IBrithani

Lapho ususeqophelweni eliphezulu lokudlondlobala kwawo, uMbuso WaseBrithani wawufinyelela emhlabeni wonke. Ngezinsuku zeNdlovukazi uVictoria (1837-1901), kwakuthiwa “ilanga alishoni” embusweni wayo. Kodwa phakathi nekhulu lama-20, lowo mbuso omkhulu wathathelwa indawo yi-Commonwealth of Nations.

Isabalele kangakanani le Commonwealth? Ihlanganisa cishe ingxenye yesine yomhlaba nabantu. Nakuba ezimele ngokwezombangazwe, amalungu angu-53 e-Commonwealth abheka iNdlovukazi yaseBrithani njengeyinhloko yawo kwezamasiko nakwezomnotho.

Phakathi neminyaka engu-50 edlule, izifiki ezivela kula mazwe nakwamanye ziyishintshile iBrithani. Isiwumphakathi oxubile wabantu abangaba izigidi ezingu-58.

Izinhlanga Eziningi, Izinkolo Eziningi

Ngo-June 22, 1948, i-Empire Windrush, umkhumbi owawungowokuthwala amasosha ngaphambili, wama eTilbury, eduze neLondon, kwehla abantu baseJamaica abangu-492—abokuqala ezifikini zaseCaribbean eziyingxenye yesine yesigidi. La maNdiya aseNtshonalanga anesimo sokujabula, agcwele impilo ayelihlonipha ngokusuka enhliziyweni iBhayibheli. Kodwa ashaqeka lapho ethola ukuthi abantu abaningi baseBrithani babengasakholelwa kakhulu kuNkulunkulu. Yini eyayenze lolu shintsho? Abantu base becikekile ukuhileleka kwenkolo ekubulaleni okungenangqondo phakathi nezimpi ezimbili zomhlaba. Ngaphandle kwalokho, abagxeki ababethi isayensi nenkolo akuhambisani, babelilulaze kakhulu iBhayibheli.

Kusukela ngawo-1960, amaNdiya, abasePakistan, futhi muva nje, nabantu baseBangladesh baye batheleka eBrithani. Eminyakeni yawo-1970 abantu base-Asia abaningi ababehlala eMpumalanga Afrika bafika bezohlala lapha. Kwafika abaseCyprus abakhuluma isiGreki nabakhuluma olwaseTurkey, kanye nabasePoland nase-Ukraine, amazwe angekho kuyi-Commonwealth. Ngemva kwezinguquko zango-1956 eHungary, ababaleki abangu-20 000 babalekela eBrithani. Muva nje, phakathi kwabantu abafikile bezohlala lapha, kukhona abaseVietnam, amaKurd, amaShayina, abase-Eritrea, abase-Iraq, abase-Iran, abaseBrazil nabaseColombia. Maphakathi nawo-1990, izakhamuzi eziyisithupha kweziyikhulu kwakungezesizwana esithile.

Lokhu kubonakala kakhulu eLondon, inhloko-dolobha yaseBrithani. Izivakashi ezihamba emigwaqweni, ezihamba ngamabhasi anesitezi, noma ezihamba ngezitimela ezihamba ngaphansi komhlaba, zisheshe zikuphawule ukuxubana kwezinhlanga ezakhamuzini zaleli dolobha. Ngempela, cishe ingxenye yesine yabantu baseLondon iqhamuke phesheya kwezilwandle. Izikole ziveza lokhu kuhlukahluka ngokunikeza izingane imfundo ehlanganisa izinkolo ezihlukahlukene—phakathi kwezinye, ubuKristu, ubuSulumane nobuHindu. Lokhu akusho ukuthi iBrithani iyithanda ngokukhethekile inkolo. Ngokuphambene nalokho, kulezi zinsuku, iningi labantu baseBrithani linombono wokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo futhi ligxile emsebenzini wokuziphilisa.

Ngokuphambene, kunoFakazi BakaJehova abangaphezu kuka-126 000 eBrithani. Nabo bavela ezizindeni ezihlukahlukene. Kodwa bakholelwa ngokuqinile kuNkulunkulu—hhayi unkulunkulu ongenagama, kodwa uJehova, obamema ngemfudumalo abantu bazo zonke izizwe ukuba bahambe ezindleleni zakhe futhi bazizuzise ngokusebenzisa iseluleko sakhe sothando. (Eks. 34:6; Isaya 48:17, 18; IzE. 10:34, 35; IsAm. 7:9, 10) OFakazi BakaJehova baqaphela iBhayibheli njengeliyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe. Banokholo olujulile elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu lensindiso ngoJesu Kristu. Amathemba abo ekusasa asekelwe eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu nasemfundisweni yeBhayibheli yokuthi injongo kaNkulunkulu iwukuba umhlaba ube iPharadesi. (Gen. 1:28; 2:8, 9; Math. 6:10; Luka 23:43) Bamemezela lezi zindaba ezinhle kwabanye ngentshiseko. Isifiso sabo esiqotho ukuba ‘benze zonke izinto ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle’ ukuze bazihlanganyele nabanye.—1 Kor. 9:23; Math. 24:14.

Waqala kanjani umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova kule ngxenye yomhlaba?

Ukuhlanganyela Nabanye

Eminyakeni engamashumi amabili yokugcina yekhulu le-19, iBrithani yayisemshikashikeni wokufaka indlela yokuphila yasedolobheni ezakhamuzini zayo. Besuka emaphandleni aseNgilandi, eScotland naseWales, abantu bathuthelekela emadolobheni amancane namakhulu. Izingcweti zemisebenzi zajoyinwa izisebenzi eziningi ezingenamakhono nezinamakhono angatheni. Ngemva kuka-1870, imfundo yasesikoleni ephoqelelwe yaphawula ukungena kwenkathi ulwazi olwaluzotholakala kalula ngayo kubantu abengeziwe.

Ngo-1881, kwafika uJ. C. Sunderlin noJ. J. Bender—abangane ababili bakaCharles T. Russell, ngaleso sikhathi owayehola emsebenzini we-Watch Tower Society—bevela e-United States of America. Babephethe umyalezo osuguqule ukuphila kwezinkulungwane eBrithani kwaba ngcono. Omunye eqala eScotland omunye eNgilandi, basakaza incwadi eshukumisa inhliziyo ethi Food for Thinking Christians. ELondon, isisebenzi sakwaloliwe, uTom Hart, sanikwa ikhophi ngesikhathi silibangise ekhaya sivela emsebenzini ekuseni. Lokho esakufunda kwavusa isithakazelo saso futhi kwaholela ezingxoxweni eziningi ngokubuya kukaKristu. Eshukunyiswa ayekufundile, ngentshiseko uTom wahlanganyela ulwazi ayesanda kuluthola nomkakhe nabantu asebenza nabo. Ngokushesha leli qembu elincane, elaziwa ngokuthi abaFundi BeBhayibheli, laqala ukusakaza amapheshana kubantu abadlulayo endaweni yakubo. Kwavela amaqembu afanayo nakwamanye amadolobha amakhulu kulo lonke elaseBrithani. Wonke ayezimisele ukusakaza amaqiniso eBhayibheli.

Ngo-1891, ngesikhathi uC. T. Russell ezifikela mathupha eBrithani, isithakazelo emyalezweni weBhayibheli senza abantu abangaba ngu-150 eLondon, nabayinani elifanayo eLiverpool, baya enkulumweni eyayinesihloko esithi “Phumani Kulo, Bantu Bami”—okusho ukuthi, phumani ezinkolweni ezinindwe iBabiloni lasendulo. (IsAm. 18:4, King James Version) “INgilandi, i-Ireland neScotland kungamasimu aselungile, futhi alinde ukuvunwa,” kubika uMfoweth’ uRussell. Umsebenzi wokuhlanganyela nabanye izindaba ezinhle wabonakala unezithelo, futhi ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20, kwase kumiswe amabandla obuKristu ayishumi, amancane. Ukuze ukudla okungokomoya okuyizincwadi zeBhayibheli kutholakale kalula kubo, i-Watch Tower Society yavula ihhovisi eLondon.

Ihhovisi Legatsha Lokuqala

U-E. C. Henninges, omunye umngane kaC. T. Russell, wafika ngo-1900, ethekwini laseLiverpool, enyakatho-ntshonalanga yeNgilandi, waya eLondon efuna izindawo ezazingaqashwa zisetshenziswe njengedepho yezincwadi. Ngo-April 23 wathola indawo ku-131 Gipsy Lane, Forest Gate, empumalanga yeLondon. Laqala lapho ukusebenza ihhovisi legatsha lokuqala le-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Manje, ngemva kwekhulu leminyaka, kunamahhovisi anjalo angaphezu kwekhulu ezindaweni ezikahle emhlabeni wonke.

Ngo-June 30, 1914, eLondon, kwamiswa ithuluzi elisha elingokomthetho lenhlangano kaJehova eBrithani—i-International Bible Students Association. Ngaleso sikhathi igatsha laseBrithani lalinakekela umsebenzi woMbuso kuzo zonke iziQhingi zaseBrithani, kuhlanganise ne-Ireland. Kodwa kusukela ngo-1966, lonke elase-Ireland laqondiswa yigatsha elizimele elaqale laba seDublin futhi manje eselisempumalanga yayo.

Bathuthela Kwamanye Amazwe

Isithakazelo sabazalwane baseBrithani sasingagcini ensimini yakhona kuphela. Babazi ukuthi uJesu Kristu wayebikezele ukuthi izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zaziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo andukuba ukuphela kufike. (Math. 24:14) Phakathi nawo-1920 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1930, abazalwane abaningi baseBrithani bafuna ukwandisa insimu abashumayela kuyo ngokungenela umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe. Kwakuyisinyathelo esikhulu, futhi uJehova wawubusisa umoya wabo wokuzidela.

Ngo-1926, u-Edwin Skinner wahamba eSheffield, esenyakatho yeNgilandi, waya kokhonza eNdiya. Ukuthobeka kwakhe kwamsiza wabekezela kuleso sabelo iminyaka engu-64, waze washona ngo-1990. UWilliam Dey ongeke alibaleke nonothando waseScotland, owayengumhloli wezintela futhi eyinjinga uqobo lwayo, washiya isikhundla sakhe wadela nesikhathi sakhe somhlalaphansi wayophatha igatsha elisha leNhlangano, iNorthern European Office, elaliseCopenhagen, eDenmark. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uFred Gabler wasamukela isimemo sikaMfoweth’ uDey waya eLithuania, wajoyinwa uPercy Dunham, kamuva owaya kokhonza eLatvia. UWallace Baxter waqondisa umsebenzi e-Estonia. UClaude Goodman, uRon Tippin, uRandall Hopley, uGerald Garrard, uClarence Taylor, nenqwaba yabanye abavela eBrithani bahlahla indlela emsebenzini wase-Asia. Omunye waseScotland, uGeorge Phillips, wakhonza iminyaka eminingi eNingizimu Afrika. URobert noGeorge Nisbet, nabo abangabaseScotland, bahlahla indlela emsebenzini waseMpumalanga naseNingizimu Afrika.

Izingqalabutho Zisiza Ezwekazini Lazo

Ngawo-1930 amaphayona amaningi aseBrithani asabela esicelweni sokusiza ekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle eBelgium, eFrance, eSpain nasePortugal. UJohn no-Eric Cooke babephakathi kwawo.

U-Arthur no-Annie Cregeen bakhumbula umsebenzi ababewenza endaweni eyayingenamabandla eningizimu yeFrance. Bajoyinwa abazalwane basePoland ababonisa intshiseko enkulu nomoya wokungenisa izihambi. U-Annie ukhumbula mzukwane bememela la bazalwane endaweni ababehlala kuyo eGrand Hôtel de l’Europe, edolobheni lase-Albi. “Kungenzeka lesi sakhiwo sasisihle ngesikhathi sikaNapoleon,” ebhala kamuva, kodwa ubuhle baso base buphelile. Uyaqhubeka: “Leli qembu lafika ngeSonto ntambama, futhi saba nesifundo esimnandi se-Nqabayokulinda. Kwakunezizwe eziyisihlanu, ngasinye sinomagazini wolimi lwaso, kukhulunywa i-‘Pidgin French.’ Sasishintshana ngokufunda izigaba komagazini bethu bese sichaza ngesiFulentshi sethu esingatheni lokho esasikufundile. Kodwa kwakungemnandi kwakufiwa!”

Kuyadabukisa ukuthi izikhathi ezimnandi kanjalo ensimini yakwelinye izwe azihlalanga isikhathi eside. UJohn Cooke, owayeseningizimu yeFrance ngaleso sikhathi, wahlala isikhathi eside. Ekugcineni waphuma khona ngebhayisekili futhi waxoshelwa eNgilandi ngaphambi nje kokuba kutheleke izinqola zempi zaseJalimane. Ukugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe II, ngo-September 1, 1939, kwakuholele ekungqubuzaneni kweBrithani neJalimane, kwaba nemiphumela emibi kakhulu koFakazi BakaJehova eBrithani nakwezinye izindawo.

Njengoba izizwe zaziqedana zodwa empini, oFakazi BakaJehova bathatha ukuma okuqinile kokungathathi-hlangothi kobuKristu. Babeqonda kahle ukuthi ukulalela uNkulunkulu kumelwe kuze kuqala ekuphileni komuntu. (IzE. 5:29) Njengoba ngobuqotho babethandazela ukuba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ufike, futhi bekwazi lokho uJesu Kristu akusho ngokuthi ubani umbusi waleli zwe, babekholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi kwakungeke kufaneleke ukuba bacheme nohlangothi oluthile ezimpini zezwe. (Math. 6:10; Joh. 14:30; 17:14) OFakazi BakaJehova balalela lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ‘ngokungabe besafunda ukulwa.’ (Isaya 2:2-4) Ekuqaleni, abanye babo eBrithani bakhululwa ukuba bangayi empini ngenxa kanembeza. Kodwa kamuva abahluleli nabezindaba bathi abantu babeba oFakazi ukuze bangabuthelwa empini. Ngenxa yalokho, abangaba ngu-4 300 baphonswa ejele. Leli nani lihlanganisa nodade abaningi abenqaba ukwenza umsebenzi wokusekela imizamo yempi. Nokho, ngemva kwempi oFakazi baqhubeka bebonisa ukuthi babeshukunyiswa isifiso sokujabulisa uNkulunkulu nesokumemezela uMbuso wakhe njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu. (Imininingwane eyengeziwe mayelana nomsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova eBrithani ngalezo zinsuku zokuqala itholakala e-Ncwadini Yonyaka Ka-1973 [yesiNgisi].)

Umhlangano Wezilimi Ezimbili ENgilandi

Kuyo yonke iminyaka, imihlangano emikhulu ibilokhu iyisici esivelele ekuphileni kwabantu bakaJehova. Ngesinye isikhathi izinkulumo eziyisihluthulelo zomhlangano ezanikezwa umongameli we-Watch Tower Society zadluliselwa ngomsakazo kwamanye amazwe amaningi zisuka emhlanganweni owawuseLondon. Izihambeli zakwamanye amazwe angaphezu kuka-50 zaba khona emihlanganweni eyayiseLondon ngeminyaka yawo-1950 nawo-1960. Kodwa sonke isimiso sasingesiNgisi. Kwashintsha lokho ngo-1971.

Ngalowo nyaka, kwase kwenziwa amalungiselelo oMhlangano Wesigodi “Wegama Laphezulu” owawuzoba seTwickenham, eLondon. EYurophu oFakazi babelungiselela ukuya emihlanganweni enesihloko esifanayo. Nakuba umsebenzi woMbuso wawusavinjelwe ePortugal, izinkulungwane zazizimisele ukuya eToulouse, eFrance, zinqamule eSpain. Babelala bengalele. Kwabe sekufika izindaba zokuthi kubheduke isifo sohudo eSpain. Yilabo ababegonyelwe lesi sifo kuphela ababenganqamula kulelo zwe. Kodwa imithi yokugoma yayinganele ukuba ingabagoma bonke abavela ePortugal ababefuna ukuya emhlanganweni. Lapho kutholakala ukuthi lesi sifo sase sifikile naseToulouse, iziphathimandla zakhipha isinqumo sokuba kungabe kusangenwa kuleli zwe. Babezokwenzenjani manje abazalwane basePortugal? Omunye umzalwane wathi: “Ikhona nje iLondon.”

UW. J. (Bill) Bull, umbonisi womhlangano owawuseTwickenham, umzalwane owaziwayo ngesimo sakhe esizothile nesobungane, ukhumbula okwenzeka. “Kwafika abantu abangaba ngu-800 kuya ku-900 eBrithani, abangu-112 behamba ngezindiza, bonke abanye behamba ngamabhasi. Sasinesikhathi esingaphansi kwesonto sokulungiselela lokhu kutheleka kwabantu. Abazalwane baya eDover beyokwamukela izihambeli zasePortugal ezazifike ngesikebhe, eziningi zazo ezazisikhuluma kancane isiNgisi noma zingasazi nhlobo.” Zonke zatholelwa izindawo zokulala, ikakhulukazi emizini yabazalwane baseLondon. Elinye lamatende amakhulu okulungiselela ukudla lashintshwa laba indawo ekahle yesimiso sesiPutukezi, futhi amaPutukezi akujabulela ukuhlangana nabafowabo baseBrithani ukuze babukele idrama ethi UJehova Uyababusisa Abaqotho nethi Yenza Injongo KaJehova Ibe Indlela Yakho Yokuphila, futhi alalela nezinye izingxenye zesimiso. Ngo-August 13, 1971, iphephandaba lendawo i-Middlesex Chronicle, labika: “Ukufika kwabo kwenzé lo mhlangano waba umhlangano wokuqala woFakazi oqhutshwa ngezilimi ezimbili kuleli zwe.”

Abazalwane abangamaPutukezi bethula imibiko emnandi ngentuthuko yomsebenzi woMbuso ezweni lakubo, okwathi kamuva umzalwane owengamele umsebenzi ePortugal wakhuluma nezilaleli ebonga abazalwane baseBrithani ngomoya wabo wokungenisa izihambi. Wathi: “Nisiphe okuningi kakhulu, isikhathi senu, imizi yenu, nasinakekela, nasibonisa umusa nokukhathalela kuleli dolobha elikhulu, futhi ngaphezu kwakho konke, nisiphe uthando lwenu. Qinisekani bazalwane ukuthi njalo nje iLondon iyosikhumbuza izinkumbulo ezimnandi kakhulu.” Lapho abazalwane abangamaPutukezi bezwakalisa ukubonga kwabo ngokucula, akukho muntu ongachiphizanga izinyembezi ezilalelini, bonke ababekhona bathintwa kakhulu amazwi okubonga okusuka enhliziyweni.

Ukubethula Emkhayeni KaJehova Onothando

Kwakungekhona ngesikhathi semihlangano kuphela lapho abantu abangakhulumi isiNgisi babedinga ukuboniswa ukukhathalelwa. Lalanda inani lezifiki eBrithani. Lokhu kwabeka inselele ngokuqondene nokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Yini eyayingase yenziwe?

Abamemezeli abakhuluma isiNgisi, babezimisele ukusiza labo ababevela kwezinye izizwe futhi bekhuluma ezinye izilimi. Uma kungenzeka, uFakazi wayezama ukunikeza umninikhaya okufundwayo okungolimi lwakhe. Kodwa ukuxhumana kwakuyinkinga. Nokho kwakukhona noFakazi BakaJehova phakathi kwalabo ababevela phesheya, futhi lokhu kwasiza.

Ngawo-1960, oFakazi abakhuluma isiGreki ababesuke eCyprus babematasa behlanganyela iqiniso nabanye ababekhuluma isiGreki eNgilandi. OFakazi abangamaNtaliyane babehlanganyela iqiniso leBhayibheli nabakhaya babo ababethuthele eLondon.

UFakazi osemusha ongumJalimane ogama lakhe nguFranziska wafika eNgilandi entwasahlobo ka-1968 ezosebenza ezindlini zabantu. Ngemva kokuya eMhlanganweni Wesigodi “Wezindaba Ezinhle Zazo Zonke Izizwe” ngalowo nyaka, wayandisa ngentshiseko inkonzo yakhe yasensimini futhi wahambisela ezinye izisebenzi zasezindlini ezazihlala eduzane incwadi eyayisanda kukhululwa ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade. Umphumela waba ukuba aqale izifundo zeBhayibheli ezine. Esinye sazo kwakuyintombazane yaseSwitzerland uFranziska ayifundela ngesiJalimane. Ngesikhathi le ntombazane iqala ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla, yazibonela ngokwayo uthando olusemkhayeni kaJehova. (Joh. 13:35) Ngonyaka olandelayo, le ntombazane ethakazelayo yayisithuthuke kahle kangangokuba yanikezela ukuphila kwayo kuJehova futhi yabhapathizwa. Kamuva yaze yaphayona nokuphayona futhi yasiza nonina ukuba amukele iqiniso. Kodwa lokhu kwakuyisiqalo nje semizamo kaFranziska yokufakaza ezisebenzini zasezindlini.

