Thank you dbq407 for this post. I listened on phone line just to hear local needs. It was the most negative talk I have ever heard. Essentially, it sounded like a sales meeting by a very disappointed, shaming sales manager reaming out his unproductive sales force. It was about low publisher hours over the last few months. He started with Heb 6: 11,12. He reminded cong that just a few months ago CO had LOVINGLY asked them to think about this scripture where it said we don't want you to become SLUGGISH regarding ministry. He went on to define sluggish. Then said, "Now, nobody wants to be thought of as a SLUG right?" Hours were WAY down in March from when CO spoke a few months prior. He spewed out monthly hour averages, trend isn't up; it's down-if we were looking at it on a graph, and congregation has lowest hours in circuit. The FAITHFUL SLAVE asked us to set a goal to talk to every person in our territory during the month of March. What we accomplished during our memorial campaign was about the poorest we've done for completing the territories, getting the people around. His positive points were: after CO visit some fs groups had better support and there were large number of auxiliary pioneers, but those numbers don't count in cong average hours. He then spoke about things that could be distracting from ministry. Next scripture, Luke 21:28 & 3428 ...."deliverance getting near.” 34 ...."ANXIETIES of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you". Of course he didn't read verse 32, "generation will by no means pass away"...Next, he cherry picked a scripture that doesn't even apply to, as he said, "Jehovah deserves our best as described at Luke 13: 24"---"EXERT yourselves vigorously.... narrow door...."?? We STRUGGLE to be out in the ministry. So friends, you can do it, we can all do it together. We can EXERT ourselves in the field ministry.
It's no wonder there is so much depression, sadness and anxiety amongst "the happiest, most loving people on earth"
The COBE. who has lead the congregation into the ground by being aloof and unloving, didn't give the talk. He assigned to one of his minions, a young elder. It was a shaming meeting. Not delivered to inspire.
