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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 18, 2003

WHERE WE WORSHIP
Witnesses look to Bible as guide

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Faith Editor

Name of group/denomination: Jehovah's Witnesses

Where we meet: The 99 congregations in Hawai'i meet in 70 meeting halls statewide and in district groups semiannually in the 1,425-seat Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 239 Pali'i St. in Mililani Technology Park. Built by volunteers, the facility provides Bible education for Jehovah's Witnesses on O'ahu.

Leadership: Elders, who volunteer their time, lead each congregation. Christian men are appointed as elders, or overseers. The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y., provides general oversight worldwide. The Hawai'i district overseer is Larry Bennett.

Our numbers: About 7,000 in Hawai'i.

What's special about us: The name is drawn from Isaiah 43:10: "You are my witnesses, is the utterance of Jehovah." Known for their house-to-house visits and widespread preaching, Jehovah's Witnesses follow Jesus' words (Acts 1:8): "You will be witnesses of me to the most distant part of the earth."

"The message we preach is that God's kingdom will eliminate wickedness and transform the earth into a paradise where the righteous will reside forever," said Eric Anderson, an elder of the Vineyard congregation.

What we believe: Jehovah's Witnesses follow no creed, according to Milton Henschel, a director of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, quoted in "Religions of America."

They accept the Bible as God's Word and the source of truth. As Christians, they use it as a guideline for all aspects of life, but don't believe every passage should be interpreted literally.

"We don't use images in our worship," Anderson said. "We don't recite memorized prayers. We pray from the heart, based on circumstances, for the matter at hand."

They remain neutral in affairs of government and the military. They also do not salute the flag, because it is considered an idolatrous act of worship, he said.

Citing biblical sources, they also do not accept blood transfusions or donate blood, but do accept non-blood alternatives.

All activities are supported by donations. They do not tithe.

What we're excited about: Jehovah's Witnesses in Hawai'i are planning two international conventions: Dec. 18i21 at the Hawai'i Convention Center and Dec. 25i28 at the Neal Blaisdell Center. The 7,500 local Witnesses will be hosting nearly 15,000 fellow believers from the U.S. Mainland, Canada, Japan, Korea, Alaska, Fiji, Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Samoa and Taiwan.

Contact: 842-1100 or www.watchtower.org.