JW Broadcasting—November 2018

JW Broadcasting—November 2018
‎Welcome to the program! ‎We have many spiritual gems ‎to share with you. ‎

For example, ‎how can we build a good relationship ‎with Jehovah despite a difficult upbringing? ‎The story of
Dimitris and Agis ‎is very encouraging. ‎And how can we continue ‎to honor our marriage mate, ‎even if he or
she is an unbeliever? ‎Notice how Emma has learned ‎to do just that ‎with her husband, Thomas, ‎despite their
differences. ‎And‎this‎month’s‎music‎video‎highlights‎ ‎who really is a true friend . ‎This is the November 2018
program ‎of JW Broadcasting! ‎

Our adversary, Satan the Devil , ‎will do all he can to break our integrity ‎and destroy our friendship with
Jehovah. ‎Meet Brother Viktor Winter. ‎He is a Russian brother ‎who lives in Germany. ‎In 1958, at the age of
21, ‎Brother Winter was sent ‎to a Siberian labor camp ‎simply for practicing his faith in Jehovah . ‎In total, he
spent 13 years ‎in multiple Soviet prison camps ‎and 5 years in exile. ‎Despite the persecution, ‎he maintained
his Christian qualities. ‎

On July 24, 1958, ‎I got baptized; ‎and on November 5, 1958, ‎I already got arrested ‎for refusal to do military
service. ‎The second time I was convicted was again ‎for refusal to do military service . ‎The next court trial
took place in 1963. ‎I got seven years ‎and five years exile . ‎They added three years ‎that I did not serve ‎for
refusal to go to the army . ‎I was taken to Mordovia . ‎This was the first camp ‎where all believers were put ,
‎amongst them 360 of‎Jehovah’s‎Witnesses. ‎The detentions were very strict ‎because around this time the
governments ‎and party politics changed . ‎They decided that prisoners must suffer hunger . ‎The food rations
were cut. ‎This was very difficult , very difficult, I must say . ‎And the winters can be cold . ‎Even in March , it
could get as cold ‎as 35 degrees Celsius ‎minus 35 (-31°F). ‎Spiritual things were for all of us ‎the brothers in
this camp top priority . ‎First of all, all 360 people ‎were divided into four congregations , ‎and every
congregation was divided into groups. ‎Every congregation ‎had responsible brothers as overseers ‎and so had
every group. ‎We conducted the study not just once a week , ‎but we conducted the study every day , ‎every
day. ‎And brothers took this very seriously . ‎We had no time for any worldly thoughts . ‎Every Saturday and
Sunday, ‎we had a very powerful choir ‎men’s voices. ‎When we were singing , ‎we stationed guards ‎near the
oversight house ‎where supervisors were on duty . ‎And if one of them came out , ‎it was signaled ‎from one
brother to the next ‎so that if he or they came closer , ‎we would already be gone . ‎But the most interesting
thing ‎was that we were singing in the zone . ‎We were the prisoners , ‎but our listeners were outside . ‎They
were sitting up in the trees ‎the children of the supervisors , ‎officers, and guards. ‎And they were listening to

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our choir . ‎All together during that time , ‎I was in seven prison camps. ‎I spent about 13 years there ‎and
another 5 years in exile in Siberia . ‎But when I was convicted the last time , ‎the head of the interrogation
department ‎came into my cell and said, ‎“Viktor, when you finish all your prison terms, ‎you will have nothing
at all ‎no family, no children.” ‎I smiled at him and asked: ‎“How do you know this, ‎Citizen Lieutenant Colonel?
‎I‎don’t‎know‎it‎either , ‎but I do trust in Jehovah .”‎ ‎Today, I do have a family ‎and do have my wife and my
children. ‎We continue to serve Jehovah. ‎And my greatest joy ‎is when my six-year-old granddaughter ‎stands
next to me in the Kingdom Hall ‎and sings songs that praise Jehovah . ‎Well, to make it simple, ‎I would put it
this way: ‎Preserve your love ‎for Jehovah and for your brothers. ‎Joy‎in‎Jehovah’s‎service‎ ‎never lose it ! ‎We
will not fear anything bad ‎neither cold nor hunger ‎nothing. ‎

Did you notice the evil words ‎of the head ‎of the interrogation department? ‎“You‎will‎have‎nothing‎at‎all‎ ‎—
no family, no children.”‎‎Today, Brother Winter ‎is over 80 years old. ‎What a blessing, as you can see, ‎that he
is now surrounded by a big family ! ‎By maintaining his theocratic routine ‎even under persecution , ‎Brother
Winter ‎avoided developing bitter feelings ‎toward his persecutors. ‎In this way , ‎he maintained ‎his
relationship with Jehovah ‎and he conquered ‎the evil with the good. ‎

And that is also the theme ‎for‎this‎month’s‎program: ‎“Keep‎Conquering‎the‎Evil‎With‎the‎Good.” ‎

