Attended the Circuit Assembly - the work IS slowing down. (page 2)

TheListener

Here is the text from my previous thread on the # of baptisms: Well, here we are nearing the end of March 2006. The end of February meant that the 2005-2006 service year was half over. How are things going? It's tough to know because the statistics come out so late.

This is what has been printed in the KMs so far (if someone can post the numbers from the April KM for December that would be most helpful):

K M PUBS # Baptz. Sept ‘05 1,001,583 1,612

Oct ‘05 997,714 2,152

Nov ‘05 989,543 2,683

Dec ’05 In April KM – Someone please post - Now have April KM - Pubs: 1,008,905 Baptisms: 1,635

These were the service year 2004-2005 figures: KM PUBS # Baptz.

Sept ’04 990,551 1,791 Oct ’04 993,476 2,680 Nov ’04 990,086 2,331

Dec ’04 997,250 1,923 SO FAR THIS SERVICE YEAR (2006) IS TRAILING LAST SERVICE YEAR BY 643 BAPTISMS (SEPT - DEC, FIRST QUARTER)

sandy

I got baptized in 1990 at a CA and I believe there were only five of us. I remember times when there were only two or three so I believe the numbers do fluctuate.

sir82

It is a matter of time before baptisms are ditched at special assembly days (and possibly circuit assemblies as well)

I agree, it is quite absurd to dedicate talks for 1 (or 0) baptismal candidates, not to mention the expense of filling, cleaning, etc. a pool every weekend, but....

An announcement that no baptisms are to be done at any SAD or CA anymore would, I believe, have a devastating effect on morale. It would seem to indicate that the Society is giving up on the work "speeding up"--that it expects the malaise to continue. That's not the message they want to send.

In addition, fully 1/4 of the JWs in the US belong to Spanish-speaking conregations--and in many areas, if not all, baptisms even at their SADs and CAs are well into the dozens. It would make little sense to ditch baptisms for one group, but not another.

The decision to cut back Awake to once a month was similarly demoralizing--but there, you can at least see the reason--big $$$ savings. It costs the Society nothing to "sponsor" baptisms at SADs & CAs (any maintenance costs are borne by the local circuit), so I don't see them taking this risk.

dozy

An announcement that no baptisms are to be done at any SAD or CA anymore would, I believe, have a devastating effect on morale. It would seem to indicate that the Society is giving up on the work "speeding up"--that it expects the malaise to continue. That's not the message they want to send.

Its all about the presentation. I've hardly heard any JWs refer to the monthly Awake or the change in trucking deliveries from fortnightly to monthly as a sign that things are slowing down - the changes are "sold" to the R&F as simplification. Nobody here believes that things are slowing down and they are shocked when I tell them that 500,000 less people attended the Memorial in 2005 than 2004. But having a baptism talk where no-one (in some cases) is getting baptised is a PR disaster , so I am convinced it will be changed. As the SAD only has 4 hours of talks anyway , it would be an easy move to replace the baptism talk with a "circuit needs" or similar item and float it as a positive , more practical move. It needn't be rolled out worldwide - perhaps Europe first , where baptisms are very low and "foreign language" baptisms are usually done at their own assemblies.

oldflame

I am soooooo glad I didn't get baptised in 2001.....Thank You LORD, for saving me...

TheListener

What if they WTS was able to combine the english speaking and spanish speaking baptisms into one event. Perhaps even having the rest of the language groups present as well?

I don't know the logistics of this but it would be a super morale booster for die hard dubs. Seeing lots of people who speak different language and come from different backgrounds accept the yoke of Jehovah's love - now that would build the flock up.

I agree, though, that pretty soon they'll need to "simplify" and have the baptisms at the DC only. They can make up a myriad of excuses for this. The sheep will buy it hook line and sinker.

Dismembered

Jgnat & Dozy

You both bring tidings of great joy, and it's not even Christmas. Thanks for the updates

Dismembered

Elsewhere

An announcement that no baptisms are to be done at any SAD or CA anymore would, I believe, have a devastating effect on morale.

They just have to call it another "simplification". *** Applause from audience ***

The True Believers (TM) will always see "simplification" as a good thing. Everyone else will see it for the scam it is.

Sunnygal41

Like I have said, the 70s were great, but I wish I'd left in 1980. [email protected] was baptized around 76 or 77 I think.........they lost my baptismal records when I transferred from my original congregation to the one I spent most of my married life in.........I remember asking one of the brothers in my original congregation and he said "well, you never went out in FS, so, we might never have even set up a card for you......." can you imagine that? LOL! I was baptized in Natick, MA at the Assembly Hall there........it had a built in pool.......very nice.......but, there were alot of candidates I remember. Terri

silentWatcher

Yeah, but I remember when I was a kid-dub, being baptized at the district convention was "cooler" than at a SAD or CA. More people you knew from other congregations were there. Then again, if you were baptized alone at a SAD or CA you might have more attention.

Then again, I couldn't care less anymore.

-silent

Attended the Circuit Assembly - the work IS slowing down.

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