Ukunyathelisa Izincwadi ZeBhayibheli Lapho Sivinjelwe

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUMALCOLM G. VALE

“Nyathelisa incwadi ethi Children.” Ngathola lesiqondiso esimangalisayo sivela kumbonisi wegatsha loFakazi BakaJehova e-Australia phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, ngokushesha ngemva kokukhululwa kwalencwadi emhlanganweni wesigodi eSt. Louis, eMissouri, e-U.S.A., ngo-August 10, 1941. Kungani lesiqondiso sasimangalisa?

NOKHO, umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela wawuvinjelwe ngo-January 1941, ngakho ukuqhubeka kunyatheliswa ngisho nangokulinganiselwe kwakuyoba yinselele. Ngaphandle kwalokho, incwadi ethi Children yayinamakhasi angu-384 inemifanekiso enombala ophelele. Amathuluzi ethu okunyathelisa ayedinga ukuthuthukiswa, iphepha laliyindlala, nezisebenzi zazingakuqeqeshelwe ukukhiqiza izincwadi ezinoqwembe oluqinile.

Ngaphambi kokuba ngichaze ukuthi saphumelela kanjani ukunyathelisa lapho sivinjelwe, ake ngikutshele ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ngikhonze ehhovisi legatsha lase-Australia njengombonisi wemisebenzi yokunyathelisa.

Isizinda Sasebuntwaneni

Ubaba wayenebhizinisi lokunyathelisa edolobheni elichumayo laseBallarat, eVictoria, lapho ngazalelwa khona ngo-1914. Ngakho ngafunda ibhizinisi lokunyathelisa lapho ngisebenza embonini kaBaba yezokunyathelisa. Ngangihileleke nasemisebenzini yeChurch of England, ngihlabelela eqenjini labahlabeleli besonto futhi ngishaya nensimbi yesonto. Ngaze ngaba ngisho nasethubeni  lokufundisa kuSonto-sikole, kodwa ngangikhathazekile ngalokhu.

Isizathu sasiwukuthi nganginemibuzo engathi sína ngezinye zezimfundiso zesonto. Lena yayihlanganisa noZiqu-zintathu, isihogo somlilo, nokungafi komphefumulo womuntu, futhi akekho owanginikeza izimpendulo ezanelisayo. Kwangimangaza futhi ukuthi isikhathi ngasinye, umfundisi wethu wayekhuluma ngentukuthelo ngeqembu elincane lenkolo elalizibiza ngokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngazibuza ukuthi kungani iqembu elincane kangaka lalingaba elikhathaza kangaka edolobheni labantu abangu-40 000.

Ngelinye iSonto, ngangimi ngaphandle kwesonto ngemva kwenkonzo yesonto yakusihlwa lapho iqembu lamantombazane elalivela eSontweni laseWeseli lidlula. Ngaqalisa ubungane nenye yawo. Igama layo kwakunguLucy, futhi ekugcineni yangimemela kubo ukuze ngibone abazali bayo. Cabanga indlela engamangala ngayo lapho ngithola ukuthi unina, uVera Clogan, wayengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Saba nezingxoxo eziningi eziphilayo zeBhayibheli, futhi ayekusho kwakunengqondo.

Ngokushesha, mina noLucy sashada, futhi ngo-1939 sasihlala eMelbourne, inhloko-dolobha yaseVictoria. Nakuba uLucy ayesengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, ngangingakasenzi isinqumo. Nokho, lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe II ngo-September walowonyaka, ngaqala ukucabanga ngokungathi sína ngalokho engangikufunde emiBhalweni. Ukuvinjelwa komsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova ngo-January 1941 kwangisiza ngempela ukuba ngenze isinqumo. Nganikezela ukuphila kwami kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi ngabhapathizwa ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho.

