I know I saw a thread on this but can't find it - sorry.
I counted 63 countries with 0% or negative growth reported. That is fully 26.8% of all countries in the report. There could be more since 29 countries are listed in the 'other countries' line - some of those could be negative also, but they are all clumped and so impossible to know.
Baptisms were 262,000. But growth was only about 124,000. 2% growth.
I remember when active we would spend hours highlighting the positives of the report and comment at the WT study about it - I see little that can be commented on positively. I bet no one will mention that there were 63 that stepped backwards.
Maybe one day they will stop growing all together. Hooray!!!!
You know some of the comments will include "The growth is probably more than that but the countries under ban couldn't send in a report, just like when the ban was lifted in Russia and so may were baptized."
I remember when active we would spend hours highlighting the positives of the report and comment at the WT study about it - I see little that can be commented on positively. I bet no one will mention that there were 63 that stepped backwards.
You are exactilutly right. And when you add in all the publishers who should have been regained during the campaign to help the inactive and all of the new 15 minute publishers you can actually take about 2-5% off of the net growth putting us in negative territory.
DubA: Looks like Jehovah aint blessing us any more. DubB: Well the love of the greater number will cool off. PostateA: Now wait a minute either growth is evidece of gods backing or its not. You cant have it both ways.
Look around your communities and see all the huge churches of Christendom with parking lots filled every Sunday with more vehicles than at your circuit assemblies. Look at the happy people and the courtesy they show to not only one another but also to everyone they come in contact with. Look at the missionary work performed by the churches of Christendom throughout the earth and the number baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit by them and compare those figures with the number baptised into the spirit directed WTBTS. Look at the inflated yearly figures of the WTBTS. Look at all the empty seats that used to be filled at your local KH. Look at the failed prophecies of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Look at the bound volumes of the Watchtower and then examine closely the original magazines and see for yourself that the WTBTS has revised them as they see fit and then attempt to destroy or suppress the originals. Look at the many reversals regarding Blood Transfusions. Look at the evidence that the WTBTS signed an agreement with the Government of Bulgaria to allow Jehovah's Witnesses freedom to choose whether they want a blood transfusion or not with NO Sanctions to be taken against them by the WTBTS. Look at the statements by the WTBTS that the organisation did not agree to the documents they signed with Bulgaria. Look at the overwhelming evidence that the WTBTS joined the United Nations as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and withheld that alliance from even the congregation elders for almost 10 years. Look at the Awake magazine production run cut from bimonthly to monthly. Look at the 40% of the world that this affects.
Now, ask yourselves, do the above observations prove that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses are God's exclusive channel of communication between Jesus Christ and mankind?
Is it any wonder that the increase that God promised through the prophet Isaiah would be evident in the last days is not being fulfilled by the WTBTS and its affiliated organisations?
Look around your communities and see all the huge churches of Christendom with parking lots filled every Sunday with more vehicles than at your circuit assemblies
yea i mentioned the packed parking lots of churches to my Jdub mother and she always blames it on a holiday. "it's easter/christmas etc..."
Am I giving enough due credit for the current statistics to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses? If not, I sincerely apologise to them individually and did not mean to deny them the fruits of love they display to all humankind.
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, functioning as spokesmen for the composite Faithful and Discreet Steward deserve all the honor for the path they are leading the Jehovah's Witnesses down. It is demeaning to them when we apostates categorically define the leadership as simply the WTBTS when, in reality, it should be authoritatively defined as the Governing Body.
Look at the bound volumes of the Watchtower and then examine closely the original magazines and see for yourself that the WTBTS has revised them as they see fit and then attempt to destroy or suppress the originals.
I occassionally look at the Quotes.Watchtower site which I am really grateful for as I don't have access to old publications, as I imagine many don't - but the society has re-hashed its former publications to try and iron out false prophesies any embarrassments? Surely that's deceptive?
As for the 2004 statistics, I haven't seen a yearbook in many years, and I vaguely remember the reporting of both ''active'' and ''inactive'' publishers - and I was wondering if many of US are boosting THEIR numbers by still being counted as the latter?
Thanks for putting things nicely in a nutshell Honesty :)
