THE spread of the Kingdom message in Georgia is aptly portrayed in Jesus’ illustration of the hidden leaven. (Matt. 13:33) As was true of the leaven, spiritual growth was not discernible at first, but soon the Kingdom message spread pervasively and changed the lives of many.

Read the vibrant and motivating story of love, faith, loyalty, initiative, and courage displayed by God’s people in Georgia during both “favorable times and difficult times.”​—2 Tim. 4:2.

Land Georgia is known for its majestic mountain ranges and snowcapped peaks, some rising to well over 15,000 feet (4500 m). Geographically, the country is divided into two main parts​—eastern and western Georgia, each one consisting of several regions with their own climate, customs, music, dances, and food.

People Most of the 3.7 million inhabitants are ethnic Georgians.

Religion The majority of the population profess the Orthodox Christian faith. About 10 percent are Muslims.

Language The Georgian language is not related to any of the languages of the neighboring countries. Historical sources indicate that the unique Georgian alphabet was invented before our Common Era.

Livelihood Many people earn a living from agriculture. More recently, tourism has become a significant part of the Georgian economy.

Climate The eastern part of the country enjoys a moderate climate. The coast of the Black Sea, in western Georgia, has a subtropical climate, where citrus fruits grow abundantly.

Food Bread accompanies every meal on a Georgian table. Traditional bread is baked in a clay oven. A typical main course is a thick stew with spices and fresh herbs. Wine-making has a long history. Traditionally, wine is fermented and kept in large clay vessels. Many families grow their own grapes and make their own wine. Georgia is home to some 500 indigenous grape varieties.

AS EARLY as the 1920’s, the Bible Students were putting forth efforts to reach sincere truth-seekers in Georgia. In 1924, an office was opened in Beirut, Lebanon, to direct the preaching work in the area that included Armenia, Georgia, Syria, and Turkey.

Although some seeds of truth may have been sown in Georgia during that time, they did not initially produce visible results. (Matt. 13:33) Over time, however, the Kingdom message spread and caused outstanding changes in the lives of many people in Georgia.

He Longed for Justice

When the second world war broke out, Vaso Kveniashvili was a teenager. Because Georgia was part of the Soviet Union, his father was soon drafted into the Soviet army. By that time, Vaso’s mother had died. Vaso, who was the oldest child, resorted to stealing in order to support himself and his younger siblings.

Vaso joined a gang and eventually became deeply involved in organized crime. He relates, “I felt there was more justice in the criminal world than in the government or society.” But Vaso soon realized that he was searching for something beyond what human society can offer. He recalls, “I longed for something that was just.”

Vaso was eventually arrested for his criminal activities and exiled to a labor camp in Siberia. There he met one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had been imprisoned for his faith. “Finally, I found what I was looking for,” Vaso recalls. “We did not have any literature, but I did my best to learn from what the brother was telling me.”

When Vaso was released in 1964, he returned to Georgia and searched for Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the meantime, he kept in touch with his former fellow prisoner by letter. Sadly, his faithful friend passed away, and Vaso lost all contact with God’s people. He had to wait almost two decades before he would find the Witnesses again. More about him later.

Hardships That Turned Into a Blessing

For Valentina Miminoshvili, a young Georgian woman, imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp resulted in a great blessing. There she met Jehovah’s Witnesses for the first time. What impressed her the most was their unshakable faith. Her heart was deeply touched by what they taught her from the Bible.

When she returned home after the war, Valentina began sharing her newfound faith with others. But her activity soon attracted the attention of the local authorities, who sentenced her to ten years in a labor camp in Russia. There she met Jehovah’s Witnesses again, and later she was baptized.

After her release from the camp in 1967, Valentina moved to western Georgia, where she discreetly resumed her preaching activity. She did not realize that she would soon become the answer to a heartfelt prayer.

Jehovah Answered Her Prayers

In 1962, Sister Antonina Gudadze moved from Siberia to Georgia when her unbelieving husband decided to return to his home country. Originally from Siberia, Antonina had come into contact with the truth through Witnesses who were exiled there. Now, living in Khashuri, a city located in eastern Georgia, she found herself separated from her fellow believers.

Antonina recalls how Jehovah answered her prayers: “One day I received a package from my mother in Siberia, and I found some Bible literature artfully hidden inside. I continued to receive spiritual food in that way for the next six years. Each time, I thanked Jehovah for his spiritual guidance, encouragement, and care.”

However, Antonina was alone. She says: “I kept asking Jehovah to reunite me with my brothers and sisters. One day, two women entered the store where I was working as a salesclerk. They asked me, ‘Are you Antonina?’ The kind expression on their faces told me that they were my spiritual sisters. We embraced each other and burst into tears.”

Valentina Miminoshvili was one of the sisters. How excited Antonina was to find out that meetings were being held in western Georgia! She traveled to the meetings once a month, even though they were held over 200 miles (300 km) from her home.

The Truth Takes Root in Western Georgia

In the 1960’s, some Witnesses who were persecuted by the authorities in other parts of the Soviet Union sought to move to places where conditions were more favorable. Vladimir Gladyuk, a zealous and energetic brother, was one of them. In 1969, he moved from Ukraine to the city of Zugdidi, in western Georgia.

At first, those who came to Georgia conducted meetings in Russian. However, as more and more Georgians began attending the meetings regularly, arrangements were made to hold the meetings in Georgian. The disciple-making work was so successful that in August 1970, 12 local people were baptized.

In the spring of 1972, Vladimir and his family moved farther west, to the city of Sokhumi on the coast of the Black Sea. Vladimir explains: “We felt spiritually rich and were grateful to Jehovah for giving us his blessing. The congregation there grew very quickly.” That spring, the first Memorial was held in Sokhumi, and 45 persons attended.

“I Listened With My Whole Heart and Soul”

Babutsa Jejelava, now in her 90’s, was one of the first people who quickly accepted the truth in Sokhumi in early 1973. She recalls: “One day, I noticed four women engaged in a lively discussion. Two of them were nuns, and the other two, as I later discovered, were Jehovah’s Witnesses.” One sister was Vladimir Gladyuk’s wife, Lyuba, and the other was Itta Sudarenko, a very zealous pioneer from Ukraine.

Babutsa recalls her feelings when she overheard the conversation, “I listened with my whole heart and soul.” When she heard that God has a personal name, she quickly joined the conversation and asked if she could see it in the Bible. She asked so many questions that the discussion lasted for three hours.

Babutsa was afraid that she would not see the Witnesses again, so she asked, “Will you go away and just leave me here?”

The sisters replied: “No, we won’t leave you. We will come back next Saturday.”

Saturday arrived, and to Babutsa’s great joy, the two sisters came! A Bible study was started right away. Toward the end of the study, Babutsa again felt the need to ensure that she would not lose contact with God’s people. She said to herself: ‘I found these people. Now I have to make sure I don’t lose them.’

Babutsa came up with a plan. She recalls: “I knew that Lyuba was married, so I asked Itta if she too was married. Itta answered that she had no husband. ‘Then move to my apartment!’ I exclaimed. ‘There are two beds, and there is a lamp in between. We can put the Bible under it and talk about the Bible even at night!’” Itta accepted the invitation and moved into Babutsa’s apartment.

