More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts

Visitors pose for a selfie at Brooklyn headquarters, but is it all smiles for bethelites?
Visitors pose for a selfie at Brooklyn headquarters, but is it all smiles for bethelites?

Normally I don’t like to report on stories unless I have confirmation in my hand, be it in the form of a printed letter or leaked recording. But three separate sources have contacted me this evening warning of a special letter that was read out at morning worship at branches worldwide.

According to sources, the letter indicates that Watchtower could be bracing itself for further downsizing as bethel families have been warned that cuts are on the way and more branches are expected to close.

According to one source, it has even been suggested that bethelite numbers at remaining branches may be slashed to such a degree that volunteers might need to do their own laundry and prepare their own meals. (Edit: this could more likely refer to far-flung branches.) Assembly halls may also bear the brunt of huge cuts in spending.

Once I hear more I will provide updates. If you are a bethelite reading this article and you are able to supply further information, we would be interested to hear from you via the email address provided on our “contact us” page. Total confidentiality is assured.

If these reports are true, they could lend further credence to the idea that Watchtower is beginning to buckle under its own weight as the internet age continues to wreak havoc on its growth.

 

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Further reading…

140 thoughts on “More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts

  • September 24, 2015 at 8:25 am
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    Here is my specualtion, which is pretty close to the other ones I’ve seen posted. (I remember how we all loved to speculate on the End of the System when we were active JW’s! “Satan is going to make the U.N. try and shut down the Kingdom Halls and we would have to go into the woods or Book Study groups.” Or “this war will lead to economic this or that” which all turned out to be totally wrong.)
    But what I can see happening is that the GB goes totally digital and closes down Bethels, KH’s, Assembly Halls and the printing work. You can get everything online and streaming. Then the GB distance themselves, after they get all of the real estate money, from the congregations. The GB just pass on ‘suggestions’ like in Russel’s Day (not his generation because that would still be now!). That way the rulers from the headquarters and remaining Bethels would not be constantly dragged into courts, where they are inevitably losing, over child custody, shunning, medical treatments, political issues and sexual misconduct. They would cut their expenses hugely while, hopefull, taking in the same or greater donations. They could still do their Conventions where they appear as ‘Special Guest Stars’ and no longer as the organizers.
    Kind of like 100 Huntley Street and not like an organized religion.
    ‘Publishers’ wouldn’t have to keep track of hours and ‘elders’ wouldn’t have to continually discipline people. It will be loosie-goosie with people and there will just be the mild gossip of who is doing what wrongdoing and it will be between them and Jehovah. Don’t ask, don’t tell for the elders and then the authorities won’t have to come knocking.
    It will all be New Light going back to the 1st Century Congregations with every congregation be Autonomous.
    They should pay be a consulting fee!!!
    Hey! If any GB are poaching my ideas, I want be paid and I’ll continue to work from home, part-time for you guys. I want to be an elder, with alternate CO status and a talk at every Convention!

    • September 24, 2015 at 2:38 pm
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      Hilarious! JJ the spiritual mercenary. Goes where the money is. SHAME, JJ, shame…

      Great comment. Sounded very realistic to me. They’ll just keep making whichever choices best protect themselves and the money.

      They say the end is coming tomorrow, but the idea of not having enough money for 100 more years is sending them into a panic. (I’m sure that point has been made many times before.)

      By the way, how many predicted this money thing? My guess (seriously) was always that they would just keep spiraling further down some bizarre doctrinal rabbit hole, requiring more and more perverse acts of devotion by their followers until it all just imploded. Okay, some of that is happening, but I’m surprised that the GB’s PRIORITY now appears to simply be a run-of-the-mill obsession with money. How unoriginal.

      I like my cults to be way more creative than that. Like “let’s all meet at the Hale-Bopp comet, jump on the first spaceship that comes by, and get the hell outta this doomed galaxy!”. Or, more realistically, pronouncing some everyday necessary interaction with the world or government as being unacceptable to Jehovah, and many JW’s willing to try to adhere to that, but then it all just falls apart, crushed by the weight of its own insanity. But now I don’t even think it will be anything THAT interesting. Just an eventual realization by most JW’s that the GB is simply full of malarkey.

