Organizers of the Jehovah鈥檚 Witnesses Regional Convention for the B.C. Southern Interior hope to return to Penticton next year after more than a half-decade holding the annual event in the city.
The 2018 convention this weekend marks the sixth straight year the convention has been held at the South Okanagan Events Centre, attracting more than 3,000 Jehovah鈥檚 Witnesses to the city.
In fact, this year鈥檚 convention is estimated to have hit near the 3,500 mark in attendance, a slight rise over the year previous, which marked the end of a five-year contract to hold the event at the SOEC. The event began on Friday and continued through to Sunday at the SOEC.
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鈥淓very year it鈥檚 a highlight for us that we look forward to. We come here to be encouraged and listen to the talks that give us Bible counsel, Bible help.鈥� attendee Tim Feeny said.
The Feeny family said while they go to church every week, the convention offers something more concentrated for followers of the faith.
鈥淥ur weekly meetings at our local kingdom halls, wherever we鈥檙e from, they鈥檙e a shorter period of time 鈥� it鈥檚 a couple of hours out of our week,鈥� Melanie Feeny said.
鈥淏ut our conventions, it鈥檚 three days usually that we鈥檝e taken time away from our 鈥� we鈥檙e all busy 鈥� taken time out of our busy lives, and devoted that time to come here and just focus on something that鈥檚 upbuilding, positive and helpful to our daily lives.鈥�
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鈥淏e Courageous!鈥� during critical times, is the theme of this years鈥� convention.
鈥淚n critical times we need courage more than ever. At school, at work, and when tragedy strikes,鈥� convention spokesperson Peter Matkovich said.
This year, the convention stuck around for a sixth year, with organizers hoping to come back again next year, speaking positively of the hospitality in the city.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 to happen next year, we don鈥檛 know. But that鈥檒l be up to the organizers and the city organizers,鈥� Matkovich said. 鈥�(I鈥檓) hoping that it鈥檚 here. It鈥檚 very convenient. I鈥檓 a resident of 91大黄鸭, so coming here to this event is very convenient for my family.鈥�
The event attracts followers of the faith from around the Southern Interior, between the Kootenays and the Okanagan, Matkovich said. And the Feenys said that has meant they get to see friends from across the province and make new ones at the event.
鈥淲e enjoy seeing all of our friends here. 鈥� So we enjoy catching up,鈥� Melanie said, adding the couple鈥檚 daughter, Piper, gets to see some of her friends at the event as well.
鈥淪he loves the videos. So that鈥檚 something that鈥檚 new in the last four years or so that there鈥檚 a lot of videos to enjoy,鈥� Tim said. 鈥淰ideos are such a good teaching tool.鈥�
That includes videos for children, with animals to help the children understand some of the lessons.
Prior to Penticton, the event was held in Kamloops, which was a longer drive for the Feenys and Matkovich, all from 91大黄鸭. While they said the event was good for them wherever, they added they liked the views in Penticton better.
