Ukuqhubekela Phambili Nenhlangano KaNkulunkulu
Njengoba ilandiswa nguGrant Suiter
NGO-1922, lapho ngineminyaka eyi-14 ubudala, ubaba wathutha umkhaya wakithi eChicago, eIllinois, wawuyisa eCalifornia. Endleleni savakashela abangane abadala eIdaho. Basitshela ukuthi eCalifornia kwakunabantu ababethi, ngokweBhayibheli, izigidi ezaziphila ngalesosikhathi zazingeke zife.
Masinya ngemva kokufika eCalifornia sabona ephephandabeni isaziso “Izigidi Eziphilayo Manje Azisoze Zafa.” Kwakuyisihloko senkulumo eyayizonikezwa eSan Jose. Ngalendlela ubaba wabathola abaFundi BeBhayibheli (njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi), futhi waqala ukusiyisa emihlanganweni yabo yeningi.
Umama wayefuna ukuba ngihileleke kuSonto-sikole othile wesonto. Nakuba ubaba ayebahlaba abashumayeli bawo wonke amahlelo, wavuma ukuthi lokhu kwakungase kube kuhle kimi. Ngakho ngaya njalo kuSonto-sikole wamaWeseli. Ekugcineni ngaba umgcini-sikhwama walesikole futhi ngadlala eqenjini laso lebhola lomnqakiswano. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, umkhaya wakithi wawuya ezinkulumweni zeningi ezaziqhutshwa abaFundi BeBhayibheli eSan Jose, amakhilomitha ambalwa nje ukusuka ekhaya eSanta Clara.
Ubaba wayefuna ukuba izimo zibe ngcono futhi ngalokho wakhankasela izimbangi ezihlukahlukene zombangazwe, waze ngisho wabhala ngopende igama lenye yazo efasiteleni lemoto yethu iModel T Ford. Emihlanganweni abaFundi BeBhayibheli ngomusa babemtshela ukuthi ithemba langempela ngesintu lalingekho emizamweni yezombangazwe kodwa laliseMbusweni kaNkulunkulu ngoKristu Jesu. Ubaba wayevuma ngandlela thile kodwa abesethi, lapho lokho kwakulungele isikhathi esizayo, okwangalesosikhathi wayethanda ukwenza izinto zibe zinhle ngangokunokwenzeka ngamacebo ezombangazwe. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, umkhaya wakithi wonke—umama, ubaba udadewethu nami—safinyelela ekuliqondeni okukhulu iqiniso leBhayibheli nezimfuneko zeZwi likaNkulunkulu.
Ukukhula Okungokomoya
Ekugcineni angikwazanga ukuqhubeka ngonembeza omhlophe noSonto-sikole wamaWeseli, ngakho ngasula. Ngo-1923 umkhaya wakithi wawusuthuthele kude ngamakhilomitha ambalwa eOakland, lapho ubaba aba nesitolo sokudla mina ngisesikoleni esiphakeme. Emva kokuba ngizwe ukuthi abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababhemi, ngazama ukwenza uBaba ukuba ayeke ukuthengisa usikilidi esitolo sakhe. Akavumelananga nami kodwa lendaba wayixoxa nomunye wabaFundi BeBhayibheli, uRobert Craig.
Emva kwengxoxo yabo ubaba wanquma ukuthengisa yonke leyobhizinisi futhi athuthe eOakland. Isinqumo sakhe sasibangelwe futhi imizamo yeqembu elithile yokumsiza ekuqaliseni ibhizinisi lokuthengisa ugologo ngokungemthetho, akuqaphela ukuthi kwakungahambisani nalokho ayekufunda eBandleni laseOakland labaFundi BeBhayibheli. Cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngemvume yabazali bami, ngayeka isikole esiphakeme emva kokufunda unyaka nengxenye ngenxa yethonya lokuziphatha okubi ezikoleni.
