On Thursday, September 24, JWsurvey reproduced a Watchtower letter that had been leaked by a bethel insider. Dated October 4, 2015, the letter advised (or WILL advise) congregations of the announcements that are to be made at Saturday’s annual meeting.
The most dramatic announcement was arguably the scrapping of the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School in favor of a session of preaching presentations.
Another eyebrow-raiser was the news that magazine printing is being further reduced, with public editions of the Watchtower and Awake! to be printed once every two months from January onward.
Within 48 hours of the letter being leaked, this website received nearly 23,000 visits. Interest in the letter was substantial, and the contents were mulled over by the ex-Jehovah’s Witness community in various corners of social media.
Unsurprisingly, given the sensitive nature of the letter, some suggested it might be a hoax. I even briefly pondered myself whether I might be on the receiving end of an extremely elaborate prank designed to undermine this website’s credibility.
But any doubts as to the letter’s authenticity were put to bed today when JWsurvey’s webmaster, John Hoyle, received an email from our hosting company notifying us of an email from Watchtower’s legal department. Apparently, as was the case with the notorious October 1st 2012 child abuse letter, Watchtower’s lawyers consider the leaked letter copyrighted material, and have demanded it be taken down from our pages.
Our web hosting company, seeking to have the matter resolved quickly, advised us of two options: (1) to take the disputed material down, or (2) to issue a counter notification. Since the letter is now freely available elsewhere online, and our work in disseminating it is now effectively done, we have no interest in becoming embroiled in a legal scrap with Watchtower over whether the letter should be on our pages or not.
If anything I am grateful to Watchtower, and specifically its legal department, for once more shooting themselves in the foot so spectacularly. We had a similar situation only 9 months ago regarding Tony Morris and his tight pants fixation, and it seems lessons have not been learned.
By issuing a DMCA complaint, Watchtower has decisively claimed authorship of the letter. And by forcing us to take it down they have demonstrated that (1) they are embarrassed, and (2) they are completely clueless as to how the internet works. Once information is distributed on such a scale it cannot be undistributed.
The whole debacle is yet further proof that Watchtower, like any cult, is struggling to come to terms with the information age. The Governing Body and their men in suits assume the internet can be brought to heel, and that everyone who runs a JW-related website will play by their rules.
But even workers within bethel walls are starting to wake up and find their voice. With each fresh leak the Governing Body’s grip on power is slipping, and with each attempted cover-up there is further proof that this hapless organization is far from the worthy adversary many would assume.
For obvious reasons the letter in question is no longer available on these pages, but I am confident a copy can easily be traced with some persistent searching on Google. The Reddit Ex-JW community would also be a useful place to look.
Further reading…
- Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
- Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
- More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
- Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
- JWsurvey articles on Warwick
- JWsurvey articles on downsizing
I received a text last night from a person who was concerned about our ‘friendship’. The person is a non witness and in the public field. This person was in contact with a witness who informed ‘her’ that the witnesses do not have friends outside the organisation. ‘She’ contacted me upset that what she believed to be a friendship with me was in fact nothing more than an ‘acquaintance’. I told ‘her’ that it is true that ‘we’ are discouraged from making non witness friends but that I classed ‘her’ as a friend because…… I then went on to explain to ‘her’ the policy. I also directed ‘her’ to this site so ‘she’ could pick through the various articles at the right of the home page and discern for herself what it was like for some of us in the org.
I hope it was the right thing to do because so many are asking questions… they are being flooded out with JW.Org but need to see JW.Borg. I can no longer tell people how wonderful it is to be part of an organisation that has tried to split up me and my family. I am waiting for a text today.
No, no no…your supposed to show em a picture from the revelation book about what happens to them and.their family at a
ARMAGETTON, then let them know if they join our service time pyramid scheme, and.make it past level 1 and have enough points BY . D-DAY, then they will be awarded 2 acres of land per person.
The revelation book is aka “climax bk”
You forgot the mule
Sigh… I was a sucky witness now I suck as a fader….. 2 acres of land and a mule…. but I want a horsey and a panda and a tiger and a vineyard so I can make my own wine and a fig tree and grain so I can make whiskey and hops so I can make beer and agave plants so I can make tequila – which makes your clothes fall off…. and a horsey… oh I said that… ok and a dolphin and a log cabin… no scrap that.. I want a sailing boat and I’m going to take Capt. Jack Sparrow with me and Capt. Morgan and be Capt. Ron.
And a.bulldozer to get rid of the dead bodies
Tara, I believe that is so wonderfully honest. Who knows, if in the future when she sees the demise of the Watchtower, she will also remember the honesty of the person who valiantly led her away from harm. Otherwise she would say to you “If you knew how bad they were, then why didn’t you warn me.” You have done the right thing. Don’t feel guilty about speaking the truth to someone who has the right to know what it is.
I can’t lie and say how wonderful it is when the reality is it’s not. She needs to research. Thank you for agreeing with me Meredith :)
So looking at an “apostate” site I came upon this website which is a government site….. Click on “Form 990” and you will see thru the years of a trust that was given to the society from a sister. It is just one example of the many trusts that haven been left to Watchtower. If you scroll thru the 2014 one you will see what all this trust is invested in. Now I thought when you received a trust you had to keep it just so with the various investments but you will note that there are many companies that this trust is invested in that promote war such as Lockhead Martin. The brothers in my area aren’t allowed to work at this facility because all it does is make war planes. Now I know that Mrs Riley initially set this trust up with questionable stocks but to continue to choose the same stock options for years????? WTH…
Can anybody help with finding the US accounts? Could one of the bethel leaks send out a spreadsheet? I’m great with spreadsheets can analyze the crap out of them.
Sorry here is the website…
http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/386043103
Interesting, thanks so much for finding this. Looks like their assets in this trust tripled in value from 2003 to 2014. I didn’t look at 09 after the downturn in the economy, but it’s more than recovered. I’ve investigated other non-profits at guidestar.org, but there’s little data to be found on Watchtower there besides a few scathing reviews. I agree that it’s interesting how they seem to have no conscience when it comes to investing in various companies.
Just a request to see if anyone possibly has a copy of the four page letter that the circuit overseers were traveling with in 2008 letting elders know that if any of their children attended higher education schools they would be disqualified from being elders as they set a poor example. I know it made its rounds on the interwebs, but lost mine.
Robertoperez67,
While there is a letter cautioning against higher education, it does not disqualify elders from serving if their children pursue it. It simply asks to examine motives. I am a doctor, an elder, and a Regular Pioneer. My two sons are both MS and also in college. While I can see some bodies taking the caution to the extreme, which is sad, there is no law that bans higher education or disqualifies elders from serving. Our Coordinator has a higher education degree as does our Secretary. In fact, a little half of our elder body possesses at least a BA, some MS, and myself a doctorate.
@ DoctorJW ,32 years in the organization and have never seen the like, and I sat at these meetings with the overseer as this four page letter was read and left no doubt what would happen to elders with such children and candidates for eldership. I know the letter can be found by someone on this site. To this day the fact that your a doctor would absolutely mark you as someone to watch in the circuit. I’ve had hundreds of elders sit at my dinner table over the decades and one of the most brought up subjects was making sure our youth stayed clear of college and opted straight for training that could be used by the org (Borg) Free labor from trained carpenters, electricians,plumbers, landscapers etc. This site is replete with victims of this fact who passed on becoming doctors, scientist, lawyers etc..because only those with one foot still in Satans system would do so. I fortunately defied this system myself and yes, I credit university with helping me develop critical thinking skills which have led to my salvation from this suicide cult.
Had to comment, Robert you’re right on with 08 letter, basically, and where jw doc is off, is that it was not retroactive, it directed the c.o.’s to REVIEW any Elders who were currently allowing there children to attend 4 year collage/universities, there were a series of questions that had to be answered like did they still live at home, was the family talking (endorsing ). How did cong. feel about it….so basically, once again it was not what you know, it was who you know
That’s what I’m remembering, but got rid of a lot of letters during the purge state of my waking up.
I may be giving away too much, but..the reason I remember this one well is when the c.o. brought it up…even though it didn’t apply to our congregation, he used the.words that any brother that allows children to go to university would automatically have his qualifications called into question. Which led to a short discussion as to the wording “automatically “
I’ll try to find it. The co letters are a little harder to come by. Currently I’m trying to find one of the latest that says anyone who adopts the metrosexual look should have their field service “privilege” revoked. Same with sisters sporting a man’s haircut.