This challenging exhortation ‎was written by the apostle Paul ‎at Romans 12:21. ‎It’s‎challenging‎‎because we
live in a world ‎that is alienated ‎from God and the truth, ‎a world that tries ‎to squeeze everyone into its mold.
‎Isaiah 5:20 shows how the world ‎has changed God -given standards. ‎It reads: ‎“Woe‎to‎those‎who‎say‎ ‎that
good is bad ‎“and‎bad‎is‎good , ‎“those‎who‎substitute‎darkness‎for‎light‎ ‎“and‎light‎for‎darkness, ‎“those‎who‎
put bitter for sweet ‎and sweet for bitter!”‎‎By adhering to the standard ‎“of‎healthful‎words”‎in‎the‎Scriptures
‎and to the examples ‎of faithful servants of the past , ‎we‎can‎‘conquer the evil with the good.’‎‎The faithful
man Enoch was born ‎when Adam ‎was about 600 years old , ‎which means ‎that Enoch and Adam ‎were
contemporaries ‎for about 300 years. ‎However, there is no record ‎of any contact between them ‎during that
period of time . ‎The Scriptures indicate ‎that violence and hate for God ‎were widespread ‎in that pre -Flood
world. ‎Many centuries later, ‎the disciple Jude described ‎the fear-inspiring prophecy ‎that God gave to Enoch
‎about Jehovah coming ‎with his holy myriads, ‎legions of mighty angels in battle array, ‎to bring destruction to
all the ungodly . ‎Enoch fearlessly went about declaring ‎the coming judgment and destruction and , ‎what is
more, he did it alone ! ‎The prophecy was fulfilled ‎in the global Deluge , ‎and it set the pattern ‎of a greater
destruction yet to come. ‎No wonder that Genesis 5:24 tells us ‎that‎“Enoch‎kept‎walking‎‎with the true God.”‎
‎Enoch’s‎example‎gives‎us‎courage‎ ‎to remain firm for true worship ‎even if family and friends ‎stand apart
from us. ‎Enoch did not try to fit in ‎with the evil crowd ‎of the pre -Flood world, ‎and‎we‎don’t‎want‎to‎fit‎in‎
‎with the present dying world ‎and its evil ways . ‎We may feel alone at times, ‎but we are reminded ‎that
Jehovah never abandoned Enoch, ‎and neither will He abandon ‎His faithful servants today. ‎We imitate Enoch
‎by not allowing ‎the evil surrounding us ‎to undermine our faith in Jehovah. ‎Like Enoch, we can ‎‘conquer the
evil with‎the‎good’ ‎by avoiding bad associations , ‎sticking close to Jehovah God ‎and the earthly part of his
organization, ‎and boldly proclaiming the good news. ‎Elisha the prophet ‎refused‎to‎engage‎in‎‘paying‎evil‎for‎
evil,’‎‎even when it seemed justified . ‎The account is found ‎at 2 Kings 6:14-23. ‎Syria was at war with Israel .
‎The king of Syria was enraged ‎because Elisha ‎was able to foresee wherever it was ‎that Syria was planning ‎to
ambush the Israelites . ‎Elisha would warn ‎the king of Israel, and he, in turn , ‎would keep his troops away
‎from the place of ambush . ‎The king of Syria became exasperated ‎and wanted desperately ‎to take the
prophet Elisha captive ‎to stop him ‎from warning the king of Israel . ‎It came about ‎that the king of Syria
learned ‎that Elisha was in the city of Dothan, ‎so the king sent horses, ‎war chariots, as well as a large army ‎to
surround Dothan by night ‎in order to take Elisha captive. ‎The following morning, ‎Jehovah listened to Elisha
‎and did something amazing . ‎He struck the Syrian troops ‎with a temporary form of blindness , ‎and Elisha
guided all those troops, ‎not back to Syria, but to Samaria, ‎where the king of Israel resided. ‎The king of Israel

