JW subtitle extractor

We warmly welcome you to JW Broadcasting®!
We all want to make good decisions
and look to the future with confidence.
To do this, we need good direction.
This month, we’ll talk about where to find
and how to follow good direction.
We’ll sit down with the Tshomba family,
who followed good direction
and were blessed for their obedience.
We’ll dig for treasures
in the book of Habakkuk
and learn how to remain calm
when an assignment
or situation feels overwhelming.
And we’ll enjoy a day in the life
of a young brother
who left home to serve where the need
is greater in the Dominican Republic.
There’s so much to look forward to
in this episode of JW Broadcasting!
“Do You Know the Way to Go?”:
Our theme for this discussion
is based on Joshua 3:4.
The setting is that the nation of Israel
was about to enter the Promised Land
after waiting for some 40 years.
However, the next phase would not be easy.
It would require
much effort, faith, and courage
to enjoy the blessings of the Promised Land.
How would they know how to proceed?
Let’s read together Joshua 3:2-4
to understand how Jehovah guides his people
at this critical moment.
“After three days,
the officers passed throughout the camp
“and commanded the people:
“‘As soon as you see the ark of the covenant
of Jehovah your God
“‘being carried by the Levitical priests,
“‘you should depart from your place
and follow it.
“‘But keep a distance
of about 2,000 cubits from it;
“‘do not come any nearer to it,
“‘so that you may know
which is the way to go,
for you have not traveled
on this way before.’”
You notice they needed
to follow the ark of the covenant
to know which way to go.
Now, while this may have seemed obvious,
the nation of Israel
had difficulties following direction.
They often focused negatively
on the men who were leading them
and let pride or desire for independence
influence their decisions.
Now, why is this relevant today?
Well, we too are at a pivotal point
in human history.
All indications suggest
that we are deep in “the last days”
and could soon see
the beginning of the great tribulation
leading to Armageddon.
Following direction will be vital.
How will we know the way to go?
Well, just as in Joshua’s day,
it’s imperative to identify
how Jehovah is leading his people
and follow it.
With that in mind, we’ll consider
three points in this discussion:
(1) How do we identify the way to go?
(2) How do we stay on the way?
and (3) How do we keep up?
Let’s begin with our first point:
How do we identify the way to go?
Well, during their time in the wilderness
under Moses and Aaron,
the nation of Israel had clear manifestation
of Jehovah’s direction
(we remember)
by the pillar of cloud by day
and the pillar of fire by night.
However, Jehovah now changed
how he would provide direction.
It required faith on the part of the nation
to acknowledge
that Joshua was now the one
Jehovah was using.
By having the ark of the covenant
go before the people,
Joshua was ensuring that the people knew
that it really was still Jehovah
who was leading them.
Whom is Jehovah using today?
Jesus gave us the answer.
Let’s turn to Matthew 24:45:
“Who really is
the faithful and discreet slave
“whom his master appointed
over his domestics,
to give them their food at the proper time?”
“The faithful and discreet slave”
—who are they?
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses
makes up this group today.
They provide the spiritual food,
direction, and practical help
for Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world.
Now, we know that.
We’ve considered the scripture many times.
But have we thought deeply
regarding why we believe that?
The Enjoy Life Forever! book
includes lesson 54,
“The Role
of ‘the Faithful and Discreet Slave.’”
In that lesson,
it asks our Bible students:
“What proves to you
that Jesus is leading the Governing Body?”
And “Do you believe
that the Governing Body
is ‘the faithful and discreet slave’?”
These are serious questions.
How would you answer them?
Perhaps you’d find it helpful
to consider this chapter,
including the “Explore” section,
in an upcoming family worship
or personal study project.
Now, why is that important?
Well, think about it.
If the nation of Israel
was going to follow men
carrying the ark of the covenant
into a river at flood stage,
they needed to have complete confidence
that Jehovah was guiding these men.
Well, likewise,
if we’re going to follow the Governing Body
as we move into difficult days ahead,
we need to have complete confidence
that Jehovah is the one taking the lead
by means of his Son, Jesus Christ.
So, what’s the answer to our first question,
How do we identify the way to go?
Similar to the faithful Israelites,
we follow the ones
that Jehovah is using to lead us.
That brings us to our second point:
How do we stay on the way?
It may be easy to follow direction
when we agree with the direction given.
However, it’s more difficult
when we’re asked to do something
that doesn’t quite fit
with what we think should be done.
What do we do then?
The apostle Paul provides us
with a good example of how to react.
