Four BOE letters. Read and discuss:
ONE
TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS
Re: Worldwide campaign planned for August 2014
Dear Brothers:
The Governing Body is organizing a worldwide campaign for August 2014 to give exten- sive distribution to a new tract entitled Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? Please follow these instructions: (1) At the next two Service Meetings, the service overseer or another elder should read the announcement below to the congregation. (2) The Congregation Service Committee should immediately meet to determine the number of tracts to request from the branch office. (3) At the next quarterly elders ’ meeting, the body of elders should discuss the key points from this letter. — Prov. 20:18.
SERVICE MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
We are pleased to inform you that the Governing Body is arranging for a world- wide campaign in August 2014 to give extensive distribution to a new tract entitled Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? A key objective of this global campaign is to widely advertise the jw.org Web site. The Governing Body anticipates that our com- bined efforts in this special campaign could well make the month of August the greatest witnessing month ever! In the coming months, Our Kingdom Ministry will provide more details. For example, all qualified publishers will be able to serve as auxiliary pioneers in August with either a 30-hour or 50-hour requirement. All publishers and families are encouraged to begin making plans now to have a full share in the ministry during the month of August!
Generate enthusiasm for the campaign: Hebrews 13:7 encourages us : “Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contem- plate how their conduct turns out, imitate their faith.” Literal sheep follow the voice and actions of their shepherd. In one land, an inexperienced shepherd reportedly tried to make the sheep cross the road by herding them, shouting at them, even striking them. They did not respond. However, when he walked across the road, he was surprised to see that the sheep were following him. In like man- ner, publishers will be more inclined to auxiliary pioneer in August if they know that the elders, ministerial servants, and their families are in the forefront of the work. Whether your circumstances permit you to auxiliary pioneer or not, all will want to give zealous support to this special cam- paign. — 2 Cor. 9:7.
Field service group overseers should set an example that will encourage each publisher and pioneer in his group to have a zealous share. Group overseers should personally encourage Bible students who are well along in the Bible Teach book to consider approaching the coordinator of the body of elders to see if they qualify as unbaptized publishers. Young ones who go out in the minis- try with their parents but who are not congregation publishers may also want to begin participating
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Re: Worldwide campaign planned for August 2014 February 3, 2014
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as unbaptized publishers. Elders could encourage dedicated individuals who have recently become inactive to begin publishing again by accompanying experienced publishers.
Requesting Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? :
Immediately, the Congregation Service Committee should determine how many copies of the tract are needed for the congregation. It should be considered wheth- er the quantity used in previous campaigns was sufficient, keeping in mind that the tract will be distributed both in the house-to-house ministry and in public places. Be- cause this tract will be a permanent stock item, language-coordinating congregations should include in their requested quantity a modest amount for use after the cam- paign.
Each congregation should enter its request using jw.org. All requests should be submitted by February 24, 2014. If a request is not received from your congregation by the due date, a ratio of 30 per publisher and 120 per pioneer will be sent to your congregation. Since this ratio may not meet the specific needs of your congregation, it is preferred that each congregation submit a request by February 24, 2014. Re- quests should not be submitted through the ship-to congregation, the language- coordinating congregation, or any other congregation.
Use item number 7137 for requesting the tract in the language(s) commonly used in your territory. Use item number 1340 for requesting specialized invitations with artwork unique to the sign-language field.
Check-in of Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? : Quantities for all congregations in the Kingdom Hall Literature Group will be combined and sent to the ship-to congregation in cartons marked “T - 37.” The carton label(s) will indicate the quantity designated for each congregation. The service overseer of the ship-to congregation should ensure the follow- ing steps are taken upon receipt:
Open the cartons and confirm the correct items were shipped.
Immediately distribute the tract to each congregation in the literature group.
Distribution to publishers: If the tract is available, one copy should be distributed to each person in attendance at the beginning of the Service Meeting part in June that will discuss the campaign. One week before the start of the campaign, each congregation should set out a supply of the tract. Publishers and pioneers should be encouraged to take only the amount that they need for one week. During the campaign, the congregation should be reminded to take only a week’s supply.
Territory coverage: It is better to give the householder a copy of Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? personally. However, publishers will be allowed to leave a copy where no one is at home if the elders deem this to be practical. You may feel that it will not be possible for your congregation to cover all of its assigned territory in the time allowed. The el- ders may therefore decide to give priority to working the most productive territory. A nearby congregation may also offer to assist you with territory coverage. The objective is to do as much as possible within the designated time period. If your congregation works all of its territory or
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places its entire supply of the tract before the month is completed, you may feature the maga- zines or other appropriate publications.
If publishers will be attending the convention in August or in the beginning of Septem- ber, the special campaign to distribute Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? will overlap with the campaign to distribute the convention handbill. If so, the tract and the handbill may be offered at the same time. However, the tract should not be offered before August 1. This should be clearly conveyed to the congregation, and good records should be kept to ensure that as much of the territory as possible receives the tract in August, even if that means returning to homes that were visited in July in conjunction with the convention handbill campaign.
