Last week-end there was a going away party for an old-timer. I didn’t attend but a brother related this interesting anecdote to me.
Apparently a newer person who is progressing well in the truth noticed how many strangers were present at the gathering and asked what congregations they were all from. He was surprised to learn that they all were all local brothers and sisters but weren’t attending meetings anymore. Seems there were about as many inactive as active at this going away party.
Our area is being hard hit by more and more drifting away. In the years past many were very zealous and took to heart the counsel to quit their jobs and go pioneering. Numerous brothers quit well-paying jobs in plants and mills believing the budget restraints would be very temporary.
Now they « witness » their former « worldly » co-workers near retirement with excellent benefits. They, on the other hand, have been struggling to get by for years and now see their kids grown up and their health and energy fading. Paid vacation, health benefits and company pension ? I don’t think so...many are husband and wife teams of white-haired window washers and floor moppers, sub-contracting from other younger elders (not even eligible for unemployment or disability benefits ... some have applied for welfare until they make it to their old-age pension).
Pretty sad it took this long to realize that the TOWER and Co. has been stringing them along crying « WOLF » over all these years.
Will the younger generation wake up sooner ?