How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah?

Conclusion of BIBLE STUDY-JEHOVAH SPEAKS TO YOU

As we come to know Jehovah more intimately, we will not be unduly disturbed if certain Bible accounts leave us wondering why he acted as he did.  For example, how do you respond to the way Jehovah acted toward King Azariah of Judah?  (1 Kings 15:1-5)  Note that although "the people were still sacrificing and making sacrificial smoke on the high places," Azariah himself  "continued to do what was right in Jehovah's eyes."   Yet, "Jehovah afflicted the king, and he remained a leper until the day of his death."  Why?  The account does not say.  Should this disturb us or cause us to wonder whether Jehovah punish Azariah without due cause?  Not if we have an intimate knowledge of Jehovah's ways.  That would include knowing that Jehovah always disciplines "to the proper degree." (Jeremiah 30:11)  Such knowledge assures us that even if we do not know why Jehovah acted as he did toward Azariah, we can trust that His judgment was righteous. 

In this case, however, additional details are available to us elsewhere in the Bible.  King Azariah was also known as King Uzziah..  (2 Kings 15:7, 32) In the parallel account at 2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 16-21, we learn that although Uzziah did what was right in Jehovah's eyes for a time, later in life "his heart became haughty to his own ruin." Presumptuously, he attempted to perform priestly duties  that were outside the scope of  his authority.  Eighty-one priests confronted him and endeavored to correct him. How did Uzziah respond?  He demonstrated how proud he had become.  He "became enraged" against the priests.  No wonder Jehovah struck him with leprosy!

Let us not miss the point. Suppose clarifying the details had not been included in God's Word, as is the case with other abbreviated Bible accounts?  Would you be inclined to question the righteousness of God?  Or would you reason  that the Bible contains enough information to assure us that Jehovah always does what is right and is, in fact, the very standard of what is right and what is wrong?  (Deuteronomy 32:4) As we get to know Jehovah  better as a Person, our love and appreciation for his ways will grow to the point that we do not need  an explanation  for everything he does. Be assured that such appreciation will grow in proportion to your efforts to study and meditate on God's communication through his written Word. (Psalm 77:12, 13) This, in turn, will strengthen your relationship with Jehovah, making it ever more real. 

Next time: How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah? - PRAYER-YOU SPEAK TO JEHOVAH

From the Watchtower magazine 

How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah?

BIBLE STUDY-JEHOVAH SPEAKS TO YOU

You no doubt agree that the Bible contains God's message for mankind in general. But does the Bible also convey how you in particular can draw closer to Jehovah?  Indeed it does. How?  As you regularly read the Bible, consider your response   to what it says and give thought to how you can apply it to your circumstances; then you are allowing Jehovah to talk to you through his Word.  This draws you into a closer relationship with him. -Hebrews 4:12; James 1:23-25.  

For example, read and meditate on Jesus' words to "stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth."  If you feel that you are already focusing your life on Kingdom interests, you sense Jehovah's commendation. On the other hand, if you need to simplify your life and to focus more on Kingdom interests, Jehovah has alerted you to an area where you can work at drawing closer to  him. -Matthew 6:19, 20.  

Studying the Scriptures does more than reveal areas in which we can improve spiritually. It also deepens our appreciation for Jehovah's endearing ways, causing us to love him even more. And when our love for God grows, his love for us intensifies, thus strengthening our bond with him. -Read Corinthians 8:3. 

For us to draw close to Jehovah, however, it is essential that we study with the right objective.  John 17:3 says:  "This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ."  Thus, our objective should be not merely to take in knowledge but to come to "know"  Jehovah better as a  Person. -Read Exodus  33:13; Psalm 25:4.  

Next time: How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah? - Conclusion of BIBLE STUDY-JEHOVAH SPEAKS TO YOU

From the Watchtower magazine 

How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah?

"Draw Close to God, and he will draw close to you." -James 4:8. 

ARE you a dedicated, baptized Witness of Jehovah?  If so, you have a precious possession-a personal relationship with God. However, that relationship is under attack by pressures not only from Satan's world but also from our own imperfect flesh.  This trying situation faces all Christians. Therefore, our relationship  with Jehovah must be as strong as possible. 

How real is your personal relationship with Jehovah? Would you like to strengthen it?  James 4:8 tells you how you can do that:  "Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you."  Note that this is a two-way process. As we take steps to draw close to God, he takes reciprocating action toward us.  This interaction, frequently repeated, progressively strengthens our relationship with Jehovah.  As a result, that relationship becomes very real to us. We develop the kind of  confidence Jesus had when he said:  "The One who sent me is real, and . . .I know him." (John 7:28, 29)   Specifically, though, what steps can you take to draw closer to Jehovah? 

Having regular communication with Jehovah is a vital part of drawing close to him. How can you communicate with God? Well, how do you communicate with a friend who lives far away? Likely,m you write to each other and talk on the phone, perhaps quite often.  You talk to Jehovah by means of your frequent prayers to him. (Psalm 142:2)  And you allow Jehovah to talk to you, as it were, when you regularly read his word and meditate on it.   (Read Isaiah 30:20, 21) let us consider, then, how this two-way communication strengthens our bond with Jehovah, making our personal relationship with him ever more real. 

Next time: How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah? -BIBLE STUDY-JEHOVAH SPEAKS TO YOU 

From the Watchtower magazine 

Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA

A FAVORABLE TIME IS HERE AGAIN

On May 11, 1985, i was released from Dzaleka Prison. What  a joy it was to be reunited with my family!  We thank Jehovah for helping us to maintain our integrity in those very difficult times.  Regarding that period, we feel like the apostle Paul when he wrote:  "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the tribulation we experienced . . .We were very uncertain  even of our lives. In fact, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. This was so that we would trust, not in ourselves, but in the God who raised up the dead.  From such a great risk of death he did rescue us." -2 Corinthians 1:8-10. 

Indeed, at times, it seemed that we would not survive. But we always asked Jehovah to give us the courage and wisdom to help us keep a humble spirit sot hat we could continue to bring glory to his great name.

Jehovah has blessed us in his service, during favorable times as well as difficult ones. Now, what a thrill it is for us to see the branch office that was completed in Lilongwe in the near 2000, as well as the construction of over 1,000 new Kingdom Halls all throughout Malawi!  These blessings from Jehovah are so enriching spiritually that to Lidasi and me, it almost seems like a dream!

Next time: How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah? 

