It was a mild surprise, learning that a brother and sister-in-law had began re-associating with Jehovah's Witnesses after at least 25 years of being away. The couple, of Hispanic ethnicity, are in their early 60's, with their five children all grown and independent.
The family had been considered nominal JWs, infrequently attending meetings, rarely in field service, but using the annual convention as their family vacation. The children went to college if they wished. All the boys played high school football, one enjoying some notoriety and marrying a cheerleader. The father remained extremely close to his non-JW family, frequently holding large parties over the years with music, dancing, bbq and beer.
Our brother-in-law was not well educated, but extremely hardworking, running a plumbing business for 40 years. He did the plumbing on several local Kingdom Halls for free and did work for various JWs over the years free or well below cost.
At the couple's second or third Kingdom Hall meeting since coming back to the organization, our brother-in-law learned about a special work day at the Kingdom Hall the following Saturday, to mow grass and trim bushes. He showed up on Saturday ready for work, but was informed that those duties could only be performed by approved JWs "in good standing."
We've since learned that our brother-in-law and, and to a lesser extent, our sister-in-law were stumbled by this rejection in not being allowed to even mow the Kingdom Hall lawn.
Hopefully, they will reconsider things and not waste the rest of their lives in such a high control, rule-oriented cult.