AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – The Mullins center on the campus of UMass, Amherst played host this weekend to thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses from all over New England.
An estimated 12,000 Jehovah’s witnesses from all over the region spent three days reinvigorating their faith at this annual gathering. Each year there’s a special theme. This year it’s Loyalty.
James Parker, a Jehovah’s Witness told 22News, “Loyalty is something that is valuable for our relationships with god, our families have to have, this quality and also with our neighbors.”
It’s a diverse gathering from all over New England. As Claire McLennan of South Hadley told 22News, they gain strength from each other’s differences.
Claire McLellan, of South Hadley mentioned, “It’s a really beautiful opportunity for us to see the need for brotherhood. This year we have a congregation that’s made up of many different ethnicities of all nations, all people all languages.”
This convention which was held in Springfield for many years is but one of many that coincide with each other.
Peter Lavilio, Holyoke congregation coordinator said, “This convention will be one of about 100 around the world and the same program that we have here every convention will have in every part of the world.”
Peter Lavilio’s Holyoke congregation is one of 118,000 across world whose membership of Jehovah’s witnesses number more than 8 million 200 thousand.
