Interesting post...in 1995 I was serving as an elder in a congregation near WT Farms...at the time the WT article on "Education with a Purpose" was released, I had a conversation with a bethel farm "heavy" (since deceased - and an absolutely great, caring and loving man) who told me why the society had written the article. He had had a conversation with Mr Hentschel (Fred F was still alive)about this very matter. He said the society (even then in 1995)was having a very difficult time attracting qualified help to run the ever more sophisticated equipment. As a matter of fact, the WTS basically felt that with the state of most high schools, the education and knowledge level of the newbies was very deficient. Basic skills were missing in many instances. So, they decided to open the doors to higher education - "with a purpose". (ie get a college education locally with the goal of pioneering or maintaining the pioneer spirit).
It was so bad at bethel at that time, that brothers who were teachers in the local schools would come in to WT farms and teach basic math and reading skills to those many in need. It was real bad at the entry level for sure. This still may be ongoing...although they have greatly reduced the number of new workers of late. Money is definitely an issue. So also is streamlining and better efficiency. (Despite what the visitors saw, the farm was quite inefficient in its processes and procedures. There was the "right way; the wrong way and the bethel way" - as the bethelites would say! They shut farm #2 around 1996 (cattle)and later stopped growing much food. Local temporary workers were sent packing. They built a large refrigerated storage facility. They found it was cheaper to buy food on the wholesale market to feed the thousands 5000 at the farm, Brooklyn and Patterson. Further changes will come inevitably. the fixed expenses are huge...the full time qualified resources dwindling. I believe they think they are just downsizing in time for the end. Question is: What end?
proandcon
JoinedPosts by proandcon
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12
The Watchtower's Achilles Heel
by metatron inrecent events strongly suggest that the watchtower has a. severe, if not fatal, weakness.. lack of education - and intelligent management.. over the past several years, the governing body has emphasized.
a program of 'simplification' - a plain response to the demands.
of an international organization that lacks enough money and.
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proandcon
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2002 District Convention Schedule
by proandcon in1050 song 151 and announcements.
205 song 92.
205 song 158.
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proandcon
Start you planning ...if you haven't already...looks like tons of new material wil be covered inunique and interesting ways (LOL)...would be interesting to see some here develop sample outlines to the individual topics...
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2002-2003 ZEALOUS KINGDOM PROCLAIMERS
District Convention of Jehovah's WitnessesFriday
Imitate The Zeal of Our Lord, Jesus - Joel 2:17
Morning
930 Music
940 Song 193 and Prayer
950 Rejoice In Coming Together as Kingdom Proclaimers
1020 Hearing from Fellow Kingdom Proclaimers
1050 Song 151 and Announcements
1100 Take Exquisite Delight in Jehovah Himself
1120 Show Yourselves Thankful
1150 Keynote Address: Kingdom Proclaimers Fired with Zeal
1220 Song 31 and IntermissionAfternoon
200 Music
205 Song 92
210 Be Fearless in Knowing That Jehovah is With Us
230 Symposium: Micah's Prophecy Strengthens Us to Walk
in Jehovah's Name
Jehovah's Servants Have True Hope
We Will Walk in Jehovah's Name Forever!
What Does Jehovah Expect of Us?
