How Do You Become a Jehovah’s Witness?

This entry is part 1 of 38 in the series Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses

A Journey of Faith: Understanding How to Become One of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Isn’t it wonderful how faith calls to us in different ways? Maybe you’ve seen Jehovah’s Witnesses sharing their message in your community, perhaps you’ve received one of their magazines, or maybe you’re just curious about what makes their path unique. It’s a beautiful thing to explore the diverse ways people connect with God! If you’ve ever wondered, “How does someone actually become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” you’ve come to the right place.

Think of this as a friendly guide, a walk-through to understand the steps and beliefs involved, based on what Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves teach through their official resources.¹ It’s not about judgment, just understanding. Sometimes, learning about another’s journey can deepen our own appreciation for faith and devotion. So, let’s open our hearts and minds, and explore this path together with respect and a desire to learn.

What Are the First Steps to Becoming a Jehovah’s Witness?

Starting the journey to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses isn’t just like joining a club. Oh no, it’s seen as a meaningful path, a special walk that involves learning, growing personally, and making a real commitment from the heart. They believe this path follows the steps Jesus himself laid out for his followers, showing a clear way to become his disciple.¹

Step 1: Learning What the Bible Teaches

You know, the very foundation of becoming a Witness is all about learning. Jesus told his followers to “make disciples… Teaching them”.¹ Isn’t that something? The word “disciple” actually means “a learner”!1 The focus is right on the Bible, especially the amazing life and teachings of Jesus Christ. They see this as the key guide to living a truly happy and fulfilled life.¹

To help folks on this learning adventure, Jehovah’s Witnesses offer a wonderful, free Bible study program.¹ this isn’t just skimming through pages; it’s like an interactive course, designed to help you understand the Bible’s main teachings, one topic at a time. They often use helpful study guides like the book “Enjoy Life Forever!” (or maybe you’ve heard of “What Does the Bible Really Teach?”). These guides help explore big questions like: Who is God? What about Jesus? What’s the meaning of life? Why is there suffering? What hope do we have for the future, like the resurrection? And how can we talk to God through prayer?

Personalized Guidance: Imagine having a friendly Witness instructor work with you, meeting wherever and whenever works best for you, maybe in person or online.
Completely Free: Get this ” the course, the study materials, even a Bible if you need one, it’s all free!1 They believe this follows Jesus’ own words: “You received free, give free”.
No Strings Attached: Just studying the Bible with them doesn’t mean you have to join.¹ It’s all about learning!

The way they emphasize this structured study, using their specific books, shows they really believe that understanding the Bible means learning the specific way their organization teaches it. It seems the goal isn’t just knowing the Bible agreeing with their understanding before taking the next step.¹

Step 2: Putting What You Learn into Practice

Jesus didn’t just talk about learning; he said disciples must also “observe all the things he commanded”.¹ That means Bible study is meant to be more than just head knowledge. It’s expected to bring about real, sometimes big, changes in how a person thinks and lives.¹ The Bible talks about changing your ways and living according to God’s standards.¹

As people start applying these teachings, they’re led toward a very personal and deep decision: dedicating their lives completely to Jehovah God, choosing to follow Jesus Christ as their example and Savior.¹ This dedication is a private promise made straight to God in their heart. You see, they believe there’s a direct link between learning and changing your lifestyle. Living by the principles you learn is seen as a vital bridge between understanding God’s will and moving forward.¹

Step 3: Getting Baptized

Baptism is seen as something Jesus directly commanded 1 and a really important step for those who’ve dedicated themselves to God. It’s done by being fully immersed in water.³

The meaning behind it is powerful: the Bible compares baptism to being buried.¹ It represents saying goodbye to your old way of life ” leaving behind things that don’t line up with God’s ways ” and rising up to start a fresh, new life dedicated to doing what God wants.¹ It’s like a public announcement, showing everyone you’ve taken those first two steps (learning and applying/dedicating) and you’re asking God, through Jesus, for a clean conscience.¹ But baptism is only for those who’ve really studied the Bible and truly want to serve Jehovah God as one of his Witnesses.³

Meeting with the Elders: Confirming Readiness

Before someone can be baptized, there’s an important chat with the elders in the local congregation.¹ These elders are like experienced spiritual guides who lead the congregation.

