Romans 8:28 promises, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” NASV. All of us desire to be close to our God Jehovah and his son, Jesus Christ. We long for their comfort, guidance and encouragement in our lives. We are promised in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” NKJV. Yet when difficult and harsh experiences come, we sometimes feel alone and afraid. In Hebrews 13:5 we read, “God Himself has said, “I will never, never let go your hand: I will never never forsake you.” Weymouth. You are not alone. Your heavenly Father and his Son are watching over you. You are not alone. There are others like you who have experienced hard trials and difficult experiences. Take some time to share with us. To tell your story. To encourage others. That is what this Testimony section is for.
Ken, as a former JW and now BS you’ll be in prayers this weekend. May Jah & Jesus give you the wisdom you need. Luke 21:14-15
Thank you Brother Bob!:0
I did some reading in Brother Russell’s Reprints today and found a freeing thought. I couldn’t help but share it with you. He gave a safe way to judge your present Christian fellowship. He suggested that when meeting with your congregation and discussing a passage of Scripture you should be encouraged to express your views of God’s Word. If you are not there is something wrong. Your light is being hidden “under a bushel,” and will go out, unless you give it more liberty. You must come out of such condition or your light will become dark. (2 Cor 3;17, John 8:32, Matt 5:15)
But if there are meetings at which you have an equal opportunity with others of calling up any portion of Scripture and expressing your view of its meaning, you may conclude that you have found at least some evidence of Christian liberty; for a Christian has the right to give, when asked, a reason for the hope that is in him. And since the belief of each Christian professes to be built upon God’s Word, it follows that each should be not only willing but ready at all times to change his belief for one more Scriptural, if such can be pointed out to him.
So long as you have opportunities to hear others and to express yourself, you may conclude that you are in a safe place. As you progress, in hearing from others, and in expressing yourself to others freely and candidly, you will come into harmony in the spirit of the truth. (Reprint 1579:1) (Let me add, that this is not word for word but my understanding of what I read. As a JW there was no Christian Liberty to my own understanding of the Scriptures. Nor was I ever encouraged to express my own views.)
Yes Sharon you’re right,a christian should be allowed to express their views and as you said; you can’t do that with the Jw’s. I can understand if the speaker doesn’t have enough time to answer questions at a public meeting, especially if he’s on a schedule,however, the real problem that I have is when you ask an elder a question when he’s not busy and he gets angry and upset because he feels you’re doubting the “slave”.
RIGHT ON, Ken!!!
I agree also with both of you. On road today using phone to reply.
My progress.Hello all, I wanted to share what’s going on with me lately: currently I’m in volume 3 of the STS, I ordered a bunch of booklets so I can distributed them all over the place,I finally wrote a letter to the Jw elders in my cong. for reinstaement…haven’t heard anything back yet(deep inside I’m kinda hoping they loose it or something.At least now my wife knows I’m making an effort to come back and seems very happy about it!
You are a good man Ken. Most JW wives know how much easier her life will be without having a husband with the stigma (by cong)of being DF. It is a shame it is about numbers and control. My nephew did the same thing and that little wife just blossomed and smiles. It was just such a burden on her. We are so happy to see her just smile and get her 2 little children dressed for the KH and invite people over to her house. Sometimes a man gotta do what a man gotta do. God Bless and we are praying for you right now Ken.
Thank you so much Jacqueline, I need all the prayers I can get!! Even if I’m reinstated,I’m still going to read the volumes and attend online meetings!As for field service hmmmmm…..trying to work that out, I’m definately not going to hand out anything I don’t agree with, maybe I should just start a Bible study with someone from the local mental ward and call it a day.
Once you are reinstated, that will immediately give her relief. You can just fade away, they can’t recind a reinstatement. You will probably give them new evidence on Apostasy if you become active again, ie, field service report. The decision is yours. I just wanted to remind you of how it can play out if you report time. I reported 1 hour for years because that is what says you are a JW. If I missed one month they could say I wasn’t and violate my restraining order against them as long as I was a member of that particular cong.. Reporting time means you are a member and you are subjecting yourself to their rules. A person just attending or baptized but not reporting time is not considered a JW.The time card means they can DF you if they detect apostasy. Just some things to think about prayerfully. None of this is according to the Bible however, it is just JW Canon Law.
Great! I didn’t know that. Another advantage of no or low field service hours is they won’t give you priviledges 🙂
Just another note on my lastest with the Jw’s…on Monday 2/20/12 I’m meeting with the elders to discuss my reinstatement letter…..will let you all know what results are. Ken
Sharon I can feel your joy thru your comments! I also know the feelings you have they almost overpower you. Sorry not to get back to you here, today. Saturday is busy for a lot. Let’s dialogue about youe experience. Others will chime in also. Tell us how your awaken as we like to call it happened. At any rate welcome my sister!!!!!.
