Isahluko 23

Izithunywa Zevangeli Ziqhubekisela Phambili Ukwanda Emhlabeni Wonke

UMSEBENZI wentshiseko wezithunywa zevangeli ezizimisele ukukhonza nomaphi lapho zidingeka khona uye waba isici esibalulekile ekumenyezelweni koMbuso kaNkulunkulu embulungeni yonke.

Esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuba i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society isungule isikole esasizofeza lenjongo, izithunywa zevangeli kakade zazithunyelwa kwamanye amazwe. Umongameli wokuqala weNhlangano, uC. T. Russell, wasiqaphela isidingo sokuba abantu abafanelekayo baqalise futhi bahole ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle emasimini akwamanye amazwe. Wathumela amadoda athile ayezofeza leyonjongo—u-Adolf Weber eYurophu, u-E. J. Coward endaweni eseCaribbean, uRobert Hollister eMpumalanga, noJoseph Booth eningizimu ye-Afrika. Ngokudabukisayo, uBooth waba nesithakazelo esikhulu ezinjongweni zakhe siqu; ngakho, ngo-1910, uWilliam Johnston wathunyelwa eNyasaland (manje eyiMalawi) esuka eScotland, lapho ithonya likaBooth elibi lalizwakele khona kakhulu. Ngemva kwalokho, uMfoweth’ uJohnston wabelwa ukuba amise ihhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society eThekwini, eNingizimu Afrika, futhi kamuva wakhonza njengombonisi wegatsha e-Australia.

Ngemva kwempi yezwe yokuqala, uJ. F. Rutherford wathumela ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezengeziwe—ngokwesibonelo, uThomas Walder noGeorge Phillips basuka eBrithani baya eNingizimu Afrika, uW. R. Brown wasuka esabelweni eTrinidad waya eNtshonalanga Afrika, uGeorge Young wasuka eCanada waya eNingizimu Melika naseYurophu, uJuan Muñiz waqale waya eSpain kamuva waya e-Argentina, uGeorge Wright no-Edwin Skinner baya eNdiya, balandelwa uClaude Goodman, uRon Tippin, nabanye abengeziwe. Babengabahlahli bendlela ngempela, befinyelela ezindaweni lapho ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle kwakwenziwe kancane noma kungakenziwa nhlobo futhi bebeka isisekelo esiqinile sokwanda kwenhlangano kwesikhathi esizayo.

Kwakunabanye, abamoya wabo wezithunywa zevangeli wabashukumisela ukuba baqale ukushumayela ezindaweni ezingekho emazweni akubo. Phakathi kwabo kwakunoKate Goas nendodakazi yakhe uMarion, abanikela ngeminyaka ethile enkonzweni yentshiseko eColombia naseVenezuela. Omunye kwakunguJoseph Dos Santos, owahamba eHawaii eyoqalisa uhambo lokushumayela olwaholela eminyakeni engu-15 yenkonzo ePhilippines. Kwakukhona noFrank Rice, owahamba ngomkhumbi othwala izimpahla esuka e-Australia eyoqalisa ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle esiqhingini saseJava (manje esise-Indonesia).

Nokho, ngo-1942 kwaqalisa amalungiselelo ezifundo ngokukhethekile ezihloselwe ukuqeqesha abesilisa nabesifazane ababezimisele ukuqala inkonzo enjalo yezithunywa zevangeli nomaphi lapho babedingeka khona ensimini yembulunga yonke.

ISikole SaseGileyadi

Phakathi nempi yezwe, umuntu wayengase akubone kungekhona ukuhlakanipha ukuhlelela ukwanda komsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso emasimini akwamanye amazwe. Nokho, ngo-September 1942, bethembele kuJehova, abaqondisi bezimbili zezinhlangano eziyinhloko ezingokomthetho ezisetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova bamukela isihlongozo sikaN. H. Knorr sokuba kumiswe isikole okwakuhloswe ukuba siqeqeshele izithunywa zevangeli nabanye inkonzo ekhethekile. Sasizobizwa ngokuthi i-Watchtower Bible College of Gilead. Kamuva lelogama lashintshwa kwaba yi-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Akukho mali yokufunda eyayizokhokhwa, futhi abafundi babezohlala futhi bondliwe ngezindleko zeNhlangano ngenkathi besaqeqeshwa.

Phakathi kwalabo abamenywa ukuba basize ekuhleleni izifundo ezazizonikezwa kwakuno-Albert D. Schroeder, kakade owayesezuze okuhlangenwe nakho okuningi eMnyangweni Wenkonzo endlunkulu yeNhlangano eBrooklyn nanjengombonisi wegatsha leNhlangano eBrithani. Umbono wakhe oqondile, indlela ayezidela ngayo, kanye nesithakazelo sakhe esiqotho kubafundi konke kwamenza wathandwa yilabo ayebafundisa phakathi neminyaka engu-17 ayekhonza ngayo njengowayebhalisa abafundi nanjengothisha esikoleni. Ngo-1974 waba ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, futhi ngonyaka olandelayo wabelwa ukuba akhonze eKomitini Yokufundisa yalendikimba.

UMfoweth’ uSchroeder nothisha ayekanye nabo (uMaxwell Friend, u-Eduardo Keller, noVictor Blackwell) bahlela izifundo zezinyanga ezinhlanu ezazigcizelela ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngokwalo nenhlangano engokwasezulwini, kanye nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli, ukukhuluma eningini, inkonzo yasensimini, inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli, umlando wenkolo, umthetho waphezulu, indlela yokusebenzelana nezikhulu zikahulumeni, umthetho womhlaba wonke, ukugcina imibiko, nolimi lwakwelinye izwe. Izifundo ziye zathuthukiswa phakathi neminyaka, kodwa ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngokwalo nokubaluleka komsebenzi wokushumayela ivangeli ngaso sonke isikhathi kuye kweza kuqala. Injongo yalezizifundo iwukuqinisa ukholo lwabafundi, ukubasiza ukuba babe nezimfanelo ezingokomoya ezidingekayo ukuze bahlangabezane ngokuphumelelayo nezinselele zenkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli. Kuye kwagcizelelwa ukubaluleka kokuthembela ngokuphelele kuJehova nokuba qotho kuye. (IHu. 146:1-6; IzAga 3:5, 6; Efe. 4:24) Abafundi abalokothi bafunzwe izimpendulo zakho konke kodwa baqeqeshelwa ukuba bazicwaningele futhi bayasizwa ukuba baqonde ukuthi kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bekholelwa yilokho abakukholelwayo nokuthi kungani bebambelela ezindleleni ezithile zokwenza izinto. Bafunda ukubona ukuthi yiziphi izimiso abangazisebenzisa. Kanjalo kubekwa isisekelo sokukhula okwengeziwe.

Izimemo zababezoba abafundi ekilasini lokuqala zathunyelwa ngo-December 14, 1942. Kwakuphakathi nobusika lapho abafundi abayikhulu ababakha lelokilasi bebhalisa esikoleni esasisemaphandleni aseNew York, eNingizimu Lansing. Babezimisele, bemagange, futhi besaba kancane. Nakuba kuyizifundo zasekilasini ababekhathazeke kakhulu ngazo, babezibuza nokuthi lapho sebephothulile babezothunyelwa kuyiphi insimu emhlabeni.

Enkulumweni ayibekela lelokilasi lokuqala ngo-February 1, 1943, okwakuwusuku lokuqala ngqá lwesikole, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wathi: “Niwuhlonyiselwa ngokwengeziwe umsebenzi onjengowomphostoli uPawulu, uMarku, uThimothewu, nabanye abaya kuzo zonke izingxenye zoMbuso WaseRoma bememezela isigijimi soMbuso. Kwadingeka baqiniswe ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Kwadingeka babe nolwazi olucacile lwezinjongo zaKhe. Ezindaweni eziningi kwadingeka ukuba bebodwa babhekane nabakhulu nabanamandla kulomhlaba. Isimo senu singase sibe njalo; futhi uNkulunkulu uyoniqinisa.

“Kunezindawo eziningi lapho ubufakazi ngokuphathelene noMbuso bungakanikezwa khona kakhulu. Abantu abahlala kulezizindawo basebumnyameni, babanjwe inkolo. Kwamanye alamazwe lapho kunoFakazi abambalwa khona kuyaphawuleka ukuthi abantu abanezinhliziyo ezinhle balalela kalula futhi bayozihlanganisa nenhlangano yeNkosi, uma befundiswe ngokufanele. Kumelwe ukuba kunamanye amakhulu ezinkulungwane abengase afinyelelwe ukuba bekunezisebenzi ezengeziwe ensimini. Ngomusa weNkosi, zizoba khona.

“Injongo yalelikolishi AYIKHONA ukunihlomisela ukuba nibe izikhonzi ezigcotshiwe. Seniyizikhonzi kakade futhi benilokhu nikhuthele enkonzweni iminyaka eminingi. . . . Izifundo enizozifunda kulelikolishi zizonihlomisela ukuba nibe izikhonzi eziphumelela ngokwengeziwe emasimini eniya kuwo. . . .

“Umsebenzi wenu oyinhloko uwukushumayela ivangeli loMbuso endlini ngendlu njengoba kwenza uJesu nabaphostoli. Lapho nithola umuntu olalelayo, hlelani ukuba niphindele, niqalise isifundo sasekhaya, bese nihlela ukuba kube neqembu [ibandla] labo bonke abanjalo edolobheni elikhulu noma elincane. Akukhona nje ukuthi kumelwe nijabulele ukuhlela iqembu, kodwa kumelwe nibasize ukuba baqonde iZwi, nibaqinise, nihlale nikhuluma nabo ngezikhathi ezithile, nibasize emihlanganweni yabo yenkonzo nasekubeni bahleleke. Lapho sebeqinile futhi bengazimela futhi baziphathele insimu, ningadlulela kwelinye idolobha nimemezela uMbuso. Ngezikhathi ezithile kungase kudingeke niphindele niyobakha okholweni olungcwele kakhulu futhi nibaqinise emfundisweni; ngakho umsebenzi wenu uzoba owokunakekela ‘ezinye izimvu’ zeNkosi, futhi ningazilahli. (Joh. 10:16) Umsebenzi wenu wangempela uwukusiza abantu abanezinhliziyo ezinhle. Kuyodingeka nibonise inkuthalo, kodwa nisebenzisa isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu.”a

Ezinyangeni ezinhlanu kamuva amalungu alelokilasi lokuqala aqeda ukuqeqeshwa kwawo okukhethekile. Kwatholakala ama-visa, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuhamba, futhi baqala ukuya emazweni ayisishiyagalolunye aseLatin-America. Ezinyangeni ezintathu ngemva kokuphothula kwazo, izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ezaziqeqeshwe eGileyadi zahamba e-United States zaya eCuba. Ngo-1992, kwase kuqeqeshwe abafundi abangaphezu kwabangu-6 500 basemazweni angaphezu kwangu-110 futhi ngemva kwalokho baye bakhonza okungenani emazweni angaphezu kwangu-200 naseziqhingini ezingamaqoqo.

