The Privilege and Blessing of Being God s Fellow Worker. JW Broadcasting

Transcription

1 The Privilege and Blessing of Being God s Fellow Worker JW Broadcasting Oct 2017

2 Contents 1. Introduction Walkill Branch Report Pontien Mukanga, Congo Kitawala religion The Privilege and Blessing of Being God s Fellow Worker Jonathan A son of King Saul Key to success Joey Orrom Britain branch Gilead Draper shop experience Jonathan - Continued Assembly Hall Maintenance Elders as Leaders Geoffrey Jackson Leader or taking the Lead Samoan experience Music Video Think - think outside the Box Dramatization - Miki Do we only see in black and white Georgia report... 38

3 1. Introduction Welcome to our program. Here s a preview of what we can look forward to. This brother began his ministry in the Congo when his fellow Witnesses were few in number. How did Jehovah bless his hard work to preach and shepherd? It s a joy when we come together at Assembly Halls for spiritual programs. But how much work goes into caring for these places of pure worship? We also work to maintain peaceful relationships with our brothers and sisters. What lesson does this sister learn that lets her see the beautiful qualities in others? And we ll consider the privilege we have to be fellow workers with God. You re watching the October 2017 edition of JW Broadcasting. 2. Walkill Branch Report We begin with a report from the United States branch in Wallkill, New York. Any Bethel assignment is a joy and sometimes a challenge. Proper training is therefore an important part of every job. Page 1 / 39

4 How does the Maintenance Department train hundreds of volunteers to work efficiently and safely? And how do the students feel about the practical training they receive? There were a few factors that created the need at Bethel for a more structured training program. One of those factors included the regular changeover in personnel. The brothers have to be more versatile in their assignments. They may have to do tasks they previously weren t trained on. Printing equipment became more technologically advanced; our building systems became more complicated; computer systems were now starting to be used to control virtually everything. Well, I feel like Bethel has definitely always been good about training, but especially now. I think everyone sees the need to continue investing in the brothers and sisters that are currently at Bethel. I don t think it s possible for someone to know less about the trades than I did when I started. I remember my first reaction when I was invited to help in electrical was fear. So when I received my assignment, I found out that it involved running the heavy equipment. So I called my parents. I was really excited about it. Page 2 / 39

5 I said, Mom and Dad, guess what I get to do? And Dad said, OK, Son. Well, did you tell them that you don t know how to drive? It was decided to pull a group of highly experienced, highly skilled brothers to concentrate on developing and teaching repeatable, consistent classes that could bring people s skill levels up to what was needed. We teach well over 100 different classes in 12 major categories. Here at Bethel, I ve probably been a part of over 30 different classes, so it s been a variety, depending on the needs at the time of the assignment. I would estimate that I ve taken about 15 or 20 different courses from safety and training over the course of my 13 years in learning a trade. I ve become certified in at least these seven different licensed requirements. We teach people technical skills, but that s not the sole purpose of the training. If you aren t skilled in safety, you can t be skilled in your trade and vice versa. The objective in all of our safety courses is to get them to view safety the same way Jehovah views it as a reflection of their spirituality. So training in safety is essential. Page 3 / 39

6 So our goal is to take them into the classroom and give them some time to consider the theoretical. And then we take them out where there is a lab set up, and we have them do some tests on it. Typically, they will tell us that they ve been able to learn more in a week than what they have learned in a year of trade school. We ve done over 60,000 instances of training. And so now receiving this training, it provides an area or an aspect in which I can give my 100 percent to Jehovah. You see it in their eyes. They re just so happy that they now have maybe a new skill or a new understanding that they can use to benefit Jehovah. I love the fact that I came into Bethel with virtually no experience. And not only did I receive a trade that I could use to carry out a work that glorifies Jehovah but I was trained well enough that I can share that with others, and they can be trained too. Helping someone else to go from that feeling of not knowing anything to feeling productive and feeling like they re contributing is a real joy for me. And they can take what they learn wherever they go. The confidence that people leave with once they ve received that investment it s confidence that they can carry out whatever assignment Jehovah has given them, and the confidence that Jehovah is going to train them for whatever is being asked of them. Page 4 / 39