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was anxious ‎to strike down and kill the Syrian troops, ‎but Elisha said to him, ‎as recorded in verses 22 and 23
‎of 2 Kings chapter 6: ‎“‘You‎must‎not‎strike‎them‎down . ‎“‘Do‎you‎strike‎down‎ ‎those whom you have taken
captive ‎“‘with‎your‎sword‎and‎with‎your‎bow? ‎“‘Give‎them‎bread‎and‎water‎‎so they may eat and drink ‎“and
return to their lord .’‎ ‎“So‎he‎spread‎a‎great‎feast‎for‎them , ‎“and‎they‎ate‎and‎drank , ‎after which he sent
them away ‎to return to their lord .”‎ ‎What a shock this must have been ‎to the Syrian soldiers , ‎who likely
thought ‎that they were as good as dead! ‎This astounding turn of events ‎was‎far‎better‎than‎‘paying‎evil‎for‎
evil.’‎ ‎How do we know it was better? ‎ The latter part of verse 23 says: ‎“And‎not‎once‎did‎the‎marauder‎
bands ‎of the Syrians come again ‎into the land of Israel .”‎ ‎Can you imagine ‎the men of the Syrian army
‎relating to their king ‎what had taken place? ‎They went out to take Elisha captive. ‎However, Elisha, ‎with the
help‎of‎Jehovah’s‎spirit , ‎had taken ‎the Syrians captive without a battle . ‎The Syrian king ‎must have been
dumbfounded ‎when he heard the report. ‎And you can be sure ‎that the soldiers ‎of the Syrian army ‎were not
only grateful ‎but they acquired ‎a very respectful fear of Jehovah ‎and of his prophet Elisha. ‎The good done to
the Syrians ‎would not be soon forgotten. ‎Like Elisha, ‎we want to do ‎what is good for people, ‎including those
‎who do not view us favorably . ‎When tragedies such as fires , floods, ‎earthquakes, and hurricanes strike, ‎we
go out of our way ‎to comfort people with the Scriptures. ‎Also, Jehovah’s‎Witnesses‎‎serving as relief workers
are well-known ‎for the practical assistance they render ‎to fellow believers and to others . ‎As a result, many
people ‎have changed their view of us ‎and have come to appreciate ‎that in these last days , ‎Jehovah does
indeed have ‎“a‎people‎for‎his‎name”‎on‎the‎earth . ‎At 2 Timothy 2:23-25, ‎the apostle Paul encourages us ‎to
display qualities ‎that make us different from the world . ‎He says : ‎“Further, reject foolish ‎and ignorant
debates, ‎“knowing‎that‎they‎produce fights. ‎“For‎a‎slave‎of‎the‎Lord‎ ‎does not need to fight , ‎“but‎needs‎to‎
be gentle toward all, ‎“qualified‎to‎teach, ‎showing restraint when wronged, ‎instructing with mildness ‎those
not favorably disposed .”‎ ‎And then Paul explains the desired result: ‎“Perhaps‎God‎may‎give‎them‎
repentance ‎leading to an accurate knowledge of truth .”‎ ‎Paul‎was‎“gentle‎toward‎all”‎ ‎and‎“qualified‎to‎
teach.”‎‎He‎‘showed‎restraint’‎ ‎when he was imprisoned ‎by the Roman authorities ‎around 60 or 61 C.E. ‎He
spent about two years ‎under house arrest in Rome , ‎perhaps even being chained to a guard . ‎He had done
nothing ‎to merit imprisonment. ‎However, he did not dwell ‎on the evil done to him , ‎and he did not allow it
‎to make him bitter ‎and resentful of Roman authorities. ‎Rather, at Philippians 1:12-14, ‎Paul wrote: ‎“Now‎I‎
want you to know , brothers, ‎“that‎my‎situation‎has‎actually‎turned‎out‎ ‎“for‎the‎advancement‎of‎the‎good‎
news, ‎“so‎that‎my‎prison‎bonds‎ ‎for the sake of Christ ‎“have‎become‎public‎knowledge‎ ‎“among all the
Praetorian Guard ‎and all the rest . ‎“Now‎most‎of‎the‎brothers‎in‎the‎Lord‎ ‎have gained confidence ‎“because‎
of my prison bonds, ‎“and‎they‎are‎showing‎all‎the‎more‎courage‎‎to speak the word of God fearlessly.”‎‎In his
letter to Titus ‎in chapter 3, verses 1 and 2, ‎Paul gives reminders ‎on how Christians today ‎can‎‘conquer the
evil‎ with‎ the‎ good’ ‎by showing proper respect ‎for governmental authorities ‎wherever we may live . ‎He
writes: ‎“Continue‎reminding‎them‎ ‎[fellow Christians ] ‎“to‎ be‎ in‎ subjection and to be obedient ‎“to‎
governments and authorities, ‎“to‎be‎ready‎for‎every‎good‎work, ‎“to‎speak‎injuriously‎of‎no‎one , ‎“not‎to‎be‎
quarrelsome, ‎“but‎to‎be‎reasonable, ‎displaying all mildness toward all men .”‎‎Paul followed his own advice.
‎While in custody in Rome , ‎Paul wrote inspired letters ‎to Christian congregations ‎in Greece and Asia Minor ,
‎and we today benefit ‎from the counsel in those letters . ‎Never do we read in his letters ‎criticism aimed at
human rulers ‎or encouragement for Christians ‎to favor one political figure ‎or party over another . ‎He was
“no‎part‎of‎the‎world ,”‎‎and‎he‎knew‎that‎man’s‎only‎hope‎ ‎was the Kingdom of God . ‎Paul was a spiritual
man, ‎and‎ he‎ ‘conquered‎the‎evil‎with‎the‎good’‎ ‎by following ‎Jesus’‎ instructions at Mark 12:17 ‎of giving
“Caesar’s‎things‎to‎Caesar , ‎but‎God’s‎things‎to‎God ,”‎ ‎all the while displaying ‎“a‎mildness‎that‎belongs‎to‎
wisdom.”‎‎At 1 Peter 2:21, ‎we receive further direction ‎about the course that we are to follow. ‎Peter writes:
‎“In fact, ‎to this course you were called , ‎“because‎even‎Christ‎suffered‎for‎you , ‎leaving a model for you ‎to
follow his steps closely .”‎ ‎Some‎of‎Christ’s‎steps‎ ‎are enumerated ‎in verses 22 and 23, ‎where it reads : ‎“He‎
[Jesus] committed no sin, ‎“nor‎was deception found in his mouth. ‎“When‎he‎was‎being‎insulted, ‎“he‎did‎not‎
insult in return . ‎“When‎he‎was‎suffering , ‎he did not threaten , ‎“but‎he‎entrusted‎himself‎ ‎to the One who

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judges righteously.”‎‎Jehovah is ‎“the‎One‎who‎judges‎righteously.”‎‎However, the Jewish religious leaders ‎did

not judge the Christ righteously . ‎They insulted Jesus frequently ‎and even accused him of having a demon .
‎Jesus did not stoop ‎to‎“return‎evil‎for‎evil,”‎‎hurling insults or threatening people. ‎Insults and threats ‎do not
open hearts ‎to accept the good news . ‎When Jesus was on trial , ‎the Jewish religious leaders ‎spurred the
crowd on ‎to cry out for his execution. ‎The Roman authorities ‎had Jesus nailed to a torture stake ‎to suffer a
cruel and excruciating death. ‎While suffering on the torture stake, ‎what did Jesus speak about? ‎Did he curse
the Roman soldiers ‎who had mistreated him ‎and were now executing him? ‎To the contrary, ‎he‎‘conquered
the evil with the good.’‎‎Among‎Jesus’‎last‎words‎ ‎are those recorded at Luke 23:34: ‎“Father, forgive them,
‎for they do not know ‎what they are doing .”‎‎Jesus knew ‎that the Roman soldiers ‎were ignorant ‎of who he
really was ‎and did not know ‎what they were doing . ‎He could forgive them with the hope ‎that they would
eventually respond ‎to the truth and become his disciples . ‎In every respect, ‎Jesus‎‘conquered the evil with
the good,’‎‎and he always displayed ‎complete confidence ‎in‎“the‎One‎who‎judges‎righteously,”‎‎Jehovah God.
‎We want to demonstrate the same kind ‎of confidence in Jehovah and in his Word ‎that Jesus displayed. ‎We
do our best to imitate the Christ ‎by applying the spirit-inspired counsel ‎at Romans 12:17, 18: ‎“Return‎evil‎for‎
evil to no one. ‎“Take‎into‎consideration‎‎“what‎is‎fine‎‎from the viewpoint of all men. ‎“If‎possible, as far as it
depends on you , ‎be peaceable with all men .”‎‎Heeding this counsel ‎is particularly important ‎in homes that
are religiously divided . ‎The Christian mate resists the temptation ‎to repay an unkind word or act ‎with
another unkindness. ‎Really, no good comes ‎from‎‘returning‎evil‎for‎evil .’‎‎On the contrary, such an attitude
‎can only aggravate the situation . ‎In the domestic setting , ‎a wife who shows genuine kindness ‎to her
husband ‎after he makes unpleasant comments ‎about her beliefs ‎may well diffuse ‎a potentially explosive
situation. ‎At Proverbs 31:12, ‎we are told how a capable , God-fearing wife ‎deals with her husband : ‎“She‎
rewards him with good, ‎not bad, all the days of her life.”‎‎Additionally, by taking‎“into‎consideration‎‎what is
fine from the viewpoint of all men,”‎‎Jehovah’s‎people‎‎have often overcome prejudice ‎by providing practical
assistance ‎to their neighbors as opportunity affords , ‎and particularly when a disaster strikes . ‎We
conscientiously adhere ‎to Romans 12:19, which states: ‎“Do‎not‎avenge‎yourselves, beloved, ‎“but‎yield‎place‎
to the wrath; ‎for it is written: ‎“‘“Vengeance‎is‎mine; ‎I will repay,”‎says‎Jehovah.’”‎‎The footnote on verse 19
shows ‎that Paul is telling us ‎to yield to‎“God’s‎wrath,”‎or‎anger . ‎Jehovah is the one ‎who will set matters
straight, ‎and he will do it ‎much better than we ever could . ‎As James 1:20 states: ‎“Man’s‎anger‎ ‎does not
bring‎about‎God’s‎righteousness.”‎‎The theme of this discussion ‎is summarized exquisitely ‎at Romans 12:20,
21 ‎with this direction ‎to‎all‎of‎Jehovah’s‎people : ‎“But‎‘if‎your‎enemy‎is‎hungry , feed him; ‎“‘if‎he‎is‎thirsty ,
‎give him something to drink; ‎“for‎by‎doing‎this‎‎you will heap fiery coals on his head.’‎‎“Do‎not‎let‎yourself be
conquered by the evil, ‎but keep‎conquering‎the‎evil‎with‎the‎good.” ‎

