The 20th century world has experienced an information explosion, an explosion that actually
began long ago.
To the making of many books there is no end, stated King Solomon of old.
There is an almost limitless supply of knowledge on practically every subject imaginable.
Sophisticated technology and stacks of cleverly written books continue to fail in solving mankind's
most basic problems.
The vast storehouse of human knowledge has not united people in peace.
Why?
Because mankind has turned its back on the most important wisdom to be found anywhere,
the wisdom of our creator, Jehovah God.
How fitting then, that divine teaching was selected as a theme for a series of special
international conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses held around the world.
What brings individuals and families from so many different countries together in unity
and peace?
To be further instructed in divine wisdom.
As the Bible foretold in Micah chapter 4 and verse 2, many nations will certainly go and
say come you people and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah and he will instruct us
about his ways.
Many questions come to mind.
Who attend?
What do they learn?
How do they personally benefit from divine teaching?
First of all, where were the international conventions held?
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Manila, the Philippines.
Santiago, Chile.
Nairobi, Kenya.
World War i.
Hong Kong.
Moscow, Russia.
Bogota, Colombia.
Who attend the International Divine Teaching Conventions?
Kiev, Ukraine.
Political change has brought greater freedom for Jehovah's Witnesses, including the Topolo family.
They are happy that someone brought them the truth from the Bible.
It has united their family.
Sharing that truth with others is now a regular family activity.
Study of God's Word has become part of their life.
Their congregation of 200 meets in a school auditorium.
The Tonguanas live in Petersburg, South Africa.
They begin each morning with a Bible text.
Although both are over 80 years old, they are still very active as special pioneer ministers in the preaching work.
The Soriano family lives in Manila, the Philippines.
This family of eight also starts each day with a Bible text.
They attribute their happy family life to their plying Bible principles.
The Meneses family lives in Bogota, Colombia.
The husband was baptized 20 years ago.
For most of the last two decades, he and his wife were legally separated.
The children moved back and forth between their parents.
The Divine Teaching Convention is very important to this family because Bible truth has united them, and the mother is a candidate for baptism.
The Kivungi family lives in Kitali, Kenya, in an apartment attached to the Kingdom Hall.
The children are regular pioneer ministers. The parents, special pioneers.
The Wong family resides in the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong.
They appreciate Divine Teaching as the best wisdom anywhere for making family life happy.
The Fonovestazan family lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
They rely on practical wisdom from the Bible to stay united and happy.
Keeping the lines of communication open between parents and children is always a challenge, but it helps keep this family united in faith.
Where Elisha is a attendant, this piece, he says,
Gird up your loins, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramothgilead.
When you have come in there, see Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshideh.
The Penteurs live in Facatativá, Colombia.
The convention in Bogotá is very special to them, as all five will symbolize their dedication to God by baptism.
International conventions were held on five continents and were heard by hundreds of thousands of people.
All convention sessions are free. No collections ever taken.
The local populace, foreign delegates representing 64 countries attend.
What brings people from so many countries?
They agree with King David's plea at Psalm 143, verse 10.
Teach me to do your will.
God's will touches our lives today and can shape our tomorrows.
God also tells us what the future holds.
Knowledge like that can protect and unite us and our families right now, and can also direct us to future blessings.
The Bible is our record of God's superior wisdom.
From the first talk on the convention program to the last, the Bible was featured.
Please, Brother Henshaw.
Jehovah is the source of the best teaching anyone can receive.
And hence Jehovah's instruction is divine teaching.
And this is true in the sense that only Jehovah possesses absolute wisdom.
Another triumph of divine teaching is that it gives those who accept it a real purpose in life.
Divine teaching springs from Jehovah God, who is described in Isaiah 46.10 as the one telling from the beginning the finale.
And remember, the choice of whose teachings you hear is manifested not so much by what you say, but by your actions.
To make sure all are unitedly instructed by Jehovah, selected talks at each location are delivered simultaneously in up to 16 languages.
For example, verses 29-31 of Matthew chapter 24 read as follows.
I am delighted to be able to convey greetings from about 6000 people from a large family of vets.
Have you already looked around?
The deaf around the world are not overlooked.
Divine teaching unites them with a worldwide brotherhood.
He paid diligent attention to the instructions and information he received from Jehovah.
And now, we will begin the presentation of the
Electoral Programme for the Sublime Proliferation of Organizations Dedicated to the Study of the Future.
We have seen it before.
Who are the speakers on the four-day programme?
Representatives from many of the more than 100 watchtower branches, travelling ministers and qualified witnesses from local congregations.
The subjects covered range from Bible prophecy to how families can be happily united.
Our spiritual health can be taken care of by submitting to healthful teachings.
Practical counsel from the Bible is presented for young and old, whether single or married.
True to life demonstrations, as well as discussions and interviews, show how various ones are meeting the challenge of living as Christians in today's world.
Experiences from the Daughter-Daw Ministry are also presented.
I started pioneering in 1938 when I was 18 years old.
Even in the face of stormy weather, crowds remain and pay attention.
