I recall the 'core' families that made up our little congregation in the 60's and 70's. I had not thought about it, but the very vast majority of those families have left zero members carrying on the 'legacy' of the 'troof'. Here is the way it breaks down - the names have been changed to protect the innocent [or guilty].
The Colsons in 1970 - Dad, Mom and two sons. All in the organization. Dad a prominent elder.
The Colsons in 2009 - One son deceased, no children left. One son as elder, no children. Dad and Mom in their 80's.
The Colsons family that will 'carry on' the truth for the family? Zero!
The Taylors in 1970. Bro and Sis Taylor elected to have no children.
The Taylors in 2009. Dead. Zero to 'carry on'.
The Jacksons in 1970. Elderly. One daughter, married to an elder, Brother Colson mentioned above.
The Jacksons in 2009. Dead. Only child is still alive, but no grandkids as mentioned. No one to 'carry on'.
The Grease's in 1970. Dad, never a JW. Mom, a die hard Jw. Three kids.
The Grease's in 2009. One child deceased. The other two children and all offspring are 100% out of the organization now. No children will 'carry on'.
The Millwick's in 1970. Dad, mom and five kids. All solid.
The Millwick's in 2009. Dad and mom still in. All five children in various states of 'inactive'. All of the grandchildren are out of the 'truth' today. No children will 'carry on'.
The Dud's in 1970. Dad, mom and three kids. All in the 'truth'.
The Dud's in 2009. Dad deceased. Mom elderly. Son and his children clearly out and opposed to the religion. One daughter did not have children. One daughter had a son. That son is still 'in the truth' as far as I know. One to carry on. Maybe. He is not married yet.
The Smyth's in 1970. Dad never in the organization. Mom dyed in the wool. Five kids.
The Smyth's in 2009. Mom deceased. All five children out of the organization. The only one who might come back is well past the age of child birth and is childless.
The Eckert family in 1970. Mom and Dad. Later to have four kids.
The Eckert family in 2009. Only one of the four children is 'seriously' in the 'truth' - she has two children that I imagine will 'carry on'. All the other kids have children of their own, but as far as I know, none of them is seriously a Jw today.
That about sums it up - literally. We had a small congo in those days, and literally none of those families has turned out to be the 'truth legacy' family here. Those third and fourth generation Jw's have all either died out or will before too many more years, with no one sticking to 'the truth' - with the exception of the two Eckert grandchildren and one Dud grandchild.
Looking at the congo today it is not likely to fare much better, as there are several prominent couples with no children at all, and several single women who pioneered and never married.
There were a few families that came in after 1970 who might have a few children 'carry on' - but honestly, not many at all. I would think you could count them in the single digits.
Now that I think of it - rather than rejoice, I am saddened. So many wasted years, lives and hopes. Many of these people will die with regrets of various sorts - not least of which might be the choice to preclude having children - or their children not continuing to 'serve Jehovver'. None of them will die with a swelling pride of what their progeny 'accomplished' - since accomplishment is entirely tied up in the field service slip for them.
Wow.
Jeff