Isahluko 16

Iintlanganiso Zokunqula, Zokufundiswa, Nokukhuthazwa

IINTLANGANISO zebandla ziyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yomsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova. Kwanaxa iimeko zikwenza kube nzima kakhulu, azabalazela ukubakho rhoqo kwiintlanganiso zawo, ngokuvisisana nesi sibongozo seBhayibhile: “Masinyamekelane, ukuba silolane eluthandweni nasemisebenzini emihle; singakuhilizeli ukuhlanganisana kwethu, njengesiko labanye. Masivuselelane kube kokukhona, niyibona nje ukuba imini leyo iyasondela.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Xa kunokwenzeka, ibandla ngalinye liba neentlanganiso izihlandlo ezithathu ngeveki, isimbuku seeyure ezi-4 nemizuzu engama-45. Phofu ke, indlela eziqhutywa ngayo iintlanganiso, namaxesha eziqhutywa ngawo, ebesahluka kuxhomekeka koko kufunekayo ngelo xesha.

Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, ukubonakaliswa kweziphiwo ezimangalisayo zomoya kwakuyimbalasane yeentlanganiso zamaKristu. Kwakutheni? Kwakungenxa yokuba ngezi zipho, uThixo wayengqinela isibakala sokuba wayengasasebenzisi inkqubo yonqulo yamaYuda kodwa ngoku umoya wakhe wawukwibandla lamaKristu elalisandul’ ukusekwa. (IZe. 2:1-21; Heb. 2:2-4) Kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu okuqala, kwakuthandazwa, kuvunyelwa uThixo iindumiso, yaye kwakugxininiswa ekuprofeteni (oko kukuthi, ukuchaza izityhilelo zokuthanda nenjongo kaThixo) nasekudluliseleni imiyalelo eyayiza kwakha abo babeyiva. Loo maKristu ayephila ngexesha ekwakusenzeka izinto ezimangalisayo mayela nenjongo kaThixo ngalo. Kwakufuneka aziqonde ezi zinto yaye ayiqonde nendlela yokuzivisisanisa nazo. Noko ke, indlela abanye kuwo ababeyisingatha ngayo imicimbi kwiintlanganiso zabo yayingalungelelenanga, yaye njengokuba iBhayibhile ibonisa, kwafuneka isiluleko ukuze izinto zenziwe ngeyona ndlela iyingenelo.—1 Kor. 14:1-40.

Ngaba izinto ezazibalasele kwiintlanganiso zaloo maKristu okuqala zazibonakala xa aBafundi beBhayibhile babehlanganisana ngeminyaka yee-1870 nasemva koko?

Ukwanelisa Iintswelo Zokomoya ZaBafundi BeBhayibhile Bokuqala

UCharles Taze Russell neqela elincinane lezinxulumani zakhe eAllegheny, ePennsylvania, nakwiindawo ezikufutshane nayo, baseka iklasi yokufundisisa iBhayibhile ngowe-1870. Ngenxa yeentlanganiso zabo, ngokuthe ngcembe lwakhula uthando lwabo ngoThixo neLizwi lakhe yaye ngokuqhubekayo bakwazi oko iBhayibhile ikufundisayo. Kwezi ntlanganiso babengathethi ngeelwimi ngokungummangaliso. Ngoba? Iziphiwo ezingummangaliso ezinjalo zaziyifezile injongo yazo ngenkulungwane yokuqala, yaye njengokuba iBhayibhile yaxela kwangaphambili, zaziphelile. UMzalwan’ uRussell wacacisa wathi: “Inyathelo elilandelayo lenkqubela lalikukubonakalisa iziqhamo zoMoya, njengokuba iNgcwele uPawulos ibonisa ngokucacileyo.” (1 Kor. 13:4-10) Ngokubhekele phaya, njengokuba kwakunjalo nangenkulungwane yokuqala, kwakukho umsebenzi ongxamisekileyo wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo owawumele wenziwe, yaye babemele bakhuthazwe ukuze bawenze. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Kungekudala, babeqhuba rhoqo iintlanganiso ezimbini ngeveki.

UMzalwan’ uRussell waqonda ukuba kwakubalulekile ukuba abakhonzi bakaYehova babe ngabantu abamanyeneyo, ingakhathaliseki indawo abasenokuba basasazeke kuyo emhlabeni wonke. Ngoko, ngowe-1879, kungekudala emva kokuqaliswa kokupapashwa kweMboniselo (ngesiNgesi), abafundi bayo bamenywa ukuba benze isicelo sokuba uMzalwan’ uRussell okanye omnye wezinxulumani zakhe abatyelele. Umqathango owawuchazwe ngokucacileyo wawusithi “Akukho ntlawulo yaye akuyi kuthatyathwa mali.” Emva kokuba kufike izicelo eziliqela, uMzalwan’ uRussell wathabatha uhambo lwenyanga yonke olwaya kumfikisa eLynn, eMassachusetts, eqhuba iintlanganiso zeeyure ezine ukuya kwezintandathu ngosuku kuzo zonke iindawo aweyesima kuzo. Umxholo wakhe wawusithi “Izinto Eziphathelele UBukumkani BukaThixo.”

Ebutsheni bowe-1881, uMzalwan’ uRussell wabongoza abafundi beMboniselo (yesiNgesi) ababengekabi nazo iintlanganiso eziqhutywa rhoqo kummandla wabo wathi: “Ziqalise ekhayeni lakho nentsapho yakho, okanye nabanye abambalwa abasenokuba nomdla. Fundani, nifundisise, nidumise nize ninqule kunye, yaye apho ababini okanye abathathu bahlanganiseneyo ngegama Layo, iNkosi iya kuba phakathi kwenu—umfundisi wenu. Zaziqhutywa njalo ezinye zeentlanganiso zecawa ngemihla yabaPostile. (Bona uFilemon, 2).”

Ucwangciso lweentlanganiso lwaphuculwa ngokuthe ngcembe. Kwakunikelwa amacebiso, kodwa kwakushiyelwa kwiqela lasekuhlaleni ngalinye ukugqiba ngoko kwakulungile kwiimeko zalo. Ngamathuba athile isithethi sasinokunikela intetho, kodwa ubukhulu becala kwakugxininiswa kwiintlanganiso wonke ubani awayenokuba nenxaxheba ngokukhululekileyo kuzo. Kwezinye iiklasi zaBafundi beBhayibhile ekuqaleni zazingasetyenziswa kangako iimpapasho zoMbutho kwiintlanganiso zazo, kodwa abalungiseleli abahambahambayo, abahambi ngezonqulo, babanceda bayibona imbaluleka yokwenjenjalo.

Emva kokuba eminye yemiqulu yeMillennial Dawn ipapashiwe, yaqaliswa ukusetyenziswa njengesiseko sofundisiso. Ngowe-1895 amaqela ofundisiso aziwa ngokuba ziZazulu Zokukhanya Zofundisiso lweBhayibhile.a Kamva abathile eNorway babhekisela kuwo ngokuthi “iintlanganiso zokufunda nokuncokola,” besongezelela ngokuthi: “Kwakufundwa ngokuvakalayo izicatshulwa ezithatyathwe kwiincwadi zikaMzalwan’ uRussell, kuze xa abantu benamagqabaza okanye imibuzo, baphakamise izandla.” UMzalwan’ uRussell wayecebisa ukuba kwizifundo ezinjalo abo banenxaxheba basebenzise iinguqulelo ezahlukahlukeneyo zeZibhalo, iimbekiselo eziseludinini lweBhayibhile, nezalatha-mazwi zeBhayibhile. Ezi zifundo ngokufuthi zaziqhutywa ngamaqela amancinane, emakhayeni abantu, ngengokuhlwa elilungeleyo iqela elo. Ezi ntlanganiso zahlahlel’ indlela iSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla sanamhlanje.

