LIVING AS CHRISTIANS: Week September 25 to October 1, 2023, “Elders work for the well-being of Jehovah's people”, Video: Shepherds who take care of the flock, Analysis and Responses

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS:  September 25-October 1-2023, “Elders work for the well-being of Jehovah's people”, Video: Shepherds who take care of the flock, Analysis and Responses.

“The elders work for the well-being of Jehovah's people” (15 mins.): Analysis with the audience and video.

What effect did the help of the elderly have on Mariana?

Mariana had to live through a difficult time in her life, dealing with negative feelings, due to the fact that her marriage unfortunately ended in divorce and that her husband was no longer by her side in a physical, emotional and spiritual sense. However, the elders came to help, reminding her how valuable and special she is to Jehovah, opening the doors for her so that she felt that she could count on his help, it was something that she remembers and recognizes that thanks to the help of the elders she He feels better, and appreciates the grazing visits.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The help of the elderly had a very positive effect on Mariana. Through her support and encouragement, Mariana felt valued and was able to overcome the difficult times she faced. She greatly appreciates the shepherding visits and considers the congregation to be her second home.

Mariana received great help from the elders, and this action had a significant effect on her life, since as we saw in the video she was going through a bad time, after a divorce, she was also dealing with negative feelings and the responsibility of raising to their daughters. However, the elders were there to support her and remind her of how valuable she is to Jehovah

The presence and words of encouragement that the elders gave her gave Mariana the strength to move forward. Reading Psalm 139:3, which talks about how Jehovah knows all our ways, comforted her and reminded her that she was not alone.

It had a great effect, because this sister was very discouraged and sad about everything that had happened to her, because when she got divorced she had gone through a lot and in a short time. She herself said that something that encouraged her was that the elders read Psalm 139 to her. :3 where it says that Jehovah knows everything we go through, he is watching over us because he is interested in us and loves us.

Furthermore, after a meeting, another elder gave him a note with Bible texts to read at home, and assured him that he could count on his help if he needed anything. Thanks to all this, she and her daughters are doing well, and they see the congregation as a second home.

The sister went through a severe crisis: the situation with her husband, her husband's divorce, work, the economy, fatigue left her without energy, without strength, and on top of that, now she had to take her daughters to the Meetings. and teach them about Jehovah, many pressures on her. She says that the elders came to visit her, they listened to her. And that is important, the elders also read her a text that encouraged her a lot Psalm 139:3, with this text they reminded her that she was very valuable to Jehovah. And another elder told her that if she needed to talk to them, she should not hesitate to call him, a visit, a call, a note, was enough for the sister to balance her work life, her family life with her spiritual life, which had a good example.

Thanks to the help of the elderly. Mariana and her daughters are well, they now see the congregation as a second home and greatly value the love and support they received from the brothers. This shows that the work of the elders in visiting, listening and giving is essential to strengthening faith and the bond between brothers.

The help of the elders had a transformative effect on Mariano's life, as they gave him comfort, encouragement, and a sense of belonging in the congregation.

What effect did the help of the elders have on Elijah?

This brother was very sick, so the brothers made arrangements to visit him, they arrived even though they lived very far away, this brother felt very encouraged, because the brothers listened to him, cried with him and read him encouraging Bible texts, in that way He saw the love of Jehovah, and that he never abandons us.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The help of the elders had a very positive effect on Elías. Because despite being sick and living far from the Kingdom Hall. The elders made an effort to visit him, listen to him and read him Biblical texts that encouraged him. His visit and support were essential for Elías to feel encouraged to return to the meetings and strengthen his faith.

Because he was sick, he had impediments to attending meetings, his absence was notable for the elders, so the elders were able to visit him, they listened to him, they cried together and read Biblical texts to him, that was very helpful for Elijah, the Their interest in him revealed how Jehovah uses the elderly to remind him of how valuable they are to Jehovah.

He was very sick and lived very far away, however the elders visited him, and this encouraged him a lot, knowing that they had not forgotten him, as well as seeing their effort to visit him and get to where he lived.

These good elders visited him, listened to him, cried with him, Elias says that seeing that the elders were interested in him encouraged him to congregate again, to return to the meetings after recovering, since if one is in a place and He feels that he is not valued, the last thing he is going to want is to return there. So we are learning the effect that something as simple as a visit from the elders can have, it can restore faith, it can give brothers that spark they need to move forward.

Even though Elías lived far away, the elders took the time and effort to visit her, demonstrating their love and care as shepherds of the congregation.

The presence of the elders was comforting for Elías, who felt heard and understood. They shared moments of crying and read him biblical texts that gave him encouragement and strength in his situation. Elijah was able to experience Jehovah's love through the attention and care that the elders gave him at that difficult time.

The elders' visit was a reminder to Elijah that he was not alone and that Jehovah never abandons his sheep. His interest and support were essential for Elías to regain his spiritual health and be able to return to the meetings with joy and gratitude.

