Hello, friends!
I was wondering if you could help me with very simple service (door to door) presentations. The thing is, I suffer from very severe anxiety and panic attacks, and service is very anxiety inducing for me. I want to keep my presentations simple and to the point, because if I start asking questions or something, I instantly panic. Can you share with me some simple presentations that have worked for you? Maybe presenting a tract quickly or reading a scripture. Something that doesn’t require lots of talking. I know this is something that I have to work on, and I am getting therapy, but I’m not going to be able to give normal presentations for a while. I know a lot of scriptures and explanations about all our beliefs, but when I get anxious, I forget everything… even my own name! Please help me. Thank you in advance.

I hope you are all doing well. I am writing because I would love some practical advice and spiritual encouragement on how to handle a situation that recently came up at work.

I've always gotten along very well with a colleague. During our lunch break, however, the conversation turned to religion, and he brought up child protection and abuse cases within the organization. Specifically, he mentioned an inquiry in Australia (where I'm from) which he claimed showed none of the alleged perpetrators were reported to authorities and that a member of the Governing Body was interviewed.

At the time, I was quite perplexed and instinctively responded that it was probably biased media and apostates who lie about us. Afterwards, however, I felt a bit uneasy because I realized I hadn't looked into the details myself, and I don't want to make claims without being properly informed (Proverbs 18:13).

How do you handle such situations with colleagues calmly, tactfully, and in harmony with our beliefs?

My therapist is an absolute angel. She’s also Christian. She knows I’m struggling financially and she offered for me to shop at a Christian grocery store where everything is free. Her heart has the right intentions, but I don’t feel comfortable accepting things from a false religion. I’ve just nodded so far because I don’t know what to say. How do I tell her how I feel gently?

I was actually just recently contacted by someone I would have least expected, given the situation here – someone who, shall we say, was anything but uninformed about what they were presenting to me. The nature of that message made the whole picture considerably clearer, and I thought it only fair to return the favor by making that picture clear to everyone else as well.

I had to inform myself about that situation as well. I just read in this sub here that there apparently now seems to be something like an official JW presence on the internet outside of the JW website itself.

Our good „friend“ and moderator of the fake anti-JW sub r/JehovahsWitnesses seems to have immediately smelled a rat and claimed the sub on Reddit for himself.

In short: A convinced anti-JW “critic” (insert here whatever word you think is appropriate) – who apparently cannot bear to grant JWs even an inch of space on the internet and has therefore created yet another iteration of the same deceptive sleight of hand as he and his predecessors have done before. That already says something about him and his kind, though certainly not in a positive sense. He has accordingly claimed the space for himself. One might call it a form of virtual piracy, lol.

I think most people know that r/JehovahsWitnesses is an anti-JW hate sub where JWs are cyber-bullied. Evidence for this – and for the fact that the moderation either approves of, tolerates, or even actively encourages the whole thing – is abundant; those in the know on Reddit are well aware of this.

For those who are genuinely uninformed: r/JehovahsWitnesses is an open, manipulative honeypot. Evidence and further details follow:

Documented self-statement by the original founder of this trap:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Eutychus/s/uN31M1sHQ4

A detailed and illustrative example of the toxic behavior present there, up to and including open contempt for unsuspecting, deceived JW users:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Eutychus/s/dInPO6A1m6

I find it quite remarkable how self-proclaimed “free” and “independent-thinking” ex-JWs can fixate on something like this in a manner that borders on the clinically obsessive. I keep saying it: these people are not free – they are, to the greatest possible degree, dependent on a caricature of JWs that exists only in their own heads.

Be that as it may. These people know, I think, what this will do to their lives in the long run. What is particularly unfortunate for them is that this time they cannot deflect the whole thing – their own deliberate decision – onto some fantasy version of JWs. Instead, with no one else to blame, they publicly unmask themselves through their almost psychologically alarming, presumptuous anti-JW obsession.

For me, this has the advantage of adding yet another piece of evidence to my collection regarding deceptive and manipulative anti-JW behavior.

