The neighboring ecclesiastical districts of New Zealand and Australia East swore in more officers during special gatherings held on June 26 and 27, 2022, respectively.

The additional number of brethren who took their oath in various capacities at the local congregation level was seen to be of great help to the Church Administration in taking care of their fellow brethren’s spiritual well-being as they lead them in the Church works and activities.

In New Zealand, the special gatherings were held simultaneously in all local congregations. Those in the North Island connected to the host site, the Local Congregation of Auckland, where Brother Dennis Dahunan, the district supervising minister, presided over; those from the South Island connected to the Christchurch Congregation where Brother Nolly Esperanza, assistant district supervising minister, officiated.

The special gathering and oath-taking in Australia East transpired the following day. The house of worship of the Local Congregation of Minchinbury, New South Wales, served as the host venue where Brother Felix D. Santos, district supervising minister, officiated; other congregations connected via videoconferencing. During the said occasion, over 400 brethren from various local congregations took their oath of office.

With regard to accepting a Church duty, Mary Ann Salamat, a new officer from the Local Congregation of Penrith, said, “I felt honored. … I felt braver because I firmly believe that God will never abandon me. He will help me to perform all the duties and responsibilities as an officer in the Church.”

As to the significance of the special gathering for officers, Amalie Sales, from the Local Congregation of Hamilton, in New Zealand, said that although Church officers are, in essence, helpers of the Church Administration, “we also need to be strengthened in the faith, and be reminded time and again of the scope of our respective Church duties, for us to all the more become responsible. That is why gatherings like this are important to us, Church officers.” — With reports from INC News Section