They Trusted in Jehovah

Mere was still a school girl when she first heard the Kingdom message in 1964.  Because of her isolation on a remote island, she had little contact with Jehovah's Witnesses. Eventually, however, she was able to gain accurate knowledge of the Bible.  By that time, she was married to a  man who was a clan head in his village. As a result of Mere's choice to live by Bible principles, her husband and his relatives treated her cruelly, and fellow villagers snubbed her. Nevertheless, she was baptized in 1991.

Shortly thereafter, Mere's husband, Joshua, softened in his attitude and even started to sit in on Bible discussions that Mere had with their children. Joshua stopped attending the Methodist Church. As chief, though, he still presided at weekly village meetings. In the eyes of the villagers, Joshua was disloyal, for the Methodist Church was an integral part of Fijian village life. Hence, the local pastor urged Joshua to return to his former religion.

Joshua courageously affirmed that he and his family had made they choice and were determine to worship Jehovah God "with spirit and truth." (John 4:24) At a subsequent village meeting, the paramount chief ruled that Joshua and his family depart from the village as outcasts.  They were given seven days to leave the island and their house, land, and crops-yes, their whole livelihood.

Spiritual  brothers on another island came to the assistance of Joshua and his family,  helping them with a place to stay and land on which to grow crops. Joshua and his eldest son are now baptized, and another son serves as an unbaptized publisher of the good news. Mere recently enrolled as a regular pioneer (a full-time Kingdom proclaimer).  Their choice  to serve Jehovah resulted in a loss of position and material goods, but like the apostle Paul, they considered this as nothing compared to what they have gained. -Philippians 3:8. 

Next time: A Choice Involving Conscience

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000