        • September 27, 2015 at 8:29 am
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          Oh, I know that YOU did Lloyd, lol. Thats a great article, and I had read it. I think a better way to ask my question would be: As a longtime JW, right as you were beginning to see that the belief system of the Org was false, and that it was a cult, what would you have predicted the future of the Org to be, knowing that each year that passes will be like a noose tightening on the GB due to predictions that are set to fail, and doctrine that will only further be eviscerated by enlightened people on the internet?

          All of it just turning into a money thing was not what I expected to discover. But, as my history (and usually even my present) has proven, I tend to be fairly dumb. :)

        • September 28, 2015 at 3:47 am
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          Well, I must admit that I started being suspicious on printing cuts when they stopped harassing me for using my tablet in the early days instead of the paper Bible while on the platform! Remember that? …then…surprise surprise we got a letter form GB allowing us to use a tablet. Now the articles of a decade ago where internet was “bad” were not brought to question either, in fact we use internet to preach!! well, well…we use it to downsize the printing and saving money.
          I do believe in the Holy Bible and I do not have big issues to speculate. I do however have issues when the GB does not tell the truth behind the cutting of expenses and the money we pay to lost court cases. Please be honest and tell us where our contributions go!!

          • October 4, 2015 at 12:35 pm
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            I come from the days when the internet was eeeeevil and a tool of satan. I giggle every time I see the street booths with a big jw.ORG sign.

          • December 17, 2015 at 1:17 pm
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            I am really dumbfounded about this internet thing. When i was studying towards baptism the newspapers abd internet was Satan’s instrument and was to be avoided or face disciplinary cautions etc. That was in the late 80’s. Fast forward to today..We wolah….JW.org etc…has the ‘light’ gotten brighter’?. I read the book ‘Crisis of Conscience ‘….what an eye opener. Like most capitalist organisations you can ‘grow’ only so much before the next inevitable crush**After becoming ‘cold’ I could never join any religion as my mind template was that it was ‘false’. What i have learned through this is one does not need ‘religion’ t o be morally sound and a good hearted individual. ‘When one person suffers from a delusion its madness, when a whole nation does its called a religion ‘-stolen. JB

      • November 6, 2015 at 1:50 pm
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        I still am amused at the societies pressure on members to donate the past while. My mother is still an active Witness and not easily fooled by their needing more and more money…I imagine the next few months are going to be very eventful….with more honest hearted left wondering…”if this is really God’s organization, why are they scaling back or cancelling completely their work…??? Apparently because of a lack of funds.” Why as well “are they grasping at straws attempting to reinvent their understanding of the Bible’s prophecies if their inspired?’

    • September 24, 2015 at 9:30 pm
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      Nooo, man. No working at home for you, JJ. It’ll be you and the GB on JWTV every week. For you, a weekly feature: “Who’s the King of the North THIS WEEK?” Followed by “Fashion Tips with Tony Tightpants”. Next, Steve Lett gives everyday tips to make our lives better, like “How to pet a puppy REALLY hard”, or “How to ALWAYS look and sound like you’re brain is oxygen-deprived”. And then, after this one-hour show mistakenly runs 70 minutes, David Splane will come out and explain that the first 30 minutes actually overlapped the first 10 minutes of the last 40 minutes, meaning that the show had indeed only lasted an hour, just as they always said it would. And then all of you will go home happy and proud of yourselves. Yes, you have an exciting future ahead of you, JJ!

  • September 24, 2015 at 8:25 am
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    The governing body wants money, not spend money on workers who are not revalued with the passage of time … but with real estate, hedge funds, venture capital and covered bonds … heaven can wait

  • September 24, 2015 at 8:28 am
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    The Governing Body wants money, not spend money on workers who are not revalued with the passage of time… but with real estate, hedge funds, venture capital and covered bonds… heaven can wait…

  • September 24, 2015 at 8:33 am
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    If you go to Youtube videos, you have anti-Witness videos and you have pro Witness videos. I have seen quite a few youtube videos in Spanish but I can’t understand anything they are saying, but those youtube videos have hundreds of thousands of views. I am fairly sure those videos are anti Witness because there are comments below the videos whereas all the videos that are pro Witness won’t allow any comments below the videos. That says to me that if the pro-Witness videos don’t allow comments, it is because they don’t want to see anything bad said under those videos. If they weren’t afraid of bad comments, they would allow for comments, don’t you think?

    Those videos have an awful lot of Spanish viewers so I think that the Spanish speaking people are getting the picture and it isn’t just English speaking people who are quitting.

