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 STUDY
ARTICLE 36

“Call the Elders”

“Let him call the elders of the congregation to him.”
—JAS. 5:14.

SONG 103
Shepherds—Gifts in Men

FOCUS
Get spiritual help from the congregation elders when you
need it.
2
JEHOVAH’S sheep are precious to him. He pur-
chased them with the blood of Jesus and assigned
the congregation elders to care for His flock. (Acts
20:28) God wants his sheep to be treated tender-
ly. Under Christ’s leadership, the elders refresh
the sheep and protect them from spiritual danger.
—Isa. 32:1, 2.
2Jehovah has deep concern for all his sheep, but
he gives special care to those who are suffering.
Through the elders, he helps those who are suffer-
ing in a spiritual sense. (Read Ezekiel 34:15, 16.)
However, he wants us to seek help when we need it.
At such times, in addition to our earnest prayers
to God for support, we request the assistance of
the “shepherds and teachers” in the congregation.
—Eph. 4:11, 12.
3 In this article, we will examine God’s arrange-
ment for us to get spiritual help through the elders.
We will answer these questions: When should we
ask the elders for help? Why should we do so? And
how do they help us? Even if we are not current-
ly experiencing a difficulty, the answers to those
1. How has Jehovah shown that his sheep are precious to him?
2. In whom does Jehovah show special interest? (Ezekiel 34:15, 16)
3. How can all of us benefit from considering the role of the elders?

SEPTEMBER 2025 3
questions will increase our appreciation for God’s
arrangement and may someday save our life.
WHEN SHOULD WE
“CALL THE ELDERS”?
4
The disciple James introduces the subject of
God’s arrangement for spiritual assistance by ask-
ing: “Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call
the elders of the congregation.” (Read James 5:
14-16, 19, 20.) The context shows that James is
speaking of spiritual sickness. For instance, the
sick one is told to call, not a doctor, but the elders.
And spiritual sickness is implied because the heal-
ing can involve the forgiveness of sins. In some re-
spects, the steps needed to treat spiritual sickness
are similar to those needed for physical ailments.
When we are physically sick, we visit a doctor, ex-
plain our symptoms, and follow his directions.
Likewise, when we are spiritually ailing, we should
approach an elder, describe our situation, and act
on the Scriptural counsel we receive.
5
The arrangement described in James chapter 5
encourages us to approach the elders when we feel
4. Why do we conclude that James 5:14-16, 19, 20 refers to spiritu-
al sickness? (See also pictures.)
5. How can we tell if we are in danger of becoming spiritually sick?

4 THE WATCHTOWER
 When we are physically sick, we visit a doctor; when we
are spiritually ailing, we should approach the elders
(See paragraph 4)

that our spiritual health is suffering in any way.

How wise it is, though, for us to receive help before
we cause serious damage to our friendship with
God! We must be honest with ourselves. The Scrip-
tures warn that we can deceive ourselves about
our spiritual condition. (Jas. 1:22) Some early
Christians in Sardis made this mistake, and Jesus
warned them about their spiritual state. (Rev. 3:
1, 2) One way we can check our spiritual health is
by comparing our enthusiasm for our worship now
with how we felt in previous times. (Rev. 2:4, 5) We
could ask ourselves: ‘Has my joy for Bible read-
ing and meditation diminished? Has my meeting
SEPTEMBER 2025 5
preparation and attendance become haphazard?
Has my zeal for the ministry cooled? Do pleasures
or possessions occupy more of my time and think-
ing?’ If the answer to any of these questions is yes,
it could indicate a weakness that if not addressed
will likely get worse. If we are unable to remedy the
weakness on our own or if it has already led us to
violate God’s standards, we should ask the elders
for help.
6
Of course, those who have committed a serious
sin, one that could lead to a person’s being re-
moved from the congregation, should approach an
elder. (1 Cor. 5:11-13) Any who have succumbed
to serious sin need help to repair their relation-
ship with Jehovah. To gain Jehovah’s forgiveness
through the ransom, we must display “works that
befit repentance.” (Acts 26:20) Those works in-
clude approaching the elders if we have committed
a serious sin.
7
The elders not only assist those who have com-
mitted a serious sin but also help those who are
spiritually weak. (Acts 20:35) For example, you
might fear that you are losing your fight against
6. What should those who have committed a serious sin do?
7. Who else needs the assistance of the elders?

6 THE WATCHTOWER
wrong desires. Your struggle might be especially
challenging if before you learned the truth you
were addicted to drugs, were exposed to pornogra-
phy, or led an immoral life. You need not face these
challenges alone. You can choose to speak to an el-
der who will listen to your concerns, offer practi-
cal counsel, and assure you that you can please Je-
hovah by refusing to act on wrong desires. (Eccl.
4:12) If you have become discouraged in your
struggle, the elders can remind you that this like-
ly shows that you are taking your relationship
with Jehovah seriously and are avoiding overconfi-
dence.—1 Cor. 10:12.
8 We do not need to go to the elders for every
concern we may have about our spiritual health.
For instance, suppose you say something hurt-
ful to a brother or a sister, perhaps even lose
your temper. Rather than approach an elder, you
could apply Jesus’ counsel about making peace be-
tween you and your brother or sister. (Matt. 5:
23, 24) You could research the subjects of mild-
ness, patience, and self-control so that you can
display those fine qualities more fully in the future.
Of course, if you are still unable to solve your
8. In connection with what sort of sins do we not need to approach
the elders?

SEPTEMBER 2025 7
problem, you could ask an elder for assistance. In
his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul asked
an unnamed brother to help Euodia and Syntyche
to resolve their differences, and an elder in your
congregation may be able to aid you in the same
way.—Phil. 4:2, 3.
WHY SHOULD WE
CALL THE ELDERS?
9
We need faith and courage to ask for help when
we have committed a serious sin or when we feel
that we are losing our fight against a personal
weakness. We should not let shame hold us back
from calling the elders. Why not? By following Je-
hovah’s arrangement, we show that we trust him
and his instructions for keeping us healthy and
strong in the faith. We acknowledge that we need
his help if we are about to fall. (Ps. 94:18) And if
we have sinned, we will receive God’s mercy if we
confess and abandon our sins.—Read Proverbs
28:13.
10
In contrast to the blessings we gain by speak-
ing to an elder when we need help, we can make our
9. Why should we not let shame stop us from calling the elders?
(Proverbs 28:13)
10. What can happen if we were to try to hide our sins?

8 THE WATCHTOWER
situation worse if we try to hide our sins. When
King David tried to cover up his sins, he suffered
spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. (Ps.
32:3-5) Like a physical illness or injury, a spiritual
problem often gets worse if we fail to take care of
it. Jehovah understands this, so he invites us to
“set matters straight” with him through the means
he has set up for our spiritual healing.—Isa. 1:5,
6, 18.
11 If we were to hide our serious sin, we could af-
fect others. We could hinder the flow of God’s
spirit to the entire congregation and threaten the
peace of our brothers and sisters. (Eph. 4:30) Like-
wise, if we learn that someone else in the congre-
gation has committed a serious sin, we should
urge that one to speak to the elders about the mat-
ter. Hiding the serious sin of another person
would make us guilty as well. (Lev. 5:1) Our love
for Jehovah should move us to come forward and
to speak the truth. We thus help to keep the con-
gregation clean and to restore such erring ones to
a good relationship with Jehovah.
 If the wrongdoer fails to do so after a reasonable period of time, your
loyalty to Jehovah should move you to tell the elders what you know.

