Friday, November 7, 2008

Latest News From Inside Bethel

• Pioneer hour change is legit. Letters are being mailed out soon to all congregations for announcement in early October right before the tract campaign starts.
Elimination of Circuit Overseers
• Implementation date 2011 service year
• Many District Overseer’s and some “Circuit Overseers” are getting along in years and slowing down. There is a need for several more suitable replacements.
• There is a need to prepare additional brothers to serve as “overseers” in case of persecution and isolation.
• Presiding Overseers will be trained for additional responsibilities at Patterson “Elders School”.
• After all Presiding Overseer’s have been trained and before this is implemented there will be a Kingdom Ministry school for all Elder’s.
• Various Presiding Overseers from around each circuit will visit the various congregations in the circuit.
• The visit of the “Overseer” will begin Thursday evening. Another meeting will be held Saturday evening and the public meeting will be on Sunday.
• The “Overseer” will share in service Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the congregation.
• Additionally the “Overseer” will have a meeting with the local elders and pioneers.
• Congregations will receive three visits per year instead of just two.
• Circuit Overseers can be reassigned as “District Overseers” to fill the need of replacements.
• Other Circuit Overseers may be reassigned as “Special Pioneers” to assist in the field.
• Since there will be ample “Circuit Overseers” to replace the needed “District Overseers” the size of the district will be lowered from about 13-15 circuits to around 10 per district. This will enable the “District Overseer” to spend more time with the circuits.
• There will be more brothers trained to shoulder the responsibility of oversight when persecution breaks out.
• Instead of having one “Circuit Overseer” assigned to 20 congregations various brothers will be familiar with the needs of different congregations, in order to care for these congregations during the above mentioned difficult times.
• If a select few congregations became isolated for one reason or another, brothers who are already familiar with overseeing the needs of entire congregations would already be available to assist.
• If one “Overseer” was persecuted, arrested, etc. there would already be other qualified brothers to take the lead.
Expansion at Patterson
• Will start some time after upcoming Wallkill project is finished.
• Substantial plans have already been filed with Putnam County and Patterson City to obtain needed permits, and the okay has been given to start the project.
• Several additional office and residence buildings are to be built. The plan is to build as high as the government will allow; likely 5 or 6 floor buildings.
• Plan is to have HIS, Treasurer’s Office, Convention Office, and other smaller departments move there first.
• One new office building will be exclusively used by Governing Body, United States Branch Committee, Service, Publishing (Legal), and Writing Departments.
• Teaching Department will be in new building with Audio Video services with largely expanded studio from what they have right now.
Expansion at Wallkill
• Likely will start in 2009.
• After completion plan to have the wood, machine, furniture, etc. shops and electrical, plumbing, and other mechanical training will move to Wallkill.
• Departments that coordinate RBC’s, KH building and other expansion projects will move to Wallkill.
• http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS/711290360
Brooklyn News
• Dumbo project in Brooklyn on Jay St has been scrapped.
• Buildings will continue to be sold. Residents will be moved to the larger buildings.
• Plan for eventually selling all buildings in Brooklyn between 2015 – 2020.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

how can the pioneer hours change be legit? the tract campaign already started and we are in november already and yet nothing! do you know that this exact same info was posted by one of your readers in a comment a while ago? This is not the latest news!

S said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Hi Ronde, I know you are Voice of Reason...

You are so confused young man - so confused.

Anonymous said...

Don't you proof read items before you copy and paste them from other sites? Obviously, the pioneer hours did not change in October.

This is just proof that you cannot believe everything you see on the Internet. Also, when GBL does quote WT publications, it is often out of context.

My own personal focus on the Bible led me to Jehovah's Witnesses.

Anonymous said...

Circuit overseers are not being abolished. That rumor has been going around for years now.

Anonymous said...

The Pioneer Hour change was considered, but not carried through. However, Pioneers have recieved their annual letter which encourgaed personal study and thinking ability; in other words, the hours are not changing anytime soon. As regards to the CO arrangement, it will not be changing. B/C of the way circuit overseers rotate, the amount and level of training and screening that they are now recieveing, and the coordination they provide for many essential theocratic activities (i.e circuit assemblies, district conventions and objective BOE review), it would be most impractical to eliminate them.
The US Branch just renew their contract for another 10 years with the insurance company that provides exclusively for the ROJW-reporting an increased number of coverage policies for the new deal. Sorry, but not goign to happen.

Ringwielder said...

'The US Branch just renew their contract for another 10 years with the insurance company that provides exclusively for the ROJW-reporting an increased number of coverage policies for the new deal. Sorry, but not goign to happen.'

