that was today's topic over a group chat of my cong's young jbots.
apparently the rumors are circulating everywhere i go, even people from the spanish congs are talking about it.
what's really sad is that the majority of people are already seeing this as "clear" signs of the end coming.
Yep CD is a bitch.
It's also an annual thing now for the GB to drum up some reason for the R&F to think the end is near. I wonder how many years in a row they can repeat the same excitement before the R&F start to wake-up en masse. I know they've been drumming the end is near drum for 100+ years, but it seems like there is a yearly cycle now around October with pepperings of Alarmageddon in between.
just a total speculative thought i had.
with branches getting cut, special pioneers getting sacked, and bethel members going byebye, is there a need for gilead still?
(co's are probably on the block too lests be honest).. if they got rid of that i feel that would be huge.
.. and fun too !
:d. what?
were you expecting a "but"?
I think it will take some time for all of these changes to sink in. Many of those that I know are excited about the layoffs and think it is a sign that the GT is near. They don't yet know about the changes after the annual meeting, but since the 3 TMS talks are being replaced by 4 talks (1 bible reading followed by 3 student presentations) I think that they will take this change as further evidence of the push toward preaching and teaching because the end is near.
Some will eventually re-examine these changes and come to the realization of TTATT, but it won't be immediate for many.
from a recent reddit thread:.
i just received confirmation from a very trusted source in south africa bethel that up to 500 "families" (i imagine couples or singles) are getting let go from that branch.. also confirmed is the special pioneer cull.. what really strikes me about the layoffs is that the south african bethel provides literature and other needs for most of africa, a huge growth area for the org.. .
link:.
Africa may be a growth area for the Dark Lords, but they are without a doubt going to be the most expensive and the least profitable customers to serve, from a business standpoint. And the Dark Lords are running a business. These are 'customers' no business would pursue until they could develop a profit model. And that doesn't appear to be possible in the near or long terms.
That would indicate that they are aware that they are running a business and aren't just deluded religious zealots. I don't believe that is the case. I think they are all drinking the kool-aid even at the top. They can still provide literature from other branches and sending 500 people "into the field", in their minds, may help grow the congregations in that area.
something struck me last week.
i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.
i'm not old and not in bad health.
I came to that realization as well recently. It's like hitting a brick wall. Now I feel that there is so much that I want to do that I've put off. I get anxious with every day that passes.
i'm not jw, so i see this all standing up and very clear from an outsider perspective (i am still seeking my path).
i joined the blog a few weeks ago.
i dated a divorced jw (jw from birth) for a couple of years recently.
if an (aggressive) real estate fund is stopping it's operations directly,.
and if an publishing house is minimize the portfolio,.
and if a member of it's board of directors is telling the costs are higher then the profits,.
James,
Think about all the expenses that the average JW has: gas for field service, providing hospitality for visiting speakers, travel to conventions and assemblies, greasing the palms of COs, working for free on construction projects, etc. Combine this with lower than average income and increasing cost of living and their disposable income is quickly reduced to almost nothing. It's even worse for pioneers and especially pioneer couples.
I know many JWs who feel that they contribute quite a lot to the "work" by all of the above and so contribute very little through direct monetary contributions.
rumor has it 1600 people are going to be re-allocated to the field from bethel (which i assume refers to the brooklyn complex?).
does anyone know how many people will then remain?
i have tried to find figures for the number of employed people but i am coming up with nothing.
I am becoming more and more convinced it might make sense to create some sort of WT-timeline wikipedia which track key stats and events in the WT history for instance sorted as: doctrinal changes, printing statistics and reduction in staff.
^^^^THIS^^^^
I would love to see this!
i've been thinking, "what if it does fail and there is a mass exodus?".
i have been wronged and damaged greatly by these ones.
every one needs to handle this situation in his or her own way, but as for me if it does happen, i will meet them with open arms.
since the move, it has been so enjoyable to not have jw's breathing down our necks asking why we didn't make the meeting, or having to pretend to be "spiritual" in front of family all the time.. 90% of my week is virtually stress free.
then, my mom calls or texts wanting to talk to her grandkids.
every dang call, she asks about the new congregation, if we went to the meeting, etc.. why can't i tell her to fk off?
I understand your predicament to some degree. While I don't feel that my mother is toxic, I dread the conversation about my fade. I've seen it said before, even by those with toxic mothers, that moms, especially for sons, have a special kind of hold on us.
I hope that your mom eventually gets the idea and lessens the pressure. My mom eventually lessened the pressure on my brother when he faded.
