For Jehovah's Witnesses, it's all about spreading the word

There's a joke that there is no such thing as a Jehovah's Witness bystander.

That's because all believers must witness, which means preaching and knocking on doors.

"You bear a certain degree of guilt if you don't," said Harry Thompson of Studio City, who added that he has been witnessing for decades.

Thompson called it akin to a search-and-rescue operation. "If you know that there's a tornado coming through and you don't say anything, you bear responsibility for the lives that are lost," he said. "We look at it the same way."

Thompson, who works in insurance, was one of many speakers at the "Keep on the Watch" convention held over the weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center. With about 10,000 expected to attend, it was the second in a series of 16 conventions in Long Beach this summer that will unite Jehovah's Witnesses from around the world.

Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the Bible literally and believe the world will soon end, leaving the Earth intact and only believers alive for eternity. For many outside the faith, they are known more generally as people who don't accept blood transfusions, don't serve in the military and show up at the door -- well-dressed, carrying a Bible and ready to proselytize.

The preaching is an integral part of being a Jehovah's Witness, Thompson said, and those who want to be baptized -- which happens when a person is ready to become devoted -- are questioned about whether they understand the commitment they must make.

Congregations hold weekly classes at their Kingdom Halls on how to speak with people they approach in such situations and how to handle issues that may arise.

On Saturday, Thompson took part in a conference symposium, "Help People to 'Awake From Sleep.' "

Randy Henderson, who also spoke at the conference, said the emphasis on preaching is based on a Bible passage in which Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs to preach.

For Witnesses, preaching is seen as coming at an especially critical time because they believe signs point to a nearing of the end of time, conference leaders said. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the economic crisis are indications that the world is entering an ominous period, Thompson said.

In his talk Friday, Henderson said circumstances today are similar to those before the great flood referred to in the biblical story of Noah.