“Njalo nje lapho ngihamba indlu nendlu bese ngihlangana nesisebenzi sasezindlini,” kuxoxa uFranziska ngomdlandla, “ngiyasitshela ukuthi nami ngangisebenza ezindlini. Ngokushesha kuvele kube nento esihlanganisayo. Ngiye ngigcizelele njalo ukuthi mhla ngifika eNgilandi, ngangingazi muntu ngaphandle kukadade oyedwa. Kodwa ibandla langenza ngazizwa ngamukelekile. Ngakho ngaso sonke isikhathi ngizama ukubenza basheshe bahlanganyele nebandla ukuze bazibonele ukuthi singumkhaya owodwa omkhulu.”

Ngo-1974, uFranziska washada noPhilip Harris, futhi bobabili manje bakhonza eBethel yaseLondon futhi baseBandleni LaseNorthwood. Sekuyiminyaka engaphezu kuka-13 uFranziska ehambela umuzi owodwa kule nsimu. Uyachaza: “EBethel kwafika incwadi evela esisebenzini sasezindlini esingumFulentshi sicela ukuba sivakashelwe uFakazi. OFakazi baseFrance babesinikeze incwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni, futhi sasifuna ukwazi okwengeziwe. Nakuba ayesasibhidilisha isiNgisi, ngabona ukuthi uNathalie wayelomele iqiniso. Wathuthuka kahle futhi ngokushesha waya emihlanganweni.” Engakaphindeli eFrance, uNathalie waba ummemezeli woMbuso, futhi manje yena nomyeni wakhe bakhonza njengamaphayona ensimini yama-Arabhu lapho.

Umkhaya owawuqasha lezi zisebenzi wawunohlelo oluthile. Isisebenzi esisha sasifikela phezu kwesinye. Lesi esesizohamba sasifundisa esifikayo imisebenzi yasendlini izinsuku ezimbalwa. Ngesikhathi uNathalie esezohamba, uFranziska wameluleka: “Ngaphambi kokuba uphindele eFrance, ubotshela isisebenzi esilandelayo indlela isifundo seBhayibheli esikusize ngayo, ubone ukuthi sinesithakazelo yini.” Isisebenzi esilandelayo kwakungu-Isabelle, naye owayevela eFrance, futhi ngempela wayenesithakazelo. UFranziska wamfundela naye. U-Isabelle walandelwa uNathalie wesibili, naye ngokushesha owaqala ukuya emihlanganweni. Lapho ebuyela eFrance, naye wabhapathizwa.

Enye intombazane, uGabriela, yayivela ePoland. Yayingakaze ibe nengxoxo etheni noFakazi BakaJehova, futhi yatshela uFranziska ukuthi yayingawathandi amaJalimane ngenxa yedumela elibi ayenalo ePoland. UFranziska wachaza ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babengazange bahlanganyele empini. Wathi: “NgeMpi Yezwe II wawungeke ubathole nhlobo oFakazi BakaJehova empini. Ubuwazi ukuthi sashushiswa? Sasisemakamu okuhlushwa ngoba senqaba ukukhulekela uHitler nokusekela umbuso wamaNazi.” UGabriela wabamba ongezansi, futhi ukungawathandi kwakhe amaJalimane kwaphela ngokushesha. Ngemva kwesifundo seBhayibheli sasikhathi sonke noFranziska, uGabriela waba ummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe futhi kamuva wabonisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova emhlanganweni owawuseTwickenham. Kule minyaka edlule, uFranziska uye waqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli nezisebenzi zasezindlini ezingu-25 ezivela emazweni ayishumi futhi wakuthokozela ukuzethula emkhayeni kaJehova onothando.

Imihlangano Eqhutshwa Ngolimi Lwabo

Yebo, akubona bonke ababengathuthuka ngokushesha eqinisweni ngokufunda iBhayibheli ngesiNgisi noma ngokuya emihlanganweni eqhutshwa ngolimi okungelona olwabo. Yini eyayingase yenziwe?

Lapho oFakazi abakhuluma isiGreki abavela eCyprus beqala ukuthola isithakazelo kubakhaya babo eNgilandi, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba eminye imihlangano iqhutshwe ngesiGreki eLondon. Ngo-1966 baqala ukuzuza eSifundweni Sencwadi Sebandla esasiqhutshwa njalo ngolimi lwabo; kwabe sekuba nenkulumo yeningi eyayinikezwa kanye ngenyanga. Ngo-1967 kwamiswa ibandla lokuqala lesiGreki eLondon, nelinye iqembu lamaGreki laqala ukuqhuba imihlangano eBirmingham.

AmaNtaliyane aqala ngenkulumo yeningi neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda eHholo LoMbuso Lase-Islington eLondon ngo-1967. Kwalandela eminye imihlangano eyayiqhutshwa ngesiNtaliyane kwezinye izindawo. Nasi isibonelo sendlela izinto ezenzeka ngayo: UVera (uVee) Young waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli nentokazi eyiNtaliyane e-Enfield, enyakatho yeLondon. Njengoba ukwazisa kwayo kwakukhula, yathi: “Kuyishwa ukuthi ayikho imihlangano eqhutshwa ngesiNtaliyane abangane bami abangeza kuyo.” Lokhu kwenza ukuba umyeni kaVee, uGeoff, akhulume nombonisi wesifunda. Bathola umzalwane okhuluma isiGreki owayekhonze njengephayona e-Italy. “Nganikeza inkulumo ngesiNgisi,” kuxoxa uGeoff, “lo mzalwane ongumGreki wayihumushela esiNtaliyaneni.” Kwaba khona abantu abangaba ngu-30, futhi abanye babo bathuthuka kahle ngokomoya. Ngemva kwesikhathi, oFakazi abakhuluma isiNtaliyane base bekulungele ukwakha ibandla. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ngokwesilinganiso, kwenezelwa ibandla elisha lesiNtaliyane njalo ngeminyaka emihlanu.

Ukwanda kwaqhubeka ensimini yesiGreki. Ngo-1975, kwalungiselelwa ukuba bajabulele umhlangano. Ngaleso sikhathi uGeoff noVee Young babengamaphayona asevile eminyakeni engu-40 ubudala. Izingane zabo ezimbili zase zikhulile, futhi zishadele “eNkosini.” (1 Kor. 7:39) Njengoba uGeoff noVee babengasenabo abazali abakhulile ababebanakekela, base bengakwazi ukwamukela amanye amalungelo enkonzo. UGeoff wamangala lapho ethola isabelo sokuba ahlele umhlangano wabo bonke abazalwane abakhuluma isiGreki abahlala eBrithani. “Ngangingazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani,” kukhumbula uGeoff. “Lapho ngifika endaweni yomhlangano, ngokungazi kwami, kwaba sengathi kuyalwiwa!” Mhlawumbe kwakumane nje kungumuntu waseBrithani ongazazi izindlela zabanye abantu, owayezibonela amaGreki eneme. Abazalwane abangamaGreki babemane nje bechazelana indlela engcono kakhulu yokwenza umsebenzi. Kwakukhona abangaphezu kuka-400 kulowo mhlangano.

Kwavela namanye amaqembu ezilimi. Ibandla leSpanishi lamiswa ngo-1975. ELondon, kwanikezwa inkulumo yeningi yokuqala ngesiGujarati ngo-1977. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, kwaqhutshwa umhlangano omncane wesiGujarati. Cishe ngaso leso sikhathi, kwaba nomhlangano wesifunda wesiPunjabi, kwaba nabantu abangaba ngu-250.

‘Iqembu Labantu Abakahle’

Eminyakeni yokuqala, imihlangano emikhulu yayivame ukuqhutshelwa eLondon. Ngawo-1960, imihlangano yaminyaka yonke yayiqhutshelwa emadolobheni ashiyashiyanayo ngobukhulu kulo lonke izwe. Ngezinye izikhathi yayiba mine kuphela; ngeminye iminyaka kwakusetshenziswa izindawo ezincane, bese inani lemihlangano liyanda lifinyelele ku-17. Kwakuqashwa izinkundla zebhola likanobhutshuzwayo, amahholo nezinkundla zokushushuluza eqhweni. Ngo-1975, kwenziwa umzamo wokuqhuba umhlangano eCardiff Arms Park, eWales.

Nakuba idumela elihle loFakazi BakaJehova laziwa ezindaweni eziningi eBrithani, izikhulu eziphethe izinkundla zemidlalo futhi ezingakaze zizibonele mathupha imibuthano emikhulu kangako yoFakazi, zingase ziqale zikuxwaye ukubaqashisela izindawo zazo. Kwakunjalo ngeCardiff Arms Park. Izingxoxo zaqalwa ne-Rugby Union Board eWales. ULord Wakefield, owayengusihlalo we-Rugby Union Football yaseBrithani, wayetshele abazalwane ngomusa ukuthi uma beba nezinkinga ezingxoxweni zabo emhlanganweni webhodi eCardiff, kwakuyodingeka bacele amalunga ebhodi ukuba amshayele ucingo. Yeka indlela abazalwane ababonga ngayo ngokuba nosizo olunjalo! Njengoba izingxoxo zifika kwangqingetshe, ukushayela uLord Wakefield ucingo kwasiza ekuxazululeni inkinga. Kusukela ngo-1955 oFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu beqhuba imihlangano yabo eTwickenham, eLondon, futhi uLord Wakefield wachazela ozakwabo eWales indlela yena nebhodi yakhe ababekujabulela ngayo ukuba oFakazi basebenzise izinkundla zaseTwickenham njalo ehlobo. Wabaqinisekisa ukuthi kwakungadingeki bakhathazeke ngalutho, enezela: “Lab’ oFakazi bayiqembu labantu abakahle!” Kwenziwa isivumelwano masinyane, futhi sekuyiminyaka eminingi oFakazi besebenzisa iCardiff Arms Park njengendawo yomhlangano eWales.

AmaHholo OMhlangano Athi Thina

Ngalé kwemihlangano yaminyaka yonke, siba nemihlangano emincane phakathi nonyaka. Ngo-1969 inani labamemezeli boMbuso eBrithani lalingu-55 876, kodwa phakathi neminyaka emine inani lalabo abahlanganyela nabanye izindaba ezinhle landa laba ngu-65 348. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, kwakuqashwa amahholo ukuze kuqhutshelwe kuwo imihlangano yesifunda, kodwa kwase kuya kuba nzima ukuthola izindawo ezikahle ngamanani aphansi.

Ngawo-1970 kwase kusobala ukuthi sasidinga amahholo omhlangano athi thina. Kwaba nemihlangano nabazalwane abasezikhundleni zokuphatha, kwaqalwa ukufunwa iziza ezikahle. Ekuqaleni babehlele ukulungisa izakhiwo ezikhona kakade. Ekuqaleni kuka-1975 bahlongoza ukuthenga indawo yamabhayisikobho eyayingasasetshenziswa eManchester, enyakatho yeNgilandi. Ngemva kwezinyanga lilungiswa, iHholo LoMhlangano lokuqala loFakazi BakaJehova eNgilandi lanikezelwa ngo-August 31. Laqedwa ngesikhathi sesimiso esisha semihlangano yesifunda ngo-September.

Eminyakeni emibili ngaphambili, engxenyeni eseningizimu-mpumalanga yezwe, ababonisi bemihlangano babeye bahlangana ngenjongo yokubhunga ukuthi bangalithola kanjani ihholo eLondon. UDenis Cave, ilungu lekomiti eyayabelwe ukuthola isakhiwo esifanelekayo, ukhumbula indlela ethuka ngayo lapho abazalwane ababebuthene lapho bevuma ngazwi linye ukuba babheke amahholo amabili hhayi elilodwa—elinye elisenyakatho yoMfula iThames elinye eliseningizimu yomfula—naphezu kokubiza kwezindawo lapha!

Indawo yamabhayisikobho eyayingasasetshenziswa edolobheni laseDorking, elingamakhilomitha angu-30 eningizimu yeLondon, yabonakala ikahle. Kodwa kwabe sekungena nabathengi abadayisa izindawo nabo beyifuna futhi bathi bazokhokha imali enkulu ngalesi sakhiwo. Edumele ekuqaleni, uDenis wamangala lapho ethola ucingo lwesikhulu esiphakeme sedolobha simcela ukuba yena nomunye uFakazi beze emhlanganweni. Ngaphezu kokususa imingcele eyayibekiwe, ukuze lesi sakhiwo sisetshenziselwe ukukhulekela, iziphathimandla zavuma ukuthenga le ndawo zabe seziyiqashisela abazalwane isikhathi esiqhubekayo, isivumelwano sokuqasha ababesivuselela njalo eminyakeni emithathu.

Lelo hholo lasebenza kahle iminyaka engaphezu kweyishumi, kwaze kwaba yilapho idolobha selifuna ukusisebenzisa lesi sakhiwo. Ukuze bavale isikhala salo, abazalwane bathola isiza esingamahektare angu-11 bude buduze neGatwick Airport yaseLondon. Sasinezakhiwo ezazingenziwa iHholo LoMhlangano elihle. Abantu bendawo basusa umsindo mayelana nokuya kulesi sakhiwo esisha kusetshenziswa imigwaqwana emincane. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi izakhamuzi eziseduze kwalapha zazifuna ukungaphazanyiswa. Ingabe oFakazi babezozihlonipha iziqondiso zokuhamba ezindleleni ezikhonjiwe nangesivinini esibekiwe lapho beya eHholo LoMhlangano? Umbiko wabezindaba weKomiti Yokuhlela yendawo wathi: “Ikomiti inomuzwa wokuthi ngaphansi kwezimo ezivamile, bekungeke kwenzeke ukuphoqelela imithetho enjalo. Kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova bebehlukile.” Usihlalo weKomiti wanezela: “Amanye amaqembu amaningi nezinhlangano zingathanda ukusho ukuthi amalungu azo azokwenza njengoba kushiwo. Kodwa yile ndlela le nhlangano esebenza ngayo.” Leli Hholo LoMhlangano elisha laseSurrey eHays Bridge lavulwa ngomhlangano wesifunda ngo-May 17 no-18, 1986, ngemva konyaka kutholakale isiza.

Ngesikhathi kusetshenzwa eHholo LoMhlangano LaseDorking ngo-1975, oFakazi enyakatho yeLondon babelungisa indawo eyayiyiRitz Cinema eNew Southgate. Lesi sakhiwo samaphakathi nawo-1930 sasiye sayeka ukusebenza njengendawo yamabhayisikobho entwasahlobo ka-1974. Sasebenza njengesonto okwesikhashana. Lapho oFakazi besithola, ‘sasisesimweni esibi kakhulu,’ kusho uRoger Dixon, umklami. Uyakhumbula: “Empeleni lesi sakhiwo sasikahle kodwa singavikelekile emanzini. Ukuze kufihlwe ukuwohloka kwaso, ingaphakathi lehholo lalipendwe laba mnyama!” Umsebenzi wokusilungisa waqale wabonakala uqeda amandla. Kodwa izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingaba ngu-2 000 ezinamakhono nezingenawo zawuphothula umsebenzi ezinyangeni ezine nesigamu.

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, kwakuqhubeka umsebenzi eHholo Lomhlangano eliseWest Midlands. Ngo-1974 abazalwane babekwazile ukuthenga indawo okwakungeyamabhayisikobho eDudley. Ukulungiswa kwale ndawo kwathatha isikhathi eside, kodwa ngo-September 1976 nayo yayisilungele ukusetshenziswa.

Ukwakha AmaHholo OMhlangano Amasha

Abamemezeli boMbuso baqhubeka banda, basuka ku-71 944 ngo-1974 baya ku-92 616 ngo-1984. Abaningi babesezindaweni zasemadolobheni ezinezindawo eziningi zemisebenzi enyakatho yeNgilandi. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba kwakhiwe ihholo eSouth Yorkshire.

Ukwakha iHholo LoMhlangano Lase-East Pennine kwaqala ngo-September 1985. Liyisakhiwo esinezinsika zensimbi esithatha abantu abangu-1 642, neHholo LoMbuso lebandla lendawo elithatha abantu abangu-350. Lesi sakhiwo saklanywa saba nophahla olubanzi ngamamitha angu-42, okulenza libe lihle kakhulu. Umagazini i-Structural Engineer wabiza lo mklamo ongavamile ngokuthi “indlela ongasakha ngayo isakhiwo esinezinhlangothi ezingu-8.” UMkhandlu WeDolobha LaseRotherham wanikeza leli Hholo LoMhlangano umklomelo wokuthi liklanywe kahle kakhulu.

UNoble Bower, ilungu lekomiti yalo msebenzi, wasebenza esakhiweni kusukela ekuqaleni, futhi kamuva wakhonza njengombonisi wokuqala waleli hholo. Isimo sakhe sokwenama ebe engazithathi kalula izinto sabakhuthaza abazalwane nodade abangaphezu kuka-12 500 abasiza ngesikhathi sokwakha, esaba izinyanga ezingu-14. Ukuze umsebenzi uqhubeke naphezu kwenkungu ebandayo, amakhaza ashubisa umnkantsha neqhwa, abazalwane bakha izikafula ezizungezile ezazizobamba isembozo esikhulu sepulasitiki. Obhazabhaza bama-heater babefaka umoya oshisayo kule pulasitiki. Akukho lutho olwamisa lo msebenzi owawubaluleke kangaka. Kwafika abazalwane bevela kude bezokhuthaza izisebenzi zokuzithandela.

Usuku angeke alukhohlwe uNoble nomkakhe uLouie, olokunikezelwa kwaleli Hholo LoMhlangano kuJehova, ngo-November 15, 1986, ngesikhathi kuhambele uTheodore Jaracz, ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo.

Njengoba kwase kunamaHholo OMhlangano enyakatho yeNgilandi, eMidlands, naseningizimu-mpumalanga, yini eyayingenziwa ukuze bathole amahholo abazalwane abasengxenyeni esentshonalanga yeNgilandi naseWales? Ngo-October 1987 kwatholakala isiqephu sendawo esikahle e-Almondsbury, enyakatho yedolobha laseBristol. Kodwa izimvume zokudabula indawo azitholakalanga kalula. Kwadingeka kwenziwe imizamo eminingi andukuba kutholakale imvume ngo-February 1993.

Ukwakha kwabe sekuqhubeka ngokuzimisela. Yeka intokozo okwaba yiyo lapho, ngo-August 5, 1995, kufika isikhathi sokunikezela leli Hholo LoMhlangano lesithupha eNgilandi! UJohn Barr weNdikimba Ebusayo wakhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Ukugcwalisa Umhlaba Ngolwazi NgoJehova.” Bonke ababekhona basijabulela isikhumbuzo sakhe somusa: “Ningalokothi nikhohlwe ukuthi insimu yenu iyingxenye encane nje yesenabelo sezinyawo zikaJehova. Unesithakazelo kule ngxenye yenu njengoba enaso nakwezinye, ngakho ningakhohlwa ukuthi umsebenzi woMbuso ufinyelela emhlabeni wonke.”

Ngesonto elilandelayo, uMfoweth’ uBarr wethula inkulumo lapho kunikezelwa izakhiwo ezintsha zeHholo LoMbuso e-Edgware, enyakatho yeLondon. Abazalwane babakhe isakhiwo esihle lapha, esinamaHholo OMbuso amathathu ahlukaniswe ngezindonga ezingaqaqwa bese siba iHholo LoMhlangano elingasetshenziswa amabandla akhuluma ezinye izilimi. Manje ukusabela ensimini yezinye izilimi kwase kwenezele esinye isici ekushumayeleni ngoMbuso eBrithani.

“Bengilokhu Ngifuna Ukwenza Okwengeziwe”

Kwabanye oFakazi, ukuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nabanye kuye kwahlanganisa nokufuna izindlela zokwandisa inkonzo yabo. Kuyatuseka ukuthi abazalwane nodade abaningi baseBrithani baye bathatha izinyathelo zokuzenza batholakale futhi bakhonze lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona. Njengoba kwakunjalo ngamaphayona amaningi ashisekayo ngawo-1920 nawo-1930, ngokuvamile lokhu kuye kwahilela ukuthuthela kwelinye izwe. Ukuthuthela phesheya kuye kwenza laba bazalwane nodade bakhiqiza izithelo zoMbuso ekhaya labo elisha futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo bakhuthaza abazalwane bendawo. Eminyakeni yawo-1970 nawo-1980, imikhaya yaseBrithani yathuthela eMelika Ephakathi neseNingizimu, e-Afrika nase-Asia.

