Tues August 4, 2015
Royal Commission questioning of:
Rodney Spinks
Elder in Australia Branch Office
Q. Thank you. Mr Spinks, could you look at your first
statement, paragraph 66. I just want to ask you some
questions about the role of the regular pioneers. As
I understand it, from the viewpoint of a layperson, a
regular pioneer preaches in the community in public; is
that correct?
A. Yes, all of Jehovah's Witnesses preach publicly in the
community. A regular pioneer is someone who says, "I want
to expand my ministry", but what you say is correct, yes.
Q. So they, the regular pioneers, may preach in a public
place, such as a shopping centre or something like that?
A. Yes.
Q. They also go door to door, knocking on people's doors?
A. Yes.
Q. Attempting to engage people in conversation and to
communicate to them your understanding of the world; is
that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Or Jehovah's understanding of the world?
A. Yes.
Q. That may also involve going back on a number of
occasions and taking part in family discussions and
returning to the home and being invited into the home; is
that correct?
A. Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses conduct Bible studies with
people, yes.
Q. I'm talking now, in particular, about the role of the
regular pioneer - not generally. Do you understand that?
A. Sure.
Q. As I understand it, the regular pioneer strategy, for
want of a better word, has been quite successful in growing
the flock around the world?
A. I don't know how to quantify that. I guess - I have
no reason to question it. I guess a missionary, a special
pioneer and a regular pioneer, by nature, is going to spend
more time in the preaching work.
Excuse me. You don't know? You guess?
YOU GUESS??????