supporting the worldwide work of Kingdom preaching. ... The volunteers working here at Bethel represent a variety of rac
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E SINCERELY hope that your visit to the Zimbabwe branch office 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 in their quest 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 wel-
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come to take a guided tour of
T IS a pleasure to welcome you to the Zimbabwe branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We hope your visit will be a pleasant one. Our branch is called Bethel, which means “House of God.” This Biblical name is fitting, for the volunteers 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.
our facilities. Tours are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Plot 14, Beema Road, Mount Hampden.
In over 230 lands, there are now more than 6,000,000 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 a hundred branch offices worldwide—all working under the direction of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Telephone: 2910591
The volunteers working here at Bethel represent a variety of races, nationalities, languages, and age-groups. Nevertheless, they can truly be called a family because of their unity in serving their Creator, Jehovah God. As a family, they serve together, enjoy meals together, and study the Bible together. ˘ 2002 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. fo-E Zb
Printed in South Africa
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N THE early 1920’s, the good news of God’s Kingdom began to filter into Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
During World War II, a ban was placed on the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nevertheless, by 1948 the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zimbabwe had grown to over 3,500. In that year a branch office was established in Bulawayo. Later, it was moved to Salisbury (now Harare). The 1970’s were years of trial and testing. Jehovah’s Witnesses took a neutral stand toward the armed conflict that spread throughout the country. As a result, many of them were imprisoned, while others were abducted and persecuted. Despite their tribulations, the Witnesses stood firm and continued in their work of declaring the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom. During the 1990’s, the number of congregations in Zimbabwe grew to over 800. It became clear that the branch office was too small to care for the increase. Therefore, property for new facilities was found. Between 1995 and 1998, a team of local and international volunteers worked tirelessly to complete the new branch complex. In December 1998, the new facilities were dedicated to Jehovah God.
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HE Bethel Home provides services for the well-being of the Bethel family.
Our residence buildings have 61 bedrooms, a laundry, and several family lounges. Volunteers who serve in the Bethel Home perform vital services. For example, some are assigned to the kitchen, preparing nutritious meals that are served in our comfortable dining room, which seats some 200 persons. Thus, the family enjoys a well-balanced diet in a wholesome environment. Some volunteers do cleaning and housekeeping, while others serve in the laundry. These assignments contribute to the family’s high standard of cleanliness—a distinguishing mark of Bethel homes around the world.
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HE finest assets to Bethel are spiritual men and women. With this in mind, each member of the Bethel family makes time for personal study of the Bible. Bethel family members have access to a library that is well suited for research. It contains the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as a number of other reference works. All who are invited to serve at Bethel attend Entrants’ School. This study program is designed to help individuals to progress in their knowledge of the Bible and to adjust to the Bethel environment. As part of the course, new members read the entire Bible during their first year of Bethel service. Each workday morning members of the Bethel family come together at the breakfast table to consider a Bible text from Examining the Scriptures. 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 all Bethel family members gather to study the Bible with the help of The Watchtower. At times, there are special programs after the Watchtower Study. The Bible discussions that are held each workday morning and on Monday evenings are an important part of Bethel life. Bethel family members personally share in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work. They are assigned to various congregations in the Harare area, where many of them serve as elders and ministerial servants.
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ARIOUS departments supervise and support the Kingdom-preaching work in Zimbabwe.
Service Department The preaching activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zimbabwe is supervised by the Service Department. It handles correspondence with traveling overseers, elders, pioneers, and publishers. The Service Department also schedules district conventions, circuit assemblies, and special assembly days. In addition, it makes territory assignments for each congregation and compiles reports of field service activity.
Translation Department English text of the publications is received from the headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Then it is translated into Shona, the language spoken in most of Zimbabwe. Translated material is then sent to other branches for printing.
Hospital Information Services and Relief Department Hospital Information Services provides Hospital Liaison Committees with the latest information on bloodless medical procedures. In turn, the elders serving on these committees make this information available to doctors who are willing to treat their patients without the use of blood. At times, Zimbabwe has experienced a number of devastating droughts. The Relief Department has coordinated the delivery of tons of food supplies so that these could be made available to the needy.
Literature Department
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Literature requests are processed by a computerized system and are then sent electronically to the South Africa branch office, where the requests are filled.
NUMBER of services are necessary for the smooth functioning of the branch office.
Workshops Our well-equipped Maintenance Department supports our Bethel operation by providing plumbing, painting, electrical, carpentry, and general maintenance services. In addition, the garage maintains the branch’s vehicles.
Computer Department Much of the work performed at Bethel—including literature processing, translation, and the handling of correspondence—requires the use of computers. Those serving in the Computer Department install and maintain the equipment and software. They also provide training and support to the users.
Landscaping and Security Departments Volunteers serving in these departments help keep our facilities attractive and safe.
Mailing Department Trucks from the South Africa branch office deliver literature and magazines to Zimbabwe. The Mailing Department sorts and dispatches these to the congregations by post, rail, or other delivery services. Some congregations collect their literature directly from the Zimbabwe branch.
Kingdom Hall Construction Department This department coordinates the building of Kingdom Halls in Zimbabwe. When still in the planning stage of their projects, congregations constructing new facilities are helped to meet local building codes and government requirements. The Kingdom Hall Construction Department also ensures that safety standards are adhered to and that high quality work is maintained. It trains volunteers and organizes them into teams so that congregations with construction projects can be given the best assistance possible.