Kuze kube sekufeni kwakhe, ngemva kweminyaka engu-34 kwamiswa iSikole SaseGileyadi, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wabonisa isithakazelo esiqotho somuntu siqu emsebenzini wezithunywa zevangeli. Isikhathi ngasinye isikole esasiqhutshwa ngaso, wayevakashela ikilasi elalifunda ngalesosikhathi izikhathi eziningi uma kwenzeka, abeke izinkulumo futhi eze namanye amalungu ezisebenzi zasendlunkulu ukuze akhulume nabafundi. Ngemva kokuba abathweswe iziqu eGileyadi beqalise inkonzo yabo emazweni aphesheya, wayewahambela yena mathupha amaqembu ezithunywa zevangeli, ewasiza ukuba axazulule izinkinga, futhi ewanika isikhuthazo ayesidinga. Njengoba inani lamaqembu ezithunywa zevangeli lalikhula, wahlela ukuba abanye abazalwane abafanelekayo benze ukuhambela okunjalo, ukuze zonke izithunywa zevangeli, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zikhonzaphi, zithole ukunakekelwa komuntu siqu kwasikhathi sonke.

Lezizithunywa Zevangeli Zazihlukile

Izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa ziye zakha izibhedlela, izikhungo zababaleki, nezindawo zezintandane ukuze zinakekele izidingo zabantu ezingokwenyama. Zizenza abalwela abampofu, ziye zabangela nokuvukelwa kwemibuso futhi zahlanganyela empini yabashokobezi. Ngokuphambene, abathweswe iziqu abayizithunywa zevangeli zaseSikoleni SaseGileyadi bafundisa abantu iBhayibheli. Esikhundleni sokwakha amasonto bese belindela ukuba abantu beze kubo, baya endlini ngendlu ukuze bathole futhi bafundise labo abalambele nabomele ukulunga.

Zinamathela ngokuseduze eZwini likaNkulunkulu, izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi zibonisa abantu ukuthi kungani uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyikhambi elihlala njalo lezinkinga zesintu. (Math. 24:14; Luke 4:43) Umehluko okhona phakathi kwalomsebenzi nowezithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa wagcizeleleka kuPeter Vanderhaegen ngo-1951 lapho esendleleni eya esabelweni sakhe e-Indonesia. Omunye owayegibele emkhunjini othwala izimpahla nokwakuwukuphela kwakhe kwakuyisithunywa sevangeli esingumBaptist. Nakuba uMfoweth’ uVanderhaegen azama ukukhuluma naye ngezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, lomBaptist wakucacisa ukuthi wayenesithakazelo esikhulu ekusekeleni imizamo kaChiang Kai-shek eTaiwan yokubuyela embusweni engxenyeni enkulu yezwe.

Nokho, abanye abantu abaningi baye bakuqaphela ukubaluleka kwalokho okushiwo eZwini likaNkulunkulu. EBarranquilla, e-Colombia, lapho u-Olaf Olson efakaza ku-Antonio Carvajalino, owayengumsekeli omkhulu wenhlangano ethile yezombangazwe, uMfoweth’ u-Olson akazange amsekele futhi akazange asekele nanoma yimuphi umbono wezombangazwe. Kunalokho, wacela ukufunda iBhayibheli mahhala no-Antonio nodadewabo abancane. Ngokushesha u-Antonio waqaphela ukuthi ngempela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uwukuphela kwethemba labantu abampofu baseColombia nelomhlaba wonke. (IHu. 72:1-4, 12-14; Dan. 2:44) U-Antonio nalabodadewabo baba izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezishisekayo.

Iqiniso lokuthi izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi azikho esimisweni esingokwenkolo seLobukholwa futhi zihlukile kuso laqokonyiswa ngenye indlela esenzakalweni esithile eRhodesia (manje eyiZimbabwe). Lapho uDonald Morrison efika emzini wesinye sezithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa lapho, lesisithunywa sevangeli sakhononda ngokuthi oFakazi babengayihloniphi imingcele eyayibekiwe. Miphi imingcele? Eqinisweni, izinkolo zeLobukholwa zazihlukanise izwe laba yizindawo ezincane inkolo ngayinye eyayingasebenza kuzo ingaphazanyiswa ezinye. OFakazi BakaJehova babengenakuhambisana nelungiselelo elinjalo. UJesu wayethe isigijimi soMbuso kwakumelwe sishunyayelwe kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe. Ngokuqinisekile eLobukholwa lalingakwenzi lokho. Izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi zazizimisele ukuwenza ngokugcwele umsebenzi, zilalela uKristu.

Lezizithunywa zevangeli zazingathunyelwanga ukuba zizokhonzwa, kodwa zazithunyelwe ukukhonza. Kwaba sobala ngezindlela eziningi ukuthi lokhu yilokho kanye ezazizama ukukwenza. Akukhona okungalungile ukuba umuntu amukele amalungiselelo ezinto ezibonakalayo awaphiwayo (kodwa uma engawacelanga) lapho kuboniswa ukwazisa ngosizo olungokomoya. Kodwa ukuze bafinyelele izinhliziyo zabantu e-Alaska, uJohn Errichetti noHermon Woodard bakuthola kunenzuzo ukusebenzisa okungenani isikhathi esithile besebenza ngezandla zabo ukuze banakekele izidingo zabo zezinto ezibonakalayo, njengoba kwakwenze uPawulu. (1 Kor. 9:11, 12; 2 Thes. 3:7, 8) Umsebenzi wabo oyinhloko wawuwukushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Kodwa lapho bamukelwe kahle njengezihambi, nabo babesiza ngemisebenzi eyayidinga ukwenziwa—ngokwesibonelo, bafaka itiyela ophahleni lomuntu othile ngoba beqaphela ukuthi wayedinga usizo. Futhi lapho beya ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene ngesikebhe, babesiza ngokwehlisa izimpahla. Ngokushesha abantu baqaphela ukuthi lezizithunywa zevangeli zazingafani nhlobo nabefundisi beLobukholwa.

Kwezinye izindawo izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi kwakudingeka zenze imisebenzi yokuziphilisa isikhathi esithile ukuze nje zizinze kulelozwe ukuze zikwazi ukufeza inkonzo yazo lapho. Ngakho, lapho uJesse Cantwell eya eColombia, wafundisa isiNgisi emnyangweni wezokwelapha waseyunivesithi kwaze kwaba yilapho isimo sezombangazwe sishintsha futhi ukunqatshelwa kwenkolo kuphela. Ngemva kwalokho wakwazi ukukusebenzisa sikhathi sonke okuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe enkonzweni njengombonisi ojikelezayo woFakazi BakaJehova.

Ezindaweni eziningi, izithunywa zevangeli kwadingeka ziqale ngokuba nama-visa ezivakashi ayezivumela ukuba zibe sezweni elithile inyanga eyodwa noma izinyanga ezimbalwa. Khona-ke kwakudingeka zihambe zibuye zibuye. Kodwa zaphikelela, ziphinda lenqubo kaningi kwaze kwaba yilapho kutholakala amaphepha okuhlala adingekayo. Isifiso sazo kwakuwukusiza abantu basemazweni ezazabelwe kuwo.

Lezizithunywa zevangeli azizange zicabange ukuthi ziphakeme kunabantu bendawo. Njengombonisi ojikelezayo, uJohn Cutforth, owayenguthisha eCanada, wayehambela amabandla kanye noFakazi abangabodwa ePapua New Guinea. Wayehlala nabo phansi, edla nabo, futhi enganqabi lapho kuthiwa alale phansi komata emizini yabo. Wayebujabulela ubudlelwane nabo njengoba babehamba ndawonye enkonzweni yasensimini. Kodwa lokhu kwakubamangaza abantu ababengebona oFakazi ababebuka, ngoba abefundisi abaMhlophe bamaqembu abavangeli beLobukholwa babenedumela lokuziphakamisa kubantu bendawo, behlangana nabantu besonto labo isikhathi esifushane kuphela kweminye yemihlangano yabo, kodwa bengalokothi badle nabo.

Abantu laboFakazi ababekhonza phakathi kwabo basizwa isithakazelo sothando sezithunywa zevangeli nesenhlangano eyayizithumele. Njengendlela yokusabela encwadini eyayivela kuJoão Mancoca, umAfrika othobekile owayegcinwe ekamu lokujezisa ePortuguese West Africa (manje eyi-Angola), isithunywa sevangeli se-Watch Tower sathunyelwa ukuba siyonikeza usizo olungokomoya. Ebheka emuva kulokho kuhambela, uMancoca kamuva wathi: “Angibange ngisangabaza ukuthi lenhlangano kwakungeyeqiniso esekelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngangingakaze ngicabange noma ngikholelwe ukuthi ikhona inhlangano yenkolo engenza into enjalo: ingalindele kukhokhelwa, ithumele isithunywa sevangeli sisuka kude ukuba sizovakashela umuntu ongelutho ngoba nje ebhale incwadi.”

Izimo Zokuphila Namasiko

Ngokuvamile izimo zokuphila emazweni izithunywa zevangeli ezazithunyelwa kuwo zazingathuthukile ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo njengasezindaweni ezazivela kuzo. Lapho uRobert Kirk ezithola eseBurma (manje eyiMyanmar) ekuqaleni kuka-1947, imiphumela yempi yayisabonakala, futhi imbalwa imizi eyayinezibani zikagesi. Emazweni amaningi, izithunywa zevangeli zathola ukuthi izingubo zokugqoka zaziwashwa ngayinye epulangweni lokuwasha noma ematsheni emfuleni esikhundleni somshini wokuwasha kagesi. Kodwa zazizele ukufundisa abantu iqiniso leBhayibheli, ngakho zazivumelanisa nezimo zendawo futhi zaba matasa enkonzweni.

Ekuqaleni, kwakuvamile ukuba kungabikho muntu owayelindile ezohlangabeza izithunywa zevangeli. Kwakufanele zizitholele zona indawo yokuhlala. Lapho uCharles Eisenhower, nabanye abangu-11, befika eCuba ngo-1943, ngobusuku bokuqala balala phansi. Ngosuku olulandelayo bathenga imibhede base bezenzela amakhabethe okugcina izimpahla namatafulana ngamabhokisi ama-apula. Lisebenzisa noma yimiphi iminikelo elaliyithola lapho lihambise izincwadi, nenkokhelo elinganiselwe i-Watch Tower Society eyayiyinikeza amaphayona akhethekile, iqembu ngalinye lezithunywa zevangeli lathembela kuJehova ukuba abusise imizamo yalo yokukhokha intela, ukuthola ukudla, nokuhlangabezana nezinye izindleko zezinto ezidingekayo.

