Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2007 15:23:40 GMT -5
I heard a rumour that lots of young people had offered for the Work in the UK and Ireland. Is this true? Anyone know any more details? Having lost a lot in England over the past few years and no-one offering in Scotland for years, maybe things are improving?
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Post by irish2 not logged on Nov 7, 2007 16:33:39 GMT -5
yes, i have also heard that 7 or 8 have offered recently (I understand Tommie G. mentioned it in his GM one night) but only know who one of them is, a young chap from Bangor, Co Down.
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Post by interesting on Nov 7, 2007 16:35:09 GMT -5
Hmmm I lived in the UK 2001 to 2004 and there weren't huge numbers of professing young people.
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Post by gem on Nov 7, 2007 16:42:20 GMT -5
Sorry I know this is off track..but can one give me some info on Tom Gamble as far as he is head overseer in Ireland. etc? I have heard his name mentioned but don't know anything about him.TIA
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Post by LSMND on Nov 7, 2007 16:46:17 GMT -5
Hmmm I lived in the UK 2001 to 2004 and there weren't huge numbers of professing young people. Presumably you weren't in Ireland and Northern Ireland then. There are herds of them at the conventions, North and South. There have been a number of workers offer in England/Wales in recent years but there seems to be a high drop out rate. Anyone any idea of numbers?
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Post by LSMND on Nov 7, 2007 17:26:09 GMT -5
Sorry I know this is off track..but can one give me some info on Tom Gamble as far as he is head overseer in Ireland. etc? I have heard his name mentioned but don't know anything about him.TIA Tommie G spent many years in Barbados and some years in NYC. He came back to Ireland in late Feb 1992 and introduced some strict "guidlines" in order to whip the faithful back into shape in Ireland. Apparently he was concerned it would go the way of America... (an opinion attributed to him by many but no proof he actually said it). In came the "Split Skirt" lectures on Sunday evening at convention which after a couple of years were moved to a Monday evening as (allegedly) people were attending the Sunday evening meeting almost for entertainment purposes. Weddings were all but discouraged and clearing off to Gretna Green upheld as A Good Thing. So what if the neighbours suspect the bride had to be rushed off to preotect her blushes if it meant that wedding day joy could not be shared. It seems some people this summer past have kicked the notion of a modest wedding into the ether as there were grooms arriving in helicopters and special jetties built to allow the bride to arrive in style. Numbers have gone to the dogs - at one time no more than two witnesses, a few months later 14 allowed and a few months after that, no more than 40. This summer saw blow-outs with 100 guests plus and no expense spared. There was a bit of a scandal that involved convention ground owners a few years back and the proprietor using a senior worker's name to endorse something that was dishonest. There was a fuss kicked up on a very local level and Tommie G refuesd to deal with it and instructed the senior worker not to say anything that would rock the boat with the convention ground owners. The senior worker was quite determined to address the issue with the people but had to return to the injured party somewhat embarrassed by Tommie's instruction. It is said too by many that Tommie G dislikes women but Tommie has himself said from the platform that this is not the case. He doens't like the fantasy that is Santa Claus, and exposed Santa as a sham two days before Christmas at Christmas meetings in Craigavon, shocking and distressing the deluded and referring to Santa as a "big, fat red-faced fellow". Tommie has been accused of "Tommie-mandering" or realigning the field boundaries in the North (he won't have missions in the South) so he can stay in the same field as HQ (Blaney's) or within a short spin up the motorway. I think he's only been in Belfast/N. Down, Armagh or N. Belfast/Larne ever since he returned in 1992. He tends not to do too many house visits and if he does, the visited fit in around his schedule. Difficult if you are on a farm when chores are done at set times of the day, I'd imagine. He also doesn't like women working after marriage and told a recently married young lady that her house (on which there was significant renovation work being done and he'd been informed of beforehand) that it was evident by the state of her house that she was a "working wife". She asked him what he expected, with the house was full of builders all day. There's likely much more, but looking at the above, it does make the chap sound rather eccentric, particularly when one thinks of a memorable remark he made one night in a mission when referring to preachers of false religion: "men wearing a dress like mother and expect to be called father". I'm not sure he means to be funny but that caused a ripple!
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Post by ram unplugged on Nov 7, 2007 18:38:02 GMT -5
Hi LSMND,
What part of the UK/EIRE/N.Ireland are you in ?
