(Left) The assembly hall in Indianapolis, for sale (when last checked) at $2,895,000; (right) The Ireland branch office, for sale at an estimated €4.5 million

As explained in the previous article, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Watch Tower Society has entered a period of decline. Evidence for this decline may be seen in the drastic downscaling of monthly magazine printing commitments since 2005, a move that would have been unthinkable decades ago. A primary catalyst for this downturn in the Society’s finances is the reduced growth rates in developed (wealthier) countries, which provide the primary source of donated revenue. These dwindling reserves of donations are also being called upon to finance the faster growth (i.e. printing costs, building projects) in poorer countries, which is an entirely unsustainable financial model.

The deteriorating situation has spurred the Society to embark on an unprecedented spate of selling off millions of dollars’ worth of real estate. The bethel complexes in Brooklyn are already being parceled off and sold to the highest bidder, even though this is arguably the worst possible time to be selling prime real estate (in the midst of an economic downturn). One such property, at 183 Columbia Heights, was recently sold at $6.6 million, or 14% below the asking price! Can you imagine selling your home for a million dollars less than it is worth? Unless, of course, you were really desperate for cash!

The following newsreel covers the firesale of Brooklyn property from the media’s perspective. Interestingly, it is repeatedly mentioned that, once Jehovah’s Witnesses leave the area, this will benefit the local community through the influx of much-needed tax revenue, since the Watchtower is obviously tax exempt as a non-profit organization.

But it isn’t just bethel facilities that are being turned over to the highest bidder. Assembly halls such as the one in Indianapolis are also being sold off, and even branch offices are being closed down with the facilities being put up for sale in more “expendable” countries such as Ireland, Norway and New Zealand. In fact, last year saw an unprecedented 16% drop in the number of branches, from 116 to 98. Again, this is indicative of a global organization undergoing a phase of downscaling triggered by economic uncertainty, because it costs a considerable amount of money to keep a branch in operation – regardless of the free labor.

But that’s not all. The Society has become so desperate that it’s now installing credit card machines in Assembly Halls in order to increase the yield of donations. It seems that the Governing Body has failed to consider the possibility that they are effectively encouraging publishers to go into debt in order to make donations. Even if they have considered this irony, they are evidently so desperate to boost cashflow that they will try anything.

Menlo Park Kingdom Hall – the center of a scandal

This brings us to the sad state of affairs at Menlo Park congregation, a story that is being reported on over at ex-jw.com. You are welcome to check the details for yourself and draw your own conclusions, but the rumors emanating from this rapidly developing story are extremely disturbing. A picture is emerging of a Society that will stop at nothing to seize control of property assets from local congregations, even if it means removing the entire body of elders if they object. It seems that congregation remodelling projects may be being used as a clever smokescreen to switch the ownership deeds from being under the name of local elders to the ownership of the Watch Tower Society. If true, this would certainly fit with the behavioral pattern of a Society that is on the ropes financially, and doing whatever it can to keep itself afloat.

All the while, the internet slowly erodes the Society’s credibility, especially in developing lands. A simple Google search of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” can yield a number of web pages that are extremely unflattering of the Society’s teachings. Even neutral sites such as Wikipedia present articles that explain objectively why the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses are flawed and open to criticism. It came as little surprise when the Society lashed out at online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia in the 2011 yearbook, lambasting them for their “poorly documented Web entries written by unidentified or unqualified persons” (see page 9). Again, no consideration was given to the fact that most if not all writers of Watchtower publications are precisely that – “unidentified and unqualified”.

Many were understandably surprised by the recent April 2nd letter to all congregations (mentioned in the previous article) when it seemed to announce a shift in the way the Society chooses to approach the internet in the future. In the letter, the Society announced that they would be upgrading jw.org and closing down their other two domains in order to focus on just one newly enhanced website. Their intention in doing this is apparently to make the Watch Tower’s online presence more appealing to interested ones, who they now recognize are increasingly finding their information online rather than in printed literature.

Will this work? Will the Society do battle with the internet and win over the hearts and minds of web surfers, despite the swathes of negative material available online? It’s highly unlikely. If anything, I believe this move will prove counter-productive for the Society. By encouraging interested ones to research JW beliefs online, they unwittingly expose such ones to the temptation of doing additional research on other JW-related sites such as jwfacts.com, which presents honest and reliable examinations of witness dogma, and provides simple explanations as to why these teachings are flawed using predominantly the Society’s own material as a reference.

The Society has done well at instilling fear and paranoia in devout publishers when it comes to the perils of stumbling upon so-called “apostate” material online, but interested ones are not so easily manipulated, and will rightly want to check the facts for themselves using any information at their disposal.

