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Post by snow on Jun 16, 2023 15:38:01 GMT -5
Yeah, there are committees to oversee, charitable endeavors, volunteer efforts, coordinating with other community programs, informal Bible studies, youth groups, missionary endeavors, music programs, and of course multiple church services, etc. All happening out of the church building. But the fellowship lacks all those trappings, for the most part, which leaves the question what do workers do all day? I know this is an unpopular hated comment but the biggest problem in the work besides celibacy, which feeds into all other problems, is boredom. Not enough mentally or physically to do. This is a church built mainly for one reason, finding the lost. But there is hardly any outside interest. Hi! I don’t know about everyone but most of my fellow workers are very busy. I can’t imagine being bored…. 😊 I’m thinking where are these workers?? There are many other things I would love to do (in the way of visits and outreach). and just don’t have enough hours in the day to do them …. What does keep you busy, if you don't mind me asking? What I hear from ex workers is that it's mostly going around to friends homes and visiting, conventions and preps, special meetings etc. So I would like a current worker to tell how their days are spent if you would please. Edit: I would just like to add that I left 50 years ago so my memories are very outdated. That's why I'm curious. My memories of the workers when we lived on the farm were of the younger workers helping out a lot and the older worker (who had health problems) sat and visited or just read his bible quietly. When my grandfather first heard the 'Truth', two workers came to their ranch and lived there for the winter and helped enormously. So that's my memories. Since finding this site in 2010 I am hearing a different story about the workers and what they do, or more precisely, what they don't do. It would be nice to hear from IS, Jonathan and yourself what your days look like.
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Post by snow on Jun 16, 2023 15:45:33 GMT -5
Hi! I don’t know about everyone but most of my fellow workers are very busy. I can’t imagine being bored…. 😊 I’m thinking where are these workers?? There are many other things I would love to do (in the way of visits and outreach). and just don’t have enough hours in the day to do them …. The younger ones are probably out playing hockey, squash and other sports with the younger friends, and the older ones are going house to house gossiping about the last home they visited. Fifty years ago the workers were busy during the day going door to door inviting people to meetings which they had four or five nights a week. Nowadays there are maybe meetings two nights a week and the only people invited are the friends and anyone that approaches with interest. Gone are the days when the workers approach the public. That's why today there is so little outside interest. No interest for outsiders from the inside and no interest from insiders for the outside. That's true. I remember going door to door with a sister worker and my mom when I was about 11ish. They quit doing that pretty soon after that in my area. The reason was they didn't want to be confused with the JW's. But they don't need to go door to door. They can volunteer at soup kitchens for example.
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Post by getreal on Jun 16, 2023 16:18:28 GMT -5
Because if a worker has real interest to reach out to, they have tons of available hours. Having interest is pretty much a feather in your cap because it is rare. Are you saying you have potential interest and better things to do? Bogus. This is nonsense. Good morning, GetReal. I am sure this has been your experience or this is what you have seen. All I can tell you is that this is not at all my experience….. What do we do in a day? Whew. Well maybe I can only speak for myself…. But our days are very full. I used a couple of phrases not so often used among us. Must we be limited to a certain lingo?😊. I might ordinarily say “reaching out to the community”, but outreach is a word I have seen on here asking why workers don’t do that. I am an actual sister worker. 😊 I go out in to the community as much as I can. I have ideas that I would love to implement (and my peers also would not disagree) and for the last couple years, there just hasn’t been time. But I would love to. I wonder if some of what people are picturing may have been in the past… maybe some country areas…. I’m not sure… not trying to discount that. Just saying that isn’t my experience. My parents always taught me that if I was bored that I wasn’t finding productive things to do with myself, that I needed to look a little deeper, be more creative. So I just see many things to do … and don’t have time to do them all. And for the last several years, we also really have more interest than I feel like we can attend to as much as I would like as the fields are so big. Also a good point that someone else made. We do want to keep the younger ones healthy (in every way) and engaged with things to keep busy with. I mean good for you to “go out into the community.” I am glad you wrote back by the way. I know you say you are busy, but just to be clear, you are busy visiting the friends correct? What percentage of your time is just visiting the friends? It can be interesting and fill time for sure but is it all necessary or quite a bit of busy work so it looks busy but is it necessary for their salvation? Well, that is very debatable. Its interesting to me that the idea of a country field is not something you are familiar with? My sibling is in highly populated with friends comparatively, country field so no cities, just towns and farms but again its a big field for the region, about 65 homes. Most country fields have far fewer homes. So, there is a lot of time for ‘outreach.’ Where do you do or contemplate doing outreach?
