The Watch Tower Society is continuing to hemorrhage information. Hot on the heels of the leak of the annual meeting announcements, yet more details have emerged hinting at growing resentment among bethelites as downsizing intensifies.
JWsurvey has been contacted again by someone inside bethel who this time confirmed earlier rumors of a letter that was read to bethelites at morning worship last Wednesday warning of substantial changes.
Taken as a whole, a picture is emerging of an organization in crisis, increasingly running out of funds, led by a group of greedy, deluded men obsessed with seeing their Warwick fantasy come to fruition at the expense of everything else – including, perhaps, the health of their volunteer work force.
As with all bethel informants I have promised to strictly guard the anonymity of my source. With the annual meeting leak I was able to reproduce an entire letter, but this informant has asked that I merely convey information in my own words (rather than verbatim) so as to minimize the risk of discovery. What follows will, therefore, be my own wording based on what I have been told.
An incriminating image
Those of you who follow JW.org will be aware that Watchtower has been posting updates on the progress at Warwick in the form of “photo galleries.” The latest gallery covered work from January through April 2015 and came under the heading “Warwick Photo Gallery 3.”
My source brought it to my attention that this page has since been removed from JW.org, which indeed it has – although a Google cached page is still available on this link.
This raises the question, why was this photo gallery removed? The answer is – embarrassment over THIS picture…
The picture seems fairly innocuous at first. Some guy, presumably a brother, is working in the lake – probably putting up nets to stop debris contaminating the lake, or to stop wildlife getting harmed.
But if you scroll down the cached page, the caption sheds more light…
A hired diver in Blue Lake replaces an old valve with a new one. With the push of a button, the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane.
Two things now become apparent. Firstly, this is NOT a brother. It’s a “hired diver” – a so-called “worldly” contractor for Watchtower – presumably being paid handsomely due to the skilled nature of his work and the expensive equipment he’s using.
The second thing to notice is the job he’s doing. This is not an effort at preserving the environment or saving wildlife. The diver is “replacing an old valve with a new one” so that “the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane” with “the push of a button.”
You might be thinking, so what? Why would Watchtower want this image pulled? Basically, it all falls into context once you read on and learn of the reasons for growing disgruntlement among bethelites. They are seeing branches closed, construction work halted, and face lay-offs on an unprecedented scale in the interests of cutting costs, while the Governing Body is lavishing dedicated funds on outside contractors just so they can have their own remote-controlled lake.
Living on borrowed time
The lay-offs rumored to be in the pipeline are official, and will commence from the winter of 2016, conveniently coinciding with the new Warwick headquarters becoming operational.
Certain bethels WILL be shutting down their laundry, kitchen and housekeeping services to cut costs. The total number of those being shown the door is not yet known, but it is expected to be into the thousands.
Hence, as the Governing Body members begin moving into their plush lakeside retreat, many of their “fellow worker” bethelites will be sent packing into the cold of winter – the majority of whom have forsaken higher education to serve the organization.
Many, my source says, are in their 40s and 50s, with nowhere to stay outside bethel, and precious few qualifications or employment prospects. There are fears that this displaced army will place further strain on congregations as frustrated, let-down, childless and homeless former-bethelites struggle to integrate themselves into the less glamorous fringes of Witness life.
There had previously been an unspoken rule that if a brother or sister accrued more than 15 years of bethel service, they were guaranteed to be cared for by Watchtower for life – deep into their old age. But this rule is out of the window, at least for those who will be axed. Despite many years of loyal service, they will have to fend for themselves – turning to the kindness of wealthy non-bethelite brothers and sisters in their new congregations (who they would have once looked down on to some extent for not “putting kingdom interests first”).
Having announced this hammer-blow news that so many bethelites are on borrowed time, the letter concludes by assuring those who will be forced to leave that Jehovah will care for them. According to my new source, the tone of the letter is eerily evocative of the words found at James 2:15-17:
“If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing and enough food for the day, yet one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.”
The financial crisis deepens
The letter announcing the lay-offs was read at morning worship on Wednesday 23rd, not just in the United States, but at bethels all over the world. A similar letter was also sent to those in special pioneer service, and construction servants.
The letter speaks of a need to save money, and specifically mentions the May JW Broadcasting episode in which Stephen Lett admitted a shortfall between income and expenditure. (See below)
This is interesting, because comments made by Sam Herd in the August episode seemed to imply the desired funds had since been received, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that this was not so – at least not to the extent needed.
But rather than admitting these drastic changes are being forced on Watchtower simply due to a lack of money, the letter describes the need to speed up the preaching work as being a factor. Thus, laid-off bethel workers are now expected to enter regular pioneer service soon after being tossed out to fend for themselves.