UMzalwan’ uRussell waqonda ukuba kwakufuneka okungakumbi kunokufundisiswa kwemibandela yemfundiso nje kuphela. Babemele baluvakalise nozinikelo lwabo ukuze iintliziyo zabantu zishukunyiswe luxabiso ngothando lukaThixo nangumnqweno wokumzukisa nokumkhonza. Iiklasi zabongozwa ukuba zilungiselele intlanganiso ekhethekileyo yale njongo kanye ngeveki. Maxa wambi ezi zazibizwa ngokuba zii-“Cottage Meetings” (ziiNtlanganiso zaseNdlwini) ngenxa yokuba zaziqhutyelwa emakhayeni abantu. Ucwangciso lwaluquka imithandazo, amaculo eendumiso, nobungqina obabubaliswa ngabo bakhoyo.b Obu bungqina maxa wambi babungamava akhuthazayo; kwakuquka, neemvavanyo, iinzima, neengxaki ekuhlangatyezenwe nazo kwiintsuku ezisanda kudlula. Kwezinye iindawo ezi ntlanganiso zazingayifikeleli tu kwaphela injongo yazo ngenxa yokugxininisa ngokugqithisileyo kwabantu kwiziqu zabo. Ngobubele kwanikelwa amacebiso okuphucula kwiMboniselo.

Ekhumbula ezo ntlanganiso, uEdith Brenisen, umfazi womnye wabahambi ngezonqulo bokuqala eUnited States, wathi: “Yayisiba yingokuhlwa yokucamngca ngenyameko kaYehova yothando nokunxulumana ngokusondeleyo nabazalwana noodade. Njengoko sasiphulaphula amanye amava abo saya sibazi kakuhle ngakumbi. Ukuphawula ukuthembeka kwabo, ukubona indlela abazoyise ngayo iinzima zabo, ngokufuthi kwakusinceda ekucombululeni ezinye zeengxaki zethu.” Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwabonakala ukuba iintlanganiso ezenzelwe ukuxhobisa umntu ngamnye ukuba abe nesabelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela ziyingenelo ngakumbi.

Indlela intlanganiso yangeCawa eyayiqhutywa ngayo kwezinye iindawo yayibaxhalabisa abazalwana. Ezinye iiklasi zazizama ukuxubusha indinyana nganye yeBhayibhile. Kodwa maxa wambi ukungavisisani kweembono ngentsingiselo kwakungakhi tu kwaphela. Ukuze kuphuculwe le meko, abathile kwibandla laseLos Angeles, eKhalifoniya, benza imibhalo yolwandlalo lokufundisisa iBhayibhile ngemixholo, olwalunemibuzo neembekiselo ezazimele zihlolisiswe yiklasi yonke ngaphambi kokuza entlanganisweni. Ngowe-1902 uMbutho walungiselela iBhayibhile eyayiqulethe ii-“Berean Bible Study Helps” (Uncedo Lokufundisisa IBhayibhile LwamaBhereya), kuquka isalathiso semixholo.c Ukwenza imicimbi ibe lula ngakumbi, ukususela kwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaMatshi 1, 1905, kwapapashwa ulwandlalo lwengxubusho yebandla, kunye nemibuzo kwaneembekiselo zeBhayibhile neempapasho zoMbutho ukwenzela uphando. Ezi zaqhubeka de kwangowe-1914, xa kwathi kwapapashwa imibuzo yofundisiso yemiqulu yeStudies in the Scriptures ukuze isetyenziswe kwiZifundo zamaBhereya.

Zonke iiklasi zazinombandela omnye, kodwa inani leentlanganiso ngeveki lalisahluka ukusuka kwenye ukuya kwezine nangakumbi, kuxhomekeka kumalungiselelo asekuhlaleni. EColombo, eCeylon (ngoku eyiSri Lanka), ukususela ngowe-1914, iintlanganiso zaziqhutywa iintsuku ezisixhenxe ngeveki.

ABafundi beBhayibhile bakhuthazwa ukuba bafunde ukuphanda, ukuze ‘bacikide izinto zonke,’ bagqabaze ngawabo amazwi. (1 Tes. 5:21) UMzalwan’ uRussell wayekhuthaza ukuba umbandela ofundisiswayo uxutyushwe ngokupheleleyo nangokukhululekileyo. Kwakhona walumkisa: “Ningaze nilibale ukuba iBhayibhile isiSikhokelo sethu yaye kungakhathaliseki ukuba uncwadi esinalo lokusinceda kufundisiso lungaba loluvela kuThixo kangakanani na ekuphela kwento oluyiyo ‘luncwadi lokusinceda’ kungekhona izinto zokuthabatha indawo yeBhayibhile.”

Ukukhunjulwa Kokufa KweNkosi

Ukususela malunga nowe-1876, nyaka ngamnye aBafundi beBhayibhile bebesenza amalungiselelo okukhumbula ukufa kweNkosi.d Ekuqaleni, iqela elalisePittsburgh, ePennsylvania, nakwiindawo ezikufutshane lalihlanganisana ekhayeni lesinye sezihlobo. Ngowe-1883, ababekho babandile baya kufikelela kubantu abamalunga nekhulu apho, yaye kwasetyenziswa iholo eqeshiweyo. Ukuze kuhlaliswe abantu abaninzi ababelindelekile ePittsburgh ngowe-1905, abazalwana bagqiba ekubeni bafune iHolo yaseCarnegie enkulu.

ABafundi beBhayibhile babeqonda ukuba esi yayisisikhumbuzo esenziwa kanye ngonyaka, kungekhona into eyayimele yenziwe veki zonke. Umhla ababesikhumbula ngawo wawungqamana noNisan 14 kwikhalenda yamaYuda, ixesha awafa ngalo uYesu. Ukutyhubela iminyaka, kuye kwakho uhlengahlengiso kwindlela loo mhla obalwa ngawo.e Kodwa eyona nto ibalulekileyo yayikukubaluleka kwesiganeko eso.

Nangona aBafundi beBhayibhile babehlanganisana bengamaqela angalinganiyo kwiindawo ezininzi xa besenza esi sikhumbuzo, nabaphi na ababenokuthelela abazalwana ababesePittsburgh babamkelekile. Ukususela ngowe-1886 ukusa kowe-1893, abafundi beMboniselo bamenywa ngokukhethekileyo ukuba beze ePittsburgh, ukuba kwakunokwenzeka, ibe beza, besuka kwiindawo ngeendawo zelaseUnited States naseKhanada. Oku akuzange kubancede nje ukuba bakhumbule iSikhumbuzo kunye kuphela kodwa kwakhona kwabanceda ukuba baqinise amakhonkco omanyano lokomoya. Noko ke, njengokuba iiklasi zazisanda, eUnited States nakwezinye iindawo zomhlaba, kwakungasenakwenzeka ukuhlanganisana kwindawo enye, yaye baqonda ukuba kwakuya kufezwa lukhulu ngokuhlanganisana namanye amakholwa akummandla ubani ahlala kuwo.