10 years! Were you referring to Armageddon in that last sentence?

S said...
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Anonymous said...

How can anyone take this seriously? On August 14th, this blog claimed that pioneer hours would change and said:

The Body of Elders letter from the Governing Body will be going out at the end of the month.

Three months have passed since then and nothing has happened.

Now this post says:

Letters are being mailed out soon to all congregations for announcement in early October right before the tract campaign starts.

How strange to claim that letters will be sent out in early October - on 7th November.

This blog has zero credibility.

Anonymous said...

Ronde wrote: "This blog has zero credibility"

Zero = WAY more than Watchtower

Anonymous said...

Zero = WAY more than Watchtower

I have to agree with that statement. While 'Letters From The Governing Body...' is not perfect in everything posted, it has not falsely prophesied the end of the world a half of dozen times as the Watchtower Society has done so. It has not flipped-flopped back and forth on teachings so as the ressurection of people of Sodom throughout the years as the Watchtower Society has done. It has not called organ transplants cannibalistic in the past while maintaining that stance for over 10 years as the Watchtower Society has done. It has not claimed to be the sole channel of communication God is using today on the Earth as the Watchtower Society has done despite the above facts and so much more wrongs.

Ringwielder said...

Proverbs 13 v 12. 'Expectation postponed is making the heart sick.'

If God is behind the Jehovah's Witnesses, he is a master at making peoples hearts sick. How many times have they created heightened expectations about Armageddon which have not materialized?


And the Society have never encouraged people to make plans for the future in this system,(just the opposite) but they do themselves. How hypocritical.

Anonymous said...

Good point Steve. When i was at the 2006 district convention, a brother said to me & another elder, "armageddon must come soon, they can't keep saying it's just round the corner & get away with it". I thought, why not?. They've been saying it's imminent for over 100 years, why stop now?

S said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Ronde, the question is, don't JW's have faith in the Bible... why do they have to depend on MEN/MAN to interpret scriptures for them.

Read the Bible and let God explain things throught the pages of the Bible. JW's numerous errors and man-made rules have proven that JW do NOT possess the truth about the Bible - as they vehemently claim!

Anonymous said...

Steve, I quoted you for emphasis... this is one of my biggest issue/complaint! How they can not offer an apology for their misleading hopes is beyond me... how can I support this religion anymore. Providing false hopes and expectations is one of the meanest things you can do to a person - believe me.

"Proverbs 13 v 12. 'Expectation postponed is making the heart sick.'

If God is behind the Jehovah's Witnesses, he is a master at making peoples hearts sick. How many times have they created heightened expectations about Armageddon which have not materialized?

And the Society have never encouraged people to make plans for the future in this system,(just the opposite) but they do themselves. How hypocritical."

Anonymous said...

Dear Sheeplike (aka Ronde and Voice of Reason - what a joke that last alias is) said:

"This is just proof that you cannot believe everything you see on the Internet. Also, when GBL does quote WT publications, it is often out of context."

I have not found that to be true Ronde. You just don't like what GBL quotes because it reveals the gross mistakes of your religion AND there are many.

But, I don't want to discourage you too much because a recent Watchtower stated that the new system is coming "VERY SOON NOW".

Why prepare for the future with a promising statement like that???

Anonymous said...

Ronde "Move it."

S said...

"How they can not offer an apology for their misleading hopes is beyond me... how can I support this religion anymore. Providing false hopes and expectations is one of the meanest things you can do to a person - believe me."

Who is this 'they'?

And why do you defer your worship to and through them?

If you read your Bible like you are supposed to, it wouldn't be about any they, you would develop the faith in your own heart.

Anonymous said...

I'm not this Ronde or Voice of Reason. I'm just a person who loves the Bible, and my own reading and research led me to Jehovah's Witnesses.

I see how many of you- since you cannot refute the scriptures- simply have a strategy of personal attack. Do you not realize this is cowardly?

We can disagree on things but we should agree to reason on the scriptures.

Anonymous said...

sheeplike wrote: "We can disagree on things but we should agree to reason on the scriptures"

Again?

I need the Scriptures that show that Blood Fractions are a conscience matter.

I need the Scripture that shows oral sex between married couples is perverted.

I need the Scripture that shows Jesus selected your religion -- above all others -- in 1918/1919.

We can talk Scripture all day.

Anonymous said...

wow, keeping up the whole 'persecution' bs...that's been going on in waves since i was a kid in the 70s. ptsd b/c of it.

keep them in fear, they will stay, for "where else shall they go".

