by Slidin Fast 11 Replies latest jw friends
Hundreds baptized at Jehovah's Witness Convention
At first sight this Afican RC looks as though it's acheiving the quantity of baptisms of another era. 348 is a substantilal number and impressive until you see the Sunday attendance 28,300. So a baptism rate of 1.2%, in Africa. Where if anywhere is the marvelous epansion now taking place?
I think that the 'suits' will be horrified and alarmed at this state of affairs.
In recent years, there have even been a couple of Circus Assemblies where NO ONE was baptized. The speaker gave the Baptism Talk to an empty front row of seats (as a reminder for all in the audience).
There were lots of whispers about it, but no one has the chutzpah to really say much else.
The significant thing for me is that we are used to seing tiny percentage numbers being baptised in the US and Europe but Africa has been the focus of increase. Where now can this expansion be claimed?
Well, for what its worth, in Australia.
Regional convention last weekend in Melbourne at the Assembly Hall, recently re-furbished for just under 2 million dollars. Figures are as follows: Attendance 1,656
Baptized 7
Ages approx. 11, 12, 15, 19, 25, 45, 90. (first three born-ins)
So, am I correct in seeing a less than .5% increase??
However, the weather was not too bad for Melbourne and I enjoyed many a long walk through the grounds thereafter,,,,,,, It's healthy to walk I'm told.
jtg
They are in fact doing well in third world countries, in developing nations and in places where there's not lot of technology infrastructure. As soon as the Internet catches up...
20 years ago at our conventions there were 3500 + in attendance with more than 60 getting baptized. The last convention attendance had dropped to under 3000 and only 13 baptized. No change in territory boundaries.
I gave a baptism talk about 3 years ago in a Spanish circuit assembly on the West coast of the USA. Attendance was about 900 and 2 got baptized that day. So I would say yes it's definitely a trend, especially if it's now happening in the Spanish field also.
It is definitely a trend in the USA. I remember just a year or so ago, it was the first time in my life that I saw a big fat ZERO baptized at a circuit assembly. It was almost shocking. Even for me, I was pretty amazed! Even the speaker seemed a little unprepared for it! He stumbled and stammered his way thru his talk..... looking at the empty front row.......I couldnt help but think ¨so for 1500 of you, you couldnt even con 1 person into getting baptized??¨" Crazy? For all those hours and hours reported?
Since then, I had heard that an ¨unofficial¨ word went around from the CO to NOT let that happen again. And since then, we always have had at least 3 or so baptized, even if they are all under the age of 15.
Just a few weeks ago, at the Circuit Assembly, there were 1300 in attendance, 4 baptized, 3 kids under 15, and 1 really old dude!
Almost embarrassing!
@Tech49
What's the CO's recommendation for "not letting this happen again"? Threats with firearms to young people to "get baptized or else"? Jeeeeezzzzzz...these guys are really getting desperate!
With all the brain dead JW parents in the USA it surprises me that they still can't talk most of their kids into getting baptized.
