Central Virginia

Calling all Strugglers in Central Virginia!

 Brothers and Sisters of Central Virginia,

* Are you waking up to the truth about the ‘truth’? Or have you been awake for some time?

* Do you simply have doubts or see the injustices in the Organization and need a safe way to vent these to people who understand?

* Are you active, but as one brother terms it, “stuck in a movement”?

* Are you inactive? Or are you disfellowshipped and in need of nonjudgmental support?

* Do you simply need information?

We do not have to go it alone. There are many folks out there struggling just like you and me. Genesis 2:18 says, ‘And Jehovah God went on to say: “It is not good for the man to continue by himself. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.”’

If it was not good for a perfect human to be alone, if he needed other humans to help and complement him–how much more imperfect humans? The Bible gives us this helpful advice in Hebrews 10:24, 25 “And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near.” This is not a command, but a recommendation for our own good. Do you want to encourage and be encouraged? Do you want to incite and be incited to love and fine works?

If so: Let’s meet up!

You can find our group here: http://www.meetup.com/ex-Jehovahs-Witnesses-Richmond-Virginia-Meetup-Group/

I know the hesitations some may have. First, you may wonder: who are you?

We are your neighbors

We are your neighbors…people just like you!

We are your neighbors! We need your encouragement. We need your support. We will endeavor to be encouraging to you and supplement your network of support.

However, there may be a few misconceptions some may have about us that we need to clear up:
(1) You hate Jehovah’s Witnesses.

This could not be further from the truth. We share the same ideals as JWStruggle: “Our goal is to make sense of it all and give help and support to those disillusioned and hurting. We DO NOT wish to beat our fellow slaves or to disrespect other fellow Witnesses that do not share our views.”

(2) I’m not disfellowshipped or disassociated. You will want me to officially disassociate.

As of this moment, from the Organization’s view, I am an inactive faded Witness. Now I can’t promise at some point somebody won’t betray me and I will find myself facing “judicial” action, but I will not initiate this by means of a letter. If some wish to do so, I will respect their choice, but I do not encourage this course.

(3) The group won’t be private or discreet.

We are not “in your face” types of people. We value privacy and discretion. If you want to sign up, you do not have to use your real name. You do not even have to sign up officially, just send me an email: londo111@yahoo.com

If you wish, the group can be small as you wish. If you just want it to be two or three, that is perfectly fine. Let’s sit down somewhere, have coffee. If at some point you wish to join the larger group, you are more than welcome to do so.

(4) You are trying to get me to follow you or join a church.

I am very shy, an introvert by nature. I prefer to be out of the spotlight. It takes quite a bit for me to “put myself out there” as it were. I follow Christ and He is the only one I would encourage anybody to follow. I’m Christian, but not a fundamentalist or a fanatic. I’m not trying to convert anyone to a particular denomination.

And the group is not just for Christians. All of us Strugglers need support, Christian and non-Christian, believer and non-believer. The purpose of the group is to enable ourselves to have the freedom to follow the path of our choice. We might not all agree on those choices, but we can certainly support each other in finding the path that is right for us. This might be challenging for some, but I do ask all to leave any judgmental tendencies at home.

Who really is our neighbor? They might well be people who make different choices than we or believe other than what we may believe. (Luke 10:29-37) But there is nothing that can ever change the fact that they are our neighbors.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “By iron, iron itself is sharpened. So one man sharpens the face of another.”

Come ye Central Virginians! Be sharpened. Sharpen others.

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78 Comments on Support for Strugglers in Central Virginia

  1. BreaktheChains says:

    Hi Londo111. You had mentioned that you are currently viewed as an inactive faded witness by the Organization. What exactly is an inactive faded witness? If a person attends the occasional meeting but no longer reports field service hours can he or she be viewed as an inactive faded witness or do you have to completely stop going to meetings to be viewed as being inactive? I ask this question because I’ve been told many different answers to what exactly is an “inactive faded witness”.

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  2. whateverhappenedtome says:

    Hi BreakTheChains,

    I want to share that would perhaps answer your question. Raised as a jw, i can say there are different categories of inactive witness, it just depends on the person doing the labeling. most really zealous witnesses who regularly come to the meetings and go to field ministry more than 10hours a month may think that those who are not seen much often in the ministry maybe be categorized as someone not so zealous, and there are also those called assemblyma/woman who are usually seen only during assemblies and special occasions like the Memorial, but do not really attend the weekly meetings, can also be considered as somewhat inactive….But actually, as per the organizational and congregational arrangement, a publisher is considered inactive if he does not turn in monthly hours for a period of 6 months..even though a person attends meetings regularly, associate with fellow jws, but if his publisher’s record card is empty for 6 months, then he is considered an inactive witness.
    there are many witnesses who probably move to another country and started attending meetings there, but whose publisher’s cards were not transferred and updated for a period of 6 months, then they can be considered inactive too, eventhough they are seen regularly and closely associated with the people in the current congregation that they are attending. and usually if someone is new and regularly attending a certain congregation, if that congregation is not so big, then the elders would notice and would care to approach you and ask about your standing as a witness,where you come from and if you would like to move in there and have your publisher’s card transferred. in big congregations in big cities, usually, it is the individual who just got there who would approach the elders or at least talk to someone and say that he wants to be a part of that cong…and then a request will be made for his card to be transferred.so basically an active witness is a real active witness if he is following all the arrangements within the org. it’s like a going to school. if you are not a formal student in that university, even if you attend classes everyday but you are not enrolled, you are not getting any credit because there is no official record of you that you are indeed a student of that school.

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  3. whateverhappenedtome says:

    sorry that was a long post but i still want to add some more.

    Most people who are familiar with the policies and how the congregation is run, or those who grew up in the org, would choose the Fading Path because it is the safest way to kind of exit without having to face a lot of painful complications (involving family relationships and friendship, because from the org’s view you are still in, but just not active or zealous (>and these two things are directly linked to what is recorded on the publisher’s record card). But once you are proven to be doing things contrary to the bible and the org’s rules, like apostasy, immorality and some other worldly acts, then even if you have not been reporting for years, they will still dig up your records and arrange a judicial committee to take care of the problem. that has to be done so that, all impressions from non-jw neighbors will be cleared out, so that whatever that inactive witness is doing, cannot affect the organization’s high,clean reputation. and let’s say even if someone is a fader and committed sins but were not reported to the elders and therefore he wasn’t disfellowshipped still, once that person decides to go back in the future, the elders will pick up where he left off according to his publisher’s record card. and so they will discuss about what he was doing while he was inactive and will get the person to confess the sin that he has done which would usually led to his disfellowshipping (depends on the elders who sat in the committee, because some will not dfd him they will just let him go back the way that prodigal son’s father did, and let him start over.) AS a conclusion, this Publisher’s record card is like a ticket pass. It is a treasured record because it is like a tracking device for the elders or the org. the thing is, a publisher will never get a hold of this. it’s only in the secretary’s hands.