From the Watchtower magazine

Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA

BLESSINGS EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES

In July 1984, I joined the 81 Witnesses at Dzaleka Prison. There, 300 prisoners were crowded together, sleeping on the floor shoulder to shoulder. Gradually, we Witnesses were able to divide ourselves into small groups to consider a scripture each day, which different ones would suggest. That gave us much encouragement. 

Then the prison warden separated us from the other prisoners.  A guard secretly told us:  "The government doesn't hate you. We keep you in prison for two reasons:  The government fears that you will be killed by the Young Pioneers, and because you preach that their soldiers will disappear during that war."

In October 1984, all of us had to appear in court.  We received a two-year prison sentence.  As before, we were put in with non-Witnesses. But the prison warden announced to all:  "Jehovah's Witnesses don't smoke cigarette.  So guards, don't trouble them by asking them for a cigarette and don't send them to collect a burning piece of  charcoal to light your cigarette.  They  are God's people!  All of Jehovah's Witnesses should be given food twice a day, since they are not here for crimes but because of their beliefs in the Bible. 

We benefited from our fine reputation in other ways as well.  When it was dark or rainy, prisoners were not allowed  to move about. But we were permitted  to leave the building whenever we wanted to.  They knew that we would not try to escape. In fact, when a guard fell ill while watching us as we worked in the fields, we carried him back to the prison compound for treatment.  The prison officials  knew that we could be trusted. So by maintaining our fine conduct, we were blessed to see Jehovah's name glorified through the mouth of our captors. -1 Peter 2:12.  

Next time: Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA -  A FAVORABLE TIME IS HERE AGAIN

From the Watchtower magazine 

Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA

CONCLUSION OF ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED 

The warden of that prison was happy that I came; he wanted me to be the "pastor" for the prison. He removed the current pastor, telling him:  "I don't want you to teach God's Word here again, for you were put in prison because you stole from your church!" So I was given the responsibility of teaching the Bible each week at the meetings that were arranged for the prisoners.

Later, things changed for the worse. Prison officials interrogated me to find out how many Witnesses there were in Malawi.  When I didn't answer them to their satisfaction, they beat me until I passed out. Another time, they wanted  to know where our headquarters was located. I said, " you have asked a simple question, and I will tell you."  The policemen were happy and turned on their tape recorder. I explained that  the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses is described in the Bible. They were surprised, and asked, "Where is the Bible?"

"At Isaiah 43:12," I replied.   They looked it up and read it carefully:"  'You are my witnesses, "declared Jehovah,' and I am God.' "  They read that passage about three times.  Then they asked:  "How can the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses be here in the Bible and not in America?"  I told them:  "Jehovah's Witnesses in America also see this scripture as describing their headquarters."  Since I would not tell them what they wanted to hear, I was transferred to Dzaleka Prison, just north of Lilongwe.  

Next time: Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/ AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA - BLESSINGS EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES

From the Watchtower magazine 

Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R.NSOMBA

ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED

In February 1984, I was on my way to Lilongwe to deliver reports for the branch office in Zambia. A policeman stopped me and searched my bag. He found some Bible literature, so he took me to the police station and started to beat me. Then he bound me with ropes and put me in a room with prisoners who had been caught with stolen goods in their possession. 

The next day, the chief of police took em to another room, where he wrote out a statement that said:  "I, Trophim R. Nsomba, have stopped being a Jehovah's Witness so that I can be set free."  I responded:  "I am ready not only to be bound but also to die. I am still a Witness of Jehovah."  I refused to sign it. That angered the  police chief, and he slammed his fist on the desk so hard that it caused a policeman in the next room to come running to see what had happened.  The chief told him:  "This man is  refusing to sign that he has stopped witnessing.  So let him sign that is is one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and we send him to Lilongwe to be bound." All this time, my dear wife was wondering what was happening to me.  Four days later, some brothers were able to tell her where  I was.  

At the Lilongwe police station, I was treated kindly. The police chief said:   "Here is a plate of rice because you have been bound on account of God's Word. The other people here are thieves." Then he sent me  to Kachere Prison where I was kept for five months. 

Next time: Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA - Conclusion of ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED 

From the Watchtower magazine 

Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA

Difficult Times Arrive

In 1964 the Witnesses experienced severe testing because of their refusal to take part in political activities.  Over 100 Kingdom Halls and more than 1,000 homes of Witnesses were destroyed in a wave of persecution. We, though, were able to continue in the traveling work until the Malawi government banned the Witnesses in 1967.  The branch property in Blantyre was confiscated, the missionaries were deported, and many local Witnesses, including Lidasi and me, were put in jail. After our release, we  discreetly continued in the traveling work.  

One day in October 1972, some one hundred members of  militant political movement known as the Malawi Youth League headed for our house.  But one of their members ran ahead and tole me to hide because they were planning to kill me. I told my wife and children to hide among the nearby banana trees.  Then I ran and climbed a large mango tree.   From there, I watched as our house and all our personal belongings were destroyed. 

As the persecution intensified in Malawi, thousands of us fled the country.  Our family  stayed in a refugee camp in western Mozambique until June 1974.  At that time, Lidasi and I were asked to serve  as special pioneers in Domue, Mozambique, near the Malawi border. We continued in that service until 1975, when Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal. Then, along with other Witnesses, we were forced to return to Malawi and to the persecutors we left behind.

After returning to Malawi, I was assigned to visit congregations in the capital city of Lilongwe.  In spite of the persecution and all the difficulties, the number of  congregations increased in the circuits we were privileged to serve. 

Next time: Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/ AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA -EXPERIENCING JEHOVAH'S SUPPORT

From the Watchtower magazine

Continue with Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA

Soon thereafter, I was given the privilege of visiting congregations as a circuit overseer. Because of Lidasi's fine support, I was able to care for our family materially and spiritually while doing this work.  But it was our earnest desire that both of us could be in the full-time ministry. By careful planning and with cooperation from our children, Lidasi was able to begin her full-time service in 1960. 

We enjoyed those favorable times, serving our brothers and sisters in various congregations. Our assignments too us from the beautiful slopes of the Mulanje Mountains in the south to the peaceful shores of Lake Malawi, which runs nearly the full length of the eastern part of the country.  We saw steady increases in publishers and congregations in the circuits we served. 

In 1962 we enjoyed the "Courageous Ministers District Assembly. In retrospect, such spiritual occasions were just what all of us in Malawi needed to prepare us for the difficult times that lay ahead. The following year, Brother Henschel visited Malawi again and a special conventions outside the city of Blantyre was attended by some 10,000. That encouraging convention served as a strengthening aid for us to face the coming trials. 

