Okay Everyone ... here are some highlights from this weekend's BRCI Conference held in Itasca, Illinois, close to Chicago O'Hare Airport. It was two full days, from Friday at 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sat. 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. In the past these lasted from Friday about noon to Sunday about noon ... but this year was adjusted to make it easier for long distance travelers. [Note: I will not mention everyone's name because some still prefer being anonymous. Where I am not sure, I don't mention names to be safe.] Finally, you can order tapes from BRCI of this conference. Just go the the http://brci.org/ website.
There is song and prayer throughout the program: No JW songs are sung ... but there is a variety of common Christian songs found in the Chruches ... and some that have been written by ex-JWs ... freedom to do an assortment ... also we had a young lady who was never a JW, she was raised a Lutheran, who plays guitar and sings beautifully to lead us in song several times.
Men and Women: Both men and women are on the board of BRCI and they share offices equally and likewise share in program parts equally ... there is no male of female distinctions. All are equal.
Friday opened with the BRIC President's remarks. I was not there yet, so I have nothing to report. Sorry.
Getting to know you: This is an open comment session so that everyone can introduce themselves, and some newer participants can tell their story of where they are at in their exit, or how they exited. Again names and specifics have to be left out ... but I can say that there is a large Hispanic contingent that are on the verge of pulling together and are leaving the WTS. Hispanics have been a strong grass roots support for Watchtower growth ... and the Society is starting to lose the trust of Hispanic JWs.
Breaks: The program has many frequent breaks, so it is very relaxing and easy to function. There are always refreshments available at the back of the meeting hall, and no one is looked down on for getting up in the middle of a talk to get some coffee or something to eat.
How our lives have changed: This was hosted by Marilyn Zweifel who also hosts the BRCI Help-Line 1-800-Why-1914 ... she is a licensed therapist and former JW. She is one of the BRCI leaders and is very instrumental with counseling and helping ex-JWs to move on with their lives ... She does not tell us to move on and get a REAL LIFE like some we know - but she actually gets her hands dirty and really helps in a kind and patient way. This part of the program was audience particiaption and she called on many to give their experiences and tell where they are at today in their lives. There is no judgment or worry whether one is a member of some religion or not ... the point is to look back at the changes in life and how they arrived where they are at. It is very healing to do this ... and much of BRCI is devoted to positive healing of the spirit as well as one's life.
Make Sure of All Thing, Hold Fast to What is Fine: This talk was given by BRCI's past President and likewise was an audience participation program ... it deals with what we leave behind when we move on in our lives, and what we take with us and keep ... and so it dealt with the not so good things of JW-ism that we found it necessary to chuck, like its ridicules teachings on birthdays, or blood, its brand of church-ianity ... and some of the good things we take ... as one man said, he took his wife with him as she was the most important thing in his life ... we all got a good laugh the way he said this ... others felt that the TM School training in speaking helped them or experience in going to doors helped in them in their careers in sales, or the WTS teaching of no literal hellfire was worth keeping ... so, the program focused on positives as well ... and was not any apostate beating on the Watchtower religion.
Internet News: This was hosted by Ros who posts here. She discussed how the Internet is being used to support those coming out of the WTS, or how it has enabled research, and information, as well as in some cases helping those with serious issues, like the JW man in Canada whose daughter faces the blood issue. This included discussion on the trial in Calgary, Canada ... and comments made by those who attended, including Jim Penton. There was mention too on how BRCI might begin to take even more advantage of the Internet in promoting information and supporting those exiting the Watchtower.
The greatest of these if Love: This was hosted by Buddy Carlton. He discussed much of how we were often robbed of genuine love as JWs ... and how this is true in society in general - not just the JWs. He then had us watch a video about how fear and guilt and other negative emotions often take away from our full enjoyment and expression of love among fellow humans ... we then sang a song called "Carry Me" which is a part of the program and then broke into working groups to discuss various scriptures about love and how we see it and experience it today.
After Dinner, there was a celebration of the Lord's Evening Meal or Last Supper. This was hosted by Bob Witty, and he did a marvelous job of discussing the meaning and history and early Christian practice, after which the bread and wine were served to any who wished to participate. No one was obligated one way or the other ... and some did take part and some did not.
