An estimated 9,100 Jehovah's Witnesses delegates will gather in Gwinnett County this summer for conventions, the first of which will begin July 4.

The three-day event, presented by the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, is the first of four conventions to be held at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sugarloaf Parkway. Those four conventions are among 305 the church holds in 76 cities throughout the United States between May and September. Delegates, most of them from North Georgia's 53 congregations, will attend each of the sessions, but the public also is invited to attend any portion or the entire program. The sessions will begin at 9:20 a.m. each day July 4-6. Lunch break begins about noon, with the program resuming at 1:50 p.m. July 4-5, and at 1:30 p.m. July 6.

Admission to the convention is free, and no collections will be taken. The program will focus on why reliable guidance is needed today and where people can turn to for trustworthy advice in all aspects of life.

This first session will be conducted in English, but other sessions will be offered in Spanish.

For more information, call volunteer James Humbert at 770-344-9631.

— Susan Gast