Izinguquko Eziphawulekayo Ekuphileni Kwethu

Ngalesosikhathi, sasiqashe igumbi elinethezekile eMelbourne. Nokho, ngokushesha samenyelwa ukuba sithuthele endlini eyayinabanye oFakazi abambalwa. Sathengisa yonke ifenisha yethu ngaphandle kweyasekamelweni lokulala futhi sathuthela kulokho okwakubizwa ngokuthi ikhaya lamaphayona. Ngaqhubeka ngisebenza njengomnyathelisi futhi ngaleyondlela ngakwazi ukuqhubeka nginikela ezindlekweni zokunakekela ikhaya. Namanye amadoda enza okufanayo. Ngenxa yalokho, omkethu bahlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela isikhathi esigcwele, futhi thina madoda sasihlanganyela nabo emsebenzini wokushumayela ivangeli nasemihlanganweni yobuKristu phakathi nezikhathi zakusihlwa nangezimpelasonto.

Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, mina nomkami sathola incwadi evela ehhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society isimemela ukuba siye eSydney. Sathengisa ifenisha yethu yasekamelweni lokulala futhi sakhokhela izikweleti ezimbalwa esasinazo, kodwa ukuze sithole imali yokukhokhela isitimela esiya eSydney, kwadingeka sithengise indandatho kaLucy yesithembiso!

Ngenxa yokuvinjelwa kwangesikhathi sempi nokuvinjelwa okwakusanda kumiswa ngokomthetho, awekho amaBhayibheli noma izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezazingangeniswa zivela phesheya. Ngenxa yalesizathu ihhovisi legatsha lase-Australia lanquma ukuvula umsebenzi womshoshaphansi wokunyathelisa ukuze likwazi ukuqhubeka likhiqiza ukudla okungokomoya, futhi ngamenyelwa ukuba ngengamele lomsebenzi. Ngaba nelungelo lokusebenza nendoda yaseScotland, uGeorge Gibb, owakhonza iminyaka engaba ngu-60 emnyangweni wokunyathelisa egatsheni lase-Australia. * Kwakungaleso sikhathi-ke lapho ngathola lesiqondiso: “Nyathelisa incwadi ethi Children.”

 Ukuthola Amathuluzi Okunyathelisa

Siye saba nokuhlangenwe nakho okuningi okujabulisayo, ngezinye izikhathi okusiphuzelisa izinwele, kuleyominyaka yezenzakalo yempi. Ngokwesibonelo, ukuze siqale umsebenzi wethu wokunyathelisa, sasidinga amathuluzi. Esasiwasebenzisa ngaphambili ekwenzeni umsebenzi olinganiselwe wokunyathelisa eminyakeni yangaphambi kwempi ayeqhwagwe iziphathimandla zikahulumeni, futhi manje umshini weNhlangano wokunyathelisa wawuvalelwe futhi ugadiwe. Sasingawathola kanjani lamathuluzi ukuze siwayise ezindaweni ezifanelekela ukunyathelisa ngomshoshaphansi?

Onogada abahlomile, besebenza ngokushintshana, babegada impahla yeNhlangano amahora angu-24 ngosuku. Nokho, olunye lwezindonga zangemuva lwalwencike ngasemzileni wesitimela ongasetshenziswa njalo. Ngakho ebusuku, zisebenzisa izindlela ezifana nsé nezikuHezekeli 12:5-7, ezinye izisebenzi zaseBethel ezinesibindi zangena odongeni ngokususa ezinye izitini. Lapho sezingaphakathi, zaphindisela izitini ebezikhishiwe odongeni ukuze zingabanjwa. Ngalokhu kuhlasela kwasebusuku phakathi namasonto acishe abe mabili, zakhumula ngokucophelela umshini omncane wokunyathelisa, i-Linotype, neminye imishini embalwa. Khona-ke zase zikhiphela ngaphandle izingcezu zawo ngokunyenya, onogada bebhekile!

