Transcripts: Organizational Accomplishments

Transcript: Organizational Accomplishments. Special and International Conventions Return!
[A white line runs across a black screen then expands into a banner of six circular images featuring theocratic activities. Teaching Committee Report. Special and International Conventions Return!]
[Text: Randall Turot. Teaching Committee Office]
Randall: “Thousands of years ago, God’s people gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive spiritual instruction from Jehovah. Since then, modern-day gatherings, our conventions, have played a significant role in the history of pure worship. The same is true with our large special and international conventions today. This report will highlight some of the aspects of planning for special and international conventions. We’ll see how the pandemic affected the plans that were in place for special conventions in 2020 and what it took to reinstate this arrangement for 2024. But have you ever wondered, ‘What’s the difference between a special and an international convention?’”
[Text: Kenneth Flodin. Helper to the Teaching Committee]
Kenneth: “In 2012, the Governing Body determined there would be special conventions every year. What makes these special is that they’re in different parts of the world (maybe 15 different countries) and that they are usually a larger venue. So, there could be 20,000 in attendance, and of that number, about 3,500 are invited from different countries around the world. And then every five years or so, the Governing Body has approved international conventions. An international convention is generally bigger, maybe 30,000-40,000 or more people in attendance. And about 5,000 guests are invited from different parts of the world. And the other thing about an international convention that you might remember from the past is that we have the opportunity at our Kingdom Halls to contribute some monies, and that allows missionaries and those in foreign service to be able to fly to the convention of their choice.”
[Foreign delegates wave at the crowds]
Randall: “How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect plans that were in place for special conventions in 2020? And what did it take to reinstate this arrangement for 2024?”
[Text: Stephen Zilavetz. Teaching Committee Office]
Stephen: “The conventions were due to start in just a few months. We had 22,000 delegates that had booked flights that were anxious to get to their locations. They would have to be informed that they needed to do some rescheduling, perhaps get a refund. There were hotel contracts and there were venue contracts that had to be postponed. The Teaching Committee was very clear that when our brothers reached out to the hotels, to the venues, to the cities, the message was not that we were canceling this event but that the event was going to be postponed.”
[Text: Jason J Saracco.Teaching Committee Office]
Jason: “The Teaching Committee made this decision before COVID began to rage. So many of the vendors we were working with didn’t quite understand our position at first, but it was very clear that Jehovah was behind the decision they made.”
Randall: “Happily, these discussions went well. Most of the venues returned our deposits, while some held the deposits for when we could resume our conventions.”
Jason: “At first, we thought we would simply move the eight special conventions from 2020 over to 2021. There were 15 special conventions tentatively planned for 2021, so we would have 23 special conventions that year. That’s what we thought. But things got even more difficult when we realized it wasn’t just going to be a year’s delay but, rather, the situation became until further notice.”
[David Schafer. Helper to the Teaching Committee]
David: “The Governing Body has been very concerned with the safety of our brothers. We want our conventions and our meetings to be spiritually upbuilding but also physically safe. They came to the conclusion that through electronic means, we could still have all of our conventions. But there’s still something missing with that kind of meeting: experiencing the sights and sounds of the convention, hearing the laughter, the silence, the singing together; seeing people we haven’t seen for a long time; seeing how Jehovah has enabled them to endure and to make spiritual progress. These are all wonderful blessings. The brothers felt it when, you know, we couldn’t have these things regularly for the friends.”
Randall: “In October 2022, the Governing Body directed that special conventions could resume in 2024.”
[Text: Jae Park. Teaching Committee Office]
Jae: “We were very excited! And then we realized how much work we had to do in very little time. We had just several months to accomplish what normally takes over 20 months to do. So, we were so grateful that the host branches had done much of the preliminary work well before 2020.”
[Michael E Banks. Helper to the Teaching Committee]
Michael: “We originally planned to have eight conventions in 2020. It was clear that the Governing Body wanted many more conventions to be held. And so, we reached out to the branches that were in the preliminary stages of planning the 2021 conventions to include them in the plans.”
Stephen: “We were able to put a list together and present it to the Teaching Committee. And we were really excited to see the results coming back that they had approved 15 locations for 2024.”
Randall: “The wheels began turning for the 2024 special conventions. But what’s involved with planning for a special convention?”
[Philippe Gustave. France Branch Committee]
Philippe: “The committee is absolutely enthusiastic. They are delighted. They really want to do everything they can to make this a great success so that we can welcome the delegates and so that it has a strong impact in the ministry. Thus, it becomes, we could say, the priority of the Branch Committee.
[On a call with Stephen Zilavetz]
So, regarding the organization of a special convention, it starts approximately two years before the special convention takes place. Why two years? Well, because the Governing Body wants to ensure that both the hotel accommodations and the special convention venue are suitable for a large number of delegates.”
[Keith Brown. United States Service Department]
Keith: “For most venues, their visitors are only there for a few hours, maybe for a concert or for a sporting event. But for our brothers and sisters, they’re at a convention for many hours. So, we are concerned about the learning environment. Is it a comfortable learning environment? Places to eat are also important for the delegates and good transportation to and from the venue and a good airport that can support thousands of flights coming in every day from around the world.”
Kenneth: “For some countries, it’s known that they have terrorist activity and violence, particularly toward tourists. But in addition, you have to even look at the political situation because if there’s been a change in the administration, then there could be civil unrest.”
David: “Can we arrange it for a time that will be convenient for all and also be more economical for our brothers who are traveling to those kinds of places? And what will be their experience when they get there? Will they have to deal with the oppressive heat or excessive cold? The brothers are aware of it because they want to be hospitable. They want to create an environment that’s conducive for good, wholesome association without distraction.”
Randall: “Once the Teaching Committee finalizes country locations, the work shifts into high gear.”
Stephen: “There are many ways that we see Jehovah’s direction in organizing these events. Our brothers know how to do conventions. They’ve been doing conventions for decades. Organizing 150 buses, organizing the delegates to do activities, having tour guides, this is something they need assistance with. And so what we found is that Jehovah by means of his spirit is able to really help these people rise up and be able to accomplish the tasks.”
Michael: “We couldn’t get that work done without the brothers and sisters in those congregations that are in the host branch, because they’re thrilled to be able to help out in whatever capacity they can, and we really couldn’t do the work without them.” Randall: “Any of you who have had the experience of attending a special or international convention know that the love and happiness of our brotherhood is on full display for all to see.”
[Convention delegates]
[Text: Bohdan and Marina Kalinichenko. Ukraine]
Bohdan: “In Ukraine, we saw the unity of our local brothers and sisters, but we never saw it globally until we came here to the convention.
[A deaf brother signs]
And we saw our brothers and sisters from Asia, Africa, and all around the earth hugging each other and associating. We fought back tears, but our hearts were so deeply touched.”
[A couple in traditional Ethiopian dress]
[Text: Tegene Temesgen and Nigisti Mengisteab]
Tegan: “To hear everyone who attended this international convention singing the songs in different languages was amazing.”
Nigisti: “What touched me the most is the hospitality. I learned that when I return back to Ethiopia, I need to show hospitality.”
[Text: Alicia Guyton. United States]
Alicia: “I need to open my heart wider to fill it with all this love.
[A deaf sister from the U.S.]
It’s full, and it’s overflowing. Thank you so much. I really appreciate this convention. Jehovah and his people are here.”
Randall: “We hope to welcome you as a delegate to a future special or international convention. As hundreds of thousands of your brothers and sisters can tell you, it’s an experience you will never forget.”
[Logo inside a White box. Black capital letters JW.ORG. Copyright 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]