I remember the one calling into question elders sending their children to college. You basically had to judge their motives for doing so. Which is impossible to do. But the gb wanted the elders to do that.
As for Dr.JW your circumstances are very unique. I have a feeling that the reason you were never scrutinized is because you 1) live in an area where making less than a doctors salary is very difficult.2) You and your family are very generous so the CO had no problem keeping you on.
I grew up in NYC and I can tell you right now that you would have been judged as spiritually weak in most of those congratulations. Unless you volunteered your medical services at bethel a day or two a week you and your family would have been looked down on. I remember a famous bethelite Mozel Mack giving a special talk describing someone with your background. He said and I quote “there are those who disregard the direction from the society and say ,”” I don’t care what they say I’m sending my kids to college. You can’t hardly make it out here without a college degree””Words like that were gospel truth in nyc. As a matter of fact the saying was that the farther away you were from home(home was bethel) the crazier the congregations get.
Nothing against you just that your circumstances are more rarity than rule.
Doc
Well , lucky you . I threw away a scholarship in Physics because we were told under no circumstances were we to go to college. To go through higher Ed in the 1980s was almost the same as disassociation. People would still talk to you but you were marked and labeled as a disenter and spiritually weak.
Things have changed over the years as time has gone on. In 1993 in particular…. But…
DONT EVER tell me that we just made these stories up or that it was ok to be educated.
I know some fantastic minds who couldn’t got to university because they woukd have been committing what was regarded as a real crime.
Opps, I need to apologize for the comments that I made, I worded that in such a way as to infer that your own experience is wrong. And I believe everything you said in regards your own experience, I can easily see how c.o’s may not have consistently followed the letter of the law, furthermore, I have never heard it brought up since, so maybe it was a onetime knee jerk reaction.
One of the many problems related to secret letters
@jwpow. I know for a fact that as a former elder anyone who went to college even a community college was considered weak and bad association. If an elder son went to college the same questions would be asked of him. Are you supporting your son at home? How does th congregation feel abou tit? ( As if the WT ever cared how local cong feels? )
As an Elder they told me if my high school son played sports on the school team i would be removed as an elder for setting a bad example!
What a controlling cult they are.
@DoctorJW, I also know quite a few of the brothers who serve as elders who have college degrees and doctorates but they got those degrees before becoming JW’s. Also, while the Society discourages going to college, they are perfectly happy to use those people at Bethel and they are hypocritical in doing so.
I have been in the “truth” for fifty years and I have never seen where it was perfectly okay to send your kids to college. It was materialistic, pure and simple. That is the way it has always been and that is the way it will always be. I guess you aren’t aware that Jwbroadcasting has videos every month and you have never seen how many kids in those videos give up scholarships so they can pioneer????
They can’t come right out and tell JW’s that they can’t go to college but they can slander them in talks and magazines for doing it in all kinds of underhanded ways.
Don’t try and tell us that it is perfectly okay from the Society’s standpoint for us to send our kids to college. We know better than that.
DoctorJW, I find it hard to believe we are talking about the same religion, although sometimes this kind of snobbery happened. I remember visiting a city congregation and there seemed to be acres of BMW’s and Mercedes cars. I remembered thinking that there was something wrong somewhere.
Yet, where I came from there were mostly old Fords and Holdens that had done too many kilometres. They were driven typically by people who had been struggling to pay their rent and were saving every penny to pay for petrol for their next morning’s witnessing. And that was from being told not to be materialistic and not to chase after higher education from the Watchtower study articles (you didn’t need a secret letter to figure that out), but to put your treasures in spiritual pursuits. And I would have been scratching my head if you had come to give a talk at my kingdom hall. If you are in such a snobby learned congregation then your experience is most definitely not typical.
I don’t usually like to be so rude. I must admit I have secretly wanted to say how I felt about the obvious double standards that went on with the Watchtower for a very long time. So many things they stated in their study articles as facts obviously were not taken seriously by some.
Who cares?
Sorry, that last comment was meant for the good doctor.
Did he ever say what he’s a doctor of???
I know too many people with degrees who aren’t that bright!!!
does this help
http://governingbodyletters.blogspot.ca/2008_10_01_archive.html
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/higher-education-university.php
Scroll down to CONDEMNED AGAIN.
A Watchtower Outline for Meetings of Circuit Overseers with Congregational Elders and Ministerial Servants for the period March through August 2008 explained that promoting higher education could result in demotion.
“When an appointed servant promotes higher education for the purpose of economic gain or prestige, this places in doubt his qualifications to serve in the congregation, and may affect his freeness of expression and that of his fellow elders.” p.2
[Circuit Overseer meeting 2008 higher education]
This was reiterated in a Letter to Elders, 2012, Mar 6, which made the following comments:
“However, Satan, the master of deception, has made the pursuit of higher education dangerous for a Cristian. … Besides involving bad associations, higher education often erodes faith in Jehovah God and in the Bible. …
On the other hand, if an elder or a ministerial servant is promoting higher education to others for the material advantages or the status it may bring, he is calling into question his qualifications to serve the congregation because of the effect on his and his fellow appointed brothers’ freeness of speech. (1 Tim 3:13; Titus 1:9) The body of elders may therefore determine that the brother no longer qualifies to serve. In most cases, however, such a determination should be made in conjunction with the visit of the circuit overseer. …
If a person is serving as a regular pioneer only and the body of elders determines that he no longer qualifies to serve because of decisions he has made with regard to higher education, the person, the congregation, and the branch office should be informed of the deletion in the usual manner.”
There we go
On the question of exiting the JW stockade, I’m with Garrett on this.
Just get the hell outta there, I appreciate the emotional ties of family
and wanting to avoid shunning. But that means, as long as family
decide to stay in the cage we’re stuck in there too, living a lie.
Faders will still be under control for a long time. If you want to buy
a lottery ticket, or vote in a political election or take part in any
other proscribed activities, you’ll need to keep looking over your
shoulder. What a way to live !
My own experience was, I sent a letter to the branch resigning my
position, then never attended another meeting. The elders were
convinced I’d committed some bad sin, the C,O quizzed my wife
and said if she covered up for me, she’d be a sharer in the sin.
I’m convinced they were very disappointed when they couldn’t
get anything on me.
Not everyone avoided me, the real Christians greeted me in a
friendly way. It was only the priggish Pharisees that crossed.
over the road .
I’m just stating my own personal view here and would not presume
to tell others what to do, or what’s right or wrong. Our personalities
vary, so do our circumstances, each has to find their own way.
I agree. Like I said in my comment above, the path I personally have chosen is not for everyone- I’m a double agent and I’m on a mission. And it is personal, which makes me more determined to reach my goal. I would give the same advice the GB gives about “reaching out to do more to anyone who is in the position to do so.” If you are mentally strong, and by “strong” I mean cunning, stable, confident and determined, then become a soldier for humanity and truth and expose this evil cult for what it is.
I never ever thought I would ever be writing this or having these feelings. I remember going to district conventions throughout my ** years as a Borg and seeing “those evil mentally ill apostates” standing there with their literature and I remember having a hatred for them and avoided them like they had the plague! I was not sure why I hated them only that I was told they were evil and working for Satan. But I didn’t take this position I have now because of them. I took this position because I decided to finally do thorough research on the 607/587/1914/this generation debacle. It opened up Pandora’s box in full to the other lies and flip flopping and the discovery of secrets and confidential directives. It was like I was uncovering a spy network from the cold war era! THIS is JEHOVAH’S ONLY EARTHLY ORGANIZATION???
Should the TRUTH have secrets?
@Actigail Ur . I am in the same position as you & Feel the same way as you . Like you I am acting as a Double Agent ! So keep up the GOOD WORK & Lets BREAK THE GB from WITHIN . … Everyone on this SITE has to make their OWN CHOICE & I wouldn’t Judge anyone as each individual has different Experiences & Different Hurdles to face ! So ALL the Best to Everyone who Post on this Site.
Thank you! I have chosen to remain in the Borg collective for several obvious reasons, and none of them are because I enjoy it!
As many JW’s today feel inside, I don’t want to be DF’d or even “fade” because of the shunning that results. The biggest reason being my large family, especially my father, who is always on my case- “how many hours did you do this month son?” and “what did you gleam from today’s WT article?” and “when is your next public assignment so we can come and visit you…” meanwhile I have to be extremely “cautious like a serpent” LOL so as not to raise suspicion that I am an apostate actively undermining this cult.
