MICHAEL Rodrigues of Eccles, East Bank Demerara eagerly anticipates July 8, 2023, the day he will step into the pool at the Leonora Track and Field Stadium to get baptised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“I grew up around Jehovah’s Witnesses but never took them seriously,” Michael shared, adding, “It has been a long road for me with lots of challenges. However, in the last two years, at the age of 46, I studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses in earnest and made the necessary adjustments to qualify for baptism. I am so thankful, as well as excited, to be just a few days away from the most important moment of my life. I look forward to the opportunities that baptism will allow me to enjoy.”

Conventioneers will look on as Michael joins other congregants who will also be fully immersed in the baptismal pool, highlighting the second day of the three-day “Exercise Patience”! Regional Convention of the Witnesses.

The morning session begins at 9:20 a.m. and culminates with a talk preceding the baptism event. Another highlight of the convention’s second day will be the first of a two-part prerecorded feature Bible drama.

“The Saturday programme at our annual conventions is always a highlight of the three days,” said Andre Darrell, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “The significance of the baptism and the powerfully compelling drama in the afternoon make quite an impact on those attending.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world for more than 100 years prior to April 2020, when the organisation cancelled all its in-person events around the world.

After resuming smaller in-person meetings and their public ministry during 2022, the summer of 2023 marks the first time the Witnesses will gather at much larger regional events around the world.

For more information on the programme or to find other convention locations and dates, please go to jw.org and navigate to the “About Us” tab. Local Spokesman Darrell can be contacted on 617-9089 or adarrell@jw.org