This was the original email I sent them (some personal information deleted):
-------------------------------------------
Dear Watchtower HQ Information Desk,
How does one find your email address on your website?
I get these kinds of emails all the time - they send them to me because they can't figure out how to send them to you.
Why is it so difficult to contact you by email? Why don't you have an automated Contact form on your website that will automatically forward inquiries to a sorting desk for follow-up?
I recently received another email inquiry through my website that asked for a JW Bible study. The couple was located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They certainly seemed legitimate. I tried to contact every Kingdom Hall around or near Arkadelphia. Some did not have phones listed. Other just rang or had an answering machine that would not take a message. What is that all about?
I edit several ex-JW websites. I get these kinds of emails all the time asking me to send WT literature, call and answer their WT questions, and arrange for Bible studies for them. Do you not see a problem with this? Why are they coming to me? Because they can't figure out how to contact your information desk by email.
JHSalem, Oregon
------------------------------------------------
Since I have been getting anywhere from 6-15 of these kinds of inquiries per month over the past year, my guess is that those sending these inquiries can't figure out how to email or call the Watchtower evenings or weekends. So they go to Google or Bing or ??? and look for "Jehovah's Witness" (and find my
ex-jw.com link) or "Watchtower" (and find my
WatchtowerWatch.com link) and hope that I can help them.
So much for the Watchtower's self-serving and self-congratulating entry into the world of the Web and the Internet. Can't even send them a simple email - even though they provide a [dead] link for that service.
That case in Arkadelphia, AR that I mentioned was interesting. I literally called every Kingdom Hall within 50 miles of the writers' address. I checked their address and name in Google and it was legit. I tried calling them for a couple of days, but only got an answering machine. But all of the Kingdom Halls listed on Google and on
JW.org either did not answer or I got a "disconnected number" message from the Telco. I have JW relatives that live about 75 miles away in Arkansas, so I tried calling them. Jesus - what was I thinking. I even got one of them - and told them why I was calling - but they did nothing. So much for "preaching the good news."
Here is that exchange. Part of their message to me:
> can we help you?x I would like someone to contact me Connection to JWs?No> connection. Just interested. i would like to> have bible studys at my home xxx-xxx-xxxx call me , my address is XXX
> south XXth street apt 314 arkadelphia ark 71923 ,thanksEx-JW.com is an ex-Jehovah's Witness website. I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and was very active in the religion as a young man. But I left decades ago and no longer belong to that religion.
In our opinion, studying to become a Jehovah's Witness would be a very poor choice on your part and could begin a long life of regret for you by joining a cult - but we certainly recognize that you have the right to make those choices for yourself.
Try this instead:
https://www.jw.org/en/free-bible-study/There are Kingdom Halls in Arkadelphia, Malvern, and Camden - but none will answer their phones. I also tried to contact the New York main offices but they do not answer their phones on the weekends.
I tried to call you - but got a busy signal ??? - so I don't know if the line was actually busy or if your service is not working at the moment.
I will try to refer you to a Jehovah's Witness relative of mine in
Arkansas who can contact you and may be able to help find someone that can help you.
Again, I question whether this is the right thing for you to do, but I would be the last person to stop you from discovering the truth for yourselves. While you should keep an open mind, please don't take everything you hear or read as "gospel" until you've had time to investigate it completely. Whatever you choose to do - you have my blessing.
Jxxx HxxxSalem, OR
webmaster/editor
Ex-JW.com-----------------------------------------------------------------
I did get another email from these folks that thanked me for my efforts - but that they had still not been contacted by JWs.
Sad situation. What if Armageddon came next week and these people were destroyed because they could not (even with my help) get JWs to give them literature or conduct a "Bible" study with them.
JV