330 Song 80 and Announcements
340 Maintain Chastity by Safeguarding Your Heart
400 Guard Against Deception
425 Worship the Only True God
455 Song 6 and Closing PrayerSaturday
Be Zealous For What Is Good - 1Pe3:13
Morning
930 Music
940 Song 133 and Prayer
950 Examining the Scripts Daily Builds Zeal
1000 Symposium: Kingdom Proclaimers Who Glorify Their Ministry
Handle the Word of God Aright
Help Others to Accept the Kingdom Message
Focus on Starting Bible Studies
1100 Song 161 and Announcements
1110 Why "Pray Incessantly"
1130 Spiritual Conversation Builds Up
1150 How Dedication and Baptism Lead to Salvation
1220 Song 55 and IntermissionAfternoon
200 Music
205 Song 158
210 Be Modest, and Keep Your Eye Simple
240 Trust Jehovah Completely in Times of Distress
310 Song 47 and Announcements
320 Symposium: The Quality of Our Faith Tested by Various Trials
Suffering Persecution for the Sake of Righteousness
Meeting the Issue of Neutrality
Faithfully Enduring Trials Brings Praise to Jehovah
420 Draw Close to Jehovah
450 Song 97 and Closing PrayerSunday
A People Zealous For Fine Works-Tit 2:14
Morning
990 Music
940 Song 30 and Prayer
950 Examining the Scriptures Daily Promotes Fine Works
1000 Is Your Confidence in Jehovah?
1040 Youths-Build for the Future with Jehovah's Organization
1100 Song 183 and Announcements
1110 DRAMA: Stand Firm in Troubled Times
1140 Be Like Jeremiah-Fearlessly Proclaim the Word of God
1200 Song 70 and IntermissionAfternoon
130 Music
140 Song 129 and Prayer
150 Public Discourse: "The Scene of This World Is Changing"
235 Song 181 and Announcements
240 Summary of the Watchtower
310 Abound in Fine Works as Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers
355 Song 96 and Closing Prayer -
4
You never know
by proandcon inhow many of these experiences have you heard over the years?
jw's always seem to think it can only happen to them as the 'chosen ones"...interesting...what's your take?.
experience from a circuit assembly in ft. worth texas:.
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proandcon
How many of these experiences have you heard over the years? JW's always seem to think it can only happen to them as the 'chosen ones"...interesting...what's your take?
_________
Experience from a circuit assembly in Ft. Worth Texas:
This brother interviewed 4 people. An older sister and 3 brothers. He asked
the sister if she'd had joy in service (pioneer 21 yrs). She said
> > >yes, although there had been some sadness.
Her oldest son left home without accepting the truth but the rest of the
> > >kids came into the truth. So he asked her what was a joyful
experience? She said she was calling on this woman and met the woman's
husband
> > >and started a study with him. Then pointing to the brother next to her
this is him, Brother ______".
He's now an elder and pioneer. Now he gets asked a little background info
then asked if he had found joy. Yes he said I studied with (pointing to
> > >brother next in line) Brother_____.
So the next brother tells his story. He was a Catholic but his boss brother
before) started pioneering and needed bible studies, so he
> > >thought he would help him out and be a bible study. Of course he came
> into the truth too. So he was asked if he'd found joy in ministry. Yes,
(and
> > >pointing to last brother) I studied with Brother _____ and he came into
the truth. So the next brother is interviewed. He had been trying to tell a
> workmate that there was no hell fire (knew from some family in the truth)
but didn't know how to show the man from the bible and decided he needed to
> > >study the bible. Shortly after the brother called on him and started a
study with him and he came into the truth.
Then the speaker/interviewer goes back to the first sister and asked her
> > >even though she'd had some sadness did any of these brothers bring her
a
> > >particular joy? "Yes, (and she starts walking toward the last brother
> > >interviewed). This is my son that almost got away." And they are
crying by the time she gets to him and he hugged her. Needless to say there
wasn't a dry eye in the building. Even the speaker got choked up. It was so
heartwarming. To think her son came into the truth from a bible study she
started and on down the line he was contacted. You just never know -
35
The sick mind of the JW
by JT inyou got to love these folks.
james.
>>interesting remarks at morning worship from tom & esther chin:.
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proandcon
I'm a JW who regularly pioneers in the WTC plaza area...on 9/11 I was tired from being out late the on the night of 9/10 with my worldly friends; so I slept in on 9/11...thanks to Jehovah - my life was spared...How come my story wasn't in the WT article about JW's and the WTC tragedy? What a joke !!!
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WTS...news from Publishing Committee re need for m
by proandcon insent: thursday, december 13, 2001 10:09 am.
interesting letter from the wts publishing committee recently.
funds for kh expansion and perhaps other activities now seem to be harder to come by.. .
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proandcon
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 10:09 AM
Interesting letter from the WTS Publishing Committee recently. Funds for KH expansion and perhaps other activities now seem to be harder to come by.
A report from the Publishing Committee on making the best use of
contributed funds.
Five years ago because of construction in the United States and throughout
the world on K. H. and A. H. and branches the needs were greater than the
available funds putting quite a strain on the resources.
The design build committee limited any building projects to only those
absolutely necessary. This resulted in saving millions of dollars just the
first year.
The operations committee with the help of a new integrated computer system
was able to make some significant changes. Formerly there were 6 purchasing
departments, 13 receiving departments and 262 inventory
locations at Brooklyn, Patterson and Wallkill. Now there is 1 purchasing
department, and just 7 service centers handling the receiving and
inventories. The inventory has been drastically reduced and millions of
dollars have been
saved.
New energy efficient boilers located in the Towers residential building are
now also supplying all the heat and hot water for not that building only but
also the other main buildings on Columbia Heights.
An integrated financial reporting system has enabled them to consolidate
funds. These have been used for K.Hs, Branches, etc in other countries
such as Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and some of the Pacific Islands.
