Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

Yearbook 159
distances to travel to attend meetings. However, not unusual
is the circuit servant's report on a company of two
publishers which showed an attendance of 47 at the public
talk. During the vacation the branch servant, a Gilead
graduate who has been speaking Finnish only six months,
gave a public meeting only six miles from the Russian
border. One hour before the meeting only a few persons
had assembled in the large room of a farmhouse. The brethren
had advertised only by word of mouth. Soon the hIllside
was alive with people coming from all directions on
foot, bicycle, horse cart, etc. When the time came for the talk
we joyfully saw oyer 100 persons assembled to hear the
public talk "Who Is Your God?" These humble, meek country
people love the truth and come great distances to hear it.
Last year this small rural company grew from a peak of
30 publishers to 50. In one section of their territory every
house has .Jehovah's witnesses. One publisher remarked,
'There are so many witnesses that the ones that are not
.Jehovah's witnesses are ashamed of themselves.'
Because of the long, hard winters here, when summer
comes all people are out of doors. We have used this knOWledge
to push the public meeting campaign. One city of 100,000
population and in which there are two units had 80 outdoor
public meetings in one month, with excellent results.
In Helsinki we used six different parks regularly each week.
One such park stands directly alongside one of Helsinki's
largest churches. Great is the contrast when the truth
about religion rings forth from our loud-speakers and resounds
and echoes from the rafters into the empty church.
One cannot help but notice the dead, cold look of the gray
church on the hill but the life, vitality, activity and warmth
of the public meeting of .Jehovah's witnesses in the park
below. Every week during the summer this took place much
to the chagrin of the priests who tried to prevent .Jehovah's
witnesses from using the park.
Bible studies have played an important role in expansion.
In one scattered village three years ago only one family
showed interest. Because of the emphasis on Bible studies
this little company has grown to nine publishers and joyfully
reports 18 home Bible stUdies. They say many more
studies could be started if only they had a few more to take
care of them. Recently a brother from the branch office
gave a public talk there with 65 persons present.
The news of the international convention in New York
was received with rejoicing and many made plans to go.
So many difficulties arose that only a few were able to go.
But those who did go returned home joyous and enthusiastic
and wanting to give out to others the same spiritual
food that they received. The brethren are all keenly await-