Let’s‎now‎turn‎ ‎to a modern -day example ‎of conquering evil with good. ‎In South Korea, ‎19,000 of our
brothers ‎have at some point ‎been imprisoned ‎for their Christian neutrality. ‎But inside the prison walls , ‎our
brothers have the support ‎of their fellow Christians . ‎We met a group ‎of brothers who still cherish ‎the
friendships ‎they developed while imprisoned, ‎although‎it’s‎been‎about‎40 years ‎since their release. ‎

When I was 21 years old, ‎I was sent to prison ‎in the Nonsan military training center ‎because I refused to
serve in the military . ‎The soldier working ‎in the military prison came ‎and started to beat me , ‎and he beat
me relentlessly . ‎It was late December 1975. ‎Four of the brothers were put ‎into standing solitary
confinement cells ‎called dokgeochang . ‎It literally feels like you are in a coffin . ‎The outside temperature
dropped ‎to minus 13 degrees Celsius (8°F), ‎and cold air seeped out from the wet walls . ‎The brothers
couldn’t‎lay‎down‎to‎sleep , ‎so they had to crouch , ‎and I could hear them groaning all night . ‎I extended my
hand through the iron bars ‎to the brother in the cell next to mine, ‎and he did the same. ‎We held hands ‎and
encouraged each other to stay strong . ‎My‎health‎condition‎wasn’t‎really‎good‎ ‎while serving my prison
sentence. ‎I weighed about 47 kilograms (103 lbs), ‎and‎without‎my‎family’s‎support , ‎I was mentally and

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physically weak. ‎Under these extremely difficult circumstances, ‎there‎were‎times‎I‎wasn’t‎able‎to‎eat‎at‎all .

‎During those times , ‎the brothers provided me ‎with porridge ‎—which was easy to digest — ‎warm clothing,
‎and a sleeping bag for the winter . ‎I could really feel their love . ‎Having been sent to prison three times, ‎I
truly feel that Jehovah showed interest in me ‎and took care of me ‎just as he promised at 1 Peter 5:7. ‎He
especially supported me through my brothers ‎when I was facing difficulties. ‎A day in the prison started ‎with
us eating breakfast ‎and then moving 300 bricks. ‎After lunch, we would have ‎to carry another 300 bricks.
‎Because I usually finished my work early , ‎I had a 20-minute break ‎before going back in . ‎However, this
brother named Park Byung-Man ‎who was much stronger ‎and bigger than I was ‎carried bricks all day long . ‎I
found out later that Park Byung-Man ‎was carrying Choi Sung-Kyu’s‎share‎‎of bricks because of his frail health.
‎This kind of brotherly love really moved me ‎to start studying the Bible. ‎I got baptized a year later ‎in April of
1977 in the Anyang Prison . ‎After getting baptized, ‎my mother passed away , ‎and two months before being
released, ‎my father passed away as well . ‎So that time was especially difficult for me . ‎But the brothers
encouraged me ‎with their warm words and kind gestures . ‎Their encouragement really touched me ‎and
helped me to endure until I was released . ‎One time, I had a severe stomachache . ‎The symptoms were not
getting any better ‎with the medication I was given , ‎so I was having a very difficult time. ‎One day, we were
served some vegetables ‎as a side dish ‎and one brother crushed ‎and squeezed the vegetables ‎to make juice
for me. ‎He cared for me that way for several days . ‎I really would like to see that self -sacrificing ‎and loving
brother once again. ‎At the time, none of our publications ‎other than the Bible were allowed into the prison.
‎Of course, that included our songbook . ‎The brothers memorized ‎the lyrics from the songbook , ‎and they
would write them down. ‎Also, there were some songs ‎that were sung at the regional convention. ‎Songs like
. . . ‎or ‎We sang them silently together ‎even in this isolated place. ‎It was a great source of encouragement ‎to
share the love among our fellow brothers. ‎I remember this encouraging scripture ‎from 1 Corinthians 10:13.
‎It says that Jehovah ‎‘does‎not‎let‎us‎be‎tempted‎‎‘beyond‎what‎we‎can‎bear‎‎and will make the way out ‎so we
may endure it.’‎‎Although there were many challenges , ‎I was convinced ‎that Jehovah would always ‎make a
way out through our fellow brothers. ‎Even though 40 years have passed, ‎when we look back at those days,
‎the memories are still fresh ‎and we are moved to tears at times. ‎So to make a meaningful trip ‎out of our 40
years of friendship, ‎all the friends who went through the same trials ‎decided to visit the headquarters ‎in the
United States together. ‎It’s‎really‎refreshing‎to‎be‎here‎ ‎with everyone again today. ‎It‎feels‎like‎I’m‎taking‎a‎
field trip. ‎I was especially moved to tears ‎when I saw our old prison uniforms ‎there in the museum ‎at world
headquarters ‎displayed in the neutrality section . ‎While on the tour , the brothers sat ‎and lay down on the
floor ‎inside the dokgeochang ‎and we were able to reflect on the times ‎we spent together in prison . ‎Our
gratitude to Jehovah ‎for giving us such loyal friends was renewed. ‎

