Two New Members of the Governing Body

ON OCTOBER 5, 2024, a special announcement was made at the annual meeting: Brothers Jody Jedele and Jacob Rumph had been appointed as members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Both brothers have faithfully served Jehovah for many years.

Brother Jedele was born in Missouri, U.S.A. and was raised in the truth. His family lived near seldom-worked territory. Thus, he met many brothers from diverse backgrounds who visited to help preach the good news. Their love and unity greatly impacted him. He got baptized in his early teens, on October 15, 1983. He enjoyed the ministry, and after high school, he started regular pioneering in September 1989.

During Brother Jedele’s youth, his parents would take him and his sister to visit Bethel. These visits motivated the children to set the goal of Bethel service​—a goal they both achieved. Brother Jedele arrived at Wallkill Bethel in September 1990. He first worked in the Cleaning Department and later in Medical Services.

About that time, nearby Spanish-language congregations were growing and needed brothers. So Brother Jedele attended one of them and began learning Spanish. Shortly thereafter, he met Damaris, a sister who pioneered in the same circuit. Eventually, they married, and she joined him at Bethel.

In 2005 they left Bethel to care for their faithful parents. During that period, they served as regular pioneers. Brother Jedele helped teach Pioneer Service School, and he served on the local Hospital Liaison Committee and Regional Building Committee.

In 2013, Brother and Sister Jedele were invited back to Bethel for the Warwick construction project. Since then, they have also served at Patterson and Wallkill. Brother Jedele has worked in the Local Design/​Construction Department and in Hospital Information Services. In March 2023, he was appointed as a helper to the Service Committee. Looking back on his assignments, he says: “When facing new assignments, you can sometimes feel overwhelmed. But that’s when you have to remember to rely on Jehovah because he is the one who causes to become.”