Recalling that time, Babutsa says: “Sometimes I would not sleep at night, meditating on what I had learned. Suddenly a question would come to my mind. I would wake Itta up, saying: ‘Itta, get your Bible. I have a question!’ Rubbing her eyes, Itta would answer, ‘All right, my dear.’ Then she would open the Bible and show me the answer.” Just three days after Itta moved in, Babutsa was out preaching the good news!

Babutsa had a close friend, Natela Chargeishvili. Babutsa remembers: “I thought that wealth would hinder her from accepting the truth, but happily I was wrong. From our very first conversation, the truth began to blaze in her heart.” Soon, both were zealously sharing their hope with friends, workmates, and neighbors.

Christian meetings played an important part in helping new ones to grow in faith. In fact, newly baptized Christians were just as eager to offer their homes to host meetings as were those who had been in the truth for a long time. All who attended were warmly welcomed, and this too greatly strengthened their bonds of love.

When several students were ready for baptism, special meetings were discreetly organized. In August 1973, brothers arranged for such a meeting outside Sokhumi, near the shore of the Black Sea. But the 35 candidates did not have time to get immersed! Before the meeting ended, the police interrupted it and arrested some brothers and sisters, including Vladimir Gladyuk.

As soon as Vladimir and the other brothers were released, they contacted all the baptismal candidates again. Two days after the first attempt, the candidates finally got baptized. Vladimir recalls: “We felt that Jehovah was on our side. After the baptism, we all prayed together, expressing our gratitude to Jehovah.”

Opposition Helps to Spread the Good News

Two days after the baptism, Vladimir Gladyuk was arrested again. Later, he, Itta Sudarenko, and Natela Chargeishvili were sentenced to prison terms of several years. Though saddened by this arrest, the publishers resolved to carry on in the ministry, but with greater caution.

To avoid drawing the attention of the authorities, the publishers traveled to towns and villages other than their own to preach. As a result, opposition actually helped to spread the good news to even more areas.

During the Communist regime, publishers living in larger cities witnessed in quiet streets and parks. They often encountered people who came from other towns and villages to visit relatives or do some shopping. If an individual showed interest, publishers asked for the person’s address and made arrangements to meet again.

Babutsa Jejelava was among those who traveled extensively throughout western Georgia. She recalls: “Since I had relatives in different places, no one viewed my frequent trips with suspicion. After about two years, I was studying the Bible with more than 20 people in Zugdidi and 5 others in the town of Chkhorotsku. All of them got baptized.”

A Pressing Need for Georgian Literature

It soon became obvious that there was a pressing need for publications in Georgian. When making return visits or conducting Bible studies, publishers felt the need for Bibles and Bible literature in the language that their students could best understand.a

Babutsa recalls how difficult it was to conduct a Bible study without any publications in Georgian. She says, “I had only the Bible and other publications in Russian, so I often had to translate the study material for my Bible students.” With nothing but a dictionary to help her, she translated articles from our magazines into Georgian. She also managed to translate the entire Gospel of Matthew!

Interested ones appreciated articles translated into their mother tongue so much that they were willing to make handwritten copies of the publications for their personal use. Because copies of the Bible in the Georgian language were difficult to find, some Bible students even became modern-day “copyists” of the Word of God.

“I Copied All Day Long”

Publications translated into Georgian were circulated among the brothers and interested ones so that everyone could take turns reading them. Each one would have just a few days or weeks to read a publication. So when a copy of the Greek Scriptures in modern Georgian turned up among the brothers, one family seized the opportunity to copy it.

Raul Karchava was only 13 years old when his father asked him to copy the Greek Scriptures. He says: “My father bought a whole box of notebooks and all kinds of pens and pencils, hoping that this would encourage me. Though I felt overwhelmed, I accepted the challenge. I copied all day long, stopping only to stretch my hands a little.”

Raul’s relatives were overjoyed when they learned that the brothers had agreed to leave the highly coveted book with them for a few additional weeks so that young Raul could complete his arduous work. In just two months, he managed to copy all 27 books of the Christian Greek Scriptures!

Despite the efforts of such hardworking copyists, the spiritual hunger of a growing number of Bible students could not be fully satisfied. In order to fill the urgent need, courageous brothers and sisters undertook the risky task of reproducing and distributing Bible publications from their home.

The preaching work in western Georgia was gaining momentum. But what about the eastern part of the country? Was there anyone in the capital city, Tbilisi, who could help sincere truth-seekers like Vaso Kveniashvili, mentioned earlier?

The Truth Reaches the Capital City

During the 1970’s, the Soviet authorities attempted to discourage the Witnesses by expelling them from their homes in one place after another. That is what happened to Oleksii and Lydia Kurdas, a Ukrainian couple who moved to Tbilisi. They had spent many years in Soviet prison camps because of their faith.

The Kurdases shared the truth with Zaur and Eteri Kessaev, who were very religious people. Their daughter Larisa, aged 15 at the time, relates their first contact with Oleksii and Lydia: “We tried to prove that the Orthodox Church was the only true religion. After several discussions, we ran out of arguments, but they continued to reason from the Scriptures.”

Larisa continues: “When we went to church, I would always read the Ten Commandments, which were written on the wall between two icons. But that evening, when Oleksii read Exodus 20:4, 5 to us, I was stunned. I could not sleep that night because I kept thinking, ‘Can it really be true that by worshipping icons we are actually breaking God’s command?’”

Determined to settle the question, Larisa ran to the local church early the next morning and read again the commandment “You must not make for yourself a carved image . . . You must not bow down to them.” For the first time in her life, she realized the meaning of this divine command. Larisa and her parents eventually got baptized and were among the first Witnesses in Tbilisi.

His Quest for Justice Was Rewarded

Nearly 20 years after his first contact with the truth, Vaso Kveniashvili encountered someone who attended meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tbilisi. Vaso was happy to meet the Witnesses again. He had waited for so long.

At first, though, local Witnesses were reluctant to involve him in their activities, as Vaso was notorious for his criminal background. Some even feared that he might be spying on the Witnesses for the Soviet authorities. Hence, Vaso was not allowed to attend Christian meetings for four years.

When it became clear that Vaso had good motives, he was finally allowed to become part of the local congregation and get baptized. At last, Vaso could draw closer to the “God of justice” he had been seeking since his youth! (Isa. 30:18) He served Jehovah with that same unflinching attitude until his death in 2014.

By 1990, the preaching work was firmly established in both western and eastern Georgia. Some 900 publishers were conducting 942 Bible studies. The foundation had been laid for the dramatic increase that was to follow.

GEORGIAN was one of the earliest languages into which the Bible was translated, along with Armenian, Coptic, Latin, Syriac, and others. Old Georgian manuscripts of the Gospels, the letters of Paul, and the Psalms have been dated to the mid-fifth century C.E. or even earlier. In the following centuries, the translating and copying of the Bible into Georgian increased, resulting in several versions.a

The Bible strongly influenced the literature and traditional values of the Georgian people. For example, the tragic story of Queen Shushanik, likely written in the late fifth century, includes quotations from and allusions to various passages of the Bible. In his epic poem Vepkhvistqaosani (The Knight in the Panther’s Skin), composed about 1220, poet Shota Rustaveli alluded to Christian moral values. He wrote on themes such as friendship, generosity, and love for strangers​—values that are still considered moral ideals among the Georgian people.