Ukuphekwa kokudla ngezinye izikhathi kwakudinga ushintsho ekucabangeni. Lapho iziqandisi zingekho, kwakudingeka kuyiwe esitolo nsuku zonke. Emazweni amaningi kwakuphekwa emlilweni wamalahle noma wezinkuni esikhundleni sesitofu se-gas noma sikagesi. UGeorge noWilla Mae Watkins, abababelwe eLiberia, bathola ukuthi isitofu sabo sasimane singamatshe amathathu ayesetshenziselwa ukusekela iketela lensimbi.

Kuthiwani ngamanzi? Ebuka ikhaya lakhe elisha eNdiya, uRuth McKay wathi: ‘Leli ikhaya elingafani nanoma yiliphi engake ngalibona. Ikhishi alinawo usinki, limane linompompi odongeni olusekhoneni ngezansi kwawo kwakhiwe udonga oluphakeme lukakhonkolo ukuze luvimbe amanzi ukuba angagcwali phansi. Amanzi awahlali ekhona ubusuku nemini, kodwa amanzi kumelwe agcinwe ukuze asetshenziswe ngezikhathi avalwa ngazo.’

Ngenxa yokuthi zazingajwayelene nezimo zendawo, ezinye zezithunywa zevangeli zazihlaselwa ukugula phakathi nezinyanga zokuqala ezabelweni zazo. URussell Yeatts wayehlale ehlushwa isifo sohudo ngenkathi efika eCuraçao ngo-1946. Kodwa umzalwane othile kulendawo wayethandaze ngentshiseko ebonga uJehova ngokufika kwezithunywa zevangeli kangangokuba babengakucabangi ukuhamba. Lapho efika e-Upper Volta (manje eyiBurkina Faso), uBrian no-Elke Wise bazithola besesimweni sezulu esishisayo esilimaza impilo yomuntu. Kwadingeka bafunde ukubhekana namazinga okushisa asemini angu-43° C. Phakathi nonyaka wabo wokuqala, ukushisa okukhipha umkhov’ etsheni kanye nomalaleveva kwagulisa u-Elke amasonto amaningi isikhathi ngasinye. Ngonyaka olandelayo, uBrian kwadingeka alale izinyanga ezinhlanu ephethwe isifo sokusha kwesibindi. Kodwa ngokushesha bathola ukuthi kwakunezifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi ababeziqhuba—nezinye ababehluleka ukuziqhuba. Uthando ngalabantu lwabasiza ukuba bakhuthazele; kanye neqiniso lokuthi babebheka isabelo sabo njengelungelo nanjendlela enhle yokuqeqeshelwa noma yini uJehova ayebagcinele yona esikhathini esizayo.

Njengoba iminyaka idlula, izithunywa zevangeli ezengeziwe lapho zifika ezabelweni zazo zazamukelwa yilezo ezazizandulele noma oFakazi bendawo. Ezinye zabelwa emazweni lapho amadolobha amakhulu eyisimanje kakhulu. Kusukela ngo-1946, ne-Watch Tower Society yazama ukulungiselela amakhaya afanelekayo nezimpahla zasendlini eziyisisekelo zeqembu ngalinye lezithunywa zevangeli kanye nemali yokudla, kanjalo izikhulula ekukhathazekeni ngalokhu futhi izenza zikwazi ukuqondisa ukunakekela kwazo okwengeziwe emsebenzini wokushumayela.

Ezindaweni eziningi, ukuhamba kwakungokuhlangenwe nakho okuvivinya ukukhuthazela kwazo. Ngemva kokuba linile, abanye odade abayizithunywa zevangeli ePapua New Guinea babezithola bethwele izinto zabo ngezikhwama ezigaxwa emhlane kuyilapho behamba ehlathini ngendledlana eshelelayo enodaka kangangokuba ngezinye izikhathi lwalwenza izicathulo zabo zikhumuke. ENingizimu Melika, izithunywa zevangeli eziningi zazibe nohambo lwebhasi olusiphuzelisa unwele emigwaqweni emincane phezulu eziNtabeni i-Andes. Kungokuhlangenwe nakho ongeke ukukhohlwe ngokushesha ukuba ibhasi okulo, elihambela ohlangothini lomgwaqo olunewa, liphambane nenye imoto enkulu ejikeni elingenazo izinsimbi ezivikelayo futhi uzwe ibhasi liqala ukutshekela ngaseweni!

Ukuvukela kwezombangazwe kwabonakala kuyingxenye yokuphila evamile ezindaweni ezithile, kodwa izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi zakhumbula inkulumo kaJesu ethi abafundi bakhe babengeke babe “abezwe”; ngakho ziye zangathatha hlangothi ezingxabanweni ezinjalo. (Joh. 15:19) Zafunda ukucindezela noma yiliphi ilukuluku lokufuna ukwazi elalingazifaka engozini ngokungadingekile. Ngokuvamile, kwakuba ngcono ukungahambi emigwaqweni kuze kube yilapho isimo sesithé ukudamba. Izithunywa zevangeli eziyisishiyagalolunye eVietnam zazihlala enkabeni yeSaigon (manje eyiDolobha laseHo Chi Minh) lapho impi igubuzela lelodolobha. Zazibona amabhomu ephonswa, imililo kulo lonke idolobha, nezinkulungwane zabantu zibaleka ukuze ziphephe. Kodwa ziqaphela ukuthi uJehova wayezithumele ukuba zidlulisele ulwazi olunika ukuphila kubantu abalambele iqiniso, zabheka kuye ukuze zithole isivikelo.

Ngisho nalapho kwakunesilinganiso esithile sokuthula, kwakunzima ukuba izithunywa zevangeli zifeze inkonzo yazo ezingxenyeni ezithile zamadolobha ase-Asia. Ukubonakala nje komuntu ongaziwa emigwaqweni emincane yengxenye enabampofu yaseLahore, ePakistan, kwakwanele ukuba kubize isixuku sabantwana bobudala obuhlukene abangagezile, nabamahlikihliki. Bememeza futhi bedudulana, babelandela isithunywa sevangeli endlini ngayinye, ngokuvamile bangene bephonseka emizini yabantu belandela ummemezeli. Ngokushesha bonke kulowomgwaqo base betsheliwe ukuthi umagazini uyimalini nokuthi lomuntu ongaziwa ‘wenza abantu amaKristu.’ Ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo, ngokuvamile kwakudingeka zisuke kuleyondawo. Ngokuvamile zazihamba ziphelezelwa ukumemeza, ukushaywa kwezandla, futhi, ngezinye izikhathi, zijikijelwa ngamatshe.

Amasiko endawo ngokuvamile ayekwenza kudingeke ukuba izithunywa zevangeli zenze ukulungisa. EJapane zafunda ukushiya izicathulo zazo esangweni lapho zingena emzini womuntu. Futhi uma kwenzeka, kwadingeka zijwayelane nokuhlala phansi phambi kwetafula eliphansi ezifundweni zeBhayibheli. Kwezinye izingxenye ze-Afrika, zafunda ukuthi kwakubhekwa njengendelelo ukusebenzisa isandla sobunxele lapho unika umuntu into. Futhi zathola ukuthi kuyo leyongxenye yezwe, kwakuwumkhuba omubi ukuzama ukuchaza isizathu sokuhambela kwazo ngaphambi kokuhlanganyela engxoxweni ethile—ukubuzana impilo nokuphendula imibuzo enjengokuthi umuntu uvelaphi, unezingane ezingaki, nokunye. EBrazil izithunywa zevangeli zathola ukuthi esikhundleni sokungqongqoza eminyango, ngokuvamile kwakudingeka zishaye izandla zisesangweni ukuze zibize umninikhaya.

Nokho, eLebanon izithunywa zevangeli zabhekana nolunye uhlobo lwamasiko. Abazalwane abambalwa babeza nomkabo namadodakazi abo emihlanganweni. Abesifazane ababeba khona babehlala emuva njalo, bengalokothi babe phakathi kwabesilisa. Izithunywa zevangeli, ngenxa yokungalazi lelisiko, zabangela ukuphazamiseka okukhulu emhlanganweni wazo wokuqala. Umbhangqwana oshadile wahlala phambidlana, futhi amantombazane angashadile ayizithunywa zevangeli ahlala nomaphi lapho kwakunezihlalo khona. Kodwa ngemva komhlangano ingxoxo ephathelene nezimiso zobuKristu yasiza ekuxazululeni inkinga. (Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 31:12; Galathiya 3:28.) Ukwehlukana kwaphela. Amakhosikazi engeziwe namadodakazi aba khona emihlanganweni. Futhi ahlanganyela nodade abayizithunywa zevangeli enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu.

Inselele Yolimi Olusha

Iqembu elincane lezithunywa zevangeli ezafika eMartinique ngo-1949 zazingasazi kahle isiFulentshi, kodwa zazazi ukuthi abantu babedinga isigijimi soMbuso. Zinokholo ngempela zaqala ukuya endlini ngendlu, zizama ukufunda amavesi ambalwa eBhayibheli noma ingcaphuno encwadini ezaziyihambisa. Ngokubekezela isiFulentshi sazo sathuthuka kancane kancane.

Nakuba zazifisa ukusiza oFakazi bendawo nabanye abantu abathakazelayo, lezizithunywa zevangeli ngokuvamile yizona ezazidinga usizo kuqala—ngolimi. Lezo ezazithunyelwe eTogo zathola ukuthi uhlelo lolimi lwesi-Ewe, ulimi oluyinhloko lwendawo, lwaluhluke ngempela kolwezilimi zaseYurophu, nokuthi umsindo wezwi igama eliphinyiselwa ngawo ungase ushintshe lokho elikushoyo. Ngakho, igama elinezinhlamvu ezimbili elithi to, uma ulisho ngokuphakamisa izwi, lingasho indlebe, intaba, ubabezala, noma isizwe; uma liphansi, lisho inyathi. Lapho izithunywa zevangeli zenza inkonzo yazo eVietnam zathola ulimi olwalunezindlela eziyisithupha ezihlukahlukene zomsindo wezwi zokubiza noma yiliphi igama, umsindo ngamunye uba nencazelo ehlukile.

U-Edna Waterfall, njengoba ayabelwe ePeru, akazange ayikhohlwe indlu yokuqala azama kuyo ukufakaza ngesiPanishi. Ethukile, wabhidilisha intshumayelo yakhe ayeyifake ekhanda, wahambisa incwadi, wayesehlela isifundo seBhayibheli nentokazi ethile esikhulile. Lona wesifazane owayesikhuluma kahle isiNgisi wabe esethi: “Kulungile, wenze kahle kakhulu. Ngizofunda nawe, sizofunda ngesiPanishi ukuze ngikusize ufunde isiPanishi.” Eshaqekile, u-Edna waphendula: “Kanti uyasazi isiNgisi? Kodwa uyangiyeka ngizilume ulimi ngibheda isiPanishi?” “Kuzokusiza,” kuphendula lona wesifazane. Ngempela, kwamsiza! Njengoba u-Edna ngokushesha akuqaphela, eqinisweni ukulukhuluma ulimi kuyingxenye ebalulekile yokulufunda.

