Jehovah’s Witness community gathering this weekend for ‘Exercise Patience’ convention
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Jehovah's Witnesses from around the Central Coast are gathering for the first time since the lifting of pandemic restrictions at the three-day 'Exercise Patience' convention in Bakersfield this weekend.
The event is hosted at the Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center Friday, Jun. 30 to Sunday, Jul. 2.
The gathering is one of the largest in the world for the community and is an important space for members to congregate and celebrate after the three year hiatus.
“Our annual trips from the Central Coast to the Central Valley for our conventions have always been enjoyable,” said Gabe Medina, Santa Barbara County spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We love the area’s diverse restaurants and especially appreciate the warm and inviting people of Bakersfield. That, along with the joy of being back in person after years of virtual conventions, will make this a special weekend getaway.”
This convention is part of a series of 6,000 worldwide gatherings part of the 2023 'Exercise Patience' convention series.
"This three-day convention allows all attendees to decompress for a moment from the rigors that come with everyday life,” said Medina. “All those attending will benefit throughout the three days, and this convention will provide Bible-based guidelines to help everyone find patience in a turbulent world.”
The event is open to the public and no collection is taken. For more information on the program or to find other convention locations and dates, visit jw.org and click the "About Us" tab.