    I think the Society is running scared and can see the writing on the wall and it scares them and the internet is going to be the thing that destroys the illusion.

    I saw another poster asked the question of who I would forgive for preemptive shunning and right now, I can’t say that I would forgive any of them. If a person had stopped going to meetings, I would never have shunned them. I didn’t talk to them when they were disfellowshipped but never for being “weak”. That is why I won’t forgive them if the Society comes clean for what it really is, which is a dangerous cult that destroys families.

    We all joined this religion in good faith but we were taken advantage of and it took over our ability to determine right from wrong.

  • September 24, 2015 at 9:32 am
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    From Spain. September 23, 2015:

    “I wanted to discuss with you the news that has reached me through a Bethelite of Spain close friend of my father. Apparently this morning during the “morning worship” have been told that the dirt has decided to make cuts in all Bethel homes in the whole world. They even canceled some projects previously approved construction. It seems that many Bethelites redeployed as regular pioneers to reduce Bethel families. And of course, the funny thing is that they are happy, because as you have said it is not because there is crisis, or because donations have plummeted (lest you believe that the Lord has withdrawn the blessing), but to promote and enhance the preaching !! So everyone is happy … All assemblies recruiting volunteers to Bethel, people leaving their lives to volunteer in dedication to God (although most of the ones I know were to show off and pick up all the sisters who fell into their networks ). People who spent years working without pay and send them home with a hand in front and one behind, no job and no prospects, wing! Espabilad! And the others, ohhh, how wise the CG, we are in the last days and the preaching is the most urgent task we can do! Of course we must recognize that they are the kings of marketing, they are great …”

    http://www.extj.com/showthread.php?26763-Recortes-by-WT&p=494028#post494028

  • September 24, 2015 at 12:40 pm
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    Any joy with getting hold of an official copy of that letter Lloyd? The Bethelites I know won’t even talk to me about it! ;)

  • September 24, 2015 at 1:30 pm
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    I wonder if there is more going on behind the scenes than we know of re: the ARC or further investigations in the US. All speculations of course, but it’ll be worth watching the news closely over the next few weeks! It’s crazy how much has happened over the last few months! I don’t know Cedars, once again you’ve been spot on! You do have some amazing inside sources, however…LOL.

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:19 am
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      Need to be logged in with an “active publisher” account to view that link unfortunately :(

      • September 25, 2015 at 7:39 am
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        Thanks Stirring Awake. This is strange as yesterday I could see the post, but today I can’t. Some people were putting a positive ‘God’s Will’ spin, on the latest news, others seemed puzzled.
        Anyway i just thought i would register on that JW forum, but to do so, you have to swear an oath. See what it is below this post. Furthermore you have to answer questions about recent publications to prove you go to meetings, which i do not.

        oath to register on JWTalk forum:
        ‘I understand that when I click the Submit button below, I am declaring before God and men that all the information above is faithful and true, and that I honestly am an active publisher of the good news associated with the organization known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and that I both attend Christian meetings regularly and report time spent in the field ministry to my field service group overseer each month on average. ‘

        • September 26, 2015 at 8:30 am
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          Whoa! secret society oaths, handshakes… real cloak and dagger stuff. Do we have any cold war spies here that can infiltrate?

          • September 27, 2015 at 9:20 am
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            Cedars…if he shaves off his beard, has a haircut and moves to New York (joke)!

  • September 24, 2015 at 2:21 pm
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    Wowwwww. This is really…what is this? Exciting, awesome, terrific, scary hopeful?

  • September 24, 2015 at 3:12 pm
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    Attempting repost…Does anyone know if the RTO (regional translation office) model that they are switching to includes a residence? I get the impression from the videos that these poor 3rd world Witnesses aren’t given room and board for their services. This is pure speculation on my part. What isn’t speculation that I have seen played out repeatedly is, when the GB visit they stay with the local congregation business tycoon, of course. Every congregation has one, and despite their lacklustre service record, and questionable business practices, manage to employ a large portion of the congregation and, always have an extra plush room ready and waiting for any travelling C.O., bethelite etc.

