Informant, December 1943

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DECEMBER, 1943

“More than conquerors through him that loved us.”—Rom. 8: 37

BROOKLYN, N. Y.

“More than Conquerors” Testimony Period

Cut the Shackles of Ignorance

Conquer Obstacles by the Truth

“Declare Jehovah’s victory !” is the command given by the Ix>rd as shown on the poster for December. Jehovah's servants respond enthusiastically and push ahead in the “Moue than Conquerors" Testimony Period, closing out a year of victory in their work, victorious through Him 'who loved us'.

During the past year the Devil and his dupes placed before the Lord's people every conceivable hindrance, that they might become discouraged and cease their educational work. In this, as always, he failed miserably. Strengthened with admonition given by the Lord through the apostle, Jehovah’s witnesses, though they stumbled early in the year with a drop in activity, did not fall. They forged ahead and permitted nothing to interfere with their preaching the good news of Jehovah’s Righteous Government.

December provides further opportunity to vanquish the efforts of opponents of the truth. “Follow Christ's example” is the exhortation. What was his course? He constantly resisted all compromise with religion, which would have meant departing from God's law. He refused to give up preaching for the pursuit of material things of this world. In this he conquered al! obstacles. Was that all? No I His was also a constructive work. He healed the sick and instructed in the way of life all who would hear. He taught the truth which sets men free. Above all, he fought a good fight and maintained his integrity. He did not merely conquer I He more than conquered!

lakewise we at the present time preparing for the December Testimony Period are to follow His example. We are to conquer the continued efforts of Satan to hinder our service by persecution. We tire not to become ensnared with the cares of this life. While this does contribute to the vindication of Jehovah's name, and keeps the creature free from bondage, there is more to be done. Declare Jehovah's victory! Proclaim the truth! By continuing to do so we not only maintain our integrity, not only individually conquer hindrances, but moke than conquer by aiding those of good-will to strike off the shackles of ignorance and superstition and get on the highway that leads to the Kingdom, under the banner of truth. —2 Tim. 2 : 26.

The Lord has graciously shown his people how this may be done. It's "I'KEE EDUCATION I OR MEN OF good-will"! Using the instruments at hand, present to the people in your territory the truths of light, freedom, and lite itself, as shown in the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free" and the booklet Freedom in the A'eir World, on a contribution of 25c. This offer is to be intro

duced with the doorstep setup, using the records as suggested in the November Informant.

As the declaration accepted at the recent Assembly stated, 'all men of good-will must be located and prepared for life in the New World.' This is done by diligent working of the individual assignment, or by group witnessing. Having conquered the obstacles and devoted the time and effort to witnessing in the field, there is more to be done, as further stated in the declaration, “That in obedience to our commission we will endeavor now and in the postwar era ... to increase the number of free Bible-study classes in the homes of ‘men of good-will' throughout the earth, using the educational means which the Lord has provided for our use." This we will do by following through on all placements and using pages 375 and 376 in the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free" as a lead, and the “Study Questions” booklet prepared to aid in study of the book. (See November Informant for details.) Thus those of goodwill will have the advantage of systematic instruction in truth, that they too may surmount the barriers of darkness and enter into life in the New World.

Witli this in mind and tlie text for the past year as our guide, be determined to be aiore than conqueror, not only of obstacles, but of the bonds of ignorance. Conquer through Cubist and the truth ! Thoroughly work your territory. Further, call back, minister, encourage study, aid in education; teach and instruct, in patience and meekness. With the power of Jehovah and Christ holding back the ■'beast" from overwhelming you. do your part. Even though the weather conditions be not as favorable as heretofore, though persecution grow more intense, even though some, yes, ' the majority of the people, refuse and scorn the truth, let not that separate you from the educational work assigned to you. until all i foes, visible and invisible, are subdued.

Study “Freedom of Worship”

Service Meetings Made Interesting i Realizing it to be their blessed privilege and duty to protect the people’s right to worship Jehovah God, the brethren everywhere have welcomed the new booklet Freedom of Worship as a needed provision from Jehovah to assist them to stand fast for that freedom. Each company and pioneer publisher not already having done so should make immediate arrangements for a thorough and systematic course of ' study in this new instrument, so that the publishers, as fighters for the New World, may be fully equipped to resist the ever-increasing encroachments of the totalitarian enemies of liberty.

Each company should select one capable brother to conduct the series of studies in the booklet. It will be the responsibility of this brother regularly’ to conduct an Interesting and informative study of the booklet for fifteen minutes during each service meeting.