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  4. BreaktheChains says:

    Hi Whateverhappenedtome- Thank you for your explanation. I really appreciate your reply. I asked the question about inactive/faded witnesses because my number one goal for the year 2013 is to take my “fading” to another level. Currently I only attend about 2 meetings a month and I report 1 hour a month in field service. I have severed ALL social ties to the people in my congregation. All the friends I have now are non-Jehovah Witnesses. I want to take the next step in breaking my own personal chains to the watchtower society. I can’t wait to be FREE.

    Londo111- I think it’s GREAT that you are reaching out to the people in Virginia. I am inspired. I wish I had that kind of support in my home town. I hope to one day start a support group for struggling witnesses in the city I’m from. All would be welcomed. I wouldn’t turn anyone away. We all need encouragement or just a shoulder to cry on especially when we are finding out “ttatt”. Thank you Londo for putting yourself out there to serve others who are in need.

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  5. whateverhappenetome says:

    Hi breakthechains, maybe we are on the same page. but as i’ve mentioned in one of my posts in the forum, all i really think about now are my parents. i am supporting them financially (they were in the full-time service almost all of their lives,so as expected they are not financially secured for this system of things) so i dont want to put them in a difficult position so, i also will choose the fading path, and i’ve already started that. it hasn’t been 6 months yet though that i haven’t been reporting, but it will be in a couple of months from now. i will probably just take it slow, because in my area, im really close to everyone and pretty much most of jws know me, also because of my family background in the full time service..i still have few few jw friends who i still hang out with, but have also ceased association especially with the holier than thou ones.

    in your case, if you are still reporting every month no matter how little the hours are, and even if you are not that regular in the meetings, technically and by the record, you are still considered an active witness,for as long as you turn in your monthly report –whether its fake or not, no one will dare ask you, if you are a famous publisher in your cong, then maybe elders will kind of pry, but they will most certainly think you are just someone who needs more encouraging. what i used to do before is if me and my circle of friends in the cong notice someone kind of fading away or losing zeal, we would start inviting them to gatherings, get together after the meetings, or maybe sleep overs and joining the field ministry in the neighboring cong or out of town..and usually it works especially with the young ones…so if you are really decided to fade, then be on that fading pace..because if you’re not careful, you will end up sitting in a judicial committee…so just chill and take it easy. if you are hanging out with non-jws, be careful also, you don’t want to prove them right by ending up in a miserable life after slowing down in the org….so just keep the values you learned and be on the good side…at least, while we all still figure out and come into terms with our own christianity….

    being able to say these words now just made me realize that i guess, im passed the worst stage of my fading journey.i’m no longer in denial with myself. i am now starting to understand whatever it is that happened to me…and this site here is a lifebuoy to me…

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  6. Londo111 says:

    BreaktheChains,

    I pray your fading goes well. Congratulations on rebuilding a support network on the outside…that does not come easy for many people. Consider it a blessing! I hope you do start your support group. I love the ideals that would be behind it. May God bless you in this endeavor!

    Let that be an example to everyone. If there is no group in your area, START one. You needn’t be outgoing or popular. Clouds form when water vapor condensates around tiny bits of matter like dust, ice, salt in the atmosphere. Similarly, Jesus said that all we need is faith the size of a mustard grain, the tiniest seed that the Jews knew. That bit of faith can be the nuclei that enables such a group to coalesce.

    I hope I am not speaking out of line, but I believe Eric/JJ would not be against this idea: IF anyone starts a group in their area to support current and former JWs—we can announce your group on JWStruggle.

    May God bless everyone’s faith and efforts as they demonstrate their love for neighbor in this regard.

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  7. Londo111 says:

    Whateverhappenetome: may God and Christ bless you in your journey whereever that may lead.

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  8. BreaktheChains says:

    Londo111- I am posting from Canada. Yes, I’m a Canadian girl born and raised. I am very much like you in personality. I am an introvert and I pretty much keep to myself. I am definitely NOT a social butterfly. I don’t think that JJ would feel that I am stepping on anyones toes because where I’m from there is absolutely NO support to help current or ex jehovah witnesses. I mostly worry about the young teenagers that have been disfellowshipped in my area. Some of these ones were baptized at the age of 8 and 9 years old. I know I still have a long journey ahead of me but the main purpose for me wanting to start a support group out here is because I mainly want to “pay it forward” and be there for these young ones who now find themselves thrown out of the organization at 15 and 16 years old and don’t have anyone to talk to or even just give them a HUG. My hugs are FREE and I would never charge money for any of the support that I would offer. I could never go as “BIG” as what JW Struggle offers but any little bit of help that I could give would be better than nothing. I want to bring praise to Jehovah and his son Christ Jesus and hopefully offer comfort to those that are really struggling and trying to find there way.

    Thank you Brother Londo for the words of encouragement. May we all be moved to be more active in our communities and truly show “love for neighbour”. We can ALL have a part no matter how big or small.

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  9. Londo111 says:

    Sister,

    You keep bringing up all sort of good points I’ve left out. I should make clear in case there are any doubts: The Meetup group is free.

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  10. JJ says:

    This is a great article and comment thread- I love it!

    I started a meetup group here in the Central California Coast and it has been slow going, as many of the former JWs I know just want to FORGET about this WT religion and move on.

    But Londo you and BreakingTheChains are making me get re-motivated to start it up again. I think that perhaps advertising it locally will help, even if it is just flyers and leaflets or a small ad in a local newspaper. There are SO MANY faded and former Witnesses in every area, I suspect hundreds of these groups could be formed in a short order and hopefully that is something that will happen over time.

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  11. Amos says:

    Brother Londo,

    Thank’s for starting this thread. It is also my goal to start a support network in South East Queensland Australia, for JW’s who wish to exit the WTS, & for those who are already out.

    If I can get some interest, I will also start a “Meetup” group, or another contact group that is suitable & acceptable to those who reply. In the meantime, I can be contacted directly at the following email addy; biblestudent4christ@hushmail.com

    I know there are many in the above category who are hurting badly & would appreciate wholesome association with others who understand what they have gone through.

    This arrangement would not be limited to those only from WTS background, but would be open to all others who are likewise hurting & desirous of encouraging fellowship together.