Njengokuba IMboniselo yabonisayo, baninzi ababesithi bayakholelwa kwintlawulelo, yaye bonke aba babengagxothwa kwisikhumbuzo saminyaka le. Kodwa esi sihlandlo sasinentsingiselo ekhethekileyo kwabo ‘babengabomhlambi omncinane’ kaKristu ngokwenene. Aba ngabo babeya kuba nesabelo kuBukumkani basezulwini. Ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kukaYesu, xa wayesungula iSikhumbuzo, uKristu wayethetha nabantu elalidluliselwa kubo elo themba xa wathi: “Oku kwenzeleni ukundikhumbula.”—Luka 12:32; 22:19, 20, 28-30.

Ngokukodwa ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1930, abo babenethemba lokuba ngamalungu ‘endimbane enkulu’ okanye ‘esihlwele esikhulu’ sezinye izimvu, baqalisa ukubonakala. (ISityhi. 7:9, 10; Yoh. 10:16) Ngelo xesha aba babebizwa ngokuba ngamaYonadabhi. Okwesihlandlo sokuqala, kwinkupho yayo (yesiNgesi) kaFebruwari 15, 1938, IMboniselo yabamema ngokukhethekileyo ukuba babekho eSikhumbuzweni, isithi: “Emva kweyesithandathu emalanga ngoAprili 15 qela ngalinye labathanjiswa lize lihlanganisane lenze iSikhumbuzo, aze abekho namaqabane abo angamaYonadabhi.” Abakho, kungekhona ngenjongo yokuthabatha kwimifuziselo, kodwa njengababukeli. Ubukho bawo baqalisa ukulandisa inani labo babekho ngexesha leSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu. Ngowe-1938 bebonke ababezile babengama-73 420, ngoxa abo bathabathayo kwisonka newayini eziyimifuziselo babengama-39 225. Kwiminyaka eyalandelayo, abo babebakho njengababukeli nabo baqalisa ukuquka abantu abaninzi abasandul’ ukuba nomdla nabanye ababengekabi ngawo amaNgqina kaYehova akhutheleyo. Ngaloo ndlela, ngowe-1992, xa incopho yabo bebesiba nesabelo kubulungiseleli basentsimini ibingabantu abazizi-4 472 787 abebekho kwiSikhumbuzo bebeli-11 431 171 yaye abathabathileyo kwimifuziselo bebengama-8 683 kuphela. Kwamanye amazwe inani labebekho liye laliphinda kahlanu okanye kathandathu inani lamaNgqina akhutheleyo.

Ngenxa yentlonelo yawo enzulu ngentsingiselo yokufa kukaKristu, amaNgqina kaYehova ayasikhumbula iSikhumbuzo kwanaxa ejamelene neemeko ezinzima ngokwenene. Ebudeni beminyaka yee-1970, xa imiqathango yexesha lemfazwe eRhodesia (ngoku eyaziwa ngokuba yiZimbabwe) yenza kwaba nzima ukuphuma ngokuhlwa, abazalwana kweminye imimandla babehlanganisana ekhayeni lomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova emini baze benze umsitho weSikhumbuzo ngokuhlwa. Kakade ke, babengenakubuyela emakhaya emva kwale ntlanganiso, ngoko babehlala ubusuku bonke. Iiyure eziseleyo zobusuku zazisetyenziselwa ukucula iingoma zoBukumkani nokubalisa amava, nto leyo eyayibangela ukuhlaziyeka okungakumbi.

Kwiinkampu zoxinaniso ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II, iSikhumbuzo sasisenziwa, nangona ukwenza oko ngekwakuphumele kwizohlwayo eziqatha ukuba abalindi babekufumanisile. Xa wayevalelwe yedwa entolongweni kwiTshayina yamaKomanisi ukususela kowe-1958 ukusa ngowe-1963 ngenxa yokholo lwakhe lobuKristu, uHarold King wayesenza iSikhumbuzo ngeyona ndlela ilungileyo awayenokusenza ngayo ngaphantsi kwezo meko. Kamva wathi: “Ndikwifestile yam yasentolongweni ndandiyibukela inyanga ithwasa ngasekuqaleni kwentwasahlobo. Ndandiwubala ngenyameko kangangoko umhla walo msitho.” Wayezenzela imifuziselo efunekayo, esenza intwana yewayini ngeerasentyisi ezincinane ezimnyama aze asebenzise irayisi, engenagwele, endaweni yesonka. Kwakhona wathi: “Ndandicula ndize ndithandaze ibe ndandinikela intetho eqhelekileyo yeso sihlandlo, njengokuba bekuya kwenziwa kulo naliphi na ibandla labantu bakaYehova. Ngoko ndandivakalelwa kukuba nyaka ngamnye ndandimanyene nabazalwana bam emhlabeni wonke ngesi sihlandlo sibaluleke ngokwenene.”

Indawo Yabaselula

Ngeminyaka yokuqala, iimpapasho neentlanganiso zaBafundi beBhayibhile zazingalungiselelwanga ukwanelisa iintswelo zabantu abaselula. Babenokuya kwiintlanganiso, yaye abanye babo babesenjenjalo baze baphulaphule ngenyameko. Kodwa kwakungenziwa mgudu ukhethekileyo wakubabandakanya koko kwakuqhubeka. Kwakutheni?

Ngelo xesha abazalwana babesithi kwakusele ixesha elifutshane gqitha ngaphambi kokuba onke amalungu omtshakazi kaKristu amanyaniswe naye kuzuko lwasezulwini. Ngowe-1883, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi), yacacisa: “Thina baziqeqeshela ubizo lwaphezulu asinako ukushenxa kumsebenzi okhethekileyo wesi sizukulwana—umsebenzi wokulungiselela ‘uMtshakazi, umfazi weMvana.’ UMtshakazi umele azilungise; yaye ngeli xesha, xa kugqityezelwa ukumhombisa kulungiselelwa umtshato, kufuneka inkonzo yelungu ngalinye kulo msebenzi ubaluleke ngokwenene uqhubekayo ngoku.”

Abazali babongozwa ngamandla ukuba bazithwalele imbopheleleko yabo abayinikwe nguThixo yokunyamekela ukufundiswa ngokomoya kwabantwana babo. Kwakungakhuthazwa ukuba kubekho izikolo zangeCawa ezikhethekileyo ezenzelwe ulutsha. Kwakucacile ukuba ukusebenzisa kweNgqobhoko izikolo zangeCawa kwakwenze umonakalo omkhulu. Abazali ababethumela abantwana babo kwizikolo ezinjalo ngokufuthi babesiba nembono yokuba eli lungiselelo lalibakhulula kwimbopheleleko yokufundisa abantwana babo ngonqulo. Bona ke, abantwana ngenxa yokuba babengajonganga kubazali babo njengomthombo oyintloko wemfundo engoThixo, babengashukunyiselwa ukuba bababeke abazali babo baze babathobele njengokuba befanele benjenjalo.

Noko ke, ukususela ngowe-1892 ukusa kowe-1927, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yayishiya isithuba samagqabaza angombandela obubalaseliswa ‘kwiziFundo zeSikolo sangeCawa Sezizwe Ngezizwe,’ ngoko ezazithandwa kakhulu kwiicawa zamaProtestanti. Kangangeminyaka emininzi le mibandela yayikhethwa nguF. N. Peloubet, umfundisi wamaCongregational, nabancedisi bakhe. IMboniselo yayiyixubusha le mibandela ngokwendlela ehambele phambili aBafundi beBhayibhile ababeziqonda ngayo iZibhalo, eyayingenayo impembelelo yezivumo zokholo zeNgqobhoko. Kwakuthenjwa ukuba ngale ndlela IMboniselo yayiya kuthi ingene nakwiicawa ezithile, kuze ngaloo ndlela kudluliselwe inyaniso, aze ke amalungu athile ecawa ayamkele. Kambe ke, umahluko wawuzicacele, yaye oku kwabacaphukisa abefundisi bamaProtestanti.

