I was the store manager of a large furniture store - part of a national chain. We had large sales once month, and giganic four day sale every quarter with a large amount of print and tv advertising. For these quarterly sales we would have conference calls every morning with our directors to report our numbers, contests for the salespeople, and target goals for each salesperson, individual store, and the national district. The store managers would have staff meetings at 8:30 am and 1:00 pm - again to rouse the troops, instill a sense of urgency. The sad part was, that as soon as that sale ended, another began, and you would start all over.
This is just like the organization. I can remember in much earlier days, we would would have a thermometer at the front of the hall in April, with a "target" number of hours, mags etc., etc. Believe me, if we were not making the "goals", then we would be putting in extra hours - street corner work before the bookstudy Tues nite, extra time out in service after the PT and Watchtower study. We always reached our goals, and didn't feel pressured - instead we felt proud. There was much more of a "brotherhood" way back then, people actually cared about each other.
I think the society has forgotten (or never experienced it) being insulated in their little, snug bethel rooms) how much these "local" endeavours could do for the morale of the congregation, and strenghthen faith. They have become so "commercial" and "secularly engaged" at head office, that they have absolutely no realistic feeling for the little people that make up the organization. Because of this, they have to use "sales & marketing methods" to raise any zeal or enthusiasm in the continuation of the work. You know they analysed how tired the brothers are becoming by the way they have cut back on activities like length of meetings, ending the book study, shortening circuit and district assemblies. Also the drawing back that the elders have read about in letters about legal liability, individual incorporation for each congregation, ownership of buildings and land of congregations by the WBTS even though the congregation paid the mortgage. They refuse to directly answer confrontational letters by individual publishers. Even visits to Bethel are now "commercially" booked.
Do you think that this impersonal approach by the society will have a continuing impact on the enthusiasm and zeal of individual congregation members. Now that the "end of the world" scare tactics are winding down, what else do you think they can implement to keep the "little people" motivated, and their enthusiasm up.
Interested in your thoughts.