• YEAR BORN: 1941

• COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: BENIN

• HISTORY: POLYGAMIST, OPPOSER OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

MY PAST:

I am from Cotonou, a large city in Benin. I was raised a Catholic but did not attend church regularly. Many Catholics where I lived had multiple wives, as polygamy was legally recognized back then. I eventually married four women.

When a revolution broke out in the 1970’s, I thought that it would benefit my country. I gave the revolution my full support and became involved in politics. The revolutionaries did not like Jehovah’s Witnesses because the Witnesses remained politically neutral. I was among those who persecuted the Witnesses. When Witness missionaries were expelled from the country in 1976, I was certain that they would never return.

HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE:

The revolution ended in 1990. To my surprise, Witness missionaries soon appeared. I began to think that perhaps God was with these people. About that time, I changed my place of work. One of my new coworkers was a Witness, and he wasted no time in sharing his beliefs. He showed me Bible verses that describe Jehovah as a God of love and justice. (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 John 4:8) Those qualities appealed to me. I wanted to learn more about Jehovah, so I accepted the offer of a Bible study.

Soon I began attending the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was impressed by the genuine love that I saw—there were no distinctions of race or social class. The more I associated with the Witnesses, the more obvious it became that these were Jesus’ true followers.—John 13:35.

I decided that if I wanted to serve Jehovah, I would need to leave the Catholic Church. That was not an easy step to take, as I was afraid of what others would think. After a long time and with Jehovah’s help, I mustered up the courage and withdrew from the church.

There was yet another big change that I needed to make. My study of the Bible taught me that God does not approve of polygamy. (Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6) In his eyes, only my first marriage was valid. So I legally registered this marriage and dismissed my other wives, arranging for their material needs to be met. In time, two of my former wives became Jehovah’s Witnesses.

HOW I HAVE BENEFITED:

Although my wife remains a Catholic, she respects my decision to serve Jehovah. We both feel that I have become a better husband.

I used to think that I could improve my community through politics, but those efforts proved futile. Now I see that God’s Kingdom is the only solution to mankind’s problems. (Matthew 6:9, 10) I am grateful to Jehovah for showing me how to lead a truly happy life.

• YEAR BORN: 1977

• COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: BRAZIL

• HISTORY: PENTECOSTAL PASTOR

MY PAST:

I was raised on the outskirts of Itu, in São Paulo State. This part of town was known for its high crime rate.

I was extremely violent and immoral. Moreover, I was involved in drug trafficking. In time, I came to realize that such a life would lead me either to jail or to the cemetery, so I quit. I then joined the Pentecostal Church, and I eventually became a pastor.

I felt that I could really help people through my ministry with the church. I even broadcast a religious program over the community radio and thus became well-known in the area. Yet, I gradually came to believe that the church, as a whole, was not concerned about the welfare of its members—it was even less concerned about honoring God. I felt that the church’s only aim was to raise money. I decided to resign from the church.

HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE:

When I started to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I could see right away that they are different from other religions. To me, two things stood out. First, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not simply talk about love of God and neighbor; they show it. Second, they do not become involved in politics or warfare. (Isaiah 2:4) Those two facts convinced me that I had found the true religion—the cramped road that leads to everlasting life.—Matthew 7:13, 14.

I realized that if I wanted to be pleasing to God, I would have to make some big changes. I needed to give more attention to my family. I also needed to become more humble. It was not easy to make the needed changes, but with Jehovah’s help, I succeeded. My wife was impressed by these changes. She had begun to study the Bible before me, but now she progressed more quickly in her studies. Soon we both knew that we wanted to become Jehovah’s Witnesses. We were baptized on the same day.

HOW I HAVE BENEFITED:

My wife and I have the joy of helping our three children to develop a close friendship with Jehovah. We are a happy family. I thank Jehovah for having drawn me to the truth found in his Word, the Bible. It really does change people’s lives! I am living proof.

• KE WA: 1957

• O TŠWA: AUSTRALIA

• TSA LEPHELO: O GUDIYE GO BABA

TSA NAKWELA KE SA GOLA:

Ke gulele Newcastle, ya ku New South Wales. Ke nna letšibula gageru ga gore go na le kašupa ya bana fote babelegi ba rune ne ba dula ba re kwisa go baba, mo go le papa yene ne a topele ga mokgete. Mmane ne a dulela go ntula a boya a n’wubelanya. Ne a dulela go mpotsa gore a ke ya loka fote ba nyoko ntšhubelela diheleng. Dilo tsa mošaga wonone ne di ntshosa ka matla.