Eneminyaka engu-57, uVera Bull, omadodakazi akhe amabili ayesekhulile futhi eseshadile, wadayisa umuzi wakhe owawuse-Isle of Wight waya eColombia neqembu lamaphayona asemasha ayesuka eBandleni Lase-Ealing eLondon. Wafunda iSpanishi ngokushesha futhi kungakabiphi wayeseqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-18. Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-30, usakhonza lapho, futhi uzungezwe izingane eziningi ezingokomoya.

UTom no-Ann Cooke, kanye namadodakazi abo, uSara noRachel, base bekhonze e-Uganda iminyaka eminingana lapho izimo zenza kudingeke babuyele eNgilandi ngo-1974. Ngonyaka olandelayo umthwalo wawususobhokweni futhi—manje sebelibangisa ePapua New Guinea. USara washada nephayona elikhethekile lapho. Kamuva lo mkhaya waya e-Australia, lapho uRachel ashada khona noFakazi mumbe. Ngo-1991, uTom no-Ann bathola isabelo esisha eSolomon Islands, lapho uTom ekhonza khona njengomqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha.

Kwabanye, ukuthuthela kwabo phesheya kube okwesikhashana. Kodwa noma iluphi ulwazi abaluzuzile ekuphileni phesheya lube usizo kubo. UBarry noJeanette Rushby bangababili babo.

“Selokhu ngangena eqinisweni, bengilokhu ngifuna ukwenza okwengeziwe,” kusho uBarry. Lapho eshada noJeanette, udade oyiphayona, bobabili basamukela isicelo esasikuyi-Our Kingdom Service sokuba abazalwane bayokhonza ePapua New Guinea. “Kwakuyimpendulo yemithandazo yethu,” kuvuma bona bobabili. Abazalwane basegatsheni ePort Moresby babefuna ukuba bakhonze eGoroka, enkabeni yezwe, kodwa imvume kaBarry yokusebenza yayigcina esiqhingini saseBougainville. Lapho befika ePapua New Guinea, bathokoza kakhulu uma bezwa ukuthi iziphathimandla zaziyishintshile imvume kaBarry yokusebenza, zamthumela eGoroka!

UBarry wathola isikhala sokuba uthisha, uJeanette yena waphayona nebandla elinabamemezeli abangu-18. UBarry uyakhumbula: “Enye yezinto engazifunda ukuthi ngesikhathi sokuya ezifundweni, akukho lutho olwaluphazamisa abazalwane, ngisho nesimo sezulu esibi senkathi yemvula. Babengenazimoto, futhi ngokuvamile babehamba ihora noma amabili beya ezifundweni, bangene eHholo LoMbuso beconsa co! Kodwa babengaphuthi.”

Ngemva kokuba uBarry noJeanette bechithe iminyaka emnandi eyisithupha ePapua New Guinea, izimo zabashintshela abantu bakwamanye amazwe. UBarry wanquma ukuthi kuwukuhlakanipha ukuba babuyele eBrithani. Kodwa njengoba babenokuhlangenwe nakho kwaphesheya, babezimisele ukuba manje bangenele inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele bobabili. Kodwa kuphi? Babefuna ukukhonza lapho kwakunesidingo esikhethekile khona. Ngemva kokuthintana neNhlangano nombonisi wabo wesifunda, bathuthela eBoston eLincolnshire. Bayithola ngokushesha indawo yokuhlala, kodwa uBarry wayengalitholi itoho elalizomenza akwazi ukuphayona noJeanette. Noma kunjalo, benokholo esithembisweni sosizo lukaJehova uma bebeka uMbuso kuqala, banquma ukuba baqale ukuphayona ngo-September 1—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uBarry unawo yini umsebenzi noma cha! Ngo-September 1, bagqoka amajazi abo futhi kwathi sebezophuma nje baye enkonzweni yasensimini, kwakhala ucingo. Isikhulu sasePosini sabuza: “Ungathanda ukuthola itoho?” UBarry waphendula: “Ush’ entshweni! Ungathanda ngiqale nini?” Le ndoda yaphendula: “Kunganjani uqale kusasa?” UJehova wayeyibusisile imizamo yabo yokubeka inkonzo yakhe kuqala. (Math. 6:33) Ngemva kweminyaka emine, uBarry noJeanette bafikelwa olunye futhi ucingo ababengalulindele—isabelo sokunakekela iHholo LoMhlangano Lase-East Pennine.

Bazinikela Ngokuzithandela

Umoya wokukhonza ngokuzithandela uwuphawu lwabantu bakaJehova. Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli uDavide yahlabelelela uJehova: “Abantu bakho bayozinikela ngokuzithandela ngosuku lwempi yakho. . . . Uneqembu lakho lezinsizwa elinjengamaconsi amazolo.” (IHu. 110:3, NW) Lowo moya wokuzithandela uye waboniswa abantu abaningi baseBrithani abaye bazenza batholakala ukuze bahlanganyele ngokugcwele ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zokukhulekela kweqiniso.

Bonke ababezenza batholakalele inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, abancane nabadala, bakhuthazwa kakhulu yisimemezelo esakhishwa eMihlanganweni Yesigodi ‘Yezisebenzi Ezijabulayo,’ ngo-1977. Ezindaweni zomhlangano ezingu-7 kulo lonke elaseNgilandi, eScotland naseWales, ingqikithi yabantu abangu-110 000 yashaya ihlombe ngenjabulo lapho isikhulumi simemezela amalungiselelo eSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona, esinikeza imfundo yeBhayibheli yamasonto amabili ehambisana namathuba okuba akusebenzise enkonzweni yasensimini lokho ayekufunda. Siqeqesha ngokunzulu labo asebenonyaka owodwa besenkonzweni yamaphayona. Ngemva kwalokhu kuqeqeshwa, amanye ala maphayona ayakwazi ukusiza ekuvuleni amasimu okungakaze kufakazwe kuwo noma okufakazwe kancane kuwo.

Lesi sikole savulwa eBrithani ngo-March 1978 edolobheni elisenyakatho iLeeds. U-Ann Hardy, elinye lamaphayona aba sekilasini lokuqala, ukhumbula ukuthi kwakuyisikhathi esimnandi kanjani. “Sakhiwa kakhulu ngokomoya,” ekhumbula. “Ngempela lesi sikole sasenza sasiqonda kabusha isidingo sokuba sibe nesithakazelo esiqotho kubantu esihlangana nabo enkonzweni yasensimini.” Yena nomyeni wakhe manje bakhonza njengamalungu omkhaya waseBethel. U-Andrea Biggs, umama wezingane ezine owaya esikoleni ePontypridd, eWales, uthi: “Uma lokhu kuyisandulela sezinto ezizayo, uJehova usibekele izibiliboco zodwa, futhi manje ngilangazelela leso simiso esisha ngendlela okungakaze kwenzeke ngayo ngaphambili!” Sekuqhutshwe amakilasi angu-740 kuze kube manje, futhi amaphayona angu-20 000 ayile kuso ayavumelana nala mazwi. Ngemva kokuya kulesi sikole, abaningi bazimisela ukwenza inkonzo yamaphayona ibe umsebenzi wabo wasikhathi sonke.

Ngemva kokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yamaphayona, abaningi baye bazinikela ngokuzithandela ukuba bakhonze egatsheni laseBrithani njengamalungu omkhaya waseBethel. Okwamanje kunabangu-393 kulo mkhaya waseBethel, futhi abangu-38 kubo sebeneminyaka engu-20 noma ngaphezulu bekhonza eBethel.

Phakathi kwalabo abakhonza eBethel kunoChristopher Hill. Kungani afaka isicelo sokungenela le nkonzo? Uyaphendula: “Ngaqala ukuphayona ngo-1989. Kodwa ngangifuna ukubonisa uJehova, ngizibonise nami ukuthi ngisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele ngoba ngimthanda uJehova hhayi nje ngoba umama nobaba babengamaphayona. Ngangifuna ukuba iqiniso libe ukuphila kwami konke, lingabi ingxenye yako. Ngangazi ukuthi inkonzo yaseBethel, nakuba iyinselele, iyongenza ngikwazi ukwenza lokho.”

UGeraint Watkin naye uyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1980, wenqaba imfundo yaseyunivesithi wakhetha inkonzo yamaphayona. Wazisekela ngokubamba itoho epulazini likayise. Wayewujabulela umsebenzi wokuphayona futhi enethemba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga uyoba isithunywa sevangeli. Pho kungani afaka isicelo senkonzo yaseBethel? Isihloko esasikuyi-Nqabayokulinda ka-1989 saba nethonya elikhulu kuye. Kuso, wafunda ngokuphila kukaMax Larson, ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel e-United States. UMfoweth’ uLarson wathi: “Angiquli nakuqula ukuthi iBethel iyindawo engcono kunazo zonke emhlabeni nganeno kwePharadesi lasemhlabeni elizayo.” UGeraint waphawula ukuthi, ngemva kokucela ifomu lesicelo senkonzo yaseBethel, uMfoweth’ uLarson wayethandazile kuJehova ngale ndaba. Ngokushesha uGeraint walandela leso sibonelo. Cishe ngemva kwezinsuku eziyishumi, wathola ucingo lummema ukuba abe ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel eBrithani. Enkonzweni yaseBethel, usebenzisa ulwazi aluthola epulazini likayise ukuze anakekele ipulazi elikhiqizela umkhaya waseBethel eLondon ukudla. Ukusebenza epulazini kwakuke kwaba indlela yokuzisekela emsebenzini wokuphayona. Lo msebenzi wasepulazini awenzayo manje uwubheka ‘njengesabelo sakhe saseBethel esivela kuJehova.’

Imisebenzi yokwakha engokwasezulwini yaheha nabanye oFakazi. Ngesikhathi uDenise (uTeddy) McNeil ephayona, umyeni wakhe, uGary, wayenza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa ukuze anakekele umkhaya wakhe. Kwathi ngo-1987 bobabili bacela ukusiza ekwakhiweni kweBethel eLondon. Nakuba bengamukelwanga ngaleso sikhathi, ngo-1989 bacelwa ukuba babe amalungu omkhaya waseBethel. Bekhumbula iseluleko sombonisi wesifunda esithi, “Ungabosenqaba isabelo esivela kuJehova,” bavuma. Amakhono kaGary okusebenza ngama-eloctronic nolwazi lukaTeddy njengomhlengikazi wamazinyo kuwusizo kakhulu. Baye bahlanganyela nasekulandeleleni isithakazelo emasimini esiPolish nesiBengali eLondon.

UWillie noBetty Stewart, kanye nabanye, bacela ukusiza ezakhiweni njengezisebenzi zokwakha zomhlaba wonke. UWillie, ofaka amapayipi nongunjiniyela, washeshe wathatha umhlalaphansi eneminyaka engu-55 ubudala. AbakwaStewart base behlanganyela emsebenzini wokwakha eGreece, kamuva eSpain, eZimbabwe naseMalta. UBetty wayesiza ngokuhlanza izindlu, ngokusebenza elondolo, nangokufaka amapayipi ngezinye izikhathi. Babesebenza kanzima futhi bezizwa bevuzwe kakhulu ngokomoya. UWillie uthi: “Sizenzele abangane babo bonke ubudala emhlabeni wonke.”

Ukuqeqeshwa Okukhethekile Kwabazalwane Abafanelekayo

Kwabuye kwavuleka omunye umnyango wamathuba enkonzo eyandisiwe ngo-1990 ngokuvulwa kweSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo eBrithani. Nanti ithuba lokuba abazalwane abangashadile abebekhonza njengabadala noma izinceku ezikhonzayo bathole imfundo ekhethekile, ngombono wokuba bakhonze nomaphi lapho bengase badingeke khona ensimini yomhlaba wonke. Ngendlela enokulinganisela, le mfundo yamasonto angu-8 ifundisa izimfundiso zeBhayibheli nokuhleleka. Ikilasi lokuqala eBrithani laba seHholo LoMhlangano Lase-East Pennine. Ababonisi besigodi ababili base-United States, uJames Hinderer noRandall Davis, baba othisha. Ababonisi besifunda abathathu baseBrithani abangomakadebona—uPeter Nicholls, uRay Pople noMichael Spurr—nabo babekhona kuleli kilasi, ngenjongo yokuba baqeqeshelwe ukufundisa amakilasi alandelayo. Ekhuluma nekilasi elalithweswa iziqu ngo-June 17, 1990, u-Albert D. Schroeder weNdikimba Ebusayo, wathi kulabo bafundi abababelwe ukukhonza eBrithani: “Nina zinsizwa ezinhle nidingeka lapha ukuze nithuthukise umsebenzi. Lokhu kuzoyenza ivuthe ngempela insimu yaseBrithani.”

Phakathi kwabafundi abathweswa iziqu eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo kukhona noBharat Ram, ovela emkhayeni wamaHindu. Useshadile manje futhi benomkakhe bakhonza enyakatho-ntshonalanga yeNgilandi, lapho besiza khona abantu abaningi abakhuluma isiGujarati. UJohn Williams waseWales, wamangala lapho abelwa ukuba asebenze egatsheni laseZambia, lapho kwakudingeka khona amakhono ayenawo, futhi kamuva wathunyelwa enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli eKitwe, eZambia.

UGordon Sarkodie, owazalelwa eGhana, wathuthela eNgilandi nomkhaya wakubo lapho eneminyaka engu-12 ubudala. Ngesikhathi esemusha, isithakazelo sakhe eqinisweni leBhayibheli savuswa uFakazi owayelethela uyise INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Isifundo seBhayibheli saphumela ekubeni abhapathizwe ngo-1985. Ngesikhathi eyiphayona elisizayo, wayeqhuba izifundo eziningi kangangokuba abangane bakhe abangamaphayona basikisela ukuba abe yiphayona elivamile. Lapho eseSikoleni Senkonzo Samaphayona ekupheleni konyaka wakhe wokuqala wenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, umbonisi wesifunda wamkhuthaza ukuba afake isicelo sokuya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo. Eshukunyiswa isifiso sokuba akwazi kangcono ukusiza intsha ebandleni, uGordon wasifaka isicelo. Waya ekilasini lesikhombisa esikoleni saseBrithani. Ngemva kokuphothula wakhonza eLondon iminyaka emibili. Wabe esabelwa ukuba abe isithunywa sevangeli eZambia. Wayezimisele ukuba azenze atholakalele noma yini uJehova ayeyifuna, ngakho ukuqeqeshwa kukaGordon kwamholela emalungelweni engeziwe. Ngemva kwamasonto angu-12 efundiswa isiBemba, olunye lwezilimi zendawo, uGordon wamiswa njengombonisi wesifunda eSifundazweni SaseCopperbelt. Uye wathola nelungelo lokuqeqesha abanye emsebenzini wokujikeleza.

URichard Frudd owazalelwa eBrithani, wakhuliswa abazali abangoFakazi. Esenikezele ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova, waba nomuzwa wokuthi ngeke akwazi ukubekela ukuzinikezela kwakhe imibandela. Wazenza watholakala. Ngo-1982 wabhalisa njengephayona. Wafaka isicelo sokuya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo futhi waphothula ngo-1990. Naye wabelwa eZambia. Ngemva kokufunda isiBemba, nokuthola okuhlangenwe nakho esabelweni sakhe esisha, wamiswa njengombonisi wesifunda, futhi uye waba uthisha eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo egatsheni laseZambia.

Kuze kube manje, bangu-433 abafundi abaphothule emakilasini angu-19 eSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo eBrithani. Kuleli nani, abangu-79 bakhonza phesheya okwamanje, abangu-4 bakhonza njengababonisi besifunda, abangu-12 baseBethel, kanti abangu-308 babela abanye izinzuzo zokuqeqeshwa kwabo ngokukhonza njengamaphayona eBrithani.

Ukungena Emasimini Ezithunywa Zevangeli

Phakathi kwamaphayona aseBrithani, amakhulu aye azinikela ukuba akhonze nomaphi lapho engase adingeke khona ensimini yomhlaba. Amaningi aye aqeqeshwa eWatchtower Bible School of Gilead, eNew York. Esewonke, angu-524 aphothule eGileyadi avela eBrithani. Aye akhonza emazweni angu-64, kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba.

Amanye amaphayona aseBrithani ayesuke esekhonzile enkonzweni yakwamanye amazwe ngaphambi kokuba abizelwe eGileyadi. Kwaba njalo ngoJohn no-Eric Cooke, abase bekhonze eFrance naseSpain. Ngemva kokuya eGileyadi, u-Eric wathunyelwa e-Afrika, kanti uJohn waqale wakhonza eSpain nasePortugal, wabe eseya e-Afrika. Kwaba njalo nangoRobert noGeorge Nisbet, abase bekhonze eNingizimu Afrika iminyaka engu-15 noma ngaphezulu ngaphambi kokuya eGileyadi, futhi ngemva kwalokho bakhonza eMauritius, kamuva babuyela ezwekazini lase-Afrika. UClaude Goodman wayesekhonze iminyaka engu-20 kwelaseNdiya, eCeylon (manje eyiSri Lanka), eBurma (manje eyiMyanmar), eThailand naseMalaya (manje esihlangene neMalaysia) ngaphambi kokuya eGileyadi; wabe esethunyelwa ePakistan. U-Edwin Skinner wayesephayone kwelaseNdiya iminyaka engu-20 ngaphambi kokuya eGileyadi, wabe eseqhubeka ekhonza eNdiya eminye iminyaka engu-43 kwaze kwaba yilapho eqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngo-1990.

Amanye anambitha inkonzo yakwamanye amazwe ngokusebenza njengezisebenzi zokuzithandela zomhlaba wonke emisebenzini yokwakha. Kwaba njalo ngoRichard noLusia Palmer, abase bekhonze izikhathi eziningi eGreece, eTahiti, eSpain naseSri Lanka phakathi kuka-1989 no-1994, futhi bahlala eSri Lanka ukuze baphayone iminyaka engaphezu kwemithathu kwaze kwaba yilapho bebizwa eGileyadi.

Abafaka izicelo zaseGileyadi baye bakhuthazwe ukuba babheke inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli njengomsebenzi wokuphila kwabo. Abaningi babo bazibheka ngalowo mbono izabelo zabo, futhi abanye baye babeka izibonelo ezinhle kulokhu. Okungenani abangu-45 abaphuma eBrithani futhi abasezabelweni zezithunywa zevangeli sebeneminyaka engu-20 noma ngaphezulu belapho. Abangu-9 kulaba baseMelika Ephakathi neseNingizimu, abangu-11 basemazweni ase-Asia, abanye abangu-11 base-Afrika, bangu-4 eYurophu kanti abangu-10 baseziqhingini ezihlukahlukene.

Phakathi kwezithunywa zevangeli esezidonse isikhathi eside kuno-Anthony Attwood, owakhonza iminyaka engu-49 eNigeria. Washintshelwa eBethel yaseLondon ngo-1997 ngenxa yemithetho ethile yokuthuthela kwelinye izwe, kodwa inhliziyo yakhe iseseNigeria. Uthi: “Ukukhonza eNigeria kwakuyilungelo elihle kakhulu. Leyo minyaka yasetshenziswa ngokunenzuzo. Ngikhuthaza yonke intsha ebusiswe ngeqiniso ukuba yamukele noma iliphi ilungelo enikezwa lona. UJehova akasoze anenzela phansi. Ngizibonele ngawami lokho.” U-Olive Springate, owathunyelwa eBrazil njengesithunywa sevangeli ngo-1951, wajoyinwa udadewabo uSonia ngo-1959. UDenton Hopkinson noRaymond Leach bafika ePhilippines beyizithunywa zevangeli ekuqaleni kwawo-1950, futhi namanje kuseyikhaya labo lelo. UMalcolm Vigo, owaqala inkonzo yakhe yezithunywa zevangeli eMalawi futhi wahlala khona iminyaka eyishumi kwaze kwaba yilapho exoshwa, manje ukhonza eNigeria nomkakhe. Kungabalwa nabanye abaningi, futhi ngamunye uye waba nokuphila okucetshiswe izibusiso zikaJehova.