Next time: Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA -DIFFICULT TIMES ARRIVE

From the Watchtower magazine 

Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM R. NSOMBA

WHEN I came into the world in March 1930, I was surrounded by relatives and friends who were faithfully serving Jehovah.  That was in the village of Namkumba, near the city of Lilongwe, in the country that is now called Malawi. In 1942 , I dedicated  my life to God and was baptized in one of our scenic rivers. Over the next 70 years, I endeavored  to do just as the apostle Paul urged Timothy, to "preach the word; be at it urgently in favorable times and difficult times." - Timothy 4:2. 

The first visit of Nathan H. Knorr and Milton G. Henschel to Malawi in early 1948 kindled my desire to serve Jehovah full-time. I remember with fondness the encouraging comments of those representatives from the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York.  Standing in a muddy field, some 6,000 of us listened  attentively to Brother Knorr's encouraging talk, "Permanent Governor of All Nations." 

When I met Lidasi, a lovely sister who, like me, had been raised in a family of Jehovah's Witnesses, I learned that she too had the goal of the full-time ministry. In  1950 we got married, and by 1953, we had two children. Even with the added responsibility of rearing them, we decided that  I would be able to begin regular pioneering. Two years later, I was invited to serve as a special pioneer. 

Next time: Continue with:  Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"

From the Watchtower magazine

A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE

Emancipation! 

Beginning in the early 1800's, efforts to abolish slavery mounted. The last boatload of slaves sent from Ouidah to the United States arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in July 1860.  Their servitude, however, was short-lived, for the U.S. government issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Slavery finally came to an end in the Western Hemisphere in 1888 when Brazil abolished the practice.

A most visible legacy of the slave route is the vast African diaspora, which has significantly influenced the demographics and culture of many lands in the Americas.  Another legacy is the spread of  voodoo, a form of religion involving  magic and spells that is especially popular in Haiti.  "The term voodoo,"  says Encyclopedia Britannica, "is derived  from the world vodun, which denotes a god, or spirit, in the language of the Fon people of Benin (formerly Dahomey)." 

Sadly, harsh forms of slavery continue today, although not always in a literal sense.  Millions, for example, slave to survive under harsh economic political regimes.  (Ecclesiastes 8:9) And millions are held captive by false religious teachings and superstitions.  Can human governments emancipate their subjects  from those forms of slavery?  No. Only Jehovah God can do that, and he will! Indeed, his written Word, the Bible, promises that all who turn to Jehovah by worshipping him in harmony with the Bible truth-the truth that sets men free-will one day enjoy "the glorious freedom of the children of God." -Romans 8:21; John 8:32. 

Next time: Blessings "in Favorable Times and Difficult Times"/AS TOLD BY TROPHIM  R. NSOMBA

From the Awake! magazine 

A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE

For the modern-day visitor, a tour of the Ouidah Slave Route begins at the reconstructed Portuguese fort. Originally built in 1721, the fort now serves as the aforementioned museum. Captives destined to be slaves were confined  in the large central courtyard. Most had walked, chained together, for many nights before their arrival. Why nights? Darkness helped to keep them disoriented and made it harder for escapees to return home. 

When a group of slaves arrived, an auction was held, after which traders branded their acquisitions. Slaves consigned for export were taken to the beach, where canoes or small boats ferried them to ships. 

Another point on the historical Slave Route is the former sight of the Tree of Forgetfulness. Today a memorial stands in the place of the tree around which slaves were forced to walk-males allegedly nine time and females seven.  This exercise, they were told, would clear their memory of their homeland making them less inclined to rebel. 

The route also features a monument that memorializes the Zomai huts, which no longer exist. Zomai refers to the constant  darkness inside the huts, which got the crammed captives used to the wretched conditions they would encounter aboard the ships. Indeed, they may have been held in the huts for months while awaiting transportation. Those who died  during the ordeal were thrown into a mass grave. 

A monument called Zomachi, which symbolizes repentance and reconciliation, is especially poignant. There, every January, descendants of both slaves and slave merchants request forgiveness for those who perpetrated the injustices. 

The last stop along the tour route is the Door of No Return-a memorial that symbolizes the slaves' final moments on African soil.  This large, arched entrance features a bas-relief friezes of two rows of chained Africans converging on  the nearby beach, with the Atlantic in front of them. At this point, some desperate captives are said  to have eaten sand so as to remember their native land. Others chose death, strangling themselves with their own chains. 

Next time:  A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE - Emancipation! 

From the Watchtower magazine

A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE

A Long, Ugly History

In very early times, African rulers sold war captives to Arab traders. later European powers entered the slave trade, especially after establishing colonies to the Americas. At that time, inter-tribal warfare and the resulting captives provided an abundance of slaves, making war a lucrative enterprise for both the victors and the greedy slave traders. In addition, slaves were acquired through kidnapping or from African traders who brought them from the interior. Nearly everyone could be sold as a slave, even a prince who had fallen out of his king's good graces. 

A well-known dealer was Brazilian Francisco Felix de Souza.  In 1788 De Souza took command of the fortress that was the hub of the Ouida slave market int he Bight of Benin. At the time, Ouida was under the Kingdom of Dahomey.  However, De Souza and Dahoman King Adandozan had a falling out.  So De Souza, perhaps while in prison, conspired with the king's brother, and together they ousted the ruler in 1818. Thus began a lucrative relationship between the new king, Ghezo, and De Souza, who was placed in charge of the slave trade.

Ghezo was intent on expanding his kingdom and needed European weapons to do it. Hence, he appointed De Souza as viceroy of Ouidah to help administer trade with the Europeans. With exclusive rights over the sale of slaves in that part of Africa, De Souza soon amassed a fortune, and the slave market, situated near his house, became a hub for foreign and local buyers. 

Next time: A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE - A Walk With Wet Tears 

From the Awake! magazine  

A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE

FROM the 17th to the 19th century, the city of Ouidah served as a major slave-trading post in West Africa. Located in what is now the Republic of Benin, Ouidah witnessed the export of more than a million slaves. Often, Africans supplied fellow Africans as human cargo in exchange for such items as alcohol, cloth, bracelets, knives, swords, and especially guns, which were in high demand because of inter-tribal warfare.

