Garnizoenspad 239, District Wanica, Suriname. Telephone: (597) 0328054; (597) 0328021 ... Convention dramas are re- cord
We sincerely hope that your visit to Bethel has been a rewarding one. No doubt it has helped you to become better acquainted with the work that Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing to aid people who are searching for a better future through God’s Kingdom. May your visit with us be an encouragement to you in your efforts to learn more about our loving Creator and to live by his righteous standards. VISITING HOURS: Visitors are welcome to take a guided tour of the branch facilities. Tours are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. LOCATION: Gemeente Paramaribo van Jehovah’s Getuigen, Garnizoenspad 239, District Wanica, Suriname Telephone: (597) 0328054; (597) 0328021 Fax: (597) 0328102 ˘ 2007 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Printed in U.S.A.
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WELCOME TO THE
SURINAME BRANCH OFFICE OF
JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES
INTRODUCTION It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Suriname branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We hope your visit will be a pleasant one. This building complex is called Bethel, meaning “House of God.” This Biblical name is fitting, for those who live and serve here are ordained ministers who have dedicated themselves to Jehovah God and who devote themselves full-time to supporting the worldwide work of Kingdom preaching. Bethel family members are furnished with room and board and a small monthly reimbursement to assist with their personal expenses. They are truly like a family because they unitedly worship their heavenly Father, Jehovah God. As a family, they serve together, enjoy their meals together, and study the Bible together. In addition,
Bethel family members personally share in the Kingdompreaching and disciple-making work. They are assigned to work with various congregations in and around the capital city, Paramaribo. In over 230 lands, there are now some 6,500,000 Witnesses of Jehovah, who are carrying out the commission Jesus gave his followers—to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) To organize this work, there are more than 100 branch offices worldwide, all serving under the direction of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Suriname branch office supports the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the two geographic areas of Suriname: the coastal plain and the interior. Increase in the number of Witnesses has been rapid. For example, in 1970 there were about 550 Witnesses preaching the good news in Suriname, but by the year 1990, there were some 1,500 —almost a threefold increase! Meanwhile, the branch office had become too small to care for such increase, so property for a new branch was located. Between 1992 and 1994, local and international volunteers worked hard to construct the new facilities. The joyful dedication of this new branch took place in February 1995.
TRANSLATION DEPARTMENT
OFFICES SERVICE DEPARTMENT. This department gives direction to the preaching activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Suriname. It handles correspondence with traveling overseers, congregation elders, pioneers, and publishers. The Service Department also schedules district conventions, circuit assemblies, and special assembly days. HOSPITAL INFORMATION DESK. This desk provides Hospital Liaison Committees throughout the country with the latest information on bloodless medical procedures. In turn, the congregation elders serving on these committees make this information available to doctors who are willing to treat their Witness patients without the use of blood. TRANSLATION DEPARTMENT. Various publications, including the Watchtower magazine, are translated from English into Sranantongo. English text is received from headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. After it is translated, the text is carefully compared with the English original and proofread. COMPOSITION. Proofread text is composed into pages with the help of MEPS (Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System). The composed pages are then sent to the Germany branch office for printing. COMPUTER DEPARTMENT.
Some services at Bethel are performed with the help of computers. This department installs and maintains the computer systems used by the branch. RECORDING STUDIO.
Convention dramas are recorded in Dutch and Sranantongo.
KINGDOM HALL CONSTRUCTION DESK. This desk coordinates the construction of meeting facilities. It ensures that building materials, equipment, and skilled volunteers are provided to help congregations build or renovate Kingdom Halls. JOB PRESS. Our Kingdom Ministry in Dutch, English, and Sranantongo and the booklet Examining the Scriptures Daily in Sranantongo are printed on a sheetfed press. SHIPPING DEPARTMENT. Literature, magazines, handbills, forms, and correspondence with congregations are transported to distribution centers throughout the country. MAINTENANCE. Those serving in this department care for plumbing, painting, electrical, and other needs of the branch facilities as well as for the upkeep of equipment.
BETHEL HOME A number of necessary services are performed at Bethel. For example, some Bethel family members care for cleaning, housekeeping, and maintenance. Others serve in the kitchen, preparing nutritious meals for the family, which are served in the dining room. All these services contribute to the family’s high standard of cleanliness. Each member of the Bethel family makes time for personal Bible study and has access to a library containing the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other reference works. Those invited to serve at Bethel attend the Bethel Entrants’ School soon after their arrival. New members also read the entire Bible during their first year of Bethel service. Each workday morning, the Bethel family comes together to consider a Bible text using the booklet Examining the Scriptures Daily. A chairman presides over this 15-minute discussion, and members of the family are assigned to comment on the text. Following the discussion, the family is led in prayer, after which breakfast is served. On Monday evenings, the entire Bethel family gathers to study the Bible with the help of The Watchtower. At times, there are special programs after the Watchtower Study. The Bible discussions each workday morning and Monday evening are an important part of Bethel life. KINGDOM HALL. A nearby congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses uses the Kingdom Hall, with a 200-seat auditorium, for its weekly meetings. MAINTENANCE
MORNING WORSHIP
