₦airaland Forum

NO! I AM NOT WORTHY
The annual memorial of JW is another event that captivated our young minds.We went around inviting people to the memorial.Non witnesses nicknamed the occasion as the "no! I'm not worthy" feast.There's a rumour among the non witnesses that when the memorial bread & wine (emblems) were passed to each individual JW,he'd say:
"no! i'm not worthy,take it away"
There's another rumour that the emblems were poison & we often had to answr many questn when inviting people to Memorial.Another amazing thing is that when memorial was over,the emblems were thrown away & dogs were worthy to feast on them.Perhaps the dogs & fowls that partook of the leftover emblems were more worthier than humans.

THE SISTER THAT EVERY CHILD FEARED
There's an elderly sister in the cong that took it as her task to yank every children ears after meeting,saying they slept or disturbed during meeting.All the children in the cong feared her & often run away frm her.She was also knwn as a very wicked woman in her community.She was the type who'd curse children that fetched firehood around her land. It was this sister that Jehovah finally chose to rule with christ after so many years of no remnant in our cong. Even our cong elders doubted Jhv's choice on this wicked woman. Non witnesses who heard that she's the only one that partook of "The Lord's Evening Meal" in the whole cong swore they could never become witnesses if Jhvh was so naive to choose such a woman. Many bro/sis in the cong didnt support Jhvh's choice on that woman.We kids began to think that if grew up with a reputation as "ear yankers" we could be chosen to rule with christ too.

144000 ANNOINTED CHRISTIAN
These 144000 annointed (JW only) are the ones who shall go to heaven & rule for 1000 yrs...COMING LATER

tctrills:
Is it really that bad

you might not really understand JW except u pass through it. Even JW who aren't faithful members of the organization still hardly understand it.Only most devoted members know how terribly bad it is when they are honest enough to admit it. But unfortunately, an active member often closes his reasoning ability & deny reality in other to continue his race for life in the one & only true religion.

...JW worship d almighty Jehovah who never change & follow the direction of Jesus who's the same yesterday,today & forever.However,the doctrines & beliefs of JW are ever changing.In the days of Russel,all JW were annointed & will rule with christ in heaven while non JW will remain on earth; all annointed christians were the faithful & discrete slave that Jesus foretold; Jehvh was to take all JW to heaven in Oct.1914; The millions who lived in 1914 & thereabout were never going to die. I can't just go on listing them. But the unchangeable Jehovah eventually changed his mind & Russel,Rutherford,Knor all died without going to heaven. All the beliefs above were revealed to them by Jhvh's Holy Spirit,but now the spirit has changed & they have different beliefs which will still change in the future...

tctrills:
This stories are very revealing.
Question: What happens if a CO is rude to you and you insult him back?

we dared not insult a CO. I remember once we travelled a very long distance to rehearsal at Ass.Hall. We had a demonstration & bro Tony condemned all our presentation over & over again.Finally, he got angry & told us to come again next week. The brother (an elder) who sponsored the demonstration tried to explain that our distance is far & he'd be busy next week.Bro Tony cut in & scolded the elder. The elder pleaded with him. But later on our way back,the elder complained of how rude the CO is & never considered all his labour to transport this crew here. "Must he be insulting people anyhow just because he's a CO?",he mumured. But he didn't respond when the CO insulted him.

Courz:
I have never seen this happen. COs can shout and be rude to JWs and JWs will be quiet and say nothing. After the CO is gone, they can open their mouth. But if that happens, I believe the JW that talks back will be disfellowshiped because that is regarded as Brazen conduct. Anyone is free to correct me if I am wrong.

even when a CO talked disrespectfuly to a brother who's older than him,he'd be afraid of offending the CO & never retaliate. We took him like a god which must always be pleased & not be offended.Even when he's clearly at fault,we took the blame.

tctrills:
Thank you Templee333 for your well-told story. I wish we all could be as calm and cool-headed as you have been despite the name-calling and provocation.
You have a beautiful story that tells the imperfections of men and their organizations. Good men, Yes. But when humans depend on their wisdom to comprehend eternal truths, they build walls that would crack.
Your story shed light on the cracks of the JW organization. It also told their good side, Their commitment to belief, and the way they introduce their kids early to their gospel.
I wish other Christians do not view this as a declaration of war against the JW. He without sin should cast the first stone.

one problem with JW is that they claim to be better than everyone else & know everything.