Sathuthela endaweni ekude ngamakhilomitha ambalwa eMountain View, eduze ngokwanele neSan Jose ukuze siye emihlanganweni yebandla khona futhi. Ubaba waba nesinye isitolo, futhi ngasebenza kuso isikhathi esigcwele, ngingaholi lutho kodwa ngimane ngimsiza nje. Ubaba wenza isikhokhelo seThe Watchtower neseGolden Age (ebizwa ngokuthi iPhaphama! manje), yeka ukuthi ngayijabulela ngokukhetheke kanjani iThe Golden Age! Ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi ngangithola ulwazi olwengeziwe kuyo kunalokho engangizokuthola uma ngangiye ngahlala esikoleni esiphakeme.
Imihlangano yebandla yayithakazelisa ngokwengeziwe njalo kimina. KuThe Watchtower kaMarch 1, 1925, ngathola indaba ehlaba umxhwele ngokukhethekile enesihloko esithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe.” Lokho kwaziswa kwaphawula isinyathelo esikhulu esiqhubekela phambili ekuqondeni kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli uMbuso kaJehova ngoKristu Jesu, okungukuthi, wawumisiwe ezulwini ngonyaka ka-1914. Phakathi nalesisikhathi umkhaya wakithi wawuba abangane abaseduze nabaFundi BeBhayibheli eMountain View, uchitha isikhathi esiningana nabo emakhaya abo.
Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi safunda ukuthi akukhona nje ukuthi umthandazo wawuyingxenye yemihlangano yebandla kodwa labangane babethandaza futhi emakhaya abo, kuhlanganise nokubonga ngesikhathi sokudla. Ubaba wayefuna ukubona umthandazo ngephuzu elifanele lokubheka okwaphumela enzuzweni kuyena. Wayekade ewubheka ngokuvamile nje njengobuzenzisi. Ngikhumbula ngikhona lapho exoxa ngomthandazo nomunye wabaFundi BeBhayibheli owayevakashele esitolo sakhe. Isivakashi saphawula indlela esimelwe sibonise ngayo ukubonga kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngezibusiso zethu. Kodwa ubaba wasibuza ukuthi kungenzeka kanjani ukuba sibonge uJehova ngazo zonke izibusiso zethu ngoba ngokuqinisekile asizange simsole ngazo zonke izinkathazo zethu. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, njengomkhaya, sawuqonda ngokucacile umthandazo futhi salisebenzisa ngokugcwele lelilungiselelo lothando.
Ilungiselelo lebandla engazuza kakhulu kulo kwakuyiSikole sabaProfethi. Lona kwakuwumhlangano wabadala nabanye besilisa ngenjongo yokuthola ukuqeqeshelwa ukukhuluma obala. Umfundi wayenikeza inkulumo ayilungiselele ngesihloko asabelwe, futhi abanye babemnikeza iseluleko esiwusizo. Nokho, ukugxekwa okwakhayo engakuthola esikoleni kwakungelutho uma kuqhathaniswa nengakuthola kubaba siqu emva kokuba eye wabakhona komunye wemihlangano ukuze angizwe ngizama ukunikeza inkulumo.
Mina nomkhaya wakithi sasizwa kakhulu ngababonisi abajikelezayo, ababengabameleli abakhethekile beWatch Tower Society. Amabandla ayenza izicelo njalo ngonyaka eNhlanganweni zokuba avakashelwe yibo. UJ. A. Bohnet wangihlaba umxhwele ngokukhethekile futhi waba lusizo olukhethekile kimi. Wayeyindoda eyayinezici ezamenza wathandeka kwabanye abantu kodwa zaba nomphumela ophambene kwabanye. Wayemthanda uJehova futhi ngokusobala wayezithobile, kodwa wayegcina lemfanelo ifihlwe ukubonakala enokhahlo.
Ubhapathizo Nenkonzo YobuKristu
Kwakuyinkulumo kaMzalwane uBohnet ekhaya lomFundi weBhayibheli eMountain View eyathinta ukuphila kwami ngokujulile. Njengoba ngangimlalele ekhuluma ngamalungelo okukhonza uJehova nomthwalo wemfanelo wokwenza kanjalo, ngakubona engangimelwe ngikwenze nengangifuna ukukwenza. Kanjalo ngazinikezela ngokwami siqu kuJehova, futhi cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo amanye amalungu omkhaya wakithi nawo azinikezela. Ngo-October 10, 1926, eSan Jose, eCalifornia, sonke sabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngokucwiliswa emanzini.