It is precisely because the internet is wreaking such havoc on the reputation of the Watch Tower Society that they find themselves in such dire financial circumstances. Regardless of how zealously individual publishers may be going about their ministry, they are powerless to prevent their householders from jumping online and googling Jehovah’s Witnesses once the door has closed. This scenario, almost unthinkable only two decades ago, has forced the Governing Body to authorize the slashing of printed output, the closure of branch offices, the sale of bethel properties and assembly halls, the installation of credit card donation facilities, and perhaps even the underhanded leveraging of property ownership rights for local kingdom halls.

1914 – a ticking clock that haunts the Watch Tower Society

To make matters worse, there is the “ticking clock” of 1914. The very fabric of the Society has been built upon the foundation of a set of dubious chronological teachings that aren’t fully grasped even by many ordinary publishers, namely that the same chain of events in which Christ invisibly assumed heavenly power in 1914 led to the early Bible Students being chosen as his earthly representatives in 1918/19. The period of Christ’s invisible presence, ostensibly from 1914 until Armageddon when Satan is let loose on the Earth, is described in Revelation as being a “short period of time.” (Revelation 12:12) However, as we edge closer to the centenary of the end of the “gentile times” in 2014, this period looks increasingly less “short.” It seems that doctrinal escape routes have been cleverly concealed in certain Watchtower articles in an attempt to extend the longevity of the teaching until at least 2034. However, whether the Society can save itself from complete financial meltdown before that date arrives remains to be seen.

Indeed, the trend looks bleak for this once proud organization. It seems that only a completely unexpected reversal in fortunes (such as somehow switching off the internet) can save them. For me, the only question is how long it will take for the last printed issue of the Watchtower to roll off the press, and for the Society to shrink to an operational scale where they are almost inconsequential. It is no longer a case of “if”, but “when”.

Meanwhile, based on what we’ve already seen, we can expect more branch closures, more frantic selling of real estate, more cuts in printing commitments, steadily decreasing growth, and ever more imaginative ways of acquiring funding. What we cannot expect is for things to magically improve. The decline of the Society has begun, and is virtually unstoppable. They will never again enjoy the same influence and operational levels as they did at their zenith at the end of the 20th Century.

If this outlook sounds depressing for you, then most likely it is because you have not yet been able to find the courage to research JW teachings objectively. If that’s the case, then I would urge you to do so. You will find that not all sites that are critical of the Watch Tower Society’s teachings and practices are as bitter and vindictive as you have been led to believe. Sites such as jwfacts.com merely present an accurate analysis of Watchtower teachings, and encourage you to draw your own conclusions – even if this means remaining as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for whatever reason.

The prospects for the Watch Tower Society are grim indeed, but this needn’t be the case for you. You can still lead a rich and meaningful life full of happiness without having a human organization to hold your hand. It’s never easy when you first realize the real truth, but many like myself have walked this road ahead of you, and are on hand to help you as you embark on your own journey of awakening.

 

 

47 thoughts on “Branch closures and fire sales – a growing trend for the Society?

  • May 23, 2012 at 11:52 am
    Permalink

    Great write up, you covered it all; surprised there are no comments!

    Definitely the Internet first & foremost put the death knell on the WTBTS, imho. No escaping the revealing info that’s out there…. NGO/UN, SilentLambs, Freeminds, JWD, etc., all the sites & stories that pop up in a simple google search.

    The only people who will never see that stuff are JWs who refuse to get online (the big false porn-will-pop-up-in-your-face-if-you-get-online fear), lol. Never has happened in 11 years online!

    SilentLambs lawsuits may have put a dent in WT’s pocketbook, too.

  • August 21, 2012 at 11:48 pm
    Permalink

    The Austrian branch office was apparently also sold rather cheaply. Back in 2010/11 there was some buzz on the German language ex-JW forums about this, when the deal was reported in some business magazine. It’s pretty clear that all the closed branches were ordered to sell their property within a short time.

  • October 12, 2012 at 8:32 pm
    Permalink

    i feel so relieved that close loved ones might eventually see the truth :) as a wise saying goes ,”you can fool some people some of the time but you cant fool everybody all of the time ” love and light xxx

  • October 13, 2012 at 3:47 pm
    Permalink

    I remember when they stopped serving food and drinks at conventions. I thought at the time it was very stingy not to even have cups of tea and coffee available for a small donation. Thank you for your articles.

  • November 12, 2012 at 8:43 am
    Permalink

    I wasted many years serving at Bethel in an African country,
    The local Bethel has had it’s shipping and translation depts transferred to other branches….it’s only a matter of time before the branch undergoes major downsizing or closure…the bethelites feel so uncertain and insecure but don’t have the courage to just leave. ..I’m so glad I left when I did.
    Since I’m awake but trapped ,news of any WTBS decline is something to rejoice over.

  • November 20, 2012 at 11:02 am
    Permalink

    If God really was in charge of this organization and they truly were his and they were truly God’s “mouthpiece” and God’s only “channel of communication” don’t you think He would be actively helping them so they wouldn’t be in such financial straights? Would a loving God let His one and only organization fall into financial ruin when they’re still out there “saving His people”?

