Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses keep records of visits and Bible classes?

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Three Jehovah's Witnesses stand beside literature carts, holding religious magazines, at the Star Ferry Pier under a blue sign for City Hall and MTR Station in Hong Kong. — Jehovah’s Witness Adherents of the Jehovah's Witness movement distributing literature about their faith in Hong Kong, China.

Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain detailed records of their door-to-door evangelism, including the number of visits, return calls, Bible classes, and literature distributed, as part of their highly organized approach to religious service.1

Under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the movement evolved into a tightly knit organization of dedicated evangelists. This structure involves assigning specific territories to local congregations, with each individual Witness—referred to as a "publisher"—responsible for canvassing a particular neighborhood. By keeping these records, the organization tracks the scope and progress of its global preaching work, which is carried out by more than eight million members worldwide.1