7 I think if younger brothers and sisters are trying to learn a skill so that they can come to Bethel, that s commendable, but more important is spirituality. Let Jehovah finish your training. In regard to training, we re really only getting started. The training that we are getting in this system of things by Jehovah, and especially related to safety, is absolutely going to be vital in the new world. I can imagine the idea of being able to use some of the things I ve learned to figure out how we can use the natural resources in a way without using them up. We know that we serve a God who is known as the Grand Instructor. So the things that we re teaching and training right now, it can only expand in the future. And as long as you let him train you, you re going to be all right. Good training gives us confidence to do our best for Jehovah. That s true at Bethel but also true in the field. 3. Pontien Mukanga, Congo Have you, though, ever felt alone in your assignment, even if for just a few hours in the ministry? Brother Pontien Mukanga may have felt that way early in his assignment. He was the first circuit overseer for all of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. Page 5 / 39

8 He traveled great distances to visit the few brothers throughout the territory. Listen to what encouraged him the most to keep going. In 1960, I was made a circuit overseer for the whole of Congo. I was so happy to receive this privilege. But I was shocked and scared. The assignment was huge. Congo is a vast country. I was afraid to go to places I didn t know. I felt overwhelmed, so I turned to Jehovah. Sometimes I had to go through savannahs and across the jungle. There were wild animals. One day, I climbed up a tree to find a place to sleep. I tied myself to a branch with my belt. I was afraid I would be taken by a boa snake. I was afraid of getting lost in the forest. Visiting the brothers was very difficult. Sometimes the journey took many days. Page 6 / 39

9 I remember one day, I left my house to visit the brothers to encourage them. I left at 5:30 in the morning, and I arrived at 7:30 that night. I had to push my bicycle through sand for up to 13 miles (21 km) or even more. Other times, we travelled by truck. That was not easy. You had to climb on top of the truck. I had to hold on tight so as not to fall. Congregations, isolated groups were far away from one another. There were no phones at that time either. Even though they did not know I was coming, they made me feel so welcome. The brothers were really very hospitable. When I arrived, I was exhausted but so happy to see the brothers. 3.1 Kitawala religion The Kitawala was a religion. They sent many letters to the Belgium branch asking to be recognized as Jehovah s Witnesses. These people used our publications and used the name Watch Tower. Page 7 / 39

10 It created a lot of confusion. To clarify the matter, the organization prepared a booklet. My mission was to check whether there were any genuine Jehovah s Witnesses in Kisangani. We found out that these people were not Jehovah s Witnesses. In all the confusion, people even tried to kill me during the trip. Fortunately, I managed to escape. Since it was Jehovah who assigned me this privilege, I was confident that he would always help me. And today, I am very happy to have at my side my children, my grandchildren, and my great-grandchildren all Jehovah s Witnesses. Jehovah has given me many blessings. I am truly grateful. What a joy to be used by Almighty God. Through all these years, I have never lacked anything. Jehovah has given me the strength to serve him up until now to the age of 86. In everything and for everything, my trust really is in Jehovah. There were 46 publishers in the whole of Congo. Today, I hear there are more than 223,000 Jehovah s Witnesses in the Congo. Page 8 / 39

11 Today, when I see the increase of Jehovah s people, to me it is like a miracle. I thank Jehovah for allowing me to see the little one become a thousand here in the Congo. Brother Mukanga continues to serve as an elder at nearly 88 years old. Can you imagine yourself experiencing both the joys and difficulties he had as a circuit overseer? He courageously visited the Kitawala religious groups who claimed to serve Jehovah, only to find some were violent and practiced immorality. But it was his reliance on Jehovah and watching Him turn the small group of brothers into more than 200,000 that has kept him going. 4. The Privilege and Blessing of Being God s Fellow Worker Harold Corkern Helper to the Publishing Committee He personally experienced our theme for this program: The Privilege and Blessing of Being God s Fellow Worker. As Jehovah s people, we enjoy many undeserved and precious privileges. Among them, we bear Jehovah s name and render him sacred service. As we carry out his will, he dignifies us in a very special way. Page 9 / 39

