Thousands set for Jehovah’s convention

MORE than 32 000 English, isiZulu and sign language delegates from around KwaZulu-Natal will attend a three day regional Jehovah’s Witness convention, starting on Friday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The three groupings will be addressed separately to facilitate understanding.

However, the programme’s format, which will include Bible instruction, interviews, dramas and motivational talks, would be the same throughout for each group.

The theme at this year’s convention is Don’t Give Up.

The overseer for media services, Logan Moonsamy, said: “It takes a lot of hard work, planning and co-ordination to host the convention, which is aimed at giving hope.

“These days there is so much of hardship, strife and challenges that people go through, whether it is economic or family pressure, and the desire to live becomes a challenge.

“We are saying, let’s put the negativity away and let goodness and positivity prevail. Don’t give up. Soon the world will be transformed into paradise.”

Explaining the meaning of Jehovah’s Witness, Moonsamy said Jehovah was the personal name of God, as found in the Bible, and Witness was a person who proclaimed views or truths of which he was convinced.

“Thus, our name Jehovah’s Witnesses designates us as a group of Christians, who are proclaiming the truth about the Creator of all things.

“We come from various backgrounds, race groups and social conditions. Before becoming Witnesses, all of us took the time to examine carefully the teachings of the Bible.

“We agreed with what we learned and then we made a personal choice to dedicate our lives to worship Jehovah as God.”

He said Bible-based guidance and instructions are provided by a governing body made up of long time Witnesses, who currently work at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York.

From 2015 to 2016 the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Africa, he said, averaged 96 000 to 99 000

There are currently about 2 100 Kingdom Halls (places of worship) in the country.

Trevor Lee, of the convention committee, said the Bible showed how to have a happy life and how to gain an even better life for the future.

He said the Bible’s message of hope was the focus of this year’s convention.

“We are confident all who attend will leave refreshed and will learn how to turn to God for strength as recorded in the Bible.”

The convention will start daily at 9.20am. Admission is free and no collections will be taken. For a programme of events, log on to www. jw.org