Barely three weeks after 25,208 delegates packed Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, for the ?Declare the Good News!? 2024 Convention of Jehovah?s Witnesses, a far bigger crowd turned up in Port Harcourt for a similar treat.

The Regional Convention held in the Rivers State capital December 6-8 witnessed a capacity crowd at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali, with the attendance peaking at 44,201 on Sunday. And while 580 new ministers of the good news were baptised in Abuja, a massive 910 were baptised in Port Harcourt.

The convention highlighted the good news that came to man as a result of Jesus Christ coming into the world. One of the talks highlighted that there is a lot of bad news today. However, delegates were admonished to find solace in Christ whose birth and coming into the world is good news.

The convention was an expository of the prophecies made concerning Jesus, his birth and his appearance as the Messiah. Several Bible books and prophecies were x-rayed that revealed thousands of years in advance the coming to earth of the one who would remove the veil from the nations and bring an end to all bad news bedeviling man, especially at this time period referred to in the Bible as ?the last days?.

The biblical prophecies about the Christ were clearly explained, showing how he as King of God?s Kingdom will end all wickedness, bringing an end to all bad news.

Delegates were held spellbound by captivating video dramas that presented events recorded in the gospel accounts regarding Jesus. Some of the video presentations include the angel Gabriel appearing to the young virgin Mary with the unusual news of her conceiving and giving birth to a Savior; the angel also appearing to aged Zechariah announcing to him another miraculous event ? the birth of a son to him and his aged wife, Elizabeth; the angel appearing to Joseph, the would-be husband of Mary who was troubled at the news that his fianc?e, though still a virgin, was pregnant with a baby.

The videos and presentations clearly explained how God used his power in seeing to the fulfillment of the minutest detail regarding his prophecies.

One other part of the programme that excited many delegates were the well-researched videos focusing on the land Jesus walked as a man on earth ? the geography, culture, education and homelife as it was back then. The breath-taking videos were recorded live at the land where Jesus carried out his ministry. The audience were presented with such details as the distances he walked from Mount Olive to other locations.

The last speaker on Sunday, Brother Olaynor Taylor, struggled to keep his emotions in check as the delegates repeatedly responded with cheers to a video clip that briefly highlighted what had been learned for the three days and gave a glimpse of what is to come during the 2025 convention.

Another special feature of the convention was the release of a new song entitled ?Good News!? It was a thunderous ovation as the full house of delegates joined their voices to sing the song as a climax to the rich spiritual banquet.

Another convention of similar magnitude is scheduled to be held in neighbouring Akwa Ibom State later this month. Date is December 20 to 22 and venue is Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the state capital.

The ?Declare the Good News!? convention series began across Nigeria from August 9-11. Many regional conventions have been held across the country since then, with others still ahead.

The convention, holding in more than 48 different locations across Nigeria, focuses on hope-inspiring good news amidst challenges faced by humans today. It consists of presentations that include Bible-based talks, audio dramas, interviews, and short videos.

The programme commences at 8:20 a.m. each day of the convention, closing at 3:50 p.m., except on Sunday, when it closes at 2:30 p.m. The time however changes in states that observe ?environmental Saturdays? when it falls on the last weekend of any month.

The date and location for each convention can be found on the official website of Jehovah?s Witnesses,jw.org

?PHOTO: Delegates singing at the ?Declare the Good News!? 2024 Convention of Jehovah?s Witnesses held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, from Friday to Sunday . . . December 6-8, 2024