Arranging for a series of international conventions requires careful planning.
Brooklyn, New York.
At the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses, plans for the international conventions began years in advance.
Which sites would be the most desirable?
How many persons would they hold?
What about rooming availability for thousands of foreign delegates?
What will be the convention theme?
To coordinate with officials in each convention country, committees of local witnesses are appointed.
As convention dates approach, witnesses by the thousands volunteer their time and energy to prepare the stadiums.
An official in Kiev said the stadium has not been cleaned this well for 13 years.
When all the survivors are removed from theского, creating a space for community religious activities.
In Kiev, 70 sisters worked over a two-week period making thousands of flowers by hand
to decorate the stage.
A policeman there exclaimed, what are people?
It's like being in a new world.
I simply cannot understand why you people were persecuted.
As convention dates get closer, final construction, stage assembly and decorations are completed.
In Kiev, witnesses from several Eastern European countries put their skills and energy into
constructing 100 temporary toilets.
Because of the intense sun in Santiago, local brothers designed, assembled and erected an
enormous shade canopy.
322,000 square feet of screen material was required, along with 15,000 feet of rope and
cable.
A must-bed are able to take in divine teaching.
13 tonnes of sound equipment arrived by truck from Germany to Moscow and Kiev.
Forty volunteers worked to install it.
At Kiev, 350 loudspeakers and 12 miles of wiring are required to handle translation
of talks into 16 different languages.
The sound for each language is thus directed to each group of delegates.
Most of the thousands of foreign delegates arrived by aeroplane.
In Bogota, Colombia, 79 separate flights bring delegates from 31 countries.
Officials there issue special tourist visas to all delegates and expedite their luggage
through customs.
Jehovah's Witnesses are easily identified by their distinctive blue divine teaching
badges.
Volunteers at hospitality desks welcome and assist arriving delegates.
Commercial tour companies arrange for transfers of passengers and luggage to hotels.
Other forms of transportation are used by witnesses within each country for travel to
the convention city.
At the train station in Kiev, Ukrainian witnesses greet arriving delegates.
In Colombia, some congregations charter buses so that all can travel together.
Where do arriving delegates stay?
Witnesses are taken to hotels, pre-arranged by commercial tour companies.
Most of the 50,000 witnesses coming to Kiev stay in hotels and private homes, but about
1,800 stay on six large boats.
A housekeeper left a note for the witnesses.
It reads, �It seems to me that you have come from another planet.
You have so much harmony that you bring a blessing.�
The arrival of delegates on the first morning of an international convention of Jehovah's
Witnesses is a happy occasion.
In Kiev, some 53,000 delegates use mass transit to arrive at the convention.
In Santiago, local brothers come early to greet visitors from other lands.
In Kiev, police provide an escort for 135 buses transporting foreign delegates to and
from the stadium.
There is more than the abundance of spiritual food.
Many hardworking volunteers prepare and distribute lunches.
One newspaper correspondent commented, �Noticeable at your convention is the considerable number
of young people.
They are kind, good-looking and well-behaved.
How do you do it?�
A scripture that sees fulfillment during the lunch breaks is Psalm 133.1.
Look how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.
In Kiev, foreign delegates bring extra food and clothing to leave as gifts for the Ukrainian
brothers, hard hit by difficult economic times.
A highlight of conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses is the release of new publications � timely
Bible study aids designed to increase our knowledge of God and His purposes.
In Moscow and in Kiev, a new brochure entitled �What is the purpose of life?� �How can
you find it?� is released in both the Russian and Ukrainian languages.
In Hong Kong, the new brochure is released in Chinese.
In Manila, it is released in Tagalog.
In Hong Kong, the video cassette �Jehovah's Witnesses, the organization behind the name�
is released in Mandarin and in Cantonese.
This brings the total to 27 languages released for this particular video.
It is a pleasure to announce the release in the Russian language of this fine publication
�My Book of Bible Stories�.
Children also rightly need Divine Teaching and at Kiev receive a release of �My Book
of Bible Stories�.
One
Russian and Ukrainian witnesses, no longer under ban, will be assisted in public speaking
by the release Theocratic Ministry School Guidebook.
A big step in learning divine teaching is taken when people are able to read the Bible
in their own language. In Manila, Bibles containing the New World Translation of the Christian
Greek Scriptures are released in the Cebuano, Iloco and Tagalog languages.
The modern day history of the witnesses is detailed in the new publication, Jehovah's
Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. It is released in a total of 20 different
languages with translation and publication underway for 13 more.
In Johannesburg, delegates are delighted to receive two releases in nine local languages.
As Jesus himself stated at Matthew 5.3, happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.
It's the
most
productive
lecture
Conventions also include dramas as a means of instruction.
Two were presented on the four-day program.
One drama was entitled, Do Not Be Misled or Mock God.
The other, Youths Who Remember the Creator Now, shows the benefits of teaching a child
godly wisdom.
The other, Youths Who Remember the Creator Now, shows the benefits of teaching a child
godly wisdom.
The other, Youths Who Remember the Creator Now, shows the benefits of teaching a child
godly wisdom.
