How Do You talk To Jehovah Witnesses?

[Greg Farra]

A couple of them stopped by yesterday. I had seen them going door to door, so I searched desperately for something to hand them. I went out to the garage and was cleaning out my truck when they stopped. The lady wanted to give me a magazine titled, " Do you believe in the Trinity?" I told her yes, but I would read it, and asked if she'd read something that I gave her. She declined. She didn't want to read something that disagreed with her beliefs. I told her I was willing to read hers, she should do the same for me. When she asked if I wanted to give it back to her, I told her that I would read it, as I was open-minded and strong enough to believe in my faith. I did give her a business card with the church website on it and told her to check it out. By the way, I was going to give a little booklet on membership into the Church of the Nazarene.

So how do you handle them, other than with gentleness and respect?

[Laurie Florence]

Generally, I find that if you take the magazine to read, they will return to talk to you. Any that I have ever talked to have been polite and respectful. I politely let them know where I go to church and say that I believe this is where God is calling me to be. I won't take the magazine to read anymore because, as I said earlier, they always return when they have placed that magazine in your hands. I wouldn't want to give them a false idea that they can convert me to a Jehovah's Witness. They usually decline when asked if they would like me to share my faith with them. I respect this. I am thinking that it may be a good idea to pray (privately) for them after having met them.

[Sue Pyles]

I always take the magazine because it is one less that they will have to give to someone else. I usually get about one caller a year. I hrow the magazine away.

My mother would always listen to them and then say, "Now, you listen to me." They would, but they never stayed long at our house.

[Ryan Scott]

I generally talk to them in English, as it seems to be a common mode of communication for us.

[Donna Adams]

we live next door to JW's....they are quiet, decent and good neighbors. we don' talk religion.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

I just tell them that I'm not interested and send them away. (I try to be quick and firm but not rude.)

I believe you have no chance of "converting" them when they initiated a cold-call to convert you.

If they are going to be "converted," it will come from a different source (family, friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc.).

Wilson

[Jim Franklin]

Originally the Jehovah Witnesses came out from the Seventh Day Adventists that is why it is so hard to deal with the situation in my household. They so staunchly put me down and insult my beliefs.

About accepting their literature: If your neighbors know of your faith and dedication then I would not accept their literature for if you do when they go to your neighbors they will tell your neighbors that you took the literature and it could ruin your testimony and reputation with your neighbors as being a Bible believing follower of Jesus.

[Barb Bouldrey]

I do not talk to them. I do not let them in the house. After their opening question I say, "I am a born again Christian and faithful to my church and the Lord. I am not interested in discussing things with you. Thank you anyway."

Barb

[Paula Karr]

True story.

I was on a cruise with several friends from work. My roommate and I went through the cafeteria line at lunch one day. As there were no empty tables available, we asked a couple who were sitting alone at a large table if we could join them. (Things are very friendly on a cruise.)

Within 2 minutes, we found out they were Jehovah's Witnesses. My naive friend raised a question that I know is of great personal interest to her: "Do you believe in the second coming and the end times?"

We never got to speak another word. I must confess, I bolted down my lunch and excused myself to run to the other end of the ship for a Scrabble tournament. My friend looked at me with a "deer in the headlights" look and said, "Wait for me, I'm coming too!"

She said, "That's the FIRST time I've ever asked a Jehovah's Witness about the end times, and it will definitely be the LAST!"

:eek:

[Susan Unger]

So how do you handle them, other than with gentleness and respect?

I confess the only 2 times that they have ever knocked on my door, my mind was occupied thinking how I would have never suspected they were J's W when I saw them in school. I'm not saying that in a rude way...just would have never guessed. And then we spent the time going down memory lane and not down a theological highway.

[Crystal Lutton]

I usually smile brightly and inform them I'm very confident in my relationship with Jehovah and am a witness for him myself--but not in their faith. Then I wish them well.

We actually never had JW's at our door (Mormons are another story altogether) but then a JW Hall opened in our town and now they come about once every other week or so.

[Tami Martin]

Personally, I tell them I'm not interested by answering whatever question they've asked me and send them on their way.

My husband however, would engage them. He kept a pair of them on our front porch for two hours one night. He was frustrated because he could see the younger one (the newer one) wavering quite a bit, but the older, more experienced one would change the subject every time. After two hours, I came outside, suggested they call it a draw and asked my husband to come inside.

[David Pettigrew]

I guess the door to door thing must be effective or else they would quit doing it, but for the life of my I can't imagine changing my religion because of a sales pitch. It's like those phone calls you get trying to get you to refinance your home. Do people really buy mortgages that way?