    Your fellow brother in the Lord,

    Amos

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  12. Ruth says:

    Please folks from NSW Australia this call is for you.

    Ruth from the Illawarra Wollongong @ Shalhaven district of Australia would like it if you would contact her if you are a struggler in the society, or an xJehovahs witness that needs help. Im sure many of us know each other so would be thrilled to catch up in the true spirit of God.
    If you want to keep things private l will abide by your circumstances. If you just send your phone number l will call you.

    We are people who have left organised religion and have come to the appointed Jesus as he is the only way. ‘We love and want to help you” We all need each other as the tribulation draws nearer.
    We keep our promises and will not let you down. Nor will we forse anything on anyone.

    We have a small group that love and encourage each other. its growing by the day.Your all welcome.
    call mobil 0450010678 and leave a text, or truthistimeless@gmail.com
    With lots of christian Love xxxx Ruth

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  13. C M says:

    I am so glad there are people like me who want to meet up and get to know eachother we need this support from one another and Eric if you do have a meet up please email me ior text me I will be more than willing to drive down to meet up with you and other brothers.

    Sincerely

    CM

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  14. New Dissident says:

    Hello everyone, I’m new to this site. I was raised a witness [49 years]and am newly enlightened of what is really going on in the WTS. I am disturbed and trying to get my family out of this man made organization. There is no respectable way to leave the organization. I appeciate websites like this and Cedars because I now know its not just me and I’m not alone.

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  15. andrew says:

    Welcome to the site New Dissident!

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  16. JimmyG says:

    New Dissident- you are certainly not alone. There is no respectable way to leave the org. Anyone should be able to leave, without repercussions, as happens with most other religions. I’m trying to get out without being DF’d or resigning, having to resort to subterfuge tactics. It shouldn’t be like that, but it is. Anyway, welcome and please tell your story when you are ready.

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  17. Wide awake says:

    My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday ! We have also faded it has been about 9 months that we completly stopped going to meeting and over a year service ,so my family has stopped talking to us , they are very extreme jws so it has been very lonely not to have any family or friends .. I was on meetup.com and realized that there are over 80 ex jws in my area and they stopped meeting up about 4 years ago so we were thinking about tryin to get in contacts with them( we are in central Texas ).. It is essential to have support and friends on our road to finding the truth.. May we all be united in Jesus Christ and our heavenly father YHWH

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  18. Amos says:

    To all newcomers to this site.

    I’d like to welcome all of the new ones who are finding this site. Due to my own commitments, I don’t come here as often as before, so please accept this as my welcome to you.

    Your brother in our Lord & saviour Jesus Christ,

    Amos

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  19. New Dissident says:

    Well JimmyG, Here’s my story: I’ve always been a good & happy witness until my husband [A ministerial servant at the time] had his position removed because Elders said :”It appears that your wife has lost her joy.” [I was working 60 hours a week so that my husband could regular pioneer- they mistook exhaustion for loss of joy]
    That started our disillusionment but then because we are from the ‘1975’ generation, we have no education and have had to do low-paying menial jobs our entire life. I was working for a dry-cleaners and got chemically poisoned and the lining of my lungs burned.So now I have severe chemical sensitivities and since it was dry-cleaning chem. and we all know that EVERYONE in the Kingdom hall wears dry cleaned clothes and perfume. I tried to keep going but almost died at a circuit assembly because my throat and lungs closed up. Couldn’t go anymore. I actually had my mother-in-law tell me “Well, you’ve been in the organization long enough to know what that means if you cannot go to meetings and service…”? I finished it for her, yeah, I’m going to die at armageddon.So I guess I’m in a better situation than most enlightened ones because I’m already considered inactive and ignored.And because my husband is a critical thinker and has been beaten by elders all these years he has been enlightened also. We never considered ourselves apostates or dissidents until a friend asked me one day about the baptismal questions changing in 1985. I was shocked! I had NEVER noticed or caught the change. I was baptized in 1979 under Jehovah, Jesus and his spirit thru the bible. Now, that 2nd question is baptizing these new ones to the organization instead of JEHOVAH! It’s sickening

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  20. skyrainbow says:

    Good news for those who hope for a meltdown of Jehovah’s people!
    Last service year 7,782,346 publishers = 2% increase!!!
    I can hear ‘the gnashing of their teeth’ of the desperate, rancorous, frustrated, disloyal apostates and other ‘workers of unrighteousness’. Luke 13:27,28.

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    • man oh man says:

      And who provides these statistics? Don’t forget all of those youngsters making a dedication.

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    • Londo111 says:

      Skyrainbow,

      God’s people far exceed 7,782,346. And they can be found in people of many denominations, not just one, and among those of no affiliation altogether. And it is my belief that in Christ, all humans will be reconciled to God: all those who have died, all those now living, all those yet to be born.

      Enjoy the 1.9% growth in your denomination. I hear the Seventh Day Adventist had even larger percentage growth…so they are rejoicing as well and I do not begrudge them of the results of their census.

      We will concentrate on the ones from your number that feel “skinned and thrown about like a sheep without a shepherd”. Give us your disfellowshipped, your inactive, your sinners and tax collectors. They will go ahead into the Kingdom of God, whereas the Governing Body, Traveling Overseers, Elders will find themselves cast out. So it will be on the Day they render an account.

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  21. JimmyG says:

    New Dissident- thank you for sharing your story. If you look at JJ’s post entitled ‘Questions about Baptism’, I make a comment (no 5) about the 2nd baptism question. It’s been changed again! Also if you continue to read the comments after that, you’ll get an idea of my situation.

    I remember as an 11 year old in 1975, Knorr and Franz gave talks in my city’s town hall. Here we are, still here nearly 38 years later, waiting for the ‘end’. It’s still ‘imminent’, coming ‘very soon’ etc.

    I was baptised in 1981, so like you, my dedication is to Jehovah, on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, not to a man made organisation.

    skyrainbow- here you are again, with all your ‘sweetness and light’. You know what they say about statistics, don’t you? Has the Org also supplied the number of those partaking of the emblems? Maybe not, could be a bit embarrassing. You’ve excelled yourself this time by including 4 judgemental adjectives in one sentence (my personal favourite is ‘rancorous’). You might not be with us for too much longer, going on your past record.