  • September 24, 2015 at 3:44 pm
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    Wow,appreciate reading all the comments…yes they are experts at spinning things,so as to the ? Who you would forgive for shunning,really made me think….my husband & I still consider ourselfs very spiritual & living each day in a loving way…in spite of the fact,that 97% of our family…you know think They are doing the right thing,in not associating with us mentally~messed~up ones. Well we are not into any organized religion these days,either!!but I would like to think we would welcome anyone to our home…and not impose conditions for associating,we’ve seen what becomes,from conditional love…& I wouldn’t wish that on anybody!!!

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:22 pm
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    This may be the tip of the iceberg.
    Let’s hope that more downscaling results in a massive wake up by those still blinded by these 7 men in NY.

  • September 25, 2015 at 2:25 pm
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    has anyone thought how they will downsize the kitchens and laundry? ie who will finance the inmates food will they have a time concession to prepare meals or are the ravens going to provide ? Its a bit woolly!can you imagine those boys ironing shirts ha ha us women not so useless after all.If someone can inform me how you can run a huge outfit and not feed them please enlighten me thanks ruthlee

  • September 25, 2015 at 2:26 pm
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    P.S any word on the Chelmsford project I have a friend there but if i ask him he will get suspicious and im not ready to be discovered yet thanks rl

  • September 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm
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    ust read an email from a friend, and she shared some very interesting emails from her friends about information on changes now happening at the Bethels around the world. Here is the email:
    ———————————
    Thanks Sally, Jesus is directing the org and all decisions and instructions to us may not seem practical from now on, neither will we understand the reasonings behind many of the changes that the organization makes. How exciting are these times!
    Sent from my iPad
    According to three of my correspondents, in three entirely different locations, some major adjustments are to be made. A brother in Vancouver writes:

    An announcement was made today at morning worship (at all branches worldwide) that there will be major changes in an effort to reduce or save costs. The primary goals of the changes are
    1) so that expenses will not exceed donations.
    2) to speed up the work.
    3) every aspect of the organization is being looked into in an effort to save money.
    4) certain projects will be cancelled or delayed.
    5) changes with personnel and departments in Bethel.

    A sister in Essex, UK, who is helping with the British branch location and is linked in with the morning worship at London Bethel, says that a letter was read from the Governing Body this morning:

    It basically said further to the broadcast about helping contribute more money as it won’t last forever, they are postponing, cancelling or majorly reducing all construction work, worldwide. This includes reducing bethel family drastically, and reducing the services they get while on bethel, like getting more to do their own laundry and housecleaning. All those that have to leave will be assigned to the field, in most cases as regular pioneers. It said that the governing body loves you very much and just to trust in Jehovah and make it a matter of prayer. They will follow with more information in the next weeks and months.

    A brother in Argentina adds:

    Building projects will be stopped and a reduction of full-time servants will be made. In addition, many Bethels are closing the dining rooms. Each Bethelite will see the morning worship from his room. For now, no more sending out special pioneers, only regular pioneers. All construction projects will be put on hold. Volunteers will return home when they finish their current assignments. The idea is to reduce costs and staff at Bethels. There will be no waiters, and meals are simplified. There will be a buffet for serving.

    Do you understand this? If more pioneers are being sent into the field, the result will be more new ones coming into the congregations. And yet, the building projects are being curtailed. So, should an announcement like this surprise us? Not at all. As we get closer to the end, some decisions may be made that we perhaps don’t understand, that may seem to go against all logic. Whatever the reasons, obeying and accepting those decisions will result in blessings.

    In the days to come, wait for more clarifications on what the meaning is for us. Especially, keep your eyes open for news from the Annual Meeting at the beginning of October.

    • September 26, 2015 at 12:06 am
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      @Dwain Thank you for the information especially about the UK as I live here. Do you know if they are continuing with the New BETHEL at Chelmsford?? I presume they are but just reducing staff!

    • September 27, 2015 at 10:44 am
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      “As we get closer to the end, some decisions may be made that we perhaps don’t understand, that may seem to go against all logic. Whatever the reasons, obeying and accepting those decisions will result in blessings.”

      These are the kind of statements to be expected from the fully indoctrinated. Confirmation bias at its best. “Just because we don’t understand it is no reason to doubt. I mean the israelites were told to do things they didn’t always understand.” To that I always say that the israelites according to the Bible experienced supernatural events that confirmed obedience being the best option. JWs have NO such thing. Just a bunch of guys saying “trust us! God chose US to lead” with no proof whatsoever and obedience often leading to death ( see JWs and blood fractions, organ transplants, vaccines).