  • January 23, 2013 at 8:40 am
    Permalink

    Great write up, Cedars,
    in many ways this is the key issue – finances. The WTS did great when they could use millions of trusting publishers to mass sell low cost literature unopposed. Now, of course, people can use the Internet to cross check information, the IRS wised up, and promoting use of the Internet will expose lots of publishers to stuff the GB don’t want them to see.

    Way back, a legal friend told me that the mass produced WT literature was a rope they were tying around their own necks. When it’s in print, it’s impossible to deny – a prosecuting laywer’s dream.

    BTW, didn’t Russell say that when the money dried up, it was an indication Jehovah had no further use for the Organization?

  • March 15, 2013 at 1:10 pm
    Permalink

    I was a ministerial servant,member of the Waterloo, Il. congregation of JW. Two of my children were sexually abused by another member of the congregation. Sadly, my children were scared by the elders into keeping it from me. We left Illinois, and also left the organization, never to return. I just found out a couple of years ago when one of the children told me finally. My family went into decline after the abuse, and the children started to use drugs and alcohol. By not getting any counseling or help with the abuse trauma, they are still suffering guilt and trauma today. There were other children, even from the community, that were abused as well. Our family had moved after my children started to have problelms, and when the abuse of non-JW kids was discovered, the abuser was arrested and sent to prison. But the congregation, and elders, made no attempt to contact me to let me know about all this taking place. I even visited one of the elders at home after I did find out about my kids. I hadnt seen him in over 20 years, and thought of him as a friend. He denied any knowledge of the events… he wasnt involved in the matter. I cant say how much I hate these JW’s.

  • April 18, 2013 at 5:05 am
    Permalink

    Hi Cedars can you help me? I have a large family base in the JW box. I truly love them for they are good people. I have been raising my consciousness now for many years. When I go to the KH I see many sick miserable humans. Some are having mental issues as well.
    However, I need help with a major child molestation situation that occurred about 20 – 25 years ago. I need some clear concise direction as to how to take the lead in handling this situation. I am NLOOJW or no longer a JW if you know what I mean. So I have cut the strings and ready to get busy on this. Email me if you feel the need.

  • June 8, 2013 at 2:13 pm
    Permalink

    Although i don’t know your whole story it appears you are searching for the right answers to your situations. Ultimately those answers will come to you through proper research. We are all different and what works for one may not for another. The best advice i can give you is to consult a professional for your legal concerns. When it comes to the JWbox situation i personally recommend to read “Crisis of Conscience” and ” In search of Christian Freedom” if you haven’t already. For me it was a cleansing of my mind as Regards my confirmations of how the WTBS really operates. With over 1200 some pages it surely shows how Ray Franz was trying to help honest hearted ones to break free from the grips of the control that society has on its members. Just so you know im currently shunned by at least 50 percent of my family for the last 20 yrs. I am so sorry for them that they have been so wrapped up in it and blinded by their exclusive methods. I feel very sad that they just can’t see what the bible really tells them minus man made doctrines and creeds. The best thing you can do is let your light shine and do the right thing according to jesus words. I often think when i hear some story in relation to how they are treating a x relative about Jesus words “Forgive them father for they not know what they do” Just remember they are the unhappy ones who have lost all hope of what is true and realistic. And when you really think about this me type oriented, what do i recieve for being faithful based on your false promises religion, they come up attacking you because all their predictions have not come true. For their love is a false conditional love based on organzational rules. Because the minute you question them your gone! mmmm i think Romans 14:22 might make you feel better. So be happy in yourself and find the true meaning of being a Christian at John 14:6
    I hope this helps and wish you the best in finding our own peace in your mind and heart.

  • June 19, 2013 at 1:15 am
    Permalink

    The sooner these bastards (am I allowed to use that word here?) go down the better. In another 100 years they’ll be an historical curiosity like the Amish.

  • August 28, 2013 at 3:38 am
    Permalink

    This cult like the Shakers is going to die out. I think the only increase in membership is primarily through the children who are born into this religious cult. I rejoice that they are leaving New York City and hope and pray more and more lost souls will be delivered from this unholy cult.

  • August 28, 2013 at 6:17 am
    Permalink

    Julia Orwell said:

    On June 19, 2013 at 1:15 am

    “The sooner these bastards (am I allowed to use that word here?) go down the better. In another 100 years they’ll be an historical curiosity like the Amish”

    Well Julia,

    That’s the one and only “scatological” word I (ever remember) having used here and I see it as quite accurate! They have no Father…in spite of any one sided, presumptuous or blasphemous claims they have ever made!

  • August 28, 2013 at 11:57 am
    Permalink

    I agree Julia, but the Amish are still here!

    Yes, I agree that the witnesses will continue to decline, but I should imagine that a small remnant will remain. The stubbornness of people can’t be underestimated.

