Just read this little article. If only these people knew how the Witnesses really view them.
"Thanks for your help, you're still gonna die at armagedon!!!"
RR
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Jehovah's Witnesses plan to build new hall in Middleboro
By Alice C. Elwell, Enterprise correspondent
MIDDLEBORO ? The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses lies in rubble after last week's fire, but plans are under way for an old-fashioned barn raising this fall.
As church elders watched flames consume their hall June 9, Michael A. Santos of Carver said the church was planning to rebuild.
The three 16-year-old boys accused of setting the fire were held in juvenile lockup after the fire and arraigned on arson charges in Wareham District Court on June 11. Lt. Bruce D. Gates said the matter is now in the hands of District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz. Gates said the boys were released on bail and scheduled for a later court date.
When Jehovah's Witnesses build a hall, they use a "quick build" method. Santos said that years ago a hall would be built in two days, with the congregation worshiping on the final day, a Sunday.
Today the process takes a little longer but uses the same principal, he said. Once the foundation is poured, "the hall will go up in nine days," Santos said.
Santos said the process is used worldwide and depends on its members for the labor.
"The bulk of the labor is volunteer," Santos said.
During the quick build, Santos said, everyone on the site is an unpaid Jehovah's Witness.
But it is not only members who are contributing toward the effort.
Santos said the Decas Cranberry Co. of Carver dropped off an excavator and G. Lopes Construction Inc. of Taunton sent a "huge loader." The two pieces of equipment helped complete the demolition of the church, Santos said.
"It shows, inherently, people have good hearts ? they want to do what's right, what's good," Santos said.
Santos said many in the community have helped since the fire. He said local churches offered their buildings, the town manager offered space, people are dropping off food to workers at the site, "tons of things from the community are being offered."
Santos said elders met during Wednesday's fire and the next day started making calls to rebuild. By the third day, he said, demolition was under way.
"As of today, it's done. Now we have to deal with the old foundation," Santos said Wednesday.
The Wareham Street hall had two meeting rooms, a library and offices.
Lost in the fire were chairs, computers, books and a sound system. Santos estimated the building to be worth about a half million dollars, which is covered by insurance. He said demolition alone would cost $30,000 to $50,000, but "with so many donations and free labor, that price is greatly effected."
The hall is home to two groups of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Middleboro and Carver congregations, numbering about 200 people. Because the fire destroyed the hall, the congregations will meet in Kingdom halls in Wareham and Plymouth.
"It was a beautiful place that held beautiful memories," Santos said. "I'm deeply concerned of the effects on myself and others. But we'll work with it and do the best we can under the circumstances."
Santos said there was sorrow watching the building burn.
"But as long as we have a place to meet, that's all that counts," he said.
Santos also talked about the teens who are suspected of setting the fire.
"We hold no ill will toward those young men. We really feel sorry for the boys and their families. It was a stupid thing."
"If they learned a lesson, it's a good thing," Santos said.
Middleboro elder Peter Zion said officials have not spoken to him about the congregation's role in prosecuting the three teens.
"It's their jurisdiction not ours. I'm sorry their mischief caused them to do what they did," Zion said. "Personally I'm glad no one got hurt. I'm sad some don't respect others property. If there was more kindness and conscience in this world, certainly things like this would never happen."
"It's a tragedy, something like this happened that effected so many people," Zion said.
Before Wednesday, the members had been meeting in small groups in each other's houses.
"Tonight is the first night that we are meeting as a congregation," Zion said.