12 At 1 Corinthians 3:9, the apostle Paul under inspiration stated that we are God s fellow workers. What an honor to be a fellow worker with the Universal Sovereign, our loving heavenly Father! 5. Jonathan A son of King Saul To build appreciation for the privilege of working with Jehovah, we re going to review events in the life of Jonathan, a son of King Saul. First Samuel 14:45 describes Jonathan when it says: For it was with God that he acted this day. What was the background that led to this statement? How did Jonathan act, or work, with Jehovah on that day? What lessons can we learn from their working relationship? And what blessings result from being a fellow worker with God? Let us begin with some background. First Samuel 12:20 records the encouraging words spoken by the prophet Samuel to the nation of Israel: Do not be afraid.... Only do not turn away from following Jehovah, and serve Jehovah with all your heart. Verse 22 adds: For the sake of his great name, Jehovah will not abandon his people. As long as they remained faithful, Jehovah would always be there to guide, protect, and rescue them. Page 10 / 39

13 These words no doubt strengthened Jonathan to carry out Jehovah s directive to subdue the enemy nations and take possession of the Promised Land. At 1 Samuel chapter 13, we read that Jonathan was assigned 1,000 men to attack a Philistine garrison at Geba. Although poorly equipped, Jonathan and his men succeeded. This victory strengthened Jonathan s confidence in Jehovah and provides a valuable lesson for us: While we gain strength and courage from Jehovah s reassuring words of the Scriptures, our confidence in Jehovah s support becomes even stronger when we successfully carry out our assignments that may seem overwhelming. The account then relates how the Philistines were infuriated over their defeat and mounted a massive counterattack. They sent out raiding parties from their camp at Michmash near Jerusalem. Many Israelite men hid out of fear, and some even fled to the other side of the Jordan River. In contrast, Jonathan remained courageous. Determined to put a stop to the raids, he confronted the Philistine outpost at the ravine pass of Michmash. The approach was by way of a deep gorge with nearly vertical cliffs. This would have seemed next to impossible to someone unfamiliar with the area, but Jonathan grew up in this territory and apparently knew it well. Page 11 / 39

14 His knowledge of the surroundings provides another practical lesson: Whatever theocratic assignment we may be given, putting forth time and effort to get to know the terrain, so to speak, will contribute to our effectiveness. When we show interest in our assigned work, we become even more effective fellow workers of Jehovah. Let s read as Jonathan prepares to take action against the Philistines. First Samuel 14:6 states: So Jonathan said to his armorbearer: Come and let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps Jehovah will act in our behalf, for nothing can hinder Jehovah from saving by many or by few. What contributed to his confidence in Jehovah? Recall that he put faith in Jehovah s reassuring words through the prophet Samuel: Do not be afraid.... For the sake of his great name, Jehovah will not abandon his people. He experienced Jehovah s support when he struck down the Philistine garrison at Geba. Jonathan could also think back on Israel s history. He could reflect on how Gideon and his 300 men were victorious over 135,000 Midianites. He could meditate on Samson killing 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Such examples would bolster his confidence that he was working with the Almighty God, Jehovah. Page 12 / 39

15 We too can meditate on fellow workers of God recorded in the Scriptures as well as published life stories of modern-day faithful servants. Such examples reinforce our faith in Jehovah as we rely on him for success. Another lesson comes from the response of Jonathan s armorbearer at 1 Samuel 14:7: At this his armor-bearer said to him: Do whatever your heart impels you to do. Turn wherever you wish, and I will follow you wherever your heart impels you. It is unlikely that the attendant would have initiated this challenging mission on his own. Jonathan s confident lead was a positive, motivating influence on the man. What happens today when elders and overseers take the lead and display zeal in Jehovah s work like Jonathan? Others in the congregation are also motivated to action by their fine example. Let us now read verses 8-10: Then Jonathan said: We will cross over to those men and reveal our presence to them. If they say to us, Stand still until we come to you! we will stand where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, Come up against us! we will go up, because Jehovah will give them into our hand. This will be our sign. Jonathan once again demonstrated humble reliance on Jehovah. Later in Second Samuel, Jonathan is described as swifter than the eagles and mightier than the lions. Page 13 / 39

16 However, these qualities and abilities did not cause him to be self-reliant or overconfident. He sought Jehovah s direction by means of a sign. What a powerful reminder for us! 5.1 Key to success Regardless of any natural abilities, acquired skills, or experience we may have, the key to success is seeking Jehovah s guidance and support. We seek his direction through specific prayers, Bible reading and meditation, and applying direction from the faithful and discreet slave. We also consult with longtime faithful brothers and sisters who can share their rich experience as God s fellow workers. 6. Joey Orrom Britain branch One such example was Sister Joey Orrom, who served in the Britain branch. She shared her experiences in an archived interview some time before finishing her earthly course in Listen also to the comments of her fellow workers in Britain who benefited from their time together. I had the privilege for two years of sitting at the same table as Sister Orrom for morning worship. She expected nothing and appreciated everything that you did for her. Sister Orrom was affectionately known as Joey. Page 14 / 39