Ngalesosikhathi ubhapathizo lwaluqhutshwa cishe ngokwehlukile kunanamuhla. Umdala owayebhapathiza wathi kimi: “Mzalwane uGrant, egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelikamoya ongcwele, manje ngikubhapathizela kuKristu.” Ngamunye wethu owayebhapathizwa wayegqoke ingubo ende, emnyama enemikhono emifushane esuka entanyeni iyoshaya emaqakaleni. Ukuze kuqinisekwe ukuthi lengubo ayibhenguzi futhi yembesa umfundi ngokufanelekile yayenziwa isinde emphethweni ngezisindo zomthofi.
Emva kobhapathizo, nangemva kokuba sesigqokile, ubaba wathi kumdala owayengamele ubhapathizo: “Nina niphuma nezincwadi, akunjalo? Nathi sifuna ukwenza lowomsebenzi, manje.” Ngakho umkhaya wakithi waqala ukuya enkonzweni yasensimini.
Ukuqala kwami enkonzweni yasensimini kwakuyilapho umdala, uH. O. Lawrence, elungiselela ukuphuma nami. Wangihlomisa ngezincwajana saya ngemoto ensimini eSan Jose. Ngangicabanga ukuthi wayezosebenza nami endlini ngendlu, kodwa wangitshela ukuba ngehle emotweni futhi wathi, “Manje wena yehla ngaloluhlangothi lwezindlu.” Khona-ke wahamba ngemoto. Ngakho ngehla ngakulolohlangothi lwezindlu futhi ngahambisa izincwajana ezintathu ngomnikelo wamasenti angama-25 futhi ngajabula kakhulu. Ngenxa yokuhlanganyela okunjalo enkonzweni yobuKristu, ngazizwa ngempela ngiyingxenye yenhlangano kaNkulunkulu.
Cishe ngalenkathi samukela iziyalezo esiqondisweni sethu senkonzo sanyanga zonke iThe Bulletin (manje ebizwa ngokuthi INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso) ukuba sitshele umninikhaya okuthile ngenhlangano kaDeveli. Ngakho lapho abantu bengixosha ngokuthi abanasithakazelo ngangiphikelela ngandlela thile ngibatshele ngokuba-khona kwenhlangano kaDeveli nokubhujiswa kwayo okuzayo. Lokhu kwakuhluke ngokuphelele entshumayelweni yethu ejwayelekile ngethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni oyiPharadesi ngaphandle kokufa.
IBandla laseSan Jose lalivame ukuhamba amabanga amade ukuze lifinyelele abantu ngesigijimi soMbuso. Ababebizwa ngokuthi amaqembu ahambela abantu babeya njalo eSanta Clara Valley namagquma azungezile. Ngisakhumbula izwe kuze kufike lapho amehlo ayengafinyelela khona limbozwe imithi yezithelo eqhakazile. Sasiphatha ukudla kwasemini futhi sichithe usuku lonke, ngezinye izikhathi sihamba amakhilomitha ayi-121 (75 mi) noma ngaphezulu siya endaweni esasiyofakaza kuyo.
Isiteshi soMsakazo iKFWM eOakland sasetshenziswa iminyaka eminingi kusakazwa isigijimi soMbuso, futhi amabandla ahlukahlukene endaweni ezungezile ayeshintshana ekulungiseleleni isimiso salesiteshi ngezimpelasonto. Ngaba nelungelo lokufunda izinkulumo zeBhayibheli emsakazweni iKFWM, njengeyangomhla kaJuly 24, 1927. Izinhlamvu zalesiteshi somsakazo zavumelana nokuba zibe izinhlamvu zokuqala ‘zoMbuso WeZwe Lesintu’ (‘Kingdom For World of Mankind’).
Ukwandisa Inkonzo Yami
Ngolunye usuku lapho sihamba ngemoto siya ekhaya sivela emhlanganweni webandla, uMzalwane uLawrence, owangiyisa okokuqala enkonzweni yasensimini, wanginika isicelo sokukhonza endlunkulu yeNhlangano eBrooklyn, eNew York. Esikhathini esithile ngaphambi kwalokho, kafushane nje ngemva kokubhapathizwa kwethu, ngangiye ngezwa ubaba ethi kumama ukuba yena wayesesimweni sami wayeyokwenza inkonzo kaJehova umsebenzi wokuphila kwakhe. Nami yilokho engangikufuna, futhi ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi ngokwenza isicelo saseBethel ithuba lalingivulekele lokwenza lokho.