Yes, through their brotherly love ‎and the power and strength ‎given to them by holy spirit , ‎our Korean
brothers were able ‎to conquer the evil with the good. ‎Although we may not be imprisoned, ‎having true
friends ‎can help us through many trials . ‎But what is a true friend ? ‎Where can we find them , ‎and why are
they so important?

‎Our music video will answer these questions. ‎It is entitled True Friends.

L‎ ife can be hard ‎if we walk it alone, ‎living ‎in these last days. ‎Jehovah knows ‎that we need friends ‎to help us
‎along the way . ‎But where do we go ? ‎Where do we turn ‎to find those true companions ? ‎Well, remember
what ‎we learn in his Word. ‎True friends ‎Love you when you’re‎down, ‎Happy‎when‎you’re‎up, ‎Right by your
side when trials come, ‎Speak‎up‎if‎you’re‎wrong, ‎Commend‎you‎when‎you’re‎right, ‎Keep you on track ‎in the
race for life, ‎Help you keep ‎Jehovah first right to the end. ‎Yeah, ‎that’s‎a‎true‎friend. ‎A true friend ‎shows love
at all times. ‎That’s‎in‎His‎Word, ‎we know. ‎So if troubles appear, ‎don’t‎give‎in‎or‎fight. ‎Say a prayer; ‎let it go.
‎Whether‎we’re‎older‎ ‎or‎whether‎we’re‎young , ‎we all ‎got to stick together , ‎And one day soon ‎we’ll‎ be‎ in‎
Paradise. ‎True friends ‎Love‎you‎when‎you’re‎down , ‎Happy‎when‎you’re‎up , ‎Right by your side when trials

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come, ‎Speak‎up‎if‎you’re‎wrong , ‎Commend‎you‎when‎you’re‎right , ‎Keep you on track ‎in the race for life ,
‎Help you keep Jehovah ‎first right to the end. ‎Yeah, ‎that’s‎a‎true‎friend . ‎Someone you trust, ‎Someone who
cares ‎about you serving Jehovah, ‎A shoulder to lean on ‎and the right words to help you mend— ‎Yeah, ‎that’s‎
a true friend . ‎True friends ‎Love‎you‎when‎you’re‎down , ‎Happy‎when‎you’re‎up , ‎Right by your side when
trials come, ‎Speak‎up‎if‎you’re‎wrong , ‎Commend‎you‎when‎you’re‎right , ‎Keep you on track ‎in the race for
life, ‎Help you keep Jehovah ‎first right to the end . ‎True friends ‎Love‎you‎when‎you’re‎down , ‎Happy when
you’re‎up, ‎Right by your side when trials come, ‎Speak‎up‎if‎you’re‎wrong, ‎Commend‎you‎when‎you’re‎right,
‎Keep you on track ‎in the race for life, ‎Help you keep Jehovah ‎first right to the end. ‎Yeah, ‎that’s‎a‎true‎friend.
‎That’s‎a‎true‎friend. ‎Oh, ‎that’s‎a‎true‎friend.

‎ hat a blessing it is to have true friends

W ‎around us in the Christian congregation ! ‎But at times , ‎our
imperfection may create roadblocks ‎between us and our dear friends , ‎and we may start developing
‎negative feelings about them . ‎In this Bethel morning worship, ‎pay attention to how Brother Geoffrey
Jackson ‎of the Governing Body ‎helps us deal with such thinking. ‎

