The Time I Went to a Jehovah's Witness Convention.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- This was the time when I went to my first Jehovah's Witness convention in my early days in ministry. It was one of my most memorable visits... cuz I didn't have a BADGE.
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Thank you Melissa. Ex JW here. I was a JW for about 35 years. Then after that, agnostic, New Age, etc for about 15 years. And NOW by the compassion and grace of God, a Christian now for 4 years. Jesus, the Father and Holy Spirit changed everything. Everything. Praise God. Keep up the good work Melissa. It's very valuable. You and Mike Winger have helped me so much. And still do. God bless.
My sis has a good friend that's a JW. I love her and her husband and have spent time with them. Her and I have had a few discussions. How can I reach someone who is so enmeshed in that? I've studied some of the History of JW and the Watchtower Society and I am truly concerned for her salvation. It must be terribly hard to face disfellowship.
Praise God ❤
@@billiamnotbobI recommend watching all of Melissa's videos about JWs and Mike Winger's videos too. It's a lot of information and you will probably want to watch them more than once. They both have excellent explanations and advice. It's a complicated thing to try to help JWs and the advice on their videos is excellent. And first and foremost pray. Pray a lot, that God opens their hearts and breaks off the lies being told to them. And pray that you will have His guidance and wisdom to know what to say. God can change everything.
Praise God!
Hardly surprising people are agnostic every year approximately 75 million people die. Each day WHO estimate that 30.000 children die And as humans we have 35.000 days of life and that's if we are blessed.
Looking at the God of the Old Testament seems so cruel.
Yet in the New Testament Christ is loving and kind and helps others.
Although I view myself as a Christian it's all extremely complicated.
I like that your focus is on the disfellowshipped. The few times I've gone to a JW event it couldn't have been more clear that those are the ones Jesus would focus his time on. Broken but repentant, wanting to be accepted by God but being told by people that they haven't proven themselves well enough yet.
That is a wonderful way of describing Jesus and so true. I have come to that conclusion too and try to focus online with the ones disfellowshipped.
I don’t even know your name but your channel was one of the first I subscribed to in your early years. I watched only science videos then but now I watch mostly Christian content. I watched some of the last video you made with box of husky plastic, dude I have a box of it that was returned by a painter because it was already a 400 foot tube without taping. The kids and I had so much fun with it. Made a tunnel with a box fan and a hot air balloon with a hair dryer. I could send you a video. I have wanted to do TH-cam for years and would love to get I contact. “K Conner tech” all together at that email put out by the same company as You Tube.
@Jedi-knight_survivor spoken like a true jw
@Jedi-knight_survivor nope! Just deal with them all the time.
@Jedi-knight_survivor mmm must be an active Jehovah's witness here not surprised 😂😭
We don't need no stinking badges.
😂 Thanks Dad!
😂😂😂
We ain't got no badges.
Especially in last few years, badges have become quite a thing at JW conventions. ‘The Attendants’ as they’re called, aka glorified ushers, are trained and instructed to keep a suspicious sharp eye on people without badges. And even tho’ it’s claimed to be a public event, it’s not really. It’s for indoctrination and “new light” adjustments for the JW’s.
And you’re 100 % right about the single guys & gals glaming it up in order to meet members of the opposite sex, and meeting potential marriage mates. 😄
Great movie......
Melissa, I am a 65 yr old very conservative Catholic. I know you're not either old or Catholic but your videos always have some education and truth in them for all Christians. I hope you for continue to make them. Prayers for you and your family.
The disfellowship thing absolutely breaks my heart. They sound like the very people Jesus would run to. I want to go to a convention just to love on those people!
If you’re depressed or shy, you’re pretty much ignored there. It would have been nice to have a normal interaction for a change.
@@millie9814yes, I was "bad association" because I was shy and nervous.. so I had no friends in it, and couldn't have friends outside of it. So extremely traumatic. And once you leave in your mid 20s, it's hard to make friends from scratch.
Ex-JW here - disassociated in 1984. I have been shunned for over 39 years. I don't hate my family or JW's...but I find it hard to even speak to JW's that come to my door. The pain of losing my family is overwhelmingly great and I just can't speak with them. The best I can do is ask them to read the book of Acts to find out what the gospel was preached and it's not what they are preaching.