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sathola amathuluzi engeziwe avela kweminye imithombo, futhi ngokushesha sase siqhubeka ngamandla nemisebenzi yokunyathelisa ngomshoshaphansi ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene kulo lonke elaseSydney. Ngakho, sakwazi ukunyathelisa nokuhlanganisa hhayi ethi Children nje kuphela incwadi kodwa nezincwadi ezinkulu ezithi The New World, “I Qiniso Li Ya Ku Nikulula,” nethi The Kingdom Is At Hand, kuhlanganise nama-Yearbook oFakazi BakaJehova ka-1942, 1943, 1944, no-1945. Ngaphezu kwalokho, phakathi nokuvinjelwa kwaleyominyaka yempi, oFakazi BakaJehova kulo lonke elase-Australia abazange baswele ngisho nowodwa umagazini we-Nqabayokulinda. Lokhu kwasiqinisekisa ngokomuntu siqu ukuthi isandla sikaJehova asifinyele neze.—Isaya 59:1.

Ukubhekana Nokuvakashelwa Okungalindelekile

Phakathi nenkathi yokuhlolwa kwezinto ezinyatheliswayo okunqala kwangesikhathi sempi, izindawo zezohwebo zokunyathelisa zazivakashelwa njalo ngokungalindelekile izikhulu zikahulumeni ezazihlola okwakunyatheliswa. Ngakho-ke, enye yezindawo zethu zokunyathelisa ezicashile yayihlonyiswe ngenhlaba-mkhosi, inkinobho eyayiphansi eyayifinyelelwa kalula ngowamukela izingcingo nezivakashi. Lapho othile ayengamazi noma owayesolelwa ukuthi angaba ngumhloli enyuka ngezitebhisi, wayecindezela lenkinobho.

Lapho inkinobho isicindezelwe, kwakuwumbukwane wangempela ukubona abantu bephonseka ngaphandle ngamafasitela nhlangothi zonke! Izisebenzi ezazibhaliswe njengabaqashwa zazisala ukuze zimboze ngokushesha noma yimaphi amakhasi anyathelisiwe kamagazini INqabayokulinda noma ezinye izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezazisanyatheliswa. Ukuze zenze lokhu, zazisebenzisa amakhasi anyathelisiwe alingana nawezinye izincwadi ezazilungiselelwa amakhasimende ahwebayo.

Phakathi nokunye ukuvakasha okunjalo, abahloli ababili bahlala phezu kwamaphepha ezincwadi zamahlaya, ezazisesemaphepheni amakhulu, kodwa ngaphansi kwakunamakhasi kamagazini INqabayokulinda ababenyatheliswe ngobusuku bangaphambili. Endaweni yokunyathelisa ekwenye ingxenye yedolobha, sasinyathelisa izinto zezohwebo emini bese sinyathelisa INqabayokulinda ebusuku nangezimpelasonto.

Ukugcwalisa Izidingo Zethu Zephepha

Ukuthola iphepha lokunyathelisa kwakuyinkinga enkulu. Nokho, ezinye izindawo ezinkulu zokunyathelisa ezazingasidingi sonke isabelo sazo sephepha ngenxa yokuwa kwebhizinisi phakathi nempi zazizimisele ukuthengisa iphepha lazo elisalayo—yiqiniso, lalibiza ngaso sonke isikhathi. Nokho, kwesinye isenzakalo sathola iphepha livela kwenye indawo.

Umkhumbi othwala impahla owawuza e-Australia wawuthwele iphepha eliningi elinsundu elithunyelwayo, kodwa umkhumbi walimala olwandle futhi amanzi angena ephepheni eliningi. Lonke leliphepha elalithunyelwe lafakwa  endalini, futhi samangala ukuthi sasiwukuphela kwabathengi. Lokhu kwasenza sakwazi ukulithenga ngentengo ephansi kakhulu. Salomisa iphepha elangeni, ngaleyondlela songa eliningi lalo, sabe sesilisika laba amakhasi alingene ukungena emshinini wethu wokunyathelisa.