IThe Watchtower kaMay 15, 1928, yamemezela ukuthi kusukela ngoJuly 30 kuya kuAugust 6 kwakuzoba nomhlangano wezizwe zonke wabaFundi BeBhayibheli eDetroit, eMichigan. Ngangifuna kakhulu ukuba ngiye khona, futhi umkhaya wakithi nabangane benza kwaba nokwenzeka ngami ukuba ngiye. Phakathi nomhlangano uDonald Haslett, unobhala kaJ. F. Rutherford, umongameli weNhlangano, wamemezela esendaweni yesikhulumi ukuthi abazalwane babedingeka enkonzweni yaseBethel. Wathi labo abafisa ukwenza isicelo babengaxoxa noMzalwane uRutherford. Ngasabela, ngagcwalisa elinye ifomu lesicelo seBethel, futhi uMzalwane uRutherford wangitshela ukuba ngifike eBethel ngoAugust 13, 1928.
Sesisonke, sasiyi-13 esasizele inkonzo yaseBethel ngoAugust 13, isonto elilodwa nje emva komhlangano waseDetroit. Ngalesosikhathi amalungu angama-95 omkhaya waseBethel ayesebenza ekukhiqizeni nasekuthumeleni izincwadi zeBhayibheli efektri eyayisanda kuqedwa ukwakhiwa e-117 Adams Street, futhi inani elincane lalisebenza ekhaya laseBethel nasemahhovisi ehlukahlukene eNhlangano. Umsebenzi wami wokuqala eBethel kwakuwukususa izincwajana emshinini owawusetshenziselwa ukuzigoqa ngemva kokuba sekufakwe isembozo ngocingo. Ngasebenza efektri isikhathi esingaphansi kwamasonto amabili lapho ngishintshelwa ehhovisi, uMnyango weNkonzo. Ukuhlanganyela kulomsebenzi ngempela kwanginikeza umqondo wokuqhubekela phambili nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu.
Njengoba kwakungekho-ndawo engangingaya kuyo ngesikhathi sami sokuqala sokuphumula, ngo-1929, ngasichitha eBethel. Ngakho ngangikhona lapho uMzalwane uRutherford enikeza inkulumo yakhe eMasonic Temple eBrooklyn eyayikhulumela ukuvumela kukaJehova ububi nokulwelwa kwegama laKhe. Ngaphambi kwalesosikhathi sasingayiqondi lendaba, ngakho-ke inkulumo kaRutherford yayiwukuchazwa okuvusa amadlingozi, kwendaba ebalulekile neyisisekelo.
Ukuqhubekela Phambili Ngawo-1930
Okuvelele ngempela ngo-1931 kwakuwukwamukela igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova, kanjalo lazibonakalisa liyigama lobunye kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngonyaka olandelayo igama elisho ibandla labantu bakaNkulunkulu lashintshwa ekubeni i“ecclesia” laba “inkampane,” ushintsho olwalusekelwe ekucatshangelweni kweHubo 68:11 (ngokweAuthorized Version). Ngakho kulo lonke izwe sasine“zinkampane” zoFakazi BakaJehova futhi hhayi “amakilasi,” noma ama“ecclesia.”
Ngo-1932 ubaba wayeka ibhizinisi lakhe eCalifornia, futhi yena, benomama nodadewethu bangenela inkonzo yobuphayona. Bazakhela imoto eyindlu, futhi iminyaka engama-20 eyalandela yasebenza njengekhaya lobuphayona labazali bami. Udadewethu, uGrace, wakhonza nabo kwaze kwaba ngo-1939 lapho emenywa ukuba abe yilungu lomkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn. Uyaqhubeka ekhonza lapha, futhi kusukela ngo-1959 njengomkaSimon Kraker.
Umqondisi wefektri, uRobert J. Martin, washona ngoSeptember 23, 1932, futhi uNathan H. Knorr wamiswa endaweni yakhe uMzalwane uRutherford. UMzalwane uKnorr wayekade esemnyango owaba umsebenzi efektri.
