Question Box: Should JW's use the Internet to witness to people abroad?

cappytan

I hadn't seen this posted here yet.

Source via wifibandit on exJW subreddit.

What are your thoughts/comments on this?

Oubliette

There is another thread about it, but I like that you posted a pic of the article.

It's just more control-freakery from the delusionally self-important Gibbering Boneheads.

Let's review: It's a cult!

Oubliette

I couldn't find it either. It's certainly worth repeating!

cappytan

For those of you on mobile:

Should publishers make extensive use of the Internet to witness to or to study with strangers living in another country?
Some publishers have used the Internet to obtain Bible studies in lands where our work is restricted or where there are few publish- ers. In some cases, good results have been achieved. However, there are dangers when publishers participate in e-mail exchanges or chat room discussions with strangers. (See the July 2007 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 3.) While the intent is to reach honesthearted ones with the Kingdom message, such dis- cussions may lead a brother or a sister into contact with bad association, including apos- tates. (1 Cor. 1:19-25; Col. 2:8) Furthermore, in lands where the Kingdom work is restrict- ed or under ban, correspondence might be monitored by the authorities. Such commu- nication could endanger the local brothers and sisters. Therefore, publishers should not go online to seek out people from another country with whom to share the good news.
Unless directed otherwise by the local branch office, if we witness informally to a stranger who is visiting from another coun- try, we should not try to cultivate his in-
terest after he returns home. Instead, we can show him how he can use jw.org to obtain additional information or how he can con- tact the local branch office. We can also en- courage him to visit a Kingdom Hall near his home. Of course, there are no Kingdom Halls in some countries. If he wishes to be visit- ed by Witnesses from his area, we should fill out a Please Follow Up (S-43) form and give it to the secretary, who will forward it using jw.org. The branch office that oversees the work in the country where the interested per- son lives is familiar with the unique circum- stances there and will be in the best position to provide spiritual help.—See the June 2014 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 7, and the Novem- ber 2011 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 2.
If a person we are currently calling on moves to another country or if we are cur- rently studying with a person in another land whom we know only through the Inter- net, we should follow the direction outlined above. However, we may continue to culti- vate the interest until the person is contact- ed by the local publishers. Nevertheless, if he lives in a land where our work is restrict- ed or banned, great caution should be used when Bible topics are discussed by letter, tele- phone, or electronic means.—Matt. 10:16.

darkspilver

would have been interesting if you'd posted the French version then Oubliette could have played 'spot-the-difference' ;) rather than just 'reposting' the QB....

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

pronomono

I guess this means no more responses to Yahoo! Answers? I knew quite a few pioneers that would flesh out their time doing that. Lol.

This is an odd article. Reading between the lines, they aren't saying what they mean. What it looks like they mean is "Don't regularly preach to those outside your territory. If interest is found, turn it over to the branch office and they'll take care of it". They are hiding that in the dangers of using the Internet for witnessing, making it sound like the internet is the problem. More of their word aerobics...not being clear about what they mean.

joe134cd

You would think they would be happy to use what ever medium available. I believe there attitude is slowly changing against the internet.

FayeDunaway

It's all control and more control, rules and more rules, caused by their rabid insecurity.

Question Box: Should JW's use the Internet to witness to people abroad?

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