These studies will be conducted in the same manner as the Watchtower studies, making use of the questions that appear on each paragraph at the bottom of the page. The conductor may appoint someone to read the paragraphs to the company, but he should propound the questions himself. In many instances, because of lack of space, points are men-tinned in the paragraph that may not be clearly brought out in an; swer to the questions that appear at the bottom of the page. The conductor should be prepared to put such additional questions as lie may ’see fit to thoroughly cover each paragraph, the object being to make sure that all in attendance clearly understand the important points the text seeks to put across. This will require careful preparation beforehand, on the part of the conductor. Additionally, all scriptures cited but not quoted should be read from the Bible at the time the paragraph is read. In order that such study be instructive, each one attending , . should likewise thoroughly prepare and study the assignment In advance of the study.

I of the world's holidays by increasing Theocratic service. With the new provision of the question book- j let, for calling back on all bound book placements, this should not be hard to do.

October Report

The report for October, the “Defeat of Persecution" Testimony Period, is encouraging. The report shows an improvement over October a year ago both as to number of publishers and in average hours. And, with the exception of the drop in the number of pioneers, due to vacation pioneers’ going back to school, the October report shows improvement over that of September. By God's grace, the publishers in tlie field are defeating persecution.

December is another campaign month. Let each publisher be alert to his privileges and opportunities and endeavor to do better than he did in October, and particularly as regards back-calls. Take advantage

PREVIOUS ALL-TIME PEAKS

Company Pubs.

Pubs. 66,079 Apr. ’43

Av. Hrs. 20.3 June '40

Av. B-C 4.6 Oct. ’40

Pioneers 6,761 July '43 138.2 July '42 39.3 Apr. ’42

Company I Pioneers

Oct. 1943 Oct. 1942 Av. Av. Av. Av. Pubs. Hrs. B-C Hrs. B-C 57,918 15.9 3.6 15.7 3.4 6,307 127.5 35.0 135.7 37.3

Demonstrations, thou/ihtfully area nyed, will be of great assistance in learning matters of procedure, such as proper conduct when accosted by a police officer, bow to present a motion to the court, how to behate when a mob begins to form. etc. For instance, the conductor may assign a sister to act as a householder who has caused the arrest of a brother engaged in the door-to-door work. The brother may then demonstrate how the cross-examination of this woman should be conducted when the case comes to trial. A trial maybe arranged where this and other things may be rehearsed. A brother may assist the defendant with his statement "as counsel" by propounding to him on the witness stand the questions numbers 63 to 79 inclusive. Additional questions may be asked to help the defendant to give the complete statement.

These demonstrations need not be long nor elaborate, nor funny and entertaining, but should simply and correctly demonstrate a particular point that is being considered in the booklet. Those in the audience may then render construct ire criticisms as called for by the conductor.

Each publisher should consider it his individual responsibility before the Lord to give diligent consideration to the contents of Freedom of Worship so as to be prepared always to give an effective and proper witness to Jehovah's name when the occasion presents itself. He should carefully study the booklet at home at every opportunity. Frequent reference to the index in the back of the booklet will assist the publisher to become familiar with the contents and will provide him with a ready’ means of quick reference in times of emergency.

A Good Report from Vacation Pioneers

Space will not permit us to present the many thrilling letters we have received from our younger brethren who enrolled as vacation pioneers during the past summer. These brethren really found that they could "be a pioneer" and meet the requirements much more easily than they ever believed possible. The joy which this realization brought them found outlets in questions such as these: “Do we have to interrupt our Theocratic sery ice to go back to school?" "How will our returning to school affect our record? We want to build up a record that will enable us to become special pioneers and Gilead students." These and many other questions and statements of appreciation indicated an intense desire to have an active part in life in the New World. It opened up to them a Theocratic vision ol the future that will go far to help them to properly appraise New World and "old world" values, and choose the way of life. In this they are setting a splendid example for many young-consecrated men and women who have no obligation or valid reason for not devoting their entire time to Theocratic service, and thus making a record that will constitute a basis for greater service in the Lord's "New World” of tomorrow.

Free Nation I

Be a Regular Publisher

‘•Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” That stirring command went forth from Jehovah God to Zion’s King. Christ Jesus, over twenty-five years ago. That truthkeeping righteous “Free Nation” entered in. and unto such now the commission lias been given to preach ‘this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness’. The past twenty-five years' work in performance of that commission has piled up an enormous “heap of witness” and proof that it is the nation that “keepeth the truth”.