GEORGIA became independent in 1991, the year the Soviet Union was dissolved. But political changes and civil unrest caused a rapid deterioration in living conditions. Genadi Gudadze, who served as a circuit overseer in those years, recalls that people would stand in line for bread almost an entire day.

During this time it was not unusual for the Witnesses to share the Bible’s message with groups of people waiting in line. “In those difficult years,” Genadi says, “it seemed that everyone was favorably disposed to the truth. We received hundreds of slips with addresses of those who wanted a Bible study.”

At the end of each meeting, responsible brothers would read a list of names and addresses of individuals who had asked for a visit. Publishers would then make themselves available to call on them.

Brother Levani Sabashvili, who served as an elder in Tbilisi, remembers a married couple who asked to be visited. “All the addresses were taken by various publishers,” he recalls, “but no one volunteered to visit this couple. They lived far away, and many of us already had several Bible studies.”

A few months later, the same couple sent another request. They eventually sent a third request, but this time with a note in which they begged the Witnesses to remain free of bloodguilt. (Acts 20:26, 27) Levani recalls: “It was New Year’s season, and we usually avoided visiting people at that time. But we felt we could no longer postpone our visit.”

This spiritually thirsty couple, Roini and Nana Grigalashvili, could hardly believe their eyes when one chilly morning they saw Levani and another brother at their door. They immediately started to study the Bible. Roini and Nana now serve as regular pioneers along with their children.

Tireless Efforts to Reach Interested Ones

Because they were so grateful, those who accepted the truth gave selflessly of their time, energy, and resources to share the good news with others. Despite family responsibilities, Badri and Marina Kopaliani were among those who traveled tirelessly to remote villages in order to help sincere individuals.

On weekends, Badri and Marina, along with their teenage sons, Gocha and Levani, organized trips to the Dusheti region, a beautiful mountainous area north of Tbilisi. At times, they traveled some 90 miles (150 km) on winding roads to reach distant villages.

One day a woman invited Badri and his wife to her workplace. Badri relates: “We found ourselves in a large room where about 50 people were waiting for us! At first, I was taken aback, but after praying to Jehovah, I began discussing verses from Matthew 24 on the features of the last days. One surprised person asked, ‘Why don’t our priests tell us these things?’”

The Memorial Attracts Attention

The Memorial of Jesus’ death gave many sincere Georgians further opportunity to hear about the truth. In 1990, for example, the Memorial held at Sister Ia Badridze’s home in Tbilisi caused a great deal of interest in the neighborhood.

Sister Badridze offered to host the Memorial in her apartment. With the help of her children, she emptied the living room to make space. But how would she find enough chairs for her guests? In Georgia, it was customary for families to rent tables and chairs for large gatherings. Since she only rented chairs, store owners kept asking: “Don’t you need tables? How are you going to eat?”

Sister Badridze managed to accommodate all those who came to her 13th-floor apartment to commemorate Jesus’ death. Amazingly, 200 people attended! No wonder many neighbors asked questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses!

A Memorable Memorial

In 1992, large auditoriums were rented for the Memorial in various parts of the country. Davit Samkharadze, who lived in Gori, recalls how the traveling overseer inquired about their plans for the Memorial.

On learning that publishers were planning to meet in a private home, he asked: “Don’t you have a large auditorium in the city? Why not try to rent it?” Since the auditorium could hold more than 1,000 people, the local publishers​—numbering just over 100—​did not see the need to rent such a large hall.

The traveling overseer then suggested: “If each publisher can get ten people to come, all the seats will be filled.” Although his advice may have seemed unrealistic at first, the local publishers put forth great effort to follow it. To their amazement and great delight, no fewer than 1,036 persons attended the Memorial!a

Zealous Pioneers Reach New Territories

By 1992, there were still a number of regions in Georgia where Jehovah’s people had not yet preached the Bible’s message. How could these new territories be reached when the country was facing a deep economic crisis?

Tamazi Biblaia, who lived in western Georgia at the time, recalls: “A traveling overseer met with a few of us to discuss what could be done. We did not have much information about how the special pioneer arrangement should be organized. But we knew that the good news had to be preached urgently.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Consequently, they selected 16 pioneers and assigned them to various locations throughout the country.​—See the accompanying map.

In May 1992, a three-hour meeting was held in Tbilisi to encourage the pioneers who were assigned to work those territories for five months. Each month, elders visited them to provide spiritual support as well as material aid if needed.

Two pioneer sisters, Manea Aduashvili and Nazy Zhvania, were assigned to the town of Ozurgeti. Manea, who was 60 years old at the time, remembers: “We knew that an interested person lived close to Ozurgeti. So, as soon as we arrived, we arranged to meet her. When we arrived at the woman’s house, she was waiting for us, as were about 30 others whom she had invited. That day we started several Bible studies.”

The following months were just as productive. After only five months, 12 individuals were ready for baptism!

Their Self-Sacrificing Spirit Paid Off

Two pioneer brothers, Pavle Abdushelishvili and Paata Morbedadze, were sent to Tsageri. It is located in a region that is a stronghold of ancient traditions mixed with teachings of Christendom.

As the harsh winter approached, the pioneers’ five-month assignment was about to end, and Paata was invited to help with translation work elsewhere. So Pavle had to make a decision. He relates: “I was aware that spending winter in Tsageri would be tough. But our Bible students needed more help, so I decided to stay.”

“I stayed with a local family,” recalls Pavle. “Most of the day, I was out preaching. In the evening I joined the family around the woodstove in the living room on the first floor. But when the time came for me to go up to my room, I put on my warm hat and then slept under a thick blanket.”

When elders were able to visit Pavle in the spring, 11 individuals had qualified to become unbaptized publishers. Soon, all were baptized.

In the early 1990’s, most congregations in Georgia had only one elder or ministerial servant. Typically, congregations were made up of various groups meeting separately, since publishers were scattered over a vast territory that included several towns or villages.

Joni Shalamberidze and Pavle Abdushelishvili​—who had both already served in remote territories—​were assigned to provide help in Telavi, a city located in the Kakheti region. The congregation there had 300 publishers, but not even one elder. It consisted of 13 groups that met in different locations.

Joni and Pavle soon noticed a major obstacle to spiritual advancement among the brothers. Joni explains: “Many brothers owned large fields and vineyards. Since it is customary in rural areas for neighbors to help one another with their farmwork, our brothers spent much time with unbelievers.”​—1 Cor. 15:33.

Joni and Pavle suggested that the brothers ask for help from fellow Witnesses to get their crops in. By doing so, they would benefit from good association while doing their farmwork. (Eccl. 4:9, 10) Joni notes, “The bonds of brotherly love in the congregation became stronger.” When Joni and Pavle left the Kakheti region three years later, there were 5 local elders and 12 ministerial servants.

Meetings Improve Preaching Skills

Because our work was under restriction until the early 1990’s, the Witnesses met in small groups and only for the Congregation Book Study and the Watchtower Study. These meetings, though encouraging, were not designed to train publishers for the ministry.

This changed when the Communist regime fell. Now Jehovah’s organization directed congregations to hold the Theocratic Ministry School and the Service Meeting as part of their weekly meetings.

Naili Khutsishvili and her sister Lali Alekperova have fond memories of attending those meetings. Lali recalls: “It was a very exciting time. Everyone was so thrilled that sisters could now participate in the program.”