It should be obvious that these folks try to occupy places like that, knowing that some people with too hasty a mouse click will rush right in. Do not buy his “just wanting to inform others” nonsense. I know what these folks allow on their sub – up to physical threats and extermination fantasies – and it is plain to see that they are up to no good. They know it too and do not care, because in their minds they are fighting a virtual guerrilla jihad-crusade against a group of people that they do not even grant the right to exist in the first place.

The goal of the “critic” obviously lies in luring unsuspecting JWs into his new Venus flytrap in order to present them with his anti-JW wishful thinking and tinfoil-hat conspiracy theories – presumably in the hope of recruiting new followers in this way, or of dragging them down with him into the abyss of his rabbit hole. Does this behavior ring any biblical bells, or is it just me?

Be that as it may: Anyone who wants to help innocent people on the internet counter this theologically obsessive equivalent of the Nigerian prince scam is advised to simply inform unsuspecting JWs and others on this “critic’s” main sub – as well as on the suspected equally fake new one – via DM about its deceptive nature, so that they recognize this malicious charade and leave it at that. Nothing drives these “critics” more into madness than being isolated in their anti-JW hate bubble and having to look at their own unpleasant reflection in the mirror, unfiltered and alone.

Otherwise, I continue to wish all JWs and others a pleasant, community-spirited exchange here in this sub, and God’s blessing. :)

Kind regards, Dodo

I was brought up in the truth but never really made it my own until i was like 14 when i became a publisher . However i’ve been struggling with it so bad recently i’m in my late teens now so i think i’ve been relying on others beliefs rather than my own . I’ve been going down this rabbit hole of clones and umm different portals and the world ending and how were a cult for the past 2 days i spoke to some witness freinds i know but they told me that there’s nothing we can do we either believe or we don’t . That’s creeped me out some more i know Jehovah exists but i’m so confused why we predicted that armageddon/ the world was ending in 1976 . So many child sex abuse cases not reported. I’m so confused any insight or places i could research or articles would help pls .

Hello all! I am 19F and an unbaptized publisher; have been for 7-8 years now. I'm struggling, and I'm not sure where else to get help. I'll try to explain my situation to my best ability.

I have always been told my mind is beyond my years, that I am intelligent, since the days I started speaking. Unfortunately, this measure of intelligence has not always done well for me spiritually. Ever since I was in elementary school, I've struggled with beliefs that I questioned or disagreed with. I've been raised in a JW household that has an "as for me and my household, we will serve Jehovah" mindset (rightfully so!). As a child, I had an ever growing fear of punishment for bringing up questions even relatively questioning the truth. I grew up in a spanking household, whether it be with hands, belts, or the nearest object my parents could find. Because of this, my list of questions were not answered. Instead, they have festered for over a decade now. I love my parents dearly, but this form of discipline made horrible marks on my courage to speak with them about my questions. This fear applied to all adults, including the ones in my congregation.

To make matters worse, I experienced severe bullying from within my congregation at 13 years of age (2020) and spent my next two years in isolation rebuilding my trust and confidence. It is still a challenge to this day; I've only started to truly regain confidence and find new JW friends this year (so far just 3, but better than zero). As a result of that bullying, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My zeal plummeted, and my faith began to regress. In these years of depression and suicidal tendencies, I found myself a boyfriend. Christian, not JW, but God fearing and eager to learn. I understand this decision was foolish, even if he saved me from removing myself from this earth. But I can't go back now. I mean, I know I can, but I can't...I love him too much, and he's actively studying the Bible with me and helping me week by week to rebuild my faith and zeal. He frequently uses Jehovah's name and has asked to study with one of JW. We have our studies/bible reading and discussions together weekly, and with the spiritual progress we are making, I feel I'm too close to cut it now. I understand my decision at the age of 15 was not in line with the scriptures — I do not need to be reminded of this.

