This reflection paper documents a firsthand visit to a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall service. The author, a Christian with limited prior knowledge of the faith, describes the physical setting of the Kingdom Hall, the structure of the Sunday worship service, and the participatory Watchtower discussion that followed. The paper explores observations about Jehovah's Witness beliefs—including their rejection of secular holidays, their emphasis on Bible study, and their door-to-door ministry—and reflects on how the experience challenged prior assumptions and stereotypes about the group.
My chosen observation was of the Jehovah's Witnesses, a fundamentalist Christian organization. I have never known very much about them other than the fact that they have a community ministry, offering their pamphlets from door to door. They are often ridiculed for their beliefs against traditional celebrations such as Christmas, Halloween, and birthdays. I know people who believe that they are a cult; however, I do recall a boy from elementary school who was a Jehovah's Witness. He did not salute the flag or participate in holiday parties with the rest of the class. He was nice, stayed to himself a lot, and was a very good student. I was always a bit curious about him and thought I'd try to learn more.
As a Christian, I have always been skeptical of the Witnesses because of what I viewed as their extreme and improper beliefs. By chatting with one who came to my door one day, I received an invitation to a Sunday service at the local Kingdom Hall, which is the Jehovah's Witness place of worship. I agreed to attend the one-hour worship service, with the option of staying for an additional hour to review the Watchtower selection for the week. The Watchtower is one of their main pieces of literature. I hoped that visiting would help me gain a better understanding of their practices and beliefs.
The exterior of the Kingdom Hall was very basic. If not for the signage, you would not know that it was a place of worship. The building was beige and dark brown, and the grounds were well-kept with lots of colorful flowers, a high wrought-iron fence, and a very large parking lot. It did not give off the immediate religious feeling you get when you encounter a cathedral or perhaps a Baptist church. There were no crosses and no stained glass. There were attendants in the parking lot smiling and waving people in.
I was greeted warmly when I entered the building. The interior was nicely decorated. I immediately noticed that the Kingdom Hall was arranged with two separate meeting areas — one for English and one for Spanish. I felt that those who had come to worship were a happy group of people. They were smiling, laughing, and hugging one another. Chairs were arranged inside the main hall, and you were free to sit anywhere. People said hello to me even though they didn't know me. I sat near Gina, the young woman who had invited me. She handed me a songbook and a copy of the Watchtower and said she was happy to see me there.
The service opened with a quick welcome and prayer led by an elder of the congregation, whom I believe is the equivalent of a minister or pastor. Everyone was silent during the prayer, reflecting on his or her individual relationship with God. I noticed that the prayer made reference to Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ and expressed gratitude for our blessings and for being gathered together. I felt a bit more at ease. I had always thought that the Witnesses did not believe in Christ in the same way others do, but the prayer helped to clarify that.
The actual worship service was simple and reserved. There was no choir. We all stood and sang from hymn books. There was an elegantly decorated stage with a microphone and podium. A man led the service, quoting scriptures throughout his talk, and he allowed time for the congregation to find each passage. The overall message was about demonstrating appreciation to God. It walked everyone through what Jehovah asks us to do to show our appreciation for his love. The message reinforced their door-to-door ministry and spoke about having love for others despite living in what they described as a wicked world system. I found the service and doctrine interesting and tried to take mental notes so I could ask Gina a couple of questions afterward. Everyone was attentive and seemed receptive to the message. It was a very tranquil service.
"Interactive question-and-answer Watchtower study session"
"Holiday abstention, Bible study, and imitation of Christ"
"Revised perceptions and lessons learned from the visit"
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