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  22. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Welcome new dissident! Hello and thank you all for your shares. The waters of false religion are drying up! Praise Jah! Take about a mass exodus ! Saw that coming years ago. The bible told me so!
    Feel sorry for the ones hanging on out of fear. I know, been there, done that.
    I am praying for them. Hang in there everybody, spritiual freedom is the door to a real relationship with Jehovah and protection in Christ,s ransom.
    I am also from the 70’s generation and have seen the infiltration of man’s control from the inside. I would never have belived what is happening now in the organization as possible, if I had not seen the things, I’ve seen for 40 years now. For that I am grateful. And all these things I saw over the years, has already hapen to God,s people , recorded in bible history right up to Revelations.
    Because I am a very studious bible reader, And always belived in testing what people said, by what the bible said, I remained spritiually awake, and cut all ties to the organization. Only after I left, did I get the relationship with Jehovah that I had prayed for for years!
    May you all find your way Home! Your sister in the struggle.

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  23. New Dissident's Daughter says:

    Hi Everyone, As my name says I’m actually New Dissident’s daugther. I’ve been scared to post anything on here, because of what I’ve been told most of my life. New Dissident (my mother) and my father told me about some of the things they found out and of course after checking it out and confirming it for myself, I came to an understanding.
    I have problems with chemicals also and haven’t been able to go fully to meetings or even service so I’m in the outer edges of the organization.
    My story isn’t really anything special. I was born and raised in the truth and I’ve always seen things going on in the Organization that are not right, lying, cheating, molesting, elders hiding sins….etc. No matter how many hours I got in service or how many talks I gave, how many meetings I went to, even when I was a regular pioneeer, I have always thought I was never good enough and Jehovah would kill me because I wasn’t doing enough. There are so many things I’ve had problems with over the years (I’m going on 30 years as a JW), and now I finally feel free and like I do have a chance for salvation. I guess now I’m just trying to fade into the cracks and hopefully will just be forgotten, but of course the elders just called my husband and I wanting to “visit” us. I don’t know if it’s a sheparding call or who knows? At this point we don’t even want it.
    I’ve feeling very blessed because my husband isn’t in the JW box anymore since since we’ve been married. When my parents first talked to us about all of this and then when I was talking to him about it, he was very scared of everything, but now he has been enlightened also. I don’t know what I would have done if he would have left me like so many others have left their mate. It’s funny, in a good way, but just the other morning when he finshed praying over our breakfast he looked up with tears in his eyes and he said “this is the first time I’ve prayed to Jehovah and haven’t felt dread, fear, or unworthy to pray to him”
    We have been listening in on the phoneline to meetings and I haven’t been in “traditional” service for about 3 years I think, but since all of this has happened we haven’t been listening and we both decided we aren’t going to listen anymore. Since then we both have felt Jehovah’s spirit on us and we both feel free now and our relationship is even stronger with Jehovah. I have never felt something like this before. There is no good way to stop being a JW, no matter what we do we will be shunned.
    I don’t know what else to say about my story. I am having problems now because I can’t talk to any of my friends. I talked to my life long friend and I only mentioned about one of the molestion reports I read from a news agency and right away she was questioning very harshly on where I heard it and so I told her and she didn’t believe me and her exact words were “The news can be wrong too” A few days after that phone conversation she sent me a message saying how concerned she is for me and I need to talk to the elders. Yeah right! Like that’s going to happen! I know better than to open my mouth to an elder or anyone for that matter, telling them the things I know. I’d be df’ed so quick my head would be spinning.
    I’m not really sure why I finally decided to post on here, I think maybe it’s because my husband and I are feeling very lonely because we can’t talk to anyone other than my parents and my grandma (It’s interesting because my grandma I guess has know about some of this stuff for years and she never said anything). Our other family members on both sides are JW’s, and we know we can’t talk to them about any of this either. I cry a lot now when I pray because I’m worried about my brothers and sisters who are still in the dark and I cry because I feel like one of those lost sheep skinned and thrown about without a shepard.
    My whole life I’ve been told my faith will be tested, but I’ve also been told the test will come from “the world.” The world has never had any appeal to me, never! So I have never felt like my faith was being tested. Since all this has happened, now I feel the test. The test for me is “who will I be loyal to?” Eventhough I was baptized after 1985 and under the “organization” I did not dedicate my life to serving any man or organization. So my loyalty is to the one true God, Jehovah and salvation though his son Jesus.
    At this point even if the elders come knocking, I know where my loyalty is and even if I’m df’ed I will never forget who I serve.
    To all of my true brothers and sisters out there having this crisis of faith, who are df’ed or who have already left, I send all of you my love as your fellow sister and beg of all of you to keep your faith in Jehovah and Jesus and don’t let Satan take your faith or relationship with Jehovah.
    Your Lost Sister and soon to be member husband(Im typing now. “Hubby”)

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    • Londo111 says:

      Encouraging story, sister!

      I relate to what you said, “I have always thought I was never good enough and Jehovah would kill me because I wasn’t doing enough.” Exactly! It is wonderful now to be able to embrace the Good News. God loves us! We are good enough!

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  24. skyrainbow says:

    Londo111, did I understand you well, all humans will be reconciled to God, with exception of the Governing Body, Traveling Overseers and Elders who will find themselves cast out?

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  25. Londo111 says:

    I believe after rendering an account, everyone will ultimately be reconciled, even they. But the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

    Luke 12:47-48
    And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

    1 Corinthians 15:22-24
    For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

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  26. whateverhappenetome says:

    i wonder if there is a conscious class in the country where i am now. because from my observation, everyone’s blind here, so it’s kinda hard to have this kind of support group…. :(

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  27. Londo111 says:

    Keep in mind the following Bible passage: 1 Kings 19:13-14, 18

    “And it came about that as soon as E‧li′jah heard it, he immediately wrapped his face in his official garment and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave; and, look! there was a voice for him, and it proceeded to say to him: “What is your business here, E‧li′jah?”

    To this he said: “I have been absolutely jealous for Jehovah the God of armies; for the sons of Israel have left your covenant, your altars they have torn down, and your prophets they have killed with the sword, so that I only am left; and they begin looking for my soul to take it away.”

    Note Jehovah’s reply:
    “And I have let seven thousand remain in Israel, all the knees that have not bent down to Ba′al, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

    You are not alone!

      (Quote)

  28. skyrainbow says:

    Londo111, I think your hate for the Governing Body, Traveling Overseers and Elders must be very great.
    “Hate is too great burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated” – Coretta Scott King

      (Quote)

    • Londo says:

      Did Jesus hate the Pharisees and other religious leaders who had sat themselves in the seat of Moses? (Matthew 23; Ezekiel 34). No…but he stood up for justice, and the common folk, those the Pharisees viewed as cursed for not following their tradition, and he did not hold back from exposing the injustices and false teachings.