Between the 16th and the 19th centuries, an estimated 12 million Africans were shipped across  the Atlantic to satisfy the demand for slave labor in the plantations and mines of the New World. About 85 percent of the slaves, says the book American Slavery-1619-1877, "went to Brazil and the various Caribbean colonies of the British, French, Spanish, and Dutch." And estimated 6 percent wen to the colonies that would later become part of the United States.

At the start of their journey,many of the slaves-chained, beaten, and branded-walked the two-and-a-half-mile (4 km) route that now goes from the Ouidah Museum of History, a reconstructed fortress, to what is called the Door of No Return, which stands on the beach. The door marks the end of the Slave Route. It is more symbolic  than literal, for the slaves did not always depart from the same spot. Why did slavery become so popular?

Next time: A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE - A Long, Ugly History

From The Awake! magazine 

THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/Why Are Jesus' True Followers Hated?

Hated for Being "No Part of the World

"Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world," the Bible says.  (1 John 2:15) To which world was the apostle John referring?  The world of mankind estranged from God and in submission to Satan.  He is "the god of this world." -2 Corinthians 4:4, The New Testament in Modern  English; 1 John 5:19. 

Sadly, some who love the world and its bad ways oppose those who try to  live by the Bible teachings.  Hence, Jesus said to his apostles:  "If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you." -John 15:19. 

How sad that people hate Jehovah's servants for not embracing a world that is riddled with corruption, injustice, and violence and that is ruled by Satan! Many sincere people want to make the world a better place, but they are no match for its unseen ruler.  Only Jehovah God can get rid of Satan-and he will, by utterly destroying him, as if by fire! -Revelation 20:10, 14. 

That wonderful prospect is a key element in the precious "good news of the kingdom" proclaimed worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses.  ( Matthew 24:14) Yes, the Witnesses are convinced that only God's Kingdom, his government by Christ, will bring lasting peace and happiness to the earth.  (Matthew 6:9,, 10) Hence, they will continue to proclaim  that Kingdom, viewing God's approval as far more important than that of men.  

Next time:  A WALK ALONG THE SLAVE ROUTE

From the Awake! magazine

THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/Why Are Jesus' True Followers Hated?

Some Opposers Are Envious

Many who opposed Jesus did so out of envy. Indeed, Roman governor Pontius Pilate "was aware that because of envy the chief priests had handed [Jesus] over" to be impaled.  (Mark 15:9, 10) Why were the Jewish religious leaders envious of Christ?  One factor was his popularity with the common people, whom the former looked down on.  "The world has gone after him,"  The Pharisees complained.  (John 12:19) Likewise, when people later responded positively to the ministerial of Christ's followers, religious opposers once again became "filled with jealously" and lashed out at the Christian evangelizers. -Acts 13:45, 50.  

Other enemies resented the good conduct of God's servants. To fellow Christians, the apostle Peter said:  "Because you do not continue running with them [the wicked] in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you." (1 Peter 4:4)  The same negative attitude can be seen today. Of course, true Christians, while avoiding bad conduct, do not display a self-righteous, superior attitude.  That, in fact, would be unchristian, for all humans are sinners and in need of God's mercy. - Romans 3:23.

Next time: Why Are Jesus' True Followers Hated? - Hate for Being "No Part of the world"

From the Awake! magazine 

THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT

Why Are Jesus' True Followers Hated?

"People will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name." -MATTHEW 24:9. 

JESUS spoke those words just  few days before he was brutally killed.  On the night before his death, he said to his faithful apostles:  "If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:20, 21)  But why would people hate those who obey Jesus and try to be like him?  After all, he expended himself in behalf of others, comforting the poor and giving hope to the downtrodden.

The Bible reveals specific reasons for that hatred.  When we examine these, we see why people today who follow Christ face much of the same opposition that he did.

Opposers May Act in Ignorance

Jesus said to his followers:  "The hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God.  But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me." (John 16:2, 3)  To be sure, many persecutors professed  to serve the same God Jesus served, but they were influenced by false  religious beliefs and traditions. Yes, they had "a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge." (Romans 10:2) One such opposer was Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Christian apostle Paul.

Saul belonged to a group known as the Pharisees, a politically powerful and influential Jewish sect that opposed Christianity.  "I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man," Saul later acknowledged. He also said:  "I was ignorant and acted with a lack of faith." (1 Timothy 1:12, 13)   However, once he learned the truth about God and His Son, he immediately changed his ways. 

The same has happened to many former persecutors today. What is more, some of these, like Saul, have become objects of persecution themselves. Nevertheless, they have not returned evil for evil but have followed Jesus' exhortation:  "Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you." (Matthew 5:44) Jehovah's Witnesses strive to apply those words, hopeful that at least some opposers will have a change of heart, as Saul did. 

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/ Why Are Jesus' True Followers Hated? -Some Opposers are Envious

From the Awake! magazine 

ARE YOUR LIPS "PRECIOUS VESSELS"?

"There exists gold, also an abundance of corals;but the lips of knowledge are precious vessels, wrote King Solomon of old. (Proverbs 20:15)  God has always been highly valued, and in Solomon's day, corals too were prized. Yet, our lips can be even more precious than these. How?  Not because of their physical appearance, but because of the thoughts they express. 

Precious lips radiate goodness, kindness, and love. And as "lips of knowledge," they speak the truth about God as recorded in the Bible. Yes, this ancient book is filled with wisdom and truth about our Creator, as well as excellent advice for life. -John 17:17. 

Sadly, many people misuse their lips by saying things about God that are untrue. For example, some blame him for the injustice and suffering in the world, much of which is mankind's own doing.  In this regard, Proverbs 19:23 states: "Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord." -Today's English Version.

Others cheapen the value of their lips through insincere speech, hurtful gossip, or even slander. Using powerful imagery, Proverbs 26:23 reads:  "As a silver glazing overlaid upon a fragment of earthenware are fervent lips along with a bad heart."  Like "silver glazing"  which conceals the underlying earthenware, "fervent lips," which convey very strong feelings and even sincerity, may in fact conceal "a bad heart." -Proverbs 26:24-26.  

Of course such badness is not hidden from God. He sees what we really are! Accordingly, Jesus Christ said:  "Cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside of it also may become clean." (Matthew 23:26)  How true! Moreover, internal cleanness, or purity, along with a heart that is filled with spiritual truth, will be reflected in our words.  The result?  Our lips will be "precious vessels," especially in the eyes of God. 

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT /Why Are Jesus' True Followers Hated?

