Meetings for Field Service

JULY 5-11

Preaching with tactfulness

 1. What is tact?

 2. Why is it needed in our ministry?

 3. How would you deal with: (a) an angry person? (b) a loud radio or TV?

JULY 12-18

Using field service time wisely

 1. Why is it usually profitable to work longer than one hour?

 2. Why make return visits soon?

 3. What factors should be considered regarding coffee breaks?

JULY 19-25

Avoiding arguments

 1. What does 2 Timothy 2:23-25 counsel us to do?

 2. How does 1 Peter 3:15 apply?

JULY 26–AUGUST 1

Informal witnessing

 1. What opportunities may arise today?

 2. How do you start the conversation?

 3. What literature would be helpful?

Congregation Book Study

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Happiness—How to Find It:

July 4: (Allow for convention)

July 11: Pages 5 to 12*

July 18: Pages 12* to 20

July 25: Pages 21 to 29

* To or from subheading.

Topic for Conversation

Is God’s Kingdom Near?

Matt. 6:10—We pray for it.

Luke 21:31, 32—Nearness of Kingdom.

All-Time Peak of 599,950 Publishers in U.S. Attained By Intensified Activity During April

Other Outstanding Peaks Also Reached

Unquestionably, Jehovah’s rich blessings were poured out upon our united efforts during April. The following reports show that all-time peaks were reached in the categories indicated below:

Total Publishers: 599,950. This surpasses the previous peak reached in August 1981 by 11,447.

Total Auxiliary Pioneers: 75,538. Our previous peak was 51,008 reported in April 1979. The report this year represents an increase of 48 percent over the figure three years ago.

Total Hours: 10,616,267. Compared with our previous peak, the April report this year shows 57,478 more hours were devoted to the work.

Total Home Bible Studies: 378,430. Our April report exceeds the March peak by 14,864.

The extra surge of activity that swept through the country in April is powerful evidence that Jehovah’s spirit is operating mightily upon the work of his people. We have every reason to rejoice. How thankful we can be for having exerted ourselves in the ministry! As we go on zealously preaching, may the word of Jehovah keep moving speedily to reach more of those who will listen and join us in praising God.—2 Thess. 3:1.

Making Wise Use of Our Literature

¹ During the year 1982 the literature offer for our door-to-door work will have changed eight times. Why do we make these different literature offers? There are many good things that result from this tried and proven arrangement. As a whole, it makes for wise use of our literature.

WHY WE HAVE CAMPAIGNS

² For one thing, it gives variety to our literature presentations in the field. We meet people of different educational and cultural backgrounds and so, while this month’s literature offer may not appeal to a certain person, it is possible that a future literature offer might. The apostle Paul wrote: “I have become all things to people of all sorts, that I might by all means save some.” Our goal is the same as Paul’s.—1 Cor. 9:19-23.

³ It also makes for interesting and educational variety for the publisher himself. The change is good for us, personally, in a number of ways. For example, we get better acquainted with our own literature, having to review its general contents in order to describe it and, in addition, selecting certain paragraphs in order to give specific examples of its benefits. Also, we try to give all persons in the territory a full opportunity to obtain and read the good news in its various forms that all of us cherish and benefit from so much. We all unite in presenting a vital testimony on a timely subject throughout the country.—Acts 20:21.

⁴ To add to the variety of literature we offer to the public we should keep in mind the 24 new issues of Awake! and the 24 new issues of The Watchtower that we make available during the year. Can anyone accuse us of continually “coming around with the same old thing”? Hardly!

ORDERING AND CARING FOR LITERATURE

⁵ Of course, in order to be able to share fully in these service campaigns and offer the literature specified for each month, it will be necessary for the congregation to have that literature on hand. The Society has heard from congregation publishers, pioneers and traveling overseers who say that they are not always able to get the needed literature for that month from the congregation supply. So, it will be good for the one caring for literature supplies and the service overseer to be aware, some months in advance, of what the coming literature campaigns will consist of, and in this way the needed literature can be ordered well ahead of time. (Compare Proverbs 30:25) What the literature offer is going to be is listed under Announcements in Our Kingdom Ministry usually about three or four months in advance so there is ample time to order.

⁶ Those responsible for placing the order will want to give careful thought to the quantities needed so that enough literature will be available but not so much as to become overstocked. When the publishers keep themselves informed of what the literature offer is for that month and when the congregation, through its elders and other responsible servants, sees that supplies are adequate, then it is possible to make wise use of our literature.

Are You Studying Together as a Family?

¹ Recently a Christian husband who was speaking to an elder said: “I try to conduct a family study regularly but I find it difficult. Sometimes I am guilty of canceling it, or my wife does not feel like studying, or the children have something else to do. Weeks go by without a serious effort being made to get back into the routine of a family study. I know we need the study and any suggestions or help we can get will be appreciated.” Do these comments sound familiar to you? They may since a number of families encounter these and other difficulties when it comes to holding a regular family Bible study.

² Think about these questions: Why is a regular family study so important and what is its objective? Who should take the lead in conducting the study? What publications can be used? How can the study be kept lively and interesting, especially when children are of different age levels? Why are consistency and devotion so important to regularity of the family study? The Bible and Christian experience provide us with the answers to these questions.

PARENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

³ The Scriptures leave no doubt as to who should take the lead in