This weekend was what I would call a "mountaintop experience" for our small group here in Poland.
Sometimes we can feel discouraged in dwindling numbers. We watch friends in whom we have invested much time and energy walk away from the truth that they once embraced. We see them making wrong choices that will affect their future and destiny. We cry. We pray. We wait. God knows their hearts better than we do, but it tears at our hearts.
But this past weekend, we had Polish visitors from Torun. They were all former Jehovah's Witnesses and one man shared his moving testimony with our group. Although we had invited friends and acquaintances, only a handful showed up. But those of us that experienced this day felt uplifted. This man had been an elder and preacher in the JW organization for many years. He sometimes spoke to audiences of 5000. He was sincere in wanting to do right, but the more he studied the more confused he became as he realized that what he was teaching was contrary to the Word of God. He resigned from the JWs and faced a lot of shunning. He now travels throughout Poland when given the oppurtunity and shares what God has done in his life.
He took time to answer any informative questions we had about the JWs, but his great love for these people showed through in a marvelous way, because he never attacked the people personally. He was only telling about their misguided zeal. He is now involved with former JWs, helping them to begin growing in their relationship with God.
He told us that the JWs are the third largest religion in Poland--the first being Roman Catholic, the second, Greek Orthodox, and the third Jehovah's Witnesses.
What an inspiration! And it was good for our Polish friends that come to our services to meet other Polish Christians and share their lives together. I was happy to see some exchanging of addresses, phone numbers, etc.
We need moments like these that give us courage to go on. And even when we watch our friends walking away from God through tear-dimmed eyes, we know that God loves them more than we ever could and pray that He will meet them where they are and lead them back to Himself.
Sometimes we can feel discouraged in dwindling numbers. We watch friends in whom we have invested much time and energy walk away from the truth that they once embraced. We see them making wrong choices that will affect their future and destiny. We cry. We pray. We wait. God knows their hearts better than we do, but it tears at our hearts.
But this past weekend, we had Polish visitors from Torun. They were all former Jehovah's Witnesses and one man shared his moving testimony with our group. Although we had invited friends and acquaintances, only a handful showed up. But those of us that experienced this day felt uplifted. This man had been an elder and preacher in the JW organization for many years. He sometimes spoke to audiences of 5000. He was sincere in wanting to do right, but the more he studied the more confused he became as he realized that what he was teaching was contrary to the Word of God. He resigned from the JWs and faced a lot of shunning. He now travels throughout Poland when given the oppurtunity and shares what God has done in his life.
He took time to answer any informative questions we had about the JWs, but his great love for these people showed through in a marvelous way, because he never attacked the people personally. He was only telling about their misguided zeal. He is now involved with former JWs, helping them to begin growing in their relationship with God.
He told us that the JWs are the third largest religion in Poland--the first being Roman Catholic, the second, Greek Orthodox, and the third Jehovah's Witnesses.
What an inspiration! And it was good for our Polish friends that come to our services to meet other Polish Christians and share their lives together. I was happy to see some exchanging of addresses, phone numbers, etc.
We need moments like these that give us courage to go on. And even when we watch our friends walking away from God through tear-dimmed eyes, we know that God loves them more than we ever could and pray that He will meet them where they are and lead them back to Himself.
Comments
Freedom of religion allows religious cults to prosper and my freedom of speech empowers me to warn others of their destructive practices.
Up close and personal Jehovah's Witnesses can be wolves in sheep's clothing.
Think about this-When the devil comes knocking on your door he may not have the 'dark goth look'.They could be smartly dressed and wielding the Christian Bible.
I have Jehovah's Witnesses family in the usa who practice the Watchtower JW enforced ritual shunning that i have not seen or heard from in 15 years.
The central CORE dogma of the Watchtower is Jesus second coming (invisibly) in 1914 and is a lie.Jehovah's Witnesses are a spin-off of the man made Millerite movement of 1840.
A destructive cult of false teachings, that frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse, as well as needless deaths (bogus blood transfusion ban).
Yes,you can 'check out anytime you want but you can never leave',because they can and will hold your family hostage.
The world has the Internet now,and there are tens of thousands of pages up from disgruntled ex-Jehovah's Witnesses like myself who have been abused by the Watchtower cult.
Jehovah's Witnesses are often a mouth that prays a hand that kills.The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world.
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Danny Haszard former Jehovah's Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation www.dannyhaszard.com