That same year, a missionary sister was found to have committed immorality in a small town near Santa Cruz. Though the case was given the necessary judicial attention, people in that town became antagonistic toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. It became almost impossible to witness at the doors there, so it was decided to transfer the pioneers to other areas. To this day, no congregation exists in that town, although some interest has been found lately.

A FRUSTRATED SCHEME

About this time Santa Cruz was in the throes of change that would lead to its becoming the second-most-important city in the nation. Oil and gas had been discovered. The road from Cochabamba had been paved, and thousands of people moved into what had been a closely knit community of a few large families. Rapid increase took place in the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses there, and by 1966 more than 50 publishers were sharing in Kingdom service. More missionaries had just arrived in the city. Then, unexpectedly, the congregation overseer was called in for questioning by a certain official.

The room was filled with people the brother did not know, individuals who turned out to be news reporters. In their presence the official interrogated our brother about his secular work, which the official alleged was illegal. The brother assured him that his work was by no means illegal. He also explained that he had quit his job in order to take up full-time preaching activity the coming month. The official responded that he too was a “believer” but that the brother had committed “great errors.” After confiscating the personal documents of our brother and his wife, the official dismissed them.

The congregation overseer and another brother who worked with him secularly had realized that certain local firms had been concerned about business competition from them. Listening to the complaints, this official, a fanatical adherent of the Seventh-Day Adventists, schemed to involve the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. What would happen?

Looking at the newspapers the next morning, our brother could hardly believe his eyes! In all four newspapers, front-page headlines dealt with the matter. One had his full name in bold letters and declared that an international embezzler had been detained in Santa Cruz! In another paper, the official besmirched the name of Jehovah’s Witnesses, claiming: ‘Jehovah’s Witness Alternates Sect With Illicit Business.’ The following day there was more front-page news of the same sort. This time announcement was made that it had been “discovered” that our brother had been an “adviser” of a previously deposed president, now in exile and viewed as an enemy! At the same time, radio stations were broadcasting the same news. The slanderous publicity continued week after week, for months.

Having no legal grounds to take action against our brothers, the official was obviously using a publicity campaign to stir up public opinion and possible police action. Expecting the worst, our brothers prepared for the police to pick them up. But they never came. And no one pressed charges in court. When Witnesses called from house to house, the people continued to listen, and Bible studies increased. It was as if they were blind to the newspapers and deaf to the radio. In time, that official was removed from office.

In the midst of these trying circumstances, the local brothers were assigned to present at a coming assembly the “Jeremiah” drama, relating vividly the persecution that that faithful prophet of God underwent. The excitement of recording and rehearsing the drama helped them to forget the storm clouds that hovered over them.

Although the congregation overseer did show some lack of balance under the great pressure that came upon him, he later qualified to enter full-time service as he had planned. Both he and the other brother are still pioneers and overseers in Bolivia nearly 20 years after the frustrated scheme of that biased official.

RAPID GROWTH IN SANTA CRUZ

Though the congregation in Santa Cruz suffered a temporary decrease, no permanent harm was sustained. The local Witnesses, encouraged by the missionaries, worked harder than ever. As was true of the first-century Christian congregation after Saul’s campaign of persecution ended, the brothers in Santa Cruz, too, ‘entered into a period of peace and upbuilding and kept on multiplying.’ (Acts 9:31) Their meeting facilities were soon packed out, and people were listening through the windows. A new Kingdom Hall seating 150 was built. In two years it had to be enlarged. The congregation divided and a large hall was erected on the other side of the city. Today there are 11 congregations in Santa Cruz, all together about 800 publishers, zealously proclaiming Jehovah’s Kingdom. Thrilling increases were also being experienced in La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, and the mining centers.

A FIRM STAND FOR TRUTH BRINGS GOOD RESULTS

Ignacia de Torres, of Santa Cruz, listened as her sister from La Paz shared Bible truths with her. Although Ignacia’s response was mild, the seed of truth began growing. In 1963, a missionary started a Bible study with her. But Ignacia’s husband, a tall, strapping policeman, severely opposed. He would fly into a rage and fire his police revolver into the air, while Ignacia and her children ran for cover.

One day he arrived when another missionary, Pamela Moseley, was conducting the study. Her ears tingled as he bellowed out fiery orders motivating a quick departure. Still, Pamela would not give up. One day when he stayed home to catch the missionary, Ignacia told him plainly that if he forbade her to study at home, she would go to the Kingdom Hall. “Now, isn’t it finer that I should study here?” she asked. With that, the opposition let up.

Ignacia continued to grow in love for Jehovah and for her Christian brothers. Often, she would freely use her nurse’s training to help brothers and sisters in distress. More important, however, was her zealous activity to free people in spiritual bondage. Following her example of devotion, three of her children also became Witnesses. After years of fervent prayers, one of her fondest hopes became a reality. Her husband, who had so strongly opposed, began to investigate the truth, and after ten years of Bible studies and many personality changes, he too was baptized in January 1984.