[Susan Unger]

I guess the door to door thing must be effective or else they would quit doing it, but for the life of my I can't imagine changing my religion because of a sales pitch. It's like those phone calls you get trying to get you to refinance your home. Do people really buy mortgages that way?

Maybe it occurs when a person is in a crisis and sees the visitors as people who care???

[David Pettigrew]

Maybe it occurs when a person is in a crisis and sees the visitors as people who care???

Probably. The skeptic in me thinks they probably convert just to get them to leave so they can watch television.

[Susan Unger]

Probably. The skeptic in me thinks they probably convert just to get them to leave so they can watch television.

The pessimist in me says I bet they believe it hook line and sinker if they are truly in a crisis.

[Gina Stevenson]

we live next door to JW's....they are quiet, decent and good neighbors. we don' talk religion.

Don't live next door, but we've a couple in the family. It's the daughter of an aunt who made fun of her girls going to a southern Baptist church; they quit, and did nothing for how-long. One married a Catholic guy and went that direction, and the other one got married, then they had those visitors to the door one day .............

So, anyway, we talk familial things, usually. Don't see much of each other, anyway; they're in TN now, and haven't seen them since a few summers ago now when they were up here for a visit.

Personally, I tell them I'm not interested by answering whatever question they've asked me and send them on their way.

My husband however, would engage them. He kept a pair of them on our front porch for two hours one night. He was frustrated because he could see the younger one (the newer one) wavering quite a bit, but the older, more experienced one would change the subject every time. After two hours, I came outside, suggested they call it a draw and asked my husband to come inside.

Sad that the one seemed to be listening, but kept being pulled back in. However, one thing your hubby did ... took up a couple hours of their time that they didn't then have to try to get to some of your other neighbors.

[David Pettigrew]

Well, and that's probably the most likely scenario. Those firmly grounded in their faith are not likely to respond to JW at their door. Those with no faith, or loosely grounded in their faith, are most likely to be open, especially in moments of crisis.

[Greg Farra]

Well, I've been looking at their literature they left me on the Trinity. I thought it was garbage, but something just kept drawing me back to it. I've looked up some of the info they had in it. I am stating to think that perhaps the early church didn't really look at Christ as Divine. I'm going to have to check this stuff out more. Maybe this wasn't just a chance meeting. I told the lady that I have an open mind. Maybe I need to open it some more.

[Marsha Lynn]

Well, I've been looking at their literature they left me on the Trinity. I thought it was garbage, but something just kept drawing me back to it. I've looked up some of the info they had in it. I am stating to think that perhaps the early church didn't really look at Christ as Divine. I'm going to have to check this stuff out more. Maybe this wasn't just a chance meeting. I told the lady that I have an open mind. Maybe I need to open it some more.

Really! Maybe I need to look into this, too. After all, I, too, like to be open-minded. Do you suppose they have any more of those magazines? Maybe we NazNetters could study them together. This could be the start of a new era in the Church of the Nazarene.



Hmmm... Now what? If I leave that statement without further comment, someone is likely to be greatly concerned about my faith. But if I laugh, it will appear that I am mocking the JWs and their conversion attempts. What I need is a creative-writing course on gentle satire that expresses humor without derision.

BTW, we were told at the Discipleship Summit last Saturday that the conversion rate for door-to-door contact like that is 1 in 1,000.

Marsha

[David Pettigrew]

BTW, we were told at the Discipleship Summit last Saturday that the conversion rate for door-to-door contact like that is 1 in 1,000.

Marsha

This has got to be one of my all time favorite statistics. Why in the world would we want to do something that is .1 percent successful?

[Hans Deventer]

This has got to be one of my all time favorite statistics. Why in the world would we want to do something that is .1 percent successful?

Because the 1 out of 1000 is incalculably valuable? (Yes, I hate that line as well but it's what I always hear as the reason for doing almost useless things.)

[Greg Farra]

Well, I've been looking at their literature they left me on the Trinity. I thought it was garbage, but something just kept drawing me back to it. I've looked up some of the info they had in it. I am stating to think that perhaps the early church didn't really look at Christ as Divine. I'm going to have to check this stuff out more. Maybe this wasn't just a chance meeting. I told the lady that I have an open mind. Maybe I need to open it some more.

Sorry about this, but,

APRIL FOOL!!!!! :basic05:basic05:basic05

[Karen Panabaker]

A friend works in a hospital Blood bank, and when she discovers who's at the door she tells them where she works. She then says it would be hypocritcal for her to take their magazines and says good-bye.

[Laurie Florence]

A friend works in a hospital Blood bank, and when she discovers who's at the door she tells them where she works. She then says it would be hypocritcal for her to take their magazines and says good-bye.


I have a friend who works in a hospital blood bank too (coincidentally, her name is Karen :)) and she says the same thing! :laughing