From the Awake! magazine 

The Seventh World Power

When God's Will Is Done on Earth

* There will be genuine peace, not just the absence of war. "Jehovah . . .is making wars  to cease to the extremity of the earth.  The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the wagons he burns in the fire." (Psalm 46:8, 9)  "The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." -Psalm 37:11. 

* All will have an abundance of food.  "There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow." -Psalm 72:16.

Perfect healthy will prevail.   "No resident will say: 'I am sick.' " -Isaiah 33:24. 

Everyone will have a comfortable home.  "They will build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.  They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating." -Isaiah 65:21, 22. 

* All forms of suffering will end.  "The tent of God is with mankind, . . .and he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no  more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.  The former things have passed away." -Revelation 21:3, 4.

Do those promises appeal to you? If so, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage you to look further into the Bible. Indeed, by doing so you will see even more evidence that man's cruel domination of his fellow man is about to end.  You will also see that the Bible is deserving of your full trust, that it is truly inspired by God. -2 Timothy 3:16. 

Next time:  ARE YOUR LIPS "PRECIOUS VESSELS"? 

From the Awake! magazine 

The Seventh World Power

Recognize "the Sign"!

The sign of the end includes global war, "great earthquakes," pestilences," and major "food shortages." (Luke 21:10, 11; Matthew 24:7, 8; Mark 13:8) Also marking the "last days" would be a serious moral and spiritual breakdown in society.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5)   Have "all these things" occurred? (Matthew 24:8) Yes-to the point that many people fear the future.  The newspaper The Globe and Mail stated: "Some of the most respected thinkers about science and society are issuing alarming prognostications about humanity coming to an end." 

In one very important respect, however, those prognostications are wrong-humanity itself will not end. In fact, the intervention by God's Kingdom guarantees it!  When giving the sign of the end, Jesus Christ stated:  "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) How has this prophecy unfolded?

In over 230 lands, Jehovah's Witnesses are proclaiming the Kingdom Of God. Indeed, the title of their primary journal is The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom-Jehovah being God's personal name.  (Psalm 83:18) The Witnesses' program of Bible education is helping countless individuals and families to replace harmful lifestyles with clean and peaceful  conduct that conforms to God's standards.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) As a  result, millions of people worldwide are confident that they will gain God's protection when his Kingdom intervenes in mankind's affairs.

Indeed, they will see with their own eyes the fulfillment of Christ's model prayer, sometimes called the Lord's Prayer, which states, in part:  "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, King James Version) Have you wondered what life on earth will be like when all humans love and obey God?  The following Bible passages may help you  to understand why the expression "good news" is fitting.  

Next time: The Seventh World Power - When God's Will Is Done on Earth . . .

From the Awake! magazine 

The Seventh World Power

A Hope You Can Trust

After describing the aforementioned image. Daniel wrote:  "A stone was cut out [of a mountain] not by hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and of molded clay and crushed them."  (Daniel 2:34) What did this awesome spectacle portend? 

Daniel continued:  "In the days of those [final] kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people.  It will crush and put an end to all these [earthly] kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite."  (Daniel 2:44, 45) Note these important points: 

1. The victorious  Kingdom, represented by a large stone, is "set up" by God  himself not by human hands."  Hence, it is rightly called God's Kingdom. 

2. God's Kingdom "will crush" all human rulerships, including the seventh world power. Why? All these will refuse to relinquish power and will face off against God in a final great war at a figurative place called Harmagedon, or Armageddon.   The Bible makes clear this war involves "the kings of the entire inhabited earth." -Revelation 16:13., 14, 16. 

3. Unlike human governments, including the seven world powers, God's Kingdom "will never be brought to ruin." Also, it will rule over the entire inhabited earth. -Daniel 2:35, 44. 

The final destruction of God's opposers will be a spectacular fulfillment of the prophecy at Genesis 3:15, mentioned in the first article series. The Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ would crush the symbolic serpent, Satan, and his seed. (Galatians 3:16) Satan's seed includes all humans who adopt  his wicked ways and who promote human self-determination as opposed to rule by God and Christ.-Psalm 2:7-12. 

This brings us to a very important question: When will that final destruction occur?  Yes, when will the "stone"-God's Kingdom-remove every trace of human rulership? The Bible answers that question by way of a "sign" that would identify the last days. -Matthew 24:3.

Next time: The Seventh World Power - Recognize "the Sign"! 

From the Awake! magazine 

The Seventh World Power

Reliable Prophecy

The seventh power began to take shape when England rose out of obscurity in the northwestern corner of the Roman Empire.  By the 1760's, this island nation had become the mighty British Empire. Britain continued to grow in wealth and power, and in the 19th century, it was the richest and most powerful nation on earth.   "The British Empire," states one reference work, "was the largest the world had ever seen."  It "included 372 million inhabitants and extended over 11 million square miles [28 million sq km]." 

However, the first world war (1914-1918)  moved Britain to embark on a special relationship with the United States, a previous colony.  The result?  The British Empire  gave way to the Anglo-American alliance, in  may respects a duel English-speaking world power that has lasted until the present. 

The prophecy at Revelation 17:10 complements another prophecy found in the book  of Daniel. Daniel wrote about an "immense image" that Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar saw in a vision given him by God.  (Daniel 2:28, 31-43) Daniel revealed to the monarch that the sections of the body of the image represented the succession of political empires that began with Babylon, the world power at the time.  (Egypt and Assyria had already come and gone.)  History now confirms the following:  

The head  of gold represented the Babylonian Empire.  

The breasts and arms of silver depicted Medo-Persia. 

The belly and thighs of copper pointed to ancient Greece. 

The legs of iron pictured the Roman Empire.  

The feet, an amalgam of iron and clay, symbolize the politically and socially incohesive state of affairs during the time of the Anglo-American world power.

According to Revelation 17:10, the seventh world power "must remain a short while." How long will that prove to be?  how will it disappear from the world scene? And what will happen thereafter?  Daniel sheds much light on these questions. 

Next time: The Seventh World Power - A Hope You Can Trust

From the Awake! magazine 

The Seventh World Power

WE LIVE in a very special and momentous time-that of the appearance of the seventh world power of Bible history. Moreover, this power is the only one mentioned in the Bible purely as prophecy, for the previous six were woven into the Bible's historical record.  Concerning the seven powers, or "kings," the Bible foretold:  "There are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived, but he does arrive he must remain a short while." -Revelation 17:10. 

