Jehovah's Witnesses Bancroft Congregation

Boys dressed in suits and ties greeted me at the door to the Lamar Kingdom Hall on the evening of March 30. Inside were more boys in suits and ties and girls in dresses, all matching the formality of their parents and chatting happily. Once the evening’s program began, however, they became seen and not heard — and remarkably still. “They know what’s expected of them,” one woman told me. “And sometimes, we practice at home.” Of course, that’s during the program — she was also quick to tell stories about how the kids’ training for ministry turns them into accomplished and comfortable public speakers.

And they must train for ministry. One congregant explained to me, “If you’re Methodist or Roman Catholic, you get baptized and you’re a member.” But Jehovah’s Witnesses limit their membership to those who are actually witnessing for Jehovah. “Our mission is to invite people to get to know their Bible. We don’t interpret it — if you read it carefully, it kind of interprets itself.”

Inside, the bright fluorescent lights shining from the low ceiling, the patterned wall-to-wall carpet, and the lack of windows combined to give the place the feel of an upscale hotel conference room. (Albeit one with comfortable, movie-style seating.) As things got started, we stood and sang along with a piped-in piano:

“Jehovah our Father in heaven, O this is a most sacred night/ It was Nisan Fourteen when Your glory was seen, Your love, justice, wisdom, and might.”

Nisan Fourteen was the date of the first Passover — the date of “the Lord’s Evening Meal,” which tonight was being commemorated by more than 10,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. Why? Elder Joel Early gave the answer: “appreciation for Jesus’ ransom sacrifice,” which sacrifice He “arranged to be remembered in a simple ceremony. It’s one we’ll repeat this evening,” repeating His words from the Last Supper and passing out the bread and the wine, which “represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ.”

But first, a brief account from Elder Mike Watts of why the sacrifice was necessary. The account was peppered with quotations from Scripture that had the congregation flipping back and forth in their Bibles — a whispering of pages following each announcement of chapter and verse. Elder Watts began at the beginning. “Jehovah placed Adam in the Garden of Eden with a promise — living forever in a paradise earth. If Adam hadn’t sinned...he would still be living on the face of the earth today. But Adam willfully disobeyed, and...the wages of sin is death.” But when Jesus gave up His own perfect human life, He bought back what Adam lost — “a great gift.”

There are requirements for this gift. “John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son in order that everyone exercising faith in him might...have everlasting life.’ Faith is something you have to exercise. You can’t just join a gym...you’ve got to do something. James 2: 24–26: ‘As the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’ We need to prove to Jehovah that we’re worthy of that gift, show him that we want to do what’s right. What a beautiful choice we have.”

If you make that choice, you fall into one of two groups, “a little flock or a great crowd. We don’t get to choose that assignment. There are a limited number in the little flock who receive everlasting life in the heavens. The number is very clear in Scripture. Revelations 14:1. ‘I saw, and look, the lamb’ — Jesus Christ — ‘standing upon Mount Zion, and with him, 144,000.’ Their assignment is to rule as kings with Jesus Christ in the heavens. They’re to rule over those of us on the face of the earth in the new system. What a beautiful arrangement that will be.”

The new system will be full of “tremendous blessings,” said Watts. He quoted Isaiah 65: “‘They will certainly build houses and have occupancy, and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.’ This prophecy from Jehovah shows that there will be no economic hardship. We’ll be able to do many things we’ve never dreamed of doing.” And some things we have. “Think about living forever on the face of the earth. What could you do? I’d like to learn how to play the banjo from my great-grandfather. You could sit down with King David and learn about the melodies to the Psalms. Or ask Noah, ‘How did you build the ark?’ That reality can be yours, if you continue to take in knowledge of Jehovah’s purposes.”

After the lesson came the ceremony. Bread on trays and wine in goblets passed to members of the congregation, just like Communion in many other denominations. Unlike other denominations, “only those in the New Covenant with Jehovah partake of these emblems. They know who they are and what their assignment is. How many of you have ever gone to a wedding and said, ‘I wonder if I’m getting married today?’ You know if you’re the one. You don’t wonder if you’re part of the Bride of Christ.... Romans 8:16: ‘The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. If then we are children, we are also...joint heirs with Christ.’ What a beautiful hope the little flock has.”

Everyone received the plate and the cup, but nobody present partook of the emblems. Said Watts, “While the anointed partake of the emblems, those of us, the other sheep, attend as respectful observers. We’re happy to be here. We certainly appreciate the ransom sacrifice made on behalf of all mankind. There really is nothing else to put our faith and trust in in this life.”

Throughout, prayers of thanksgiving were offered, but also, prayers of petition. Elder Early closed by asking, “Help us to always put our trust in You, knowing that we’re living in a dying system, that Satan is working against us.... Help us to do our best to live up to Your name, to live up to the opportunities You hold out for us.”