11. How could others be affected if we were to hide serious sins?

SEPTEMBER 2025 9
 The elders use the Bible to soothe and comfort ailing ones
(See paragraphs 13-14)

HOW DO THE ELDERS HELP US?

12 The elders are instructed to support those
who are spiritually weak. (1 Thess. 5:14) If you
have erred, they may ask you discerning questions
to ‘draw out’ your inner thoughts and feelings.
(Prov. 20:5) You can help them by expressing your-
self openly, even if you find this difficult to do be-
cause of your culture, your personality, or your
embarrassment over the challenge you are facing.
Do not be afraid that your words may seem like
“wild talk.” (Job 6:3) Instead of quickly drawing a
12. How do the elders help those who are spiritually weak?

10 THE WATCHTOWER
conclusion, the elders will strive to listen carefully
and get the whole picture before offering you coun-
sel. (Prov. 18:13) They realize that shepherding the
flock takes time, so they do not expect to resolve
challenging issues with one discussion.
13When you call the elders, they will strive not
to add to your sense of guilt. Rather, they will pray
in your behalf. You might be pleasantly surprised
at the “powerful effect” that their prayers can
have. Their assistance also includes “applying oil to
[you] in the name of Jehovah.” (Jas. 5:14-16) This
“oil” refers to the truth of God’s Word. Through
their skillful use of the Bible, the elders can soothe
and comfort you, helping you to restore your rela-
tionship with Jehovah. (Isa. 57:18) The Scriptural
guidance they share can strengthen your resolve to
keep doing what is right. Through them, you can
hear Jehovah’s voice telling you: “This is the way.
Walk in it.”—Isa. 30:21.
14 Read Galatians 6:1. A Christian who takes “a
false step” is not walking in harmony with God’s
righteous standards. The false step could refer to
13. How can the elders help us by means of their prayers and Scrip-
tural guidance? (See also pictures.)
14. According to Galatians 6:1, how do the elders help any who
have taken “a false step”? (See also pictures.)

SEPTEMBER 2025 11
a mistake in judgment or a serious transgression of
God’s law. Christian elders, moved by love, “try to
readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness.” The
Greek word translated “readjust” can also describe
setting a dislocated bone back in place to prevent
a permanent disability. Just as a skillful doctor en-
deavors to set a broken bone with as little pain as
possible, the elders focus on healing our spiritual
illness without adding to our pain. They are also in-
structed to “keep an eye on [themselves].” As they
help us to straighten our path, elders recognize
that they too are imperfect and prone to false
steps. Far from showing a superior, self-righteous,
or judgmental attitude, they strive to be empathet-
ic.—1 Pet. 3:8.
15We can trust our congregation elders. They
have been trained to keep our confidential matters
private, to base their counsel on the Bible rather
than on their own opinions, and to follow through
in helping us carry our burdens. (Prov. 11:13; Gal.
6:2) Their personalities and experience vary, but
we can feel free to approach any elder to discuss a
problem. Of course, we would not go from one el-
der to another, asking for advice, hoping to find
15. What might we do if we have a problem?

12 THE WATCHTOWER
one who will tell us what we want to hear. If we
were to do that, we would be like those who would
rather have “their ears tickled” than learn the
“wholesome teaching” of God’s Word. (2 Tim. 4:3)
When we approach an elder about a problem, he
may ask us if we have talked with other elders
about it and what counsel they gave. And modesty
may move him to ask another elder for advice.
—Prov. 13:10.
OUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
16Although the elders keep watch over us as
God’s sheep, they do not tell us what to do. We have
a personal responsibility to live a life of godly de-
votion. We must answer to God for our own words
and actions. With his support, we can meet the
challenge of keeping our integrity. (Rom. 14:12) So
rather than dictate a course of action to us, the el-
ders direct attention to God’s thinking as found in
his Word. By following their Bible-based counsel,
we can train our own “powers of discernment” to
make wise decisions.—Heb. 5:14.
17What a precious privilege we have to be Jeho-
vah’s sheep! Jehovah sent “the fine shepherd,”
16. What personal responsibility do we have?
17. What should be our determination?

SEPTEMBER 2025 13
Jesus, to pay the ransom for us so that we could
have the opportunity for everlasting life. (John
10:11) And by means of the elders in the Chris-
tian congregation, Jehovah has fulfilled his prom-
ise: “I will give you shepherds after my own heart,
and they will feed you with knowledge and in-
sight.” (Jer. 3:15) When we are spiritually weak or
sick, we should not hesitate to call the elders for
their help. May we be determined to benefit fully
from Jehovah’s provision of the congregation el-
ders.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ When should we “call the elders” for help?

˛ Why should we call the elders?

˛ How do the elders help us?

SONG 31
Oh, Walk With God!
 STUDY
ARTICLE 37

The Best Way to

Respond to Injustice
“He kept hoping for justice, but look! there was injustice.”
—ISA. 5:7.

SONG 114
“Exercise Patience”

FOCUS
How Jesus’ example helps us respond to injustice in a
way that pleases Jehovah.
15
WE LIVE in an unjust world. People are treated
unfairly for many reasons, such as their econom-
ic status, gender, ethnicity, or race. They suffer
the effects of environmental problems caused or
worsened by greedy executives and corrupt of-
ficials. These and other injustices affect us all, ei-
ther directly or indirectly.
2 It is not surprising that many are angry about
the injustice they see in the world today. We
all want to live in a world where we feel safe
and are treated fairly. Some get involved in so-
cial reform efforts. They sign petitions, join pro-
tests, and support political leaders who prom-
ise to fight injustice. However, as Christians, we
are taught to be “no part of the world” and to
wait on God’s Kingdom to eliminate all injustice.
(John 17:16) Still, we cannot help but be dis-
mayed—even angry—when we see someone being
treated unfairly. We may wonder: ‘How should I
respond? Is there anything I can do about in-
justice right now?’ To answer these questions, let
us begin by considering how Jehovah and Jesus
feel about injustice.
1-2. How do many people react to injustice, and what might we
wonder about?

16 THE WATCHTOWER
 JEHOVAH AND JESUS HATE INJUSTICE
3 The Bible gives us the reason why it is under-
standable for us to be disturbed by injustice. It ex-
plains that Jehovah created us in his image and
that he “loves righteousness and justice.” (Ps.
33:5; Gen. 1:26) He never acts unjustly, and he
does not want anyone else to act that way! (Deut.
32:3, 4; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 7:9) For example, during
the time of the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah heard “a
cry of distress” from many Israelites who were be-
ing mistreated by their countrymen. (Read Isaiah
3. Why is it understandable for us to feel angry about injustice?
(Isaiah 5:7)

Jewish religious
leaders did not
have empathy for
those in need, but
Jesus did
(See paragraph 4)
5:7.) Jehovah took action by punishing those who
repeatedly ignored his Law and treated others un-
fairly.—Isa. 5:5, 13.
4 Like Jehovah, Jesus loves justice and hates in-
justice. On one occasion during his earthly min-
istry, he saw a man with a disability—a with-
ered hand. Jesus was moved to help him, but the
coldhearted religious leaders felt very differently.
They were more concerned with enforcing their
rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law than with
helping the disadvantaged man. How did Jesus
feel about their reaction? He was “thoroughly
grieved at the insensibility of their hearts.”—Mark
3:1-6.
5 Given that both Jehovah and Jesus are an-
gered by injustice, it is not wrong for us to feel
that way too. (Eph. 4:26 and study note “Be
wrathful”) Yet, we must remember that any anger
we feel—even if it is justified—will not fix in-
justice. In fact, prolonged or uncontrolled anger
may harm us emotionally and physically. (Ps. 37:
4. What does an event found in the Gospels reveal about how Je-
sus views injustice? (See also picture.)
5. What must we remember about the anger we may feel regarding
an injustice?

