Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) Holds 2023 Global Memorial Events
By our reporter
Thousands of members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation converged across key cities in Nigeria and held an annual event aimed at solemnly commemorating the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
THECONSCIENCEng reports that the Nigerian congregations joined millions of other global attendees for the Church’s annual observance of the Memorial of Jesus Christ’s death, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
The programme which featured songs and prayers also had a sermon from a gospel minister on the importance of Jesus’ death and how humans can benefit from the plans of God and Christ.
While speaking at the Medina Estate congregation in the Gbagada axis of Lagos, Bro Ikechukwu Onyenwe, an official of the church, said the death of Christ was the ultimate sacrifice that redeemed humans from darkness and condemnation into the kingdom of Jehovah.
Quoting copiously from the Bible especially the book of first Corinthians and Luke, Onyenwe noted that Jehovah has a great plan for humanity and Jesus Christ specifically requested that his death be solemnly commemorated through the Holy Communion in remembrance of him and his sacrifice (Luke 22:19).
Earlier on Sunday, the JW held a pre-commemoration special global programme with the theme, “You Can Face the Future with Confidence!” locally across its various branches called Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nigeria.
The special programme was held across the 118,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the first week of April.
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It was against the background of widespread economic strain, national conflicts and social unrest, with surveys indicating that confidence in the future is at an all-time low in many countries including Nigeria.
“The challenges we face may seem overwhelming, but the Bible holds out a powerful hope for the future that can help us right now,” said Olusegun Eroyemi, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nigeria. “
Also in a statement, the organisation said “Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Memorial each year on the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s death according to the Bible’s lunar calendar. He introduced the observance after sundown on Nisan 14, 33 C.E.
“Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to observe the Memorial on this date each year, following the practice of early Christians. We determine the date on which Nisan 14 falls each year using the same method as was used in the time of Jesus, rather than applying the method used for the modern Jewish calendar.”
Over 19 million people attended the 2022 edition of the Memorial service globally. Jehovah’s Witnesses are active in 239 lands around the world.
