Jack Ryan

This is almost too good to even comment on ....
@James Thomas Rook Jr. will have plenty to say I'm sure... LOL

here is a nice comment or two made in the video: 
 
"The male animal has no season in which he is not willing to engage in the breeding act"
"a brother sits on the lap of one of his male friends..."

Are these guys even aware that no one in the real world talks this way?

.
 

.
 

Recently some secret “eldersÂ’ training videos” that are going to be used for the 2018 Kingdom Ministry School of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses were leaked online. One particular video was very disturbing; it showed a skit of three elders discussing what the religion calls “regular pioneers.” These are persons who spend a high amount of time in the preaching and proselytizing work of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses; in 2018, these pioneers were required to report a total of 840 hours for the year, equaling 70 hours per month.
The elders, in this demonstration, are discerning if three such pioneers in their congregation should be allowed to remain as pioneers, as each one has failed to meet that hourly requirement for the past year.

Despite this outright instruction to think of themselves as equals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and their elders dole out this position of pioneer, blatantly elevating it above other “publishers,” or congregation members. This is demonstrated when the men in the skit read a letter sent to all elders, dated May 1, 2017, which discusses how to handle various scenarios of pioneers who cannot meet their hours. The letter notes that a person could be considered an “infirm pioneer,” if they felt that removing the person from the pioneer ranks would be a “backward step” for them:

This point, that being a pioneer elevates you above the rest of the congregation, is emphasized again in that same letter, when it separates and divides the everyday congregants or publishers from these pioneers:

Obviously, to this woman and those whom she represents in this skit, the preaching work itself is not of importance; itÂ’s having a special title that says youÂ’re doing more than the next person thatÂ’s the real priority.
The elders sitting in a room, judging and critiquing pioneers or any congregation member without them present, about any subject, is disturbing enough. However, this video also demonstrates that pioneering is not about how effective you are in preaching and teaching, and it’s not about fulfilling any command given by Jesus, or about the people you might be helping. This title of pioneer is about just that; the title. It’s given to those who toe the company line and is taken away from those who are struggling, in order to elevate some above the congregation and then put others in their place. This harsh judging and critiquing of such ones shows that the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses shouldn’t be called “field service,” but should just be called what it is; self-service.

Oh.. but I have.
Here are a few quotes:
p. 102-.......174 Jesus was not an angel or spirit being..... 
p. 254 452........"And at that time shall Michael [God's representative, the Messiah] stand up........
p 230 "Twelve hundred sixty years from A.D 539 brings us to 1799-another proof that 1799 definitely marks the beginning of the "time of the end". This also shows that it is from the date 539 A.D that the other prophetic days of Daniel must be counted. 
p231 The time of the Lord's second presence dates from 1874.
p 233 In Nahum 2:1-6 the Prophet records his vision of a railway train traveling at a high rate of speed, as another evidence of the day of (cont.234) preparation for the establishment of Christ's kingdom.
p 236 We should expect then, the general harvest of the gospel age to end in 1918.
p 236 We should therefore expect to find a harvest period from 1878 to 1918.......
p248....In the year 1919 many Bible Students in different parts of the earth,......blah,blah..blah.....proclaim the message....."The World Has Ended-Millions Now Living Will Never Die," clearly in fufillment in the words of the Master.......(caps are theirs) (again in same paragraph) Millions Now Living Will Never Die..... (also on various other pages)
p 279 ...The church of Christ consists of Jesus Christ the head and the 144,000
p307 ....and the song of the Lamb [the song of the clear fulfillment of prophecy and the unfolding of God's plan, as set forth in the New Testament; they are playing upon their harps adn praising jehovah.....(sorry I do not recognized the word jehovah and will not capitalize it, obviously it is in the book)
p 166 "Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.....(why don't jw's capitalize He when speaking of Jesus?)
p 114 has a nice woodcut/etching of Jesus upon the Cross
p90 .....without pain and without suffering there was born to her Jesus, the Savior of the world.
p234 It was in the year 1874, the date of our Lord's second presence.....
p235 talks about all the wonderful new inventions of the time .."come to light since 1874, as further evidence of the Lord's presence since that date as follows: adding machines, aeroplanes, aluminum (didn't the wt go on to say aluminum was an invention of the devil at one point?) antiseptic surgery, artificial dyes, automatic couplers, automobiles, barbed wire, bicycles, , etc...etc....

Kent Morrill's memorial Saturday April 23,2011. The brother that wrote and sings this song. He served Jehovah faithfully for 41 years. Outstanding and impressive that although a famous muscian gave all praise to Jehovah in his own memorial talk given by a close friend. On his memorial program he had listed Ecclesiastes 12:13
 
 

Documents relate to alleged sex abuse allegations against local church leader Two adult women came forward in 1999 with accusations against their dad Claimed he physically and sexually abused them as kids decades earlier Church leaders tried to keep the matter internal, documents indicate 'Disfellowshipped' the father, a local leader, but reinstated him following year   

Recently some secret “eldersÂ’ training videos” that are going to be used for the 2018 Kingdom Ministry School of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses were leaked online. One particular video was very disturbing; it showed a skit of three elders discussing what the religion calls “regular pioneers.” These are persons who spend a high amount of time in the preaching and proselytizing work of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses; in 2018, these pioneers were required to report a total of 840 hours for the year, equaling 70 hours per month.
The elders, in this demonstration, are discerning if three such pioneers in their congregation should be allowed to remain as pioneers, as each one has failed to meet that hourly requirement for the past year.

