By Watchtower Correspondant in Japan (Alligator Wisdom)
That's right! The Branch Office of Jehovah's Witnesses here in Japan has released this "NEW" donation/contribution arrangment. Of course, you'll know what the real reason is for this. But I'll let you decide for yourself. Below is the exact quote of the letter that will be read as an annoucement at the Service Meeting during this week in Japan.
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"As you may have heard in the concluding talk at the Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers District Convention this past summer, the Japanese Branch has shared in the additional privileges to produce and ship Bibles along with various publications to our brothers in Asia, the South Pacific and some African countries in addition to congregations in Japan.
T hrough this letter, we inform you that we now have an arrangement called the "conditional donation (or contribution)". This will be in addition to the contributions for the worldwide preaching work in the Japanese Branch. This is a contribution made with the condition that "contributors can request monetary aid less than the sum of their contributions to the Watchtower Society" if they face the situation that they need funds for any reason in the future. Those who want to get any detailed information in this regard can ask the Branch Office by letter. We hope that this information is available for you."
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It seems that the Watchtower Society wants to have "guaranteed" contributions. And note that you can receive back what you contributed LESS than the sum of your total contributions.(For example, if you contribute $100, you can ask for it back at a later time, as long as it is less than $100. I'm sure many publishers will probably reason that, "Oh well, I'll leave only $30 as a donation since I only need $70 back".)
Do you see the ploy? It's obvious!! The Watchtower knows that their R&F won't ask back for the full amount, which means that the Society gets to keep the difference. What a way for a "guaranteed" donation. WOW! I guess they really are hard-up for money!
I'm wondering though??? How are they going to keep track of all this?? I suppose the account servant will now be busier than before!!
(FYI ~ Since I'm currently in an English speaking congregation AND I'm a native English speaker from the USA, I am often asked by the native Japanese elder body in my congregation to help with the grammatical adjustments and phrases in letters which they had translated from Japanese to English before it is read to the congregation). Often times, this is how I get some information first-hand before the congregation knows about it. You'll see, it will be broadcasted publicly later this week.
I know...I know...You're probably wondering why I don't inject some real "TRUTH" into those letters after I proofread them. . It has crossed my mind though!
Do you think this "new arrangment" will be implimented throughout the Branch Offices worldwide?
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")
edited to add a little personal background of me in Japan ~
Edited by - alligator wisdom on 5 December 2002 0:26:20
Edited by - alligator wisdom on 5 December 2002 0:31:0
Edited by - alligator wisdom on 5 December 2002 1:2:46