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Post by snow on Jun 16, 2023 16:21:02 GMT -5
That's true. I remember going door to door with a sister worker and my mom when I was about 11ish. They quit doing that pretty soon after that in my area. The reason was they didn't want to be confused with the JW's. But they don't need to go door to door. They can volunteer at soup kitchens for example. Going door to door was to invite people to meetings, they can't do that when working in the soup kitchen unless it's run by workers. I doubt it though, as they've always criticized churches doing good works JWs haven't gone door to door in our area for a few years. I think COVID changed that. Their hierarchy in the USA changed it to having stands with their magazines on, in the community usually outside shopping areas where they sit for hours. More waiting for people to come and talk to them rather than them going to people. Maybe a reason for not harassing people in the street. Seems to be more women than men sitting at the stalls. There are also more female workers than men too aren't there. Women seem to be more religious than men. No they probably can't ask them to come to meetings while working, but there are ways to have conversations after they have finished if people want to talk to them. What it does is give them exposure. JW's still come around here in our region of Canada. I do agree that covid stopped that for a time, but I see them back out again now that covid has stopped being so rampant. I haven't seen them in stalls here like the Salvation Army does here in Canada, but again that might happen in other areas of Canada. I think bottom line, if they are really interested in bringing people into the 'fold', they need to go where the people are.
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Post by elizabethcoleman on Jun 16, 2023 20:31:04 GMT -5
Because if a worker has real interest to reach out to, they have tons of available hours. Having interest is pretty much a feather in your cap because it is rare. Are you saying you have potential interest and better things to do? Bogus. This is nonsense. Good morning, GetReal. I am sure this has been your experience or this is what you have seen. All I can tell you is that this is not at all my experience….. What do we do in a day? Whew. Well maybe I can only speak for myself…. But our days are very full. I used a couple of phrases not so often used among us. Must we be limited to a certain lingo?😊. I might ordinarily say “reaching out to the community”, but outreach is a word I have seen on here asking why workers don’t do that. I am an actual sister worker. 😊 I go out in to the community as much as I can. I have ideas that I would love to implement (and my peers also would not disagree) and for the last couple years, there just hasn’t been time. But I would love to. I wonder if some of what people are picturing may have been in the past… maybe some country areas…. I’m not sure… not trying to discount that. Just saying that isn’t my experience. My parents always taught me that if I was bored that I wasn’t finding productive things to do with myself, that I needed to look a little deeper, be more creative. So I just see many things to do … and don’t have time to do them all. And for the last several years, we also really have more interest than I feel like we can attend to as much as I would like as the fields are so big. Also a good point that someone else made. We do want to keep the younger ones healthy (in every way) and engaged with things to keep busy with. I have no doubt the life of a worker could be quite exhausting. It is a role that requires preaching, pastoring and outreach all rolled into one. I'm not sure it is meant to be that way. The workers' ministry evolved out of the Faith Mission, which was purely about evangelism and outreach, sending converts back to established churches for ongoing church life. But once William Irvine established his own dedicated church, things became more onerous. He wanted to establish his own church, but the accompanying structure and governance was never put in place. Most established churches have: - pastors for preaching and pastoral care - elders for assisting with preaching and pastoral care (yes, two-by-twos have elders, but the real authority lays with the workers) - deacons to look after more practical matters (those struggling financially, needing assistance in various ways) - missionaries for evangelism - congregants for outreach to the community. Somehow workers are supposed to do all of the above. Is the "work" about evangelism or maintaining the established church? It needs to be both, but the existing ministry is based on an evangelism model, which neglects oversight of the established church. When local issues arise, workers may be absent for conventions, special meetings rounds, work in a neighbouring town. And they often move on the following year, which doesn't enable consistent ongoing pastoral care. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the different gifts given to those in the body of Christ, and we don't have the same gifts. Workers shouldn't have to do it all, but that is the model they're given to work with. On top of this they're having to deal with serious issues like CSA and SA which have long been neglected, partially on the premise that "we're just here to preach the message and move on". As the chickens come home to roost, the realisation is dawning that the model (not to mention the evolved hierarchy) is not working well. The church is simply not being adequately governed, let alone with transparency and accountability. On top of all this, workers are brought into the "staff" with no preparation, study, qualifications, and often little experience in life. Often there is not even a conversation about their biblical knowledge or spiritual understanding. A personal story recently published on Expressions shared: I was 21 when I entered the work in June 1990, the same time as my best friend and roommate. She is still in the work. Jack Price accepted our offers without so much as asking us about our calling or our knowledge of the Bible or the doctrine. If he had, he would have discovered how clueless I was. He said our hair was becoming.At best they are ill-prepared, at worst they are being set up to fail. I suspect that how busy a worker is depends purely on their own diligence. As Rebekah mentioned, they are also being tasked with larger and larger fields (likely due to the decreasing number of workers). If they are diligent, they're liable to eventually have a nervous breakdown with all that is put on their shoulders.
