The Miami Times

Jehovah's Witness Assemblies Attract 800

Miami will be represented by a delegation of approximately 100 persons at a series of National assemblies of Jehovah's Witnesses which begin today and extend into Canada and Europe this summer.

Chicago is the scene of the first of the 11 major Bible conferences being held by Jehovah's Witnesses with the opening session at Comiskey Park on June 22.

On successive weeks, conventions similar to the Chicago program will convene at the Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia; Wrigley Field in Los Angeles; the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and Yankee Stadium in New York, scene of the Witnesses' 1953 International Gathering.

There will be a delegation from Miami at each of the assemblies, assured Louis L. Balafas, presiding minister of one of Miami's 12 congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. The largest Miami delegation, some 600 persons, will motor to New York for the final North American assembly July 20-24.

Many of the local delegates were among the 165,000 persons in attendance at the 1953 National New World Society Assembly in that city in 1953, termed the largest Christian assembly ever held in North America.

Some fifty Miamians will join 5000 others on chartered planes and boats carrying the American delegation to Europe for six continental assemblies beginning in London's Wembley Stadium July 27. From London, the convention will travel to Paris, Rome, Nuremberg, Stockholm and the Hague where the same program will be delivered in the native languages.

According to Mr. Balafas, some 200,000 persons in the United States alone, will attend these gatherings for pure worship and divine education. This is evidence that True Faith in God is not on the decline.