      I feel the Watchtower hierarchy has repeated the exact same mistakes of the Pharisees and the Papacy. They have shown themselves to be part of the Man of Lawlessness. (2 Thessalonians 2:4) They have missed the simple Gospel lessons, Christianity 101. By setting up their own law and legalistic system, they have fallen away from Grace. (Galatians 5:4)

      I feel God’s word is against systems such as this, but appeals to the individual to reform. Therefore, I do not hate the individuals who are “captives of a concept” and pray the veil lifts from their heart, so that they to will see the Good News.

        (Quote)

  29. skyrainbow says:

    No, whateverhappenetome, they are not blind. They are sound in mind and they love Jehovah. 1 Peter 3:7.

      (Quote)

  30. Londo says:

    There is no doubt most individual JWs love Jehovah, as do many here. Unfortunately, JWs are caught in a mental web that holds them back having a fuller relationship with God and His Son.

    To be sound in mind, we need unrestricted access to information from many sources. We need to be like the Bereans and examine matters to make sure they are so. (Acts 17:11) We can’t just accept everything we are told, we must need to test everything. (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We need to prove we are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) We cannot just make assertions, but we must be ready to defend our faith. (1 Peter 3:15)

    For instance, I find too many cannot explain the Gentile Times teaching, or 607, or 1914—but they accept it without question. If they don’t understand this enough to explain it, how do they know they are not being deceived? How many have truly examined this in depth? How many understand the implications of 607?

    To often when doctrinal issues cannot be explained, some will say, “Well, who is the Faithful Slave?” Or, “Where will we go?” Or, “Wait on Jehovah”. After saying this, they feel free to stop thinking about the issues.

    “Waiting on Jehovah” is not really waiting on Jehovah, but waiting on the Governing Body to tell people what they may and may not believe, even if the official position is false. However, 1 John 4:23 says, “Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is NOW, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.”

    We never have to wait to worship Jehovah with spirit and truth…the hour is always NOW. When we find that a teaching is false or teaching is true, NOW is the hour to act upon it.

      (Quote)

    • Anonymous says:

      Londo and whateverhappenetome: before you get into too deep an exchange of views with skyrainbow, go to the jw survey site and have a look at the comments section of the recent article on the GB. skyrainbow isn’t interested in discussing anything- he/she resorts to name calling and abuse to the extent that he/she was banned from that site.

      Londo- writing judgemental statements like the GB, COs and Elders will be ‘cast out’ (I know you have since qualified that statement) will only encourage people like skyrainbow to respond in kind (and more).

        (Quote)

  31. Londo says:

    I didn’t realize there was a history with the poster. Thank you for letting me know. My apologies if I was too judgemental. I’m continually working on expunging the bad habits learned from my previous life as a JW.

      (Quote)

  32. JimmyG says:

    Londo, I’m not sure why my last comment appeared under ‘anonymous’, but it was me, JimmyG. It’s all too clear to me, as a JW, in ‘stealth mode’, that one of the worst things about the Org, is the negative effects it has on the personalities of individual JWs, especially the bad habit of being judgemental. On this site, I guess, the majority of us are trying to escape this negativity.

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  33. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Dear new dissidents’s daughter, your story is amazing, similar in a lot of ways to mine and encouraging.
    Jehovah is with you!
    Londo,yours comments are right on, and and encouraging as well.
    Anonymous, thank you for the warning, you validated my suspicions.

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  34. Frank says:

    “skyrainbow says:
    December 1, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    No, whateverhappenetome, they are not blind. They are sound in mind and they love Jehovah. 1 Peter 3:7.”

    Skyrainbow, do you think JWs own the monopoly on ‘loving Jehovah’?

    Frank 2

      (Quote)

  35. skyrainbow says:

    Warning JimmyG
    For a while Jimmy is saying he is still active in the organisation but is renouncing that same organisation. In one of his last postings he told he was at the assembly day and ‘listening to it made me feel like puking’
    Because I find that such an attidtude is not honest towards his wife and children and brothers and sisters I reacted on JWsurvey: “Jimmy, as you are sitting in the Kingdom Hall or talking with brothers and sisters, don’t you feel a little bit hypocrite? Frank calls your attitude ‘truly love’ but Romans 12:9 says: ‘Let your love be without hypocrisy'”
    It was my last posting.
    Cedars, the champion of Freedom of Thougt and Expression, the man who finds ‘disfellowshipping’ reprehensible, banne me from his website with the fallacy I was name calling. He did not ban the poster who called my postings ‘trash’, who compared me with Pavlov’s dog and who was wondering if I need to see a psychiatrist. CEDARS HAS BANNED ME FROM THE WEBSITE BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO REVEAL THE REAL REASON WHY HE LEFT JEHOVAH’S PEOPLE. I will do it at the proper time. Here on this or an other site. I can imagine he will exert pressure on the moderators of jwstruggle to ban me here too. So, if you don’t see my postings anymore you know why.
    I do not hate brothers and sisters who, for one or other reason, have left JW. But I hate the new goal in life of some, bashing the GB, COs and Elders. I hate their ungratefulness. They forgot how much they know thanks to the devote brothers of the FDS. Even now they are using their sites and publications.
    With my postings I am trying to help sincere persons realize in what for dangerous situation they are for the moment, in the hope they will return to our loving father Jehovah.

      (Quote)

  36. skyrainbow says:

    Frank, I don’t think JWs own the monopoly on ‘loving Jehovah’?

      (Quote)

  37. Ruth says:

    New Dissident’s Daughter
    Lovely you came to meet us. Your so right! we will never be alone as long as we keep close in prayer and to the written word of God. Some of us already see Jesus is the only way.The only TRUTH and the only life.
    Our relatiionship to the Father only depends on Jesus being our mediator.

    Dear sister thank you so much for your story. Im sure you have helped others just like yourself.
    All my christian warm love to you. Csaba from Australia

      (Quote)

  38. Frank says:

    Skyrainbow, why not tell everyone here why their love is inferior to yours and why God will destroy those who don’t love God like you and your cohorts do. If your answer is that you worship God in ‘spirit AND TRUTH,’ I imagine some will have a comment or two on the definition of truth.

    And you may not see the cracks forming but there is indisputable evidence they are.

    Frank 2

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  39. New Dissident says:

    I don’t mean to offend and I’m truly not being sarcastic, but evidently Skyrainbow has never had to face a judicial hearing where you were wrongly accused of something just because a jealous Ministerial servant was trying to get back at your family. Or has had elders in their face yelling at you that if you question ANYTHING they do, you will be DISFELLOWSHIPPED!!!

      (Quote)

    • Amos says:

      Amen New Dissident!!!!

