Japan Lost 589 Congregations

by metatron 29 Replies latest jw friends

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  NameWithheld

  As I remember, you look at splitting at about 175 publishers.

  Actually, the last few years I was around them, they would try and force a split at 120 or so. Leaving 60 per new hall. Of course, out of those 60 maybe 45-50 would attend on Sundays. One congos we went to had just built a new KH, it had seating for 200+ in it. Of course, right after building it, they forced a split, and we often had anywhere from 65-90 people attend most meetings. Nothing more depressing than sitting in a huge hall that's 30-45% full. Of course, the funny thing is everyone would sit in the back, leaving the front 10-15 rows empty. Bad when you're on stage and can barely make out that there are people in the audience
• 

  JH

  The US average still hovers around 83 per congregation

  Do you mean that 83 go regularly in average, or do you mean the total if everybody goes is 83.

  In my town, there are 3 congregations, and the biggest is about 135, and the smallest is 115, thats total, when all show up. But actually only 70-75 go in average.
• 

  Mary

  Maybe they should change the name from The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, to:

  The Incredible Shrinking Religion
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  freedom96

  Thanks- I enjoy reading anything related on the witnesses having it harder, or numbers decreasing. Awesome!
• 

  NameWithheld

  Do you mean that 83 go regularly in average, or do you mean the total if everybody goes is 83.

  I think if you divide the # of average US publishers by the number of congos in the US (for 2002), you arrive at the 83.something number. So the answer is, this would be the # of pubs per congo if every publisher attended.
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  PurpleV

  , even brain dead witnesses (who are huge gossips - and do talk to JWs all over the area finding out how their halls / circits are doing) would realize that something's fishy

  PREDICTION: The GB will cover their asses tracks by saying this is the fulfillment of the "love of the greater number cooling off(TM)" and therefore the Great Fibrillation is really just around the corner, trust us, it's any minute now, this time we mean it!
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  Downunderandout

  Purple, I reckon you are right about the "cooling off thing" and then they will run a whole series of the big "A" being just around the corner.... blah blah blah

  DUO
• 

  Realist

  freedom96,

  sadly only the number of congs is decreasing ...the number of JWs is increasing!!! :-((

  Edited by - realist on 26 November 2002 17:6:40
• 

  ozziepost

  G'day Metatron,

  Very interesting post. I'd been starved of Japanese news for a while and now you've given us a little taster!

  The figs showing a downturn are there for all to see, but I wonder what the Brooklyn boys make of it? It's true that the Japanese field was at one time held up as the leaders in "spirituality" and "zeal". Constantly we were barraged with this in talks at assemblies and conventions. So what do the R&F make of it?

  I wonder if it's partly a reflection on the westernisation of Japanese society as a whole and now they're reflecting more independent attitudes. In times past the Japanese people were very group/organisation minded. But now we see reports of this chaging with the latest generation.

  Intriguing.

  Cheers, Ozzie
• 

  Shakita

  Poster Alligator Wisdom is living in Japan.

  Maybe if he stops by we could get some information on how the congs. are doing there in Japan straight from the alligator's mouth.