I remember families loading up on "special request" bound volumes, like the past 10 years of WT and Awake! = 20 bound volumes.
Complete Donation What Happened?
by Marvin Shilmer 29 Replies latest jw friends
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trujw
Wasn't it shortly after that they stopped mailing them to our homes. I got a subscription never donated a penny so they had to pay postage. I guess I did my part lol
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Julia Orwell
And they had us asking for donations at the doors when we placed something here in Australia. The donation thing happened 10 years after it did in the USA because of a huge tax system overhaul we had in 2000 so they knew from the get go they had to have us asking for donations to 'defray the printing costs'. Those were the words they used then.
I don't think anyone asked for donations. If the householder asked about the cost we said we just accept a donation, but most of the time they didn't ask so we didn't tell.
But I did see jws put like 20, 50 bucks in those www boxes at the hall.
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Splash
No excuses - you can donate!
*** w97 9/15 pp. 5-6 Poor yet Rich—How Can It Be? ***
"One might think that those who live in extreme poverty would hardly be in a position to contribute financially to promote Kingdom interests. But that is not so. (Compare Luke 21:1-4.)
Some Witnesses in Ghana whose main occupation is subsistence farming mark out part of their land to be used to promote the interests of God’s Kingdom. When the produce of that portion of their land is sold, the money is used exclusively for that purpose, which includes making contributions at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses."Actually, one might think that those who live in extreme poverty might be in a position to receive financial help from the Society, not make their own situation worse.
Splash
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Julia Orwell
That's sickening. But that's what they do. I remember how the back of the wt sometimes used to have a story about some cute kid in some poverty stricken backwater who made a dollar from raising a chicken and donated it because they really really wanted to help spread the Jw message. I'd feel bad about taking some kid's money when that dollar could buy the kid a school book or clean drinking water. Seriously, who makes a virtue of soliciting money from children in third world countries?!
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Marvin Shilmer
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Prior to this 1990-91 decline in donations—not to mention the dramatic uptick for deluxe items—the Watchtower organization had implemented a method for extracting donations from congregations for expenses related to its traveling representatives (i.e., circuit and district overseers). Specifically this was for health insurance, leasing automobiles and related expenses.
After the 1990-91 decline in donations the Watchtower organization looked for ways to regain its cashflow. One of the noticeable changes was Watchtower began using its donation extraction method for a much wider spectrum of expenses.
When Watchtower tells the world it does not solicit donations it’s telling a bold-faced lie. Watchtower shares a formula with its local elders and has them present a resolution to that effect to the congregation as though the recommended “donation” is a local initiative. The reality is that Watchtower is instructing its local appointees what do to and they do it.
When I have time my blog will document some of this based on letters and files at my disposal.
Marvin Shilmer
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losingit
I remember some bragging about how many in the business and media worl predicted the collapse of the WTBTS. Instead the organization flourished with voluntary donations proving that Jehovah always provides. This was said to me while I was studying. It made a big impression on me. Yet another lie.
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donny
Wasn't the Friend of the Court brief supporting Jimmy Swaggert?
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Marvin Shilmer
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"Wasn't the Friend of the Court brief supporting Jimmy Swaggert?"
Yes.
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Terry
Very interesting...but they're not passing collection plates at all, right? But then, when your brain is on the collection plate, why would they need to?
--sd-7
I vote that one the QUOTE OF THE WEEK!