In a world where people are stressed out and looking for answers, members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) are reminding people that they can be positive and optimistic about the future that a better world is coming.
“There is a wonderful message of hope because the Bible holds out a message that there will be a better world,” said Ritchie Eyma, public communications representative, United States (US) branch, Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A campaign that kicked off in November reminded people to focus their attention on the Bible’s hope for a better world.
The goal of the campaign is to distribute a special edition of “The Watchtower” and “Awake!” magazines containing the cover series ‘A Better World is Near’. Eyma said more than 36 million printed copies of the magazine are expected to be distributed via the mail, in some 230 languages, to communities in 240 lands, globally.
In the pandemic, the Bible-based magazine was also made available digitally in nearly 400 languages, including sign languages.
According to the JW site, “The Watchtower” serves to show people the significance of world events in light of Bible prophecies, and through its articles, provide people with comfort with good news of God’s kingdom and promoting faith in Jesus.
“Awake!”, they said, shows people how to cope with today’s problems, and builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world.
“People are longing to hear a positive message, and this is the best news possible,” said Robert Hendriks, JW’s US spokesperson. “A better world is not just a dream, it’s inevitable. In fact, it is the central theme of the entire Bible,” he said in a written statement.
JW officials said the magazine addresses the age-old doomsday question of whether the world is going to end, with a comforting answer that may surprise readers.
“This positive message has been the hope of millions around the world who have prayed for God’s kingdom to come.”
Lowell Taylor, a 38-year Jehovah’s Witnesses convert, is convinced that if he had not come to know the Bible, and put aside his bad habits, he would not be alive, today.
“After my first Bible study, those desires went away. I don’t even crave for it or have any desire for anything of that nature. It’s a wonderful high just to be natural. It helped me get along better with my family … with my wife and my children,” said Taylor, who resides in New Providence.
His advice to someone dealing with anxiety due to personal trials, and the world today, is to engage in Bible study.
“Give the Bible a chance, and examine it with an open mind,” said Taylor.
Sheryl Clarke, a New Providence resident, began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses as a college student.
She said the “comforting thoughts” that come from the word in the Bible continue to help her in troubling times. She has had seven relatives die, which she attributes to the pandemic, and had an operation that has left her with nerve damage, and in excruciating pain.
Clarke said in a time when they are unable to come together in person, she has turned to the JW website, jw.org.
“The resources are just awesome. When you go there, you can find out information on anything you need.”
Clarke said she was one of the people looking forward to the campaign and to many people being helped.
“I’m sure that everyone will agree that we need a better world,” she said.
Eyma said this campaign of hope is not the first for JW, and that “The Watchtower” has had uplifting articles of hope and message of God’s kingdom for more than 100 years.