Anonymous said...

Sheeplike said...I'm just a person who loves the Bible, and my own reading and research led me to Jehovah's Witnesses.


I love the Bible too! My reading and reserched proved to me Jehovah's Witnesses are at best just like an other religion claiming to have God's favor. On the other hand, at the worst I find Jehovah's Witnesses to be a dangerous and destructive cult-like organization.

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason said...If you read your Bible like you are supposed to, it wouldn't be about any they, you would develop the faith in your own heart

If you read the Bible like the Watchtower Society teaches Jehovah's Witnesses than you are instructed not to do any independent scriptural reserach.

From the September 2007 Kingdom Ministry: "Question Box
▪ Does “the faithful and discreet slave” endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?
No, it does not."

S said...

Anon, you need scriptures?

What about love?

Why do you need scriptures when you have love?

Why do you need Scriptures that show that Blood Fractions are a conscience matter? When is that at issue?


Why do you need the Scripture that shows oral sex between married couples is perverted? Why is that at issue?

Why do you need the Scripture that shows Jesus selected your religion -- above all others -- in 1918/1919. (JWs don't believe that.) JWs believe that Christians left Babylon then.

If you have love then you don't need these issues.

S said...

Why not simply be nice to others and there would be no persecution.

S said...

"If you read the Bible like the Watchtower Society teaches Jehovah's Witnesses than you are instructed not to do any independent scriptural reserach."

The KM that you quoted is not by the Watchtower Society so you don't know what you are talking about.

But the best way to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses is to do independent study as that proves that JWs are correct.

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason said...The KM that you quoted is not by the Watchtower Society so you don't know what you are talking about.
But the best way to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses is to do independent study as that proves that JWs are correct.



You can divert attention from the facts including split hairs on what to call those that are given instructions to Jehovah's Witnesses, but it changes not a thing.

According to your beliefs (Which seem to be some odd hybrid of JW beliefs and your own made up system of beliefs) you believe independent study is the way to go - that's fine. However, that is not what Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to believe.

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason said...Why do you need the Scripture that shows Jesus selected your religion -- above all others -- in 1918/1919. (JWs don't believe that.) JWs believe that Christians left Babylon then.


Again, that may be your belief, but is not what Jehovah's Witnesses are taught:

*** w67 10/1 p. 590 par. 19 Finding Freedom with Jehovah’s Visible Organization ***

19 Evidences are now conclusive that Jesus Christ was enthroned in heaven in 1914 C.E. and that he accompanied Jehovah to his temple in 1918 C.E., when judgment began with the house of God. (1 Pet. 4:17) After cleansing those belonging to this house who were alive on earth, Jehovah poured out his spirit upon them and assigned them the responsibility of serving as his sole visible channel, through whom alone spiritual instruction was to come. Those who recognize Jehovah’s visible theocratic organization, therefore, must recognize and accept this appointment of the “faithful and discreet slave” and be submissive to it.
***

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason...If you have love then you don't need these issues.


It is the Watchtower that made these issues. You should write them and tell them such.

S said...

"According to your beliefs (Which seem to be some odd hybrid of JW beliefs and your own made up system of beliefs) you believe independent study is the way to go - that's fine. However, that is not what Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to believe. "

So? What's your point?

I am not an apostate so I don't spend all day reading Watchtower literature like apostates do. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses so my focus is on glorifying God and learning what does that.

S said...

James, a 1967 Watchtower....

Yes, Jesus became king in 1914.

Yes, the war in heaven started then and satan and his demons were cast out.

That war lasted for 3.5 years and then the resurrection to heaven started.

Then Jesus cleansed those on earth and then the ones who were his servants followed him.

Christians do not have a problem serving with those who are his. Christians don't have a problem being the sole channel to non-Christians.

And I didn't need a 1967 Watchtower for that.

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason said...my focus is on glorifying God and learning what does that.


Interestingly, Jesus did not point to an organization for that purpose, rather to come to him.

Too bad Jehovah's Witnesses are taught primarily from the Watchtower and are instructed to be completely loyal to the organization.

Looking back at your previous post in other threads, your logic seems to go in circles and makes no sense. You defend Jehovah's Witnesses, but have your own brand of beliefs which at times goes completely against Jehovah's Witnesses. You sound like someone who is disfellowshipped from the organization and feels guilty over it or you're just in deep denial over the facts.

S said...

"Interestingly, Jesus did not point to an organization for that purpose, rather to come to him."