The argument that these changes are inspired by the need to advance the preaching work soon unravels, however, when you consider that special pioneers are ALSO being laid off by these changes. (Special pioneers were receiving a monthly stipend from the organization in exchange for their extra preaching hours.) And it has not gone unnoticed by bethelites that laying-off special pioneers is not a way of speeding up the preaching work, despite Watchtower’s spin. This is purely about saving money by whatever means possible.
An ivory tower on poisoned land
It is becoming increasingly apparent that, despite recent JW Broadcasting episodes heralding its grand building projects all over the world, Watchtower has now frozen virtually all its building programs worldwide so that it can focus on getting Warwick over the finish line.
Warwick will be Watchtower’s new Mecca, and its completion is now the Governing Body’s top priority even as finances dwindle.
Since its inception, the Warwick project has had more than a hint of controversy.
When announcing the plans at the 2011 Annual Meeting, the late Guy Pierce made the frank admission that the Governing Body were “not yet certain of Jehovah’s will regarding Warwick,” but irrespective of this were “proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses there.”
Since then the Governing Body has made no secret of its lofty aspirations for their new residence, even telling those who wish to volunteer in its construction that they will be involved in a work akin to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah.
“Similar to the call that Nehemiah made to his fellow Israelites, there is a need to call upon the ‘strengthened hands’ of skilled volunteers to complete the Warwick project,” said one service meeting outline attached to a Watchtower letter dated August 21, 2013.
But far from being an unblemished utopia, ordinary bethelites are aware of a media report that circulated back in June to the effect that the Warwick site was contaminated with dangerous chemicals by its previous owners – International Nickel.
Watchtower never responded to requests for comment by Hema Easley of the Times Herald-Record, but it seems there are concerns at bethel that the Governing Body may have been less-than-transparent with Warwick workers about the contaminated nature of the environment in which they are working.
Easley’s article reports that, according to Watchtower’s suit against International Nickel, the organization knew about the problem as far back as 2012/2013 and have been “cleaning the property under the direction of the DEC.”
But given Watchtower’s own dubious track-record with handling pollution, concerned bethelites would be forgiven for wondering whether the Governing Body have really taken all necessary precautions to stop Warwick workers coming into contact with polychlorinated byphenyls – or PCBs – banned in the United States as probable human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) as far back as 1979.
Thinking Witnesses would do well to question how the Governing Body could be considered “faithful and discreet” by forging ahead with a project while admitting uncertainty over God’s backing. And if they DID have God’s backing all along, why has Jehovah guided his organization to build its new headquarters despite having a shortage of funds, and on land drenched in potentially life-threatening pollutants?
Another scripture will no doubt come to mind for thinking Witnesses, this time in Luke 14:28…
“For example, who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?”
Exciting times
We are now entering a fascinating phase in Watchtower’s history. Over the next couple of years we will all have front row seats to a bizarre spectacle – a cult running out of money, but desperately trying to preserve credibility regardless.
Previously Watchtower could at least count on its army of die-hard bethel workers to rally to its side and hold the fort, but even this alliance is not as solid as it once was, as these new leaks demonstrate.
The recently-announced lay-offs are, I am told, destroying trust in the Governing Body’s leadership among those at bethel – as well they should. These brutal measures bring to the fore the increasingly-noticeable greed and narcissism of the Governing Body – a deluded group of men who shamelessly put their own needs and comfort ahead of those who serve them.
Not satisfied with lavish accommodation and all-expenses-paid trips around the world to attend zone visits and receive adulation at international conventions, these men are now pouring everything into their lakeside retirement retreat – complete with infirmary and adjustable lake.
Those they have cut loose to help rescue their dream of a potentially cancer-causing cult compound face a more uncertain future. With few prospects, many soon-to-be ex-bethelites will be forced to rely on the already over-stretched resources and generosity of the congregations.
Some ex-Witnesses watching these events unfold remain skeptical that Watchtower truly can be running out of money. Watchtower is, in their minds, too worthy an adversary to ever be vanquished. But I am told my recent speculation regarding possible bankruptcy isn’t that far-fetched. Regardless of how much money an organization may start out with, if income fails to catch up with expenditure consistently year-on-year something will eventually have to give.
And while commercial organizations are usually able to adjust their scope of operations almost on a whim, it is virtually impossible for Watchtower to downsize to a scale corresponding to its income gracefully and seamlessly without people noticing and starting to question its religious claims. In short, the threat of the organization collapsing suddenly under its own weight is very real, and the Governing Body knows it – hence its recent desperate attempts to steady the ship.
This of course does not mean an end to Jehovah’s Witnesses. It simply means that the organization that Jehovah’s Witnesses look to as God’s sole channel with mankind could, in our lifetimes, become a shadow of its former self. And the downsizing has long since started, with Watchtower already well beyond the zenith it reached around 2005 (the last year of full magazine-printing) and 2010, when branch numbers started plummeting.
