I am Barbara's sister Marilyn, and I was first introduced to the JW's at age 13 and met Frank then along with all of the other young people. I knew Frank's parents well for 3 years. Since Barbara and Frank were dating we were at his house or he at our's quite a lot. I did not want to become a JW in the first place, and was forced to do so, but I liked the other kids our age, and we had fun at the assemblies (when Frank and his father Al Kavelin were the rock stars) and did fun outings together. Frank's parents, Virgina & Al were amazing people. I remember many great stories Al would tell us about the old days as a band leader, he was such a good story teller and a very loving man. Virgina was beautiful, classy, and an excellent cook. Until my father's dying day he would talk about her pot roast.
I think meeting Frank's family made Barbara and I start to realize what a dysfunctional family we had. My father (not a JW) was harsh and angry a lot of the time, but could be a fascinating person when he was in the mood. My mother was not a "deep thinker", Barb & I don't remember ever having a real conversation about anything really with her, but she was a loving mother and a good mother in other ways. We didn't have any extended family that we knew (no grandparents, cousins & such)
So, the JW's meant stability to my sister, and she was in love with Frank. I on the other hand, having never before been exposed to religion and not wanting to become religious refused to go to meeting when I was 16. By age 17 I was df'd (I was pressured into becoming baptized, and I just went along with the program) and consequently told to leave home at age 17.
I had a baby on my own to raise at age 19, probably to make my own little family, and my sister and I were talking to each other again. I always knew she loved me, and I never held it against her that she chose that life. So I had limited, but at least yearly visits in LA with my sister & their family. We loved to take the kids to Disneyland. My daughter had a relationship with her cousins which I was very grateful for. It went on like this for many years. I would occasionally see other JW's I had known while visiting them (I moved to SF area 1975) and they were always civil to me, but I would stay away when the weekly meetings were held at their house, and of course Frank was always busy being an Elder.
I think Frank's story is easier to read on Freemind, there is also a picture of them, so you have faces to put to the story. I just wanted to say that I watched this story unfold from afar all these years. I know how much the "cult" has changed over the years. I remember the fine men and women before the 1975 prediction, and I know Al and many of the fine men & women who had true faith would be appalled at what the JW's have come to. These were leaders, not followers.
It's obvious this is a cult. Please listen to Frank, don't let this cult keep you from living your life. Our spirituality lives within us, how we live our lives and treat others.
Thanks for listening,
Marilyn