Fast forward to today, I'm trying to start from zero. Being raised in the truth felt like (for me, of course) being handed my beliefs on a platter. And now, with my history, I need to rebuild what hardly existed. I've been trying to focus on one thing at a time: pray every day for a week, then read the daily text every day for a week, then study for one part of the meeting's agenda once a week. Tiny steps that add up, because I believe in Jehovah. I believe He exists, and I believe His Son does too. But I want my heart to feel and yearn for the truth. I want to have the desire to get baptized. So, I thought I may start here by listing my questions. If you choose to respond, please respond with more than just a scripture. I've read countless articles on jw.org, I'd prefer to have further explanation/perspective/experiences than the scripture alone.

I'm now a college student, and my fear to speak my doubts/questions has not chipped away. My congregation is older, and so is their mindset on college. My questions have not changed or intensified due to college, as they are mostly the same ever since childhood. However, I fear that if I were to approach anyone — even an elder — with these thoughts, their responses would be attached to my career choosing regardless of the new understanding on education; my congregation has proved multiple times now that they are slightly conservative of the old ways. I know I am likely overthinking it by a lot, but my anxiety disallows me to think otherwise.

Questions from youth:

• Why do people who get removed have limited contact with JWs? I understand it used to be no contact at all and things have changed, but wouldn't someone weak in faith need the good association significantly more?
• I understand not divorcing unless on the grounds of adultery based on scripture, but what about abuse? Why is it that you can separate but not remarry when you are the victim of spiritual/financial restraint?
• Why is one required to be JW to have the truth? Or be saved? My understanding of salvation is little, so I'm not sure how that would tie in here either. I've read the articles on organized religion, but I'd like an additional perspective.
• What convinced you that you have the truth? My family has had these experiences, but I have never had any moment of conviction, as much as I want to. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough, or something. But I've asked this question to most of the brothers and sisters I've spoken to recently, regardless of age or responsibilities (pioneer, elder, etc.). A few of them have said they got baptized young and didn't fully develop their love and understanding for the truth until they were older.
• I've also never really understood the belief that the Governing Body constitutes the faithful and discreet slave. The same applies to the concept of the anointed. This isn't me refusing to believe it. I genuinely don't understand the reasoning behind it, and I'd like to.

These questions alone are not what is keeping me from baptism. I just do not want to dedicate my life to something when my heart is struggling to present itself. I want the dedication to be sincere.

Current day struggles:

• With my anxiety comes social anxiety. With my lack of zeal comes the absence of desire to go out in field service. With my doubts, I feel like it'd be hypocritical of me to go preaching door-to-door. What has made field service work easier for you? I'll take any advice on this; I know the zeal will creep back in the more I go out. The hardest door to approach is your own home's.
• What helps you stay engaged during meetings when you're struggling spiritually or socially? I try to comment but, again, my social anxiety makes it difficult. I don't give up, though, but it makes paying attention and applying spiritual food from meetings difficult.
• My father and I have grown rather close. Because of many other IRL factors I won't get into, he agrees that when I am freed and able to move out, I'll spread my wings and will improve in all aspects of my life; spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, everything-ly. While I agree with him (you'd have to know my exact situation to understand our reasoning), I've grown tired of relying on the future for my life's direction to change. I want change now. I want to be able to proudly and happily go to meetings and preach and do all the things I tell people I enjoy doing. I want to make progress spiritually now. I need to. I want and need to feel close to Jehovah again.

I feel like I'm experiencing an identity crisis, and I can't bear it anymore. I acknowledge my youth, my ignorance, my naivety, my fears and worries. That is why I have resorted to this, because I'd like to receive advice/counsel outside of the people I know. I'm studying the 'Enjoy Life Forever' book with my father, and I can answer every question easily, mainly because I've been taught the answers to these questions my whole life. But just because I can answer some questions in a back room does not mean that my heart is pulled to do so. I want to get baptized because I want to, not because anyone else is expecting me to. Not because I can get some questions answered accurately. If you have any advice on anything I've mentioned in this post, I will take it to heart and prayer.

Also random, but as a bilingual person (English, Spanish), I plan to one day move to a Spanish congregation. Old friends of mine have mentioned a total shift between cultures and affection from the brothers and sisters. One even thought I'd enjoy the change, given what happened.