“In one demonstration,” recounts Naili, “the householder was reading a newspaper on the platform when she heard a knock at the door. When invited in, two sisters entered the meeting place through the main door and stepped up to the platform!” Lali adds, “As unusual as those meetings sometimes were, they helped us to improve our preaching skills.”

The Need for Spiritual Food Increases

For many years, a few brothers reproduced Bible literature at home, using hand-operated duplicators. To meet the increasing demand for publications, the brothers now turned to commercial printing companies that could print our magazines at a reasonable price.

The brothers were resourceful when preparing a master copy for the printers. The translated Georgian text was neatly typed according to the layout of the original English magazine. The brothers then cut out illustrations from the original magazine and pasted them onto the typewritten document. Finally, they cut out characters from newspapers that used attractive fonts and glued them onto the cover page. The master copy was now ready to go to press!

When personal computers became available, two young brothers, Levani Kopaliani and Leri Mirzashvili, attended courses to learn how best to use them. Leri recalls: “We lacked experience, and things did not always run smoothly. But with Jehovah’s help, we were soon typing and composing our magazines.”

Despite the obstacles, congregations throughout Georgia started to receive locally printed, four-color magazines. In time, however, it became difficult to keep up with the growing demand. Just at the right time, Jehovah’s servants in Georgia received loving guidance from Jehovah’s organization.

A Turning Point

The 1992 international convention in St. Petersburg, Russia, provided an opportunity for brothers from Georgia to meet with branch representatives from Germany. “They explained how the translation work is usually done,” relates Genadi Gudadze. “They told us that in time we would receive a visit that would help us with the translation work.”

Printing Bible publications in Georgian was far from simple. Since this language has a unique script, the organization’s Multilanguage Electronic Publishing System (MEPS) did not yet support the Georgian alphabet. Consequently, a new font had to be designed for photocomposition and printing operations.

Previously, at the end of the 1970’s, a Georgian family, the Datikashvilis, had emigrated to the United States, where one of their children, Marina, later learned the truth. Her help proved to be invaluable when brothers at Brooklyn Bethel began to draw each Georgian character in order to integrate the alphabet into the MEPS system. Soon, some tracts and the brochure “Look! I Am Making All Things New” were printed in Germany.

Help in Organizing the Translation Work

In 1993, Michael Fleckenstein and his wife, Silvia, arrived in Tbilisi from the Germany branch to set up a translation office. “I still had the St. Petersburg meeting on my mind,” says Michael. “On our arrival in Tbilisi 18 months later, we were surprised when we were introduced to a well-functioning translation team!”

Within a few months, a group of 11 full-time translators were working in an office located in a small apartment. Thanks to the valuable training provided by Jehovah’s organization, a steady supply of spiritual food started to be delivered to the congregations.

Delivering Spiritual Food in Times of Unrest

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, civil unrest and ethnic conflicts arose in many of the former republics, and Georgia was no exception. As a result, traveling​—especially across state borders—​became risky.

One day in November 1994, Aleko Gvritishvili was crossing a state border with two other brothers when a group of armed men stopped them and ordered them to get out of their car. “They became angry when they saw our Bible literature,” relates Aleko. “They lined us up as if they were going to execute us. We fervently prayed to Jehovah. After about two hours, one of them told us, ‘Take your literature and go​—but if you come back, we’ll set your car on fire and finish you off.’”

Despite such intimidation, the brothers continued delivering spiritual food. Brother Zaza Jikurashvili, who made great sacrifices to bring Bible literature into Georgia, states: “We knew that our brothers needed spiritual food. Our dear wives gave us a lot of support.”

“Many of the brothers involved in transporting literature were family men,” remarks Aleko. What motivated them to carry on despite the danger? He continues: “Primarily, it was our deep gratitude toward Jehovah and our love for him. We also wanted to reflect Jehovah’s way of caring for our dear brothers and sisters.”

Thanks to the self-sacrificing spirit of such brothers, literature deliveries never stopped during the years of unrest. Later the brothers established safer routes between Germany and Georgia.

Timely Spiritual Encouragement

When the political situation stabilized in 1995, the Witnesses made arrangements to hold their first district convention. In the summer of 1996, some 6,000 delegates from all over Georgia attended district conventions in three locations: Gori, Marneuli, and Tsnori.

The convention near Gori was especially memorable for those in attendance. What a change from the time when the brothers were not sure whether they could fill the local auditorium for the Memorial! They now expected over two thousand to attend, but they could not find a location spacious enough to host the event. They decided to hold the convention outdoors, at a beautiful mountain camping area not far from the city.

Brother Kako Lomidze, who served on the Convention Committee, notes: “After the program, the brothers and sisters spent time together, singing songs and enjoying warm association. It became evident to all that God’s people were united by strong bonds of love.”​—John 13:35.

Loving Provisions Stimulate Growth

Starting in 1996, arrangements were made for traveling overseers to visit each congregation in the country for a full week. To meet this goal, new traveling overseers were appointed to join the brothers who had already been serving in western and eastern Georgia.

Undoubtedly, the “loving labor” and faithful service of these traveling overseers helped congregations to grow and follow theocratic instructions more closely. (1 Thess. 1:3) From 1990 to 1997, the increase was indeed extraordinary. While 904 publishers reported their activity in 1990, only seven years later, 11,082 were proclaiming the good news!

The spiritual growth that had started decades earlier was now evident and had spread throughout the country. But Jehovah had more blessings in store for his people in Georgia.

FROM the late 1990’s onward, the Witnesses in Georgia enjoyed an outstanding increase in the number of publishers and interested ones. In 1998, no fewer than 32,409 individuals attended the Memorial of Christ’s death.

Many publishers, though, including elders, were relatively new in the truth and lacked experience. Most needed training in various aspects of their spiritual activities. But how would such training be provided?

Jehovah’s Organization Provides More Support

Arno and Sonja Tüngler, two graduates of the Gilead Extension School in Germany, were assigned to Georgia in March 1998. That same year, the Governing Body approved the opening of a country office in Georgia, supervised by the Russia branch.

A Country Committee soon began to oversee the preaching activity. Once our activities were legally registered, Bible literature was directly imported from what was then known as the Germany branch. Legal recognition also opened the way for us to purchase properties on which to build Kingdom Halls and branch facilities.

A Time of Spiritual Training

Many publishers had not been able to preach openly from door to door during the many years of ban under the Soviet regime. Arno Tüngler recalls: “Most publishers did a lot of street witnessing, but not all of them were used to going from door to door and keeping track of interest shown.”

Davit Devidze, who started serving in the newly established country office in May 1999, relates: “There was plenty to do in the field and at Bethel. There were things we had read about but had no idea how to do. So we observed and learned from the experienced brothers sent by the Governing Body.”

An intensive training period started for the brothers in Georgia. But as is often the case for those who move to serve where the need is greater, the benefits of giving training are not one-sided. (Prov. 27:17) Indeed, those who came to help learned much from the local brothers and sisters.

Local Witnesses Show Endearing Qualities

Arno and Sonja have fond memories of the warm welcome they received in the days following their arrival in Georgia. The local brothers and sisters did all they could to help them adjust to their new assignment.