Ngonyaka olandelayo izinkathazo zangempela zaqala kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. NgoJanuary 30, 1933, uAdolf Hitler waba ishansela yaseJalimane, futhi ngoJune 28, 1933, igatsha laseJalimane leWatch Tower Society eMagdeburg lathunjwa futhi lavalwa. UPapa uPius XI wamemezela u-1933 njengo “Nyaka Ongcwele,” futhi uMzalwane uRutherford masinya emva kwalokho wakhuluma eziteshini zomsakazo ezingaphezu kwama-55 ngesihloko “Umphumela WoNyaka Ongcwele Ekuthuleni Nokuchuma.” Kwakuyilungelo lami ukuba ngimethule kulesosimiso.
Ekuqaleni kwawo-1930 kwaba nokuvinjelwa okukhulu emsebenzini wethu futhi kwaba noshushiso olusakazeke kabanzi. OFakazi BakaJehova bahlelwa “ngamaviyo” ngenjongo yokunikeza ubufakazi obuhlangene ezindaweni zenkathazo. EJalimane ushushiso lwanda kangangokuba ngo-October 7, 1934, izinkampane zabantu bakaNkulunkulu emazweni amaningi zathumela ama“telegram” kuHitler zimxwayisa ukuba akuyeke.
Cishe ngalesikhathi kwakunezingxoxo eziningi phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nencazelo ye“sixuku esikhulu” sesAmbulo 7:9. Ngalesosikhathi kwakukholelwa ukuthi sasiyisigaba sasezulwini sesibili nesingathembekile kangako. Kwesinye isifundo saseBethel, esasiqhutshwa uMzalwane uT. J. Sullivan, ngabuza: “Njengoba isixuku esikhulu sizuza ukuphila okuphakade, ingabe abenza leloqembu [kumelwe] balondoloze ubuqotho?” Kwaba khona ukukhulumela okuningi kodwa kungekho mpendulo eqondile. Lapho ngibizwa ukuba ngisho ukukhulumela kwami ngathi bengizama nje ukuthola impendulo enguyebo noma qha.
Nokho, ngoMay 31, 1935, emhlanganweni waseWashington D.C., uMzalwane uRutherford wakhuluma ngayo kanye lendaba. Ngangihlezi phezulu ngibuka phansi emakhanda esixuku, futhi yeka ukuvusa amadlingozi okwakuyikho njengoba inkulumo yakhe yembuleka! Isixuku esikhulu sachazwa ngokucacile ngokomBhalo ukuthi yilabo abasinda eArmagedon ngethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Yebo, lolu kwakuwulwazi olwengeziwe ‘ngezigidi eziphilayo manje ezingasoze zife.’
NgoJuly 12, 1937, ngamiswa uMzalwane uRutherford njengenceku yeBethel. Eminyakeni yokugcina emine nengxenye yokuphila kukaMzalwane uRutherford ngaba nelungelo lokusebenza eduze naye. Ngasekupheleni kuka-1937 igama leThe Golden Age lashintshwa laba iConsolation, okwabangela inkulumo ehlekisayo kaMzalwane uRutherford kimina lapho ngimshayelela imoto sidlula eScranton, ePennsylvania, eduze nedolobha lakubo kaC. J. Woodworth, umhleli walomagazini. Kwakunzima ukudlula eScranton ngalezonsuku ngemoto, futhi ebhekisela kuMzalwane uWoodworth njengo“Woody,” uRutherford wathi: “Akumangalisi ukuthi uWoody ufuna induduzo (consolation), ngoba uhlala endaweni enjengalena.”
IMpi Yezwe II Isikhathi Sovivinyo
NgoSeptember 1939 iMpi Yezwe II yagqashuka. Ngo-October ihhovisi lethu legatsha laseParis lavalwa futhi umsebenzi wethu wavinjelwa eFrance. Ngonyaka olandelayo iCanada yavimbela umsebenzi wethu. Ngalelohlobo lika-1940 uMzalwane uRutherford wayegula, futhi sasingazi noma uyokwazi yini ukuba semhlangaweni owawulungiselwe eDetroit, eMichigan. Waba-khona, kodwa phakathi nenkulumo yakhe yeningi wathumela isigijimi kimina sokuthi wayezobuyela eBethel ngokushesha nokuthi ngenze amalungiselelo alokho.