THE CELESTIAL CHARIOT
The GB of JW often apply Ezekiel chp.1 to their organization moving in response to divine spirit.Thus,their organization needs changes frm time to time.The NWT has been revised & its text edited many times since it's first released. Their song book has been changed & unchanged & rechanged many times. Their Watchtower & Awake! & the "Our Kingdom Ministry" & many other publications has been changed & bear different names many times.When their leaders realize how absurd some of their publications are,they replace it with new ones & stop using the faulty ones. Some of their old publications carry messages that are directly opposite of what they publish today. All these owe to the movement of Ezekiel's celestial chariot. Thanks to the chariot!

DISTRICT OVERSEERS
District overseers(DO) were higher in rank than CO.I knew very little abt these men because none ever visited our Cong.It was the responsibility of any cong which the DO chose to visit to care for them along with the CO & their wives. They had to take care of these 4 men & women & their high demands. The DO travelled around circuits & organized assemblies & conventions. I'd only see them at the platform giving talks but was never closed to any of them. I didn't really understand the nature of their work. They were always present at reg pioneers meeting a day b4 a circuit assembly.COs were subjected to DOs. There are no more District Overseers in JW organization.Maybe they've come to realize that DOs aren't really necesary.

...Field ministry with the CO was another opportunity to spent time with these "imperfect" men & see their flaws.We'd write our names in the list of those that will preach with CO.There's one CO who never bothered walking with everyone in the list,he'd just choose one person & walked with him throughout the day,maybe because he was tired of tolerating our nonsense.A CO once sent back brothers who came to field without properly shaving their beard.I once walked with a CO who spent abt an hour talking with a householder abt the performances of masqurades in the past instead of preaching the Kingdom message. A CO who walk with u in the field service may coax u to tell him ur personal & family problem,pretending to be caring. But his real motive is to gather informations & experiences to spice up his lectures during the week or next week in his next cong,or these info could help him know the next person to remove frm his post as an elder,MS or reg pioneer. No CO ever solved an individual or family problem...

CO & THEIR WIVES
COs don't joke with their wives. Bro Tony didnt want his wife to have anything doing with a brother in the cong. If a brother had to carry the wife in his bike, he made sure that a big gap seperated the two,with her preaching bag filling the gap so that sister's body will not touch brother. If both bro & sis Tony had to sit at the same bike,then brother must be in the middle so as to prevent sister's body touching the rider. U could have a big problem if some CO caught u (a brother) talking to their wife in low tone or being in the same room with her where there's no one else in the room. Even staying outside with some CO wife required that u don't go too close like sitting in the same bench or face to face like when two people are playing "WHOT" game. But i wonder why some CO commit adultery if they respect the sanctity of marriage that much! Mind u,some CO wives insult their husbands even in front of brothers & do it more at closed doors...MORE STORIES LATER

...this bro Tony didn't settle for less.Poor publishers who drink borehole water must contribute to buy him bottle water.We had to fueled & repaired his car even when no brother in our cong owned a car. But he never drove this car around because brothers had to use their bikes to gave him a ride througout the weeks wherever he went. All these wouldn't be an issue if JW publications don't heavily condemn christendom religious leaders for oppresing their poor members & making a fortune out of them. But Watchtower never talk abt their own leaders behaviour. Is that not hypocrisy of the highest order? However, some CO are considerate & doesn't demand too much frm the cong. The behaviour of a CO depends entirely on his personality & not the organization who claim to change people's life. Wicked people continue to be wicked no matter how long they've been in the JW org. They aren't different frm every other religion on that aspect.Their only excuse is "imperfection"...

BEHAVIOURS OF COs
Some COs I knew were kind & friendly,but some were hot tempered & rude.Since COs change circuits frm time to time,we often endured the rude ones & prayed they should move to another circuit soon. One of such was brother Tony (not real name), he didn't take nonsense frm anyone. He often chose to stay in the home of the richest brother & the finest house.He didn't ever joke with his bills to the congregation,he billed them heavily. His list was something like this:
Barbing=N1500
Petrol(for his car)=N 7000
Mosquito coil=N1000
Toilet soap=800
Feeding=N12000
Laundry=N2000
...And the list continues.
After all these,he'd still condemn the congregation 4 not taking good care of him.Every circuit complained abt this particular CO. He was so discontented with whatever the cong did for him & the elders 're the ones he held responsibly in their final meeting of Sunday b4 leaving the cong. The cong were always owing him some money...

