Storm Lake Times Pilot

Mobile displays on the streets of Storm Lake, after pandemic pause

Jehovah’s Witnesses resume public ministry

Carolyn and Keith Fulton

If you happen to be strolling the lake trail in AWAYSIS Park this week, you may notice smiling faces standing next to colorful carts featuring a positive message and free Bible-based literature.

Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world have resumed their public ministry using mobile literature displays.

Thousands of these carts are rolling down the streets of communities like Storm Lake, all across the world as Jehovah’s Witnesses recommence their global public preaching work some 24 months after putting it on pause due to the pandemic.

“It’s exciting,” said Keith Fulton, who attends the Storm Lake English congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Keith and his wife have regularly volunteered at cart locations. “One of the things I missed the most was not being able to personally talk to people face-to-face.”

Keith’s wife, Carolyn, shares his sentiments. “It’s such a joy. It just warms my heart to be able to get involved in this activity again.”

The Christian organization has returned to its public ministry for the first time since March 2020 when all in-person forms of their volunteer work were suspended out of concern for the health and safety of the community.

In response to the global decision, two congregations in the area are now beginning to open their cart locations along the lake trails of three parks: Chautauqua, Frank Starr and AWAYSIS.

The local congregations will also resume free in-person Bible studies along with personal visits to those who have invited them back to their homes. This came two months after the organization began gathering at their Kingdom Halls once again for in-person meetings.

“While we understand that the pandemic is not over, we are entering into a phase of learning to live with Covid,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We are sensitive to the risks that still face our communities and our volunteers, which is why we will not resume door-to-door ministry at this time. Each volunteer will make a personal choice as to whether their ministry will remain strictly virtual or whether they are ready to make in-person visits again. We are excited that we all have a choice!”