Hi alamb,
you say " wow this place sure looks different". As I new here, maybe this question will help us both:-
( Q ) Has anyone got any good advice on how to use the forum most effectively?
I mainly post on the friends ( and enemies :-) ) section so I can keep track of my posts, but I am sure I am missing out.....
The Rebel.
the target is converts.. why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?.
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.. a) why so little interests?.
b) was it the internet ?.
Same great points, and I am beginning to realise the ministry isn't about "love" of neighbour. It's about isolation, and not getting to know anyone that doesn't read society literature and agree with the contents.
How rewarding it is to have awakened, and now I welcome people challenging my views, providing people are able to present their arguments in an intelligent and respectful manor.
Funny now I get the message, forcing viewpoints on other people is insulting, unloving and arrogant.
The Rebel.
the target is converts.. why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?.
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.. a) why so little interests?.
b) was it the internet ?.
I now realise the enthusiasm for the d2d work I mentioned in my O.P, centred around the social contact, the being seen to be zealously....that is my abiding memory.
But in almost every gloomy picture, there's a touch of sunlight, and I am sure at least one, maybe two, even three have left by now. Hope so.
The Rebel.
the target is converts.. why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?.
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.. a) why so little interests?.
b) was it the internet ?.
But when I went d2d my goal was that day my study got baptised. ( I am now glad I never achieved that goal)
My point being d2d should be an honour, and if one is genuine, you should always be thinking one step further, to have studies. So I believe what it boils down to in many congregations most publishers just seem to plodder along, no enthusiasm, no drive and no ambition to convert.
That being the attitude I observed, it seems the religion is producing sons like fathers, and daughters like mothers, and no one seems to have much zeal or spark. That I find rather sad and wasteful for the new generation.
Anyway I am glad such a high % of the new generation are leaving.
The Rebel.
the target is converts.. why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?.
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.. a) why so little interests?.
b) was it the internet ?.
Hi ignoran....
So what you are basically saying is life as a witness is boaring and produces lethargic and uninterested people. So with that Zombie image, I can see why when witnesses leave school they do not want to become " pioneers" .
personally I think to be a success it helps to love what you do. And if you love what you do you are more likely to make the grade. So Elders become Elders but they don't convert ...that's a telling observation, and I believe with a lot of truth.
The Rebel
the target is converts.. why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?.
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.. a) why so little interests?.
b) was it the internet ?.
I agree Je.suis.
But I find it interesting, that for example so many brothers can knock on doors and build successful window cleaning rounds, but not knock on doors and make converts.
My point is by knocking on doors for a window cleaning round the intention is customers, and is therefore successful. I believe if the intention on the door to door work was converts, there are both brothers and sisters, with the personality, and skills to make converts if they really wanted to.
The Rebel.
the target is converts.. why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?.
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.. a) why so little interests?.
b) was it the internet ?.
The target is converts.
Why does it seem such an outrageous aim for a congregation to recruit new converts?
in my old congregation, the enthusiasm was there but the knocking on doors produced zero " baptisms" in my final years.
A) why so little interests?
B) was it the Internet ?
C) why in spite of such pathetic interest, do some continue to pionee?
personally I blame the publishers, I generally believe if they were interested in converting the product is very sellable, to a wide target audience such as the vulnable, the lonely, immigrants, ect ect...maybe it's all about show, and not encouraging the townspeople to come to meetings?
The Rebel
the membership rule is simple, you join the organisation for life and undertake to serve for life.. my o.p is based on the poet robert burns who talked about the gift to " see ourselfs as others see us".
i think maybe the hardest thing for me to leave, the jehovers witness " organisation" was to accept how my family and friends will now "see" me.. so my questions are how difficult was it to leave:-.
a) knowing the reaction of friends and family?.
right way up down Dumplin.
i always liked it when suddenly the quite brother rebelled. Like Bro ..... the congregations only success from the door to door, and a quiter witness you never would see.I never saw him show any emotion, occasionally when he gave talks he would visibly shake ( I admired the courage this obviously took) But his reluctance to speak, or be drawn into conversation on any subject I found perculiar, and I don't think anyone really new what went on inside his head.
Anyway he became an immediate hit with me, when he left during a Sunday meeting, just got up strolled out and I have never seen him again.
The Rebel.
i didn't know where to posts this, i hope "friends" is ok-.
how did you feel when the book you studied in was deemed "discontinued"?
for instance, when i was studying, i studied the knowledge book.
The reason I was given was that the " knowledge book " replaced the " live for ever book" was because the end was SO So near.
You see the " live for ever book" took two years to go through, however the " Knowledge" book could be completed in much less time....giving interested ones the time to be " Baptised" and so not " destroyed" at Armagedon....
Back to your O.P.:-
How did I feel about this?
A) it made perfect sence.
How do I now feel about this?
A) I am not sure my language complies with forum rules, so I won't use any other word than B...SH.T
The Rebel.
the membership rule is simple, you join the organisation for life and undertake to serve for life.. my o.p is based on the poet robert burns who talked about the gift to " see ourselfs as others see us".
i think maybe the hardest thing for me to leave, the jehovers witness " organisation" was to accept how my family and friends will now "see" me.. so my questions are how difficult was it to leave:-.
a) knowing the reaction of friends and family?.
Love the replys....which also clarify why I am not "HAUNTED"...as they hoped.
Instead I have personal attitude, confidence, a feeling of being....but that is not to say it was an easy path.
Remember to be a witness we needed to be " HONEST " " HUMBLE " and " HUNGRY "
i guess I lacked those 3 qualities for success as a " J.W" now I am on " HIATUS " " HUMANE" and " " Happy" ....or at least getting that way:-)
