38. Asizange sisetshenziswe koFakazi BakaJehova noma kunoma ubani omunye.
Ngaphambi kokuba uDuplessis afe ngo-1959, iNkantolo Ephakeme yaseCanada yayala ukuba akhokhe inhlawulo kuMfoweth’ uRoncarelli ngokumephuca ngokungemthetho imvume yokuthengisa uphuzo oludakayo. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi abantu abaningi eQuebec baye baba nobungane. Ngokwezibalo zikahulumeni, inani loFakazi BakaJehova lapho liye lenyuka lisuka ku-300 ngo-1943 laya kwabangaphezu kuka-33 000 namuhla. Manje oFakazi BakaJehova bayiqembu lenkolo lesine ngobukhulu kulesi sifunda. Lokhu kunqoba kwezomthetho noma ukuphumelela kwenkonzo yoFakazi BakaJehova angikubheki njengokufezwe umuntu. Kunalokho, kuye kwangibonisa ukuthi uJehova oletha ukunqoba, ngoba impi ngeyakhe, akuyona eyethu.—2 IziKronike 20:15.
Ukushintsha Kwezimo
Ngo-1954, ngashada nephayona elithandekayo laseNgilandi, uMargaret Biegel, futhi saqala umsebenzi wokuphayona ndawonye. Ngaqhubeka nokumelela oFakazi BakaJehova emacaleni asenkantolo eCanada nase-United States nokusebenza njengomeluleki kwamanye amacala eYurophu nase-Australia. UMargaret waba ngunobhala wami futhi wangisekela ngendlela ewusizo iminyaka eminingi. Ngo-1984, ngabuyela noMargaret egatsheni laseCanada sayohlala khona, futhi ngasiza ekumisweni kabusha koMnyango Wezomthetho. Ngokudabukisayo, ngo-1987, uMargaret wabulawa isifo somdlavuza.
Ngemva kokushona kukamama ngo-1969, umfowethu uJoe nomkakhe, u-Elsie, ababeyizithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe ekilasini lesi-9 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, bathatha ubaba bayohlala naye emzini wabo futhi bamnakekela kwaze kwaba yilapho eshona ngemva kweminyaka engu-16. Ngale ndlela yokuzidela, benza ukuba ngikwazi ukuhlala enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, futhi ngiyohlale ngikwazisa kakhulu lokhu.
Izimpi Eziqhubekayo
Njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka, izimpi ezingokomthetho zoFakazi BakaJehova zashintsha. Amacala amaningi ayehilela ukuthola izakhiwo nezimvume zokwakha amaHholo OMbuso namaHholo Omhlangano. Amanye kwakungamacala okuwinwa kwabantwana lapho abazali abangebona oFakazi babesebenzisa khona ukucwasa okungokwenkolo ukuze bawine abantwana noma bavimbe abazali abangoFakazi ukuba bangahlanganyeli izinkolelo zabo nemikhuba engokwenkolo ewusizo nabantwana babo.
Ngo-1989 uLinda Manning, ummeli waseMelika, wafika egatsheni laseCanada ezonikeza usizo lwesikhashana kwezomthetho. Ngo-November walowo nyaka, sashada futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi besilokhu sikhonza lapha ndawonye ngenjabulo.
Ngawo-1990, mina nommeli esikanye naye lapha egatsheni laseCanada, uJohn Burns, saya eJapane siyosiza abafowethu abangamaKristu ukuba banqobe ecaleni elalihilela inkululeko yomfundi yokwenqaba ukuhlanganyela emakilasini obuciko bokulwa okwakufunwa isikole ayefunda kuso. Futhi sanqoba ecaleni elimayelana nelungelo lo muntu osemdala lokwenqaba ukumpontshelwa igazi.
Khona-ke ngo-1995 no-1996, mina noLinda saba nelungelo lokuchitha izinyanga ezinhlanu eSingapore ngenxa yokuvinjelwa koFakazi BakaJehova kulelo zwe okwaphumela oshushisweni. Ngamelela amadoda, abesifazane, nabasha abangu-64 ababemangalelwe ngokuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu nokuphatha iBhayibheli nezincwadi zenkolo. Asizange sinqobe kula macala, kodwa sabona indlela uJehova aqinisa ngayo izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ukuba zikhuthazele ngobuqotho nangenjabulo.
Nginokwazisa Ngeqhaza Engalibamba
Nakuba ngineminyaka engu-80, ngiyajabula ngokuthi ngiwumqemane futhi ngisakwazi ukuhlanganyela ekulweni izimpi ezingokomthetho zabantu bakaJehova. Ngisakulungele ukuya enkantolo ngiyolwela ukulunga. Kuye kwangijabulisa ukubona oFakazi eCanada banda besuka ku-4 000 ngo-1940 baya ku-111 000 manje. Abantu nezenzakalo kuyaguquguquka, kodwa uJehova ulokhu ebathuthukisa abantu bakhe, eqikelela ukuthi bayachuma ngokomoya.
Ingabe zikhona izinkinga? Yebo, kodwa iZwi likaJehova liyasiqinisekisa: “Asikho isikhali esenzelwa wena esiyakuphumelela.” (Isaya 54:17) Uma ngicabanga ngeminyaka engaphezu kuka-56 engiyichithe enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele ‘ngivikela futhi ngimisa ngokomthetho izindaba ezinhle,’ ngingasifakazela njengesiyiqiniso lesi siprofetho sika-Isaya!—Filipi 1:7.
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Nginomfowethu omncane nabazali bethu
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UHayden Covington, umeluleki wezomthetho
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NginoNathan Knorr
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UDuplessis eguqe phambi kukaKhadinal’ uVilleneuve
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Photo by W. R. Edwards
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UFrank Roncarelli
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Courtesy Canada Wide
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Aimé Boucher
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Nginabameli engisebenza nabo uJohn Burns nomkami uLinda