by 88JM 44 Replies latest jw friends
Looks like they are heading for 1000 baptisms by 2016 :) a far cry from the 6000 and above of the late 1980's
Who cares about how they change the rules to include more publishers, reported faux hours in service or 'doorstep bible studies' - where the rubber hits the road they are in serious trending decline.
Look for relaxing on baptism criteria next.
(Bible studies in green on the left hand scale, baptisms in lilac on the right hand scale)
An interesting way to look at the numbers is "how many people will YHWH kill per JW". If JWs are increasing faster than the general population, then no problem, it's a net life-saving activity (presuming JWs are right, which they aren't). If, as in this case, the JWs are increasing ranks at a pace slower than the general population, it's a net life-taking activity.
(Bible studies in green on the left hand scale, baptisms in lilac on the right hand scale)
other way about :-)
It would be interesting to factor in the UK population growth:-
1985 - 56.55M
2011 - 62.64M
From what I hear most of the JW newbies are in foreign language groups plus children of course. In my neck of the woods most of the newbies I see are also disabled
George
Besty, that is an interesting graph, with the dip and then growth in Bible Studies, yet no corresponding rise in Baptisms. I wonder what accounts for the rise is Studies.
Could be the introduction of family worship night and the encouragement for parents to report Bible studies with chiuldren. As Family worship night is a meeting in the home recording the bible study with children shows that it has been attended by all in the home.
Here's a graph for you, SBF.
We have had several reminders over the past couple of years that family worship means that you can count 1 bible study a month and a max of 1 hour per week. You count per family, not per child. This should correlate with the figures to show more hours and studies but no massive rise in baptisms as only a relatively small proportion of children would be eligible for baptism each year.
A side point on this is that there has been some implicit messages encouraging children to get baptised younger, locking them in early and making free choices about education, ministry commitments and so on much less "free".
Just came across some stats in my old notes from district conventions and elders and ministerial meetings.
These were figures at the 2012 District Convention regarding the "special" 30 hour allowance for auxilliary pioneering:
For the reduced allowance, according to my District Convention notes where they gave the figures near the end of the last day:
Other statistics I came across in notes from an elders and ministerial servants meeting in late 2011:
jwfacts:
I wonder what accounts for the rise is Studies.
