Attended the Circuit Assembly - the work IS slowing down.

by jgnat 47 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  jgnat

  Only two baptisms, TWO, count 'em. Both were obviously children of JW's. The last Circuit Assembly there were at least a dozen. This is the best they can do in a district of 900 JW's?

  The theme was on keeping a single eye and all that, a lot of focus on the youth. Paradoxically, only two teenagers were interviewed, TWO, count 'em (not the same two who were baptized). One family with four children was interviewed, and two young adults on youth-oriented subjects. A single parent (widow) of five boys as well, but only she was on stage.

  I keep a fine ear tuned, and noticed that all the fine testimony about doorstep witnessing and return visits did not add up to a single baptism.

  Obviously.

  I think the anti-college talk is taking it's toll.
• 

  anewme

  Fine report jgnat.
  Yes, its all true what the exdubs say here about the zeal for the ministry....most hate it.
  And the Witnesses do not have the great reputation out there amongst the public that they like to dream they have. So, much of the witnessing effort falls flat. I think alot of the field service work is just to keep the witnesses themselves busy in it and centered and focused on it.
  
  The Witnesses need some celebrity spokesperson to jump up and down on Oprahs couch and shout about how much they love their religion!!!!
• 

  Apostate Kate

  Interesting. Thanks for the field report. That is a very low babtism for a district of 900. The anti education and the all powerful evil internet is taking it's toll.

  There is just no way you can convince an otherwise healthy person that the entire Internet is evil when you have to use it to access so much.

  Banking, shopping, communications of all kinds, business, health insurance, school, even local elementary schools now post class info online, heck you can even do your grocery shopping online now in some areas and have it delivered!

  Not that many people left that don't have computer Internet access but for the third world countries. And they will catch up soon!

  Thanks Again
• 

  Scully

  The anti-college talk has always been around, albeit much more subtle in the '90s. It was overt in the 70's and 80's (when I was young and impressionable and believed their advice was worth following) and when Elders™ were much more inclined to threaten young people with losing Privileges™ offer Counsel™ if you went for education beyond high school... even when you had the support of your parents in doing so.

  BTW, I was one of only 3 baptized at a Circuit Assembly™ in the 80s. The numbers tend to fluctuate a bit depending on the season - a lot of people like to put off their Baptism™ until the big District Conventions™ in the summer. It's a little bit of a psycological ego boost to say that when you got baptized you were one of 100, versus saying that you were one of two or three.
• 

  lilybird

  Hi Jgnut.. thanks for the info that the "great crowd" is slowly dwindling and not growing as fast as they would like..The Dubs who have been slugging away for the ministry all these years must be getting worn out waiting for their reward..

  anewme...maybe they could just get Prince to write a song about them... don't ya just love Prince...lol
• 

  TheListener

  Scully is right about the fluctuation in numbers. But, comparing last years baptism figures to this years the numbers are lower overall so far.

  I started a thread on this using the 2006 KMs published so far but can't use seach here too well.
• 

  dozy

  
  According to the Bethel rep at the last SD , It is a matter of time before baptisms are ditched at special assembly days (and possibly circuit assemblies as well) - he described the situation as "a complete farce". There seems little point in going to the expense and hassle of dedicating a 30 minute talk and hiring a pool for one or two candidates (if any). Most of the baptisms from my circuit over the last few years have been at district conventions where at least you are guaranteed a reasonably large number of candidates - nobody wants to be the only one being baptised.

  At the last Special Day I was at , the speaker addressed his whole talk to the sole candidate , a mortified and terribly embarrassed young woman in the front row , referring to her by her first name throughout. Then a few people trotted out to the 25 metre pool and performed the ceremony in front of a bemused posse of lifeguards and officials.
• 

  Dr Jekyll

  I wouldn't put it past them to start paying homeless people straight off the street to pretend to get baptized just so they could build moral up among the dubs at Ca's and Da's

  If you suddenly start seeing bearded baptism candidates that look a bit pissed and swear alot about getting wet you know whats going on.
• 

  anewme

  I was baptized in 1973 at a circuit assembly and we had to wait in a long line to get our turn in the doughboy.
  
  And at the District Conventions in those days OMG it was like watching the great crowd walk into the New World!!!!! Hundreds were baptized in one day at those District Conventions in the 70s and early 80s.
  It was a breathtaking sight and we had tears in our eyes as we joyfully beheld people of all ages and all walks of life streaming like sheep to the slaug------I mean, streaming into Jah's org to feed on the life giving waters of truth!
  
  And then at the end of the session we would hear the count....and we'd shout and cry out in joyful praise to God and break out in wild applause for the new lovers of his name!!!
  
  Like I have said, the 70s were great, but I wish I'd left in 1980.
• 

  stillajwexelder

  Do you mean the Special Assembly Day and NOT the Circuit Assembly. This years SAD theme is Keeping your Eye Simple