Links for Need Greaters

• jw.org article on "Serving Where the Need is Greater" 
• Video about the needs in Bolivia (Presented in Spanish)
• Video about the needs in Bolivia (Presented in English)
• Bolivia Immigration Resource 
• Need Greater Work Resource website
• Supporting Yourself as a Need Greater (a blog with many tips and links)
• Need Greater - Country Overviews & Tips
• Well Respected TESOL course given by a brother

We would like to provide resources from our own experiences for anyone who is considering reaching out to become a need greater.

We had so many questions when we first started reaching out and at first we didn't know where to turn for the answers.   

1. Can WE be need greaters?
2. how do we know where to go?
3. how much money will we need?
4. how will we make money?
5. how do we get our paperwork done for Immigration?

To get the answers we went for a 3 month trial.  We spoke to as many needgreaters as possible.  We read needgreater blogs.  It was a long process and some of things we figured out by trial and error.  Hopefully this post will be a helpful resource for you on your quest for answers.


 1. Can WE be need greaters?

Our original thought was we needed to be well-off, sell a home or have a stable business back home before considering reaching out.  In actuality we saw some of the most successful need-greaters are those who are used to deprivations and eking out a living with almost nothing.  The determining factor as to whether you will succeed is how much you rely on Jehovah.  For example;

•  One family we know put their savings in a local bank (a requirement of some countries) only to have the bank 'go under' and they lost their savings.  They're still serving as need greaters. 
• Another brother had a secure job lined up but then lost it at the last minute before going to his assignment.  He is still serving as a need greater.  
• One young family with kids we recently spoke to sold a house but now, years later, the money is gone.  They are still serving as need greaters.  

Serving as a need greater will test your trust and reliance on Jehovah. Many need greaters continue to serve despite financial and other hardships because they treasure the ministry they have in their respective countries.

Who can do it?
We've seen single sisters (they seem to do great), single brothers, families with teenagers, families with young children, couples, retirees and those on medical disability (the pension goes a lot farther in poor countries), those who have filled out applications for Bethel, International Construction or Kingdom Evangelizer School and are waiting for a response ... Pretty much anybody in any circumstance can do it and has done it!

2. How do I know where to go?

A good first step is to reach out within the circuit / region where you are first.  With the new Kingdom Evangelizer School, opportunities abound to be used by Jehovah. If you can be used by Jehovah's organization and sent to an assignment then you don't even have to ask this question.

That being said, some brothers feel it is intimidating to fill out an application. The idea of being sent wherever in whatever language, having to commit to a certain number years, a structured life supervised by others all the time, etc is overwhelming.  For others they are just too old or infirm to qualify. So there is the option of being a need greater.

At this point you need to know yourself.  What standard of living do I need?  What climate can I handle?  Am I willing to learn another language?  Do I need others from my culture around?  It is nice to talk these questions over with someone who knows you and your family well to get another opinion - especially if it is with an elder and his wife who had experience reaching out as need greaters in the past.  Talk to your elders and the circuit overseer. They will often give helpful counsel to think about before reaching out.

Then start your search.  Do you know a close friend serving somewhere that interests you.  Talk to them.  Search the Watchtowers/ yearbooks to see which countries in your target language / comfort zone that have a good percentage of increase and a high ratio of publisher to population.  Such countries may need help for years to come.  Look for blogs written by needgreaters serving in those countries and try to get a feel for what life is like there, even communicating with them. Other websites cater to needgreaters who are searching, for example;

• http://www.needgreaters.com/

3. How much money do I need?

That's an individual decision.  We've seen some brothers that are happily serving for many years with only a few thousand dollars in the bank.  For others, having living expenses in the bank for 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20 or more years is the only way they feel comfortable.  You need to know yourself, have a contingency plan and trust in Jehovah.

4. How will I make money?

Many times the best paid work is privately arranged in advance before coming.  This might be online work or work you will travel home to do 1 - 6 months of the year. The lowest paid work is usually what you find locally in the country, but it can earn you the respect of the local brothers and means that you don't have to spend a lot of time away from the congregation each year.

Other brothers have written extensively about how to support yourself as a need greater.  They give a list of websites that post online job opportunities (such as ODesk) and have suggestions for creating your own work within your assignment.  One such comprehensive blog is listed below;

• http://zachnrobynn.blogspot.ca/p/supporting-yourself-as-need-greater.html

A newer online work website exclusively for need greaters is;

• https://needgr8r.org/

Some have found it effective taking Harry Cotton's English teaching course.  Harry Cotton is a brother from Canada but offers his course in various locations around the world.  Most of his students are Brothers and his students are highly recommended, even getting job opportunities where usually they only accept those with Bachelor's or Master's degrees (I speak from personal experience - my current job was previously only offered to teachers with degrees but my training by Harry Cotton opened the door - US $18/hour). Job opportunities for graduates are posted on his site;

• https://cie.ca/

5. How do I get my paperwork done?

The branch does not help volunteer need greaters with their immigration paperwork. Fortunately there is other help available.

Some other needgreaters have recommended doing the immigration paperwork on their own and not using lawyers.  That may be okay if you have another foreign brother to help you who is very familiar with the process and living in the same area.  Otherwise I would not recommend doing it on your own, at least not for the first time.  It is a long process and you need to know where to go and how to get to all the various police stations, clinics, etc.  And the system is not efficient and can be corrupt (here in Bolivia).  It is invaluable to have someone who knows the process helping you.  The two witness lawyers that helped us were amazing and VERY economical.

In some cities here in Bolivia, the same brothers and sisters that the branch uses to arrange for the missionaries VISAs may be available to help. Usually the brothers will know and recommend them. They usually will speak only Spanish.  Within each of the major cities there is usually a brother that knows a witness lawyer that can help with the paperwork.

In Tarija there is a foreign brother who has a business helping foreigners with the immigration process.  He will even provide help by email and telephone before your travel to Bolivia.  It is a good idea to find out what is required before you come as you may need to get some paperwork done with the Bolivian Embassy in your country prior to leaving.

• http://altiplanobolivia.blogspot.com/p/questions-and-answers-about-immigration.html

Hopefully these tips and resources help you. May Jehovah bless your willing spirit.