by Crazyguy 26 Replies latest jw experiences
A congregation I know all too well ...
7 elders serving (3 are in their 70's and 80's - 2 are late 50's and mid 60's)
8 ex elders sitting in the audience ranging from 1 x DF'd, 3 x sat sulking/not answering, 2 "completely nuts/mental breakdowns" - medical term , 2 x separated from wives.
2 MS's - 1 aged 60 plus, 1 recently moved in aged 30 (poor sap).
Dropped from high 80's in publishers when formed in early 1990's, down to 70.
sometimes wonder how my old cong is doing, not that I care much, I do know a convicted paedophile serves there and is in good standing.
Dagney: I think the reason that’s it’s still growing (well at least to keep up with the birth / death rate) is growth from developing countries. In my country which is 1st world, there we’re more witnesses per head of population 20 years ago than there are today. So basically they have spent the past 2 decades to not even keep up with the countries population growth. This despite increased immigration from other Countries.
There are many congos that meet at our hall, and I am familiar with almost everyone as I have been around since Noah said to get off the Ark.
In any case, the average age is rising rapidly. Many older ones have passed and so many others are very old.
A few youth have left and even one young sister told her Uber JW parents that she wanted to quit. The whole fam damly exerted pressure and she’s puttin’ on a dub face, for now.
Donations are down and dropping fast, as the givers are passing and the JW window washer generation take over.
Thw WT has milked these congos to the tune of over $300,000 and are squeezing harder everyday. (Blood from a stone???)
Emphasis on service is almost disappeared completely. Pioneers are quitting the ranks.
Its dying...
"Its dying..." -- beautiful!
Crazy guy. "25 car accidents"... what! Are they on the booze or on their damn phones?
Nothing much, pretty static here. Congregation is the same size it was around 20 years ago, with about 40 to 50 at meetings. I think it peaked at around 80 in the 1980s. People are getting older, however, and no new ones to replace them, apart from pioneers who get sent here by the society.
This congregation has had no real interest "in the field." A couple of ones who grew up around the Witnesses are now in their 11th hour repentance and have re-activated. Several families have moved in. The elder body is getting old and senile. Out of 7 elders only 2 are still working at jobs.
The move-ins give the impression of a vibrant, healthy congregation, which means that there are several congregations, wherever they came from, whose average age just went up.
There is only one elder that seems to enjoy what he is doing. I don't wish bad upon him but I wonder how long he will last.
LASTMANSTANDING:
I had to look twice before I recognized a few of these elderly people at a memorial talk for somebody.
I’m a long time “fader” and time has marched on for us all. People got old - children grew up. The talk was the typical infomercial funeral talk about the deceased. The new hall was fitted with those built in video screens so the words to the stupid song were there and you didn’t need a songbook...I felt sad and stupid being there...I might have gotten an unfriendly look from one or two JWs - but I’m past the point of caring.
I said my hello’s to the few decent people that I knew and I was SO glad to get out of there.
We have been out for the past 5 years and it is so good to hear that the Borg is in decline and the young ones are wising up and leaving. With all of the publicity WT is receiving, who the heck would want to become a JW? Who the hell wants to join a fruity cult? lol
