In the face of widespread economic strain, national conflicts and social unrest, surveys indicate that confidence in the future is at an all-time low in many countries, including the United States. According to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, 24 of the 28 countries surveyed are seeing “all-time lows in the number of people who think their families will be better off in five years.”
Against this backdrop of pessimism, a special global program featuring the theme “You Can Face the Future With Confidence!” will be held on Sunday, April 2, 2023. The free 30- minute presentation will be hosted locally at the East Peoria Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with a videoconferencing option available. Please check the “Attend a Meeting” section on the homepage of jw.org for local addresses and meeting times.
“The challenges we face may seem overwhelming, but the Bible holds out a powerful hope for the future that can help us right now,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “This global program is designed to give all those who attend tangible reasons to face the future with confidence.”
Helga Philips, 82, of Washington, Illinois, was diagnosed with terminal lung and brain cancer in December 2022. Despite being given several weeks to a few months to live, Philips’ deep joy and happiness remain, surprising even her doctors. “They expected me to be sad,” said Philips, who has been one of Jehovah’s Witnesses since the early 1970s.
“When I see the doctors, I am smiling because I have hope. When you have hope, you have peace of mind.” Philips credits her hope and positive attitude for the fact that she thus far has outlived that grim prognosis.
Philips’ hope comes from her study of the Bible. In fact, her desire to share it with her neighbors, and to invite them to the special talk and Memorial of Jesus Christ’s death, was something she prayed she would live long enough to do. “Having that goal, I just think about that every day,” she said.
The special talk is the first of two free programs that will be held in all 118,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the first week of April. The public is also invited to join nearly 20 million other global attendees for the annual observance of the Memorial of Jesus Christ’s death, to be held on the evening of Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
Admission to both programs is free, and no registration is required. Details on when and where these events will be held locally are available on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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