What lies in store?
The end game is far from certain, but given what we are witnessing, I fully expect Watchtower to eventually be reduced to little more than a cult-compound in upstate New York where dwindling numbers of devout followers flock on occasional pilgrimages for a photo opportunity with their dear leaders.
Nothing will be printed. Everything will be accessed online, with Governing Body members addressing their devotees through videos, assuring them that Armageddon is surely just around the corner because Jehovah’s organization is under attack as never before.
We may live to see the day when Watchtower becomes similar in size and set-up to Scientology, with its 50,000 (or less) followers and a highly-insulated leadership.
There would be no real congregations to speak of, because the vast majority of kingdom halls, having already surrendered their autonomy, would be among the first assets to be sold off. Perhaps a few “ideal orgs” (along the Scientology model) spread out across major city locations might spring up as local focal points for Witness activity. But, as the organization’s woes become more apparent, what were once millions of Witnesses will be reduced to perhaps hundreds of thousands of oblivious, hardcore cult followers who steadfastly refuse to look at objective information on the internet despite the clear evidence that their beloved organization has long since crumbled.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but now that I’m no longer a Witness I’m allowed to speculate. It may not happen overnight, or to quite that extent. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that something is happening in the bowels of this fiercely proud organization, and I for one feel privileged to witness it.
Click here for a Spanish translation
Further reading…
- Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
- More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
- Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
- JWsurvey articles on Warwick
- JWsurvey articles on downsizing
Related video…
Lloyd – Your efforts are so greatly appreciated, Thank you!
It is thrilling to think that changes are happening and that hopefully in the near future the hold that the GB have over this organization will lessen and that their collapse will occur for all of us to “witness”.
@Cedars . I think you have ASTUTELY ANALYSED the Current situation very Accurately! Something any one who has studied Economics & The Law of Excessive Supply & Dwindling Demand can’t Fail to Notice ! The Watchtower has OVERSTRETCHED itself in Committing Financial Reserves to Too much CAPITAL EXPENDITURE in the form of BUILDINGS & Too Slow Real Growth Rate at about 1% . They haven’t Got Enough DONATIONS coming in & with the increase in CHILD ABUSE COMPENSATION CASES to Cost probably £100s of Millions ,The GB are in BIG BIG TROUBLE!! OHhh HAPPY DAYS are HERE AGAIN!! … But ONLY for Those of US SHUNNED ONES!! It Would BE SO NICE to See the 7 PYGMIES to take up PART TIME JOBS maybe as WINDOW CLEANERS ????
I Forgot to ADD … MILLIONS of POUNDS WASTED on a FLASH EXPENSIVE TV STATION & 100s of MILLIONS of Pounds on 170 RTO Buildings with Little increase in Disciples DONATING in POOR JWs from Third World Countries speaking Obscure Languages & MORE IMPORTANT of ENCOURAGING JWs to take DEAD END JOBs to Pioneer so you have MILLIONS of UNEDUCATED JWs in DEAD END BADLY PAID JOBs STRUGGLING to PAY BILLS which leaves them PRACTICALLY ZERO to Contribute towards DONATIONS!! The Governing Body have MADE BAD ERRORS of JUDGMENT & NOW it’s HITTING HOME BIG TIME !!!
@Pickledbrain,
You are so RIGHT, so many bad errors coming home to roost.
@PanHandleGirl . You have a Cool
Name … NEARLY as COOL as PICKLED BRAIN , & Thank you for your comment it is APPRECIATED!!
@ Pickled brain, Thanks…and yes, your name is Cool. It is very visual. Although I have been on this site for a long time, I have just recently, last week, started to read the comments. I find them very interesting and insightful;much more than any comments I have ever heard at the kingdom hall or heard from any “active” believing jw.
Hey, heyyy, remember PB, we are working on HUMILITY! :P
very well said!
Very good news about the fall of one of the most reactionary US religious organisations.
One wonders whether the masses of bethelites became redundant would address the National NLRB to have some justice and start a sort of an industrial action to attract public attention.
It could be a historic breake in religious industry.
It’s time to actually Awake!
Baccolo
“Disgruntled Bethelites”
Now this could get interesting!!!
Imagine thousands(!) of hard-core, self-centered, spiritual giants that have been pampered and pandered to being kicked out of their homes with the loss of work, food, ammenities, retirement hopes and prestigue. Now there is the makings of a revolution!
Better get ready for more ‘moles’ and a whole lot more information coming your way, John Cedars.
when one looses their job do they really stay on with an employer who has destroyed their lives…. is loyalty that strong? Maybe we will see an early exodus of not so happy ex Bethelites who decide to take the early train home….
Tara,
Maybe they’ve started by kicking out the ones that did that “happy” video to teach them a lesson:)
It wouldn’t surprise me. We were asked to remove any trace of it from off our fb pages.