18 THE WATCHTOWER
1, 8; Jas. 1:20) So how should we deal with in-
justice? We can learn from Jesus’ example.
HOW JESUS DEALT WITH INJUSTICE
6 Jesus saw great injustice when he was on
earth. He witnessed how the common people were
oppressed by the religious leaders. (Matt. 23:2-4)
He was aware of how harshly the Roman au-
thorities treated the people. Many Jews longed
for independence from Rome. Some, such as the
Zealots, were willing to fight for it. Yet, Jesus
did not initiate or support movements for social
change. When he learned that people were plan-
ning to make him king, Jesus separated himself
from them.—John 6:15.
7 When he was on earth, Jesus did not try to
work with the political systems of the day in order
to eliminate injustice. Why not? He knew that hu-
mans have neither the right nor the ability to gov-
ern themselves. (Ps. 146:3; Jer. 10:23) They are
also incapable of addressing the root causes of in-
justice. The world is ruled by Satan the Devil, a
6. What injustices were common when Jesus was on earth? (See
also picture.)
7-8. Why did Jesus not try to eliminate injustice when he was on
earth? (John 18:36)

SEPTEMBER 2025 19
Jesus separated
himself from the
people when they
wanted to involve
him in political
issues of the time
(See paragraph 6)

murderous spirit creature who uses his authority

to incite injustice. (John 8:44; Eph. 2:2) And im-
perfection makes it impossible for even the most
well-meaning humans to act fairly at all times.
—Eccl. 7:20.
8 Jesus knew that only God’s Kingdom will fully
address the root causes of injustice. For that rea-
son, he spent his time and energy on “preach-
ing and declaring the good news of the Kingdom
of God.” (Luke 8:1) He assured “those hunger-
ing and thirsting for righteousness” that the end
of corruption and injustice would come. (Matt.
5:6 and study note; Luke 18:7, 8) However, this
will be achieved, not through social reform, but
through the rulership of God’s heavenly govern-
20 THE WATCHTOWER
ment, which is “no part of this world.”—Read
John 18:36.
IMITATE JESUS
WHEN DEALING WITH INJUSTICE
9 Today we see even more injustice than Jesus
saw when he was on earth. But the source of in-
justice in these “last days” continues to be Satan
and the imperfect people under his influence.
(2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13; Rev. 12:12) Like Jesus, we know
that only God’s Kingdom will eliminate the root
causes of injustice. Because we fully support that
Kingdom, we refuse to get involved with this
world’s marches, protests, and other efforts to
curb injustice. Consider the experience of a sister
named Stacy. Before she learned the truth, Sta-
cy regularly joined in efforts to promote social re-
form. But she began to have doubts about what
she was doing. She says: “When I was at pro-
tests, I would question whether I was on the cor-
rect side. Now that I support God’s Kingdom, I
know that I’m on the right side. I know that
 Some names have been changed.

9. What convinces you that only God’s Kingdom will eliminate all in-
justice?

SEPTEMBER 2025 21
Jehovah will fight for every victim of oppression
better than I ever could.”—Ps. 72:1, 4.
10 The social reform movements of this world
are often marked by an independent and bitter
spirit that is at odds with Jesus’ example and
teachings. (Eph. 4:31) A brother named Jeffrey
observes: “I know that seemingly peaceful pro-
tests can in a matter of seconds turn into violence
and looting.” However, Jesus teaches us to treat
all people with love, even those who disagree with
us or persecute us. (Read Matthew 5:43-48.) As
Christians, we do our best to avoid anything that
is out of harmony with the pattern that Jesus set
for us.
11 Although we know that God’s Kingdom will
permanently solve injustice, we could find it hard
to imitate Jesus when we are treated unfair-
ly. Consider what happened to Janiya, who expe-
rienced discrimination. She admits: “I was furi-
ous. I also felt hurt and wanted the injustice
to be avenged. Then I thought about supporting
10. In what way are social reform movements out of harmony with
Jesus’ counsel found at Matthew 5:43-48? (See also picture.)
11. What can test our determination not to support social reform
movements?

22 THE WATCHTOWER
a movement protesting racism and discrimina-
tion. I felt that doing so was a safe way to express
my anger.” In time, however, Janiya realized that
she needed to make changes. “I was allowing oth-
ers to sway my thinking,” she says, “to influ-
ence me to place my trust in man instead of in Je-
hovah. I decided to cut off all association with the
movement.” We must be careful not to allow any
righteous anger we feel to cause us to compro-
mise our neutral stand regarding this world’s po-
litical and social issues.—John 15:19.

It takes determination to remain neutral with regard

to the political and social issues of our time
(See paragraph 10)
 12 What can help us to control our feelings of an-
ger over an injustice? Many have found it helpful
to be selective in what they read, listen to, and
watch. Some forms of social media are full of
posts that sensationalize injustices and that pro-
mote social reform movements. Often, news agen-
cies report information in a biased way. Even if we
hear a report about a valid injustice, will dwelling
on it really help us? If we spend a lot of time con-
suming such information, we may become need-
lessly frustrated or discouraged. (Prov. 24:10)
Even worse, we could lose sight of the ultimate so-
lution to all injustice—God’s Kingdom.
13A good routine of Bible reading and medita-
tion can help us to deal with injustice. A sister
named Alia was deeply disturbed by the way peo-
ple in her community were being mistreated. It
seemed that those responsible for the mistreat-
ment were not being held accountable. She says:
“I had to sit down and ask myself, ‘Do I actually
believe that Jehovah will fix these problems?’ It
was during that time that I read Job 34:22-29.
12. Why is it wise to be selective regarding the information we
take in?
13. How can a good routine of Bible reading help us to maintain the
right attitude about injustice?

24 THE WATCHTOWER
Those verses reminded me that no one can hide
from Jehovah. Only he has a perfect sense of jus-
tice, and only he will fully correct matters.” Still,
as we wait for God’s Kingdom to bring true justice,
we need to deal with injustice now. How?
WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT
INJUSTICE NOW
14We may not be able to control the unjust ac-
tions of others, but we can control our own ac-
tions. As previously discussed, we imitate Jesus by
showing love. Such love can move us to treat oth-
ers—even perpetrators of injustice—with respect.
(Matt. 7:12; Rom. 12:17) Jehovah is pleased when
we treat everyone kindly and fairly.—Read Colos-
sians 3:10, 11.
15 The most important way we can respond to in-
justice is by sharing Bible truths with others. Why
do we say that? Because “the knowledge of Jeho-
vah” can transform a person who was formerly ag-
gressive and violent into a kind, peace-loving indi-
vidual. (Isa. 11:6, 7, 9) Before learning the truth,
14. What can we do to avoid contributing to this world’s injustices?
(Colossians 3:10, 11)
15. What effect does our sharing Bible truth have on present in-
justice?