  • December 4, 2013 at 6:40 pm
    Permalink

    I RETURNED TO THE KH AFTER BEING AWAY FOR 20 YEARS WITH THE INTENTION OF BEING REINSTATED, WHICH I WAS 15 MONTHS LATER.WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE ELDERS INFORMED ME THEY HAD RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY HAVING COMMITTED A BUSINESS FRAUD,AND IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT A DECISION HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE ABOUT MY GUILT.AROUND THIS TIME I WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITALWITH COMPLICATIONS REGARDING A BLEED IN MY BRAIN THAT HAD BEEN THE CAUSE OF SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING LOSS OF MEMORY.WHILE IN HOSPITAL I WAS HARASSED BY AN ELDER WANTING TO KNOW WHEN AND IF I WOULD ATTEND A JUDICIAL HEARING.NOT ONLY WERE MY DOCTORS ANGRY AT THIS BUT ALSO MY SOLICITOR, WHO WAS ADVISED BY THE DOCTORS THAT I WOULD NOT BE CAPAPLE OF DEFENDING MYSELF. EVEN SO I ATTENDED THE JUDICIAL HEARING AND BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO RECALL ANYTHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE ALLEGATIONS ACCEPTED WHAT WAS SAID AND APOLOGISED TO THE ELDERS, AND WAS PROMPTLY DISFELLOWSHIPPED. FOR A YEAR AFTER THAT, I WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE FOR THE SAME BUSINESS FRAUD FOR WHICH I HAD BEEN EXPELLED.THE POLICE ESTABLISHED THAT IN FACT I HAD NOT COMMITTED THE FRAUD AND THAT THE ACCUSER KNOWING MY DETERIORATING MEMORY PROBLEMS HAD ATTEMPTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION, AND HAD LIED TO THE ELDERS AND TO THE POLICE.THROUGH ALL THIS I CONTINUED TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AND TO LEAD A MORAL LIFE, MORE THAN 3 YEARS AFTER I HAD BEEN DISFELLOWSHIPPED.I AD KEPT THE ELDERS APPRAISED OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATION AS I ANTICIPATED THAT THIS COULD BRING FURTHER REPROACH WHICH I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.WHEN THE POLICE INFORMED THAT IT WAS IN FACT ME WHO HAD BEEN THE VICTIM, I INFORMED THE ELDERS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY FOR ME AND MY WIFE, A JEHOVAHS WITNESS FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.INSTEAD IT SEEMED TO THROW THEM INTO A PANIC,HAVING TO CONTACT THE SOCIETIES LEGAL DEPARTMENT ETC.I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAD NO INTENTION OF ISSUING WRITS AGAINST THEM OR THE SOCIETY,ALL I WISHED THEM TO DO WAS RECTIFY A MISSCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE AND REINSTATE ME.NEITHER DID I REQUIRE AN APOLOGY AS I ACCEPTED THAT THE ELDERS MADE THE DECISION TO DISFELLOWSHIP, BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY HAD AT THE TIME AND NO OTHER MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION NEED KNOW ANY DETAILS, OTHER THAN I HAD BEEN REINSTATED.THEY HAVE KNOWN THIS NOW FOR 18 MONTHS AND APPEAR TO PLACING OBSTACLES IN THE WAY,EVEN ACCUSING ME OF SHOWING A BAD AND UNREPENTANT ATTITUDE, WHICH GIVEN THAT WE NOW KNOW THE EVIDENCE ON WHICH THEY MADE THEIR DECISION TO DISFELLOWSHIP WAS FLAWED AND BASED ON SLANDER,THEIR ATTITUDE DEFIES BELIEF. SO MUCH FOR LOVING SHEPERDS! I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT LEGAL AND CORPORATE MATTERS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER SPIRITUAL ONES,AND WONDER IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SIMILAR?

    • May 5, 2014 at 5:25 am
      Permalink

      their works have identified them.
      If we though being imperfect know how to give good gifts …..
      we are not above our teacher in forgiveness and good gifts. do not condemn yourself by leaving.
      they have broken the rule
      do not be judging your brother…. jesus is the judge.
      stay away from the diseased minds of men under control,
      so as not to also bring you down emotionally.
      Emotions can be deadly.

    • March 17, 2015 at 1:13 pm
      Permalink

      Here’s the answer, my friend. I have been there. The best revenge is smile. Look like you just swallowed the canary. Tell the brothers, “I’m sure I made some mistakes in all of this. I have repented to Jehovah. I just want to serve him now. This is all in the past. And I am worn out from this. I just want to go to meetings and sit and enjoy spiritual food. I am fine with this. I am not asking for anything, just peace.” They have to respect that. It is time to take the hit. Deep down, you want to puke at stupidity. Just keep smiling. Everything is wonderful. Stupid people get confused when you do that. Just say softly, “I’m fine. I love Jehovah, just like you. It’s all in the past.” What can they do? They have you on absolutely Nothing. These mild answers will shut them up and confuse them. Keep doing this. They will have to admit you have a marvelous attitude. Later, thank them for their loving kindnesses. You really appreciate it. Then move on. Stupid people will mess up their own lives in time. It is then you can smile once more.