As a 3rd generation JW the conventions were our annual "vacation". It was looked forward to since we would get to travel and be away from the local Kingdom Hall. It was "refreshing" since it was different and we got to meet new friends since we were not to associate with people outside of the JWs. This is also the only time people would have the opportunity to be baptized since it wasn't done at the local congregations. I disassociated 17 years ago and it was the best thing that I have ever done. When you read the bible without their publications the new light your receive is amazing because you get to experience the bible in its absolute truth and not being manipulated by the JWs.
My only complaint about this video..not long enough :-) I love hearing your witnessing stories and strategies
Having been raised in a Christian bubble and staying there my whole life, I didn’t know there were people like you…so bold to assert yourself into these types of situations. Well done! Keep it up! And may the Lord bring many JWs to salvation.
I agree. I look for your videos all the time. I also like watching Prodical Ali’s videos with her mom. All Excellent. Though I can’t talk like you Melissa or even put my thought together like you I do know the things they do and how manipulative they are. And Brainwashed.
I covet ANY PRAYERS from you and people who read this and those who care for their souls also.
Remember we are to be bold in our witness too, it's not just one or two. We are all called to disciple people.
I knew it, but don't have contact with many who do. I fell into drugs a few years back and was still a Christian. You wouldn't believe how many people came to me to talk, ask questions about the Lord, and ask for prayer. Hope in some small way I still shone Christ's light to them in their dark situations.
Sounds like you are still in a Christian bubble. Or were you referring to a Hindu god?
Many years ago I almost got sucked into the Jehovah's Witness cult. I was lost at the time and in a bad place mentally. Luckily God opened my eyes to the strangeness of their teachings. I must admit it was hard to separate myself from them because after the short time studying with them, going to Kingdom Hall weekly etc. I had made what I thought were friends. I met some good people who I still pray for regularly. The minute I notified them that their organization was not for me I was just cut off. No more phone calls , no more "friends'. I was blessed to find my way back to Jesus and true belief. I pray for all of those people stuch in this and other cults to find freedom in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It wasn't luck it was a blessing
كيف اكون من شهود يهوي
When I was really young my best friend was a Jehovah’s Witness. I remember looking at his pamphlets, him going out every weekend, him not saying the pledge of allegiance or celebrating birthdays, and I even attended his church once.
I grew up in a very secular household, so his entire lifestyle and belief system was not only foreign to me, but it seemed very odd.
All that to say, I’m glad Christ grabbed me in college and I didn’t go down that path. I can totally see how coming out of a JW background could be devastating to someone’s overall belief in Christ.
Jesus is the Holy One. The Holy One is the God. Mark 1:28. Isaiah 43:3.
@Jedi-knight_survivor What BS are you referring to?
@Jedi-knight_survivor Can you prove it?
I have to agree about the Pledge of Allegiance part. And I’m a disabled veteran. We shouldn’t be making pledges to anyone but our Lord and Savior. America isn’t Christian. A short walk through the pagan symbolism in Washington DC will tell you that. We’ve been duped. The god they refer to isn’t the same God that died on Calvary for us. I know, I went through the same cognitive dissonance about that as others have. Like I say, they duped us.
@Jedi-knight_survivor
I want to thank everyone for sharing their stories in the comments. These are very interesting and can help othwr Christians understand jws and how to reach them with the Gospel.
More info, including where I got my "seed droppers" can be found here: www.4witness.org/
This is also a great website for lurking or fading Jws that might be watching. Please pray for Jehovah's Witnesses.
Keep doing this and you will get really good at it. Praise the Lord Melissa and God Bless you. Amen
@@moisesbeyond Give the time stamp where she said any such thing.
Did you know that JW's actually watch your show and actually strive to argue against what you are saying? Keep that in mind.
The JW's fail to ask the question," Who is God?" The Bible says that the God is the Holy One. The Holy One is Jesus. If Jesus is the Holy One, the Father and the Son are the same entity.
@@moisesbeyond Jesus is the Holy One. The Holy One is the God.
@@moisesbeyond The Holy One is not a description. It is a title. The book of Isaiah says that the God is the Holy One. According to Mark 1:28 Jesus is the Holy One.
According to Philippians chapter 2 the Son is submissive to the Father. However, Jesus is still God.
You need to ask this question," Who is Jesus?"
