Witnesses prepare for PE gathering

Between October 20 and 22, 2017, Jehovah’s Witnesses from the Grahamstown area will be among the anticipated 8 000 delegates attending the three-day annual convention at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth with the theme, ‘Don’t Give Up!’

The programme will be held at select venues around the world until early 2018. In South Africa, a total turnout of around 220 000 is expected at 70 conventions, to be presented in 20 languages.

One Grahamstown attendee, whose life story exemplifies the sort of fortitude urged in the convention theme, is Joan Roberts.

Now 47 years old, she has been a full-time dedicated Witness for 32 years. When asked what has helped her to endure difficult experiences with a cheerful disposition, she stressed the value of the annual conventions.

She said, “Meeting with my brothers and sisters, seeing love in action and experiencing the joy of being taught by our God Jehovah makes it all worthwhile.”

The Witnesses are participating in a global campaign to invite the general public to attend. Admission to each event is free and no collections are taken.

Nearly 13 million attended these conventions last year worldwide, and an even larger audience is expected this year.

The programme is divided into 52 parts and will be presented in a variety of formats, including brief discourses, interviews, and short videos.

Additionally, one segment of a three-part feature film entitled Remember the Wife of Lot will be shown each afternoon.

Large LED screens have been erected at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium so that those in the audience can enjoy the programme in their preferred language, whether English, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, or Sign Language.

More information at jw.org.