Despite this outright instruction to think of themselves as equals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and their elders dole out this position of pioneer, blatantly elevating it above other “publishers,” or congregation members. This is demonstrated when the men in the skit read a letter sent to all elders, dated May 1, 2017, which discusses how to handle various scenarios of pioneers who cannot meet their hours. The letter notes that a person could be considered an “infirm pioneer,” if they felt that removing the person from the pioneer ranks would be a “backward step” for them:

This point, that being a pioneer elevates you above the rest of the congregation, is emphasized again in that same letter, when it separates and divides the everyday congregants or publishers from these pioneers:

Obviously, to this woman and those whom she represents in this skit, the preaching work itself is not of importance; itÂ’s having a special title that says youÂ’re doing more than the next person thatÂ’s the real priority.
The elders sitting in a room, judging and critiquing pioneers or any congregation member without them present, about any subject, is disturbing enough. However, this video also demonstrates that pioneering is not about how effective you are in preaching and teaching, and it’s not about fulfilling any command given by Jesus, or about the people you might be helping. This title of pioneer is about just that; the title. It’s given to those who toe the company line and is taken away from those who are struggling, in order to elevate some above the congregation and then put others in their place. This harsh judging and critiquing of such ones shows that the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses shouldn’t be called “field service,” but should just be called what it is; self-service.

Recently some secret “eldersÂ’ training videos” that are going to be used for the 2018 Kingdom Ministry School of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses were leaked online. One particular video was very disturbing; it showed a skit of three elders discussing what the religion calls “regular pioneers.” These are persons who spend a high amount of time in the preaching and proselytizing work of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses; in 2018, these pioneers were required to report a total of 840 hours for the year, equaling 70 hours per month.
The elders, in this demonstration, are discerning if three such pioneers in their congregation should be allowed to remain as pioneers, as each one has failed to meet that hourly requirement for the past year.

Despite this outright instruction to think of themselves as equals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and their elders dole out this position of pioneer, blatantly elevating it above other “publishers,” or congregation members. This is demonstrated when the men in the skit read a letter sent to all elders, dated May 1, 2017, which discusses how to handle various scenarios of pioneers who cannot meet their hours. The letter notes that a person could be considered an “infirm pioneer,” if they felt that removing the person from the pioneer ranks would be a “backward step” for them:

This point, that being a pioneer elevates you above the rest of the congregation, is emphasized again in that same letter, when it separates and divides the everyday congregants or publishers from these pioneers:

Obviously, to this woman and those whom she represents in this skit, the preaching work itself is not of importance; itÂ’s having a special title that says youÂ’re doing more than the next person thatÂ’s the real priority.
The elders sitting in a room, judging and critiquing pioneers or any congregation member without them present, about any subject, is disturbing enough. However, this video also demonstrates that pioneering is not about how effective you are in preaching and teaching, and it’s not about fulfilling any command given by Jesus, or about the people you might be helping. This title of pioneer is about just that; the title. It’s given to those who toe the company line and is taken away from those who are struggling, in order to elevate some above the congregation and then put others in their place. This harsh judging and critiquing of such ones shows that the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses shouldn’t be called “field service,” but should just be called what it is; self-service.

In reverse order
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester - Kathleen Hallisey interviewed regarding Jehovah's Witness abuse cases
IN PRINT: The Times Newspaper - Jehovah's Witnesses 'hushed up child abuse'
IN PRINT: The Daily Mail Newspaper - Victims of Jehovah's Witness abuse 'told not to report it'
IN PRINT: The Daily Telegraph Newspaper - Jehovah’s Witnesses accused of covering up child abuse
The Daily Mail - Victims of Jehovah's Witness abuse 'told not to report it'
New York Post (US) - Jehovah’s Witnesses accused of systematically covering up sex crimes
The Daily Caller (US) - REPORT: Jehovah’s Witness Members Told Reporting Child Abuse ‘Would Bring Reproach On Jehovah’
BBC Radio Scotland - 'Good Morning Scotland': Nick tells his story
BBC TV: 'Midlands Today' - JW Abuse - UK BBC TV Video
BBC TV: 'Midlands Today' - Jehovah's Witnesses featured re:child abuse
The Daily Telegraph - Jehovah's Witnesses claim they were told not to report child sex abuse as organisation is accused of sheltering abusers
BBC Radio 4: 'PM' - Jehovah's Witnesses featured re:child abuse
The Independent - Jehovah’s Witnesses deny sexual abuse within church was covered up
BBC TV: 'News at One' - Jehovah's Witnesses featured re:child abuse
The Times - Jehovah’s Witness child abuse victims told ‘not to go to police’
The Sun - VICTIMS HUSHED: Children who were raped by Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘told NOT to report abuse because it would shame the church’
NewsOK (US) - Jehovah's Witnesses 'covered up' abuse
International Business Times - Raped at the age of four, Jehovah's Witness told 'not to report' child abuse
Birmingham Mail - Jehovah's Witnesses deny telling abuse victims not to call the police
BBC News Online - Victims 'told not to report' Jehovah's Witness child abuse
Mum-of-two raped by her brother when they were children slams appeal court for cutting his sentence, Daily Mirror, May 26, 2016
Jail term cut for Richard Davenport who raped his sister Louise Palmer, Halesowen News, June 1, 2016
Abused by my brother, then shunned by my Jehovah's Witnesses family after I went to police, Birmingham Mail, Oct 11, 2015
My parents chose my brother, my abuser, over me. I can never forgive them for betrayal, Sunday People (Mirror), Oct 11, 2015
Richard Davenport jailed for historic rapes, Halesowen News, Sept 22, 2015

