Ozzie's Weekend Poll #138 What encouragement?

ozziepost

G'day all,

So how's it with you? Another week's flown by and another weekend upon us already!

This past week we've been 'pleased' to meet up with some dubs on the board. I hope they've felt welcome! So partly for them and partly so's we can reminisce and see how good it is now, here's a poll question:

How did the elders encourage you?

1. ..............um........um......

2. They didn't!

3. They encouraged me to "build up my hours".

4. They rang to ask for my report.

5. They told me I would have to qualify to clean the windows/do the count/hand out the mikes.

6. Two of them dressed in suits and ties visited and wanted to know why I wasn't at the meeting.

7. They invited me into the "back room" after the meeting.

8. They told me they were the responsible brothers and I had to listen to them.

9. When I tripped over an elder's meeting bag, he didn't take away my privileges.

10. Other (please detail)

So there y'are - let us know what is what like for you.

Enjoy.

Cheers, Ozzie (permanently upside-down class)

Freedom means not having to wear a tie.

LittleToe

1. & 10.

I recall us having a family shepherding visit, once, when I was a kid. My wife and I also had one once, and it was cringeworthy given that I was an Elder by that point and my wife a Pioneer - I felt totally sucked up to.

One Elder attempted to dress me down, twice, but I had my revenge when he was foolish enough to ask for counsel after a Talk (shortly after it was encouraged that Elders should be humble enough to ask their TMSO for it)

I mostly found the C.O. and D.O.'s encouraging, but I guess they had to be as they were often staying at our house due to a dearth of accommodation.

Other than that... er... um....

garybuss

An elder made a shepherding call on me. I did the only thing I could do . . . . . I hired him to paint my house.

stillajwexelder

Number 3 = always more hours bookselling

patio34

Great revenge LittleToe

Ozzie, my answers are:

2. They didn't!

4. They rang to ask for my report.

5. They told me I would have to qualify to clean the windows/do the count/hand out the mikes. No, I'm a female--no privileges.

6. Two of them dressed in suits and ties visited and wanted to know why I wasn't at the meeting. This was interesting--it was an elder and his wife and most of what they did was tell me about the CO's upcoming visit, the memorial, and the assembly. Now THAT was not encouraging. Not much about me or my health problems, if anything.

9. When I tripped over an elder's meeting bag, he didn't take away my privileges. What privileges? (again, am female)

10. Other (please detail) . . . well, . . . I guess # 2 (They didn't!) applies.

Pat

lilybird

Well.. it would have to be #2. They didn't.............................But once the CO dropped over with his wife, I was at work, we had one son and had recently boughht a small modest home to raise our family in. The CO told my husband we should sell our house and rent so I wouldn't have to work and would have more time for spirtual matters. ......My husband pointed out that our mortgage was not much more than renting at the time so that seemed pointless....At least we weren't working and having nothing after!!! ...Surprisingly,,,the CO's wife spoke up in our defense that buying seemed more sensible . She got a look from her CO husband.....LOL..bet she got told after not to speak against him.....

skyman

One Elder after I was out of school had it out for me and made my life a living Hell. The others Elder at the time were hand picked by him these men had no hairy balls but slick one if they had any at all. It was not untill the CO made him appoint me and couple other brothers before he lost his power now that I have have been deleated and the others Elders deleated that he has regained his power and congregation trembles at his feet.

Sunspot

#4--------called to ask me for my "time", even though I was laid up with a compound fractured leg and severe arthritis........(and caring for a 10 year-old Autistic child), I was expected to be preaching!!!!

I should make mention of the fact that NO ONE stopped by to see if I needed anything, and that three, four and five houses away from us were three JW families (one was an elder & family) and yet we were out of sight out of mind EXCEPT for those calls to report my time.

What WAS that about the LOVING organization????????

Annie..........who left that same year

MerryMagdalene

#10...They asked, "What prevents YOOUUU from getting baptized?" and I trembled and stammered and couldn't think of a good answer so I ended up baptized.

The next encouragement I remember receiving came about 10 years later in the form of another question: "Do you still consider yourself one of Jehovah's Witnesses?" ["Well, do ya, punk?"]

~Merry

crazyblondeb

#7. Invited to the back room after meetings. (also received those invitations on evenings & afternoons when there were no meetings.)++=

My parents would also run to them every time I'd get in trouble at home. (talk to worldly people, flirt, lie, etc. things teenagers do.) The elders raised us kids- not the parents.

Plus, I'm the one that allowed the elders to sharpen their skills for meetings in the back room. Someone had to make them work hard for their titles!

shelley

Ozzie's Weekend Poll #138 What encouragement?

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