STRANGERS AT OUR DOOR
It was the start of the southern summer of 1967 and the weather was quite warm. Christmas was not far away. At home mum was putting some decorations around the Christmas tree that she had just bought and listening the radio singing “Silence is Golden” by Tremeloes . Charles my eldest brother was fast asleep when suddenly mum heard a knock on our door. She was not expecting anybody at that time so she was curious to find out who came. She rushed towards the main door. When she opened the door on our porch were two women both nicely dressed.
One of them in her late fifties introduced herself and said that they are participating in a “Christian work” trying to encourage people to read the Bible. My mother not knowing who they are taught that they are from the local parish church and that this “Christian work” is something to be praised and recommended. Duiring the conversation the unexpected visitors could tell that my mother was not an Australian, so they enquired from which country she is coming. Mum replied that both my father and herself are Maltese. They informed her that among their members they do have some Maltese “brothers” and if she would like she could arrange to send them to visit both my parenets. She asked mum, when it will be best for them to come. Mum said that the best will be on a Friday. Before they left they informed her that are members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This was the first time that my mother heard that name. What she did not realise then, is that soon in the near future this religious organization which was established in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell will take over and control the life of her family. It was also the beginning of problems and difficulties that would plague our entire family for the next twenty six years. When dad came from work mum told him about the unexpected visit she had in the mornning but dad hardly took any notice of what she said.
Two weeks passed from that visit and mum forgot all about it. Her due date of labour was getting near and the doctor at the hospital informed her that she will be giving birth to twins.
It was Friday at around six o’clock in the evening and mum was feeding my brother Charles. Dad was at the front garden with one of his friends smoking a cigaret. Approaching our main gate he noticed two gentlemen. As they got nearer he realised that they were both Maltese as he recognized the language that they were talking in.
The coversation started first by asking about the weather then moving to which part of Malta they are coming from and how long they have been in Australia. After this introduction they tactfully turned the topic on what’s happing around the world with particular reference to the Vietnam war. They asked dad if he thinks that one day all these wars could have an end. Both of these strangers were dads age late twenties early thirty. John was the name of the one who was doing the talking. He impressed dad how versed he was with the Bible. In the meantime dad’s friend left. John was showing different marked passages to support what he was stating. He was always saying “look what the Bible says.”
Hardly did dad notice that John was putting into practice the training that he received at the weekly meetings that he attended. One of these meetings consisted of two sessions. The first part is called the Theocratic Ministry School and the other session the Service Meeting. In both these sessions training is given how to be effective when participating in the preaching work. The training consists of words you should start with, what to observe, what to ask, what objections you could be faced from the householder, how to overcome these objections, the importance of your first 10 seconds and much, much more then this. This type of training is similar to what you will have in a sales and marketing course.
During the discussion both John and Andy explained that they are no longer members of the Roman Catholic Church. This was a shock for dad as he was brought up as a Catholic. He could not understand how two smart guys well dressed and able to read renounced there faith in the Catholic Church.
Dad’s interest was increased and he was enjoying what he was hearing. John had just showed him that we are living in the end of times and soon God is going to destroy all the wickedness. John made it a point that every time he quoted a passage from the Bible he always emphasized “see what the God’s word has to say on this.”
As stated in the Osservatore Romano (October 29, 2008): “A lack of biblical literacy can make people, even Catholics, more susceptible to believing the distortions and falsifications in biblical texts published by the Jehovah’s Witnesses (changed) Pour knowledge of the sacred texts favors the spread of garish and awkward manipulations of the Bible.”
In his book “Masters of Deception” F.W. Thomas said: “In this busy age it is difficult for the average person to have a ready answer to the tricky questions and arguments that wily cult propagandists have forged to prove their position.”
Dad was quite impressed with what he heard so far. John then suggested that they should meet next week to discuss further the Bible. Not wishing to offend such a knowledgeable and seemingly pleasant person dad gave his consent.
The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” was new for my dad and he asked John some questions about this religion. John gave (not correct – sold is the correct word) some literature published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and arranged a date to return again.