Abanye abangenela inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli kuye kwadingeka balwe nezinkinga ezinzima ukuze baqhubeke. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingana besenkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli eBrazil, u-Eric noChris Britten baphoqeleka ukuba baphindele eNgilandi okwesikhashana ngenxa yokugula. Kamuva ngawo lowo nyaka, bathola isabelo ePortugal, lapho umsebenzi wawuvinjelwe khona. Lapho bexoshwa ePortugal ngemva kweminyaka engu-7 ngenxa yomsebenzi wabo wokufundisa ngeBhayibheli, baqhubeka nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele eNgilandi. Kodwa babe sebebhalela iNhlangano bebuza ukuthi kungenzeka yini bathole esinye isabelo sezithunywa zevangeli. Ngokushesha base bephindele eBrazil, lapho benza khona umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli nowesifunda. Bakhonza ngokwethembeka bobabili eBrazil kwaze kwaba yilapho kushona u-Eric ngo-August 1999; uChris usaqhubeka ekhonza khona.

Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, izibopho ezingokomBhalo ngokuqondene namalungu omkhaya zingase zidinge ukuba umuntu ashintshe umsebenzi wakhe. Kwaba njalo ngoMike noBarbara Pottage, abakhonza eZaire iminyaka engu-26 base bephindela eNgilandi ngo-1991 beyosiza umzali osekhulile owayephila ngaphansi kwezimo ezicindezelayo. Kodwa izinhliziyo zabo zazisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, futhi bakwazi ukukhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile bebe benakekela imithwalo yemfanelo yomkhaya. Ngo-1996 bakwazi ukuphindela ensimini yezithunywa zevangeli iminyaka emithathu ezweni eseliyiDemocratic Republic of Congo, futhi manje bangamalungu omkhaya waseBethel yaseBrithani. Kusukela baqala inkonzo eZaire, babone inani labamemezeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuleyo ngxenye yomhlaba landa lisuka ku-4 243 liya kwabangaphezu kuka-108 000. Bakhumbula kahle kakhulu mhla oFakazi BakaJehova beqashelwa ngokomthetho kuleli zwe, cishe ngemva konyaka befikile. Futhi umhlangano wokuqala owaba ngonyaka olandelayo, eKinshasa, nakuba wawunabangu-3 817 kuphela, useyisici esivelele kubona. Yeka intokozo okwaba yiyo ngo-1998, lapho, naphezu kwezimo ezimanzonzo kulelo zwe, abangu-534 000 ababezuzile emfundweni yaphezulu bebuthana bezogubha iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa!

Ukwenza Kube NamaHholo OMbuso Afanelekayo

Njengoba inani lamabandla eBrithani laliqhubeka landa, ukwenza kube namaHholo OMbuso afanelekayo kwaba inselele eqhubekayo. Amanye amabandla ayehlanganyela emahholo aqashiwe nakwezinye izindawo, okungezona zonke ezazifanele amaqembu amaKristu ahlangana ndawonye ngenjongo yokukhulekela uNkulunkulu wethu omuhle kakhulu, uJehova. Zazidingeka ngokuphuthumayo izindawo zemihlangano ezifanelekayo.

Bekulokhu kungelula ukuthola izindawo ezingasetshenziselwa amaHholo OMbuso. Ngezinye izikhathi ukuphikiswa kuye kwashuba ngempela, ikakhulu lapho inkolo icwaswa khona. Noma kunjalo, ukuncika kuJehova nokukhuthazela kwabazalwane abaphethe kuye kwaletha impumelelo, bamangala abaphikisi.

Ekuqaleni kweminyaka yawo-1970, elinye lamabandla aseSwansea, eWales, lacela ukuthenga isonto elase lingasasebenzi ukuze lilisebenzise njengeHholo LoMbuso. Idikoni lalelo sonto lathi lingamane life kunokuba lilibone lidayiselwa oFakazi. Ngenxa yalokho, leli sonto ladayiselwa abantu basePosini ukuze balisebenzise njengendawo yesikhashana okufikela kuyo izingcingo. Kodwa kwathi ngo-1980, bengasasidingi lesi sakhiwo, abantu basePosini bathi bazosidayisa. Omunye wabadala bebandla wakuzwa lokho wabe esexoxa nabanye abadala ukuthi bangasithenga ngamalini. Umdabuli wezindawo walinganisela ukuthi lesi sakhiwo kanye nendawo esikuyo sasingabiza u-£20 000 (R198 000). Ave bathokoza abazalwane lapho bephumelela ukusithenga ngo-£15 000 (R149 000)! Ngemva kokulungiswa okufanele, lesi sakhiwo sanikezelwa kuJehova.

Lapho ukwanda kwebandla lasedolobheni lase-Exmouth eliseningizimu-ntshonalanga ngasolwandle kuholela ekwakhiweni kwelinye ibandla, abazalwane banquma ukuthi kwakudingeka indawo entsha yeHholo LoMbuso elikhudlwana. Bathola ukuthi umkhandlu wesifunda wawunendawo eyayivele idatshulelwe ukuba isetshenziswe izinkolo. OFakazi baxoxa nawo ukuze bayithenge. Umkhandlu wedolobha wabe usubeka umbandela ongavamile wokuthi zazingenakwenziwa izivumelwano zokudayiselana indawo ngaphambi kokuphela kwesakhiwo. Isakhiwo saphela ngo-1997. Kuyajabulisa ukuthi lo mkhandlu wasifeza isivumelwano. Amabandla asebenzisa leli hholo alibheka njengobufakazi besibusiso sikaJehova emizamweni yawo yokwandisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso endaweni yawo.

Elokuqala EYurophu

Ngisho noma indawo yayingatholakala, ukwakha iHholo LoMbuso elisha kwakuvame ukuthatha iminyaka. Kodwa, enkathini eyiminyaka eyishumi eyaphela ngo-1982, inani lamabandla eBrithani lase landile lisuka ku-943 liya ku-1 147. Kwakudingeka kwenziwe okuthile ukuze umsebenzi wokwakha uhlangabezane nokwanda.

Ngo-September 1983 iqembu labazalwane elivela e-United States naseCanada elalinolwazi lomsebenzi wokwakha lafikela eNorthampton, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-101 enyakatho yeLondon. Lalikade libonisana ngesidingo sokwakha ngendlela esheshayo futhi lalifikele ukuzokwabela abanye izindlela eziwusizo elalizitholile. Lasebenzisana nabazalwane bendawo ukuze libasize bakhe iHholo LoMbuso ngendlela eyongayo nesheshayo. “Ngezinsuku ezine iqembu loFakazi BakaJehova lenze into obekungayithatha izinyanga eziyisithupha inkontileka ukuba iyenze,” kubika umagazini i-Building Design ngenyanga eyalandela, “futhi basebenzise imali encane kakhulu.” UJehova wakubusisa ukwakhiwa kwaleli Hholo LoMbuso elakhiwa ngokushesha, elokuqala ngqá eYurophu.

Ngonyaka olandelayo, izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane zasiza ekwakheni iHholo LoMbuso edolobheni laseWales iDolgellau. Manje lo msebenzi waphothulwa ngezinsuku ezimbili esikhundleni sezine. OFakazi bendawo abangu-33 basizwa abanye baseWales, eNgilandi nase-United States. Abazalwane baseFrance naseNetherlands nabo babekhona bezobona ukuthi kwakhiwa kanjani, futhi lapho befika emakhaya, baqala ukufundisa abanye ukuthi bangazisebenzisa kanjani izindlela ezifanayo.

Usizo lwabazalwane baphesheya lwabazuzisa oFakazi BakaJehova baseBrithani, futhi nabo bazinikela ukuze basize abanye. Amabandla amabili aseKing’s Lynn, eNorfolk, akwenza ngendlela engajwayelekile lokhu. Ngo-1986 la mabandla ayematasa elungiselela ukwakha iHholo LoMbuso elisha elalizothatha indawo yesakhiwo samapulangwe ayesisebenzisa. Lapho ezwa ukuthi iBandla LaseCobh, e-Ireland, laliqhubela imihlangano egalaji, kube nabantu abangu-45 kuya ku-50, anquma ukusiza. Anikela ngesakhiwo sawo esidala nakho konke okwakukuso, kuhlanganise nezihlalo nemishini ye-sound, koFakazi baseCobh. Lapho bethola ukuthi amafasitela ayedinga izinhlaka ezintsha, abazalwane balapha banikela ngokwanele ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezindleko. Amabandla aseduze anikela ngemali yophahla olusha. Ngaphezu kwakho konke lokhu, abazalwane baseNorfolk bakhokha zonke izindleko zokuthumela le mpahla.

“Ukuqaqa leli hholo kwaba umsebenzi onzima,” kukhumbula uPeter Rose, umbonisi owengamele eKing’s Lynn. “Ingxenye ngayinye kwakumelwe iqaqwe ngaphandle kokuyilimaza, ibhalwe inombolo, kamuva zihlanganiswe futhi.” Ngo-May 1986, lapho sebeqedile ukuqaqa, balayisha zonke izingxenye ebhokisini elikhulu bazithumela ngomkhumbi, zawela i-Irish Sea zaya eCobh. Abazalwane baseCobh bahlela ukwakha ihholo labo elisha ngempelasonto ka-June 7 no-8—ngesikhathi esifanayo naleso abazalwane baseKing’s Lynn ababezokwakha ngaso iHholo LoMbuso labo elisha. Womabili la maHholo OMbuso aqedwa ngaleyo mpelasonto.

Ukwenza Kutholakale Izimali Nosizo Lwabantu Abanolwazi

INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yaseBrithani ka-April 1987 yayinesenezelo esasikhuluma ngokumiswa kweSikhwama SeNhlangano SamaHholo OMbuso ukuze “kube khona izimali ezanele” zokwakha izakhiwo ezintsha nokuthenga izakhiwo zilungiswe. Ngale ndlela kwaba nokulinganiswa kwezimali. (2 Kor. 8:14) Lesi sihloko saphetha: “Nakuba sibubona ubukhulu bomsebenzi okumelwe wenziwe futhi siyazisa iminikelo emikhulu eyenziwe amabandla (nayenzayo) emaHholo OMhlangano amasha, kumelwe sithembele ngokuphelele kuJehova ukuba asisize sihlangabezane nesidingo samaHholo OMbuso.—IzAga 3:5, 6.”

Ngonyaka olandelayo, iNdikimba Ebusayo, ngehhovisi legatsha, yahlela ukuba kube namakomiti abazalwane ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zezwe ukuze babelane ngolwazi futhi basize ekuhleleni ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso. Ngo-1998, amaKomiti Okwakha Esifunda angu-16 ayesemisiwe. La makomiti asesizile kakade ekwakhiweni nasekulungisweni kwamaHholo OMbuso angaphezu kuka-700 eBrithani.

Iningi labazalwane abakhonza kula makomiti linemikhaya eliyinakekelayo. Abanye baye bakwazi ukuchitha isikhathi esiningi kulo msebenzi; abanye esingaphansi. UMichael Harvey, ubaba wezingane ezinhlanu, ebambisene nomkakhe, uJean, bakhetha ukubeka ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso kuqala kunezinye izinto. Le ndoda nomkayo baye bafunda ukubaluleka kweseluleko sikaJesu sokubeka uMbuso kuqala ekuphileni kwabo. (Math. 6:33) “Amazwi kaJesu asenencazelo entsha kithina,” kusho uMichael. “UJehova akakaze nanini asilahle.” UJean uyavuma: “Ngesikhathi uRachel, enye yamadodakazi ethu, eneminyaka engaba ngu-9 ubudala, wayekhula ngamandla eshiywa izingubo. Ngangingenayo imali yokumthengela ezintsha, ngakho sazama ukuciciyela ngokulungisa izingubo nokuzivula ukuze zimlingane. Kwathi kusele usuku kube umhlangano wethu wesifunda, udadewabo kaMichael wasithumelela izingubo ezimbili ezintsha ayezithenge endalini. Zamlingana kahle uRachel—futhi zazifike kahle ngesikhathi somhlangano!” Ngesikhathi amadodana abo amabili esebenza emsebenzini wokwakha, uJean namantombazane babehlanza indlu futhi benze neminye imisebenzi yokwakha. “Ukusebenza kwethu esakhiweni kusenza sibe nobunye,” kuchaza uMichael. “Ngempela, kungumsebenzi womkhaya.”

Kwamanye amaHholo OMbuso akhiwa ngawo-1980, izisebenzi zokwakha ezazisebenza zazingamakhulu noma izinkulungwane. Ngenjongo yokwenza lula umsebenzi, uMfoweth’ uHarvey waya eDenmark eyobonisana nabazalwane ababesebenza emaHholo OMbuso. Olunye usizo lwavela nalapho iNhlangano itshela amabandla ukuthi lapho kudingeka amaHholo OMbuso amasha, iNhlangano yayingasikisela amapulani asekhona kakade. Ngenxa yalokho, kudingeka izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezimbalwa, umsebenzi usunciphe kakhulu, futhi kulo lonke elaseBrithani sekwakhiwe amaHholo OMbuso akahle nafanelekayo.

Ingaphezu Kokuba Indaba Emnandi

Umzamo wokubambisana wokwakha iHholo LoMbuso nejubane elakhiwa ngalo kunikeza ubufakazi obuhle emphakathini. Ngokuvamile amaphephandaba ayabika ngalokho okusuke kwenziwe. Ngo-1990, uVictor Lagden, umthwebuli we-Evening Echo, iphephandaba lendawo, walandisa ngokwakhiwa kwehholo elisha okwathatha izinsuku ezintathu eCanvey Island, engxenyeni esenyakatho yeThames Estuary. Lapho efika esakhiweni ngoLwesihlanu ekuseni, wathola izinto zokwakha nje kuphela. Esicabheni senqodlana ethile kwakunombhalo othi “Ihhovisi Labezindaba.” “Kwakuwukuphela kwento eyisakhiwo eyayimile ngaleso sikhathi,” kukhumbula uVictor. “Kodwa okwangihlaba umxhwele kakhulu kwakuyizisebenzi zokwakha—amadoda nabesifazane, abasha nabadala, besebenza ndawonye.” UVictor wathwebula isithombe sesiza wabe esehamba. Wacela kumhleli wephephandaba ukuba aphindele esizeni ngezikhathi ezithile phakathi nempelasonto ukuze abone ukuthi lokho okwakushiwo oFakazi ukuthi bazokwakha ihholo ngezinsuku ezintathu kwakuyiqiniso yini. Yena nezinye izintatheli ezintathu baqapha inqubekela phambili yalo msebenzi.

NgeSonto, uVictor waba khona emhlanganweni wokuqala ngqá owaqhutshwa kuleli hholo elisha. Umphumela waba ukuthi ephephandabeni lakhe kwaba khona amakhasi amabili ahlangene, enesihloko esithi “UJehova Omkhulu!” Kamuva omunye wabadala bebandla wavakashela uVictor. Kwaqalwa isifundo seBhayibheli naye. “Phakathi namasonto amathathu,” kulandisa uVictor, “ngafunda igama likaNkulunkulu, futhi esikhundleni sokucela nje kuphela lapho ngithandaza, manje ngase ngibonga—ngibonga uJehova.” UVictor usenguFakazi KaJehova obhapathiziwe.

‘Ukwanuleka’

Phakathi nawo-1970 nawo-1980, kwafakazwa kakhulu kubantu abayizifiki eBrithani—kufakaza ikakhulu oFakazi kwabona ababeyizifiki ababekhuluma izilimi ezihlukahlukene. Kodwa kwakudingeka usizo olwengeziwe.

Ngo-1993 abantu abayizigidi ezimbili base-Asia babehlala eBrithani, oyedwa kubantu abangu-28. Abaningi babeqhamuke ezwekazini laseNdiya; abanye bevela eMpumalanga Afrika. Kakade kwase kunabamemezeli abakhuluma isiPunjabi abangu-500 nabakhuluma isiGujarati abangu-150 behlanganyela emabandleni esiNgisi, futhi beqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingaphezu kuka-500 ngalezo zilimi. Kodwa izifiki zazingalitholi zonke ithuba lokuzuza ezindabeni ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Liqaphela ukuthi umuntu okhuluma isiNgisi kuphela angazenyeza lapho ezama ukufakaza kubantu bolunye ulimi namasiko, ihhovisi legatsha lanxusa oFakazi bendawo ukuba bandise uthando lwabo ngabantu bazo zonke izinhlanga nomoya ofana nokaKristu ekunakekeleni inhlalakahle yabanye. Bakhuthazwa ukuba ‘banuleke.’ (2 Kor. 6:11-13; Fil. 2:1-4) INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yachaza: “Sifuna abantu abasensimini yethu bayizwe imfudumalo nesithakazelo uJesu Kristu asibonisa enkonzweni yakhe.” OFakazi baseBrithani batshelwa: “Empeleni sesinensimu enkulu yezithunywa zevangeli!”

Ukuze babonise ukubakhathalela labo abakhuluma ezinye izilimi, bonke oFakazi eBrithani bakhuthazwa ukuba badlulisele izifiki abazithola emasimini abo emabandleni akhuluma izilimi zazo. Ngaleyo ndlela, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uFakazi uyakwazi yini ukukhuluma olunye ulimi noma cha, bonke babengahlanganyela ekunakekeleni insimu enkulu yezithunywa zevangeli eyayisifinyelele eNgilandi. Eqinisweni, amasimu amabandla akhuluma ezinye izilimi akhiwa ikakhulu abantu abasuke bedluliselwé kuwo.

Umphumela waba ukuthi ngo-1996, uGrace Li wavakashela umuzi wentokazi evela eVietnam ehlala eNewcastle eTyne, enyakatho-mpumalanga yeNgilandi. Lona wesifazane ukhuluma isiShayina. UGrace wamukelwa ngemfudumalo futhi washeshe wangeniswa endlini. Wathola ukuthi lona wesifazane wayengumbaleki owayehlupheke kakhulu phakathi nempi yaseVietnam. Wayeseneminyaka engaba yishumi ehlala eNgilandi, kodwa wayengakasazi kahle isiNgisi. Wachazela uGrace ukuthi izikhathi eziningi wayecishe waphelelwa yithemba nokuthi wayengenabani angakhalela kuye.

Watshela uGrace nokuthi eminyakeni emine ngaphambili wayethole incwadi enezithombe eziningi ezinhle kodwa wayengayizwa ngoba wayengakwazi ukufunda isiNgisi. Nokho, kwakuthi lapho ecindezelekile, abuke izithombe, ngoba zazimsiza adambise ukucindezeleka futhi zazimenza agcwale ithemba. Wakhipha incwadi eshalofini, wayinika uGrace, wambuza ukuthi angamfundela yini yona ukuze ezwe ukuthi iphetheni. Kwakuyincwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni! UGrace waphendula ngokuthi angenza okungcono kunokumfundela incwadi yesiNgisi. Wavula isikhwama sakhe wakhipha yona le ncwadi ngesiShayina. Le ntokazi ayizange ikholwe. Ekugcineni yayisingawufunda umyalezo weBhayibheli! Yasamukela ngokushesha isifundo seBhayibheli.

Njengengxenye ‘yokwanuleka,’ ihhovisi legatsha lagxila ngokukhethekile ekusizeni amaqembu abantu bendabuko akhule ngokomoya futhi akwazi ukuhlela izinto. UColin Seymour nomkakhe u-Olive, base bechithe iminyaka engu-20 behambela amabandla kulo lonke elaseBrithani. Bobabili babebonisa isithakazelo esiqotho kulabo ababebakhonza, futhi lokhu kwakube sobala ikakhulukazi lapho behambela amabandla aseziqhingini zaseMalta naseGozo, eMediterranean Sea. Esifundweni babezama nokuphendula ngolimi lwaseMalta, okwenza abazalwane bendawo babathanda.

Ngo-September 1994, uColin wamiswa njengombonisi wesifunda wamaqembu angakhulumi isiNgisi namanye amabandla ezinye izilimi kulo lonke elaseNgilandi. Wayecubungula intuthuko yeqembu ngalinye, lithuthukela ekubeni yibandla, aqinise namabandla ayesekhona kakade. Nakuba ekuqaleni lesi sifunda sasisincane kunazo zonke—sinamabandla angu-12 kuphela anabamemezeli abangu-750—eminyakeni emithathu sathuthuka saba esikhulu kunazo zonke, sinabamemezeli abangu-1 968, abangu-388 bekhonza njengamaphayona. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi inani lezifunda zezinye izilimi liye landa lafinyelela kwezintathu.

