We Invite You to Visit the United States Bethel Complexes “We now have marvelous memories of our visit to Bethel, which we will treasure forever.” So commented a couple from Vanuatu after visiting the facilities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States. Many of the more than 70 thousand people who visit each year feel similarly. Have you visited the United States Bethel complexes? If not, you are welcome to do so. What will you see at the three main complexes? World Headquarters, Brooklyn, New York. Take the guided tour, and learn about the organized efforts under way to coordinate and support the worldwide preaching of the good news. You can also see two self-guided exhibits. One, with the theme “A People for Jehovah’s Name,” depicts the history of Jehovah’s people from the first century until the present. The other, “The Bible and the Divine Name,” features numerous Bible translations containing God’s unique name. Theocratic Education, Patterson, New York. Find out about the schools located there, such as the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and the School for Branch Committee Members and Their Wives. You will also see displays and videos that tell about the work done in the offices, which include the Art, Audio/Video Services, Legal, and Service departments. Literature Printing and Shipping, Wallkill, New York. Join the guided tour to see how Bibles and Bible-based literature are printed, bound, and shipped to congregations in the United States, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world. How long do the tours at these complexes take? A guided tour of Brooklyn takes about an hour; Patterson, about two hours; and Wallkill, about an hour and a half. Who are the tour guides? Those who work in the various departments at Bethel give the tours. They consider this a part of their efforts to support our worldwide educational work. As of May 2014, there were more than 5,000 people working at the three complexes, and more than 3,600 of them had been trained to give guided tours. These tours are given in about 40 languages. How much does a tour cost? There is no charge. Do you need to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to visit? Not at all. Many who visit are not. Both Witnesses and non-Witnesses will gain insight into the organized efforts that support the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A Muslim woman from India visited Patterson. After her tour, she said: “I would love to be a part of this. Thank you so much for showing me so much respect.” Are children welcome? Absolutely! A visit may have a profound effect on young ones. John, a visitor from the United States, wrote: “The children in our group have not stopped talking about the tour since we came home. Before the tour, Bethel service was an abstract idea, but now serving there has become a goal for them.” Is it possible to tour the facilities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in other countries? Yes. Tours are available in dozens of countries. To find a location, visit the Office and Tour Information page. We warmly welcome you to come and tour one of the branch offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses. jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/bethel/tours-usa/ Copyright © 2015 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 04:50:35 +0000