@JJ. I think you are Seriously Right on your Assessment of the Situation regarding Disgruntled Bethelites & NEW MOLES for Cedars to Disseminate more inside facts at Warwick!
Of all the info that’s been posted to date regarding the org, this saddens me the most. There’s no doubt in my mind these bethelites dedicated the best part of their lives to the advancement of kingdom interests (whether that was right or wrong), now not only do they have to vacate , they’re expected to enter the pioneer ranks ?!
What ??? How ??? Lets hope for best for them. hopefully they do have family to assist them re-enter the real world, especially if it was the family that pushed them there to begin with. Now , what really boggles the mind … that great big compound in upstate New York. Correct me if im wrong , isn’t Armageddon imminent ? Arent they heading north (and I don’t mean Warwick) ?
So, the Pope finished up his United States tour in Philadelphia , PA , with an APOLOGY to all those abused by the clergy ! GB be careful who you condemn , because now you really look lame !
Don’t feel sorry for them, they can rely on Jehovah to look after them!
(That means government assistance)
Funny how Satan runs all of the ‘worldly governments’ and these are the very organizations that end up looking after ‘Jehovah’s Servants’ whether it is medical care, Social Security or a place to live.
Here in America you have to work in order to receive social security benefits and it’s prorated. I think it’s capped at 20 years, so the less you work the less you get. The proper thing for the WTBTS to do is give the bethelites some money in order to get back on tract. $ 25,000 each is a start.
SS is based on the average over 40 years. It’s not that much anyway but someone can’t start paying in at 40 and expect to get much. Having enough to live on in old age takes decades of planning. As bad as all that is I think the feeling of being used would be the cherry on top. I am so glad I didn’t have what it took to be the best and brightest in the WT organization.
Agreed, “sucking the milk of the nations” as it were. Maybe the updated translation says something about “availing oneself of food stamps.”. Half of my old congregation is on public assistance.
I feel bad for them too. I have a brother in a foreign bethel assignment and he is due to return next year. I’m afraid that he’ll return to a pink slip after 18 years of service. No exit or severance package from the org but very literally a “keep warm and well fed” upon his exit from bethel.
Once you lose the title of bethelite you are treated VERY differently. Your prestige is gone. The desire to take you out to eat and give you a green handshake disappear even if you’re pioneering. Pioneering just doesn’t carry the same weight as being a bethelite. No more vacations paid for by rich publishers that many a bethelite enjoyed. All of the fringe benefits that come with that title will be a thing of the past and only the most indoctrinated will be able to cope. I think it’s disgusting on the part of the org to do such a thing after actively encouraging young people for years to give their youth to bethel. They shrug off their responsibility to the local congregations without even a thought that it may create a hardship on them as well. In large part because of the thinking that “this system is temporary and if you end up on the street don’t worry because the new system is near”. This kind of thinking allows them to dismiss all kinds of responsibility. Telling the rank and file and future jobless bethelite about their wonderful future meanwhile the gb doesn’t have to wait for anything. They benefit right now meanwhile the average JW waits for a secret benefactor.
The fact the current gb and past gb have never apologized for anything including the deaths of those who refused blood fractions and organ transplants shows the depth of their depravity. To not see the need to at the very least apologize to child abuse victims is deplorable.
@Chiafade,
did one of the gb members not just call (on a video)the bethelites “those on the front lines” or something such like the privileged ones just under the gd? My how things change when it comes to money. I also have some sympathy for anyone who is discarded without any means to survive. I don’t think they even have any social security benefits. They discarded Ray Franz in much the same manner. They are heartless!
@da’ . I Noticed yesterday’s main NEWS was the POPE APOLOGISING for CHILD ABUSE within its Ranks ….. WELL WELL WELL …MOST HEAVENLY STEPHEN LETTS!! … How about Apologising for your …,INSULTING COMMENT on TV.JW.Org?? You know ??? APOSTATE DRIVEN LIES!!!
Your comment about the Catholic Church is interesting. I thought the same thing. Unfortunately, the Watchtower lacks humility. Their “apostate lies” comment proves that. I used to be Catholic, so I’m not a fan of them either, but at least it’s something.
I thought the same way too, if Armageddon is so imminent why build? I asked my JW sister that very question..She said “these buildings will make it right through Armageddon, they will NOT be destroyed.. I should have asked how she knew that, but her reply would be the same. “Never Question the Society.!
Thanks for the update Lloyd and you’re spot on with the application of those two scriptures: “keep warm & well fed” indeed whilst you suffer the consequences of us NOT ‘calculating the cost of building’ our new HQ.
Cutting back allowances for Special Pioneers: that’s what the money should be primarily used for; ie. spreading the good news!
