I am almost out of posts, so I will share with you how we were able to build the Circuit Overseers homes. The estimated cost of construction was close to $350,000 in materials alone, all labor is free time when your a Jehovah Witness with construction skills. The elder body wanted to demonstrate their love to Jehovah's Organization by enlisting the Congregation's finances during the most turbulent times.
The biggest lie there is, is a collection plate does not exist or passed around at the Kingdom Hall, you are harrassed every Monday, Tue, Wed, Thur, Friday to put money in the Donations Boxes made of wood. The brothers of my Kingdom Hall passed out slips asking every member to promise to pay, $48.5 a month to cover the materials costs. Some brothers and sisters had problems reconciling "don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing" and "Counting the cost before you build the Church" and "There is a Season for everything ( My brother is a loan officer, home loans were impossible to get after December of 2008) and friends voiced their opinion "this is a bad time to build", "the friends are hurting economically and nobody has a spare $48.50 to give each month". The lone wolf elder (I won't say who it was) pushed harder and harder every Meeting the public was unlikely to attend, and after four months of constant badgering and chasing down people who voiced their opinions publically and yelling at them, the Congregation agreed to build the multi-dwelling places for three retiring overseers.
Not all elders were demanding everyone sign up to give for the Circuit Overseers, others were still against it and the elders told the Circuit overseers who were against it (the circuit overseers were still in the field and the lone wolf elder made sure everyone above knew who was against taking on a huge loan. The society did their part by accepting a reduced interest rate on this loan, the Watchtower almost always carries this type of loan no reasonable lender is going to lend to a group of risky people without charging a higher interest rate.
Friends are still angry we signed them up for a loan they did not want and are angry about the lies that were preached over the period of four months of weekday meeting nights. Only three quarters of the congregation that night raised their hands in favor, other friends said "I am not paying one penny of this, I will send my donation by mail but I refuse to allow myself to be harrassed by strong-armed tactics those elders used!"
1. If we have seasoned bethel brothers living next door to the Kingdom Hall, they will provide extra spiritual support we need.
Facts: The only time those brothers interact is when they have needs, they need somebody to clean their house, clean their windows or mop or vacuum their floor, they need someone to work on their car or wash it. They are running short this month with funds because they never saved a penny and put their trust in the Watchtower Society. Who pays for them to attend the District Assembly, you can guess who. They are all sick and we are told it's our honor to take care of Christ's Brothers. How do you think it makes Witnesses who spent their whole life feel? Witnesses who are lost in the rest-home shuffle, never to be seen again once a worldy family member finds out their elderly relative is living in filth and poverty? The reproach this brings upon Jesus Christ because worldy people discover the Witnesses never checked up on their own? The Watchtower takes care of it's own, but not its own (do you get it?)* The friends are willing to extend themselves but are getting tired the only time these "spiritual assets" call is when they need something. The Watchtower cover's their pension, (congregations pay for their healthcare, insurance, utilities and other expenses.) or do they? Their pensions are based of donations "to the world wide work" so we pay for their pensions too.
Observation: Why are older Jehovah Witnesses struggling with their finances and living in dumps while men and women who preached and took "a vow of poverty" live better than 80 percent of the Jehovah Witnesses who followed the "Overseers" advice? Let the Watchtower take care of the circuit overseers the same way they take care of elderly witnesses who followed the Watchtower advice. Seventy year old men and women looking for work, living off less than $600 in California disability because the hucksters of Bethel promised them eternal life, if they just believe a little bit more.
The Lone Wolf Elder basically push the Kingdom Hall donation boxes in the faces of everyone, so yes we have been told to put donations in the box and we all had to sign a contract stating "We promise to pay for the next thirty years, $50 a month!"
I am almost out of posts for this week, I must conserve these valuable assets to keep you informed of what is going on. The badge request was really made by the wholesome sisterhood of the traveling book bags.
*Often the elderly who are found living in excrement or filth are picked up by the Social Services or their Worldy Family shocked the Church who took them away from their family, was no where to be found when the individual needed the group. To better explain our inhumane behaviour, people like myself do not want to be bothered when our sisters or brothers are no longer able to preach or perform a vital function of the Congregations or need our help. We don't like people who take, only those who can give and further the Witness work and preach "The Message Of the Watchtower Society"
I have field service early in the morning we hit the Crematorian and cemetary and laundry matts. I hope that Zorro Apostate has not been using his red sharpie marker or using Q code stickers.