by metatron 55 Replies latest jw friends
Sorry, but I'm not seeing that - in most US congregations I'm familiar with.
You get more attendance than publishers for special events like the memorial or a C.O.'s visit but that's
about it.
In fact, when you consider the extra attendance from non-baptized Witnesses, the attendance problem for publishers
may be far worse than thought. This may be what worries the Society so much.
metatron
My bad, Watch Tower Publishing Corporation web page says over 16 million followers now. With that the numbers go to 16,000,000 x 2 = 32,000,000 x 4 = 128,000,000 every month, or one billion five hundred and thirty six million copies a year. Those are just for members to have one to show and one to go.
When I was a kid, being a Witness kid was not that far from the norm. Today, it's a LOT farther from the norm than many teens will willingly want to accept. And they need to willingly accept the lifestyle because their free will needs to keep them in the group in early adult years.
If the Witness lifestyle is too far from the teen's comfort level, they will not stay. And there goes the next generation. Without a next generation, a family business fails because it is easy and cheap to the recruited employees. GaryB
People are just getting tired of hearing dates. I don't blame them. They never came true.
Marvin,
He said the percentage of attendance had improved.
Here's hoping for the greater improvement of 40 publishers and 50 at the Sunday meetings! 125% - WOOHOO!!!!
Could it just be the 21 century is not for religon? Many people take some sort of medication, for mental or/and physical pain, video games, cable TV, internet, economy.
Maybe in the past walking 10 miles in a jungle and crossing mud pools filled with crocidiles was fun, the thing t do, but today even third world folks can play hit the penguin with the bat.
Nice observation metatron
And in my country we have similar situation like in U.S. Congregations are about 75-100 publishers, like the one I attend sometimes. We have about 90. Take out 15 that they are old in age, plus young children, the "spiritually weak ones" then you can hardly count 50. In the W.T study you can hardly count 75.
Indeed W.T in few years time it will need new active members!!!
"If you have only 50 - 60 people show up , week after week, in Kingdom Halls built to hold more than twice that much, you've got a big problem. It's going to be demoralizing."
"Contributions may decline to the point in where the Hall isn't viable anymore. "
Meanwhile, back @ the ranch...., (Brooklyn, that is...), the accountants shake their heads: we still have some money!!! We have to EXPENSE something or we will go into the BLACK!!! Build some KH's that nobody needs or buy a printing press to fill some more garages with magazines!! Your choice....
Mustang
I remember when the attendance was so low at the hall, that they took away the last 2 rows of chairs, so that people would sit more in the front and closer together, to look less empty.
Yes, Yes! That's exactly what I've seen various congregations do!
Remove seats - to make it look more crowded!
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"
-- The Wizard of Oz
metatron
Maybe in the past walking 10 miles in a jungle and crossing mud pools filled with crocodiles was fun,
You gotta point there GMFH.
Years ago people did not understand the world they lived in. Why diseases killed, why there were droughts, food shortages etc, the only constant was the sun rising every morning. Today we know about viruses, bacteria and have antibiotics, we understand weather patterns, El Nino and have pesticides and much, much more; the street lights now block out the once revered constellations, who needs religion to explain what we know as fact. There are grey areas but religion comes with baggage, creation, sin, obligations and responsibility etc.
The need for religion has gone by and large and hopefully the end of mind controlling totalitarian cults. We should be so lucky!
