Jehovah’s Witness Convention Returning to San Antonio
After a three-year pandemic pause, one of the largest convention organizations in the world has once again chosen San Antonio to host its global three-day event, the 2023 “Exercise Patience”! Convention.
Prior to 2019, summers in San Antonio were marked by Jehovah’s Witnesses filling hotels and restaurants as they attended their annual conventions in San Antonio. In 2020, the pandemic interrupted that tradition in San Antonio when the Witnesses canceled their in-person events throughout the world and held their convention programs as virtual events in more than 500 languages. Beginning May 19, 2023, the Witnesses will bring that tradition back to San Antonio, now at the San Antonio Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Millions of us attended the conventions virtually during the height of the pandemic. We knew it was for our protection, and we enjoyed viewing the programs at home with our families. However, something vital was missing,” said Sean Butler, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Being part of a large group at conventions has always been our custom, so we are excited to be together again for this convention. It’s going to be quite the experience!”
Some 6,000 conventions will be held worldwide as part of the 2023 “Exercise Patience”! Convention series. In the United States alone, more than 700 conventions will be held in 144 host cities. From Friday through Sunday, six convention sessions will explore the quality of patience, highlighting its modern-day relevance through Scriptural examples. A live baptism will be performed following the Saturday morning session and a prerecorded drama will be featured in two parts during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions.
“Patience is a necessary quality that all Christians seek to cultivate, but it’s difficult to practice patience in the challenging circumstances we encounter every day,” said Butler. “The spiritual education we will receive during the three-day conventions will help us to practice patience more in our family, work, and leisure activities.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world for more than 100 years. After resuming smaller in-person meetings and their public ministry during 2022, the summer of 2023 marks the first time they will gather at much larger regional events around the world since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken. For more information on the program or to find other convention locations and dates, please go to jw.org and navigate to the “About Us” tab.
