In January 2006, efforts were set in motion to find a suitable site for the gathering of thousands in the key convention city, Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Other convention venues would be tied in through telecommunication.

Freedom of worship in Georgia has been granted progressively over the last several years. Thus, despite widespread opposition in the past, the Witnesses forged ahead, confident that a convention site would be found in the capital city. The Georgian people are by nature very warm and hospitable. However, religious prejudice runs deep among some officials. Would they overcome their feelings and allow the Witnesses to rent a facility?

The brothers on the Convention Committee visited various stadiums and large sports halls. The managers promised the use of their facilities but declined when asked for a specific rental date. The committee was surprised, therefore, when the administration of the Tbilisi Philharmonic agreed to rent their facility to Jehovah’s Witnesses. The concert hall is located in the heart of the city, where many of the most prestigious events are held.

Encouraged that their efforts had finally paid off, the committee began organizing the Tbilisi convention, as well as conventions in towns and cities throughout the country, including Tsnori, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Kaspi, and Gori. Much work was done to connect all these convention sites by telephone tie line for a simultaneous program. Everything was ready to go. Then, suddenly, just one week before the convention was to begin, the management of the Tbilisi Philharmonic concert hall canceled the contract. No explanation was given.

The First “Miracle”

What could the brothers do at this very late date? Their only recourse was to turn to Marneuli, a farming community 25 miles [40 km] outside of Tbilisi. Many conventions have been held there on the property of a family who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. The site was once a large garden. For the past ten years, it has been the only place that the congregations in Tbilisi could use for conventions. However, Marneuli is also the location where Jehovah’s Witnesses have suffered fierce mob attacks.

The Convention Committee had to contend with not only the threat of violence but also the challenge of how to fit 5,000 people into an area that normally holds about 2,500. How could this problem be solved in such a short time? It seemed like a miracle when the owners of two adjacent properties stepped in and offered to rent their garden plots.

Turning the plots into a suitable convention site was quite an undertaking. The weather made things very difficult​—it rained the entire week before the convention. The neighbors’ plots were planted with potatoes, and they had to be harvested. First, volunteers gathered in the pouring rain to dig the potatoes. Then fences were moved and frames erected for coverings to shield the audience from sun and rain. More wooden benches needed to be built, and additional sound equipment was installed. Sawing, nailing, and drilling, the volunteers worked day and night, some forgoing sleep.

“What if the rain continues during the convention?” everyone wondered. “Will the muddy field swallow up the delegates?” Straw was purchased for covering the wet ground. At last, the sun came out! All three days of the convention, the grounds were bathed in beautiful, warm sunshine.

When the delegates arrived, they were greeted by a lovely sight. The peaceful country setting seemed like a glimpse of the new world. Comfortably seated, the delegates were surrounded by fig trees and other fruit trees and by fields of maize and tomatoes. The back of the stage was draped with grape vines. Occasionally during the program, the audience could hear roosters crowing and hens cackling as their eggs were being gathered. There were other noises typical of the countryside, but to those in attendance, these were just an amusing serenade. Rather than being distracted, the audience barely noticed, for they were intent on listening to the excellent Bible-based program.