someone just sent me a link to the 2008 annual report.. haven't read it yet.
randy .
http://www.4shared.com/file/75568905/6c852737/2008_annual_report.html.
SBF:
Total average pioneers is over 1 million for the first time ever I think - a number that has been steadily rising the past few years.
Surely this is because of the hour drop, even though that happened a couple of years ago. Perhaps enough people's circumstances have chaned to allow for "the priviledge of full-time (*cough*) service".
someone just sent me a link to the 2008 annual report.. haven't read it yet.
randy .
http://www.4shared.com/file/75568905/6c852737/2008_annual_report.html.
I was having a look at Ireland's report as that's where I'm from. And I'm sure the stats on there are representative of many western countries.
What was interesting to me was the memorial attendance as witnesses view attendees as potential converts. In Ireland, there were over 10,000 at the Memorial but there are only 5700 peak pubs and only 2606 studies. So if my calculations are right, then about 22% of the people there are neither publishers nor studies but just people who happen to either a) be curious to see the inside of a KH or b) be married to a witness and attend to keep their partner happy. But they will view that number as a positive thing even though people's reason for going are often less than spiritual.
But seriously yes.
There was a properly schziophrenic/bipolar lady that used to frequent my old cong's KH. During the meeting, she would write things in the air with her fingers. She would talk (loudly) to herself during the meeting. She would walk up to the platform in the middle of the public talk and sometimes geniflect (sp?) at the speaker, sometimes put a bunch of dead weeds on the paltform and sometimes spray deodrant at him. I was a kid at the time and thought it was hilarious. I would often hope she's turn up at the meeting just to liven it up!
we're happy to announce that now all 5,000 pages of court records from the nine child sexual abuse lawsuits involving sixteen victims, settled by watchtower in february 2007, are available for free download from our website, www.watchtowerdocuments.com.
there are a total of twelve files, besides a file containing a commentary explaining the lawsuits, and each file can be downloaded separately.
due to the fact that many people purchased the cd, "secrets of pedophilia in an american religion," thus, reimbursing us for the expense to buy, compile and publish the court documents, there is now no reason to sell the material anymore.
I know I thanked you on the other thread but I want to do it here also.
Thanks to you and all the people who helped you. If this can open the eyes of just a couple of people, then at least there can be some good come out of a sad situation.
My MIL?
LOL
Any in yours?
i was just thinking of a some of the scriptures that really bothered me when i was a witness.
one of them was exodus 34:6" "and jehovah went passing before his face declaring: "jehovah jehovah a god merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth".
to me this made god look like a little kid with an out of control ego.
(James 4:17) 17 Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.
I've seen this scripture be used for all sorts of self-serving purposes even as a JW and it bothered me no end. Completely contrary to the non-judgemental notion that JC thought.
of course that didnt happen either.
could you please read deut 18:20 aloud once, more?.
could you read deut 18:20 aloud again for me?.
Go RR! Well done.
Hopefully someday I can share a similar story. I want my family out so bad!
i received the following emails, one yesterday and the other today and thought you'll like to see an example of the positive and the negative messages i regularly receive through webmaster at my website, watchtower documents, llc, www.watchtowerdocuments.com.. .
here's the negative message:.
"i must say that after reading your biography, i am shocked.
I've no real advice to add to what others have said, Barb. But well done to you for putting up with the harrassing and unpleasant emails you recieve!
I'm part way thru reading your latest info on the recently revealed documents and it makes for very interesting though upsetting reading. I'm hoping it will touch my "in" mother who is under the niave notion that they don't and won't reappoint offenders/predators.
When the program you were on was aired over here, a doorstep study of my husband's told us not to call back. At the time we were upset, but now I am glad. It seems like something you or one of the others said helped her stay away from the dubs so feel good about that. One less victim!
Blondie, you beat me to it! That's what I was gonna say! LOL
So when's the big day?
trying to get this going again - so if anyone knows of someone that could do with some encouraging words please pm me so that i can put their name up here.. rekless: his wife recently passed away - please keep him in your thoughts/prayers.
mrs chickennest: still haven't heard anything other than her diagnosis of lung & sinus cancer.
please keep her and hubby.. simplesally: does anyone have new news?
Nice idea Lou.
Something like this helps in so many ways - the people who are mentioned know we are thinking of them and the rest of us can feel a little bit better about our own problems when we see others going thru even more difficult things.
To all of you dealing with death, illnesses and other difficulties...my thought are with you