Now I have a friend who works… let us say, “on the inside” and has been doing this for 7+ years. He inspired me with his work. Most interesting, and further proof that “Jehovah” does not disapprove of his “apostate” ways is that he has been operating a porn site from his Bethel room since 2009. Yeah. A freakin’ PORN SITE! Oh the irony! I always wondered how a poor Bethelite who gets a pittance for his slavery work wears top quality suits and flashes some serious jewelry. LOL it all made sense when he told me about that!
Now, I’m not condoning or condemning his actions and I’m sure a lot of you guys might be upset about this though, but there is no denying that IF “Jehovah” was directing things up in Bethel, he would have been found out YEARS ago. I mean, you always hear rumors about this person and that person getting found out about the slightest infractions like watching a rated R movie or selling vitamins at the meetings (the furthest thing from apostasy and running a porn site out of your Bethel room!) and right away everyone says, “see how there is no hiding from JEHOVAH!” LOL Yeah, ok! Watching a rated R movie is SO EVIL that “Jehovah” helped to uncover you! LOL!
So why does he do what he does?
Well he had a discussion years ago with his roommate about a few things that were going on at the time. He wanted to feel him out. Eventually he prodded him with the “why do we have to shave” question. It turns out his roommate, an over-zealous holier-than-thou, never committed a sin, 3rd or 4th generation JW brother, has deeply held reservations about this “doctrine.” So this brother went into a 30 minute rant of the history of shaving and that shaving is associated with homosexuals in ancient times and mustaches, which ARE allowed by our cult, are linked to pagan religions among other things. That was my friend’s way in to asking him about other biggies. Long story short, that holier-than-thou brother is no longer part of the collective. My friend felt so good helping to liberate someone like that, that he decided to help more for as long as he could which probably won’t be too long now but he will have a lot more free time now.
We will see. Now that I’m here, I’ll be posting more often and I’ll update you when I can.
A “freaking porn site!” That made LAUGH omg. It’s funny how an infraction like watching an R rated movie is Jehovah exposing wrongdoers but something like the Australian royal commission investigation on child abuse and JWs having the WORST record on reporting is seen as an apostate lie or some other anomaly.
I dialed your number and a guy named Freddy Franz answered and just started yelling at me that it was all true and that some guy named Ray made a bunch of
shit up….I didn’t know what to think except Ray MUST mean Ray Donovan…
Just remember, a few cardinal rules…
1. If you make the rules, you can break the rules.
2.if that doesn’t seem fair..well, life’s not fair.
3.honest is the best policy, for you..not us.
4. When we speck something that does not reflect the facts, that’s not a lie…but if you did that , of course it.would constitute a lie and would require immediate judicial action.
Subnote on rule#4…heck, we can form a committee on a publisher for speaking the truth..if we don’t like the “truth” you’re speaking.
Just figuring out how this commenting thing works,, it appears that my comments are for the above statement, their not, they are actually in regards the societys trust fund
@Ted, I myself cannot just walk away and leave family and friends to luck. I am in a position where the friends actually listen and being an ex elder, still come to me for advice. I am spreading the truth about the watchtower truth from within. I still try my best to adhere to bible principles in my personal life out of respect to my creator not the Borg, I commit nothing which requires my having to look behind my back. I know there is a possibility that I will be singled out or “marked” with time, but that is something I am happy to face if I can jump start as many minds as possible. It is the Borg and all its hipocratical leadership I have a problem with not my friends. If all of us waking up just keep moving ahead leaving everyone in that burning building, what does that really say about us. This site and others like it are treasure troves of facts that can be shared with the friends. How can I share them if I’m no longer allowed contact? I hope God, the one true Gid whatever his name turns out to be will bless our efforts. I hope people of conviction like Lloyd keep up the great work of weaning friends off the JW kool-aid.
I’ve been a member of the Borg collective for many years but I’m a being of logic and reasoning. Since early on, I have pondered our existence and reached the conclusion that I don’t know anything. So I had little choice but to accept my parents beliefs. But deep inside me, the entire time, the thought of a “God” as described by the bible and religious nuts was always something that required strict ignorance of logic.
So when my day of emancipation arrived, I was so happy to finally express what has been attributed (in its roughest of translations) to Marcus Aurelius who purportedly stated, “live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but…will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
I now live by those words.
I like that.
Witnesses numbers 666 in Iceland… How ironic!!! http://grapevine.is/news/2015/10/01/666-registered-members-of-the-jehovahs-witnesses-in-iceland/
Ask and you shall recieve, I just got emailed a copy in Spanish from a member of another site. Ill post the highlights after I decipher all the bs.
Robertoperez67.
I wish you success in your kind endeavour to help your family
and friends toward truth and freedom.
best wishes, Ted.
Right on Ted, and likewise with your rest from this cult.
Copied and pasted this letter a special pioneer received on 15th of September 2015 bracing him for the changes.
15 de septiembre de 2015
Estimado hermano
Estamos seguros de que ha obtenido muchas alegrías y satisfacciones en el precursorado especial.
Aunque seguramente ha habido desafíos en el camino, sin duda los gozos y las bendiciones de poner en primer lugar los intereses del Reino superan con creces los sacrificios. Si ha aceptado esta asignación de la sucursal, es debido a su deseo de servir a Jehová de todo corazón en zonas donde era preciso apoyar la obra de predicar y las actividades de la congregación. Le felicitamos sinceramente por su disposición a servir de este modo altruista.
Al revisar las necesidades actuales, hemos decidido que su servicio en el precursorado especial concluya el 1 de enero de 2016. Hasta entonces seguirá recibiendo la ayuda mensual acostumbrada. Puesto que comprendemos que necesitará tiempo para hacer los preparativos oportunos (como encontrar empleo y vivienda o realizar otras gestiones), nos complace comunicarle que a partir de este momento queda liberado del requisito mensual de horas. Estamos seguros de que participará todo lo posible en el ministerio mientras se encarga de estos otros asuntos necesarios.
En vista de la valiosa experiencia que ha adquirido en el ministerio, esperamos que sus circunstancias le permitan emprender el precursorado regular. Con ese fin, deberá entregar una Solicitud para el servicio de precursor regular (S-205) al Comité de Servicio de la Congregación. Así no habrá ninguna interrupción en su servicio de tiempo completo. Como precursor regular, puede elegir la congregación con la que servirá; sin embargo, quisiéramos que, de ser posible, permaneciera en su asignación actual. Si decide mudarse a otro lugar, le rogamos que hable con el superintendente de circuito o escriba al Departamento de Servicio para ver dónde podría ser más útil.
Entendemos que este cambio tal vez sea inesperado. No obstante, el Cuerpo Gobernante y la sucursal agradecen profundamente su espíritu de sacrificio. Puede tener la certeza de que Jehová seguirá utilizándole para fortalecer a su pueblo dondequiera que sirva en el futuro. Recuerde, además, que él tiene poder para hacer muchísimo más de lo que nosotros pedimos o imaginamos. Así pues, no dude que Jehová cubrirá sus necesidades diarias (Efes. 3:20; Mat. 6:33, 34). Su fiel ejemplo seguirá animando a los hermanos cuando ellos también afronten diversos retos.
Reciba nuestro más afectuoso amor cristiano.
Sus hermanos,
CONGREGACION CRISTIANA DE LOS TESTIGOS DE JEHOVA
About 50 friends recieved this letter in the Argentina branch alone, basically confirming everything Lloyd gave us a heads up about. It looks like the absolute vast majority of special pioneers are being demoted to regular pioneers and told they have until the end of this year to find a job, home congregation etc.. A pink slip, they will not be receiving any financial help from the Borg.
I would put a link to the “happy” video, but seems like a low blow to these victims.
Wow. That is sad. Does anyone know if this arrangement is happening with special pioneers in USA branch?
So last year old overseers were demoted to special pioneers. Now they will have to fend for themselves in old age. And I have to lead a “simple” life and make goals for higher privileges…. Hmm. No Thank you.
wow….
I love it!
These old, crusty bastards (I remember so many of them telling us youngsters which way was up!) now are kicked out the door, twice.
Good thing Satan’s system is there with the social safety nets. WT doesn’t want to habe anything to do with them anymore!
(I asked my wife how many messages if any kind my fat, father Inlaw got while he was knocking at death’s door, all last year? She said, “From who?” Meaning who at Bethel, or from the GB, they think they are so in touch with? As if it had to be one person that would even send a card! The WT doesn’t care about those peons slaving for them!!!)
