On the Jehovah’s Witness circuit - The Herald Sun

[Brother_Bliss]

On the Jehovah’s Witness circuit

BY DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN

DURHAM – For the past year, Mike and Erica Pack have served 21 different Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations in the greater Durham area, going out in the field ministry door-to-door and getting to know the Witnesses at the Kingdom Halls.

Mike Pack is a circuit overseer, a job reserved for male Witnesses, and his wife, Erica, supports his work as they serve a new congregation each week.

“We have a two-fold purpose,” Mike Pack said. “The internal ministry to encourage friends, and the external, preaching.”

They bring biblical messages and Jehovah’s Witness publications to each place, but sometimes the reception – and topics of discussion – vary widely. On Saturdays, the Packs have gone out with other Witnesses in field service, called Pioneers.

“Durham reminds me a lot of home – Baltimore,” Mike Pack said. “All the congregations are very family-oriented. It’s easy to get adjusted because of the family atmosphere.”

Most circuit overseer assignments are for three-year stints. The Packs came for just one year, filling in the remaining year of an overseer who was reassigned. Their assignment here will be completed in August.

Some people they visit are more laid back, Erica Pack said. In rural areas like Oxford and Roxboro, they drive from house to house rather than walk. In Chapel Hill and Carrboro, they encounter a lot of college students and professors, she said.

“The conversations may be different, so you have to be flexible with what you talk about,” she said.

Mike Pack said that in Southern Durham, they’ve met theology students. In the inner city, they meet those who are trying to find work.

Some of the more interesting conversations they’ve had, he said, range from theology students discussing Scripture to someone struggling with addiction.

Erica Pack said that she met a man who said he was atheist, and turned to close the door. But she asked if they could still talk, and found common ground. Mike Pack said a homosexual man was taken aback by his kindness, and Pack invited him to a Kingdom Hall meeting.

“We love all individuals, but the Bible speaks clearly on [homosexual] lifestyle. We’re not homophobic,” he said.

“The qualities we’re taught are love for God, love for individuals, love for our fellow man,” Pack said.

Aside from the field ministry, Mike Pack’s role as circuit overseer means speaking at Kingdom Hall meetings and encouraging other Witnesses. Kingdom Halls have multiple congregations, and there are 21 in Pack’s circuit.

“We want to build up the congregation. We know our friends are going through so much,” he said. They encourage others by example, Pack said. The Packs have been married 18 years and went through a Jehovah’s Witnesses school for couples last year.

Erica Pack said they share Bible principles to encourage others to be better husbands and wives. “Also in our publications – directing them to Jehovah,” she said.

She said as they’ve made return visits to congregations – each is visited by a circuit overseer every six months – she has seen their progress.

“Seeing how each individual, when they apply the Bible and implement changes is so refreshing and rewarding. Especially with family life,” Pack said.

Mike and Erica Pack said their assignment here has strengthened their faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Mike Pack said he couldn’t do his job as circuit overseer without her support.

The couple prays together and has Bible study at home.

“In many ways, what we do privately makes us who we are publicly,” Mike Pack said.

This week they’re serving a congregation on Junction Road, and next week they’ll be in Cary. Soon they’ll find out where they’ll be assigned next. It could be anywhere in the world.

The couple first met at an annual Jehovah’s Witness convention. Before they move, they’ll go to the upcoming Witnesses convention Aug. 3-5 and Aug. 10-12 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. The theme is “Safeguard Your Heart!” More than 130 congregations will attend, and the public is invited.

Article Source: http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/19123926/article-On-the-Jehovah%E2%80%99s-Witness-circuit

[Rachel]

Wow! Br. and Sister Pack are originally from my current congregation. They went to the first school for husbands and wives last year and this is their first circuit. They are also on the cover of this year's yearbook. They are so nice!

[Hallett 82]

Wow! Br. and Sister Pack are originally from my current congregation. They went to the first school for husbands and wives last year and this is their first circuit. They are also on the cover of this year's yearbook. They are so nice!

Are they the couple at the desk in the schoolroon picture? . .details?

[Rachel]

Yes that's them at the desk.>

[NSSewer]

Rachel that is so amazing, because from your Congregation they went to my old Congregation! We had them for a while before they went back North. Time really does fly because when they arrived here in Georgia they were just newlyweds and very energized!