A Letter From the Governing Body
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Love for God and for people motivates us to “go... and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.”
(Matthew 28.19, 20: Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”)
(Mark 12.28-31: One of the scribes who had come up and heard them disputing, knowing that he had answered them in a fine way, asked him: “Which commandment is first of all?” Jesus answered: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.’ The second is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”)
Unselfish love is powerful. It can touch the hearts of those who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life.”—
(Acts 13.48: When those of the nations heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah, and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers.)
In the past, we focused on memorizing presentations and on leaving literature. Now we need to work on improving our conversation skills. We want to show love for others by talking about subjects that interest them. That means being flexible and carefully considering each person’s concerns and interests. How will this brochure help us do that?
The Brochure Has 12 lessons featuring qualities that we need to cultivate in order to show love and make disciples. Each lesson is based on a Bible account in which Jesus or another first-century evangelizer displayed a specific quality in the ministry. The goal is, not to memorize presentations, but to look for ways to demonstrate our love for people. Although each quality is needed for all aspects of our ministry, we will consider how certain qualities are especially needed when starting conversations, making return visits, or conducting Bible studies.
As you consider each lesson, think carefully about how you can demonstrate the quality when speaking to people in your community. Strive to deepen your love for Jehovah and for people. That love, more than any specific technique, will help you reach your goal of making disciples.
We appreciate the great privilege to work shoulder to shoulder with you.
(Zephaniah 3.9: For then I will change the language of the peoples to a pure language, So that all of them may call on the name of Jehovah, To serve him shoulder to shoulder.’)
May Jehovah richly bless you as you continue to love people and make disciples!
Your brothers,
Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses