With families losing jobs and income, struggling to pay bills, fighting for delayed unemployment benefits and dealing with “COVID Fatigue,” how can families, not only cope, but find joy in life?

The “Always Rejoice!” Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses answers questions like: What contributes to finding and sustaining joy? How can you cultivate joy in the family? How can you remain joyful in difficult times?

The convention is streaming online now with a portion of the program dedicated to families and how each member can contribute to joy in the household.

Locally, the convention was scheduled to be held in July and August in English and Spanish sessions at the Hertz Arena in Estero where 20,000 were expected to attend. Many would travel from multiple counties in Southwest Florida and no doubt this would have contributed significantly to the local economy.

The convention was cancelled in April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our worship is centered on our mutual love for our God and for each other, irrespective of where we are physically,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “This year’s convention program underscores the unity of our international family and the joy that people can have against a backdrop of stress and despair.”

The two Christian principles guiding the Witnesses’ historic decision are respect for the sanctity of life and love of neighbor.

“As much as we long to meet together, life is far too precious to put at risk,” said Hendriks. “The virtual meetings we have held over the past four months have proved to all of us that it’s not about where we are physically. It is about where we are spiritually. In many ways we are closer as a spiritual family than ever before.”

The virtual event is scheduled to run through the end of August.

Each year many who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses attend the annual conventions. There are more than 8.6 million active Witnesses worldwide, yet the 2019 conventions had a peak attendance of more than 14 million. With the program available online in hundreds of languages, this may be the most attended convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses to date.

There is no charge for viewing the convention and you do not have to sign in or provide any personal information.

Link to the convention at https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/conventions/

For additional information, the official website for the Jehovah’s Witnesses is https://www.jw.org/en/.