Acts chapter 21 records
when Paul came to Jerusalem
and updated James and the elders
regarding his missionary travels.
And they were overjoyed
to hear his experiences,
but there was also a problem.
Note what they said
regarding some of the Jewish Christians,
as recorded at Acts 21:21:
“But they have heard it rumored about you
“that you have been teaching
all the Jews among the nations
“an apostasy from Moses,
“telling them
not to circumcise their children
or to follow the customary practices.”
Now, there’s no record of Paul doing this.
But there were rumors.
So, what was their direction?
Look at Acts 21:24:
“Take these men with you
“and cleanse yourself ceremonially
together with them
“and take care of their expenses,
“so that they may have their heads shaved.
“Then everyone will know
“that there is nothing to the rumors
they were told about you,
“but that you are walking orderly
and you are also keeping the Law.”
What did Paul do?
He didn’t argue or resist.
In verse 26,
it says that “Paul took the men the next day
and cleansed himself ceremonially
along with them.”
So to settle a rumor that was not true,
Paul used his own funds
and did what he knew was no longer required.
Why?
Because he was loyal
to those Jehovah appointed to take the lead.
Now, what’s the lesson?
When we receive direction
—even if it seems unnecessary
or we have a different opinion—
do we trust Jehovah enough to follow it?
If you receive clear direction,
follow it
if there’s no Scriptural law
being disregarded.
You never know if Jehovah
is maneuvering matters for a reason.
And even if not,
he’ll reward you for your loyalty.
At times, this direction can mean our lives.
We may think of the drama
“Commit Your Way to Jehovah.”
This portrayed the real situation
of our brothers
fleeing for their lives in Africa.
That’s happening even to some
of our brothers and sisters today
in different parts of the world.
And our heart goes out to these dear ones.
That drama prompted all of us to consider
how we would respond
if we are told to do something
we may feel is a bit extreme
or not needed.
Why not look at that drama again
as part of your family worship
and then consider how you would have reacted?
Why is this important?
Well, think about this:
Will we also receive clear direction
on what to do and what not to do
during the great tribulation?
What form will that direction take?
Will it make sense to us?
If we have complete confidence
in Jehovah and his Son,
we’ll be ready to follow the direction
of those taking the lead.
So we’ve considered
how we identify the way to go
and how we stay on that way.
That leads to our third point:
How do we keep up?
Be careful not to let disappointments,
persecutions, or problems
cause us to stop or slow down
in following the direction
of those taking the lead.
For example,
we may respond immediately
if we hear something directly
from the Governing Body.
But what do we do when we receive direction
from our local elders
or the circuit overseer?
We know their personalities.
We see their imperfections.
Does that cause us to stop or slow down?
Can we still see Jehovah
behind the direction?
We need to stay close
to Jehovah’s organization.
Why is that important?
Well, have you ever followed someone
with your car
and encountered traffic and suddenly noticed
that the person you’re following
is far ahead of you?
The next thing you know,
you realize that they got off at an exit
and you missed it.
What happened?
We were too far away.
For the same reason, we need to keep up
with Jehovah’s organization.
Now, how do we do that?
Consider the reminders
we receive so often to keep up spiritually.
What are they?
Be at our congregation meetings;
maintain our routine of Bible reading,
personal study, and prayer;
engage in the ministry.
These things help us keep up
with Jehovah’s organization.
Now, at times, ones become disgruntled
with decisions that are made
or how things are handled
in the organization.
And this has caused some to slow down,
become inactive,
or stop associating with the congregation.
Sadly, they fail to understand
that, as in the nation of Israel,
things will not be managed perfectly
because of the fact
that all who are being used are imperfect.
So where will such ones go
to find perfection?
The only perfect human was Jesus himself.
So we have imperfect humans trying their best
to follow the direction
of their perfect Leader.
One astute, long-time circuit overseer
often said about Jehovah’s arrangement,
“This is the best imperfect organization
on earth.”
Well said.
This may remind us
of what’s recorded in John chapter 6.
We remember there that some stumbled
because of what Jesus said
about eating his flesh
and drinking his blood.
And the account said that “because of this,
“many of his disciples
went off to the things behind
and would no longer walk with him.”
So Jesus asks his disciples:
“You do not want to go also, do you?”
What was the response?
Peter responded beautifully with conviction,
as recorded at John 6:68:
“Lord, whom shall we go away to?
You have sayings of everlasting life.”
“Whom shall we go away to?”
Peter and the other disciples
may not have understood
what Jesus was talking about
any more than the others did.
But they were convinced
that there was nowhere else to go.
The same is true today.
Never forget what you have.