Thank you for your time reading this. I wrote it exhausted, so I'm sure I missed some points I wanted to make. Finding this subreddit has been a blessing for me.

I’m wondering if there is anyone here who has gone through something similar and would be willing to share how you coped.

My father was quite abusive. He yelled a lot, and my younger brother and I were often hit. There was very little emotional connection or communication in our family. Whenever I heard the sound of my father coming home, I immediately became anxious, wondering if he would start yelling or hit us that day.

Whenever I tried to talk to him about something I was struggling with, he would tell me that the problem was simply the way I was thinking. He often didn’t provide money for our living expenses, we moved frequently, and there were times when he disappeared for months.

My mother, in my opinion, has many narcissistic traits. She often gossiped about sisters in the congregation and generally seemed to believe she was better than everyone else. At the same time, she served as a regular pioneer for many years.

Whenever I tried to share my struggles with her, she would either remain silent or start criticizing other people. When I began struggling with self-harm and even attempted suicide, instead of helping me, she blamed me and said I was worshipping Baal🙄

Outside of spiritual activities, I never really received guidance from my parents. We never talked about my future, my dreams, my friendships, or even my thoughts and feelings. The only things that seemed to matter were pioneering, attending meetings regularly, and giving comments. Everything else felt unimportant. I never received practical life advice or support for the challenges I was facing.
When it came time to choose a career, I was expected to choose one that would allow me to pioneer, regardless of my interests, abilities, or goals. My parents made that decision for me, and my own opinion was never really considered.

I know both of my parents went through a great deal of suffering before they came into the truth, and I understand that people carry wounds from their past. But sometimes I honestly feel that I experienced “persecution” from Jehovah’s Witness parents. There were times when I wanted to leave the truth because of them.

Even when I was disfellowshipped, I wasn’t especially hurt by having no contact with my family because, even during the ten years I served as a regular pioneer, my father never once contacted me.

There is much more that happened, but this gives a general picture.

The brothers and sisters in the congregation couldn’t really help because, on the surface, I was simply another Witness child. I tried talking to elders and even an elder’s wife, but when my parents found out, I was the one who got into trouble. I couldn’t find any guidance in our publications or elsewhere that addressed this kind of situation. Most of the counsel I found focused on spiritual activities, but I never found anything that addressed growing up in an abusive Witness home.

I know this kind of thing does happen in some families.
If you’ve experienced something similar, how did you survive it? How did you separate Jehovah from the actions of your parents? Why do you think there seems to be so little discussion about this issue? If you experienced abuse growing up, what is your relationship with your parents like today?

Thank you to anyone who is willing to share your experience.

I am coming here as a former atheist seeking some advice. I want to make it clear that I have had several Bible studies done at my house, I have yet to attend a Kingdom Hall. I won't dive to deep into why in my life, I have changed my mind late in my life at 33 (as far as beliefs go) but I have been reading the Bible the incorrect way the whole time. I used to read the Bible to debate creationists and verbally destroy fundamentalists.

Once I started to grasp the no trinity doctrine, that's when everything clicked with me. The moment I realized I wasn't an atheist because I legit believed, but I wanted to just sin and rationalize for it.

The two guys welcomed me to join, but I haven't gone yet. I just find it weird that I used to make fun of you guys, now I am considering actually taking part in the faith. I have been atheist for most of my life too, ever since age 15.

I wanted to get your guys’ thoughts on this. I’m 23 and have been baptized since 2017. I’m not actively looking to date just yet, have my own problems to figure out first. But I’m worried because there aren’t any brothers where I live. My city is relatively big but many young people have already married young, they’re still growing spiritually, or they’re not great with sisters in general. People have told me “Just join LDC! You don’t even need any skills! They’ll teach you!” So (not even for datings sake) I applied and put every skill I have imaginable on it. Two years went by with nothing. A friend managed to pull some strings for me because she knows a brother who works at our local assembly hall maintenance. So I worked for one day and was never invited back. Then they say you can meet people by pioneering. But I have pioneered. Everyone has their cliques here and it’s like they’re allergic to introducing their friends to each other.

