What will the WBTS do about the youth problem?

by easyreader1970 18 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Doubting Bro

  I agree that the recent meeting changes were an effort to make life a little easier for the elders. Conducting the CBS was a pain for many, now they only have to do it maybe once every 4-8 weeks (depending on how many elders there are). Also, the TMS parts that were cut were ALL handled by elders/ms. So, less parts to work up.

  The last CA had a part about "reaching out" because there is a huge need for local leadership. However, many burned out elders that I've spoken with have no intention of "serving" again, even if they believe the religion. I'm sure there are also those that simply don't believe any longer but continue to attend for various family reasons.

  I'm sure the WTS is aware of the problem not only with those stepping aside, but the fact that many elders are elderly. You simply can't get the work out of the old ones that you can out of the young one.

  There are still men wanting to attain that position. In the congregation I attend, they just appointed someone in their late 20s as an elder. The difference is that you used to see that fairly frequently and in the last 5 years, that was the first person appointed. The ms pool is very thin and seems to me to be filled largely with folks who will never be able to be promoted to elder.

  My guess is they will eventually need to start consolidating congregations in the next 10 years to make up for the shortfall.
• 

  kurtbethel

  No youth, no problem!
• 

  shopaholic

  Not sure. I have noticed that the youth tend to just go along with it and then when they graduate from high school they are unapologetically off to college (and typically out of state). I hadn't been back to visit my old congo in a while. It was full of pre-teens when I left. When I went back to visit all but a couple had left. And the two that were still there were telling me about their plans for college.

  No one talked about pioneering or reaching out. Their parents actually held it as a sense of pride that their kids were in college or on their way to college. One girl told me she never got baptized because she never believed any of it so she can live her life freely and not have to worry about getting disfellowshipped.

  This reminds me of something else. There are a few girls that grew up in the same congo as me that had babies as teenagers or in their early 20's. They were never baptized so folks just fawned all over their babies. These girls made it clear that had no interest in becoming a JW but would show at the meeting every now and then to visit their parents. I'm sure this had some effect on youth of today who see how much freedom you have if you never get baptized.

  I should have walked away as a youth.
• 

  oompa

  jws: What have they got to offer?

  they can offer the world wide brotherhood...which actually had a lot of good fun people in it

  and the resurrection hope....and paradise......and more virgins than average!......

  and ditto Olin........little people can become generals in the congo...........oompa
• 

  truthlover

  I know at our 2 day assembly, the DO asked that all interested younger men attend the elders meeting the next morning - those that wanted to become a MS.. during his part on the program, the DO - in front of all in attendance said " do you know, not one young brother attended this meeting"! I was shocked, that this would be mentioned off the platform in front of everyone, you would think this should have been kept behind closed doors.
• 

  Nathan Natas

  The biggest YOUTH PROBLEM faced by the WTB&TS is that their leadership doesn't have any. Tired, weak old men with tired, weak old ideas.
• 

  oompa

  truthluvr: " do you know, not one young brother attended this meeting"! I was shocked, that this would be mentioned off the platform in front of everyone, you would think this should have been kept behind closed doors.

  OMG!.....that is awesome...i can not BELIEVE he said that!.......i bet all the elders walked out of that meeting depressed (i hope).....where was this?...what assembly city and when please.........thanks......oompa
• 

  WTWizard

  I wonder how long it is going to take before they decide to start holing up people in monasteries. In fact, every witless will be required to give up their private homes and move into one of those things. That way, all personal property will be banned.

  Hey, the Catholic church does that with their monks. Why not the Washtowel Slaveholdery declare all members to be "monks" and sequester them in "monasteries"? That way, no one would have access to apostate sites.
• 

  BurnTheShips

  What will the WBTS do about the youth problem?

  Put out another youth book full of bad advice.