17 And if you take the e out of Joey, you re left with the English word joy, and that summed her up. My impression of Joey when I first met her was here is this frail old lady. But then when you started to speak to Joey, you were tapping into a tremendous depth. About the age of 20, round about that time, I had the heavenly calling. That was a big battle. I couldn t understand why Jehovah would use a person like me. And when I was 21, I got into pioneering, in But the police were after me because I wouldn t join the armed forces, and I was tried under a new act. And they kept taking me into a side room and saying, If you will say you are not connected with Jehovah s Witnesses, not connected with the Watch Tower, you ll have a walk away. I said: I am connected with the Watch Tower. I m proud to be connected with the Watch Tower. And they said, Then they are directing you. I said, No, my stand of not doing as you wish is my own personal stand. So this went on. Page 15 / 39

18 In the end, they sent me to prison just for two months and then let me out. I partnered with another sister, and she and I went to Northern Ireland and pioneered there for 18 months. 6.1 Gilead And it was in Northern Ireland that we had our call to Gilead. In 1948, Joey was invited to Gilead, and that was the 11th class. It left an impression on me, which I will never ever, ever forget. You pick up that spirit of good behavior, of love. It s something that leaves its mark, or it should. It has left its mark on me very, very much so. One thing Brother Knorr impressed on us: You ll be three years on your assignment before you really love it. And it was true because it was a hard assignment. After Gilead, she was assigned to be a missionary in Dublin, in the Irish Republic. That was the time when Catholic priests used to organize mobs against the pioneers. She was full of joy, but that didn t mean to say that she d had an easy life. We never went out from door to door without being mobbed and attacked and beaten up and thrown around. Page 16 / 39

19 And you could only do a few houses in a row, and you d have to get away very quickly. But we made a very good name. People got to know we were completely neutral. They chose four of us to work the business property, and I got some studies going in their offices. 6.2 Draper shop experience But one place I went into, I walked the length of this draper shop, and I asked if I could go into the manager s office. As I went in, I didn t say a word. I didn t open my mouth and even say good morning, but this man stood up, and he said, Russellite! And he took hold of me by the scruff of my neck and the seat of my pants, and he lifted me up and he carried me the length of the store. Well, like a silly one, I should ve gone heavy on him, you see. But instead of that, I let my legs paddle and I was hanging onto my book bag, not wanting to lose it. And when he got to the front door, the staff, their eyes were absolutely aghast at what was happening. He opened his front door and threw me out, literally. And I went zoom! just managed to go zoom! And one of the brothers was passing, and he caught me caught me steady and said, Whatever is going on? Page 17 / 39

20 And I couldn t stop laughing. To me it was very, very funny. The rest were so cross about it, but I wasn t at all cross. I thought it was quite hilarious. I could see myself being carried through this shop sky-high. Things like that happened. These experiences did not dampen her zeal. She always retained that missionary spirit. I first met Joey when I was commuting to Bethel in the infirmary. She was sitting on that old-fashioned chair with this huge Bible, and she stayed there hours reading the Bible, praying to Jehovah. Often, when you came in, she d be in the middle of Bible reading. And she d be saying something like, Daniel has just been thrown into the lion s den! or Oh, Jehovah is really angry. He s thundering from the heavens! And it made me think, Wow! She must have read the Bible so many times, but every time it was as if it was happening right in front of her. Right up until she became incapacitated, she was conducting Bible studies and helping people to come to know Jehovah. Page 18 / 39

21 She was looking forward to her heavenly reward. And for her that was the culmination of a life of joy in Jehovah s service and that she was just transferring to her next assignment. I m very, very grateful for work. In fact, often in my prayers, I ll pray to Jehovah that I ll have some good work to do today. I m very grateful to have work to do. Similar to what we learned about Jonathan, Sister Orrom demonstrated humble reliance on Jehovah. So sure was her trust in God that she could face even fearful situations with a sense of humor. We may not be able to laugh when enduring persecution, but we can imitate Joey s faith and firm resolve. 7. Jonathan - Continued What else can we learn from Jonathan s account? Picking up at 1 Samuel 14:12, Jonathan and his armor-bearer advance toward the Philistines. From their elevated location, the Philistines shout to them: Come up to us, and we will teach you a lesson! At once Jonathan said to his armor-bearer: Follow me, for Jehovah will give them into the hand of Israel. Jonathan had requested a specific sign, and he got it. Page 19 / 39