Ukufunda Ulimi Olusha

Ukuze bahlanganyele amaqiniso eBhayibheli anikeza ukuphila nezifiki ezikhuluma ezinye izilimi, abanye oFakazi baseBrithani baye bathatha isinyathelo kuqala sokufunda olunye ulimi. Phakathi kwabo kuno-Elisabeth Emmott, oye waphayona ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zaseNgilandi. Waqale wazama ukufunda isiPunjabi ngenjongo yokusiza abantu ensimini yakhe. Kwathi ngo-1976, esabelweni esisha, waqala ukufunda isi-Urdu. Wabe esefunda isiGujarati. Ukuze asize abathakazelayo, wayeye afune abamemezeli abangamaNdiya nabasePakistan emihlanganweni emikhulu. Ukuba khona emhlanganweni omkhulu eRussia ngo-1993 kwaba isiqalo kuClifton no-Amanda Banks. Sebebuyele ekhaya, bathola izinto zokufunda isiRashiya emtapweni wezincwadi, bathuthela endaweni enabantu abakhuluma isiRashiya, baqala ukuphayona nebandla lesiRashiya lapho. Kodwa akulula ukuba umuntu athole isikhathi sokufunda ulimi ebe enakekela imithwalo yemfanelo yokuziphilisa nomkhaya, futhi ematasa ebandleni nasenkonzweni yasensimini.

Ngenxa yesidingo esikhethekile eNgilandi, kwakhuthazwa amaphayona ayefuna ukwandisa inkonzo yawo ngale ndlela. Ngaphandle kokuyeka inkonzo yawo yokuphayona, afunda imithetho eyisisekelo yolimi. Ukuze afunde kahle, amanye amaphayona athatha izifundo ezimbalwa zokufunda izinto eziyisisekelo zolimi lwawo olusha—kwaba nemiphumela emihle.

UChristine Flynn, oseneminyaka engu-21 ephayona, kanye namanye amaphayona angu-7 banquma ukubhalisela ukufunda isiGujarati ngo-1996/97. Othisha kwakungumbhangqwana wamaNdiya owamangala lapho abafundi abangamaNgisi abaningi kangako bethatha lezi zifundo. “Bashintsha izinto eziningi ukuze basisize,” kuxoxa uChristine. “Bangisiza ekulungiseleleni izintshumayelo zasensimini baze baba khona nakweminye imihlangano.”

Cishe ngaso leso sikhathi, uChristine waqala umsebenzi wokuziphilisa omusha. Lapho ayesebenza khona, watholana nentombi ekhuluma isiGujarati. Lapho uChristine eyibingelela ngesiGujarati, le ntombi yabonisa ukumangala, futhi yafuna ukwazi isizathu sokuba afunde lolu limi. UChristine wayichazela futhi wayinika ubufakazi obuhle, le ntombi yaphendula kanje: ‘Ayikho enye inkolo engakhuthaza amalungu ayo ukuba afunde ulimi olunzima kangaka. Kumelwe ukuba ngempela ninento ebalulekile enifuna ukuyisho.’

UPauline Duncan, naye oyiphayona, wazikhandla efunda isiBengali ngo-1994. Waqale wakuthola kunzima kakhulu. “Ngiye nganxusa uJehova izikhathi eziningi ngezinyembezi, ngimtshela indlela olunzima ngayo lolu limi nokuthi kwakuthi angiyeke phansi,” evuma. “Kodwa ngomoya ongcwele kaJehova, kanye nokuzimisela nomzamo engangiwenza, sengidlulile esigabeni esinzima futhi ngiyajabula ngokuthi angiyekanga ngoba manje ngithola imiphumela emihle kakhulu.” Ngokuqondene nomphumela ukufunda kwakhe isiBengali okube nawo kubantu abavakashelayo, uBeverley Crook, elinye iphayona, uthi: “Selokhu ngifunde ulimi olusha, inkonzo yami ishintshe ngokuphelele. Abantu abakhuluma isiBengali bayazi ukuthi kumelwe ukuba siyabathanda ngoba siye sazinika isikhathi sokufunda ulimi lwabo.”

UJennifer Charles, iphayona lakwelinye lamabandla esiFulentshi lapho kunababaleki abaningi abavela eDemocratic Republic of Congo uthi: “Ukufunda ulimi olusha kungisizile ngaqonda indlela abazizwa ngayo labo abasensimini yami uma befika ezweni bengakwazi ukukhuluma ulimi lwakhona.”

Sekuyiminyaka eminingi manje amaphayona amaningi, kuhlanganise nodade abangashadile abakwazi ukukhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona, bekhuthazwa ukuba baxoxe nababonisi babo besifunda ngokuthuthela emabandleni aseduze okunendingeko kuwo. Amanye aye akhetha ukufunda ulimi olusha ukuze asize ensimini yolunye ulimi. Endaweni emaphakathi neLondon, odade abangamaphayona abangaphezu kwekhulu bakwenzile lokhu. Inkonzo yabo phakathi kwalabo abakhuluma ezinye izilimi iye yaba nezithelo. Ngosizo lwabo, abaningi baye bafunda iBhayibheli baya nasemihlanganweni yobuKristu.

Lapho Umoya Wezithunywa Zevangeli Uqhubeka

Ngezizathu ezihlukahlukene, abanye ababeyizithunywa zevangeli bakuthole kudingekile ukuba babuyele eBrithani. Abaningi babo baye baqhubeka benza umsebenzi omuhle.

Ngemva kweminyaka engu-14 besenkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli, uWilfred noGwen Gooch basuka eNigeria beza egatsheni laseLondon ngo-1964. Akukona ukuthi babenganelisekile enkonzweni eNigeria; babeyithanda. Kodwa uWilfred wayabelwe ukuba anakekele ukuqondiswa kwegatsha laseBrithani. Kodwa, ngenxa yesimo sabo sengqondo esihle, bakwazi ukukhuthaza amaphayona amaningi eNgilandi ukuba azenze atholakalele inkonzo nganoma iyiphi indlela uJehova angaqondisa ngayo ngenhlangano yakhe. UWilfred wayevame ukuthi: “Uma uyisithunywa sevangeli ungafunda okuningi ngonyaka owodwa kunalokho ongakufunda ngeminyaka engu-30 uyiphayona.” Wayengasho ukuthi ungafunda okuningi ngemiBhalo, kodwa okuningi ngawe, ngokuphila nangendlela ongaphilisana ngayo nabafowenu nodadewenu.

UJohn noPat Barker, abafundi abaphothula ekilasini lama-45 laseGileyadi, baphindela eNgilandi lapho sebezoba abazali. Kodwa babesebenze kanzima ukuze bafunde isiMandarin ngenjongo yokufakaza kumaShayina aseTaiwan. Sebephindele eNgilandi, babehlala bebheka amaShayina ababengahlanganyela nawo izindaba ezinhle. Ngemva kokuba izingane zabo sezikhulile zashada, bobabili babhalisa njengamaphayona avamile futhi manje bajabulela inkonzo ethelayo ebandleni elineqembu lesiMandarin edolobheni laseBirmingham eMidlands. Iningana labantu ababafundele liphindele eChina selinolwazi olwanele lweqiniso.

UDavid Shepherd, owayeyisithunywa sevangeli eGhana, usenenkosikazi nezingane ezintathu. Kodwa usaqhubeka nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Kwenziwe yini lokhu? Uyachaza: “Ukubona ukuthi abafowethu eGhana banezinto ezincane kangakanani kwangisiza ngazama ukugcina ukuphila kwami kulula ngangokunokwenzeka.”

Izakhiwo Ezanele Umsebenzi

Izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezinyathelisiwe zifeze indima esemqoka ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, igatsha laseLondon lafeza indima ebalulekile ekusakazeni kwamanye amazwe ukudla okungokomoya okunjalo okunikeza ukuphila. Okuningi kwako kwaya emazweni ase-Afrika; okunye kwaze kwafinyelela nase-Australia.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, amanye amagatsha anyathelisayo enza lo msebenzi wokunyathelisa omagazini, kwathi indawo yokunyathelisa eLondon yagxila ekunyatheliseni isiNgisi, isiDashi nesiSwahili. Noma kunjalo imishini emibili yokunyathelisa yohlobo lwe-MAN eNgilandi yayingakutholi ukuphumula. Ukuze kufezwe lo msebenzi, ngo-1977, njalo ngesonto lesithathu omunye wale mishini wawusebenza nasebusuku.

Kwase kuyisikhathi sokwandisa izakhiwo zeNhlangano eLondon. E-Watch Tower House eyayiseMill Hill, eyayisetshenziswa kusukela ekupheleni kwawo-1950, yayingasekho indawo eyanele yokunakekela umsebenzi wokunyathelisa owawenziwa igatsha. Imithetho yokwakha ayikuvumelanga ukwandisa ifektri e-Watch Tower House, ngakho iNdikimba Ebusayo yavuma ukuba kuthuthwe ifektri iyiswe kwenye indawo futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo kunwetshwe ikhaya laseBethel ukuze likwazi ukuhlalisa inani elandayo labazalwane ababedingeka kulo msebenzi.

Ekugcineni, kwatholakala indawo yefektri engamamitha-skwele angu-3 000 eWembley, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-13. Lesi sakhiwo esinesitezi sasinendawo eyanele yefektri enkudlwana kanye nendawo yokuhlala, ikhishi, indlu yokudlela nendawo okufikela kuyo izivakashi. Ifektri yathuthela kule ndawo ngo-1980, kwenezelwa umshini wokunyathelisa wohlobo lwe-Harris emishinini ekhona, futhi phakathi neminyaka emibili ukukhiqizwa komagazini kwaminyaka yonke kwafinyelela ku-38 328 000.

Ngaleso sikhathi, umsebenzi wawuqhubeka ophikweni olusha lwe-Watch Tower House eMill Hill, kwaba namanye amakamelo angu-41 omkhaya waseBethel, kanye nendlu yokudlela nekhishi elinwetshiwe. UJohn Andrews, umbonisi wesigodi owayenolwazi lokuklama, wabizelwa eBethel ukuze asebenze neqembu elalenza lo msebenzi. OFakazi basezingxenyeni eziningi zezwe bazinikela ngokuzithandela ukuze basebenze ngezimpelasonto. Nakuba lalikhithike kakhulu futhi kunamakhaza ashubisa umkantsha phakathi nobusika bango-1981/82, umsebenzi waqhubeka ngokushesha. Kwaqashwa izinkontileka eziningana okungezona ezoFakazi ezasebenza nabazalwane. Ngeminyaka engaphezudlwana nje kwemibili, uphiko olusha lwesakhiwo lwase lulungele ukusetshenziswa. Lokhu kwakungesikhathi sesinye isenzakalo esivelele.

Umsebenzi Omkhulu

Ngo-June 1982 iNdikimba Ebusayo yamukela isicelo esasivela eKomitini Yegatsha sokuba umhlangano waminyaka yonke we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania uqhutshelwe eBrithani ngo-1983. Lesi senzakalo sasibaluleke ngezindlela ezimbili ngoba igatsha lalihlele ukunikezela iBethel yaseLondon enwetshiwe ngempelasonto okwakuzoqhutshwa ngayo lo mhlangano waminyaka yonke.

“Langa limbe ngehora lesishiyagalombili ekuseni ngathola ucingo luvela kuPeter Ellis eBethel,” kukhumbula uDennis Loft. “Wangicela ukuba ngiqashe iDe Montfort Hall ngiyiqashele u-October 1.” Umhlangano ongasoze walitshalwa wawuqhutshelwe lapha ngo-September 2-10, 1941, lapho kwakhululwa khona incwadi ethi Children. Ngaleso sikhathi, maphakathi neMpi Yezwe II, ngesikhathi abazalwane abalondoloza ngaso ukuma kwesibindi kokungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu, u-Albert D. Schroeder, manje oyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, wayeyinceku yegatsha eBrithani. Yeka isenzakalo esimnandi lo mhlangano waminyaka yonke owawuzoba yiso kwasebekhulile ababesaphila ukuba bavuselele ubungane nezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile zakudala!

Umhlangano waminyaka yonke wango-1983 wawungowokuqala ukuba uqhutshelwe ngaphandle kwaseNyakatho Melika. Kwahlelwa ukuba isimiso saseLeicester sixhunywe neHholo LoMhlangano LaseDudley eMidlands. Ngale ndlela abazalwane abengeziwe babengasijabulela lesi senzakalo. Kwaqale kwamenywa abase beneminyaka engu-40 noma ngaphezulu bekhonza uJehova. Kwathunyelwa umyalezo emagatsheni aseYurophu, kumenywa amalungu emikhaya yaseBethel ukuba abe khona ngale mpelasonto. Kwasheshe kwahlaluka ukuthi indawo yayingeke yanele eBethel yaseLondon ukuze kuhlaliswe zonke lezi zihambeli zaseYurophu. Kwabe sekwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba kumiswe umnyango wokuhlela izindawo zokuhlalisa zonke izivakashi.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uMfoweth’ uLoft wakhuluma noMkhandlu WeDolobha LaseLeicester, kodwa watshelwa ukuthi enye yezinkampani ezinkulu kuleli dolobha yayizoba nomcimbi ngaleyo mpelasonto esasilifuna ngayo ihholo. Lapho ebuzabuza imibuzo, uDennis wathola ukuthi empeleni lo mcimbi wawuzoba ngo-September 30, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi kwakuzoba nomsebenzi omkhulu wokuhlanza kamuva, leli hholo laliqashelwe ukusetshenziswa nangakusasa. “Uma kuyithina esizohlanza indawo, singakwazi ukuyithola ngo-October 1?” kubuza uDennis. Umphathi wavuma, kwathi gidi kuDennis, nakuba ngaleso sikhathi ayengaqondi ngempela ukuthi lo msebenzi wawuzoba mkhulu kangakanani.

Phakathi kwamabili ngo-September 30, abazalwane abangu-400 baqala ukusebenza bekhuculula imfucumfucu, behlelwe baba amaqembu anokaputeni. Basusa amatafula bafaka izihlalo ezingu-3 000 belungiselela lo mhlangano. Kwakuwumsebenzi omkhulu ukuba ungenziwa ngamahora angu-8 kuphela. UDennis uyakhumbula: “Isici esiphawulekayo sasiwukuthi kulaba bazalwane babembalwa kakhulu ababemenyelwe lo mhlangano waminyaka yonke, kodwa ukuba nengxenye nje, ngisho ngokulungiselela, basakhuluma ngakho nanamuhla.” Abazalwane bafaka ukhaphethi esiteji, babeka izimbali emaphethelweni aso. Ngo-8:00 ekuseni, ihholo lase limi ngomumo. Izisebenzi zakuleli hholo zabuka zimangele. Abazalwane baqaphela ukuthi lo mhlangano wawuzoba okhetheke kakhulu. Abazange badumale.

Umhlangano Ongeke Ulibaleke

Phakathi kwabangu-3 671 ababekhona edilini elingokomoya eLeicester kwakunezihambeli ezingu-693 zivela emagatsheni angu-37. Iningi lababekhona kwakungabazalwane nodade abagcotshiwe. UReg Kellond, waseTelford no-Emma Burnell, wasePaignton, bobabili ababeneminyaka engu-99 ubudala, babeyizihambeli ezikhule kunazo zonke kwezazivela eBrithani. UJanet Tait, waseGlasgow, noMary Grant, u-Edith Guiver noRobert Warden, ngamunye wabo owayeneminyaka engu-80 noma engu-90 ephila, babethole iqiniso ngaphambi kweMpi Yezwe I. Yeka okuhlangenwe nakho ekuphileni ngamunye ayekutholile enkonzweni kaJehova! Bahlanganyela emsebenzini wokufakaza ngesikhathi inani labadumisi bakaJehova eBrithani lenyuka lisuka ezinkulungwaneni ezimbalwa liya ku-92 320. Babelindele ngokuzimisela ukuzwa isikhuthazo amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo ayezosinikeza.

U-Albert D. Schroeder wakhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Qhubekani Nithemba UJehova Ukuze Ningakhathali,” sisekelwe ku-Isaya 40:31. Waxoxa nanabanye abazalwane abathembekile: uRobert Warden noHarold Rabson, bobabili bangabaseGlasgow futhi babhapathizwa ngo-1913 omunye ngo-1914; uRobert Anderson, owayephayone iminyaka engu-51; u-Ernie Beavor, owayekade engumbonisi wesifunda iminyaka engu-17 nozingane zakhe ezintathu zaziye zaba senkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli. Bonke bakhuluma ngentshiseko ngeminyaka yabo eminingi besenkonzweni kaJehova. UDaniel Sydlik, elinye ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, wakhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Okuhle Kakhulu Kuseza.” Kwakuyinkulumo abazalwane abasayikhumbula nanamuhla.

“Mzukwane sithola izimemo,” kubhala omunye umzalwane, “kwabuya izinkumbulo zomhlangano omuhle wangesikhathi sempi eDe Montfort Hall ngo-1941. Ngokuqinisekile lowo mhlangano, owaqhutshwa ngesikhathi iBrithani idwengulwa yimpi, wawumuhle kunayo yonke esasike saya kuyo—kodwa ‘omuhle kakhulu wawusazoza.’ Sahamba kulo mhlangano izinhliziyo zichichima ukubonga uJehova, sizimisele ukuqhubeka sithembekile kuMdali wethu; eNkosini yakhe, uKristu Jesu; nasenhlanganweni yaKhe okusobala kangaka ukuthi uyayisebenzisa.”

Ngemva kwalo mbuthano izihambeli eziningi zaya eLondon ziyojabulela isimiso sokunikezela iBethel eyandisiwe. Izimiso zaxhunywa ngocingo eHholo LoMhlangano LaseNorth London, okwenza abantu abengeziwe bakwazi ukulalela inkulumo yokunikezela eyayinikezwa uFrederick Franz, owayengumongameli weNhlangano ngaleso sikhathi.

Indawo Engcono Yokunyathelisa

Izakhiwo zegatsha zazingakabi sesimweni esihle. I-Watch Tower House yayiseMill Hill, kodwa ifektri iqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-13, iseWembley. Abazalwane baseBethel abangu-25 kuya kwabangu-30 babeya khona njalo beyosebenza.

Eminyakeni ethile ngaphambili, uN. H. Knorr, owayengumongameli weNhlangano ngaleso sikhathi, wayeqaphele ukuthi isakhiwo senkampani i-U.K. Optical nesingaphesheya komgwaqo uma use-Watch Tower House sasingaba yindawo ekahle yokunyathelisa. Kodwa ngaleso sikhathi sasingatholakali. Kodwa ngo-September 1986, emhlanganweni owawuhlelwe abePosi, uPhilip Harris, umqondisi woMnyango Wokuthumela Izincwadi, wezwa ukuthi i-U.K. Optical yayiyishiya le ndawo eseBittacy Hill. Masinyane kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba kutholakale le ndawo engamahektare amabili. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili yayisithengiwe, ngesikhathi esifanayo, izingxoxo zokudayisa ifektri eseWembley zazihambe kahle. Kwabe sekuqalwa ukwakhiwa kwefektri entsha.

Okokuqala, izakhiwo ezindala ezingemva kwendawo yaseBittacy Hill zadilizwa ukuze kuvuleke indawo yefektri entsha. Njengoba kwakuqhubeka kumbiwa, abazalwane bathola ukuthi le ndawo yayikade isetshenziswe njengendawo yokulahla izibi ezazivela ezimbonini. Lapho imfucumfucu isisuswe yonke, kwabonakala ukuthi emapulanini esakhiwo kunganezelwa amanye amakamelo ngaphansi. Izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingaphezu kuka-5 000, zivela eBrithani naphesheya kwezilwandle, zachitha amahora angaphezu kwengxenye yesigidi kulo msebenzi. Umphumela kwaba ifektri enhle negalaji okungasebenza iminyaka eminingi.

Ingxenye yesibili yomsebenzi wokwakha yahilela ukudiliza isakhiwo sehhovisi nesefektri se-U.K. Optical ukuze kuvuleke indawo yokwakha ihhovisi elisha. Ukuze isakhiwo sethu sifane nezinye izakhiwo endaweni, umasipala wendawo wagcizelela ukuthi isakhiwo sethu esisha samahhovisi masakhiwe ngezitini. Lokhu kwenziwa ngokuba kusetshenziswe izitini ezisikiwe zase zifakwa kuma-panel kakhonkolo. I-IBSA House yasheshe yama njengoba ama-panel ayo angu-157 akhiwe ngezitini ayefakwa ezindaweni zawo. Imenenja yenkampani ethile eyafika esizeni ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho yabuza ukuthi sinomeselandi abangaki. Yayicabanga ukuthi “okungenani bangu-50.” Yanikina ikhanda ingakholwa lapho izwa ukuthi abesifazane abayisithupha namadoda amabili ababenze wonke lo msebenzi!

Ngo-1993 leli hhovisi elisha nefektri okusesiqongweni seBittacy Hill kwase kulungele ukusetshenziswa. Kwanikezelwa ngesikhathi kuhambele u-Albert D. Schroeder weNdikimba Ebusayo. Ngaleso sikhathi babengu-127 395 ababehlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini ezweni lonke—isizathu sokwethaba ngempela!

