Labor of Love: Many Volunteers Help Build New Kingdom Hall

“Absolutely everyone,” said project foreman Sataya Pongsri. “This is 100 percent volunteer work.” “One person doesn’t take credit,” Pongsri said, “It’s completely a joint effort.”

Similar  to  an  old-fashion  barn raising,  (that  many  of  us  from foreigners are use  to) many of  Jehovah’s  Witnesses  are  known  to come together to build their houses of worship, called Kingdom Halls. It  is  a most  sincere  effort  on  their part  and  one  that  gives  them  personal  satisfaction  and  at  the  same times pleases their God.

The  new  building  in  Pattaya,  including  finish work  inside  and  out, landscaping with  all  the  trimmings, will be completed by volunteers.

“Hiring  a  general  contractor, plumbers, electricians, and  the  typical professional staff to do the same work,  would  increase  the  cost  of our  Kingdom  Hall  a  tremendous amount,”  noted minister, Vito Bonventre, an Elder, serving the English congregation  here  in  Pattaya. He is also, the on-site spokesman.

Instead  of  hiring  out,  church members,  (referred  to  as  publishers) some of whom have experience in  construction  and  others  who  are complete  novices,  agree  to meet  to do  the work  gratis. And not everybody is driving nails or plastering walls. Some are sweeping, picking up trash, preparing meals, bringing water to the workers, painting and a variety of other tasks that are found at a typical worksite.

“You might say, that many hands make the load light,” said one volunteer from Bangkok.

A food service staff serves the volunteers a hearty lunch and snacks through-out the day.

“As hard as people work, no one seems to lose weight.  The  food  is that  good,”  said  Aaw  Lowe,  a  Jehovah’s Witness sister who lives in Jomtien  and  serves  in  the  English congregation.

“As  construction  is  continuing, it  is  extremely  important  that we all conduct ourselves  in an orderly  and  professional  manner.  The building  is  in  the midst of a  residential area, where our neighbors live  right  next  to  us,”  said  Fred Baars,  an  Elder  with  the  Pattaya congregation.

Elder Joe Butler commented: “It’s kind of what you might call, organized chaos,” he said of the construction site. “Everyone knows their job, their time slot, and when they have to be here. Everything just goes together in a nice succession.” Although Jehovah’s Witnesses are serious about their faith, they enjoy the fun and camaraderie that seem to surface when one of their Kingdom Halls is being built.

“Our  Kingdom  Halls  are  simple in  design  but  very  practical  for  our spiritual  needs. The most important thing is not the building but the lessons taught inside,” said Elder Vito.

Elder Vito continued: “The Kingdom Hall when completed will be a very functional building and a tribute to our great God,  Jehovah.” Psalms 83:18

Joe  Lowe,  a member  of  the  Pattaya congregation and a retiree from America said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses encourage all honest-hearted people, that  are  desirous  of  learning  more about  the Bible,  for    those  folks    to get  in  touch with  one  of  Jehovah’s Witnesses    for  a  free,  home  Bible study.”

Construction began on October 15, 2008 and will be completed by February 15-20, 2009. Their first meeting will be the 27th of February at 7:00 P.M. Even though this meeting is not the official dedication service where the public is invited. But as always, all of our meetings are open to the public and are encourage to attend to see why Jehovah’s Witnesses are  different. Our meetings are always free.

No collection plate is ever passed at any of our meetings!

Note: Jehovah’s Witnesses are best known for “witnessing or evangelizing from door-to-door telling people about God and His Kingdom; while at the same time offering magazines, books, tracts, etc. All of their publications are free of charge.

Their services are also unique.

Along  with  songs  and  prayers, they  have  a  public  talk  by  a  different  speaker  each  Sunday,  whereas the  speaker  encourages  people  to follow along with him with their Bibles. They also have other meetings through-out the week.

Elder Vito  60, who with  his wife Diane  62,  have  over  100  years  of combined  years  of  service  to  Jehovah, and at the same time preaching  the “good news”  throughout  the world.

“We started out, both the wife and I very early in life proclaiming God’s message of living forever in a paradise new earth. We will continue to bring this good news to people who will listen.  After all, didn’t Jesus give the command to do, exactly that at Matthew  24:14,  said  Elder Vito. ‘And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’

“Jehovah’s Witnesses  differ  from other  Christian  faiths  in  that  they believe; that Jesus Christ was a perfect,  sinless man, who was  the first creation  of  God,  and  next  in  command  after God,”  (Colossians 1:15) so stated Elder Vito.

“Many Christians, however, believe that God and Jesus are one and the same, said Elder Vito. “According to the Bible at John 14:28, they are not the same, for it says: ‘But my Father is greater than I am.’

“A lady once said to me as I knocked on her door, “I don’t want to talk to you people because you people don’t believe in Jesus.” “That’s not so,” I answered.  “We believe that Jesus was God’s first born in Heaven and that he came to earth to do His Father’s will. We, (Jehovah’s Witnesses) do not still think of Him as that little baby lying in a manger. But we view and honor Him as what He truly is; a reigning King in Heaven, along side His Father, Jehovah God!” said Elder Vito.

If anyone would like to contact the Jehovah’s Witnesses, they can do so at:  jwpattaya@gmail.com