Smartly dressed and usually in two's, Jehovah's Witnesses are a familiar sight on the doorsteps of Nottinghamshire, handing out magazines.听 Although they arrive with a smile, it's clear that their presence and message isn't always welcomed. So what motivates them to keep returning? 大象传媒 Radio Nottingham has been running a special series for the Sunday Breakfast Show, following a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. Doorstepping All Witnesses who are physically capable of it engage in missionary work. Much missionary work involves visiting door to door to discuss scripture with people they meet. A successful discussion will lead to return trips, and possibly to home Bible studies. The aim is to persuade a non-believer of the rightness of their cause so that they eventually become a Witness themselves. The Thoburn family, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, spend at least 12 hours a month knocking on doors.
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Baptism There's 25 separate congregations dotted around Nottinghamshire.听 Becoming a baptised member is a huge commitment.听Apart from committing to go door to door, talking about their beliefs each week, they're also expected to attend two two hour meetings at their local Kingdom Hall as well as a mid-week home group.
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Christian? Jehovah's Witnesses may talk about God and the Bible, but they're not viewed as a Christian Denomination. One of the main differences is their rejection of the Trinity (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) which is a fundamental pillar of Christendom.听Instead they focus more on an Old Testament view of "Jehovah" God.
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At the heart of the movement is the "Watch Tower" Society which produces magazines from its base in the United States, outlining what each congregation should be reading, practicing and discussing.听 Every congregation around the World studies the same material at the same time. Community Jehovah's Witnesses are a close-knit community, preferring to socialise
among themselves, rather than forming friendships outside their faith. One 13 year old who's been brought up within the Kirkby-in-Ashfield congregation听 agreed to keep an audio diary of some of her experiences for 大象传媒 Radio Nottingham.
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