After Two Years Virtual, Congregations Will Meet Together Again Beginning
All congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses across the world are being encouraged to
begin holding in-person meetings during the week of April 1.
Soraja Buckholtz, from the Eastern Shore, has been attending meetings for 66 years since
the age of three. “I am looking forward to giving my dear friends a heartfelt hug,” said
Buckholtz, while thinking about many that are in need of affection and attention. “We truly
are a loving family and I know it will be similar to a happy family reunion for me”.
For most of the last two years, buildings for worship have remained closed globally due
to the risks associated with meeting in person. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the U.S. also
suspended their public ministry on March 20, 2020. Since that time, they have carried on
their ministry through letters and phone calls while holding twice-weekly meetings in a
virtual format. Average attendance at these meetings exceeded 1.5 million each week in
the U.S., even though there are fewer than 1.3 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in some
13,000 congregations.
“There is a collective shout of joy among Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world right
now,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. Spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “While we have
prospered in many ways as individuals and congregations using technology to bring us
together, nothing can adequately replace being together in person. We have longed for
this moment for the better part of two years.”
The move back to in-person meetings coincides with two global events being held in all
120,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The first is a special lecture scheduled in
most congregations for April 10, 2022, entitled, “Where Can You Find Real Hope?”
Additionally, the annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ will be held on April
15, 2022, the very day he sacrificed his life 1,989 years ago. Both of these gatherings will
be held in person at local Kingdom Halls with live speakers. No collections are ever taken.
“The timing of resuming in-person meetings could not be better,” said Hendriks. “Bringing
everyone back together for these special events will have a powerful effect on the
worldwide congregation.”
Guidelines for holding “hybrid” meetings have been sent to all congregations in the United
States. Over the past six months, many Kingdom Halls have been equipped with the
required technology to hold a productive meeting that allows for in-person and remote
attendees, all of whom can participate in the discussions. A pilot program was held in
October and November in countries around the world to assess how this could be done
most effectively.
The lessons learned in these pilot meetings have helped form the plan
for moving forward with reopening all Kingdom Halls, where the law permits.
“It has been heartwarming to see the peace and unity among Jehovah’s Witnesses during
this very divisive time,” said Hendriks. “We know resuming in-person meetings will bring
us even closer together. We’re anxious to see one another again.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the meetings held via Zoom,” said Buckholtz. “But it will be a
wonderful moment when we can display our genuine love for one another in person
again.”
As of now, Jehovah’s Witnesses have no plans to resume their public ministry, though
their “alternative” ministry continues. In fact, since the start of the pandemic through
November 2021 in the U.S. alone, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent more than 400 million
hours in virtual Bible studies, writing letters of comfort to their neighbors and making
phone calls. They have released 77 new language translations of the Bible and held two
global virtual conventions in more than 500 languages.
“No time was wasted in the past two years,” said Hendriks. “Our congregants have been
busy and productive helping each other and their neighbors t
hrough this most
challenging time. That’s what love and unity are all about.”
For more information on Jehovah’s Witnesses go to jw.org
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