By far, the most usual situation in which Christians encounter Jehovah’s Witnesses is the familiar one where they come to our homes as part of their door-to-door witnessing.

In other words, they are the ones taking the initiative.

Unfortunately, most Christians hide behind the curtains—pretending they aren’t home—or turn them away immediately by saying, “No, thank you. I have my own religion.”

If you have invited them in and made efforts to get through to them with the real gospel, I applaud you.

Keep it up!

That said, in the next several posts I want to expand your horizons to suggest ways in which you can take the initiative in connecting with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Here are some of the opportunities I’ll be discussing:

1. Encountering Jehovah’s Witnesses at carts

In many metropolitan areas, Jehovah’s Witnesses do sidewalk witnessing, attending carts filled with Watchtower literature.

Usually, they don’t try to engage passersby in dialogue.

It’s up to you to take the initiative to talk with them. 

2. Connecting with active Jehovah’s Witnesses you know

Perhaps you know that a friend, a neighbor, or a co-worker is an active Jehovah’s Witness.

In those situations, you don’t have to wait for them to come to your door.

You can take the first step to initiate Bible discussions with them.

3. Helping Jehovah’s Witness Children

If you are a parent, your children may have friends who are being raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

If you are a school teacher or aide, the odds are that at some point you will have one or more children of Jehovah’s Witness parents in your classroom.

Of course, dealing with minors involves special challenges, but it also presents a number of opportunities.

4. Going to a Kingdom Hall

Most meetings at Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses are open to the public.

Attending such meetings involves indoctrination risks and isn’t for everyone, but for Christians who prepare themselves and establish safeguards, it’s a good way to learn about the Watchtower religion firsthand and to initiate contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

5. Helping inactive Jehovah’s Witnesses

Not everyone with a Watchtower background stays active in the ministry.

Many get disillusioned or worn out and cut back on attending meetings and taking part in the door-to-door witnessing.

These inactive ones won’t be coming to your door, but that doesn’t mean they have left the Watchtower religion completely or that they have become Christians.

They need people like you and me to reach out to them.

6. Helping people who are studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses

Many years ago, I studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

I tried to get Christians to help me work through the doctrinal issues, but most of them had no idea what to say or do.

If you have read my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Approaching Bible Discussions in Unexpected Ways, you are in a unique position to help them learn the difference between the Watchtower religion and biblical Christianity.

7. Helping Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses

Every year, many people leave the Watchtower religion, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

But that doesn’t automatically mean they become Christians.

Often, they end up in a spiritual no man’s land and have no one who understands them.

You can be the friend they need.

8. Internet outreach

There are a number of groups on social media where Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses or ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses can dialogue.

In addition, there are websites devoted to supporting ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses or doubting Jehovah’s Witnesses in their quest for something better.

You can offer an important Christian perspective on such sites.

Summary

Please understand—I’m not saying that you have to do all of this.

I’m not even saying that you have to do any of this.

I’m just saying that these are opportunities you can prayerfully consider.

In later posts, I’ll go into greater detail.