  • December 29, 2013 at 7:36 am
    Permalink

    In response to: david edmund says:
    December 4, 2013 at 6:40 pm
    I am so sorry you experienced what you did as being a JW. The best thing to do is to just walk away from them and move on in your life. It will never be right in the Kingdom Halls or at HQ. Sure, there are some elder bodies that exist that really care about the publishers and about the Bible, but it is getting rare. The Gov Body is more interested in how to control the publishers by force or scare tactics as disfellowshipping through the Elder Bodies. Elders have nothing else in this world other than their positions, so they have to go along with HQ or be removed as an elder. If your removed, you are now a “nothing” as a JW. Position means your “spiritual”, regardless of how you really are outside of that position, good or bad. Peace begins with getting away from what is causing the pain. Take it from me, I am an ” inactive JW “. Its moving on to my 1 year anniversary of not going to the meetings. I still read and study the Bible all the time, but no longer have to be told what the Bible says by “reading the Watchtower”. I am now a free Christian serving God without a constant guilt trip from the Watchtower Society. I remain inactive, because I still have family on the inside, but they treat me good for right now and I am slowly telling them all the “truth” to what the society is really doing. I think the real threat to the JW’s is the ones like me on the inside still able to talk to them, but Im not disfellowshipped, but getting the information out their about the Watchtower covertly, but flying under the radar for now. The Watchtower has no idea how many of it’s followers have huge doubts or are sitting on the fence just waiting for the right time to leave because of all the controlling non sense. I was delt with many times judicially, yes, a few times for things I really did do, but more than half of them were for hear say or just because an elder or elders were on a wich hunt to get me out and they couldnt prove it, so I remain today covertly. I am at peace though because I believe in God and believe Jesus as the mediator, not the elders or the Gov Body. Once you free your selves from them, life becomes sweet and the heavy burdens of guilt and a relentless schedule dissapears and life becomes unburdoned from men telling you your going to die if you dont follow them and do every thing they ask without question.

    Be true to yourself. Stop worrying about what they think of you and worry about what God thinks about you, and when you do, life will begin. Its good you vented on this site. Research and find out that this organization is not truthful and its will hold you in shackles til the day you die unless you move on now. Stay well and know we love you.

  • January 10, 2014 at 1:12 am
    Permalink

    The safest thing to do when dealing with a wolf pack is simple, take in a recording device and inform them of what you are doing, if need be take a lawyer if allowed. Flying under the radar is challenging when one, (me) has been sexually abused by one elder counselling me then when having troubles dealing with this, have 2 other elder mates gang up and have me shunned as most are loyal to the man, not our Creator, plus am on restrictions for nearly 9 years, working alone plus unable to get a map. We have had 2 bethel special brothers sent here but they wanted to escape as quick as possible, as this pack of 5 guys are only following old BOE rules. Then told am not on restrictions by liars, have caught these many times lying. this is encouraging, hmmmmm. many letters sent to Bethel by many members here and elders just file these away as of no concern to them, so abuse continues, how sad.

    I am loyal to Jehovah as my dedication was to him, no man, organisation or cause. I have just related facts regarding me, with no insinuations and is 100% true.

  • January 10, 2014 at 9:17 am
    Permalink

    Rusty Man,

    I’m so sorry for you. Sadly, it is one more terrible story of abuse of power in the WTBTS.

    Rest assured that we have genuine pity for you, and want to help if we can.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • January 14, 2014 at 12:25 am
    Permalink

    Any updates on the Menlo Park situation?

  • May 5, 2014 at 5:31 am
    Permalink

    so lets see, first imply people not to go to college.
    expect them to find gainful employment from a company that only offers day shift and no weekends [good luck with that] and 8 hours. avoid having children in this wicked world.
    then expect people to donate money they dont have on a regular basis.
    beat up your own car and pay for gas to go to empty houses.
    and report those hours.
    so within two generations no one will be left to support it.

