Favorable News Articles About JW 2019 Conventions

[Omoyeme]

I just wanted to share unbiased news articles about our regional/international "Love Never Fails" conventions this year. If you see similar online articles, media interviews or the like for your area or elsewhere please post, if you like. 

 

Here's one from Atlanta!

https://events.ajc.com/event/international-convention-of-jehovah-s-witnesses-0gjtej8bbr

 

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International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses

May 18, 2019, 9:40 am - 4:30 pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 1414 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA

Price: Free. No Collection is ever taken at our events of meetings

 

Residents of Metro Atlanta are being invited Friday, Saturday and Sunday to attend the Jehovah's Witnesses international convention at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Nearly 50,000 Jehovah's Witnesses--including 5,000 delegates from 39 foreign countries--will be in the streets, restaurants and hotels of Atlanta this weekend and attending their "Love Never Fails" convention. Atlanta's is the first installment of Witness conventions in over 200 countries presented in more than 400 languages during calendar year 2019. 

 

"This event will illustrate the positive influence that love can have to bring people together from diverse backgrounds," explains Paul Gillies, international spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses. "It will also showcase the positive characteristics of each of the cities where the many international delegates will be attending." In addition to the three-day public program, which will include Bible-based talks, demonstrations and educational audio and video presentations, the international delegates are touring many local and area attractions during the month of May. 

 

An interesting facet of this year's convention is the simultaneous broadcast of the program--which involves practical application of Bible principles in the various aspects of life--in Russian and Amharic as well as English. All sessions are open to the public and no collections are ever taken.

 

 

[Omoyeme]

Article referenced from JW/OPI:

 

https://religionnews.com/2019/05/15/mercedes-benz-stadium-to-host-2019-international-convention-of-jehovahs-witnesses/

 

Thousands of delegates from 39 countries will be in Atlanta for the first of 24 international conventions in 18 countries in 2019

 

One of the largest global conventions in 2019, spanning six continents and over 200 countries and presented in over 400 languages, will be coming to Atlanta on May 17—19, 2019. Beginning in May 2019, Jehovah’s Witnesses will host a global series of three day conventions featuring the theme “Love Never Fails.” The anticipated attendance of 46,500 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will include 5,000 international delegates coming from 39 countries. This international delegation will participate in several preplanned activities in Atlanta, culminating in the three-day convention.

 

“This event will illustrate the positive influence that love can have to bring people together from diverse backgrounds,” explains Paul Gillies, International Spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “It will also showcase the positive characteristics of each of the 22 cities that were selected to host the many international delegates who will be attending.” In addition to enjoying the three-day public program, which will include Bible-based talks, demonstrations, and educational audio and video presentations, the international delegates will spend one week visiting many of the local attractions and sampling the unique offerings of Atlanta.

 

“It is a win-win situation,” states Robert Hendriks, U.S. Spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Local Jehovah’s Witnesses get an opportunity to meet and enjoy association with their fellow Witnesses from around the world, and the community here in Atlanta is happy to accommodate the influx of international visitors at the many local cafés, restaurants, hotels, and popular tourist destinations.”

 

In addition to hosting special international conventions in select cities during 2019, Jehovah’s Witnesses will be inviting the public to attend the same program at over 125 regional locations throughout the United States and several Caribbean nations. Times and locations for these events can be found on their official website, jw.org.

 

A pre-convention press conference will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at noon.

 

Atlanta International Convention Quick Facts

• Date: May 17—19, 2019

• Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

• Projected Attendance: 46,500

• Program Language(s): English, Russian, Amharic

• Number of International Delegates: 5,000

• Delegate Countries Invited: 39

Convention Program Highlights

A unique feature of this international convention is that it will be presented in 3 languages, English, Russian, and Amharic. The convention program will examine how Bible principles help people in practical ways. The Friday program will address how love can help people surmount obstacles such as a troubled upbringing, chronic illness, or poverty. Saturday’s program will consider how Bible principles help husbands, wives, and children to show love for one another. Sunday’s program will include a public Bible discourse entitled “True Love in a Hate-Filled World — Where?” that will address overcoming prejudice and hatred. Conventions of Jehovah’s Witness are free to the public; no collections are taken.