SEPTEMBER 2025 25
a man named Jemal joined a rebel group to fight
a political regime that he felt was oppressive. He
says: “You can’t change people by force. I was not
changed by force, but I was changed by Bible truth
that I was learning.” What Jemal learned motivat-
ed him to stop fighting. The more people there are
who are transformed by Bible truth, the fewer
people there will be who add to present injustice.
16 Like Jesus, we are eager to tell people that
God’s Kingdom offers the only permanent solu-
tion to injustice. That hope can encourage those
who have been mistreated. (Jer. 29:11) Stacy,
quoted earlier, explains: “Learning the truth has
helped me to cope with the injustices that I have
seen and experienced. Jehovah uses the Bible’s
message to provide comfort.” To share the Bi-
ble’s comforting message about the solution to in-
justice, you need to be well-prepared. The more
convinced you become of the truthfulness of the
Scriptural thoughts considered in this article, the
better equipped you will be to discuss this topic
with tact if it comes up at school or at work.
 See also appendix A points 24-27 in the brochure Love People—Make
Disciples.

16. Why are you motivated to share the Kingdom hope?

26 THE WATCHTOWER
 17 We know that we will face injustice as long as
Satan remains “the ruler of this world.” But we are
neither helpless nor hopeless as we await his being
“cast out.” (John 12:31) Through the Scriptures,
Jehovah reveals not only why there is so much in-
justice but also how he feels about the distress that
it causes us. (Ps. 34:17-19) By means of his Son,
Jehovah teaches us how we should respond to
present injustice and how his Kingdom will soon
eliminate injustice once and for all. (2 Pet. 3:13)
May we continue to preach the good news of that
Kingdom with zeal, eagerly looking forward to the
time when the earth will be filled with “justice and
righteousness.”—Isa. 9:7.
17. How does Jehovah help us to cope with present injustice?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ Why does injustice disturb us so much?

˛ Why do we not support human efforts to fight injustice?

˛ What can we do when dealing with injustice?

SONG 158
“It Will Not Be Late!”
 STUDY
ARTICLE 38

Show Respect
for Others
“To be respected is better than silver and gold.” —PROV. 22:1.

SONG 120
Imitate Christ’s Mildness

FOCUS
Learn why we need to show respect for others and how
we can do so under difficult circumstances.
28
DO YOU appreciate it when people show you re-
spect? No doubt you do. Respect is a basic human
need. We thrive when we receive it. No wonder the
Bible says that “to be respected is better than silver
and gold”!—Read Proverbs 22:1.
2 We may not always find it easy to show respect
for others. For one thing, we cannot help but see
the flaws of those around us. Also, we live at a time
when it is common for people to be disrespectful.
But we must be different. Why? Because Jehovah
wants us to honor, or show respect for, “men of all
sorts.”—1 Pet. 2:17.
3 We can benefit from discussing what it means to
respect others and how we can show it to (1) fami-
ly members, (2) fellow worshippers, and (3) those
outside the congregation. We will focus on how we
can show respect under difficult circumstances.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RESPECT OTHERS?
4How would you define respect? In some lan-
guages, the words “respect” and “honor” are
1. Why do humans appreciate being shown respect? (Proverbs
22:1)
2-3. What are some situations in which we ought to show respect
for others?
4. What does it mean to respect others?

SEPTEMBER 2025 29
related. How? “Respect” refers primarily to how we
view a person. When we respect others, we view
them as worthy of our attention and consideration,
perhaps because of their qualities, their achieve-
ments, or their position. “Honor,” though, refers to
how we treat a person. When we honor others, we
treat them in ways that make them feel valued, ap-
preciated, and dignified. Of course, for honor to be
genuine, it must come from the heart.—Matt. 15:8.
5 Jehovah wants us to show respect for others; in
fact, he requires it in connection with “the superi-
or authorities.” (Rom. 13:1, 7) But some may say, “I
am happy to show people respect, as long as they
have earned it.” Is that reasoning sound? As ser-
vants of Jehovah, we realize that any respect we
have for humans is not based solely on their ac-
tions. It is based on something deeper—our love for
Jehovah and our desire to please him.—Josh. 4:14;
1 Pet. 3:15.
6Some may wonder, ‘Is it really possible to show
respect for someone who does not treat you with
respect?’ Yes. Consider some examples. King Saul
5. What can help us to show respect for others?
6. Is it possible to show respect for someone who does not respect
you? Explain. (See also cover picture.)

30 THE WATCHTOWER
humiliated his son Jonathan in front of others.
(1 Sam. 20:30-34) Still, Jonathan respectfully sup-
ported his father in battle until the day Saul died.
(Ex. 20:12; 2 Sam. 1:23) High Priest Eli accused
Hannah of being drunk. (1 Sam. 1:12-14) Nonethe-
less, Hannah spoke respectfully to Eli, even though
his failures both as a father and as a high priest
were widely known in Israel. (1 Sam. 1:15-18; 2:22-
24) And men of Athens insulted the apostle Paul,
calling him a “chatterer.” (Acts 17:18) Despite this,
Paul spoke respectfully to them. (Acts 17:22) It
should be evident that deep love for Jehovah and a
healthy fear of displeasing him can move us to show
respect for others not only when it is easy but also
when it is difficult. Let us discuss who deserves our
respect and why.

SHOW RESPECT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

7The challenge. We spend a lot of time with our
family. As a result, we know both their strengths
and their weaknesses. Some may have an illness
that makes it difficult for us to care for them, or
they may suffer from excessive anxiety. Others may
7. What may make it difficult for us to treat family members with re-
spect?

SEPTEMBER 2025 31
even speak and act in ways that hurt us. Instead of
trying to make their home a place of rest and peace,
some create turmoil by treating family members
with a lack of respect. Consequently, there is no
harmony. Like arthritis that prevents body parts
from working together smoothly, disrespect keeps
family members from working unitedly. But unlike
arthritis, which we ourselves cannot completely
remedy, we can stop disrespect from crippling our
family relationships.
8 Why show respect? (Read 1 Timothy 5:4, 8.) In
his first letter to Timothy, Paul discussed how fam-
ily members should care for one another’s needs.
He explained that our primary motive for honor-
ing those of our household in this way should be,
not out of mere duty, but out of “godly devotion.”
This term refers to loyal worship and service to
God. Jehovah established the family arrangement.
(Eph. 3:14, 15) So when we honor a family member,
we actually honor Jehovah, the Originator of the
family. (See study notes on 1 Timothy 5:4.) What a
powerful reason to show respect for family mem-
bers!
8. Why is it important to show respect for family members? (1 Tim-
othy 5:4, 8)

32 THE WATCHTOWER
 9 How to show respect. A husband who honors his
wife shows both in private and in public that she is
precious to him. (Prov. 31:28; 1 Pet. 3:7) He never
strikes her, humiliates her, or makes her feel worth-
less. Ariel, who lives in Argentina, says: “Because
of my wife’s illness, she at times says things that
hurt me. When this happens, I remind myself that
her words do not reflect her true feelings. In tense
moments, I recall 1 Corinthians 13:5, which moti-
vates me to communicate in a respectful way rath-
er than in a demeaning way.” (Prov. 19:11) A wife
honors her husband by speaking well of him to oth-
ers. (Eph. 5:33) She avoids sarcasm, mocking, and
name-calling; she realizes that such conduct is the
rust that corrodes a marriage. (Prov. 14:1) A sister
in Italy whose husband struggles with anxiety says:
“At times, I feel that my husband’s concerns are ex-
aggerated. In the past, my words and facial expres-
sions revealed a lack of respect for him. But I find
that the more I associate with people who talk
about others respectfully, the more I am moved to
show respect for my husband.”
 Some names have been changed.

