Then as numbers dwindled even regular twigs were supposed to go out witnessing if no on showed. Embarrassing- trying to get new people to come to fellowship when it was so boring you couldn't get anyone who drank the koolaid to show!
I remember that... Funny story: I actually BROUGHT SOMEONE to fellowship one night, and my FC was upset because now we weren't supposed to go witnessing (because we had a new person)...
In the LCM daze a new person showed up at our fellowship, a few minutes late. HFC met them at the door to reprove them for lateness. Nope, they didn't come back.
In the LCM daze a new person showed up at our fellowship, a few minutes late. HFC met them at the door to reprove them for lateness. Nope, they didn't come back.
Javajane-
What branch was that?
Can anyone else give specific numbers for specific branches in recent years?
In the LCM daze a new person showed up at our fellowship, a few minutes late. HFC met them at the door to reprove them for lateness. Nope, they didn't come back.
Yeah... I remember that teaching, too. Something about "it's our job to take believing action, and it's God's job to provide the results." So, if you've done your part and there are no results, just enjoy the fellowship anyway.
Wow, what a different story it became in the 90's when we were asked to write down (and turn in) what negative thing in our lives was keeping the Word from moving in our area.
I'm always interested in firm numbers rather than broad estimates. When you put together enough numbers, the broad estimate gets more precise and less subjective. This is what I've seen on forums:
So Cal (recent) - 2-3 fellowships (~ 15 people)
San Diego 2002, 7-8 fellowships
So FL - 2 fellowships in whole branch
A mid-west branch - 20 people total
FL 2004 - "1/3 of previous size")
If any of you can add particular branches or cities to this list, please do. Then do the addition for yourself.
Just to clarify for those doing addition - this was the number that showed for the branch meeting - not necessarily how many are IN the branch. I don't really know exactly how many are currently attending fellowship. May be less, may be more.
When I was in, attendance at branch meetings was pretty much mandatory. If you didn't show, you'd surely hear from someone.
It's changed a little in the past few years. I think they MAed so many people they cut off a pretty good portion of their income. Now they play all nice-nice (at least on the surface) with people as far as attendance goes. I think they realized that they would lose everyone if they kept that behavior up. It kind of backfired in a weird way - it's become very... corporate (?) minded. That's the only way I can explain it. Lots of rules for the higher ups on how to teach, how to speak, how to answer questions and requests for advice without giving an answer. It's very hard to explain... and it's very different from the LCM days. Not so militant, mainly just boring unless you are in a leadership position, and then you have to file tons of paperwork and follow a huge bureacracy.
Like I said, it's hard to explain... But the simplest I can put it is - attendance is not mandatory, please send us your money, even though we give you nothing in return.
A few months back I saw a twi bumper sticker on the back of what looked to be your run of the mill, average old WOW vehicle. So I guess there there is still one person left in Michigan
...and as long as there's money, investments and assets to be gained, I think there will always be someone in line who will be trying to get their piece of the pie.
The only way it will disappear, is if the the current shareholders decide it's time to divvy up the goods and lock the doors.
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JavaJane
I remember that... Funny story: I actually BROUGHT SOMEONE to fellowship one night, and my FC was upset because now we weren't supposed to go witnessing (because we had a new person)...
AND THAT WASN'T IN THE SCHEDULED PLAN.
WFT?
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Bramble
In the LCM daze a new person showed up at our fellowship, a few minutes late. HFC met them at the door to reprove them for lateness. Nope, they didn't come back.
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johnj
Javajane-
What branch was that?
Can anyone else give specific numbers for specific branches in recent years?
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rascal
I remember that teaching about having fellowship even if it was just you...lol
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WordWolf
Why does that not surprise me?
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TheHighWay
Yeah... I remember that teaching, too. Something about "it's our job to take believing action, and it's God's job to provide the results." So, if you've done your part and there are no results, just enjoy the fellowship anyway.
Wow, what a different story it became in the 90's when we were asked to write down (and turn in) what negative thing in our lives was keeping the Word from moving in our area.
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JavaJane
Sorry, Johnj - I try not to give much of any personal info online... I can tell you it was in the Midwest.
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Nottawayfer
Johnj,
Are you John Juedes?
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johnj
It's not hard to figure out, is it?
I'm always interested in firm numbers rather than broad estimates. When you put together enough numbers, the broad estimate gets more precise and less subjective. This is what I've seen on forums:
So Cal (recent) - 2-3 fellowships (~ 15 people)
San Diego 2002, 7-8 fellowships
So FL - 2 fellowships in whole branch
A mid-west branch - 20 people total
FL 2004 - "1/3 of previous size")
If any of you can add particular branches or cities to this list, please do. Then do the addition for yourself.
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Bolshevik
Let's see, Maggie Muggins, Johnny Jump-Up, Mr. Ambassador, Cheif Cornerstone, Snowball Pete, Henry Baloco(sp?)
Did I miss anyone?
I think we'll call them a "Region"
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JavaJane
Just to clarify for those doing addition - this was the number that showed for the branch meeting - not necessarily how many are IN the branch. I don't really know exactly how many are currently attending fellowship. May be less, may be more.
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outintexas
When I was in, attendance at branch meetings was pretty much mandatory. If you didn't show, you'd surely hear from someone.
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JavaJane
It's changed a little in the past few years. I think they MAed so many people they cut off a pretty good portion of their income. Now they play all nice-nice (at least on the surface) with people as far as attendance goes. I think they realized that they would lose everyone if they kept that behavior up. It kind of backfired in a weird way - it's become very... corporate (?) minded. That's the only way I can explain it. Lots of rules for the higher ups on how to teach, how to speak, how to answer questions and requests for advice without giving an answer. It's very hard to explain... and it's very different from the LCM days. Not so militant, mainly just boring unless you are in a leadership position, and then you have to file tons of paperwork and follow a huge bureacracy.
Like I said, it's hard to explain... But the simplest I can put it is - attendance is not mandatory, please send us your money, even though we give you nothing in return.
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Out There
A few months back I saw a twi bumper sticker on the back of what looked to be your run of the mill, average old WOW vehicle. So I guess there there is still one person left in Michigan
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waysider
I don't really think it will ever disappear, even though I think it should.
After all, the Flat Earth people are still around as are the Malthusians.
Now, the Shakers had an interesting concept----- no procreation. :blink:
That's seems to have had a less than desirable effect on bolstering their membership ranks.
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ChasUFarley
waysider - agreed.
...and as long as there's money, investments and assets to be gained, I think there will always be someone in line who will be trying to get their piece of the pie.
The only way it will disappear, is if the the current shareholders decide it's time to divvy up the goods and lock the doors.
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