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:-)
having just come back from the uk and spoke with some witnesses to find out how my old congregation is doing, i realized i am now the age that my elders were when i was a kid.
and i wonder what the elders who are now in their 60s and 70s are thinking when they look in the mirror and an old face looks back at them.
many of the elders in my old hall are now retired.
They may look themselfs in the mirror, but are they talking about the RC in Australia?
I would answer your question by saying the elders now in their 60s and 70s may have had thoughts, but the difference between a thought and thinking is the same as black and white thinking.
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?.
Yea I agree, Maksutov.
You can tell how not down, nor numbed out I am now.....I am a lot happier now, and it's great to be at that stage. ( I understand though all circumstances are different, and sentiment and emotion are a good reason to stay in)
And anyway, YES I agree, in all truth I think what ever the circumstances the Internet does make it easier.
But back to the O.P I still do care how others see me. However I just received my " Tax Return " in the post, and their are other things in life to worry about 🎯
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?.
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?
B) Was the price of having left worth it?
I was lucky my wife's father who has spent most of his life as a witness, distributed magazines since he was a young man,and is still a witness, helped me when I spoke of my doubts by saying " you do what you think is right" .
He always wears the same unfashionable clothes and has the same hairstyle from when I first met him. A true believer but a down to earth man. And even now I have left he never tires talking to me, and he never judges me. Not sure I would be outside without him.
The Rebel.
how about a thread on underrated musicians, or underrated bands most of us might not have experienced.
personally i love discovering new musical talent i missed.. the rebel..
T Rex.
listen to the song " 20th Century Boy" with Marc Bolan on vocals.
Who even remembers Marc Bolan? dead aged 29. ( car crash)
The Rebel.
if god exists, he must be a god of freedom.
because he has endowed us with free-will, and never interferes with it (as confirmed by our own experiences).
that means he wants everyone to make their choice and reap the fruits accordingly.
Another example would be the bible story of Adam. If he was created perfect as the J.Ws teach, then how could he do anything imperfect?
Is the answer really because of free will?
I would say if Adam was born with " free will" then he could not be created " perfect" because if he was created perfect he could not do anything imperfect?
How as J.Ws did we reconcile this.....Oh who cares, I have decided i have more important things in my life to be concerned about, and it's not worth arguing about.....
The Rebel
