What is the purpose of international conventions? The Governing Body schedules these gatherings every few years in strategically located cities​—sometimes in lands where Jehovah’s Witnesses were formerly under ban. Such conventions serve to strengthen the brothers and help to give impetus to the preaching of the good news in those lands.

These conventions also provide our brothers with a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the special “bond of union” enjoyed by our international brotherhood. (Col. 3:14) What a delight it is to observe the love, peace, and unity at such conventions​—which transcend barriers of nationality, culture, and language! Genuine love is demonstrated by various ethnic groups as they mingle freely between sessions​—eating together, exchanging simple gifts and contact information, taking many photographs, and embracing each other in brotherly affection. Many of the delegates and local Witnesses wear their traditional dress.

A special part of the program at international conventions is the feature “Reports From Other Lands,” presented on all four days.

When planning international conventions, the Governing Body gives consideration to the size of available convention facilities, the number of local Witnesses and of Witnesses from other countries who will be attending, and the amount of lodging available for delegates. Thereafter, responsible brothers in each convention city obtain permission from local authorities and make contracts with the managers of the convention sites.

Because large sports stadiums are often used for these conventions, a tremendous amount of planning and work is done to ensure that the venues are dignified places of worship to Jehovah. In Peru, for example, because a game of soccer was scheduled before the convention, the brothers were not able to enter the stadium to clean it and get set up until the night before the sessions were to begin. Although 3,000 volunteers were asked to help, over 7,000 brothers and sisters arrived at 6:00 p.m. and worked tirelessly all through the night to get the work done.