  • May 24, 2014 at 1:37 pm
    Permalink

    Well, I have experienced most of the stuff here. I have been in the truth for 54 years, kicked this way and that, slandered, lied to and about, defrauded, threatened with disfellowshipping, and shunned big time. And I have done nothing wrong. It is plain old jealousy, admitted as such by faithful true friend elders who have seen what was done to me. So, what now? Before getting the truth, I was attending a Lutheran seminary to be a Lutheran Pastor. Back in those days, we seminarians were given a psychological profile exam to see where we should be assigned to a congregation somewhere out there. I was told I should not be minister in a large city congregtion, instead, go to the rurals, since my thinking was grass roots and back to simple scripural basics. How correct they were, those college psychologists. I got the truth, stayed with a big city congregation and tasted arrogance and self righteousness for decades. Big mistake doing that. My wife walked away from it. Now I sit in wonderment and look to the heavens for answers. My vote now is shut down all religions across the planet, 100 percent, and start over. Best test is see what stands in all of this, what religion God really supports. The Cheese should stand alone. I believe God supports JWs, but he has to sift us and see if we have what it takes to be a true Christian. Look at Jesus when he was impaled. At one point, he felt God withdraw from him by asking: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” I want that as well, all of us abandoned by God so nothing is left. That will clean out the arrogant and self righteous ones so they run to the hills in a panic. Get rid of the garbage once and for all. The true blue ones will take up spiritual arms and look to the heavens and declare: “You name it, you got it!” When I went to that seminary, I dedicated my life to a God whose name I did not know and a life of sacrifice ministering to others…..all without holy spirit. Come on, people, let’s show the universe we have what it takes. Clean out all religions, tax every one of them so they become dead broke and out of business completely, and let’s get on with spiritually shepherding the men, women, and children on this planet who are crying out for someone to show them love and justice and give them comfort. Are you with me? May God’s will be done.

  • June 25, 2014 at 12:51 pm
    Permalink

    it might help to read franz book in search of Christian freedom , i have and its quite eye opening. if i understand him correctly, an have always felt personally, no religion should be ‘organized’ and have a ‘name’
    otherwise it is in opposition to the will of God.
    ‘Christianity’ IS who we are, we dont need dividing sects of belief systems. we should be ‘one’ no matter what way we worship God, it is acceptable when it reflects his glory, through our works of being a loving uman being to other human beings. also a comforting book perhaps, is a book called ‘deadly emotions’ ,by don colbert. pick it up off amazon used, very very good book to bring us off the cliff so to speak and help us understand each other and ourselves when it comes to emotional trauma.

  • August 10, 2014 at 3:45 am
    Permalink

    You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
    How thankful I am to our Creator to have revealed this to us His creatures.
    May you continue to reveal the truth and have the courage to follow wherever it leads.
    Mary thanks for your work and courage.

    • August 10, 2014 at 2:45 pm
      Permalink

      Looks like the ark is completed and the animals are being loaded in and the door is getting ready to be shut and sealed with pitch.

  • February 3, 2015 at 9:31 pm
    Permalink

    I expect soon now , there will come the major split which I have expected to happen ever since 1977 . It will probably happen soon , where one will not really know , each will claim to be the real identity of the Jw Org . but they will refuse to be meeting together , some will believe that such and such is the one maintaining the real Jw Org , while others will believe it is somebody else . Soon the Elders at all the Kingdom Halls will be asking which one you believe , so at some Kingdom Halls you will be considered an apostate , and at others you will be welcomed .

  • February 6, 2015 at 11:22 am
    Permalink

    I respectfully ask all to read my former comment on May 24, 2014. So far, no one has come forward and willingly suggested they join me in spiritually assisting all inhabitants on this planet. Yes, we all have been abused in one way or another. But God did not do that to us. It was sinful selfish humans who are legends in their own minds. Who says they are approved by God anyway? I see them on death row awaiting execution. They are not in my spiritual bag. I will not allow these people to cause me to stop serving God. How should the title Bozo be spelled? Bozos? Or Bozoes? Anyway, these B’s are not the ones I am serving. None of us should stop serving God because of Bozos in our lives. We rise up and dust off and say, “I’m going to do this right. I have a responsibility to mankind and my God.” I get the impression by no one responding to my call to spiritual arms that you people could not cut it in the first place in serving God and now have looked for an “out” to get off the hook of responsibility. That tells me one thing. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him….” You quitters were not drawn to Jesus in the first place. You are exactly where God wants you. Outside the camp. Get ready for the end. Nobody said being a Christian would be easy. What did you expect? Chimes? Being a Christian can get you killed. Or beaten up. Or kicked around in the congregation. Wake up and die right. As for me, with holy spirit or without holy spirit, I am serving God. I did it as a Lutheran Pastor, I will do it as a Jehovah’s Witness.

  • February 6, 2015 at 2:49 pm
    Permalink

    Big Jim,

    Why do you assume that we need to join you in some movement? Where does it say that in the bible?

    I fail to see how you can judge me, or any other non respondent to your call to arms?

    How do you have any idea about my relationship with the Lord? My relationship with the Lord is good, thanks.

    I humbly suggest you read the following bible verses. I think that they will help you understand why you had no responses to your clarion call.

    Galatians 5 and 6

    1 John 4

    Matthew 25

    Instead of berating and judging us, go and do something good for someone less fortunate than yourself, in the Lord’s name. Bring glory to CHRIST by showing mercy and compassion to all God’s children.

    I shall not be joining whatever movement you espouse. I am confident that the Lord will bless me and keep me, because I do my utmost to show compassion to all.

    That is enough for me.