Where else will you go for the guidance,
spiritual food, and comfort
that Jehovah provides
through his organization?
There is nowhere else to go.
Don’t let the things you do not understand
blind you to what you have
and what you’re a part of.
So, what’s the point of this discussion?
All indications are
that we are deep in the last days
and on the verge of entering a future
we have long awaited.
Like Israel standing at Jordan’s banks,
obedience and following the direction
may mean our lives.
Now is the time to be fully convinced
of how Jehovah directs his organization.
Don’t let disappointments
or imperfections of others
slow you down.
Regularly remind yourself
of the privilege it is to be part
of this imperfect, yes,
but unified worldwide organization.
And be assured
that no matter
what dark days lay ahead of us,
if you stick close to Jehovah’s organization
and follow its direction,
you will always know the way to go.
Loic and Yohari Tshomba, siblings from Congo,
learned the truthfulness of this counsel
when their very lives depended
on faithfully following direction.
Watching the drama
“Commit Your Way to Jehovah”
resonated with me because it’s something
that my family and I went through.
Around the early 1990’s, life was OK.
Most of us were still very young,
and then the war broke out,
and it caused the family
to flee from Congo (Kinshasa).
The instruction that we got from the branch
was simple and easy.
Some did not follow,
and they lost their lives
with their families.
My father did not have
the funds that he needed
to get everyone to safety
at the same time.
The family had to split up.
My mom and four other siblings of mine
—we left, and we went to Tanzania.
So we got instruction
from my dad
where we were going to be meeting,
and adhering to that instruction
is what led us
to be together, or be reunited, again.
Obviously, the reunion that we saw
in the drama “Commit Your Way”
when the kids and the parents meet
was the exact reunion
that we had experienced.
Yeah, life in the refugee camp
was not stable.
There were threats of soldiers
coming into the camp.
Spiritually, it wasn’t
a good environment to be in.
So we had to move again
from Tanzania to Mozambique
this time around.
My earliest memory is
we were traveling on the back of a truck.
The road wasn’t that good,
so it was very bumpy with ups and downs,
and eventually the truck stopped.
So I assumed this was
our opportunity to rest.
And this was, like,
at three o’clock in the morning.
And my dad was, like:
“OK, guys, let’s get off the truck.
We’re going to do the day’s text.”
Being that young,
of course, it wasn’t pleasant.
You just wanted to sleep.
It is just a moment in time
that I will always remember
because no matter the circumstances,
my dad still kept spiritual things
first in our lives.
I could see that my dad really relied
(everything that he did) on Jehovah.
He lived off prayer.
Basically, with everything, it was prayer
and waiting for Jehovah
to give him an answer to that prayer.
While we were in Mozambique,
my mom got ill
and had to move to Cape Town
in South Africa to get treated.
It didn’t work,
because she ended up passing
in 2003.
And my dad was left
to take care of all of us.
But despite the great loss that he had,
he really relied on Jehovah
—focused his attention on Jehovah
and also on raising us in the truth.
He always said he wants us
to see our mom again.
He’s always had a phrase
that he used on all of us.
He used to say: “We failed in this system.
Let’s not fail for the next.”
Basically, just do the most for Jehovah
because in this system,
there’s nothing that we can get out of it.
We already failed.
And that’s really
what my dad has set in front of us.
It’s always been,
“Serve Jehovah and full-time service.”
After I finished school,
I decided to pioneer.
And when I was pioneering,
I really enjoyed LDC.
Now I have an amazing privilege
of serving at Bethel.
I mean, I get to use my time every day,
literally, to do what I can for Jehovah.
I decided to come and volunteer
and do construction at Bethel.
I feel so happy knowing
that all my children
are walking in the truth.
I have seen
the hand of Jehovah God in my life,
even during the most difficult times.
We had to walk an unfamiliar path,
not knowing where we were going
while caring for a baby.
But Jehovah was always by our side.
Letting go of our trust in Jehovah
was never an option.
The “Commit Your Way to Jehovah” drama
showed me that Jehovah doesn’t just see,
but he also feels
exactly what we’re going through.
Obedience really does save lives.
Even though
we might not understand why,
we should always
follow the instructions
because Jehovah knows
what’s best for us.
Brother Leon Tshomba
beautifully summed up the reason
he and his children escaped
with their lives and faith intact.
Do you remember what he said?
“Letting go of our trust in Jehovah
was never an option.”
The Tshomba family said the drama
“Commit Your Way to Jehovah”
reminded them of their own experience.
Again, we encourage all
to watch this powerful video
and take to heart the example of obedience
during difficult times.