Legal Seminar: South African Bethel
 

 
The Legal Seminar
The seminar was a full day event held at the “residence hall.” I had come with my wheelchair bound friend, from the same congregation. We were a few minutes late, so as we rolled in into the foyer, we got handed our seminar pack, our bottled water, and lapel badges by two pretty ladies (hell yeah, I still remember that). This was the same residence hall that I had shook Anthony Morris’[3] hand a few weeks ago prior to his official Branch Visit talk in South Africa on Sunday, January 11, 2015, with his “sidekick” Anthony Griffin.
The seminar was split between matters that were strictly legal, and those that were more tax related; of course, there was an obvious overlap between the two as can be expected. The key speakers were select members of the Branch Committee, in-house legal counsel, and those from the accounts department. A lot was said about Europe, Africa, the U.S., Hayden Covington,[4] child custody, divorces, Advance Medical Directives (“blood cards”), alternative service, Road Accident Fund, legal battles here, legal battles there, tax etc. The bottom-line was this: There’s a lot going down, and we’d appreciate your assistance in these affairs.
It should be noted, however, that “these affairs” require tertiary qualifications… higher education.

South Africa Bethel - Tax and Legal Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015)
South Africa Bethel – Legal and Tax Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015). I’m on the bottom left, sporting a pair of shades on my head.
the Australian branch sent out a letter, dated November 18, 2015, to all Service Committees throughout the congregations of Australian. The letter was “confidentially” seeking for baptised members of the congregation who were “qualified as solicitors, barristers, certified practising accountants or chartered accountants.” But all of this exploration was to be done discreetly “without consulting the publisher” (I suppose this is how they canvass for potential seminar candidates). Now, let’s juxtapose these two events, the South African seminar and the Australian request letter, and contextualise them.

The Point
The organisation tells folks not to pursue higher education, in fact, if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review. What does that tell you? That the organisation has a default disdain for higher education. But now, at the same time, they secretly sponsor select bethelites to obtain these very “worldly” qualifications, using funds donated by some of the simplest Witnesses, many of who have complied with this “mandamus” from the “Faithful and Discreet Slave.” But, then, per chance that you didn’t comply with this mandamus, and remain a Witness, they implore you to use your “worldly gifts” in service to God, namely, in furtherance of the organisation – to a large extent, free of charge.
What’s wrong with this picture?
And if you take the global downsizing that the organisation has been conducting lately, where veteran bethelites are sent home and special pioneers being sent up the creek without a paddle. Why? Because it’s now becoming too expensive to accommodate them. A burden. And, yet, many of these bethelites forfeited higher education in order to at the full time service, now you’re telling them to hamba kahle (“go well”)? C’mon, man, c’mon.
What is wrong with this picture, people
If the organisation was cool and was like, you know, “Go to university, don’t go to university, that your decision to make, as long as you are aware of the challenges.” That would be one thing. But what we’re seeing here is the constant badgering badgering badgering. There has to be some kind of accountability here. You can’t enjoy the assets of other people’s labour without taking ownership of the liabilities peculiar with that asset, as well. It’s immoral. This whole thing is just patently duplicitous. Scandalous. Why all these backdoor “transactions?” You say one thing on stage, but, then, em’va kwethu you do something else. Hai wethu.
Conclusion
Brimstone and humour aside, I personally don’t have a problem with the organisation seeking professional assistance from willing qualified Witnesses per se. It is the duplicity that irks me. It is the selfishness of their approach that vexes me. It is the ruination of people’s lives that ticks me off. It is the unconscionableness of their methods that pisses me off, treating genuine people as expendables and collateral damage for their own selfish gains, gains which they clothe as “divine service,” service to Jehovah.
If it were up to me, I’d have Governing Body pipe down on their take of higher education and to resist this laughable attempt at gaining some kind of moral high ground in this matter.
#LegalSeminarBethel
#ThinkingWitnesses
http://thinkingwitnesses.org/legal-seminar-south-africa-bethel/

Revision date: 8/17. The Talk outline “Jesus Christ—Earth’s New Ruler” has been discontinued and should no longer be used. It has been replaced by “Who Really is Jesus Christ?”
Note: This is the special public talk outline for 2018. The talk will be given in most congregations the week of Monday, March 19, 2018.