Why this meeting? Well, it’s to make sure the person really understands what becoming a Jehovah’s Witness is all about ” the beliefs, the lifestyle, the commitment.¹ The elders want to be sure the person is actively living by what they’ve learned and that their decision to dedicate their life to God is truly their own, made freely without any pressure.¹ This step shows how serious baptism is and confirms the person is ready to join the community. It’s like a checkpoint, making sure everyone is on the same page with the community’s understanding and standards before the public baptism, highlighting the organized way of joining.¹

These steps are the same for everyone, even kids growing up in Witness families. Parents teach their children Bible principles, sure each young person has to make their own choice to learn, accept, apply the teachings, and dedicate themselves to God before they can be baptized.¹

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Table 1: Steps to Becoming a Baptized Jehovah’s Witness

Step Number	Action	Key Scripture(s) (JW Interpretation)	Purpose/Goal
1	Learn Bible Teachings	Matthew 28:19, 20; John 17:3 1	Gain accurate knowledge of God & Jesus for life & salvation; build faith.
2	Practice & Dedicate	Matthew 28:20; Matthew 16:24 1	Apply teachings, make lifestyle changes, make personal dedication to God.
3	Get Baptized (Immersion)	Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:2-4 1	Publicly symbolize dedication, dying to old life, asking for clean conscience.
Pre-Baptism	Discuss with Elders	Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3 1	Confirm understanding, application of principles, and free-will dedication.

What Must Someone Do to Be Saved, According to Jehovah’s Witnesses?

That question about salvation ” how we can get right with God and live forever ” is at the heart of faith, isn’t it? Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is a wonderful gift from God, made possible because Jesus Christ gave his life as a ransom.¹ But their understanding of what it takes to receive and hold onto this gift involves more than just saying you believe one time. It includes ongoing action, obedience, and sticking with it through thick and thin.·

Faith in Jesus’ Ransom Sacrifice: The Foundation

The starting point, the very foundation for salvation, is having faith in Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death, which they believe paid the price for our sins.¹¹ Jesus is seen as the “Savior of the world,” and they believe “there is no salvation in anyone else”.²

But here’s the thing: this faith needs to be based on accurate knowledge.¹¹ Witnesses emphasize how important it is to learn what the Bible truly teaches about Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.· Just believing in Jesus isn’t enough if that belief isn’t built on a correct understanding of God’s Word as they teach it. This suggests that accepting the specific teachings of their organization is seen as a key part of having the kind of faith that saves.·

Faith Must Be Demonstrated by Actions

Witnesses really stress that true faith isn’t just sitting back; it’s active! They point to the scripture that says “faith without works is dead”.² So, salvation requires showing your faith through real actions and a life of obedience.¹ They don’t see it as an easy road one that takes “strenuous endeavor” and “exerting yourselves vigorously”.·

Key Requirements for Salvation:

Building on that foundation of knowledgeable faith, several actions are seen as essential:

Repentance: This means feeling truly sorry deep down for past wrong attitudes and actions that displease God. It means turning away from those things and actively doing “works that befit repentance”.¹¹
Baptism: As we discussed, getting baptized by being immersed in water is seen as a necessary step for everyone who becomes a disciple of Christ, following his command and the example of the early believers.¹¹
Obedience: Salvation is tied to obeying Jesus’ instructions.¹¹ It’s not enough just to call Jesus “Lord”; you have to actively be “doing the will of his Father”.² This means being “doers of the word and not hearers only”.¹¹

Endurance:

salvation isn’t something you get once and then you’re set forever. It requires staying faithful. Jesus said, “The one who has endured to the end will be saved”.¹¹ Disciples “need endurance”.¹¹ Witnesses believe that even someone who has received salvation can lose it if they stop exercising faith and turn away from God.¹

Rejecting Easy Formulas

Because they emphasize ongoing action and endurance, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in things like the “Sinner’s Prayer” as a guarantee of salvation.¹¹ They don’t find any basis in the Bible for such quick prayers and believe salvation depends on your whole life of faithfulness, not just one prayer.¹¹ Similarly, they reject the idea of “once saved, always saved.” Instead, they teach that salvation depends on staying faithful right to the very end.¹

This view highlights a continuous, active relationship with God, guided by obeying His commands as the organization understands and teaches them. It’s different from views in some other Christian traditions that focus more on salvation being secured mainly through a single moment of faith or conversion.·

What Role Does Understanding “Jehovah Jireh” Play in Becoming a Jehovah’s Witness?

Understanding the meaning of jehovah jireh is essential for those seeking to become a Jehovah’s Witness. This phrase highlights God’s provision and care, reinforcing faith and trust in divine support. Embracing this concept strengthens the community’s shared beliefs and empowers members to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.

What Is Daily Life Like? (Meetings, Preaching, and Community)

life as an active Jehovah’s Witness is filled with regular community activities centered around worship, learning, and sharing their beliefs with others. This structured life follows the guidance given by the organization’s leaders.·

Central Role of Meetings

Witnesses gather together for worship and learning twice every week, usually in local places called Kingdom Halls. These meetings are like the heartbeat of their spiritual lives.·

Purpose: The main goals are to worship Jehovah, study the Bible together, learn how to apply its wisdom in everyday life, and encourage each other.

