An average of 650 people a day attended the Jehovah's Witnesses District Convention at Whitney Institute over the weekend.

And the church baptised and ordained five new ministers last Saturday to join the more than one million new members worldwide who have joined over the last three years.

Spokesman Wien Lindsay said the convention was well attended and a special drama presentation drew a convention high of 706 people.

The drama, "Families -- Make Daily Bible Reading Your Way of Life'', was directed by Trevor Tucker of Hamilton and highlighted how such a programme would help young people fight "unwholesome peer pressure''.

A presentation by St. Georgian, Leroy Kent, featured the distribution of a new book by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society: "Is there a Creator who cares about you?'' The book is made available to attendees and Mr. Lindsay said it was aimed at evolutionists.

"It is aimed at people who have a higher education where the idea of a Creator is looked down upon,'' he said.

Mr. Lindsay added the book examines what caused the universe and life, and how recent discoveries about the brain and the ability to speak "all point to design''.