Much of what you wrote about T G was standard thinking in Scotland until a few years back.
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Post by would that be on Nov 7, 2007 18:47:33 GMT -5
yes, i have also heard that 7 or 8 have offered recently (I understand Tommie G. mentioned it in his GM one night) but only know who one of them is, a young chap from Bangor, Co Down. wonder would that be A.L?
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Post by irish2 not logged on Nov 8, 2007 1:49:26 GMT -5
the 'L' bit is Ok, I'm not sure of the first name.
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Post by sharonhargreaves on Nov 8, 2007 1:55:13 GMT -5
hi LSMND
Is Mr. Gamble trying to return to Mr. Irvines 'roots'??
sharon
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Post by LSMND on Nov 8, 2007 2:52:08 GMT -5
the 'L' bit is Ok, I'm not sure of the first name. A.L. is Newtownards; does that make a difference? Seems he was pretty dedicated to his line of study and if this suggestion is true, it comes as a bit of a surprise. Can't think who else it might be though. And yes, the practises in Scotland were much as how Tommie has tried to steer Ireland towards, but in Ireland we put that down to the small number of friends and therefore it was easier for the workers to "encourage" them to do the "right" thing. That said, there was one person who went into the work in Scotland who had the most terrible time resisting human nature regarding outward appearance although ultimately managed to overcome.
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Post by LSMND on Nov 8, 2007 3:05:31 GMT -5
hi LSMND Is Mr. Gamble trying to return to Mr. Irvines 'roots'?? sharon Perhaps in some aspects, but I wouldn't think it was consciously thinking of W.I. that has driven the agenda. The fact that Tommie had to say from the platform that he didn't dislike women was interesting in that prior to that (I don't know if anything has changed) all criticism was pointed solely at women/young girls and no mention made of men smartening up their act. Irvine of course loved women but the culture back then was that women were very much second class citizens, and being seen and serving with their mouths shut was praiseworthy. Tommie seems to appreciate that aspect of Victorian/Edwardian culture at least.
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timber
Senior Member
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Post by timber on Nov 8, 2007 8:23:06 GMT -5
Perhaps he has a vision - hundreds of Tom Gambles, young, middle aged, elderly - female, male..
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Post by re AL on Nov 8, 2007 14:01:08 GMT -5
LMNSD, you could be right about the N'ards bit Im not sure about that either, used to be Bangor though?.... I understand any who are studying are being encouraged to finish before beginning in the work.
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Post by re AL again on Nov 8, 2007 14:02:55 GMT -5
meant to say that AL's Dad was in the work one time if that clarifies it for you...Irish2
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Post by teenager unlogged on Nov 8, 2007 14:48:55 GMT -5
As far as I'm aware A.L is finished his studies and currently working. And it is Bangor that he lives, according to the "phone book".. although its not far from Ards anyway! his father was shot whilst in the work?
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Post by LSMND on Nov 8, 2007 20:58:08 GMT -5
As far as I'm aware A.L is finished his studies and currently working. And it is Bangor that he lives, according to the "phone book".. although its not far from Ards anyway! his father was shot whilst in the work? He lives in N'ards (about 5 miles from Bangor) and just this evening I asked someone "in the know"about it and she agreed that it was a rumour and she couldn't confirm if it was true or not. Her feeling was that she would have been told if the family thought it was being talked about but it is possible the family does not know as the family are always the last to hear gossip. (If you can follow that!) She also said she wouldn't be surprised and did say that as ever the rumour mill started in the South (Cork to be precise) and however they manage it, the friends in the South always have the news first and generally have it right. All mentioned is true about his father and he also has a cousin on his mother's side in the work. There is another chap: Melvin (?) Hendy. His sister Iris is a worker in S. America I believe. I'm told there are four others and apparently four have offered in England/Wales.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2007 0:33:08 GMT -5
We have experienced a trend toward more young people entering the work as well in our part of the world. I would attribute it in large part to the better treatment people get when they leave the work. That is, entering the work these days does not have the same "'til death" pressure on it. So, young people feel more free to start knowing that it would be no shame to leave if it doesn't work out to be a lifetime calling.
Offsetting the increased entries to the work is a higher attrition rate. We have had a large number of new entries, yet overall worker numbers have stayed static or even slightly declined.