If there were a problem with being in an organization that worships God, then I would agree with you, but there is no problem.

You make the organization a problem when it is a blessing.

"Too bad Jehovah's Witnesses are taught primarily from the Watchtower and are instructed to be completely loyal to the organization."

Is that a problem?

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason...James, a 1967 Watchtower...Yes, Jesus became king in 1914...


Contrary to me being the one who does not know what I am talking about (As you stated in a prior post) you are the one who is clueless. You state that JW did not believe they were the chosen ones in 1918/19, but when proved wrong by the Watchtower Society's own publications, you once agin ignore or try to divert the point. You are in denial.

Your interpretation of relative recent history coincides with the Watchtower Society and their Dispensationalism

S said...

No, James, JWs were not chosen in 1918.

There were no JWs until 1931.

There were people who were following Jesus and preaching the kingdom who called themselves Bible students. They went through times of trial in 1914-1918. Then when they held a convention in 1919 to Advertise the king and the kingdom, Jesus backed their work.

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason said...No, James, JWs were not chosen in 1918.
There were no JWs until 1931.
There were people who were following Jesus and preaching the kingdom who called themselves Bible students. They went through times of trial in 1914-1918. Then when they held a convention in 1919 to Advertise the king and the kingdom, Jesus backed their work.

Again, you are in denial and engrossed in Dispensationalism

S said...

No, James, I am just showing that apostates focus on that wrong things.

It does not matter about 1918.

Jehovah's Witnesses have the true religion regardless of what people in the past have said and done that you find fault with.

We have the true religion because Jehovah is the true God.

Anonymous said...

Voice of Reason said...
No, James, I am just showing that apostates focus on that wrong things.
It does not matter about 1918.
Jehovah's Witnesses have the true religion regardless of what people in the past have said and done that you find fault with.
We have the true religion because Jehovah is the true God.


Congrats! You just covered many
Rhetorical Fallacies

Anonymous said...

VOR babbled,

'Yes, Jesus became king in 1914.

Yes, the war in heaven started then and satan and his demons were cast out.

That war lasted for 3.5 years and then the resurrection to heaven started.

Then Jesus cleansed those on earth and then the ones who were his servants followed him.'


'And I didn't need a 1967 Watchtower for that.'

So you figured out all that crap on your own....you need to see a shrink.

Anonymous said...

I find it very hard to see people trying so hard to criticize Jehovah's Witnesses for their belief without any proof that what they teach is wrong. Out of all the religions around the earth, they teach obedience to authority and living high morals ect. I will say this, when Jehovah's day come just like in the days of Noah, you will know JEHOVAH AS GOD ALMIGHTY and that if Jehovah's Witnesses were right all alone like Noah was, it will be too late for you to draw closer to God. Jehovah's Witnesses always encourage people to use their own bible which proves that they are interesting in teaching according to God's words. Whether you lisen to them or not, Jehovah's day is coming and you will know who is serving the true God. Please read Isaiah 55:6 and Psalms 83:18 Some of you are asking like the Pharasees and Saddusees, they constantly criticize Jesus when he did no wrong. You will know!

trebor said...

I find it very hard to see people trying so hard to criticize Jehovah's Witnesses for their belief without any proof that what they teach is wrong.

Proof? Here you go...

How about their ideas about Revelation?

How about the problems with the New World Translation?

A history of providing Dangerous Medical Advice.

Their teachings and beliefs respecting 607 and 1914.


Out of all the religions around the earth, they teach obedience to authority and living high morals ect.

More Rhetorical Fallacy. There are plenty of other people and organizations who teach the same thing and live high moral lives outside of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witness beliefs are not unique to their organization


I will say this, when Jehovah's day come just like in the days of Noah, you will know JEHOVAH AS GOD ALMIGHTY and that if Jehovah's Witnesses were right all alone like Noah was, it will be too late for you to draw closer to God. Jehovah's Witnesses always encourage people to use their own bible which proves that they are interesting in teaching according to God's words. Whether you lisen to them or not, Jehovah's day is coming and you will know who is serving the true God. Please read Isaiah 55:6 and Psalms 83:18 Some of you are asking like the Pharasees and Saddusees, they constantly criticize Jesus when he did no wrong. You will know!

You can say whatever you like which coincides with the Watchtower Society's beliefs and their Dispensationalism.

Anonymous said...

Proof? Here you go...

How about their ideas about Revelation?

What about their ideas on Revelations? They are the only religion that can explain Revelation detail for detail. I suggest you get their publication "Revelation its grand Climax at hand"! Before you criticize without any concrete evidence, please read that publication. I have and I also did my own research.


