Do hours in preaching affect social status?

new light

Deep down, I guess I know the answer to this one, but what the heck? Is it common for someone to have a diminished JW social life for no other reason than being a low-hour publisher? Not to seem conceited, but at the hall I was always smiling and quick-witted (I believe), talked to all types happily, gave good talks and demos, dressed well, smelled good, etc. But my ministry hours ran from 4-8 per month, rarely higher.

I always felt out of the clique, invited to things third-person, if at all, through my super-dub younger brother. Actually, it all makes sense now, because I just wasn't with these people for enough hours per month to take our friendships to that higher level. If anyone wants to share experience or wisdom on this topic, I'd like to read it. Thanks.

dustyb

oh yes yes yes. if you don't go out in service, you don't love god. its really stupid. my g/f's mom is a pioneer and she's perfect. even though she just recently lied to the elders to try to get my g/f disfellowshipped, and her husband is a waste of space. they are still in good standing and looked on as a perfect parent even though all of their kids hate them and the husband is an abuser of the past. i know a lot of other people like that. matter of fact, this one guy at the other congregation here in town is looked upon and considered spiritually strong because he gives talks and goes out in service a lot. he's only 17 and expects to be an MS when he turns 18. the sad part tho...i know more about his own religion than he does. poor guy. but ya, thats the case, go out in service more to push the corporations literature and opinion and you gain standings...

La Capra

Oh, but that was your social life-doing field service, being invited to go, inviting others to go, choosing up teams (I mean car groups)...I'll pass. Staying home, sleeping in, reading the paper while enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee suited me much better for a social life. Then hanging out with nonJWs at a civilized hour: that was the real social life...Sweet! Shoshana

PS: I just noticed, this post makes me senior member...does that mean I'm "in"? (chuckling at the irony of THIS being a status-changing-post).

willyloman

A CO once said, with appropriate scorn: "This is a preaching organization, not a social organization."

Yep, and that's the problem. It's not about love and human relationships, it's about the work.

LuckyNun

I would say definitely. I remember when I was going out in service two or three times a week back in 1992, mainly so I could be in a car group with my crush, David Hunter. I was invited to more parties and get-togethers, and actually talked to at meetings. when I couldn't afford to go out in service anymore, due to not having enough money for breaks, gas money, and literature, the invites dwindled back down to nothing. then David went to Bethel immediately after, and there was no reason to go out in service anymore. so, it worked out quite nicely.

Sassy

definately you are treated better if you have more hours in service.. and if you don't have a lot of high hours regularly if you dare ever complaine you don't have a lot of friends, you can most definately be told, wellllllllllllll if you were going in service you would hare more opportunity to get to know people..

La Capra, congrats on becoming Senior Member

stillajwexelder

No question -- in general the higher the hours the more you worked in service with other brothers and sisters and soon came into the cliques -- and hence the more one's social standing grew. My wife says we used to get more invites out to lunch and dinner etc. when I was an elder -- has now much diminished

codeblue

Of course they do, it is a JW fact of life!!! I ditto Sassy's comments

shamus

A CO once said, with appropriate scorn: "This is a preaching organization, not a social organization."

Yep, and that's the problem. It's not about love and human relationships, it's about the work.

Do more do more do more! Oh, don't socialize with worldlie bastards!!! Oh, study more! But don't watch television; it's debased. Only socialize with witnesses, but remember, don't socialize with worldlies; but remember, we're not responsible for your mental health or friends, because we're a preaching organization, not a social organization.

They are just crazy. Jesus had friends, but it's too dammed bad if we can't.

Yes, it does affect your friends. Whilst I was pioneering, Iwas in the in crowd. When my hours dropped, so did my friendships, LOL! Like I really care now though, LOL. I'm glad that they're true coulours sp? showed through.

A Paduan

"Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words."

Do hours in preaching affect social status?

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