Never been a fan of Bethel to be honest and the army-like inflexibility of hours. Add to that the fact that you can get kicked out of US Bethel for being spotted socially wearing blue jeans and being forbidden to have a beard, it then loses its appeal. It was fun to go to as a kid but then so is any big building with lots of machines in it and friendly workers to chinwag with.
They gave their first-fruits and got back a mealy apple.
(please delete this one if duplicated)…
Thanks for the update Lloyd and you’re spot on with the application of those two scriptures: “keep warm & well fed” indeed whilst you suffer the consequences of us NOT ‘calculating the cost of building’ our new HQ.
Cutting back allowances for Special Pioneers: that’s what the money should be primarily used for; ie. spreading the good news!
Never been a fan of Bethel to be honest and the army-like inflexibility of hours. Add to that the fact that you can get kicked out of US Bethel for being spotted socially wearing blue jeans and being forbidden to have a beard, it then loses its appeal. It was fun to go to as a kid but then so is any big building with lots of machines in it and friendly workers to chinwag with.
Great Job John. Thanks for your work!
poor Caleb will be disappointed when he finds he can’t go to Bethel when he grows up!!
@df . & SOPHIA won’t be able to MARRY a BETHELITE because they will be ALL SACKED!!!
The similarities between JWs and other cults are overwhelming.
If you spend some time studying cults you will not fail to notice the striking similarities.
JW orgs is in crisis for certain. They have been saying that the end is around the corner for more then a century.
A century of leadership meetings and holy spirit guidance,…how accurate! Their credibility is zero.
As many have said… We wanted to be the truth, but it wasn’t! Intelligent people would adjust the situation instead of continue with the lie.
Count me among the skeptics that Watchtower is facing an impending financial collapse.
From what I’ve read… please correct me if I’ve overlooked anything along the way … that published reports of the revenue generated from sales of their Brooklyn properties to date amount to several hundreds of millions of dollars, whereas most estimates for Warwick and several smaller projects add up to just tens of millions.
What, then, if anything, am I missing?
I so glad that the Watchtower cult is coming to an end. This cult cost my father dead.It’s worth exposing this cult the lives and families it has ruined.Thanks for your efforts Jwsurvey and give up truth.
(having trouble with this one as well today Lloyd)…
By the way, I’ve created a PDF file of that deleted page with all the photos (11 pages in total) for when the cached version is eventually removed. It’s on WeTransfer as per usual so you might want to bung it on your server Lloyd once you’ve downloaded it (if you feel it would be useful for others of course).
The link: http://we.tl/LjQWue5V9e
Thanks Average Joe! :)
thanks
Thank you for sharing this information! I can’t wait to see what happens next. I really truly hope that someday, my family wakes up and sees what these men are doing, that it is not direction from their God that drives them!
I worry about my grandmother, as the widow of grandpa Guy, my grandfather is not there to keep her from being one of the ones let go. I just hope that she has somewhere, some body.
@Heather Bennett Hope your grandmother is not thrown out in the cold. That would be really mean.
Hi Heather, Is the grandma you referring to named Penny, Guy Pierce wife? Our family’s go way, way back to the California days.
Hi again, I just saw your comments from last year regarding your grandfather. I was sad to hear of his passing. A relative of mine performed the ceremony/talk for Guy & Pennys wedding. Im often conflicted with my feelings regarding family I love and know are loving people…but, see that they are livng in a bubble! As a child I thought they were so intellegent and special as I matured it was emotionally tramatic to realize they are delutional. So many secerts too!
Take care, Dazi
OMG OMG IT’S TRACY ISLAND!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNhk_-v0SMs
The governing body are international rescue
Full backup of the Warwick Album #3 http://imgur.com/a/KlNlG
Great, thanks! :)
While watching your video I was reminded of a doctor’s comment when I asked about my patient’s symptoms.The patient’s limbs were mottled and his blood pressure was extremely low. The patient was septic.The doc said that these symptoms were due to the body directing most of the blood to the body’s core in order to protect the vital organs. The body can live without limbs. I seems that the organization is doing the same thing; protecting its core (Warwick) and willing to discard the limbs (bethelites)in order to survive.
“This begs the question, why was this photo gallery removed?”
Hey Cedars. Just dropping in to say that it “raises” the question. Begging the question is a logical fallacy in which the conclusion is assumed in one of the premises.
Other than that, carry on. Love your work, dude. :)
Well spotted, and fixed! ;)
Can you hear the construction song of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? It is a familiar sound.
All the people are singing in unison. Its the song of the Smurfs and the opening scene of the Smurf Cartoon series. Yes. The annoying La-La song. If you do not know what I mean give this YouTube video a look at. Smurf Song. Notice how they dance and work just like the Bethelites of Watchtower. Did you notice the Smurf band. Watchtower has a band too. Did you notice all the happy Smurf faces? Watchtower has happy, smiling Bethelite faces.
