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AnnouncementsKingdom Ministry—1993 | December
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Announcements
◼ Literature offer for December: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. January: Any 192-page book printed on paper that yellows or discolors or any published prior to 1980. Congregations that do not have a supply of such books may offer Mankind’s Search for God. February: You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. March: Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! NOTE: Congregations that will need the above-mentioned campaign items should request them on their next monthly Literature Request Form (S(d)-14). Older publications referred to above are not available in Brooklyn, but congregations should use any they may already have in stock.
◼ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on December 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. Make announcement to the congregation when this has been done.
◼ The Memorial for 1995 will be Friday, April 14, after sundown. This advance notice of the date for the 1995 Memorial celebration is given so that brothers may make necessary reservations or contracts for available halls when there are too many congregations using the Kingdom Hall and they must find other facilities.
◼ Congregations should begin requesting bound volumes of The Watchtower and Awake! for 1993 on their December literature request. (See the Watchtower Publications List, paragraphs 6-8, 10.) The bound volumes will be available in Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Until the bound volumes are available and shipments are made, these will appear as “Pending” on congregation packing lists. Bound volumes are special-request items. (See the Watchtower Publications List, paragraphs 24 and 25.)
◼ New Publications Available:
Amharic: Making Your Family Life Happy. Arabic: What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It? Greek: New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures (bi7). Hungarian: What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It? Macedonian: United in Worship of the Only True God. Polish: Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! Romanian: Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work; What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It? Slovenian: What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It? Ukrainian: What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?
◼ New Audiocassettes Available:
Spanish: Jehovah’s Judgment Against Law-Defying People (Drama; single audiocassette).
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Theocratic NewsKingdom Ministry—1993 | December
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Theocratic News
Bahamas: The 1,294 publishers were happy to have 3,149 in attendance at their “Divine Teaching” Conventions and to see 38 baptized.
Brazil: In July the fourth publisher peak for the 1993 service year was reached with 348,634 reporting.
Gabon: With 1,332 publishers reporting in July, they reached their fifth peak for the 1993 service year. These zealous publishers averaged 17.8 hours, made 22,658 return visits, and conducted 4,280 home Bible studies.
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Congregation Book StudyKingdom Ministry—1993 | December
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Congregation Book Study
Schedule for congregation studies in the book Making Your Family Life Happy.
December 6: Pages 37*-47*
December 13: Pages 47*-53
December 20: Pages 54-62*
December 27: Pages 62*-69
* To or from subheading.
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Sow Bountifully but With DiscernmentKingdom Ministry—1993 | December
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Sow Bountifully but With Discernment
1 Every farmer knows that if he sows his seed bountifully, he will likely reap a bountiful harvest, but if he sows sparingly, he will assuredly reap sparingly. (2 Cor. 9:6) Farmers are careful not to waste seed by sowing where no growth is possible. Similar discernment is needed when we offer our literature in the field. Our desire is to leave literature with those who are interested in reading it. We want to give deserving ones the opportunity to learn of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness and the Kingdom hope.
2 Do you find that magazines, brochures, and other publications are accumulating on a shelf at home when they could be used to bring deserving ones in your territory to a knowledge of the truth? (Compare Matthew 25:25.) Do you sometimes hold back from offering magazines or other literature on the first call simply because you find it awkward to mention how the Kingdom preaching work is supported? Experienced publishers have found that appreciative householders respond to a simple, direct statement when they are told how donations to the Kingdom work are handled.
3 You might say:
◼ “You may be wondering how we can offer literature without charge. It is a part of a worldwide educational work supported by voluntary contributions. If you would like to make a small donation toward the work, I would be very glad to accept it.”
4 Many householders will ask how much the literature costs.
You could reply:
◼ “There is no charge for the literature because our work is supported by voluntary donations. If you would like to make a small donation today, we would be happy to see that it is used in the worldwide preaching work.”
Or you could say:
◼ “We make our literature available to all who are interested in learning more about the Bible. If you would like to make a small donation toward this worldwide work, I would be pleased to forward it for you.”
5 In magazine work some publishers show the inside page of a magazine and say:
◼ “As you see here, our work is supported by voluntary donations. If you would like to make a small donation to help with this work, I am in a position to handle it.”
Here is another simple expression:
◼ “Although our literature is offered without charge, we do accept modest donations for our worldwide work.”
6 We should never hold back from sowing Kingdom seed because we are reluctant to mention how the work is financed. At the same time, discernment is needed so that our literature is not wasted on ‘rocky soil.’ (Mark 4:5, 6, 16, 17) Those who appreciate the good news we bring are glad to have the opportunity to contribute to its material support.—Compare Matthew 10:42.
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