Regardless of the increase in entries, the overall trend is down and will continue to be so for the forseeable future. The "echo boomer" group of young people are now getting toward the end of their worker qualifying days and there is a sharp drop off of young people in the fellowship. If attrition rates stay the same, it is unlikely that the new entries will be able keep pace wthin the next few years.
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Post by teenager unlogges on Nov 9, 2007 7:22:39 GMT -5
As far as I'm aware A.L is finished his studies and currently working. And it is Bangor that he lives, according to the "phone book".. although its not far from Ards anyway! his father was shot whilst in the work? He lives in N'ards (about 5 miles from Bangor) and just this evening I asked someone "in the know"about it and she agreed that it was a rumour and she couldn't confirm if it was true or not. Her feeling was that she would have been told if the family thought it was being talked about but it is possible the family does not know as the family are always the last to hear gossip. (If you can follow that!) She also said she wouldn't be surprised and did say that as ever the rumour mill started in the South (Cork to be precise) and however they manage it, the friends in the South always have the news first and generally have it right. All mentioned is true about his father and he also has a cousin on his mother's side in the work. There is another chap: Melvin (?) Hendy. His sister Iris is a worker in S. America I believe. I'm told there are four others and apparently four have offered in England/Wales. Just checked there and its definately Bangor, (one reason why you should'nt listen to other people!! I have been at the home, and I've checked it on royalmail. I haven't heard it from an independant source, just the old rumour mill (one wonders why Mr Gamble decided to mention it... when he knew the gossip would start), I don't think many young people have been excluded from the list, having known about 3 supposabily offering... turns out none had!! I wouldn't be surprised in this instance! I wonder does it start in the South due to a couple of worker connections down there, who may be in the know!
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Post by LSMND on Nov 9, 2007 18:08:00 GMT -5
He lives in N'ards (about 5 miles from Bangor) and just this evening I asked someone "in the know"about it and she agreed that it was a rumour and she couldn't confirm if it was true or not. Her feeling was that she would have been told if the family thought it was being talked about but it is possible the family does not know as the family are always the last to hear gossip. (If you can follow that!) She also said she wouldn't be surprised and did say that as ever the rumour mill started in the South (Cork to be precise) and however they manage it, the friends in the South always have the news first and generally have it right. All mentioned is true about his father and he also has a cousin on his mother's side in the work. There is another chap: Melvin (?) Hendy. His sister Iris is a worker in S. America I believe. I'm told there are four others and apparently four have offered in England/Wales. Just checked there and its definately Bangor, (one reason why you should'nt listen to other people!! I have been at the home, and I've checked it on royalmail. I haven't heard it from an independant source, just the old rumour mill (one wonders why Mr Gamble decided to mention it... when he knew the gossip would start), I don't think many young people have been excluded from the list, having known about 3 supposabily offering... turns out none had!! I wouldn't be surprised in this instance! I wonder does it start in the South due to a couple of worker connections down there, who may be in the know! Sorry to be pedantic: I'll check my source but she seems to think they live in Newtownards. She may be wrong even if she does visit with them regularly. There has been another name leaked. A chap Leeper (nephew of Sandra Leeper who is in the work; possibly S. America) has offered but I don't know his name. As for the rumour mill, I've no idea how the rumour starts or the word gets out but it unfailingly seems to come from the South. One wonders why the secrecy in the first place, if some are so eager to leak the news at the earliest opportunity. Regarding inaccurate names being talked of as having offered, wasn't there talk that a brace of Armstrong chaps from Antrim offered a few years ago? And a few years before that, a McMurray girl from near Belfast allegedly offered, and all the while she was stepping out with a chap who hardly knew where he was from? I never had the character traits that appealed to workers in any great way so rumours never got off the ground about me in that respect, but I think I should have been mightily peeved if such stories had done the rounds. There are two females going out in Scotland that I've heard of. One is actually Irish.
