by unbeliever 36 Replies latest jw friends
Let's see, it's about 14 years and counting. Except for on-and-off pressure from my father (who's not an elder anymore), I've never heard from a single one of them. At first, they may have believed I moved to another congregation which I think I told my dad at first - my becoming inactive sort of corresponded to moving away from home. My actual abandoning it came about 2 years later.
So, maybe they just thought I moved to a new hall and was somebody else's problem.
I had been until three years ago when I finally told them not to bother me anymore. They came at the most inconvenient times and expected to come in anyway.
They reminded me that I was forfieting my chance at everlasting life and regaining God's approval and could they share a scripture with me. I told them no don't bother. My realtionship with God has much improved since they did me a favor of disfellowshipping me. And I haven't heard from them since
I don't get any visits. They don't know where I live, so I suppose that creates a challenge for them. I rarely see anyone, though I live in the same immediate area.
I live in a gated community, so I imagine they don't have the access like they would elsewhere.
I started going to a restaurant nearby, and it seems it is frequented by some of the elders from my hall. So far no eye contact, but it sure will be interesting if they start asking me questions.
I did a quick fade and moved house into the territory of the congregation I was attending infrequently. That was six years ago. I have not had a single call from anyone. I saw a couple in my road a year ago who I assumed were JWs but that was while I was driving away. I missed out on the recent drive to contact the inactive, maybe I am already a lost cause. It is not as if I went into hiding. My son attends school with a local elders kid and I am listed in the phone book.
The best thing is I don't ever run into JWs. Most in the local cong live in two other cities so it's not like I see them in the local supermarket. If anyone shuns me I wouldn't know it as I have never bumped into anyone I knew as a JW. As for the visits, or lack thereof, I rather like it that way.
Thirdson
it always amazes me to read the stories here about people who get "sheperding calls" or have dubs call on them while in service...not once since I left have I had either of those and that is a wonderful thing... (knock on wood so as not to jinx myself)
LOL!
I know exacly what you mean... I don't want them coming to "save" me. They don't know who I am now, b/c I moved out of province.... and they never will.
Next time they come to my door, I am showing them Crisis Of Conscience and telling them that I read it b/c of a psychology course... and I have some questions. That ought to send them running!
I haven't seen an elder (well that I know was an elder because the Dubs do come by in their rounds of the neighborhood) in 23-24 years. But then again they have no idea where I am or who I am, and that's kinda fun really because I can play with em.
Seedy
I was taking my kids to the park the other day, when I saw an Elder from my old congregaton on the service. I went over to say hello, and he asked how I was. I told him that in the 11 years since left the org, that was the first time any witness has asked me how I was. He just smiled and walked away
As a rough estimate of my worth to them might be directly proportionate to the number of yearly visits by the elders.
Having said that I haven't had a visit in just shy of 12 years. Therefore my worth to them must be a big fat ZERO. Somehow that brings a smile to my face.
Goshawk
They are supposed to call once each year in the case of those who are df'd or da'd. But, sometimes, as happened when I served, people just get forgotten about. Record cards get put who-knows-where, depending on who is cong. secretary. Sometimes, as has been mentioned, the CO prompts the elders to do so or finds a name or two in the records. Sometimes, elders just don't get around to it.