How about the problems with the New World Translation?

If you have done your own research regarding the original hebrew, aramaic and greek transcript, you would know that the New World Translation is precise to those transcript. Not only that, the New World Translation did not like other bible translations omitted the most important GOD'S NAME (JEHOVAH). Oviously you haven't done your research!!

A history of providing Dangerous Medical Advice.

Any advise they have given has always been left up to one's conscious. However, regarding the blood issue as we are told by God's inspired word (Acts 15:28,29) to abstained from blood. I suggest you read it in your own bible.


Their teachings and beliefs respecting 607 and 1914.

Jehovah God had provided his people back then with signs and prophecies that would lead up to the messiah (his son). He has also provided us with prophecies that would lead up to his son's kingship in heaven (Psalms 110: 1,2 and Matt 25:31-46). Again I suggest you do research in your own bible.

Matthew 24:3-51 talks about the signs that would lead up to Jesus' presents. On a world wide scale, these prophecies did not exist until 1914. In particular Matt 24:14 talk about a preaching work that would take place. On a world wide scale what group is carrying out this work simontainously or what group is known for speading this work on a world wide basis?

Please do your research and get back to me on this blog.

Sincerely yours,

Bible student

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said... [A bunch of WTS teachings ignoring the facts]

Research and investigation was already done by many on their own, including myself. Stop listening to a bunch of men in the WTS.

Just because they make up an (every changing) story of what the Bible book of Revelations means and/or what the things mentioned represent does not make it the truth. It makes the Watchtower Society story tellers. Anyone can take pieces of the Bible or characters, images, symbols and provided "modern-day" parallels.

What you're doing is rehashing and quoting WTS ideas and their interpretation of scripture. You're also completely ignoring what was brought up respecting 607 - A made up year by the WTS with no significance except to WTS teaching to go along with their 1914 teachings.

The account in Matthew of Jesus speaking had a literal fullfillment with the fall of Jerusalem. Giving modern day application is WTS teaching or/and mentioned earlier a dispensationalistic approach. Again, it does not mean it is truth.

I can admonished the same to you as you stated for others...Please do your research!

Sincerely yours,

A Bible student as well

S said...

"Stop listening to a bunch of men in the WTS."

JWs don't do that. It is apostates that do that.

JWs follow the Bible (which happens to agree with the men in the WTS)

S said...

"You're also completely ignoring what was brought up respecting 607 - A made up year by the WTS "

607 was thought to be the beginning of the gentile times long before the WTS was incorporated.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said... [A bunch of WTS teachings ignoring the facts]

Research and investigation was already done by many on their own, including myself. Stop listening to a bunch of men in the WTS.

Again, no concrete evident behind your slandous remarks. I read your whole blog and not one scripture mention by you to prove what I mention in my privious blog is wrong. I used several scriptures to prove why I believe what I believe. I'm sure you did't look up any of the scriptures in your own bible. If you notice, I didn't say anything about listening to the WTS once. All of my understandings came right from the bible that I did personal research on.

So your actions just prove that you're not interesting in the truth, you just want to criticize the WTC for your personal vendetters that you have against WTC. If you were once a JW then you are probably acting on your emotional feelings and not wisdom or knowledge.

Again, prove to me that what I wrote in my 11/13/08 blog was wrong. I've given you evidence from the holy scriptures not as you say from the WTC.

Also, please tell me what group on a world wide scale is applying Matthew 24:14? To make it easy for you, just give me one excluding Jehovah's Witnesses. If you can do that, then you're right, the JW are not the only one that are preaching simontanously on a world wide scale.

Also, explain to me when Jesus coming is and what are the signs according to your research?

Sincerely yours,

Bible Student

Anonymous said...

To all those that are reading this blog, Please, if you are searching for the truth, please let Jehovah's Witnesses assist you in obtaining bible knowledge. Jesus said that through the preaching work as a witness to all nations and then the end will come.

Remember the days of Noah, pleople back then did not appreciated what Noah was preaching to them. What they fail to realize was that Noah's preaching was actually a warning of God's wrath. Today, Jehovah's Witnesses are preaching that same warning (Matt 24:14). Please listen to them before it's too late.

Their preaching work proved that they have Jehovah's backing and that Jesus is the head of their congregations. They have the identifying mark (John 13:35)

I truly hope all those that are looking for the truth that they let Jehovah's Witnesses assist them in learning the bible truth and that they personnally research the scriptures. Jehovah will bless you for your effort.

Sincerely yours,

Bible Student