22 But it meant advancing up a steep and treacherous incline right into enemy hands. Someone lacking complete trust in Jehovah might have said, Before proceeding, perhaps we should ask for another sign, but not Jonathan. Without hesitation, he told his attendant to follow him because Jehovah would give the enemy into their hand. When we receive Jehovah s direction, we should without hesitation put our hearts into the work, confident of Jehovah s backing. What happened next? First Samuel 14:13, 14 reports: And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer was behind him; and the Philistines began to fall before Jonathan, and his armorbearer was putting them to death behind him. In the first attack that Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, they struck down about 20 men. Even after receiving a clear sign from Jehovah, it took great effort. They had to climb up on their hands and feet, exerting themselves vigorously over rugged terrain. The lesson? Even when we receive clear direction and are ready to obey, carrying out our assignments will not always be easy. We have to exert ourselves vigorously, being willing to work hard with all of our mind, heart, and strength. Page 20 / 39

23 How did the Philistines react to seeing Jehovah s support for his people? First Samuel 14:15 reads: Then terror spread in the field camp and among all the people of the outpost, and even the raiding parties were terrified. The earth began quaking, and a terror from God ensued. The earthquake Jehovah caused melted the Philistines hearts. Soon, the Israelites, even those who had previously fled in fear, joined the victory battle over the Philistines. Likewise, when we put our hearts into theocratic assignments, Jehovah, our best Fellow Worker, will always come through with whatever we need to accomplish his will. But there is another lesson to be learned from this exciting Bible account. During the height of the battle, King Saul gave an unwise order saying: Cursed is the man who eats any food before the evening and until I have taken vengeance on my enemies! Jonathan, however, was not aware of his father s order and ate some wild honey that he had found. How did Saul react when he discovered that his own son had disobeyed him? First Samuel 14:43, 44 tells us: Then Saul said to Jonathan: Tell me, what have you done? So Jonathan told him: I merely tasted a little honey on the tip of the staff in my hand. Here I am! I am ready to die! At this Saul said: Thus may God do and may he add to it if you do not die, Jonathan. Page 21 / 39

24 Imagine, after all that Jonathan had done in risking his life in behalf of his people and seeing Jehovah grant so much success, he is now being condemned to death by his own father. How his heart must have sank in disbelief, disappointment, and sadness! Would Jehovah now abandon his loyal fellow worker? First Samuel 14:45 reads: But the people said to Saul: Should Jonathan die the one who brought this great victory to Israel? It is unthinkable! As surely as Jehovah is alive, not even a single hair of his head should fall to the ground, for it was with God that he acted this day. With that the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. Jonathan s success provided undeniable evidence that he was truly Jehovah s fellow worker. Jehovah, who had been at Jonathan s side the whole time, saw everything that had happened and would not allow his loyal worker to die at Saul s hands. How comforting to know that when we faithfully carry out our assignments, he will never forget our zealous efforts! If someone as close as a father fails to see and appreciate the work we do in Jehovah s service or even turns against us, Jehovah will never forget our work. He will always be there to guide, support, protect, and bless us. What a faith-building account we ve considered in 1 Samuel chapters 13 and 14! Why not take the time to read these chapters for yourself? Page 22 / 39

25 You ll be moved to imitate Jonathan s excellent example of loyalty, courage, and obedience. We want to be described just as Jonathan was at 1 Samuel 14:45: For it was with God that he acted this day. By continuing as industrious fellow workers with Jehovah, we are assured that through faith and patience we will inherit the promised reward. 8. Assembly Hall Maintenance Let s look at another example of modern-day fellow workers with God. Assembly Hall servants care for the cleaning and maintenance of these places of worship, but they don t do this work alone. In this report from the United States, we ll see how the work is organized, and we ll hear how our brothers and sisters feel about being able to help with the work. The Assembly Hall is an educational center. This is a center of pure worship for all the congregations that come. Taking care of Jehovah s house is part of sacred service. Even going back to the temple, everyone had an assignment. They had someone to open the doors. So, of course, they also had somebody maintaining things. As of December 2016, there are 773 Assembly Halls worldwide. Page 23 / 39

