i just read an email from a friend, and she shared some very interesting emails from her friends about information on changes now happening at the bethels around the world.
here is the email: .
---------------------------------thanks sally, jesus is directing the org and all decisions and instructions to us may not seem practical from now on, neither will we understand the reasonings behind many of the changes that the organization makes.
Wow Absalom, where did that news come from?
if they are considering closing the Britain branch I wouldnt be surprised if it was to do with the charities commission investigation, another poster said the UK is looking at giving the commission more powers.
i just wanted to say that my dear 89 year old mom is terminally ill and will soon pass.
she is on morphine and hanging on.
she has been a devout witness for about 60 years and a wonderful mother.
I'm so sorry for you, minimus.
Its wonderful that you've had such a great relationship with your mum, I'm sure it makes it harder to lose her but I hope that the good memories will give you some comfort in time x
sorry for the length of this, i hope anyone stopping by to read will take the time and read it.
i haven't included any things i would consider "apostate" specifics about doctrines, or major scandals.
it's just a general layout of the path i took to becoming an exjw.
Thank you fmf, really interesting...
living so close to the hq you got to see a lot more than other witnesses would, peep behind the curtain so to speak...
id love to hear what the crazy brother from Brooklyn said in this talk, and what it was that made you so angry about AMIIIs zone visit.
Its definitely a process waking up, I've been going through it for just 6 months, but I look back now and think there were niggling doubts as long as 5 years ago. Such as when I read a comment section in a newspaper article about a young jw mother dying in child birth due to refusing blood. Someone said something like "the witnesses are so hypocritical, they won't donate blood but they accept blood fractions - where do they think that blood comes from? Huge blood banks of donated blood". It niggled me and I thought 'that is hypocritical' but didn't come to fruition until years later...along with many more seeds of doubt along the way.
yesterday there was a horrific crash on a bridge here in seattle.
a dukw (wwii amphibious truck) tourist cruise lost control and hit a charter bus full of exchange students head on.
four dead and about a dozen seriously wounded, many more in less critical condition.yesterday, canlis restaurant, located near the scene and one of the most exclusive eateries in seattle, closed for the first time in its 65 year history and sent out its staff with food for the first responders.
Of course all these people should be wandering around in circles, knocking on empty doors and drinking coffee this morning, not actually helping their fellowman!
my thoughts are.
1. they want to avoid being made to comply with any laws that come with anything classed as a "school" especially a school with children enrolled.. 2. the mid-week meeting has been dying in the ass for years and needs a revival.
i predict happy -clappy-sing-a-longs to be included in the program.. anyone else have any thoughts ??
I alsways thought the school was the 'weirdest' part of the meeting, when I first went I was like 'what on earth!'. Disjointed talks from odd people who are then given very patronizing 'counsel' publicly by another odd person. All very weird and cultish to an outsider.
Some very impractical ridiculous talks as well, especially the sister talks on bible characters, I always tried not to laugh when I had to do a talk saying something like 'oh, sister, your situation reminds me so much of Hezekiah, let's look at the account together because I'm sure his (ancient biblical) life could really help you with your (21st century) problems!" NOT hahahahaha
i really think they've got some new marketing and financial people in to try to reverse the decline and make meetings more enjoyable.
the chelmsford project in the uk has already come to a halt and every one has been sent home.
the bethel family in london is to be cut by several hundred.
my impression is that most ambitious youngster in the org dream of being involved with the building program.
I agree with 'level theplayingfield' I don't think they'll be on the brink yet, but it is quite a turn around on the construction.
i wonder if they got some new financial gurus in (non yes-men) to do a financial health check and they said "whooooaaa boys you're going to get yourselves in a mess if you carry on like this"..... They try to boost donations but it doesn't work so they have to call a halt to most construction. It makes sense to push ahead with Warwick because then they'll be able to sell the remaining buildings in Brooklyn which will free up cash to probably save the day and enable the other construction to start again.
in the meantime they cut costs where they can, the financial guys have probably highlighted how expensive the bethels are and other unnecessary expenses (a knowledgable bro told me a few years back that the 'voluntary workers' are a LOT more costly than regular employees). they introduce some exciting changes at meetings, more emphasis on preaching to get everyone excited about the imminent end and hopefully they'll start donating more again!
https://www.tomedes.com/translator-hub/most-translated-website.php.
i wonder if this is true.
lots of people commenting after the article about how it's proof of g#ds blessing.. so if jw.borg ever gets overtaken in the rankings does that mean the blessing has left the building?.
I got 'stuck' on this issue when I was awakening...I kept thinking, JWs are the only ones trying to reach so many people throughout the earth, really they're only ones preaching the good news worldwide. Then JWfacts.com pointed out the success of different ministries such as the JesusFilm project.
The Jesus film project is a non-denominational 2 hour movie which is a simple film version of Jesus life and ministry based on Luke's gospel. It has been used by various missionary groups for 35 years, and has been translated to 1300 languages, they take it to all sorts of far flung places, tribes etc where internet may not even be heard of. Estimated billions of people have seen the film and 200million have decided to become Christians as a result of seeing the film.
Although I don't back any one denomination, I did feel misled by the witnesses into believing that they were the only ones really accomplishing any significant preaching work, as of course they neglect to tell anyone about other preaching missions like this one.
http://www.jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/statistics/statistics
so when a building project starts then it's a sign of jehovah's blessing.. i hope a few note the irony and ask what it means regarding jehovah's blessing when worldwide construction projects already underway are cancelled or postponed..
I've had brothers in the perm. construction teams say to me recently, 'the amazing expansion is proof of jehovahs blessing on the organisation' ......
Hmm, and now what is being proved?
heard 4th-hand, but from a full-on believer, so not likely to be an "apostate lie":.
apparently, at bethel's morning worship this morning, it was announced that all worldwide wts construction is "suspended" for an indefinite time, except for the new world headquarters at warwick.. also, the "relocation" of remote translating teams is also suspended.. finally, there will be a "worldwide" reduction in bethel personnel.. all this came to me in a non-english language, and,as noted, 4th-hand.
so it is possible something may have been lost in translation and/or in the multiple steps between bethel morning worship & me.. but if true, it would be quite stunning.
They've got to be cash strapped because otherwise why make such an embarrassing announcement, maybe the spectre of financial redress to child abuse victims in Australia is hitting home, plus the US suits coming online?
Anyway, just took a quick look and there's confusion and dissent on jw talk :
It was only in the May broadcast that Bro Lett spoke about the many expansion projects that are planned. The Britain branch project has been in the pipeline for a long time. Funds have been donated for the project, and many brothers are working there right now. Now is all that changing? And why close the dining rooms? Bethelites have to eat somewhere. What difference will it make to close the dining room? Don't understand these changes.
the letter that watchtower free put up was very interesting.
here is my impression.. the watchtower is becoming more and more geared towards idiots.
the midweek meeting has a stupid name, and the parts sound equally dumb.
