“Godly Devotion” District Convention
THE apostle Paul wrote: “In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be . . . lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power.”—2 Timothy 3:1-5.
How those words accurately describe the vast majority of those who profess to be Christians! According to one clergyman, “today too many churches have become . . . entertainment centers.” In striking contrast, Christ’s true followers are a people “zealous for fine works.” (Titus 2:14) Jesus’ followers are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”—Matthew 5:13, 14.
Our annual conventions, district, national, and international, are some facets of our worship that make us unique. The very theme for our 1989 district conventions, “Godly Devotion,” points to a quality of our worship that makes us stand out as different.
The Scriptures emphasize the importance of godly devotion. This convention will be a further opportunity to “be training yourself with godly devotion as your aim. For bodily training is beneficial for a little; but godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7, 8) And 1 Timothy 6:6 further states: “To be sure, it is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency.” Jesus Christ is the very epitome of godly devotion.—1 Timothy 3:16.
The Greek word rendered “godly devotion” is eu·seʹbei·a. For Christians it “is the highest kind of devotion to God.” Devotion is “earnestness and zeal in the performance of religious duties.” Godly devotion is a response of the heart that will motivate one to live in a way that pleases God. It means being oriented to God. How careful we must be that while we are in the world, we become no part of it! Godly fear will keep us from doing what is bad, but godly devotion motivates us to do that which is pleasing to God. Encouragingly, at 2 Peter 2:9 we are assured that “Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial.”
To acquire godly devotion requires taking God and his Word seriously. To exercise godly devotion, one needs to know God accurately and then act in harmony with that knowledge. It calls for being conscious of one’s spiritual need. Because of the importance of our genuinely practicing godly devotion, we need all the help we can possibly get. Our district conventions will do much to provide us with that help. By means of talks, demonstrations, and interviews, we will be taught how to exercise godly devotion in all avenues of our lives.
We do want to be genuine Christians and thereby stand out as different from the world. So come to these conventions with a good spiritual appetite. Make it a point to be there for the opening song on Friday morning, and remain through the closing song and prayer on Sunday afternoon. Rivet your attention on the platform as long as the program lasts. Resist the temptation or inclination to visit during the sessions. Come prepared to take notes. By paying close attention to the program, you will more than ever be fully equipped to practice godly devotion in all avenues of life: in the family circle, in the congregation, and toward outsiders.
Convention Locations
JUNE 9-11
AMARILLO, TX, Civic Center Coliseum, 3rd & Buchanan Sts.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL, The Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave.
LUBBOCK, TX, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Sixth St.
MADISON, WI, Dane County Memorial Coliseum, John Nolen Dr.
NEW HAVEN, CT, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 275 S. Orange St.
ST. LOUIS, MO, The Arena, 5700 Oakland Ave.
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jack Murphy Stadium, 9449 Friars Rd.
TUCSON, AZ, Community Center, 260 S. Church St.
JUNE 16-18
BILLINGS, MT, MetraPark Arena, Hwy. #10.
KNOXVILLE, TN, Thompson-Boling Assembly Center, 1600 Stadium Dr.
MADISON, WI, Dane County Memorial Coliseum, John Nolen Dr.
NEW HAVEN, CT, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 275 S. Orange St.
PITTSBURGH, PA, Three Rivers Stadium, 420 Stadium Cir.
PONTIAC, MI (Sign Language also), Silverdome, 1200 Featherstone Rd.
ST. LOUIS, MO, The Arena, 5700 Oakland Ave.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.
SOUTH BEND, IN, N.D.U. Joyce Athletic Center, Juniper Rd.
TUCSON, AZ (Sign Language also), Community Center, 260 S. Church St.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
WICHITA, KS, Kansas Coliseum, I-135 at 85th St. N.
JUNE 23-25
BIRMINGHAM, AL, Civic Center Coliseum, One Civic Center Plaza.
COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum, Assembly & Sweet Sts.
CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum, 600 S.W. 26th St.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Sign Language also), The Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave.
DENVER, CO, McNichols Sports Arena, 1635 Clay St.
GREENSBORO, NC, Coliseum, 1921 W. Lee St.
HOUSTON, TX (Sign Language also), Astrodome, Loop 610 at Kirby Dr.
KANSAS CITY, MO, Kemper Arena, 1800 Genessee St.
LANDOVER, MD, Capital Centre, Beltway Exit 15 E. or 17.
LOS ANGELES, CA, Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave.
MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.
NEW YORK, NY, Yankee Stadium, 157th St. & River Ave.
OGDEN, UT, Dee Events Center, 4600 South 1400 E.
PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center, One LaSalle Sq.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.
SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena, S. Alamo & Market Sts.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.
SOUTH BEND, IN, N.D.U. Joyce Athletic Center, Juniper Rd. WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
JUNE 30–JULY 2
COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum, Assembly & Sweet Sts.
CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum, 600 S.W. 26th St.
CROWNSVILLE, MD (Korean only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, Sunrise Beach Rd.
