Due to the pandemic, Jehovah's Witnesses complete 500 days without activity on the streets

08/02/2021 4:40 PM

• Clarín.com

• Society

Updated 08/02/2021 4:40 PM

As in so many other endeavors, the pandemic forced religions to put aside face-to-face action and explore other ways of reaching people, particularly through new technologies.

For example, religious services became virtual.

In the case of Jehovah's Witnesses, this Monday marks

500 days since they suspended

their traditional house-to-house visits and their presence on the street.

"It has been an intentional decision that has aimed to take care of everyone's health and collaborate with the health authorities in containing the spread of the virus," explained Luciano Cardinaletti, spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses in the country, where they have

more than 160 one thousand members

among the almost nine million that they number in the five continents.

However, Jehovah's Witnesses continued to provide spiritual assistance.

"As we understand that in these difficult times, the message of the Bible can be very helpful, we have used

other means

to contact people such as emails, letters and phone calls," Cardinaletti explained.

Specific help was even offered against stress due to the fear of contagion and isolation.

"Witnesses have

reached out to

distant friends and family, sending them

links to articles

on their official site, www.jw.org, which contain suggestions for coping with isolation, depression and pandemic fatigue," he said.

He said that members with reduced mobility or health problems make calls to encourage their neighbors from the safety of their homes.

Others, who greatly enjoyed conducting face-to-face visits, have found in these methods a way to keep busy with a useful task during confinement.

Ultimately, for Jehovah's Witnesses

reinventing themselves

has paid off.

"Sharing a hopeful message with people has helped many to recover a little, to feel a certain tranquility in a time of great confusion," said Cardinaletti.

In addition, the biblical courses and the traditional international congress "Powerful thanks to faith" continue to be held thanks to new technologies.

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