9. How can a husband and a wife show respect for each other? (See
also pictures.)

SEPTEMBER 2025 33
 When we show respect for our family members,
we honor our family Head, Jehovah
(See paragraph 9)

10Young people, obey the family rules that your

parents set for you. (Eph. 6:1-3) Speak respectful-
ly to your parents. (Ex. 21:17) As they get older,
your parents may need more of your attention. Do
your best to care for them. Consider the example
of María, whose father is not one of Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses. When her father fell ill, he made it difficult
for María to care for him. She recalls: “I prayed not
only to have respect for my father but also to be
able to show it. I reasoned that if Jehovah asks me
10. How can young people show that they respect their parents?

34 THE WATCHTOWER
to honor my parents, then logically he can give me
the strength to do so. In time, I came to realize that
my father does not have to change his conduct in
order for me to treat him with respect.” When we
honor our family members despite their failings, we
prove that we respect Jehovah’s arrangement.
SHOW RESPECT FOR FELLOW WORSHIPPERS
11 The challenge. Fellow believers live by Bible
standards; yet, at times some may treat us unkind-
ly, judge us unfairly, or irritate us. If a fellow
worshipper gives us “a cause for complaint,” we
may struggle to continue treating him with respect.
(Col. 3:13) What can help us to cope?
12Why show respect? (Read 2 Peter 2:9-12.) In his
second inspired letter, Peter mentioned that some
in the first-century Christian congregation were
speaking disrespectfully about “glorious ones,”
that is, Christian elders. How did the faithful angels
who saw what was happening react? “Out of respect
for Jehovah,” they did not utter a single abusive
word against the wrongdoers. Imagine that! The
perfect angels refused to speak harshly about those
11. Why may it be difficult to treat fellow worshippers with respect?
12. Why is it important to show respect for fellow believers? (2 Pe-
ter 2:9-12)

SEPTEMBER 2025 35
 All of us can show that we respect congregation elders by cooperating
with them and expressing gratitude for the hard work they do
(See paragraphs 13-14)

arrogant men. Instead, they left it to Jehovah to

judge and rebuke them. (Rom. 14:10-12; compare
Jude 9.) We can take a lesson from the angels. If we
should not treat opposers with disrespect, how
much more so should we avoid treating fellow be-
lievers with disrespect. On the contrary, we should
“take the lead” in honoring them. (Rom. 12:10) Do-
ing so shows that we respect Jehovah.
13 How to show respect. Elders, endeavor to in-
13-14. How can we show respect for those in the congregation?
Give examples. (See also pictures.)

36 THE WATCHTOWER
struct others on the basis of love. (Philem. 8, 9) If
you need to counsel someone, do so kindly and not
when you are frustrated. Sisters, you can do much
to create and to protect the atmosphere of respect
in the congregation by refusing to engage in nega-
tive gossip or slander. (Titus 2:3-5) All of us can
show that we respect congregation elders by co-
operating with them and by expressing gratitude
for the hard work they do to conduct meetings, to
direct the preaching work, and to help those who
have taken “a false step.”—Gal. 6:1; 1 Tim. 5:17.
14 A sister named Rocío found it difficult to re-
spect an elder who gave her advice. “I felt that he
had been hard on me,” she says. “At home, I spoke
negatively about him. Although I tried not to show
it, inwardly I doubted his motives and dismissed his
advice.” What helped Rocío? She explains: “In my
Bible reading, I came across 1 Thessalonians 5:12,
13. When I realized that I was not showing respect
for this brother, my conscience began to bother
me. I prayed to Jehovah and did research in our
publications to find specific information that could
help me adjust my attitude. I eventually realized
that the problem was, not the brother, but my pride.
I now understand that there is a relationship be-
tween my humility and my ability to respect others.
SEPTEMBER 2025 37
I still need to improve, but as I strive to show re-
spect, I feel at peace with Jehovah.”
SHOW RESPECT FOR
THOSE OUTSIDE THE CONGREGATION
15 The challenge. We often meet people in the min-
istry who appear to have no love for Bible truth.
(Eph. 4:18) Some choose to remain ignorant be-
cause of their upbringing. We may have to contend
with employers or schoolteachers who are hard to
please and coworkers or schoolmates who are hard
to deal with. Over time, our respect for such ones
could decrease and we may fail to treat them as we
would like to be treated.
16Why show respect? Remember that Jehovah
pays attention to how we treat unbelievers. The
apostle Peter reminded Christians that their fine
conduct might move some to “glorify God.” For
that reason, he admonished them to make a defense
of their faith “with a mild temper and deep re-
spect.” (Read 1 Peter 2:12; 3:15.) Whether stand-
ing trial for their faith or defending their beliefs
15. Why may we struggle to show respect for those who are not in
the congregation?
16. Why is it important to show respect for those who are not yet
serving Jehovah? (1 Peter 2:12; 3:15)

38 THE WATCHTOWER
while in conversation with a neighbor, Christians
were to treat unbelievers just as they would if they
were in the presence of God. After all, Jehovah
is watching and listening to what we say and how we
say it. What a powerful reason to treat those out-
side the congregation with respect!
17How to show respect. While in the ministry, we
never want to give the impression that we look
down on those who have little or no Bible knowl-
edge. Instead, we want to consider others as both
precious to God and superior to us. (Hag. 2:7; Phil.
2:3) If someone insults you for your beliefs, resist
the urge to retaliate, such as by using witty but sar-
castic speech. (1 Pet. 2:23) If you do say something
you regret, apologize immediately. How can you
show respect for those at work? Be a conscientious
worker and try to cultivate a good attitude toward
those you work with and those you work for. (Titus
2:9, 10) When you are an honest, diligent, and
whole-souled worker, you may or may not always
please men but you will definitely please God.—Col.
3:22, 23.
18
What good reasons we have to cultivate and
show respect for others! We have seen that when we
17. How can we show respect for those outside the congregation?
18. Why is it worthwhile to cultivate and show respect for others?

SEPTEMBER 2025 39
show respect for our family, we honor our family
Head, Jehovah. Likewise, when we show respect for
our spiritual brothers and sisters, we honor our
heavenly Father. And when we show respect for
those outside the congregation, we create the best
possible circumstances for them to glorify, or hon-
or, our great God. Even if we never receive respect
in return from some humans, it will be worthwhile
to cultivate and show respect for them. Why? Be-
cause Jehovah will bless us. He promises: “Those
honoring me I will honor.”—1 Sam. 2:30.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Cover: Though his father humiliated him,
Jonathan continued to defend and support his father as king.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How can we show respect for family members?

˛ How can we show respect for fellow worshippers?

˛ How can we show respect for those outside the congregation?

SONG 129
We Will Keep Enduring
STUDY
ARTICLE 39

“Rightly Disposed” Ones

Will Respond
“All those who were rightly disposed for everlasting
life became believers.”—ACTS 13:48.

