You guys had nice congregations in mine if you pioneered you got a slap on the back and that was it oh and a few extra parts at the hall or at the conventions. Other than that you fended for yourself. Actually I'm kinda glad that my congregation was like that it helped me to see what selfish people I was surrounded by and was one of the factors in pushing me to research the witnesses.
Trying to get people to "support" pioneers!
by LongHairGal 23 Replies latest jw experiences
-
-
lucky
I pioneered for a number of years in both a relatively wealthy, suburban congregation and in a poor, rural congregation. I don't remember ever getting anything in the way of handouts from other members of the congregation. I was flat broke the majority of the time. It was such a relief to finally get a real, full-time job after college and leaving the borg, and not have to worry so much about money.
-
BluesBrother
My understanding of "supporting our pioneers" was always just to work with them in the Ministry, have them back for a lunch or meal, if you could - and generally to encourage , not to have them financially dependant on the congregation. Although gifts would no doubt be appreciated and were sometimes given. Perhaps the original post is more of a USA thing.
What used to get the goat of the other members of the congo, was the constant praise and attention lavished on pioneers in some congs. It seemed that every Thursday night they were held up as an example. That was very discouraging to the rest who either could not do it physically , or had other reasons (perhaps a more responsible financial attitude )
-
greendawn
Strange that the GB have played this down those teaching the gospel full time should live by it ie should be supported by the org you must not prevent oxen threshing wheat from eating of it. I don't like the WTS but those are the rules for them.
-
DannyBloem
About supporting the pioneer, I think a lot of dubs supports them in order to make up for the low number of hours they make themselves.
The JW's paid clergy class are:
1)- Pioneers (Special)
2)- Missionaries
3)-Circuit Overseers
4)-District Overseers
5)-Bethelites (All working in branches throughout the world)
6)-Worldwide construction work personnel
Well paid, yes. But not to much. I would consider them more victims than the other way around. Maybe with the exception of CO and DO's. They get a lot of extra in every congregation they visit. The others are not having that much, they are been used as very cheap labour to make higher profits.
Man, and then to think I wanted to be a missionary or bethelite. I even did MTS. Terrible to think of it.
Danny
-
potleg
I was a pioneer and I was at bethel too, all I ever remember getting was an old couch to put my room. Money??? What money, I was always flat broke and just after I entered bethel they put a stop to th "G" jobbing. I think the long time inmates who had built up some kind of fame through assembly parts etc. and connections with those who wanted to treat the Lords brothers well did OK and drove around in nice cars (J.Barr) but for the rest of us peons it was rough financially.
-
katiekitten
I think the world is full of lazy wasters, I think pioneers work bloody hard, and I dont resent them the crappy bit of help they get from other witnoids. If they werent pioneering I doubt if they would all be advancing their education massively and becoming highly skilled and highly paid workers.
They would probably be doing what thousands of non dubs are doing - being full time mums, or low skilled workers, or whatever.
I dont think they get that much help really, and they pay massively in living a crappy life. The are no worse than all the kids i teach at school who have no intention at all of bettering themselves, and will end up either living off their parents, partner or the state.
The dubs who do have a brain and would be able to get on educationally leave eventually, because their brain is like a caged greyhound that wants to run. Eventually you cant keep the poor thing in a cage anymore, and you have to do something.
-
Carol
My brother was a "Bethelite", the only witness that supported him was me! Sometimes my Mother sent him $$$, but I was married at the time and my ex and I had a gasoline service station....where by the way all of the witnesses knew to come to get their cars fixed because even to he wasn't a witness, my ex would fix their cars and let them pay later....and run a tab for their gas. I digress....we sent my brother $$$$ because if we didn't he wouldn't have been able to survive. He traveled 3 hours (round trip) to each and every meeting and for field service and worked long days in the factory...they did away with side jobs (working for a few $$$$ for extras) and one brother was mugged on the way home from a meeting....his arm was severely broken and the brother's biggest worry was they were going to send him back to his parents farm and let them take care of him.....they did!
When I pioneered, I supported myself....and helped the other pioneers out financially.....my late father always supported my mother. Come to think of it he still does....she still collects 2/3 of his sizable pension and SS on his contributions.......talk about working the system!
-
Undecided
My wife and I (when I was married to a JW) paid for a car for my special pioneer aunt. I felt like I had done something good at the time.
Ken P.
-
luna2
I've heard stories of some pioneers getting gifts, cars, vacations and cash, but I don't have any first hand knowledge of this. If the pioneers in the cong's I attended were reaping huge benefits, I never was aware of it. Of course, I didn't have any extra money, so there was no way I would have been able to contribute anyhow.
Initially, (from what I remember the pioneer sis who studied with me saying) they really were magazine sales people, sort of, and could keep anything over and above the suggested "price" for books and mags, but I don't think anybody really made much more than gas or lunch money doing this.