Ukusiza Amanye Amazwe

Igatsha leNhlangano eJalimane lasiza ekunyatheliseni omagazini besiNgisi ngesikhathi kuthuthwa izakhiwo zokunyathelisa zisuka eWembley ziya endaweni entsha e-IBSA House. Kodwa ngokushesha imisebenzi yokunyathelisa yaphinde yaqalwa eLondon, futhi amashumi ezigidi zomagazini abanamaqiniso anikeza ukuphila ayegobhoza ephuma emishinini efektri yethu entsha.

Nakuba iqhelelene neMpumalanga Afrika, sekuyisikhathi eside indawo yokunyathelisa yaseLondon ikhiqizela leyo ngxenye yomhlaba omagazini njalo. Omagazini besiNgisi nabesiSwahili bathunyelwa besuka lapha njalo. Iziqhingi zaseCaribbean nazo zithola omagazini bazo eBrithani. Sekuyiminyaka eminingi imikhumbi ethwala ubhanana iletha impahla ogwini lwasentshonalanga yeBrithani isuka eWest Indies. Iphindela emuva ithwele imithwalo eya kulezi ziqhingi, futhi njalo nje kusuke kukhona nomagazini abathuthwa mahhala ngenxa yegama elihle iNhlangano enalo.

Lapho uMnyango Wokuthumela Izincwadi upakisha imithwalo esuke izothunyelwa ngezinqola, isikhala esisalayo sisetshenziselwa ukuthumela izinto ezihlukahlukene ezidingwa abazalwane ezindaweni ezikhungethwe ububha. Izihlalo ezingasebenzi ezingamashumi ezinkulungwane ezivela emaHholo OMbuso ezweni lonke ziye zathuthwa ngale ndlela zaya emazweni anjengeLiberia, iMozambique, iSenegal, iTanzania neZambia. Zisetshenziswa amabandla agcwele pháma abantu abathakazelayo abafuna ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Lapho izimo ezibangelwa impi eBosnia ngo-1994 zidinga ukuba kwenziwe imisebenzi yokusiza abafowethu lapho, igatsha lase-Austria lakujabulela ukunikela ngokudla, izingubo nezinye izimpahla. Kodwa lapho iziphathimandla zaseBosnia zithi ngesikhathi esilandelayo kumelwe izimpahla zithunyelwe enhlanganweni ebhaliswe ngokomthetho, igatsha laseBrithani lacelwa ukuba lisize. Kwalungiswa izincwadi zomthetho ngesiNgisi nangesiCroatia, zayiswa kubameli, zathunyelwa ngezithunywa. Uhide lwezimoto ezazithwele izimpahla zosizo lwase lusukile kakade eVienna ngesikhathi izincwadi zifika. Behamba ngemoto, abazalwane bafica lolu hide emngceleni, babanika izincwadi zomthetho, ngaso kanye isikhathi sokuba lezi zimpahla zosizo zidlule emngceleni!

Ngo-August 1998, ngesikhathi kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba umsebenzi wokunyathelisa usuke eFrance wenziwe eNgilandi, amalungu angu-50 omkhaya waseBethel eLouviers athuthelwa eBethel yaseLondon ukuze asize njengoba kwase kunomsebenzi owengeziwe. Ngemva kwezingxoxo eziningi, ngo-1999 kwathuthwa umshini omkhulu wokunyathelisa neminye imishini yokunyathelisa isuka eLouviers iya eLondon. Nakuba izisebenzi zaseBethel yaseFrance zazizama ukufunda isiNgisi nezaseBethel yaseBrithani zibhidilisha isiFulentshi, zonke zazimunye ekukhulumeni ‘ulimi oluhlanzekile,’ lweqiniso leBhayibheli futhi ngaleyo ndlela zakwazi ukusebenzisana ukuze zifeze imisebenzi edumisa uJehova.—Zef. 3:9.

Ukuyisa Usizo Eziqhingini

Eminyakeni edlule igatsha laseBrithani belilokhu linakekela umsebenzi wokushumayela eziqhingini ezisezindaweni ezihlukahlukene. Ezinye zazo ziphakathi kwalezi ezibizwa ngokuthi iBritish Isles. I-Isle of Wight, esogwini oluseningizimu, inamabandla akhiqizayo ayisikhombisa. I-Isle of Man, ese-Irish Sea, inebandla elithuthukayo labamemezeli abangu-190. IHebrides, esogwini olusentshonalanga yeScotland, inabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-60, abafakaza njalo emadolobheni amancane angawodwa. Iziqhingi zase-Orkney naseShetland, ezisechosheni elisenyakatho-mpumalanga yeScotland, zombili zinamabandla andayo anikeza ubufakazi kulabo abahlala eziqhingini. Empeleni amaphayona aseziQhingini zaseShetland andisa insimu yawo ize ifinyelele eNorth Sea lapho ehambela khona izikebhe zokudoba futhi eshumayeza amatilosi azo.

Amabandla amabili eGuernsey, esinye seziQhingi zaseChannel, afakaza eziqhingini ezincane zase-Alderney naseSark. Kuye kwadinga umzamo omkhulu lokhu. Ngokwesibonelo, izakhamuzi zaseSark—manje ezingu-575—ziye zathola ubufakazi izikhathi eziningi kusukela ekuqaleni kwawo-1980. Iphayona laseGuernsey elalishumayela eSark lahlangana nensizwa enina wayenguFakazi ndawana thize eBritish Isles. Ekuqaleni le nsizwa ayibonisanga sithakazelo, kodwa ngemva kwezingxoxo ezengeziwe, umbhangqwana ongoFakazi waqala isifundo nayo nentombi yayo—isifundo esasiqhutshwa ngeposi izikhathi eziningi. Amabandla aseGuernsey naseJersey ahlanganyela izindleko zokuthumela iphayona eSark nase-Alderney kanye ngenyanga. Ngosizo olunjalo eyayinikwa lona nesifundo esasiqhutshwa ngeposi, le nsizwa nentombi yayo bathuthuka kancane kancane. Ukuze anikeze usizo olwengeziwe, umdala othile wayeqhuba lesi sifundo ngocingo, esebenzisa incwadi ethi Ubunye Ekukhulekeleni Okuwukuphela KukaNkulunkulu Weqiniso. Ngo-April 1994, le nsizwa nale ntokazi, manje engumkayo, base bekulungele ukubhapathizwa. Okwamanje bazuza futhi bahlanganyele ezifundweni ngocingo uma isimo sezulu sibavimba ukuba bahambe olwandle baye eGuernsey. Ngempela, kwenziwa umzamo wokuzikhandla ukuze kusizwe bonke abantu bazuze ezindabeni ezinhle.

Amabandla amathathu ayathuthuka esiqhingini esiseduze saseJersey. La mabandla ashintshana nawaseGuernsey ngokuba izikhungo zomhlangano wesigodi waminyaka yonke oye ube noFakazi bendawo abangaba ngu-500 nezivakashi ezingaba inkulungwane zivela kwezinye izindawo zaseBrithani. Ngaphandle kwalokho, njengoba izisebenzi eziningi ezikhuluma isiPutukezi ziza kulesi siqhingi, abanye abamemezeli bendawo baye bafunda isiPutukezi ukuze bahlanganyele nazo isigijimi soMbuso ngendlela ephumelela kakhulu.

Kude lé kuneziQhingi zaseFalkland. Iningi labantu abangu-2 200 elihlala kulezi ziqhingi lidabuka eziQhingini zaseShetland nakwezinye izindawo zaseScotland. U-Arthur Nutter nomkakhe, kanye nezingane zabo, bathuthela eziQhingini zaseFalkland besuka eNgilandi ngo-1980 ukuze bahlanganyele ekufakazeni. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, ngenxa yezimo zezwe, kwabonakala kuwukuhlakanipha ukuba igatsha laseBrithani liqondise umsebenzi wokushumayela lapha. Nakuba iziQhingi zaseFalkland ziqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-13 000 eLondon, umbonisi wesifunda wayelihambela leli bandla elincane. IBrithani yaqhubeka iqondisa umsebenzi lapha iminyaka engu-15.

Njengoba bekunjalo eminyakeni eminingi kwengu-50 edlule, igatsha laseBrithani liqondisa nomsebenzi wabantu bakaJehova eMalta, phakathi neMediterranean Sea. Kulapha eMalta lapho umphostoli uPawulu aphukelwa khona umkhumbi elibangise eRoma cishe ngo-58 C.E. (IzE. 28:1) Eduzane kuneGozo, isiqhingi esincane nesincike eMalta. Namuhla, kuzo zombili kunamabandla athuthukayo abantu bakaJehova.

Nakuba kusukela ngo-1936 bekulokhu kunemibiko yokuthi kuyafakazwa eMalta, kwaze kwaba yiminyaka yawo-1970 lapho umsebenzi woMbuso wamiswa kahle khona phakathi kwabantu baseMalta. Kwenziwa imizamo ephindaphindiwe yokuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nabantu lapho, kodwa iSonto LamaRoma Katolika yilona elalilawula uhulumeni nokuphila kwabantu kwangasese.

UGesualda Lima wayeyintombazane eneminyaka engu-13 lapho eqala ukuzwa unina echazela umkhaya wakhe lokho ayekutshelwe umakhelwane owayengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Kwakungo-1970. “Kwakuyinto ekhethekile kimi ukuzwa igama elithi Jehova,” kukhumbula uGesualda. (IHu. 83:18) Kamuva abazali bakhe bamelana nokuthanda kwakhe isigijimi seBhayibheli. Ngokungesabi, waqhubeka nokufunda iBhayibheli, waqala ukuya emihlanganweni, wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova, futhi wabhapathizwa. Ngo-1981 washada no-Ignazio, isikhwishikhwishi somNtaliyane onentshiseko engacindezeleki. Bobabili baye baba nelungelo lokuba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele eMalta, futhi baye basiza abantu abangaba yikhulu ukuba bafunde iqiniso. Iningi labo abaseMalta.

UJoe Axiak, ongumenzi wamawashi, ungumuntu waseMalta onenhliziyo enhle nonomusa, owaqala ukuzwa ngeqiniso kwamalume wakhe. Kodwa njengoba ngaleso sikhathi ayeziphilela ukuphila kwakhe, uJoe wahamba kubo waya e-Australia. Lapho eqala ukuhlanganyela noFakazi BakaJehova lapho, omunye wabafowabo wamxwayisa: “Uma umama engezwa ukuthi uzoba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, uzofa, futhi ngizolishisa leli hholo uma uke waphinda waya khona.” Kodwa uJoe waphikelela, futhi kwaba nemiphumela emihle. Manje yena nabafowabo nodadewabo abangu-7 bakhonza uJehova, kuhlanganise nomfowabo owayemsongela.

Ngemva kokuba uJoe ephindele eMalta, washada, futhi yena nomkakhe, uJane, banquma ukusebenza insimu esesiqhingini saseGozo. Njalo ngezimpelasonto babeya khona ngesikebhe. Kodwa ngemva kokuzalwa kwendodana yabo uDavid, ukuhamba kwase kunzima, ngakho banquma ukuhlala eGozo. Ave bajabula lapho ngo-1984 kumiswa ibandla! Manje kunabamemezeli abangu-27 eGozo. Bahlanganyela eHholo LoMbuso labo futhi njalo bashumayeza abanye izindaba ezinhle.

Ukube Nje IbingesiMaltese

Ukukhuluma amaqiniso eBhayibheli ngolimi lwabo, isiMaltese, kuye kwasiza abantu abengeziwe bakulesi siqhingi ukuba bathuthuke ekuzuzeni ulwazi olunembile lukaJehova nezindlela zakhe.—Kol. 1:9, 10.

UHelen Massa, omunye wezifundo zeBhayibheli zikaGesualda Lima, ukhumbula ngesikhathi yonke imihlangano iqhutshwa ngesiNgisi. Nakuba ngezinye izikhathi kwakunzima ukuqonda okwakushiwo, uHelen unezinkumbulo ezimnandi zemfundo ayithola. Uvame ukuxoxa ngokufundisa ngesineke komzalwane oyiNgisi, uNorman Rutherford, owayekhonza eMalta ekupheleni kwawo-1960 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1970. UNorman nomkakhe, u-Isabel, abathweswa iziqu ekilasini le-11 laseGileyadi, bahlala beqaphile ngoba babeyizifiki. Babefisa ukuhlala futhi basekele abazalwane nodade bendawo, ababeme baqina naphezu kokuphikiswa inkolo nayimikhaya.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, uJoe Micallef, intatheli eyayisazi kahle isiNgisi, wajabula lapho uNorman Rutherford evuma ukumqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli. Uyakhumbula: “Ngangiye ngibuze umbuzo, futhi ngangiyokwaneliswa impendulo enguyebo noma ucha.” Kodwa uNorman wayeqaphela ukuthi ukufundisa kusho okungaphezu kokuphendula imibuzo. “Wayeningiliza, achaze ukuthi kungani kunguyebo noma kungucha.” Lokhu kwaluqinisa ukholo lukaJoe.

Nakuba imihlangano yokuqala uJoe aya kuyo yayingesiNgisi, ngemva kwesikhathi esithile ababekhona bababelwa ukuba bafingqe amaphuzu ayinhloko ezigaba ze-Nqabayokulinda ngesiMaltese. Kwakungelula ngaso sonke isikhathi ukwenza lokho. Umfowabo kaJoe, uRay, wanquma ukuba awabhale phansi amaphuzu afingqiwe, kodwa wakuthola kulula ukuhumusha sonke isigaba. “Lapho uPeter Ellis, owayehambela iMalta njengombonisi ojikelezayo, ekubona lokho,” kuqhuba uJoe, “wasikisela ukuba kuthengwe umshini wokwenza amakhophi.” Ngakho, ngo-1977 kwenziwa ikhophi yokuqala ye-Nqabayokulinda yesiMaltese ebhalwe ngomshini. Lapho abazalwane bedinga usizo ngokwenza izinhlamvu zamagama noma ukuzilungisa, ubani ababengambuza ngaphandle komuntu owayesebenza umsebenzi wokunyathelisa—uJoe oyintatheli! “Kumelwe kube nothile onikezwa umthwalo wemfanelo wokwenza lo msebenzi!” kusho uJoe. Abazalwane baphendula: “Ucabanga bani wena?” okuwumbuzo uJoe awuphendula ngokuthi: “Angazi, kodwa ngizimisele ukuzama.” Waqala kanjalo-ke uJoe ukuhumusha izincwadi zesiMaltese. Yebo, namuhla amalungiselelo okuhumusha izincwadi enziwa neWriting Committee, umuntu akazenzeli nje ngokubona kwakhe.

Ngo-1979 kwaphuma INqabayokulinda yokuqala enyatheliswe ngesiMaltese. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lo msebenzi wenziwa iqembu labahumushi, futhi okwamanje INqabayokulinda iphuma kabili ngenyanga ngesiMaltese kanti i-Phaphama! iphuma kanye ngenyanga. Elinye igxathu lathathwa ngo-January 1998 mzukwane kuhambele umbonisi wamagatsha, uDouglas Guest, ngesikhathi kunikezelwa amahhovisi amasha, ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli neHholo LoMbuso e-I.B.S.A. House edolobheni laseMosta. Ngakusasa kwabuthana abangu-631 bezozwa ngentuthuko yomsebenzi woMbuso eMalta.

Baqeqeshelwa Ukwengamela Ngothando

Ebonisa ukubakhathalela ngothando abantu bakhe, uJehova, ngomprofethi uJeremiya, wabikezela: “Ngiyomisa phezu kwazo abelusi abayozelusa impela.” (Jer. 23:4) Ukuze kufezeke lokho, uJehova akamisanga nje kuphela abadala phakathi kwabantu bakhe kodwa ubanikeze nemfundo nokuqeqeshwa ukuze bakwazi ukwengamela izimvu zakhe ngothando ngendlela afuna ngayo.

Kusukela ngo-1960, abazalwane abafanelekayo eBrithani, njengakwamanye amazwe, baye bazuza ekuqeqeshweni abakuthole eSikoleni Senkonzo SoMbuso. Ekuqaleni lesi sikole sasithatha amasonto amane, kamuva ancishiswa aba mabili. Kwamenywa ababonisi abajikelezayo kanye nalabo abengamele emabandleni. Amakilasi aqhutshelwa eBethel yaseLondon. Ukuze le mfundo itholakale kalula, lesi sikole sabe sesiya ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zezwe, kuqhutshelwa kuzo amakilasi. Kwazuza amabandla kanye nenhlangano iyonke.

Phakathi no-1977 kwaba namanye amakilasi athatha amahora angu-15 abo bonke abadala. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuye kwaqhutshwa amakilasi afanayo athatha izikhathi ezihlukahlukene. Kuye kwagxilwa kakhulu ezihlokweni ezinjengokuthi abelusi bomhlambi abanothando bangamlingisa kanjani uJehova, indlela yokufundisa emihlanganweni yebandla, indlela yokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ebandleni ngalinye nendlela yokusekela izindinganiso zikaJehova zokulunga. Emakilasini eSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso eBrithani ngo-1997, kwamenywa abadala abangu-11 453 nezinceku ezikhonzayo ezingu-10 106.

Bazenza Batholakale

Ngalé kwabadala abakhonza emabandleni, kukhona namanye amadoda afanelekayo akhonza njengababonisi abajikelezayo, enakekela amabandla amaningi akha isifunda nezifunda eziningi ezakha isigodi. Kunababonisi abajikelezayo abangu-77 abanakekela amabandla angu-1 455 nezifunda ezingu-70 kulo lonke elaseBrithani manje. Lawa amadoda okwathi ngalé kokuhlangabezana nezimfuneko ezingokomoya, enza ukulungisa ekuphileni kwawo ukuze atholakalele le nkonzo.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, umbonisi ojikelezayo wakhuthaza uDavid Hudson ukuba angenele umsebenzi ongokwasezulwini. Kodwa ngaleso sikhathi, uDavid wayengene wagamanxa emsebenzini wakhe wokuziphilisa, eyimenenja yenkampani eyenza izinto ezifana ncamashí nezangempela. Kwathi kungazelelwe le nkampani yanquma ukuthi umsebenzi wakhe usuphelile. Wabe esekhumbula okwakushiwo uLyman Swingle, ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, emhlanganweni owawuseCardiff, eWales, ngo-1984. UMfoweth’ uSwingle wayefanise imisebenzi yasezweni ‘nokupholisha izinsimbi ezicwebezelayo zomkhumbi ocwilayo.’ UDavid nomkakhe, u-Eileen, baqala ukuhlela izimo zabo ukuze baphayone. Badela umuzi wabo kanokusho onezitebele namahhashi, futhi ukuphila kwabo kwagxila ngokwengeziwe ebuhlotsheni babo noJehova. Kusukela ngo-1994, uDavid, ehamba nomkakhe, ubenakekela imithwalo yemfanelo njengombonisi wesifunda. Bobabili bayavuma ukuthi intokozo yokukhonza uJehova izedlula kude noma yiziphi izinto ezibonakalayo abazidela.

Ngesikhathi uRay Baldwin efunda iqiniso maphakathi nawo-1970, waqiniseka kakhulu ukuthi ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kwakufanelwe yiso sonke isikhathi ayengasichitha kukho. Ngenxa yalokho, ngisho engakabhapathizwa, lapho kuthiwa uzokhushulwa emsebenzini wokuziphilisa uma evuma ukuthuthela kwelinye idolobha, wenqaba, kunalokho wacela ukwenza itoho. Ngemva kokubhapathizwa, ngokushesha wabhalisela ukuba iphayona elisizayo. Kungakabiphi eshadile, yena nomkakhe uLinda bahlela ukungenela inkonzo yamaphayona avamile. Ukuze azenze atholakalele imisebenzi eyengeziwe engokwasezulwini, uRay wawuyeka umsebenzi wasesitolo wenza owokuhlanza amawindi. Kusukela ngo-September 1997 naye ubekhonza njengombonisi wesifunda.