At the recent world-wide “Free Nation’s” Theocratic Assembly the Lord enlightened Uis people as to what is meant by ‘keeping truth’. A recent Watchtower briefly, clearly, and forcibly points this out: “They keep the truth, not by remaining silent about it, for that would mean denying the truth by letting the error stand unchallenged. They keep the truth both by being faithful to it and by telling it out to others. . . . This divine grace has not been restricted to them for their selfish enjoyment, but that they might ‘arise and shine’ and be witnesses of Kingdom truth In all the world for a witness to all nations . . . , and those ‘strangers’ of good-will who now become the companions of the remnant must likewise love the truth and must keep it by faithfully witnessing to it.”

For the month of January, 1944, the citizens of the “Free Nation”, along with their companions, will keep trutli by carrying it to others in the form of the book “The Trutli Shall Make You Free’’ and the booklet Freedom in the New World, on a contribution of 25c. This is a righteous requirement of everyone under the administration of the “Free Nation”, and by fulfilling such requirement one is faithful to the truth given him.

We hope that the beginning of the calendar year 1944 will mark a rise in Kingdom activity on the part of every company and unit and every individual publisher of The Theocracy. By now almost all companies have been visited two times by the servant to the brethren. He has closely examined your activity anil has called your attention to certain deficiencies that exist, both individually and as a company, and has aided you constructively that you might progress. Your acceptance of his counsel and help has been shown by increased and efficient witnessing over the past year. Expressed appreciation of the Lord's arrangement of tile “servant to the brethren” work and your 'keeping truth' thereby can be manifested to a greater degree in the coming year by your diligence in receiving Theocratic-instruction and applying such by increasing your field service activities.

Time Vital to Keeping Truth

To properly ‘keep truth" one must put in a reasonable amount of time in the service. To put m that reasonable amount of time requires organization. both on the parr of the company as a whole and on the part of the individual publisher, be it company or pioneer. Be systematic and do all things in order. Budget or arrange your time, and then stick to it, and you will lie surprised at the increase you can show on your report and the blessings that will result from that increased activity. Now this means that all who have been regular publishers over the past year but who have not met the 60-hour quota should strive for it. It means that the irregular publish-

Truth

ers should strive to report regularly and thus be regular publishers. It means that every associated person of good-will who has been coming to book studies, Watchtower study and/or service meeting has an obligation before the Lord to ‘keep the truth’ by telling it to all with whom he comes in contact. If you are one of such, begin now to have a part in Kingdom service. Be a publisher I The servants and publishers will aid you to this end.

Use All Instruments

Accept and use with diligence all instruments the Lord has put within your reach that you may bear an effective witness to His truth. Use the phonograph, especially the doorstep setup, and the abundant supply of records provided. Accept an individual assignment of territory and work it once every six weeks. Use the “House to House Record” form and keep track of all interest and placements and fail not to call hack thereon. Make back-calls and organize and conduct book studies. Take advantage of your privilege to ‘forsake not the assembling of yourselves together’ and attend Watchtower study and service meetings. Participate in the course in Theocratic ministry and become equipped to give a more effective witness. Seek not the growing temporary prosperity of the “old world”, but shake loose from all unnecessary secular shackles that hinder lasting New World service. Enter upon that highway that leads into the New World and lift up the standard of truth for the people that they too may join in its proclamation and be free.

To do such means that you will have a more complete share in ‘keeping truth’. “Freely ye have received” ; rightly then, “freely give.”

The Report Letter

So that an accurate record may be had of the work done in the field, it is necessary that all who engage in the campaign of free education see eye to eye on the matter of reporting. To this end a letter of instructions was prepared and sent to all companies and pioneers with their yearly supplies. This letter should be thoroughly discussed at one of tlie service meetings during December. It should also be carefully considered by all special and general pioneers, and where these are not able to attend a company service meeting they should arrange for a study among themselves, as they should also do with the Informant and other organization instructions.

From the reports coming in it is quite apparent that not all clearly understand how to report. For instance : "Back-Call Book Studies” to be reported are a number equal to the number of different homes or places where the publisher conducts bis own studies, and not the total number of meetings held. “New Interest Attending Back-Call Book Studies” includes all those who do not regularly attend Watchtower and other headquarters meetings and who are not publishers, not merely those who attend for the first time. If there is any question as to the proper manner of reporting, it is better to write for information than to continue reporting incorrectly. In the typical Theocracy, as well as in the days of the apostles, accurate reports were made. The same should be true today.

