“Last Days,” you will find scriptures that could be used in a house-to-house presentation or a Scriptural discussion on a return visit.

MEMORY AIDS

⁶ If you cannot remember where a certain scripture is located when having a Bible discussion, you can turn to “Bible Words Indexed” in the back of your Bible and get the needed help. Do you use this valuable feature?

⁷ The foreword on page 5 gives convincing evidence to show that the New World Translation is a scholarly work. The appendix provides a clear explanation of why the use of the divine name is appropriate. It also proves Scripturally what “Gehenna,” “Hades,” “Sheol,” and “soul” mean. Additionally, by referring to the “Table of the Books of the Bible” on pages 1546-7, we can find out who wrote each book, where it was written, when it was written, and the time covered.

⁸ Truly, Jehovah has provided what we need to be “completely equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:17) By using the New World Translation along with the Bible publications we will be offering, we can effectively do the work assigned. (Luke 6:47, 48) As we prove to be skilled workmen, using God’s Word aright, we can confidently expect the Master to say: “Well done”!​—Matt. 25:21.

Showing Trust in Jehovah by Pioneering

¹ Putting Kingdom interests first requires trust in Jehovah. (Ps. 56:11; Prov. 3:5; Matt. 6:33) We have to turn our mind away from what the world considers important and concentrate on spiritual values. While the world appeals to the desire for material things, Jehovah entreats us to be content with the really important things.​—1 Tim. 6:8; Phil. 1:10.

² This is especially a challenge to Christian youths who want to take Jehovah’s commands seriously. They may be pressured by their teachers and their peers at school who consider higher education essential to success in life. While recognizing they have material needs, many Christian youths wisely resist such pressure and choose the pioneer ministry as their career. Trusting in Jehovah’s promises, they look to him to care for their needs.​—Ps. 62:2; 68:19; 1 Tim. 5:8; 6:9, 10.

REVIEW PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

³ The Watchtower of November 15, 1982, encouraged each one of us to ask: “Can I really justify before Jehovah the fact that I am not a pioneer?” Obviously, many were not then in a position to pioneer. But they did not become discouraged, knowing that wholehearted service in any amount is always acceptable to Jehovah. (Mic. 6:8; 2 Cor. 8:12) Later, as personal circumstances changed, prayerful reconsideration of that 1982 Watchtower article has enabled some to be among the thousands of individuals who have more recently taken up the regular pioneer service.

⁴ If personal circumstances prevented you from entering the pioneer service when the above statement was printed in 1982, have your circumstances changed? In the United States, over 17,000 pioneer applications were processed last year! No doubt many of these applicants wanted to become pioneers earlier but had to wait for a change in circumstances.

⁵ In some cases, the necessary change may have to do with one’s mental attitude about pioneer service. Or it may simply involve making a good schedule for service. At times a change in personal responsibilities and obligations is needed for opening the way to pioneer service. Therefore, it is good to make this a regular matter of prayer to Jehovah along with an honest evaluation of ourselves and our circumstances. Thousands have done so and are now enjoying the blessings of pioneer service.

⁶ If a frank appraisal of your circumstances indicates you may be one who could begin pioneering in the not-too-distant future, why not start auxiliary pioneer service on a continuing basis now? Within a few months, you will likely develop return visits and Bible studies. This can aid you in making a smooth transition to the regular pioneer service, possibly before the beginning of the new service year.

⁷ Jehovah is accomplishing great things in the last days of the present wicked system. Now is the time for all of us to draw close to him and to bless his name “all day long.” (Ps. 145:2; Jas. 4:8) If your circumstances allow you to do so and you qualify, let pioneer service be another evidence of your trust in Jehovah.​—Ps. 94:18.

Announcements

● Literature offer for February: Any 192-page book published prior to 1980 that the congregation has in stock for the reduced contribution of 50¢, with the following exceptions: Family Life, Great Teacher, This Life, Truth, and Youth. There is a limited supply of Commentary on James that may be ordered from Brooklyn. (For obtaining credit, elders should refer to the guidelines in the Society’s letter of December 21, 1988.) If the congregation has no stock of books to be offered at the reduced rate, the Worldwide Security book should be offered for a contribution of $1.00. This book may be ordered from Brooklyn. March: The Bible​—God’s Word or Man’s? for a contribution of $1.00. April and May: Watchtower subscription. Where a subscription is not obtained, two magazines and a copy of any brochure, except the School brochure, may be offered for the contribution of 80¢.

● The secretary and service overseer should review the activity of all regular pioneers. If any are having difficulty meeting the requirement of hours, elders should arrange for assistance to be given. For suggestions, review Society’s letters (S-201) of October 1, 1988, and October 1, 1989. Also, see paragraphs 12-20 of the August 1986 Our Kingdom Ministry insert.

● On April 28 the Brooklyn Bethel Home and factory and Watchtower Farms buildings will be closed for spring cleaning, so there will be no arrangements for tours or for congregations to pick up literature on that day.

● The Memorial celebration will be held Tuesday, April 10, 1990. Although the talk may start earlier, please remember that the passing of the Memorial bread and wine should not begin until after sundown. Check with local sources to determine when sundown occurs in your area. No other meetings are to be conducted on that date. If your congregation normally has meetings on Tuesday, you may want to switch those to another time of the week if the hall is available. If your Service Meeting is affected, it may be possible to incorporate into another Service Meeting any parts scheduled for that week that are particularly applicable to your congregation.

● Every baptized publisher who has been issued an identification card (S-65) should turn in the old card to the presiding overseer in exchange for an updated and revised card, if this has not been done already. A supply of the new cards was included with the annual shipment of forms. Please refer to the February 1989 Our Kingdom Ministry for details.

● Starting with the January 1, 1990, issue, the Ukrainian Watchtower became a semimonthly edition. Beginning with the January 1990 issue, the Ukrainian Awake! became a quarterly publication.

● The Arabic Awake! magazine became a semimonthly publication as of the January 8, 1990, issue.

● New Publications Available:

Questions Young People Ask​—Answers That Work—​Chinese, Korean

Should You Believe in the Trinity?​—Indonesian

● New Cassette Recordings Available:

Exodus (set of three; congregation and public: $4.50; pioneers: $3.75)​—Spanish

Leviticus (set of two; congregation and public: $3.00; pioneers: $2.50)​—Spanish