Ngehlobo elalandela kwakunomhlangano omkhulu eSt. Louis, eMissouri, omkhulu kunayo yonke eyaqhutshwa oFakazi BakaJehova kuze kube yilesosikhathi. Ngangabelwe ukwamukela impahla ephathelene nokudla futhi ngaze ngangena ehholo kuphela engxenyeni yosuku lokugcina lapho kukhishwa incwadi iChildren. Phakathi nalomhlangano kwakhishwa nencwajana iJehovah’s Servants Defended, eyayinikeza ukwaziswa kokusisiza ukuba sibhekane nesenzo samaphoyisa esiphefumlelwe ngokwenkolo esimelene nenkonzo yethu yendlu ngendlu.
Leyoncwadi yayifike ngesikhathi ngempela. Kamuva ngalowonyaka ubaba wabanjwa futhi wavalelwa ngenxa yokuhlanganyela enkonzweni. Umama owayeshiywe yedwa kuleyomoto eyindlu, washaywa izichwensi. Nakuba ayengalimele ngokomzimba, izichwensi zayiphanga imoto eyindlu, ngakho umama waphoqeleka ukuba akhosele koFakazi bakuleyondawo.
Ngo-October 1, 1941, ngenkathi engekho uMzalwane uRutherford, ngaba nelungelo lokwengamela emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Kwakukulowomhlangano lapho ngakhethwa njengomqondisi wephiko leNhlangano lasePennsylvania.
Ezinyangeni ezimbili kamuva, ngeSonto, ngoDecember 7, 1941, uN. H. Knorr noG. E. Hannan kanye nami sasibuya enkonzweni yasensimini ngemoto engxenyeni eseduze yeLong Island. Sasilalele umsakazo wemoto futhi sezwa isaziso esishaqisayo sokuthi amaJapane ayedubule iTheku lasePearl ngebhomu. Abantu bakaJehova bathinteka kakhulu—iUnited States yayisempini, umongameli weNhlangano wayegula kabi futhi kunezitha ezicindezela nhlangothi zonke ukuze zivimbe umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela.
Nakuba uMzalwane uRutherford afa emva kwenyanga nosuku olulodwa kamuva, umsebenzi woMbuso waqhubeka ngamandla. UMzalwane uKnorr wakhethwa waba umongameli, futhi ngemva konyaka ngoFebruary 1, 1943, wazisa ukuvulwa kwesikole iWatchtower Bible School of Gilead, sokuqeqeshwa kwezithunywa zevangeli.
NgoMay 8, 1945, uMongameli weU.S. uHarry S. Truman wazisa ngokuzinikela kweJalimane. NgoAugust iUnited States yaphonsa amabhomu eathomu phezu kwamadolobha amaJapane iHiroshima neNagasaki, futhi isikhathi sangemva kwempi sasiphezu kwethu.
Izenzakalo Zangemva Kwempi
IDolobhakazi laseNew York lanikeza isaziso sokuthi babethatha ingemuva lomkhaya wethu waseBethel eColumbia Heights elalinwebekele ezansi emgwaqweni iFurman ukuze kwakhiwe indawo yokushaywa umoya nomgwaqo omkhulu. Nokho, iNhlangano yakwazi ukuthenga izindawo eColumbia Heights ukuze kwandiswe ikhaya laseBethel, futhi imvume kahulumeni yokwakha yemukelwa ngo-October 11, 1946. Ngakho ngoJanuary 27, 1947, ukudiliza engxenyeni engasemuva yesakhiwo sethu emgwaqweni iFurman kwaqala, futhi phakathi no-1948 no-1949 isenezelo esisha seBethel sakhiwa, lesisakhiwo esisha sanikezelwa ngo-1950. Isenezelo esikhulu esiyizitezi eziyisishiyagalolunye efektri eku-117 Adams Street naso saqedwa cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo.