Sasiyolisebenzisa kanjani leliphepha elinsundu? Sacabanga, futhi ngokuyiqiniso, ukuthi abafundi bezincwadi zamahlaya babesayozijabulela izindaba zabo zamahlaya ephepheni elinombala. Ngakho, sasebenzisa iphepha elimhlophe esasililungiselele ukunyathelisa izincwadi zamahlaya ukuze sinyathelise INqabayokulinda nezinye izinto zeNhlangano.

Indima Ebalulekile Yabesifazane

Phakathi neminyaka yempi, abesifazane abaningi abangamaKristu e-Australia bafunda imisebenzi yokuhlanganisa izincwadi. Ngenye intambama yasehlobo eyayishisa ikhiph’ umkhovu etsheni, abanye babo babesebenza bodwa egalaji elincane esasiliqashe emgwaqweni ongemuva kwamaphethelo edolobha laseSydney. Ngenxa yezizathu zokuphepha, babegcina wonke amafasitela neminyango kuvaliwe. Izimbiza zenhlaka zazikhipha isisi esishisayo, esinukayo, futhi ukushisa cishe kwakungabekezeleleki. Ngakho bakhumula basala ngezingubo zangaphansi.

Bengazelele, kwangqongqoza othile emnyango. Odade abangamaKristu basabela bebuza ukuthi kwakuwubani, futhi isikhulu sikahulumeni sezemisebenzi saphendula. Sasivela emnyangweni owawunamandla angesikhathi sempi okuqondisa abantu kunoma iyiphi indawo lapho kwakunomsebenzi odinga ukwenziwa. Labodade baphendula ngokuzwakalayo ngokuthi babengenakumvumela angene manje njengoba babesebenza ngezimpahla zabo zangaphansi ngenxa yokushisa.

Lesikhulu sathula isikhashana; kamuva sathi kunenye indawo okwakufanele siye kuyo. Sathi sasizobuya ngosuku olulandelayo ukuze sizohlola. Ngokushesha labesifazane abangamaKristu basishayela ucingo, futhi ngalobobusuku sathumela iloli ukuba lithathe konke okwakusetshenzwa ngakho ekuhlanganisweni kwezincwadi, likuthuthele kwenye indawo.

Abaningi balabo ababehileleke ekunyatheliseni kwethu komshoshaphansi babengenakho okuhlangenwe nakho emsebenzini wokunyathelisa ngaphambili, ngakho okwafezwa akushiyanga kungabaza engqondweni yami ukuthi umoya kaJehova wawunikeza usizo oludingekayo nesiqondiso. Kwakuyilungelo elikhulu ngami nomkami, uLucy, owayesebenza endaweni yokuhlanganisa izincwadi, ukuba sibe yingxenye yakho konke lokhu.

 Wawuqondiswa kanjani umsebenzi wethu ngalezozikhathi ezivivinyayo? Owayengumbambeli wombonisi wegatsha woFakazi BakaJehova wayebekelwe umthetho ovimbelayo ovela kuhulumeni, owawufuna ukuba ahlale edolobheni eliqhele ngamakhilomitha ayikhulu ukusuka eSydney. Lomthetho wawumvimbela ekubeni ahambe amakhilomitha angaphezu kwayisishiyagalombili endaweni ezungezile maphakathi nedolobha. Imoto ngayinye yayithola isabelo samalitha amane kaphethiloli ngenyanga. Kodwa abazalwane basungula isimiso sobuhlakani esasaziwa ngokuthi i-gas producer—ithangi elenziwe ngothayela eliyindilinga elinesisindo esicishe sibe ingxenye yethani, elalibekwa ngemuva emotweni. Kwakushiswa amalahle kulelithangi, akhiqiza i-carbon monoxide njengophethiloli. Ebusuku ngezinsuku ezimbalwa isonto ngalinye, mina nabanye abazalwane abanomthwalo wemfanelo sasihamba ngalendlela ukuze sihlangane nalombonisi ogwadule eduze nedolobha ayedingiselwe kulo. Ngaleyondlela, sasixoxa ngezindaba eziningi ngaphambi kokuba siphinde sikhwezele i-gas producer futhi siphindele eSydney kusempondo zankomo.

