Has anyone heard what is being discussed at the convention this year?
I noticed that an article from the Amarillo Globe mentions the keynote speaker's talk is about the parallels between the World of Noah and the World today.
I'm wondering how much emphasis is put on the 120 years?
pseudo
"A belief is not true because it is useful."
-- Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-81), Swiss philosopher, poet
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/060504/new_jehovah.shtml
Web-posted Saturday, June 5, 2004
Jehovah's Witnesses gather in Amarillo
By Paige Dickerson
[email protected]
The Amarillo Globe-News
Alta Tinsley went to her first Jehovah's Witnesses convention 62 years ago in Phoenix. She never stopped.
Six decades later, she brought her daughter, Maudean Moore, and her granddaughter, Melanie Reynolds, to the annual convention at the Amarillo Civic Center. The three generations met up from New York and Lubbock at the Amarillo convention this weekend at the Civic Center.
"I belonged to another church, and I learned nothing there. Then I started to hear about the paradise on Earth and I thought that was the best news I'd heard, so I pursued it," Tinsley said.
Even though she encountered some resistance, Tinsley continued to attend conventions and services with the Jehovah's Witnesses.
"There was nothing so severe that it outweighed the benefits," Tinsley said.
Tinsley took her daughter to the conventions from a young age and at 7 years old, Moore was baptized.
"Being the good mother she was, she instilled biblical principles in me," Moore said. "I had a normal childhood in the sense of going to school. There is not only a better hope for the future, but there is less involvement in the dangerous things that are around."
Reynolds, Tinsley's granddaughter, works directly for the Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the purchasing department. The primary function of the headquarters is to train and send out missionaries all over the world.
"I did examine some other religions, but I knew this way of life was best," Reynolds said. "The conferences are the highlight of our year. We are always wondering what biblical prophecy talks are going on."
One of the thing all three generations appreciate about the Jehovah's Witnesses is the trustworthiness of everyone at the conventions.
"They said in New York there were lots of policemen assigned, but they said they had nothing to do. They were all riding around on horses, and the big excitement of the day was to give the kids rides around," Moore said.
Reynolds also emphasized the dedication to obedience that the members have.
"It's not that we're not individual people or personalities, but we do try very hard because we have a great love for Jehovah and a respect for the theocracy that is set up," Reynolds said. "If we were at a Yankees' game, they (the audience) would be so disrespectful, but for us we do (what the announcer says) because it is part of our worship."
This year's convention will draw an estimated 4,500 people for lessons on a "Walk with God."
Keynote speaker Virgil Lowery spoke on the parallels between the world of Noah and the world today. The convention continues through Sunday with an emphasis on the role of religion in a world of changing values.
Today's events will include a baptism service at 11:50 a.m. in the Civic Center Coliseum. A drama, "They Bore Thorough Witness to the Good News,"will be at 11:10 a.m. Sunday in the coliseum.