Muchas gracias Roberto.
‘Puedes servir donde te da la gana pero tiene que ser con la autorización del departamento de servicio’. Eso me suena del lema de Henry Ford sobre el “Model T”: “Puedes elegir cualquier color para tu coche, mientras sea negro” jeje ;)
Many thanks Robert.
‘You can serve wherever you like but it has to be with the Service Dept.’s backing’. That sounds to me like Henry Ford’s catchphrase about the Model T: “You can choose whatever colour you want, as long as it’s black!”
@Pickled Brain
At the risk of straying off-topic, I must agree that satirical humor IS a way of deflecting pain, and sometimes a very effective way of making a particular point, especially when one is talking about toads like the GB! Scathing humor can also be an appropriate (and perfectly legal) way to express anger or just plain rage, which otherwise expressed may get one into serious trouble. Again, it’s what makes us human. Animals don’t understand satire. BTW, loved Fawlty Towers as well. John Cleese is a genius. 3rd Rock from the Sun also a classic, starring John Lithgow, a brilliant actor and comic whom I consider to be the American version of John Cleese! May be able to catch some ep’s and clips on Youtube. Anyway, enough shop talk…
Hello Lloyd,
Since we haven’t heard from for a few days it kinda makes one wonder if your flying to new York for annual meeting this year.
I find myself inspired by all the positive, encouraging comments on this site. Not only that, but so many people are offering PRACTICAL advice, much of which has been tried and proven through personal experience! So here’s MY 2 cents’ worth.
“Hope springs eternal” I find as time goes by, as I clear the cobwebs of indoctrination and conditioning from my brain, associate with other ex-jdubs (online or in person), and get myself out into the world, rubbing shoulders with all those horrible “unbelievers”, my time in the “borg” has become not even a distant memory. In fact, it’s as if it never happened! In time, everything heals, and you forget.
And there is no need to mourn “wasted” time. EVERYONE on this planet has regrets. EVERYONE on this planet has made mistakes. EVERYONE on this planet has “wasted” at least part of their lives. No one is unique in this! What counts now IS now. Everything else is “water under the bridge”. (Remember, even Captain Picard was assimilated by the Borg for a while!!!)
Leaving a cult is like sailing away from a deserted island. It gets smaller and smaller and smaller until it finally vanishes. Out of sight, out of mind. Or vice versa. FOREVER.
For those still “stuck” in the “borg”, for whatever reason, remember, there is ALWAYS a way out. Be patient and alert and wait for your moment.
Awake, I support your comment full-heartedly. Everyone who is human on this planet has regrets; no experience is ‘wasted’ as it helps to build the consciousness we later acknowledge ourselves as being.
I really value and am inspired by the very frequent compassion and kindness and generosity on this site. Respect to all.
Translated:
We are sure that you have obtained many joys and satisfactions in the special pioneer.
But surely there have been challenges along the way, certainly the joys and blessings first put Kingdom interests far outweigh the sacrifices. If you accepted this assignment of the branch, it is because of their desire to serve Jehovah wholeheartedly in areas where it was necessary to support the work of preaching and congregational activities. We congratulate you sincerely for your willingness to serve in this altruistic manner.
In reviewing current needs, we decided to serve in the special pioneer end on 1 January 2016. Until then continue to receive the usual monthly grant. Since we understand that you need time to make necessary preparations (like finding jobs and housing or take other actions), we are pleased to inform you that as of this moment is released monthly hour requirement. We are confident that everything will participate in the ministry while other necessary care of these matters.
In view of the valuable experience gained in the ministry, we hope that circumstances will allow to undertake regular pioneer. To that end, it must submit an Application for regular pioneer service (S-205) to the Service Committee of the Congregation. So there will be no interruption in their service full time. As regular pioneer, you can choose the congregation with which he served; however, we would like, if possible, stay in his current assignment. If you move to another location, please talk to the circuit overseer or write to the Service Department to see where it might be more useful.
We understand that this change may be unexpected. However, the Governing Body and the branch deeply appreciate their sacrifice. You can be certain that Jehovah will continue using him to strengthen his people wherever they serve in the future. Remember, too, that he is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. So please Jehovah cover their daily needs (Eph 3:20;. Mat 6:33, 34.). His faithful example will continue to encourage the brothers when they too, will face various challenges.
Receive our warmest Christian love.
OOOOOOOh now I’m mad…… don’t upset the wookie.
I can translate this letter even further:
“Your job here is done, go find a job, keep sending us money, keep putting in time for us and keep finding us other people we can control and who will send us money.”
You speak better Spanish than Google translate!
So let me get this stright, those certain theocratic initiatives that the organization would LIKE to do..according to Lett, is take care of aging, c.o., bethelites and special pioneers, however, it must not be Jah’s will at this time. But building 5 star lake side resort, that is.
HEADLINE: Yesterday, New York National Weather Service had flood watches up because of Hurricane Joaquin, possible ‘state of emergency predicted’, Holland Tunnel to New Jersey potentially closed. Now, a miracle, God ‘stalled’ that Hurricane so the GB can motor to N.J. and the Annual Meeting won’t be canceled!
Lower the lake! lower the lake!
Tony twiddle your little nob ….. lower the lake.
Hey just a thought… wonder what T3 thought of the divers tight pants.
Can you see- with your mind’s eye
Tony talkin’ ’bout tight pants?
He says, “They’re gay!”
We say, “No way!”
Lies have made him an ASS!
LOL – thanks Tara – you made my day, lower lake nob is probably linked via bluetooth to pinky ring
Tara I should’ve mentioned that if I’d been drinking milk when I read your comment, it would’ve shot out of my nose! Sorry to tag onto your comment with my goofy little Kingdumb Melody, but you inspired me at that moment. But “Tony twiddle your little nob ….. lower the lake” is one of the funniest lines ever!
I’ll be playing the same place next week – thank you very much ;)
Tara, that was no diver in tight pants, it was another miracle! NEW LIGHT we now believe in The Most Holy Mother, the ‘Lady of the Lake’ has visited our Warwich Shrine!
“T3:” The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft “New Scrolls” from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, “T3”, was to “lead the GB”. That is why I am your king!
Dennis: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds, distributing “scrolls”, is no basis for a system of “religion”. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!
“T3”: Be quiet!
Dennis: You can’t expect to wield supreme power just ’cause some watery tart threw a “scroll” at you!
“T3”: Shut up!
Dennis: I mean, if I went ’round saying I was an emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a “silver sword” at me, they’d put me away!
“T3”: Shut up! Will you shut up?!
[“T3”] grabs Dennis and “disfellowships” him.]
Dennis: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system! Help, Help, I’m bein’ repressed! Did you see him repressin’ me?
there has to be dogma in that
I saw some Monty Python fans on other posts, thought they might enjoy a slightly edited scene from the ‘Holy Grail’ Content? Yes dogma, llamas, coconuts, unladen swallows, spam, french knigits, killer and giant wooden rabbits, holy hand grenades also careful of the Moose, he bites!
You forgot about dead parrots – beautiful plumage.
LOL! and how could I have forgotten………………….”THE SPANISH INQUISITION!”
Let all those who wish to confess their evil ways and accept the true church, convert now, or forever burn in hell! For now begins the Inquisition!
Rely on Jehovah Bros, & Sisters, cos you sure can’t rely on his org,
Better still, rely on Satans system, the worldly governments, and the
welfare arrangements they have in place as a lifeline for the needy.
It’s what two elderly specials in my former cong, had to do, when
they could no longer pioneer. And even though they’d never
contributed to the system, they were not turned away. What they
received was like a bounty, compared with what the loving “Mother”
Org, provided.
“If a bro, or sis, is in need, and you say to them. Go in peace, be
warmed and be filled, and you do not give them what they need for
Their body, what good is that? Faith if it has no woks is DEAD.
( paraphrased from Jas,2:15-17).
@TED … WELL SAID & that’s why ALL MY DONATIONS go to HOSPICES who have helped so MANY TERMINALLY ILL BROTHERS & SISTERS!!
Nice comments Ted, I’m sure before this is over every congregation will be “assigned”
1or2 ex- full timers to care for. ALREADY have that going on here.
Here’s my own news flash. .
