We've all seen them traversing neighborhoods, dressed in suits and carrying a briefcase. Inside, documents titled "Watchtower" or "Awake!" encapsulate the business at hand.

Published in New York by the The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the literature is meant to aid Jehovah's Witnesses in their door-to-door ministry — or field service — a trademark of their faith.

The ministry stems in part from verses in Matthew 24 and 28, which instruct Christians to spread the word of God. Although all Jehovah's Witnesses canvas neighborhoods in person, the frequency varies among congregations.

"Our goal is to visit each house once a year," said Daniel Harrington, an elder with the Jehovah's Witnesses in Center Township, where field service happens on Saturdays.

Called Kingdom Halls instead of churches, Harrington said the Center Township site is responsible for 200 territories, each comprising about 200 families.

Typical of all congregations, the group has devised a system of maps and laminated index cards to ensure all homes are visited. Each territory is denoted on its own laminated card, and field workers can commit to a territory by checking out its card from the Kingdom Hall library.

Last Saturday, Harrington and his wife Meg were working in Territory 34, which encompasses parts of Center and Franklin townships.

Before beginning service, they gathered with peers for a customary meeting.

Those authorized to do field ministry are called publishers, having been baptized after meeting certain criteria including demonstrated Bible knowledge. They elevate to the status of pioneer if their monthly service exceeds 70 hours.

Harrington said the field service workers go out in groups of two to four, often beginning at opposite ends of a street for a less invasive approach.

"Usually people are very polite," Harrington said of Butler County residents, explaining that for every 20 homes, about half will answer the door.

Of those, maybe half will engage in dialogue.

"Of those 10, two might have you back," Harrington said of the in-home Bible study available to interested parties.

"Some will say, 'To tell you the truth, I like reading your magazines,'" he added.

Harrington pointed out the importance of common courtesies like going to the front door instead of through an open garage, and generally striving to be a good neighbor.

"You learn little things such as if you block their driveway, you will upset them," he said.

"Usually, if I get a hostile response, it's one of two things: nationalism, or a misunderstanding.

"It's nothing to be in the ministry and have people say 'You don't believe in Jesus,'" he explained.

The nationalism comes into play because Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe in military service. And some residents are influenced by stereotypes: stories of overly passionate publishers, eager to share the message despite a reluctant audience.

A veteran witness, the 55-year-old Harrington opts for the courteous approach.

"I knock twice — that's all," he said at one house, where no one came to the door.

Although doors like that one remained closed, others politely opened. One woman declined a discussion but thanked him. Another took the literature but turned down his invitation to talk.

"People are busy. We try to respect that. We try to leave them a brief note," he said.

J.R. Brown, a spokesman at the group's world headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., also promotes a soft-sell approach.

"We are seeking people who are interested in this," Brown said.

"If a person is not at all interested in increasing their Bible knowledge and application, we do as Jesus instructed. We shake the dust off of our feet and go to the next door.

"We make no effort to try to force a recruitment to build up a number."

Brown said the recurring visits are important because people's interest in religious truth often ebbs and flows according to their satisfaction in life.

"Circumstances change," Brown said.

"Maybe people didn't have any interest years ago because things were going very well. ... Now, because people have lost jobs, they've lost homes, they see the dollar taking on less and less value — they're just confused.

"It's just not working for them, so they think maybe there is something here after all."

Brown said the most prevalent membership growth is happening in Eastern Europe and in African and Latin American countries.

"Problems are really more severe in these areas," he said.

Immigrant communities are showing the most growth in the United States, where 1.2 million Jehovah's Witnesses are actively doing field work. Totals exceed 7 million worldwide.

Currently, 122 field workers are based at the Kingdom Hall in Center Township, which is bordered by others in Chicora, Zelienople, Franklin and Saxonburg.

Despite the membership growth, both men say the goal is not to increase numbers as much as to fulfill God's assignment.

"As long as we're doing our part, we're being successful," Harrington said.

"If you look at the gospel, it says to seek out who is deserving and stay there until you leave — meaning go back again and again," Brown said.

Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination whose twice-weekly meetings are hosted interactively by elders rather than by a pastor.Some practices that distinguish Jehovah's Witnesses are an emphasis on-field ministry and oppostion to military service as well as partaking of blood transfusions and various types of celebrations.Other aspects of the theology are listed below. Biblical passages that support these ideas can be found at www.watchtower.org/.• The Bible is God's Word and is truth.• The Bible is more reliable than tradition.• God's name is Jehovah.• Christ is God's son and is inferior to him.• Christ was the first of God's creations.• Christ's human life was paid as a ransom for obedient humans.• Christ's one sacrifice was sufficient.• Christ was raised from the dead as an immortal spirit person.• Christ's presence is in spirit.• We are now in the "time of the end."• The Kingdom under Christ will rule Earth in righteousness and peace.• The Kingdom will bring ideal living conditions to earth.• Earth will never be destroyed or depopulated.• God will eliminate the present system of things in the battle at Har-Magedon.• The wicked will be eternally destroyed.• People God approves will receive everlasting life.• There is only one road to life.• Human death is due to Adam's sin.• The human soul ceases to exist at death.• Hell is mankind's common grave.• Hope for the dead is resurrection.• Adamic death will cease.• Only a little flock of 144,000 will go to Heaven and rule with Christ.• The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God.• A new covenant will be made with spiritual Israel.• Christ's congregation is built upon himself.• Prayers are to be directed only to Jehovah through Christ.• Images should not be used in worship.• Spiritism must be shunned.• Satan is the invisible ruler of world.• A Christian ought to have no part in interfaith movements.• A Christian should keep separate from world.• Christians should obey human laws that do not conflict with God's laws.• The Bible's laws on morals must be obeyed.• Sabbath observance was given only to Israel and ended with Mosaic Law.• A clergy class and special titles are improper.• Man did not evolve but was created.• Christ set examples that must be followed in serving God.• Baptism by complete immersion symbolizes dedication.• Christians should gladly give public testimony to Scriptural truth.