E-Italy, lapho uGeorge Fredianelli ezama ukukhuluma ulimi, wathola ukuthi abantu babengakuqondi lokho ayecabanga ukuthi kungamagama esiNtaliyane (kodwa eqinisweni ayengamagama esiNgisi enziwe awesiNtaliyane). Ukuze abhekane nalenkinga, wanquma ukuzibhala njengoba zinjalo izinkulumo zakhe zasebandleni futhi azibeke njengenkulumo efundwayo. Kodwa abaningi ezilalelini zakhe babelala. Ngakho wayiyeka inkulumo efundwayo, wakhuluma ngokukhululekile, futhi wacela izilaleli ukuba zimsize lapho exakeka. Lokhu kwazigcina ziphapheme, futhi kwamsiza ukuba athuthuke.

Ukuze kusizwe izithunywa zevangeli olimini lwazo olusha, izifundo zaseGileyadi emakilasini okuqala zazihlanganisa izilimi ezinjengesiPanishi, isiFulentshi, isiNtaliyane, isiPutukezi, isiJapane, isi-Arabhu, nesi-Urdu. Eminyakeni edlule, kwakufundiswa izilimi ezingaphezu kwezingu-30. Kodwa njengoba kungebona bonke abathweswe iziqu ababeya ezindaweni okwakukhulunywa kuzo ulimi olufanayo, esikhundleni salamakilasi olimi kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba kube nesikhathi sokufundwa kolimi okuqondisiwe lapho befika ezabelweni zabo. Enyangeni yokuqala, abasanda kufika babegxila nje ekufundeni ulimi amahora angu-11 ngosuku; ngenyanga elandelayo, ingxenye yesikhathi sabo babeyichitha ekhaya befunda ulimi, bese kuthi enye ingxenye bayinikele ekusebenziseni lololwazi enkonzweni yasensimini.

Nokho, kwaphawuleka ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kolimi enkonzweni yasensimini kwakuyindlela eyinhloko yokuthuthuka; ngakho kwenziwa ukulungisa. Phakathi nezinyanga ezintathu zokuqala zisesabelweni sazo, izithunywa zevangeli ezisanda kufika ezingalwazi ulimi lwendawo zichitha amahora amane ngosuku nothisha owufundele lomsebenzi, futhi zisuka nje, ngokufakaza kubantu bendawo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, zisebenzisa lokho ezikufundayo.

Izithunywa zevangeli eziningi zasebenza njengamaqembu ukuze zithuthukise ukuluqonda kwazo ulimi. Zazixoxa ngamagama amasha ambalwa, noma ngisho nangu-20 usuku ngalunye lapho zidla ekuseni bese zizama ukuwasebenzisa enkonzweni yasensimini.

Ukufunda ulimi lwendawo kuye kwaba isici esibalulekile ekwenzeni abantu bakwethembe. Kwezinye izindawo abantu bakwamanye amazwe abathenjwa. UHugh noCarol Cormican baye bakhonza emazweni amahlanu ase-Afrika bengakashadi nalapho sebengumbangqwana oshadile. Bakwazi kahle ukungathembani okukhona phakathi kwabaNsundu nabaMhlophe. Kodwa bathi: “Ukukhuluma ulimi lwendawo ngokushesha kuyawuqeda lomuzwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abanye abangathandi ukulalela izindaba ezinhle lapho zilethwa abantu bakubo bazilalela kalula kithi, bathathe izincwadi, futhi bafunde, ngoba siye sazama ukukhuluma nabo ngolimi lwabo siqu.” Ukuze enze lokho, uMfoweth’ uCormican wafunda izilimi ezinhlanu, uma singasibali isiNgisi, uDade Cormican wafunda eziyizithupha.

Njengokulindelekile, kungaba nezinkinga lapho uzama ukufunda ulimi olusha. EPuerto Rico umzalwane owayecela ukudlalela abaninikhaya isigijimi seBhayibheli esiqoshiwe wayevala igilamafoni lakhe aye endlini elandelayo lapho umuntu ephendule ngokuthi, “¡Como no!” Kuye, lokho kwakuzwakala njengokuthi “Cha,” futhi kwamthatha isikhathi ukuba aqonde ukuthi leyonkulumo yayisho ukuthi “Kwalani!” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izithunywa zevangeli zazingaqondi lapho umninikhaya ethi akanasithakazelo, ngakho zaziqhubeka nokufakaza. Ngenxa yalokho abaninikhaya abambalwa abanozwela bazuza.

Kwakukhona nezimo ezihlekisayo. ULeslie Franks, eSingapore, wathola ukuthi kwakumelwe aqikelele ukuba angakhulumi ngokhukhunathi (kelapa) lapho efuna ukuthi ikhanda (kepala), ngotshani (rumput) lapho efuna ukuthi izinwele (rambut). Isithunywa sevangeli esithile eSamoa, ngenxa yokungaphimiseli kahle, sabuza umuntu othile wendawo, “Injani intshebe yakho?” (wayengenayo), okwakuhlosiwe kwakuwukubuza ngenkosikazi yalomuntu ngenxa yokukhathalela. E-Ecuador, lapho umshayeli webhasi esusa ibhasi kungazelelwe, uZola Hoffman, owayemile ebhasini, wawela ethangeni lomlisa othile. Ephethwe amahloni, wazama ukuxolisa. Kodwa wathi, “Con su permiso” (Ngicela imvume yakho). Lapho lendoda enomoya omuhle iphendula, “Kulungile, Nkosazana,” abanye abagibeli bavele bafa insini.

Nokho, kwakuba nemiphumela emihle enkonzweni ngoba izithunywa zevangeli zazizama kakhulu. ULois Dyer, owafika eJapane ngo-1950, ukhumbula iseluleko asinikezwa uMfoweth’ uKnorr: “Yenza konke ongakwenza, ngisho noma wenza amaphutha, yiba nokuthile okwenzayo!” Wenza lokho kanye, njengoba kwenza nabanye abaningi. Phakathi neminyaka engu-42 eyalandela, izithunywa zevangeli ezathunyelwa eJapane zabona inani labamemezeli boMbuso lapho landa lisuka kwabayingcosana liba ngaphezu kwabangu-170 000, futhi ukwanda kuye kwaqhubeka. Yeka umvuzo ocebile, ngoba ngemva kokubheka kuJehova ukuze zithole isiqondiso zazizimisele ukuzama!

Ukuvula Amasimu Amasha, Ukuthuthukisa Amanye

Emazweni amaningi naseziqhingini ezingamaqoqo, yizithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi ezaqalisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso noma zafaka ugqozi ngemva kokufakaza okuncane okwakwenziwe abanye. Kubonakala sengathi zingoFakazi BakaJehova bokuqala abashumayela izindaba ezinhle eSomalia, eSudan, eLaos, naseziqhingini eziningi ezingamaqoqo embulungeni yonke.

Ngaphambili kwakushunyayelwe ezindaweni ezinjengeBolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Gambia, Liberia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, eJapane, naseVietnam. Kodwa abekho oFakazi BakaJehova ababebika umsebenzi kulamazwe lapho kufika abokuqala abathweswe iziqu abayizithunywa zevangeli zaseSikoleni saseGileyadi. Uma kwenzeka, izithunywa zevangeli zazihlanganisa izwe ngendlela ehlelekile, zigxila kuqala emadolobheni amakhulu. Zazingavele zihambise izincwadi bese ziqhubekela phambili, njengoba kwakwenza ama-colporteur esikhathi esidlule. Ngokubekezela zaziphindela kwabathakazelayo, zibaqhubele izifundo zeBhayibheli, futhi zibaqeqeshele inkonzo yasensimini.

Amanye amazwe ayenabamemezeli boMbuso abayishumi kuphela (futhi, ezimweni eziningi, bebancane kunalokho) ngaphambi kokuba kufike abathweswe iziqu abayizithunywa zevangeli zaseSikoleni SaseGileyadi. Phakathi kwalamazwe kwakuneColombia, iGuatemala, iHaiti, iPuerto Rico, iVenezuela, iBurundi, i-Ivory Coast (manje eyiCôte d’Ivoire), iKenya, iMauritius, iSenegal, iNingizimu-Ntshonalanga Afrika (manje eyiNamibia), iCeylon (manje eyiSri Lanka), iChina, neSingapore, kanye neziqhingi eziningi ezingamaqoqo. Izithunywa zevangeli zabeka isibonelo sentshiseko enkonzweni, zasiza oFakazi bendawo ukuba bathuthukise amakhono abo, zahlela amabandla, futhi zasiza abazalwane ukuba bafanelekele ukuhola. Ezimweni eziningi zaqalisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ezindaweni ezazingakaze zithintwe.

Ngenxa yalolusizo inani loFakazi laqala ukwanda. Kwamaningi alamazwe, manje kunezinkulungwane zoFakazi BakaJehova abakhuthele. Kwamanye awo, kunabadumisi bakaJehova abangamashumi ezinkulungwane, noma abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu.

Abanye Abantu Babelangazela Ukuzwa

Kwezinye izindawo izithunywa zevangeli zathola abantu abaningi ababezimisele futhi belangazela ukufunda. Lapho uTed noDoris Klein, ababethweswe iziqu ekilasini lokuqala laseGileyadi, befika eVirgin Islands ngo-1947, kwakunabantu abaningi ababefuna ukutadisha iBhayibheli kangangokuba ngokuvamile usuku lwabo enkonzweni lwaluphela phakathi kwamabili. Enkulumweni yokuqala yeningi uMfoweth’ uKlein ayibeka eMarket Square yaseCharlotte Amalie, kwaba khona abayinkulungwane.

UJoseph McGrath noCyril Charles bathunyelwa ensimini yama-Amis eTaiwan ngo-1949. Bazithola behlala ezindlini ezifulelwe ngotshani ezinephansi lenhlabathi. Kodwa babeyele ukuyosiza abantu. Abanye abantu besizwe sama-Amis babethole izincwadi ze-Watch Tower, babekujabulele ababekufunda, futhi babezihlanganyele nabanye izindaba ezinhle. Manje izithunywa zevangeli zazizele ukuzobasiza ukuba bathuthuke ngokomoya. Zazitshelwe ukuthi kunabantu abangu-600 ababenesithakazelo eqinisweni, kodwa kwakuba nengqikithi yabangu-1 600 emihlanganweni ababeyiqhuba njengoba babesuka kwelinye idolobhana beya kwelinye. Labantu abathobekile babezimisele ukufunda, kodwa babengenalo ulwazi oluqondile ezintweni eziningi. Ngokubekezela lababazalwane baqala ukubafundisa, besingatha indaba eyodwa ngesikhathi, ngokuvamile benikela ngamahora ayisishiyagalombili noma ngaphezulu engxoxweni yemibuzo nezimpendulo endabeni ethile edolobhaneni ngalinye. Kwaqeqeshwa nabangu-140 ababezwakalise isifiso sokuhlanganyela ekufakazeni endlini ngendlu. Yeka ukuthi kwakungokuhlangenwe nakho okujabulisa kanjani kulezizithunywa zevangeli! Kodwa kuningi okwakusadinga ukwenziwa ukuze kube nokukhula okuqhubekayo okungokomoya.

Eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngu-12 kamuva, uHarvey noKathleen Logan, izithunywa zevangeli ezaziqeqeshwe eGileyadi ezazikhonza eJapane, babelwa ukuba banikeze usizo olwengeziwe kubazalwane abangama-Amis. UMfoweth’ uLogan wachitha isikhathi esiningi ebasiza ukuba baqonde izimfundiso nezimiso eziyisisekelo zeBhayibheli kanye nezindaba eziphathelene nenhlangano. UDade Logan wayesebenza nodade abangama-Amis enkonzweni yasensimini usuku ngalunye, okwakuthi ngemva kwalokho azame ukufunda nabo amaqiniso eBhayibheli ayisisekelo. Khona-ke, ngo-1963, i-Watch Tower Society yahlela ukuba izihambeli zomhlangano zasemazweni angu-28 zihlangane noFakazi bendawo lapho edolobhaneni laseShou Feng, zizothamela umhlangano owawujikeleza emhlabeni wonke. Konke lokhu kwaqala ukubeka isisekelo esiqinile sokwanda okwengeziwe.

Ngo-1948, izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili, uHarry Arnott no-Ian Fergusson, zafika eNyakatho Rhodesia (manje eyiZambia). Kakade kwase kunamabandla angu-252 oFakazi abangama-Afrika ngalesosikhathi, kodwa manje ukunakekela kwase kunikezwa nakwabaMhlophe ababethuthele lapho beyosebenza ezimayini zethusi. Ukusabela kwabo kwakuhlaba umxhwele. Kwahanjiswa izincwadi eziningi; labo ababeqhutshelwa izifundo zeBhayibheli bathuthuka ngokushesha. Ngalowonyaka kwaba nokwanda kwamaphesenti angu-61 enanini loFakazi abakhuthele enkonzweni yasensimini.

Ezindaweni eziningi kwakungekhona okungavamile ukuba izithunywa zevangeli zibe nohlu lwabantu abalindile ababefuna ukuqhutshelwa izifundo zeBhayibheli. Ngezinye izikhathi izihlobo, omakhelwane, nabanye abangane nabo babeba khona lapho kuqhutshwa izifundo. Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba abantu bakwazi ukuba nesifundo sabo siqu seBhayibheli, babengase babe khona njalo emihlanganweni eHholo LoMbuso.

Nokho, kwamanye amazwe, nakuba izithunywa zevangeli zazenza umzamo omkhulu, isivuno sasisincane kakhulu. Emuva ngo-1953, izithunywa zevangeli ze-Watch Tower zathunyelwa eMpumalanga Pakistan (manje eyiBangladesh), lapho abantu abahlala khona, manje abangaphezu kwabangu-115 000 000, ngokuyinhloko bengamaMuslim namaHindu. Kwenziwa umzamo omkhulu wokusiza abantu. Nokho, ngo-1992, kwakunabakhulekeli bakaJehova abangu-42 kuphela kulelozwe. Nokho, izithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza ezindaweni ezinjalo, zibheka umuntu ngamunye owamukela ukukhulekela kweqiniso njengoyigugu ngokukhethekile—ngoba bayivela kancane.

Usizo Lothando KoFakazi Abakanye Nabo

Umsebenzi oyisisekelo wezithunywa zevangeli uwukushumayela ivangeli, ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa njengoba ziye zahlanganyela ngokuqondile kulomsebenzi, ziye zakwazi nokunikeza usizo olukhulu koFakazi bendawo. Izithunywa zevangeli ziye zabamema ukuba basebenze nazo enkonzweni yasensimini futhi zahlanganyela nabo ukusikisela okuphathelene nendlela yokusingatha izimo ezinzima. Ngokubukela okwenziwa izithunywa zevangeli, oFakazi bendawo ngokuvamile baye bafunda indlela yokufeza inkonzo yabo ngendlela ehleleke ngokwengeziwe kanye nendlela yokuba abafundisi abaphumelela ngokwengeziwe. Nazo, izithunywa zevangeli ziye zasizwa oFakazi bendawo ukuba zizivumelanise namasiko endawo.

Lapho efika ePortugal ngo-1948, uJohn Cooke wathatha izinyathelo zokuhlela umsebenzi wendlu ngendlu owenziwa ngokuhlelekile. Nakuba abaningi babezimisele, abaningi boFakazi bendawo babedinga ukuqeqeshwa. Kamuva wathi: “Angisoze ngasikhohlwa isikhathi engaqala ngaso ukuya ensimini nodade abathile e-Almada. Yebo, abayisithupha kubo baya emzini owodwa bonke. Cabanga nje iqembu labesifazane abayisithupha limi emnyango lapho oyedwa kulo enikeza intshumayelo! Kodwa kancane kancane izinto zaqala ukulunga zaqala nokuthuthuka.”

Isibonelo sokuba nesibindi esabekwa izithunywa zevangeli sasiza oFakazi eLeeward Islands ukuba babe nesibindi, bangesatshiswa abaphikisi ababezama ukuphazamisa umsebenzi. Ukholo olwaboniswa isithunywa sevangeli lwasiza abazalwane eSpain ukuba baqale enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu, naphezu kobushiqela bobuFascist bobuKatolika ababephila ngaphansi kwabo ngalesosikhathi. Izithunywa zevangeli ezazikhonza eJapane ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II zabeka isibonelo esihle ekubeni nobuhlakani—zingagxili ngokubeleselayo ekuhlulekeni kwenkolo yakulelizwe, ngemva kokuba umbusi waseJapane eyekile ukuzibiza ngonkulunkulu, kodwa kunalokho zinikeza ubufakazi obushukumisayo bokukholelwa kuMdali.

OFakazi bendawo babebuka okwakwenziwa izithunywa zevangeli futhi ngokuvamile bathinteke ngokujulile ngezindlela izithunywa zevangeli okungenzeka zazingaziqapheli ngalesosikhathi. ETrinidad, izenzakalo ezazibonisa ukuthobeka kwezithunywa zevangeli, ukuzimisela kwazo ukubekezelela izimo ezinzima, nomsebenzi wazo wenkuthalo enkonzweni kaJehova naphezu kwesimo sezulu esishisayo kusakhulunywa ngakho nakuba sekuneminyaka kwenzeka. OFakazi eKorea babehlatshwe umxhwele kakhulu umoya wokuzidela wezithunywa zevangeli ezahlala iminyaka eyishumi zingayi ukuyovakashela imikhaya yakubo ngoba uhulumeni engeke esazinika izimvume zokuba zibuye zingene ngaphandle kwalapho kunezimo eziphuthumayo ezimbalwa “zokuthuthukisa inhlala-kahle yabantu.”

Phakathi nangemva kokufunda kwazo eGileyadi, eziningi zezithunywa zevangeli zazihlolisise ukusebenza kwendlunkulu yenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo. Ngokuvamile zaziba namathuba amaningi okuhlangana namalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo. Kamuva, ezabelweni zazo zezithunywa zevangeli, zakwazi ukudlulisela koFakazi bendawo nabantu abasanda kuthakazela imibiko yokuzibonela ephathelene nendlela inhlangano esebenza ngayo kanye nokwazisa zona ezaba nakho ngakho. Ukujula kokwazisa ezakudlulisela ngokuqondene nokusebenza okungokwasezulwini kwenhlangano ngokuvamile kwakuyisici esibalulekile ekwandeni okwaba khona.

Ezindaweni eziningi izithunywa zevangeli ezathunyelwa kuzo, yayingekho imihlangano yebandla lapho zifika. Ngakho zenza amalungiselelo ayedingeka, zaqhuba imihlangano, futhi zasingatha izingxenye eziningi zemihlangano kwaze kwaba yilapho abanye bekufanelekela ukuhlanganyela kulamalungelo. Ngaso sonke isikhathi zaziqeqesha abanye abazalwane ukuba bafanelekele ukwamukela umthwalo wemfanelo. (2 Thim. 2:2) Indawo yokuqala yomhlangano ngokuvamile kwakuba ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Kamuva, kwenziwa amalungiselelo amaHholo OMbuso.

Lapho kwase kunamabandla kakade, izithunywa zevangeli zaba nengxenye ekwenzeni imihlangano ibe ethakazelisa nefundisa ngokwengeziwe. Izinkulumo zazo ezilungiselelwe kahle zazaziswa futhi ngokushesha zaba isibonelo abanye abazama ukusilingisa. Besebenzisa ukuqeqeshwa abakuthole eGileyadi, abazalwane babeka isibonelo esihle ekukhulumeni nasekufundiseni eningini, futhi ngenjabulo bachitha isikhathi nabazalwane bendawo ukuze babasize bafunde lelikhono. Emazweni lapho abantu ngokwemvelo bethatha khona izinto kalula futhi bengasinaki kangako isikhathi, izithunywa zevangeli ngokubekezela zabasiza ukuba baqaphele ukubaluleka kokuqala imihlangano ngesikhathi futhi zakhuthaza bonke ukuba bafike ngesikhathi.

Izimo ezazithola kwezinye izindawo zabonisa ukuthi kwakudingeka usizo ukuze kwakhiwe ukwazisa ngokubaluleka kokunamathela ezindinganisweni zikaJehova zokulunga. Ngokwesibonelo, eBotswana, zathola ukuthi abanye bodade babesazifaka izingane zabo ezincane izintambo noma ubuhlalu bokuzivikela kokulimazayo, bengakuqapheli ngokugcwele ukuthi lelisiko lalisekelwe ekukholelweni ezeni nasebuthakathini. EPortugal zathola izimo ezazibangela ukwehlukana. Ngokubekezela, usizo lothando, nokukhuluma ngokuqinile uma kudingeka, impilo ethuthukisiwe engokomoya yabonakala.

Izithunywa zevangeli ezazabelwe ezikhundleni zokuba ababonisi eFinland zanikela ngesikhathi esiningi zizama ukuqeqesha abazalwane bendawo ukuba bacabangele izinkinga ngokukhanyiselwa izimiso zeBhayibheli futhi kanjalo bafinyelele esiphethweni esivumelana nokucabanga kukaNkulunkulu uqobo. E-Argentina zasiza abazalwane ukuba babone ukubaluleka kwesimiso, indlela yokugcina imibiko, nokubaluleka kwamafayili. EJalimane zasiza abazalwane abaqotho ababebambelela ngokuqinile emibonweni yabo siqu ezicini ezithile, ngenxa yokulwela ukuphila emakamu okuhlushwa, basizwa ukuba bazilingise ngokugcwele izindlela zikaJesu Kristu zobumnene njengoba babelusa umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.—Math. 11:28-30; IzE. 20:28.

