Make Your Street Witnessing Productive

¹ Street witnessing is not new. Jeremiah was instructed to proclaim his message “in the streets of Jerusalem.” (Jer. 11:6) Jesus Christ taught in the “broad ways” of the cities and villages he visited. (Luke 13:22, 26) Though house-to-house visitation is the primary method used by Jehovah’s modern-day witnesses to contact people, street witnessing continues to be an effective way to publicize the Kingdom message.

² Whether you engage in street witnessing only occasionally or spend a considerable amount of time in this feature of the ministry, you will want to make each hour of street witnessing as productive as possible. How? What can be done? First, keep in mind that your objective is to make personal contact with people in order to share the good news. With that goal in mind, select locations where many people pass regularly. Some find that shopping areas, places near bus or subway stops, or frequently used parks are good locations. Also, during the morning and evening hours when people are going to or coming from work, street witnessing can be very effective. People can be contacted as they enter or leave areas where it is difficult for us to gain entrance.

HOW TO DO IT

³ If you are physically able to move about freely, it is generally more effective to approach passersby, rather than wait for them to approach you. In doing so, be selective, discerning and considerate. Wisely avoid persons who look as if they may cause problems. Above all, be friendly, warm, complimentary and dignified in your approach. Try to establish eye contact. Endeavor to use pointed, thought-provoking questions to arouse interest in the magazines. When interest is shown, in a discreet way ask for the person’s name and address so a return visit can be made. In some territories it may be best to work with others; still, to get the most done, work separately but close enough to be of assistance to one another.

⁴ Regularly witnessing in one location at scheduled times can improve your effectiveness in street witnessing. Some who do this have found that the people come to know them and become friends with them. In one congregation an elderly sister did this. On occasions when she was not at her regular place due to sickness, people actually wrote the congregation, asking why she was not there.

⁵ Do you find many not-at-homes in your territory? One couple did and decided to do street work nearby. In one hour each of them placed 17 magazines. Several persons they contacted said they lived in the territory the publishers had just worked that morning.

⁶ There is no doubt that street witnessing can and does produce fine results. Our very presence in public places speaks well of the message we carry. One Canadian newspaper commented: “It must take courage to stand and offer these magazines to passersby. Those Jehovah’s Witnesses doing so do not appear to be ashamed or self-conscious and are obviously proud of the publication.”

⁷ You, too, can do street witnessing and you can be productive. Jehovah God will most certainly bless your sincere efforts in using this avenue of service to communicate Kingdom truth to persons in your territory.

Improving Our Teaching Ability​—Reaching the Student’s Heart

¹ Jesus taught in such a way as to reach the heart of those he instructed. In explaining the parable of the sower, he showed that only those who ‘get the sense of the word’ will be moved to act. (Read Matthew 13:18, 23, 51, 52.) So, as we teach we must be mindful of reaching the student’s heart. We want to build appreciation for Jehovah, his Son and the Christian organization. We need to imitate Jesus in our teaching. This involves taking the time needed when conducting Bible studies to help students to reflect on the points being considered.

² The apostle Peter’s teaching reached the hearts of the 3,000 who were then baptized on the day of Pentecost, 33 C.E. He helped them to reason on Scriptural prophecy related to Jesus’ death and resurrection, so that they could appreciate the roles played by Jehovah and Jesus Christ in what had taken place. (Acts 2:1-36) The Bible reports that those who believed were “stabbed to the heart” and “embraced his word heartily.” (Acts 2:37, 41) How can we today teach so as to reach people’s hearts and help them build similar love for the truth?

TAKE TIME TO REACH HEARTS

³ Those with whom we conduct Bible studies must get more than just facts about the Bible and world events. They need to feel something about what they are learning. We must get them to reason on what they learn. (Acts 17:2, 3) They must be helped to understand what Jehovah and Jesus are like, and what they have done for us. They need to see how Jehovah has shown love, patience and mercy in all his dealings with man. They must understand and respect his power and agree with his righteous requirements. They need to see the value of the great sacrifice Jesus made and realize the wisdom of the course he took. In this way they can be drawn into a warm personal relationship with Jehovah and Jesus.

⁴ The Live Forever and United in Worship books are designed to help us reach the hearts of our students and build heart appreciation. Observe how paragraphs 9 and 10 on page 10 of the Live Forever book help the student to reason on the fact that a loving God would not create humans with a desire to live forever and then fail to make it possible for them to fulfill that desire. Throughout chapter 4 of the Live Forever book there are examples of building heart appreciation. Especially note the examples in paragraphs 5, 12 and 13.

⁵ Throughout the book United in Worship we find questions directed at the heart of the student. Excellent examples of this are on pages 32 and 33. These questions cause the student to think and examine his heart motive carefully. They help him reflect on his feelings toward Jehovah, Jesus and the organization. Gradually he becomes more aware of what course he should be taking to please Jehovah and gain his blessings.

PREPARE WELL

⁶ So, as we conduct our Bible studies let us prepare well and then take sufficient time to reason with our students on the material presented. This way we will build into their hearts a warm feeling for Jehovah, Jesus and the organization. If we succeed in reaching our students’ hearts, they will be moved to take a course of action similar to that of the 3,000 who were baptized on the day of Pentecost, 33 C.E. (Acts 2:41-46) They will be helped to withstand Satan’s influence and efforts to mislead them.​—Matt. 7:24-27.

January Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios. 341 131.0 86.8 54.3 5.9

Pios. 28,445 84.6 46.8 32.4 3.5

Aux. Pios. 19,709 59.6 32.8 19.3 1.8

Pubs. 590,274 8.6 6.8 3.7 0.5

TOTAL 638,769

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 1,806