Jehovah's Witnesses

History

William Miller (1782-1849) was born to a Baptist family in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and he grew up in Hampton, New York. When he became an adult, he rejected his Baptist upbringing, became a deist and joined Freemasonry. In 1812 Miller joined the military in order to fight in the war of 1812. During the war he survived a devastating attack on his fort, where many others did not. He believed his survival was miraculous and began to question his deist beliefs.

He returned to his Baptist roots and began to study the Bible intently. He became convinced that God had revealed the second coming of Christ in the Bible. In 1818, based on Daniel 8:14 he believed that this world would come to an end in 1843 and Christ would come sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. Miller continued to study the Bible to make sure his prediction was correct.

In 1831 he left Freemasonry convinced that it was not biblical. That same year he began to publicly preach his prediction. Over the next couple of years, he gained a huge following known as Millerites. From 1840 onwards, Millerism was transformed from an obscure, regional following into a national movement. When Christ did not come back he wrote, “I confess my error, and acknowledge my disappointment; yet I still believe that the day of the Lord is near, even at the door.” Many of his followers gave up their beliefs, but others believed that the calculations were merely off, and they continued to predict the second coming of Christ. After his death the Millerism movement turned into the Adventist movement.

Adventism is a branch of Protestant Christianity, which believes that the second coming of Jesus Christ is imminent. They believe they can predict the coming of Christ from prophecy in the Bible. In addition to this belief they usually deny the trinity, the deity of Jesus, and the existence of hell. Groups that grew out of Adventism are the Advent Christian Church, Shepherd’s Rod, Branch Davidians, Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) was born to a Presbyterian family in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. As a teenager Russel began to question his Christian beliefs. In 1870 at age 18 he heard and was attracted to a presentation by Adventist minister Jonas Wendell. As a result, Russell, his father, and a group of friends, including Adventist preachers, established a group called “Bible Students” to study the Bible. The group, strongly influenced by Adventist teachings, concluded that the doctrines of the trinity, deity of Jesus, the immortality of the soul, and hell were not found in the Bible.

In 1876 Russell joined Adventist Nelson H. Barbour, who taught that Christ would come back in 1878. When Christ did not come, Russell decided that something had happened invisibly. He parted ways with Barbour and created his own journal, the Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, through which he published his teachings and spread his influence. Its initial printing was 6,000 copies.

In 1879 he married Maria F. Ackley and appointed her Secretary-Treasurer of the society and associate editor of his journal. In 1881, Russell formed the legal entity “The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.” By this time his Bible study group had grown to hundreds of local members, with followers throughout New England, the Virginias, Ohio, and in other nations. In 1910 the secular journal Overland Monthly stated that Russell’s writings had become the most widely distributed, privately produced works in America and the third most widely circulated on earth, after the Bible and the Chinese Almanac (see Overland Monthly, January 1910, p. 130).

In his writings he attacked the doctrines of hell and the trinity. He taught that Christ was created by the Father and not originally divine, but the Father had granted Him divinity after His death and resurrection. He taught that Christians would be raptured in 1910 and the end of the world would be in 1914. These dates where based on calculations taken from measurements of the Egyptian pyramids, which he believed were built under the guidance of God by the Hebrews while they were in Egypt.

“We see no reason for changing the figures — nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.” (Charles Russell. The Watch Tower. July 15, 1894, p. 1677.)

Between 1886 and 1917 he published a seven volume book series called Scripture Studies, which gave what he considered as the correct interpretation of many Bible passages.

“If the six volumes of ‘Scripture Studies’ are practically the Bible, topically arranged with Bible proof texts given, we might not improperly name the volumes ‘the Bible in arranged form,’ that is to say, they are not mere comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible itself. Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see also, that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for 10 years. If he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood the Bible for 10 years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references and had not read a page of the Bible as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures.” (Charles T. Russell. The Watchtower, September 15, 1910, p. 298.)

In 1912 he was convicted of financial fraud for selling “Miracle Wheat” which was supposed to produce a greater crop than anyone else’s. It was found to be inferior to all other grains. Several times he was caught lying during his cross examination. In 1913 Maria sued for divorce for “his conceit, egotism, domination, and improper conduct in relation to other women.”

Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942) was a lawyer in Missouri. In 1894 he began to read Russell’s writings. In 1906 he and his wife were baptized into the Watch Tower Society and they began to hold Bible studies in their house. When Russell’s health began to deteriorate Rutherford became the public spokesperson for the Watch Tower Society. In 1916 he became one of the seven members who sat on the governing board of the Watch Tower Society.

