daft
Candidate
Posts: 70
|
Post by daft on May 10, 2006 9:53:48 GMT -5
This isn't a story, but had a couple of field service questions for you. 1) When you were doing field service, did you ever knock on the door of a priest or a religious (nun, monk)? 2) Aren't the JWs doing much field service anymore?  They haven't been in my neighbourhood for many, many years. I've asked others and most people have said they haven't had a JW knock on their door in their neighbourhoods for at least 10 years. Last time I have had one knock on my door was about 20 years ago (and she was extremely rude and insulting). 3) Do American flags or religious statues in yards discourage JWs at all? Thanks for any answers. Many blessings!!  |
|
|
|
Post by arleneveronica08 on May 10, 2006 14:31:19 GMT -5
Yes, I did come across a former nun when doing field service. She was polite and we had a Bible discussion, though she didn't encourage us to return....I live in a major city and the Witnesses are still out all the time. I see them on my block at least about twice a month. I see them doing "street work" all through the city in the early morning hours though not as much or as many as I used to...No, American flags and religious symbols don't deter Witnesses. When I was in pioneer school they encouraged us to use this in our witness. I noted those things as a source of topics to discuss like "I notice you have a religious or political symbol so I know you must believe in God (or care about your country, in the case of a flag)...have you ever wondered..." and tied it into my presentation. I would write down in my return visit book things like "Catholic" if I saw religious statues or "patriotic" in the case of a flag. I'd make it a point to return to them if I thought we had an article that would interest them in particular. So those symbols just give an astute Witness ammunition to witness.
|
|
|
|
Post by onpatmos on May 10, 2006 14:39:42 GMT -5
Welcome arleneveronica08 !
|
|
|
|
Post by gkchesterton on May 12, 2006 21:44:02 GMT -5
1) When you were doing field service, did you ever knock on the door of a priest or a religious (nun, monk)? I've run into more than my fair share of non-sensical protestant ministers. I usually found them more frustrating than enlightening. But, to my knowledge, I’ve talked to no nuns or priests. Lay evangelical protestants that were interested in religion usually netted the best conversations. I enjoyed talking with them, because, at the very least, we shared a passion for religion. I haven't checked this year’s field service report. I know that average hours had been slipping steadily ever since I was a servant. I'm also guessing that the population growth in the US has outstripped by far the growth in hours. They are still active though. Two groups came through my neighborhood this month. Territory coverage in my former congregation as of about twelve months ago (that is how often the area assigned to a given congregation was worked) was averaging about 10 months with a few that nobody wanted or were difficult to get to not having been worked for about two years. Nothing older than that. Field service coverage and hours are reviewed about every six months with the Circuit Overseer (rough equivalent to a bishop). You could stop any Witness elder and ask for the numbers and just mention you were curious. They'd probably be willing to give them over. I would have, even if I found it odd. It generally was a source of pride. As Onpatmos already responded, not in the slightest. In fact I looked forward to seeing a religious statue or a scripture on the door and taught others to do the same when I worked with them. In some of the territories I worked secularism had taken firm hold and many didn't believe in anything other than some watered down eastern philosophy. Witnesses also don't view themselves as "un-American" per se so the flag isn’t a deterrent. Are you trying to keep Witnesses away? If so I would implore you not to. How will they learn if there is no one to teach? If you are you can send me a message and I'll give you the steps. They're actually quite simple if you know how the system works. |
|
|
|
Post by gkchesterton on May 12, 2006 21:44:59 GMT -5
Just hit me it wasn't Onpatmos...I think I subconciously attribute all posts to him! Sorry arleneveronica08!
|
|
|
|
Post by evanescence on May 17, 2006 6:11:11 GMT -5
I have noticed the same thing, I have not had witnesses to my door in a looooong time, in fact never from my memory. I have a friend who lives down the road from the local Kingdom Hall and she does not get them either.
I am pretty sure they still do it though. I rang up the Kingdom Hall once and the JW on the phone was rather shocked when I told him that I had not had a witness to my door in a long time. However I remained anonymous and did not give them my address.
From what I have been told by the former Jehovah's Witnesses, field service is a tough job and is hard for the JW's. Afterall some people can be very rude to them and it is hard to knock on a strangers door.
Evanescence
|
|
daft
Candidate
Posts: 70
|
Post by daft on May 19, 2006 8:27:13 GMT -5
No. We have an American flag in your front yard because 1) my father was a WWII veteran and 2) we are proud of our American heritage. Several homes in the area have religious statutes in their yards.
Have wondered if this could have been a factor in the decline of JWs coming around. BTW, I have asked someone in another neighbourhood if he's had an JWs in his area recently. He said he's never had a JW at his door and his neighbour of 30 years hasn't had one in at least 25 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by gkchesterton on May 19, 2006 21:23:50 GMT -5
Have wondered if this could have been a factor in the decline of JWs coming around. BTW, I have asked someone in another neighbourhood if he's had an JWs in his area recently. He said he's never had a JW at his door and his neighbour of 30 years hasn't had one in at least 25 years. Well then my last guess is that you live in a low population density area. Population has a dual affect on service coverage. First low population density means it take longer to reach any individual person. Second, service can be fun. Talking to people about your faith can be fun. But, its even more fun to hang out with friends. Low population density areas tend to result in an excuse to drive back and forth accross a territory going on calls. This is especially favored in bad weather. Failing all of that it could just be a fluke. There are closet patriots in the Witnesses (I was one and I'd argue that both of my grandfathers were too). It was generally limited to "pride of place" versus flag waving but they did exist. Funny enough 9/11 helped draw a rather firm line between those that were and those that weren't as I expect it did in many churches. |
|
|
|
Post by heretic on May 21, 2006 9:24:13 GMT -5
We have lots of JW's going door to door in my area. The ones who bring my literature even arrange for someone else to drop it in if they're going to be away for a while. I seriously think our local Hall has a very devoted bunch of workers and they do seem to take good care of each other - unlike some other congregations.
Evanescence:
"Afterall some people can be very rude to them and it is hard to knock on a strangers door."
The ones who did a home study with me said exactly this, they were so happy that someone for a change hadn't slammed the door in their faces and actually welcomes their publications!
|
|
|
|
Post by javeca on Apr 20, 2010 3:06:52 GMT -5
I was pioneering in Seattle and knocked on the door of the house where a number of Buddhist monks lived, they were uber polite in saying no thank you.
Depends on where you live. If you live in a major metro/urban area yeah you will get hit alot, live in a rural area, not so much, especially considering the cost of gas and lets face it, JW's are not exactly what you would call flush with cash.
An American Flag or religious statue has the same chance of stoping a JW coming to your door as a snowball in Hades. Though I have found answering the door with my shotgun and a wild look in my eyes tends to make the leave in an all mighty hurry.
|
|
They haven't been in my neighbourhood for many, many years. I've asked others and most people have said they haven't had a JW knock on their door in their neighbourhoods for at least 10 years. Last time I have had one knock on my door was about 20 years ago (and she was extremely rude and insulting).