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jane
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Post by jane on Jun 16, 2023 20:49:54 GMT -5
Because if a worker has real interest to reach out to, they have tons of available hours. Having interest is pretty much a feather in your cap because it is rare. Are you saying you have potential interest and better things to do? Bogus. This is nonsense. Good morning, GetReal. I am sure this has been your experience or this is what you have seen. All I can tell you is that this is not at all my experience….. What do we do in a day? Whew. Well maybe I can only speak for myself…. But our days are very full. I used a couple of phrases not so often used among us. Must we be limited to a certain lingo?😊. I might ordinarily say “reaching out to the community”, but outreach is a word I have seen on here asking why workers don’t do that. I am an actual sister worker. 😊 I go out in to the community as much as I can. I have ideas that I would love to implement (and my peers also would not disagree) and for the last couple years, there just hasn’t been time. But I would love to. I wonder if some of what people are picturing may have been in the past… maybe some country areas…. I’m not sure… not trying to discount that. Just saying that isn’t my experience. My parents always taught me that if I was bored that I wasn’t finding productive things to do with myself, that I needed to look a little deeper, be more creative. So I just see many things to do … and don’t have time to do them all. And for the last several years, we also really have more interest than I feel like we can attend to as much as I would like as the fields are so big. Also a good point that someone else made. We do want to keep the younger ones healthy (in every way) and engaged with things to keep busy with. I appreciate that you are open to ideas. I once asked a young sister worker these questions about working in the community-volunteering with the elderly, kids, shelter etc. She told me the 'workers will never do that, but you are welcome to do that if you are moved to'. That felt really off putting to me.
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Post by Dan on Jun 16, 2023 23:59:20 GMT -5
Good morning, GetReal. I am sure this has been your experience or this is what you have seen. All I can tell you is that this is not at all my experience….. What do we do in a day? Whew. Well maybe I can only speak for myself…. But our days are very full. I used a couple of phrases not so often used among us. Must we be limited to a certain lingo?😊. I might ordinarily say “reaching out to the community”, but outreach is a word I have seen on here asking why workers don’t do that. I am an actual sister worker. 😊 I go out in to the community as much as I can. I have ideas that I would love to implement (and my peers also would not disagree) and for the last couple years, there just hasn’t been time. But I would love to. I wonder if some of what people are picturing may have been in the past… maybe some country areas…. I’m not sure… not trying to discount that. Just saying that isn’t my experience. My parents always taught me that if I was bored that I wasn’t finding productive things to do with myself, that I needed to look a little deeper, be more creative. So I just see many things to do … and don’t have time to do them all. And for the last several years, we also really have more interest than I feel like we can attend to as much as I would like as the fields are so big. Also a good point that someone else made. We do want to keep the younger ones healthy (in every way) and engaged with things to keep busy with. I appreciate that you are open to ideas. I once asked a young sister worker these questions about working in the community-volunteering with the elderly, kids, shelter etc. She told me the 'workers will never do that, but you are welcome to do that if you are moved to'. That felt really off putting to me.
