Building Richmond’s new Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses was not easy, thanks to Mother Nature, but it is now complete and expanding services to accommodate the Hispanic and deaf communities.
“One weekend a storm came and it blew the trusses off,” said Brad Bates of Lexington’s Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We had to redo it, but it worked out well.”
The building was built in three weekends of the fall of last year, finished in October, all by volunteer labor all around Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. We had to redo it, but everything worked out well.”
The new building, located at 661 Hampton Way, is home of three services: one in English, one in Spanish and one for the deaf.
“It’s working out well in this area,” Bates said.
Both services for the Hispanic and the deaf have a congregation of about 60 people. English services draw in about 120 people, he said.
Elder Mike Gellar oversees the English services, the Spanish services are directed by Elders Bates, James Miller and Jose Benitez and Elder Larry Goss directs the sign language services.
“We have people come from as far away as Louisville,” he said. “The next closest sign-language group of Jehovah’s Witnesses is in Ohio.
However, most of the Hispanic congregation was gathered from going door to door, Bates said.
“As Jehovah’s Witnesses, a large part of our ministry is going out and actually talking with people about the Bible,” he said. “The challenge is finding out where they live. Another way to find them is to ask English-speaking people if they know of anyone who speaks Spanish.”
The Hispanics who attend the services appreciate the fact that the entire service is done in Spanish, rather than it being translated into Spanish following the English version, Bates said.
Miller and his wife had been attending the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Danville until they heard about the Spanish services being conducted in Richmond.
The two recently returned from living in South America and were excited to get a chance to attend the Spanish services, Miller said.
“We enjoy getting to speak to the Spanish people,” he said. “It’s interesting to find that some of the ones who come from Latin America, they seem to have more of a curiosity about the Bible and are wanting to learn more about it. Sometimes, it’s even easier to talk to them about it (opposed to those of an English-speaking culture). It seems that most people who come from Latin American countries are more open to talk about the Bible.”
All services combine the adults and children, and no monetary collection is taken, Bates said.
The English-speaking congregation meets Sunday at 10 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Spanish-speaking service is Sunday at 2 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The deaf congregation meets Saturday at 2 p.m.
Call 624-3008 for more information.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
Local News
Services begin for deaf, Hispanic
- Local News
-
-
BREAKING NEWS: Grand jury indicts men in double-murder
Two men accused of killing a Richmond couple for money and then hiding their bodies in graves along Tates Creek Road were indicted Wednesday on capital charges by a Madison grand jury.
Matthew Denholm, 27, and Daniel Keene, 26, were both indicted on two counts each of murder, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse charges. They also were each indicted on tampering with physical evidence and first-degree burglary charges. -
Kentucky fallen officers honored at annual ceremony
The best part about Alexandria Police Department Officer James Sticklen’s job was being able to work with kids almost every day.
He was the school resource officer Campbell County Middle School.
“He always used to say there are no bad kids, they just make bad decisions,” said his wife, Laurie. -
Shell beats Mick by 54 votes
Republican Jonathan Shell and Democrat Bradley “Bud” Montgomery will face off in November for the 36th District state representative seat.
Shell received 810 votes in Madison County, beating Republican opponent Nathan Mick by only 54 votes. -
Woman attacked on Berea College walking track
A woman on the Berea College walking track suffered minor injuries Saturday when an unknown man struck her in the face twice, according to Berea Police Public Information Officer Jake Reed.
-
Obama beats ‘uncommitted’ only by 85 votes in Madison County
President Barack Obama won the votes of slightly more than half of Madison County’s Democratic voters Tuesday in the Kentucky primary to select delegates to his party’s nominating convention.
-
Stolen saxophone recovered, two people arrested in connection with theft
Police recovered a saxophone reported stolen earlier this month and arrested two people in connection with its theft.
-
Election results
Madison Circuit Court Clerk Darlene Snyder
-
Newcomer Morgan leads city commission voting
Laura Durham Morgan led the ballot of 14 candidates Tuesday in the non-partisan primary to select eight finalists in the Richmond City Commission race. -
Snyder wins clerk’s race
Darlene Snyder won the Madison circuit court clerk’s race by nearly 400 votes Tuesday, an outcome she attributes to her campaign volunteers.
“It feels like our hard work has paid off,” Snyder said Tuesday night outside the home of A.B. Grant, the site of her victory party. Nearly four dozen supporters were hugging, cheering and high-fiving both outside and inside the home after the results came in. -
Berry kept wheels going round and round for 45 years
Madison County Schools had 29 employees retire this year, some after careers spanning several decades.
While several retirees have more than 30 years of service, only bus driver Louda Berry can boast a tenure of 45 years. - More Local News Headlines
-
BREAKING NEWS: Grand jury indicts men in double-murder
Secret Service Boss: 'I Apologize'
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