I can see all these RTOs being shut down, always wondered how much of a return they were really getting out of them. Reaching out to small disenfranchised community’s with in much larger population seems like a extremely difficult way to grow the organization.
Further back in this line of comments, I read with interest about a doctor commenting about higher education for himself and others. Here is another story for you, (I have hundreds of them), In the early 70″s I was working for a large banking institution as a computer operations instructor. I did not go to school to learn this profession, but when you grow up with no television, (I am not kidding), I got the chance to read a lot of books. The banking company was going to send me to school at their expense to become a programmer, which at the time I was very excited about. So I went to my dad and my father in law, (two men that I loved and respected), and told them what my plans were. This was not too much time before 1975. Yes you know what the answer from them was! It was possible back then in the early days of large computer systems to move into the data processing world very rapidly, moving from programmer to systems analyst very quickly. It was what I wanted to do. It was a major setback for me! I served as an elder for more than 20 years and never once did a CO mention that higher education was an OK thing. Always remember that differences lie in every congregation, and differences lie with every single person with more responsibility than what we have making decisions for us many times to our detriment. I love the movie Jeremiah Johnson, in the final part of that movie the old man who was his friend told him, “Keep your face into the wind pilgrim”. Keep yourself moving in the way that you want to go, but not neglecting those you love, you will be much happier, I guarantee it.
Gee wiz we can’t be outta money, I thought GOG of mayGOG, was salivating over all our riches
@Jwpow. NICE ONE….GOG WILL be DISAPPOINTED …!!
So, I have it from a reliable source the travel route for the GB, tomorrow, a.m. I know that ‘demonstrations’ are discouraged, as they generally just ‘scare’ average Witnesses back into their ‘persecution hole’. However wouldn’t it be cool if a few people, it would only take a few, strategically place themselves with signs that said….maybe..”Punked-J.W. Survey” or something along this line. A message just for the G.B. So, between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. the GB will leave via autos from the rear green gates at 55 Furman Street, Brooklyn, NY (you can street view it to see detail- says 55 Furman on gate- use 67 Furman if your street view doesn’t work)-turning N. bound..here is the first opportunity. On Furman OR if you don’t mind being vocal a nice strategic vantage is from Squibb Park (the tall wall on the S. side of that Furman parking area) directly above the parking area, while their ‘loading up’. I believe one of the’street views’ even shows a guy looking down into that parking area. They’ll travel N. on Furman , thru the city streets winding NE to loop on to the Brooklyn Bridge going W. With weather I don’t believe the Bridge would be a good vantage, too distant. So, normal route over bridge, thru Manhattan and Holland Tunnel to New Jersey Assembly Hall. Arrival will be at New Jersey Assembly Hall, stage entrance on SE corner of building. 626-656 Pavonia Ave. Jersey City, NJ. Sometime approx. 8:40-9:15. This is easily seen on ‘street view’ the green single door with the rusted metal awning. This would be a great vantage, as it appears very close contact on public sidewalk would be possible, or even in front of parking garage directly across the street. Be careful there is construction ongoing in the new tall, empty building just across the street to the SE. Wish I could be there! ‘PUNKED’- be civil please, Ghandi like, if you’re able and willing. LOL
Cadillac’s, JW.Org hood flags, men in black running alongside…. grassy knoll…..
Easy there Tara : ), amusing mental image, but the ‘grassy knoll’ could be taken in the wrong context. Your going to give the GB’s lurking PPO’s a coronary. This info ONLY for peaceful use. It would be almost useless for someone to let these guys ruin another life. No doubt, there are plenty of ‘Borg’ lined up as replacements.
Oh of course. I would never insinuate anything else. I’ve just recently watched JFK. I like my movies… I watch a lot now I am semi shunned. It’s Friday night, I’m bored.
Ditto that, all good. : )
@ tara. You are semi shunned?
I thought you were still going to meetings and through the motions of being a JW? If so, get out and make new friends and socialize with new people. Take part in activities that are helpful, exercise, clubs etc. have fun an d clear the WT cob webs from your mind. It takes time but you will be free.
Hi Holly. My daughter was df’d. She is back now but I was shunned due to the circumstances surrounding her df’ing. I was tarred with the same brush even though a marking talk wasn’t directed at me. It was a horrible situation and I was treated badly. I have been pretty much on my own for two years. My daughter was reinstated and now everyone is trying to be my friend again. I have been fading ever since. No service, no answering up. I have a granddaughter who is trapped by her mother whom I cannot leave behind. My daughter will also fade eventually but wanted her friends again. It’s messy.
@Tara… I MUST SAY…. YOU DO HAVE REAL STYLE!!!! But How Could you intimate such a thing to happen to the 7 APOSTLES of CHRIST …. I Believe ANTHONY MORRIS to be The RESURRECTED MESSIAH!! …. You NAUGHTY NAUGHTY GIRL!!
So they tell me ;)
“a nudge is as good as a wink to a blind man, aye!”
@Tara … Please don’t Tell anyone , BUT I have a HOTLINE to the GB & Anthony tells me … JFK isn’t REALLY Dead … It’s All a Cover Up…, CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET??? … JFK is … DISGUISED !!! Yes I was Surprised TOO !!! … JFK is ALIVE as ….. Samuel Herd!!!! I Know I found it HARD to BELIEVE Too!! … AMAZING What a Tin of SHOE POLISH can do??
Oh PB you crack me up. How wonderful we all came out with a sense of humour.
Whenever I see AMIII now I am reminded of the episode of friends when Ross couldnt take off his leather trousers…..I see the whole scenario with his face instead of Ross’……..its even funnier.
Love your banter PB and Tara.
Blame Lloyd… he hasn’t found us a place to chat yet lol…
I am a recent abrupt fader. Last meeting two months ago. I still have a good hearted Sister keeping in contact hoping to lure me back. I texted her that I had heard of huge changes coming from annual meeting. I was curious if rumours of Theocratic Ministry school change had leaked locally. To my astonishment she fired back the following info via text. I do not know her source yet.
“After Morning Worship-An announcement from Jeffery (her spelling) Jackson on Wednesday 9/23:
“As stated in our May JW Broadcasting, as to not overspending. We will not spend more than our donations. With this in mind the Branch has decided to delay or stop many new assembly halls and branch projects. These projects will either be delayed or cancelled. Also Bethel personnel reduced. These reassignments are part of streamlining. There is a great need in the field. Bethel family individually will do more. Like doing their own laundry and housekeeping. Many other services will be either delayed or suspended. The Brooklyn property we once thought we would keep will not be maintained. All Brooklyn properties to be sold. All departments to be moved. This is a significant change. May we all make it matter of prayer. We wait for Jehovahs blessing. No need to panic. This is just the Faithful and Discreet Slave making best use of dedicated funds”
And it’s only Friday….. I really wonder how many will be truthful in their thoughts on this. I am sure many will be ‘excited’ that the FDS are looking after everyone but I hope some at least will really think about what is going on. If for example this news was leaked about any other religion would the minions be saying ‘ah Babylon the Great is falling’. But when it is ‘our own religion’ it will inevitably be ‘the light getting brighter’ or ‘The chariot speeding up and changing course’. I am waiting to hear the comments after Sundays meeting. I am sure we will hear some interesting ones on here. Thanks for the info Holly.
You’re welcome Tara. I agree totally with your assessment of rank and file’s reactions to downsizing. But surely, as you say, some with a few working brain cells left will surely be wondering what is up with this “significant” downsizing and budget shortfalls. I will check in Monday with my friends still at the KH and one total non believer who has to go for family reasons. Will let all know if any interesting info comes to “light”
Regarding: “All Brooklyn properties to be sold. All departments to be moved.”
The remaining Brooklyn properties cannot be sold and all departments cannot be moved until the Warwick palace and grounds are completed. It looks like the Watchtower has to be out of the Brooklyn properties by the end of 2016.
This is where the Governing Body has painted itself into a corner. They are asset rich and cash poor. Donations are not coming in fast enough to cover all of their projects, so the limited resources that are available are being concentrated on Warwick.
Unfortunately, the palatial Warwick facility is being built on a toxic waste dump and cleanup is proving to be expensive and time consuming.
The drastic austerity measures being implemented by the Governing Body are making a lot of witnesses question whether Jehovah is blessing the move to Warwick.
After the move to Warwick, there may not be much of a Watchtower organization left. A big layoff may be in order for some “anointed” members of the Governing Body.
This is JUST AMAZING!!! ALL OF THIS REALLY !!!
WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THIS!! None of this would have been possible 20 years ago when I was deep in the org.
Inside APOSTATES!! from Bethel all the way down!!!
Just how many are there???
Child molestation lawsuits,cutbacks,layoffs, selling property,haulting building projects,commission hearings
etc. I CAN GO ON AND ON!! This org. seems like it is in more trouble than many realize. IT IS TRUELY IMPLODING FROM WITHIN!! RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES!!!
@Mcfan . EXCELLENT COMMENTS !! ..,, AT LONG LONG LAST there is REAL HOPE & CONSOLATION & JUSTICE for THOSE of US Who have EXPERIENCED UNKIND & UNLOVING SHUNNING ,ISOLATON & SEPARATION from LOVED ONES all because of what 7 FLIP FLOP EVER CHANGING BAD INTERPRETATIONS of SCRIPTURE by the 7 MENTAL PYGMIES of BROOKLYN or IS that WARWICK or BROOKLYN or WARWICK??!… WHO FLIPPING CARES??
Regarding: “IT IS TRULY IMPLODING FROM WITHIN!! RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES!!!”
Not according the the Governing Body:
” … the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.
— Watchtower, Nov. 2013 (study edition) p. 20 par. 17.
To me, the decision made by the Governing Body to relocate its world headquarters to Warwick does not appear sound from either a strategic or human standpoint for the following reasons:
1. The Governing Body decided to sell all of its paid for Brooklyn properties and move the Watchtower’s world headquarters to a toxic waste dump in Warwick, New York.
2. The Governing Body asks that Jehovah’s Witness volunteers make a pilgrimage to Warwick and expose themselves to deadly heavy metals and a wide variety of toxic, corrosive, ignitable and reactive compounds.
3. The Governing Body claims that Jehovah is blessing the Warwick fiasco.
This does not appear to be “lifesaving direction.” If anything, lives will be compromised and cut short due to exposure to deadly contamination.
It also appears that if Jehovah does indeed have an earthly organization, it is not the Watchtower.
@ScotWm … TOXIC WASTE at WARWICK ???…. Are you talking about STEPHEN LETTS BOTTOM???…or What Comes OUT of Anthony MORRIS MOUTH??! …. Our Wonderful Governing Body !! SO inTOXICating… The New Light we get from them … It gives you that GLOW of Warmth & RADIATION Poisoning !!
It is even better than you think. However…
As joyous, ecstatic, exultant and delighted as I am to see this cult collapse under its own weight of lies, I can’t fathom the fallout of the millions of gullible but sincere JW’s, like my own family, from the collapse of the JW cult. I mean, I could see some who are not wrapped too tight (80% of JWs) going postal.
Anyone know any ravenous shark lawyers eager to kill off this cult once and for all and put it out of its misery?
Great comments guys, keep’em coming! This waste of time religion had me as a slave for many years. Now my shackles are broken I’m free to live my life and watch it implode and listen to the excuses of 7 ‘ Mentally Diseased Mannequins ‘
When it really implodes to the extent that there is a mass exit we don’t really know. It will take a 50% decrease in my opinion for it to catch the media enough to be newsworthy then it will be a special on TV and 60 minutes and other newsworthy shows.
When and if hat happens then the snow ball will gain momentum until what is currently known as the WTB& TS is a skeleton of its former self. The down side to this is it will shock and devestate the true JW’s who will not believe it is happening before them. May will be in denial and will cause super depression for may. I only hope that those who have dedicated their lives to the WT can come out of it in one piece. Just remember to all of us how we felt as we began to seriously question the teachings of the WT and the GB and all of its flip flop teachings and then when we realized what we aware experiencing was fhonest evaluation and we had been hood winked for many years we were in distress. Multiply that x 8 million jw’s.
@Innocent Son . ‘7 Mentally Diseased Mannequins’!! …Come on !!SHOW SOME RESPECT to the 7 MENTAL MIDGETS!!
seems rather appropriate to send the chiefs to a toxic waste dump.getting their reward in full. Time to live on the garbage rather than spewing it. ruthlee/ruthless
The problem is that the Governing Body is not being exposed to the deadly poisons that are present in abundance at the Warwick site. It is the volunteer JW workers and JW residents who are breathing contaminated dust and drinking contaminated ground water.
Still, the Governing Body insists that the Warwick site, with its toxic cocktail of deadly contaminants, is the equivalent of the “promised land” on which the Israelites built a place of worship.
Oh, before I forget, we have the privilege to donate funds in support of the Warwick project. What a loving provision!
The information in this Youtube video appears to have been supplied by one of those darned JW apostates that have infested the organization:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqLxUL8258Y
Found this one today of someone recording a secret elder meeting.
http://youtu.be/xYMb4UaUm9k
I really encourage anyone here who thinks there is a possibility that you will be called on by the elders to record every part of that meeting. Don’t worry they do the same especially in Spanish congregations where the average potato elder only attended grade school. The meeting is either live on one of the elders phones for the circuit overseer or recorded for the same. Remember that the main objective of many of these elders is to put you in your place within the congregation. I remember my days calling on brothers and sisters who we believed were forgetting their insignificance in the congregation. I swear one of the elders who had only come to the truth within a few years before loved to call the old timers in and remind them who ran the show. He would boast at hospitality lunches of how many sinners he had pulled out of the grass and out of “his” congregation. I always wished there were a ten year waiting period from your baptism date to making elder. Getting off subject, but please record those meetings.
@ Pickledbrain: Dear Snow White… Mr Happy one of the 7 dwarfs here…Do you remember when we all used to sing “Hi-ho, Hi-ho..it’s on the Work we go…”
We were so happy but something went terribly wrong and a piece of poisonous apple got lodged in your throat, planted by that wicked ol’ Queen.
Have you ever compared your mental midgets and mannequins to the famous 7 mentioned in Matthew 12:43-45.
Once upon a time our house was clean, and then someone let 7 evil spirits in and started to rip our home apart. Maybe it is time for the Prince to help you (us) to cough up what is choking us.
Watchtower has been infiltrated and something is definitely not right at the helm. It is time for the Prince’s army to stand up and be counted and chuck the 7 seven evil spirits out.
Then Snow White will live happily ever after and even Mr Grumpy will begin to smile again.
:) :) :)
@Gem .. Love THAT PANTOMIME … The 7 Mental Midgets of Brooklyn .. Anthony Morris is the STAR as MR DOPEY ???
Pickled Brain, you have said QUITE ENOUGH about our leaders in the Org. They deserve your RESPECT. They TOIL for HOURS ON END coming up with NEW LIGHT. Do you think that stuff is easy? It’s not! That stuff really takes a lot of, ehh, CREATIVITY! It is very EXHAUSTING!
They rarely even have time for themselves. They even had to postpone their BAND TOUR. Here they are posing for an album cover (click on the image at this link to make it bigger): http://pixady.com/image/8dp/
(Not my best work, but It’ll do.) :)
ROFLMAO
@PB Reezner .. Brilliant picture !! Love Stephen LETTS Red & White Headdress !! Is Stephen the CHIEF? But Be Quick & read my post on NEW AGM INSIDER INFORMATION !!
Thanks PB, and YES, Steve is Chief Spitting Bull! And of course I HAD to put Tony in tight pants.
And your AGM comment down below is busting my gut, lol!
@JB. a NEW KINGDOM SONG HAS BEEN RELEASED..,, Song No. 144…, Thousand… All together now .. It’s quite Catchy.., Y.M.C.A. Y.M.C.A ;The 7 PYGMIES are Down the Y.M.C.A!!!
Nice, PB! And it’s appropriate because all of the tossed out Bethelites can go LIVE at the YMCA low income shelters, for all the GB cares!
Regarding the leaked confidential letter:
Now that the cat’s out of the bag, it looks like the Governing Body has decided not to wait until October 4th to reveal at least part of the contents of the secret letter. JW dot ORG Broadcasting just added a 1 hour & 11 minute presentation, “Our Christian Life and Ministry Sample Meeting”, to its Latest Videos. The presentation is hosted by David Schafer, Helper to the Teaching Committee, who introduces the new “Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook” which is available now on JW dot ORG.
