Back in the 1970s we had,
-- Home book studies, with actual homes to meet in.
-- Magazine subscriptions, which were so important to spiritual growth that every member of the family was told to have his own, to both magazines.
-- 5 day District conventions.
-- 3 day Circuit assemblies.
-- A drama almost every day at District conventions.
-- Food service at Conventions and Assemblies.
-- Fudgesicles galore at Conventions.
-- Great burritos at Assemblies.
-- Plenty of books and literature released at conventions.
-- Many more people getting baptised, regardless of what the published numbers say.
-- 5 meetings a week.
-- More lively meetings.
-- Longer meetings.
-- A reason to go door to door (or so we thought).
-- More and better association.
-- Eager anticipation of CO & DO visits and Special Talks.
-- 2 or 3 Theocratic Ministry Schools, now 1 (where I attended).
-- 5 talks in the TMS.
-- 100 hr per month regular pioneers (now as low as 30).
-- 75 hr per month vacation (auxiliary) pioneers.
-- 25% of publishers in Japan was a pioneer.
-- A much more thorough knowledge of the Bible.
-- The ability to use scriptures at the door.
-- Witnesses that knew what they were supposed to believe (I'm shocked at how many are clueless about WTS teachings now).
-- Lots of janitors.
-- Lots and lots of information moving us to "preach the word, be at it urgently" because "the time left is reduced" (2Tim 4:2, 1Cor 7:29).
Now, everything else has been reduced too, including zeal, enthusiasm, association, hours in ministry, no subscriptions, number of meetings, length of meetings and more. If Witnesses today maintained the 'theocratic' schedule of days gone by, the KHs would be even emptier than they are now.
What memories!