I can understand that.. The Workers aren't social workers, volunteering for community service isn't what Jesus or the Apostles did.. While its a Christian attribute to help the poor and needy, I think it would detract from a Workers primary purpose, which is to spiritually feed the downtrodden and carry the gospel message to anyone who will listen. And with the current atmosphere, I'm not sure it would be prudent for any Worker to voluntarily offer to work with children, but I'm sure someone like Dean Bruer would have jumped on that train
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Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 0:31:31 GMT -5
I appreciate that you are open to ideas. I once asked a young sister worker these questions about working in the community-volunteering with the elderly, kids, shelter etc. She told me the 'workers will never do that, but you are welcome to do that if you are moved to'. That felt really off putting to me.
I can understand that.. The Workers aren't social workers, volunteering for community service isn't what Jesus or the Apostles did.. While its a Christian attribute to help the poor and needy, I think it would detract from a Workers primary purpose, which is to spiritually feed the downtrodden and carry the gospel message to anyone who will listen. And with the current atmosphere, I'm not sure it would be prudent for any Worker to voluntarily offer to work with children, but I'm sure someone like Dean Bruer would have jumped on that train Jesus would be absolutely with the down trodden wherever they are. But this is the truth. The workers are just like ministers in church owned buildings, they just rent them. They preach to their own and hope a few or one down trodden find their address. They do nothing for the poor and needy. Nothing.
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Post by Dan on Jun 17, 2023 1:44:12 GMT -5
I can understand that.. The Workers aren't social workers, volunteering for community service isn't what Jesus or the Apostles did.. While its a Christian attribute to help the poor and needy, I think it would detract from a Workers primary purpose, which is to spiritually feed the downtrodden and carry the gospel message to anyone who will listen. And with the current atmosphere, I'm not sure it would be prudent for any Worker to voluntarily offer to work with children, but I'm sure someone like Dean Bruer would have jumped on that train Jesus would be absolutely with the down trodden wherever they are. But this is the truth. The workers are just like ministers in church owned buildings, they just rent them. They preach to their own and hope a few or one down trodden find their address. They do nothing for the poor and needy. Nothing.
Its a conundrum, I really don't know the duties a Worker/Preacher should take on? Jesus fed the 5000, but he was preaching to them simultaneously. Workers are poor themselves (monetarily speaking). Should they work in a soup kitchen every night or hold gospel meetings? Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". I don't think he meant food? He did eat with sinners, so perhaps Workers should motate a bit more into that arena instead of isolating themselves with friends? It might be educational if they got out into a non-protective environment?
I helped-out once at a food kitchen, lots of druggies and alcoholics. Didn't seem like a conducive atmosphere to recruit new Christians. Several hit me up for money and despite having hit rock bottom, I got the distinct impression that most were not preoccupied with the notion of finding a new church.
Some Workers went to a nursing home to visit my Grandma once and they ended-up talking to a half dozen of the other residents, answering biblical questions. No better place to teach/preach than a place where people are spiritually bankrupt and on their last leg
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27)
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Post by mountain on Jun 17, 2023 4:29:02 GMT -5
Jesus would be absolutely with the down trodden wherever they are. But this is the truth. The workers are just like ministers in church owned buildings, they just rent them. They preach to their own and hope a few or one down trodden find their address. They do nothing for the poor and needy. Nothing. Its a conundrum, I really don't know the duties a Worker/Preacher should take on? Jesus fed the 5000, but he was preaching to them simultaneously. Workers are poor themselves (monetarily speaking). Should they work in a soup kitchen every night or hold gospel meetings? Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". I don't think he meant food? He did eat with sinners, so perhaps Workers should motate a bit more into that arena instead of isolating themselves with friends? It might be educational if they got out into a non-protective environment? I helped-out once at a food kitchen, lots of druggies and alcoholics. Didn't seem like a conducive atmosphere to recruit new Christians. Several hit me up for money and despite having hit rock bottom, I got the distinct impression that most were not preoccupied with the notion of finding a new church.