Thank you Melissa…I was born into the jws and baptized at 14. Disfellowshipped at 16. By the grace of God, baptized (VALIDLY, this time, in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit). 10 years ago. It’s been so long since I’ve lost my family due to my disfellowshipping and refusal to seek reinstatement, that I thought I was completely past all the emotional trauma of it all. But when you talked about the baptisms, the moment a life was forever changed, the moment one loses their freedom…it got to me…your words were 💯 accurate to my experience. And I wanted to say thank you for that because it was a reminder of the people currently suffering and in need of prayers…and to be more gentle with myself as well in my self criticism. Thank you for what you do, truly you are doing the work of Jesus in the most special way. ❤❤❤
Prayers for all those deceived by the cult of JW
In a future video please read out one of your seed droppers, I'm very interested to hear how you plant them to JW❤.
Bless you, agree that JW and Mormon are difficult to penetrate but keep up the good work
Ex jdub here..... lost GOD for a while but by HIS grace HE found me again.... saved at last.
Happy in the blood of the lamb and waiting on the King..... HE is coming !!!.
GOD bless you and that young woman you befriended .
Gilly wife of Mark.
Yes! Love this for you, He is coming soon, thank you Jesus
Lol
He’s already here..John St Julien Baba Wanyama YT
You will know them by their fruits🕊️💜🌸
I've been praying for the salvation of those in cults. There's so many and it's heartbreaking to think that they desire to know the Creator and have been fooled into abuse.
Your Empathy is a powerful tool. Wonderful story
I love my Jws.
@@MelissaDoughertyJesus Christ sent all of you to preach about the Jw's or satan the devil sent all of you to preach about the Jw's???????
Jesus Christ sent all of you to preach about the Jw's or satan the devil sent all of you to preach about the Jw's?????????
Faith is not a prosessan of all people. 2Thessalonians 3 v 2
@@MelissaDougherty Having a badge does not mean that you're good association, it simply shows your name and what congregation you go to.
Secondly there is no separate section for disfellowshipped people, only the the baptism candidates, and the elderly. Given your Apparent "mission" I don't anticipate a response.
Also you are a warrior. God bless you stay prayed up
You are super brave! I was never baptized in that but my entire family was in there. That is exactly what it’s like at those conventions. Only when my grandmother died is when I really started asking questions. It led me to a degree in theology and now I know who Christ really is. The pain, anger, frustration, sadness and then happiness with a jolt of energy that ran through me after I read Revelation 1 17-18 and finally was able to understand is something I wish for everyone.
What an awesome testimony! So glad to read it. 🙂
I love your deep love and compassion for the lost.
And your strong reaction to the harmful, abusive sides of JWs' doctrines.
Rejoicing in the fact that she emailed you!!!! 😁
thank you for this video. Years ago God blessed me with the opportunity to "rescue" my beloved (since desceased) sister-in-lawfrom JW. He allowed me to share the love & saving power in Christ Jesus and when she died (at 49Yrs Old) she went home rejoicing!!!
How wonderful! Praise the Lord!
Thank you, Melissa. I have a person in my neighborhood who writes me letters every few months, trying to get me to become a JW. He handwrites them, but I don't acknowledge getting them. I read what it is and throw them away. I admire you so much for your courage and your ability to take them on and put rocks in their shoes. I've never met this person, and I do think it's highly sus that he writes to a disabled old lady who lives alone. Thanks for having the courage and the seminary background to take on their unfortunate beliefs.
Why dont you write him back and teach him the love of Jesus to see if he is receptive to it
I think those are basically form letters, even though they look handwritten.
I got one recently as well.
I live in Southeast Kansas.
I live in Australia and have also received a handwritten letter. I don't think they have singled you out.
@@susanelisd5584 No they haven't single anybody out.JWs do this. I'm a POMI. We did this from the Kingdom Hall , from our homes, looking in phone books.
They started doing this during tghe covid shutdown and some still do it that are holding onto that impersonal work they can do, and still sthink they are "working".
Thank you for this video. I didn’t understand this. Now my heart is tender for them.
Hello sending greetings
Wow. Brought back many memories. I was born in till 2020. I was a pioneer and was raising my children in the organisation. Thankful to the Holy Spirit for opening our eyes to the grace of God. My sister is disfellowshipped and it breaks my heart that my mom doesn’t talk to her. I keep praying that my mom will come to know the love of Christ but every time I try to drop a seed she gets all preachy on me and won’t listen. 😢
What's the disagreement you guys have? The conversation should focus on Jesus & Jehovah. Do u think your mom doesn't know Jesus well enough?