Watchtower criticises other religious groups for colluding with Hitler, whilst Jehovah's Witnesses were imprisoned for their refusal to compromise their standards. What is not admitted is that Rutherford initially praised Hitler for his stance against Jews and the Anglo/American empire.
One of the groups that Hitler sent to concentration camps were Jehovah's Witnesses. They were forced to endure unspeakable atrocities and many lost their lives. The individual actions of many Witnesses are commendable and the Watchtower holds up this part of their history in great esteem. What is not discussed is the hypocritical actions of Rutherford in the lead up to these events.
Early in 1933, the Watchtower office in Berlin was closed and Jehovah's Witnesses were banned in many German states. This was due to the refusal of Jehovah's Witnesses to swear loyalty to the government or to serve in its armed forces.
In an attempt to appease Hitler into lifting the ban, Rutherford instigated a Declaration of Facts and sent a Letter to Hitler discussing the Watchtower's support of the Nazi regime.
Current Watchtower references provide a deceptive portrayal of these documents, through selective quoting. The Proclaimer's book mentions that Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler under the context of "facing Nazi oppression", in which the Watchtower Society is made to sound as if they were firmly against the Nazi regime.
It is quite surprising to find the opposite is true, which can be identified when reading the content of Rutherford's 1933 letter to Hitler and the Declaration of Facts.
Letter to Hitler
Russell, founder of the Watchtower, was a Zionist and sympathetic to Jews as part of modern day fulfilment of Bible prophecy. Rutherford initially continued such support, but changed by the 1930's to a bigoted, anti-Semitic stance.
During the time of Rutherford, Witnesses became known as a religion of hate, due to the Watchtower's tirade of insults against other Churches and governments. The Catholic Church come under the greatest condemnation and bought this to the attention of the Nazi government, petitioning against the Watchtower Society. In 1933, the Nazi government banned the Watchtower's German operations.
In an effort to overturn the ban, Rutherford sent a Letter and a Declaration to Hitler, in which he praises Hitler for his anti-Anglo/American campaign and his stance against the Jews.

 
A copy of the letter in German.
Following is part of an English translation of the Letter to Hitler.
The letter mentions Hitler's "just principles," quoting from section 24 of Das Program der NSDAP (The Nazi's Platform of the National Socialist German Workers Party).
Rutherford further compromised Watchtower principles but offering that, "We want to continue to live up to the prohibition imposed upon us," that is, they would stop preaching in Germany, provided the ban was lifted that would allow them to "meet for prayer and church service".
Click Letter to Hitler  for a translation of the full letter in PDF format.
The Yearbook 1974 briefly refers to this letter, along with the Declaration of Facts.
In light of the contents of the official letter and Declaration sent to Hitler, the Watchtower's 2011 comment mocking other Churches is nothing short of hypocritical.
Declaration of Facts
Rutherford and Knorr organized a public convention in Berlin on 25th June, 1933 to release a "Declaration of Facts," being pronouncing at the German convention, and distributed in letter format. This outlined Watchtower's support of the German governments stance against Jews.
The convention hall was decked with swastikas and the program was opened with Song 64, a song from the Bible Student's songbook that had the some melody by Hayden as the German national anthem. Konrad Franke, Germany's Bethel branch overseer later stated his disturbance at seeing the scene for the convention and Rutherford's declaration.
The Declaration of Facts was reprinted in the Yearbook 1934. It went on in part to state:
Click here  for an English translation of the full Declaration of Facts in PDF format.
Rutherford's Letter and Declaration were an effort to appease Hitler, but to no avail - too little, too late.
With Rutherford's efforts at appeasing Hitler into lifting the Watchtower ban not achieving its aims, Rutherford instead started to antagonise Hitler through his publications.
These cablegrams read:
Rutherford send another letter to Hitler, this time threatening Hitler with the punishment of God if the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses was not lifted.

Barack Obama on his Hawaiian High School Basketball Team

Legal Seminar: South African Bethel
 

 
The Legal Seminar
The seminar was a full day event held at the “residence hall.” I had come with my wheelchair bound friend, from the same congregation. We were a few minutes late, so as we rolled in into the foyer, we got handed our seminar pack, our bottled water, and lapel badges by two pretty ladies (hell yeah, I still remember that). This was the same residence hall that I had shook Anthony Morris’[3] hand a few weeks ago prior to his official Branch Visit talk in South Africa on Sunday, January 11, 2015, with his “sidekick” Anthony Griffin.
The seminar was split between matters that were strictly legal, and those that were more tax related; of course, there was an obvious overlap between the two as can be expected. The key speakers were select members of the Branch Committee, in-house legal counsel, and those from the accounts department. A lot was said about Europe, Africa, the U.S., Hayden Covington,[4] child custody, divorces, Advance Medical Directives (“blood cards”), alternative service, Road Accident Fund, legal battles here, legal battles there, tax etc. The bottom-line was this: There’s a lot going down, and we’d appreciate your assistance in these affairs.
It should be noted, however, that “these affairs” require tertiary qualifications… higher education.