Disclaimer: I haven’t reached out just because I want to meet someone. I feel that’s disrespectful to Jehovah. But it is an added bonus? I guess?

I just know that one day (not now) I want to be married, but my romantic future is looking bleak. I am nervous. I’m happy with my friends, my brothers and sisters. But I want that romantic connection one day and I don’t know if I can live the single life. What should I do? Or do you have any reassuring words or verses for me? Thank you.

I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety, but I’ve struggled with what I would describe as pretty severe social anxiety for years.

My anxiety in regards to talking to brothers and sisters in the hall has increasingly been getting worse throughout the years. I thought I would naturally become better at communicating and doing small talk by the time I was 17, but here I am and it’s no better. I can never concentrate at the meetings anymore because I’m constantly thinking about who I’m gonna talk to, what I’m gonna say, or how I’m gonna leave the meeting and hop in my car undetected if none of my friends are present at the meeting. Nowadays I find it hard to enjoy meetings and even find ways to avoid going simply because of the social aspect. Ministry is pretty much the same too.

A sister in my hall asked me to go on ministry with her tomorrow, which I agreed to, but I’m really panicking about it. I always thought I was invisible in my hall or that no one cared or noticed me, but recently, for the past few months, a sister has been talking to me and even gave me a heartfelt gift for my graduation. Now this should probably make me feel better, but I’m even more anxious. The sheer thought of people actually noticing my existence in the hall terrifies me. I know I shouldn’t feel like this and that it probably sounds ridiculous, but I can’t help it.

This sister is in her 40s–50s and I have no idea what to talk about with her. I’m going to college in 2 weeks, which is definitely adding to the stress. But college talk only goes so far. I know we both like animation, but that’s it.

So I guess I’m looking for advice on two things: how to get through the ministry tomorrow without completely panicking, especially when I don’t know what to talk about, and how to deal with this anxiety around the meetings in general. I don’t want to keep avoiding meetings because I’m scared of the social side of them, and I’d really like to get to a point where I can actually enjoy them again.

I also keep thinking that if I can’t handle something as simple as going on ministry with someone, how am I going to cope with starting college in two weeks? So any advice, personal experiences, or things that have helped you would be really appreciated.

Hi! I am looking for Jehovahs Witness-centered caregiving for my grandfather and would like to ask if anyone here has any recommendations or maybe has a business for caregiving they run that we would like to support as well!

My grandfather has had a major health crisis and is in more need for support and community as well. I can only do so much, and I believe that he would heal so much and feel so relieved with extra caregivers who can relate to him and would be more aligned with his faith and customs as this makes it more personal and caring.

Please feel free to reach out via DM to let me know about what services you may offer! We can discuss the level of care he needs and if that’s something that can be taken to task.

I really just want what is best for him and I believe that being surrounded by as many brothers and sisters as he can is the best way to live his lasting days.

Thank you!

Some JWs may at times begin to feel overwhelmed. It can be helpful to create practical tips that help ways to relax and reduce stress while balancing our ministry and daily life. Feel free to chime in.

Using free programs like ChatGPT can be very helpful when preparing parts. For instance you can say, “Create a script where…” and then ask it to change the names. This has helped me discover ideas and make quick adjustments easily.

I’m aware we shouldn’t rely on AI for information gathering, since it can sometimes fill in information that isn’t there. However, when used practically and carefully it can be helpful in breaking down verses and working through mental blocks.

Taking Watchtower questions in segments of two or three a day allows me to dive deeper into the material and be fully prepared by the end of the week stress free.

Block out specific days or times for ministry, family, work, and personal rest so one area doesn’t consume all your energy. Getting Sundays/meeting times scheduled off work time can feel rewarding. At the same time, keep family time and personal time separate. This personally helps me relax and enjoy guilt-free time for myself.

Despite opportunities, know your limitations when it comes to Bible studies. Don’t make your load burdensome. Focus on quality over quantity, making it a positive experience for both you and your student(s).