Umsebenzi wezinye zezithunywa zevangeli wahilela ukusebenzelana nezikhulu zikahulumeni, ukuphendula imibuzo yazo, nokwenza izicelo zokuqashelwa ngokomthetho komsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, enkathini ecishe ibe iminyaka emine, uMfoweth’ uJoly, owayabelwe eCameroon nomkakhe, wenza imizamo ephindaphindiwe yokuba baqashelwe ngokomthetho. Njalo wayekhuluma nezikhulu zaseFrance nezase-Afrika. Ekugcineni, lapho sekushintshe uhulumeni, baqashelwa ngokomthetho. Ngalesisikhathi kwase kuyiminyaka engu-27 oFakazi bekhuthele eCameroon futhi kakade bengaphezu kuka-6 000.

Ukuhlangabezana Nezinselele Zenkonzo Yokujikeleza

Ezinye zezithunywa zevangeli ziye zabelwa ukuba zikhonze njengababonisi abajikelezayo. Kwakunesidingo esikhethekile e-Australia, lapho eminye yemizamo yabazalwane ngobuwula yayisuswe ezithakazelweni zoMbuso yaqondiswa eminakweni yezwe phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lokhu kwalungiswa, futhi phakathi nokuhambela kukaMfoweth’ uKnorr ngo-1947, kwagcizelelwa ukubaluleka kokugcina umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso uza kuqala. Ngemva kwalokho, intshiseko, isibonelo esihle, nezindlela zokufundisa zabathweswe iziqu eGileyadi ababekhonza njengababonisi besifunda nabesigodi nakho kwasiza ekuhlakuleleni isimo esingokomoya ngempela phakathi koFakazi lapho.

Ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni enjalo yokujikeleza ngokuvamile kwakudinga ukuzimisela ukwenza umzamo omkhulu nokubhekana nezingozi. UWallace Liverance wathola ukuthi okuwukuphela kwendlela yokufinyelela emkhayeni wabamemezeli abangabodwa eVolcán, eBolivia, kwakuwukuhamba amakhilomitha angu-90 ukuya nokubuya enqamula endaweni enamatshe, eyihlane elangeni elishisa kakhulu engamamitha angu-3 400 ukuphakama, kuyilapho ethwele i-sleeping bag, ukudla, amanzi, kanye nezincwadi. Ukuze akhonze amabandla asePhilippines, uNeal Callaway ngokuvamile wayegibela amabhasi asemaphandleni ayegcwala kakhulu okwakungagibeli abantu kuphela kuwo kodwa kugibela nezilwane nemikhiqizo. URichard Cotterill waqala umsebenzi wakhe njengombonisi ojikelezayo eNdiya ngesikhathi izinkulungwane zabantu zibulawa ngenxa yenzondo engokwenkolo. Lapho kuhlelwa ukuba akhonze abazalwane endaweni enodlame, umabhalane wasendaweni okubhukwa kuyo isitimela wazama ukumvimba. Uhambo lwaba njengephupho elithusayo kwabaningi babagibeli, kodwa uMfoweth’ uCotterill wayethanda abafowabo ngokusuka enhliziyweni, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bahlalaphi noma bakhuluma luphi ulimi. Ethembele kuJehova, wacabanga: “Uma uJehova ethanda, ngizozama ukufika lapho.”—Jak. 4:15.

Ukukhuthaza Abanye Ukuba Bahlanganyele Enkonzweni Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Ngenxa yomoya wentshiseko izithunywa zevangeli ezaziwubonisa, abaningi ezibafundisile baye balingisa isibonelo sazo ngokungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. EJapane, lapho kuye kwakhonza khona izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-168, kwakunamaphayona angu-75 956 ngo-1992; amaphesenti angaphezu kwangu-40 abamemezeli baseJapane ayesemkhakheni othile wenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. ERepublic of Korea, isilinganiso sasifana.

Emazweni lapho singesikhulu isilinganiso sabantu uFakazi ngamunye okumelwe ashumayele kubo, izikhonzi eziningi zesikhathi esigcwele ziye zamenywa ukuba zizothola ukuqeqeshwa eSikoleni SaseGileyadi zase zithunyelwa ukuba ziyokhonza kwezinye izindawo. Izithunywa zevangeli eziningi zazingezase-United States naseCanada; ezicishe zibe ngu-400 zingezaseBrithani; ezingaphezu kwezingu-240 zingezaseJalimane; ezingaphezu kwezingu-150 zingezase-Australia; ezingaphezu kwekhulu zingezaseSweden; ngaphezu kweziningi ezingezaseDenmark, eFinland, eHawaii, eNetherlands, eNew Zealand, nakwezinye izindawo. Amanye amazwe ayesizwe izithunywa zevangeli kamuva nawo aye enza kwaba nabangase babe izithunywa zevangeli ababezokhonza kwamanye amazwe.

Ukuhlangabezana Nezidingo Enhlanganweni Ekhulayo

Njengoba inhlangano iye yakhula, izithunywa zevangeli ngokwazo ziye zaba neminye imithwalo yemfanelo. Eziningi zazo ziye zakhonza njengabadala noma izinceku ezikhonzayo emabandleni eziye zawasiza ukuba athuthuke. Emazweni amaningi zazingababonisi bokuqala besifunda nabesigodi. Njengoba ukuthuthuka okwengeziwe kuye kwakwenza kwafaneleka ukuba iNhlangano yakhe amahhovisi amasha egatsha, izithunywa zevangeli eziningi ziye zaphathiswa umthwalo wemfanelo ophathelene nokusebenza kwegatsha. Kwezinye izimo lezo eziye zalwazi kahle ulimi ziye zacelwa ukuba zisize ngokuhumusha izincwadi zeBhayibheli futhi zizihlole ngaphambi kokuba zinyatheliswe.

Nokho, ziye zazizwa zivuzwe ngokukhethekile lapho labo ezazitadishe iZwi likaNkulunkulu nabo, noma abazalwane eziye zaba nengxenye ekukhuleni kwabo ngokomoya, befanelekela ukwamukela imithwalo yemfanelo enjalo. Ngakho umbhangqwana othile ePeru wajabula lapho ubona abathile owawufunda nabo bekhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile, besiza ekuqiniseni amabandla amasha futhi beqala insimu entsha. Isifundo isithunywa sevangeli esasisiqhubela umkhaya othile eSri Lanka sakhiqiza ilungu leKomiti Yegatsha kulelozwe. Ezinye zezithunywa zevangeli eziningi ziye zaba nenjabulo efanayo.

Futhi ziye zabhekana nokuphikiswa.

Lapho Zibhekene Nokuphikiswa

UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi babezoshushiswa, njengoba naye ayeshushisiwe. (Joh. 15:20) Njengoba izithunywa zevangeli ngokuvamile zazivela kwamanye amazwe, ngokuvamile lapho kuqubuka ukushushiswa okunzima ezweni, lokhu kwakusho ukuxoshwa.

Ngo-1967, uSona Haidostian nabazali bakhe baboshwa e-Aleppo, eSyria. Bagqunywa ejele izinyanga ezinhlanu base bexoshwa kulelozwe beshiya konke okwakungokwabo. UMargarita Königer, waseJalimane, wayabelwe eMadagascar; kodwa ngenxa yokuxoshwa ngokuphindaphindiwe, wayeba nezabelo ezintsha, eKenya, eDahomey (eBenin), nase-Upper Volta (eBurkina Faso). UDomenick Piccone nomkakhe, u-Elsa, baxoshwa eSpain ngo-1957 ngenxa yokushumayela kwabo, kwase kuba sePortugal ngo-1962, naseMorocco ngo-1969. Nokho, ezweni ngalinye njengoba babefuna ukuba kuqedwe imithetho yokuxoshwa, kunobuhle obafezwa. Kwanikezwa ubufakazi ezikhulwini. Ngokwesibonelo, eMorocco baba nethuba lokufakaza ezikhulwini eSécurité Nationale, ejajini eNkantolo Ephakeme, kumphathi wamaphoyisa aseTangier, nasemanxuseni ase-U.S. eTangier naseRabat.

Ukuxoshwa kwezithunywa zevangeli akuzange kuphumele ekubeni umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova ume, njengoba ezinye izikhulu zazilindele. Imbewu yeqiniso eyayisitshaliwe kakade ngokuvamile yayiqhubeka ikhula. Ngokwesibonelo, izithunywa zevangeli ezine zase zenze inkonzo yazo izinyanga ezimbalwa kuphela eBurundi ngaphambi kokuba uhulumeni azixoshe ngo-1964. Kodwa esinye sazo saqhubeka sibhalelana nomuntu othile othakazelayo, owabhala esho ukuthi wayefunda iBhayibheli nabantu abangu-26. UFakazi othile eTanzania owayesanda kuthuthela eBurundi naye waqhubeka ematasa ngokushumayela. Kancane kancane amanani abo akhula kwaze kwaba yilapho abaningi behlanganyela isigijimi soMbuso nabanye.

Kwezinye izindawo, ngaphambi kokuba zibaxoshe, izikhulu zaziphendukela ebudloveni ukuze zizame ukwenza wonke umuntu athobele lokho ezikufunayo. EGbarnga, eLiberia, ngo-1963, amasosha abutha amadoda angu-400, abesifazane, nabantwana ababesemhlanganweni wobuKristu lapho. Amasosha abaqhuba abayisa enkomponi yempi, abasongela, abashaya, futhi afuna ngenkani ukuba wonke umuntu—kungakhathaliseki ubuzwe noma inkolelo engokwenkolo—akhulekele ifulege laseLiberia. Phakathi kwalabo ababekuleloqembu kwakunoMilton Henschel, wase-United States. Kwakunezithunywa zevangeli ezithile, kuhlanganise noJohn Charuk waseCanada. Omunye wababethweswe iziqu eGileyadi wahlehla okholweni, njengoba ayenzile ngaphambili (nakuba ayengazange akwenze kwaziwe lokho), futhi lokhu ngokungangabazeki kwaba nengxenye ekuhlehleni okholweni kwabanye ababeze emhlanganweni. Kwaba sobala ukuthi obani ababemesaba ngempela uNkulunkulu nalabo ababebanjwe ugibe lokusaba abantu. (IzAga 29:25) Ngemva kwalokhu, uhulumeni wazixosha kulelizwe zonke izithunywa zevangeli zakwamanye amazwe ezingoFakazi, nakuba kamuva ngalowonyaka umyalo owawuvela kumongameli wazivumela ukuba zibuye.

Ngokuvamile, isinyathelo esimelene nezithunywa zevangeli esasithathwa izikhulu zikahulumeni siye sabangelwa ukucindezela kwabefundisi. Ngezinye izikhathi lokho kucindezela kwakwenziwa ngomshoshaphansi. Ngezinye izikhathi, wonke umuntu wayazi ukuthi ubani owayebangela ukuphikisa. UGeorge Koivisto akasoze alukhohlwe usuku lwakhe lokuqala enkonzweni yasensimini eMedellín, eColombia. Ngokungazelele kwaqhamuka izingane zesikole ezinobudlova, zamjikijela ngamatshe namagabade. Umninikhaya, owayengakaze ambone, wamngenisa ngokushesha wayesevala iminyango yepulangwe, exolisa engaphezi ngokuziphatha kwesixuku esingaphandle. Lapho amaphoyisa efika, abanye babeka uthisha wesikole icala ngokuvumela abafundi ukuba baphume. Kodwa omunye wamemeza: “Akunjalo! Ngumpristi! Umemezele ngemibhobho ukuba abafundi badedelwe ukuze ‘bajikijele ama-Protestante ngamatshe.’”