Ga go tlala, mmane ne a ntula la gore ke šinye ke šitege go ya sekolo ka taba la gore ne ke kwalele ka matla. Mo ke na le 11 ya mengwaga, ba go lawola ba ng’yamogiye ga babelegi baka, ba ng’yisa ga poleke ya mmušo ya gore ba pasopa bana ke mokane ka nthago ba ng’yisa mo go dulang basadi ba kereke. Mo ke tshwara 14 ya mengwaga, ke yye ka tšhaba ga poleke yone ya gore go dula basadi ba kereke. Ke mo ke sa nyake go sologa ke ya gaye, byalo ne ke dula diterateng tsa Kings Cross, tsa toropo ya Sydney.

Nakwela ke dula seterateng, ke thomisiye go kgokga didhrakse, ke nwa mokgete, ke lebelela dithombhe tsa batho ba go sa tšwara fote ke rekisa mmele. Go yye gwa makega se sengwana sa gore se ntshusiye ka matla. Ne ke dula ga ntlo ya mong wa sepotso. Tšatš’enngwana ka malobana, go segele banna ka babedi ba tl’le mmoneng. O yitseri ke ye ka kamareng mara ne ke kgona go kwa tso ba bolabolang ka tsona. Mong wa sepotso ne a nyaka go nrekisela banna bone. Ke mo ba nyoko ng’wutametsa ka teng ga sekepe sa go rwala merwalo ke mokane ba ng’yise Japane gore ke ye bereka bhareng. Ne ke tšhugiye, ka tshilela tawong ke tšwa ga kamara ya ka gedimo ke mokane ka nyakana le ba gore ba ka n’gelepa.

Ke gahlanne le morene mongwana wa gore ne a vakašele toropo ya Sydney, ke mokane ka mo hlatollela tso di mmakegeleng, ke nagana gore o nyoko nneya tšheleta. Mara o yye a re re ye mo a dulang gore ke thogo hlapa le go kraya sa go ja. Matšatši ma yye ma fo takamela nkene ke dula naye. Mo go fela mongwaga, re yye ra šadha.

KA MOKGO BHAYIBELE YI TŠHENTŠHIYENG LEPHELO LAKA:

Mo ke thomisa go tšhuta Bhayibele le Dihlatse tsa Jehova, ke mo ke tikwa ka mokgo mongwana. Ke mo ke kwatiye mo ke kwa gore ke Sathane ye a re leyelang dilo tsa go baba ka taba la gore go tlugisela ke sa le ye monyana, ne ba ntšhutisa gore Modimo ke yene ye a makang gore re hlupege. Pelo yaka yi yye ya kgehlemela mo ke tšhuta gore Modimo aa tšhubelele batho diheleng, taba yone ke mo ba ntšutisiye yona go tlugisela go le nna.

Ke jabodisiye nka mokgo Dihlatse di berekisang Bhayibele gore di thogo segelela dipheto. Ba phela ka so ba se dumelang. Ne ke kwana le go thathafisa dilo, mara le mo nka re king kela nka maka ying, Dihlatse ke mo di dula di nhlompa fote di šupetsa gore di nnyaka ka matla.

Taba ya go nhlupa ka matla ke gore ke mo ke titseyela fase ka matla. Ke mo ke tinyenya fote ne ke tikwa ka mokgonone le ka nthago ga mo ke šele ke kolobetsiwwe, go le nna Hlatse ya Jehova. Ne ke di tšiba tsa gore ga Jehova ke mo nyaka ka matla, mara ne ke fetsiye le pelo gore a di šiyo tsa gore le nna wa nnyaka.

Mo go šele go fitiye 15 ya mengwaga ke kolobetsiwwe, ke yye ka tseya dilo ka mokgo mongwana. Mo ke le Holong ya Mmušo ya Dihlatse tsa Jehova, ye ne a beya polabolo o yye a bala lengwalo la Jakobo 1:23, 24. Ditemanyana tsone di tshwanisa Lentsu la Modimo le seboki so re ka tilebelelang ga sona go fo tshwana le ka mokgo Jehova a re lebelelang. Ke thomisiye go tiputsisa gore ayitsano ka mokgo ke tilebelelang go tshwana le ka mokgo Jehova a n’lebelelang. Mathomisong, ke mo ke sa yi tshepe taba yone. Ne ke sa yemela gore Jehova a ka šupetsa motho wa go tshwana le nna gore wa mo nyaka.

Ka nthago ga matšatšinyana, ke badiye lengwalo la gore le yye la tšhentšha lephelo laka. Ke lengwalo la Jesaya 1:18, la gore ga lona Jehova o hlaya gore: “Šutelaneng howa lune batho, re lukiseneng ditaba. . . . Le mo tso le di sinnyeng go ka ba tse dikhubedu go tshwana le letsoki, go nyoko ba tse ditšwewu go tshwana le kapoko.” Ke mo ke kwa nkare Jehova o bolabola le nna, a re: “Tlang Vicky, re lukise ditaba. Ke ya go tšiba, ke tšiba tso o di sinnyeng, ke tšiba pelo yago—fote ke go nyaka ka matla.”