Wafika unyaka we-1918, yaye intsalela, okanye abasaseleyo babathanjiswa, babesesemhlabeni. Inani labantwana ababesibakho kwiintlanganiso zabo nalo lalande kakhulu. Ngokufuthi abantwana babevunyelwa nje ukuba badlale ngoxa abazali babo babefundisisa. Ukanti, nabantwana kwakufuneka bafunde ‘ukufuna ubulungisa, ukufuna ululamo,’ ukuba babeza ‘kusitheliswa ngemini yomsindo weNKOSI.’ (Zef. 2:3, KJ) Ngoko, ngowe-1918 uMbutho wakhuthaza ukuba amabandla alungiselele iklasi yolutsha ukwenzela abantwana abaphakathi kweminyaka esi-8 ukuya kweli-15 ubudala. Kwezinye iindawo kwakukho neeklasi zabaqalayo zabo babeselula kakhulu ukuba bangaya kwiiklasi zolutsha. Kwangaxeshanye, imbopheleleko yabazali ngabantwana yabethelelwa kwakhona.

Oku kwakhokelela kwezinye izinto. Ngowe-1920, iThe Golden Age, yayisiba nenqaku elithi “Isifundo SeBhayibhile Solutsha,” elalinemibuzo ephelekwa ziingcaphulo zeZibhalo iimpendulo ezazinokufumaneka kuzo. Kwangaloo nyaka, kwapapashwa iThe Golden Age ABC; yayiyincwadana enemifanekiso eyayifanele isetyenziswe ngabazali ekufundiseni abantwana babo iinyaniso zeBhayibhile ezisisiseko neempawu zamaKristu. Ngowe-1924, kwalandela incwadi ethi The Way to Paradise, eyayibhalwe nguW. E. Van Amburgh. Yayilungiselelwe “abafundi beBhayibhile abaphakathi abangekabi namava kangako.” Kangangethuba yayisetyenziswa kwiintlanganiso zabaselula. Ukongezelela, eMerika, “amaNgqina Aselula” ayenawawo amalungiselelo enkonzo yasentsimini. ESwitzerland iqela lolutsha laseka umbutho obizwa ngokuthi “Ulutsha LukaYehova,” wabo baphakathi kweminyaka eli-13 nama-25 ubudala. Lalineyalo iofisi kanobhala eBerne, yaye iphephancwadi elikhethekileyo elithi, Jehovah’s Youth, lalihlelwa lize lishicilelwe koomatshini bokushicilela boMbutho apho. Olu lutsha lwalunezalo iintlanganiso yaye lusenza nemidlalo yeBhayibhile, njengokuba lwenzayo eVolkshaus eZurich phambi kwababukeli abali-1 500.

Noko ke, eyona nto yayisenzeka, yayikukuba kwakuvela enye intlangano ngaphakathi kwintlangano yabakhonzi bakaYehova. Oku kwakungayi kukhuthaza umanyano, yaye kwayekwa ngowe-1936. NgoAprili 1938, xa wayetyelele eOstreliya, uJ. F. Rutherford, umongameli woMbutho, wafumanisa ukuba kwakuqhutywa iklasi yabantwana ngokwahlukileyo kwintlanganiso yabantu abadala. Kwangoko wenza amalungiselelo okuba bonke abo bantwana baziswe kwintlanganiso enkulu, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba bangenelwe kakhulu.

Kwangaloo nyaka, IMboniselo yawuhlolisisa ngokweenkcukacha umbandela weeklasi ezahlukileyo zolutsha ebandleni. Eso sifundo kwakhona sagxininisa isibakala sokuba ngabazali abanembopheleleko yokufundisa abantwana babo. (Efe. 6:4; thelekisa iDuteronomi 4:9, 10; Yeremiya 35:6-10.) Sabonisa nokuba eBhayibhileni akukho ndawo ibonisa ukuba abaselula bakha bahlukaniswa ngeeklasi zolutsha. Kunoko, babemele babekho kunye nabazali babo ukuze baphulaphule iLizwi likaThixo. (Dut. 31:12, 13; Yosh. 8:34, 35) Xa kwakufuneka ukuba umbandela ofundisiswayo ucaciswe ngakumbi, oku kwakunokwenziwa ngabazali ekhaya. Ngokubheke phaya, la manqaku abonisa ukuba enyanisweni amalungiselelo eeklasi ezahlukileyo ayekuphazamisa ukushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo kwindlu ngendlu. Njani? Ngenxa yokuba abo babefundisa babengayi kwinkonzo yasentsimini ukuze balungiselele ezi klasi nokuze baziqhube. Ngoko, zonke iiklasi ezahlukileyo zolutsha zayekwa.

Kude kube ngulo mhla, phakathi kwamaNgqina kaYehova kuselisiko ukuba intsapho iphela ibekho kwiintlanganiso zebandla. Abantwana bancedwa ngabazali babo ukuba balungiselele ukuze babe nenxaxheba ngeendlela ezifanelekileyo. Ukongezelela, abazali balungiselelwe uthotho lweempapasho ukuze balusebenzisele ukufundisa ulutsha emakhaya. Phakathi kwezi singabala iincwadi ethi Children, ngowe-1941; Ukuphulaphula kuMfundisi Omkhulu, (ngesiNgesi) ngowe-1971; Ubutsha Bakho—Ukufumana Okona Kulungileyo Kubo, ngowe-1976; Incwadi Yam Yamabali EBhayibhile, ngowe-1978; nethi Imibuzo Yabantu Abaselula—Iimpendulo Eziluncedo, ngowe-1989.

Ukuxhobisa Bonke Ukuba Babe Ngabahambisi Bevangeli Abakhutheleyo

Kususela oko iinkupho zokuqala zeMboniselo zapapashwayo, abafundi bayo bebekhunjuzwa rhoqo ngelungelo nembopheleleko yawo onke amaKristu okwenyaniso yokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo ezingenjongo kaThixo. Iintlanganiso zebandla ziye zabanceda ekwenzeni iintliziyo neengqondo zabo zilungele lo msebenzi ngokwakha uthando lwabo ngoYehova nolwazi lwabo ngenjongo yakhe. Noko ke, emva kwendibano eyayiseCedar Point, eOhio, ngowe-1922, ngokukhethekileyo kwagxininiswa ngakumbi koko kufezwayo enkonzweni yasentsimini nendlela yokuba nesabelo kuyo ngokunempumelelo.

IBulletin,f iphecana elalinenkcazelo ehlobene ngokuthe ngqo nenkonzo yasentsimini, yayinikela ubungqina ngokufutshane, ngoko obabubizwa ngokuba yingxoxo, obabumele bucengcelezwe buze busetyenziswe xa kunikelwa ubungqina ebantwini. Kwinxalenye enkulu yowe-1923, ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga nganye, njengendlela yokukhuthaza imigudu emanyeneyo yokubhengeza uBukumkani, isiqingatha sentlanganiso yangokuhlwa kwangoLwesithathu yoMthandazo, iNdumiso noBungqina sasibekelwa bucala ukwenzela ukunikelwa kobungqina ngokuphathelelene nenkonzo yasentsimini.

