Jehovah s Witnesses containing report for the service year of

Yearbook 79
about the visit and assembly that has made everyone
work harder than ever before. For the first time in ten
years great numbers of publishers from every state
were able to assemble in one place. Visiting brothers
came from Samoa, Fiji, Papua and New Caledonia.
Special meetings for circuit, district and congregation
servants have proved highly beneficial; persons interested
in the South Pacific missionary field were intervicwed
and there was a delightful program for all in
attendance, especially highlighted by stirring counsel
from Brothers Knorr and Adams. All of this has had
a wholesome, stimulating effect upon us.
During the two-month campaign, when the special
issue of The Watchtower was used, we reached a 96.5percent
increase over the total magazine placements
in the same period the year before. Not nine a month but
ninety a week, and, in exceptional cases, even ninety a
day have been placed by some zealous publishers. One
group of six brothers left 500 magazines in one day.
They had to return home several times to replenish
their supplies. A circuit and a district servant, while
having their lunch break, decided to witness to a group
of Italians who were standing and talking on the street.
In half an hour fifty magazines were put out. They
were taking magazines from the brothers just as people
take papers from a newsboy on a busy street. Experiences
like these helped to put the number of magazine
placements over the million mark, a 49-percent increase
over last year's figure.
Since the convention twenty-nine persons have left
Australia and have become established in several differ·
ent territories under this branch. Single brothers, married
couples and even a family of five have made their
way to various Pacific islands, and this shows how
many congregation publishers who want to share in
missionary service can do so. Without exception all of
them have found much interest that needs to be developed.
One brother tells what happened on his arrival in
New Britain. "I didn't intend to write so soon but feel I
must say a little. On four successive nights we had a
study with a family who Simply love the truth. After
each visit we could hardly get away; they wanted us to
stay longer and look up scriptures."
Incidental witnessing should never be minimized. This
point is illustrated by the following letter that a young
man wrote to a brother recently: "Last year you were
traveling on a train and two young fellows joined you.
I am the one who was very much interested in your
conversation and took 'New Heavens and a New Earth'
from you and obtained a year's subscription for Awake!