Now, it can be hard to follow direction
when we feel anxious or unsettled.
Thankfully, Habakkuk provides us an example
of how to remain calm, focused, and obedient.
Studying Habakkuk for family worship
is really going to be interesting.
Yeah.
And even without any research tools,
we can still find treasures in the Bible.
So why don’t we start by taking a look
at the “Outline of Contents”?
Sure, it says:
“The prophet’s cry for help . . .
‘How long, O Jehovah?’”
Hmm, famous words
—but why did he feel that way?
Why don’t we take a look at the timeline
and see if we can connect some dots
with things that we remember?
Good idea!
So it looks like Habakkuk lived toward the end
of King Josiah’s reign
and at least into the reign of Jehoiakim.
I remember that during
much of Josiah’s reign,
Jehovah’s word was accepted and respected.
That must have been a pleasant, stable time
for Habakkuk.
But then one single arrow changed all of that.
Josiah was killed,
these wicked kings came to power,
and the people went right back
to their false worship and wicked practices.
Mm-hmm.
Their hearts never really changed, did they?
And Jehoiakim in particular
persecuted Jehovah’s prophets.
He even killed Urijah.
Can you imagine how Habakkuk
might have felt
if he was persecuted like that?
One day, life is great;
it’s calm; it’s stable.
And the next day, you’re under attack
or running for your life.
No wonder Habakkuk was crying for help!
Those words came from deep emotion.
That’s so true.
But how did Jehovah respond to that outcry?
Hmm.
As you read through the book,
did you notice any hint of reproof
or of Jehovah telling Habakkuk,
“Who are you to question me?”
No, not at all.
Me neither.
I think we can learn a lot
from what Jehovah doesn’t say.
Yeah.
Jehovah just listened to Habakkuk.
He didn’t dismiss his feelings.
Jehovah saw the motive behind the emotion.
And not only that,
he had Habakkuk write down his outburst
so that others could benefit from it.
Can you imagine
how that must have made Habakkuk feel?
But this is who Jehovah is.
He values honest, heartfelt words.
Mm-hmm.
He’s so approachable.
It’s like he’s saying to us:
“This is how I responded to Habakkuk,
“so this is how I’ll respond to you.
“I value your honest talk.
I see what’s behind it.”
And something that Jehovah said
in chapter 2, verse 4, caught my attention.
It says: “But the righteous one
will live by his faithfulness.”
That’s really important.
You know, I have a note here
that says: “This is not a general statement.
It is a central Bible truth.”
Jehovah was reassuring Habakkuk
that He would not lose track of those
who exercise faith in Him.
They would live.
And they did live.
Jeremiah, Baruch, Ebed-melech, the Rechabites
—they survived the destruction.
Jehovah is so trustworthy.
But we can keep digging here.
The marginal references
throughout this book are so helpful.
And look right here:
Paul references this statement three times
to strengthen the first-century Christians
when they were going through trials.
So think about that.
Jehovah rerecorded Habakkuk’s words
for you and me today.
It’s like Jehovah is saying,
“You need to remember what I told Habakkuk.”
And look at the effect Jehovah’s response
had on Habakkuk.
In the last two verses, he said that he would
“exult in Jehovah” and “be joyful.”
I remember a morning worship that said
that this word literally means
to “spin around”
or to “jump for joy.”
That’s amazing!
Nothing had changed
about Habakkuk’s circumstances.
It was his inner feelings that changed
when he poured his heart out to Jehovah
and patiently trusted him.
Yeah.
Jehovah’s approachability
and his trustworthiness
turned grief into relief for Habakkuk.
That’s so encouraging.
So, what do we want to take away from this?
What stands out to you?
Well, I think of Jehovah’s approachability.
It gives me confidence that I
can be completely honest in my prayers.
I don’t have to censor myself.
He already knows how I feel,
so I don’t have to hold anything back
or phrase it just right.
Jehovah, he wants me to speak
from the heart and feel free
to say the things I would never say out loud.
He values it.
Great point.
And it also makes me want to imitate
Jehovah’s approachability
not just in what I say
but also in what I don’t say,
like my demeanor and my facial expressions.
I want you and others to feel like
they can approach me about anything.
And even if someone says something bluntly
like Habakkuk did,
I can still validate their feelings
and focus on the motive behind those words.
Yeah, good point!
The fact that Jehovah is so trustworthy
means a lot to me too.
I trust that what Jehovah says
about our future will come true:
‘The righteous are going to live.’
It’s a central Bible truth, after all.
