Christian group offers message of hope amid pandemic

The pandemic is not stopping this religious group from showing love to their neighbors — through telephone and letters.

After suspending their public in-person ministry for eight months now due to Covid-19, more than 200,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) volunteers in the country have been dialing the number of government offices, private companies and business establishments to offer a Bible-based message of hope to workers struggling to cope with the “new normal.”

Dean Jacek, national spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Philippines, said their organization, which has more than 8.5 million members in 240 countries, has initiated a global campaign this month to distribute for free a special issue of a magazine that offers a positive hope for the future.

“Since there are health concerns because of the current pandemic, this will be done in harmony with present protocols for safeguarding the health of those distributing the magazine, as well as the recipients. This may include distributing the magazine and making visits via electronic means,” he said.

Jacek, who has been reaching out to the Deaf through Filipino Sign Language (FSL), said the magazine entitled “What is God’s Kingdom?” will be distributed in 10 languages — English, Filipino, Bicol, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ibanag, Iloko, Pangasinan, Waray-Waray and FSL.

It can also be downloaded for free on their website jw.org.

Asked why they are reaching out to government officials, office workers and store owners, Jacek said: “Many people already pray for God’s Kingdom to come when they pray the “Our Father” or “Lord’s Prayer”. However, they may not realize what this means and how it can help them. This campaign is to alert people to a real government, God’s government, that can solve all of our problems.”

He added: ”It seems wise for us to be interested in this subject now, because world events indicate, according to Bible prophecy, that Jesus Christ will soon exercise his rulership over the earth. People need to know about this.”

Since March this year, JWs have closed their places of worship called the Kingdom Hall as a safety and health precaution. They also temporarily suspended their house-to-house ministry and other public in-person ministry “out of respect for the sanctity of life and love of neighbor,” according to Jacek.

Instead, they have been using the telephone and other alternative methods to assist those interested in the Bible message.