Abanye abazalwane bebezimisele ukwamukela umthwalo wemfanelo oqondene namaKomiti Okubonisana Nezibhedlela, lawo anikeza ukusekela kothando koFakazi ababhekene nezimo eziphuthumayo zokwelashwa. Lokhu kuye kwahilela isikhathi sokuqeqeshwa—futhi kusuke kuseyisiqalo leso. Ngo-October 1990 kwafika abameleli abathathu boMnyango Wokwaziswa Ngezezibhedlela eBrooklyn bezoqhuba umhlangano wokufundisa eBirmingham, eNgilandi. Abazalwane abangu-152 baseBelgium, eBrithani, e-Ireland, kwa-Israel, eMalta naseNetherlands bafundiswa kahle ngendlela yokusiza izikhulu zezokwelapha ziqonde ukuma kwethu endabeni yegazi. Izivakashi zaseBrooklyn zaba neqhaza ekuqeqesheni ababekhona ukuba bakwazi ukuchaza izizathu zokuma kwethu ezikhulwini zezibhedlela eLondon nasemadolobheni amakhulu.

Ngemva komhlangano wokufundisa wesibili, eNottingham ngo-February 1991, amaKomiti Okubonisana Nezibhedlela aqala ukusebenza ezweni lonke. Ngonyaka olandelayo kwamiswa amanye amakomiti angu-16, futhi laba bazalwane bathola ukuqeqeshwa emhlanganweni wokufundisa owawuseStoke-on-Trent. Ukuze kwandiswe ukubambisana phakathi koFakazi nezikhulu, omunye umhlangano wokufundisa, owawuseHholo Lomhlangano LaseSurrey ngo-June 1994, wabaqeqeshela indlela okungakhulunywa ngayo namajaji, abezenhlalakahle nodokotela bezingane. Lokhu kwakha isisekelo sokubambisana okukhulu nochwepheshe bezokwelapha. Ngemva kokuthintana nodokotela ngokomuntu siqu, kwatholakala abangaphezu kuka-3 690 eBrithani ababethe bazimisele ukuhlonipha imibono yoFakazi ngegazi nokwelashwa.

Usihlalo weKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela eLuton, enyakatho yeLondon, uyavuma ukuthi ngesikhathi eqala ukusebenza kule komiti, wayengaqapheli ukuthi kuzohilelani ngokomzimba nangokomzwelo. Uyabonga ngokusekela kothando komkakhe, naye omthanda ngokujulile uJehova nabafowabo nodadewabo abangamaKristu. Kancane kancane useye wakha ubudlelwane obuhle nezisebenzi zokwelapha nabaphathi besibhedlela esikhulu endaweni yakubo. Uthi: “Lapho abafowethu bebhekene nesimo esiphuthumayo sezokwelapha, kufanele sihlale silungele ukubasiza.” Umoya eyenziwa ngawo le nkonzo wenze ukuba kunikezwe ubufakazi obuhle ezikhathini eziningi.

Ukungenela Inkonzo Endlunkulu Yomhlaba Wonke

Kubazalwane abaqala imisebenzi yabo engokwasezulwini eBrithani, abanye baye bamenyelwa ukuba bakhonze eBrooklyn, eNew York, endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova.

UJohn E. Barr, owazalelwa eScotland ngo-1913, walithola kubazali bakhe iqiniso. Nakuba amahloni ayenawo esemusha ayekwenza kube nzima ukuba axoxe nabantu emizini yabo lapho enza indlu ngendlu, ngosizo lukaJehova wasinqoba leso sithiyo. Ngo-1939 wamukela isimemo sokuba angenele inkonzo yaseBethel eLondon. Phakathi nenkathi enzima yeMpi Yezwe II, wakhonza iminyaka eminingana njengombonisi ojikelezayo, kwaze kwaba yilapho ecelwa ukuba aphindele eBethel yaseLondon ngo-1946. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-21 eyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel, washada noMildred Willett, udade oshisekayo owayephothule eSikoleni SaseGileyadi ekilasini le-11, nowabe esengenela inkonzo yaseBethel naye. Ngo-1977 wamenywa ukuba abe ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo. Lapho etshela uMildred, wacabanga ukuthi uyantela, kanti cha wayenganteli. Kwenzeka kanjalo-ke ukuba ngonyaka olandelayo bobabili balibangise endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eBrooklyn, eNew York. Basaqhubeka bekhonza khona ngenjabulo.

Nabanye bamenywa ukuba babe amalungu ezisebenzi zasendlunkulu. Phakathi kwabo kuno-Allan Boyle, owazalelwa eLiverpool futhi wangenela inkonzo eBethel yaseLondon. Ukuze amakhono akhe okudweba asetshenziswe ngokugcwele, iNhlangano yamcela ukuba athuthele eBrooklyn ngo-1979. U-Eric Beveridge wayehlala eBirmingham ngesikhathi ebhapathizwa ngo-1949. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-21 yenkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli ePortugal naseSpain, yena nomkakhe uHazel baba amalungu omkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn ngo-1981. URobert Pevy, owazalelwa eSandwich, eKent, eningizimu yeNgilandi, wayekhonze e-Ireland iminyaka engu-9, waba senkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli nomkakhe, uPatricia, ePhilippines eminye iminyaka engu-9, ngesikhathi nabo bengenela inkonzo endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke ngo-1981.

Izinguquko Ekwengameleni Igatsha

Eminyakeni edlule amadoda amaningana afanelekayo ngokomoya aye ahola ekuthwaleni imithwalo yemfanelo egatsheni laseBrithani. Ngemva kokuba u-Albert D. Schroeder ephoqelekile ukuba ahambe eNgilandi ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II, u-A. Pryce Hughes wamiswa ukuba abe umbonisi wegatsha—ngaleso sikhathi wayesejele edonsa isigwebo ngenxa yokungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu! Ukunamathela kukaMfoweth’ uHughes esimisweni sokungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu kwakuvivinywe ngempela. Wayeke waboshelwa lokhu phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, waphinde waboshwa kabili phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Ekuqaphela ngempela ukuqondisa kukaJehova inhlangano yaKhe, uMfoweth’ uHughes waqhubeka enakekela ukwenganyelwa kwegatsha iminyaka engaphezu kuka-20. Labo ababekhonza naye basayikhumbula indlela yakhe yomusa kanye neqiniso lokuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi wayenamiphi imithwalo yemfanelo, uthando lwakhe lwenkonzo yasensimini lwahlala luqinile.

Lapho kumiswa uhlelo lokuba kube yikomiti—esikhundleni somuntu oyedwa—eqondisa umsebenzi egatsheni ngalinye ngo-1976, uWilfred Gooch wamiswa ukuba abe umqondisi, esebenza noJohn Barr, uPryce Hughes, uPhilip Rees noJohn Wynn. Abaningana kulelo qembu lokuqala sebashona. Sekwenezelwe abanye abazalwane eKomitini Yegatsha, manje eyakhiwa uJohn Andrews, uJack Dowson, uRon Drage, uDennis Dutton, uPeter Ellis, uStephen Hardy, uBevan Vigo noJohn Wynn.

Injabulo Yemihlangano Yezizwe

OFakazi BakaJehova bawubuzalwane bembulunga yonke. Ngakho, lapho sekungenzeka ukuba babuthane ndawonye ngokukhululeka emazweni aseMpumalanga Yurophu ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka yokucindezelwa ngendluzula, bathokoza kakhulu oFakazi emhlabeni wonke. Yeka isikhathi esifanelekayo sokuba nemihlangano yezizwe emazweni okwase kuyisikhathi eside kangaka engakwazi ukuyiqhuba! Lokhu kwakuyophumela ekwakhaneni ngokomoya nasebufakazini obuhle emphakathini. OFakazi BakaJehova eBrithani baye bakujabulela ukuba nengxenye kulokhu.

Ngo-1989, ngesikhathi kuhlelwe ukuba kube neMihlangano emikhulu emithathu ‘Yokuzinikela Kokwesaba uNkulunkulu’ ePoland, izihambeli ezazivela emazweni okungenani angu-37 zatheleka ndawonye zizele lezi zenzakalo eziyingqopha-mlando. Phakathi kwazo kwakunezingu-721 ezazivela eBrithani. Ngokuqondene nomoya owaboniswa emhlanganweni wasePoznan, ePoland, uDavid noLynne Sibrey bayakhumbula: “Kwakukuhle kakhulu!” Bayanezela: “Sasiyiqabuka leya nto. Ave kwaba intokozo ukuba phakathi kwezinkulungwane zabafowethu baseRussia naseMpumalanga Yurophu ngaphambili ababehlangana ngamaqembu amancane! Sezwa nokuthi abanye beza nakuba ukuphila kwabo kwakusengozini. Bakujabulela kakhulu—nathi sakujabulela!” Ngonyaka olandelayo, ngemva kokususwa kwemithetho yemingcele phakathi kweMpumalanga neNtshonalanga Jalimane, abangu-584 ababevela eBrithani babephakathi kwezilaleli ezishisekayo eBerlin emhlanganweni owawuhalalisela ukunqoba kwangempela. Ngo-1991, lapho abangu-74 587 begcwele eStrahov Stadium ePrague, manje eyiCzech Republic, abangu-299 ababevela eBrithani babekujabulela ukuba lapho. Ngawo lowo nyaka, babekhona ababeqhamuka eBrithani phakathi koFakazi ababevela emazweni angu-35 ababebuthene eBudapest, eHungary. Emhlanganweni waseMoscow, eRussia, ngo-1993 kwakunezihambeli ezingu-770 ezazivela eBrithani kanti ezingu-283 zaya eKiev, e-Ukraine. Zonke lezi zenzakalo zaziyingqopha-mlando, ngeke zilibaleke.

Eminye imihlangano yezizwe ezaya kuyo izihambeli zaseBrithani eyayise-Afrika, eLatin America, eNyakatho Melika naseMpumalanga. Njengoba oFakazi bejabulela ubudlelwane obusondelene ngezenzakalo ezinjalo, izibopho zothando lobuKristu ziyaqiniswa. Nampu ubufakazi obuphathekayo bokuthi baphuma “kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi,” njengoba kwabikezela iZwi likaNkulunkulu.—IsAm. 7:9, 10.

Bavela Ezizindeni Ezihlukahlukene

Labo abamukele isigijimi seBhayibheli futhi baba oFakazi BakaJehova eziQhingini ZaseBrithani bavela ezizindeni ezihlukahlukene. Ngenxa yothando lwabo ngoJehova, abaningi baye benza izinguquko eziningi ekuphileni kwabo ukuze bamkhonze ngokugcwele.

UDonald Davies, umdlali okhokhelwayo wezigubhu zomculo we-jazz, owazalelwa eJamaica, wafika ngo-1960 eNgilandi. Nakuba athola izincwadi ezithile zeBhayibheli ngo-1969, kwaze kwaba ngemva kweminyaka engu-13 lapho aba nesithakazelo sangempela eBhayibhelini, ngesikhathi oFakazi ababili bexoxa naye ngokubaluleka kwegama likaNkulunkulu. (Hez. 38:23; Joweli 2:32) Kamuva ngalowo nyaka yena nomngane wakhe ongumculi baya emhlanganweni wesigodi owawuseduzane. Ngokushesha waqala ukukusebenzisa ayekufunda. Ngaphandle kokuxoxa nothile, uDonald waqaphela ukuthi wayezoba nobunzima bokuphishekela umsebenzi wakhe wokucula ebe ekhonza uJehova. Ngakho wazidayisa izinsimbi zakhe zomculo waqala ukuphayona ngo-1984, ilungelo asalijabulela namanje.

UTony Langmead wayeyisikhulu kuyi-Royal Air Force lapho umkakhe eqala ukufunda iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova. Ukuziphatha kwakhe lapho esengumKristu kwamzuza “ngaphandle kwezwi.” (1 Pet. 3:1, 2) Walishiya ibutho lasemoyeni ukuze aphile ukuphila kokuthula njengenceku kaJehova.—Isaya 2:3, 4.

UFrank Cowell wakhulela enkolweni yaseSheshi, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waqala ukufuna iqiniso kwenye indawo. Ukuvakashela kwakhe eHholo LoMbuso kwaholela esifundweni seBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova. Manje unguprofesa wesayensi yezomnotho eLondon, kodwa lapho ikolishi afundisa kulo lihlela ukuba kube nezingxoxo zokufundisa ebusuku ngezinsuku zesifundo, izinqumo aye azenze zibonisa ukuthi ukuba kwakhe omunye woFakazi BakaJehova kuza kuqala.

USusannah wayeyilungu le-Royal Ballet lapho ethuka ehlangana nomngane wakhe ayefunde naye esikoleni, okwaholela ekubeni aqhutshelwe isifundo seBhayibheli. NjengoFakazi obhapathiziwe, wanquma ukunciphisa imidanso ayeyenza abese eba umfundisi we-ballet ukuze athole isikhathi somsebenzi wakhe omusha njengephayona, ngokwenza kanjalo wagxilisa ukuphila kwakhe enkonzweni yakhe. Njengoba eseshadile, yena nomyeni wakhe uKevin Gow bafunda isiMandarin ukuze bahlanganyele izindaba ezinhle namaShayina andayo eLiverpool.

Udadewabo kaRene uChristina wayenguFakazi, kodwa uRene wayecabanga ukuthi inkolo yayingenangqondo, ngakho wenqaba ukulalela. Kodwa kamuva, ngesikhathi esebenza eLondon, wayevame ukuvakashela iBritish Museum. Kokunye ukuvakasha yamjabulisa incazelo yomuntu owayebabukisa indawo, incazelo ephathelene nokuhlobana kweBhayibheli nezinye izinto zokubukwa ezazilapho. Wakhumbula ezinye zezinto udadewabo ayezame ukumtshela zona. Ngokushesha uRene Deerfield naye waba uFakazi.

U-Andrew Meredith wayedonsa isigwebo ejele ngesikhathi eqala ukufunda iBhayibheli. Lokhu kwaholela ezinguqukweni ezinkulu endleleni yakhe yokuphila. Esededelwe, washada noFakazi ongumPunjabi, futhi ndawonye baqhubeka nenkonzo yabo kubantu abakhuluma isiPunjabi empumalanga yeLondon.

UDaksha Patel wazalelwa eKenya ngabazali abangamaHindu, naye engumHindu oshisekayo. Kodwa lapho efunda iBhayibheli noFakazi eWolverhampton, eNgilandi, wabona ukuthi wayefunda iqiniso. Lapho esekhule ngokwanele ukuba azenzele izinqumo ekuphileni, wabhapathizwa wabe eseba iphayona. Yena nomyeni wakhe u-Ashok, manje bangamalungu omkhaya waseBethel yaseLondon. Ngenxa yale nkonzo, baye baya eNdiya, eNepal nasePakistan beyosiza ngokuhunyushwa kwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.

Bayaqhubeka Benikeza Ubufakazi

OFakazi BakaJehova bayajabula lapho bebona abaningi ngokwengeziwe bamukela ukukhulekela uJehova unyaka nonyaka. Kusukela ngo-1972, inani loFakazi eBrithani licishe liphindeke izikhathi ezimbili, manje bangu-126 535.

Ingabe labo abanesithakazelo esigijimini seBhayibheli bangabantu abangakaze bezwe ngoFakazi BakaJehova? Abambalwa banjalo, futhi bayatholakala lapho oFakazi bandisa umsebenzi wabo ezindaweni zamabhizinisi nasemigwaqweni. Lapho omunye uFakazi eqala ngqá ukushumayela ensimini yamabhizinisi, waxoxa nesisebenzi senye inkampani esamukela izivakashi esasinesithakazelo kakhulu. Impindelo eyenziwa ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbili yasheshe yaholela esifundweni seBhayibheli, esasinika ithuba lokunquma ukuthi sizohamba yini endleleni kaJehova. Lona wesifazane wayengakaze ababone oFakazi BakaJehova ngoba wayesebenza isonto lonke futhi engavamile ukuba sekhaya ngezimpelasonto.

Ngokuvamile labo abalalelayo kusuke kungabantu abazimo zabo zokuphila zishintshile—mhlawumbe ngenxa yokushada, ukuba nezingane, ukukhula, noma ukugula kungazelelwe. Manje sebefisa ukuthola izimpendulo zemibuzo ababeyichilizela eceleni ngaphambili.

Ngakho, ngo-August 1995 owesifazane oneminyaka engu-85 owayekhule engumBaptist wayithatha ngenjabulo incwajana ethi Ingabe UNkulunkulu Uyasikhathalela Ngempela? Kwase kukaningi ebuza lowo mbuzo kodwa engayitholi impendulo egculisayo. Wavuma ukufunda iBhayibheli. Njengoba ayefunda izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu futhi kumhlaba umxhwele ukunakekela kwakhe kothando, waqaphela ukuthi kwakudingeka enze izinguquko ekuphileni kwakhe. Wayeka ukubhema—umkhuba ayeseneminyaka engaba ngu-60 ewenza. Waqala ukuya ezifundweni zebandla, futhi ngo-September 1997, uCatherine May wayeselulungele ubhapathizo lobuKristu. Ngesikhathi elungela ukungena emanzini emhlanganweni wesifunda, wabona omunye umuntu owayezobhapathizwa, intokazi esikhulile ngeminyaka njengaye. Isimanga! Kwakungudadewabo azalwa naye endlini, u-Evelyn, owayehlala kwelinye idolobha. Babengazi ukuthi bobabili bayafundelwa. Kwehla izinyembezi zenjabulo njengoba laba bantu asebekhulile abathandekayo beba abandawonye ngokomoya, behlanganiswa ukuzinikezela kuJehova.

Abanye abamukela oFakazi basuke bephazanyiswe izigigaba zamuva emasontweni abo. UMaurice Haskins wayeqale ukuthola izincwadi koFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1939. Kodwa wayeyilungu elishisekayo leSonto LaseSheshi futhi eyilungu lomkhandlu wesonto. Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-56, uFakazi owayehamba indlu ngendlu waxoxa nomka mfowabo kaMaurice. Umka mfowabo wacela lo Fakazi ukuba abuye azobona uMaurice, lowo ngokusho kwakhe, owayenemibuzo ngeBhayibheli. Lapho esevakashelwe, uMaurice washeshe wacela lo Fakazi ukuba ambonise imibhalo echaza umbono weBhayibheli ngobungqingili nokugcotshwa kwabesifazane. Kamuva wavuma ukuqhutshelwa isifundo seBhayibheli ngencwadi ethi Ulwazi Oluholela Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade. Izinguquko azenzekanga ngokushesha. Kodwa kamuva, emhlanganweni othile nombhishobhi, lokho ayesekufundile kwamshukumisela ukuba athathe ukuma okuqinile endabeni yokumiswa kowesifazane ukuba abe umfundisi. (1 Thim. 2:12) Kungakapholi maseko wesula eSontweni LaseSheshi, waqala ukuya ezifundweni eHholo LoMbuso, futhi lapho eneminyaka engu-84 wayesekulungele ukubhapathizwa.

Abanye abantu basizwa oFakazi ababonisa ukuqonda nabaphikelelayo. Lapho owesifazane othile ezichaza ngokuthi “akakholelwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu futhi uthanda izinto eziphathelene nabantu,” ngomusa uJacqueline Gamble wambuza ukuthi yini ayeyithanda. Waphendula wathi: “Abantu nokuphila.” Lona wesifazane wayematasa, ngakho udadewethu washiya ipheshana wathembisa ukuthi uzobuya. Ehamba nomyeni wakhe uMartyn, uJacqueline waphindela kulo muzi futhi waxoxa ngabo “abantu nokuphila.” Lapho bethola ukuthi nomyeni womninikhaya uGus, wayenemibono efanayo futhi eyisisebenzi sezenhlalakahle, bahlela ukuba bambone. Umkakhe uChristine waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli futhi wathuthukela obhapathizweni. Kodwa uGus wenqaba ukuya eHholo LoMbuso. Nokho waphawula ukuthi selokhu uChristine aqala ukufunda noFakazi, izingane zakhe zazikhula nenhlonipho ejulile, ngokungafani nentsha eningi.

Ushintsho kuGus lwenzeka ngo-1978. Ngesikhathi somhlangano wezizwe e-Edinburgh, eScotland, ngomusa umkakhe wenzela iqembu labamemezeli elalifakaza ngakwakhe ikhofi. Phakathi kwabo kwakunamalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo. Ngaphambi kokuba bahambe, bageza izitsha ababezisebenzisile. Lapho efika ekhaya ntambama uGus, uChristine wamxoxela ngenjabulo ngezivakashi ayebe nazo engazilindele. “Angikwazi ukucabanga sivakashelwe ukhadinali abese egeza nezitsha!” kusho uGus. Ngemva nje kwalokho, ngesikhathi eseholideni eFrance, uGus waya nomkhaya wakhe eHholo LoMbuso. Ukwamukelwa abakuthola nothando abaluboniswa kwamqeda amandla. Ngokushesha waqaphela ukuthi uthando olunjalo angaluthola kuphela phakathi kwabafundi beqiniso bakaKristu Jesu. (Joh. 13:35) Esephindele e-Edinburgh, ngokushesha waqala ukufunda, wathola izimpendulo ezigculisayo zemibuzo eyayimkhathaza, wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova.