Sonja remembers their generosity. She relates: “A couple who lived nearby kept bringing us delicious food. A sister took us in field service, introduced us to our new congregation, and told us a lot about Georgian culture. Another sister patiently taught us the Georgian language.”

Warren and Leslie Shewfelt, who were assigned to Georgia from Canada in 1999, said: “We became enamored of and humbled by the affection manifested by our Georgian brothers and sisters. All of them, including the young, freely expressed their feelings and love for one another.”

Those assigned to Georgia from foreign countries looked beyond the challenges they were facing and focused on the fine qualities of the local people. In turn, the humble and loving approach of the missionaries quickly endeared them to the Georgian brothers.

God-Fearing People Respond to the Truth

Throughout the 1990’s, many sincere individuals continued to respond to the truth. In the year 1998 alone, 1,724 persons were baptized. What moved so many Georgians to show interest in the truth?

Tamazi Biblaia, who served for many years as a traveling overseer, explains: “Love for God was one of the traditional values that had been instilled in the people. So when we shared the Bible’s message with them, they naturally responded to it.”

Davit Samkharadze, who serves as an instructor in the School for Kingdom Evangelizers, remarks: “When a person begins to study the Bible, relatives and neighbors often interfere. As they attempt to dissuade the student from pursuing his Bible study, many of them often end up studying the Bible themselves!”

As the Kingdom message spread, it changed the lives of many people. In April 1999, spiritual growth reached a new peak with 36,669 attending the Memorial.

“There Are Many Opposers”

Concerning his preaching activity in ancient Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote: “A large door that leads to activity has been opened to me, but there are many opposers.” (1 Cor. 16:9) His words well describe the situation the Witnesses in Georgia faced just a few months after the landmark Memorial of 1999.

In August of that year, members of an extremist Orthodox group, led by the defrocked priest Vasili Mkalavishvili, organized a rally in Tbilisi and publicly burned our literature. This triggered a wave of persecution that lasted four years.

On October 17, 1999, a few religious extremists rallied a mob of about 200 and disrupted a meeting held by the Gldani Congregation in Tbilisi. Using wooden clubs and iron crosses, they assaulted those present, causing several Witnesses to be hospitalized.

Sadly, the attackers were not arrested, and assaults against the Witnesses continued. A number of government officials, including President Shevardnadze, strongly condemned those violent attacks, but no clear action was taken. In fact, police officers would usually arrive long after an attack had been carried out.

About the same time, a member of the Georgian parliament, Guram Sharadze, initiated an unprecedented smear campaign against the Witnesses. He accused the Witnesses of being dangerous. It seemed that “favorable times” for preaching the good news were a thing of the past.

Jehovah’s Organization Responds to Opposition

Jehovah’s organization responded promptly to the needs of the Witnesses in Georgia. The brothers received loving direction on how to react if they were attacked. And they were reminded of the reasons why true Christians at times endure persecution.​—2 Tim. 3:12.

In addition, Jehovah’s organization took legal measures to defend our brothers in court. A brother who served in the Legal Department at the Georgia branch recalls: “During those four years, we filed more than 800 complaints in response to the actions of Vasili Mkalavishvili’s group. We asked officials and human rights organizations to help us. The world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses launched an extensive publicity campaign, but nothing stopped the attacks.”a

Our brothers and sisters were not intimidated, and they continued meeting together. Elders wisely took preventive measures to protect publishers. Brother André Carbonneau, a Canadian lawyer who defended our brothers in those years, recalls: “A brother would usually be stationed near the meeting place with a cell phone. If he saw a mob approaching, he would immediately warn the elders of a potential attack.”

After every incident, two representatives from the branch office visited the brothers in order to strengthen them. “It was remarkable,” says André, “that branch representatives would usually find a meeting place packed with happy, smiling brothers and sisters.”

Those not directly affected by attacks, including Bible students, showed similar determination. André recalls talking to a woman who was about to become an unbaptized publisher. She told him, “When I watched those attacks on television, I saw the difference between true and false Christians, and I want to be a true Christian.”

Courageously Defending Fellow Believers

In those challenging years, publishers showed exemplary faith and courage by remaining busy in the preaching work. Those involved in defending fellow believers in court demonstrated similar faith.

The Witnesses were often misrepresented in media reports as people who break up families, refuse medical treatment, and act against the State. Those who defended them as lawyers actually risked their reputation and career.

John Burns, a lawyer from the Canada branch, who assisted the Georgian brothers in those years, recalls: “Local brothers and sisters who worked as lawyers made themselves available. Despite possible consequences to their job, they were not afraid to go to court and identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Those courageous Witnesses contributed to “the defending and legally establishing of the good news.”​—Phil. 1:7.

Georgians Speak Up Against Violence

In the meantime, violent acts against the Witnesses continued. Therefore, beginning on January 8, 2001, the Witnesses circulated a petition that called for protection from mob attacks and for the prosecution of those who had assaulted peaceful citizens.

Brother Burns explains the purpose of the petition: “Our aim was to show that most Georgians disapproved of such violence against Jehovah’s Witnesses and that a small group of religious extremists were actually responsible for it.”

Within just two weeks, 133,375 adults from all regions of Georgia​—most of whom were Orthodox—​signed the petition. Although the petition was presented to President Shevardnadze, the violence did not stop. Religious extremists continued deliberately targeting the Witnesses.

Meanwhile, Jehovah continued to bless his people. While religious extremists were busy causing trouble for God’s people, Jehovah God was calling many sincere individuals out of false religion.

Breaking Free From False Religion

For most of her life, Babilina Kharatishvili was a devoted member of the Georgian Orthodox Church. When she was in her 30’s, she traveled from town to town and from village to village teaching people about the lives led by the saints.

But Babilina wanted to know more about God. So she decided to attend lectures at a Georgian Orthodox seminary. On one occasion, a clergyman showed the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life to his listeners and encouraged them to obtain a copy of it from Jehovah’s Witnesses. He told them, “This book can teach you a lot about the Bible.”

Babilina was shocked. She had always avoided the Witnesses, and now a clergyman recommended their books! She told herself, ‘If I should learn about God from Jehovah’s Witnesses, what am I doing here?’ She immediately contacted the Witnesses in the city of Poti and started studying the Bible.

As Babilina learned more from the Bible, she made important changes in her life. She once said: “When I saw with my own eyes that the Bible says it is wrong to worship icons, I shunned all forms of idolatry. I was convinced that it was the right thing to do.” In her late 70’s at the time, she decided to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Sadly, in 2001, Babilina became ill and passed away before she could get baptized. But her granddaughter, Izabela, later got baptized and is now faithfully serving Jehovah.

She Wanted to Become a Nun

Eliso Dzidzishvili was 28 years old when she decided to become a nun. Since there was no convent close to her hometown, Tkibuli, she moved to Tbilisi in 2001. While searching for a vacancy in a convent, she took a part-time job as a private teacher. One of her pupils happened to be the daughter of a sister named Nunu.

Eliso relates: “We often talked about the Bible. I fiercely defended the Orthodox religion, while Nunu patiently showed me one verse after another. One day, she offered to read me the brochure What Does God Require of Us? As we read paragraphs and looked up Bible verses, I realized that worshipping icons is in direct violation of God’s command.”