South Africa Bethel - Tax and Legal Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015)
South Africa Bethel – Legal and Tax Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015). I’m on the bottom left, sporting a pair of shades on my head.
the Australian branch sent out a letter, dated November 18, 2015, to all Service Committees throughout the congregations of Australian. The letter was “confidentially” seeking for baptised members of the congregation who were “qualified as solicitors, barristers, certified practising accountants or chartered accountants.” But all of this exploration was to be done discreetly “without consulting the publisher” (I suppose this is how they canvass for potential seminar candidates). Now, let’s juxtapose these two events, the South African seminar and the Australian request letter, and contextualise them.

The Point
The organisation tells folks not to pursue higher education, in fact, if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review. What does that tell you? That the organisation has a default disdain for higher education. But now, at the same time, they secretly sponsor select bethelites to obtain these very “worldly” qualifications, using funds donated by some of the simplest Witnesses, many of who have complied with this “mandamus” from the “Faithful and Discreet Slave.” But, then, per chance that you didn’t comply with this mandamus, and remain a Witness, they implore you to use your “worldly gifts” in service to God, namely, in furtherance of the organisation – to a large extent, free of charge.
What’s wrong with this picture?
And if you take the global downsizing that the organisation has been conducting lately, where veteran bethelites are sent home and special pioneers being sent up the creek without a paddle. Why? Because it’s now becoming too expensive to accommodate them. A burden. And, yet, many of these bethelites forfeited higher education in order to at the full time service, now you’re telling them to hamba kahle (“go well”)? C’mon, man, c’mon.
What is wrong with this picture, people
If the organisation was cool and was like, you know, “Go to university, don’t go to university, that your decision to make, as long as you are aware of the challenges.” That would be one thing. But what we’re seeing here is the constant badgering badgering badgering. There has to be some kind of accountability here. You can’t enjoy the assets of other people’s labour without taking ownership of the liabilities peculiar with that asset, as well. It’s immoral. This whole thing is just patently duplicitous. Scandalous. Why all these backdoor “transactions?” You say one thing on stage, but, then, em’va kwethu you do something else. Hai wethu.
Conclusion
Brimstone and humour aside, I personally don’t have a problem with the organisation seeking professional assistance from willing qualified Witnesses per se. It is the duplicity that irks me. It is the selfishness of their approach that vexes me. It is the ruination of people’s lives that ticks me off. It is the unconscionableness of their methods that pisses me off, treating genuine people as expendables and collateral damage for their own selfish gains, gains which they clothe as “divine service,” service to Jehovah.
If it were up to me, I’d have Governing Body pipe down on their take of higher education and to resist this laughable attempt at gaining some kind of moral high ground in this matter.
#LegalSeminarBethel
#ThinkingWitnesses
http://thinkingwitnesses.org/legal-seminar-south-africa-bethel/

Watchtower criticises other religious groups for colluding with Hitler, whilst Jehovah's Witnesses were imprisoned for their refusal to compromise their standards. What is not admitted is that Rutherford initially praised Hitler for his stance against Jews and the Anglo/American empire.
One of the groups that Hitler sent to concentration camps were Jehovah's Witnesses. They were forced to endure unspeakable atrocities and many lost their lives. The individual actions of many Witnesses are commendable and the Watchtower holds up this part of their history in great esteem. What is not discussed is the hypocritical actions of Rutherford in the lead up to these events.
Early in 1933, the Watchtower office in Berlin was closed and Jehovah's Witnesses were banned in many German states. This was due to the refusal of Jehovah's Witnesses to swear loyalty to the government or to serve in its armed forces.
In an attempt to appease Hitler into lifting the ban, Rutherford instigated a Declaration of Facts and sent a Letter to Hitler discussing the Watchtower's support of the Nazi regime.
Current Watchtower references provide a deceptive portrayal of these documents, through selective quoting. The Proclaimer's book mentions that Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler under the context of "facing Nazi oppression", in which the Watchtower Society is made to sound as if they were firmly against the Nazi regime.
It is quite surprising to find the opposite is true, which can be identified when reading the content of Rutherford's 1933 letter to Hitler and the Declaration of Facts.
Letter to Hitler
Russell, founder of the Watchtower, was a Zionist and sympathetic to Jews as part of modern day fulfilment of Bible prophecy. Rutherford initially continued such support, but changed by the 1930's to a bigoted, anti-Semitic stance.
During the time of Rutherford, Witnesses became known as a religion of hate, due to the Watchtower's tirade of insults against other Churches and governments. The Catholic Church come under the greatest condemnation and bought this to the attention of the Nazi government, petitioning against the Watchtower Society. In 1933, the Nazi government banned the Watchtower's German operations.
In an effort to overturn the ban, Rutherford sent a Letter and a Declaration to Hitler, in which he praises Hitler for his anti-Anglo/American campaign and his stance against the Jews.

