Considering organizing an unbelieving spouse support group in my area. Any suggestions?

garyneal

I like coming to this board because I like the feeling of knowing that I am not alone in dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses and their mind control. However, I still feel largely alone because I cannot find any actual people in the area I live who is dealing with a situation similar to mine.

As most of you know, I am the unbelieving spouse of a Jehovah's Witness and I find it frustrating to know that holidays, birthdays, etc. are not held in as high regard by my wife as they are for me. Granted, the other side of the coin is that she thoroughly enjoys Assemblies and Conventions whereas I really could care less for them most of the time. I feel like I need to find a circle of friends who share at least some of my burdens. My wife can just go to the Kingdom Hall and meet people who are with UBMs.

Has anyone ever organized anything like this? I am looking for some suggestions on how to go about it. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

miseryloveselders

bttt

dgp

I'm not an unbelieving spouse, but I think you are on to something, Gary. I think the people who have any sort of relationship with the witnesses need to know just why things have to be the way they are. Namely, why the hell you're treated the way you're treated.

carla

check out 'Meet up', just google it. There are meet ups for nearly any topic you can imagine. You would probably have to agree to be the 'host' - you would organize place & time. They often meet in bars/restaurants, libraries, where ever. The 'meet up' site takes care of sign up, etc... at least that is how I remember it. Good luck!

Curtains

good idea garyneal.

alias

There's a ton of us "UBM"s out here.

I was once a baptized believer, and now a fading JW, assured to have active JWs surrounding me in the context of my lifetime due to family fully invested. I'd love to be part of an IRL group like this because the connection and support for the issues we deal with on a daily basis is so important. If anyone knows of a virtual online group like this (or is forming one), please let me know about it.

gary, will your group be open to any demoninational UBM, or just JWs? General JW Meetups for my area don't seem to be very popular, and they don't have this kind of focus. Are you in the US?

alias

nugget

Gary I think this is an excellent idea. Others need support and so do you. Boards are great places but nothings beats talking it out with other people.

Contact other support groups in the area and ask them how they got started. If you know of other unbelieving husbands in the area contact them by letter and invite them over for a chat.

Keep us posted about how it goes.

garyneal

gary, will your group be open to any demoninational UBM, or just JWs? General JW Meetups for my area don't seem to be very popular, and they don't have this kind of focus. Are you in the US?

I am in the US. I was thinking of being open as far as who can meet up. Former witnesses who have family still in for example. I read on another thread concerning grandparents that are shunned and unable to see the grandkids, how tragic. I don't know if this will pan out but I will look around and see what I can find.

I tried the website meetup but it is blocked here at work.

mamamo

Meetup charges but there might already be a group on there. Another source is Yahoo Groups. The ex JW group I am a member of was on Meetup but is now on Yahoo. Our coordinator is a nonbelieving spouse, but the rest of us are mainly exes. I haven't been able to make it to the last two meetups because of work, I am really looking forward to April's meeting. Yes I am in the US, the South to give you some idea.

hubert

Gary, you have a PM.

Hubert

Considering organizing an unbelieving spouse support group in my area. Any suggestions?

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