Atmosphere:

Anyone can attend these meetings; they’re open to the public, completely free, and they never pass a collection plate. They usually start and end with songs (they call them Kingdom songs) and prayer. Kingdom Halls are described as practical places for worship, often simple buildings without religious symbols like crosses or statues.

Format: A big part of the meetings involves everyone participating, kind of like a classroom discussion, where people can volunteer to share comments on what’s being studied.· There are also talks based on the Bible, video presentations, and practical demonstrations.

Weekly Schedule:

Midweek Meeting (often called the “Our Christian Life and Ministry” meeting): This meeting is very structured and practical. It has parts focused on discussing the week’s Bible reading (“Treasures From God’s Word,” “Spiritual Gems”), specific training for their public ministry (“Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry”), and guidance on Christian living and beliefs (“Living as Christians,” Congregation Bible Study).· The ministry training part often includes practice sessions on how to start conversations, answer questions, visit people again, and conduct Bible studies.·
Weekend Meeting: This usually includes a public talk based on the Bible about a topic relevant to life or Bible principles. This is followed by a question-and-answer study of a recent issue of The Watchtower magazine, which is their main teaching publication (this is implied, though not explicitly stated in the provided information).
Larger Gatherings: Besides the weekly meetings, Witnesses have bigger assemblies and conventions each year. These bring many congregations together for longer programs of Bible teaching, fellowship, and encouragement. Baptizing new members is a regular and joyful part of these larger events.

The fact that these meetings happen so often and are so structured really highlights how important they are ” not just for worship as the main way for ongoing teaching, practical skills training (especially for preaching), and strengthening the community’s shared beliefs and standards. Attending and participating regularly is clearly a big part of being an active Witness.

The Importance of Preaching (“Field Ministry”)

Actively sharing their beliefs with others, which they often call “field ministry” or “preaching,” is something Jehovah’s Witnesses are really known for.³

Divine Mandate: They believe they are following Jesus’ command to preach the “good news of the Kingdom” to everyone before the end comes.³
Lifesaving Work: They see this work as a great honor and a serious duty, a “lifesaving work” to help people learn about God’s plans before this world system ends.³
Sense of Urgency: Their publications and meetings constantly encourage Witnesses to serve God urgently, keeping in mind their belief that the end of the current world is very near.· This belief motivates them to be zealous in their preaching.·
Training Provided: As mentioned, a good amount of time in their meetings is spent equipping members with the skills they need to be effective in their public ministry.·

So, public preaching isn’t just an optional activity for them; it’s a core part of being an active member. It’s deeply connected to their understanding of what it means to be a disciple, how to be saved, and what their role is in God’s plan during what they believe are the “last days”.³

Organizational Structure and Guidance

Jehovah’s Witnesses operate as a closely knit global family under a central leadership structure.

The Governing Body:

At the very top is the Governing Body. This is described as a small group of mature Christian men (who historically have claimed to be part of the “anointed” group going to heaven) located at their world headquarters in Warwick, New York, USA.

Role: They oversee the creation and content of all the Bible-based teaching that comes through publications (like The Watchtower and Awake! magazines, books, brochures), meetings, assemblies, conventions, and their special schools.·¹ They are seen as representing the “faithful and discreet slave” class Jesus mentioned, responsible for giving timely “spiritual food” to the household of faith.· They also supervise the worldwide preaching work and how donated money is used.·¹
Authority: While they direct the organization, they state they aren’t the ultimate leaders. They look to the Bible for guidance and recognize Jesus Christ as the Head of the congregation.·¹
Structure: The Governing Body works through six committees (Coordinators’, Personnel, Publishing, Service, Teaching, Writing), each handling specific areas.· They meet every week to discuss the organization’s needs and try to make unanimous decisions based on the Bible and the guidance of the holy spirit.· They have “helpers,” experienced individuals who assist the committees.·¹
Membership: The members change over time due to age or other reasons as of late 2024, the members mentioned in official updates include Kenneth Cook, Jr., Gage Fleegle, Samuel Herd, Geoffrey Jackson, Jody Jedele, Stephen Lett, Gerrit LÃsch, Jacob Rumph, Mark Sanderson, David Splane, and Jeffrey Winder.·¹

Local Congregations:

Each local congregation is looked after by appointed Elders (also called overseers). These are spiritually mature men who teach, guide, and comfort the members. They are helped by Ministerial Servants who handle various practical tasks. These appointed men aren’t seen as a special clergy class; they don’t have fancy titles or special clothes, and they serve without getting paid. Elders also handle serious matters within the congregation, like deciding if someone needs to be disfellowshipped.

This very centralized structure, where the Governing Body provides unified direction and teaching materials that are then used locally by the elders, results in an amazing consistency in beliefs, practices, and procedures among Jehovah’s Witnesses all over the world.