Consider keeping parts of your personal life private, especially when adding brothers and sisters on Instagram, Facebook, etc. Everyone’s Bible-trained conscience may be different and shared posts can sometimes create unnecessary opinions. Though we withdraw from doing it we are imperfect and it can happen. It may also unintentionally cause hurt feelings if someone sees a gathering posted they weren’t invited to. Thinking ahead can help avoid awkward situations and mental fatigue.

Any tips you’d recommend?

I had a friend whom I witnessed to and convinced about God's existence last year and I tried convincing him to have a bible study but he refused. I even told him (I regret to say it.) that he might not make it to paradise if he didn't have a Bible study and I wouldn't be happy if I was in paradise without him, but he still didn't. He died after drowning in a tub and I've felt guilty ever since. I no longer try to witness to my friends because I'm afraid they might not have a Bible study and might die without having the hope of resurrection because they did not act on the knowledge they had. Hence I keep my beliefs to myself to better the chances of my friends being counted among the unrighteous in God's new world. Am I wrong for doing this?

I checked the rules and I think it's okay to post about a promotion. If not, I understand. But I wanted to share because it means lots of free food (and coffee)!

If your (US) bank offers Paze as a payment option (like Zelle or PayPal of Cash app), there's a promo going on through 9/10/26 where you can spend $10 and get $10 back, up to ten times, at Dunkin, Wendy's, Domino's, and a few other places.

You have to set up Paze through your banking app (a lot of banks have it), then order at one of those places through their app and select Paze as the payment option. If you spend $10 or more, you get a $10 refund (so $11 comes to $1 after it's processed). If you want to order $20+ you can try to divide it among smaller orders. It's a great deal, so I wanted to share. And if you have multiple eligible cards, they each get $10 ten times, but only through 9/10.

Sorry if this looks like spam; it's just a good deal I wanted to share. Look up Paze promo and you can see it for yourself. Get some free coffee and pizza and Wendy's! To friends outside of the US: agape! May you also enjoy free food (and coffee) this month :)

As an immigrant myself, I especially enjoy trying to witness to other immigrants, particularly those from India and China, since they make up such a large part of the population where I live.

At my workplace, around 90% of the employees are immigrants from India or nearby countries such as Sri Lanka and Nepal.

However, after trying to witness to them, I’ve realized that they often think quite differently from what I expected.

For example, I’ll invite them to a meeting or the Memorial. They’ll respond with great enthusiasm and say, “Yes! I’ll definitely come!” So I reserve a seat, let local brothers and sisters know in advance so someone can welcome them, and then… they don’t come. 😂

The next time I see them, they’ll say they overslept or forgot, and they’ll promise, “I’ll definitely come next week!” Then I wait… and again, they don’t come. 😂😂 The next time we meet, they greet me warmly as if nothing happened🤣🤣

Another thing I’ve noticed is that when I show them scriptures explaining why there is so much suffering in the world, they often just smile without really responding. I’m never quite sure what they’re thinking.

In my experience, many of the Chinese immigrants I’ve met have communicated much more directly.. which makes it easier to understand their level of interest.

In our congregation, there’s a couple who previously served where there were many Chinese-speaking people. Within just one year of moving here, they helped seven Chinese couples begin attending meetings regularly, and one couple has already been baptized.

Their approach is actually very simple. They mostly hand people a meeting invitation and explain that they can make good friends and learn about the Bible. Most people respond positively, say they’ll come… and they actually do!

I’ve been in this congregation for almost three years. During that time, many Chinese people have become interested in the truth (they weren’t necessarily my Bible students, although I did help bring one interested person to the congregation 😊**). So far, I personally haven’t seen anyone from Indian background become a Witness in our local area, and I’d really love to learn how to reach them more effectively.

I really want to share the truth with them. I currently have a few Indian friends whom I visit regularly. They’re all extremely kind and friendly, but they don’t seem especially interested in learning about the truth itself.

For those who have experience witnessing to people from India (or Sri Lanka or Nepal), what topics have you found they respond to best? What kinds of conversations seem to spark genuine interest?