Hearing you say “Jehovah loves u. God loves u” just made me cry.
Wow! I was in JWs over 30 years and never heard a a specific place for the DFd (disfellowshipped) to sit. I was publicly reproved for a time as an unbaptized publisher which is as close as you can get to being disfellowshipped (which only applies to the baptized JW). I sat up in the nosebleed section so that I could just sort of go unnoticed. We were never told to sit anywhere specifically ever. Not at a convention or at the Kingdom Hall. My mother was disfellowshipped for 3 years (about 5 years ago) and she sat with me and my adult friends. No one told her she needed to sit anywhere else. Maybe it's different in different regions, but that is not something I have ever heard of. I think most disfellowshipped people just kind of want to hide in the shadows anyway and they probably group together since they can talk to each other. Maybe that was what was happening. Either way it's definitely unscriptural and cruel.
So thankful for your ministry, Melissa! Greetings from central Virginia! ❤
Was born and raised, left in 2018. They def would have all “spiritually sick” reproved or df’d sit in the back or even the “second school” in order to “protect the flock”… This Org is so two faced and biased. They show one face and hide their “real” faces.
I don't remember an area of the convention but there was one at the Kingdom Hall. You are to be in the back and in and out so no one speaks to them.
@@tessahiggins8142Me too I no. Active witness I don't reminder then there was a special place but I do know at the Kingdom Hall they they're sitting in the back or if they sit in the front they leave quickly.
They aren't "allowed" to talk to others, even others who are disfellowshipped. Because they are considered bad association and they have to also shun them as part of the "loving" discipline. They can't even receive comfort or experience empathy of others in their own situation by confiding in each other.
I’ve attended several. I go on Saturday only, because one day is all I can stand. But I do love the convos I have during breaks and lunch.
My husband grew up with a mother who became a JW, and at the time, his two brothers were not JWs until later (when hubby was old enough, he left it.) She manipulated them and they didn’t have much contact until she passed. I recently became a Christian and hubby baptized me. It was hard for him (he has a lot of church hurt), but he did it for me. I pray that he can heal from his hurt and God softens his heart again. 🙏🏻 Thank you for sharing these videos.
I will pray for your husband too, I had a lot of church hurt in my history too. Bless you!
I attended a Jehovah’s Witnesses church service in Argentina with my missionary companion, as a 20 year old LDS missionary (queue the cliche standard tropes about me being in a “cult” etc).
My companion and I were treated like ROYALTY. Everyone was willing to give up their seats for us. Everyone in our vicinity was offering up their books and were eager to have us be part of the meeting. It was a delightful experience.
As per usual, I fully expect all of the eye rolling to ensue as proper “Christians” go out of their way to call me a cultist, as I literally left my house at 19 years old to go to a foreign country to preach about Jesus. I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.
God bless each and everyone one of you! 😀
"This is how all men shall know you are My disciples if you have love one for another." John 13.
"...keep yourselves in the love of God..." Jude.
Love, from the Spirit...is powerful and it works.
Jehovah's Witnesses, The Way International...others, only the love of Christ can pull them OUT. Satan's stronghold, feeling accepted by others...filling their love tanks, with the wrong fuel.
Only the Spirit reaches them.
Totally agree! Prayer prayer prayer. He IS faithful.
Thank you for what you are doing! There are some JW’s that come to my house regularly and sit in my living room and we talk. I’ve taken it upon myself to learn how to reach them and watched one of your videos about this and James White came to our church last year and gave his talk on this. Would love to one day do what you are doing! I also have a lot of compassion for them.
In order to this kind of work you have to love people and see past the division and just love on them and share the Gospel when the doors open.
My aunt joined the Jehovah witnesses, she had 4 kids from 8 years old to 16, 1st thing she did was take Christmas away after celebrating it all their lives 👀, it was the beginning of a downwards spiral that never recovered, her oldest is still in jail
May God redeem them.
May others like her be arrested for mentally abusing a child.
We stopped celebrating Christmas years ago and our faith is stronger than ever. Not JW, but many people are realizing Christmas is nowhere celebrated in the Bible.