Kwakudingeka isibindi sokwesaba uNkulunkulu esasihambisana nothando ngezimvu. U-Elfriede Löhr no-Ilse Unterdörfer babelwa esigodini saseGastein e-Austria. Esikhathini esifushane nje, izincwadi eziningi zeBhayibheli zahanjiselwa abantu ababelambele ukudla okungokomoya. Kodwa-ke abefundisi bathatha isinyathelo. Banxusa izingane zesikole ukuba zimemeze lapho zibona izithunywa zevangeli emigwaqweni futhi zigijime ngaphambi kwazo zixwayise abaninikhaya ukuba bangazilaleli. Abantu besaba. Kodwa ngokuphikelela ngenxa yothando, kwaqaliswa izifundo ezimbalwa ezikahle. Lapho kuhlelelwa inkulumo yeningi yeBhayibheli, umfundisi othile wesifunda ngokuchwensa wama phambi kwendawo yomhlangano. Kodwa lapho izithunywa zevangeli ziya emgwaqweni ukuze zihlangabeze abantu, lomfundisi wanyamalala. Wabiza iphoyisa wayesebuya, ethemba ukuthi umhlangano uzophazamiseka. Kodwa imizamo yakhe yahluleka. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwamiswa ibandla elihle lapho.

Emadolobheni angase-Ibarra, e-Ecuador, u-Unn Raunholm noJulia Parsons njalo babebhekana nezixuku ezazigqugquzelwa abapristi. Ngenxa yokuthi umpristi wayebangela uthuthuva ngaso sonke isikhathi uma kufika izithunywa zevangeli eSan Antonio, labodade banquma ukugxila kwelinye idolobha, okwakuthiwa i-Atuntaqui. Kodwa ngolunye usuku iphoyisa eliphethe lesosifunda lanxusa uDade Raunholm ukuba aphume ngokushesha kulelidolobha. “Umpristi uhlelela ukumasha kokumelana nani, anginawo-ke amadoda enele azonivikela,” kusho lona. Ukhumbula kahle: “Isixuku sasisilandela! Ifulege laseVatican elinombala omhlophe nophuzi lalibhenguziswa phambi kweqembu kuyilapho umpristi ememeza iziqubulo ezinjengezithi ‘Mana njalo Sonto lamaKatolika!’ ‘Asiwafuni amaProthestani!’ ‘Ubumsulwa beNcasakazi buyoma njalo!’ ‘Makume njalo ukuvunywa kwezono!’ Isikhathi ngasinye, isixuku sasinanela leziqubulo njengoba zazishiwo umpristi.” Ngaso lesosikhathi abalisa abathile bamemela laboFakazi kuyi-Workers’ House (Isakhiwo Senyunyana Yezisebenzi) yendawo ukuze baphephe. Zilapho lezizithunywa zevangeli zazimatasa zifakaza kubantu abanelukuluku lokufuna ukwazi ababezele ukuzobona ukuthi kwakwenzekani. Zahambisa zonke izincwadi ezaziziphethe.

Izifundo Eziklanyelwe Ukuhlangabezana Nezidingo Ezikhethekile

Kusukela eminyakeni izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ezathunyelwa ngayo zisuka eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, inhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova iye yanda ngezinga elimangalisayo. Ngo-1943, lapho kuqala lesisikole, kwakunoFakazi abangu-129 070 kuphela emazweni angu-54 (kodwa emazweni angu-103 ngokwendlela ibalazwe elalihlukaniswe ngayo ekuqaleni kwawo-1990). Ngo-1992, kwakunoFakazi abangu-4 472 787 emazweni angu-229 naseziqhingini ezingamaqoqo emhlabeni wonke. Njengoba kuye kwaba nalokhu kwanda, izidingo zenhlangano ziye zashintsha. Amahhovisi egatsha ayeke anakekela oFakazi abangaphansi kwabayikhulu ababengamaqembu amabandla ambalwa manje aqondisa umsebenzi wamashumi ezinkulungwane oFakazi, futhi amaningi alamagatsha aye akuthola kudingeka ukunyathelisa izincwadi lapho ekhona ukuze ahlomise labo abahlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela ivangeli.

Ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezidingo ezishintshayo, eminyakeni engu-18 ngemva kokuqaliswa kweSikole SaseGileyadi, izifundo zokuqeqesha zezinyanga eziyishumi endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yeNhlangano zanikezwa ngokukhethekile abazalwane ababenemithwalo yemfanelo emikhulu emahhovisi egatsha e-Watch Tower Society. Abanye babo ngaphambili babekhona ezifundweni zezinyanga ezinhlanu zezithunywa zevangeli eGileyadi; abanye babengekho. Bonke babengazuza ekuqeqeshweni okwakuhlelelwe umsebenzi wabo ngokukhethekile. Izingxoxo eziphathelene nezindlela zokusingatha izimo ezihlukahlukene nokuhlangabezana nezidingo zenhlangano ngokuvumelana nezimiso zeBhayibheli kwaba nomphumela ohlanganisayo. Izifundo zabo zaqokomisa ukutadishwa kwalo lonke iBhayibheli ngokuhlaziya ivesi ngalinye. Zabuye zalungiselela nokubukezwa komlando wenkolo; ukuqeqeshwa emininingwaneni eyayihilelekile ekusebenzeni kwehhovisi legatsha, iKhaya LaseBethel, nendawo yokunyathelisa; neziyalezo ngokuqondene nokunakekela inkonzo yasensimini, ukuhlela amabandla amasha, nokuvula amasimu amasha. Lezizifundo (kuhlanganise nesokugcina esancishishwa saba izinyanga eziyisishiyagalombili) zaqhutshwa endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke, eBrooklyn, eNew York, kusukela ngo-1961 kuya ku-1965. Abaningi bababethweswe iziqu baphindiselwa emazweni ababekhonza kuwo; abanye babelwa kwamanye amazwe lapho babengaba nengxenye ewusizo khona emsebenzini.

Kusukela ngo-February 1, 1976, kwasetshenziswa ilungiselelo elisha emahhovisi egatsha eNhlangano ukuze kuhlelelwe ukwanda okwengeziwe okwakulindelwe ngokuvumelana nesiprofetho seBhayibheli. (Isaya 60:8, 22) Esikhundleni sokuba nombonisi wegatsha oyedwa kuphela, kanye nomsizi wakhe, ababeqondisa igatsha ngalinye, iNdikimba Ebusayo yamisa abazalwane abathathu noma ngaphezulu abafanelekayo ukuba bakhonze eKomitini Yegatsha ngayinye. Amagatsha amakhudlwana angase abe nabayisikhombisa ekomitini. Ukuze bonke labazalwane baqeqeshwe, kwahlelelwa izifundo zamasonto amahlanu eGileyadi eBrooklyn, eNew York. Amakilasi ayishumi nane ayakhiwa amalungu amaKomiti Amagatsha akuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba anikezwa lokhukuqeqeshwa okukhethekile endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke kusukela ngasekupheleni kuka-1977 kuya ku-1980. Kwakuyithuba elihle lokuhlanganisa nokuthuthukisa imisebenzi.

ISikole SaseGileyadi saqhubeka siqeqesha labo ababenokuhlangenwe nakho kweminyaka eminingi enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele futhi ababezimisele futhi bekwazi ukuthunyelwa emazweni aphesheya, kodwa kunabaningi ababesengasetshenziswa. Ukuze kusheshiswe ukuqeqesha, kwamiswa izikole kwamanye amazwe njengophiko lwesaseGileyadi ukuze abafundi kungadingeki bafunde isiNgisi ngaphambi kokuba bafanelekele ukungena kuso. Ngo-1980-81, i-Gilead Cultural School of Mexico yanikeza abafundi abakhuluma isiPanishi ukuqeqeshwa okwasiza ekuhlangabezaneni nesidingo esiphuthumayo sezisebenzi ezifanelekayo eMelika Ephakathi neseNingizimu. Ngo-1981-82, 1984, nango-1992, amakilasi asoPhikweni Lwesikole SaseGileyadi aqhutshwa naseJalimane. Besuka lapho abathweswe iziqu bathunyelwa e-Afrika, eMpumalanga Yurophu, eNingizimu Melika, nasemazweni ahlukahlukene ayiziqhingi. Amanye amakilasi aqhutshwa eNdiya ngo-1983.

Njengoba oFakazi bendawo abashisekayo beye bahlanganyela nezithunywa zevangeli ekwandiseni ukufakaza ngoMbuso, inani loFakazi BakaJehova liye landa ngokushesha, futhi lokhu kuye kwaholela ekwakhiweni kwamabandla amaningi. Phakathi kuka-1980 no-1987, inani lamabandla emhlabeni wonke landa ngamaphesenti angu-27, aba yingqikithi yangu-54 911. Kwezinye izindawo, nakuba babebaningi ababeba khona emihlanganweni nabahlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini, iningi labazalwane lalisanda kuhlanganyela. Kwakunesidingo esiphuthumayo samadoda angamaKristu anokuhlangenwe nakho ukuze akhonze njengabelusi nabafundisi, futhi ahole emsebenzini wokushumayela ivangeli. Ukuze isize ekuhlangabezaneni nalesidingo, ngo-1987 iNdikimba Ebusayo yavula iSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo ukuba sibe ingxenye yesimiso seSikole SaseGileyadi semfundo yeBhayibheli. Izifundo zamasonto ayisishiyagalombili zihlanganisa ukutadishwa okujulile kweBhayibheli kanye nokunakekela komuntu siqu ukukhula ngokomoya komfundi ngamunye. Kucatshangelwa izindaba eziphathelene nokuhlela nokwahlulela, kanye nemithwalo yemfanelo yabadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo, futhi kunikezwa ukuqeqesha okukhethekile ekukhulumeni eningini. Ngaphandle kokuphazamisa amakilasi avamile okuqeqeshwa kwezithunywa zevangeli, lesisikole siye sasebenzisa ezinye izindawo, siqhutshelwa emazweni ahlukahlukene. Abathweswe iziqu manje bahlangabezana nezidingo eziphuthumayo kwamanye amazwe.

Ngakho ukuqeqesha okwandisiwe okuye kwalungiselelwa i-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead kuye kwahambisana nezidingo ezishintshayo nenhlangano yezwe lonke eyanda ngokushesha.