So no matter the circumstances,
I can be joyful like Habakkuk, come what may.
And meditating on Jehovah’s past actions
like Habakkuk did in chapter 3,
it reassures me that when things get worse,
I can patiently trust Jehovah
and obey His direction.
It doesn’t matter when the end comes;
it matters that we live a life of faith.
I love this.
Jehovah is approachable and trustworthy,
just what we need in times like this.
Look at what we can find
just by using the tools in the Bible
and making connections with things
we already know.
And we haven’t even gotten
into Jehovah’s example of patience
when he was questioned
or why Habakkuk expected to be reproved.
There’s so much
we can learn from his example.
Well, we have time, so let’s keep digging.
I wonder what Habakkuk was feeling when . . .
“The righteous one
will live by his faithfulness.”
Habakkuk lived by those words, and so can we.
How does trust factor into obedience?
Let’s listen as Brother William Turner
explains during a recent morning worship.
Well, when it comes to showing trust,
obviously we want to ensure
that our trust in Jehovah is complete.
But interestingly,
if we were to do a search on trust
from our publications,
we will also see the importance
of showing trust in other areas,
such as trusting in Jehovah’s name,
his Word, his organization,
his Son’s leadership.
So if we’re focused on having
complete trust in Jehovah,
why would trust be needed
in these other areas as well?
Well, let’s start with what it means
to trust in Jehovah completely.
Turn with me in your Bibles, please,
to Proverbs chapter 3
(a scripture we’re well familiar with),
and we’ll read Proverbs 3:5, 6:
“Trust in Jehovah with all your heart,
“and do not rely
on your own understanding.
“In all your ways take notice of him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
Now, the reason we read this scripture
is because I’m sure
you’ve been enjoying using
a really beautiful feature
on our JW Library® app,
and that is “Bible Verses Explained.”
Now, to find that,
you look on the home page,
and you go to “Library,”
under the “Publications tab,”
then “Article Series,”
and if you scroll down
to the book of Proverbs,
when you tap on Proverbs 3:5, 6,
note what it says under the heading
“Trust in Jehovah with all your heart.”
Now, just sort of starting midway,
with the fourth sentence, it says:
“Therefore, to trust God with all our heart
“involves more than our feelings.
“It is a choice we make
because we are fully convinced
that our Creator knows what is best for us.”
Complete trust
is not based on feeling or emotion.
It’s a choice.
We have to make
a conscious, reasoned decision
to trust Jehovah
even when there are matters
that we don’t fully understand
or we don’t have all the details.
Let’s just explain this
through a Bible passage.
Please turn with me to 2 Kings chapter 9.
And in 2 Kings chapter 9,
this is the account
when Jehu was anointed as king.
And if you look there at the beginning
of the chapter in verses 1 through 3,
the prophet Elisha instructs
one of the sons of the prophets
to carry out this assignment.
And he’s provided
with very detailed instructions
on how this anointing should take place.
After the assignment was carried out
and the prophet did as instructed,
let’s note the conversation that ensues
with Jehu and his army chiefs.
Let’s look at 2 Kings 9:11:
“When Jehu went back
to the servants of his lord,
“they asked him
‘Is everything all right?
“Why did this crazy man come to you?’
“He answered them:
“‘You know that sort of man
and his sort of talk.’
“But they said: ‘That is not true!
Tell us, please.’
“Then he said:
‘This is what he said to me,
“‘and then he added,
“This is what Jehovah says:
‘I anoint you as king over Israel.’”’”
Now, let’s just stop there for a moment.
So far, we’ve established two things.
First, Jehu’s army chiefs
clearly did not understand
the actions of the prophet.
What he did was strange
and irrational to them.
But despite that,
they also recognized
that his words were not coming
from the voice of a stranger.
Jehu’s manner and appearance
revealed something significant had occurred.
So when Jehu informed them of what was said,
of what Jehovah had said
through his representative,
how did they react?
Note verse 13:
“At this each of them
quickly took his garment
“and put it under him on the bare steps,
and they blew the horn and said:
‘Jehu has become king!’”
Even though there were things
they didn’t fully understand
or have all the details to,
they reasoned on what they did know.
They reasoned on where
the direction was coming from,
and they quickly demonstrated their support.
Now, for a moment,
can you just imagine
what would have happened
if the chiefs were skeptical
or if they purely went on feeling or emotion?
Do you think their actions
could have had an impact on Jehu?
You notice in verse 11
that he was already trying
to pass the visit off
as not being that important.
Now, the Bible
doesn’t indicate why Jehu tried
to downplay what happened
with his being anointed as king.