Later, Eliso went to the local church and asked a priest some questions. From his answers it was clear that the church’s teachings were not based on the Bible. (Mark 7:7, 8) Convinced that she had found the truth, she immediately started to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and soon got baptized.

Building Kingdom Halls Despite Opposition

By 2001, a growing number of congregations needed suitable places to meet for worship. According to one estimate, some 70 Kingdom Halls were needed. Hence, a Kingdom Hall construction program was initiated despite the opposition in the country.​—Ezra 3:3.

Soon a construction crew began remodeling a building that had previously been used by several congregations in Tbilisi. Two projects quickly followed​—one in Tbilisi and another in Chiatura, in western Georgia.

Brother Tamazi Khutsishvili, who worked on the project in Chiatura, remembers: “Fifteen of us worked on the site every day. Soon everybody in town knew we were building a new hall. At times we heard rumors that our opponents wanted to come and destroy the Kingdom Hall.”

In view of such opposition, how successful could the construction project be? Tamazi says: “We continued our work and finished the Kingdom Hall in three months. Despite the threats, no opposers ever came.”a

Long-Awaited Relief

In October 2003, a construction project was started in the city of Samtredia. Once again, religious extremists threatened the local brothers. In fact, the walls had just been erected and the mortar was still wet when opposers came and tore down the building.

However, in November 2003, a new development in Georgia brought relief to our brothers and sisters. A change in government opened the door to more religious tolerance. As a result, several members of the extremist Orthodox group that had attacked Jehovah’s Witnesses were arrested.

Showers of Blessings Upon God’s People

Shortly after the persecution ended, Jehovah’s people in Georgia received many spiritual blessings. At the 2004 district convention, the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures in the Georgian language was released.

Then, at the 2006 “Deliverance at Hand!” District Convention, another unforgettable event took place. Excitement was in the air when the delegates heard that Geoffrey Jackson, a member of the Governing Body, would address the audience. And what a surprise when Brother Jackson announced the release of the complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Georgian!

Tears of gratitude welled up in the eyes of many delegates. A sister said: “I cannot put into words the joy that I felt when we received the complete Bible. . . . It was really a historic event.” Over 17,000 people enjoyed this spiritual feast, which marked a milestone in the history of Jehovah’s people in Georgia.

JEHOVAH’S servants in Georgia have tirelessly preached the good news, and Jehovah has blessed their hard work. As a result, the good news has reached almost every corner of the country.

In recent years, though, zealous publishers and pioneers have given more attention to the needs of those living in seldom-worked territories. In mountainous areas, some remote villages and hamlets can be reached only by four-wheel-drive vehicles or by cable car.

Each year since 2009, the Georgia branch has provided all congregations with a list of unassigned territories, inviting publishers to support the preaching work in those places. In order to participate in this activity, many have had to make noteworthy sacrifices.

Temuri and Ana Bliadze were newly married when they learned that there was a great need for publishers in the mountainous Ajaria region. They had just bought land to build a new house. But now they had an opportunity to expand their ministry.

They first spent a week in the Ajaria region. Recalling his first impressions, Temuri states: “Local publishers were walking a lot in order to reach small villages. We had a four-wheel-drive van, and I immediately thought that it would be very useful there.”

Ana adds: “Moving was far from easy because we were very attached to our congregation and our family. But we felt Jehovah’s blessing.” For over three years, Temuri and Ana have been supporting a group in Keda, a town in the Ajaria region.

Innovative Pioneers

The help of temporary special pioneers has been invaluable in supporting the preaching work in remote areas. When their assignment ended, many pioneers decided to stay in the area where they were assigned, in order to look after those with whom they had started Bible studies.

Two pioneer sisters, both named Khatuna, were assigned to the picturesque town of Manglisi. No Witnesses lived there, but the two sisters had a very productive ministry. They conducted 9 Bible studies the first month, 12 the next, 15 the next, and then 18! To continue caring for their Bible students, they decided to stay in Manglisi.

To support themselves financially, our sisters needed to be very innovative. Many who visit Manglisi appreciate a local specialty​—a preserve made from pinecones, which is known for having health benefits. So, at first, the sisters collected green pinecones to make the famous preserve, which they sold at the local market. But then they received an unexpected source of income.

One day a Bible student brought them several chicks. She explained that one of her hens had laid eggs in a hidden place and had brought home the newly hatched chicks. The woman wanted to give her Bible teachers this unexpected addition to her henhouse. One of the sisters had experience in breeding hens, so they decided to support themselves with a small poultry farm.

One of the sisters notes: “With Jehovah’s help and the help of our brothers and Bible students, we were able to stay in Manglisi for five years.” Now there is an active group of brothers and sisters there.

Pioneering in a Foreign Language

In recent years, Georgia has seen a large influx of foreigners. Many pioneers realized that a new field of service was opening up. So they began learning languages such as Arabic, Azerbaijani, Chinese, English, Persian, and Turkish.

While many pioneers have joined foreign-language groups and congregations, others have moved abroad to areas where there is an even greater need. Giorgi and Gela were in their 20’s when they moved to a neighboring country. “We wanted to give our best to Jehovah, and moving there was the perfect opportunity for doing so,” says Giorgi.

Reflecting on his time there, Gela says: “Serving as an elder in such a territory taught me a lot. It is a wonderful feeling when Jehovah uses you to help his ‘little sheep.’”​—John 21:17.

Giorgi adds: “There were challenges, but we were focused on our service and did not have any second thoughts. We felt we were simply doing what we ought to do.”

Another brother, whose name is also Gela, served in Turkey for a few years. He recalls: “In the beginning, while I struggled with the local language, it was challenging to keep my joy. However, when I was finally able to communicate with my brothers and sisters and with the people in the territory, there was no end to my happiness.”

Nino, who has been pioneering in Istanbul, Turkey, for over ten years, expresses her feelings this way: “I felt Jehovah’s support from the very first day after my move. Pioneering in a foreign field allows you to have ‘Yearbook experiences’ almost every day.”

Many of those we read about on the previous pages are young ones who ‘remembered their Grand Creator in the days of their youth.’ (Eccl. 12:1) In fact, one third of the 3,197 pioneers in Georgia are 25 years of age or younger. Why are so many of these young ones doing well in the truth?

Several factors seem to have contributed to this trend. For one thing, families in Georgia usually enjoy close relationships. Konstantine, who raised five children in the truth, explains: “What attracted me to the truth was the feeling that Jehovah is a loving Father. When I became a father myself, my goal was to help my children feel at ease with me.”

Malkhazi and his wife, who have three children, make earnest efforts to build strong family bonds. He says: “From time to time, we ask our children to think of what they appreciate about us and their siblings. Then we ask them to share their thoughts at our family worship. As a result, they have learned to see the good in others and appreciate them.”

“Now I Have a Truly Fulfilling Life!”

In support of parental training, elders try to involve young ones in congregation activities as early as possible. Nestori, who was baptized when he was 11 years old, states: “The elders gave me various small assignments from a very early age. This has helped me feel that I’m really part of the congregation.”

Good role models and the support of the elders are vital too. Koba, one of Nestori’s brothers, relates: “Unlike those of my siblings, my teenage years were turbulent. One young elder, who was a good role model for me, always tried to understand me and was not judgmental. He played a crucial role in my return to Jehovah.”

Today, Nestori and Koba, along with their sister, Mari, serve together in a remote territory. Koba says, “Now I have a truly fulfilling life!”