Unobhala ongumgcinisikhwama weNhlangano, uW. E. Van Amburgh, watheneka amandla ngenxa yokuguga nokugula, ngakho wayeka esikhundleni sakhe. Ngakhethwa ukuba ngimlandele esikhundleni ngoFebruary 6, 1947, futhi uMzalwane uVan Amburgh wafa ngosuku olulandelayo.
Kafushane ngemva kwalokho, ehlobo lika-1947, ngathunyelwa yiNhlangano ukuba ngivakashele emazweni ambalwa aseYurophu ayonakaliswe iMpi Yezwe II. Ngempela kwakuyilungelo ukuhlangana nezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile ezazisanda kukhululwa ngemva kweminyaka eminingi emakamu okuhlushwa obuNazi. Kwakuyinjabulo kimina ukubanikeza isikhuthazo esingokomoya njengesikhulumi esiyinhloko phakathi nemihlangano eyaqhutshwa ngalesosikhathi.
Selokhu ngeza eBethel ngo-1928 ngangingakaze ngibuyele eCalifornia. Abazali bami baphayona kakhulu ngaseMpumalanga, ngakho ngangikwazi ukubabona ngezikhathi ezithile, ikakhulukazi emihlanganweni emikhulu. Kodwa ehlobo lika-1947 ithuba lavela ngami ukuba ngiphindele eCalifornia. Umhlangano wawulungiselelwe eLos Angeles, ngoAugust 13 kuya ku-17, futhi iNhlangano yalungiselela labo ababeye baba amalungu omkhaya waseBethel iminyaka eyi-15 noma ngaphezulu okokuhamba. Yeka uhambo nomhlangano othokozisayo!
Amalungelo Akhethekile Enkonzo
Phakathi naleminyaka ngiye ngajabulela futhi amalungelo angavamile ngokuphathelene nokwanda kwenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo. Ezamuva kakhulu ezintweni eziningi zeWatchtower Society engiye ngasiza ezingxoxweni zokuthengwa kwazo kube izakhiwo ezintsha ku-175 Pearl Street naku-360 Furman Street eBrooklyn ekuqaleni kwalonyaka ophelile. Kuyithemba lami elisuka enhliziyweni ukuthi lezozakhiwo ezinkulu ezintsha ziyosetshenziselwa ukwanda okuqhubekayo okwesabekayo kokumenyezelwa koMbuso kuwo wonke umhlaba.
Ngiye ngahamba amakhulu ezinkulungwane zamakhilomitha hhayi nje kulo lonke elaseUnited States kuphela kodwa nakwamanye amazwe amaningi, nginikeza izinkulumo ezilalelini eziningi zabantu bakaNkulunkulu zokuzikhuthaza enkonzweni yazo yobuKristu. Ngokwesibonelo phakathi nohambo lokuzungeza umhlaba lomhlangano “Wezindaba Ezilungileyo Zaphakade” ngo-1963, ngakhonza njengomunye wabameleli beNhlangano abangokomthetho, elinye nje lamalungelo amaningi engibonga uJehova ngawo. Ukukhonza njengesikhulumi phakathi neminingi imihlangano engokomlando yoFakazi BakaJehova eYankee Stadium, njengoka-1958 lapho kwakunabantu abangaphezu kwengxenye yesine yesigidi, nakho kwakuyilungelo elikhethekile.
Inhlangano Eqhubekela Phambili
Kokuhlangenwe nakho kobuntu iminyaka iletha izinguquko, ngezinye izikhathi kube ezidabukisayo, njengasendabeni yokushona kukababa ngoDecember 31, 1954, eIllinois, idolobha lesabelo sakhe sokugcina sobuphayona. Ngonyaka olandelayo, mina nodadewethu uGrace, sathutha umama eIllinois samyisa eNew York, lapho ahlala khona kwaze kwaba ukushona kwakhe ngoMay 6, 1962. Kepha ushintsho oluthokozisa ngempela kimina kwakulapho uEdith Rettos, iphayona elishisekayo, eba umkami ngoMay 12, 1956. Kusukela lapho uye wakhonza ngokwethembeka eceleni kwami lapha eBethel.