26 There are so many details at an Assembly Hall; you can t do it all yourself. To be overseer of an Assembly Hall We were excited to do it, but it seemed real heavy at the time. It does take, in our particular case, a couple of hundred. There are about 200 or so volunteers each and every week that really are necessary to care for the Assembly Hall the grounds, the accounting, the purchasing, the maintenance, and the cleaning. Each and every one of these chairs the seating all have moving parts and have to be maintained. And with 4,050 seats in here, we can say that every single one of them has been maintained. John 2:17 says: The zeal for your house will consume me. And I think we have an opportunity to show Jehovah that that we have zeal, we have an eagerness, a fire for his house, and for caring for it. So we appreciate all those who want to work at the Assembly Hall. So many of the dear friends, after they just spent a whole day doing some terribly dirty job, they thank you for the privilege. Well, that s zeal for Jehovah s house. Nowhere else does that happen. And if we tried to do it ourselves or if we hired somebody, it wouldn t be as good as the work that the friends do when they come in. Page 24 / 39

27 When the friends come on the weekend, this is an educational facility. So they come here to be educated about Jehovah. And new ones come, and it needs to be dignified and reflect Jehovah s qualities. So the cleaning that goes on and the maintenance that goes on that s what the purpose is. At lunchtime, we do a spiritual program. It could be a talk; it could be a discussion. And we, really, generally try to cover a topic that helps the volunteers see the connection between their work at the Assembly Hall and the Kingdom preaching work. We are preachers. That s number one to spread the good news. And we see the results of that here. We re filling this place up. It s a real privilege. You learn so much from the sacrifices that the friends make in order to serve Jehovah that it makes us feel very small, and we realize what a blessing it is for us to be in that environment all the time. The goal of any work in Jehovah s service is to help as many people as you can to come to know him and to take care of his interests here on the earth. Page 25 / 39

28 And we all have the same goal trying to please him and doing what we can. Our goal, really, as Assembly Hall servants is to take care of the place in such a way take care of the Assembly Hall in such a way that not only saves and makes wise use of dedicated funds and resources but also makes things ready in such a way that on Saturday morning when the brothers and sisters walk in and the attendants and the sound and the stage brothers are getting ready, all they really have to do is come on in and flip the switches lights come on, air conditioning, heat. Everything is functioning. All they have to do is just focus on the program and listen and take in instruction. That s what we re asked to do listen and take in instruction. And we can do that when we re not distracted by anything else. So if everything works well on an assembly day, we know we ve done our job. We can remember these hard-working brothers and sisters in our prayers, and we can do our part to help them. If possible, volunteer to assist with your congregation s cleaning assignment at your next assembly. Or ask about the arrangement for maintaining Assembly Halls in your area. A few are needed to take the lead, but they need our help to get the work done. Page 26 / 39

29 The same is true with the great amount of work in the congregation. In our discussion about Jonathan, we mentioned the zealous example of our elders. 9. Elders as Leaders Geoffrey Jackson Are the elders leaders or do they take the lead? What s the difference? Brother Geoffrey Jackson explains in this Bethel morning worship. While meditating on the text this morning, I was reminded of an experience I had many years ago as a missionary. At the time, I was studying with a young man who was training to be a pastor in his church. This man had got to the point where he started to attend all our meetings while at the same time still attending his church gatherings. The church, obviously, was very disturbed about the fact that he was coming to the meetings of Jehovah s Witnesses, and their headquarters sent in a missionary from overseas to try and rectify the situation. The young man told me what happened. He said the missionary asked him, What is it that impresses you about Jehovah s Witnesses? He said, Well, one of the things is that they do the preaching work. Page 27 / 39

30 The missionary replied, Well, our church can do that too. So the next time they had a service, the missionary conducted the service and with great zeal and enthusiasm demanded that everyone in the church take part in the preaching work. He announced the time that they would have the group to go preaching. The young man told me quite a number of people came along. But there was just one thing missing, you guessed it, the missionary. He felt that it was enough just to encourage everybody else to do it without engaging in it himself. How different was the example of Jesus and of our hardworking elders who do take the lead with regard to the preaching work. 9.1 Leader or taking the Lead Now let s take our Bibles and turn to a very interesting scripture in Hebrews 13:7, 17. Now, I d like to highlight the beauty of the New World Translation in these two verses. You see at the beginning of verse 7: Remember those who are taking the lead among you. And then verse 17: Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you. If you look at other Bibles, whether new or old, most of them say your leaders. Page 28 / 39

