{"id":1210,"date":"2012-11-10T13:27:39","date_gmt":"2012-11-10T13:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/news\/2012\/11\/10\/annual-meeting-report-food-at-the-proper-time\/"},"modified":"2012-11-10T13:27:39","modified_gmt":"2012-11-10T13:27:39","slug":"annual-meeting-report-food-at-the-proper-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/annual-meeting-report-food-at-the-proper-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Meeting Report \u201cFood at the Proper Time\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An audience of thousands listened to encouraging reports and an exciting discussion of Matthew 24:45-47 at the 128th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.<\/div>\n
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On October 6, 2012, almost 5,000 people were assembled for the program at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A. By means of video tie-in, over 10,000 more watched at our facilities in Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, and at our branch office in Canada.<\/div>\n
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Anthony Morris, a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses and chairman of the meeting, reviewed past annual meetings that were especially upbuilding and historic. The audience knew that this year\u2019s program would be upbuilding. But they now wondered, \u2018Would it also be historic?\u2019<\/div>\n
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Two videos then took the audience around the world.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Kingdom Hall Construction:<\/strong><\/div>\n
This video chronicled the success of Kingdom Hall construction in lands with limited resources. In the past 13 years, Kingdom Hall Construction Groups in such lands have built 25,402 Kingdom Halls\u2014an average of more than five completed Kingdom Halls every day! Those Kingdom Halls were built using funds donated by Witnesses from all around the world. Moreover, when a natural disaster strikes, these skilled groups often spring into action and assist victims to repair or rebuild their Kingdom Halls and their homes.<\/div>\n
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Special Conventions:<\/strong><\/div>\n
In 2012, Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses held several special conventions with international delegates. How did these conventions differ from the international conventions in previous years?<\/div>\n
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The video explained that the host branch offices, not travel agents, arranged accommodations, local transportation, and noon meals for delegates during the convention week. Approximately 1,500 foreign delegates attended each convention.<\/div>\n
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Foreign delegates and local Witnesses had many opportunities to become acquainted with one another, not only at the convention but also while sightseeing, eating meals, and preaching to local residents. \u201cAt all the special conventions thus far,\u201d the video reported, \u201cthe perfect bond of union [has] proved to be brotherly love.\u201d<\/div>\n
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How thrilled the audience was to learn that Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses will hereafter hold special conventions annually in selected cities around the world!<\/div>\n
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Other highlights of the annual meeting included:<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Get-Acquainted Interviews:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Three Branch Committee members and their wives, who have been full-time ministers for a combined total of 342 years, related how Jehovah God has trained them to fulfill many different assignments.<\/div>\n
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Richard Kelsey, a member of the Branch Committee in Germany, said that the School for Branch Committee Members and Their Wives taught him to \u201cfollow Jehovah\u2019s direction always.\u201d Jehovah is a loving Father who wants the best for us. \u201cHe wants us to live forever,\u201d explained Brother Kelsey, \u201cand he is doing everything to take care of us.\u201d The school taught the Branch Committee members to follow Jehovah\u2019s loving example.<\/div>\n
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When Linda Johansson was invited to the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in 1958, she had been baptized for two and a half years and married for only one year. \u201cHere I was in a class with very mature [and] experienced brothers,\u201d said Sister Johansson. \u201cI thought . . . , \u2018I really shouldn\u2019t be here.\u2019\u201d<\/div>\n
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Yet, Sister Johansson persevered, and after graduation she and her husband were appointed as missionaries in Malawi. Following the intense persecution of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses in that country, she studied the Bible with a government minister who had opposed the work of the Witnesses. Today, that man\u2019s wife, son, and daughter are all baptized Witnesses.<\/div>\n
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Public Witnessing Project:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Four graduates of the Bible School for Christian Couples and a traveling overseer of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses in New York related experiences that resulted from their efforts to reach people in busy metropolitan areas.<\/div>\n
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In high-traffic urban areas, full-time ministers of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses tend tables and portable carts stocked with Bible literature. Passersby can obtain publications, ask Bible questions, and request a Bible study.<\/div>\n
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Witnesses in other parts of New York City, as well as in Chicago and Los Angeles, are trying this method of meeting poeple. In just one year, some 2,700 visitors to these tables and carts asked for a free Bible study.<\/div>\n
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Children\u2019s Chorus:<\/strong><\/div>\n
There were few dry eyes in the audience as a chorus of 17 children sang \u201cListen, Obey, and Be Blessed\u201d from the songbook Sing to Jehovah (Song No. 120).<\/div>\n
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Next, a symposium of six talks by members of the Governing Body\u2014Brothers Jackson, L\u00f6sch, Pierce, Herd, Lett, and Splane\u2014analyzed and discussed the meaning of Jesus\u2019 words recorded at Matthew 24:45-47. Jesus stated:<\/div>\n
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\u201cWho really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so! Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The symposium answered the following questions:<\/strong><\/div>\n
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When Did Jesus Appoint \u201cthe Faithful and Discreet Slave\u201d Over His Domestics?<\/div>\n
Consider the context of Jesus\u2019 words in Matthew chapter 24. All the verses listed here were to be fulfilled during Christ\u2019s presence, \u201cthe conclusion of the system of things.\u201d\u2014Verse 3.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe tribulation of those days.\u201d\u2014Verse 29.<\/div>\n
