meet the hour requirement in June? Perhaps July or August would be better for you. Give prayerful thought to your personal circumstances. How fine it would be to use a part of the summer months to increase service to Jehovah in this way!

⁵ Are there others in the congregation who meet the requirements for auxiliary pioneer work who could serve with you? If so, by all means invite them to do so. If you are a parent, could your son or daughter serve with you? Could your husband or wife? your sister or brother?​—See om pp. 113-14.

YOUR GOALS

⁶ If you will be serving as an auxiliary pioneer, a regular pioneer, or as a congregation publisher who is endeavoring to have an increased share in Jehovah’s service, what will your goals be? If you are a pioneer, you will have a requirement of hours to meet. However, why not also make it a goal to speak about the Kingdom good news to someone in every home? Will you make it a goal to call again on all interested persons you meet? Can you start a magazine route? Can you start a Bible study? Perhaps you can help someone in your congregation to have a fuller share in the ministry by inviting him to accompany you in your increased activity this summer.

⁷ Apply the counsel Paul gave Timothy: ‘Make your advancement manifest.’ “Fully accomplish your ministry.” Pray that Jehovah will bless your efforts and those of his people in every place who are also endeavoring to ‘fully accomplish their ministry.’ May our united activity be an honor to him.​—1 Tim. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:5.

Presenting the Good News​—To All People

¹ Jesus Christ gave the Kingdom of God wide publicity. He went throughout the whole of Galilee proclaiming: “Repent, you people, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” (Matt. 4:17) This was a timely message of good news that warmed the hearts of Jesus’ listeners and gave them hope. Such good news had to be shared with others, and because of its urgency, those doing this work carried a weighty responsibility.

² Who has accepted this responsibility? At the beginning of our Common Era it was the disciples of Jesus, including the faithful apostles. Centuries later we have been made aware of this message, and so we too have the responsibility of sharing it with others. (1 Cor. 9:16) By taking advantage of all appropriate opportunities, we can show our heartfelt obedience to Jesus’ command to preach the “good news of the kingdom . . . in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations” before the end comes.​—Matt. 24:14.

³ When sharing in the house-to-house work, do we make an effort to contact someone at every home? With so many people working secularly, there may be no response at many doors. Of course, a lack of response at the front door does not always mean that no one is at home. Are there indications that they use a side or back entrance? If so, a knock there may bring a response. Or it may be that the householder is in the backyard or garage. Sometimes you will find a separate apartment with an entrance at the side of the house. After going on to other homes, you may see the householder return. Should this prove to be the case, after a few minutes, why not go back and knock again?

⁴ What about homes where you are unable to contact anyone? Note these on your House-to-House Record. Usually it is best to keep a separate record of interested persons you plan to visit again so that the list of not-at-homes can be passed on to someone else if you are unable to return. When following up not-at-homes, many have found it good to call at different times, as this may increase the possibility of finding someone. Some publishers have been successful in reaching people by calling later the same day or in the evening. People not at home during the week are often there on the weekend and vice versa. Groups that do weekday and weekend witnessing may exchange their lists of not-at-homes and find they get good results in reaching some of these people. Our faithfulness in keeping this record and following it up demonstrates our love for others and our desire to please Jehovah.​—Luke 16:10.

⁵ Be prepared to take advantage of other opportunities to witness while in the territory. For example, you may encounter individuals out for a stroll, or they may be sitting on a bench or waiting for a bus. By using a tactful approach along with a friendly smile, you may get a listening ear. Also, it is good to call at small stores and business establishments if they are not unusually busy. Very often you will encounter youths in the course of your ministry. Do not pass up an opportunity to share a Scriptural thought with them, because their lives are important too.​—Matt. 19:14.

⁶ God’s Word makes it clear that it is Jehovah’s ‘will that all sorts of people be saved.’ (1 Tim. 2:4) “He does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) When we work our assigned territory thoroughly and make a sincere effort to contact everyone, we show that we love others as Jehovah does. That spirit is sure to result in blessings to us and to those who listen to us.​—1 Tim. 4:16.

Theocratic News

◆ Fiji had 971 publishers in February​—a new peak. This is 15 percent over last year’s average.

◆ Guadeloupe had its fourth peak this service year with 3,813 publishers in February, a 14-percent increase. They reported 5,010 Bible studies.

◆ Haiti also had its fourth peak this service year with 4,015 publishers reporting, a 14-percent increase. They reported 6,157 Bible studies.

◆ Curaçao had its fifth peak this service year with 1,105 reporting in February. They also built their first two-day Kingdom Hall.

◆ In Japan’s winter month of February they had 13,309 auxiliary pioneers reporting, which is 3,000 over February of last year. The number of regular pioneers for February​—22,039—​is also a new peak.

◆ For February, Korea reported 37,084 publishers, their 14th consecutive peak, and 6,757 pioneers, their 24th consecutive peak.

◆ France reported three new peaks in February. They had 84,824 publishers, 52,061 Bible studies, and 1,690 regular pioneers. This was the sixth consecutive peak in regular pioneers.

◆ Senegal reports 432 publishers and 801 Bible studies for February. Both figures are all-time peaks. The congregation publishers averaged 12.9 hours in the field. Nearby, in the Gambia, a new peak of 18 reported activity. The publishers averaged 17 hours each.

◆ Uruguay reports an all-time peak of 5,221 publishers in February.

March Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios. 319 130.8 91.3 55.1 6.0

Pios. 35,973 86.6 49.6 32.4 3.4

Aux. Pios. 45,331 59.8 35.5 18.0 1.6

Pubs. 594,968 9.4 7.4 3.7 0.5

TOTAL 676,591

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 2,387