See how the smurfs are working on construction projects in Smurf Village. There is no money exchanging hands for work done. The Smurf economy, as noted by Wikipedia at The Smurfs – Smurf economy is “The Smurfs’ community generally takes the form of a cooperative, sharing, and kind environment based on the principle that each Smurf has something he or she is good at, and thus contributes it to Smurf society as he or she can. In return, each Smurf appears to be given their necessities of life, from housing and clothes to food without using any money in exchange.”
Layoffs in Smurf Village are coming. The Smurfs are frustrated. They have been smurfing for several years. This does not sound good to the smurfs. What shall the Smurfs’ do? Will they just stay and do the construction work until it is done? Or, will the Smurfs drop what they are doing and go home? Leaving the work for the Watchtower to do.
Does this not sound all too familiar? It sure sounds a lot like the Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York.
Sorry. Here is the YouTube reference to the Smurf song. If you do not know what I mean give this
youTube video a look at. Smurf Song.
absolutely, no way am I going to get the smurf song stuck in my head NO WAY! I am too busy singing the Thunderbirds theme… see my previous post ;)
LOL!!!
It’s a lot like Merry–Kingdom–Melodies, Tara..
La la la la la la la
I’ve got the “happy” song stuck in my head.
@cedars
Yes, thanks for all your efforts. I came home from work this am eager to see if you had posted the new “leaked information.” So happy to see it! Will post it on my fb page today.
RE: “Previously Watchtower could at least count on its army of die-hard bethel workers to rally to its side and hold the fort…”
The poor treatment of Bethel slaves is going to hurt the Watchtower’s reputation more than anything else.
Ordinary rank and file Watchtower cult members who become disgusted with the organization will generally fade away. On the other hand, the majority of disgruntled Bethel slaves who get kicked out will be repatriated to their home congregations or other congregations while harboring huge grudges against the Governing Body.
As we have already seen, some current Bethel slaves have already turned against their masters. Once this army of Bethel throwaways is kicked out on the street, we will hear insider stories from them that will make Raymond Franz look like a Watchtower cheerleader.
@ScotWm . Discarded Bethelites with LIMITED Finances & Job Prospects Will NOT Be Happy & They WILL NOT Be SINGING PHARRELL WILLIAMS SONG!! INSIDER DISCONTENTMENT will DO A LOTTA More Damage than I think the GB have Anticipated !
“The rapid growth in Jehovah’s organization is creating an increased demand for more Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, theocratic school facilities, remote translation offices, as well as branch buildings in various places. Hence, in October 2013, the Governing Body established a new department so that the work of designing, building, renovating, and maintaining our facilities could be carried out in the most efficient and economical manner.”
Fast forward two years to October 2015 and we see all of the Watchtower construction efforts focused on the Governing Body’s lavish new lakeside resort in Warwick, New York. Shrinking financial resources require that all surplus Bethel slave labor workers not needed to complete the Warwick project will be dumped on the street.
These disposable Bethel slaves will definitely not be singing songs of praise to their greedy, delusional Watchtower Governing Body slave masters.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/302015053#h=5
Fantastic article and video Lloyd.
I believe many of these loyal to Jehovah bethelites will simply come to realize that they don’t need to slave for a publishing house in order to serve the almighty himself. I really do hope they find stable work and a happy existence outside of Bethel. I’m sure many here can attest to finding true happiness at escaping the mental hold these false prophets had over them. I’ve posted before, but incase its your first time at jwsurvey, please keep the following words in your heart
Deutoronomy 18:20-22 Part of Moses locker room talk before entering the promised land with a strict warning to Jehovahs people.
“‘If any prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name that I did not command him to speak or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 However, you may say in your heart: “How will we know that Jehovah has not spoken the word?”22 When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word is not fulfilled or does not come true, then Jehovah did not speak that word. The prophet spoke it presumptuously. You should not fear him.’ (Don’t fear the Borg)
Proverbs 30:5,6
5 Every saying of God is refined. He is a shield to those taking refuge in him. 6 Add nothing to his words, Or he will reprove you, And you will be proved a liar. ( I believe we are witnessing the reproval of men who twisted Gods word to fit their multi billion dollar empires agenda, making all sort of false prophecies in gods name along the way. Things that never came to pass, to their embarrassment.)
Revelation 22: 18-21 Final words in all Bible uttered as a warning by Jesus Christ himself to all who put faith in his promises.
18 “I am bearing witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll; 19 and if anyone takes anything away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take his portion away from the trees of life and out of the holy city, things that are written about in this scroll. 20 “The one who bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’” “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” 21 May the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones.
