WERE THERE ANY SCAMS IN YOUR CONGREGATION?

by badboy 17 Replies latest jw friends

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  badboy

  ANY TAKERS?
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  James Free

  Yes, finding an Elder that really qualified is very rare. So, their appointment must be a scam. You know, kiss the right butts, go to all the meetings, be SEEN on the 'ministry', and you must be a spiritually strong man suitable for promotion. Once you get the job, slip back on it all. You will still keep the job as long as you don't get too wild. After all, who can judge your efforts when the rest of the body is just as inactive?
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  blondie

  Define scam.
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  badboy

  Conning people out of money.
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  kwintestal

  One of the elders in the hall made a fortune signing up JW's under him in an MLM, then he bought an apartment building and made it very "JW friendly" and had the JW's pay off his mortgage on it. But other then that ... no.
• 

  blondie

  Not scams, but burned me: brothers and sisters that targeted people at the KH to buy their products and services: Shaklee, vitamins, motor oil, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, etc.

  You were made to feel guilty that you would give your money to a "worldly" person rather than help your brother or sister. I was told once that I didn't care about my health when I didn't buy vitamins from one person. You are made to feel that you are supporting them in the pioneer work as well.

  I have heard of people borrowing money from several JWs and never paying it back. Shame on me if I loaned to that person more than once.

  I have been fortunate that this type of behavior was not prevalent in my area. But I have read stories in the newspaper, a brother in Florida ripped off a bunch of old JWs, and in Montana, elders ripped off an older sister. People are somewhat conservative around here.

  Blondie
• 

  Wolfgirl

  A brother "bought" my father's window washing business (hee-hee!) and never paid for it. My father refused to pressurise him for the money, because he said that would cause problems in the congregation; i.e., not taking your brother to court. I told him he was being stupid.
  And of course, there was always Shaklee, long distance phone companies, Tupperware, candles, chef stuff, etc., etc., etc.
• 

  Highlander

  Someone here mentioned motor oil. I thought that was just something unique to small town midwest congregation I attended years ago. I guess it must be quite common.

  Ofcourse the MLM schemes(i.e. pyramid scheme) was a real problem for quite some time. I believe the biggest instigator of the MLM in my old congo was an elder.

  You'd be shocked at how many people signed up thinking they were going to get rich! Later, I remember the new C.O.(sherriff) arriving in town and he ripped and screamed at

  the elders about the MLM stating he didn't want something so foolish to take 'the organization' down. After that, the MLM thing kinda died down, but in reality I think it continued

  though very few talked about their involvement.
• 

  Bstndance

  Cosmetics: Jaffra, NuSkin, Avon

  Telcom: Long Distance, Pagers, Internet Service, Calling Cards

  One elder had a coffee machine renting business and suddenly there was a coffee machine in the kitchen of the hall for the pioneers to use.
• 

  Tea4Two

  One Elder's wife worked for a travel agent and every year on October she told the sister's and brothers they were getting a BIG discount because of HER. Now you know October is not the best month for cruise ships...they almost give away cabins. So she is taking credit for nothing. Then if you wanted to think about it with your nonJW spouse before committing, she would call you up for the deposit the next day without asking if your spouse wanted to go.

  "I need the deposit today can I come over to collect?" ....WHAT!