DON’T GIVE UP!

Three-Day Bible Conventions set by Witnesses

DON’T GIVE UP! This is the overall theme of the 2017 series of three-day conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses scheduled from May to September where close to 15 million including interested ones from 240 countries are expected to attend. The Bible- based theme is timely because many people today are just giving up hope in the face of so many problems that beset them, such as threat of nuclear war, terrorism, climate change, drug addiction, criminality, to name a few.

During the three- day Bible seminar, Scriptural teachings and principles will be highlighted to show how one can cultivate qualities that promote endurance, at the same time keep faith and focus on the hope of a glorious tomorrow as promised by God.

On Friday, the program revolves on the apostle Paul’s call to Christians at Galatians 6: 9: “Let us not give up in doing what is fine.” This will be further underscored by the chairman of the convention in his keynote address, “We Must Not Give Up- Especially Now,” and will set the tone for succeeding discussions, symposia and video presentations through the three days.

On Saturday, the theme is based on Romans 12: 12, “Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation.” This is a prelude to the day’s main feature, the baptism of close to 300,000 new Witnesses worldwide following the encouraging Bible-based talk, “Do Not Give in to Fear.”

Jesus words at Matthew 24: 13, “The one who has endured to the end will be saved,” have been chosen as fitting theme for Sunday’s final program of the convention. A symposium in the morning on the subject, “We Must Run With Endurance,” will set the proper mood for the climax of the convention, the public discourse entitled, “Never Give Up Hope!” A three-part drama, “Remember the Wife of Lot,” is an exciting feature presented each day of the convention, where the public is free to attend.

Two hundred sixty- eight “DON’T GIVE UP!” conventions in English are scheduled in the United States with the first nine set on May 15 in different locations and the last six on September 8 in various other assembly halls. Hundreds more in different languages will be held to serve ethnic groups residing across the country. Close to two million are expected to attend these three-day regional conventions throughout the U.S.

In the Philippines, 142 of these three- day Bible seminars will be held in various cities and towns, with some 500,000 expected in attendance and close to 5,000 new Witnesses to be baptized. The first of these conventions will be held on June 2 to 4 at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Quezon City. Eleven others will follow weekly at the same venue with the last convention scheduled Aug. 18-20. About 5,000 from Metro Manila and Bulacan are

expected weekly./