After a three-year pandemic pause, one of the world’s largest convention organisations will resume a series of worldwide programs, with Rarotonga set to host two events spanning two consecutive weekends from 9 September to 17 September.

More than 220 are expected to attend the convention events at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Vaimaanga.

Among the attendees will be local Rarotonga residents as well as visitors from Aitutaki, Mangaia, Atiu, New Zealand, and Australia, who will stay in Rarotonga for the weekend.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centres and theatres around the world for more than 100 years – and more than 40 years in Rarotonga.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person conventions were cancelled in 2020 and moved online where they were held virtually in more than 500 languages.

“As much as we loved the convenience and quality of our virtual conventions, nothing can replace being together in a large group setting,” said Jeff Tikitau, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“While our online conventions reached millions around the world and kept our communities safe, we long to get back to our joyful fellowship at these large gatherings.”

Some 6,000 conventions will be held worldwide this year with the theme “Exercise Patience”!

In Rarotonga and New Zealand alone, a total of 17 conventions will be held in Rarotonga, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, in five different languages (English, Cook Island Māori, Filipino, Chinese Mandarin and Samoan).

From Friday to Sunday, convention sessions will explore the quality of patience.

A live baptism will be performed following the Saturday morning session and a pre-recorded drama will be featured in two parts during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions.

“Patience is a beautiful quality that all Christians desire to display in their daily lives,” says Tikitau.

“Despite our good intentions, however, maintaining patience in the face of life’s many challenges can be a daily struggle. Spending three days exploring aspects of this quality will be very timely for all of us.”

The conventions are open to the public and no collections are taken.

For more information on the program or to find other convention locations and dates, please go to JW.ORG and navigate to the “About Us” tab

Supplied