Jehovah’s Witnesses will present their annual convention in June

Rio Rancho Events Center will play host to the "Declare the Good News" convention by Jehovah's Witnesses June 7-9.

"It’s several weeks into spring, and the Portillo family could be headed to a theme park, the beach, or even visiting grandparents for the weekend. Instead, Juan and Ruth Portillo and their daughter are eagerly anticipating a three-day convention," reads a release on the event.

The free, three-day, live event is expected to draw more than 7,600 attendees to the city over the course of two weekends.

“My family and I have been attending summer conventions for several years,” Juan Portillo, Rio Rancho, said. “We appreciate the practical advice based on the scriptures that helps us be better members of our family and communities. We also enjoy the kindness and hospitality that the city of Rio Rancho extends to us.”

According to the release, the point of the convention is to comfort and encourage the public.

The release adds that Jehovah’s Witnesses will be holding public conventions worldwide highlighting the same theme.

“We are very excited to once again work with city officials in Rio Rancho to host our conventions,” said Dominic Cillis, local spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The convention will present Bible-based videos, discourses, and interviews on topics such as: Why We Need Good News, Use the Good News to Defeat Bad News and Why We Don’t Fear Bad News. Saturday features a baptism of candidates from surrounding communities, while a two-part video series will captivate the audience on Friday and Saturday mornings. Prior to each convention, local congregations will engage in a campaign to invite community members to this free event. Last year, nearly 13 million people attended more than 6,000 three-day conventions worldwide.

The convention is also being held in Spanish beginning today, May 31, and running through Sunday.

To learn more, visit jw.org.