      Someone made a comment on one of these articles that if the JW.org went south the result would be a bunch of splinter groups. I found that interesting because that is exactly what the gb is preparing for. A circuit overseer mentioned that one of the things taught at co school is how to organize groups of congregations so as to keep them united when the gb eventually “loses” bethel. It’s a contingency plan to keep things going.

  • September 26, 2015 at 5:25 pm
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    I wonder if they will cut the conventions back to 2 days? The cost incurred at those must be considerable. If all this is penny pinching I can see it happening. After all, they can easily stream to assembly halls on a Sunday. Then the GB only have to sit behind their news desk.

  • September 27, 2015 at 7:12 am
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    The more cutbacks the better right? Cults need the constant reinforcing because of consonant dissonance if my understanding is correct. So any lightening up of the continual bombardment of direct personal interaction will not be able to quell the intellectual conflicts their nonsensical teachings cause in the minds of their followers.

    One commentor on John Cedar’s youtube annoucement regarding these developments made a good point. The layoffs will result in hundreds or thousands of middle aged people with no real employment backgrounds, or skills being thrust into a world into which they have to support themselves. If any layoffs occur here in the US, these individuals, not having paid any taxes, might not be eligible for unemployment benefits. These will be individuals without any higher education and essentially nothing to offer employers in an already tough job market. I feel sorry for these people, who, now the rumors are circulating, must be terrified at the prospects of having to make their own way in Satan’s world without any good means to support themselves. Some may even be faced with asking relatives they’ve shunned for years for assistance, and possibly asking them to provide them with room and board until they can stand on their own feet again. Wouldn’t that be ironic? I’m sure Watchtower has no organization to help guide these people with what assistance might be available to them, or to help them gsain employment. I work for a great major corporation, who when they laid people off, would set up assitance to help those who were to be laid off with their resumes, interviewing skills, unemployment insurrance, even new job prospects, etc. How can a Satan influence organization be kinder? I’m sure all Watchtower might do is thank the poor individuals who find themselves in the lurch for their service to Jehovah and reassure them that as Jesus said, worry not for yourselves, look at the lillies of the field for they toil not nor do they lasbor…that God will see to their every needs. Great comfort to be left with in a REAL world with people with REAL needs for food, clothing and shelter. I know if I were to be provided with that kind of comfort I would not necessarily feel reassured at all!

    Which brings me to another point. With only 8 million people who are going to be saved, how successful is God vs Satan in influencing the masses of mankind? It seems to me that Jehovah is a dismal failure at convincing people of the truth if 7 billion are to die in Armeggedon! I haven’t checked up on Watchtower teaches about after the 1000 year Kingdom where Satan is unbound once again (Rev 20) an allowed to oppose the Kingdom. What makes anyone think that at that time he wouldn’t be as successful then at convincing people to follow him than he is at this time just before Armeggedon? If the great creator of the universe cant save more people than those who are decieved by Satan, isn’t God a dismal failure? Just something to think about. Oh well, if worldly corporations who are driven by Satan’s lies can be kinder to people they lay off, maybe Jehovah and “his” organization should take some lessons from Satan?

    • September 27, 2015 at 7:36 am
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      PS…I don’t believe in either Jehovah or Satan. Its a made up fictional world that people have deluded themselves into believing is real. Not just Jehovahs Witnesses, but billions of Christians, Mohammedans, even eastern religions with their pantheon of God’s and supernatural beings. Its amazing to me that humans have this need to believe in something for which we have no tangible evidence, and will shape their lives around these beliefs as though they are real. Its time to wake up to the facts, and face our challenges from the vanatge point of reality. I just saw a movie called Game Change that providesreal insight into the real dangers to us all of people whose actions are driven by that kind of fantasy. Its scary.

      In fact when we come right down to it moral concepts such as good and evil are concepts we, the human race, have made up. They do not apply to any other creature or living thing other than human. morals can and have indeed changed from culture to culture. Morals are not axioms like mathematical axioms, or the laws of physics. They are principles we conceived, that if we live by them provide the best means by which thousands, millions, billions of us can live by and allow us to live among each other in peace and relative harmony. Morals are good guidelines and I am by no means advocating against good morals, but what is an essential moral, such as murder, vs what might be considered sexual depravity, for example many believe homosexuality or drunkeness,alcoholism to be vital morals, are not on equal footing. As science advances we have learned that alcoholism is not moral depravity but a VERY REAL disease just like measles, diabetes or cancer. So our moral understanding has to change with regard to these things to properly treat and help people, as opposed to holding them culpable and condemming them as immoral. Certain other things, such as murder, are more fundamental and last, and its a good thing to have laws and consequences for such things in order to be fair and equatible to all people. But a lion taking the life of a wildebeest is not a violation or morals. Such a thing simply does not apply to them. Again, it is a human concept for humans, to allow humans to live in harmony and happiness with each other. Not an indellible principle governing the universe. Just my point of view, certainly others have a right to see things differently. I know I am certainly in the minority on this one.