 
A copy of the letter in German.
Following is part of an English translation of the Letter to Hitler.
The letter mentions Hitler's "just principles," quoting from section 24 of Das Program der NSDAP (The Nazi's Platform of the National Socialist German Workers Party).
Rutherford further compromised Watchtower principles but offering that, "We want to continue to live up to the prohibition imposed upon us," that is, they would stop preaching in Germany, provided the ban was lifted that would allow them to "meet for prayer and church service".
Click Letter to Hitler  for a translation of the full letter in PDF format.
The Yearbook 1974 briefly refers to this letter, along with the Declaration of Facts.
In light of the contents of the official letter and Declaration sent to Hitler, the Watchtower's 2011 comment mocking other Churches is nothing short of hypocritical.
Declaration of Facts
Rutherford and Knorr organized a public convention in Berlin on 25th June, 1933 to release a "Declaration of Facts," being pronouncing at the German convention, and distributed in letter format. This outlined Watchtower's support of the German governments stance against Jews.
The convention hall was decked with swastikas and the program was opened with Song 64, a song from the Bible Student's songbook that had the some melody by Hayden as the German national anthem. Konrad Franke, Germany's Bethel branch overseer later stated his disturbance at seeing the scene for the convention and Rutherford's declaration.
The Declaration of Facts was reprinted in the Yearbook 1934. It went on in part to state:
Click here  for an English translation of the full Declaration of Facts in PDF format.
Rutherford's Letter and Declaration were an effort to appease Hitler, but to no avail - too little, too late.
With Rutherford's efforts at appeasing Hitler into lifting the Watchtower ban not achieving its aims, Rutherford instead started to antagonise Hitler through his publications.
These cablegrams read:
Rutherford send another letter to Hitler, this time threatening Hitler with the punishment of God if the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses was not lifted.

Watchtower criticises other religious groups for colluding with Hitler, whilst Jehovah's Witnesses were imprisoned for their refusal to compromise their standards. What is not admitted is that Rutherford initially praised Hitler for his stance against Jews and the Anglo/American empire.
One of the groups that Hitler sent to concentration camps were Jehovah's Witnesses. They were forced to endure unspeakable atrocities and many lost their lives. The individual actions of many Witnesses are commendable and the Watchtower holds up this part of their history in great esteem. What is not discussed is the hypocritical actions of Rutherford in the lead up to these events.
Early in 1933, the Watchtower office in Berlin was closed and Jehovah's Witnesses were banned in many German states. This was due to the refusal of Jehovah's Witnesses to swear loyalty to the government or to serve in its armed forces.
In an attempt to appease Hitler into lifting the ban, Rutherford instigated a Declaration of Facts and sent a Letter to Hitler discussing the Watchtower's support of the Nazi regime.
Current Watchtower references provide a deceptive portrayal of these documents, through selective quoting. The Proclaimer's book mentions that Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler under the context of "facing Nazi oppression", in which the Watchtower Society is made to sound as if they were firmly against the Nazi regime.
It is quite surprising to find the opposite is true, which can be identified when reading the content of Rutherford's 1933 letter to Hitler and the Declaration of Facts.
Letter to Hitler
Russell, founder of the Watchtower, was a Zionist and sympathetic to Jews as part of modern day fulfilment of Bible prophecy. Rutherford initially continued such support, but changed by the 1930's to a bigoted, anti-Semitic stance.
During the time of Rutherford, Witnesses became known as a religion of hate, due to the Watchtower's tirade of insults against other Churches and governments. The Catholic Church come under the greatest condemnation and bought this to the attention of the Nazi government, petitioning against the Watchtower Society. In 1933, the Nazi government banned the Watchtower's German operations.
In an effort to overturn the ban, Rutherford sent a Letter and a Declaration to Hitler, in which he praises Hitler for his anti-Anglo/American campaign and his stance against the Jews.

 
A copy of the letter in German.
Following is part of an English translation of the Letter to Hitler.
The letter mentions Hitler's "just principles," quoting from section 24 of Das Program der NSDAP (The Nazi's Platform of the National Socialist German Workers Party).
Rutherford further compromised Watchtower principles but offering that, "We want to continue to live up to the prohibition imposed upon us," that is, they would stop preaching in Germany, provided the ban was lifted that would allow them to "meet for prayer and church service".
Click Letter to Hitler  for a translation of the full letter in PDF format.
The Yearbook 1974 briefly refers to this letter, along with the Declaration of Facts.
In light of the contents of the official letter and Declaration sent to Hitler, the Watchtower's 2011 comment mocking other Churches is nothing short of hypocritical.
Declaration of Facts
Rutherford and Knorr organized a public convention in Berlin on 25th June, 1933 to release a "Declaration of Facts," being pronouncing at the German convention, and distributed in letter format. This outlined Watchtower's support of the German governments stance against Jews.
The convention hall was decked with swastikas and the program was opened with Song 64, a song from the Bible Student's songbook that had the some melody by Hayden as the German national anthem. Konrad Franke, Germany's Bethel branch overseer later stated his disturbance at seeing the scene for the convention and Rutherford's declaration.
The Declaration of Facts was reprinted in the Yearbook 1934. It went on in part to state:
Click here  for an English translation of the full Declaration of Facts in PDF format.
Rutherford's Letter and Declaration were an effort to appease Hitler, but to no avail - too little, too late.
With Rutherford's efforts at appeasing Hitler into lifting the Watchtower ban not achieving its aims, Rutherford instead started to antagonise Hitler through his publications.
These cablegrams read:
Rutherford send another letter to Hitler, this time threatening Hitler with the punishment of God if the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses was not lifted.

