AROUND 6,500 Jehovah’s Witnesses will arrive in Bournemouth for a three-day annual regional convention.

All the area’s 61 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been spending three weeks distributing printed invitations to the convention.

They will attend have been extending invitations to everyone from East Dorset, southern Hampshire, southern Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight to attend.

The event, at the BIC, opens on Friday, July 31, at 9.20am and runs until Sunday August 2.

The theme of this year’s programme is Imitate Jesus!

Convention spokesman Barry Luker said: “Jesus, the founder of Christianity, is widely considered as one of the most influential and significant men who ever lived.

“As Christians, a core belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses is that Jesus lived his life as a model for us to follow. The Imitate Jesus! convention will examine Jesus’ life, as outlined in the Bible, and emphasize how all – regardless of their background, lifestyle, or religion – can benefit in practical ways from his example and teachings.

“A highlight of the program will be the keynote address on Friday morning, entitled Concealed in Him Are All the Treasures of Wisdom.”

There is no admission fee to the event, as conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are supported entirely by voluntary donations.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain are organizing 42 conventions in 23 languages in 17 cities.

The church claims a worldwide membership of 8million Witnesses in more than 115,000 congregations.

Around 20 congregations form a circuit and congregations receive periodic visits from travelling eldest known as circuit overseers.

The modern day organisation of Jehovah’s Witnesses began at the end of the 19th century with a small group of Bible students near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who analysed the Bible and published their conclusions in books, newspapers and the journal that is now called The Watchtower – Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.

Their goal was to promote the teachings of Jesus and follow the practices of the first century Christian congregation.

The governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses is today based at its world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.