How Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Trained for Their Personal Ministry?

Jehovah’s Witnesses receive ongoing training in all facets of Christian living, which includes their personal public ministry. This ministry is the work that Jesus commanded his followers to do—the preaching and teaching of the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) We receive that training at our weekly meetings and our annual conventions and assemblies. Jehovah’s Witnesses who have responsibilities in the congregation or in the organization receive further training at special Bible schools.

In this article

• What training do Jehovah’s Witnesses receive?

• Bible schools for Jehovah’s Witnesses

• What is the training given to the Witnesses based on?

• Do Jehovah’s Witnesses have to pay for their training?

• How have Jehovah’s Witnesses benefited from their training?

Congregation meetings. Every week, we attend two meetings at our places of worship called Kingdom Halls. One meeting is normally held midweek; the other is on the weekend. They are open to the public and no collections are taken.

• Midweek meeting. We receive instruction in reading, the art of conversation, public speaking, and preaching and teaching. The training is provided through talks, discussions, demonstrations, and video presentations. This training helps us be more effective as we share the Bible’s message with others and conduct personal Bible studies with interested ones. All who attend the meetings benefit from this training. Above all, our meetings strengthen our faith in God and our love for him and for our fellow believers.

• Weekend meeting. This two-part meeting begins with a Bible discourse that is especially designed for the general public. The second part of the meeting is a question and answer discussion of an article published in the study edition of The Watchtower.a The articles discuss and explain Bible topics and principles that help us both in our ministry and in our personal life.

Assemblies and conventions. Every year we have three large gatherings, each of which is attended by many congregations. These joyful events focus on a specific Bible-based theme and include discourses, skits, interviews, and videos. As with our congregation meetings, assemblies and conventions further our knowledge of the Bible and help us to be better ministers of the good news. Once again, the public is welcome to attend, and no collections are taken.

For more advanced training, some of Jehovah’s Witnesses are invited to attend various Bible schools. What are these schools? What is their purpose and duration? And who may enroll?

Pioneer Service School

• Purpose: To train full-time ministers, called pioneers,b to become more effective in the preaching and teaching work. The course includes classroom discussions, skits, talks, and workshops.

• Duration: Six days.

• Enrollment: Those who have completed their first year as pioneers are invited to attend. Longtime pioneers who have not attended in the past five years may be invited to attend again.

School for Kingdom Evangelizers

• Purpose: To give specialized training to experienced full-time ministers. Students further develop their preaching and teaching skills, and they study Bible topics in depth. Many graduates are invited to areas where more evangelizers are needed.

• Duration: Two months.

• Enrollment: Pioneers can apply to attend if they meet certain requirements and have the circumstances to serve wherever there is a need.

School for Congregation Elders

• Purpose: To help eldersc care for their responsibilities in the congregation, such as teaching and shepherding, and to deepen their love for God and for their fellow believers.—1 Peter 5:2, 3.

• Duration: Five days.

• Enrollment: Newly appointed elders as well as experienced elders who have not attended the school in the past five years are invited to attend.

School for Circuit Overseers and Their Wives

• Purpose: To train traveling ministers, called circuit overseers,d to carry out their responsibilities more effectively. (1 Timothy 5:17) The curriculum also helps these Christian elders and their wives to gain more insight into the Scriptures.

• Duration: One month.

• Enrollment: New circuit overseers and their wives are invited to attend after one year in their assignment. Thereafter, they are invited again about every five years.

Kingdom Ministry School

• Purpose: To help elders and ministerial servantse care for their congregation responsibilities in the light of current situations, trends, and needs. (2 Timothy 3:1) The school is held every few years.

• Duration: Varies, often one day.

• Enrollment: Circuit overseers, elders, and ministerial servants.

Bethel Service School

• Purpose: To help Bethelf members to succeed in their work and to deepen their love for God and for one another.

• Duration: Five and a half days.

• Enrollment: New members at Bethel are required to attend. Longtime members who have not attended the school in the previous five years may be invited to attend again.

Watchtower Bible School of Gilead

• Purpose: To instill in the students a deeper appreciation for God’s written Word and to help them apply what they learn. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The spiritually mature Christian men and women who attend Gilead become even greater assets to Jehovah’s organization and the worldwide Bible educational work. Graduates may be assigned to the field or to a branch office, whether in their home country or in another land.

• Duration: Five months.

• Enrollment: Branch offices invite selected full-time ministers to apply. The school is held in the United States at the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York.

School for Branch Committee Members and Their Wives

• Purpose: To train Branch Committeeg members to oversee the work carried out at a branch office and the spiritual activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country or countries assigned to their branch office.

• Duration: Two months.

• Enrollment: The World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses invites selected Branch Committee members and their wives to attend the school, which is held at the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York.

The Bible is always the primary textbook for the training that Jehovah’s Witnesses receive. We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and that it contains the very best instruction for all aspects of Christian living.—2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

No. The instruction is free. The activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses are supported by voluntary donations.—2 Corinthians 9:7.