Njengoba ngiqhubeka neminyaka yenkonzo lapha endlunkulu yeNhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo, okuletha injabulo ngokukhethekile enhliziyweni yami ubufakazi obuqhubekayo besibusiso sikaNkulunkulu emsebenzini aye wawuphathisa abantu bakhe ukuba bawenze, okungukuthi, ukushunyayelwa kwalezizindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kuwo wonke umhlaba ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukuphela. (Mathewu 24:14) Ngabona ukwandiswa kweNdikimba Ebusayo ngo-1971, kwaphinda futhi ngo-1974, futhi kusukela lapho ngiye ngahlanganyela kweziningi zezinqumo ezibalulekile eziye zenziwa ezithinta amagatsha nomsebenzi wokushumayela ezweni lonke. Futhi ngiye ngabona inani labamemezeli boMbuso liphakama kusukela ezi-44 080 emhlabeni wonke ngenkathi ngiza eBethel ngo-1928 kuya cishe ezi-2 500 000 zabahlanganyela kulowomsebenzi namuhla. Ngempela inhlangano ibiqhubekela phambili, futhi ngiyabonga ngamalungelo amaningi engiye ngaphathiswa wona ukuba ngiwafeze ngokuphathelene nokunikeza ubufakzi obukhulu bokugcina.
Ukholo lwami ezithembisweni zeBhayibheli zikahulumeni olungileyo kaNkulunkulu nezibusiso oyoziletha emhlabeni luqinile kunanini. Uma bekungathiwa ngibuye ngikuphile futhi ukuphila kwami, ayikho enye indlela ebengingakhetha ukukuphila ngayo. Yeka injabulo nelungelo okuye kwaba yilo ukukhonza lapha eBethel nomkhaya wobuKristu omkhulu nomangalisa kakhulu emhlabeni kuleminyaka engama-55 edlule!
NgoMay 30, 1983, uMzalwane Suiter wavelelwa ingozi, eyaphumela ekulimaleni okungathi sína komfunkulo wakhe. Nakuba cishe wayefe uhlangothi, uMzalwane Suiter wazama ukuqhubeka ephila cishe izinyanga eziyisithupha. Noma ayekhubazeke kakhulu, futhi engakwazi nokukhuluma, waqhubeka ebonisa isithakazelo esikhulu ekuthuthukeni kweNhlangano kaJehova emhlabeni, ayesekhonze kuyo njengonobhala wayo ongumgcini-sikhwama iminyaka engama-36. Nokho, uqede inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni ekuseni ngoNovember 22, futhi isaziso salokhu senziwa emkhayeni waseBethel eBrooklyn nasemaPulazini eWatchtower ngemva kwenkonzo yasekuseni nebhulakifesi lalolosuku.
NgoLwesithathu kusihlwa, ngoNovember 23, inkonzo yomngcwabo yaqhutshelwa eHholo LoMbuso eBethel yaseBrooklyn, eyadluliselwa ngethelevishinl yethu emakamelweni okudlela nangocingo emapulazini eWatchtower. Kanjalo iningi lomkhaya waseBethel onamalungu ayizi-3 123, kuhlanganise nabafundi baseGilead, nezivakashi eziningi, bakwazi ukuzwa izinkulumo ezazinikezwa ngamalungu amaningana omkhaya. Zazingewona amazwi okumbonga. Kunalokho zakhuthaza bonke ababekhona ukuba bazuze ngenkambo yokwethembeka kukaMzalwane Suiter esaphila, oye wabonakala ngempela ‘ewumuthi omkhulu wokulunga’ nomnqobi ekulweleni izithakazelo zoMbuso. (Isaya 61:3; IsAmbulo 14:13) Kwaboniswa nokwazisa ngokusekela kokwethembeka okwenziwa umkakhe, uEdith, phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina zenkonzo yakhe yokuzinikela emhlabeni.
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UJ. A. Bohnet wakuthonya kakhulu ukuphila kwami
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Yimi nodadewethu nabazali bami
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Abazali bami baphayona iminyaka engama-20 ngalemoto eyindlu
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UW. E. Van Amburgh engamlandela esikhundleni njengonobhala ongumgcini-sikhwama weWatch Tower Society ngo-1947
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Ngakhuluma kaningi emihlanganweni emikhulu—njengalapha eYankee Stadium ngo-1958
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UEdith uye waba umngane wami oqotho kusukela ngo-1956