( There is nothing in there about a group of men in the “end times” being deputized to add or omit to scripture at their leisure. The passage is perfectly clear on not adding your self righteous brain farts to what is written and that is everything the Watchtower is dedicated to. Twisting and adding amendments to scripture calling it new light, by quoting a passage that was written a millennia before Jesus Christ pronounced these closing remarks on the bible. Basically saying Jesus got it wrong, or he snoozed on these last little bits and thank God were here to finish his thoughts for him. Shunning, two witness rule, preaching quotas, secret trials, selective men that would live off the donations of others, false prophecies, every decade or so) Please go through this entire site and then visit http://www.JWfacts.com for more specific crimes committed by this “organization”
Hey anyone remember that one time Jesus himself excommunicated doubting Thomas for doubting the words of other elders? No? Me neither or Abraham for questioning God himself to his face over Soddom and Gommorah? How about Jonah for outright defying gods instructions and heading in the opposite direction, remember how God abandoned him? Or when Gideon doubted gods words and insisted on physical proof or when Abraham and Sarah laughed at gods promise with disbelief? How abaout Habakuk? So on and so forth. The point is these executioners of Gods sheep have everything they deserve coming to them.
dearest brother YOU have said it all and in Gods name . It is all in scripture God is not to be mocked. We are awaiting our liberation but not before justice is served.rl
I wonder if the GB is realizing that the broadcast has done more harm than good ( for us it’s done more good than harm just confirms doubts of the people they are)…
I concur poor bethalites I mean the WT keeps saying “no to superior education” and even recently with the visiting CO’s talks about “wasting 4 years in a college and then ending up working in McDonalds and not keeping spiritual pursuits first, and you should’ve first started with working at McDonalds making all meetings, service, etc.. and you would’ve not wasted 4 years in a university, hey but you made the meetings and go out in service”…. now I have a defense to say about setting realistic goals for my child that I am paying for him/her to go to a university because I don’t want him to get Laid-off at 40-50 yrs old for pursuing “kingdom interest first”… I don’t understand why JW don’t see the reasoning behind how quickly you are dispersed when you are no longer needed, money always come first…
This is a standard in the world of business. If you want to open up and build something new, there is a time period that people will be layer off.
Unfortunately, this is a business masquerading as a religion. For the people who worked for free all those years only to be kicked out for a new building, I’m sorry for them because they truly were a slave.
*sp Layed off
@ Mama Joy,
As I grew up and out of the borg, I realized that, yes, that is what this organization is, a publishing “business masquerading as a religion” and they have stolen so many young lives. I would like nothing more than to see this corporation go down in flames. I do not expect the “religion” to go down anytime soon, but large corporations do go down, let’s hope this is happening to the WTBTS.
I am noob to all this but mentally i am out of the BORG.
My concern is those of us who are in physically but out mentally really need to figure out how we can help more people as the BORG crumbles.
I feel sorry for these brothers who gave so much for so long….see yall over at ex jw reddit same name seztholz76
i love you all and hope to help all i can
I’m actually not surprised by these moves. Warwick by the Lake will be completed, then what use are all of the other branches and HQ’s? Zero. Get everything together in one giant cult compound to save money, then cut off the other money-draining Branches in order to save money. One cult compound, one HQ, one Ark. Makes sense if you are running a Cult real estate corporation. Also, drastic cut-backs on the amount of printed material, with everything being made to be put on the internet. Again, no more worldwide printing facilities needed. They aren’t hurting for money, they are merely being SMART with it. Consolidation. Remember, the accountants and lawyers run the WTBTS, not the GB. Follow the money.
I agree. This is exciting, and I think they maybe be running out of money also…but are also just a business restructuring the way they operate. Probably any publishing company is feeling the need to cut back on printing in the age of the Internet. The world and the way people get information is changing. I wonder if many of the non bethelite Jws will even think anything of it.
So say’s Thomas Brackenreid ;)
Can I just hug you??? I seriously just read that entire thing twice, and I could hear the curtain being rent back, the Great Wizards of Org exposed for who they are…greedy, self aggrandizing men who readily kick aside those who have bowed down and served them. I hope they NEVER move into Walkill, and the pollution problems make it uninhabitable! Thank you Erin Brockovich! Im soooooo excited! Conjecture on, my friend.
“Everything will be accessed online, with Governing Body members addressing their devotees through videos, assuring them that Armageddon is surely just around the corner because Jehovah’s organization is under attack as never before.”
Mark my words, pretty soon (next 15 years) the Watchtower will tell their followers that we are now living in the Great Tribulation. A lot of witnesses will be caught off guard, since the expectation of JWs (especially since the macabre imagery in the Revelation book) is more akin to a Hollywood disaster movie, with intense persecution.
But thinking Witnesses will realize something is wrong when the look outside and realize that nothing is different than before.
