Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, 9 January 2023
LAGOS, Nigeria – After nearly 3 years of online assemblies and conventions, Jehovah’s Witnesses have, today, January 7, 2023, resumed their much-fame in-person assembly programs across the globe.
These assemblies have been held virtually since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The Witnesses resumed meetings at their Kingdom Halls from April 2022. However, their larger assembly facilities across the globe remained under lockdown.
As at 9:00 am on Saturday, January 7, thousands thronged to the Assembly Hall in Lekki the first of these assemblies since the start of the pandemic. Exciting attendees filled the auditorium to the brim as the program commenced with a musical presentation. 62 other assemblies are also holding this weekend at other cities in Nigeria, including Badagry, Ota, Daluwon, Benin, and Awi.
The assembly program entitled: “Jehovah’s United Family” featured a 3-part symposium. The speakers highlighted the Biblical histories of Elihu, a friend to Job, Lydia, a first-century disciple of Jesus, and Jesus himself. These historical figures were excellent examples of helping those around them to feel comfortable, an ideal requirement for peaceful family relations.
A key feature of assemblies and conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses is baptism of new converts. About 42 new members were baptised at the Lekki Assembly Hall.
Other topics being treated by speakers at the program include :Is your home a place of rest and peace? Be a force for peace – how? Speak “What Is Good for Building Up” and ‘Walk in Love’
The discourse event is set against the beautiful, calm and spacious Assembly Hall along Lekki-Epe Express, Lagos State
Other parts of the event included interviews, live demonstration, musical breaks audio presentations.
Over 3,000 participants attended the event, more than the capacity of the Assembly Hall. This seem to be attributable to the excitement of the attendees returning to their in-person assemblies after nearly 3-years.
The 2023 Assembly series of Jehovah’s Witnesses will be held in 6 continents, over 200 countries and over 400 languages. In Nigeria, The program will be presented in English, Gun, Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo and French. More information about the program may be found on jw.org.
There are about 9 million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide in 240 lands where they are organized into over 120,000 Congregations. More information is available on jw.org, accessible in over 1,000 languages. Their assemblies and conventions usually result in increased commercial activities around the venue, with hotels, stores and transport service providers making brisk businesses. The assemblies continue during the next weekends in various cities.
