I joined the Ministry school when I was 8. The training has been of great use over the years. Below is a Recollection from my notes, I was 12 at the time - names changed.
As part of his training, Terry had been enrolled in the theocratic ministry school. He was working on the correct use of notes. He finished giving the six-minute talk to an audience of around a hundred, using verses from the Bible. Picking up his Bible, he left the rostrum and returned to his seat. Ron, Terry's father, was the school overseer. He took the platform and swayed from side to side for a moment as he cleared his throat.
‘You have given an excellent talk. This is a fine example to other young brothers. It shows what can be achieved through training in the theocratic ministry school. You used your notes so well, I was unaware you had any. Could you hold up your notes, so we can see how few notes are needed, if they are used properly?’
Terry shook his head. ‘I don’t have any notes that I can hold up.’
Ron was exasperated. ‘No notes! How can I counsel you on use of notes if you don’t have any? You’re working on use of notes. You are supposed to have notes. You will have to work on use of notes again next time you give a talk. You have wasted our time today!’
Ron’s handkerchief was out, as he mopped his eyes and swayed from side to side with more vigour than before. For a moment Terry felt sorry for his father, until he became aware of the shocked look on faces in the audience. They were looking round to see how he had taken the counsel. The school overseer is not supposed to have a strop but counsel in a kind and tactful way. It seems that on this occasion Ron had lost his cool. After the meeting a number of people approached Terry, to commend him and see if he was upset. Brother Game approached, smiling.
‘That was a fine talk, Terry. It’s a shame about the lack of notes but you haven’t wasted anyone’s time. We always enjoy your talks. I hope this has not upset you. Next time you will have some notes,’ he added, nodding.
‘I did have notes,’ he replied.
Brother Game looked puzzled. ‘But you told your father that you didn’t have any notes.’
Terry raised an eyebrow. ‘No, I said I didn’t have any notes that I could hold up. I only had notes pencilled into the margin of my Bible, to cross-reference the next verse that I needed to go to.’
‘Oh dear, Terry, why didn’t you tell your father that and avoid being told off in front of everybody?’
Terry looked at brother Game with a twinkle in his eye and replied dryly, ‘That would have spoilt all the fun!’
Brother Game looked at him for a moment, as though he had misunderstood. Then the penny dropped. He started laughing. Chuckling to himself, he patted Terry on the back.
‘I have a feeling that you are going to be alright. Wait until my wife hears about this,’ he said, as he walked away still laughing.
