By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – An economic boost of more than $1 million will come to the Twin-Cities this weekend when the Jehovah’s Witness welcomes all to the 2018 “Be courageous” Spanish Regional Convention.
Over 35 Spanish congregations from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri will take over the Grossinger Motors Arena for a three-day 54 presentation showing why true Christians need courage.
With most of the Spanish congregations coming from surrounding states, Media Representative for the Spanish Regional Convention Steve Oakes, said for three-days it will be a huge boost to the local economy.
“We do have a significant impact on the local economy, especially the fact that when those come from Kentucky and Indiana. They (came) over on Thursday and spending Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night (in hotels),” said Oakes. “The Convention Bureau has calculated that we probably contribute well over a million dollars to the local economy for our weekend.”
More than 4,000 people are expected to attend the three-day convention that began Friday morning and runs through Sunday afternoon. Oakes said the Grossingers Motors Arena has been the perfect arena since the convention began there in 2010.
“This is about the eighth year we have had our convention here in Bloomington,” added Oakes. “The ones that come from Kentucky and Indiana and Missouri of course they come and we fill the hotels. We enjoy going to the restaurants here in Bloomington, they make us feel so welcome and especially the Convention and Visitors Bureau is so helpful in making our three-days here so enjoyable.”
The annual Spanish Regional Convention will entail prepared video segments specifically for the convention. Oakes said during heartbreaking times across the nation, this is an essential time to be courageous.
“The theme for our convention is ‘Be courageous’! and have courage,” said Oakes. “We live in difficult times sometimes just going to work or going to school for our children and so the assembly is using various talks and videos to help us be courageous in the times in which we are living.”
The English version of the convention was held June 22 – 24. There is no charge for admission and no collection will be taken during the three-day event.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