Some Workers went to a nursing home to visit my Grandma once and they ended-up talking to a half dozen of the other residents, answering biblical questions. No better place to teach/preach than a place where people are spiritually bankrupt and on their last leg "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27)
The 2x2 system was designed by workers FOR workers. That may not have been the original principle but that is what it rapidly became. It was most certainly shaped by workers...period. Ever since the beginning the workers have ensured they had power and control over any workings of the church. Everything had to be approved by the workers. A person could not come to knowledge about God through the church or friends, but by the workers alone. By and large the workers do not want the friends/the church to have power or control over anything, even if it was to be beneficial. They are the authority in all matters, irrespective of whether they are up to it or not. Their peripatetic lifestyle is not conducive towards governing day to day matters and pastoral care is one thing they excel at being shambolic at.
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Post by SharonArnold on Jun 17, 2023 11:15:18 GMT -5
The 2x2 system was designed by workers FOR workers. This is such a key point, and it is fundamental to understanding 2X2ism. It is perhaps also fundamental to understanding their tolerance of CSA and other sexual misconduct. This is also why insubordination (aka "assertive independence") appears to be the worst sin you could commit as a 2X2 member.
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Post by snow on Jun 17, 2023 12:29:18 GMT -5
I appreciate that you are open to ideas. I once asked a young sister worker these questions about working in the community-volunteering with the elderly, kids, shelter etc. She told me the 'workers will never do that, but you are welcome to do that if you are moved to'. That felt really off putting to me. I can understand that.. The Workers aren't social workers, volunteering for community service isn't what Jesus or the Apostles did.. While its a Christian attribute to help the poor and needy, I think it would detract from a Workers primary purpose, which is to spiritually feed the downtrodden and carry the gospel message to anyone who will listen. And with the current atmosphere, I'm not sure it would be prudent for any Worker to voluntarily offer to work with children, but I'm sure someone like Dean Bruer would have jumped on that train Even Jesus was smart enough to know that he had to physically provide actual food to the masses before he could feed them spiritually. What do you think the loaves and fishes story was about. The hierarchy of needs tells us that in order for someone to be able to focus on the spiritual their more physical needs need to be addressed first. That's why the Salvation Army provide food, clothing and lodging while trying to entice them into their church.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2023 16:21:22 GMT -5
I can understand that.. The Workers aren't social workers, volunteering for community service isn't what Jesus or the Apostles did.. While its a Christian attribute to help the poor and needy, I think it would detract from a Workers primary purpose, which is to spiritually feed the downtrodden and carry the gospel message to anyone who will listen. And with the current atmosphere, I'm not sure it would be prudent for any Worker to voluntarily offer to work with children, but I'm sure someone like Dean Bruer would have jumped on that train Even Jesus was smart enough to know that he had to physically provide actual food to the masses before he could feed them spiritually. What do you think the loaves and fishes story was about. The hierarchy of needs tells us that in order for someone to be able to focus on the spiritual their more physical needs need to be addressed first. That's why the Salvation Army provide food, clothing and lodging while trying to entice them into their church. Umm technicality (could be wrong) they were preached to first then fed...
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Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 20:53:40 GMT -5
Story. Please read. I was in a field. Bored. Same old routine day after day. We visited a women who professed after a really hard life. She was living in very poor conditions. We were visiting her. I offered to work on scraping her little hovel so it could be painted. It was fun for me. I got into trouble. You will just get bread and fishes disciples if you help them I was told. You are not to offer physical, tangible help. Pause with me now…and remember if you know how workers started out in this continent. Helping. Working. And just what is right? We help if we can. Why not? It makes you feel happy. Unless, you are sick!
