thought i would share a few excerpts from emails I have recieved from this post.
silentlambs
Dear Bill;
Thank you for your thought provoking letter - it had some very good points.
Dearest Bill, as I read your story tears began to stream down my face. They were tears of pain and tears of sheer anger. I know exactly how you felt when facing these so called princes among men
Dear Bill,
I really enjoyed your summary of the events of the last few years with Watchtower. Your list of things they did to you was identical with what they did to me. I am quite sure many could say the same. It is a pattern with WT to abuse and silence innocents.
Hello Bill,
Very good work. I think that a sense of justice and what is right was the deciding factor for many of us who opposed the WTS on principal grounds.
At first we thought that we only had to bring the matter to the attention of those higher up in the organization and they would put it right. We then discovered that they didn't, on the contrary we, who pointed the problem out became the focus. We became the problem.
I appreciate all the hard work you put in Bill. I'm sure you have already helped a great number of people and the changes that will be forced on them because of the publicity you have generated will help more than we will ever know in the future.
Hello "Brother" Bowen
Your letter shows me you've suffered greatly under this org. So have I. I have been associated with JW for about 30 years and am just recently seeing the light as to how things are done and the hypocritical double standards that are applied to many things.
Hi Bill (I hope I have your name right)
Thanks for sharing your story. I sure can see, that you were in an extremely difficult position and I really admire you for the stand you have taken. All the more power to you.
Bill Bowen, that was a masterful piece of penmanship.........thank you. It made a lot of sense, and put things in prospective for me.
Keep on trucking............from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Bill...you remind me of the time when Jesus went into the temple and overthrew the tables.....You have shown us courage, given us hope and supplied us with truth and to this we are thankful........and for this I give you the name of my daughter and sister's sexual molester….
Dear Bill, Well done I have red your letter, I will read it more fully later. You are a fighter for what is right. You have brought this issue to the fore, the issue of WT policy.
Dear Brother Bowen:
I hope you don't mind if I call you that, as I view you as my brother in Christ. Thank you so very much for your insights.
I think that it is men like you, that would be the ONLY reason for me to return to JW’s.
I am so impressed with what you have managed to do!
Your work with silentlambs is a valuable one and I commend you for it. It is helping you to continue to grow into the beautiful self you are. Your genuine self which is compassionate and caring and guided by such words as integrity.
Such words as integrity, trust, faith and genuine are unknown to the WTBTS. They are simply words that are parroted. It is only after one leaves that, in time, such words take on a more soulful and genuine understanding.
I wish you success in your work and your growth in being genuine.
Thank you for writing this and expressing yourself so well. I fully support what you have done and are doing. I have also witnessed the hypocrisy in the congregations with sexual abuse against children. All covered up. I’m glad you exist.
Dear Brother Bowen,
I have read your letter in its entirety and I wanted to express my appreciation for your opinion, and your courage.
I have faced similar circumstances, though on a miniscule scale compared to what you are going through, which interestingly were all put in motion by a pedophile. I resigned as an elder two years ago this month, and the "lost" feeling continues to prevail. Since I don't have the feather I can't fly either. I am still here, still trying to hang in there, and I want to love and respect the Society so much it hurts, but for some reason I can't break over and make things like they used to be.
All ANGELS go through tribulation before they get their wings...congrats! Not honoring you, humbly applauding you! My voice was too weak from the abuse to continue shouting any longer and I felt that I was done for. My wings are tattered and one is broken, yet I still FLY. I will heal someday.
May you always be blessed!
Hi Bill I read your letter about your time in the watchtower, It’s like my story, for years I would fight the elders to do what was right…
Bill, I endure dirty looks every day. They are easy for me knowing Christ endured so much more for us all.
Don’t give up. I firmly believe Jehovah will destroy those destroying the faiths of others, hiding wrongdoing, serving for prominence and comfort and who do NOT have Jehovah's spirit or guidance.
Please, please take care.
Hi Bill Bowen
I enjoyed your comments on "The fight to do what's right". Brings back "memories"... you know. Having spent close to 50 years being a JWs, raised as one, I no doubt, can probably relate to your "experiences" with crooked Circuit Overseers and SPECIAL COMMITTEES greatly.
Dear Bill,
I read with keen appreciation today's letter. I want to thank you for your concise explanation of your position. I know first hand the feelings you so eloquently expressed regarding separation from the organization. Your training as a teacher in the congregation is evident with the solid scriptural case you laid out.
