Order of Special Full-Time Servants
*** Yearbook 1995 pp 5,6 ***
Among the full-time
workers were 15,145 members of the global Bethel family. They help to
provide literature, supervision, and other beneficial services in support
of the worldwide work of Bible education. Of these, 5,082 serve at the
world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and at nearby facilities. All of
them are members of the Order of Special
Full-Time Servants, a religious order that is devoted
exclusively to the ministry.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Yearbook 1996 pp 8,9 ***
Among those in full-time service are 16,468 Bethel family members
around the globe. Of this number, 5,709 serve at the world headquarters;
all of these are members of the Order of Special
Full-Time Servants. Additionally, 4,374 care for assignments
that require them to travel from one assembly to another in an assigned
district or from one congregation to another in a circuit. One of the
principal activities of all such traveling overseers is taking the lead in
the field ministry.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Yearbook 1997 p.28 ***
There are 5,581 volunteers who serve at the world headquarters on a regular basis;
all of these are members of the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.
All together, there are 16,966 Bethel family members around the globe.
Housing is provided for them in the Society's facilities.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Yearbook 1997 p.15-16 ***
An unusual six-year legal fight came to a positive conclusion in
Brazil during this service year. In November 1990, Brazil's National Institute
of Social Insurance notified the Society's branch office that henceforth the 853 (now 1,150)
members of the Bethel family there would not be viewed as religious
ministers and so would come under the country's labor laws.
A long legal battle began. Happily, on June 7, 1996, the
Judicial Advisory of the Office of the Attorney General in Brasília issued a decision
upholding the position of members of the Bethel family as religious
ministers working as full-time volunteers.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Yearbook 1998 p.29 Yearbook Report ***
Altogether, there are 16,982 volunteers who regularly work at
the Society's headquarters and branch facilities worldwide.
Because of the circumstances under which they serve, these Bethel family
members are all included in the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Yearbook 1999 p.27 Highlights of the Past Year ***
As the number of publishers increases-and 316,092 more were
baptized this past year-additional branch facilities are also required.
At present, 17,781 in Bethel families around the earth render service
as members of the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Galations 5:19-21 ***
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication,
uncleanness… divisions, sects, 21
envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these
things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that
those who practice such things will not inherit God's kingdom.
[Emphasis Added]
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