A little over 1,900  years ago, when those words were written, five of the seven "kings," or political empires, 'had fallen."  They were Egypt, Assyria, Medo-Persia, and Greece.  The expression "one" is referred to Rome.  But Rome would not last forever. There would be one more empire, but the prophecy stated:  "[It] has not yet arrived." True to Bible prophecy, the seventh 'king' did arrive on the world scene!  What did this empire prove to be? Will it exercise its dominion indefinitely?  If not, how will it exit the world stage?  The Bible leaves us in no doubt. 

Next time: The Seventh World Power - Reliable Prophecy

From the Awake! magazine 

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT-INNER GIFTS THAT ELEVATE US

Where Answers Can Be Found

The most reasonable answers to these questions can be found in the most widely available sacred text in the world-the Bible. Consider what it says about the following:  

Human nature.  Humankind was created "in God's image," meaning that we have the potential to reflect God's qualities.  (Genesis 1:27) Thus, the first man was a "son of God." -Luke 3:38. 

Our need to love and be loved.  "God is love," says 1 John 4:8. Formed in God's image, we need love from the cradle to the grave. If I "do not have love, I am nothing," wrote the Christian apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 13:2) He also said: "Become imitators of God, as beloved children." -Ephesians 5:1. 

Our spiritual need.  Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah's mouth." (Matthew 4:4) God's utterances recorded in the Bible reveal his personality and his purpose for us. We cannot live truly  meaningful lives in spiritual ignorance. 

Why we die.   "The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God givers is everlasting life." (Romans 6:23) Sin is a failure to live up to God's moral and spiritual standards. God, however, has purposed to remove sin, rehabilitate all who love and obey him, and grant them everlasting life in Paradise on earth. -Psalm 37:10, 11, 29; Luke 23:43. 

Do you want to experience life to the full, perhaps developing talents that you never dreamed you could?  Do you want to learn more about your Creator and his wonderful purpose for you?  If so, then we invite you to examine the Bible , the source of spiritual truth. No other endeavor could give you greater happiness both now and in the future. -Matthew 5:3; John 17:3. 

Next time: The Seventh World Power

From the Awake! magazine 

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT

INNER GIFTS THAT ELEVATE US

A 50-YEAR-OLD construction worker was waiting for his train in a New York City subway station. Nearby, a young man stumbled to the edge of the platform and fell  onto the tracks just as the train was coming. Making a split-second decision, the construction worker leaped onto the tracks and held the other man down as the train passed safely over them both. 

During the Nazi  era, Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe refused to say "Heil Hitler!" because the German word heil means "salvation."  Their deeply held belief was that Jesus Christ was their Savior and that "there is no salvation in anyone else." (Acts 4:12) For refusing to idolize Hitler, many were torn away from their home and sent to concentration camps, where they continued to hold on to their Christian principles.

These examples show that a human can put the welfare of another-even a total stranger-before self and a respect for principles before personal freedom. Does such behavior reflect the notion that humans are simply highly evolved animals? Or does it suggest that we are higher creation?  Think about that as you reflect on the following questions: 

* Why do we have a conscience, an inner sense of right or wrong?

* Why do we feel awe when we reflect on the wonders of creation?

* Why do we enjoy music, painting, poetry, and other art forms?  After all, they are not essential for our survival.

* Why do people of virtually every culture manifest a desire to commune with a higher being?

* Why do we ask:  'Why am I here?' 'What is the purpose of life?'

* When someone dies, why do we engage in various ceremonies and rituals?

* And why is belief in an afterlife virtually universal? Is our inborn desire to live forever just an evolutionary hoax? 

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT - INNER GIFTS THAT ELEVATE US - Where Answers Can Be Found

From the Awake! magazine 

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT

The Human Brain

With astonishing efficiency, the brain decodes the streams of signals pouring in through the nerves from the sense organs. Moreover, it links these signals with details stored in its memory. Thus, a certain smell may immediately trigger the brain to retrieve a long-forgotten experience or event. And if you see just a small part of something familiar-the tip of your cat's tail, for example-your brain will fill in the missing details so that you know your cat is nearby.

Of course, your brain was not preprogrammed with images of cats, just as it was not preprogrammed with the smell of a rose of the sound of running water or the feel of fur.  Your brain learned these associations.  The experiences of people who were born blind but have been given the ability to see, perhaps through surgery, make this evident.  Their brain has to learn to interpret the flood of visual signals now flowing to it.  How do such people fare?

They soon report the ability to detect color, motion, and simple forms. But after that, progress varies. Children, especially  the very young, continue to learn quite well.  But that is not the case with adults. Even their ability to recognize faces remains highly impaired.  And, tragically,  a common feature with "cured" adults "is initial euphoria followed by disappointment and disorientation with the restored vision, often leading  to severe depression," says the Koch Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology.

These facts help us to appreciate more fully the degree of healing that Jesus Christ performed during his ministry on earth.  The blind and the deaf not only had their eyes and ears opened but also began to recognize the sights and sounds around them. Likewise,m the mute spoke normally, which would have been especially amazing in the case of those born with  this disability.  (Matthew 15:30; Mark 8:22-25; Luke 7:21, 22) And we can be confident that none of the blind who were healed spiraled  into depression. In fact, one healed man courageously  defended Jesus, saying to Jesus' religious enemies:  "From of old it has never been heard that anyone opened  the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing at all." -John 9:1-38. 

In the following article, we will examine some of our inner qualities, including courage and love. Have you wondered why humans alone have the potential  to display such qualities?  To be sure, the existence of such uniquely human traits has presented a major obstacle to people  who wish to prove that we are merely highly evolved animals. 

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT -INNER GIFTS THAT ELEVATE US

From the Awake! magazine  

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT

The Human Eye

Some researchers estimate that people who can see well gain approximately 80 percent of their information about the world through their eyes.  In combination with our brain, our eyes enable us to see in full color, to track moving objects and images smoothly, to recognize patterns and shapes, and to see in three dimensions. Furthermore, we can see in varying degrees of light.

The latter involves a number of complementary mechanisms.  For example, the pupil can expand from 0.06 inch to 0.3 inch (1;5 mm to 8 mm) in diameter, resulting in a possible 30-fold increase in the amount of light entering the eye. The light then passes through the lens, which focuses it onto the retina, concentrating the light energy by a factor of 100,000 times.  So never look directly at the sun with the naked eye! 