But because the army chiefs
were so decisive in giving their support
and in trusting
that these were the words of Jehovah,
look at the positive strengthening effect
that it had on Jehu.
In verse 14, he was motivated.
He went right to work carrying out
the commission that was given to him.
Well, what can we take away
from this account?
Over the past few years,
we’ve received much direction
here at Bethel and in the field
because of changing world conditions.
And Jehovah knows
and he understands
that we may have concerns
—even anxieties—
especially when there are things
that we don’t fully understand
or we don’t have all the details
of a particular matter.
So imagine how he must feel
when, just like those army chiefs,
we trust the channel
—the direction it’s coming from—
and we demonstrate our support.
You see, when we make the choice
to trust the direction we’re given
and to follow it,
not only does Jehovah value
and appreciate that,
you see, but it’s precious to him
because not only does that show evidence
of our love and complete trust in him
but also our support
has a positive strengthening effect
on others around us.
And certainly,
haven’t we been blessed for it?
How does all of this connect
to those other areas of trust,
such as God’s name,
his Word, his organization?
Isn’t it true that in any relationship
our words are validated by our actions?
So with Jehovah, he certainly appreciates
when we express our love and trust
in our prayers to him.
But those words are validated
and our relationship with him is strengthened
when we demonstrate that trust
by our actions.
And that, of course,
means trusting and cooperating
with Jehovah’s way of doing things,
trusting in his Son’s leadership
and in how he leads the congregation,
trusting the earthly part
of Jehovah’s organization
by means
of “the faithful and discreet slave,”
trusting the elders
who implement direction in the congregation.
And even though these men are imperfect,
we remember and keep in mind
that Jehovah trusts these men.
So just think of the spirit we demonstrate
when we make the choice
to trust them as well.
Well, we know we have
a lot of exciting things to look forward to,
but as world events indicate,
“critical times hard to deal with”
will continue to be upon us.
Thus, it is important more than ever before
that we continue to apply and take to heart
those inspired words of Isaiah 30:15:
“[Our] strength will be in keeping calm
and showing trust”
—complete trust—
in our wonderful God, Jehovah.
Trust isn’t just a feeling;
it’s a choice based on knowing
that Jehovah always does what is best for us.
When we all trust in Jehovah
and his organization,
the result is unity.
Our music video for this month
highlights the strength
that comes from our united brotherhood
as world conditions change rapidly.
Brother, hear me;
I’m in need you see.
My heart is heavy,
and I’m moving slowly.
I know I’m loved
And God gave his Son,
But I still can’t shake this feeling
that I’m unworthy.
Come
and lend me your ear,
And soothe me
with a prayer.
So you pick me up
and pull me together.
Fill my heart full of love;
it’s getting better.
If we have Jehovah
and all our brothers,
We’ll have peace forever.
So let’s stick together.
Let’s stick together.
Brother, you’re low;
I can feel your sorrow.
Please remember
that you’re never alone.
Yes, I am here,
And Jehovah’s near.
He’ll take ahold of your hand
and never let go.
I’ll come
and lend you my ear
And soothe you
with a prayer.
So I’ll pick you up
and pull you together.
Fill your heart full of love;
it’s getting better.
If we have Jehovah
and all our brothers,
We’ll have peace forever.
So I’ll pick you up
and pull you together.
Fill your heart full of love;
it’s getting better.
If we have Jehovah
and all our brothers,
We’ll have peace forever.
So let’s stick together,
Together.
Let’s stick together,
Together.
When disasters strike,
the comfort from our spiritual family
is priceless,
and our trust in Jehovah’s organization
strengthens those around us.
Young ones, do your friends believe
that there are many ways to worship God?
How can a young person reason
through the confusion?
Let’s see how two young people
reasoned through their doubts.
Why can it be hard to believe
that there is one true religion?
In school, there is a lot of pressure
to accept every religion and every lifestyle
with no wrong way to live.
Once, while in the ministry,
a man was aggressive with us, saying,
“My religion builds hospitals,
we run charities,
we do so much,
and what do you guys do?”
And it was true
that they did do those things.
I thought:
‘Why aren’t we doing that?
‘If other religions were doing good deeds,
could we really be the only true religion?’
That experience kind of shook my faith.
In my nursing program,
I had to take an ethics class.
The course systematically discussed
different religions
with regard to patient care.
On the day when people
with different sexual orientations,
identities, and lifestyles
were discussed,
the teacher started going around the room
asking each student how they
personally felt about this community.
I was sitting in that chair
hoping that the earth would swallow me whole.