2018 Statistics about Jehovah’s Witnesses

8,579,909: Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide

240: Lands where Jehovah’s Witnesses worship

119,954: Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide

20,329,317: Peak attendance at meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide

975: Languages featured on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses

[Bob]

Thank you for starting this thread. Good reads so far.

 

 

[Sheep]

Of course, this is a positive news report. It's one of our sites...

 

Melbourne International Convention

 

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Melbourne was a convenient location for the 70,000 delegates who attended the 2014 International Convention. In 2019, delegates will give Melburnians another golden opportunity to see the love amongst God’s people. — John 13:35.

Just 183 days to go!

[Bob]

8 hours ago, Sheep said:

Of course, this is a positive news report. It's one of our sites...

 

Melbourne International Convention

 

Just 183 days to go!

I don't think it was aware RC's ran close to December. Good stuff. That means everyone has the opportunity to get the convention.

Edited May 23, 2019 by Bob

[Bob]

Favorable article about our International Convention:

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article230831889.html?fbclid=IwAR2uqKc98uMnM85mpTxvWjefeZsmCJAG4HiWkbYRZq8m_ALY4NmwmJuYnrw

[Omoyeme]

Short--but sweet! Thank you for the link Brother Robert!

 

[Omoyeme]

MiamiTimesOnline article about the Spanish IC. A couple of comments made by city authorities (highlighted in bold) made me me smile! 

Nice convention photos in the article also!

 

https://www.miamitimesonline.com/faith_family/summer-conventions-to-baptize-hundreds/article_9b05c49c-7eee-11e9-a006-9ba73bfd776b.html

 

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Summer Conventions to Baptize Hundreds

A second convention of about 25,000 attendees returns July 5, with the theme, Love Never Fails.

by Carolyn Guniss May 25, 2019 Updated May 26, 2019

 

The first of two international conventions to be staged in Miami at Marlins Park by Jehovah's Witnesses ends on Sunday.

 

The Sunday program features the public Bible discourse, “True Love in a Hate-Filled World—Where?” The speaker will share how showing love is helping millions of people worldwide to overcome prejudice and hatred.

 

The program will conclude at 3:20 p.m. with delegates from 28 countries taking the field at Marlins Park – waving goodbye to their Miami hosts.

The Spanish-language sessions over three days were delivered to more than 28,000 attendees, 4,500 of whom are from 28 different countries. The presentations surrounded the theme, Love Never Fails.

 

An English-language version of the same program will be held from July 5-7, at which 25,000 or so local attendees and international delegates will attend. The public is invited and no collection is taken, a statement released by the organization said.

 

Robert Henriks, the organization's U.S. spokesman, said the convention brings $150 million in economic impact to the Miami area and used about 30 hotels. The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau President Bill Talbert said the Jehovah's Witness convention was "priceless business." 

"It may be the largest convention package we have ever had in this destination, the largest, and, in many ways, the most important," Talbert said.

 

Highlights of the conventions include 69 videos, a two-part feature film on Josiah, a king of Judah, who was surrounded by bad influences, but became known for “his deeds of loyal love;” and a mass water baptism.

More than 200 people experienced a full-body immersion baptism in two pools on Saturday.

 

“Making a personal dedication to God and symbolizing that through water baptism is the most important step in a Christian’s life,” said Hendriks, of their lifelong commitment.

 

On Sunday evening, as the stage, videos screens, and equipment are dismantled and trucked away, thousands of volunteers will thoroughly clean the stadium.

Claude Delorme, Marlins executive vice president of Operations and Events, said he had worked with Jehovah's Witnesses when he was with the Montreal Expos, and that their events were unlike others held at their stadium.

 

“When people leave each night it will look like no one was in the building,” said Delorme. “That’s something that you can’t replicate.”