@nattybumppo4151 you can believe in God and still celebrate Christmas, I had a problem with Church on Sundays, shouldn't it be Saturdays? We can pick things apart, Birth was not December 25, but to celebrate his birth is what matters, every day I pray, I pray that my sins are forgiven, I pray for forgiveness if I get dates wrong, years wrong, decisions wrong, I pray 🙏 for Family, Friends, Strength to be there for others, I pray for the true words to be shared, that's one of the reasons I subscribe to this channel, I pray 🙏
Wow you're special!😂
as a former member of the Church of Christ. I can relate 😔 Your videos really encouraged me to read and study the Bible. Thank you 🙂
What is Church of Christ about? What are you now?
There are various types of Church of Christ
Latter Day Saints ?
Wow, so interesting and informative, thanks for sharing, and will pray for them.
I was born into it. I remember so much even going back to age 3. This brought back lots of memories with the “assemblies” we went too. Mt dad was disfellowshipped when I was 13. He wound up going back to them in 2000
You're awesome, Melissa! I'm sort of new to your channel and the things you cover are so interesting and you present it well! Clearly been gifted by God to do this ❤ God bless!
I love your heart Melissa. Thank you for the work you are doing.
One of the things I didn't realize when I studied with the JW's for a few years was the complete absence of The Holy Spirit. The Holy spirit is not there. This is a works based cult and along with missing Jesus as our precious Saviour and Lord The Holy Spirit is not there. I left them and was mercifully saved years later and realized that.
Yes, I went to a wedding and a funeral there. Yes, the place felt empty. It was so strange. We take the Presence of the !Ord for granted, dont? Thank You Jesus for Holy Spirit
Your JW resources have been very helpful!!
I need to review them again!
I absolutely love you Melissa! Another great video!
Hello there
As a fellow Christian I absolutely love you for what you’re doing and doing well. Keep it up!
Thank you! Love your content, praying that you are blessed, and the jw are moved.
You are very inspiring, Melissa. I evangelize also, but I am inspired by your boldness. May there be more Christians like you.
Your courage and love for those who are lost touches my heart ❤️ I hope one day I can be as bold for Christ.
I think you are great! I had a very pleasant time wathcing you again Melissa. So happy when i see you
Thank you. You’re quite wonderful and beautiful. You are doing a phenomenal ministry for shunned JWs who are either in being shunned, or out. It takes a great amount of strength to do this. Thank you again. ❤
Thank you for doing that, Melissa. I was born into that religion and was in it all my life until about 2 1/2 years ago. My can’t help them because I am shunned, but people like you can and I so appreciate your loving effort.
I know almost nothing about JW practices. Why would someone who was disfellowshipped be present at a convention?
Perhaps to get back into the organization's good graces. They're pretty much told they'll be damned once they're disfellowshipped. So naturally people try to get back in out of fear and pressure
I left unofficially in 2020 and officially disassociated 10 days ago!
Good for you!!
I'm afraid that I would get drawn into their 'spirit'. Got disturbed by the Soteriology of Oneness Pentecostals ( Water Baptism in 'Jesus' Name according to Acts 2:38) in college over 40 years ago. Never totally recovered and my soul and/or emotions became vulnerable to any religious manipulation whether JW, LDS, NAR, Hyper Calvinists, Hebrew Roots.....
I really don't care of anyone's 'religious' background even though I have very strong beliefs , primarily the GRACE of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST upon my simple BELIEF in HIS Substitution for My Sins ( 1 Cor 15, Rom 3:25,4:5, Eph1:13 ) by which I became Eternally Secure (Locked IN ) to Salvation almost 50 years ago this summer.
Most brethren including myself become self righteous , Ego centered ,( Religious ego seduces people so for the sake of being moral manipulative) and we become victims of our own selves . ( Christians are guilty of shooting their wounded ) Thats why in my later years 65 I'm reticent to get too 'in the weeds' as far as doctrinal issues such as Trinity, Sabbath, Gifts, Predestination, Tongues, Baptism, End Times...being that each of us have 'ego attachments' to any particular belief .
1 John 4:1-6. Very comforting! Those born of God do not need to fear false teachers. Stay in prayer and God's word. No one can snatch you out of the Lord's hand.
This is great, Melissa and thank you for sharing. Only question I have and this is open to anyone to answer, why would a dis-fellowshipped jw attend the event?