SONG 54
“This Is the Way”

FOCUS
When to offer Bible studies and invite people to our
meetings.
41
MANY people in the first century accepted the truth
as soon as they heard the Christian message. (Read
Acts 13:47, 48; 16:14, 15.) Likewise today, some re-
joice when they hear the good news for the first
time. Even those who initially show no interest in
the Kingdom message may later open their heart
wide to accept it. What should we do when we find
“rightly disposed” people in our ministry?
2 Consider an illustration. Our disciple-making
work can be compared to that of a gardener. If the
fruit of one plant is ripe, the gardener probably har-
vests it even though he might still be tilling the soil
or planting somewhere else in his garden. Similarly,
when we find someone who is ready to accept our
message, we want to help him to become a disciple
of Christ as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we contin-
ue to cultivate the interest of others who need more
time to see the value of what they are hearing. (John
4:35, 36) Discernment will help us choose the ap-
proach that is best for our listeners. Let us now con-
sider what we can do during our first conversation
to help people who are ready to respond. We will
1. How do people differ in the way they respond to the good news?
(Acts 13:47, 48; 16:14, 15)
2. In what way is our disciple-making work like that of a gardener?

42 THE WATCHTOWER
also consider how we can help such ones to contin-
ue progressing.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE READY TO RESPOND

3 When we find interested people in our ministry,
we want to help them to get started on the road to
life right away. In such cases, we should not hold
back from offering a Bible study and inviting them
to our meetings during the very first conversation.
—Read 1 Corinthians 9:26.
4 Offering a study. Some we speak with are ready
for a Bible study immediately. For instance, one
Thursday a young woman in Canada approached a
literature cart and picked up a copy of the Enjoy Life
Forever! brochure. The sister at the cart explained
that the brochure came with a free Bible study. The
young woman was interested and shared her contact
information. Later that day, the young woman text-
ed the sister about the study. When the sister offered
to come on the weekend, the young woman asked:
“How about tomorrow? I’m free.” They had the
study that Friday. The young woman attended her
3. What approach might we use when we find interested ones in
our ministry? (1 Corinthians 9:26)
4. Relate an experience of someone who was ready for a Bible
study immediately.

SEPTEMBER 2025 43
first meeting that very weekend and continued to
make rapid progress.
5 Of course, we do not expect all who listen to our
message to be as eager as that young woman was.
The interest of some may need further cultivation.
We may first need to start a conversation on a top-
ic that interests the person. Still, if we maintain a
positive attitude and keep showing personal interest
in the individual, in a short time, we may be able to
start a study. What can we say when offering the
study? That question was posed to a number of
brothers and sisters who are effective at starting Bi-
ble studies.
6 The publishers and the pioneers who were asked
about starting studies explained that in some lands
it is best to avoid such terms as “study,” “Bible
course,” or “teach you” when describing the study.
They noted that what works better is using such ex-
pressions as “conversation,” “discussion,” and “get
to know the Bible.” You could introduce the idea of
continuing the conversation by saying, “It’s surpris-
ing how life’s important questions are answered in
5. How can we show discernment when offering a Bible study? (See
also pictures.)
6. How might we offer to continue the discussion with an interest-
ed person?

44 THE WATCHTOWER
the Bible” or “The Bible is not just a religious book;
it helps us in practical ways.” You could add: “It
doesn’t take a lot of time; 10 to 15 minutes is enough
to learn something valuable.” That could be said
without using the terms “appointment” or “every
week,” which could imply a commitment.
7 Invite them to a meeting. It seems that in the
apostle Paul’s time, some first recognized Bible
truth when they attended a Christian meeting.
(Read 1 Corinthians 14:23-25.) The same is often
true today. Most new ones progress more quick-
ly once they begin attending our meetings. When
should you invite them? The Enjoy Life Forever! book
7. When have some first recognized Bible truth? (1 Corinthians
14:23-25)

How might we make a study more appealing

to these individuals?
(See paragraph 5)
includes an invitation in lesson 10, but you do not
need to wait until you have reached that part of the
book. From the very first conversation, you could
invite your listener to the weekend meeting, per-
haps mentioning the title of the public talk or a
point from that week’s Watchtower Study.
8 When inviting an interested person, explain
how our meetings are different from the religious
services he may be used to. When a Bible stu-
dent attended her first Watchtower Study, she asked
her teacher, “Does the conductor know everyone’s
name?” The sister explained that we all try to know
the names of those in our congregation, just as we
know the names of our family members. The student
found this to be quite different from her experience
in church. Similarly, the purpose of our meetings is
new for many. (Read Isaiah 54:13.) We meet to wor-
ship Jehovah, to learn from him, and to encourage
one another. (Heb. 2:12; 10:24, 25) As a result, our
meetings are orderly and practical, not ritualistic.
(1 Cor. 14:40) The auditorium is well-lit because we
come to the Kingdom Hall to learn. And we never
promote one political party over another because we
are politically neutral; nor do we engage in shouting
8. What aspects of our meetings can we focus on when inviting
someone to attend? (Isaiah 54:13)

46 THE WATCHTOWER
 The sooner a person
attends a meeting,
the sooner he or
she will benefit
(See paragraphs 9-10)

matches or disputes. It may be helpful beforehand to

show the student the video What Happens at a King-
dom Hall? That way he will know what to expect.
9 Some hesitate to attend a meeting because they
are afraid that they will be asked to “join a church.”
Assure the person that we enjoy having visitors and
that we do not pressure them to join or to partici-
pate. Families are welcome, including those with
young children. At our meetings, children do not
receive separate instruction. Instead, parents and
children sit together and learn together. In this
way, parents know whom their children are with
and what they are being taught. (Deut. 31:12) We
do not take up collections or pass out donation
9-10. When inviting someone to attend a meeting, what can we do
to assure him that we will not pressure him to join or to participate?
(See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2025 47
envelopes. Instead, we follow Jesus’ command: “You
received free, give free.” (Matt. 10:8) You might
also mention to the individual that he does not need
expensive clothing to attend. God looks at the heart,
not at a person’s appearance.—1 Sam. 16:7.
10 If the person attends, do what you can to make
him feel welcome. Introduce him to the elders and
to other publishers. If he feels at home, he will be
more likely to want to return. During the meeting,
if he does not have a Bible, share yours with him and
show him how we follow the reasoning of the speak-
er or of the study.
WHEN A BIBLE STUDY IS STARTED
11 What points should we keep in mind about the
home Bible study itself? Respect the householder’s
time and schedule. For example, if you make an ap-
pointment, be on time, regardless of the way people
in your area view punctuality. In addition, you may
find it best to keep the first session reasonably short.
Some experienced publishers suggest finishing early,
even if the person wants to hear more. And do not
talk too much. Let the householder express himself.
—Prov. 10:19.
11. How can you show that you respect your listener’s time and
schedule?

