Convention: Ibadan hosts over 20,000 Jehovah’s witness

No fewer than 20,000 delegates of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Osun states will gather at the Ifatumo Assembly Hall for this year’s regional convention entitled, “Exercise Patience’’.

The convention, which will commence from September 15, at the Ifatumo Assembly Hall is coming after a three-year pause since the Covid-19 restriction.

In a press release signed and made available by the Regional Spokesman of Jehovah’s witnesses, Gill Adekannbi to Tribune Church News, the convention is described as one of the largest convention gatherings in the world where witnesses and other members of the extended community will meet for interchange of encouragement and spiritual instructions to explore the quality of patience and related acts of Godly devotion.

Adekannbi noted that though in 2020, the pandemic interrupted the tradition of gathering in large numbers in Ibadan when the Witnesses cancelled their in-person events throughout the world and held a virtual convention in more than 500 languages.

He explained that after resuming smaller in-person meetings and their public ministry during 2022, the mid-period of 2023 marked the first time they will gather at much larger regional events around the world since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

Adekannbi further said that as much as we loved the convenience and quality of our virtual conventions, nothing can replace being together in a large group setting.

“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,” he added.

Speaking on the theme of the convention, Adekannbi emphasised that “Patience is a beautiful quality that all Christians desire to display in their daily lives.

“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.

“From September 15 to 17, six convention sessions will explore the quality of patience, highlighting its modern-day relevance through scriptural examples.

“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.”

According to him, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world for more than 100 years. The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken.