Ditshupo, Adansonia to host Jehovah’s Witnesses convention

Correspondent | Tuesday September 19, 2023 06:00

 

The 'Exercise Patience' Convention will be held in Gaborone at Ditshupo Hall managed by Fairground Holdings from September 22 to September 24 and in Francistown at Adansonia Convention Centre from September 29 to October 1.

Before 2019, the convention season was marked by Jehovah’s Witnesses filling hotels and restaurants as they attended the annual gathering. In 2020, the pandemic interrupted that tradition when the Witnesses cancelled in-person events throughout the world and held the convention programmes as virtual events in more than 500 languages.

Beginning September 22, the Witnesses will bring that tradition back to Botswana. “As much as we loved the convenience and quality of our virtual conventions, nothing can replace being together in a large group setting,” said Jonah Pongaponga, Botswana’s spokesperson 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 as part of the 2023 'Exercise Patience!' Convention series. In Botswana alone, about three conventions will be held in two host cities.

From Friday through Sunday, 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 prerecorded 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 Pongaponga. “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.” Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centres, and theatres around the world for more than 100 years. After resuming smaller in-person meetings and public ministry during 2022, 2023 marks the first time Witnesses will gather at much larger regional events around the world since the lifting of pandemic restrictions. The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken.

For more information on the programme or to find other convention locations and dates, please go to jw.org and navigate to the 'About Us' tab.