Jehovah’s Witnesses to gather in Billings

By Billings Gazette - 07/03/08
BILLINGS — About 5,400 Jehovah’s Witnesses from Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota will converge for three days, beginning Friday at the Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park.

As in the past, church members are cleaning the arena before the convention kicks off Friday morning. Volunteers began Wednesday and will finish up today, said Joe Kurkowski, a Jehovah’s Witnesses news service coordinator.

The convention is one of about 305 that will take place from May through September in 76 cities throughout the United States. An estimated 1.6 million members are expected to attend the gatherings.

The theme of this year’s convention is “Guided by God’s Spirit.” All sessions are free, and the public may attend.

Sessions will begin at 9:20 a.m. each day. The program will resume at 1:50 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Here is a summary of programs that are planned:
The opening session will deal with the subject, “Why Be Guided by God’s Spirit?” Later, the keynote talk will explain the role of the Holy Spirit in the carrying out of God’s purpose for mankind and the Earth.

On Friday afternoon, a large portion of the program will focus on information helpful to young people seeking reliable direction for their lives. The program will feature brief dramatizations and interviews that show how youths can follow the leadings of God’s Holy Spirit at school, at work, at home and elsewhere. It ends at 4:55 p.m.

Saturday’s program will focus on the operation of God’s Spirit in a Christian’s ministry and personal life.

At 11:40 a.m., there will be a discussion on the significance of baptism. A baptism ceremony will take place at 12:15 p.m. That will be followed in the afternoon by a series of talks on how God’s Spirit can empower people to fight temptation and endure adversity.

On Sunday, “Keep Walking by Spirit,” will include a series of fast-moving talks on nine qualities called in the Bible the fruits of the Spirit. The morning session will conclude with a talk, “Reap Blessings Through Jehovah’s Spirit-Guided King!” A Bible drama, presented live and in full costume, will lead off the final session Sunday.

Reader Comments:
JWtruth wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:45 AM:
" The Jehovah's Witnesses conventions are the major source of publicity for the Watchtower society, conventions and also the construction of new Kingdom hall buildings.
The followers are giving a shot of optimism that the end of this old world is coming any minute, like the carrot to the donkey they just keep coming back year after year while their lives stagnate for this apocalyptic cult that keeps manipulating them. "