do at the Kingdom Hall according to their age and ability. They can be encouraged to welcome newcomers and to share in Kingdom Hall maintenance, such as cleaning and caring for the grounds.

⁷ Among the youths at our meetings are some whose parents are not Jehovah’s witnesses. Have you considered making a friendly visit on the parents of these young folks? This would encourage the youths, and you might be able to aid the parents to get a better attitude toward the truth.

⁸ You who are parents, of course, have a special responsibility to spend time with your children, showing real interest in their spiritual growth. While helping others, do not neglect your own family. Your children need you to converse with them, to listen to them, to be interested in them, and, not simply to give them orders, but to reason with them. Help them to see how the truth applies in all the ways of life and to take real pleasure in serving Jehovah. Do this, and Jehovah will help you to keep them on the road to life.—Deut. 6:6, 7.

⁹ In making plans for field service, it would be a fine thing for parents and elders to give consideration to the youths, perhaps planning times after school as well as on weekends. As you are able, personally work with them and help them to learn how to improve their effectiveness in presenting the good news. If we encourage them now, they will be both an honor to Jehovah and a source of joy to all of us in the days to come.

Presenting the Good News—Continuing Studies Started with Booklets

¹ We have been using the three new booklets for two months in starting studies, and likely by now you are just about completing one of the booklets with those who have been willing to study. What progress is it reasonable to expect at this point? That will depend to some extent on the student. But in most instances it should be evident whether they really want to get an accurate knowledge of Jehovah’s ways and apply these in their own lives.

² If they show a sincere interest in the truth, should we assume that now they can get the spiritual food they need at the congregation meetings? No; in most cases that would not be realistic. They need further personal help. It would no doubt be very beneficial to study with them the Truth book or perhaps True Peace and Security.

³ The concluding paragraphs in each of the three booklets lend themselves well to continuing the study. First, on completing a booklet you might make a brief review of the things learned, and then ask specific questions to stimulate further interest. Be prepared with your personal copy of the Truth book and an extra copy. Using the table of contents, show the person that the book takes up these subjects as well as others. Instead of asking whether the individual would like to study for six months, you may find it better simply to talk about plans for next week.

⁴ As you study the book, in many cases you will find that it is best to cover the material at a moderate pace, reading each paragraph. But some persons may want to have more of a Bible discussion than a paragraph-by-paragraph study of the book. With them you might simply discuss the study questions and look up and discuss the scriptures. This will impress on their minds the fact that it is the Bible itself that answers the questions. As for the reading of the paragraphs, you might select just a few key ones in each study to read together. In this way, students that are able to progress quickly can be aided to do so.

⁵ If you have not already started a study in one of the new booklets, we encourage you to keep this as a goal. If you need help, do not hesitate to talk to the Bible study overseer, your book study conductor, or others who are sharing in Bible study work. Those who are starting studies report the following to be necessary things to getting a study started: (1) A real desire for a Bible study and prayer to Jehovah to bless your efforts to start one. (2) A good amount of house-to-house work in order to find interested ones. (3) Being alert to opportunities for starting a study. (4) Promptness in returning to follow up interest. (5) Determining what Bible subject is of interest to the individual. And (6) being enthusiastic and positive.

Suggested Presentation

The theme of the first article in each issue of The Watchtower and the scripture prominently featured there.

Theocratic News

◆ Fighting between opposing forces in Beirut, Lebanon, has forced brothers there to confine their meetings and field service to daylight hours. Meetings are held in small groups. One sister was killed by a sniper as she was hanging clothing to dry on the roof. Several brothers were abducted and later released. One was badly beaten. Some in the mountain villages were able to hold their circuit assembly. All rejoice that they can continue to praise Jehovah despite these difficulties.

Question Box

● Is it permissible to live in the territory of one congregation but attend meetings elsewhere?

Generally speaking, it is best to attend the meetings of the congregation holding the territory where you live. In most cases this proves to be in the best spiritual interests of the family, since it ordinarily makes it convenient to attend meetings, share in field service in territory close by and take advantage of help provided by the elders.

It is recognized, however, that individual circumstances vary. Such factors as one’s secular work schedule, having an unbelieving mate or transportation problems may lead someone to conclude that it would be more advantageous spiritually to attend another congregation. Each family head bears responsibility for his own household. After considering all the factors involved, he will have to decide what is best. He may want to discuss matters with the elders to get the benefit of their advice before he makes a decision. Perhaps they know of overlooked advantages that would result to the family in attending the congregation holding the territory where they live, or possible disadvantages that may be encountered in transferring to a neighboring congregation. Often it is easier for the congregation holding the territory to render loving assistance. And the home of the family might be used as a book study location within the congregation holding the territory. But in the final analysis, the elders will want to encourage the family head to decide in a way that will ensure the best spiritual benefits to his family. There is no reason to be critical of his decision when made.

In metropolitan areas, there is often a large number of congregations located in a concentrated area. There may be a number of reasons why the elders may decide that the interests of the work would be advanced by a transfer of publishers. For example, there may be territory adjustments in connection with the formation of a new congregation, or to give additional territory to a congregation covering its assignment frequently, or to strengthen a congregation having few publishers or mature brothers to take the lead. The elders in each congregation can outline what seems to be advisable and request that each family affected consider it. In many instances, there likely will be no problems in making the suggested adjustment. Again, each family head will have to weigh all the factors and decide if such a transfer should be made. The same would be true of elders, ministerial servants or pioneers who are asked if they can transfer elsewhere to assist a congregation needing help. (See “Question Box” in February 1973 Kingdom Ministry.)