  • September 27, 2015 at 8:17 am
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    If you plan to expand or change tatics you not only look at the costs you ensure that the funds are in place from the start. Also so many born in are expected to be poineer or go to Bethel – the Borg make no money from these type of members. I think they are diverting their resources to the digital age and cutting right back on printing. Any succesful business only aoends what they can afford. They are so slow to change and now they have no change – they have to put funds aside for the loads of compensation claims coming there way. The bubble is starting to burst!

  • October 1, 2015 at 1:32 am
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    Just had a phone call from Johannesburg South Africa.. 250 Bethelites have been told to leave

    • November 18, 2015 at 5:45 am
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      Only found out this Sunday. been out of the loop for a while.

  • October 1, 2015 at 9:28 am
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    just had a phone call from Johannesburg South Africa. 250 Bethelites have been told to leave.

  • October 1, 2015 at 4:55 pm
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    What makes anyone think that the organization at the end times would be any different than ancient Israel in the Bible? Just like then, people are turning other people into kings. the Israelites demanded a king, and so do the rank and file now, in a manner of speaking. They don’t have to think for themselves, just do what they’re told. It’s easy! And, just like Israel of old, it’s going to collapse. Why? Man can’t rule himself. The big question is: What happens to all those who saw this coming and stayed faithful to Jehovah and not men?

  • October 1, 2015 at 7:56 pm
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    If you pay attention to the time line, that is noticable to those not in the know, it all started to unravel as soon as it was OK to take blood fractions. Still not ok to practice some fraction of fornication. Still no explanation of when my father decided that his son’s shed blood was no longer sacred. 2 Peter 2:1 “and will disown even the owner that bought them”.

  • October 1, 2015 at 7:56 pm
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    If you pay attention to the time line, that is noticable to those not in the know, it all started to unravel as soon as it was OK to take blood fractions. Still not ok to practice some fraction of fornication. Still no explanation of when my father decided that his son’s shed blood was no longer sacred. 2 Peter 2:1 “and will disown even the owner that bought them”.

    • October 5, 2015 at 8:20 am
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      ummmm! My husband who rageously disagrees with me for visiting this site had to admit that he thought things went wrong from the same time and doctrine defection. Interesting isn’t it (if you believe) God is not to be mocked! ruthlee/ruthless

  • October 3, 2015 at 2:24 pm
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    Today at a kingdom hall sharing four congregations, one of them being a foreign language, there were no Oct magazines for either language. An elder told me we went through them already, as if they were just that popular since it is the offer. Also, he said they are trying to get some from other congs. Then I tried another hall on a whim, they have three congs with one foreign language. They had about 20 – 30 english sets, which isn’t very many at all. Also, they were separated out! I do not know about that halls foreign language mags, I forgot to look. They have kept them together since they cut the size in half. The only way I noticed is that the first mag I saw was the awake, and the awake has always been inside the wt. I am just waking up, and all this is making me really sad, and paranoid. This is my first ever post like this.

    • October 3, 2015 at 2:59 pm
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      Welcome, Jaime. There are many JW’s and former JW’s here in various stages of their awakening. Find comfort in knowing that no matter how you’re feeling, MANY around the world are going through the same thing, as are most of us here.

      Happiness, sadness, fear, anger–you name it–mostly all of us here ran the entire range of emotions when discovering that we had dedicated a significant part of our lives to a belief system that simply isn’t true. Personally, I STILL run that whole range of emotions.. sometimes in a single DAY!

      Stay with us, share in the conversations, and read the articles in the archives to get a fuller understanding of what the truth about the Organization really is. And know that, although there will be challenges, you can find a path to happiness. Many here have. :)

      A little later, Pickled Brain will share with you some vital information about the Governing Body. Brace yourself!