      What you have said has indeed happened to me also.
      I was DFD when I said that I would not confess to committing the offense that I was charged with.
      I was told that if I did confess, I would still be DFD, but would be shown leniency. HUH!!

      Another point that always seems to cross my mind is this; has Sky been sent to sites such as this by the WTS to deliberately create a “hostile site” that then discourages those who are trying to either get out of “jail” (WTS), or those who are out & trying to find suitable association online!

      Who knows, Sky may even be one of the Bethel family acting under orders.

        (Quote)

  40. danielB says:

    New Dissident ,

    I was brought before the judicial committee for having gone over to a woman’s house one evening . She was a kind woman who was single and willing to listen to me vent over my failing marriage with my wife , a JW sister , though the friend was not a JW . It so happened that a baptized “brother” lived next door who saw me leave her house . And when I then met with the elders , they dismissed me from my responsibility as the Theocratic MS Overseer , leaving this “brother’s” opinion as the determining factor . I was un-chaparoned , and after I left her home , she went outside in a bathrobe to talk with the neighbor “brother”. It didn’t matter why she had a bathrobe on . She was getting ready to go out somewhere .

    Oh how the spirit among that organization gets mixed up !

    That was when I graduated from the “Theocratic Ministry School” .

    At that time , the other elders were looking for a reason to bump me out of their body of elders . That was just fine with me . Later on , after having been all-together shunned , I was invited to become a member of the International Speakers Association , so why worry over being wrongly accused by such a judgmental organization . Your thought is much appreciated . . .

    bro dan

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  41. Ruth says:

    What bro Amos was accused of was dreadful.” How could he ever explain this gossip to his family as they grew up? They have been indoctrinated already against him.
    My story also is really bad. ‘It makes me so angry”

    My elderly mum lived in a different suburb to me. Two sisters went to talk to her about the bible.
    Mum seemed OK. Then she lashed out with ‘My daughter stole all her jewelry.” They knew me because of my regular pioneering in the location. sometime before.

    Instead of the sisters coming to me they gossiped in there respective congregations.
    Then it was passed on to my congregation. No one had the decency to even say. No way! Ruth would never do that.

    If they had only aproached told me l could have explained my mums actions to them. ‘She actually misplaced her jewels because of her memory loss at the age of 80 years old.

    l rang the elders about it. They simply were not interested. But! my reputation would have been damaged for sure.
    l felt the coldness. The lack of love after that.

    Another sister who is Dear to me was accused of being a lesbian? And so was her best friend. Can you image how you would feel when being accused of something so dreadful? In all my years in that religion. l never ever had one hint of any sister being queer.
    Nor would l want to talk about such a dreadful unclean life style.

    But it happened to us. We had to bare that pain for many years after that. If it was not for one lovely circuit overseer who knew my heart, well l would have sunk deep into dispare.
    csaba

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  42. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Seems to me that DF’ing is a way for honest-hearted ones who want to have the freedom to worship Jehovah, to exit, the now defunked sheep pen. When Jesus said, come follow me, this takes on a whole new meaning. Green pastures are awaiting!

      (Quote)

  43. danielB says:

    Good point , FreethinkerinJah .

    I recall how that some would be removed from responsibilities if accusations would arise against them , and even if the charges were false , they could still be removed . The same applied to other forms of congregational discipline . Truly a BLIND way of “looking out after” the flock . . .

      (Quote)

  44. Frank says:

    DanielB, If no sexual activity took place that night, you are not guilty of the sin you have been accused of. What does it matter if the WTS’s system punishes you with no crime being committed. They are the ones who will pay for not representing God’s justice, not you.

    Freethinkinginjah, it is far better to retain control over your exit. Play the judicial case WT game, and when they move to disfellowship, present them with your already-written disassociation letter. They will misrepresent the circumstances of the actual events surrounding your exit to the congregation (“such-and-such is no longer considered one of Jehovah’s Witnesses”), but in the mind of God why should that matter?

    Many and varied are the methods employed by judicial committees to rid themselves of those considered organisational threats. The secret elders’ handbook (1991 edition) states that a committee can be formed even if a man simply spends the night (only) with a known homosexual! This, of course, is homophobia and to remove somebody simply because he MIGHT have done something disapproved is simply not just.

      (Quote)

  45. New Dissident says:

    I feel for all of you that have been ‘beaten’ by the Watchtower organization. Thank you for your warm welcome. I have left the organization mentally, but because of a few family members [who are starting to come around] I sit back quietly and not make waves with the congregation elders. But I feel so much freer now, like I’m sure the rest of you do. For the first time in many years I understand things clearly. I also appreciate Raymond Franz’s books to help many of us to make sense of all this. You want to talk about paranoid….I asked a long time friend [an elder] about an article I read in Archeology magazine about Nebuchadnezzar destroying Jerusalem in 587 b.c.e instead of 607. First thing out of his mouth was ‘You’ve been visiting apostate websites!” Archeology magazine is an apostate website??? When I finished laughing my head off, he informed me that ANYTHING that goes against what the WB&TS believes is a apostate. Paranoid and talk about mind control. NO THANKS!

      (Quote)

  46. JimmyG says:

    Hi New Dissident. Are you also ‘Upset at the Watchtower’ on the JW Survey site? If you are, you said and I quote: “we’re sitting here waiting for the spiritual execution”. That was a number of weeks ago. Have the elders taken any action against you yet, if you don’t mind me asking? Regards, Jimmy

      (Quote)

  47. New Dissident says:

    Yes, I’m upset @ Watchtower on that other website. So far nothing has happened. We thought for sure that elder would have started the judicial hearing back then. But we know its just a matter of time but we’re ok with that. We’re determined and stubborn to remain loyal to Jehovah & Jesus, instead of an organization, no matter what.

      (Quote)

  48. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Hi Daniel, Great to hear from you again.
    Yes, I have seen “the false charges game” used as a tactic of ridding of undesirables. The pharissis had honed this gig as a art form, as they used this tactic on Christ. When I went through the Judicial meat chopper, the old,”twist the scriptures”‘, was used on me to impose a made up dress code, because, I wear a tiny stud in my nose. But I know the real reason that I was “put out”, was that I saw through all the BS.
    Also I felt forced to worship an organization instead of worshiping only Jehovah. I was suffering a crisis of conscience, and also I saw too many unscriptural practices that harmed countless families. I could not in good conscience support the organization any longer, and it broke my heart.
    But ,now daily I enjoy my spritiual freedom in Jehovah and Christ and am greatly encouraged by this site, and everybody’s shares. Thank you.
    Hi Frank
    Thank you for your kind suggestion, but gratefully , I am scripually free, having died to the law, and alive under grace. I am a “grace-full” Christian, instead of a “lawfull” Christian .
    Your sister in the truth, cheers!

