Money, money, money, MOOONey.... so the song goes...
Only $500__ per month? I am in the US, so let's say $200 per month x 50,000 congregations = $10,000,000 (ten million) a month!
That is 120 million a year!
Let alone, at each "Circuit Assembly" they would say "Oh, we need $6,000 more to cover our costs for this weekend (and the hall is paid off) and oh, by the way (at the end of the ass-embly) they would casually tell us "Oh, and the brothers voted, and the $5,000 left over from our expenses will be sent to the Society. Aren't we all happy?" ( wish I had $10,000 to write a check to them at the beginning of the Ass-embly just to see if they would still ask for $$$)
So, let's just say $5,000 x 50 weeks (out of a year) = $250,000 a year for one circuit in the US. If there are 100 circuits, you now have $25,000,000 a year!
I have been around a long while, and I remember when there were FEW requests for donations in the KM.
NOW, over the past few years I read in the "Kingdom" Ministry, there are parts on the meetings almost EVERY OTHER MONTH, that discuss How to make your will out so that the Society can inherit everything....
They offer their services (no need to hire a lawyer, "we'll tell you how to give us all your money") for free!!
Also, it is a very weird thing to see/hear them list all the different things you can "donate" when you die!
Quite audacious!
I was truly embarrasssed!!!!!!!!!!
cha ching, no more of MY bling!