On their website I found a table of results from 2005
http://www.watchtower.org/statistics/worldwide_report.htm
How many Witnesses for each country, number of hours preached, number of people baptized etc number of people attending memorial
What's the deal? Do they compare each year's Key Performance Indicators with the previous years as a way of measuring their progress? I don't know any other denomination which does this, so I am interested to know what the Jehovah's Witnesses on this Answers! Forum has to say.
Serious answers only please.
2007-10-16 02:36:57 · 19 answers · asked by Gruntled Employee 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For practical reasons.
How do you know what part of the world needs improvement if no records are kept?
It's not unbiblical, neither is it a teaching, it simply helps the JW organization do their assignment more efficiently:
"Preaching the Good News of Gods Kingdom"
It wouldn't be a very organized religion if they didn't do this.
2007-10-16 06:54:32 · answer #1 · answered by Paul S 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
What you're saying is misguided - yet all of us make blunders if we don't have the completed tale. i'm able to tell thoughts have been harm, and that's fairly perplexing to seem at some thing in a rational way if thoughts are harm. we are human and that's a organic reaction as quickly as we predict of we've seen some thing unfair. I even have in no way had a foul journey with an elder - decrease than any BOSS I even have had in my working occupation. I even have actually 1000's of buddies - Witnesses I even have widespread for some years and from many diverse international places that I even have met for my section - and that i don't be conscious the facade which you confer with. it must be there in a individual or 2, and there may well be some elders who're no longer the "superb related" of their character features. yet I run into human beings like that each and each sooner or later, daily, - workmates, buddies, specialists, even my very own kinfolk individuals. they arrive from each and all ages, genders, and diverse religions. Love of God and love of persons covers a large number of sins. And understanding the actuality from the Bible is an extra bonus. life is sweet.
2016-10-07 00:49:07 · answer #2 · answered by mcglothlen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keeping account of things that concern any organization is natural and normal. The Watchtower Society is no different.
These figures can then be used for statistical data and when they announce or need to produce any type of data they have it accurately.
Yes they can monitor progress in not only how much the congregations are expanding but in what areas of the world and how much kingdom preaching work is being done globally.
It helps them to know where work needs to be done and where to concentrate such things as resources and building work of new kingdom halls.
The data in all they record is useful so that voluntary donations are used in the best possible and effective way in providing for the spiritual welfare of it's members and the important work of preaching the good news of kingdom to the entire inhabited earth. [Matthew 24:14]
Accuracy is very important to Jehovah's Witnesses not only in what they teach from the Bible but in all aspects of the kingdom work and other duties they do.
2007-10-17 02:41:35 · answer #3 · answered by jehovahboffin 1 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, being good with keeping records is actually a Bible supported practice.
If you think about it it makes allot of sense. As you mentioned it does help gauge progress. It also helps with decisions of who and what goes where. Consider, the town I currently live in has allot of Witnesses moving in so because there is so much housing growth. Now allot of them are moving outward in where we go from door to door, because this area is being covered rather well, though in another year or so there will be another big boom in the amount of new ones to the area who might not know Jehovah but might be interested.
Also keeping basic records helps us know what is going on in the communities. Through this we realised that there were allot of Hindi speaking ones. So several brothers and sisters learned to speak Hindi so they could talk with these ones. The response has been over whelming:D If however, these same ones learned to speak Hindi in an area that mostly spoke German, it wouldn't do much good:D
In reference to those who think they know my beliefs, but don't:
Sharing God's word isn't a 2 year project, it is a life long part of being a Christian (Thanks to the person who said 2 years, at least she admited she didn't know for sure)
As for wikipedia and 144,000. First, as a Elonkka, a user there, mentions in her symposiums, NEVER use Wiki as a base source, don't worry though we all have.
If you want internet info direct from the horses mouth http://www.watchtower.org
Oh, and No we don't think ONLY 144,000 will be "saved"
2007-10-16 22:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Bible also gives good examples of statistics.
Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4, Acts 19:19 , Rom 11:4, Rev 5:11, 2 Ch 2:2
2007-10-16 06:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by trustdell1 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Keeping records is a way of showing progress. It is encouraging to see that this is really a Worldwide organization and not just locally.
It also makes everyone closer and aware of things going on with all their brothers and sisters around the world. So if some are going through bad times, then others can help. :)
2007-10-16 10:19:45 · answer #6 · answered by Selina Kyle 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some feel it is because they "have to work a certain number of hours for a two year period in order to advance in their church." Is that so?
No. Not at all. But they do keep track of such things. Why? Well, why did the first century Christians keep track? Acts 2:41 gives a "statistic" as to how many responded to the teaching of the good news as well as the location. Acts 4:4 gives a statistic as well.
It was encouraging to those disciples to learn of those who became believers, yes? So it is with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Hannah J Paul
2007-10-16 02:46:22 · answer #7 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 12⤊ 2⤋
It would seem that few other Christians would have anything to report about their public ministry.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not actually require individual Witnesses to report their ministry each month, although they do encourage such reports. The Scriptural pattern is actually quite easy to demonstrate:
(Mark 6:7,11,12,30) [Jesus] summoned the twelve, and he initiated sending them out two by two... [Jesus said] wherever a place will not receive you nor hear you, on going out from there shake off the dirt that is beneath your feet for a witness to them.” So they set out and preached in order that people might repent... And the apostles gathered together before Jesus and reported to him all the things they had done
(Luke 9:1,2,10) [Jesus] called the twelve together... And so he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God... And when the apostles returned they recounted to him what things they had done.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_14.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
2007-10-16 04:54:11 · answer #8 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Just as an FYI to the already good answers above...
Most people who are striving hard at working (including non profit organizations who are trying to socially improve specific situations) care to know what they are accomplishing.
I don't see anything wrong with keeping a count.
2007-10-16 06:47:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Many Bible accounts include specific numbers, which help to convey a vivid picture of what took place. For example, Gideon vanquished the camp of Midian with just 300 men. (Judg. 7:7) Jehovah’s angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. (2 Ki. 19:35) It is evident from these accounts that God’s ancient servants put forth much effort to compile a complete and accurate record.
Early followers of Jesus Christ took an interest in reports of progress in the preaching work. (Mark 6:30) The Bible book of Acts tells us that there were about 120 persons present when holy spirit was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost. Soon the number of disciples grew to 3,000 and then to 5,000. . . . (Acts 1:15; 2:5-11, 41, 47; 4:4; 6:7) This news of increase brought joy to the disciples!
For the same reason, Jehovah’s Witnesses today endeavor to keep accurate records of what is accomplished worldwide in fulfillment of Jesus’ words: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Such reports provide a realistic picture of what is done in the world field. They show where help is needed and which kind of literature and how much of it is required to advance the preaching work.
We are encouraged when we hear about the work that our brothers are doing in other parts of the world. News of growth and expansion earth wide fills us with joy, moves us to greater activity, and assures us of Jehovah’s blessing. And how gratifying it is to know that our PERSONAL report is included in that worldwide report!
2007-10-16 02:44:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 4⤋