Well, perhaps we could take our Bibles ‎and turn to Colossians 3:13. ‎And‎let’s‎analyze‎this‎verse‎together‎‎and
see what it is that Jehovah expects of us . ‎So in Colossians 3:13, ‎it says : ‎“Continue‎putting‎up‎with‎one‎
another ‎“and‎forgiving‎one‎another‎freely‎ ‎“even‎if‎anyone‎has‎a‎cause‎ ‎for complaint against another. ‎“Just‎
as Jehovah freely forgave you, ‎you must also do the same.”‎‎Well, certainly this verse ‎gives us plenty of food
for thought ‎—doesn’t‎it?— ‎areas in which , perhaps, ‎we can work on and improve in . ‎But what two things
stand out ‎as being required of us ? ‎Well, looking back, ‎you notice the first one , ‎“continue putting up with
one another ,”‎ ‎and then the second point , ‎“forgiving‎one‎another‎freely .”‎ ‎Well, let’s‎look‎at‎that‎first‎
expression: ‎“Continue‎putting‎up‎with‎one‎another .”‎ ‎Well, what’s‎the‎difference‎ ‎between these two
expressions? ‎Well,‎we’re told that this first expression ‎doesn’t‎refer‎to‎serious‎sins‎ ‎but perhaps talks about
things ‎that are irritating , annoying, ‎things that we may not necessarily ‎have a cause for complaint
concerning, ‎but they still get us very upset anyway ‎—these minor things. ‎What are some of the things that
annoy you? ‎Let’s‎be‎honest. ‎Are you annoyed when someone is always late? ‎Are‎you‎annoyed‎when‎they’re‎
always early ? ‎Are you annoyed when someone is outspoken ? ‎Does it annoy you when someone is too
quiet? ‎It’s‎amazing ‎—isn’t‎it ?— ‎what the things that annoy us are . ‎I‎remember‎back‎in‎the‎’ 70’s,
‎Brother Knorr gave an outstanding talk ‎where he alluded to the fact ‎that‎maybe‎there’s‎a‎sister‎in‎the‎
congregation, ‎and‎she’s‎hearing‎‎this other sister, new in the truth, ‎answering up time after time, ‎and in her
heart, she’s‎thinking, ‎‘Why‎doesn’t‎she‎just‎keep‎quiet ?’‎‎Well, maybe‎we’ve‎all‎‎experienced those feelings.
‎And‎if‎we’re‎judged‎on‎them , ‎perhaps‎we’ll‎agree: ‎‘Well, it’s‎not‎justified; ‎I don’t‎really‎have‎a‎cause , ‎but it
still irritates me .’‎‎It’s‎true—isn’t‎it?— ‎the expression ‎“Sometimes‎it’s‎not‎the‎mountains‎ ‎ahead of us that
cause problems, ‎it’s‎the‎pebble‎in‎the‎shoe.”‎‎And‎it’s‎sometimes‎the‎small‎things‎‎that irritate us the most. ‎I
remember when I was serving ‎in Western Samoa ‎many years ago at the branch, ‎we had quite a number of
brothers ‎from overseas working on construction. ‎And there was one brother who had ‎the habit of first thing
in the morning ‎as he arrived before breakfast, ‎saying, “Good‎morning !”‎to‎everyone . ‎Some found that
annoying. ‎Maybe you can relate to that. ‎And, no doubt, you feel ‎very happy when you read the scripture ‎at
Proverbs 27:14, ‎where it says in one translation: ‎‘A‎loud‎and‎cheerful‎greeting ‎early in the morning ‎is taken
as a curse .’‎ ‎You may be thinking , ‘Amen‎to‎that .’‎ ‎And that brother ceased his habit ‎after he read that
scripture ‎—or at least it was read to him . ‎But we may not always be able ‎to find a scripture ‎that backs up
this irritation that we feel . ‎So, what do we do ? ‎Well, what does it say ? ‎“Continue‎putting‎up‎with‎one‎
another.”‎‎“Continue”—it’s‎something‎‎that we just have to keep on doing. ‎Now, that brings us ‎to the second
part of our verse, ‎“forgiving‎one‎another‎freely.”‎‎It’s‎interesting, when we look ‎at other translations of this
verse, ‎most follow the King James Version ‎and‎just‎say‎“forgive .”‎‎The‎New‎World‎Translation‎says‎‘forgive‎
freely.’‎ ‎The‎reason‎is‎that‎this‎isn’t‎your‎normal‎ ‎Greek‎ word‎ for‎ “forgiveness.”‎ ‎It denotes generosity , ‎a

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willingness‎to‎go‎beyond‎what’s‎required. ‎It’s‎interesting‎‎that The Watchtower even back in 1882 ‎was using

that expression, ‎to‎‘forgive‎one‎another‎freely ,’‎‎well before the time ‎of the New World Translation. ‎So this
gives us something to think about ‎because‎it’s‎not‎just‎a‎matter‎of‎forgiving , ‎but we need to be generous
about forgiving . ‎We have to be willing to , ‎as it were , bestow a pardon ‎on someone ‎who‎really‎doesn’t‎
deserve that pardon. ‎Now, why should we be interested ‎in developing ‎and working on these two aspects :
‎“putting‎up‎with‎one‎another”‎ ‎and‎‘forgiving‎freely’ ? ‎Well, we’ve‎heard‎ ‎the reasons many times before ,
haven’t‎we ? ‎The first one , of course , ‎is that Jehovah has forgiven us . ‎If we turn back just one chapter ,
‎chapter 2 of Colossians and verse 13, ‎this point is highlighted for us . ‎It says in chapter 2, verse 13:
‎“Furthermore, though you ‎were dead in your trespasses ‎“and‎in‎the‎uncircumcised‎state‎of‎your‎flesh, ‎“God‎
made you alive together with him . ‎“He‎kindly‎forgave‎us‎ ‎all our trespasses .”‎ ‎So this is the model ‎that
Jehovah has given us . ‎It’s‎true, ‎we sometimes can find some reason ‎why we feel ‎we‎don’t‎have‎to‎forgive‎
someone else . ‎But remember the illustration Jesus gave ‎of the slave who had the huge debt . ‎If you
calculated it in denarius , ‎there were 60 million denarii that he owed ; ‎he was forgiven that . ‎Then he went
after the other man ‎who owed him just a small amount . ‎But have you ever thought ‎that if you asked that
slave, ‎maybe he would say : “Well, it’s‎true. ‎“I‎really‎appreciate‎having‎everything‎forgiven , ‎but‎I‎still‎don’t‎
have any money. ‎“I‎need‎some‎money, ‎so‎that’s‎why‎I‎wanted‎to‎get‎‎the other slave to give me the money.”‎
‎ ell,‎ there’s‎ always‎ a‎ reason ‎—isn’t‎there ?— ‎⁠even if it’s a distorted reason ‎as to why we don’t follow
W
Jehovah’s example . ‎But looking back at Colossians 3:13, ‎what does it say ? ‎“If‎anyone‎has‎a‎cause‎ ‎for
complaint against another.”‎‎So‎that‎gives‎us‎a‎good‎idea,‎doesn’t‎it? ‎The second reason, of course, is that
‎we do need others to forgive us . ‎The very things that annoy us ‎and irritate us in others are sometimes ‎the
same things that we do to others . ‎Have you ever noticed that ? ‎And how annoying it is ‎when someone
points that out to you : ‎“You’re‎annoyed‎with‎that‎person ? ‎Don’t‎you‎realize‎what‎you‎do ?”‎ ‎Well, that’s‎
something good for us to remember ‎—isn’t‎it?— ‎the fact that we do need ‎to have others forgive us . ‎And
then another reason ‎is that it maintains the peace ‎within the Christian congregation. ‎The Watchtower made
a comment on this. ‎It said that in countries ‎where our work is restricted or under ban, ‎many of our brothers
‎have to meet together in smaller groups . ‎And when you do that , you get to know ‎everyone’s‎weaknesses‎
and idiosyncrasies. ‎It’s‎so‎much‎easier‎to‎be‎annoyed‎by‎others‎ ‎when‎you’re‎dealing‎ ‎with small groups of
persons. ‎The Watchtower then made the comment ‎what good training it is for us now ‎to learn how to put
up with one another ‎when‎we’re‎in‎larger‎groups, ‎because later we may need ‎to worship Jehovah in smaller
groups. ‎So‎it’s‎good‎training‎for‎us‎‎
as we keep peace in the congregation. ‎And what can help us? ‎Well, there
are many different things ‎that can help us in this regard. ‎The one point in the marginal reference ‎you see
there is at 1 Peter 4:8, ‎and‎that’s‎where‎it‎tells‎us‎we‎need‎‎to‎“have‎intense‎love‎for‎one‎another” ‎—not just
love‎but‎“intense‎love.”‎‎And‎this‎word‎“intense”‎means‎“full‎strength.”‎‎Literally, it‎means‎“to‎stretch‎out‎our‎
love.”‎‎So as we come across these things ‎that irritate us, annoy us, in life ‎or if we come across persons ‎who
actually do sin against us, ‎what should we keep in mind? ‎“Continue‎putting‎up‎with‎one‎another.”‎‎‘Continue‎
freely forgiving one another.’‎‎