“My Children Go On Walking in the Truth”

The branch office strives to bolster parents’ efforts to train their children, by involving young Christians in theocratic projects. One Branch Committee member notes: “We cherish our youths, so we try to support them as they strive to achieve their spiritual goals.”

Working and associating closely with mature brothers and sisters makes an unforgettable impression on young ones. Mamuka, who worked alongside international servants on the construction of the Assembly Hall in Tbilisi, says: “Such international projects gave me wonderful opportunities to learn from others. Besides acquiring practical skills, I learned many spiritual lessons.”

Close family relationships, encouragement from the elders, and good role models have had a very positive influence on many young ones in Georgia. Their parents share the feelings of the apostle John, who wrote: “No greater joy do I have than this: that I should hear that my children go on walking in the truth.”​—3 John 4.

Intensifying Translation Efforts

In 2013, the Governing Body invited all branches to investigate whether publications might be needed in any of the additional languages spoken within their branch territory. The purpose was to reach more people with the good news.

Consequently, the Georgia branch decided to translate some publications into Svan and Mingrelian, two languages so closely related to Georgian that some consider them to be dialects.

Zealous pioneers from the Svaneti region wrote: “Svan people have a real interest in spiritual things and deep respect for the Bible. Even those who at first were hesitant to accept our publications were moved to take those that were translated into their mother tongue.”

All Mingrelian-speaking publishers were deeply touched when they started to have meetings in their mother tongue. Giga, a young pioneer, admits: “Now I can express myself in my own words at the meetings. I don’t need to translate thoughts in my mind before giving a comment.”

Zuri, an elder in the Mingrelian-speaking congregation in Tkaia, shares his feelings: “There have been many touching moments in my life, both happy and sad, yet they never brought tears to my eyes. But when Kingdom songs in Mingrelian were sung at the meeting for the first time, no one in the audience could hold back tears, including me.”

Recent Milestones

A major milestone in the history of the Witnesses in Georgia occurred on Saturday, April 6, 2013, when David Splane of the Governing Body delivered the dedication talk for a renovated and enlarged branch complex, an Assembly Hall, and a new Bible school facility. Many local Witnesses opened their homes and hearts to the 338 delegates who came from 24 countries.

The next day, Brother Splane delivered a special talk to 15,200, made possible by audio/​video tie-in to congregation meeting places throughout the country. This was the largest international theocratic event ever hosted in Georgia. The interchange of encouragement as well as the joy experienced by the brothers and sisters was truly moving. One young brother stated, “Now I know what the new world will be like.”

The Bible School for Christian Couples, now named the School for Kingdom Evangelizers, has proved to be a real blessing for Jehovah’s people in Georgia. Since 2013, over 200 students have graduated. Full of appreciation for the education they have received, the graduates are willing to serve zealously wherever there is a need.

“Stretching Forward to the Things Ahead”

Thanks to the efforts of the courageous early Kingdom proclaimers, the good news has become available to all of Georgia. Their unselfish love for God and neighbor and their faith, courage, and initiative have been richly blessed by Jehovah.

The more than 18,000 brothers and sisters in Georgia are happy to carry on the work of their forerunners and help their neighbors to experience personally the power of God’s Word.​—Phil. 3:13; 4:13.

“I OFTEN tell Jehovah in prayer how grateful I am that I was able to hear about him in my mother tongue,” says Gulizar.

Gulizar associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses for eight years, but she was baptized only after attending meetings in her mother tongue, Kurdish. She is one of the many Kurds who have responded to the truth in Georgia in recent years. But who are the Kurds?

Kurdish people have inhabited the Middle East for centuries. Some scholars think that they are descendants of the ancient Medes mentioned in the Bible. (2 Ki. 18:11; Acts 2:9) Their language belongs to the Iranian group of languages.

Today, millions of Kurds live in various countries, including Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. There are about 20,000 Kurds in Georgia. Generally, they are God-fearing and have high respect for spiritual matters.

There are now 500 Kurdish publishers in Georgia, and three Kurdish-language congregations. In 2014, to the great joy of all, the first regional convention in Kurdish was held in Tbilisi, hosting delegates from Armenia, Germany, Turkey, and Ukraine.

LONG before little Sanel was born, doctors informed her parents that if she survived birth, she would have serious health problems. From the very first day of her life, she needed surgery. Her parents, who lived in Abkhazia​—a region that had declared independence from Georgia—​were unable to find a surgeon who would operate on Sanel without administering blood.

The parents contacted the local Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC).a To their great relief, brothers on the HLC quickly found a cooperative surgeon in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. But Sanel’s mother had not yet fully recovered from the delivery and could not travel. So it was decided that Sanel’s grandmothers, both of whom were Witnesses, would take the baby girl to the hospital in Tbilisi.

The delicate operation was successful. Shortly afterward, the grandmothers wrote: “We stayed in the hospital for over 20 days. During that time, many Georgian brothers and sisters visited us and offered us help. Many expressed their sympathy. We had read about the love shown by our brotherhood, but now we have experienced it in a very personal way.”

IN 1985, at age 18, I was drafted for military service by the Soviet authorities. I was so troubled by the injustice and oppression in the military that I told myself: ‘I don’t want to become like them. I want to be different.’ Yet I felt that I could not always behave the way I wished to. I yearned for a change in my life.

After completing my military service, I came home. One night, after a party, I prayed to God, asking him to help me improve. The next day on my way to work, I visited my aunt, who was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. When I entered her house, I found myself before a small group of Witnesses who had gathered for a meeting. They warmly welcomed me, so I decided to stay and listen.

I agreed to a Bible study, and six months later I was baptized. Jehovah helped me to become a better person, a change I could not have made on my own.

MY MOTHER was really upset when my wife, Tsitso, and I became Jehovah’s Witnesses. One day, she summoned all our relatives, hoping that they would persuade me not to associate with the Witnesses anymore. I was given a choice​—either change my mind or be cast out of the family.

I made the decision to leave town. Being a metalworker, I considered moving to the second largest city in Georgia, Kutaisi, where I could easily find employment. I also knew that there was a great need for publishers in that city, so I looked to Jehovah for guidance.

Shortly thereafter, I met one of my Bible students, who lived in a small town called Jvari. When he heard that I was thinking of moving to Kutaisi, he begged me to move to his town instead. “We have an apartment,” he told me. “My wife, my children, and I will move to one room, and you and your wife can use the other one.”

Since I was seeking Jehovah’s direction, I told him that I would temporarily accept his offer only if I quickly found both a job and a place to rent in Jvari. To my great surprise, he came back the same evening with a list of job offers.

A few days later, my family settled in Jvari. From the very first day, I had a job with a surprisingly high salary. My new boss offered me accommodations in a large house owned by the company. Soon after, I was asked to help with the underground printing of Bible literature. We had plenty of space in our new home, so my wife and I made it available for this activity.

For many years, our spacious house hosted the Memorial and other special events. Over 500 individuals got baptized under our roof! I am so glad that I saw evidence of Jehovah’s direction and followed it!

AT OUR meetings in the late 1980’s, only the Watchtower Study conductor had a copy of the magazine, and it was usually a handwritten one. I approached Genadi Gudadze, one of the elders, and suggested that we should try to print our own magazines.