Ubuncinane ngowe-1926, iintlanganiso zanyanga zonke ekwakuxutyushwa inkonzo yasentsimini kuzo zazibizwa ngokuba ziiNtlanganiso Zabasebenzi. Ngokuqhelekileyo abo babesiba nenxaxheba ngokoqobo kuloo nkonzo ngabo babesibakho. Kwezi ntlanganiso, kwakuxutyushwa iindlela ezisetyenziswayo zokunikela ubungqina kwabanye, kucetywa nomsebenzi wexesha elizayo. Ngowe-1928 uMbutho wawubongoza amabandla ukuba aziqhube iveki nganye ezi ntlanganiso. Emva kweminyaka emine, amabandla ayeqalisa ukuyithabathela indawo iNtlanganiso yobuNgqina (okanye, Yokuvakalisa) ngaleyo ngoku yayibizwa ngokuba yiNtlanganiso yeNkonzo, yaye uMbutho wawukhuthaza ukuba wonk’ ubani abekho. Sekudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwama-60, le ntlanganiso iqhutywa veki zonke ikho emabandleni. Ngeentetho, iingxubusho ezibandakanya ukuba nenxaxheba kwabaphulaphuli, imiboniso, nodliwano-ndlebe, kunikelwa uncedo olungqalileyo ngokuphathelele zonke iinkalo zobulungiseleli bamaKristu.

Ngokuqinisekileyo olu hlobo lwentlanganiso aluqalisanga kwinkulungwane yama-20. UYesu wanikela imiyalelo eneenkcukacha kubafundi bakhe ngaphambi kokubathuma ukuba baye kushumayela. (Mat. 10:5–11:1; Luka 10:1-16) Kamva, babesakhana ngokuhlanganisana ukuze babaliselane amava ababewafumene ngoxa bekubulungiseleli.—IZe. 4:21-31; 15:3.

Ngokuphathelele ukuqeqeshelwa ukuthetha esidlangalaleni, kwiminyaka yokuqala oku kwakungenziwa kwiintlanganiso zebandla eziqhelekileyo. Noko ke, ubuncinane ngowe-1916, kwacetyiswa ukuba abo babevakalelwa kukuba babenokuba zizithethi zasesidlangalaleni baziqhubele iiklasi ngokwabo, mhlawumbi kubekho umdala wokubaphulaphula aze anikele isiluleko sokuphucula umbandela lowo unikelwayo nakwindlela abazinikela ngayo iintetho zabo. Ezi ntlanganiso, ekwakusibakho kuzo amadoda kuphela, kamva zabizwa ngokuba ziZikolo zabaProfeti. Ekhumbula okwakusenzeka ngezo mini, uGrant Suiter wakhumbula oku: “Ukugxekwa kwam ngendlela eyakhayo kweso sikolo akunto xa kuthelekiswa nendlela awandigxeka ngayo ubawo emva kokuba eye kwenye yezo klasi waza wandiva ndizama ukunikela intetho.” Ukuze kuncedwe abo babezama ukwenza inkqubela, abazalwana bazenzela baza bashicilela incwadi yesikhokelo yemiyalelo yokunikela intetho, kunye nolwandlalo lweentetho ezingemibandela eyahlukahlukeneyo. Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha ezi Zikolo zabaProfeti zayekwa. Ukuze kuhlangatyezwane nentswelo ekhethekileyo eyayikho ngelo xesha, kwakunikelwa ingqalelo epheleleyo ekuxhobiseni onke amalungu ebandla ukuba abe nesabelo ngokupheleleyo ekushumayeleni kwindlu ngendlu.

Ngaba kwakunokwenzeka ukuxhobisa ilungu ngalinye lale ntlangano yezizwe ngezizwe eyandayo ukuba linganikeli ubungqina ngokufutshane lize linikele uncwadi lweBhayibhile nje kuphela kodwa lithethe ngokunempumelelo yaye libe ngumfundisi weLizwi likaThixo? Leyo yayiyinjongo yesikolo esikhethekileyo esasekwa kwibandla ngalinye lamaNgqina kaYehova, ukususela ngowe-1943. Sasisele siqalisile kwikomkhulu lamaNgqina kaYehova ngoFebruwari 1942. Veki nganye, kwakunikelwa imiyalelo, yaye abafundi babenikela iintetho baze balulekwe kuzo. Ekuqaleni, ngamadoda kuphela awayenikela iintetho esikolweni, nangona ibandla liphela lalikhuthazwa ukuba libekho, lizilungiselele izifundo, lize libe nenxaxheba xa kusenziwa impinda. Ngowe-1959 noodade banikwa ilungelo lokubhalisa, ukuze baqeqeshelwe ukuxubusha ngemixholo yeBhayibhile omnye ethetha ebhekisa komnye.

Ngokuphathelele imiphumo yesi sikolo, isebe leWatch Tower Society laseMzantsi Afrika lanikela le ngxelo: “Eli lungiselelo libalaseleyo liye laphumelela ngexeshana elingephi ekuncedeni abazalwana abebecinga ukuba abasayi kuze babe zizithethi zasesidlangalaleni ukuba batyibilike eqongeni yaye babe nempumelelo ngakumbi entsimini. Kuyo yonke imimandla yoMzantsi Afrika abazalwana balamkele ngothakazelelo eli lungiselelo likaYehova baza balisebenzisa ngehlombe. Oku kwenziwe phezu kwayo nje imiqobo yolwimi nokungafundi kwabanye.”

ISikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo sisaqhubeka siyintlanganiso ebalulekileyo emabandleni amaNgqina kaYehova. Phantse bonke abanako bayabhaliswa. Abaselula nabakhululileyo, amaNgqina asematsha nalawo anamava kakhulu onke aba nenxaxheba. Yinkqubo yemfundo eqhubekayo.

Bonke Abantu Bayamenywa Ukuze Bazibonele Baze Bazivele

AmaNgqina kaYehova awayontlangano efihlakeleyo konke konke. Iinkolelo zawo ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni zicaciswa ngokupheleleyo kwiimpapasho zawo ezifumaneka nakubani na. Ukongezelela, enza umgudu okhethekileyo wokumema bonke abantu ukuba babekho kwiintlanganiso ukuze bazibonele baze bazivele okuqhubekayo.

UYesu Kristu wabayalela ngokobuqu abafundi bakhe, kodwa kwakhona wathetha nasesidlangalaleni—ngaselunxwemeni, ecaleni lentaba, kwizindlu zesikhungu, kummandla wetempile eYerusalem—apho izihlwele zazinokumva khona. (Mat. 5:1, 2; 13:1-9; Yoh. 18:20) Bexelisa oku, kwangeminyaka yee-1870, aBafundi beBhayibhile baqalisa ukulungiselela iintlanganiso ababenokuthi abahlobo nabamelwane nabanye ababenokuba nomdla baphulaphule kuzo intetho engenjongo kaThixo ngoluntu.

Kwenziwa umgudu okhethekileyo wokuba ezi ntetho zibe kwiindawo ezilungele uwonke wonke. Oku kwakusaziwa ngokuthi ngumsebenzi owongezelelekileyo weklasi. Ngowe-1911, amabandla awayenezithethi ezinobuchule ezaneleyo akhuthazwa ukuba alungiselele ukuba ezinye zazo ziye kwiidolophu needolophana ezikufutshane zize ziqhube iintlanganiso kwiiholo zikawonke wonke. Apho kwakunokwenzeka, zazilungiselela ungcelele lweentetho ezintandathu. Emva kweyokugqibela, isithethi sasiya kubuza kubaphulaphuli inani labo babenomdla ngokwaneleyo ukuba bangahlanganisana rhoqo ukuze bafundisise iBhayibhile. Kwanikelwa iintetho ezinjalo ezingaphezu kwama-3 000 kunyaka wokuqala.

