For someone who has attended 50 different Jehovah’s Witnesses conventions throughout his life, Chris Tripp’s faith continues to be strengthened every time he attends a new convention.

“It really takes three days to really focus our attention and get fed spiritually … and help us to face the kinds of anxieties and stresses that we face in the world today has always been a real benefit for me,” he said.

Tripp, a news service coordinator with the Witnesses, said each convention gives him and other Witnesses from different congregations a chance to mingle and dive deeper into biblical text with each year’s theme.

“Remain Close to Jehovah!” was the focus of this year’s theme as more than 4,000 Witnesses from 36 congregations in North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee gathered at the Freedom Hall Civic Center this weekend for the annual district convention.

The theme, taken from a passage of scripture from the book of James, aimed to focus on providing evidence for the Witnesses’ faith, how to draw closer to God and how to enhance communication between friends and family based on a relationship with God, Tripp said.

“We’re working on our personal relationship with God and how it can bring us personal happiness now … but also to put up with the attacks that we get against our spirituality from Satan’s wicked system. We look forward to the coming of God’s kingdom to solve all of mankind’s ills,” he said.

The convention in Johnson City is one 357 different conventions held in 90 cities across the country from May to September that focus on the same theme.

“We try to hit Bible-based themes that truly highlight our personal relationship with God, but also helping others in the community to come to that same joy and satisfaction serving God,” he said.

In addition to several sessions Friday and Saturday focusing on various facets of the theme on how to stay close to God, a ceremony was held Saturday afternoon in which 20 people were baptized.

“We really look forward to that. It’s an opportunity to welcome new ones to our family, in essence,” Tripp said.

John Carrier and his family have been attending the convention for a number of years, and like Tripp believe the conventions help them grow in their faith.

“It’s something that has really helped us in our knowledge of the scriptures, we enjoy the fellowship of our brothers and sisters and we learn so much that has helped us in our daily lives to continue on to serve our god, Jehovah,” he said.

The Carriers, of Knoxville, make plans every year to attend one of the district conventions held around the country.

John Carrier said this year’s theme of wanting to find ways to remain close to God was especially timely, as there are so many distractions available today.

“We want to remain as close as possible, do as much as we can in spreading the good news and this convention has really helped us to see ways we can do that,” he said.