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Post by what are on Nov 9, 2007 18:32:56 GMT -5
Just checked there and its definately Bangor, (one reason why you should'nt listen to other people!! I have been at the home, and I've checked it on royalmail. I haven't heard it from an independant source, just the old rumour mill (one wonders why Mr Gamble decided to mention it... when he knew the gossip would start), I don't think many young people have been excluded from the list, having known about 3 supposabily offering... turns out none had!! I wouldn't be surprised in this instance! I wonder does it start in the South due to a couple of worker connections down there, who may be in the know! Sorry to be pedantic: I'll check my source but she seems to think they live in Newtownards. She may be wrong even if she does visit with them regularly. There has been another name leaked. A chap Leeper (nephew of Sandra Leeper who is in the work; possibly S. America) has offered but I don't know his name. As for the rumour mill, I've no idea how the rumour starts or the word gets out but it unfailingly seems to come from the South. One wonders why the secrecy in the first place, if some are so eager to leak the news at the earliest opportunity. Regarding inaccurate names being talked of as having offered, wasn't there talk that a brace of Armstrong chaps from Antrim offered a few years ago? And a few years before that, a McMurray girl from near Belfast allegedly offered, and all the while she was stepping out with a chap who hardly knew where he was from? I never had the character traits that appealed to workers in any great way so rumours never got off the ground about me in that respect, but I think I should have been mightily peeved if such stories had done the rounds. There are two females going out in Scotland that I've heard of. One is actually Irish. What are the intials of the Irish one? wouldn't be L. S by any chance?
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Post by LSMND on Nov 10, 2007 17:34:49 GMT -5
What are the intials of the Irish one? wouldn't be L. S by any chance?[/quote]
Not sure who L.S. is but the initials are J.P. (Edinburgh.)
And yes, A.L. is Bangor. Sorry to doubt but my friend is ditsy and five miles between towns is nothing, especially if there is lots of shopping to be done...
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Post by wingsofaneagle on Nov 10, 2007 20:39:54 GMT -5
Thanks for all the irish news guys! Why is it necessary to use initials for the names of workers when you are not accusing them of anything? its getting me all confused!
Is Tommie still the head honcho?
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Post by reason why on Nov 11, 2007 5:29:11 GMT -5
Thanks for all the irish news guys! Why is it necessary to use initials for the names of workers when you are not accusing them of anything? its getting me all confused!
Is Tommie still the head honcho? These are people who may have offered, no sure sure thing as far as I know, thats why I would'nt want to put a definate full name.
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Post by teenager unlogged on Nov 13, 2007 15:18:21 GMT -5
Funny how things turn out, this came up in conversation the other day, the very names mentioned here (only talking about the scottish ones) I was all curious and then was told without asking lol.
So LSMND, what county would you be from?
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Post by Irish Ex on Nov 13, 2007 15:56:22 GMT -5
LSMD
Did I hear you mention the name Hendy?
I seem to recal the name from a long time ago .... were there two or three brothers by that name from somewhere down south? I remember we were all staying over at Monaghan one year I think, and there was a massive amount of craic in the old wooden dorm .... there sure wasn't too much prayer taking place .... in fact the place was in chaos and there was a mighty racket to the extent that some structural damage may even have occured. (I seem to recall convention was all about women and craic in those days - perhaps it still is despite Mr Gamble!)
Anyway one of the Hendy's in his wisdom decided to enter further into the spirit of it all by removing some poor bugger's bedclothes and disappearing out into the night during which time a youthful and somewhat dour Craig Fulton was dispatched to the dorm to restore order. Having bolted the door he then proceeded to give us the customery lecture about this being a place of prayer when the seriousness of it all was disturbed by an almighty hamering in the night as young Hendy demanded his rightful re-entry to the hut. Mr Fulton, unperturbed, dutifully unlocked the door to find an almost naked Hendy standing outside somewhat taken aback at the sight of a worker greeting him. Needless to say that Mr Fulton's influence was minimal and chaos was soon restored (not least by young Hendy, inevitably) within a very short time thereby necesitating a series of further order restoring visits from an ever more dourful Mr Fulton throughout the night.
I don't think I ever saw those guys again - perhaps they left very soon after or I did. I wonder what became of them?
Ah, those were the days.
Irish Ex
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Post by UK friend on Nov 13, 2007 16:52:36 GMT -5
I've not hears about this mass offering into the work. It's about time there are some new faces. They usually are frightened into offering.... I've known about 4 young ones who have leaved the work in the UK with a 5 year period,
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Post by LSMND on Nov 13, 2007 17:42:08 GMT -5
Funny how things turn out, this came up in conversation the other day, the very names mentioned here (only talking about the scottish ones) I was all curious and then was told without asking lol. So LSMND, what county would you be from? Ha teenager, you rascal! There is but a clutch of friends in my area and if I told you my whereabouts, you'd have me pinned down in seconds. I understand the two Scottish "almost workers" are chums but I know only one name. I don't even know if the other is Scottish!
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