I started to write a testimony the other day and I messed and closed the browser without hitting post. LOL Life has it’s little trials. Which, thanks to the help of GOD, have gotten so much less noticeable. I met the Bible Students in Feb 2011. It has almost been a complete year and Hallelujah what a year! I just can’t believe the peace, the joy, and the freedom I have come to know and experience daily. I can’t explain it really. I have learned to be less depressed and fretful. I used to be full of fear and, though it is not gone completely, I don’t recognize it as often as I use to. I used to have suicidal thoughts and death wishes. At 67 I thought my life was over. Now living till 100 isn’t long enough!!! I have too much to share and to do. I want more people to feel and know what I do. One of my favorite verses is Phil 4:4 Rejoice in Christ always! I say again: Rejoice! I pray that each and everyone of you reading this can fill this same Joy I feel every moment of every day. GOD bless and be with you.
Sharon, I feel the same way. The fear I used to have just isn’t anymore. I find joy in reading your comments. Sending my love, Mo
We are neo JW’s – without a name, an official name.
Our summary of believes is here:
http://szuksegunkvanistenre.blogspot.com/2012/01/kozlemeny.html
And we want to contact former official JW’s groups and individuals, who not believe in the Trinity, immortal soul and endless torment.
Jani Hello, I am sure Br. Peter or others will answer your question about book of Enoch. But I just wanted to say hello. I went to your site and will try and navigate it. I never knew you existed. Joe Emerson fron Christianwitnesses.com will have to cross reference it. Welcome!
Jani, I don’t know what language the site is and so can’t translate it. Could you please tell me? Thank you.
I confirmed with my wife (who is from Romania) that this is Hungaria. There are also some Romanian words on the site that I recognized. This group may be linked to the “True Faith Jehovah’s Witnesses” that I visited while in Romania in 2002, and 2008 as I saw Rutherford’s name on the site a few times. Unfortunately my wife doesn’t remember her Hungarian any longer.
Their web site is found at —
http://the-true-jw.oltenia.ro/
Hi Jeff,
She knows Romanian?
Here is the Romanian blog:
http://www.andd.blogspot.com
We are not Rutherfordian True Faithers. Two years ago we have an union invitation from them, but after a short year we have a slit from them. In doctrine we are a kind of (neo-)JW’s, without an official name, yet. We are close to Back To The Bible Way JW’s fraction.
Thx.
HS,
J.
Hello and holy shalom to all.
That is Hungarian.
Brother Ken, I had almost the same experience and ended up talking about Jehovah and Jesus. It was an amazing experience. The pasion we obtain from the love that our father provides us what keeps the preaching at any moment I can get!
Sister, Monique
wonderful sister Monique! Are you an exJw?
Well Hello Brother Ken, To answer your question, Yes I was raised as a JW. I am 29 yrs young and our father has found me and I have the gift of knowing our brother (Jesus) and have been guided to know what I do now. Thankful I am, as I see the truth and know what race I am in….
For anyone interested this is a downloadable copy of Raymond Franz’s book Crisis of Conscience. He was a former member of the JW Governing Body. It is his testimonial as to why he left the organization.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23306656/Crisis-of-Conscience
That’s great anonymous, although I already have the book I’m sure someone will benefit from your link. Thanks!
Thank You Anonymous…. I wonder if Franz’ book, In Search of Christian Freedom, is out there somewhere.
How are you Jeff? I really enjoyed our phone conversation yesterday.
I have posted a free pdf on this site. I will find it and repost here Jeff. This one is in search of Christian freedom.http://www.filestube.com/bfUaD48phMBoSnmVoHXqMD/In-Search-of-Christian-Freedom-by-Raymond-Franz-A-Must-Read-For-Ex-Witnesses.html
I had an intersting experience on the way to work this morning:as I was walking from my car to my job a man approached me(I assume he was homeless as many are in the area where I work)and asked if I had a couple of dollars to spare so he could buy coffee so, I oblidged him and then promptly gave him the booklet called “The doctrine of the Christ” (you see I always carry booklets with me wherever I go)he said he’d read it.So let’s remember the words of 2Tim.4:2- “Preach the word,be at it urgently!…….”
That makes you feel good, doesn’t it. And Jesus saw your concern for his benefactor of the ransom and you don’t have to report it to men, it is from your heart. That is what I experience now, absolute love overwhelms you when you declare Jesus now. I never declared Jesus in his proper role. Jehovah is not a mean God to me anymore that I obey out of fear. I obey out of reverence, love, respect and appreciation of what he did for us by letting humans live on planet earth. It brings tears to my eyes when I realize I will see my mother, father and sibling and child again because of his providing Jesus as a ransom for all of Adam’s offspring.
Look at the study for tonight! Richard Rawe called me to say this is a good one tonight.
Also if everyone can come on for the Feb.4th call in it will be interesting. I am going to call some of my friends that are JW and a couple that are not but have association with witnesses to invite them.
Thank you Jacqueline, Jeff and Anonymous!Btw,Anonymous,are you an exJw?