It was a nerve-racking experience.
How did you prove your faith,
and how did you strengthen it?
Matthew 7:13, 14
talks about two paths.
Only one path is right; the other is wrong.
I knew I had to solidify my faith
and make sure I chose the right one.
I knew I had to be
on the narrow and cramped path.
During my personal study and meditation
on my experience with this man,
I had jotted down
all the points he had concerns about.
And in my research,
I tackled these points head on.
And I even discovered a scripture
from Matthew 7:22, 23,
in which Jesus himself
had actually warned
that not all those doing “powerful works
in [his] name” would be acceptable.
I thought about what things we are doing
—we remain politically neutral,
we love people outside our own community,
and we preach the good news globally—
things Jesus actually commanded us to do.
I immediately started praying.
Jehovah did give me strength.
He emboldened me to say
that I don’t live by my own ideas.
I choose to live by his standards.
At John 18:38,
we see that Pilate was very cynically
asking Jesus: “What is truth?”
because he felt that there was no way
for Jesus to have the absolute truth.
The idea that the truth is a spectrum
and that everything is acceptable
is not a new idea.
Proverbs 22:3 tells us
that “the shrewd one
sees the danger and conceals himself.”
Before the class started,
I looked over the syllabus.
I knew that I could not make
a true defense of my faith
if I did not prepare beforehand.
What helped me was going on jw.org
and just finding different articles
that I could use
to have a very concise way
of explaining my beliefs.
I knew
that I couldn’t just stay home and wallow,
and so I knew
I had to get back out in the ministry.
A few weeks later,
I had another opportunity to defend my faith.
Even though you
may get into a discussion with someone
and you may try to show them
something from the Bible,
you may not be able to prove it to them,
but you can prove it to yourself
that you have the true faith.
How has it benefited you?
As a very shy person,
it can be easy to not have a belief
and to be swayed
by what other people tell you.
The fact is, Jehovah has always had
just one true way for us to serve him.
First Corinthians 1:10 tells us
that we have to be
“completely united in the same mind.”
There’s no room for multiple truths.
I cannot even fully express
how thankful and how grateful I am
that Jehovah has given me the privilege
of being able to know about him
and to know about the one true religion,
and that’s why I still do my best
to tell others about Jehovah
so that I can take part
in giving that gift to other people.
Belief in one true religion has stabilized me
and helped me navigate
through life’s challenges
because rather than always being uncertain
about whether I have the truth or not,
I have God’s Word, the Bible,
always there for me
to answer my doubts and guide me,
whenever life throws me a challenge.
Our organization isn’t building hospitals,
but the work we’re doing is saving lives,
and we’re helping people find
a true relationship with Jehovah God.
Have your teachers or peers
asked you similar questions?
Why not make it a goal
to strengthen your faith
like Naomi and Vince?
We assure you: If you put in the work,
Jehovah will answer your doubts
and give you the guidance you need to grow.
Jehovah will also reward
those who step outside their comfort zone
and expand their service to him.
Need-greaters can tell you how true that is.
Hi, I’m Robert McGee,
and I serve where the need is great
in the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic
is a preaching paradise.
Yes, it has beautiful beaches
and diverse landscapes,
but it’s the people that make it so special.
When I was a kid, I always wanted to be
a missionary and preach
to people in other parts of the world.
Now I get to do that every day.
Serving where the need is great
does come with a few challenges
and maybe even a little homesickness,
but the local friends here
have really become like a family to me.
They are always willing to help
a stranger in need,
and I’ve been that stranger many times.
When I first arrived,
they helped me find a place to live.
They would often stop by to drop off food
and check in on me.
So although sometimes
I miss things back home, having
a family here has helped to fill that void.
It’s all been worth the effort for the days
that I can spend in the ministry.
Let me show you what a typical day looks like
for me here in the Dominican Republic.
I wake up at about 7:15 in the morning.
Then it’s out the door by 8:30 a.m.
Many people here don’t have cars,
so getting around on a motorcycle
is actually pretty common,
and it’s
an economical means of transportation.
I didn’t know how to ride a motorcycle
before I came here,
and I never thought I’d do it in service.
But with the help of the local friends
and some fellow need-greaters,
I was able to learn how to ride safely.
And now that’s how I get around.
It takes me about 15 minutes
to get to the Kingdom Hall.
I’m in
an American Sign Language congregation,
also known as ASL.
After the meeting for service,
we’ll head right into the territory.
Preaching here is easy.
People are
really friendly and easy to talk to.
When we are looking for deaf people,
householders who are not deaf
will often take us to ones who are.