48 THE WATCHTOWER
 12 From the very start, your goal should be to help
your listener to come to know Jehovah and Jesus
and to develop love for them. You do this by direct-
ing attention to God’s Word instead of to yourself
and your Bible knowledge. (Acts 10:25, 26) The
apostle Paul often focused his teaching on Jesus
Christ, the one whom Jehovah sent to help us to
know and love Him. (1 Cor. 2:1, 2) Paul also made it
clear how important it is to help new disciples to de-
velop fine qualities, which can be compared to gold,
silver, and precious stones. (1 Cor. 3:11-15) Such
valuable qualities include faith, wisdom, discern-
ment, and the fear of Jehovah. (Ps. 19:9, 10; Prov. 3:
13-15; 1 Pet. 1:7) Imitate Paul’s method of teaching
by helping your students to develop a strong faith
and a personal relationship with their loving heav-
enly Father.—2 Cor. 1:24.
13Follow Jesus’ way of teaching by showing pa-
tience and understanding. Avoid asking questions
that make the person uncomfortable. If necessary,
move past points that he struggles with and return
to these later. Rather than try to force him to ac-
cept a teaching before he is ready, allow time for the
12. What should be our goal from the start of a home Bible study?
13. How can we show patience and understanding as we help inter-
ested ones? (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5) (See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2025 49
Allow time for the
truth to take root in
your student’s heart
(See paragraph 13)

truth to take root in his heart. (John 16:12; Col. 2:

6, 7) The Bible compares the false teachings we are
trying to overcome to a fortress. (Read 2 Corinthi-
ans 10:4, 5; see study note on “overturning strong-
ly entrenched things.”) Instead of pulling down your
student’s fortress on top of him, help him make Je-
hovah his Refuge.—Ps. 91:9.
WHEN NEW ONES ATTEND MEETINGS
14Jehovah expects us to be impartial in our treat-
ment of new ones, regardless of their culture, social
status, or ethnic background. (Jas. 2:1-4, 9) So how
can we show love to those who visit our meetings?
15 Some individuals may simply come to our meet-
14. How should we treat new ones who attend our meetings?
15-16. How can we help new ones to feel welcome at our meetings?

50 THE WATCHTOWER
ings out of curiosity or may have been urged to at-
tend by someone living in another area. So we
should not hesitate to approach such ones who come
to our meeting place. Welcome them without over-
whelming them. Invite them to sit with you. Share
your Bible and study materials, or provide them
with their own copies. In addition, consider their
feelings. One man who visited a Kingdom Hall told
the brother who welcomed him that he was nervous
about being in casual clothes. The brother made him
feel at ease and explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses
are just normal people. The man, who eventually
progressed to baptism, never forgot the brother’s
response. A word of caution, though: When you
speak with visitors before or after the meeting,
show personal interest without prying into their
personal matters.—1 Pet. 4:15.
16 We can also make our visitors feel welcome by
being respectful in our conversations, comments,
and meeting parts when referring to non-Witnesses
or their beliefs. Avoid expressions that could stum-
ble them or be viewed as an insult. (Titus 2:8; 3:2)
For instance, we would never disparage the beliefs
of those who do not share our faith. (2 Cor. 6:3) In
this regard, brothers giving public talks take spe-
cial care. They also show that they keep in mind
SEPTEMBER 2025 51
non-Witnesses in the audience by explaining words
or concepts that the public would not understand.
17
Our disciple-making work becomes more urgent
with each passing day, and we continue to find peo-
ple who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life.”
(Acts 13:48) When we do, we should not hesitate to
offer them a Bible study or invite them to our meet-
ings. By doing so, we can help them take their first
steps on “the road leading off into life.”—Matt. 7:14.
17. What is our goal when we find “rightly disposed” ones in our
ministry?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Page 45: Two brothers approach a retired
military man who is relaxing on his porch; two sisters give a brief
witness to a busy mother.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How might we during our first conversation help “rightly
disposed” ones?

˛ What suggestions can we apply when a Bible study is started?

˛ How can we help new ones to feel welcome when they attend
our meetings?

SONG 64
Sharing Joyfully in the Harvest
 LIFE STORY

Jehovah Helped Us
to ‘Bloom Where
We Were Planted’
AS TOLD BY MATS AND
ANN-CATRIN KASSHOLM

“BLOOM where you are planted” may seem to

be strange advice. But a Swedish couple, Mats
and Ann-Catrin, were “planted” many times.
How so, and how did that advice help them?
SEPTEMBER 2025 53
The Kassholms attended Gilead School in 1979 and
over the years were “planted,” or assigned, to serve in
Iran, Mauritius, Myanmar, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire.
It was at Gilead that they heard an instructor, Jack Red-
ford, give the advice that helped them as they were
“planted,” “uprooted,” and “replanted” many times. Let
them explain.

Mats, please tell us first how you found the truth.

Mats: Living in Poland during World War II, my father
saw much hypocrisy in the Catholic Church. Still, he of-
ten said, “The truth must be out there somewhere!” In
time, I was able to confirm that it was. I bought many
secondhand books. One was a blue book called The
Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. That title really caught
my attention, and I read the entire book on the night
that I got it. By morning, I knew that I had found the
truth!
From April 1972 onward, I read many more publi-
cations of Jehovah’s Witnesses and received answers
to my Bible questions. I felt like the merchant in Je-
sus’ illustration who, after finding one pearl of high val-
ue, sold everything he had in order to buy it. I “sold” my
plans of pursuing a university education and becom-
ing a physician—all to buy the “pearl” of truth that I had
found. (Matt. 13:45, 46) I got baptized on December 10,
1972.
54 THE WATCHTOWER
 Within a year, my parents and younger brother also
accepted the truth and got baptized. In July 1973, I
started full-time service. Among the zealous pioneers in
our congregation was an attractive, spiritually-minded
sister named Ann-Catrin. We fell in love and got married
in 1975, spending the next four years in the town of
Strömsund, a beautiful, fruitful territory in Sweden.
Ann-Catrin: My father learned the truth toward the
end of his university studies in Stockholm. I was only
three months old at the time, but he took me to the
meetings and out in field service. Mom did not like this
and tried to prove the Witnesses wrong. But she
couldn’t, so in time she too got baptized. At age 13, I
got baptized, and at 16 years of age, I started pioneer-
ing. After serving in Umeå, where there was a great
need for Kingdom publishers, I became a special pio-
neer.
After Mats and I married, we had the joy of helping
several people learn the truth. Among them was Maivor,
a teenage girl who gave up a career in sports and be-
came my younger sister’s pioneer partner. They attend-
ed Gilead in 1984 and are serving as missionaries in
Ecuador.

In your many missionary assignments, how did you

follow the advice to “bloom where you are planted”?
Mats: We were frequently “replanted” in new
SEPTEMBER 2025 55
assignments. But we tried to stay “rooted” in Jesus by
doing our best to imitate him, especially his humility.
(Col. 2:6, 7) For example, instead of expecting the local
Witnesses to adapt to us, we tried to learn why they
did things a certain way. We wanted to understand their
thinking and culture. The more we imitated Jesus, the
more we felt that we were “planted by streams of wa-
ter” to bloom wherever we were assigned.—Ps. 1:2, 3.
Ann-Catrin: To grow after being replanted, a tree
also needs warm sunlight. Jehovah always proved to be
“a sun” for us. (Ps. 84:11) He provided us with a
warm, loving brotherhood of spiritual brothers and sis-
ters. For example, in our small congregation in Tehran,
Iran, we experienced hospitality that was common in Bi-
ble times. We would have loved to stay in Iran, but in
July 1980, Jehovah’s Witnesses were officially banned
there and we were given notice to leave in 48 hours. We
were reassigned to Zaire (now known as Congo) in Af-
rica.
When I first learned that we were reassigned to Af-
rica, I cried. What I had heard about snakes and dis-
eases in Africa scared me. But two close friends who
had long served there told us: “You haven’t been there
yet! Give it a chance, and you’ll see—Africa grows on
you.” And it did! The brothers and sisters are loving and
warm. In fact, when we had to leave Zaire six years later
because of a ban, I smiled to myself because I realized
56 THE WATCHTOWER
that I was now praying to Jehovah, “Please, let us stay
in Africa.”