 

The stage and other unique needs of the convention were erected by more than 12,000 volunteers before the convention began on Friday.

 

What a wonderful reputation we have with officials who recognize that we are an organized people -- trained by Jehovah -- which in turn brings our God honor, praise and glory!

 

 

Edited June 2, 2019 by Omoyeme

[Omoyeme]

https://www.florencecenter.com/events/2019/jw-conferences-2019

 

Date: July 26 - Aug 25, 2019
Location(s): Full Facility
Category(s): Meeting & Conferences

The Florence Center is delighted to welcome the 2019 Jehovah's Witnesses Conference.

“LOVE NEVER FAILS”!
2019 Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses

You are warmly invited to attend this year’s three-day convention presented by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Conference details and highlights can be found online at www.jw.org

 

[Omoyeme]

Short but friendly tv interview with local elders in Indiana.

 

 

[Bob]

Nice interview. The brothers did a god job. 

[Loopy]

The lady also did a great job with her questions. Very well done on both parts. ♥️

[Omoyeme]

When I attended the 2014 IC in Washington DC, the only thing written about our convention was a negative article regarding the JW's "causing traffic jams and inordinate delays because the public wanted to get home in time. 

 

It's a rarity nowadays to read or see anything positive about JW's in the media...at least in the Western region. For this convention season the only exceptions, thus far, are a couple of journalists in Latin America and one other who was covering the Miami/Spanish international convention on YT.  (He did a good job.)

 

FWIW, I can certainly understand why the GB created a section for journalists on jw.org so as to counteract biases, distortions, fake news and the like while giving a witness at the same time.  Otherwise the world would hear nothing but information that puts us in a bad light.

 

Edited June 25, 2019 by Omoyeme

[Bob]

50 minutes ago, Omoyeme said:

When I attended the 2014 IC in Washington DC, the only thing written about our convention was a negative article regarding the JW's "causing traffic jams and inordinate delays because the public wanted to get home in time. 

 

It's a rarity nowadays to read or see anything positive about JW's in the media...at least in the Western region. For this convention season the only exceptions, thus far, are a couple of journalists in Latin America and one other who was covering the Miami/Spanish international convention on YT.  (He did a good job.)

 

FWIW, I can certainly understand why the GB created a section for journalists on jw.org so as to counteract biases, distortions, fake news and the like while giving a witness at the same time.  Otherwise the world would hear nothing but information that puts us in a bad light.

 

Festivals, sporting events, and rush hour "cause traffic jams and inordinate delays" on a nearly daily and weekly basis around the world. The lengths people go to criticize us is ridiculous. 

[tekmantwo]

10 hours ago, Bob said:

did a god job. 

Well, yes, yes they did....

[Bob]

5 minutes ago, tekmantwo said:

Well, yes, yes they did....

Lol nice catch!

[Omoyeme]

Hmm, is there a schedule conflict for the regional convention to be held this weekend in Connecticut?  or am I looking at it the wrong way?

 

https://mohegansunarenapa.com/events/jw2019/

 

https://mohegansun.com/events-and-promotions/schedule-of-events/barrett-jackson-3.html

 

[Omoyeme]

https://www.abqjournal.com/1325651/thousands-gather-for-annual-jehova-witnesses-convention.html

 

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Thousands prepare for gathering of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rio Rancho
By Rick Nathanson / Journal Staff Writer
Published: Friday, June 7th, 2019 at 5:44pm

 

Have you heard the good news?

 

About 28,000 members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses are gathering this weekend and next at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho for their annual regional convention. The theme of this year’s convention is “Love Never Fails.”

 

Among them will be members of the 53 congregations in New Mexico, Southwestern Colorado and Arizona, but it is expected to draw adherents of the religion from an even wider area around the region, said Juan Lobato, local spokesman for the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 

The regional event is part of a series of conventions from around the world, in which some of the speakers will appear on a big screen monitor, live or delayed streamed from remote locations. There will also be local speakers filling out the program, Lobato said.

 

[truncated...]