Ukususela ngowe-1914, i-“Photo-Drama of Creation” yaboniswa nasesidlangalaleni. Abazalwana babengabizi mali yokungena. Ukususela ngoko, baye basebenzisa eminye imifanekiso eshukumayo neyeeslides. Ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1920, ukusetyenziswa ngokubanzi konomathotholo yiWatch Tower Society kwenza ukuba abantu baphulaphule iintetho zeBhayibhile besemakhaya. Kwandula ke, ngeminyaka yee-1930, iintetho ezinikelwa nguJ. F. Rutherford zashicilelwa zaza zadlalwa kumawaka eendibano zasesidlangalaleni.

Ngowe-1945, kwakukho izithethi zasesidlangalaleni ezininzi ezaziqeqeshwe kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo. NgoJanuwari waloo nyaka, kwaqaliswa iphulo elilungelelaniswe kakuhle leentlanganiso zasesidlangalaleni. UMbutho walungiselela ungcelele lweentetho ezisibhozo ezisexesheni. Kwakusetyenziswa izimemo, yaye maxa wambi neeplacards, ukwenzela ukubhengeza. Ukongezelela ekusebenziseni iindawo zamabandla zokuhlanganisana rhoqo, abazalwana benza umgudu okhethekileyo wokulungiselela ezi ntlanganiso zasesidlangalaleni kwimimandla ekwakungekho mabandla kuyo. Bonke ebandleni babenokuba nesabelo—ngokuzibhengeza ezi ntlanganiso, ngokuzixhasa ngokobuqu, kwanangokwamkela abaqalayo ukuza nangokuphendula imibuzo yabo. Kunyaka wokuqala walo msebenzi ukhethekileyo, kwaqhutywa iintlanganiso ezili-18 646 eUnited States, bebonke abantu abezayo kuzo babengama-917 352. Kunyaka olandelayo inani leentlanganiso zasesidlangalaleni lantinga laya kutsho kuma-28 703 kwintsimi yaseMerika. Yaye eKhanada, apho kwalungiselelwa iintlanganiso ezinjalo ezingama-2 552 ngowe-1945, zaba ngama-4 645 kunyaka olandelayo.

Kwinkoliso yamabandla amaNgqina kaYehova, iiNtlanganiso Zesidlangalala ngoku ziyinxalenye yocwangciso oluqhutywa rhoqo lweentlanganiso zeveki. Kuzo kubakho intetho ekuthi kuyo wonke ubani akhuthazwe ukuba azijongele iindinyana zeZibhalo njengokuba zifundwa kuze kuxutyushwe ngazo. Ezi ntlanganiso zingumthombo otyebileyo wemfundo yokomoya kwibandla nakwabaqalayo ukuza ngokufanayo.

Abantu abaqalayo ukubakho kwiintlanganiso zamaNgqina kaYehova ngokufuthi bayamangaliswa. Indoda ebalaseleyo kwezobupolitika eZimbabwe yaya kwiHolo yoBukumkani ukuze ifumanise oko kwakuqhubeka apho. Le yayiyindoda endlongondlongo, yaye ngabom yaya ingazichebanga iindevu ingazichazanga neenwele. Yayilindele ukuba amaNgqina aza kuyigxotha. Kunoko, abonisa umdla wokwenene kuyo aza ayikhuthaza ukuba iqhutyelwe isifundo seBhayibhile sekhaya. Ngoku iliNgqina elingumKristu elithobekileyo nelinoxolo.

Izigidi zabantu, emva kokubakho kwiintlanganiso zamaNgqina kaYehova, ziye zashukunyiselwa ukuba zithi: “UThixo uphakathi kwenu okwenyaniso.”—1 Kor. 14:25.

Iindawo Ezifanelekileyo Zokuhlanganisana

Ngemihla yabapostile bakaYesu Kristu, ngokufuthi amaKristu ayeziqhubela emakhayeni abantu iintlanganiso zawo. Kwezinye iindawo ayekwazi ukuthetha kwizindlu zesikhungu zamaYuda. E-Efese umpostile uPawulos wanikela iintetho kwiholo yesikolo kangangeminyaka emibini. (IZe. 19:8-10; 1 Kor. 16:19; Filem. 1, 2) Ngokufanayo, ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-19, aBafundi beBhayibhile babehlanganisana emakhayeni abantu, maxa wambi bathethe kwizindlu zecawa, yaye babesebenzisa nezinye iiholo ezinokuqeshwa. Kwiimeko ezimbalwa, kamva bathenga izakhiwo ezazifudula zisetyenziswa ngamanye amaqela onqulo baza bazisebenzisa rhoqo. Bayifumana ngolo hlobo iBrooklyn Tabernacle neLondon Tabernacle.

Kodwa babengafuni zakhiwo zihonjiswe gqitha ukwenzela iintlanganiso zabo. Amabandla ambalwa athenga aza alungisa izakhiwo ezifanelekileyo; amanye akha iiholo ezintsha. Emva kowe-1935 ngokuthe ngcembe kwaqaliswa ukusetyenziswa igama elithi iHolo yoBukumkani ukuchaza ezi ndawo kuqhutyelwa kuzo iintlanganiso zebandla. Ngokuqhelekileyo ezi ziyabukeka kodwa azinabuqheleqhele. Indlela ezakhiwa ngayo isenokwahluka kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo, kodwa injongo yesakhiwo ikukuba sisebenziseke.

Ucwangciso Lwemfundo Olufanayo

Ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-19 nasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yama-20, ukukhula ngokomoya noko kwakusenziwa kwakusahluka kakhulu kumabandla awahlukahlukeneyo. Ayeneenkolelo ezifanayo ezisisiseko ezaziwenza ahluke kwiNgqobhoko. Kodwa, ngoxa abanye babazalwana babeyixabisa ngokwenene indlela uYehova awayebondla ngayo abantu bakhe, abanye babekhukuliswa lula ziimbono zabantu ababeneembono ezingqongqo ngemicimbi ethile.

Ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe uYesu wathandazela ukuba abalandeli bakhe “bonke babe banye”—kubekho umanyano phakathi kwabo noThixo noKristu naphakathi kwabo bodwa. (Yoh. 17:20, 21) Olu manyano lwalungazukunyanzelwa. Lwaluya kuba ngumphumo wocwangciso olufanayo lwemfundo eyayiya kushukumisa iintliziyo ezisabelayo. Njengokuba kwakuxelwe kwakude kudala ngaphambili: “Bonke abantwana bakho baya kuba ngabafundi bakaYehova, lube lukhulu uxolo lwabantwana bakho.” (Isa. 54:13) Ukuze balunandiphe ngokupheleleyo olo xolo, bonke kwakufuneka bafumane ithuba lokungenelwa kwimfundo eqhubekayo uYehova awayeyinikela ngejelo lakhe elibonakalayo lonxibelelwano.