We pray Jehovah’s rich blessing upon this special campaign. Your brothers,
__________________________________________
TWO
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
Re: Arrangements to accelerate construction of Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls
Dear Brothers:
There can be no doubt that Jehovah has blessed the worldwide preaching activity as right- hearted ones continue to flock to his organization. (Isa. 60:22) With new congregations being formed every week, many of our Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls are being used to their capacity and beyond. In some countries, the planning and construction of our meeting places has been handled by Regional Building Committees and multitudes of willing volunteers serving under their direction. In other lands, Kingdom Hall Construction Groups take the lead in building Kingdom Halls with the help of full-time servants and local volunteers. The fine work of the Regional Building Committees and the Kingdom Hall Construction Groups has accomplished much good, and the hard work of these dedicated servants is genuinely appreciated. (Heb. 6:10) We thank all of you who have had a share in this important work of providing these centers of true worship.
Because of the steady growth in the number of publishers and congregations, there is an urgent need for new Kingdom Halls in addition to major renovation projects. Moreover, the increased complexity of property acquisition, zoning regulations, building codes, and project development requires specialized skills and considerable experience. In many instances, these demanding activities require more time and effort than our hardworking brothers can devote to them because of family and other theocratic responsibilities. Therefore, the Governing Body has approved that full-time volunteers and Kingdom Hall construction servants be appointed to coordinate and assist with the work being done in the field by the large pool of existing volunteers. To oversee all of this construction activity and to ensure that the local congregations will receive help with maintaining houses of worship, a new department has been formed at the branch office, namely, the Local Design/Construction Department.
The transition to this new global arrangement to accelerate needed construction activities in the field will be implemented progressively. More details will be shared with you in due course. In the meantime, the organizational structure currently in place to address the need for meeting places will continue to function.
We look to Jehovah for his continued guidance and direction on our efforts to construct and maintain houses of worship for his praise. (Ps. 127:1) Please be assured of our warm Christian love and best wishes.
Your brothers,
__________________________________________
3
Re: 2014 Memorial and special talk
Dear Brothers:
This is a reminder to follow closely the instructions in the May 23, 2010, letter to all bodies of elders so that inactive ones receive an invitation to the 2014 Memorial and special talk. As you meet with them, please convey the love and concern of the Governing Body and those in the local congregation. (1 Thess. 2:7, 8) Offer to help with transportation or provide any other practical as- sistance so that they can be in attendance.
Please adhere to the following procedure in connection with the 2014 Memorial ob- servance. The chairman is to begin the meeting with brief comments and to invite all in attend- ance to join in singing the opening song. The chairman (or perhaps another qualified elder as- signed in advance) will open the meeting with prayer. The chairman will then introduce the speaker. After the talk, the chairman will read the announcement provided with this letter and will then announce the concluding song. He will usually call on the speaker to offer the closing prayer. After the special talk, the chairman will read the announcement provided with this letter.
We send our warm Christian love.
cc: Traveling overseers
__________________________________________
FOUR
TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS Re: Shepherding
Dear Brothers:
February 2, 2014
In imitation of Jesus, all elders need to cultivate a heartfelt desire to shepherd Jehovah’s sheep. (John 21:15-17) We must love our brothers from the heart by feeding and shepherding them willingly . (1 Pet. 5:2) The Shepherding textbook provides helpful suggestions on making shepherding visits in the homes of the publishers. At this time, we are pleased to provide the fol- lowing additional comments that will assist you in fulfilling your responsibility as shepherds in the congregation.
As you know, we have specific arrangements to visit those who have been baptized for one year, to invite inactive publishers to the Memorial, and to make annual visits to certain dis- fellowshipped persons. Even so, we cannot view shepherding simply as a program that involves making a “shepherding call” once a month. While the Shepherding textbook states that a group overseer should arrange to periodically visit all in his group, there is no need for the body of el- ders to keep a record of shepherding visits, including the date a visit was made, who made the visit, and what was discussed. Nor is it necessary for one elder to make general shepherding call assignments. Although well-intentioned, such programs can overly complicate matters.
All elders, particularly group overseers, must strive to maintain regular, if at all possible weekly, contact with the publishers. (Prov. 27:23) Regular interaction with the brothers and sis- ters is very much needed and can be accomplished by meaningful visits before and after congre- gation meetings, by working with them in the ministry, and by visiting or telephoning them at other times. It includes contacting those who are sick, who are missing from the meetings, or who are irregular in the ministry. Such personal interest springs from genuine friendship and brotherly affection. — Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 2:7, 8.
As spiritual shepherds, we strive to deepen our self-sacrificing love for the brothers and sisters so that our concern is evident at all times . Without meddling into our brothers’ personal affairs, we strive to be a positive influence in the lives of the sheep, helping them to be strong in the faith. — Phil. 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 5:11.
In view of the foregoing, each elder should make the following notation in the margin of his Shepherding textbook. Next to chapter 2, paragraph 23, and chapter 4, paragraph 6, please write: “See letter dated February 2, 2014 , to all bodies of elders regarding shepherding.”
We send our warm Christian love
Pix.