What joys have you experienced over the years?

Mats: I have to mention the warm friendships we
have forged with missionaries of different nationalities
and backgrounds. Also, in some assignments, we ex-
perienced the exceptional joy that comes from con-
ducting many Bible studies—sometimes about 20 each!
The love and hospitality of the African brothers and
sisters also stands out in my mind. During our visits
to the congregations in Tanzania, many friends showed
us hospitality “beyond their means” when we parked
our “bedroom”—a Volkswagen Kombi—alongside their
homes. (2 Cor. 8:3) Something very special to us is

Traveling to visit congregations was

a regular part of our life
what we called story time. That was when, at the end of
each day, Ann-Catrin and I would sit down to talk about
the day’s events and thank Jehovah for being with us.
Ann-Catrin: For me, a great joy has been to live
among our international brotherhood. We learned new
languages—including Farsi, French, Luganda, and Swa-
hili—while experiencing a variety of interesting cultures.
We nurtured new disciples, made true friends, and
worked “shoulder to shoulder” with them in Jehovah’s
service.—Zeph. 3:9.
We also saw amazing variety in Jehovah’s beautiful
creation. Each time we accepted a new assignment in

Happy memories of our Our “bedroom” in Tanzania, 1988

assignment in Zaire, 1982

58 THE WATCHTOWER
Jehovah’s service, we felt as if we were taking a journey
with Jehovah as our Guide. He has given us experiences
that we would never have had on our own.

What challenges have you faced, and how did you

deal with them?
Mats: We contracted several tropical diseases over
the years, including malaria. And Ann-Catrin had a few
emergency surgeries. We also worried about our aging
parents, so we are grateful to our siblings who acted as
primary caregivers. They faithfully carried out that role
with patience, joy, and love. (1 Tim. 5:4) Still, at times,
we struggled with negative emotions, wishing that we
could do more for our parents than just provide support
from a distance.
Ann-Catrin: In 1983, while serving in Zaire, I suffered
a severe attack of cholera. The doctor told Mats, “Take
her out of this country today!” The following day, we
were on a cargo plane—the only flight available—head-
ed for Sweden.
Mats: We thought that our missionary service had
come to an end, so we cried bitter tears. Contrary to
the doctor’s predictions, though, Ann-Catrin recovered.
And a year later, we were able to return to Zaire, this
time to a small Swahili congregation in Lubumbashi.
Ann-Catrin: During our time in Lubumbashi, I suffered
a miscarriage. Though we did not have in mind starting
SEPTEMBER 2025 59
a family, the loss of our baby was extremely difficult for
me to bear. During that time of sadness, however, we
experienced an unexpected gift from Jehovah. We start-
ed more Bible studies than ever before. In less than a
year, the congregation grew from 35 to 70 publishers,
and meeting attendance climbed from 40 to 220. We
were intensely occupied in the ministry, and Jehovah’s
blessing brought me considerable comfort. Still, we of-
ten think and talk about our dear little one. We can’t
wait to see just how Jehovah will provide complete heal-
ing for our hearts.
Mats: At one point, Ann-Catrin became extremely fa-
tigued. I was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer
and needed major surgery. But today I’m doing well,
and Ann-Catrin is doing all she can.
We have come to realize that we are not the only ones
dealing with trials. After the 1994 genocide in Rwan-
da, we visited many friends in refugee camps. Witness-
ing their faith, endurance, and never-failing hospitality
taught us that Jehovah has the power to sustain his
people through any trial.—Ps. 55:22.
Ann-Catrin: Another challenge came when we attend-
ed the branch dedication in Uganda in 2007. After the
program, we were traveling with a group of about 25
missionaries and Bethelites to Nairobi, Kenya. Before
we reached the Kenya border, an oncoming lorry sud-
denly swerved into our lane and hit us head-on. The
60 THE WATCHTOWER
Preaching in the varied territory of Tanzania

driver and five of our friends died instantly; one sister

passed away later at the hospital. How we long to see
our friends again!—Job 14:13-15.
I eventually recovered from my physical injuries.
But Mats and I were among several of the passengers
who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. In
my case, the anxiety attacks came at night, waking me
up with symptoms resembling a heart attack. That was
frightening. But fervent prayer to Jehovah coupled with
comfort from some of our favorite scriptures helped us
to cope. We also received professional help, which
proved to be beneficial. Now the symptoms have be-
come more manageable, and we ask Jehovah to help us
comfort others who battle a similar affliction.
SEPTEMBER 2025 61
In our new assignment
in Myanmar

When describing how you have been able to cope

with challenging situations, you said that Jehovah
carried you “like raw eggs.” What did you mean?
Mats: That expression comes from the Swahili saying
“Tumebebwa kama mayai mabichi,” or “We were carried
like raw eggs.” Just as a person carefully carries raw
eggs to prevent them from breaking, Jehovah has ten-
derly supported us in each one of our assignments. We
have always had what we needed, even more than we
needed. One way that we have felt Jehovah’s love and
support is through the empathy shown to us by the
Governing Body.
Ann-Catrin: I’d like to mention an example of Je-
hovah’s tender support. One day I received a phone call
informing me that my father, in Sweden, was in inten-
sive care. Mats had just recovered from a bout of malar-
ia. We could not afford to buy tickets to fly home, so
62 THE WATCHTOWER
we decided that we needed to sell our car. Then we re-
ceived two more phone calls; one was from a couple
who had heard about our situation and wanted to pay
for one ticket. The other call was from an older sister
who had saved some money in a box that she had la-
beled “For someone in need.” Within minutes, Jehovah
had come to our rescue!—Heb. 13:6.

Looking back over your 50 years of full-time service,

what have you learned?
Ann-Catrin: I have come to appreciate that our
strength is “in keeping calm and showing trust.” When
we trust in Jehovah, he in a way makes our battle his
battle. (Isa. 30:15; 2 Chron. 20:15, 17) By serving Je-
hovah to the best of our ability in each assignment, we
have received more blessings than we could have re-
ceived any other way.
Mats: The main lesson I have learned is to rely on Je-
hovah in every situation and see how he will act in my
behalf. (Ps. 37:5) He has never failed to fulfill his prom-
ise to do so. We are still seeing the truthfulness of this
in our present Bethel assignment in Myanmar.
We hope that many younger ones who want to expand
their ministry will experience the same loyal love that
Jehovah has shown to us. We are confident that they
will if they allow Jehovah to bring them to full bloom,
wherever they are planted.
SEPTEMBER 2025 63
34567 ˙
September 2025
Vol. 146, No. 10 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 36: November 10-16 2
“Call the Elders”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 37: November 17-23 15
The Best Way to Respond to Injustice
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 38: November 24-30 28
Show Respect for Others
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 39: December 1-7 41
“Rightly Disposed” Ones Will Respond
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIFE STORY 53
Jehovah Helped Us to ‘Bloom Where
We Were Planted’

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