WEEK OF INCREASING ACTIVITIES
We also called it circuit week.It's the week that a Circuit Overseer (CO) visits ur congregation.These visits are done at least every 6 months & are likely to be twice a year. The CO writes to congregations to inform of his visit weeks in advance.B4 his visit u'll be given ur Publisher Record Card to check ur activites over the months.A place will be arranged for him to stay in a brothers house for that week.That week will be preaching everyday frm Wednesday to Saturday.He'll have a lot of talks to deliver & meetings with different sets in the cong. The week is indeed full of activity & u can make a lot of hours! The CO likely arrives on Monday & commences his activity on Tuesday. He'll review every publisher's card & marks those who are iregular or inactive.These ones will have to answ questions b4 the CO...

AstraDroid:
Depending on your frequency of vibration, beyond the Cosmic Consciousness, karma is not binding.

Law is a tool of the masters and beyond mastery its just control.

the above is the only comment that make sense to me here

Courz:
The first time I tried sleeping in the dormitory just to save money for transportation to and fro was the Last time I tried it. I was thoroughly disappointed. Why is it called a Dormitory when there are no beds? Are they expecting all JWs to bring their own mattresses and to sleep on the bare floor? What are they using the voluntary contributions during these conventions for? Let me guess, they all go straight to Watchtower. No. That is unacceptable in a so called God's organisation! Very disappointing! That was not all! Why were there separate comfortable rooms and beds for circuit Overseers and other higher ups but not for the regular JWs? I noticed that as well. Was that your observation too? Nobody prepared me for the uncomfortable nights I had to spend there.

Chai! What a Disgrace!

each publisher that wants to lodge still pay 4 dormitory fee in every convention/assembly

...aside frm the playing & hanging around with frnds,the ideas of sitting one place through the program frm morning till evening was boring.Only on sunday morning when a full costume live drama will be presented did we stay focus. It was a real strugle 4 kids who didn't secure a place in d front seats early in the morning to see the platform because of stuborn spectators who'd ignore the instruction not to stand up.Another boring moment was the brother who'd say the final long and fanciful episode of prayer.He'd quote bible verses & explained them as if Jehovah didn't knw the verses already.When he'd finally say Amen we're relieved. As i grew up,i started paying attention to talks at assemblies & took them serious,these contributed to my future calamities.I shoudn't have taken them serious!

...another area of preparation was our outfits. We had to go & disturb the tailor (& cry if necesary) to finish our clothes. The ladies had to go for a new hairstyle. Convention was a good time to boom the incomes of tailors & hairdressers. Then we got new shoes & other accessories. We hardly thought abt the convention theme or whatever they're going to preach frm the platform for the 3 days. Our minds dwell on the thrills of camping in the assembly hall,meeting other children & playing all manners of game we knew.Back then the rules weren't as rigid as they are today.Until construction workers frm the branch office came to demolish the old assembly hall & constructed a new one,the rules were easy to go with. It's the new Assembly hall that brought new & more rigid rules like limited number of people in a dormitory, aggresive security dogs parading the arena at nights,male not entering female dormitory,no cooking with firewoods & more unreasonable rules...

Hi! more stories later. Anybody who's not comfortable with my story should kindly leave the thread & stop polluting this thread with insults.

Afudimkpa1:
can you take me there?.. And also what and what is needed of me?

before u travel to soltex u must take vogonic vacine.

Well, some weird comedians entertained us in a traditional marriage with 33 beer & fofo,later he poured petrol into the plate & lighted fire,he proceeded to mould his fofo & soaked it in the fire,he swallowed the flaming fofo balls & licked his mouth. That must be the most delicious meal ever!

Afudimkpa1:
No I don't have cosmic visa, but how do I get one?

oh! Then u'll need to go to The Galaxies Embasy office,the nearest one is located outside our solar system in a star called SOLTEX.

PREPARING FOR CONVENTIONS
Preparations were done months b4 the convention.Our Kingdom Ministry contained the dates & location of conventions & our cong 'l receive a letter telling us our convention dates. We were told to start saving money for convention expenses & pay 4 our transport "small small". Some brothers organized the transport & hired a driver.Sometimes our cong & many others hired a Lorry that we commonly called 911. Although it's clearly written "GOODS ONLY" in the lorry, the most intelligent organization in the world packed humans in it. Thus, the year 2012 witnessed a serious road accident involving JWs who travelled to their convention in a lorry somewhere in Akwa Ibom State where many were seriously injured & few died to go & await a global ressurection to a paradise earth where death & pains shall be no more...LATER

