We sincerely hope that your visit to Bethel has been a rewarding one. No doubt it has helped you to become better acquainted with the work that Jehovah s Witnesses are doing to aid people in their search for a better future through God s Kingdom. May your visit with us be an encouragement to you in your efforts to learn more about our loving Creator and to live by his righteous standards. s 2014 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania Printed in U.S.A. VISITING HOURS: Visitors are welcome to take a guided tour of our facilities Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. fo-e Ht Welcome to the HAITI Branch Office of Jehovah s Witnesses
INTRODUCTION It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Haiti branch office of Jehovah s Witnesses. We hope your visit will be a pleasant one. Our complex of buildings is called Bethel, meaning House of God. This Biblical name is fitting because the men and women who live and serve here are ordained ministers who have dedicated themselves to Jehovah God. They devote themselves full-time to supporting the work of Kingdom preaching. In over 230 lands, some eight million Witnesses of Jehovah are carrying out the commission that Jesus gave his followers to preach the good news of God s Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) To organize this work worldwide, there are about 90 branch offices all serving under the direction of the Governing Body of Jehovah s Witnesses. This branch supports the ministry of the more than 20,000 Witnesses of Jehovah in Haiti. In November 1984, the construction of the present branch facilities began on 11 acres of land located in Santo, a suburb of Haiti s capital city, Port-au-Prince. An Assembly Hall was built at the same time. These facilities were dedicated to Jehovah on January 25, 1987. At that time, a much smaller Bethel family supported the ministry of about 4,500 publishers. By 1995, the number of publishers in Haiti had increased to over 10,000 and the branch facilities needed to be expanded. The Bethel complex was doubled in size, and a new warehouse was added. This three-year project was completed in March 2002. As a result of further growth, an additional ten rooms were added in late 2009.
SERVICE DEPARTMENT This department handles correspondence from circuit overseers, elders, pioneers, and others regarding congregation and field service activities. It also receives and tabulates field service reports. The Service Department schedules assemblies and various schools. For example, literacy classes have helped hundreds of people in Haiti to read and write. HOSPITAL INFORMATION DESK This desk provides Hospital Liaison Committees with the latest information on nonblood medical procedures. In turn, the congregation elders serving on these committees make this information available to legal professionals and to doctors who are willing to treat their Witness patients without the use of blood.
TRANSLATION Worldwide, our organization publishes Bible study aids in over 700 languages. Over 3,000 of Jehovah s Witnesses serve as translators. This enormous translation effort is directed from our world headquarters in New York, U.S.A. The Haiti branch office cares for the translation of our publications into Haitian Creole. There are congregations and groups of Jehovah s Witnesses using this language in Haiti, several islands of the Caribbean, North and South America, and France. The Haiti branch office also prepares recordings of convention dramas and videos in Haitian Creole. You can find many of them online at www.jw.org.
LOCAL DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT SHIPPING This department supports the building and maintenance of Kingdom Halls throughout Haiti. It ensures that government building codes and safety requirements are met and that high quality work is done. Construction servants are appointed by the Personnel Committee of the Governing Body, and they are trained and organized into teams so that congregations can be given the best assistance possible. Sometimes, construction servants also help with missionary home construction and with relief work. Literature requests from some 250 congregations are received and sent to the United States for processing. A few weeks later, the requested magazines, books, and other items are received in Haiti and distributed throughout the country to drop-off locations where congregations can pick up their literature.
MAINTENANCE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT Much effort is involved in maintaining the properties and equipment used by the branch. Various shops care for the installation and repair of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. In addition, the Computer Department provides technical support for the computer systems used at Bethel.
SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS Each workday morning, the Bethel family comes together for morning worship. After a prayer, a chairman presides over a 15-minute discussion of a Bible text from the booklet Examining the Scriptures Daily. Members of the family are assigned to comment on the text. Following the discussion, breakfast is served. On Monday evenings, the entire Bethel family gathers to study the Bible with the help of The Watchtower. At times, there are additional special programs after the Watchtower Study. These Bible discussions each workday morning and on Monday evenings are an important part of Bethel life. New arrivals attend the Bethel Entrants School and are expected to read the entire Bible during their first year. Each member of the family also makes time for personal Bible study. CONGREGATION ACTIVITY Bethel family members attend various nearby congregations, where many of them serve as elders and ministerial servants. They also have a personal share in the Kingdom-preaching work.
BETHEL HOME Those who live at Bethel can truly be called a family because of their unity in serving their heavenly Father, Jehovah God. As a family, they work together, enjoy their meals together, and study the Bible together. Bethel provides for the basic needs of the family. For example, some members of the Bethel family are assigned to work in the kitchen, where they prepare nutritious meals for the entire family to enjoy in the dining room. Thus, the family benefits from a well-balanced diet in a wholesome environment. Other members do cleaning, housekeeping, and laundry. These assignments contribute to the family s high standard of cleanliness. Cleanliness is a hallmark of Bethel homes throughout the world.