Jehovah’s Witnesses to launch special global preaching campaign in M... on the Peoria.com Forums

NEW YORK—Jehovah’s Witnesses were so pleased with the results of their special worldwide campaign in April of last year, they are launching another special campaign in March 2012.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have long recognized the value of preaching systematically from house to house and have used this method so extensively that it has virtually become their trademark. During the campaign, which begins on March 17, Witnesses will be distributing invitations to their most important annual event, the Memorial of Christ’s death. On April 17, 2011, an all-time peak of over 19 million gathered for this religious observance and the Witnesses are hoping for an even larger attendance for this year’s event on Thursday, April 5, after sundown. The weekend following the Memorial, Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide will also present an intriguing Bible-based discourse entitled “Is It Later Than You Think?” Additionally, Witnesses will feature the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? in their public ministry throughout the month. The publication is a Bible study aid designed to provide scriptural answers to questions that concern many, such as the following: Does God care about us? Why are we here? What happens to us when we die?

Worldwide, there were 2,657,377 Witnesses who volunteered to spend 30-50 hours sharing in the April 2011 special campaign. Added to the increased activity of the other 5 million Witnesses that month, the global outreach represented the most extensive preaching effort in their history. “The excitement and joy from last year’s special activity was a highlight for all of us,” states J. R. Brown, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at their world headquarters in New York. “We are thrilled that so many are planning to expand their activity again this March.”

Let the door knocking begin.

They've already been to my door 5 times in the last 2 weeks. I open it with my Bible in my hand and a scowl on my face

Never met a JW that was unfriendly. Let 'em knock.

HipKat I know you wouldnt want to be treated like that. I know your Church dont treat people like that. Tim

No, the first one I was nice to and explained my situation, the next four over the course of 2 days, starting early in the morning, I was still nice to; Nice enough to open the door

Tell them you aren't interested all you want they keep coming back. It doesn't pay to be nice to people that have no concern or care that you have NO interest in their propaganda.

You don't have to be rude.

HK, if you talk to the JWs, you'll discover some surprising things about them. They do have some interesting beliefs but they're not all that far-fetched from what you and I believe. My best friend in CA was a JW. She answered a whole lot of my questions that led me to where I am today. Grant it, I don't believe everything they believe in and some of their customs are not for me but I do believe quite a lot of the same things they do. JWs are also some of the hardest working people I've ever met.

I agree, froggy. They are just people trying to spread The Word. I worked with a JW a long time ago. He was a very committed husband and employee. He lead a clean life, and didn't pass judgement on others. He didn't try to pedal his religion at the office, but didn't hide it either. Holidays, he'd just say, politely, "we don't celebrate that."

When they come to my house, I take their literature, say thank you, and they walk away.

Nice and knowledgeable about religion doesn't mean I want them knocking on my door 3 or 4 times a week. If you ask them not to come back and they do its time to resort to the next line.

I consider them being rude for returning.

You make it sound so harmless.

Galileo was almost burned at the stake for saying the earth isn't the center of the universe, and the same type of prejudice is still around. I don't care what religion you're involved with, the bigotry is everywhere in one form or another. Keep the "Christ" in Christmas, God forbid anyone be content with happy holidays. Homosexuality. The age of the Earth or creationism aka anti-science. Take your pick.

Instead of treating others as equals you're either "saved" or not. Religion / Christianity, the bible, it promotes divisiveness with a negative undertone. I'm quite sick of it.

This! 5 times over 2 weekends?? 5???

I think it is...

I really only heard "Keep the Christ in Christmas" at church (when I used to attend), and periodically outside of church. Nothing "in your face"....

does it really matter to you that believers know you are not saved? The only ones that say that (in my experience) are the ones who care about your fate.

Hip, I guess if it's more than just a 1 min. encounter, I'd be annoyed. I've never had a JW at my door longer than a minute. Maybe the push is stronger where you are than it is here.

Maybe you need a big Jesus window cling for your front door! and maybe one that says Riverside Church!

Well I think you're enabling stupidity. People that preach for the sake of preaching are rarely willing (in my experience) to have an intelligent discussion on the matter.

What really ticks me off is when they show up with kids.

you call it "enabling", I call it coexisting in peace and that little thing I call freedom.

I suppose allowing protests is "enabling"??