Places that do not have the necessary materials, resources, funds or
experience to engage in such projects
on their own.
Since November 1999 a new program was instituted for
building some 2000 K.H.s in the above areas. Local
volunteers who were able to work full time on such
projects are being provided with food and lodging. By
the end of this past service year 1,750 K. H.s have been
completed. In Rwanda for instance 90 K.H. were built
for less than $9,000 each in the 2001 service year.
Tanzania built 177 K.H. for less than $10,000 each. And
Malawi saw 195 K.H. for $6,000 each. By the end of August 2002 they expect
to complete a total of 350 K.H.
in that one country alone.
Donations unfortunately have not kept pace, but have
decreased even prior to September 11. Now we see
severe economic conditions resulting in even less funds
available for expansion.
The Bethel family of 20,000+ worldwide is being urged to
help conserve resources. As an illustration if each of the
20,000 Bethelites turned off a 100-watt bulb for one hour
each day, at the end of the year there would be a savings
of $25,000.
Well, we live in exciting times and we will have to wait on
Jehovah as to what the future holds for all of us and up
here at Bethel as well.*********************************
Wonder if Jehovah can make a loan to help out?
Why are they worried about "what the future will hold"..I thought they knew the future with no doubt?
ProandCon
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Funniest (Yes another one) names at Kingdom hall
by sleepy inwhats the funniest names you've come across at the kingdom hall?.
once i went to a hall were it was anonced that the seal's were away on holiday .in the closing prayer they prayed for brother pig.. i thought we were in a zoo.
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proandcon
had a family in our cong...last name...Duck...you guessed it...father's name was Donald...son named Donald also...DUHHHH!...family insisted everyone call them Don...go figure...
as kids we all used to quietly go "quack quack' when any of the Duck's were called on in the WT study...btw...the mother was a little "daffy" come to think of it...Little things made it bearable...
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I Said Goodbye
by Farkel inmy father was rushed by ambulance from his rest home to st. marks hospital in salt lake city, utah friday, but i only just heard about it.
i received a call from the floor nurse and she told me he is not expected to live.
his lungs are filled fill up with fluid and are continuing to fill u with more fluid: he has pneumonia.
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proandcon
Farkel...while I do not even personally know you, I feel as I do having read your many posts on different forums over the past few years. I feel for your loss. Take comfort in the fact that you were able to tell your dad you loved him and shared your innermost thoughts with him. Most importantly, be proud that his very personality, his personna, is reflected so visibly in you. The love and caring; the hard work and perseverance; the intelligence and hands on experience...are all wonderful qualities you learned from your dad...who despite some setbacks and pitfalls remained a basically contented person. It's so sad that he died. Allow his qualities to always shine in you. And, as a result, you will never forget him. Everything else is just not so important.
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When and where baptized
by drahcir yarrum ini thought it might be interesting to see how many here remember where and when they were baptised into the borg.
for some the memory may be too painful, but i'm curious.. me.
it was 1966 in vancouver, bc.
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proandcon
April 1985...Monroe NY Ass'y Hall
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Matthew 25
by Farkel inwhen did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked, and clothe you?
he was talking about food, clothing, shelter and supplication to the least of the brothers.
he could not be talking about anything else and here is why: could any human offer jesus spiritual food?
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proandcon
True story...JW's the most loving people on earth (tm)...several pioneer sisters were leaving the KH one morning on their way to field service. A jogger, a woman, approached them as they stood on the KH steps and asked if she could use the bathroom. My gosh...what to do. No brothers around to direct! No procedures or protocol to follow! No recent or old mags to refer too! What to do? How would their approximately 45 years of collective enlightened truth shine forth? Would they reflect the "light of the world".
They told the jogger they were leaving; would not reopen the door and that a gas station was about 3 blocks away.
You make the call...Loving...even reasonable? True its just these three who in the JW element are fine and responsible mature people. But outside the element have major personality flaws! At least they didn' try to give the anxious jogger some reading material. Hope she made it!
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JW Kids Leave the Organization: Facts
by Maximus inthe october 1 watchtower 2001 features articles on training children "properly" and dealing with a "prodigal child.
the latest inside u.s. figures reveal that 86% of jw children leave the fold, with some 29% who eventually come back for reasons of family ties, most never "reaching out.
" that means over half leave permanently.
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proandcon
Several years ago, while preparing a talk on youths in jah's org for the DC, a DO told me that the attrition rate of JW youths in the NYC area was at epidemic proportions - 9 out of 10 left by age 20. He realted poor and irregular family studies as the reason!