Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
September 27, 2015 – A local Chinese speaking congregation has formerly taken off in Lagos, Nigeria and it has been a source of excitement among fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses who stream to the congregation to associate and learn the new language.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are known worldwide for learning local languages to be able to preach the good news based on command found at Mathew chapter 24:14.
The Chinese congregation is just one of several language congregations which the Jehovah’s Witnesses are forming to make it easy for people in all languages to learn about God’s Kingdom, which is the theme of their preaching activities.
The local Chinese congregation currently holds meetings at Shangisa Kingdom hall at 2:30 Pm on Sunday and they are inviting all those who can read and write Chinese to attend the meetings. They also invite all who are willing to learn the language without charge to come the hall.
During the meetings, our correspondent observed the Jehovah’s Witnesses conducted all the one and half hours session in Chinese language including songs and prayers. The public discourse was delivered via a multimedia projector for 30 minutes, followed by the Watchtower study for an hour.
Our correspondent was surprised when he saw Nigerians who have never travelled to China conduct the one hour Watchtower study in Chinese in the first Chinese speaking congregation.
Besides, the Watchtower was in written in simplified Chinese and the brothers and sisters as Jehovah’s Witnesses call themselves were spotted answering questions from the Watchtower and reading the Holy Bible in Chinese. And it appears age was no barrier as both young and old took part in answering questions.
What stood out among this Chinese Speaking Congregation was the excitement among brothers and sisters and love which was quite vivid in all in attendance. One indigene of China resident in Lagos but interested in the truth assisted in the watchtower summery but seated among the audience.
One of the sisters who spoke to our correspondent, Beauty Usonegbu said the language is a tool that could assist in furthering the kingdom message and that the Chinese people are usually thrilled to hear non-natives preach the good news to them in Chinese and that they preach to Chinese wherever they may be found in Lagos. She happy for the approval giving to this Chinese Speaking Congregation.