Table of contents
Friday morning
No. 1 Chairman’s Address: We Must Not Give Up —Especially Now!
No. 2 Continue Preaching “Without Letup” (Symposium)—Informally
No. 3 Continue Preaching “Without Letup” (Symposium) —From House to House
No. 4 Continue Preaching “Without Letup” (Symposium)—Publicly
No. 5 Continue Preaching “Without Letup” (Symposium) —Making Disciples
DRAMATIC BIBLE READING: Jehovah Delivers His People
No. 7 Jehovah—The Greatest Example of Endurance
Friday afternoon
No. 8 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —Unjust Treatment
No. 9 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —Advancing Age
No. 10 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —Our Own Imperfections
No. 11 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —Humbling Experiences
No. 12 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —Prolonged Illness
No. 13 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —The Loss of a Loved One
No. 14 Enduring Despite . . . (Symposium) —Persecution
DRAMA: Remember the Wife of Lot—Part 1
No. 16 Cultivate Qualities That Promote Endurance (Symposium)—Faith
No. 17 Cultivate Qualities That Promote Endurance (Symposium) —Virtue
No. 18 Cultivate Qualities That Promote Endurance (Symposium) —Knowledge
No. 19 Cultivate Qualities That Promote Endurance (Symposium) —Self-Control
No. 20 How You Can “By No Means Ever Fail”
Saturday morning
No. 21 How Jehovah “Supplies Endurance and Comfort” to . . . (Symposium)—The Weak and Those Who Are Depressed
No. 22 How Jehovah “Supplies Endurance and Comfort” to . . . (Symposium)—Those in Material Need
No. 23 How Jehovah “Supplies Endurance and Comfort” to . . . (Symposium)—“The Fatherless”
No. 24 How Jehovah “Supplies Endurance and Comfort” to . . . (Symposium)—Older Ones
No. 25 Build a House That Will Endure (Symposium) —Be “Content With the Present Things”
No. 26 Build a House That Will Endure (Symposium) —Safeguard Your Children From “What Is Evil”
No. 27 Build a House That Will Endure (Symposium) —Train Your Children in ‘the Way They Should Go’
No. 28 BAPTISM: “Do Not Give In to Fear”!
Saturday afternoon
No. 29 Imitate “Those Who Have Endured” (Symposium)—Joseph
No. 30 Imitate “Those Who Have Endured” (Symposium)—Job
No. 31 Imitate “Those Who Have Endured” (Symposium) —Jephthah’s Daughter
No. 32 Imitate “Those Who Have Endured” (Symposium)—Jeremiah
DRAMA: Remember the Wife of Lot—Part 2
No. 34 Learn Endurance From Creation (Symposium) —Camels
No. 35 Learn Endurance From Creation (Symposium) —Alpine Trees
No. 36 Learn Endurance From Creation (Symposium) —Butterflies
No. 37 Learn Endurance From Creation (Symposium) —Arctic Terns
No. 38 Learn Endurance From Creation (Symposium) —Lapwings
No. 39 Learn Endurance From Creation (Symposium) —Acacia Trees
No. 40 Young Ones—Your Endurance Makes Jehovah Rejoice!
Sunday morning
No. 41 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Run to Win!
No. 42 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Train Diligently
No. 43 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Let Go of Unnecessary Burdens
No. 44 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Imitate Good Examples
No. 45 We Must “Run with Endurance” (Symposium) —Eat Nutritious Food
No. 46 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Drink Plenty of Water
No. 47 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Obey the Rules of the Contest
No. 48 We Must “Run With Endurance” (Symposium) —Be Confident of Gaining the Prize
No. 49 PUBLIC BIBLE DISCOURSE: Never Give Up Hope!
No. 50 Summary of The Watchtower
Sunday afternoon
DRAMA: Remember the Wife of Lot—Part 3
No. 52 “Keep in Expectation . . . It Will Not Be Late!”
Downloads:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwofxgrfEXucbFRfcUFYQ0J4SXM

Population growth is 1.12% so most of them are witness kids.
 