      • October 3, 2015 at 3:30 pm
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        Thank you.

        • October 3, 2015 at 4:23 pm
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          @Jamie .WELCOME To Some REAL UNCONDITIONAL FRIENDS on this Site! You will be pleasantly surprised! & WE WILL NOT be ASKING You for any ICE CREAM Money!!!

          • October 4, 2015 at 6:07 am
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            Ha!

    • October 5, 2015 at 9:17 pm
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      Welcome Jamie. It’s taken me about two years to wake up. I still go to some meetings but I find them hard to sit through. I either have to bit my tongue to stop getting angry or stop myself from laughing. I cannot believe the information that appears on this site and yes at times we do banter a lot because keeping a sense of humour helps the healing process but in reality it shows that we are survivors and the ‘truth’ is contained here and elsewhere if we really search for it. For years the Borg. has told us not to look at ‘apostate’ sites but now we can see why. These sites are not from satan but contain that which they – the GB has tried to hide from us for more years than I have been under it’s spell. Take your time and search the topics and you will see how far the rabbit hole goes.

    • October 19, 2015 at 1:09 am
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      Good work Jaime, to waking up ! And there is much more things than financial issues. In the beginning your head will be like “in vacuum”. The more information coming to you, the more confused you will be. Do not be, or feel “nostalgic” for society (jw.org), congregation or people. Truth is more important, and your conscience before God.
      After 38 years, on July 27 2015, I wrote my Letter of dissociation, confirm it by public notary, spread to some 50 brothers and sisters, and to branch here in Zagreb, Croatia. Few people want to continue contact with me, others not saying “hello” on the street. :))))) But they are in slavery of GB concept, not me ! :)

  • October 5, 2015 at 11:05 am
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    Is that the theme of the next assembly?

    “Thousands now working (in Bethel) will never be employed”

    Prophecy is coming true!

  • October 5, 2015 at 3:50 pm
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    I can see that almost everybody in here has toned it down as far as hating jws. I really believe that we apostates are mor loving and kind than the jws are.I believe we deep down really feel sorry for them. I know myself has toned it down. I would speak to one of them now. I would offer them a helping hand and not point fingers in their faces. I have said many times that we apostates are better Christians than they are. We are forgiving and lowly at heart/.But I really believe that those 8 old men will never change. They have an attitude problem. They think so much of themselves. Hell on them. But as far as the lowly old timers and the youg people that really thought they had the truth, I feel sorry for those 2 groups.What say you people? Has your heart developed a little sorrow for them? Please let me know if I am getting too soft towards all the jws.

    • October 5, 2015 at 9:21 pm
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      No you are totally correct. They have been duped just like we have but need more time to wake up. Some will some won’t but they are not our enemy. The 7 anesthetists at headquartes have just given them a stronger dose of brainwash than we had. We can be there for them when they do start to stir though :)