I just downloaded my copy and I intend to refer to this publication on my tablet, in order to save the Governing Body the printing expense. Remember, the Watchtower needs all the money it can raise to pay for those child sex abuse judgments and the Warwick world headquarters train wreck. I did notice that the Governing Body has cut back on somewhat on begging for money:
“Constructing Israel’s temple required much work and expense. However, the Israelites supported the project with zeal.” (1Ch 29:2-9; 2Ch 6:7, 8) “Giving financial support. Even a contribution of ‘two coins of little value’ given from the heart pleases Jehovah.” —Mr 12:41-44.
Meanwhile, back at the sample meeting, in an effort to make the sisters feel less inferior, two of the actresses from the audience were called on first; one to read a scripture and another to parrot back the answer to a question. (I’m not positive, but I think a couple of the actors and actresses from the meeting skit also appeared in one of the full-length bathrobe dramas.)
A young brother, who must have been working on enthusiasm and gestures, discussed how Jehovah blesses his people with an abundance of surplus with great plenty left over. This is an ironic topic, considering that the Watchtower currently has no surplus and nothing left over.
Oh brother (and sister)! The field ministry part consisted of three videos; one showing a sister and a female householder in silhouette, with a drawing of a door in the background. The next video was the same, except this one had a brother and a male householder. A sister and female householder do another number just like the first act. The voices all sound mechanical.
Next comes the money pitch. Give, give and give some more! Giving to the Watchtower is a privilege! And the giving doesn’t stop at the collection box. Giving of labor to build Kingdom Halls and other construction projects will yield rich blessings.
The remainder of the meeting dwelled on the challenges and problems encountered by Hannah. A new song was introduced and the sample meeting finally ended.
I hope all this is instead of the Sunday meeting and not added on.
Tara, all I can say is in my previous experience, they do give us a bit of a break. Not dragging out an interminable experience even further.
The Congregation Bible Study, the Theocratic Ministry School, and the Service Meeting will be replaced by a midweek meeting called Our Christian Life and Ministry.
‘Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook’ will replace ‘Our Kingdom Ministry’. This publication is available on JW dot ORG and its content is VERY simplified.
It doesn’t look like the weekend public talk and Watchtower study have been changed, so arrive early and get yourself a good pew.
NEW LIGHT HAS BEEN LEAKED EARLY from the AGM !!!… .
STEPHEN LETTS has HUMBLY ADMITTED he is an APOSTATE ABUSER !!! … TONY MORRIS has GUILTILY CONFESSED that HIS PANTS are TOO LOOSE!! … DAVID SPLANE has OPENLY ADMITTED His BRAIN IS OVERLAPPING his BOTTOM!!! …. Geoffrey Jackson Has CONFESSED before 2 WITNESSES He will GIVE BACK ALL the ICE CREAM MONEY Donated by Children to Their Parents so they can employ ANGUS STeWART to SUE the 7 PYGMIES for Millions for Wasting their Lives!! Ohh HOLD ON I have seen a VISION from Rutherford who is OF COURSE now in Heaven on his Throne ?? Sorry JUDGE I can’t Quite HEAR YOU…. Your WORDS SEEM a BIT SLURRED!! … What’s that JUDGE?? .., WHISKY TASTES BETTER in HEAVEN !! Oh THANKS for THAT… But That’s .., OLD LIGHT!! .., Go & Switch the Lights out Judge & Good Night!!
Hahaha, PB, BRILLIANT! Brain overlapping his bottom is KILLING me!!
Hey, if you have time before you slumber, do something good here for this first time commenter from earlier today, my friend (and anybody else!): http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/more-downsizing-on-the-way-multiple-sources-report-bethel-letter-warning-of-further-cuts/comment-page-2#comment-38102
@PB . I have welcomed Jamie to the site… GENTLY??
I thought you might handle it that way. Well done, amigo. I guess there’s no need to blow Jaime’s mind IMMEDIATELY after he makes his first comment, lol.
Thank you, you guys for letting me know the video “Our Christian Life and Ministry Sample Meeting” is on JW broadcasting. I watched it. I noticed sisters will only be used on stage for giving sample presentations from now on. During the sample meeting a video was shown of a woman giving a sample presentation, her partner was a shadow. Does anyone know will the sample presentations only be given by video from now? I noticed only brothers talk from the stage about things from the bible. The new format will be very boring to sit through. I’m so glad you guys said the video is on jw broadcasting about changes to the mid week meetings. I’m going to Washington Park with my husband rather than go to the meeting tomorrow. Does anyone know anything about xanax? After my sister said to me I’m dead to her I started having bad dreams every night and I would wake up feeling disturbed. I went to my doctor and he put me on xanax. The first pill made me feel like laying down. The second pill I didn’t feel to much. After the third pill I felt normal so I stopped taking the pills after the third pill. I’m no longer having bad dreams. I feel normal so I stopped taking the pills. Has anyone ever taken xanax? I’d like to know more about the medication. Thank you, From Mrs. Catalina
I’ve taken it and have friends that take it, Catalina. There may be exceptions, but in my experience Xanax is more frequently used shortly before one is going to be in a stressful situation, or if one is starting to feel stressed/panicked, as opposed to taking it every day at a set time. It works fast, and seems to be fairly effective.
Don’t take it with alcohol, and be aware that it can be addictive if one begins to take it more than prescribed. My experience with it was positive.
One more thing, Catalina: If while taking it responsibly you find it to be helpful, and somebody tells you that you could achieve the same good results with the power of positive thinking, tell them to mind their own business.
[This is not in reference to any comments currently visible in this thread. This is based on a long history of seeing less-anxious people telling more-anxious people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, rather than taking a medication that acts directly on the chemicals in the brain causing the stressful or depressed feelings.]
I truly hope your sister comes around to a more sane view of life and humane view of family relationships.
Catalina, if you stop going to meetings, your head will clear and you will realise what is right and wrong as you will notice how different it is without the brainwashing from the personal study and the meetings. Try it.
Meredith you didn’t read my posts. I stopped going to meetings and I’m being shunned. Maybe you should try being kinder. Stop being so negative. Try it.
Catalina,
Don’t take Meredith or Scottwm the wrong way. Some times the words on the screen don’t come across the way that it was meant.
I can understand your anguish with your sister because I’m close to my sisters & the pain is more intense when it’s family. I hope that one day she wakes up & realises that she is doing the wrong thing.
What Meredith was saying actually happened to me. I was so depressed & crying all of the time when I was going to the meetings. My anxiety was high & I was angry most of the time. Everyone kept diagnosing me with depression but I kept saying to them that I don’t suffer depression, I get depressed at times but I don’t suffer depression.
When I stopped going to the meetings, I stopped feeling so depressed. It took some time but all of the feelings that come with this cult slowly faded away. I didn’t realise the effect that the negative messages that are dressed up & packaged as positive messages that you don’t realise are working on your subconscious slowly fade & you replace those messages with more positive thoughts. Your own thoughts not ones that are implanted by the cult.
They talk about simplifying your life yet they add so much more of a burden to your life. Not just the physical demands that they place but the mental stress that they add.
When I offloaded the guilt, the shame, the low self worth & constant push to be better. My stress levels dropped. That’s why I think that most people suffer from burnout or adrenal fatigue with this religion because you have a constant state of stress lingering.
Catalina: If you have been reading the information on this site, you know that The Watchtower is a destructive religious cult.
I am assuming that your sister is a Jehovah’s Witness. It sounds like she is shunning you and that this is the cause of your anxiety. Seeking relief from your problem is understandable.
On the other hand, we need to stay on topic here. In the meantime, I hope that the information below answers your questions:
https://www.pfizermedicalinformation.com/en-us/xanax
ScotWn you guys go off topic all the time so why are you twisting my tail?
Catalina: I didn’t mean to offend you. The first part of your comment was definitely on topic. The Watchtower’s use of shunning is a form of torture and your reaction to this unjustified treatment is understandable.
However, I should not have been so abrupt with you. And yes, I do sometimes veer off topic. But the website that I provided has all of the information that you requested in the second part of your comment.
Not trying to inject too much levity into an otherwise serious forum, but I feel compelled to share one more humorous item (some people have a sweet tooth; I have a funny bone).
Anyone who has ever been associated with the Watchtower Society, or knows anything of substance about their teachings, will appreciate this. It’s a very short satirical song by Spike Jones, called “Der Fuehrer’s Face”, on youtube. Legend has it that it infuriated Mr. Hitler. I’m trying to include the link, if my computer lets me…
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=der+furehrs+face
I love Spike Jones! No I’m not that old but we used to have some old 78’s. Hawaiian War chant being a fav.