      (Quote)

  49. danielB says:

    Yes Freethinker , and I have seen the “false charges game” employed among the elders in the sense of “guilty until proven innocent” many times . I have had to defend and/or console dear friends caught up in the tactic . Sometimes , when all else fails , “apostasy” is a convenient accusation . Or perhaps the question of a “clean standing” in a community , which may in fact not even be a REAL consideration . No wonder that at times some in the community will be surprised over how the organization functions !

    Oh well . We were told they were Jehovah’s Way , until we woke up .

    Isn’t Liberty in Christ sooooo much better ?!

    Now we can really put the Son and the Father first in our whole lives .

    With you in Christ , . . bro dan

      (Quote)

  50. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Dear Daniel,
    Wow when you said you had to “console dear friends caught up in the tactic”, that reminded me of the same
    Consoling that I tried to do with some friends, and with a lot of ones who were not JW’s, which was so difficult, because, on one hand I had to be loyal to the organization, loyal to Jehovah, uphold what the bible really taught, and try to clear up the “bad publicity” among many so-called non- believers, so they wouldn’t think ill of the organization, or Jehovah. After awhile I just couldn’t keep up with all the insanity.
    Yes Christ is so much better, because it is simple and a win- win situation for all, and christ’s way stands on its own, and I don’t have to defend the truth. The real truth defends itself.
    As I have mentioned in my previous shares on this site, I look forward to the day Jehovah’s name is vindicated and all will know the ” real truth” and deception will be no more . The cool thing is that the truth about the truth, already works to set one free, in the moment one sees it.
    So it is so encouraging to see so many people waking up, this has been an answer to my prayers for years.
    What exciting times we live in!
    As always, it is good to read your shares. . Your insight is especially appreciated , because you have a lot of history around the JW’s, you know what you’re talking about. I’m grateful that I was around all that ” history”
    Since the late 60’s, because it took that long,to see enought,to get free.
    Your sis in the truth.
    Around JW’s, you have lived it.

      (Quote)

  51. danielB says:

    In time , we come to see the deficiencies of cult worship .

    It becomes hard to justify doing as we tried to do :

    . . . “on one hand I had to be loyal to the organization, loyal to Jehovah, uphold what the bible really taught, and try to clear up the ‘bad publicity’ among many so-called non- believers, so they wouldn’t think ill of the organization, or Jehovah. After awhile I just couldn’t keep up with all the insanity.” . . .

    I don’t mind so much any more exposing the organization . It is a dangerous place to stand and claim to be Christian . We were always told how that Satan tells enough of the truth , in order to appear as being legitimate . . . . a very telling truth . . . and a ‘telling on’ their own religion .

    We just need to separate the good from the bad ; hang on to what is good and abandon the bad .

    It hurts sometimes , doesn’t it , since we love them all .

      (Quote)

  52. Freethinkerinjah says:

    So true!
    The weeds need to be pulled, so God’s flowers can grow, out with the lies, so the truth may be sowed.
    That was God’s purpose, from the beginning, to the end,so the reason for Christ to again descend,
    On earth to make all things right. So all the honest -heated may enjoy the light.
    It will be worth all the crisis, and pain, when all that is worthless will wain
    And never a lie to be spoken again,paradise at last with all as God’s friends.
    Cheers to all you lovely people out there!

      (Quote)

  53. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Oops! Spelling error, I meant honest-hearted.

      (Quote)

  54. danielB says:

    (1Co 3:11-17 ISV) :

    After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that is Jesus the Messiah. Whether a person builds on this foundation with gold, silver, expensive stones, wood, hay, or straw, the workmanship of each person will become evident, for the day of judgment will show what it is, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s action. If what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but it will be like going through fire. You know that you are God’s sanctuary and that God’s Spirit lives in you, don’t you? If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him, for God’s sanctuary is holy. And you are that sanctuary!

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  55. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Oh the many houses built on sand
    Many are the structures built by man
    The storm will come and prove scripture true
    Our life must be built on Christ’s foundation ,to pull us through.
    Awake sleeping ones,before the idol falls and breaks
    Awake sleeping ones, because so much is at stake
    Awake all friends, and listen to the call, for all
    Before it all ends

      (Quote)

  56. Ruth says:

    When l read that poem where our life must be built on Yeshua”s foundation, it made my heart rejoice.
    How great is our God and his son. “How wonderful is this special relationship with them.
    Thanks Freethinker.
    Ruth your sister

      (Quote)

  57. danielB says:

    “On The Rock-mass” :

    ” Oh the many houses built on shifting sand !
    Many are the structures built by man .

    The storm will come and prove scripture true ,
    Build them on Christ , on the foundation true .

    Awake sleeping ones, for the idol will break ,
    Awake sleeping ones, for our lives are at stake .

    Awake all friends, and listen to the call,

    to the call for all

    On the Rock-mass , that is True . ”

    In Christ . . . our strength and salvation .

      (Quote)

  58. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Hi dear sister Ruth!
    Thank you for your share, and it’s awesome that you were encouraged. I remember years ago, in the early 70’s it was much encouraged to build up our brothers and sisters within the congregation, which was known as internal ministry , which I think Daniel B, might remember this since he has been around the JW from the early days. Anyway, I appreciate this site because it allows the wonderful opportunity to up build one another in Jehovah and Christ. And I thought that poems were a fun way to do this, because I love writing poems.
    I am hoping others could get into their creative selves and write spritiual poems also. I think it would a nice added addition to this site. The awesome truths about God and Christ are so worthy to put into writing,I think.
    hi Daniel thank you for your shares also.

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  59. skyrainbow says:

    Frank, you are asking me, ‘why not tell everyone here why their love is inferior to yours’.
    I do not tell the love of everyone here is inferior to mine. Not at all. What I tell or think is not so important. What Jehovah thinks is decisive and he says in 1 John 5:3: “For this is what the love of God means, that WE OBSERVE JEHOVAH’S COMMANDMENTS” As an example, if someone does not observe Jehovah’s commandment in Hebrews 13:4 he or she does not love Jehovah.

      (Quote)

  60. Frank says:

    Skyrainbow, Did you mean to cite a scripture other than Hebrews 13:4? It seems totally out of context of your comment.

      (Quote)

  61. Ruth says:

    Dear Skyrainbow.
    Some of us do observe our Dear Fathers commandments. We just do not serve men any more. Nor any religion.
    We have found Yeshua is the WAY the TRUTH and LIFE not an organisation. John 14:6.