\u201cThis generation.\u201d\u2014Verse 34.<\/div>\n
\u201cThat day and hour.\u201d\u2014Verse 36.<\/div>\n
The \u201cday your Lord is coming.\u201d\u2014Verse 42.<\/div>\n
\u201cAt an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.\u201d\u2014Verse 44.<\/div>\n
Logically, then, \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave\u201d must have appeared after Christ\u2019s presence began in 1914.<\/div>\n
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Moreover, Jesus indicated that this \u201cslave\u201d would appear during a time when a legitimate question would be: \u201cWho really is the faithful and discreet slave?\u201d Jesus\u2019 apostles had miraculous gifts of holy spirit, so there was scant reason to raise that question in the first century C.E. (1 Corinthians 14:12, 24, 25) Although they were anointed by holy spirit, the apostles and other first-century Christians were not \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave\u201d prophesied by Jesus.<\/div>\n
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It is reasonable to conclude, then, that Jesus appointed \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave\u201d over \u201chis domestics\u201d during his presence, \u201cthe conclusion of the system of things.\u201d<\/div>\n
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\u201cWho Really Is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n
Jesus was referring, not to an individual, but to a composite \u201cslave\u201d\u2014a group working together as one body. Jesus said that the slave (1) is appointed to a supervisory role \u201cover [the master\u2019s] domestics\u201d and (2) gives the domestics spiritual \u201cfood at the proper time.\u201d<\/div>\n
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From 1919 on, there has always been a small group of anointed Christians at the world headquarters of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses. They have supervised our worldwide preaching work and have been directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food. In recent years, that group has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses.<\/div>\n
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The evidence points to the following conclusion: \u201cThe faithful and discreet slave\u201d was appointed over Jesus\u2019 domestics in 1919. That slave is the small, composite group of anointed brothers serving at world headquarters during Christ\u2019s presence who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food. When this group work together as the Governing Body, they act as \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Who Are the \u201cDomestics\u201d?<\/strong><\/div>\n
Jesus said that \u201chis domestics\u201d would receive \u201cfood at the proper time.\u201d All genuine followers of Jesus are fed by \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave.\u201d Therefore, all of Christ\u2019s disciples\u2014both individual anointed Christians and members of the \u201cother sheep\u201d\u2014are \u201chis domestics.\u201d\u2014John 10:16.<\/div>\n
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After the speaker explained this aspect of Jesus\u2019 prophecy, the audience erupted in sustained applause. Several in attendance later expressed their profound gratitude that Jesus considers them among \u201chis domestics.\u201d<\/div>\n
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When Does Jesus Appoint the Slave \u201cOver All His Belongings\u201d?<\/strong><\/div>\n
Jesus said that the \u201cmaster on arriving\u201d (literally, \u201chaving come\u201d) will appoint the slave \u201cover all his belongings.\u201d When does the Master, Jesus, arrive?<\/div>\n
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The expression translated \u201con arriving\u201d is a form of the Greek word er?kho\u00b7mai. Verses 42 and 44 of chapter 24 translate a form of er?kho\u00b7mai as \u201ccoming.\u201d In those verses, Jesus is referring to his coming as Judge during the great tribulation.\u2014Matthew 24:30; 25:31, 32.<\/div>\n
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Jesus\u2019 appointment of the \u201cslave\u201d over his \u201cbelongings,\u201d then, must also be a future event. He will make that appointment during the great tribulation.<\/div>\n
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What Are Jesus\u2019 \u201cBelongings\u201d?<\/strong><\/div>\n
Jesus said: \u201cAll authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.\u201d (Matthew 28:18) Jesus\u2019 \u201cbelongings\u201d thus include more than just his earthly interests. They include the Messianic Kingdom.\u2014Philippians 2:9-11.<\/div>\n
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Consequently, Jesus will reward \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave\u201d by resurrecting the individual members of that group to heavenly life and by giving them royal authority over all Christ\u2019s belongings in heaven and on earth. This is the same reward promised to all faithful anointed Christians.\u2014Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 20:6.<\/div>\n
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The final talk of the symposium included a special announcement. After reading Jesus\u2019 reassuring words at Matthew 28:20, Brother Splane stated: \u201cWe have another reason for confidence. That reason is contained in the yeartext for 2013. What is it? Joshua 1:9: \u2018Be courageous and strong. . . . Jehovah your God is with you.\u2019\u201d<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat about next year?\u201d asked Brother Morris in his concluding comments. \u201cNext year\u2019s annual meeting, which is scheduled to be held on October 5, 2013, will be tied in to selected Assembly Halls in the United States and other English-speaking countries.\u201d<\/div>\n
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This program will be broadcast in English only. It will not be interpreted into other languages.<\/div>\n
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After such an upbuilding and historic program, those in attendance heartily joined in singing \u201cThe Light Gets Brighter\u201d (Song No. 116) from Sing to Jehovah. Its lyrics include these appropriate words:<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur Lord has appointed a trustworthy slave,<\/div>\n
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Through whom He gives food in due season.<\/div>\n
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The light of the truth has grown brighter with time,<\/div>\n
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Appealing to heart and to reason.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
http:\/\/www.jw.org\/en\/news\/events-activities\/annual-meeting-report-2012\/\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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An audience of thousands listened to encouraging reports and an exciting discussion of Matthew 24:45-47 at the 128th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. On October 6, 2012, almost…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1210\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}