JEHOVAH’S Witnesses are now advising Jamaicans to look out for e-mail, phone calls and even WhatsApp messages, as gathering restrictions due to the novel coronavirus pandemic have forced them to shift from their usual door-to-door ministry.

“Do not be surprised if you get a personalised letter in your mailbox, a phone call, or a text message from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have neither disappeared nor gone dormant. Though masked, they are not muted,” public information representative Mordecai Tulloch told the Jamaica Observer.

For the first time in decades, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been absent from the public’s eyes, but they are adamant that their evangelistic work must continue.

“Some persons use a telephone directory and they look for addresses in their area. They know the person’s name, they know the telephone number, so they can write to somebody in their area, who quite likely they know,” Tulloch added.

They always have a choice, Tulloch said in reference to the people who are contacted.

“They can say they don’t want to hear anything else from the person, or yes, they’ll welcome another phone call. We try not to do it too indiscriminately. We have to use discretion as we try to call people, because we know that some persons would not take kindly to writing a generic mail and send it out to everybody. We are against sending random messages,” added Tulloch.

He said that in the instances in which they had a contact listing from years ago and we call only to realise that the person’s had number changed, they will try to get someone else.

Elder Peter Scudamore, a Jehovah Witness leader, said like any other organisation it had to rethink ways of reaching people.

“Although we are not knocking on people’s doors or visible in public spaces with our Bible literature, we have utilised letter writing, e-mail, telephone calls, WhatsApp, and Zoom to carry out our preaching work in a way that is safe and responsible,” he said.

“In obedience to God’s command to preach and meet for worship, we have successfully moved all our weekly meetings and larger assemblies to online platforms,” Scudamore said, noting that they have kept true to their name and commission, utilising alternative avenues to share the gospel in every “nook and cranny” of Jamaica.

“The very reason we went from door to door is the same reason we discontinued it, because we love people. These two principles are what framed our decision to cease our public ministry. We would never want to put anyone at risk. The authorities have also advised us not to gather publicly and keep physical distance, and we have been able to do that while still fulfilling our ministry,” he said.

There are more than 12,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jamaica and it is not uncommon to see them streaming through communities, visiting homes, even in the gruelling heat of the sun.

Behind the scenes, Scudamore related, they are busier than ever in their Bible educational work, while at the same time adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

“Even older ones are now proficient at engaging in this form of the ministry. In many ways our ministry has become even more productive and robust,” he said.

The elder said Jehovah’s Witnesses had suspended their public ministries, worship meetings at their kingdom halls and larger assemblies before the Government announced gathering restrictions.

“It is because of our respect for life — God’s gift — and because of our love of neighbour that we have adjusted our evangelising work. We would never want to transmit this disease to others.”

He said, thus far, the alternative methods have proven worthwhile.

“Shortly before the lockdown, a local woman was praying to God for help. The following day she received a visit from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They offered her a free home Bible study, which she accepted. The discussions were held on WhatsApp out of respect for local stay-at-home orders. The young lady attended our religious services on Zoom and made progress to the point of water baptism, all in a 10-month period.”