DENVER, CO (Sign Language also), McNichols Sports Arena, 1635 Clay St.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (French only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 20850 Griffin Rd.
FRESNO, CA, Convention Center, 700 “M” St.
GREENSBORO, NC, Coliseum, 1921 W. Lee St.
LANDOVER, MD (Sign Language also), Capital Centre, Beltway Exit 15 E. or 17.
LITTLE ROCK, AR, Barton Coliseum, Roosevelt Rd. & Dennison St.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Coliseum, Kentucky Fair & Expo Center.
MACON, GA (Sign Language also), Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.
MADISON, WI, Dane County Memorial Coliseum, John Nolen Dr.
OGDEN, UT, Dee Events Center, 4600 South 1400 E.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, Myriad, One Myriad Gardens.
PINE BLUFF, AR, Convention Center Arena, 500 E. 8th Ave.
PITTSBURGH, PA, Three Rivers Stadium, 420 Stadium Cir.
PROVIDENCE, RI (Sign Language also), Civic Center, One LaSalle Sq.
RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena, 4590 S. Virginia St.
ROANOKE, VA, Civic Center, 710 Williamson Rd. N.E.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.
SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena, S. Alamo & Market Sts.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Sign Language also), Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.
SOUTH BEND, IN, N.D.U. Joyce Athletic Center, Juniper Rd.
SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga Co. War Memorial Arena, 515 Montgomery St.
TUCSON, AZ, Community Center, 260 S. Church St.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
JULY 7-9
BILOXI, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum, 3800 W. Beach Blvd.
BISMARCK, ND, Civic Center Arena, 601 E. Sweet Ave.
CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.
CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum, 600 S.W. 26th St.
FORT WORTH, TX, Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St.
FRESNO, CA, Convention Center, 700 “M” St.
HAMPTON, VA, Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Dr.
LAFAYETTE, LA, Cajundome, West Congress.
LANDOVER, MD, Capital Centre, Beltway Exit 15 E. or 17.
LINCOLN, NE (Sign Language also), Devaney Sports Center, 16th St. & Military Rd.
LITTLE ROCK, AR, Barton Coliseum, Roosevelt Rd. & Dennison St.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Japanese only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 4310 Degnan Blvd.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Korean only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 20600 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Sign Language also), Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave.
LOUISVILLE, KY (Sign Language also), Coliseum, Kentucky Fair & Expo Center.
MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.
MOBILE, AL, Municipal Auditorium, 401 Auditorium Dr.
NASHVILLE, TN, Municipal Auditorium, 417 4th Ave.
NEW YORK, NY (Sign Language also), Yankee Stadium, 157th St. & River Ave.
PINE BLUFF, AR, Convention Center Arena, 500 E. 8th Ave.
RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena, 4590 S. Virginia St.
ST. PAUL, MN, Civic Center, 143 W. 4th St.
SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena, S. Alamo & Market Sts.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.
SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center, 1277 Main St.
SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga Co. War Memorial Arena, 515 Montgomery St.
TACOMA, WA (Sign Language also), Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. “D” St.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
JULY 14-16
BILOXI, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum, 3800 W. Beach Blvd.
BROOKLYN, NY (Italian only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 973 Flatbush Ave.
CICERO, IL (Sign Language also), Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.
FORT WORTH, TX (Sign Language also), Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St.
FRESNO, CA, Convention Center, 700 “M” St.
HAMPTON, VA, Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Dr.
HIALEAH, FL (Spanish only), Hialeah Park Race Track, E. 32nd St. at E. 2nd Ave.
JACKSONVILLE, FL, Memorial Coliseum, Gator Bowl Sports Complex.
JERSEY CITY, NJ (French only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 2932 Kennedy Blvd.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Chinese only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 44-17 Greenpoint Ave.
MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.
NASHVILLE, TN, Municipal Auditorium, 417 4th Ave.
NATICK, MA (Portuguese only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 85 Bacon St.
PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center, One LaSalle Sq.
RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena, 4590 S. Virginia St.
ROCHESTER, MN, Mayo Civic Center Arena, 30 2nd Ave. S.E.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.
SPRINGFIELD, IL, Prairie Capital Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza.
SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center, 1277 Main St.
SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga Co. War Memorial Arena, 515 Montgomery St.
TACOMA, WA (Spanish also), Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. “D” St.
JULY 21-23
CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.
EL PASO, TX (Spanish only), Special Events Center, Baltimore at Mesa.
FRESNO, CA (Spanish only), Convention Center, 700 “M” St.
HIALEAH, FL (Spanish only), Hialeah Park Race Track, E. 32nd St. at E. 2nd Ave.
JACKSONVILLE, FL, Memorial Coliseum, Gator Bowl Sports Complex.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Greek only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, 44-17 Greenpoint Ave.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Spanish only), Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave.
NEW YORK, NY (Spanish only), Yankee Stadium, 157th St. & River Ave.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Veterans Stadium, S. Broad & Pattison Ave.
RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena, 4590 S. Virginia St.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.
SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center, 1277 Main St.
JULY 28-30
CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.
EL PASO, TX (Spanish only), Special Events Center, Baltimore at Mesa.
HIALEAH, FL (Spanish only), Hialeah Park Race Track, E. 32nd St. at E. 2nd Ave.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Spanish only), Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.
AUGUST 4-6
CICERO, IL (Spanish only), Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.
Britain
JUNE 16-18
GUERNSEY, C.I., Beau Sejour Leisure Centre, St. Peter Port.
JUNE 23-25
NOTTINGHAM, Nottingham Forest Football Club, City Ground.
SOUTHAMPTON, Southampton Football Club, The Dell, Milton Road.
JUNE 30–JULY 2
LEEDS, Leeds United Football Club, Elland Road.
PLYMOUTH, Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Home Park.
JULY 7-9
EDINBURGH, Rugby Union Ground, Murrayfield.
MANCHESTER, Manchester City Football Club, Maine Road, Moss Side.
STOKE, Stoke City Football Club, Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent.
JULY 14-16
COVENTRY, Coventry City Football Club, King Richard Street.
NORWICH, Norwich City Football Club, Carrow Road.
JULY 21-23
CARDIFF, Welsh National Rugby Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.
CRYSTAL PALACE, National Sports Centre, Norwood.
LONDON (Greek and Spanish also), Rugby Union Ground, Whitton Road, Twickenham.
AUGUST 4-6
LONDON (Italian only), North London Assembly Hall, 174 Bowes Road.
Ireland
JULY 14-16
NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre, Trim Road.
JULY 21-23
NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre, Trim Road.
Canada
JUNE 30–JULY 2
EDMONTON, ALTA. (Sign language also; Ukrainian sessions also), Edmonton Northlands Coliseum, 75th St. & 118th Ave.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. (Sign language also), Kamloops Exhibition Association, 479 Chilcotin St.
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. (Sign language also), Kin Centre, Arenas I & II, Ospika Blvd. & 18th Ave.
VICTORIA, B.C. (Sign language also), Victoria Memorial Arena, 1925 Blanshard St.
WINNIPEG, MAN. (Sign language also; Ukrainian/Polish sessions also), Winnipeg Convention Centre, 375 York Ave.
JULY 7-9
BRAMPTON, ONT. (Spanish only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hwy. 7, 1 mile W. of Mississauga Rd., Norval, Ont.
CASTLEGAR, B.C. (Sign language also), Castlegar & District Community Complex, 2101 6th Ave.
HAMILTON, ONT. (Sign language also; Hungarian sessions), Copps Coliseum, 101 York Blvd.
KITIMAT, B.C., Tamitik Arena, 400 City Centre.
NEWCASTLE, N.B. (Sign language also), Miramichi Civic Center, Radio Rd. & King George Hwy.
NORTH BAY, ONT., Memorial Gardens Sports Arena, 100 Chippewa St. E.
OTTAWA, ONT. (Sign language also; Arabic and Armenian sessions also), Civic Centre Arena, Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St.
SASKATOON, SASK. (Sign language also; Ukrainian sessions also), Saskatchewan Place, 3515 Thatcher Ave.
VANCOUVER, B.C. (Sign language also; Portuguese sessions also), Pacific Coliseum, P.N.E. Grounds, Hastings St. E. & Renfrew St.
VANCOUVER, B.C. (Chinese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 15577 82nd Ave., Surrey, B.C.
JULY 14-16
BRAMPTON, ONT. (Portuguese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hwy. 7, 1 mile W. of Mississauga Rd., Norval, Ont.
HALIFAX, N.S. (Sign language also), Halifax Metro Centre, 1800 Argyle St.
HAMILTON, ONT. (Sign language also; Arabic, Korean, and Ukrainian/Polish sessions also), Copps Coliseum, 101 York Blvd.
MONTREAL, QUE. (French only; sign language also), Olympic Stadium, Pie IX Blvd. & Sherbrooke St.
MONTREAL, QUE. (Italian only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 12700 Métropolitain Blvd. E.
ST. JOHN’S, NFLD. (Sign language also) Memorial Stadium, Lake Ave.
SUMMERLAND, B.C., Summerland Recreation Centre, 8820 Jubilee St.
JULY 21-23
BRAMPTON, ONT. (Greek only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hwy. 7, 1 mile W. of Mississauga Rd., Norval, Ont.
CAMPBELLVILLE, ONT. (Italian only), Mohawk Raceway, Guelph Line, 1/4 mile N. of Hwy. 401.
MONTREAL, QUE. (Spanish only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 12700 Métropolitain Blvd. E.
QUEBEC CITY, QUE. (French only; sign language also), Colisée, Parc de l’Exposition, 2205 av. du Colisée.
JULY 28-30
CALGARY, ALTA. (Sign language also; French and Spanish sessions also), Stampede Corral, Stampede Park, 12th Ave. & 4th St. S.E.
HULL, QUE. (French only), Hull Arena, Allard St.