FOR the whole world, elders no de play with the work wey Jehovah give them for the organization. Na big blessing this brothers be! But some time ago, Jehovah’s organization make some change. They say make old elders hand-over some of the work wey them de do to young elders. Wetin this one mean?

The new arrangement be say, circuit overseers and instructors for our schools go stop their work, when their age don reach 70 years. And when elders for congregation reach 80 years, they go hand-over some of their work to young elders. For example, coordinator of Branch Committee or coordinator of the body of elders go stop when they reach 80 years. How this old elders feel about this arrangement? They don really show say their faith strong for the way they hold Jehovah and his organization tight! Make we see some example.

Brother Ken, wey he don serve as coordinator of Branch Committee for almost 49 years talk say: “That morning before I hear the news, I don already pray to Jehovah say make  young elder take-over from me and serve as coordinator.” Our dear old brothers for the whole world de feel like Brother Ken. But the truth be say, this our dear old brothers like to serve others, so e no easy for them at first.

Brother Esperandio wey he don serve as coordinator of body of elders for many years talk say, “The news pain me small.” But he still talk say, “As I don old, sickness de come. So I need more time to take care of myself.” This brother continue to hold Jehovah tight, and na correct blessing e be for congregation.

Some traveling overseers don serve for many years when they change their assignment. Wetin you think say they go do? Brother Allan na one of them. He don serve for 38 years. He talk say, “When I hear the news, I shock!” But even with that one, Brother Allan know say to train young men for the work na correct blessing. And he continue to serve Jehovah with all his heart.

Russell na another brother wey he don serve as traveling overseer and instructor for our schools for 40 years. He talk say when he and his wife first hear the news, they no dey happy at all. He say: “We really like our work and we feel say we get the power to continue.” Brother Russell and his wife de use their training and experience for their congregation now, and this one de sweet the publishers.

You fit never experience this kind change of assignment or feel like this brothers wey we talk about. But one story dey for 2 Samuel, and that story fit help you understand how this people de feel.

Na true say King David born Absalom, but one time Absalom try to comot King David for power. David run from Jerusalem go Mahanaim, for east side of River Jordan. For there, David and his people need some things to survive, like food. You remember wetin happen?

Three men for the area bring bed, different-different food stuff, and other things wey David and his people need. Barzillai na one of the men. (2 Sam. 17:27-29) As Absalom no succeed, David begin go back to Jerusalem. Barzillai follow David reach River Jordan. David tell Barzillai make he come Jerusalem. Even though say Barzillai “get money well-well,” and he no go need anything from the king, David still promise say he go de give food to Barzillai. (2 Sam. 19:31-33) Because Barzillai na good man and he get experience, David really want make he come live for palace. This na correct chance to live and work for palace!

Since Barzillai don reach 80 years, he know wetin he fit do and wetin he no fit do. So he tell David say he don old. He still talk say: “I go fit still know wetin good and wetin bad?” Wetin Barzillai mean? Barzillai go don get plenty experience because of his age. And he fit still  give correct advice, just the way some old men give King Rehoboam advice for Bible. (1 Ki. 12:6, 7; Ps. 92:12-14; Prov. 16:31) So wetin Barzillai mean when he talk say he no fit know wetin good and wetin bad? He fit mean say, some things wey he de do before, he no fit do them again because of old age. He talk say old age don affect the way he de taste and hear something. (Eccl. 12:4, 5) So Barzillai tell David say make he carry Chimham go Jerusalem, because he still young. This Chimham fit be Barzillai pikin.—2 Sam. 19:35-40.

The change wey Jehovah’s organization make be like the thing wey Barzillai talk about his age. But the truth be say, for this our time, no be only one person condition we look before we make this arrangement, as e be for Barzillai time. We really check wetin go good for elders for the whole world.

This our dear old brothers dey ready to hand-over the work wey them de do before to young elders. They see say this one de make Jehovah’s organization grow, and strong more-more for future. For Bible, na apostle Paul train Timothy, and maybe na Barzillai train his son Chimham. Many times, na our dear old elders de train the young elders today. (1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:20-22) This young elders don really show say they fit “make the body of Christ dey strong.” They be “gift” to Jehovah’s organization!​—Eph. 4:8-12; compare Numbers 11:16, 17, 29.

Plenty of our old brothers don find other ways wey they go de do more things for Jehovah with the time wey they get now. This na because they hand-over some of the work wey them de do before to young brothers.

One brother don serve as traveling overseer for 19 years. His name na Marco. He talk say, “The husbands of some sisters for my congregation no de serve Jehovah. But now I don get time to preach to them.”

Brother Geraldo wey he don serve as traveling overseer for 28 years talk say, “Our new plan na to help inactive publishers (this ones never preach up to six months) and get more Bible study.” He still talk say he and his wife get 15 Bible study, and plenty people don de go meeting again because of their help.

Brother Allan wey we talk about before talk say: “We don get the chance to do more for the preaching work. We de enjoy to stand for public place de preach where plenty people de pass and to business people. We still de preach to our neighbors, and two of them don come meeting.”

If you dey among this old brothers wey Jehovah’s organization don change their assignment, another special work dey wey you fit do for Jehovah. You fit use your fine experience encourage and help the young brothers for congregation. Brother Russell wey we talk about before talk say: “Jehovah de train young brothers, and he de use them. This young men de use their power well to teach and encourage other brothers and sisters. Jehovah’s organization de benefit from them!”​—Check the box “ Help Young Men to Do Their Best.”

If your assignment don change, make you no worry, you don try! You don use all your heart help many people, and you fit continue to do like that. We love you and we go continue to love you.

The number one thing be say, Jehovah no go ever forget your hard work. He no go “forget the things wey you don do and the love wey you show for his name as you help the holy ones and still de help them.” (Heb. 6:10) This Bible verse make all of us dey sure say Jehovah no go just bless us for only the things wey we don do before. He go still bless us for  the things wey we de do now. Jehovah value you well-well, and he no go forget as you de try to do wetin he want.

What if your assignment never change like the people wey we talk about before? This matter fit still concern you. How?

If you dey around this old brothers wey their assignment change or you talk with them, you fit gain from their sense and experience. Meet them for advice. If you get any matter, ask them wetin they think about the matter. And watch how them de use their experience handle their new assignment.

Maybe you be old brother wey your assignment don change, or you de benefit from the things wey this old brothers de do. And maybe you don de serve Jehovah for long time now. Make you get-am for mind say, Jehovah value the fine work wey you don do, and the one wey you de do now.