-
Benefiting from Our Service OverseerKingdom Ministry—1981 | October
-
-
4 How does he care for his responsibilities? First of all, he has very little record keeping to do. Rather, he works with the records that the secretary keeps and this lets him concentrate on helping people. Although he is usually assigned as a book study conductor and spends most of his time with that particular group, he keeps close watch on the overall evangelizing work of the congregation. Whenever he observes a problem involving field activity, in any part of the congregation or in some particular feature of the ministry, he will bring it to the attention of the body of elders with whom he works. He keeps abreast of all organized field service arrangements established within the book study groups and is interested in how well they are supported. He is also a teacher and so his enthusiastic handling of service meeting parts dealing with field service, from time to time, helps to keep all in the congregation readjusted.
5 Once each month he will leave his own group and work with one of the other book study groups for that week. During this time his assistant will care for his group so he can give his full attention to all the needs of the group being visited. He will work with as many in that group as he can during the week. This is a fine time to get his help if we are having any particular problem with service. He is there to help, for he appreciates that all of us are ministers like himself. A special feature of his visit will be at the book study held during that week. It will be shortened to 45 minutes to allow for the service overseer to give an encouraging talk. This Scriptural talk will be designed to help us to improve in our evangelizing work.
6 There will be no formal meeting held between the service overseer and the regular study conductor. However, the service overseer should make inquiry as to the organized service arrangements in effect. He will be interested in knowing how well the arrangements are working and, of course, the conductor will welcome any suggestions he may offer.
7 In large congregations with many book study groups, it will mean that each group may only be visited once or twice a year. Even where there are only a few book study groups, the visits of the service overseer may be months apart. This means we will each want to get the greatest benefit from his visit by giving good support to the field service and the book study that week. By sharing in service with him, by commenting at the study and by giving close attention as he speaks to the group, we will all be showing Jehovah and his Son that we fully appreciate their providing us with overseers to take the lead. Then the purpose of providing such “gifts in men” will be realized as Ephesians 4:15 states: “But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.”
-
-
Hearing God’s Word Brings BenefitsKingdom Ministry—1981 | October
-
-
Hearing God’s Word Brings Benefits
1 What benefits can be gained from listening to a reading of God’s Word? The apostle Paul said that “faith follows the thing heard.” (Rom. 10:17) Thus, hearing the Bible read can result in a stronger faith. Hearers who have such faith often become “doers of the word.” (Jas. 1:22-25) And hearers who become “doers of the word” or who “observe the things” heard from the Bible, are assured of happiness.—Rev. 1:3.
2 With this in mind, we are pleased to report that thousands of persons are now taking advantage of the Bible readings recently made available on cassette recordings by the Watchtower Society. As has already been announced, the entire Christian Greek Scriptures are now available on cassette recordings. Over two million cassettes of Bible readings have already been produced in English alone. Other recordings are in Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Thai and Ukrainian. Additionally, Kingdom Melodies No. 1 has been enthusiastically received. To date more than 300,000 copies have been produced. No record of cassette placements is kept by the congregation or reported to the Society.
3 We have heard from many telling us about using these tapes in an interesting variety of ways. An appreciative blind brother was elated because, as he said, “Now I do not have to wait for visitors to read the Bible for me.” (Cassettes for the blind are produced with Braille labels.) A parent explained that he obtained a cassette player for his youngsters who were anxious to get a stereo. In a short time, listening to the Bible reading became a regular pastime and they even began to memorize their favorite passages! Other parents tell us they have encouraged their children to follow the reading in their own Bibles and this has improved their reading ability, pronunciation and understanding of the text. Many tell us that they play the Bible recordings in their cars where they must spend considerable time each day. Others say these tapes are an effective supplement in teaching interested ones who are studying the Bible. One brother gratefully observed: “I have found that my retention of the Scriptures has greatly increased.”
4 The Kingdom Melodies tapes feature many familiar Kingdom songs, rearranged for personal listening and enjoyment. Many of us are familiar with the words of the songs. “As the melodies are played,” one sister explained, “I hear the words in my mind. What a fine way to keep Jehovah in my thoughts while enjoying music!” Appreciating that the words convey the beautiful Kingdom message, some have been moved to memorize them to heighten their enjoyment of the music and refresh their minds of the reassuring Kingdom hope.
5 Living in a wicked world controlled by Satan the Devil and his demons, we are constantly bombarded with propaganda designed to destroy our faith by filling our minds with wrong ideas and desires. How fine it is that Jehovah has made abundant provisions through his Word and organization to help keep our minds filled with his thoughts! May all of us keep on inclining our ears whenever we have opportunity to listen as God’s Word is read.
-
-
AnnouncementsKingdom Ministry—1981 | October
-
-
Announcements
● Literature offer for October and November: Subscription for either The Watchtower or Awake! or for both. Cost of subscriptions is $3.50 per year for semimonthly magazines, $2.00 for six months semimonthly magazines and $2.00 for monthly magazines per year. (There is no six-month subscription for monthly magazines.) December: Offer the New World Translation with the new book “Let Your Kingdom Come,” if available; otherwise offer Bible with any 192-page book.
● The 1961 or 1970 revisions of the New World Translation are still in stock in some congregations in regular or pocket-size for $2.50 and these supplies should be used in the field first. The 1961 and 1970 Deluxe editions will continue to be placed for $5.00. We recommend these Deluxe editions also be offered in the field if your congregation has some in stock. When your stock of these Bibles is used up, you may order the 1981 edition. This will be placed for $3.00 for the regular edition and $6.00 for the Deluxe edition. The 192-page books are now 75c.
● New Publications Available:
Happiness—How to Find It—French
“Let Your Kingdom Come”—Danish, French, Italian, Norwegian
-