Jehovah's Witnesses resume door-to-door ministry
Elizabeth Nichols and her friend, Claudia Rivera Gill, of Sagle, engage in their door-to-door ministry. Jehovah’s Witnesses return to this activity after a 30-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Courtesy photo)
Bonner County Jehovah’s Witnesses are resuming their door-to-door ministry after two-and-a-half years, just in time to begin a global campaign featuring a new interactive Bible study program.
The decision to resume their door-to-door ministry marks the complete restoration of all pre-pandemic in-person activities for the 1.3 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 13,000 congregations in the United States. Houses of worship, known as Kingdom Halls, were reopened April 1, witnessing in public places resumed May 31 and in-person conventions are once again being planned for 2023.
“I am really looking forward to sharing the Bible’s message in person again,” said Elizabeth Nichols, a Bonner County resident who will be heading out to the neighborhood in the coming weeks. “I missed being able to look people in the eye and see the expressions on their faces.”
Nichols has experienced firsthand the effects of this kind of ministry. “When Jehovah’s Witnesses came to my door, I had been very concerned about world conditions and was searching for a purpose in my life,” she said. She added that those conversations gave her a sense of peace and direction — memories that still motivate her today, on the other side of the door. “More than ever, people need to know they can experience real peace in their lives now,” she said.
The suspension of the public ministry was a proactive response by the organization to keep communities and congregants safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move to resume the door-to-door ministry coincides with a global campaign to distribute a new interactive Bible study program available in hundreds of languages at no cost. The program comes in the form of a book, online publication or as an embedded feature within the organization’s free mobile application, JW Library. Released in late 2020, the interactive study platform combines text, video, illustrations and digital worksheets to help learners of all ages.
“This new study program is designed to match the learning needs of the 21st-century student,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We’re excited to begin sharing it with our neighbors as we return to making personal visits.”
Nichols agrees. “I love our new book and am excited to offer a study of the Bible using that as a guide,” she said. “The simple format, the media content and the brevity of the lessons are perfect for answering the questions people have in a manner that can fit in their busy lifestyles.”
Information: jw.org