In 1917, after Russell’s death, Rutherford was elected as the new president of the Watch Tower Society. Rutherford immediately removed and replaced four board members who opposed him. This was so controversial that about fourteen percent of congregational members left the Watch Tower Society. That same year Rutherford began to publish books and preach publicly against Christian leaders and the American government as “unrighteous” and “beastly.” The U.S. Attorney General Thomas Watt Gregory responded by having Rutherford arrested for espionage, attempting to cause insubordination, disloyalty, and refusal of duty in the armed forces. Russell was later released for the reason of wrongful conviction.

Russell taught that the true Christians would be raptured in 1918 and the world would end in 1920. When that did not happen, he changed it to 1925, and then changed it again and again throughout the years. For more false prophecies of the coming of Christ see the Jehovah’s Witnesses False Prophecies article (see above).

He published a new magazine called The Golden Age (later renamed Awake!) and made door-to-door witnessing required by members of the Watch Tower Society. He declared himself to be the only mouthpiece of Jehovah and in 1925 he gained full control over what doctrines would be taught in Watch Tower Society publications. He attracted crowds of 20,000 people at public conventions, his publications reached a total printing of 36 million copies, and he was broadcast on 480 radio stations. In 1927 he stopped the printing of all of Russell’s publications.

In 1928 he abolished the system of election of elders and congregational leaders and began to appoint them himself or by his board that he controlled. In 1931 he changed the Watch Tower Society’s name to Jehovah’s Witnesses (although they still refer to themselves as the Watch Tower Society). He continually denounced all Christian denominations and their leaders as unrighteous and corrupt, described those who left the Society as the “evil servant class,” and told the members of the Society to cast judgment on Christendom. He declared all holidays as pagan and condemned those who saluted the flag and served in the government.

“Christendom’s chief holiday, Easter, therefore finds no support at all in the Bible. It is of pagan origin.” (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, 1968.)

“…birthday celebrations tend to give excessive importance to an individual… Jehovah’s Witnesses do not share in birthday festivities (parties, singing, gift giving, and so forth).”
(School and Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1983.)

“…nowhere in the Bible do we find that parents are to be worshiped, or that there should be a Father’s Day and a Mother’s Day kept in their honor.” (Awake!, May 8, 1956.)

“…we view the flag salute as an act of worship.” (School and Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1983.)

“…Jehovah’s Witnesses take no part whatsoever in political activities.” (United in Worship of the Only True God, 1983.)

In 1938 he started calling the Jehovah’s Witnesses system of government a theocracy. He emphasized that God’s name was only Jehovah and stated that Jesus was only a god/angel. He denounced the cross as pagan and taught that Jesus died on a stake.

Nathan H. Knorr (1905-77) became the third president in 1942 after Rutherford’s death. He created the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead where congregational members would attend to be equipped for door-to-door witnessing. In 1950 he had a new version of the New Testament published, called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures and in 1961 the Old Testament was added to it. Knorr’s presidency focused on the explicit instructions of guiding Witnesses in their lifestyle and conduct and the establishment of congregational committees that enforced this strict moral code. He emphasized the coming of Christ in 1975 in all Jehovah’s Witnesses publications. By 1975 membership had exceed two million. Many people quit their jobs and sold their assets to ready themselves for Christ’s return. Memberships declined after 1975 when Christ did not return.

In 1977 power became centralized within the Governing Body, which is the ruling council of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Governing Body formulates doctrines and oversees the society’s operations and publications. Though there have been presidents since 1977, they have been members of the Governing Body and have not had the same power as the first three. The Governing Body refers to itself as a “theocratic organization,” that is Jehovah’s “visible organization” on earth. In 1995, Jehovah’s Witnesses abandoned the idea that Armageddon and the second coming of Christ must occur during the lives of the generation that was alive in 1914. However, they still believe Christ’s coming is imminent.

Writings

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures was published in 1950 with the New Testament. The Old Testament was added in 1961. It is the only translation accepted by the Governing Body. The major difference between it and other translations is that in places in scripture that Jesus is referred to as God it says he is a god (John 1:1). As of September 2018, there have been more than 220 million copies in 180 languages.

You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth was published in 1983. It is the main publication of the Society for use in conducting home Bible studies and giving the correct interpretation of key passages in the Bible.

Reasoning from the Scriptures was designed to help facilitate discussions between Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of other faiths on various topics.

The Watchtower (monthly) and Awake! (quarterly) magazines have articles on biblical topics and current cultural issues and events. They are used in Bible studies and distributed in door-to-door witnessing.

“It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communicating to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose.” (Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 85.)

“The Watchtower Bible Tract Society is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as His channel through which to make known the glad tidings.” (The Watchtower, 1917, p. 22.)

“Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his ‘faithful and discreet slave,’ made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” (The Watchtower, December 1, 1981, p. 27.)

“The Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible… the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind.” (The Watchtower, October 1, 1997, p. 587.)

Beliefs About God

God is the only Supreme Being and Creator of the universe. He is personal and makes Himself know through His Word.

They deny the trinity, saying that it is a concept that Satan originated.

They believe that Jesus was God’s first created being in heaven and that the Holy Spirit is only God’s “active force” in creation.

They emphasize that God’s name is Jehovah and that it is the only name one is to use. They believe that since no other religion uses the name Jehovah or barely uses it, they are the only ones making His name known.

“The obvious conclusion is, therefore, that Satan is the originator of the Trinity doctrine.”
(Let God Be True, p. 101.)

“Sincere persons who want to know the true God and serve him find it a bit difficult to love and worship a complicated, freakish-looking, three-headed God.” (Let God Be True, p. 102.)

“But the holy spirit has no personal name. The reason for this is that the holy spirit is not an intelligent person. It is the impersonal, invisible active force that finds its source and reservoir in Jehovah God and that he uses to accomplish his will even at great distances, over light years of space.” (Let Your Name Be Sanctified, p. 269.)

Beliefs About the Material Realm

Jehovah is the creator of all things in the universe and He created the world through Jesus Christ. They are not six-day creationists and are not ‘anti-science.’ They believe that the world could be billions of years old.

Beliefs About Humanity

All humans were created by Jehovah to revere Him and to have a relationship with Him.

Humans have free will to choose or accept Jehovah.

They do not believe that humans have an immaterial soul or spirit. The word “soul” in the Bible is merely one’s physical body. Therefore, humans only have a material body.

Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to have blood transfusions because Jehovah commanded them to abstain from blood (Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:10; Deut. 12:23; Acts 15:28, 29). Also, God views blood as representing the life of the person (Lev. 17:14). If humans are only physical beings, then their blood is a big part of their life.

Beliefs About Jesus

Jesus is the first created being of Jehovah and is only a god (John 1:1; NWT). Originally in heaven, Jesus was the archangel Michael. He was then put in the body of the virgin Mary and birthed into a physical body.

“The true Scriptures speak of God’s Son, the Word, as ‘a god.’ He is a ‘mighty god,’ but not the Almighty God, who is Jehovah.” (The Truth Shall Make You Free, pp. 47.)

“The Son of God was known as Michael before he came to earth.” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, p. 218.)

“In other words, he was the first and direct creation of Jehovah God.” (The Kingdom Is at Hand, pp. 46-47.)

They believe that Jesus died on a “torture stake” and not a cross. They reject the symbol of the cross because it was a pre-Christian pagan symbol that Christendom adopted years later. They believe that Jesus’ death only paid for the original sin of Adam and Eve. Christ’s death did not pay for the sins that others made by their own choices.

They do not believe that Jesus’s body physically rose from the grave. Rather his physical body dissolved, and only his spirit rose from the grave.

“We affirm the resurrection of Christ; that he was put to death in the flesh, quickened in Spirit. We deny that He was raised in the flesh, and challenge any statement to that effect as being unscriptural.” (Bible Student’s Monthly. Vol. V, No. 3, p. 2.)

“Jesus Christ was not made a human creature at his resurrection but was made a spirit, which accounts for his invisibility.” (The Watchtower. April 1, 1947, pp. 101-102.)

Then after his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven he became known as the archangel Michael again. They believe one day Jesus will return to fight the battle of Armageddon where he will defeat Satan and the evil nations of the world and set up his government on Earth.

Beliefs About the Problem with Humanity and the World

They believe that all people are born into sin due to the sin of Adam and Eve. Thus, creation is affected by this sin and people’s free will is corrupted and so they choose to sin.

At Armageddon, the final battle and judgment, Jehovah will judge all people according to their works. Jehovah’s Witness do not believe in hell, so all those found outside the Watch Tower Society will be annihilated after Jehovah’s judgment of creation.

Beliefs About the Solution to the Problem

Jesus’ death was necessary to pay for Adam’s sin, but it is not sufficient to pay for all of humanity’s sin. Faith in Jesus is necessary for salvation but one’s works are also necessary.

No one is saved until Jesus comes back and defeats Satan and all evil at the final battle of Armageddon.

There is no assurance of salvation and there is no salvation outside of the Watch Tower Society.

Unless one is a member in good standing one will not be saved. The Watch Tower Society publications state that salvation at Armageddon is contingent on baptism, prayer, an accurate knowledge of Bible truth, adherence to God’s moral standard, membership and loyalty to God’s ‘visible organization,’ and door-to-door witnessing.