    I hope that you find a way to follow CHRIST that brings you joy and hope. I hope you find a way to love without fear.

    Peace be with you, Excelsior!

    • February 18, 2015 at 3:23 pm
      Permalink

      I appreciate your response. I was being coy. What I am suggesting though is all complainers start a new religion they feel is based on the Bible. Then they can set a marvelous example for the world of mankind. Forget the botched up religions and all the abuse and hypocrisy. Begin anew. Stop beating up stupidity. It will rub off on you. Clean up the act, invite followers who have been abused, give them a new life of peace. This is where they belong. But to sit back and mentally “feel” religion without doing something about it is meaningless. You may know of the impending storm, but if you only know of it and walk through a room of people who do not know about it, do you walk with a smile that you have the knowledge and the faith but you are not going to tell this room filled with people who are about to die? Does your silence represent intelligence?

  • March 8, 2015 at 11:02 am
    Permalink

    Hello. Thanks for this information. I have been with the Bible Students for a while and I disagree with the JWs. This is my last Memorial and Convention. Thank you for everything in this site. It’s giving me that boost to leave. Keep it up

    • March 14, 2015 at 12:46 pm
      Permalink

      Oh, yes, about the closings of branches. Big Deal. Rejoice. Could it be modern electronics such as I-pads and websites and all the dot orgs are enough? All I use is an I-pad. Everything is on it. Books. Bible. Magazines. Literature of all sorts. Reference material galore. Who needs Branches anymore? My Branch is in my hand, ready to pop up and share knowledge together with my mind in a second of time. The entire world is being flooded with JW.org. China, Russia, outlying areas that could never be touched before. No literature is needed. Just download JW.org on your hand device, and the entire world of spirituality is opened up right before your eyes. Close the Branches! Who needs ’em? The truth is no longer in a building that prints literature. The truth is in the air all around us, ready to be tapped on electronic devices. All to the chagrin of governments, totalitarian or otherwise. What a neat trick God had up his sleeve all of these thousands of years. He is speeding it up at the appointed time. Now.

  • March 14, 2015 at 12:26 pm
    Permalink

    Hey, Complainers! Time to get off the couch and throw that bag of chips away, dump the Diet Coke, turn off the television, get up and shower and shave, throw on some respectable clothes, and let’s talk. We have a job to do. Either together, or separate. I’m ready, spring loaded, give me a forum, and I’m right there to assist spiritually. Forget organized religion. No more collection plates. No more salaries to Bozos. We all work for free. Matthew 10:8. “You received free, give free.” Bird of a feather flock together. So we get together, but no one is in charge. We all sit in a circle maybe, share some encouragement to one another, then go out and talk to those who are not there with us. Look up United Nations and religion on the Internet. Our wishes are coming true. The UN is going to shut down religions. Then what? You will be right in all of your thinking. Start announcing this to your relatives and friends, if you love them. Because when religion is banned, the economy will suffer. No more holidays. Just people doing what they naturally please. And that might be bad, real bad. The restraint will be lifted. Your neighbors might blast your houses with weapons. Why not? Man’s laws? They won’t matter anymore. The people will wander aimlessly wondering what is next. But it appears that you have the answers. So, in all respect, please share with us. I want to hear more from you. You are correct. God has a plan, and it is completely opposed to deviates in all religions. Judgement starts with the house of God. Wow. We’re talking a lot of big shot religious guys in all religions being taken out. As in killed. Anyway, what’s the next trick? Obviously, God doesn’t like the way religions are running things. So, close all of it down. Then we thinkers, you and I, can show mankind the right way to conduct spiritual matters. I’m ready. My TV is off. The Diet Coke is dumped. The bag of chips is chumped. What do you want me to do next? Here I am, Send me! I will do my part. Will you do your part? Stop the complaining. Laugh ’em off! Who needs them anyway? We have a job to do, either together, or separate. Just check in once in a while, to show we are on task.

  • March 14, 2015 at 12:37 pm
    Permalink

    One more thing. The Bible says, “Go the ant, you lazy ones!” Ants are busy. Real busy. They have an instinct as they serve God. They do exactly what God programmed them to do. Churning and moving piles of sand and whatever else they are doing. They religiously do the will of God, whatever they are doing. But they are not part of a “rocking chair religion.” Just sitting back and “feeling” religious but doing nothing about it. The ditch needs digging. All I want to see are elbows and behinds as you man the shovel. Go to the ant and take an example of industriousness. Stop being lazy.