Yebo, lapho abantu ensimini bebonisa isithakazelo esincane noma bengenaso nhlobo, kudingeka ukukhuthazela nesimo sengqondo esiqondile ngoFakazi BakaJehova ukuze baqhubeke bebahambela. Kungaba lula ukudikibala ngemva kwamahora amaningi bejivazwa noma benganakwa. Babhekana kanjani nalokhu oFakazi? “Ukunganaki kuyinkinga enzima neyinselele,” kuvuma u-Eric Hickling waseLouth eLincolnshire. Ukuzindla ngezibonelo zesikhathi esidlule kuyamsiza akwazi ukubekezela. “Ngithandaza njalo nangokusuka enhliziyweni. Ngiye ngicabange ngoMose, uJeremiya, uPawulu noJesu.”

Ukubekezela ngokwethembeka nesibusiso sikaJehova kuyizici ezimbili kwezibaluleke kakhulu ezinesandla ekwandeni okube khona. Eminyakeni engu-39 edlule, uFrank noRose Macgregor bathola isabelo edolobheni elibantu balo babeyithanda kakhulu inkolo futhi bengabafuni oFakazi BakaJehova. Basibheka kanjani leso sabelo? UFrank uyakhumbula: “Nganginamahloni futhi ngizizwa ngingafaneleki neze. Kodwa mina nomkami sasibheka njengesabelo esivela kuJehova.” Lokhu kwabasiza balondoloza isimo sengqondo esiqondile. “Sathandazela ukuba abantu bendawo balamukele iqiniso.” Ngenxa yaleyo nkonzo yokwethembeka, manje kunebandla labamemezeli abangu-74, abaningi babo balithola kulo leli dolobha iqiniso. AbakwaMacgregor abazishayi isifuba ngalokhu; bamane nje bayabonga ngokusetshenziswa uJehova.—2 Kor. 4:7.

UGeoff Young, uFakazi osemnkantsh’ ubomvu osaqhubeka ehlanganyela ngezinga elithile ekuhambeleni amabandla, uyachaza: “Ngiye ngibuze abazalwane ukuthi bahambe kanjani enkonzweni ngalelo langa.” Uma abathile bethi abahambanga kahle, ubacela ukuba bacabange ngezinto eziningi ezinhle abasuke bezifezile. Uye abakhumbuze: “Sibonisile ukuthi sisohlangothini lukaJehova. Senze ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwethu. Sibambisane ‘nengelosi endiza emkhathini wezulu.’ Sihlanganyele ekukhuthazeni abanye ukuba bazi uJehova. Sinikeze ubufakazi njengesixwayiso.” Ube esechaza ukuthi uma befeze konke lokhu, bangasho kanjani ukuthi ababanga nosuku oluhle? “Abantu basabela ngokwezimo zabo nokusezinhliziyweni zabo,” kuqhubeka uGeoff. “Okusemqoka ukwethembeka kwethu ekunikezeni ubufakazi nasekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle.”—IsAm. 14:6; 1 Kor. 4:2.

Ukujabula ‘Ngesibusiso SikaJehova’

Abaningi eBrithani bebelokhu bengoFakazi BakaJehova abakhuthele iminyaka engu-20, 40, 50 noma ngaphezulu. Bazizwa kanjani ngalokho abakwenzayo? KuzAga 10:22, iBhayibheli lithi: “Isibusiso sikaJehova siyacebisa; akenezeli usizi kuso.” Amashumi ezinkulungwane zoFakazi BakaJehova eBrithani angakufakazela ukuba yiqiniso kwalawo mazwi.

“Kuyilungelo eliwedlula wonke esiphathiswe wona thina bantu.” UCornelius Hope waseBasingstoke, manje owevile eminyakeni engu-70 ubudala, uyichaza kanjalo inkonzo yobuKristu ngemva kokuhlanganyela kuyo iminyaka engu-50. U-Anne Gillam, owabhapathizwa eminyakeni cishe engu-50 edlule nomyeni wakhe ungumbonisi wesifunda, uthi inkonzo yakhe “iyindlela yokubonisa uthando ngoJehova neNdodana yakhe.”

UDennis Matthews, owabhapathizwa ngo-1942, uyachaza: “Inkonzo ingifanela nokudla—inikeza amandla ngokomoya. Kuyanelisa ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bayalalela noma abalaleli.” Umkakhe, uMavis, uyanezela: “Njengoba ngiye ngakhonza uJehova kusukela ebusheni bami kuqhubeke, nginomuzwa wokuthi akukho ukuphila okungcono kunalokhu.”

OFakazi asebemnkantsh’ ubomvu bazizwa kanjani ngabantu nangendlela abasabela ngayo? Ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kuka-40 esenkonzweni kaJehova, uMuriel Tavener uthi: “Abantu basidinga kakhulu kunangaphambili ngoba abalutholi usizo lweqiniso olungokomoya kwenye indawo.” Kwenzekani lapho belwamukela lolo sizo? Umyeni wakhe, u-Anthony, ukubeka kanje: “Ukubona abantu bamukela iqiniso futhi benza izinguquko ekuphileni kwabo kufana nokubuka isimangaliso njengoba umoya kaJehova udonsela abantu ekumkhulekeleni.”

Ukuhlanganyela nabanye ithemba elinikezwa yiZwi likaNkulunkulu kuphela kuletha ukwaneliseka. Lapho uFred James, umbonisi wedolobha wasePlymouth, eDevon, nomkakhe bebuka emuva eminyakeni yabo yenkonzo, bathola ukuthi kunabantu abangaphezu kwekhulu ababasiza bathuthukela ekubhapathizweni. Abaningi babo bakhonza njengabadala, izinceku ezikhonzayo namaphayona. Womathathu amadodana abo angenela inkonzo yamaphayona lapho eqeda esikoleni futhi manje akhonza njengabadala. Enye yawo, uDavid, eyathweswa iziqu eGileyadi, ikhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli futhi iyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha YasePakistan. Yeka ukuphila okunomvuzo ocebile uMfowethu noDade James ababe nakho!

Iminyaka eminingi yenkonzo yokwethembeka yenze oFakazi abaningi baseBrithani babona imiphumela emihle enkonzweni yabo. URichard noHazel Jessop sebeneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 bekhonza uJehova, eminingi yayo besenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Basize abaningi ukuba bathole ilungelo lokuzinikezela kuJehova, bonke bayigugu kwabakwaJessop. Kodwa, isifundo abasiqhubela uJack noLyn Dowson sisalokhu sikhumbuleka ngokukhethekile. Saqala ngokuvakashelana kobungane kwabantu abavela ndawonye. (UHazel noJack bavela enyakatho-mpumalanga yeNgilandi.) Ngokushesha kwaholela esifundweni seBhayibheli. Kodwa ngesinye isikhathi uJack wathi kumelwe sithi ukuma isifundo kancane. URichard waphendula: “Cha, ngeke nikwenze lokho. Kumelwe niqede incwadi kuqala bese niyayeka-ke uma nithanda.” Abazange ‘bayeke.’ Kunalokho, bazinikezela kuJehova, bangenela umsebenzi wokuphayona, baba amalungu omkhaya waseBethel. UJack manje ukhonza eKomitini Yegatsha.

Indlela enye intsha esabele ngayo eqinisweni leBhayibheli iye yabajabulisa ngokukhethekile abanye. URobina Owler nomyeni wakhe, uSydney, abangamaphayona eDundee eScotland, iye yabajabulisa ngokukhethekile intuthuko eyenziwe uPaul Kearns, owaqala ukuza ezifundweni zeBhayibheli emzini wabo lapho eneminyaka engu-12 ubudala. Iqiniso lasheshe lagxila enhliziyweni yakhe, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi uyise wenqaba ukuba aqhubeke efunda, uPaul walinda waze wakhula futhi waya ekolishi e-Aberdeen ngaphambi kokuba aqhubeke nesifundo sakhe seBhayibheli. Wathuthuka ngokushesha. Ngemva kokubhapathizwa, wazibekela umgomo wokuphayona. Ngo-1992 waya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo. Ngesikhathi ekhonza njengomdala eSheffield, wazikhandla efunda iSpanishi, kwathi ngo-1998 wabelwa ukuba ayokhonza ePanama njengesithunywa sevangeli.

Abangaphezu kuka-10 000 eBrithani basenkonzweni yamaphayona. Bayazazisa izibusiso ezilethwa yile nkonzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uBill noJune Thompstone base beneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-8 beshadile futhi babephayona ngesikhathi kuzalwa izibulo labo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi baba namantombazane amathathu. Bazama ukugxilisa inkonzo yamaphayona ekuphileni komkhaya wabo. Babematasa kakhulu, kodwa ukwenza izinto njengomkhaya kwabasiza baphumelela. “Sasakha isikhathi sokuba namantombazane njalo,” kuchaza uBill. “Lapho esevile eshumini nambili, akuzange kushintshe. Uma efuna ukuya koshibilika eqhweni, ukuyodlala i-bowling, ukubhukuda noma ukudlala ibhola, sasihamba nawo.” Manje la mantombazane ashadile futhi angamaphayona avamile. Wonke ajabulela lokho uBill akubiza ngokuthi “indlela yokuphila enhle kunazo zonke.”

Namuhla, kunabazalwane abangu-77 (iningi labo elishadile) abakhonza njengababonisi abajikelezayo eBrithani. Lokhu kuphila kubenza babe matasa kakhulu, isonto nesonto, unyaka nonyaka. UGeoff Young wayenza le nkonzo kwaze kwaba yilapho ukukhula nezinkinga zempilo zenza kudingeke ushintsho oluthile. Yena nomkakhe, uVee, babehlala bephethe imithwalo futhi behlala emizini ehlukahlukene isonto ngalinye. UVee uzizwa kanjani ngalolu hlobo lokuphila? Uyaphendula: “Kwakungenzima kangako ngoba njalo lapho sihambela ibandla, sasandisa umkhaya wethu wamaKristu. Nomaphi lapho sasifika khona sasizwa imfudumalo yobuzalwane. Noma isiphi isabelo uJehova asinika sona sicebisa ukuphila kwethu.” Njengoba bejabulela isikhathi samanje, bakulangazelela ngokujulile lokho okuphethwe ikusasa. UGeoff uyachaza: “Lesi simiso sesiphelile manje. Sifana nesingasekho. Ngemva kwalokho siyothola ithuba elimangalisayo lokuhlanganyela ekubuyiseleni lo mhlaba ezimweni zepharadesi. Izifundo zeBhayibheli eziyoba khona uma sekuqale uvuko—yeka umsebenzi omkhulu oyokwenziwa!” Umkakhe uyanezela: “Kujabulisa kakhulu ukwazi ukuthi akukho lutho olungaphumelela ukuphikisana noJehova.”

Ukusekela “Indlela KaNkulunkulu Yokuphila”

Kwakuyisenzakalo esijabulisayo ukuqhutshwa kanye kanye kwemihlangano yezizwe engu-9 enesihloko esithi “Indlela KaNkulunkulu Yokuphila,” ngo-July ka-1998 eBrithani—e-Edinburgh, eLeeds, eManchester, eWolverhampton, eDudley, eNorwich, eLondon, eBristol nasePlymouth. Kwakukhona izihambeli ezivela emazweni angaphezu kuka-60. Isimiso esiphelele asinikezwanga nje ngesiNgisi kuphela kodwa nangesiFulentshi, iSpanishi nesiPunjabi. Ngempelasonto elandelayo lo mhlangano waqhutshwa ngesiGreki.

Kwakukhona amalungu amane eNdikimba Ebusayo—uJohn Barr, uTheodore Jaracz, u-Albert D. Schroeder noDaniel Sydlik—emihlanganweni yaseBrithani, futhi lapho benikeza izinkulumo, izindawo zonke zemihlangano zazixhunywa ngocingo. Okunye okwenezela enjabulweni kwakuwukuba khona kwezithunywa zevangeli ezazikhonza emasimini akwamanye amazwe ngaleso sikhathi. Kwabangamakhulu abavela eBrithani abathunyelwe enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli, abangu-110 babekhona kule mihlangano. Intshiseko yabo nomoya wabo wokuzidela kwabakhuthaza bonke ababelalele kuxoxwa nabo esimisweni.

Abakubona nabakuzwa kule mihlangano kwazithinta ngokujulile izinhliziyo zalabo ababekhona, ngisho nezingane. Izwi lesinqumo elathathwa phakathi nesimiso sokuphetha somhlangano sayibeka obala indlela kaNkulunkulu yokuphila bonke ababezimisele ukuhamba ngayo. Ngemva kwesimiso, indodana eneminyaka emine yombhangqwana ongoFakazi waseDarlington yathi: “Mama, ngiyamthanda ngempela uJehova. Wena nobaba nginithanda kakhulu, kodwa uJehova ngimthanda ngaphezu kwenu.” Lapho ibuzwa ukuthi kungani, yachaza ukuthi uJehova usinike ithemba lePharadesi futhi wathumela iNdodana yakhe ukuba isifele, “ngakho kudingeka ngimthande kakhulu kunani.”

Ekuphetheni kwesimiso e-Edinburgh naseLondon, izihambeli zasemazweni ahlukahlukene zavayizelana amaduku zabe sezishaya ihlombe eladonsa isikhathi. Ngisho sesiphelile isimiso, abaningi baqhubeka behlabelela izingoma zoMbuso, ngaleyo ndlela bedumisa uJehova ngokusuka enhliziyweni.

Ubufakazi Obunikeziwe

Kunikezwe ubufakazi obuningi eBrithani. Kwaqala ngo-1881 lapho kusakazwa amakhulu ezinkulungwane amapheshana eBhayibheli emadolobheni amakhulu phakathi namasonto ambalwa. Enye imbewu eyatshalwa ngaleso sikhathi yaqala ukuthela izithelo. Esikhathini esiyizinyanga eziyisithupha ngo-1914, i-“Photo-Drama of Creation” yayisibukiswe emadolobheni angu-98, yabukwa abantu abangu-1 226 650 sebebonke. Lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe I, kwakunamabandla angu-182 eBrithani. Phakathi neminyaka yo-1920 no-1930, ukufakaza kwenziwa ngomfutho njengoba amanani andayo alabo ababehlanganyela namabandla babehlanganyela enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu, benikeza ubufakazi ngokomuntu siqu kubaninikhaya. Kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II, kusetshenzwe amahora angu-650 746 716 enkonzweni eBrithani, kwenziwa izimpindelo ezingu-297 294 732 kubantu abathakazelayo, kwahanjiswa izincwadi ezinkulu nezincane ezingu-74 105 130, ngalé komagazini abangu-567 471 431 abahanjiselwa abantu. Ngokwesilinganiso, oFakazi BakaJehova eBrithani bahambela abantu emizini yabo kabili noma kathathu ngonyaka.

OFakazi BakaJehova baziwa kahle kakhulu ngomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela endlini ngendlu kangangokuba lapho bevula iminyango, bebona abantu abagqoke kahle, abaninikhaya abaningi bavele babuze: “NingoFakazi BakaJehova?”

Umhlaba Ogcwele Ulwazi NgoJehova

Ngo-1891, lapho uC. T. Russell ebuka insimu yaseBrithani, wayibona ‘ingelungele nelindele ukuvunwa.’ Kusobala ukuthi ukuvuna okwenziwa phakathi nesiphelo salesi simiso sezinto sekuzophela. Yeka isivuno esihle okuyiso! Ngonyaka ka-1900, kwakunabaFundi BeBhayibheli (njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo) abangu-138 kuphela eBrithani, iningi kungamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya. Manje inani seliphindwe izikhathi ezingu-910. Ngaleso sikhathi inhlangano engokomthetho eyayisetshenziswa abaFundi BeBhayibheli yayivula ihhovisi layo legatsha lokuqala ngaphandle kwe-United States. Manje kunamagatsha angu-109 embulungeni yonke. Emazwekazini aseMelika kunangu-24. Amanye angu-25 aseYurophu. Kunangu-19 ezwekazini lase-Afrika. E-Asia naseziqhingini ezisezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zomhlaba, kunamanye angu-41. Besebenza ngokubambisana nawo, oFakazi abayizigidi ezingu-5,9 bahlanganyela ekudumiseni igama likaJehova nasekwenzeni zaziwe izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso wakhe ophethwe uJesu Kristu. Futhi bazimisele ukuqhubeka benikeza ubufakazi kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu ethi kwanele.

Amanzi anikeza ukuphila ayagobhoza kakade esuka esihlalweni sobukhosi sasezulwini sikaJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. Lesi simemo sikhishwa ngomfutho: “Noma ubani owomile makeze; nanoma ubani othandayo makathathe amanzi okuphila mahhala.” (IsAm. 22:1, 17) Phakathi nokuBusa KukaJesu Kristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane lapho kuvuswa abafileyo, akungabazeki ukuthi izinkulungwane zezigidi ziyothola ithuba lokuzuza kuleli lungiselelo lothando, elingazenza zikwazi ukuthola ukuphila okumi phakade. Isimiso semfundo yaphezulu esiye saqhutshwa kuze kube manje simane nje siyisiqalo. Ngaphambi kwethu, esimisweni sikaNkulunkulu esisha sezinto, kunesikhathi lapho “umhlaba ngokuqinisekile uyogcwala [nswí] ulwazi ngoJehova njengoba nje amanzi esibekela lona kanye ulwandle.”—Isaya 11:9.

[Ibalazwe/Izithombe ekhasini 86, 87]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

ENGILANDI

AmaHholo OMhlangano asezindaweni ezikahle kulo lonke izwe: (1) EManchester, (2) ENorth London, (3) EDudley, (4) ESurrey, (5) E-East Pennine, (6) EBristol, (7) E-Edgware

[Izithombe]

East Pennine

Edgware

Surrey

Manchester

Bristol

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 66]

[Izithombe ekhasini 70]

UTom Hart

[Isithombe ekhasini 72]

Ihhovisi legatsha lokuqala leNhlangano

[Isithombe ekhasini 72]

Izakhiwo ezisetshenziswayo manje

[Izithombe ekhasini 74, 75]

Baya kokhonza emasimini akwamanye amazwe: (1) UClaude Goodman, (2) URobert Nisbet, (3) U-Edwin Skinner, (4) UJohn Cooke, (5) U-Eric Cooke, (6) UGeorge Phillips, (7) UGeorge Nisbet. Ngemuva: Ama-“colporteur” alibangisa eMpumalanga Afrika

[Isithombe ekhasini 79]

UFranziska Harris ubonisa isithakazelo esikhethekile ezisebenzini zasezindlini

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

UVera Bull, ukhonza eColombia

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

UBarry noJeanette Rushby—“njalo babefuna ukwenza okwengeziwe”

[Isithombe ekhasini 92]

ISikole Senkonzo Samaphayona eHholo LoMhlangano LaseDudley

[Isithombe ekhasini 95]

Umkhaya waseBethel yaseBrithani ekukhulekeleni kwasekuseni

[Isithombe ekhasini 96]

Ukuthweswa iziqu kwekilasi lokuqala leSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo eBrithani

[Isithombe ekhasini 102]

IHholo LoMbuso lokuqala elakhiwa ngendlela esheshayo eBrithani (eWeston Favell, eNorthampton)

[Isithombe ekhasini 107]

UMichael noJean Harvey

[Isithombe ekhasini 108, 109]

Amaphayona akhetha ukukhonza emabandleni akhuluma ezinye izilimi

[Isithombe ekhasini 116, 117]

U-A. D. Schroeder exoxa nasebe- mnkantsh’ ubomvu emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke eLeicester ngo-1983

[Isithombe ekhasini 123]

Amaphayona aseShetland aya esikebheni sokudoba ensimini yawo esogwini lolwandle

[Isithombe ekhasini 131]

UJohn noMildred Barr

[Isithombe ekhasini 133]

IKomiti Yegatsha (kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla). Abahlezi: uPeter Ellis, uJohn Wynn. Abamile: uBevan Vigo, uStephen Hardy, uJohn Andrews, uRon Drage, uJack Dowson noDennis Dutton

[Izithombe ekhasini 138, 139]

Umsebenzi wokufakaza awukapheli

[Izithombe ekhasini 140, 141]

Abanye asebekhonze ngokwethembeka iminyaka eminingi: (1) USydney noRobina Owler, (2) U-Anthony noMuriel Tavener, (3) URichard no-Anne Gillam, (4) UGeoff noVee Young, (5) UFred noRose James, (6) UCornelius noRiky Hope, (7) UDennis noMavis Matthews, (8) URichard noHazel Jessop