That sound advice ‎also applies strongly in marriage , ‎when two people decide ‎to share their lives together .
‎Perhaps your mate is an unbeliever. ‎Differences in belief ‎can cause a level of friction, ‎but how one handles,
‎or conquers, the situation ‎can bring you peace ‎and even be a great witness. ‎

How did 15 years go by so fast ? ‎We were so young when we got married ‎—maybe too young. ‎We had so
little in common. ‎When I started studying the Bible, ‎I thought Thomas would be as excited ‎as I was to learn
the truth. ‎But every conversation we had on the subject ‎seemed to turn into an argument . ‎Looking back, ‎I
really‎wish‎I’d‎handled‎it‎better. ‎As the years went by, ‎he did become more open to discussion. ‎But‎it’s been
hard worshipping God alone. ‎Others in the congregation ‎are able to serve Jehovah together ‎and even reach
out for theocratic goals ‎like the School for Kingdom Evangelizers, ‎something I would love to do. ‎Why‎can’t‎I‎

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have a husband ‎who loves Jehovah like I do? ‎Abigail probably felt the same way ‎but with more reason. ‎Her
husband was a bully and a drunkard ‎and was despised by his entire household . ‎At that time , ‎many
marriages were arranged , ‎so Abigail had very little control ‎over her circumstances. ‎But her words and
actions ‎showed that she was a spiritual woman ‎who‎didn’t‎focus‎‎on what she could not control ‎but on what
she could . ‎I determined to do the same . ‎I‎meditated‎on‎Jesus’‎words‎ ‎at Matthew 19:6: ‎“What‎God‎has‎
yoked together, ‎let no man put apart .”‎ ‎To Jehovah, marriage is permanent ‎—even my marriage to an
unbeliever. ‎So instead of dwelling on changing ‎my husband or my marriage , ‎I focused on changing myself .
‎Thomas does not love Jehovah, ‎but‎he’s‎not‎a‎“Nabal”‎either. ‎He is loyal, and he loves me. ‎He is entitled to
the respect that the Bible ‎commands wives to show to their husbands . ‎So‎I’m‎making‎an‎effort‎ ‎to be more
respectful and loving to him . ‎Thomas‎hasn’t‎developed‎an‎interest‎ ‎in the truth or started studying . ‎But I
have the satisfaction of knowing ‎my God is pleased with me , ‎and I have the same view ‎of marriage that he
does. ‎

How exciting! ‎Is Thomas slowly noticing ‎the benefits of the truth? ‎No doubt, ‎Emma’s faithful and respectful
conduct ‎has had a deep impact ‎on how he views Jehovah. ‎And the truth can really change a person. ‎Getting
to know Jehovah can help someone ‎to get their life back on track . ‎Two fleshly brothers, ‎Dimitris and Agis
Sotiropoulos, ‎are good examples of how ‎the good can conquer the evil ‎despite a challenging upbringing.

‎ y father was a self -made factory owner. ‎He started a business working ‎with rubber and plastics , ‎and we
M
led a financially comfortable way of life. ‎But in the middle of the 1970’s, ‎things started going badly with his
work. ‎For this reason, ‎he fell into a depression, ‎and he committed suicide. ‎This was a great shock. ‎I went to
the wall and wrote the words ‎“He‎lives.”‎‎I‎didn’t‎want‎to‎believe‎that‎from‎that‎day‎on , ‎I‎wouldn’t‎see‎my‎
father again. ‎At the age of about ten , I began to develop ‎strong antireligious tendencies. ‎And later, at the
age of 17, ‎I also expressed them by participating ‎in the most important incident ‎of the student movement
‎against the military junta ‎that was prevailing in Greece ‎and ruling the country . ‎I became a member of the
Communist Party. ‎I went to Santorini and started a business . ‎I opened a bar. ‎Of course, all this included
unsavory things ‎like immorality, drugs, ‎and plenty of alcohol. ‎A few months later, ‎I left to study in Germany.
‎It was the first time I met ‎a brother engaging in street work . ‎People would approach him, ‎and some would
swear; ‎some even spat at him . ‎It impressed me immensely ‎how he stood calmly ‎and accepted this
treatment. ‎We had interesting conversations. ‎My studies ended , and I returned to Greece ‎to take on the
responsibility of the factory. ‎When I finished my studies in Germany , ‎I left with a sense of deep respect ‎for
Jehovah’s‎Witnesses. ‎The influence of my friends ‎led me to go into the military , ‎and there I saw a huge
amount of corruption. ‎The hope I had that we humans ‎would be able to succeed ‎without external help ‎—
without God— ‎began to collapse, ‎and then the things I had heard ‎from‎Jehovah’s‎Witnesses‎‎suddenly came
to my mind. ‎The same afternoon, ‎I sought out a family friend, ‎the mother of a childhood friend, named Lily.
‎I said to her , “Please‎give‎me‎a‎Bible‎ ‎and some Bible study publications ‎because I want to study them .”‎‎I
read everywhere, ‎and anything that‎I‎didn’t‎understand , ‎I wrote down in a notebook . ‎I got to the point , in
just a few days , ‎where I had written down 80 to 90 questions. ‎Harry impressed me ‎because every time I
asked him a question, ‎he gave me the answer from the Bible. ‎That convinced‎me‎that‎I’d‎found‎the‎truth. ‎So
in that moment, ‎I decided to leave the military ‎and to quit smoking . ‎A few months passed by , ‎where I was
occupied mostly with the factory , ‎until I recognized ‎that for me to make progress in the truth , ‎I had to sell
my shares in the factory . ‎And on July 7, 1984, I was baptized. ‎The authorities ‎—the police, the mayor, ‎the
health inspectors— ‎began to demand money ‎so that I could keep the bar open. ‎I refused all the things they
asked of me , ‎and so the war became harder ‎until one night when I went ‎to open the door to enter my
home; ‎I heard a tramping from behind , ‎I tried to turn and see , ‎and as I turned , ‎I was hit in the face . ‎During
that time, ‎when all of this was happening , ‎my brother Dimitris arrived . ‎As brothers, ‎we never really had a
relationship. ‎When he came to Santorini ‎and began to talk to me ‎and help me understand ‎what was

