Minnesotan Women of Strong Faith

Breaking a century-old tradition, the largest convention organization in the world has moved its annual in-person event to a virtual format for the second time in as many years, canceling nearly 6,000 conventions in 240 lands.

In 2020, the pandemic unexpectedly interrupted that tradition moving the international religious organization to cancel in-person conventions throughout the world and launch a global virtual event. This was a first for Jehovah’s Witnesses, who have held public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world since 1897.

Jacquelyn Arradondo, who grew up in Minneapolis and now lives in Eagan, Minn., has attended those in-person conventions since the late 1960s when she first became interested in the Bible by listening in on her grandmother’s discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses. “The conventions helped because when you go you see so many families there with their children.” Raising kids has been a big deal for Arradondo—she has nine of them. Today, she also has many grandchildren.

The necessary pandemic shift to an online convention has worked well for her, and she looks forward to the Sunday morning session symposium: “Imitate Women of Strong Faith!” She explained: “It’s our faith that makes us strong. It’s our faith that makes us know that there’s nothing that we can’t do.”

Demia Black, who moved to Minneapolis from New Jersey 20 years ago, agrees with Arradondo. She also eagerly anticipates the symposium on women. “My grandmother was a remarkable woman who faced a lot of challenges,” she said. “But those challenges never broke her down because she was a woman of faith. She had a purpose, and her purpose was rooted in helping others, and that purpose brought her joy.”

During the symposium on women Arradondo wants to hear more about Rahab, the woman from Bible times who was once a prostitute before turning her life around. Her past actions were not held against her; in fact, she was honored by becoming a direct ancestor to Jesus.

Black, on the other hand, looks forward to learning more about Hannah from the Bible, a mother who taught her son values. Black and her husband are busy raising two sons—10 and 12—and she wants to set a good example that they can follow. “I know how I, as a mom, can impact them,” she said.

Stephanie Nwaofune, of Woodbury, Minn., also looks forward to learning more about Hannah during the Sunday morning convention session. “Many women feel oppressed. I think they feel like they’re not heard and juggling it all. It’s hard,” she said. “I’ve always loved the history of Hannah because her example is one of endurance. She was in a difficult situation, but she was always kind and never bitter.”

Nwaofune, who has learned French and is now a part of the French Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Minneapolis, knows firsthand how important it is for a mother to furnish a good example for her children. She was raised in a single-parent household and watched as her mother worked long hours in a hospital to support her. “A strong relationship with God, that really was something that she ingrained in me,” Nwaofune said. “She’s still doing wonderfully. She was able to raise me to love God, just as she does.”

“Powerful by Faith!” is the theme of the 2021 global event, available in more than 500 languages to households throughout the globe during August 2021, uniting some 15-20 million people in 240 countries. Since the convention is typically held from Friday through Sunday, the program is available in six installments corresponding to morning and afternoon sessions.

The planning and translation of a program of this magnitude takes months of effort. With the uncertainty of whether it would be safe to bring thousands of people together in cities around the world, the organization opted for a virtual platform for the second consecutive year. However, the move has not curbed the enthusiasm for the annual event. Congregations around the world are inviting the public to join them in this historic occasion.

“Faith has helped our global brotherhood to continue to thrive even during a pandemic,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Our faith will continue to unite us in worship—even virtually—as millions gather in private homes around the world to enjoy a powerful and inspiring spiritual program.”

All are invited to attend the event by going to www.jw.org on the web or JW Broadcasting on the free JW Library app available for iOS or Android, or on streaming platforms like ROKU TV, Apple TV, and others. The program is free and accessible to all. The schedule for download and global streaming is listed below.

For more information, please contact Jehovah’s Witnesses United States at (718) 560-5600 or pid@jw.org.