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Organizational Achievements (10 min.): Play the Organizational Achievements video for the month of March.
REPORT OF THE COORDINATORS COMMITTEE
Our museums praise Jehovah
In Deuteronomy 32:7 Moses asked the Israelites to stop and meditate on their spiritual legacy, he told them: Remember the days gone by think of the years of generations past. The museums of the world headquarters help us to do just that, to know our history and to meditate on how Jehovah has blessed and guided his people in recent days, of course, during the covid-19 pandemic we had to suspend visits to the museums, but the museums department has continued to work full steam ahead. In fact this department has had more work than ever.
In this report we want to tell you everything that has been done to create precious museums, in many branches these museums will help brothers from all over the world to immerse themselves in the history of the Bible and our fascinating spiritual legacy.
Every time a branch wishes to create a new museum, it writes to the coordinating committee requesting permission to do so, giving specific instructions on the type of museum to be prepared when granted. Perhaps it is a museum about the history of the Bible in the languages of the branch territory, perhaps a museum about the history of Jehovah's Witnesses in the branch territory, or a museum that shows different aspects of the works that are they do at that branch.
In particular, the title chosen for our museum was: "This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah." The Brothers helped us to see that it was better to divide the museum by era, so it is easier to follow, and the theme is better emphasized.
We thank the steering committee and the museum department for the help they gave us. After seeing this museum, visitors appreciate everything that Jehovah has done for his people much more. Yes, the museum department is going to be in charge of coordinating all these projects. It means that they will all remain the same? no. The exhibitions are not all cut from the same pattern, the museum department gives them each in its own style, we take into account the local history and culture of the territory of the branch so that Visitors leave encouraged.
So even though the museums have things that look alike, we work very closely with the local Brothers to make sure that each museum is unique and interesting. The Bible museum that was opened in the Argentina branch in 2019 is a good example of how the content is adapted to the territory of each branch.
From the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina received millions of immigrants from all over Europe and many of them brought with them their Bibles in their native languages, the same Bibles with which some of them later learned the truth, that is why they are Significant that our new exposition of the Bible presents copies in Italian, Armenian, Hebrew, among others.
In Argentina there are also many people who speak different indigenous languages, therefore the history of the Bible in this country would not be complete if we did not include in our exposition modern translations into these languages such as Wichí, Toba, Pilagá, Mocoví among others.
The museum department was also working on a new museum in the Scandinavian Branch, it was also about the Bible, but it told a very special story, we have an exhibition that is about how the Bible and the name of God have been preserved in countries of Scandinavia, in it we have Bibles in all the Scandinavian languages that use the name of Jehovah, that is to say in Danish, Icelandic Greenlandic, Norwegian, Sami and Swedish.
The two oldest complete Bibles that we have are the Gustavo Baza Bible from 1541 and the Christian III Bible from 1550, unfortunately these Bibles do not contain the name of Jehovah, but curiously the 1550 Bible has a handwritten note which explains in Latin the meaning of the name Jehovah. Our branch committee is very grateful to the world headquarters for the instructions they gave us.
In 2019, to prepare our Bible exhibition at the France branch, the museums department gave us an original 1535 edition of Olivertan's French Bible. This copy is rare and one of the most special that we have, this Bible was not only the first to be translated into French from the original languages, but also contains the proper name of God Jehovah, the museums that we have around the world They serve to teach our brothers and strengthen their faith.
There is a lot of effort behind it, it is a team effort. The steering committee provides instructions on the content, while the museums department provides training and support to the local brothers once each project is approved, the world department of design and construction and the regional department of design and construction, are in charge of organize the construction of the museum.
The museum department helped us find a place that met the conditions to create a museum, the world design and construction department really reviewed the construction plans and the budget, thanks to their help we were able to build a museum that really helps the brothers to love Jehovah and his word more.
At the branch we had already done other exhibitions, but this one is really special. Our branch committee and the entire Bethel family were very impressed to see how Jehovah made this project possible. We cannot talk about our museums without talking about those who have also made it possible, you! Because many of the Bibles and objects unique historical records that are exhibited in our museums were donated by you.
Dear brothers thank you for being so generous, if you have any items you would like to send us please contact the Department of Museums at World Headquarters in Warwick, if possible please include a photo of the item. Jehovah is blessing all the work that he is doing to create museums that encourage brothers from all over the world.
By September 2021, there were already 10 museums that were fully prepared and more than 35 that were already being planned or built. Coming soon to the Belgium, Great Britain, Central America, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Finland, Italy, Japan and Nigeria branches, these museums are powerful teaching tools that bring our history and the story of the Bible to life.
So as soon as circumstances allow, please come to our museums and discover them, when you do, you will feel exactly the same as the writer of Psalm 77:11,13 «I will remember the works of Jah. I will remember your wonderful acts from long ago, I will meditate on all your activities. What God is as great as you, oh God?
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