JWs still do Phone 'callin' - instead of door-knockin...

by Jim_TX 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Jim_TX

  I just got a phone call from my wife. She said that the phone rang a few minutes ago (about 11AM local time), and when she looked at the caller-id, it said 'Jehovah's Witnesses'... or somesuch. So - she answered the phone. (She normally lets the answering machine get the phone if it's a sales call.

  Anyway, the lady on the other end starts off by re-assuring my wife that she isn't soliciting funds or anything - then goes into the usual schpeel about "Do you ever wonder why bad things seem to happen to good people" - or something like that...

  My wife answers... "nooooo..."

  The lady then askes my wife if she has a bible.

  My wife... "yes..."

  The lady then says some scripture in 1 peter (or was it 2 peter) - and ... blah blah blah...

  My wife tells the lady... "I'm not interested." - and that pretty much ended theconversation.

  I told my wife - "Yeah... they do 'phone witnessing' like this from time to time. She had no idea who we were or anything."

  My take is that it's a messy day today, and they were at the local KH making phone calls - to get their 'time' in for the day.

  Regards,

  Jim TX
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  Cc81

  I hated doing phone witnessing..... I pioneered for a while there and when it was really crappy out we would do phone witnessing. I absolutely hated it.
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  NewYork44M

  I know they have encouraged phone witnessing over the years. I never could do it. What a terrible waste of time and energy
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  Roddy

  My take is that it's a messy day today, and they were at the local KH making phone calls - to get their 'time' in for the day.

  I'll bet that right next to the KH telephone there is a "donation" box where the publisher puts in the "suggested" 30 cents for making each phone call. Most will make three calls, donate a dollar, and give the 10 cents change away for free.

  (Used to be you did telephone witnessing from your own home. Shut-ins and handicapped that are in good standing still do it this way, I believe.)

  Still pains me how they extract so much free labor and money from really good people who really don't know what's going on.

  For example: How many of them don't know that all the money they contributed for the kingdom hall does not belong to their congregation? In every congregation all the elders of the kingdom hall have a secret meeting which transfers ownership of the land and building of the kingdom hall directly to the WTS without pre nor post congregation notice of what they have done!

  When I heard and confirmed this "truth", I stopped contributing. I didn't consent to it and I figured the WTS can pay for their own mortgage and maintenence for this under-the-table action for a kingdom hall we were fooled to believe is ours but that is secretly their's paid with our money.
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  B_Deserter

  It's funny to think that most of us wouldn't enjoy just sitting on our asses in a room making calls for a few hours instead of going out into the weather and confronting people face-to-face. I think though people don't respond very well to the phone. First, they're constantly getting solicitation calls on it, so they'd be less apt to listen. Second, the sound the phone makes is extremely disruptive, putting people in a bad mood. Third, people view you as lazy because you didn't bother to come to their house. Calling people you don't know is rude, plain and simple.
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  Snoozy

  When I was a witness.the only phone calls we could make were to people we had already called on in person. Like a return visit. No cold calls were allowed!

  Things sure did change when they started getting desperate for followers didn't they.

  Snoozy..
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  moshe

  I can just visualize a car group of sisters taking turns calling a random householder in order to start their time before they left the KH parking lot. Then off to some not-at-home return visits,then arrive at a territory and knock on a few doors- more not at-homes, then it's cold out, so let's do some more not-at-home follow up visits on the way to McDonalds. Then it is time for a break. Then maybe a Bible study with a lonely 75 yr old lady, or drop a few mags off at doctor's offices/laundromats and then it is time for lunch. Yes, the JW's are really trying to find the sheep today.
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  Jim_TX

  Well... our home phone number has the last three digits of '087'. I kinda figure that the JW lady had made 86 or so other calls prior to getting to our number.
  
  I forgot to mention that the lady offered to send my wife some literature - if she wanted to give our address. (Uhh... huh... like we're going to do that...)
  
  My wife was really amazed at their approach - calling on the phone. She said when she saw the 'Jehovah's Witness' on the caller-ID, at first she thought it might be my ex calling.
  
  (I just looked at the caller-id. I believe that it is the KH that is right behind us. No one has ever come a-knockin from that KH. I've driven by it on Thursday evening... and no one occupies it on that night... I'm thinkin that it is one of the smaller ones... an out-post - if you will.)
  
  I can just imagine the part on the stage during their weekly 'service meeting' - promoting MLK Day as one where the kiddos are home from school - parents are off from work... time to go door-knocking!
  
  Along comes Monday morning... only Miss 'Regular Pioneer' shows up.
  
  Regards,
  
  Jim TX
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  blondie

  Phone calling is alive and well. There are even territories drawn up using phone number lists from the phone company (updated frequently). With gated communities, security locked buildings, military bases, and other inaccessible situations, it thrives. But it tends to be hogged by the pioneers. It is supposed to be set aside for people with physical disabilities, etc., who can't get out. Also when the weather is bad and people are homebound.

  *** km 2/06 pp. 3-4 par. 4 Draw Attention to "the Light of the World" ***As needed, the elders will arrange to have meetings for field service at extra times and locations, taking the lead to support longer witnessing periods. This may include early-morning street work or arrangements to do business territory and telephone witnessing in the afternoon or early evening.
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  WTWizard

  As needed, the elders will arrange to have meetings for field service at extra times and locations, taking the lead to support longer witnessing periods. This may include early-morning street work

  This sure sounds like they are trying to pile up the hours for the witlesses. And, you know when they "suggest" something, it is mandatory for all congregations. Including getting everyone to the Kingdumb Hell at 5:30 in the morning as was "suggested(?)" in the February 2004 Kingdumb Misery.

  If I ever had a witless call me cold, I would just let them get a recording. I would let them leave their damn message and then kill it. That way, the time would all be wasted.