Has anyone heard any reactions after yesterday’s annual meeting?
I had 4 JW’s over last night and they didn’t hear the meeting but one of them had gotten a lot of text messages about it. So the others asked what was going on. And the JW said “everything has changed they are stopping construction, not because of financial reasons but for other reasons, the ministry school is being dropped as of January” (then she went on to describe many of the changes to meeting format) My JW spouse was shocked to hear about the ministry school. So the JW said it was because a lot of the stories don’t apply to modern day life. (which is really funny because I’ve been to a few meetings and everytime they take a story from the Bible and relate it to the organization) Also my JW spouse recently did a talk on Naaman, and he immediately found application to how it related to the Watchtower. (how they are to obey and do lowly jobs like cleaning toilets)
But maybe thinking JW’s read the story of Naaman and saw how he was healed just because he dipped in some water, not because he pioneered and went to every meeting and read every piece of literature. Then in 18 and 19 after Naaman is healed he asks the prophet if it is still OK for him to serve the King in the Pagan temple. The prophet doesn’t say die and face the consequences (thinking about the no blood policy here). He says go in peace.
This is exciting times, thanks to all of you for your comments and especially to Cedars. The impact he is making is amazing.
sad for Jw family says: “And the JW said “everything has changed they are stopping construction, not because of financial reasons but for other reasons…”
There are two reasons why the Watchtower construction projects have been stopped: 1. There is no more growth. 2. There is no more money. According to the JW dot ORG website under the heading “Phenomenal Increase Necessitates Quick Expansion”:
The Governing Body said, “The steady increase in the number of Jehovah’s worshipers in various countries requires that many new Kingdom Halls be built in the future. Why, on an average, during the 2001 service year, 32 new congregations were formed every week! Such congregations need places to meet and worship.”
Maybe the growth was steadily increasing in 2001, but in 2015, the Watchtower is laying off Bethel workers, closing branch offices, selling off properties, paying millions of dollars to child sex abuse victims, drastically reducing publication of printed material and begging for money. In addition, the Warwick world headquarters is being built on a toxic waste dump.
The Governing Body also said, “A spirit of generous giving motivates Witnesses and others who assist with the expansion and construction work in a financial way.”
According to Stephen Lett, the Watchtower now has more money going out than money coming in. We know that the Governing Body members lie a lot, but the Watchtower’s financial problems appear to be real.
My best guess is that the Watchtower has no more growth and no more money.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002362#h=22
I agree with you its for financial reasons it’s just sad to see them believe it isn’t. But she didn’t seem to offer a reason, just declared what the reason wasn’t. They will believe and defend any nonsense coming from the GB
Thanks for the info!
For a more detailed analysis of this topic, check out the article “Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh.”
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/is-watchtower-imploding-10-reasons-why-the-end-could-be-nigh
If they truly were followers of Christ, would they really care about a leaked letter?
To: JWSurvey
From: All your friends world wide and the 2.0 million viewers –
RE: “Happy 4th anniversary and counting – ‘the No Spin Zone’ –
Happy 4th anniversary to JWSurvey”
Top Ten worries at WT Corporation:
1). Make sure no copied written letters leaked – attn Bethelites.
2). Serious consideration to move annual meeting date away from JWSurvey day – observed on October 4th.
Fourth year anniversary of JWSurvey on Oct, 4, 2015. Congrats!!
3). Make sure no internal videos leaked – attn Elders & Bethelites.
4). To file bankruptcy – blame, “Lawyers have stolen all the money”.
5). Must tighten the chains on members. – you must obey.
6). Announce someone did say – “religion is a racket and a snare”!
7). Ask for more donations – from who? The check books have spoken.
8). Announce the great tribulation has started – not true.
9). Cry wolf – and blame Satan for our woes – not true.
10). The doors and curtains are finally close permanently at WT – by the hand of YHWH, aka Jehovah.
Peace out,
Brilliant, minion! Well done :)
Happy 4th Anniversary Lloyd, and all involved in this site! This is a wonderful thing you’ve created here.
Yes happy 4th October! Oh that sounds bad…… but I like it :)
@Sophia- Exactly. And further, if they were really followers of Christ, wouldn’t their teachings be self-evident instead of self-incriminating? I mean, certainly, the 1914/587 bullshit (one example of dozens of false teachings) should be proven to be scriptural, instead of FUZZY MATH interpretations and other nonsense they use to prove this date!
Any JW’s wish to rebuttal THIS???
(Proving 607 is the correct date using the WT’s own publications. Oh the irony!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t1T-MFZiHs
HAS ANYONE SEEN the DUMBED DOWN VERSION of QUESTIONS for BAPTISM in the NEW ‘ORGANISED MINISTRY’ Book…. ONLY 31 BAPTISMAL QUESTIONS instead of …. 104 Baptismal Questions in the Old Organised Book!!!! Is this a RUSH to BAPTISE as many as Possible to MAKE INCREASE in FIGURES in YEARBOOK Look Good & hoping These MUGS will increase the DONATIONS in MONEY to the GB!!
ORGANIZED TO DO JEHOVAH’S WILL
© 2005, 2015
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
June 2015 Printing
“Questions for Those Desiring to Get Baptized” start on page 170.
I counted 3 sections: Section I, 35 questions, Section II, 37 questions & Section III, 31 questions., for a total of 103 questions.
Section II has this interesting question:
21. “What does the Bible say about sexual immorality (porneia), which includes adultery, fornication, sexual relations with another person of the same sex, and other ungodly sexual conduct?”
“The works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct,… and things like these … Those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.” —Gal. 5:19-21.”
Apparently, child molestation and pedophilia do not qualify as being “things like these” or “other ungodly sexual conduct” since they are not mentioned in the revised 2015 version of Organized To Do Jehovah’s Will.
Then, all of the baptismal questions are distilled down to the 2 following public declarations:
1. On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
2. Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?
You can download this publication here:
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/Organized-to-Do-Jehovahs-Will/
I TAKE IT ALL BACK in the ABOVE POST !! There are 3 PARTS to the Baptismal Questions & the Total is 102 Baptismal Questions instead of 104 … Ahh Well a Slight Improvement????
It’s too late, I’ve already started, lol…
Question 1: Do you have an income?
Question 2: Is your IQ below 50?
Question 3: Do you reject tight pants and all wickedness implied therein?
That’s all I got. Get in here PB and Tara and everybody else!
Do you except that you may now be subjected to the INQUISITION and that by taking the BLUE PILL you will stay in the land of OZ and be forever known as a MINION under the GREAT AND POWERFUL WIZARDS Of ID….. also known as dwarfs, munchkins, mannequins, FDS and so forth and so forth.
Do you also promise not to play with T3’s little nob which he uses to lower the lake.
Question 4: Do you relinquish all God appointed free will, in order to serve the greater purse string?
Question 8: Do you see the inherent evil in beards? (This question does not apply to sisters, who are free to grow beards as they please.)
@ ScotWm,
Spot on! Worth repeating,
WT Corporation reads, sleeps and talks with dollar $ign$ – the letter ‘s’ no longer found in the helpers committee writing desk.
The Governing Body said, “The $teady increa$e in the number of Jehovah’$ wor$hiper$ in variou$ countrie$ require$ that many new Kingdom Hall$ be built in the future. Why, on an average, during the 2001 $ervice year, 32 new congregation$ were formed every week! $uch congregation$ need place$ to meet and wor$hip.”
Did you count them?, 15 dollar $ – signs.
WT Corporation should be thankful to the Federal Reserve (alleged Satan’s system) and not causing a devaluation. Or maybe I spoken to soon. Monday morning at 9:00am, WT Corporation value at 5.billion, by 4:45pm value at 2.0 million.
WT Corporation needs to get there head out of there a$#@, this day is around the corner. This day Not to be confused by the great tribulation, or the big A.
Maybe the growth was steadily increasing in 2001, but in 2015, the Watchtower is laying off Bethel workers, closing branch offices, selling off properties, paying millions of dollars to child sex abuse victims, drastically reducing publication of printed material and begging for money. In addition, the Warwick world headquarters is being built on a toxic waste dump.
The Governing Body also said, “A spirit of generous giving motivates Witnesses and others who assist with the expansion and construction work in a financial way.”
According to Stephen Lett, the Watchtower now has more money going out than money coming in. We know that the Governing Body members lie a lot, but the Watchtower’s financial problems appear to be real.
My best guess is that the Watchtower has no more growth and no money.