What a great question! I’ve been trying to figure that one out too. From my past experience with JWs ( 3 woke up, 2 are still in) I believe it has a lot to do with being part of a group, the desperate need to be part of this group and have all these people make themselves available to you for what ever you need. Also, fear of the unknown ( remember, they are not allowed to think for themselves, but only what the WT info is given) its the fear that has been instilled in them keeps them hanging on. I can’t imagine being shunned like that, especially as a child. What other group of friends do they have? The need to have people live by a set of rules, by the book! But I have to say that Just today I got fed a bunch of hoopla about what one of the “brothers” is now sporting a beard! How “they” have decided it is now ok ( because times have changed 🤦♀️) you can grow a beard. 🤮 I do everything I can not to puke or cry when I hear some “ new info on the rule”
They want to be seen so as to facilitate their reinstatement.
Keep up the good work
JW house was 50 meters from my home and Spirit led me to visit their service once. Not to preach but to learn. My mind was shocked at how they twisted the Bible but I found the reason why I was there. I've learned the level of involvement they practice is smth we miss in evangelical churches. One is reading the Bible, another one is sharing the revelation, another one is teaching, the next is sharing his testimony, etc. So many people serve. This is the involvement God wants and the Bible teaches us (1Cor 14.26)
Love what you do, keep on loving and praying for them, you are Special. I was born and raised a JW, but my dear sweet mama knew we shouldn't get baptized young because they had disfellowshipped my grandmother. So at 17 I faded away knowing something was terribly wrong with the way they treat their own. I lived my life and became a born again Christian many years later. It's so easy to be loved by Jesus and know how much He loves us. God bless you Melissa you are doing Great work for the lost.
Former JW here, grew up in it and baptized. I left when I was 16 after questioning the elders about the teachings and not getting any answers. The best thing you can do to help JWs is get them to question some of their beliefs. I was not any religion for a long time after leaving but about 24 years later became a born again spirit filled Christian Hallelujah! I was publicly reprimanded as a teen in the congregation and when I left was treated like a disfellowshipped person because I disassociated myself. I loved going to convention as a JW but visitors are definitely not expected nor are you encouraged to have normal conversations except to witness to them. Great job talking with the ones you did and leaving your little card!
Pimo jw myself and I need your actual Christian teachings. Feeling so dehumanized because of them
I love that you stayed in a spirit of prayer throughout the convention and are compassionate towards JW’s. We need to be Jesus to them.
My old Calvinist church is shunning us. We lost all of our friends after I shared my testimony about coming out of Calvinism on my TH-cam channel.
😊😊😊a
😊😊
If someone is disfellowshipped, why would they be there to begin with?!
I think if they want to be undisfellowshipped they're supposed to do everything to prove they're repentant or whatever. For people who grew up inside the religion it can be all of their family and friends they stand to lose. Eve. If they don't believe it anymore it can be too much
To earn their way back into good standing with Jehovah's Organization.
When you're disfellowshipped, you have to show your repentance by going to all the meetings to get reinstated.
Exactly.
That would be scary. Talk about Daniel in the lion's den.
I always appreciate your openness.
What on earth could a 9 yr old have done to be disfellowshipped?!?
You gotta wonder, don't ya. I sent up a prayer for her.
If I heard correctly that was Melissa's inner 9yo that hurt to see a young woman all alone at lunch
Melissa referred to her memory as a nine year old girl to emphasize where the empathy in her heart was coming from. The JW was an adult.
I think Melissa was having. flashback to her own 9-year-old self and maybe how she once felt shunned during school or something😊She used that empathy to approach the other young woman.
The disfellowed woman wasn’t 9 years old. Melissa was saying that she could relate because it made her (Melissa) feel like she was a lonely little 9-year old again.
Im an EX JW of 16 years now, but I recently started to try to help the ones still in it. I made a group the other day for us to fellowship if anyone wants to join.
@MelissaDougherty I always appreciate your honesty and messages
As a Christian former Jehovah's Witness I want to point out how important videos like this are. The ex-JW community tends to be overwhelmingly anti-Christian and atheistic. It makes sense after feeling duped people want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Spreading the truth of the Gospel to a former witness is SOOOO hard. They are programmed and conditioned to reject what they hear before they even hear it. One must approach them with love and have a solid knowledge of apologetics. I'm looking to get into JW outreach as I feel especially called-to and qualified for it. You're truly doing the Lord's work Melissa. Thank you for helping me in my Journey getting closer to Christ.