“To get one’s name written in that book of life will depend on one’s works, whether they are in fulfillment of God’s will and approved by his Judge and King.” (The Watchtower, August 15, 1972.)

“Jesus Christ identified a first requirement when he said in prayer to his Father: ‘This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you…’ Many have found the second requirement more difficult. It is to obey God’s laws, yes, to conform one’s life to the moral requirements set out in the Bible… A third requirement is that we be associated with God’s channel, his organization… To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it… The fourth requirement is connected with loyalty. God requires that prospective subjects of his kingdom support his government by loyally advocating his kingdom rule to others…” (The Watchtower. Feb. 15, 1983, p.12.)

“To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.” (The Watchtower, February 15, 1983: 12.)

“There will only be one organization—God’s visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching ‘great tribulation’. It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. You must be part of Jehovah’s organization, doing God’s will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life.” (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. p. 250-251.)

The Bible and all denominations of Christianity teach that there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ, but they do not teach that one has to belong to a certain denomination or church to be saved.

When humans die, they go into a bodily sleep in the grave (since they have no spirit) until Jesus comes back again. On that day only the Chosen 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8) will get to go to heaven and dwell with Jehovah. The rest of Jehovah’s Witnesses will live in paradise on earth but not with Jehovah.

“The Bible shows that only a limited number of persons, a ‘little flock,’ will go to heaven… The rest of faithful humankind will live on earth as the subjects of these rulers.” (The Watchtower, February 15, 1984.)

“Only a limited number are born again. The great crowd does not need to be born again. Their life is earthly, not heavenly.” (The Watchtower. April 1,1988, p. 1.)

“Members of the great crowd are not participants in the new covenant. However, they associate with the Israel of God and live with them in their "land." While not participants in the new covenant, they are beneficiaries of it.” (The Watchtower. Feb. 1, 1998, p. 24.)

According to The Watchtower magazine, the number of the 144,000 in heaven filled up in 1935. Everyone else since that date will never go to heaven.

All those who were not members of the Watch Tower Society will be annihilated since there is no hell. This includes those who left the Watch Tower Society. Those who have chosen to leave the society are regarded as abandoning God’s organization and protection and are voluntarily entering the world of Satan. Members of Jehovah’s Witness are directed to shun these defectors, even if they are close relatives (see “Disfellowshiping—How to View It,” The Watchtower. September 15, 1981, p. 23).

“Such ones willfully abandoning the Christian congregation thereby become part of the ‘antichrist.’ A person who had willfully and formally disassociated himself from the congregation would have matched that description. By deliberately repudiating God’s congregation and by renouncing the Christian way, he would have made himself an apostate. A loyal Christian would not have wanted to fellowship with an apostate… Scripturally, a person who repudiated God’s congregation became more reprehensible than those in the world.” (The Watchtower, July 15, 1985, p. 31.)

Sociologist Andrew Holden claims that his research indicated that there are many Jehovah’s Witnesses who would defect because of disillusionment with the organization and its teachings but remain out of fear of being shunned and losing contact with friends and family members (see Andrew Holden. Jehovah’s Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement, pp. 150-170).

Witnessing

Witnessing often seems scary, but try to remember you are just sharing who Jesus is to you in your life. It is important to remember that it is not your job to answer all their questions and convert them. It is your job to share who God and Jesus Christ are as you know them now at this point in your life and how they have been involved in your life.

Witnessing to Other People in General

First, pray for wisdom, pray for them, and pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Even if you just met them, you can still ask for God’s leading in a brief prayer.

Don’t be afraid of them or make it awkward. Remember that they are people with many of the same fears and desires that you have. They may look culturally different and sound different as they express their worldview, but at the core of their being, they are a person who wants to be loved, feel safe, and have meaning in their life. They have come to believe that the worldview they have will fulfill those needs. That is really the only thing that makes them different from you.

Second, the most important part is to love them and listen to them. Many non-Christians complain that Christians immediately share the gospel without really getting to know them. Most people do not feel like people really listen to them and get to know who they are. It is important to realize that most witnessing is the result of building a relationship with people and being involved in their life. Take the time to really listen to their desires and fear and draw them out with questions. Sometimes you will find that their beliefs are based more on childhood experiences or being hurt by other Christians than the evidence or benefits of their religion. Understand that you may be in for the long haul, and it may take many conversations and years to lead them to Christ. You may not even see them become a Christian, but God will use you as well as many others to lead them to Christ, which may happen at the influence of another Christian long after they are out of your life.