December 15, 2017 TO ALL CONGREGATIONS Re: 2017 Service Year Report
Dear Brothers:
We are pleased to share encouraging highlights from the 2017 service year report. The peak number of publishers was 8,457,107. Jehovah’s people spent a total of 2,046,000,202 hours in the ministry, a 3.1 percent increase from last year. We are especially encouraged to see a 7.4 percent increase in the number baptized, with a total of 284,212! This is evidence that we take seriously our commission to “make disciples.” (Matt. 28:19) We were delighted to see that the average number of regular pioneers was 1,225,279. This was an 8.6 percent increase! The worldwide Memorial attendance figure was 20,175,477. Significant features of the service year report will soon be available on jw.org and in JW Library, Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY, and Watchtower Library. These figures provide compelling evidence of Jehovah’s blessing on our work.—Isa. 60:22.
Throughout our branch territory, it is evident that Jehovah is searching for those “rightly disposed for everlasting life” in the language of their heart. (Acts 13:48) For instance, we are happy to report the formation of the first ever Cherokee-language congregation during the past service year. The first Swahili-language circuit in our branch territory was formed effective September 1, 2017. In addition to those reached in the door-to-door ministry, public witnessing initiatives are reaching more people than ever with the Bible’s message. There are over 17,000 publishers participating in the special metropolitan public witnessing program in 17 locations. Harbor witnessing is now organized in 45 ports, with 4,400 trained publishers boarding cargo and cruise ships in an effort to witness to crew members. Public witnessing campaigns organized at large state fairs and sporting events are exposing millions of individuals to the good news, as well as adding great impetus to this aspect of the preaching work.
Much has also been accomplished in regard to Kingdom Hall usage in the United States branch territory. Twenty branch planning meetings were held with bodies of elders in metropolitan areas affecting over 2,200 congregations. Implementing non-construction solutions such as merging or relocating congregations has reduced the need for new auditoriums in these areas from 41 to 19, with a potential savings of millions of dollars!
Be assured that Jehovah values your faithful service and that he will continue to give you the necessary strength to “fully accomplish your ministry” in the coming year!—2 Tim. 4:5; Isa. 40:31.
Your brothers,
PS to coordinators of the bodies of elders:
Please arrange for this letter to be read to the congregation by the elder handling the part “Annual Service Report” in the Life and Ministry Meeting the week of January 1, 2018. Thereafter, the letter should be posted on the information board. This postscript should neither be read to the congregation nor be posted on the information board.

There was a man who said, "I never knew what happiness was until I got married...and then it was too late!"

Love is one long sweet dream, and marriage is the alarm clock.

They say when a man holds a woman's hand before marriage, it is love; after marriage, it is self-defense.

When a newly married man looks happy, we know why. But when a ten-year married man looks happy, we wonder why.

There was this lover who said that he would go through hell for her. They got married, and now he is going through hell.

A Code of Honor: Never approach a friend's girlfriend or wife with mischief as your goal. There are just too many women in the world to justify that sort of dishonorable behavior. Unless she's really attractive. -- Bruce Friedman

A coward is a hero with a wife, kids, and a mortgage. -- Marvin Kitman

A gentleman is one who never swears at his wife while ladies are present.

A husband is living proof that a wife can take a joke.

A husband is what's left of the lover after the nerve has been extracted. 

Marriage is like a mousetrap. Those on the outside are trying to get in. Those on the inside are trying to get out.

Marriage is low down, but you spend the rest of your life paying for it.

Marriage is the process of finding out what kind of man your wife would have preferred.

Marriage is the sole cause of divorce.

Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity.

Marriage still confers one very special privilege - only a married person can get divorced.

Marriage: A ceremony in which rings are put on the finger of the lady and around the hands and feet of the man.

Marriage: the only sport in which the trapped animal has to buy the license.

Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on Earth.

There was a man who said, "I never knew what happiness was until I got married...and then it was too late!"

Love is one long sweet dream, and marriage is the alarm clock.

They say when a man holds a woman's hand before marriage, it is love; after marriage, it is self-defense.

When a newly married man looks happy, we know why. But when a ten-year married man looks happy, we wonder why.

There was this lover who said that he would go through hell for her. They got married, and now he is going through hell.

A Code of Honor: Never approach a friend's girlfriend or wife with mischief as your goal. There are just too many women in the world to justify that sort of dishonorable behavior. Unless she's really attractive. -- Bruce Friedman

A coward is a hero with a wife, kids, and a mortgage. -- Marvin Kitman

A gentleman is one who never swears at his wife while ladies are present.

A husband is living proof that a wife can take a joke.

A husband is what's left of the lover after the nerve has been extracted. 

Marriage is like a mousetrap. Those on the outside are trying to get in. Those on the inside are trying to get out.

Marriage is low down, but you spend the rest of your life paying for it.

Marriage is the process of finding out what kind of man your wife would have preferred.

Marriage is the sole cause of divorce.

Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity.

Marriage still confers one very special privilege - only a married person can get divorced.

Marriage: A ceremony in which rings are put on the finger of the lady and around the hands and feet of the man.

Marriage: the only sport in which the trapped animal has to buy the license.

Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on Earth.

A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night. It was her turn. 
She rolled the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her 
question was: "If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, 
can you  hear it?" 

She thought for a time and then asked, "Is it on or off?"