Our congregation's numbers are down. Yippie-kay-yay!

by outofthebox 23 Replies latest jw experiences

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  outofthebox

  So, we had the CO visit and he told us what undeserving we are. Compared with his last visit, all our numbers are down: Less publishers, less hours, less studies, less magazines, less meeting attendance, less baptisms.

  Then he proceeded to show us how a simple kid and a grandma that can't even read or write do more than us. Practically he called us scum. A nice guilt trip. My mental powers let me foresee the future: I see elders implementing some beating until the morale improves.

  Interestingly, he didn't talk about caring for the elderly, the sick or the poor. But I guess, he didn't read that part of the Bible yet. He needs numbers, and he is ready to beat us until he gets them.

  I agree when the Bible says in Matthew 23:15: "15 “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one YOU make him a subject for Ge·hen´na twice as much so as yourselves."

  -ootb
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  loosie

  Ah can't you feel the love.
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  MMae

  I agree when the Bible says in Matthew 23:15: "15 “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one YOU make him a subject for Ge·hen´na twice as much so as yourselves."

  This is the first time I've ever read that scripture and grasped what Jesus meant. Thanks!
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  OnTheWayOut

  Excellent application of the scripture.

  Less publishers, less hours, less studies, less magazines, less meeting attendance, less baptisms.

  Maybe you need less C.O. visits.

  His guilt trip will work on the elders, some others. Mostly, your people are going to learn to
  have a life outside of the meetings. Gas is expensive. Gotta drive less in field circus.
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  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  Ever since the COs and DOs started attending the Travelling Overseer School at Patterson, they've been super hypocritical. They'll wag their fingers condemning the materialistic, spiritually lax publishers. Meanwhile, they themselves spend less and less time in any real ministry work either door-to-door, shepherding, or otherwise 'rolling up their sleeves' to help any congregation or publisher in any practical way. Additionally, they get free cars, free housing, an allowance from the bOrg, and everything else the congregation and circuit has to pay for. And pay more all the time. Plus, many of them get free vacations when the International Conventions come around.

  With such delusions of grandeur come eventual humiliation. I'm plotting...
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  Carmel

  otw, thanks for using "less" correctly.
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  WTWizard

  It all comes down to value. If there is more value than cost in going to meetings or out in field circus, the numbers would naturally tend to go up, and there would be no need to hound anyone. On the other hand, if it costs more than it's worth (with time, money, energy, or opportunity cost), people are going to do less. Perhaps the hounder-hounder had better go to college and take Economics 207 until he is able to get a passing grade, and then start applying it.

  And costs are going up. I noticed the number of Christmas decorations, which people enjoy putting up, were down sharply (probably more so than the field circus and boasting session attendance) in 2007 from 2006. Cost is the major factor--energy costs were up. Just imagine how much less field circus they are going to be able to do with gas at $3 and up a gallon instead of $1 or less. And more so now that they can't work full time or go to college to make a decent living. There simply isn't any money to put that much gas in the car--maybe the hounder-hounder should stop whining about the witless numbers being down and just be thankful that they didn't drop as sharply as the Christmas decorations did.

  Or, maybe they should be jacking up the real value (not the inflated "value" which people are seeing through). If the meetings offered practical solutions to life's problems, people would be less likely to blow them off. If I could go out in field circus and not be subject to a bunch of rules, and actually have real meaningful contact with the opposite sex instead of the same crusty grumpy old men all the time, I would be more inclined to want to do more.

  The bottom line is, if it's going to cost me an opportunity cost of $100 to stay out one more hour, they had better make damn sure that I am going to get at least $100 of benefit from that hour. If attending a boasting session is going to have a $200 opportunity cost value, they had better make sure I get more than $200 of value from attending. Otherwise, I will not even think of going.
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  SirNose586

  The last CO didn't read the congregation averages to the congregation at large. He only did so at the MS/Elder meeting. We were down in about half of the areas. Nice refreshing honesty, eh?

  Ootb, I hope this doesn't focus the group. Chafe a little bit. You were supposed to be encouraged, but instead you feel insulted. When the group has got more slackers in it, the less committed--on the whole--everyone will be.
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  heathen

  I'm willing to bet economics had to do with the sudden shortening of the meeting and the new magazine arrangement,selling of properties,etc. Somehow when they lose money it's a different story .You not only have to pay for everything you have to find new members .
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  tooktheredpill

  Hey OOTB!!

  I think that "The Spirit" have left your congregation! He he

  Maybe that's happening because you have an "almost apostate" PO!!!

  TTRP