An interesting note:
I have a friend who went to Bethel as a middle-ager about 5 years ago (had a special skill they needed). He was notorious for virtually never returning my phone calls, and on the rare occasion I did make contact with him, it was quite obvious he was fully assimilated. I.e., he dominated the conversation with how wonderful everything and everyone was all the time, new projects being worked on, talking with Bethel big-wigs, etc. Never more than a cursory question or 2 about what was going on in my life.
About 3 weeks ago, he leaves a message on my home answering machine, and immediately thereafter calls me on my cell (I was out of town). He was asking all sorts of questions about what the job situation is where I live (I live several hundred miles from where we grew up), housing, weather, etc. He admitted he was nervous about being dismissed (he missed the first wave of downsizing, but heard they were going to start sending out "the letters" soon again). Virtually nothing on Bethel life.
So, after 5 years, he calls out of the blue (first time, I think, he called me since he was at Bethel)--makes a concerted effort to track me down. Asks about jobs, etc. where I live. He's now in his mid-40's with little seniority at Bethel--obviously, he recognizes that he perfectly fits the demographic of those who are being "reassigned". And due to changes at Bethel, his "special skill" is not so much in demand now.
Very interesting. He has definitely changed, and is definitely nervous about leaving. He left a pretty-well-paid position with a large company to go to Bethel. A 5-year gap on his resume, working in an area away from his secular training, devoted to "religious volunteering" will be hard to overcome, I think.