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happening to me, ‎I realized that this was a different Dimitris . ‎I said to him , “I‎want‎us‎ ‎to start studying the
Bible together.”‎ ‎I had the Bible with me ‎almost everywhere I went ‎so that I could read it . ‎I realized that
Jehovah was helping me ‎to understand what I was living for . ‎He was helping me to understand ‎that I could
have a real goal , a purpose , ‎and a hope. ‎On the day of my baptism , ‎I felt that I was drawing closer to
Jehovah. ‎I felt like my smile went from ear to ear. ‎And now with Lydia, ‎I have the great joy of serving ‎in the
Romany territory. ‎We enjoy very nice Bible studies . ‎It is truly something ‎that‎shows‎you‎Jehovah’s‎love ,
‎interest, and affection ‎—things that I had felt ‎many years ago ‎when I studied with my brother . ‎Today, my
brother and I ‎love each other very much . ‎It is a relationship characterized ‎by brotherly love ‎as it is
expressed in the Bible. ‎We are very close to each other. ‎This is really a change. ‎Now we are truly brothers! ‎

Today, both Dimitris ‎and Agis serve as elders ‎and have spent many years ‎in the full-time ministry. ‎Have you
noticed the many ways ‎we have seen the good conquer ‎the evil in‎this‎month’s‎broadcast? ‎Our brothers in
Korea ‎were able to endure unjust imprisonment ‎with the support of their fellow believers . ‎Viktor Winter,
‎who was also imprisoned , ‎conquered the evil ‎by maintaining a theocratic routine. ‎Our music video helped
us appreciate ‎the value of our true friends ‎in the congregation, ‎who will help us fulfill our ministry ‎in this
wicked world. ‎Also, Brother Jackson ‎shared principles to help us ‎overcome negative feelings ‎we may have
about others ‎as a result of our imperfection . ‎Over time, ‎Emma learned to apply those principles ‎in dealing
‎with her unbelieving husband , Thomas. ‎And finally , ‎the truth conquered the evil ‎when the Sotiropoulos
brothers ‎were able to clean up their lives.

‎ efore we conclude , ‎we have an announcement to make . ‎You will be happy to know
B ‎that the next
installment ‎of the video series Was it Designed ? ‎entitled The‎ Seahorse’s‎ Tail ‎is available on Video on
Demand ‎and jw.org starting this month. ‎Perhaps you can watch it ‎during your next Family Worship evening. ‎

Let’s‎also‎briefly‎visit‎ ‎our brothers and sisters in Portugal. ‎As the most western country ‎in continental
Europe, ‎Portugal is known ‎as the place where the land ends ‎and the sea begins. ‎Mainland Portugal ‎has over
800 kilometers, ‎or over 500 miles, of Atlantic Coast . ‎In the southern part of the country , ‎they have over
3,000 hours ‎of sunshine per year . ‎Portugal became world renowned ‎as a seafaring nation ‎with colonies
around the world. ‎In the 15th century, ‎navigators and explorers ‎from Portugal ‎traveled to distant places
‎such as Brazil, India, ‎and many parts of Africa . ‎The good news reached Portugal in 1925, ‎but the work was
either restricted ‎or under ban from 1926 to 1974. ‎However, the brothers ‎and sisters were good examples ‎of
“conquering the evil with the good.”‎‎Despite the restrictions and persecution, ‎they continued to preach ‎and
gather together to worship Jehovah . ‎When the Witnesses ‎gained legal recognition in 1974, ‎the country
reported ‎about 13,500 publishers ‎and almost 40,000 attended ‎the first public meeting . ‎Today, the country
reports ‎some 49,500 publishers ‎and a ratio of 1 publisher ‎to about 200 people ‎—one of the lowest ratios in
Europe. ‎The ratio is even lower in Almada , ‎which is across the Tagus River ‎from the capital city , Lisbon. ‎In
Almada, there are 16 congregations ‎with almost 1,400 publishers in total ‎with a ratio of 1 publisher ‎to about
100 residents. ‎Many of the brothers and sisters ‎in Almada are older ‎and endured faithfully during the ban ,
‎setting an example to the younger ones. ‎In addition to theocratic activities, ‎our brothers in Almada ‎regularly
come together to associate , ‎which can include ‎a game of soccer or singing songs. ‎They all send their love
and greetings ‎to the worldwide brotherhood. ‎

This is JW Broadcasting ‎from the world headquarters ‎of‎Jehovah’s‎Witnesses.

JW Broadcasting—November 2018
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