In 1991, Jehovah's Witnesses spent over $40 million dollars on building new halls, branch facilities and maintaining missionaries. In 1991, there were approximately 4 million Jehovah's Witnesses world wide.
In 2010, this figure grew to over 7.5 million with a corresponding increase in spending to maintain, service and organize their operations on a global scale.
Jehovah's Witnesses World Wide Work
Jehovah's Witnesses translate the bible, print and ship bible literature worldwide. The Watchtower and Awake magazines are translated into over 200 languages for simultaneous release globally. This literature is also shipped to very remote areas.
According to the official Jehovah's Witness website, the Witnesses distribute bibles, books, and other publications in 235 lands. The Watchtower, a Bible educational magazine, is printed monthly with a distribution of more than 24,000,000 copies. To organize their global Bible education work, the Witnesses have built or acquired administrative centers in 110 countries. In addition, they have constructed thousands of local meeting places as well as large assembly halls to accommodate those interested in receiving further Bible instruction.
At times many, congregations come together for a special program of Bible instruction and there are also special schools for the training of missionaries and for those appointed to take the lead in their organization.
Jehovah's Witnesses Funding
Just where do the necessary funds come from to support the translation, printing and shipping of literature produced by Jehovah's Witnesses?
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not tithe or solicit funds in any other manner. Their work is supported entirely through voluntary contributions. At their meetings or conventions, collections are not actively solicited, but there are contribution boxes placed at the venues if individuals wish to contribute funds.
Contributions are not limited to monetary funds. Each and every Jehovah's Witnesses is regularly encouraged to contribute their time to preach, engage in community service, maintain and/or clean centers of worship. Those working full time at branch facilities or who are full time preachers do so voluntarily, without receiving a salary.
At the branch offices of Jehovah's Witnesses, volunteers help to print and ship Bible literature. Direction is also given to the organizing of the preaching work.
Jehovah's Witnesses and Relief Work
When the need arises, such as when natural disasters strike, the Witnesses help those affected, voluntarily. For example, after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma hit the southern regions of the United States, many thousands of Witness volunteers poured into the affected areas to assist with relief work and reconstruction. Under the supervision of local relief committees, the volunteers repaired and restored over 5,600 homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses and 90 Centers of worship (Kingdom halls) – virtually all that were damaged, as well as assisting in the community in general.
Relief work has also included the setting up and maintenance of relief efforts in developing countries and the importing of food, medicine, clothes and so on in lands where Jehovah's Witnesses in those lands have been affected by famine or war.
Many Jehovah's Witnesses fund and support themselves in traveling long distances in order to share in building new places of worship in parts of the world where there is a need because of poverty or a lack of skills.
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Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
