The “Let God’s Kingdom Come!” conventions focus on preparing for the heavenly government that Jehovah’s Witnesses pray will soon rule the Earth.
View full sizeThe 2008 District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses was held at the Mullins Center on the campus of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Here, attendees sing a song of praise.AMHERST – Hotel rooms from Brattleboro to Bradley International Airport are booked, families have opened their homes and local businesses may see a boost from thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses coming to town.
About 35,000 people are expected to attend the group’s district conventions at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Mullins Center. Over the next seven weekends, three-day events are scheduled to spread the faith’s message.
Witnesses from congregations throughout New England and Eastern New York are set to go door-to-door to deliver invitations. The conventions begin Friday at 9:20 a.m. and run through Sunday every weekend until Aug. 14. It is free to attend and there will be no collections taken.
The “Let God’s Kingdom Come!” conventions focus on preparing for the heavenly government that Jehovah’s Witnesses pray will soon rule the Earth. But two elders from local congregations were clear that there will be no fire-and-brimstone preaching.
“It’s a very positive message. ... The community will not hear that they’re condemned,” said Peter Lavinio, an elder from Holyoke. “From God’s arrangement, from God’s message, that’s where blessings will be showered here on Earth.”
The Jehovah’s Witness teachings will be presented in a variety of ways. Each weekend, three dramas will be performed to show how they believe the Bible’s ancient precepts can be applied to the modern world. On two weekends, July 15-17 and July 22-24, the whole program will be held in Spanish.
Lavinio said the Mullins Center was chosen because Amherst “is a good location” and the arena can accommodate the 5,000 to 7,000 people expected each weekend.
“We really appreciate the cooperation and the whole environment” of the Mullins Center, he said. The group has used the venue since 1998.
David Ryan, a Northampton elder, said the conventions always please local business owners.
“We utilize hundreds and hundreds of hotel rooms every weekend,” said Ryan. In fact, local Witnesses have volunteered to let out-of-towners stay with them if they can’t find a room, he said.
With the influx of restaurant patrons, sightseers and families looking for fun, the conventions will have a positive financial impact on Amherst and the surrounding communities, he said.
“When we are in town, people know the difference,” said Lavinio.
“It doesn’t have as much of an impact in Amherst as we’d like it to have,” said Tony Maroulis, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. “There’s certainly an up-tick.”
He said the chamber can do a better job of advertising the downtown area to convention-goers and hopes to do so in the future.
Identical conventions will take place in 98 American cities this year.
“It’s our goal to reach every household in every community at least once a year,” said Ryan.