In March of 2020, after the pandemic hit, Jehovah’s Witnesses stopped their door-to-door ministry. After over two years of absence, they resumed going house-to-house on Sept. 1.
“When we stopped our door-to-door ministry, it was a shock to the system,” Spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses Aaron Purvis said. “Because Jehovah’s Witnesses had been knocking on people’s doors for well over 100 years.”
Purvis said it was “heartbreaking” for them.
Like most people at the time, Jehovah’s Witnesses turned to virtual meetings.
“We made millions of phone calls to our neighbors to see if anyone would like to discuss Bible topics with us,” Purvis said. “We wrote tens of millions of letters, and I’m sure those in Kentucky would have received those phone calls, as well as those letters that were in the mail. So, we were able to keep our ministry going. But in our hearts, we wanted to be back out in the door-to-door ministry.”
Bellevue residents and members of the Jehovah’s Witness church Regina and Sean Piercefield echoed that sentiment.
“We are so excited to talk with our neighbors in person again,” Regina Piercefield said. “We have had the opportunity over the past two years to reach out to people by means of letter writing and phone calls, but nothing compares to a face-to-face conversation.”
Her husband, Sean Piercefield, agrees.
“Before March of 2020, conversing with neighbors at a door to share a message of hope was part of our weekly routine.” Sean Piercefield said. “I look forward to getting back to knocking on doors and hearing how our neighbors are doing on this side of the pandemic.”
Purvis said they are anxious to see how their neighbors will respond to their message since they haven’t been going door-to-door in so long, but they “couldn’t be any more excited.” Purvis took advantage of the door-to-door ministry the first day it resumed for Jehovah’s Witnesses and said it was a “real joyous day.” Purvis added that anytime you haven’t done something for 30 months, there is a certain degree of nerves.
He said they respect those who don’t wish to speak about the Bible and leave it up to the householder if it’s something they want to discuss.
Alongside knocking on doors, Jehovah’s Witnesses returned to their cart witnessing in May. You’ll find them in metropolitan areas around train stations, festivals, fairs, etc., passing out literature cards with topics from the Bible.
Purvis said they will still make phone calls and write letters, but door-to-door ministry is their “hallmark.”
During the pandemic, Jehovah’s Witnesses attended virtual conventions translated into over 500 languages for their over eight million congregants. Purvis said during the pandemic, they also translated the Bible into 100 different languages, including American Sign Language.
“We have the only American Sign Language Bible from Genesis to Revelation in the world,” Purvis said. “We don’t want anyone to be left out. We want all people to have an opportunity to really receive the comfort from the scriptures that we have received.”
Through the pandemic, Jehovah’s Witnesses now allow hybrid meetings. Meetings at their Kingdom Halls are broadcast on Zoom. Purvis said these Zoom meetings are interactive with questions and answers, demonstrations, and interviews; anyone is welcome to attend.
“One thing special about this time that we have returned to our ministry is that starting on Sept. 1, Jehovah’s Witnesses all over the world have the same message that they’re taking to the doors of their neighbors,” Purvis said. “Which is simply an offer for a free home Bible study.”
He said the program encompasses interactive learning that “meets the needs of the 21st-century learner.”
“This publication is going to be translated into 710 languages. Again, to make sure that no one is left out,” Purvis said. “If a person would like to take advantage of that when one of Jehovah’s Witnesses come to their door, that’s when they’re going to be offering.”