After watching this video, what do you think of the work of the elderly?

Personally, I think that it is a task that undoubtedly shows the great love that Jehovah has for each of us, and that they carry it out with great pleasure even though sometimes they have to make some extra efforts to carry it out. , that is why we should all value what they do in our congregations.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The work of the elders of the congregation is invaluable and worthy of admiration. Through their love, care and support, they have had a positive impact on the lives of Mariana and Elías. Their dedication to visiting, listening to, and encouraging the brothers demonstrates their commitment as shepherds who care for the flock. Their work reflects the love and kindness of Jehovah, and their effort is worthwhile, as they have been instruments to strengthen faith and provide comfort to those who do not need it.

The work of the elders goes beyond the meetings in the Kingdom Hall. Their commitment extends to visiting brothers in their homes, providing comfort in times of difficulty, and strengthening the faith of each member of the congregation. They are true shepherds who care for the flock, guiding and ensuring the spiritual well-being of all.

What the elders do in the congregation is truly admirable and essential to the spiritual well-being of the brothers. For through their dedication and selfless service, elders demonstrate a deep love for Jehovah and his flock.

In Mariana's case, the help of the elderly was a balm for her wounded soul. Her presence, words of encouragement and reading of biblical texts gave him comfort in a time of difficulty. The elders worried about her spiritual and physical well-being, reminding Mariana of her bravery in the eyes of Jehovah.

In the case of Elías, the visit of the elders was a ray of hope in the midst of his illness. Despite living far from the Kingdom Hall, the elders made an extraordinary effort to visit him, listen to him, and read Bible texts to him. His care and support were essential for Elijah to feel Jehovah's love and recover his physical and spiritual health.

The work of the elders is invaluable and their dedication is a reflection of Jehovah's love and goodness. Their work is essential to maintain the unity and spiritual growth of the congregation. Siblings can trust them and feel confident that they will always be there to provide support, comfort, and guidance on their spiritual walk.

I think that serving as an Elder is a great privilege, but it also entails a great, very serious responsibility. And why do we say that? Because lives are at stake, and we are not talking about non-believers, we are talking about Jehovah's little sheep. Let us imagine in your position that a little sheep leaves the congregation because an elder treated her badly, or made her feel bad. We are not saying that it is okay to distance ourselves from Jehovah and leave the congregation. But that does not take away the fact that there was a stumble, so strong that it caused a person or a little sheep to get lost. And this is something that the elders and the entire congregation must be very careful about.

Without a doubt when the elders practice the examples we saw in the video, the congregation will feel cared for and protected, since the elders can be a true blessing to the congregation when they practice these principles.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

MARIANA COELHO

Everything was fine in my marriage or so I thought, my husband was expelled, he left home and in less than a month, we were divorced. Right after the divorce I had to fend for myself to support my daughters. So I started working cleaning, I also had to take care of them in a spiritual sense, but many times sadness and fatigue did not allow me to give them the attention they needed, in addition to all that I also had to fight against very negative feelings, it was a very difficult in my life.

ELÍAS MASSOLA

I had never been so sick in my life, I didn't even have the strength to go to the hospital. The only thing he could do was continue praying, he could not walk, nor go to the meetings, the elders realized that he was not going to the Kingdom Hall.

MARIANA COELHO

The elders immediately came to help me. I remember that one of the things that encouraged me the most was a Bible text that they read to me that day. Psalm 139 3 “You watch me when I travel and when I lie down, you know all my ways.” That made me realize that I am very valuable to Jehovah, it was as if he was helping me recover, I saw that he was very interested in me, that he loved me and that he was taking care of me with tenderness, and furthermore, he did not want them to have any doubt it. Something else I remember very fondly was what an old man did after a meeting. He gave me a little note with some Bible texts to read at home and told me that if he needed anything he could count on the elders.

ELÍAS MASSOLA

Two elders were kind enough to come see me, because Jehovah uses them as shepherds. The brothers made a great effort to visit me, they used public transportation and then walked 40 minutes to get to my house, because I live very far from the Kingdom Hall, I don't know what I would have done without them. When the elders arrived, they listened to me, cried with me and read me some texts from the Bible. I saw how much Jehovah loves me. When I began to feel better, I was able to return to the Kingdom Hall. How happy I was to be with my brothers again.

MARIANA COELHO

Thanks to the help we receive, my daughters and I are now well, the congregation is our second home and we feel very comfortable with the brothers, everything I have now I owe to the brothers, especially the elders, I have no doubt that shepherding visits are a very clear example of the great love that Jehovah has for us. I know that sometimes it can be difficult for the elderly to make these visits, but the results are very good. You can be sure that all your work and all your efforts they're worth it.

ELÍAS MASSOLA

I will never forget what the elders did for me, that situation taught me that Jehovah never abandons his sheep, not even one, as Jeremiah 23:4 says, "And I will set shepherds over them who will truly shepherd them; they will no longer be afraid or terror and not one will be missing, declares Jehovah.