Until then, the brothers had used a homemade mimeograph to produce a small quantity of publications. To produce magazines regularly, they needed a more efficient mimeograph, an experienced typist, a typewriter, and a steady supply of stencil paper. However, all printing equipment, even the paper, was registered with the government and controlled by the special security services.

I obtained a typewriter through a professional acquaintance who had access to discarded machines that were no longer under government control. My sister was a typist and could assist us. The brothers built a new mimeograph and located a source for purchasing stencils. Everything fell into place, and soon our first copy of an issue of The Watchtower in Georgian was produced.

But a new obstacle arose. One day, Genadi told me, “We have to find another source of supply for the stencils.” He had seen packages of stencils in a government-run office but could not purchase them himself, as he was watched by the authorities. How could we obtain them? I repeatedly exclaimed, “It’s impossible!” To this Genadi firmly replied, “Stop saying, ‘It’s impossible.’ ‘With God all things are possible’!”​—Matt. 19:26.

I thought about this continually as I nervously headed to the government-run office the next day. Jehovah directed me to a friendly typist who was willing to submit my request to the head of the office. He was her husband! Soon I was regularly buying stencils from this office, and after that we never experienced a problem with supplies.

IN 1989, my husband and I met the Witnesses at our neighbor’s place. Brother Givi Barnadze, who was studying the Bible with our neighbor, did not have a copy of his own, because it was hard to find Bibles in Georgia at that time.

We appreciated what we heard and desired to obtain a Bible. When my husband saw his fleshly brother, he told him that he was looking for a Bible. To his surprise, his brother replied that he had recently bought a new version of the Bible in Georgian and that he would be happy to give him this Bible as a gift.

When Badri came back home, he sat at the table and read the Bible until nightfall. The next day, he woke up and continued reading. When I came home from work, I found him sitting at the table, still reading the Scriptures. He could not stop reading! So I suggested that he take a few days off to complete his reading. Soon he had managed to read the entire Bible.

When we later began studying the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life with Brother Barnadze, we were very glad to have our own Bible. It worked out well because we did not have a personal copy of the Truth book and our teacher did not have a Bible! About a year later, Badri and I were baptized.

I WAS newly baptized when the elders asked me if I would like to expand my ministry. On May 4, 1992, I attended a special meeting organized for those who were ready to move where the need was greater. The next day, my service partner and I moved to the port of Batumi, in the Ajaria region.

The first time I preached in Batumi, I felt very nervous. I asked myself, ‘How should I approach people?’ I was surprised by the reaction of the first woman I met, who exclaimed, “Where have you been until now?” She was so eager to know more about the Witnesses that she started studying the Bible with us the very next day!

Before leaving for Batumi, we received a list of addresses of interested people. Since we did not know the city well, we asked people in the street for directions. Many were unable to help us because most streets had recently been renamed, but they showed interest in our message. Soon we were conducting Bible study sessions with groups of 10 to 15 individuals.

Only four months after our arrival, more than 40 were regularly attending our meetings. So we asked ourselves, ‘Who will look after these new ones?’ Then, as a result of the conflict between the Georgian army and separatists in Abkhazia, all the members of the congregation I was previously in moved to Batumi. A new congregation with experienced elders and pioneers was formed in just one day!

WHEN I heard about Bible truth back in 1989, I was a prominent member of the Communist Party in my hometown, Senaki, and I regularly sat on the Supreme Soviet of Georgia, equivalent to today’s parliament. I was also engaged to a young man, so I felt that my life was a success.

Mom and Dad instilled in me a love for God. Hence, I believed in God, even though I was a Communist. When I started studying the Bible, I found satisfying answers to all my questions, so I decided to dedicate my life to Jehovah. But my family, friends, colleagues, and fiancé did not agree with my decision.

My new faith caused my relatives to reject me, and it was also incompatible with my political career. I concluded that I had no choice but to leave home, break off my engagement, and resign from my job as well as the Communist Party and the Supreme Soviet. After my baptism, I felt even more pressure from friends and family. Because I was well-known in my hometown, I moved to the city of Kutaisi, where I immediately started pioneering.

When people ask me if my faith was worth the hardships I went through, I answer without hesitation that I am completely happy with the decisions I made. Although my parents did not understand my choices, I am grateful that they taught me to love God and neighbor. This has helped me greatly in life.

Igor: We both belonged to a group of Witnesses located in the town of Tkvarcheli, Abkhazia. Since the congregation that our group was associated with was situated some 50 miles (85 km) away in the city of Jvari, I traveled to Jvari monthly to collect Bible literature for the remote group. In 1992, soon after the Soviet Union fell, the autonomous region of Abkhazia tried to separate. A war between separatists and the Georgian army broke out, causing much hardship.

Gizo: I was baptized at the age of 21, just a year before the conflict started. When the war broke out, the brothers were temporarily paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. But Igor, who has always been a good shepherd, encouraged us, saying: “This is the time when people need comfort. We are going to stay spiritually strong only if we carry on with our ministry.” So with due caution, every day we continued sharing with our neighbors the comforting message from God’s Word.

Igor: Because of the conflict, we could not use the usual route we took to and from Jvari to obtain our literature. Since I grew up in the region, I was able to find a safe passage through the tea plantations and mountains. But there was still the risk of meeting a group of armed men or stepping on a land mine. However, I did not want to put my brothers’ lives at risk, so I traveled alone once a month. With Jehovah’s help, I always managed to obtain timely spiritual food that helped us remain spiritually alive.

Although there was no fighting in Tkvarcheli, our town was soon under blockade, and as a result, we began experiencing wartime hardships. As winter approached, food was running out and we were all worried about our survival. How happy we were to hear that our brothers in Jvari had organized a relief mission to help us!

Gizo: One day, Igor asked my family if our house could be used to store and distribute food supplies prepared by our brothers. He was planning to get provisions from Jvari. We were worried about his safety, knowing that he would have to pass several checkpoints and might encounter armed men and thieves.​—John 15:13.

How we rejoiced when Igor came back safe and sound a few days later, driving a car packed with enough food to fill our needs for the following winter months! In those difficult times, we experienced firsthand that true Christian love never fails.​—1 Cor. 13:8.

I FIRST heard about the Witnesses when I was a college student in the city of Kutaisi. A neighbor told me that the Witnesses do not use icons in their worship and do not believe that Jesus is Almighty God. This contradicted beliefs I cherished as an Orthodox Christian.

When I returned to my hometown, Tsageri, in the summer of 1992, I found out that the Witnesses were active there too. My mother had heard many positive things about the Witnesses. Because I still had a negative view of them, she told me, “Go and see for yourself what they teach.”

Two pioneer brothers, Pavle and Paata, regularly visited a family in our neighborhood. Many neighbors took advantage of their visits to listen to them and ask questions. So I decided to attend those discussions. Each time I raised a question, the brothers opened the Bible and asked me to read in it. That made a big impression on me​—I saw with my own eyes what the Bible says!

I soon joined a group with whom the brothers were studying the Bible. The following summer, ten of us got baptized. Later, my mom also became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Looking back, I am grateful that the brothers answered all my questions by letting me read the answers from the Bible. This helped me to resolve the inner conflict I faced as my own beliefs were challenged. Remembering how much opening the Bible this way helped me, I use this approach to help others appreciate the truth!