Kangangeminyaka emininzi aBafundi beBhayibhile babesebenzisa imiqulu eyahlukahlukeneyo yencwadi ethi Studies in the Scriptures, kunye neBhayibhile, njengesiseko sengxubusho. Oko yayikuqulethe, ngokwenene, ‘yayikukudla kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45) Noko ke, ukuhlolisiswa kweZibhalo ngokuqhubekayo ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lomoya kaThixo kwenza kwacaca ukuba kwakusamelwe kufundwe okungakumbi nokuba kwakusafuneka becocwe ngakumbi ngokomoya abakhonzi bakaYehova. (Mal. 3:1-3; Isa. 6:1-8) Ngokubhekele phaya, emva kokusekwa koBukumkani ngowe-1914, iziprofeto ezininzi zazizaliseka esinye emva kwesinye, yaye zazisalatha kumsebenzi ongxamisekileyo onke amaKristu okwenyaniso afanele abandakanyeke kuwo. Le nkcazelo yeZibhalo isexesheni yayidluliselwa rhoqo ngemihlathi yeMboniselo.

Beqonda ukuba asingabo bonke emabandleni ababengenelwa kula manqaku, abanye babameli abahambahambayo boMbutho bacebisa kwiofisi yekomkhulu ukuba kwiintlanganiso zeeveki ngeeveki amabandla afundisise IMboniselo. Elo cebiso ladluliselwa emabandleni, yaye “Imibuzo YamaBhereya” eyayifanele isetyenziswe kufundisiso lwamanqaku aphambili eMboniselo yaba yinxalenye ehlala ikho yeli phephancwadi, ukususela kwinkupho (yesiNgesi) kaMeyi 15, 1922. Amabandla amaninzi ayesiqhuba esi sifundo kanye okanye kaninzi ngeveki, kodwa oko kwakukweli phephancwadi ayekufundisisa ngemilinganiselo eyahlukahlukeneyo. Kwezinye iindawo, ngenxa yokuba umqhubi wayethetha gqitha, esi sifundo sasiqhutywa ngeeyure ezimbini okanye ezingakumbi.

Noko ke, ebudeni beminyaka yee-1930 ulungelelwaniso lobuthixo lwathabatha indawo yeenkqubo zedemokhrasi. Oku kwayichaphazela ngamandla indlela esasijongwa ngayo isifundo seMboniselo.g Kwanikelwa ingqalelo engakumbi ekuqondeni oko kwakuqulethwe ngumbandela ofundisiswayo olungiselelwe nguMbutho. Abo babesebenzisa iintlanganiso njengethuba lokuvakalisa iimbono zabo zobuqu nababengayamkeli imbopheleleko yokuba nesabelo kubulungiseleli basentsimini ngokuthe ngcembe barhoxa. Ngoncedo olwalunikelwa ngomonde abazalwana bafunda indlela yokuphelelisela esi sifundo kwiyure enye. Ngenxa yoko, abangakumbi baba nenxaxheba; iintlanganiso zaba zezidlamke ngakumbi. Kwakhona kwabakho umoya womanyano lokwenene emabandleni, usekelwe kucwangciso olufanayo lokondliwa ngokomoya ekwakusetyenziswa kulo iLizwi likaThixo ukuze kuqondwe inyaniso.

Ngowe-1938, IMboniselo yayipapashwa ngeelwimi ezimalunga nama-20. Yonke into yayiqala iphume ngesiNgesi. Ngokuqhelekileyo yayingaphumi ngezinye iilwimi kangangeenyanga eziliqela, okanye mhlawumbi nonyaka, ngenxa yexesha elifunekayo lokuguqulela nokushicilela. Noko ke, ngenxa yotshintsho kwiindlela zokushicilela, ebudeni beminyaka yee-1980, iilwimi ezininzi zakwazi ukuyipapasha ngaxeshanye IMboniselo. Ngowe-1992, amabandla aluqondayo naluphi na ulwimi kwezingama-66 ebekwazi ukufundisisa umbandela omnye ngaxeshanye. Ngaloo ndlela inkoliso yamaNgqina kaYehova emhlabeni wonke idla ukudla kokomoya okufanayo veki zonke. Kuwo wonke uMntla noMzantsi Merika, kwinkoliso yeYurophu, kumazwe aliqela aseMpuma, kwiindawo ezininzi eAfrika, nakwiziqithi ezininzi emhlabeni wonke, abantu bakaYehova banandipha amalungiselelo afanayo okondliwa ngaxeshanye ngokomoya. Bebonke, benziwa ‘bagqibelela ngqiqweni-nye, nasicamangweni sinye.’—1 Kor. 1:10.

Amanani abo bezayo kwiintlanganiso zawo abonisa ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova ayazixabisa iintlanganiso zawo. EItali, apho bekukho amaNgqina akhutheleyo ali-172 000 ngowe-1989, abebesiza veki zonke kwiintlanganiso eziqhutyelwa kwiiHolo zoBukumkani bebengama-220 458. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, ijelo leendaba lamaKatolika lithi abemi baseItali abangama-80 ekhulwini bathi bangamaKatolika kodwa bangama-30 ekhulwini kuphela abaya rhoqo kwiinkonzo zecawa. Xa ujonga ngokomlinganiselo, imeko iyafana naseBrazil. EDenmark, ngowe-1989, iCawa yeSizwe yathi ngama-89,7 ekhulwini kubemi balapho abangamalungu ayo, kodwa sisi-2 ekhulwini kuphela esasisiya ecaweni kube kanye ngeveki! Phakathi kwamaNgqina kaYehova eDenmark, ngelo xesha ababesiza iiveki ngeeveki babengama-94,7 ekhulwini. EJamani, uhlolisiso olwenziwa liZiko Lophando Lwezimvo iAllensbach ngowe-1989 lwabonisa ukuba ngabantu abasisi-5 ekhulwini abangamaLuthere nabangama-25 ekhulwini kwabangamaKatolika kwiFederal Republic ababesiya rhoqo ecaweni. Noko ke, kwiiHolo zoBukumkani zamaNgqina kaYehova, ababesiza iiveki ngeeveki babengaphezu kwenani lamaNgqina.

Ngokufuthi abo bezayo benza umgudu omkhulu ukuze babekho. Ngeminyaka yee-1980, ibhinqa elinama-70 eminyaka ubudala eKenya lalihamba rhoqo iikhilomitha ezilishumi yaye liwela umlambo ukuze lifike ezintlanganisweni veki nganye. Ukuze liye kwiintlanganiso eziqhutywa ngolwimi lwalo, iNgqina elingumKorea eUnited States lalihamba rhoqo iiyure ezintathu ukuya nokubuya, lihamba ngoduladula, uloliwe, nephenyane, lize lihambe nangeenyawo. ESuriname, enye intsapho enengeniso encinane yayichitha umvuzo wemini yonke ihlawula uduladula veki nganye ukuze iye kwiintlanganiso. EArgentina, enye intsapho yayihamba rhoqo iikhilomitha ezingama-50 ize ichithe ikota yomvuzo wentsapho ukuze iye kwiintlanganiso zokufundisisa iBhayibhile. Apho ukugula kungabavumeliyo tu kwaphela abanye ukuba babekho kwiintlanganiso, ngokufuthi benzelwa amalungiselelo okuba banxityelelaniswe ngentambo zemfonomfono okanye baphulaphule ucwangciso olurekhodiweyo.

AmaNgqina kaYehova ayasixabisa isiluleko seBhayibhile sokungakuhilizeli ukuhlanganisana ngenjongo yokwakhana ngokomoya. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Yaye awabikho kwiintlanganiso ezikwibandla lawo lasekuhlaleni kuphela. Ukubakho kwiindibano nako kuyimbalasane yocwangciso lwezinto azenzayo ngonyaka.