31 Now, obviously, the New World Translation Committee had in mind Jesus comments with regard to no one being a leader among us, and although it s a different word in the Greek text, still in English we can t help but be sensitive to that matter. And so this accurate translation of saying taking the lead really summarizes, doesn t it, what the role is of an elder. We re not leaders, but we set the right example. Now, this accurate translation is also portrayed in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Luke chapter 22, and you ll be interested to note that this is part of the revision of the New World Translation text. Luke 22:26, it now portrays accurately the fact that both expressions in Hebrew and this one here are the same word. So, Luke 22:26, it says: You, though, are not to be that way. But let the one who is the greatest among you become as the youngest. And then notice: and the one taking the lead, now this is the same expression as in the Hebrews, as the one ministering. So, obviously, to take the lead means to do the work, to be a minister, to be a servant, to serve others. 9.2 Samoan experience This also reminds me, many years ago, when I worked with the translation team in the Pacific nation of Samoa. At that point, we were trying to select an accurate expression to convey this thought of taking the lead. Page 29 / 39

32 And there were two words eventually that the brothers were trying to select between, or choose between. One was the word ta ita i and the other ta imua. Now, you don t have to remember those words, but as a foreigner, I didn t really understand the subtleties between the difference of the two words. So I asked the brothers, How can you explain to me what these two words mean? So one of the brothers was very eloquent. He said: Well, just imagine a procession, a parade. So a ta ita i is the old man who sits on the side of the road barking out the orders: You should do it this way; you should do it that way. The ta imua, on the other hand, is the one right in the front of the parade taking the lead and everyone s following him. Which word do you think we selected? Doesn t that summarize nicely just exactly what s involved with being an elder? It s not a matter of sitting on the sidelines barking out orders but getting involved, setting the right example, and then others following. And this is in harmony with one Greek lexicon that describes this expression this way, it says, The concept of leading can be expressed by showing how to do something, demonstrating how we ought to do it, and going ahead showing the way. Page 30 / 39

33 Of course, on the other hand, some religions even view the expression elder as a title. You ve probably heard of them introducing themselves, Good morning, I m Elder Jackson. Well, of course, none of us would want to view being an elder as a title in the sense of a position that lords it over others. And with that in mind, another subtlety to the revision is seen in 1 Timothy chapter 3, so please turn there with me, 1 Timothy 3:1. These are well-known words particularly when brothers are considering the qualifications for elders but you may or may not have seen the subtleties of the change here in this revision. It says now: This statement is trustworthy: If a man is reaching out to be an overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. Do you remember before the original New World Translation said: If someone is reaching out for the office of being an overseer? And that reflected and no doubt was influenced by the King James and many of the older translations that translated it that way. But when we look at the rest of the verse, we see that it s not the office, or the position, of being an overseer that someone reaches out for; rather, it s the work. Yes, the hard work that needs to be done by an overseer. An overseer recognizes that he needs to work hard at setting the right example, and then others will follow rather than just telling everyone what they should do. Page 31 / 39

34 So when we look at these subtleties in the New World Translation, it only helps us to appreciate it even more, doesn t it? So with this in mind, what does our text this morning help us to keep in mind? Well, as elders, what do we need to do? Not sit on the sidelines barking out orders but, rather, to take the lead, be in the forefront, do the work, and then others will follow our example, just as we follow the example of Jesus. The Bible gives us a clear understanding of what Jehovah wants us to do in the congregation. Elders take the lead by doing the work, and we follow their good example. 10. Music Video Think - think outside the Box Applying God s Word contributes to our being fellow workers under peaceful conditions. But we could be distracted even when our brothers and sisters are right there with us. What are these distractions? Let s see in this music video. Think think outside the box. Be someone who talks. Don t waste away behind that tiny screen Cause you know that there s much more to life Than friend requests and likes. Page 32 / 39

