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During the current pandemic, our dear brothers and sisters need loving elders who will shepherd them and provide well-prepared, timely spiritual instruction. (Acts 20:28) Therefore, please maintain regular contact with each family in the congregation, including making shepherding calls, perhaps by telephone.—Prov. 27:23; sfl chap. 25 pars. 1, 2.

It is also the Governing Body’s earnest desire that bodies of elders continue to conduct regular, weekly congregation meetings. Allowing the brothers and sisters to meet together, even electronically, and express their faith is much better than simply watching a recorded program. As noted below, making use of JW Stream should be considered only when other alternatives are not possible.

While gathering at the Kingdom Hall is the preferred method for meeting together as a congregation, this may not be possible or advisable. If secular authorities restrict large gatherings or limit the size of gatherings out of concern for public safety, we should be obedient and show that we are “in subjection to the superior authorities.”— Rom. 13:1. At the same time, the body of elders should give serious consideration to the following alternative ways of conducting the weekly meetings:

1- Present Programs by Videoconference: The elders may choose to use online conferencing tools, such as Zoom or Skype. These tools allow the brothers and sisters to see each other, offer comments, and present their meeting parts from home. In this way, they can ‘encourage one another.’ (Heb. 10:24, 25) If it is not practical to tie-in all publishers in one videoconference, the elders could arrange a number of smaller videoconferences, perhaps according to field service groups. In all cases, publishers would connect from their own homes. There would be no need for them to meet together in person.

2- Present Programs from the Kingdom Hall: Only program participants would assemble at the Kingdom Hall. All others would connect to the meeting electronically, such as by telephone tie-line or video streaming. In some cases, it may be possible for those connected to participate in the meetings. (sfl chap. 20 par. 24) If it is not possible to have audience participation, the assigned brother would summarize the material.

3- Organize Meetings in Smaller Groups: If secular authorities permit and it is safe to do so, the body of elders may organize meetings by small neighborhood groups or family groups. If brothers are not available in such groups to conduct meetings, sisters could meet to consider the material together.—od chap. 7 par. 23.

4- Selective Use of JW Stream: Making use of JW Stream should be considered only when other alternatives are not possible. JW Stream should not be used as a substitute for congregation meetings week after week. Jehovah’s people rejoice at every opportunity to come together for worship and to express their faith by commenting, even if this must take place by videoconference.—Ps. 22:22; 122:1.

5- Inactive: The elders should reach out to inactive ones and keep them updated as to adjustments in the meeting arrangements. (Luke 15:4-7; sfl chap. 25 pars. 13-15) If needed, elders may grant inactive ones access to JW Stream. The world situation may well move some to return to Jehovah.

6- Disfellowshipped: Elders should use good judgment in determining whether and how to make brief contact with disfellowshipped ones to inform them about adjusted meeting arrangements held at the Kingdom Hall. (sfl chap. 25 par. 20) If meetings are not being held at the Kingdom Hall, then the elders should use good judgment in considering whether to grant a disfellowshipped person access to recordings of meetings on JW Stream.

These alternative ways of conducting meetings may need to be adjusted based on local circumstances. Elders should keep in mind that local publishers will have to make decisions regarding meeting attendance based on their personal circumstances.—Gal. 6:5. We thank you in advance for your fine efforts to care for the spiritual needs of Jehovah’s precious sheep.—1 Pet. 5:2, 3.

Pix.

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Anyone have a copy of that JW poem about a child who doesn't survive Armageddon?

by Bleep Bloop in

jw
friends

i think it was called "a mother's thoughts.

" it was a rather dreadful poem written from the viewpoint of a mom a few weeks after armageddon, reminiscing about her child that didn't survive.

in one part, the rebellious kid says, "i can take care of myself in snow, sleet or rain.

pixel

Wait, what? I've never heard of this poem. Hopefully someone can give a reference to it.

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Political gatherings postponed -- not yet!

by FatFreek 2005 in

while many events are being postponed and cancelled because of the corona virus, isn't it surprising that democrat rallies are continuing?

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how about jw circuit assemblies?.

pixel

I was just thinking about that. Politicians are the worst and selfish.

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Providing salvation is not that important

by pixel in

the washtowel has a crazy obsession with diminishing the important of jesus' sacrifice for humankind.

i find this so antichristian.

i mean, how can you ignore scriptures like john 3:16?.

pixel

That's very interesting Cofty.

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Providing salvation is not that important

by pixel in

the washtowel has a crazy obsession with diminishing the important of jesus' sacrifice for humankind.

i find this so antichristian.

i mean, how can you ignore scriptures like john 3:16?.

pixel

JoenB75, The point is that they insist to inplant the idea that Jesus did not come to earth to save humanity first and foremost, but to settle God's sovereignty. The text you cited, explicitly says "he [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation". Once again, proving that opening up a path for salvation was the main goal of Jesus coming to earth.

WT attitude? "Nah, that's not that important. There are more important things in question."

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Providing salvation is not that important

by pixel in

the washtowel has a crazy obsession with diminishing the important of jesus' sacrifice for humankind.

i find this so antichristian.

i mean, how can you ignore scriptures like john 3:16?.

pixel

The Washtowel has a crazy obsession with diminishing the important of Jesus' sacrifice for humankind. There are more than one article from them saying something like: "Providing salvation was not that important God's sovereignty was more important.

I find this so antichristian. I mean, How can you ignore scriptures like John 3:16?

Here is WT's latest antichristian quote, from January 26 study WT:

"Remember that the high priest had to burn the incense before he could offer up the sacrifices. In that way, he made sure that he would have God’s approval when offering up the sacrifices. What can we learn from that? While on earth, Jesus had to do something important—something more important than providing salvation for mankind—before he could offer up his life in sacrifice. What was that? By living a life of integrity and loyalty, Jesus had to prepare the way for Jehovah to accept his sacrifice. In that way, Jesus would prove that doing things Jehovah’s way is the right way to live. Jesus would vindicate—or prove right and just—his Father’s sovereignty, or way of ruling."

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#Persecution selfies: what do you think?

by Diogenesister in

so apparently the new watchtower russia exhibition features a pretend cell for jws to take pretend "persecution selfies' and wallow in the glorious suffering that is essential for watchtower theology to work - yet is strikingly missing from the lives of 99% of witnesses.. in fact most governments go to great lengths to protect the rights of witnesses, spending millions in public funds either directly to watchtower - in the form of grants ( norway, germany etc) - in various types of tax relief, or in the money spent in court cases establishing watchtowers rights and freedoms (& protecting their kids, whether they know it or not).. i'm interested to know how everyone feels about this...particularly terry walstrom and other guys who have spent time in jail in the name of watchtower's freedom of conscience.

personally i think it reeks of desperation by watchtower and is another example of the type of fantasizing that witnesses regularly indulge in.. also....funny how the end is soooo close that they've had time to build a museum of watchtower history!!

anyone else see the irony in that?!

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Where are these selfies?