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Here are some highlights from the 2010 Annual meeting; Branch Overseers/Representatives from around the world gave greetings from their branch and gave some encouraging experiences from the field. Here are just a couple; Russia-- There have been a lot of problems reported about Russia for the past two years. As you are aware of some of the things that God's people have had to endure there, it seems that true to the scripture at Ish. 54:17; "No weapon...formed against [us] will have no success." Case In Point: When the brothers took their case to the European Supreme Court they won their case and now they are just waiting to see if the Russian government will honor that court's decision. But meantime, the brothers and sisters have had their kingdom halls vandalized (by priests and mobs), meetings interrupted by the police and their literature confiscated. But all that they (the Russian government) have accomplished is that more people are wanting to see for themselves if the allegations about the Witnesses is true, this of course has given rise to meeting attendance and Bible studies. Also on one occasion, the brothers were wanting to attend and show their support at a court hearing, but were kept outside as the court room was filled to capacity with angry priests. So the brother who was representing the Witnesses in the court room asked the Judges if he could have permission to read a Bible text before the court. The judges allowed him and so he begin to read out loud to all the audience (of priests) Matthew 23. After yelling out "Woe to You" ,"Serpents, offspring of vipers", "hypocrites", "false teachers", and "false prophets" by the brother in his reading, many of the priests left and did not return for the next following days, allowing the brothers and sisters from neighboring congregations to come in and show their support. Haiti-- as you know was hit by a massive 7.0 earthquake, on Jan. 12th 2010, killing over 220,000 people and devastated the entire country. Approximately 154 of our brothers and sisters died in that quake as well as many that were severely injured and left homeless. The quick relief effort by the friends around the world is in the December Watchtower and Awake. The religious leaders in that country told the people that God was punishing them and that He was killing all the wicked people in their country. The Haitian branch representative, telling the story, then remarked that Haiti's prison system had lost some 9,000 prisoners who had escaped and still on the loose---so God must have forgot about them. Everybody laughed. He then went on to relate that since the earthquake, meeting attendance has tripled, and all the kingdom halls have to meet twice, because they don't have enough room for all that attend. Each meeting averages about 250 per kingdom hall meeting. The branch representative also remarked that many Haitian youths are taking to the truth and many are bringing in their families. He went on to relate how that many were impressed with the way Jehovah's people pitched in from around the world with supplies; they did not leave when the T.V. cameras and crews left, nor were they interested in getting publicity for their efforts; the way that they also provided for their fellow brothers and sisters as well as their neighbors was also a huge witness in itself to the natives of that country. It is going to be very interesting to see the report for Haiti in next year's yearbook.
There were talks given from four members of the Governing Body, here is just a few of the points and highlights given, as follows; POINT 1): The question should not be IF one will survive the Great Tribulation, but rather WILL one survive UNTIL the Great Tribulation. We have yet to see the problems that the Great tribulation will cause. We need not be concerned with enduring the GT because once started we have Jehovah's divine protection. The problem is the events that lead up to the GT, and that is what may take many out of the truth. Many older ones already are telling the younger ones how they regretted not getting an education, pursuing a lucrative career, saving up money or not having a retirement plan. The sad truth is that such ones are like the murmurers of Israel when coming out of Egypt. Such ones wanted to go back to Egypt, not realizing Egypt was later to be defeated by the Babylonians and what was in store for them (the nation of Israel) was "the promised land that flowed with milk and honey." The same is true with such ones today, they fail to realize that all of the world's economies are drying up, 401k's, stocks, fortune 500 companies and money values are dropping like crazy. Pursuing such a foolish course would have only temporarily protected them, but in the end pursuing God's way did and does work out better. Especially since we have God's assurance of things yet to come upon the earth; 1) The destruction of Babylon the Great by the UN and the world's governments, which is going to invariably affect God's people; 2) The Great Tribulation, which is going to be so bad that Jesus said that never "had such a thing occurred, nor will occur again" (Matthew 24:21). The GT is going to cause people everywhere to become faint out fear, not knowing what to do (Luke 21:26), however God's people will be confident and assured of God's protection, from the fulfillment of the prophecies they will have seen for themselves, thus giving them the assurance that all of God's promises will indeed soon come true. Thus is the theme for next year's text, "(Zephaniah 3:12) . . .they will actually take refuge in the name of Jehovah. . ." POINT 2): Jehovah's celestial chariot is on the move--at the speed of light according to Ezek. 1:14, and here is just a glimpse of how the organization has been moving in tune with God's celestial chariot (organization and rulership), since 2006;
2006 -- U.S. Bethelites workforce greatly reduced and sent into the field ministry as Special Pioneers, Circuit Overseers, Congregation Elders and servants;
2007 -- Fast-paced symposiums implemented as a part of the teaching program at our conventions and assemblies.
2008 -- The term "presiding overseer" changed to the term “coordinator of the body of elders." Greater clarification of what is meant by "the [final] sealing" of anointed ones in our day (Rev. 7:1-3), and the term "generation" used by Jesus (at Matthew 24:34)
2009 -- "Congregation Bookstudy" meeting changed to "Congregation Bible Study" and combined with Theocratic Ministry School and Service meetings, thus allowing for a special day for family worship. Many of the world branches had been consolidated for better translation, more efficiency and cost-savings.
POINT 3): Changes soon to come for 2011;
Ministerial Training School (MTS) will be changed to "Bible Study for Single Brothers" and a new school will be implemented for couples over 18 and under 50, that have pioneered for at least two years, called "Bible Study for Married Couples," and the graduates will be considered for Gilead, missionary and circuit work assignments.
CO's, Coordinators and Elders to attend another (2nd) KM school, to be announced later in 2011.
Branch Bethel staff to be reduced to 75.