First Time Ever..

blondie

I received a phone call from a jw inviting me to the "special talk." in 25 years out, never happened, don't know them, phone # nowhere near me and it was like she was reading from a script. I hung up... Any one else?

MeanMrMustard

I get a lot of Medicare scams. I usually answer and see how far I can get. I have a fake name, birthdate, Medicare card number (dead give away when they ask for this - or the heavy Indian accent). I've had a few cable service scams, and those guys are a bit more entertaining when you play with them (give them fake confirm numbers, etc).

But, I'm looking for new caller types... If JWs are cold calling, it's not a scam in the same way as Medicare or cable, but there has to be a way to play around with them a bit... I feel like if they are calling my phone, it's fair game.

You could always scare them by saying they are violating federal law by calling a number on the do-not-call list, and then state you have their number and will be informing the authorities... see what that does.

blondie

MeanMrMustard, I don't think it was a scam, thankfully. But, no covid now, why phone calling, not really the "personal" touch. After all, I can't imagine Jesus on the line.

WingCommander

"Phone Witnessing" became even bigger during COVID. Before, it was simply for the elderly or infirm that couldn't pound the pavement or stand by a cart. But once COVID hit, a lot of people switched to the "convenience" of it and never went back.

I've gotten calls (random stranger JW's) as well as a letter inviting me to the CONvention the other summer. (the one with Lett's "Little enemies of Gawwwwd" comment)

I used both as opportunities to "fine witness" to these clowns with some real hard-hitting "truth about the truth." My favourite was the letter I got from a local elderly lady. She made the mistake of using her home address instead of the Kingdumb Hell address. I used the Kingdumb Hell address as the "sent by" address, hence masking my identity. I found out she's like 70 years old. She got a 10 page typed letter from me outlining my life raised in this cult, the WT's UN involvement, real estate money grab, CSA lawsuits which are easily found using Google, filling her into as to why so many "yanng onezzzz" are leaving, and also further detailing the child sexual abuse that was apparently all around me in the Congregations I grew up. I also told her how this is NOT the religion I was born and raised in, it was now a money-grubbing televangelist real estate CULT, and that I would be embarrassed to even be associated with the JW's today with all that's changed and going on. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall of that woman's room when she read thru that one! lol

stan livedeath

an ex jw friend showed me a letter she had received--from my ex wife !

DesirousOfChange

We actually received a visit at our door from two young JWs (both of whom we know the families quite well) inviting us to the Memorial and giving my wife the tract. My wife actually felt they were canvasing our neighborhood (vs calling specifically on us) so D2D is still alive here, if that is the case.

blondie

I checked the area code 713 and it is assigned to TX and I am in WI

Phizzy

" so D2D is still alive here ", possibly it was a special push at Memorial time, their attendance must be down for both the "Special" Talk and the Memorial. Compared to when I was "in" all those years ago.

I would love to know the total attendance for the now two Congregations that have come from the one I was in.

Back then, up until the early 2,000's the combined attendance IIRC was close to 220 for the one Congregation as it was, and just over that when it split in to two, by about 30 or so.

Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to what it will be on the 12th ?

I may just find out..... perhaps.

blondie

I think one can only be sure if they are at a congregation and take a head count. Other congregations, would need to have an-exjw or PIMO do a head count there. Remember officially the headcount includes babies in arms and people sleeping and people who get there late, even if just before the finalprayer.

Phizzy

Yes, "massaging" the numbers goes on, and it always did, so a comparison of two sets of fiddled numbers would still be revealing.

But I learned only yesterday that both the Congregations I mentioned have had an influx, but it is strange, unless you know the Congregations well, the "new" members are all J.W''s from elsewhere, many who had moved away years ago, and moved back, especially once they had retired. One Elder was disfellowshipped a couple of decades ago for adultery with his now wife, he has two kids now too. Another "dodgy" couple have joined, he was never baptised, but got a young sister to live with him for a few years. He is now married to someone else.

So, if I did get the figures, and they matched or even slightly exceeded those of two or so decades ago, it would really show a situation in real terms of " no growth".

I think it is evident that no Real growth comes from the public in the western World at least, only from children growing up in it.

First Time Ever..

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