Has WTS abandoned "house to house" ministry? (page 2)

Finally-Free

Where ever the spirit directs them, that's who they call on.

The spirit usually directed me to the nearest donut shop, restaurant, or bar.

W

drew sagan

Enthusaism for field service has gone down, mainly because of one thing.

This religion is getting farther and farther away from its 'armageddeon around the corner mindset'.

Don't get me wrong, fervor about end times is still a key component to this religion. But you can never get the same kind of excitement out of 4th and 5th generation believers as you would out of new converts who believe that we are on the brink, especially if there are dates and time tables attached to the beliefs (i.e. 1914, 1925, 1975).

The Watchtower always refers back to people who where out in service during the times there was a date in place as "full of zeal". Big suprise there!

While there will continue to be an atmoshpere of anticipation for the end times to be fullfilled, it simply is not going to reach the kinds of peaks that it could if there where more specific claims as to when it is going to occur. Time continues to go on and people become less enthusiastic about giving the great "warning work".

In western lands feild service has evolved mainly into a time filler. Something you do because it's part of your religions rules. Time has slowed down passion for their beliefs.

minimus

Am I missing something here?? Does the website not say that the WTS tries to reach the neighborhood by "visiting from door to door"?

How is that abandoning the house to house ministry?

Let's try to address this before the Watchtower Society catches this and removes another one.

AudeSapere

Goodness Gracious wrote: if they stopped door to door, their numbers would go up LOL

LOL. That was funny. First real smile of the day. Thanks!

-Denise.

cultswatter

Try knocking on the door in Singapore

AK - Jeff

Am I missing something here?? Does the website not say that the WTS tries to reach the neighborhood by "visiting from door to door"?
How is that abandoning the house to house ministry?

The point made IMO is the statement about 'person to person' contact, a statement that would never have been printed in decades past - a slight change in the wording might be sending a message to Jdubs and others, that change is happening.

Back when I was pioneering, the CO was promoting 'alternative' methods of witnessing very heavily, especially 'parking lot work' and business coverage. Mostly the jdubs I knew hated that, because as stated, I don't think they really wanted to do the work anyway. I was 'old school' and wanted to actually go walking the territory - no one else did - so I ended up riding around the territory without speaking to anyone all day. That made the hours look good - but the jw's don't want to preach anymore IMO - they are tired.

On a local note: This is Tuesday and there were a bunch of cars in the KH parking lot when I went by - usually there is 2 or 3 mid-week. So I assume the CO is here - or else someone heard overnight that the Big A started last night in the earlier Time Zones. Has it begun downunder Ozzie?

Jeff

Frequent_Fader_Miles

So much for the "urgency" of the preaching work! Once a year? In this "time of the end"? Maybe they should stipulate that field service be once a year instead. After all, there's ample time for it.

Priest73

I was the victim of a drive by witnessing several years back. I thought they were asking for directions, but I received a WT instead. I have never been called on at my house, and the local dubs don't know that I was once a member, so It's not like they are avoiding me.

Dagney

I actually wrote a letter to bethel about this some time back, at the start of the last century we prided ourselves on our early adoption of technology and now we are way behind.

I agree. But that was before they figured out they needed the forced preaching work to control the flock.

I hear from my progressive JW friend, they go out in FS once every few months, and turn in time for other activities. Then I also hear of two relatives that are pioneering in the month of December to set an example for the flock. In some camps, pioneering is still going very strong, even in a very cosmopolitan area.

Awakened07

*gulp* I gotta go back now!! If they're quitting door-to-door work, that must mean the big A is quickly approaching! The door is frickin' closing, people! Ruuuun!

Lol * - I remember once when I was a kid and in the field service in a place 'where the need was bigger', and we came to an old woman's house far from people. She had never heard of Jehovah's Witnesses! I was stunned. All this preaching work, all over the globe, in twohundredandumpteen countries and territories... and she - living in a western and modern country - had never heard of us!

I know it sounds naive now - I guess I was naive - but this was another little nail in my JW coffin; another small shadow of doubt was cast. I think I comforted myself at the time that she had to be senile!

Perhaps she was, but it made me think of people living in the middle of China for instance. How would they get saved, if this woman in my country hadn't heard of us? The brilliant answer from my very devout JW mother was that the Bible contained accounts of entire peoples that were eradicated, so we shouldn't necessarily expect everyone to hear the good news. Is it any wonder I became an "apostate"...

* Sorry, but I do use 'lol' sparingly...

Has WTS abandoned "house to house" ministry?

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