Just witness recently some transferring into the local and becoming inactive. I know we seen this post many times, but I just want to share the success i'm seeing out there, and to let everyone know, more are leaving the church.
It seems like every prayer, every meeting, visitations and every worship service has an emphasis on the Church Administration, protecting them, following them, and trusting them.
You can classify me as PIMO but I do understand the Fallen Angels, cause there is huge increase of this during Eduardo's time and most of these issues are happening during this time.
I remember, when a lecture or a worship service edified a person, told them how to be a better person, how God would help us in our lives, now theres always a part of the lesson that says we need the Church Administration to be closer to God, and what's worse, is that some of these lectures, are like scolding, especially if that's the only voice the worker/minister knows.
it's also, not low key anymore. they're inserting these in prayers, thank God for the Church Administration because we need them to be with him. and the "yes, father" or "Opo" is brain washing the sub conscious mind into agreeing.
i feel like this already has been mentioned, if it has, sorry for reposting, but with the recent lesson, there was a mention of being of the legal age to marry, if there is a legal age, why are some courting those are binhi.
with the stress levels that come with being an officer, the constant push by the church administration, to push, to pressure (for numbers like fruits, edification, visitations, attendance, etc.) i dont know how much of this that my heart can take anymore.
i constantly think about those who had high duties, that were overseers to departments, like presidents, and how they have passed away young. im not saying what cause them to have heart attacks, they might have stressful lives and poor eating habits in general outside of church, but i did see what they faced and apparently even before my time, there has been times when our brethren have passed away young, even during preparations for visits from the church administration, due to the pressure to meeting timelines and dates and preparing the house of worship.
im thinking of them even more, and what they were going through.
im just venting.
Is that what im hearing correctly? I just saw a post of choir member who has to perform in 5 services this weekend, would that choir members also have to be in the rally?
officers are already worn out. perform multiple services this weekend, then do a rally the next day?
should you be in a situation when asked by a minister, department head or an officer regarding what is going on in PH or social media, or any topic, make sure you know how to answer and how to react.
these officers and ministers are very aware of this site, but not of who you are.
if in a meeting you may be asked, what do you think about the rally/reddit/discord server/etc your response can be a sign of where you stand.
dont underestimate these officers and ministers, they can read body language, the tone of your voice, your eye moments and expressions.
just be aware that you may be asked certain questions, whether its only to you or even in a meeting with many people (like a CFO meeting, especially a meeting with many youth members), dont let it surprise you.
i cant speak for everywhere, but from my observations, years and many decades ago, the officers were told be very cautious when bring up money/offerings with the brethren. now its very direct. we should even include it in the prayer when visiting them. if you look at the timing, that a lot of brethren are being visited, since its the anniversary and how they say we should give from the heart and abound, but what that means is you should give from you heart, but give more. with all of this that is happening, the visitations dont seem very genuine but instead are used to remind brethren to give from the heart, but to give more than last year
There is a quote by Naomi Alderman
it says
"silence is not power, it's not strength. silence is the means by which the weak remain weak and the strong remain strong. silence is a method of oppression." - Naomi Alderman
to the officer who thinks that the local/district is trying to push too many activities, you can say it, especially if your burned out, have no time for yourself, your family, or even your health, you can say something. maybe we dont need that activity, maybe it can be done during another time.
to the PIMO's/Fallen Angels, i know its hard to really speak out, especially if you do speaking out it means your family's duties gets removed, you can always vent here. i thought mean venting out here would be like me spamming this reddit, but i never had anyone said i was venting out too much. people here are welcoming. also, you're experiences while still being in the church shows how the church really is
to the youth, there is nothing wrong with you if you think different, if you have a different understanding, if you use technology to back up your thoughts to see how the church's teachings are not in aligned with how you think, you are not a virus, that can spread doubts among other youth. just be patience with your parents, they have decades of conditioning. it may be harder to vent out to them, but you can always speak out here, and to any of your close friends who are not members.
to the bible students, if your curious, ask a question here, because joining the church will surely change your lifestyle
to everyone, ive seen a lot of traffic in this reddit, and even when you google the church, this reddit is on the first page, keep speaking. keep voicing out, lets keep this reddit active.
also, this is what im thinking, and im just thinking out loud, im not telling anyone to do anything, these are just words that i want to say, and if anyone wants to listen, that for them to decide.
and if youre there, you know who you are, and are trying to look on social media, for certain members that liked a post that has this quote, or a post were a member liked that author, dont jump to conclusions. you may have the wrong person.
