In harmony with direction to branches all over the world, in February 1976 oversight was transferred from just one man to a Branch Committee. This group of qualified men working under the direction of the Governing Body would be responsible for decisions affecting the work in the field and at the branch office. Originally, the Branch Committee in the Philippines was composed of five members. Later, since most of the original committee members were foreign missionaries, it was deemed wise to increase the number of Filipino brothers. So for a time the committee grew to seven.

The advantages of this Branch Committee arrangement were quickly seen. Denton Hopkinson, now serving as the Branch Committee coordinator, observes: “Looking back, you can see how that was a wise and timely move. With the amount of work and the size of the organization, one person could not keep his finger on all things. The weight of responsibility is more evenly distributed now.”

Proverbs 15:22 says: “In the multitude of counselors there is accomplishment.” Consulting with others results in a valuable pool of wisdom. The Philippines Branch Committee applies that principle. Since Brother Hopkinson was appointed branch overseer, the size of the Bethel staff has grown tenfold, and so has the work. The Branch Committee presently consists of five longtime servants of Jehovah. They have spent, on an average, more than 50 years in full-time service. Their combined experience has certainly been helpful as the work throughout all of the islands has moved forward vigorously under Jehovah’s guiding hand. The Branch Committee and all in the Bethel family count it a grand privilege to support this work.

[Picture on page 207]

Branch Committee, from left to right: (seated) Denton Hopkinson, Felix Salango; (standing) Felix Fajardo, David Ledbetter, and Raymond Leach