Sometimes we walk a long way
to find these ones.
When I was first here,
I used to get really nervous.
But the friends I was with, they were
always calm, so that helped me to relax.
I learned that people
really want to help you find these ones.
They’re so happy
that you’re doing something good for them.
The majority of people here
respect the Bible,
so it’s easier to have conversations.
After a morning in service,
everyone heads home to rest
during the hottest part of the day.
This is the part of the culture
I’ve loved adapting to.
During the afternoon break,
I’ll have lunch.
One of my favorites is la bandera.
This is a dish that usually consists
of rice, beans, and some kind of meat.
After lunch, I have a cup of coffee,
rest, or do some personal study.
A few hours later, we’ll all meet up again
to do Bible studies until the evening.
In the D.R., you can have
as many Bible studies as you want.
This is my favorite part about living here.
When you sit down and calculate the cost,
it’s easy to think about what
you’re going to sacrifice.
But you should also think about what
you’re going to gain.
I’ve been able to do what I love
in teaching others
about Jehovah,
and some have even progressed to baptism.
That’s a joy beyond compare.
I’ve also been able to gain
a lot of experience
and memories with the congregation
that I wouldn’t have had
had I stayed home.
Jehovah has given me
‘brothers and sisters
and mothers and fathers,’
so I never feel alone.
We often talk
about the worldwide brotherhood,
but it’s completely different
when you get to experience it for yourself.
Psalm 34:8 says: “Taste and see
that Jehovah is good.”
When you do so, you open yourself up
to a buffet of blessings,
and they’re all delicious.
Few things can match the excitement
of teaching people the truth about Jehovah.
If you can’t be a need-greater right now,
why not try to expand your service
in other ways?
In this month’s program, we learned
that continually following direction
from Jehovah’s organization
may mean our very lives.
Like Habakkuk, we must pour our hearts out
to Jehovah to maintain
our inner calm and trust in Him.
The Tshomba family fully trusted in Jehovah
and followed direction
through a period of trialsome unrest.
And we must all prove the truth
to ourselves if we want
to keep following direction
from Jehovah
through “the faithful and discreet slave.”
Our postcard for this month
comes from Serbia.
Serbia is a landlocked country
with fertile plains to the north,
limestone basins to the east,
rolling hills to west,
and mountains to the south.
The rich land produces rich food.
Serbia is one of the world’s largest
exporters of raspberries.
Vast fields of rapeseed feed livestock.
The meat is used to make ćevapi,
a popular Balkan dish
of minced meat seasoned with a mix of spices
and rolled into elongated patties.
The patties are placed in flatbread
and topped with kajmak,
a creamy, tangy dairy spread.
Stop by for Sunday lunch!
It’s a Serbian tradition to gather
in the early afternoon for a meal,
share stories,
and grow closer together as a family.
Many helped to bring the good news
about God’s Kingdom
to former Yugoslavia,
where Serbia is now.
One person was a soldier named
Nica Tralea.
While serving in the Austro-Hungarian army
in 1918,
he was captured by the Russian army
and sent to Siberia,
thousands of kilometers away,
where he learned the truth.
Upon being released,
he came back home
and began to organize meetings.
Another person was a young barber
named Franz Brand.
You may remember him
from the Montenegro postcard.
He was known
as one of the “Bible-believing barbers.”
Franz and former customer
turned ministry partner, Rudolf Kalle,
later were appointed overseers
of the branch office.
In the 1930’s, 20 experienced pioneers,
including Martin Poetzinger,
were sent to expand the work.
They didn’t speak Serbo-Croatian
but used testimony cards
to proclaim the Kingdom.
Martin Poetzinger remembers
walking through the countryside
with a backpack full of literature
to remote villages
preaching to all who would listen.
Today the truth continues to spread
through the diligent efforts of many.
In Vojvodina, farmers are extremely busy
during the harvest season.
So our brothers and sisters bike
long distances to reach them in their fields.
Serbia has become increasingly diverse,
with communities of Russian,
Chinese, Urdu, Persian,
and Romany speakers.
To reach the Romany,
publishers travel
to the local Romany neighborhoods,
which usually consist of small houses
built close together.
The results have been wonderful.
The Belgrade Romany Congregation
is conducting 46 Bible studies
and has an average attendance
of over 100 percent.
Our brothers and sisters
in the Belgrade Romany Congregation
send their love and greetings.
And so do we.
From the World Headquarters
of Jehovah’s Witnesses,
this is JW Broadcasting.

JW Broadcasting—July 2026