Even if you know a lot about their religion or have met a lot of people from their religion, do not assume you know what they believe. Not everyone of the same religion necessarily has the same beliefs. Ask them what they believe and why they believe what they do. Pay attention to what they emphasize or what they spend the most time talking about because that usually is the most important thing to them. That will be the most rooted belief that will be the hardest for them to shift their perspective on. Remember not everything they believe is wrong or bad. Compare it to the basic affirmations of the Christian faith, not your personal belief preferences.

Third, it is better to start with asking them questions about what they think about Christianity than telling them what it is and why it is right. You may find that many things they believe are correct. Ask them who they think God and Jesus are. What do they think is wrong with the world and how it should be fixed? Do they think they are a good person, and why? What do they think will happen to them when they die? If you can affirm them in that belief or talk about how you believe that too, then you are starting on common ground with them, which will make you less hostile and help them feel more connected to you and more comfortable to share with you. Then you can lovingly point out the differences between what they believe and what the Bible says. Frame it as Jesus being so much more rather than “this is right” or what you have to believe.

Fourth, get them to think about how their worldview corresponds to reality. Ask them in a curious and loving way, not in a debating way, about the contradictions in their belief systems. Listen for internal contradictions as they explain their beliefs. You must listen to what they are saying and ask questions. Sooner or later you catch on to inconsistencies. Inconsistencies usually arise when discussing the relationship between their beliefs and reality. In a loving way confront them on these inconsistencies in order to show them that their beliefs do not correspond with reality. You are trying to help them step outside their belief system and see it from a different perspective. Ask them to explain how they can embrace these contradictions. Ask them the questions that you have always had about their religion or the things that do not make sense to you.

Do not get distracted by the bizarre or fringe beliefs that other people have. Focus on the majors: who God is, humanity, the problem with humanity and creation, and most importantly the solution to the problem with humanity and creation. The focus should always be on who Jesus is and His work on the cross. Share with them how Jesus provides a better relationship, path, and future.

Finally, share your story with them. They may be able to argue with beliefs, but they cannot argue against your own story. Tell them about your life before Christ, how you came to know Christ, and how He changed your life. And most importantly, tell them how Christ got you through and is getting you through your struggles. Remember, people of other religions do not have a personal relationship with a being that is all powerful and can get them through anything. They are all on their own in dealing with their struggles. Your personal stories are the most powerful tool you have in witnessing to others, for this is where Jesus becomes real in the everyday lives of everyday people.

Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses see themselves as Christians, so many questions that you would ask to see if someone is a Christian, they will answer in the affirmative. Questions like: Are you a Christian? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Is Jesus the Son of God? Is Jesus born of a virgin? Is Jesus your Savior? Do you believe in heaven? Do you believe in salvation by grace? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? It is important to make sure they define what they mean by these statements.

The only time that you will really be able to talk to a Jehovah’s Witness is if they come to your door witnessing, since they are forbidden to fellowship with people outside their religion. If Jehovah’s Witnesses do come to your door witnessing, then pray for your time with them, invite them into your home, and love them. Jehovah’s Witnesses often say that Christians are the most unloving people that they witness to, usually calling them a cult. Do not call them a cult, do not judge them. They are good people who are trying to live a good life. They are not people trying to deceive or hurt you. They are the victims of a works-oriented religion.

Ask them how their day is going, how long they have been a Jehovah’s Witness, etc. Show them that you are interested in them as a person. They will then want to share their gospel with you. Let them. Once they are done, politely ask them questions that you have about their religion. The goal is to get them to think about the contradictions in their beliefs, the lack of evidence for the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion, and how works oriented Jehovah’s Witnesses is compared to true Christianity. They know many of the questions that Christians will ask and have pre-memorized answers to them. But it is your off-script dialogue with them that will get them to think about your questions beyond an academic memorization of questions and answers. You have to trust that the Holy Spirit will use your interaction with them to open their hearts and minds to the true Jesus Christ. They may say that they want to come back with someone else (usually an elder) to help answer the questions. That is all right, for it gives you time to prepare for the next visit. There are many articles as www.carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses that can help you get prepared. Be prepared for them to have questions for you. If you do not know the answers, that is all right. Tell them you will research the answers and get back to them. One thing that you can do is to show them how Jesus is God using their own Bible. See the Refuting Jehovah’s Witnesses on the Deity of Jesus article (see above).

Invite them back and pray and prepare for the next visit. Eventually after a few visits they will either meet with you privately to talk more or they will stop coming because you showed no interest in converting. If you never hear from them again that is all right. You shared your faith with them. You have no idea how the Holy Spirit is going to use that in their lives as they move on in life and meet more Christians.