The retina, in turn, houses two types of photoreceptors-cones (approximately 6 million), which gives us color vision and high resolution, and rods (120-140 million), which are more than a thousand times as sensitive as the cones help us to see in dim light. Indeed, under optimal conditions, a rod can detect a single photon, or elementary particle of light! 

Another adaptive mechanism involves retinal neurons linked to the cones and rods.  These neurons adapt "in seconds and can improve night vision by a factor of 10 or more," says the American Optometric Association.  "Neural adaptation is rather like having low-speed and high-speed film simultaneously available in your camera." 

Engineers often design cameras, scanners, and computers, along with compatible software.  But the degree of integration and the level of sophistication attained are vastly inferior to those of  our sensory system. Ask yourself, 'Is it reasonable  to attribute our vastly superior living sensory system to blind chance, as evolutionists do?'  An ancient servant of God name Job knew little about the human body compared with what we know today.  Even so, he felt impelled to say to God:  "Your own hands have shaped me." -Job 10:8. 

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT -The Human Brain

From the Awake! magazine 

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT

The Human Ear

Although some animals can hear sound frequencies beyond the range of human hearing, the combination of a human's ears and brain is a formidable  one, say audio experts. Our hearing enables us to determine loudness, pitch, and tone and to approximate the direction and distance of a sound source.   The frequency range of a healthy human ear is roughly 20 to 20,000 hertz, or cycles of sound oscillations per second.  The most sensitive region is in the 1,000 to 5,00 hertz range. Moreover, we may be able to detect a change of just one hertz, from, say 440 hertz to 441 hertz.

Indeed, a healthy ear is so sensitive that it can detect sounds when the vibration, or to-and fro movement, of the air at the eardrum is less than the diameter of an atom! According to a  university course on hearing, "the human hearing system is close to the theoretical physical limits of sensitivity. . ..There would be little point in being much more sensitive to sound, as all we would hear would be a 'hiss,' " the result of the random  movement of the atoms and molecules that make up the air.

Eardrum vibrations are amplified mechanically by lever action and are transferred  to the inner ear by means of the ossicles-tiny bones known as the hammer, the anvil, and the stapes. But what if your ears are suddenly struck by a deafening sound?  In that even, they have a built-in protective mechanism in the form of muscle action that adjusts the ossicles to reduce the force of the sound. However, the ears are not equipped  to deal  with prolonged loud noise. Such exposure can permanently damage the hearing.  So take good care of this "wonderfully made" gift from your Creator. -Psalm 139:14. 

Your auditory system also helps you to detect a sound source.  The secret lies in a number of factors, including the shell-like shape of the outer ear, its grooves, the separation of the two ears, and some computational brilliance on the part of your brain. Thus, if the intensity of a sound fades just slightly from ear to ear or if the sound reaches one ear just 30 millionths of a second before it reaches the other, your brain will promptly point your eyes toward the sound source.

Imagine if you had to make all those computations consciously!  To be sure, you would have to know how to use very advanced mathematics-and with lightning speed!  If an engineer were to design a "hearing" system that came even remotely close to the one your Creator gave you, he would receive many accolades. Yet, how often do you hear people give due credit to God for his awesome works? -Romans 1:20. 

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT-The Human Eye

From the Awake magazine 

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT

APPRECIATE YOUR SPECIAL GIFTS

THE human body is outstandingly versatile.  No animal has the sheer range of abilities that we humans do. One reason for our versatility  is our upright stance, which not only expands our area of vision but also frees our arms and hands for any number of tasks. Imagine how our activities would be curtailed if we had to walk on all fours!

Another asset is our highly sophisticated sensory system, which will be the focus of this articles. The system includes the hands, the ears, the eyes, and of  course, our exceptional brain. Let's look at these individually.

The Human Hand

Our hands are beautiful instruments of amazing precision. With them we can thread a needle or swing an ax, paint a  portrait or play the  piano. Our hands are also highly sensitive. Even a brief touch may reveal whether a substance is fur, paper, skin, metal, water, or wood. Yes, our hands  are much  more than implements for grasping and manipulation. They are also a source of knowledge about our world. And they are a means of conveying warmth and affection. 

Why is the human hand so adept, so expressive, so sensitive, and so versatile?  the reasons are many.  Consider four. 

1. Our two hands have a total of more than 50 bones, about a quarter of all the bones in the body. The intricate assembly of the parts of the hand-the bones, the joints, the ligaments-gives the human hand extraordinary flexibility. 

2. The hand as an opposable thumb mounted on a saddle joint, an ingenious configuration  of two saddle-shaped surfaces at right angles to each other.  This joint, along with the associated muscles and other tissues, gives the thumb amazing flexibility and strength.

3. Three sets of muscles control the hand. The two most powerful sets-the extensors and the flexors-are in the forearm and operate the fingers by mean of tendons.  How bulky and unwieldy  the hand would be if these muscles were located in it!  The third set, much smaller, which does lie within the hand gives the fingers precision of movement.

4. Your fingers are, in effect, living sensors-the fingertips having about 2,500  receptors in just one sixth of a square inch. (1 sq cm) Moreover, the receptors are varied, each kind having its own function, enabling you to feel texture, temperature, wetness, vibration, pressure and pain.  As a result, the human finger is the most sensitive touch sensor known. 

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT - The Human Ear

From the Awake! magazine 

HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT

YOU  ARE "WONDERFULLY MADE"!

WHEN you reflect on the remarkable abilities of various animals, do you sometimes feel twinge of ency?  Perhaps you wish that you could soar  like an albatross, swim like dolphin, see like an eagle, or run like a cheetah.

Yes, animals have some amazing abilities. But so do we!  Indeed, the human body has been described as  the perfect machine. We have creativity, curiosity, imagination, and ingenuity-qualities that move us to devise machines that enables us to do virtually anything we set our minds to. We can fly, even beyond the speed of sound; navigate above or below the surface of vast oceans; gaze some 14 billion light-years into space; peer into the living cell; and design machines, therapies, and technologies that help us diagnose and treat diseases. 

Even with little or no external assistance, healthy, well-trained humans are capable of doing astonishing things. At the Olympic Games, for example gymnasts, high divers, ice-skaters , skiers, and others perform amazing feats with a level of agility, artistry, creativity, and grace that leaves audience enthralled.

Do you appreciate the special gifts that you have as a human? Granted, you may not be an Olympic athlete, but you have many gifts for which to be thankful. An ancient Bible writer expressed his appreciation to God in song:  "I shall laud you because in a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14) Why not think about that statement as you consider the articles that follow?  They will examine in more detail some of the wonders of the human body, as well as other far more important traits that make us truly unique.  