...Circuit assemblies were a bit better than the 1st one because of the camping. It's 2 days & people frm distant cong will have to camp in the assembly hall dormitory. It's Usually on weekend (Saturday & Sunday). A day b4 the main assembly began,regular pioneers would gather in a Kingdom Hall located inside the Ass.Hall for their pioneers assembly or meeting (I will explain what happens in pioneers' meetings later). Far away congregations who wanted to lodge in the dormitory had to arrive on Thursday. Though we loved circuit assembly more than Special,District Conventions were the best.It came with all the enjoyments that a Jw kid could imagine. It's the most thrilling event of the year for all JWs. We nick named it December convention because ours often came up on late Nov to mid December. It's time to wear the best clothes of the year...STAY ON FOR MORE STORIES

ASSEMBLIES & CONVENTIONS
Special assembly day was boring 4 kids apart frm the afternoon break where u could eat all types of candies & moi-moi, buns & eggrolls,fish pie. We saved money months b4 assemblies & conventions so that we could enjoy all the goodies of the afternoon break. How could u expect children to sit for hours listening to long talks that lasted more than 30 minuetes each? We had to stroll to the urinary & toilet frequently.But then,the ATTENDANTS were instructed to not allow children stroll outside without the company of an adult.If u tried to spread a mat under the long wooden benches in our old Assembly Hall & lie down,these same ATTENDANT guys will come & ask u to sit up. These guys were so so annoying & kids hated them badly. Sometimes when they go around disturbing adults frm their sleep,they'll receive insults & asked to mind their business.Once we noticed that it was time 4 d closing song,we sprang up with joy knwing that our torment 4 d day was coming to an end...

Afudimkpa1:
yes I promise I will carefully follow the procedure.

alright. Then prepare 4 a lift,we'll need to board a flying saucer to universal transport centre,then we'll find a spaceship to Damogran. Do u have a cosmic visa?

RoyalDiadems:
You mean rehearsed interviews? Please provide details. I want to learn.

Weeks b4 assemblies/conventions,the chairman of the event will send an invitation to ev'ry brothers whose talk include interview/demonstration to come to a specific venue (Assembly or kingdom hall or anywhere the chairman chooses) for rehearsal.There's a panel of 3 or more brothers to watch & approve ur presentation.If u say something that's not what they want to hear u'll have to change it. Once they're satisfied with ur presentation they ask u what type of clothe u'r gona wear that day. Suit & long tie are preferable. In the main day,if u say or do something different frm what u were told in the rehearsal u'll have to answer questions in the chairman's office. If it's so serious,they may tell u to go back to the platform & appologize 4 what u said earlier or else be disfellowshiped from the organization.

ELDERS 2nd MEETINGS
It's usually announced that Elders & MS should wait after meeting. As a child i didn't knw what those meetings were meant 4. Sometimes the elders meeting on Friday night continued into the dark & my dad would grope his way back home with any of us who waited 4 him. We spent those waiting hours chasing grasshopers with other elders children.We used wet soil to build castles & mansions 4 the grasshopers & put them in. Sometimes elders meeting ended in a conflict where someone will angrily banged the door & walk out,then another one will call him: "hey brother John come back..."
If u observed very well,brother John will be announced days later frm the platform as "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses,be careful with him", then the congregation will pretend to be sad. Sometimes elders angrily quarreled among themselves & brought their meeting to a sudden end...

Courz:
Hmm. So they allowed you to use that Bible in your congregation?

That was years b4 the NWT was translated into our lang & we had to stop reading the other one in our meetings.

tctrills:
Templee333 I admire the respect you have shown. Although you are no longer part of the said organization and no longer agree with their teachings you have not attempted to persecute or attack them. You have refused to respond to their attacks, that's so responsible. Also, you are a great storyteller. Can't wait to learn more from you.

a big thanks to u!

MY NEW BIBLE
I can't remember exactly when my mom bought the new bible for me (N500).It was b4 my first student assignment (bible reading) in the Theocracy min sch. The NWT(JW Bible) wasn't available in our lang back then.We used the only Efik translation which i think was probably translated by white missionaries in their effort to inject christianity in our minds.Where they didn't knw the exact Efik word to use english was retained. My non witnesses relative gathered to look at my new bible & called me the young pastor. I enjoyed the attention of being the youngest boy who knew how to read & write in the whole village. People often called their children attention to me:
"Look at that small boy singing bible like music but u are here with ur big head wasting my food",
as a result,i became an object of envy & jealousy among other children...