TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Downtown Toledo is bustling this weekend as a major set of summer conventions kicked off. The annual Jehovah's Witness District Convention is going on at the Seagate Convention Centre.
This convention brings in Jehovah's Witnesses from all over the country.
Cliff Warren and his family came from Detroit.
"This is where we receive instruction on how we can live Godly lives, and it encourages us in doing so," said Cliff Warren.
"I really enjoy it. I do, and I think it's a good thing to actually see families actually learning and growing together spiritually, because that's the foundation," said Arlene Warren.
Their 9- year-old daughter, Tiara, likes to mingle.
"Usually I meet some of the old kids that I see from the last convention, but usually I meet new kids that I don't know," said Tiara Warren.
This year's convention is themed around examining the heart.
"With the economic pressures that are going on, with the pressures that are coming in upon the family, certainly considering God's word daily helps us to deal with that," said Dennis McConner, an elder to the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Not only is this event a spiritual boost for folks, it is an economic boost for Toledo businesses, like the Park Inn Hotel.
"Besides the obvious revenue, it creates a lot of excitement and energy in the hotel, and that's good for not just the people around here, but the businesses around here, and for the employees. You know, a busy hotel is a happy hotel," said Mike Carlson, Park Inn Hotel general manager.
That has the convention coming back year after year.
"I enjoy the service that we receive here. I enjoy our being able to get together with our brothers and sisters, our friends. So its been a good experience for me every time," said Cliff Warren.
The conventions will continue downtown for the next five weekends and are estimated to bring in around 36,000 visitors.
Copyright 2012 Toledo News Now. All rights reserved.
The annual Jehovah's Witness District Conventions will take place in downtown Toledo for the next five weekends and are estimated to bring in around 36,000 visitors.
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