[Omoyeme]

Here's a nice article regarding the IC/Miami English.  Great photos in the article as well.

 

https://www.miamitimesonline.com/faith_family/largest-convention-event-in-miami-ends-sunday/article_6bd3c2c0-a0f2-11e9-b58b-87e059b95dc5.html?block_id=501774

 

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Local Jehovah’s Witnesses welcomed delegates to the largest convention event in the history of Miami – South Florida style. They made colorful signs adorned with palm trees and messages of welcome and appreciation. They made a joyful noise by hitting metal with mallets, beating drums and shaking tambourines.

 

What’s remarkable is that the delegates are hosted almost entirely by volunteers. The volunteers have one main attitude in common: a desire to serve God and others. The volunteers come from all walks of life – bankers, lawyers, students – taking assignments to make the convention that served about 60,000, including regional conventions tied in electronically, successfully at Marlins Stadium. On social media, many joked that the more than 20,000 guests every day during the convention were the most patrons the stadium has ever hosted.

 

“This might be the most profound display of love to a large group of foreign visitors that the city has ever seen,” said Ivan Fernandez, local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 

 

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Total Volunteers - 10,000+

Hotels: 1,400+ volunteers staffing 29 hotels from 6 a.m. to midnight providing assistance to delegates (4,000 shifts of 6 hours each.)

Airports: 3,300+ volunteers staffed airports 24 hours a day while arrivals were happening.

 

Transportation: 450+ volunteers working 24 hours to transport delegates from airport to hotels. 70 buses running More than 96 routes each day

Scheduling: 1,250+ volunteers to maintain all of the delegates schedules from activities to transportation and to provide security

Activities: 2,000+ volunteers to greet and assist delegates at all 5 activities. 300 cast volunteers for the evening gathering.

 

Let’s meet three of volunteers:

 

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[...] many joked that the more than 20,000 guests every day during the convention were the most patrons the stadium has ever hosted.

 

😄

 

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by Omoyeme

[Omoyeme]

At the link there is a nice interview with the general manager of an Albany, NY venue where a regional convention was held.

 

https://www.news10.com/news/times-union-center-hosting-jehovahs-witnesses-convention/

 

Times Union Center hosts Jehovah’s Witnesses convention

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) — The Times Union Center is the venue of choice in the Capital Region for this year’s three-day educational public event hosted by Jehovah’s Witnesses. The event is estimated to have around 18,000 in attendance.

The convention started on Friday, July 12 and runs through Sunday, July 14. This special event is free and open to the public.  

Sunday, the final day of the convention, concludes with a public Bible discourse entitled: “True Love in a Hate-Filled World—Where?” that will address overcoming prejudice and hatred. The afternoon concludes with part II of a feature film on historical King Josiah.  

 

As part of a global series of three-day conventions, the title theme this year is: “Love Never Fails”! The program includes a packed schedule of videos from around the world, demonstrations, Bible discourses and a feature film on practical ways to put love into action in everyday life.

 

Times Union Center Regional General Manager Robert Belber says that he’s glad Jehovah’s Witnesses are holding their convention in Albany for a third time.

 

 

[Omoyeme]

What a fabulous TV interview with Brother Hendricks that took place just before the Houston convention!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1lA-tXlrGi/

[Friends just call me Ross]

13 hours ago, Omoyeme said:

What a fabulous TV interview with Brother Hendricks that took place just before the Houston convention!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1lA-tXlrGi/

Wow!!!  That was truly fabulous!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!  

[Loopy]

19 minutes ago, Friends just call me Ross said:

Wow!!!  That was truly fabulous!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!  

 

O my goodness was that a great interview. The lady was very respectful as well.

 

Yes, thank you for sharing. 

 

 

[Lee49]

Thank you for sharing, such positive news about our conventions and our organisation!  😍

[Omoyeme]

Jehovah’s Witnesses Explore Power of Love As 2019 Convention Kicks Off

https://benconews.com/jehovahs-witnesses-explore-power-of-love-as-2019-convention-kicks-off/