My experience is very different from most, I grew up in a Congo based in the town of my birth, but I married at the tender age of 20 and moved to a very small rural Congo. where I remained for the next 38 years.
When we joined there were less than thirty pubs. a few were getting on, but most were only a year or two older than me, so we grew up together. It was always recognised as having a different attiude to surrounding Congos, for example, when the Elder arrangement came in, NOT ONE of the existing team claimed to qualify. Not even the Congregation Servant/Overeeer of the time who had been asked to move their by the Soc. coz we were such a .bunch of rebels.
On a subsequent visit the C.O persuaded one guy that he did,(not the Cong serv !) and gradually over a period a few others "Qualified". This humble, not wanting power or prestige attitude was a hallmark of the Congo, when Elders moved in they were pretty soon told to have the same attitude or go elsewhere, no lording it over the flock.
The B.O.E had the attitude that they forced no one into FS, the did not police people's private lives, and they were there to shepherd and serve the congregation.
This rather Christian attitude was frowned on by C.Os ,but could not be condemned using the Bible, so it continues in good measure to this day.
The Congo. attracted and produced truly loving people in the main, it was this that kept me in all those years, if I had experienced half what some of you have I would have walked long ago.
The guys who were Elders were all pretty competent types too, ran their own businesses, some were professionals, most were well educated, we were just A-typical as a Congo. I suppose. It also had a great social side to it, which of course we have left behind.
There always has to be an exception to prove the rule I guess.
