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OCTOBER 11, 2019

GLOBAL NEWS

2019 Annual Meeting

Summary
On Saturday, October 5, 2019, the Watch Tower
Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held its
annual business meeting at the Assembly Hall of
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Newburgh, New York,
U.S.A. After the business meeting, the Governing
Body presented an upbuilding spiritual program
to an audience of 20,679, including those at tied-
in venues. The following is a summary of each
part. *

“Your Leader Is One, the

Christ”
Brother Gerrit Lösch, who served as the
chairman for the program, delivered the opening
talk based on Matthew 23:10, reminding us that
Jesus Christ is our leader, not any man.

Our Relief Ministry, Used by

Jehovah to Provide Relief
Brother Stephen Lett explained the importance
of being cheerful givers. One area in which we
can show ourselves to be generous is by
supporting our relief ministry. Brother Lett
provided a summary of the damage caused by
natural disasters and our subsequent relief work
during the 2018 and 2019 service years. Over
900,000 brothers and sisters were affected by
such disasters; more than 700 Kingdom Halls and
15,000 homes of our brothers were damaged or
destroyed. Jehovah’s Witnesses spent
$49.5 million on relief efforts.

This part included videos that contained heartfelt

expressions of appreciation from publishers who
benefited from our relief ministry.

‘The Good Hand of Our God Is

Upon Us . . . Let Us Get Up
and Build’ | Video
This video explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses
care for almost 80,000 buildings worldwide. It
also highlighted the strategies we employ to
maintain, renovate, and construct theocratic
facilities.

A Historic Look at Property

Acquisitions | Video
This recording included archived interviews of
three brothers who assisted in the past with
selecting and purchasing properties for the
United States branch and world headquarters:
Brothers Max Larson, George Couch, and Gilbert
Nazaroff. All three of these brothers related how
they saw clear evidence of Jehovah’s hand in the
acquisition of various properties.

A New Construction Project Is

Being Planned | Video
This video announced that Jehovah’s Witnesses
plan to consolidate media production into a new
facility to be constructed in Ramapo, New York.
The property is located approximately two miles
(3 km) from world headquarters in Warwick, New
York. The goal is to begin construction in 2022
and complete it by December 2026. During the
peak of construction, the project will require an
estimated 1,500 volunteers per day.

A rendering of the new Bethel facility to be

constructed in Ramapo, New York. The design
includes studio space, offices, residences, and a
visitor center

A New Application for

Processing Applications |
Video
This video explained that beginning
January 2020, publishers interested in expanding
their ministry will be able to fill out applications
on jw.org and submit them to their body of
elders for review.

A New Way to Access

JW.ORG Audio Files
Select audio content on jw.org may now be
accessed via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

An Attack Coming From the

North
Brother David Splane clarified our understanding
of the prophecy recorded in Joel chapter 2
describing a swarm of locusts. We look forward
to studying this clarified understanding when it
appears in The Watchtower.

Study the
Bible With the
Study Bible
Brother Samuel Herd
highlighted the benefits
of the New World
The New World
Translation of the Holy
Translation of the Holy
Scriptures (Study Edition)
Scriptures (Study
that can be accessed
Edition) from Matthew
online. He then released
through Acts
the New World
Translation of the Holy
Scriptures (Study Edition) from the books of
Matthew through Acts in print form. Publishers
may request a copy through their local
congregation.

We Have Work to Do!

Brother Anthony Morris emphasized that for true
Christians, preaching the good news is our
paramount assignment. Theocratic facilities
support the Governing Body in organizing the
preaching work and in providing spiritual food to
Jehovah’s people. Brother Morris quoted the
stirring words from the November 15, 1976, issue
of The Watchtower: “The arrival of the ‘great
tribulation’ should find the preaching work at the
height of its forward movement, at the very peak
of its momentum throughout the earth. The
arrival of the Lord Jesus to execute judgment will
come as a complete surprise—even to Jehovah’s
people, for it will no doubt find them at their
busiest time of activity!”

What Do We Have to Fear?

Brother Mark Sanderson explained that, as Jesus
prophesied, God’s people expect to be hated by
“all the nations.” (Matthew 24:9) However,
Brother Sanderson encouraged us to fear, not
humans, but Jehovah.—Psalm 111:10.

A touching video was presented of persecuted

brothers and sisters in Russia expressing how
they overcame their fear of persecution. This talk
and video encouraged all of Jehovah’s people to
develop that same spirit.

Are You Completely Sober?

Brother Geoffrey Jackson made practical
application of texts in the Christian Greek
Scriptures that use a term that literally means
“sober.” He also stressed the importance of
continuing to ‘keep our senses completely’
(literally “being sober perfectly”) during these last
days.—1 Peter 1:13.

Will You Care for It?

Brother Kenneth Cook announced the yeartext
for 2020, Matthew 28:19: “Go, therefore, and
make disciples . . . , baptizing them.” He
emphasized the need to help those who have the
right heart condition to dedicate their lives to
Jehovah and be baptized.

Spiritual programs like the annual meeting

motivate us to continue exerting ourselves in our
service to Jehovah.

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