Ekugcineni, ukuvinjelwa koFakazi BakaJehova kwalethwa ekunakekeleni kweNkantolo Ephakeme yase-Australia. Umahluleli wachaza lokhu kuvinjelwa “njengokusekelwe embonweni womuntu, okuguquguqukayo, nokucindezelayo” futhi wawasula ngokuphelele wonke amacala oFakazi BakaJehova okwakuthiwa ngawokuvukela umbuso. Wonke amalungu eNkantolo Ephakeme asisekela lesinqumo, ngakho sakwazi ukuphumela obala ukuze siqhube imisebenzi yethu engokomthetho yoMbuso.

Izabelo Ezengeziwe Nezibusiso

Ngemva kwempi abaningi ababesebenza emisebenzini yethu yokunyathelisa ngomshoshaphansi bangenela inkonzo yamaphayona. Kamuva abanye babo baya e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead eNew York. Mina noLucy sasinalowomgomo engqondweni, kodwa ngalesosikhathi sathola umntwana wentombazane futhi nganquma ukuphindela emsebenzini wokunyathelisa. Sathandazela ukuba uJehova asisize sibeke izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala, futhi uye wenza kanjalo. Ngahileleka kwesinye isabelo senkonzo ngalendlela elandelayo.

Ngathola ucingo oluvela kuLloyd Barry, manje osekhonza njengelungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngalesosikhathi wayengumbonisi ojikelezayo eSydney. Wabuza ukuthi ngangilwazi yini usuku lomhlangano wesifunda olandelayo. Lapho ngiphendula ngokuthi ngangilwazi, wathi: “Sifuna ukuba unakekele amalungiselelo okudla.”

Ngimangele isikhashana, nginokungabaza ngathi: “Kodwa angikaze ngiyenze into enjalo ekuphileni kwami.”

“Nokho, Mfowethu,” ephendula ngendlela esakuntela, “cishe sekuyisikhathi sokuba ufunde!” Ngafunda, futhi ngaqhubeka nginelungelo lokwengamela inkonzo yokudla, ngisho nasemihlanganweni emikhulu, iminyaka engaphezu kuka-40.

Eminyakeni edlule, ifemu yakithi yezohwebo yokunyathelisa yakhula, futhi lokhu kwaletha isidingo sokuya njalo phesheya ngenjongo yebhizinisi. Ngaso sonke isikhathi ngangihlela ukuba lokhu kuhambisane nemihlangano yezizwe eyayiqhutshelwa eDolobheni laseNew York nakwezinye izindawo e-United States. Lokhu kwanginikeza ithuba lokuchitha isikhathi nalabo ababengamele iminyango ehlukahlukene yomhlangano wesigodi, ikakhulukazi inkonzo yezokudla. Ngakho, emuva e-Australia, ngangikwazi kangcono ukukhonza izidingo emihlanganweni yethu yesigodi.

Njengoba iminyaka yethu iqhubeka, ngezinye izikhathi mina noLucy siyazibuza ukuthi sasingakwazi yini ukufeza okwengeziwe ukuba sasizalwe eminyakeni ethile kamuva. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, njengoba sazalwa ngokwehlukana ngo-1914 nango-1916, sikubheka njengelungelo elimangalisayo ukuthi sibone iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zigcwaliseka emehlweni ethu. Futhi sibonga uJehova ngesibusiso esiye saba naso ekufundeni nabantu abaningi nasekubasizeni ukuba bafunde iqiniso nokubabona manje bemkhonza njengezikhonzi ezibhapathiziwe. Kuwumthandazo wethu ukuba siqhubeke simkhonza kuze kube phakade, simqaphela phakade njengoMbusi Wendawo yonke walembulunga.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Izithombe ekhasini 29]

Ukuvulwa komsebenzi wokunyathelisa eBethel yaseStrathfield, 1929-73

UGeorge Gibb emi eduze komunye wemishini eyayikhishwe endaweni yokunyathelisa ngodonga olungemuva