JW here! I always listen to people before I reject. Even from other religions. My parents and religion taught me to treat everyone with respect. And I apologize for those you had a bad experience with.
I was raised as one. And I never got baptized. I’m at a point in my life where I do want a relationship with god and I’ve become a very spiritual person. TIL this day sometimes I feel like I’m just plain wrong bc of the JW’s teaching. I feel like God sees me as a rebellious child.
the abuse you witnessed at those disfellowshiped is exactly like what i have witnessed in christian churches as well, there is so much "shunning" at churches though in less obvious ways.
More information on the seed droppers!
Yes please!
I got them from this amazing ministry:
www.4witness.org/
I mean, most of the time in Christian youth and colllege groups today, there's an undertone of hoping to meet one's future spouse. So that's not all that different
It would be interesting to know what your husband thinks about your excursions. And I mean that in the best way. Is he cheering you on or is he like “Oh boy, look out!” Haha
Before I became a Christian, I was married to a JW woman for about 13 years. That “religion” thrives on guilt and a sense of belonging to this elite group. She was basically shunned and almost disfellowshipped for marrying me. The church will guilt you and yes even the elders will have private meetings with you to guilt you into submission if you are doing something that they don’t see as good. Little things turned me off ever joining. Things like the required “unrequited” dress code, very strict facial hair requirements, keeping track of every minute they spent going door to door and having to turn in their time to the elders to prove they were doing an adequate amount every month or they would be spoken to. Thank you God for bringing me through that!
We were raised as JW, dad committed suicide when I was 10 in 1979. We got excommunicated right after because Mom saw the BS.
My older brother is now a mormon. Sigh.
Please pray pray pray with me.
That is absolutely terrible what the Jehovah Witnesses are doing to people! I am heart broken for them. While I don’t have any experience with JW, I do know what it can be like to grow up in a cult, not hearing the true gospel, and not realize it. Have you done a video on Seventh Day Adventists? The JWs and SDAs both came from the millerite movement and have similar origins. I’m an exSDA as of February and have no experience with JWs but the cult sounds similar to the SDAs. I’ve been trying to find resources on explaining how SDAs are cultic and I have thankfully found answering Adventism. Your compassion and knowledge of the actual gospel and Christianity could be really helpful for SDAs as well. ❤
Now why would you go back ?, when God remove you from bad place, why go back sister?, did Moses went back to Egypt?, it makes no sense 😢
I worked for a very old JW lady last year, one side very sweet and at the same time cold, rules and stiff. She told me they punish people with shunning, but after that punishment they welcome them again with a happy face. I was shocked and that shocked her. How my church punish christians? Not at all. Why should we? We are all sinners, Bible tells us not one is good. Feels like throwing the stone at the woman but with sin. For a moment it looked like I reached her, but I got an another job, met her once after and there was absolutely no love, looked like I got shunned by her. I'm fine with it, but weird experience.
Disillusioned JWs just need to find a proper church. They will find a new and accepting family.
Was never shunned, but disqualified back in 2003 do to medical illness, whatever excuses used against me. Trust and believed they done me a favor, but this religion is nothing but a cult and has gotten my freedom. The nerve of these people.
I think the greatest lesson to learn from the Gospels is that we, Christians, are NOT responsible for converting the unbeliever to a believer. Only God does that. Our job is to present the Gospel and pray for those we encounter in our lives. That's it. So rest easy in the Lord knowing we are doing our part and God is doing His. Amen.
What is the name of Jehovah's Organization's hospital? Where can I find the Organization's outreach to the homeless or drug addicted? Could it be that the homeless problem is because God saved that ministry for the people who are now tangled up in Jehovah's Witness organization and they are too tied up to do their real work for the master? Jesus said, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to heal the broken hearted, set at liberty those that are bound. WWJD?
After listening I'm really touched, as I literally saw Jesus in you sitting with the outcasts.. That is so beautiful. Thanks Melissa. 💖
My first time when I watch one of your videos, but I really enjoyed it. Thank you for being so brave and for loving the people that are deceived into darkness. God bless you.
I'm an ex 2x2. Look them up. 62 years in. Got out last September and finally know the fullness of God's love and His amazing gift of grace. There are so many people I love trapped in an organization they are convinced is the one true way, and every one else is going to hell. They need your prayers as well. 😢❤
Wow, Kelly Graves!! You must be one very brave human being, and with an incredible story to tell...and I imagine that gaining your freedom must have cist you dearly... Welcome to FREEDOM!!! ❤
Jesus said that we're to love our enemies. That's with agape love. They are also God's enemy but He does love them with His agape love... thus should we also.