Exodus 32 – I am reminded that the Bethelites released a “Happy” dancing video last year–dancing about a pagan icon. And, now, Moses has come down from the mountain of the Most High and the wages of dancing are impending layoffs. Perhaps acts of contrition and repentance will lift the disapproving anger of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah?
[distant thunder rumbling and ground shaking]
Who’s sorry now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ws60MDF7OY
Great artice and vids, of course, great news about a foul outfit in crisis.
The closing appeal to the Gov. Bod., if those aloof oafs bother to listen, will certainly rankle. I can imagine, however, that after reflection they will put a typically perverse JW spin on the situation.
They love to brag about any outsiders’ complimentary observations on JWdom, whether or not they have spun, edited or otherwise distorted the comments.
They also, however, turn to their advantage public disdain and They can point to all the prophecies about true followers of Jesus getting flak for their commitment in the Last Days. They share this with other End Times Christian sects.
If the exposure of JWdom’s awfulness gets too obvious to ignore then these little Biblical words may come in handy: http://biblehub.com/matthew/10-22.htm
Perhaps it was the unsuspecting, ever faithful bethelites that are the “faithful and discreet slave”.
Is it not likely that the governing body will tell the congregants that the downsize is due to armageddon being imminent?
Are we getting ready to “obey instructions, whether they make sense from a human standpoint or not?”
Oh yes….they’ve been prepping the flock for this for years. It’ll be all about loyalty and “no matter what we throw at you, will you drink the koolaid?”
@ Faithful Witness . NICE COMMENT & Anticipation of what next to expect from the GB !!
How about BLOW UP Stephen LETTS HEAD!
I really DID laugh out loud.. Still laughing rl
@ruthlee . ITS GOOD to MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH !!! Thanks for your Comment.!
I Wonder if STEPHEN LETT could STILL LAUGH if his HEAD Was BLOWN UP!
STEPHEN Does AMAZING THINGS with his FACE !! … Anything is Possible if you are going to HEAVEN … I Suppose?? … It’s FASCINATING to PONDER these ‘ DEEP SPIRITUAL POINTS ?? .. OHHh Well .
My smiley face didn’t show up. I was being silly.
Don’t be too surprised if there is an increase in applications for/from these uneducated about to be let go Bethel pioneers for welfare, disability and Snap (formerly Food Stamps) benefits. You see, many of these people are unprepared for the outside world as they are told that a higher education in “this current system of things” is unfruitful, unnecessary and above all, a waste of time. This increase in the filing of these applications, especially in New York state, where these events are happening, will be dutifully reported on the news when this happens. The thing is one corner of their mouths, the JW’s, under the guidance of the WTBTS and it’s GB, preach and teach that their followers and would be hopeful followers that they are to have nothing to do with “this current system of things”, but at the same time, these future “laid-off” pioneers will have no choice but to apply for these particular handouts(so to speak). This simply again shows the hypocrisy of this particular religion and the organization, including it’s leadership, the GB, behind it. Thank goodness I dropped out when I did. I wouldn’t want to be in there now with all the negative hullabaloo going on in the borg now. Pathetic and hypocritical indeed.
Great article! John, I feel this might be fantasizing too much about the end of this wt cult but nevertheless these changes are going to shake things up a bit, especially in developed countries. In less developed countries like African countries many people will be prepared to open they’re mouths wide to ANYTHING!
All this is happening because the GB themselves are deeply brainwashed and they have no idea they are deluded. That is why they keep on doing these things.
You would think that this increasing focus on cutting costs, reducing other projects, just to focus on Warwick would alert a greater number of JWs to what is really going on.
However, I talked with an elder yesterday, and although he admitted that Letts May broadcast had “disturbed him” he still pushed the official line that funds were needed because of the huge expansion taking place worldwide. He cited 5 Kingdom Halls per day being built… Which is at odds with figures that I have seen. I advised him that several sources overseas told me that construction was being halted in many countries. His reply was still that the increases were massive and hence the need for more funds.
From this we can see that the average JW is totally taken in by the false information being sent out by Watchtower via its communications and representatives.
How much longer can they pull the wool over their eyes?
“…it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that something is happening in the bowels of this fiercely proud organization…” This is soooo true. As an “active” witness I can attest to the fact that the older generation of active JW’s in my and many other congregations (and I’m talking about individuals who have been members for at least 30 years and some were elders for many of those years) are feeling that something is wrong… Many say they know something is out of place… something is odd, and although they don’t know what it is (or can’t speak ther minds due to fear of consequences), they all agree that something is happening… It’s like there is a mutual feeling deep inside everyone (counting myself in) that tells something isn’t right but again, I think some DO know that these are signs that Jehovah can’t be guiding this organization contrary to popular belief; however, they know if they show any sign of concern or doubt, they will face consequences. Sadly, I’m trapped as well. Is there anyone who identifies with my observation?