Jehovah’s Witnesses convention to be held in Moncton
The story of Joseph reads like an epic movie.
It has a dysfunctional family, murder plots, strange dreams, rags to riches, seduction, conniving villains, wrongfully convicted, reconciled relationships and much more. Through it all, our imperfect hero is Joseph, who endures trial after trial. Yet as we see the adversity that Joseph experiences, we find that God is patient and Joseph, in the end, is faithful.
But for a story about how God used Joseph to save nations and preserve His chosen people, God isn’t mentioned much.
In fact, in Genesis 37-50, the place where we find Joseph’s story, God is only mentioned in chapter 37 and chapter 47. But don’t be fooled; God is there. He is in the background, steering the story to its intended conclusion.
This is a part of the great value of the story of Joseph for us today. There is a tendency to expect the hand of God to be prominent. We desire fireworks and music and voices from heaven. But, most of the time, God acts in the ordinary, hidden ways. The truth is, He is always at work but it’s often quietly behind the scenes — just like in the story of Joseph. It is only when we look back that we see the hand of God has been there all along.
Joseph’s father was Jacob. Jacob had grown up in a dysfunctional home and was the favourite son of his father, Isaac. Jacob passed on this dysfunction by choosing a favourite son in Joseph. To make matters worse, Joseph flaunted his special status by proudly wearing special clothing, taunting his brothers with his grandiose dreams and being a tattletale.
All of this brought so much friction between Joseph and his brothers that it led to a terrible deed and Joseph’s rollercoaster ride.
When we meet Joseph, we see a spoiled and arrogant little brat. But, at the same time, it is this Joseph — the flawed and careless 17 year-old-young man who proves to be the recipient and the instrument of God’s grace.
What makes Joseph so relatable is not that I have ever been sold by my brothers into slavery. It is not that I have ever rose to become the second most powerful person in the world’s current super-power. It is that just like me, Joseph is deeply flawed. Joseph too struggles with feelings of rejection, realities of being forgotten and wrestles with forgiveness. These are all aspects that help us identify with Joseph.
Yet the hope we find in Joseph’s story is that God used him in a powerful way despite himself. God had an overall purpose in the pain and suffering He endured. And as God used those difficulties to painfully shape and mould Joseph, He developed him into a man at the end of the story who could boldly proclaim to the brothers who had so wronged him, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.…” (Genesis 50:20)
Does God seem absent? Are you feeling rejected and forgotten? Are you struggling to forgive a betrayal? Do you believe that you are too deeply flawed for God to love you, let alone use you? Take heart. If God could work one of the greatest stories of deliverance out of a person like Joseph, He can certainly touch and use you. But have patience.
It took Joseph almost 40 years before he could speak the words quoted above with conviction. By God’s grace and through the redemption of Jesus Christ, you can, too.
Since 2012, the Vertical Church Band has been creating and performing worship music.
With several studio albums to its credit, the five-member band from Chicago has recently shortened its name to Vertical Worship. Its most recent project, “Bright Faith, Bold Future,” may have a shorter name, but it doesn’t lack any quality.
The album, produced by Jonathan Smith (along with executive producers Jason Ingram and Luke MacDonald) was released from Essential Records and Provident Distribution. The 11 tracks of this project are largely prayerful songs of worship, most of which could easily be transferred to congregational singing.
The album begins with “Open the Gates” and transitions into “Yes, I Will,” a song that reminds listeners of God’s faithfulness:
“The same God that never fails/ won’t fail me now…. You’re working all things out/ Yes, I will lift You high…. Yes, I will bless Your name…. Yes, I will sing for joy when my heart is heavy/ For all my days, oh, yes I will.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses from Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will gather at the Moncton Coliseum June 22-24.
With 2,500 delegates expected to attend, the convention will be one of hundreds to be held worldwide in 180 lands throughout the next few months.
The theme of this year’s event, “Be Courageous!” relates to people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances. It will focus on how all can employ Biblebased counsel to face the anxieties and pressures of daily living and maintain a positive view of the future.
The three-day convention program will feature 54 presentations, including a baptism talk from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, followed by an on-site baptism; public Bible discourse from 11:20 to 11:50 a.m. on Sunday entitled “The Resurrection: Hope Imparts Courage —How?”; a feature film from 1:50 to 2:40 p.m. Sunday entitled “The Story of Jonah — A Lesson in Courage and Mercy.”
See the full program schedule on the jw.org website.
For three weeks prior to the convention, the attending congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the three Maritime provinces will invite the public to attend this event as guests. There are no admission fees or collections taken.