Svetlana Zdanivsky of Quesnel, struggles to grasp what is happening to her family and friends in Ukraine.
The bombs and rockets falling around her parents’ home near Lviv in western Ukraine seem surreal, but the fear and panic she is coping with is very real. Concern for her parents, her brother’s family, and dear friends is at times overwhelming. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she relies on prayer and daily Bible reading to gain strength, perspective and peace.
Svetlana joins millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide, inviting the public back to events at local Kingdom Halls. The return to in-person meetings precedes two global events being held in almost 120,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. The first is a special 30-minute program scheduled in most congregations for April 10, 2022, entitled “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” Additionally, the annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ will be held on April 15, 2022, the very day Christ sacrificed his life 1,989 years ago.
“I often think about how Jesus was able to endure stress and anxiety. He suffered; it was real for him,” said Svetlana. “The joy he looked forward to was also real. When I think about these things, I’m not so anxious, and I’m able to cope. We’re not alone with our challenges.”
“More than ever before, people today really need hope,” said Max Correia, a local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Confidence in God’s promises for the future can be that real source of hope. It gives a person the courage to keep going. That motivates us to invite our neighbours to these special programs.”
As of now, Jehovah’s Witnesses have no plans to resume their public ministry, though their “alternative” ministry continues. In fact, since the start of the pandemic through November 2021 in Canada, Jehovah’s Witnesses have spent more than 41 million hours in virtual Bible studies, writing letters of comfort to their neighbours and making phone calls. Internationally, they have released 77 new language translations of the Bible and held two global virtual conventions in more than 500 languages.
“The past two years have been historic for us,” said Correia. “Our congregants have been busy reaching out to their neighbours and supporting one other through this very challenging time. That’s what brotherly love and unity are all about.”
Admission to both programs is free, and no registration is required. Information on attending is
available at www.jw.org.