I just wonder how much of the lessons could be used for actual teachings of the Bible. Because what im hearing more now, are bible verses being read to support the church's political goals, to be one with evm, and follow the church administration.
the bible has teachings, on how to be a good person, how live your life, and how to find God, but it seems like that is hardly discussed or taught. but they do teach a lot about the hardships and trials of life when they talk about the world being a bad place, and how we should stay in the church, because thats our only safety. but most of my trials and hardship are actually within the church.
between two worship service days, department meetings, bible studies, and other district/local activities, there are times that officers are performing their duties 7 days a week and then will continue that cycle. i'm feeling burned down to the ground.
sorry for bad grammar on the title and if its feels like another vent post from me. i hope it doesnt seem like spam. theres just so much to vent about this church.
over the past few years we had activities, meetings, sports events planned on holidays and holiday weekends and even sundays evenings when youre trying to relax and spend time with the family before the work week.
i just dont think the church gives any consideration to its members anymore. i know im not the only one thinking this. i hear it after meetings, after events, i even hear officers say "Brother Eduardo doesn't want us to have any more time"
if we are suppose to do our family hour, and spending time with our family is a commandment, why press all these activities on us. the church is overbearing and its officers look burned out.
some ministers and DMs are taking it to a higher level, and want an activity every week. i'm not sure if they understand that they're main job is just a minister, while most officers have to go work morning to almost evening, and then go fulfill their duties.
it doesnt feel like they care for the officers, saying they do, but stressing them out and pressuring them with so many things is the opposite. actions speak louder.
We were instructed to remind brethren when visiting them about the importance of giving our offerings. We can include this in a our prayers when we visit them, for example, when praying for their means of living we can include so that we can give in our offerings.
I saw a post earlier about the CA having an IT dept, who is trying to track those who post in here. maybe we can gather all the tips and update what we have.
because, the CA is aware of this reddit. and they are wondering who is on it.
i'm not the most techy person but I do my best to cover my identity.
if you click on a link that takes you out of reddit. especially a link to a blog that is talking about the church and if that blog is hosted on a personal server, the owner can see the IPs that go to that server.
also, photos we take and post, may have meta data on it, like time and place it was posted. i'm not sure what reddit does with that meta data, but its always good to be careful.
also not all districts are giving the same message/instruction, it may be modified a little bit, so if you say something specific to that district, then it can be narrowed down.
if a minister just happens to leave his laptop unlocked, and telegram, just leave it alone, it may be bait.
this is something i overheard, and it was vented out. they are to spend less time with their family and more on their duty. i can see some ministers families wishing they never were in that office. there is a lot of pressure on them, and that pressure is given back to the officers.
despite having activities in the cfo, family hour messages, and reminders to take care of your family, the church decides to hold more activities, hold more meetings, give you more assignments, schedule activities during days they tell you hold your family hour. they're saying one thing but doing another.
The only way you could be use to this level of monitoring is through years and years of this being normal, or acceptance (for those just converted).
The Church monitors
lurkers, those curious, does this seem normal to you? does this seem too much? if you googled this because you were invited and waned to research, think about how you got here.
I did see this reddit is high up on the google search and sure many who are wondering about the church, got here through doing a internet search.
This level of monitoring is like have eyes constantly on you.
As more chapels are being renovated, dedicated, and technology are being upgraded, they're also creating a connection to central with access to cameras, video, audio. They can see what is happening with the Worship Services, meaning they can see the brethren. The interesting part of this, is that this isn't suppose to be told to just anyone. But you don't need to hear it here. I've heard Ministers talk about it openly in front everyone. Saying they are connected to Central.
I know it's not just me, it just feels awkward praying for EVM in weddings and birthdays. I mean he is not even there? Is that mandatory by the Ministers to mention his name in almost every prayer?
In the past years, some locals are recommending more to be delisted and that number is greater than the number of those being baptized in that same year. In other cases, the number of in-active brethren is more than the current number of Bible students. If you look at all missionary activities, how many are really signing up to be Bible students? In many cases there are none. I'm not sure how it is everywhere else, but this tells me, if year by year it's trending like this, then those locals are not growing. And if its the same all around, the Church itself isn't growing. Maybe more don't believe in the Church anymore and willing to leave. Because there are definitely those who don't believe but are sill in there because of Family.
I'm sure we have some lurkers here, who are members and/officers who are thinking about leaving, my advice is do it, especially if you don't have that many ties to the Church. At this moment, I have a family, and life of many years invested in my duties, that are strongly tied to the Church, and it's very difficult, but for those who don't have so much ties to the Church and can, I advise you to do it.
After this May 10 weekend, I am so burned out. They scheduled many back to back to back activities during this weekend and I'm at the point where I've had it.