Dear Brothers:
We are writing to provide direction regarding an effort for all of us to reduce the amount
of excess literature that may be stored in our homes. We invite each family head to make an assessment
of his family’s personal supply of literature. During the month of October 2014 a special
effort should be made to place any excess literature that is suitable for use in the field ministry.
At the conclusion of the month, any remaining literature designed for use in the ministry that
is in good or like-new condition should be returned to the literature counter at the Kingdom Hall
for redistribution among the publishers.
This united effort to make the best use of our publications will help to conserve dedicated
funds and to reduce the cost of printing and shipping items that may already be available in our
homes or in our book bags. Each member of the congregation can help in this endeavor. How?
(1) Be conservative when obtaining literature. Many find it beneficial to obtain a small amount
of literature on a weekly basis rather than obtaining a large quantity on a monthly basis.
(2) Regularly monitor your personal literature supply. In the event that you identify literature that
is not being used and is in good or like-new condition, promptly return it to the literature counter.
When a publication is revised, the older stock on hand is generally used first before introducing
the revised publication. Therefore, reducing congregation and personal supplies will allow
revised publications to be introduced into the field more quickly. In this regard, we are
pleased to announce that revised editions of What Does the Bible Really Teach? and “Keep
Yourselves in God’s Love” will be released in the future. Recent adjustments related to doctrinal
matters will be reflected in the revised editions. Also, material in the revised books will be updated
to contain quotations and references from the revised New World Translation of the Holy
Scriptures . In view of these upcoming revisions, it would be good to give special attention to reducing
the supply of the books that may be on hand.
We all want our literature to achieve its intended purpose, namely, to help sincere people
learn more about Jehovah’s marvelous promises. Just as Jesus did not waste leftover food after
he miraculously fed the crowds, our taking the above-mentioned steps can help us to make the
best use of valuable, Bible-based literature by getting it into the hands of righteously inclined
people.—John 6:11-13.
Be assured of our warm Christian love and greetings.
Your brothers,
c: Circuit overseers
Re: Personal literature supply
September 10, 2014
Page 2
PS to body of elders:
Please arrange for this letter to be read to the congregation at the first Service Meeting after
its receipt. Thereafter, it should be posted on the information board. While this postscript
should be shared with the literature and magazine servants, it should neither be read to the
congregation nor be posted on the information board. Arrangements should be put into place
immediately to begin accepting literature that is returned by the publishers. The literature should
be received with a positive and commending spirit, since the publishers are cooperating with direction
provided by the branch office. Additionally, no rigid rules should be imposed as to the
amount of literature that publishers can request in order to care for their personal needs and for
their field ministry.
Congregations should continue to request What Does the Bible Really Teach? and “Keep
Yourselves in God’s Love” to maintain a modest supply at the Kingdom Hall. This will assist in
reducing existing stock at the branch office before the revisions are released. As the revised editions
become available in each language, they will be used to fill congregation requests.
This would also be an appropriate time for the magazine coordinator and the service
overseer of his congregation to review the number of magazines being requested. If at the end of
each month there is a considerable excess of magazines in stock, the quantity requested from the
branch office should be reduced.—See Literature and Magazine Request Guidelines (S-56),
chapter 7, paragraphs 4-5, and chapter 15, paragraphs 3-5.