35 Think of all the things we haven t seen. Well, you You ll never see them if you re focused on the superficial. You need real friends, if you know what I mean. Look at me. Can you see What I see? Around the world, this happy family. Look at me. Do you know What I know? That you belong. Put down the phone, and look at me. Take take the time to see. See what others see. Don t trade that plastic box for all your friends. You can make friends you know are true, Who love Jehovah too, Who ll stand right by your side until the end. But, you You ll never meet them if you re focused on the superficial. You need real friends, if you know what I mean. Look at me. Can you see What I see? Page 33 / 39

36 Around the world, this happy family. Look at me. Do you know What I know? That you belong. Put down the phone, and look at me. Don t let it play you for a fool. What you re getting could be fact or could be fiction. Life in the cloud can be so cruel. Why don t you come back down to earth, converse, and reverse the addiction? Put put down your device Cause if you don t think twice, The best in life will surely pass you by. Look, listen, taste, and touch The things we love so much Have been here all along. All you need to do is Realize what s in your hand is only superficial. You ve got real friends, if you know what I mean. Look at me. Can you see What I see? Around the world, this happy family. Look at me. Page 34 / 39

37 Do you know What I know? That you belong. Put down the phone, and look at me. Can you see What I see? Around the world, this happy family. Look at me. Do you know What I know? That you belong. Put down the phone, and look at me. 11. Dramatization - Miki Time spent with our brothers and sisters is precious. Make the most of it by setting aside anything that could distract from the interchange of encouragement. Sometimes, though, our viewpoint of ones in the congregation hides their true beauty that Jehovah sees. How does the sister in this dramatization learn that lesson and, in turn, become more beautiful herself? My name is Miki. I moved here one year ago. Everyone was so nice and friendly. Well, that s how I felt in the beginning. Page 35 / 39

38 I am not your babysitter! Didn t you see we were talking? Come on! This is not a park! And the elders are always busy. I m not sure if they really want me here. Yoko, a pioneer sister from my former congregation, visited me. She asked me how I was doing. I told her how I felt about my congregation. Then she told me that she had a similar experience. And she shared with me a Watchtower article that helped her. I made this my next personal study project Do we only see in black and white What do you see when you look at others? Do you have the tendency to view what they say or do as either black or white, as if no other colors or shades existed? Having that viewpoint would be like a photographer who ignores the large variety of brilliant hues and shades in an autumn landscape, as if only black and white images existed. Maybe I ve been viewing the congregation as black and white. Page 36 / 39

39 The article then turned my attention to Jesus example. The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak. Why was Jesus able to say such kind words to his disciples? Insight is the ability to put yourself in the other s place. Jesus did that with his disciples. OK, I need to do the same. She always looks after the children at home. She also needs time to be refreshed by association with friends at the Kingdom Hall. She probably didn t mean to be rude. Since we looked like we were having an enjoyable conversation, she may have just wanted to join us. The elders are so busy caring for the needs of the congregation. I know they re doing the best they can. I want to do what I can to make their job easier. Miki, you are such a beautiful Christian. We re so glad to have you in our congregation. The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger, and it is beauty on his part to overlook an offense. Page 37 / 39

40 If you d like to make this lesson a topic for your personal study or family worship, you can review the March 15, 2008, Watchtower article beginning on page 25. The title asks the question: Do You View Others as Jehovah Does? When we share Jehovah s view of others, we re better equipped to be fellow workers with God and with our brothers and sisters. 12. Georgia report Finally, this month s report from fellow workers comes to us from the country of Georgia. Forests, streams, and lush valleys adorn this mountainous region on the border of Europe and Asia. Georgia s capital, Tbilisi, is a bustling city where modern buildings mix with historic architecture. The Georgian people are known for their strong family ties and warm hospitality. Folk music and dances are a rich part of their culture. Visitors are offered to try a variety of delicious local foods, such as this candy made from walnuts and grape juice. Old town Sighnaghi is a unique place to enjoy the beautiful landscape and culture. The congregation here has 50 publishers who keep busy in the preaching work. Despite being a small congregation, they represent almost 3 percent of the town s population. Page 38 / 39

41 Remote towns and villages create opportunities to preach in unassigned territories throughout the year. We thank the congregation in Sighnaghi and the more than 18,000 brothers and sisters in Georgia for this encouraging visit with them. And we send them and all of you our warm Christian love and greetings. From the world headquarters of Jehovah s Witnesses, this is JW Broadcasting. Page 39 / 39