As the war between Russia and Ukraine grinds on, scores of former residents of both countriesplan to gather together with hundreds of other Russian speakers this weekend in Woodburn, Oregon, for a three-day convention focused on patience.
The Russian-language program of Bible-based talks highlighting the theme “Exercise Patience”! will be held at the Woodburn Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses from August 25-27, 2023. “This year’s convention feels like a present,” said Jenya Zemlianskii, a Portland resident, who was born in Ukraine, but immigrated with his family to Russia when he was a child. He, along with his Russia-born wife, Zlata Zemlianskaia, immigrated to the United States in February 2022.
The event is expected to draw Russian speakers from across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. It is one of six Russian-language conventions among the more than 700 being held by Jehovah’s Witnesses in 144 host cities across the United States.
For Zlata, attending this convention will be an emotional experience. “My heart is stretched full and I want to cry,” she said. Jenya added, “As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t have real differences because we have one truth. We are one family.”
From Friday through Sunday, six convention sessions will explore the quality of patience, highlighting its modern-day relevance through Scriptural examples. Baptism of new adherents to the faith will follow the Saturday morning session, and a feature-length film will be released in two parts during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions.
“Patience is a beautiful quality needed more than ever in this divisive world,” said Aaron Faulkner, local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Some attending this convention here in Woodburn have recently moved to a new country and are facing challenging circumstances. The principles learned at this convention will help us successfully meet any difficulties we face with patience.”
Widely recognized as the largest convention organization in the world, Jehovah’s Witnesses have held public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers and theaters for more than 100 years. Some 6,000 conventions are being held globally this year in the 2023 “Exercise Patience”! convention series, the first large regional events for the Christian organization in more than three years due to pandemic precautions.
The program is also being held locally in English, American Sign Language and Korean. The convention is open to the public, and no collections will be taken. For more information about the program and upcoming convention dates, locations and languages, visit jw.org and navigate to the “About Us” tab.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.