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 237]

Iintlanganiso ekwakufuneka ukuba umntu ngamnye abe nenxaxheba ngokobuqu kuzo

[Blurb on page 238]

Kungekhona ubukrelekrele bengqondo kodwa amazwi aya kushukumisa intliziyo

[Blurb on page 246]

Bonke entsatsheni bayakhuthazwa ukuba babekho kwiintlanganiso kunye

[Blurb on page 252]

Ukwenza ucwangciso lokondliwa ngokomoya lufane

[Blurb on page 253]

AmaNgqina ayazixabisa iintlanganiso zawo

[Box/Pictures on page 239]

Amabandla Okuqala

Ngowe-1916, kwakukho amaqela aBafundi beBhayibhile ali-1 200 ehlabathini lonke

EThekwini, eMzantsi Afrika, 1915 (ngasentla ekunene); eBritish Guiana (eGuyana), 1915 (embindini ekunene); eTrondheim, eNorway, 1915 (ngezantsana ekunene); eHamilton, eOnt., eKhanada, 1912 (ezantsi); eCeylon (eSri Lanka), 1915 (ngezantsana ekhohlo); eIndiya, 1915 (phezulu ekhohlo)

[Box/Pictures on page 240, 241]

Ukudumisa UYehova Ngengoma

Njengokuba amaSirayeli amandulo noYesu babezisebenzisa iingoma elunqulweni, enjenjalo namaNgqina kaYehova kumaxesha anamhlanje. (Neh. 12:46; Marko 14:26) Ngoxa ukuvuma okunjalo kuvakalisa iindumiso kuYehova noxabiso ngemisebenzi yakhe, kuye kwanceda ekubetheleleni iinyaniso zeBhayibhile ezingqondweni nasezintliziyweni.

AmaNgqina kaYehova aye asebenzisa iingoma ezininzi ukutyhubela iminyaka. Amazwi aye enziwa asexesheni ngokuvisisana nokuqondwa okuqhubekayo kweLizwi likaThixo.

1879: “Songs of the Bride”

(Amaculo ali-144 avakalisa iminqweno namathemba omtshakazi kaKristu)

1890: “Poems and Hymns of Millennial Dawn”

(Imibongo eli-151 namaculo angama-333, awapapashwa ngaphandle komculo. Inkoliso yawo yayingamazwi ababhali abadumileyo)

1896: Kwi-“Mboniselo” (yesiNgesi) kaFebruwari 1 kwakukho ii-“Zion’s Glad Songs of the Morning”

(Amazwi eengoma ezili-11, nomculo; amazwi ebhalwe ngaBafundi beBhayibhile)

1900: “Zion’s Glad Songs”

(Iingoma ezingama-82, inkoliso yazo ibhalwe nguMfundi weBhayibhile omnye; ukuze kongezelelwe kwezokuqala)

1905: “Hymns of the Millennial Dawn”

(Iingoma ezingama-333 ezapapashwa ngowe-1890, kodwa ngoku zinomculo)

1925: “Kingdom Hymns”

(Iingoma ezingama-80, zinomculo, ngokukhethekileyo zazilungiselelwe abantwana)

1928: “Songs of Praise to Jehovah”

(Iingoma ezingama-337, umxube wezintsha ezibhalwe ngaBafundi beBhayibhile namaculo akudala. Emazwini, kwenziwa umgudu okhethekileyo wokwahlukana namazwi onqulo lobuxoki nokunqula izidalwa)

1944: “Kingdom Service Song Book”

(Iingoma ezingama-62. Ezilungiselelwe iintswelo zenkonzo ngaloo maxesha. Abazange babhalwe ababhali okanye abaqambi bazo)

1950: “Iingoma Zokudumisa uYehova” (ngesiNgesi)

(Iingoma ezingama-91. Eli culo lalinemixholo esexesheni yaye lalingayisebenzisi intetho yangaphambili. Laguqulelwa kwiilwimi ezili-18)

1966: “Nivuma Nibetha Uhadi Entliziyweni Yenu” (ngesiNgesi)

(Iingoma ezili-119 ezigubungela zonke iinkalo zobomi nonqulo lwamaKristu. Umculo ekwakusaziwa ukuba wawuvela kwimithombo yehlabathi neyonqulo lobuxoki wasuswa. Kwashicilelwa umculo weokhestra walo lonke eli culo waza wasetyenziswa kakhulu njengomculo ohambisana namazwi kwiintlanganiso zebandla. Ezithile zashicilelwa ngamazwi. Ukususela ngowe-1980, kwaveliswa umculo weokhestra obizwa ngokuba zii-“Kingdom Melodies” ukuze uncede abantu ngabanye bakwazi ukunandipha umculo owakhayo emakhaya)

1984: “Mvumeleni Iindumiso UYehova” (ngesiNgesi)

(Iingoma zoBukumkani ezingama-225, ezinamazwi nomculo wezixhobo oqanjwe ngabakhonzi abazahluleleyo bakaYehova abasuka kuyo yonke imimandla yomhlaba. Kuye kwaveliswa amacwecwe neekhasethi ezihambisana nokucula ngamazwi)

KwiiCottage Meetings zokuqala, aBafundi beBhayibhile babequka iingoma zeendumiso. Kwakhona kungekudala ukucula kwaba yenye yeembalasane zeendibano zabo. Bambi babecula ingoma ibe nye ngaphambi kwesidlo sakusasa, xa besenza unqulo lwabo lwakusasa, njengokuba kwakusenziwa eBible House kangangeminyaka emininzi. Nangona ukucula kumabandla asekuhlaleni ubukhulu becala kwayekwayo ngowe-1938, kwahlaziywa kwakhona ngowe-1944 yaye kusaqhubeka kuyinkalo ebalaseleyo yeentlanganiso zebandla nocwangciso lweendibano zamaNgqina kaYehova.

[Picture]

UKarl Klein ebhexesha iokhestra yendibano ngowe-1947

[Graph on page 242]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

ISikhumbuzo Sokufa KukaKristu

AmaNgqina Akhutheleyo

Ababekho

11 000 000

10 000 000

9 000 000

8 000 000

7 000 000

6 000 000

5 000 000

4 000 000

3 000 000

2 000 000

1 000 000

1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1992

[Picture on page 243]

Nangona wayevalelwe yedwa kwintolongo yaseTshayina, uHarold King waqhubeka esenza iSikhumbuzo

[Picture on page 244]

Iklasi yeBhayibhile yolutsha eJamani, ebutsheni beminyaka yee-1930

[Pictures on page 244]

ESwitzerland, phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1930, ulutsha lwamaNgqina lwalupapasha eli phephancwadi (ngezantsi) yaye lusenza imidlalo yeBhayibhile (njengoboniswe ngezantsi embindini) phambi kwababukeli abaninzi

[Pictures on page 247]

I-“Bulletin” (1919-35), i-“Director” (1935-36), i-“Informant” (1936-56), yaye ngoku “Ubulungiseleli Bethu BoBukumkani” ngeelwimi ezili-100—zonke ziye zanikela imiyalelo yokwenza ubulungiseleli basentsimini ngendlela emanyeneyo kuma- Ngqina kaYehova ngokuthe rhoqo

[Picture on page 248]

Imiboniso kwiiNtlanganiso zeNkonzo inceda ngamnye wamaNgqina aphucule ubulungiseleli bakhe basentsimini (eSweden)

[Picture on page 249]

INgqina eliselula eKenya lizuza amava ngokunikela intetho kuyise kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo

[Picture on page 250]

Ngowe-1992, umbandela wokufundisisa iBhayibhile wamabandla amaNgqina kaYehova ubupapashwa ngaxeshanye ngeelwimi ezingama-66, yaye bekuqhutyekwa kusongezwa ezingakumbi