“Nangu Mina; Ngithume Mina”

Umoya izithunywa zevangeli eziwubonisayo unjengowomprofethi u-Isaya. Lapho uJehova emenza aqaphele ithuba lenkonzo ekhethekile, wasabela: “Nangu mina; ngithume mina.” (Isaya 6:8) Lomoya wokuzidela uye washukumisa izinkulungwane zezinsizwa nezintombi ukuba zishiye izimo ezizijwayele nezihlobo ukuze zikhonze zinomgomo wokuqhubekisela phambili intando kaNkulunkulu nomaphi lapho zidingeka khona.

Izimo zomkhaya ziye zabangela izinguquko ekuphileni kwezithunywa zevangeli eziningi. Abaningi abaye baba nabantwana ngemva kokuba bebe izithunywa zevangeli bakwazi ukuhlala emazweni ababelwe kuwo, benza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa owawudingeka futhi besebenza namabandla. Abanye, ngemva kweminyaka bekhonza, kuye kwadingeka baphindele emazweni akubo endabuko ukuze banakekele abazali babo asebekhulile, noma ngezinye izizathu. Kodwa babekubheka njengelungelo ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli uma nje besakwazi.

Abanye baye bakwazi ukwenza inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli yaba umsebenzi wakho konke ukuphila kwabo. Ukuze bayenze, bonke kuye kwadingeka babhekane nezimo ezibeka inselele. U-Olaf Olson, osejabulele umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli isikhathi eside eColombia, wavuma: “Unyaka wokuqala wawunzima kunayo yonke.” Ngokuyinhloko lokho kwakubangelwa ukungakwazi ukukudlulisela kahle ayefuna ukukusho ngolimi lwakhe olusha. Wanezela: “Ukuba ngaqhubeka ngicabanga ngezwe engangilishiyile, ngangingeke ngijabule, kodwa nganquma ukuba seColombia ngesidumbu nangengqondo, ukwakha ubungane nabazalwane nodade abaseqinisweni lapho, ukugcina ukuphila kwami kugcwaliswe inkonzo, futhi ngokushesha indawo engangabelwe kuyo yaba ikhaya kimi.”

Ukuphikelela kwabo ezabelweni zabo kwakungengenxa yokuthi babezithola zanelisa izimo ababephila ngaphansi kwazo. UNorman Barber, owakhonza eBurma (manje eyiMyanmar) naseNdiya, kusukela ngo-1947 kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1986, wachaza indlela ayezizwa ngayo kanje: “Uma umuntu ethokozela ukusetshenziswa uJehova, khona-ke izindawo zonke ziyefana. . . . Eqinisweni, isimo sezulu sasendaweni eshisayo angiboni ukuthi siyisimo sezulu esifanelekayo umuntu angahlala kuso. Futhi indlela abantu basezindaweni ezishisayo abaphila ngayo akuyona ebengingayikhetha. Kodwa kunezinto ezibaluleke kakhulu okumelwe zicatshangelwe kunezindaba ezinjalo eziwubala. Ukukwazi ukusiza abantu abampofu ngempela ngokomoya kuyilungelo okungekho muntu ongaba namandla okulichaza.”

Abanye abaningi banalowombono, futhi lomoya wokuzidela uye waba nengxenye enkulu ekugcwaliseni isiprofetho sikaJesu sokuthi lezizindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ziyoshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe, kube ubufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe, ngaphambi kokuba ukuphela kufike.—Math. 24:14.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 523]

Ukugcizelelwa kokubaluleka kokuthembela ngokuphelele kuJehova nokuba qotho kuye

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 534]

Ukukwazi ukubona okuhlekisayo kwasiza!

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 539]

Ukubekezela, usizo lothando, nokukhuluma ngokuqinile uma kudingeka

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 546]

“Ukusiza abantu abampofu ngempela ngokomoya kuyilungelo okungekho muntu ongaba namandla okulichaza”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 533]

Amakilasi AseGileyadi

1943-60: Isikole esasiseNingizimu Lansing, eNew York. Emakilasini angu-35, abafundi abangu-3 639 basemazweni angu-95 bathweswa iziqu, iningi labelwa enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli. Ababonisi besifunda nabesigodi ababekhonza e-United States babefakwa kulamakilasi.

1961-65: Isikole esasiseBrooklyn, eNew York. Emakilasini amahlanu, abafundi abangu-514 bathweswa iziqu base bethunyelwa emazweni i-Watch Tower Society eyayinamahhovisi egatsha kuwo; iningi lababethweswe iziqu laphathiswa izabelo zokuphatha. Amane alamakilasi ayenezifundo zezinyanga eziyishumi; elilodwa, linezifundo zezinyanga ezingu-8.

1965-88: Isikole esasiseBrooklyn, eNew York. Emakilasini angu-45, ngalinye linezifundo ezingamasonto angu-20, kwelinye kwaqeqeshwa abafundi abangu-2 198, iningi lalaba laqeqeshelwa inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli.

1977-80: Isikole esasiseBrooklyn, eNew York. Izifundo zaseGileyadi zamasonto amahlanu zamalungu amaKomiti Amagatsha. Kwaqhutshwa amakilasi ayishumi nane.

1980-81: I-Gilead Cultural School of Mexico; izifundo zamasonto ayishumi; amakilasi amathathu; abangu-72 abathweswa iziqu abakhuluma isiPanishi bahlonyiselwa inkonzo eLatin America.

1981-82, 1984, 1992: Uphiko Lwesikole SaseGileyadi eJalimane; izifundo zamasonto ayishumi; amakilasi amane; abafundi abangu-98 abakhuluma isiJalimane basemazweni aseYurophu.

1983: Amakilasi ayeseNdiya; izifundo zamasonto ayishumi, aqhutshwa ngesiNgisi; amaqembu amathathu; abafundi abangu-70.

1987- : ISikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo, izifundo zamasonto angu-8, saqhutshelwa ezindaweni eziyinhloko ezingxenyeni zomhlaba ezihlukahlukene. Kusukela ngo-1992, abathweswe iziqu kakade base bekhonza emazweni angaphezu kwangu-35 abangazalelwanga kuwo.

1988- : Isikole esiba seWallkill, eNew York. Izifundo zamasonto angamashumi amabili zokuhlomisela izithunywa zevangeli inkonzo siyaqhutshwa namanje lapho. Kuhlelwa ukuba lesisikole sithuthelwe e-Watchtower Educational Center ePatterson, eNew York, uma lesisikhungo sesiphelile.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 538]

Abafundi Bezizwe Zonke

Abafundi abaye bafunda eSikoleni SaseGileyadi babemelela izizwe eziningi futhi baye beza kulesisikole bevela emazweni angaphezu kwangu-110.

Iqembu lokuqala lezizwe zonke kwakuyikilasi lesithupha, ngo-1945-46.

Kwafakwa isicelo kuhulumeni wase-U.S. sokuba abafundi bakwamanye amazwe bamukelwe ngaphansi kwamalungiselelo emvume yabafundi abangezile ukuzozinza kulelizwe. Lapho liphendula, iHhovisi Lezemfundo lase-U.S. laqaphela iSikole SaseGileyadi njengesinikeza imfundo efana neyamakolishi okuqeqeshela umsebenzi nezikhungo zemfundo. Ngakho, kusukela ngo-1953, amanxusa ase-U.S. ezweni lonke aye afaka i-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead ohlwini lwawo lwezikhungo zemfundo ezigunyaziwe. Kusukela ngo-April 30, 1954, lesisikole besivela encwadini enesihloko esithi “Educational Institutions Approved by the Attorney General.”

[Izithombe ekhasini 522]

Abafundi bekilasi lokuqala leSikole SaseGileyadi

[Isithombe ekhasini 524]

U-Albert Schroeder ekhuluma nabafundi baseGileyadi ngezici zetabernakele

[Isithombe ekhasini 525]

UMaxwell Friend efundisa enkundleni yeSikole SaseGileyadi

[Izithombe ekhasini 526]

Ukuthweswa iziqu eGileyadi kwakuyisici esivelele esingokomoya

. . . abanye emihlanganweni emikhulu (eNew York, ngo-1950)

. . . abanye emagcekeni esikole (lapho u-N. H. Knorr eboniswe khona ekhuluma phambi komtapo wezincwadi wesikole, ngo-1956)

[Izithombe ekhasini 527]

ISikole SaseGileyadi eNingizimu Lansing, eNew York, njengoba sasinjalo ngawo-1950

[Isithombe ekhasini 528]

UHermon Woodard (kwesobunxele) noJohn Errichetti (kwesokudla) bekhonza e-Alaska

[Isithombe ekhasini 529]

UJohn Cutforth esebenzisa izinsiza-kufundisa ukuze afundise ePapua New Guinea

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

Izithunywa zevangeli e-Ireland, nombonisi wesigodi, ngo-1950

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

Abathweswe iziqu abaya ezabelweni zezithunywa zevangeli eMpumalanga ngo-1947

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

Ezinye izithunywa zevangeli nalabo ababesebenza nazo eJapane ngo-1969

[Izithombe ekhasini 530]

Izithunywa zevangeli eBrazil ngo-1956

. . . e-Uruguay ngo-1954

. . . e-Italy ngo-1950

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

Izithunywa zevangeli ezine zokuqala ezaziqeqeshwe eGileyadi ezathunyelwa eJamaica

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

Ikhaya lokuqala lezithunywa zevangeli eSalisbury (manje eyiHarare, eZimbabwe), ngo-1950

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

UMalcolm Vigo (eGileyadi ngo-1956-57), nomkakhe uLinda Louise; bobabili baye bakhonza eMalawi, eKenya, naseNigeria

[Isithombe ekhasini 530]

URobert Tracy (kwesobunxele) noJesse Cantwell (kwesokudla), kanye nomkabo—izithunywa zevangeli ezazisemsebenzini wokujikeleza eColombia ngo-1960

[Isithombe ekhasini 532]

Ikilasi lokufunda ulimi ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eCôte d’Ivoire

[Isithombe ekhasini 535]

UTed noDoris Klein, abathola abantu abaningi belangazelela ukuzwa iqiniso leBhayibheli eVirgin Islands e-U.S. ngo-1947

[Isithombe ekhasini 536]

UHarvey Logan (phambili maphakathi), enoFakazi abangama-Amis phambi kweHholo LoMbuso, ngawo-1960

[Isithombe ekhasini 540]

UVictor White, umbonisi wesigodi owayeqeqeshwe eGileyadi, ebeka inkulumo ePhilippines ngo-1949

[Isithombe ekhasini 542]

UMargarita Königer, eBurkina Faso, eqhuba isifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya

[Isithombe ekhasini 543]

U-Unn Raunholm, owaba isithunywa sevangeli kusukela ngo-1958, kwadingeka abhekane nezixuku ezaziholwa umpristi e-Ecuador

[Izithombe ekhasini 545]

ISikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo

Ikilasi lokuqala, eCoraopolis, ePa., e-U.S.A. ngo-1987 (ngenhla)

Ikilasi lesithathu eBrithani, eManchester, ngo-1991 (ngakwesokudla)