  • October 10, 2015 at 8:56 am
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    I remember having read a Newsday report on the 40 top earning private businesses in New York City. The article, which was published around 2002, stated that “gains” , i.e. revenue , which is the amount taken in before expenses, were $951 MM. Newsday did not reveal how they obtained the Watchtower’s financials. Despite the fact that they operate with volunteer help and all aspects of their operations uses volunteer support, construction, maintenance, EVERYTHING!, is done with donated time and support, there must still be a large portion of this revenue that must be used to keep the operation going. Being non-profit they can’t allow too much to accrue, otherwise they might lose their tax exempt status with the IRS. So unlike a profit based corporation, they can’t squirrel away a hedge fund to tide them over when expenses overtake income. Thus an organization such as Watchtower is much more susceptible/ vulnerable to variability in income. Capitalist corporations have a better ability to forecast revenues through market projections for products etc. Since income is strictly through voluntary donations they have no way to forecast revenue from year to year, and this comes from private individual’s expendable income. With the majority of their income coming from what little money people can afford to give after taking care of their living expenses, when the economy declines, and people lose their jobs, people are far less inclined to spend, even if they haven’t lost their jobs for fear of the possibility of losing their jobs. We are just emerging the worst recession since the Great Depression, Watchtower’s income must have been hit hard during this period, which began in September 2008. There has been almost seven years of a tough economy. Watchtower’s income must be strictly restricted to Jehovah’s Witnesses. I can’t imagine they receive much in the way of donations from Non-Witnesses. JWs are not typically educated high earning people so there can’t be much in the way of dispensable income in JW families so Watchtower must have been especially hard hit by this recent global recession. Coupled with the fact that the organization of was aggressively growing its operations on a global scale, they must have gotten into serious debt to sustain their plans of growth, hoping/expecting/ counting on a quick economic recovery, which didn’t happen. I suspect that Watchtower misread global the economic situation and found themselves getting deeper and deeper in debt. Finally their hand was forced into action and began consolidation by closing Branch Offices…too little too late. Now they are in a desperate financial condition and found more cutbacks necessary as well as publicly asking for increased donations. I think John is right, Watchtower is in a really tight situation financially, but the ones who’ll be hurt most are not the Gov. Body, but the thousands of volunteers who have given up their lives to do Watchtower’s bidding. They have given up a chance for and education, they have no skills, no benefits, and no money (I suspect that the small stipend Bethelites get don’t meet even personal needs for clothing and the like.) a global moratorium on construction projects other than Warwick is very telling. Despite a volunteer construction force, construction projects are very expensive. One financial strategy when a company is in financial crisis is to cut losses despite how much money might have been invested or sunk into a given project. This is exactly what Watchtower is doing. Of Course the Gov Body will not reveal how desperate the crisis might actually be. They more than anything want to avoid a panic and mass exodus of membership. Watchtower indeed is walking a very thin tightrope between survival and ultimate collapse. Overlay now the flood of lawsuits for child abuse, and I can easily believe Watchtower is in deep trouble. Even if they don’t lose every case, the legal fees to defend themselves are extremely exorbitant. The more evident how tenuous Watchtower’s financial straights becomes to its membership, especially in the more wealthy countries, Watchtower’s financial collapse can be precipitous. We can only hope!

    • October 13, 2015 at 10:48 am
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      If everyone leaves WT, who cares? Survival of the fittest. If this is our test, that we have been HAD, and God still loves us, what’s the big deal. God expects us to die for him. I’ll take a CON over death any day. The hope of salvation is still there. Look at this as better than television. You can’t buy this kind of entertainment. Heat some popcorn , kick back with a can of soda, and enjoy the ride. Keep serving God, ask him what the next trick is, smile and ask someone to bring you a cold one, and make plans for tomorrow. The new day will be even more interesting. Hey, and give me everlasting life. I stuck with it….. Whatever IT is.

  • October 13, 2015 at 10:36 am
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    [evangelical comment removed, please check posting guidelines before commenting again]

  • January 20, 2016 at 6:53 am
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    Looking for information on ways to have discussions with JW’s about the falsehood of the organization. I am not, nor have I, ever been a JW, but have family that is. One family member joined this group as an adult and now has children being raised in the organization.
    I am always encouraging the children to further their education past High School and only recently learned that higher education is prohibited for baptized JW’s. This information was gleaned from an outside source, not from family.
    I have always maintained a respectful attitude towards my family when they discuss coventions etc. But I would like to give them resources to enlighten them and hopefully act as a catalyst for them to leave this organization.

    Thank you

  • February 2, 2016 at 3:48 pm
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    I still am amused at the societies pressure on members to donate the past while. My mother is still an active Witness and not easily fooled by their needing more and more money…I imagine the next few months are going to be very eventful….with more honest hearted left wondering…”if this is really God’s organization, why are they scaling back or cancelling completely their work…???

  • August 3, 2016 at 10:26 pm
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    This is interesting, made by a brother that was at Bethel when the letter was read that they were going to be downsizing.
    http://youtu.be/J8KulDpKSzE

  • February 27, 2017 at 4:12 am
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    I’m sure the cut backs in England is due the fact
    That by law you have to offer a work placed pension
    The branch will not do that, they will outsource services, housekeeping etc. And keep Skeleton
    Staff for essential tasks.
    Watch the ‘special’ full time funded numbers dwindle. Now if you want to serve in any capacity
    You will have to self fund. They do not want ‘staff’ on their books

    • February 27, 2017 at 8:41 am
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      I’m pretty sure the work place pension scheme is not applicable. If you earn less than £5.800 odds an employer isn’t required to offer the scheme, and the pittance bethelites etc are paid would not be regarded as a salary as they are volunteers. Anyway, if they believe the new system is imminent (poor deluded fools), why would they need a pension? When needed they just claim benefits.

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