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Post by jennyfromtheblock on Jun 17, 2023 21:16:14 GMT -5
Good morning, GetReal. I am sure this has been your experience or this is what you have seen. All I can tell you is that this is not at all my experience….. What do we do in a day? Whew. Well maybe I can only speak for myself…. But our days are very full. I used a couple of phrases not so often used among us. Must we be limited to a certain lingo?😊. I might ordinarily say “reaching out to the community”, but outreach is a word I have seen on here asking why workers don’t do that. I am an actual sister worker. 😊 I go out in to the community as much as I can. I have ideas that I would love to implement (and my peers also would not disagree) and for the last couple years, there just hasn’t been time. But I would love to. I wonder if some of what people are picturing may have been in the past… maybe some country areas…. I’m not sure… not trying to discount that. Just saying that isn’t my experience. My parents always taught me that if I was bored that I wasn’t finding productive things to do with myself, that I needed to look a little deeper, be more creative. So I just see many things to do … and don’t have time to do them all. And for the last several years, we also really have more interest than I feel like we can attend to as much as I would like as the fields are so big. Also a good point that someone else made. We do want to keep the younger ones healthy (in every way) and engaged with things to keep busy with. I appreciate that you are open to ideas. I once asked a young sister worker these questions about working in the community-volunteering with the elderly, kids, shelter etc. She told me the 'workers will never do that, but you are welcome to do that if you are moved to'. That felt really off putting to me. I had a very similar experience. I was told to pray about it and if God directed me then I could do it. I wasn’t worried about me, I already do a certain amount. We have no examples of what charity looks like from our ministry. It’s all about us being charitable to them, but we don’t see them practicing or teaching how to help out in our communities. There is no example of volunteering nor is there encouragement that the congregation should do so. What exactly does loving your neighbour mean? Just being nice?
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Post by jennyfromtheblock on Jun 17, 2023 21:26:53 GMT -5
I appreciate that you are open to ideas. I once asked a young sister worker these questions about working in the community-volunteering with the elderly, kids, shelter etc. She told me the 'workers will never do that, but you are welcome to do that if you are moved to'. That felt really off putting to me.
I can understand that.. The Workers aren't social workers, volunteering for community service isn't what Jesus or the Apostles did.. While its a Christian attribute to help the poor and needy, I think it would detract from a Workers primary purpose, which is to spiritually feed the downtrodden and carry the gospel message to anyone who will listen. And with the current atmosphere, I'm not sure it would be prudent for any Worker to voluntarily offer to work with children, but I'm sure someone like Dean Bruer would have jumped on that train Fair enough Dan. But we’ve been told they’re too busy to evangelize and so we’re supposed to be fishing for men, for them to convert. And I think Jane’s suggestion of working with children is just one example of many different needs in a community. We don’t need to get stuck on the volunteer with kids idea, but there’s plenty of different things that could be done… what a great way to not only love your neighbour but maybe bring a little hope of the gospel to those feeling desperate. And you know what else - I bet those community experiences would result in a lot of bread to share with the congregation.
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Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 21:27:00 GMT -5
Just being nice?!? How sad and empty.
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Post by jennyfromtheblock on Jun 17, 2023 21:43:19 GMT -5
Jesus would be absolutely with the down trodden wherever they are. But this is the truth. The workers are just like ministers in church owned buildings, they just rent them. They preach to their own and hope a few or one down trodden find their address. They do nothing for the poor and needy. Nothing.
Its a conundrum, I really don't know the duties a Worker/Preacher should take on? Jesus fed the 5000, but he was preaching to them simultaneously. Workers are poor themselves (monetarily speaking). Should they work in a soup kitchen every night or hold gospel meetings? Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". I don't think he meant food? He did eat with sinners, so perhaps Workers should motate a bit more into that arena instead of isolating themselves with friends? It might be educational if they got out into a non-protective environment?
I helped-out once at a food kitchen, lots of druggies and alcoholics. Didn't seem like a conducive atmosphere to recruit new Christians. Several hit me up for money and despite having hit rock bottom, I got the distinct impression that most were not preoccupied with the notion of finding a new church.
Some Workers went to a nursing home to visit my Grandma once and they ended-up talking to a half dozen of the other residents, answering biblical questions. No better place to teach/preach than a place where people are spiritually bankrupt and on their last leg
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27)
I get what you’re saying. And there is certainly a level of safety that would need to be considered. Especially for sister workers. I also think these are opportunities to unite the people in the church/ in the respective fields. Maybe there’s an opportunity to get all the elders together, or a bunch of young kids and go clean-up a park or drop off socks to homeless people. I dunno. I just think as friends we could use less visits with the workers and more time helping those outside our congregation. What a great way to bring people to Christ. We can all do these things as individuals of course, would be nice if it was something that our church actually promoted though. 🤷♀️
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Jim chafee
Jun 17, 2023 21:47:16 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jennyfromtheblock on Jun 17, 2023 21:47:16 GMT -5
Story. Please read. I was in a field. Bored. Same old routine day after day. We visited a women who professed after a really hard life. She was living in very poor conditions. We were visiting her. I offered to work on scraping her little hovel so it could be painted. It was fun for me. I got into trouble. You will just get bread and fishes disciples if you help them I was told. You are not to offer physical, tangible help. Pause with me now…and remember if you know how workers started out in this continent. Helping. Working. And just what is right? We help if we can. Why not? It makes you feel happy. Unless, you are sick! You got in trouble for physically helping her?