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT - APPRECIATE YOUR SPECIAL GIFTS

From the Awake! magazine  

"HE LEADS ME IN THE TRACKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" -AS TOLD BY OLGA CAMPBELL

Marriage and a Shared Ministry

In 1956, I met Merton Campbell, a Witness who had spent 27 months in prison during World War II for maintaining Christian neutrality. He had been serving at the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn for nearly ten years. Merton had many fine spiritual qualities, and I saw that he would be a good husband. We corresponded for some months, and our mutual respect and affection deepened into love.

Merton and I were married on September 24, 1960. What a blessing to have shared the past 47 years with a wonderful spiritual man!  Merton has worked for 58 years in the Service Department, which provides assistance and direction to congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the United States.  For over 30 years, my work in Brooklyn was to decorate guest rooms and later large Assembly Halls in the New York City area.  Then, in 1995, Merton and I were transferred to the Watchtower Educational Center in Patterson, about 70 miles north of New York City.

When I left home at age 12, I never imagined  that one day I would be surrounded by a large spiritual family, including my own siblings. I long for the time in God's new world when we can crowd around Mother and relate what happened while she slept-especially how Jehovah God lovingly cared for the spiritual needs of her children.  How we rejoice that Jehovah has led us in "the tracks of righteousness"! -Psalm 23:3. 

Next time: HUMAN LIFE A PRECIOUS GIFT - YOU ARE "WONDERFULLY MADE"!

From the Awake! magazine 

"HE LEADS ME IN THE TRACKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" -AS TOLD BY OLGA CAMPBELL

A Rewarding Ministry 

Four of us young women were sent to the city of Sherbrooke. We diligently practiced speaking French, conjugating verbs again and again as we walked to and from our preaching territory. At lunchtime we sometimes had no money for food, so we went home and studied. My partner, Kay Lindhorst, was a real grammarian. She taught me English grammar first so that I could grasp the French.  

The highlight of my pioneering was in Victoriaville, then a town of about 15,000.  Hardly anyone spoke English, so it was the best environment for us to improve our French. Our first week there was thrilling.  Everywhere we went, people accepted our literature.When we returned, all the doors were shut and the shades were drawn. What had happened?

The local priest warned the people not to listen to us. So as went from door to door, children followed us at a distance, throwing rocks and snowballs. Still, many longed  to hear the Bible's message. At first, they only let us visit them after nightfall. As they progressed in Bible knowledge, however, they studied openly  despite their neighbor's displeasure.  

In the 1950's, my sister and I returned to Wakaw for a visit. We related our preaching experiences at the congregation meeting. Afterward, the presiding minister told us,  "Your mother will be do pleased when she is  resurrected and learns that her children became Jehovah's Witnesses!"  He explained that she had studied the Bible with a Witness before she died. It brought tears to our eyes to learned  that she had been taking in Bible truths that she would surely have shared with us had her life not been cut short. 

Next time: "HE LEADS ME IN THE TRACKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" -AS TOLD BY OLGA CAMPBELL -Marriage and a Shared Ministry

From the Watchtower magazine 

"HE LEADS ME IN THE TRACKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" -AS TOLD BY OLGA CAMPBELL

Religious Intolerance in Quebec

My move to Quebec was no mere change of scenery. The Witnesses there faced fierce opposition to their preaching work.  We delighted to share in the distribution of the tract Quebec's Burning Hate for God and Christ and Freedom Is the Shame of All Canada.  That searing message exposed the religious intolerance against the Witnesses.

For 16 days, we started about two o'clock each morning silently slipping tracts under the doors. At one apartment  house, we learned that the police were on their way. We escaped detection by  hiding in an alley. The next day, we went back on the streets offering The Watchtower and Awake!  As the months passed the police arrested us so many times that we lost count.  To be prepared for a jail stay, I always carried by toothbrush and my eyebrow pencil. 

In November 1946, Nathan Knorr, who was the taking the lead in the    worldwide work of the Witnesses, visited from Brooklyn, New York. He invited 64 of us pioneers in Quebec to attend the ninth class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in South Lansing, New York. At this school, we received an intensive five-month course in August 1947, we were sent to towns throughout Quebec to start new congregations. 

Next time: "HE LEADS ME IN THE TRACKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" -AS TOLD BY OLGA CAMPBELL -A Rewarding Ministry

From the Watchtower magazine 

"HE LEADS ME IN THE TRACKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" -AS TOLD BY OLGA CAMPBELL

A Cross-Country Move

In November, my brother Fred asked me to work as a housekeeper in his three-story house in the city of Toronto in eastern Canada.  I agreed, hoping that I might enjoy greater freedom to worship Jehovah there. Before I left, I visited my sister Ann, who was still nearby in Saskatchewan.  She had a surprise for me-she and Doris were studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, and she urged me to do the same.  Then I shared my secret-I was already a baptized Witness!

My younger sister Emily and I took the long train ride to Toronto. Bill met us at the station and brought us to the house that he shared with Fred and John. I asked Fred who else lived in the house.   "You'll never believe this," he said. He lives upstairs, and that crazy man is interested in those Bible students!" My heart leaped. 

I tiptoed up to see Alex and arranged to go to a meeting with him that very night. I wanted to attend right away so that my brothers would not have time  to try to dissuade me. Shortly afterward, even though I had never had a formal Bible study, i went in the preaching work for the first time. I enjoyed speaking  with many Ukrainians, using the language I had learned in my childhood. 

Bill enjoyed reading the Watchtower, which I often put in his room. After he moved to British Columbia in western Canada, I sent him a subscription to The Watchtower. Though usually a man of few words, he wrote me a ten-page letter expressing his gratitude. In time, he dedicated his life to Jehovah and became a zealous Christian overseer.  So to my great joy, five of my siblings-Bill, Ann, Fred, Doris, and Emily-became dedicated worshippers of Jehovah!

On May 22, 1945, the Canadian government lifted the ban on the work of Jehovah's Witnesses. Actually, I had not realized that we were under ban until I heard that announcement.  My friend Judy Lukus and I decided to take up the full-time ministry as pioneers farther east in French-speaking Quebec. When my sisters Doris and Emily heard about our plans, they decided to pioneer in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the other side of the continent. 

Next time: Same as above-with Religious Intolerance in Quebec 

From the Watchtower magazine