Holding the Ropes: This was a great part and presented based on some Jews who tried to get a paralytic man into see Jesus to be healed ... but, they could not get into the house, and so went up on the roof of the house and broke a hole in the roof, and lowered the man down to be healed by Jesus ... hence those holding the ropes ... and he then applied this to how we today can be in situations of holding the ropes for others or having them hold the ropes for us in our struggles in this life, especially our spiritual struggles ... maybe some exiting the JWs have ropes held for them as they make the journey to be healed. This gave me reason to think about being more careful on this and other foums about what we say and how we say it ... so that we do not cause more harm than good.
The Truth about the JFR Trial: This was given by me. It was a summation of all the JFR parts done in 15 minutes. The complete research on this will eventually be hosted on Freeminds.org. The main point was not just that the trial was not a railroad job, but in the end JFR and his fellows were not exonerated ... and none of this really fulfilled any Bible prophecy.
Experiencing the Joy of Jehovah: This was given by a fellow who was never a JW, but was brought up in the group called Layman's Home Missionary movement ... the group started by P.S.L. Johnson, a Watchtower Director who broke with the Watchtower Society because of Rutherford, and started his own movement. Their teachings and beliefs greatly parallel the JWs ... and so he went through his own exit from that group and it was most interesting to listen to him and relate so well ... and realize that our ex-JW experience is not confined to the Watchtower ... but that other groups have alomst identical experiences as well - thanks to Chucky Russell and his ideology.
Too Blessed to be Stressed: This was an entertainment program by a couple called Merkie and Misfit who dressed as clowns and was a real treat ... it was done for the Children there ... but the adults enjoyed it every bit as much ... Misfit is also a good vintriliquest (sp) and did a great job with her doll act ... they concluded with a song in which everyone sang as well as danced (sort of).
A look at Apostolic Christianity: This was about what the early Christians were really like ... and about the mistake many groups make in trying to attain to the ideal of being like the early Christians. I had to miss this part of this talk.
What Concerns You? This was given by Ron Frye, a former Circuit Overseer and publisher of Christian Respondant. You can find his story on the Beacon website at http://www.xjw.com/. This was audience participation and dealt with those issues that affect and concern ex-JWs as their lives are now. Many gave some great experiences, but you will have to order the tapes to hear it all because I did not take many notes.
The Challenge of Faith (Part 3): This is a provocative program that has been given in parts each year I have attended BRCI ... and is an indepth philosophical and logical discussion of faith and proofs ... athiesm and theism are the issues ... the speaker is an excellent researcher and I always look forward to his presentation ... you need to do some close listening and thinking as he covers this material ... but as he developes and explains it ... you get to realize that faith in God is not some pipe dream or fantasy ... and is certainly as credible an approach if not more so than its alternative - athiesm.
I am the Vine and You ar the Branches: This was presented by Peter Gregerson ... he is the one who had the meal with Ray Franz that evetually led to Ray being DF'd and the rest is history. Peter is a regular speaker and his parts are always among my favorites ... he developed this part on our relationship to Christ alone that is so close and intimate that we are a connected branch of the vine, Jesus, whose life flows through us ... and that is why we can never let any "organization" ever under any circumstances come between us and Christ. We also need to, as Christians, be fruitful, so as to remain on the vine ... but this concern is not about remaining with a group or organization ... but with Christ himself.
This is just a brief summary about BRCI: To get all the information again you can order the tapes from BRCI. They are planning on another Conference next year in Chicago at the same hotel. More will be forthcoming on the BRCI website to enhance it ... and to take more advantage of the Internet. BRCI is not trying to grow into some religion. BRCI is about helping JWs exiting the religion to move on ... and so they might stay for a while and then find a place for themselves elsewhere ... and that is great ... so BRCI has helped many thousands to heal and grow ... but is not much bigger than it was at its founding. I pesonally enjoy it much because I see some great people, meet newer folks ... yet, I don't feel any pressure or push toward anything ... I can just be me there and so can anyone else.
Edited by - Amazing on 1 July 2002 14:56:4