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Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 22:11:17 GMT -5
Yup. My co wouldn’t help. Is this news to you all? This is common thinking, particularly in third world countries where workers differentiate themselves from other religions by not offering physical, tangible aide.
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Post by jennyfromtheblock on Jun 17, 2023 22:30:16 GMT -5
Yup. My co wouldn’t help. Is this news to you all? This is common thinking, particularly in third world countries where workers differentiate themselves from other religions by not offering physical, tangible aide. There was a brother here that insisted on doing home repairs and lawn work…etc if there was stuff like that to be done. But that was during the pandemic, cause they were going stir crazy. I think with their regular programming they were back to doing Bible studies with the old ladies and whatever else they do. Lunches, dinners, preparing for all the meetings.
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Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 22:33:38 GMT -5
I think in more Midwest country fields you will see more brother workers getting busy helping for some recreation but by and large offering physical help and labor is frowned upon to everyone’s detriment in my opinion. Sitting and visiting ad nauseum is considered to be the workers work.
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Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 22:55:15 GMT -5
What happened to Rebecca? I asked specific questions…crickets. I think the answer is they spend 99% plus of their time just going round and round visiting well established converts. There is lots of time for outreach as she says, but no interest, no compelling need. This is what workers do. Meal after meal, night after night they hunker down with the friends. It seems like most of you don’t understand but this is what workers do.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2023 22:58:55 GMT -5
What happened to Rebecca? I asked specific questions…crickets. I think the answer is they spend 99% plus of their time just going round and round visiting well established converts. There is lots of time for outreach as she says, but no interest, no compelling need. This is what workers do. Meal after meal, night after night they hunker down with the friends. It seems like most of you don’t understand but this is what workers do. professing.proboards.com/post/1053166/thread <<<answered back here slightly
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Post by jennyfromtheblock on Jun 17, 2023 22:59:36 GMT -5
I think in more Midwest country fields you will see more brother workers getting busy helping for some recreation but by and large offering physical help and labor is frowned upon to everyone’s detriment in my opinion. Sitting and visiting ad nauseum is considered to be the workers work. Right. I should probably clarify, although I have a lot of opinions on what I think workers should be doing, I do have a lot respect for them. Or at least I did. I don’t actually know any more. It depends on who it is I guess. Ok nevermind. LOL
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Jim chafee
Jun 17, 2023 23:05:17 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by getreal on Jun 17, 2023 23:05:17 GMT -5
What happened to Rebecca? I asked specific questions…crickets. I think the answer is they spend 99% plus of their time just going round and round visiting well established converts. There is lots of time for outreach as she says, but no interest, no compelling need. This is what workers do. Meal after meal, night after night they hunker down with the friends. It seems like most of you don’t understand but this is what workers do. professing.proboards.com/post/1053166/thread <<<answered back here slightly Sorry, wally, no.
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Post by fixit on Jun 18, 2023 5:17:44 GMT -5
What happened to Rebecca? I asked specific questions…crickets. I think the answer is they spend 99% plus of their time just going round and round visiting well established converts. There is lots of time for outreach as she says, but no interest, no compelling need. This is what workers do. Meal after meal, night after night they hunker down with the friends. It seems like most of you don’t understand but this is what workers do. It seems so unlike Jesus. Luke 15:15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
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Post by neighbour on Jun 18, 2023 7:43:16 GMT -5
Yup. My co wouldn’t help. Is this news to you all? This is common thinking, particularly in third world countries where workers differentiate themselves from other religions by not offering physical, tangible aide. It's not news to me. Groups of friends will go to developing countries to build convention grounds, but building houses for the poor friends who attend is out of the question.
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