    Because we do not Listen to men in New York does not mean we do not LOVE our Father in heaven.
    Actually l have never been so close to him as l am now, even though l pionerred in the Pacific Islands for many years. Have l stopped preaching about Christ 1000 year reign here on earth?
    Never.
    Do l talk about Christs return? All the time! The difference between the J/ws and the bible is, every eye will see him . He will come back with a sword in his mouth through the clouds with Michael announcing his return to Planet earth. Not only that, but a trumpet blast. “No invisable return!
    All Earth will know he has come.

    l dont know who you are. But l see pain in your heart. l love you brother or sister.
    l see your like Paul with a great LOVE! A person who would die for truth like me. Actually l nearly did a few times in a woodern canoe in the pacific ocean.

    No one is leading me astray. My Dear Lord Yeshua took me from the false and show’d me the real truth. “Like many here.
    Hope you pray to Your Father in heaven and ask him if he would show you who some of us really are.
    Im not sure about a few on struggle. But l do know the ones who have Gods holy spirit. Who still love and want to serve him.

    Most of us resigned. Some disfellowshipped. But for what ever reason we left, all of us have repented of our former sins.

    Peace be with you. God Bless you. Sister Ruth.

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  62. skyrainbow says:

    Ruth, I only can say, as apostle Paul in Galatiens 5:7: “You were running well. Who hindered you from keeping on obeying the truth?”

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    • whateverhappenedtome says:

      i spoke with a sibling and all things I’ve said didn’t mean anything to her, because all she can tell me is to SUBMIT to the organization controlled by Jehovah himself. because if you doubt the org, it means you do not trust in Jah as well. She kept telling me to PRAY and ask for guidance ( as if i am not doing it, and in fact the reason i Got here learned the TATT is coz i did what she told me to do)
      you have been lurking here for a while and in other websites too, but how can you not understand it is not God that we are going against…and if you insist that he does have an organization, (even though he already sent HIS son Jesus to be the way, the truth and the life) then prove it to us USIng scriptures that we should come to an organization and not to JESUS…and in the end we can just agree to disagree…
      what is the difference then when Catholics deny that they are worshipping idols, because they are merely using them as representations, and they are not representations of demonic characters, in fact they represent biblical characters, St. Peter, Mary, etc etc….
      if submitting to an organization is not idolatry to you, well it is to us. just like when people of the world say saluting the flag isn’t idolatry but jws think it is…

      why is it so wrong in the eyes of JW for people like us who wants to worship the Father alone and look up to his Son Jesus and have the bible our sole authority for revealing the truth?

        (Quote)

  63. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Dear Ruth and Whateverhapentome,
    Thank you for your encouraging articles, since the main point I got out of both posts, is serve Jehovah and not man or any person place or thing that presents itself above Jehovah’s name. Since the day satan showed up in the garden, and presented himself has knowing more than God and lying about God, honest hearted folks have the daily challenge of worshiping Jehovah only, and it’s amazing at how many idol disguises there are. Keeping spiritually awake , has a way stronger meaning now in these last days.

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  64. Ruth says:

    Read this folks regarding being no part of the world.

    After a deep soul search Im feeling perhaps we need to still keep listening to Yeshua words!
    Being no part of this world. “A freedom in Christ is a true freedom.’ That means a peace from God in the inner soul of a person. Nothing to do with trying to get back what we lost when we joined the J/ws. ‘You all can do as you please. But If Christ said DONT! we should listen.
    This world is SICK and its in big trouble especially when Yeshua and the angles of God show up for the big clean up. ‘We must be spotless! remember? Not all the W/tower says is a lie.

    Nothing to do with w/tower anymore anyway. But still being obedient is important to ones flow of the Holy spirit. ‘No compromise either..

    A Quote from a xbrother which is very interesting.
    MODERN-DAY religion is, for the most part, very much a part of the world, so it shares in the world’s celebrations and reflects its nationalistic spirit. Its clergy often acknowledge that fact, and many of them like it that way. In sharp contrast, Jesus said of his true followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.”—John 17:16.

    What does the record show as to Jehovah’s Witnesses in this regard? Have they given convincing evidence that they are no part of the world?
    The early Bible Students were well aware that true Christians would be no part of the world. The Watch Tower explained that because Christ’s anointed followers were sanctified and begotten by holy spirit so that they might share in the heavenly Kingdom, they were by this act of God set apart from the world. Additionally, it pointed out that they were under obligation to shun the spirit of the world—its aims, ambitions, and hopes, as well as its selfish ways.—1 John 2:15-17.

    How could one become guilty of spiritual adultery? In a spiritual sense, adultery denotes unfaithfulness to Jehovah on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant.
    Natural Israel in the Law covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery because of false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and disregard for the seventh commandment. (Jeremiah 3:8, 9; 5:7, 8; 9:2; 13:27; 23:10; Ho 7:4) For similar reasons Jesus denounced as adulterous the generation of Jews in his day. (Mt 12:39; Mr 8:38)

    Likewise today, if Christians who are dedicated to GOD and who are in the new covenant defile themselves with the present system of things, they commit spiritual adultery.—James 4:4.
    Being a friend to this world is to do as this world does and since Satan is the God of this world(1 John 5:19) he controls everything, he offered Jesus all the Kingdoms of this world how could he offer something he doesn’t have?
    (2 Corinthians 4:4) among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.

    l have to agree with this even though im not a Jehovahs wintness, although being a Witness to Yeshua now.
    But each to his own heart! “We make excuses or we dont”

    No one can judge Gods commandments. “Be no part of the world” No one is judging. The Lord looks into peoples hearts. Anyway he dwells in us! If thats the case we had better not mix this worlds thinking with Christs temple. (Us)
    Its hard. But it written.
    Ruth

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  65. Freethinkerinjah says:

    Thank you Ruth for another scriptural – based share. I love the reminders to stay away from idol worship of any kind.Jehovah spirit be with you, your sister in the spiritual warfare .Freethinkerinjah

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  66. Hannah says:

    I didn’t read any of the above comments so forgive me if I’m missing what I’m about to ask. I’m moving to Virginia this year (not for at least 6 months from now-I’m waiting for my Visa) I would be interested in this group as I was a JW and would like to meet new friends and get support and be supportive. I’m fairly new to being “out” and don’t regret it for a second. I’m finally free. I was raised in it and now I am in my 30’s (such a waste of my life staying in it for as long as I was). Could you email me or post on here where these group meetings are? Thanks so much!

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