Ke šitegiye go yetsela bošego byone. Ne ke sa na ke kamaka taba ya gore Jehova o nnyaka ka matla, mara ka thomisa go nagana ka sehlabelo sa Jeso sa go lepolla. Ke napiye ke di bona tsa gore ke botala Jehova a nlefisele pelo fote a nšupetsa ka mekgwa ya go tlala gore o nnyaka ka matla. Mara ne di šupa nkare nna ke re gage: “Le mo o ka fo re o nnyaka go segela kaye, o ka sa ng’yenetse. Sehlabelo sa Morwayi wago a se ya yenela.” Ke mo di šupa nkare a ke leboge taba ya gore Jehova o nlepolliye. Mara gana byalo, mo ke ghayela ka sehlabelo so Jehova a re neyyeng sona, ke thomisiye go di bona tsa gore o nnyaka ka matla.

KA MOKGO DI N’GELEPIYENG KA GONA:

Ke tikwa ke yediye, ke philegiye fote ke yenele. Mošadho waka wo kawone fote ke jabodisa ke gore ke berekisa tso ke fitiyeng ga tsona gore ke thogo gelepa ba bangwana. Ke tikwa ke šutele thina ka matla le Jehova.

• YEAR BORN: 1974

• COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: RUSSIA

• HISTORY: HEAVY-METAL ENTHUSIAS

MY PAST:

I was born in Votkinsk, the birthplace of the famous composer Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky. Our family was poor. My father had many good qualities, but he was an alcoholic, so there was always a tense atmosphere in the household.

I was not a very good student, and as the years went by, I developed an inferiority complex. I became withdrawn and distrustful of others. Attending school was very stressful. When I had to deliver a report, for example, I was often unable to explain even basic concepts that I could express at other times. When I graduated from the eighth grade, my report card read: “Limited vocabulary, unable to express his thoughts.” Those words crushed me and left me feeling even more worthless. I began to wonder about the purpose of my life.

During my teenage years, I started drinking alcoholic beverages. At first, drinking made me feel good. But when I drank too much, my conscience bothered me. My life seemed meaningless. I began to feel more depressed, sometimes not leaving my house for days. I started thinking about suicide.

When I reached the age of 20, a new but temporary respite came. I discovered heavy-metal music. I felt energized by the music and sought out others who listened to it. I let my hair grow long, had my ears pierced, and dressed like the musicians whom I admired. Gradually, I became reckless and aggressive, often arguing with my family.

I thought that listening to heavy-metal music would make me happy, but just the opposite was happening. I was becoming a different person! And when I learned some bad things about the music stars whom I had looked up to, I felt betrayed.

Once again, I began to think about suicide—this time seriously. The only thing that stopped me was the thought of how my mother would be affected. She loved me very much, and she had done so much for me. The situation was torturous. I did not want to continue living, but I could not end my life.

To distract myself, I started reading classic Russian literature. One story involved a hero who served in a church. Suddenly I felt a burning desire to do something for God and for other people. I poured out my heart to God in prayer, something that I had never done before. I asked God to show me how I could live a purposeful life. During that prayer, I felt an amazing sense of relief. Even more amazing, though, was what happened next. Just two hours later, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on my door and offered me a Bible study. I believe that this was the answer to my prayer. That was the first day of a new, happy life for me.

HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE:

Although it was very difficult, I threw away everything I owned that was associated with heavy-metal music. Yet, the music stayed in my mind for a long time. Whenever I happened to walk by a place where that music was playing, I immediately thought of my past. I did not want to mix those unpleasant memories with everything good that was now taking root in my mind and heart. So I intentionally avoided such places. And whenever I was tempted to dwell on the past, I prayed fervently. Doing so helped me to experience “the peace of God that excels all thought.”—Philippians 4:7.

As I studied the Bible, I learned that Christians have an obligation to share their faith with others. (Matthew 28:19, 20) I sincerely believed that I could never do that. At the same time, the new things I was learning brought me great happiness and inner peace. I knew that others needed to learn these truths too. Despite my fear, I began to talk to others about what I was learning. To my great surprise, telling others about the Bible actually boosted my self-confidence. It also strengthened these new beliefs in my own heart.

HOW I HAVE BENEFITED:

I am now happily married and have had the joy of helping a number of people learn about the Bible, including my sister and my mother. Serving God and helping others to learn about him have given my life true meaning.