How to Report Back-Calls

Keeping proper records of all people of good-will is most important. In order that the back-call records may be kept properly and accurately, and to promote uniformity in all companies in keeping these records, the following instructions are given :

When a publisher places literature in the house-to-house work he makes note of this on the “House to House Record" form and calls back on all of those people in a few days. Each one of these calls on people with whom you have previously placed literature, or w h o have shown interest and to whom you are now able to give an additional witness, should be reported as a back-call in the following manner: Right after the very first back-call, if there is evidence of interest and more calls should therefore be made, the publisher should make out one original “Back-Call” slip, and one “Back-Call Follow-Up Report". He should keep the original "Back-Call” slip as long as he holds the territory and the party is interested, but the “Back-Call Follow-Up Report” should, at the first meeting thereafter, be turned in to the back-call servant, after the necessary information is entered on the original “Back-Call" slip. Each time the publisher makes a call thereafter he will make out one “Back-Call Fol-i low-Up Report” and turn it in to the back-call servant, after entering the results of his call on the back of the original “Back-Call” slip.

Filing “New Interest”

When the back-call servant receives “Back-Call Follow-Up Reports” for names he does not have in his permanent file, he will file them in their proper order under the territory number in his permanent file, and when he receives three such “Back-Call Follow-Up Reports” he will make out a "Permanent Back-Call Record” for his file, enter the information from the “Back-Call Follow-Up Reports” on it, and destroy the Follow-Up slips. If he receives only one or two “Back-Call Follow-Up Reports” and no more for a period of two or three weeks, he should take these slips out of his file and check with the publisher to see if the prospect has lost interest. Only one original “Back-Call” slip is to be made out by a publisher for each person on whom back-calls are made. The only exception to this would be when the back portion of a slip is completely filled out and it is necessary to have another place to continue the record of calls made. The publisher will turn in all of these with up-to-date information, addresses, etc., when he relinquishes the territory. The back-call servant will take these and cheek them with those in the permanent file and make corrections on his own records where necessary, and issue them when the territory is reassigned.

Display Only One Poster

It has been noted that many companies exhibit two or more campaign posters at one time. This defeats the purpose of these posters. When the Society sends posters to the company, only the one for the current month should be displayed. At the end of each month the old one should be taken down and the new one put up in its place. Fosters are usually mailed every three months. At no time should the posters for future months be shown to anyone in the company before they are displayed to the company at the beginning of the respective month. These are confidential, and are to be treated as such until the time for their release.

Special Distribution of Consolation No. 631

This issue of Consolation is a 64-page edition containing chiefly a report of the “Free Nation’s” Theocratic Assembly, as well as very Interesting and important general information. Its description of the “Free Nation’s” Theocratic Assembly is the outstanding feature, specially prepared for you and all other people of good-will. The front page of the special section of the magazine, on the Assembly, gives one a most fascinating picture of the earth's surface, with lines stretching out from the key city at Minneapolis, Minn., and extending to five of the seven continents of the earth. To let the mind dwell on this point and call to remembrance the words of the psalmist in the 72nd Psalm, the 7th and 8th verses, one can readily discern their fulfillment now taking place before our very eyes. The people of good-will may be greatly helped by thus seeing the magnitude of the Lord’s work.

As one turns to the third page, the beginning of the article, and follows the description of Jehovah God the Master of space, one is carried on to greater appreciation of the majesty and glory of our God, who is fulfilling his own grand design to ultimately cover the earth with a knowledge of himself as the waters cover the deep. Then comes the description of the epoch-making assembly itself as it radiated from Minneapolis.

Every person of good-will in your territory should have his copy of this very enlightening issue of Consolation; not only those persons of good-will in your back-call file, but also those throughout your territory who have had any Kingdom literature. Each publisher should at all times have a number of copies in his book bag and offer them to the people in the regular house-to-house witnessing. This should be given special attention in street, route and store-to-store work. All associated with the company, whether they are publishers or not, should join in this work, placing this magazine with friends, fellow workers and acquaintances, as well as in all branches of the witness work.

If your company has not ordered its supply of this issue of Consolation, or if you believe you can use an additional supply, the company servant should check immediately with the advertising servant and order a sufficient supply to be used as outlined herein. (See November Informant for detailed information on this point.) Be sure your order is in the Brooklyn office before December 15, so that it can be given attention in December.

Prepare for Watchtower Campaign

During February, March and April the special offer of a year's subscription for the Watchtower magazine, and a bound book and a booklet, on a $1.00 contribution, will be featured. In instances where people have already subscribed for The Watchtower you may offer Consolation for a year, with a book and a booklet, on the $1.00 contribution. The Greek. Italian, Polish. Portuguese, Russia n. Spanish, and Ukrainian magazines may also be offered at the regular cost of the subscription, with a book and a booklet free. Determine your needs in distributors' copies, especially in English, and send in your orders for increases early in January. “The Truth Shall Make You Free” and Freedom in the New World should be offered with the English subscriptions.