The other, Youths Who Remember the Creator Now, shows the benefits of teaching a child
godly wisdom.
Foreign delegates have opportunity to visit sites of local interest.
Sightseeing by boat is popular in Kiev.
One tour guide said, Usually when I lead a group, its disunity becomes manifest as
soon as it leaves the airport.
This has not been true of Jehovah's Witnesses.
In Johannesburg, many delegates tour the original site of a South African gold mine.
What is a tour without shopping?
Delegates from the Hong Kong Convention visit China.
Delegates in Kenya keep their cameras busy while on safaris in nearby game parks.
And make sure matter is prepared.
In many convention countries delegates tour watchtower branch facilities.
The South Africa branch has a large translation team.
They translate literature into 15 languages and print in 27.
Tour also include branches in Hong Kong and Santiago, Chile.
In Manila some delegates arrive at the branch in jeepneys and are welcomed with refreshments.
The new branch in Colombia sits 9,000 feet up in the Andes Mountains.
After a two day period 6,700 visitors to the convention in Bogotá tour the complex.
Baptism is one of the most exciting and significant parts of conventions.
It is public evidence of the powerful effects of divine teaching.
It is not a spur of the moment emotional decision.
All candidates have studied the Bible at length with Jehovah's Witnesses and understand it well.
They have gone over a series of Bible questions with congregation elders and made a prayerful resolve to serve God forever.
Candidates stand before the assembled crowds and answer yes to two questions.
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
Yes
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses?
Yes
Are you a Jehovah's Witness of God?
Yes
Your loud affirmative answers indicate that you are ready and qualified for Christian baptism.
The masses of newly baptized Witnesses remind us of the Apostle John's remarkable vision recorded in the seventh chapter of Revelation, verse 9.
I saw and looked a great crowd which no man was able to number out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.
I saw and looked a great crowd which no man was able to number out of all nations and tribes and tongues.
The baptism in Kiev is a high point of the Divine Teaching International Conventions.
The crowd continues to applaud during the two and a half hours it takes to baptize the 7,402.
An all time record for baptism of Jehovah's Witnesses at a single convention.
The largest recorded mass baptism of true Christians ever.
With 60 baptizers and 6 pools, the equivalent of a good sized congregation is immersed every two minutes.
The baptism of Jehovah's Witnesses at a single convention is a high point of the Divine Teaching International Conventions.
Another unifying factor of international conversion is the number of baptizers and the number of priests.
Another unifying factor of international conventions is the opportunity to visit with witnesses from other lands.
Seeing all nationalities united by Divine Teaching reminds us of the words at Micah 2.12.
In unity I shall set them, like a flock in the pen, they will be noisy with men.
Unity means that all races live in harmony with one another.
The Apostle Peter stated at Acts 10,34 and 35,
For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial,
but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
A reporter for the Democratic Ukraine newspaper wrote,
This convention showed that the achievement of peace and harmony among people of different nationalities and from various countries is rarely possible.
The resilience today bear living testimony to the power of God's Word to conquer even racial and ethnic prejudice.
A united brotherhood is unique in this strife-torn world.
Jesus described an identifying mark of his true followers at John 13,35.
By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.
What accounts for such unity?
People of every background are coming to know Jehovah as the only true God and are changing their lives to conform with his righteous ways.
The Evening Kiev newspaper reported,
Jehovah's Witnesses are united not only by blue badges with divine teaching written on them, but by true faith.
The love among Jehovah's Witnesses forms a perfect bond of union that also extends to others around the globe.
Jesus prophesied at Acts 1,8,
You will be witnesses of me to the most distant part of the earth.
Millions of Jehovah's Witnesses living in 231 countries are united in telling their neighbours about God's Kingdom using more than 200 different languages to do so.
Which reads, But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth.
They devote more than one billion hours a year to spreading the good news to their neighbours.
It sounds very interesting, I've never heard about something like that.
It is faith in Jehovah and his word the Bible that leads to such remarkable unity of purpose.
And what about personal benefits from divine teaching?
The Menessas family has applied Bible principles and are now reunited and serving Jehovah together.
Good afternoon, I would like to know your opinion about what you see in this lamina. What do you think?
It is very beautiful.
What is the purpose of the Lamina? How can you get it?
The Wongs strengthen their unity by studying the new purpose of life brochure as a family and by applying what they learn.
The entire Penteur family is now baptised and united in Jehovah's service.
It confirms how one day the earth will become paradise.
The weekly singing songs of praise to the Grand Instructor, Jehovah, transcends all language barriers.
The Lord is my Lord, the one in quality.
You are my God, the one in glory.
You are my God, the one in quality.
After four days of divine teaching, though difficult, it is time to say goodbye.
The Bible, at Isaiah 55-12, well describes the feelings of the delegates.
For with rejoicing your people will go forth, the mountains and the hills themselves will become cheerful before you,
and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands.
A happy, united human family is not a dream.
An elderly witness at the Kiev Convention sums it up this way.
We are all one, united through the divine teaching of Jehovah God.
Thank you.