SO ... THEY KNOW THAT YOU ARE A "TWISTER" OF THE (TRUTH) OF JW ... "WHO ARE YOU" TO JUDGE ANYONE ? WORK ON YOUR OWN D.W.'S PERSONAL PROBLEM .. I WOULDNT LISTEN TO YOU EITHER ......✔
I once told a Jehovah’s Witnesses, you guys need Jesus and get behind me Satan!! I rebuke thee!!!!
This breaks my heart… this is so awful … this is why so many people refuse to follow Jesus because it’s cults like this who leave them with a skewed view of the gospel… I feel so bad for them… horrible spiritual bondage
Never allow members of this foul sect into your house.
In the late 60s I was a very young hospital tech, and one day I had to comfort a young nurse who had to stand by and watch an 8 yr old die because parents refused a blood transfusion. Not long after U.K law was changed so that children are made wards of court as soon as they arrive
I have some in laws that are JW.
One spouse is JW, but not very involved when they got married. The other (my husband's relative) is Christian in name only, as far as I can tell.
Their kids go to service on Wednesday night. I joined once to see what it was like and hopefully show some kind of support.
I'm so nervous to have any kind of meaningful interaction with them about it, because I could see them just shunning me even though I'm not JW.
I was invited to their conference last year, and considered going. But again, kinda nervous.
I pray Numbers 6:24-26 over you: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace (shalom), .In Jesus name amen. So, by praying that over people i have seen many surrender and commit to follow Jesus. Try praying the blessing over/for folks and you will see people set free and more open to the good news of Jesus. It calls all of heaven to focus on that person or family. What is the best blessing for anyone good or bad? To find Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Thanks for being an obedient and loving ambassador for the lover of our souls!
So by not giving you a badge they basically gave you a badge in a sense.God is amazing!
Could you share with us what is on those seed droppers? I love the idea and I'm curious what can be effective pebbles for the JW community.
I loved it would you all please pray for my wife and her family. They are all Jehovah’s Witnesses. Please pray for me, and then pray for me that the Holy Spirit uses me and put the right words in my mouth to say I hope put a stone in their shoe or an itch to scratch to see the truth that it’s a lie, straight from the pit of hell. I am not good at putting what I have learned from my brain to my mouth. I’ve never been good at verbalizing things like that but please pray for me, Holy Spirit they have a Holy Spirit takes this blindfold off of them so they can see the truth. I am beyond desperate but I know if it is the Lords will then he will make it happen. I pray all the time for them and for the Lord to use me as his vessel and to put his words in me but I never can make it sound right like you guys are good at. They won’t watch videos I send them or even read anything I send them. So it has to come from my mouth for them to hear it. Or someone else. Either way just please pray for us please
You are eagerly desiring the gifts of God.❤Ask, and you will receive. Although, God may give you a gift that is different from what you’ve asked for. 🎁 I just heard a story today about that on a Isaiah Saldivar’s podcast.
I'll pray for you.
I've spoken to JW since 1988. Initially, they ran rings around me but now that I know better the HB..
Hi I'm going through this process and have been JW shunned because my Baptist Church affiliated with the JW with out my knowledge. It's been ten years and I m still not allowed any contact.
AsI was seeking Christianity I was invited and attended one and got so much attn. The attn made me doubt.
I studied with them years ago cuz they knocked on my door but decided to stop answering my door and when i would see them around town they would act like i didn't exist, even if u dont join them they shun u 😅
Are you Allen Parr’s biological sister? Someone said you are.
Jehova's church makes me sad...so stuck on rules and stuff...much like Catholicism....No Bueno
No not really! Are you saying God doesnt have rules and stuff?
History shows us that Jesus didn't leave us a bible, the apostles didn't tell us which books belong in the bible, the church fathers never agreed on the 27 books of the NT through the 4th century, not only did they not agree but their list of would-be NT canons were GROWING during this time. So, if it wasn't the Catholic/Orthodox church that compiled the 27 books of the NT in the 5th century with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and preserved it by laboriously hand copying them over and over throughout the centuries before the invention of the printing press, the “rule of faith” for many, please tell us, show us, who did?