  • March 17, 2015 at 12:51 pm
    Permalink

    Hey, I watched a video put out by the Watchtower Society. In there, the man was speaking and holding up a Bible. Then he smiled and said as he laid the Bible down on the speaker’s stand, “Ooh, this is too heavy.” He held up and I-Pad. “I use this now.” Every book, Bible, magazine, reference material, you name it, was on that I-Pad. I have one as well. The goal of JWs is sell everything. Close down printeries. Establish one Central HQ in Patterson, New York out in the countryside, and direct the entire organization from there. They have sold almost all of the buildings in New York. Got Billions! The city of New York is clicking its heels. Property Tax money. The new owners have to pay property tax. This might put a bug in the minds of politicians and city fathers. Tax religion! Anyway, all of the money obtained from selling off printing factories and Bethel Homes and anything else that is unnecessary overhead is a wise move. They are using that money to build Kingdom Halls all over the world. No more dumpy buildings as Kingdom Halls. Africa is happy as larks. Right now, the Watchtower Society owns all Kingdom Halls across the planet. Donations are used locally to pay utilities and maintenance, keep a few bucks for back up, and send the rest to Patterson to be used for the worldwide construction of Kingdom Halls. Get this, Through Satellite Imaging, the WBTS can look down at their Kingdom Hall properties worldwide and see how it all looks and make suggestions as to what should be done. So, instead of the WTBS going down the tubes, they are making wise decsions to expand using the Internet and I-Pads and JW.org. THEY WANT TO GO PAPERLESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THEY DO NOT NEED PRINTING FACTORIES OR BETHEL HOMES ANYMORE. So….sell all of it. Put the money to good use. Smart people. No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks. PAPERLESS. Some of the African countries have ratios of one Witness to 394 citizens. This whole thing is growing by leaps and bounds. Yeah, there is sexual abuse. The two witness rule? I used it and was still shot down. It’s time to hang the guilty ones and hang them high. Even if the accusation is false. If there is any accusation of molestation, believe it and leave it in God’s hands. He will fix it. In the meantime, don’t hide behind the two witness rule. One is enough. Where there is smoke, there is fire. Young kids are not going to make up stories about this. They are crying out in all of their innocence. As you can see, people, I tell the truth. I believe JWs have the truth. I am not leaving. I lost my Electrician job in 1964 because of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Nobody believed me. I was fired forever. Now I am vindicated. The sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has been all over the news. But I still took the hit back then. I refused to work on the property of the Church because of unhandled sexual abuse in the Church. For that same reason, I will not work on properties of the WTBS because of unhandled sexual abuse. I will not donate money to any of it either because of this. Handle it! Get it fixed. And….I am still staying. It is the true religion. I was a Lutheran Pastor. I left it for the truth. Disobedient humans are not going to stop me from staying in the truth. I do not serve them. I serve Jehovah God. If they are not going to deal with these accusations, the accused ones are in serious trouble at the end of this system. They will be butchered and left to rot. That makes them fools of the worst kind. The victims should remain with the truth, knowing one day they will be vindicated. Look at me. It has taken 50 years to be vindicated losing the Electrician trade. But I was right back then. And those alive today knowing of this, remember. And they now say, I was right. So, all of the kids and you people, come back. Forget the dirtballs. They are on deathrow. You will be vindicated. In the meantime, raise your heads up and tell them to stick it where the sun don’t shine. That is, just north of the Artic Circle, or the Land of the Midnight Sun…..where the sun don’t shine.

  • November 9, 2015 at 4:55 pm
    Permalink

    Hllo I am so delighted I found your site,I really found you
    by error, while I was looking on Aol for something else,
    Nonetheless I aam here now and would just like to say many thanks for a remarkable post and a
    all rund interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have tine to
    go through it all at the moment but I have book-marked it
    and lso included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    more, Please do keep up the great work.

  • November 24, 2015 at 5:42 pm
    Permalink

    Save your car by considering one of these five
    options – assuming of course that finishing the project yourself is no longer an option. It is common courtesy to clean your
    car from the outside and the inside before you leave it at the garage.
    Physical – back pain, neck pain, black and blue around eyes, being in the emergency
    room with an uncomfortable splint, dizziness, feeling faint, sleeplessness, extreme anxiety,
    moderate anxiety, shaking, headaches.

  • December 30, 2015 at 12:21 pm
    Permalink

    Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this,
    like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a
    little bit, but instead of that, this is great blog. A
    great read. I will definitely be back.

  • December 30, 2015 at 5:08 pm
    Permalink

    I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
    I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a
    famous blogger if you aren’t already ;) Cheers!

  • December 30, 2015 at 6:08 pm
    Permalink

    Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog
    loading? I’m trying to determie if its a problem on my end or if
    it’s the blog. Any feed-backwould be greatly appreciated.

  • December 30, 2015 at 9:01 pm
    Permalink

    Hi there tto every single one, it’s in act a plleasant for
    me to pay a visit this web site, it consists of valuable Information.

  • December 31, 2015 at 1:08 am
    Permalink

    Hi! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and
    say I really enjoy reading through your blog posts.
    Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the
    same topics? Thanks for your time!

  • December 31, 2015 at 6:13 am
    Permalink

    What’s up, yup this article is in fact nice and I
    have learned lot of things from it regarding blogging. thanks.

Comments are closed.