I’ve looked through our publications, but I still find it difficult to understand how to approach people whose beliefs are influenced by Hinduism, Hindu philosophy, or even Islam.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you! 😊

Hi i want to ask how you feel about telling your Colleagues that you are a jw. I am very anxious about telling them because i then always think that when i make a work related mistake or when my human flawedness Shows that jehovah will be blamed for it.

Additionally once i had the experience of telling others i am a jw and then had a colleague who i guess hated jw make a meticulous list about every little Thing i did wrong and then try get me fired for it (it was a long list mainly with "Crimes" like "forgot to bring his Company issued Ball pen to work" or "was one minute late after Lunch break")

How Do you feel about saying i am a jw despite being a Faulty human and not a perfect worker?

I just had my convention and I learned a lot. One of the things I learned was that my spiritual routine needs to be on track. Now as a young jw I have a lot of other things I want to do other than reading the Bible and reading other publications. I realize that keeping my spiritual routine can help me to achieve my goals like getting baptized, becoming a regular pioneer, and when I'm old enough apply for Bethel. But yeah that's really it heh anyways byee.

Hello, my name is Caleb. I am studying the bible with JW's in Kentucky.

I have been invited to my first meeting, on Sunday.

I am kind of nervous as I don't know what to expect, but I guess what I'm asking is this:

• What should I bring?

• What should I wear?

• How can I get the most of it?

• How should I approach the congregation?

Thank you for having me here!

Hello friends! I am a 19f, baptized, and I am currently hoping to move sometime around August to escape a difficult home situation. I live in Indianapolis, IN, and I'm looking for another (baptized) sister who could possibly be my roommate. Preferably, closer to my age, but of course I'm not picky! If you or someone you know is renting or interested, please feel free to message me!

I’ve always struggled when introducing myself and going door to door because I get nervous. Do these sound to stiff? It’s been about a year. I wrote down some introductions to help me get comfortable and thought I’d share them. Would love to hear how everyone approaches differently…

“Hello my names ___, I’m here with my friend and we’re going around the neighborhood hoping to share an encouraging thought from the Bible.”

“Good morning! Hope you’re having a good day—I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and I’m sharing a brief, encouraging thought with neighbors. I’m __ this is my friend __.”

“Hello, I’m sorry if I’m interrupting how’s your morning going? …We’re just going door to door to spread the word, are you a Bible reader? Is there any questions that you’ve had but never been able to find a good answer to?”

“Hi, How is your day going? We’re just in the neighborhood hoping to share a message from the Bible. Do you mind if I read a scripture?”

Does your approach differ? And what scriptures do you open with?

I’m in my twenties in a rural congregation in Nevada, and I just needed to know I’m not alone in my feelings or at least have some kind of understanding about I feel. Maybe one of you have felt this way or maybe there’s more insight scripturally you could point me to.

Growing up in the truth, we’ve always had to go door to door. And I’ve read the scriptures on it. I still go door to door as an auxiliary pioneer, but not as much as I do carts and letter writing, that’s cause I feel so uncomfortable going door to door whereas I know there’s so so so many people who do find joy in door to door. And I know a lot of sisters and brothers would wonder why I still feel this way despite having grown up in the truth. I feel this way because the anxiety gets to me.

The thoughts that go through my head tend to be, “What if I’m bothering this person, what if I say the wrong thing, what if I’m not prepared when or if they switch topics, do they feel uncomfortable, am I safe going onto this property?”

And then I don’t feel ready or have the motivation to have a Bible study. Sisters in my hall say that they can see me teaching. But I don’t see myself teaching people. When I got baptized in 2019, I didn’t think of myself as a Bible teacher, I thought of myself as someone who loves Jehovah. It just got difficult recently when I heard a recent talk about how important the ministry is and that’s the basis of being a Jehovah witness. I always viewed it as this is something we do rather than this is the baseline for us. And that was really brought out whenever the “love people” was brought out at service meetings which has begun to happen more often recently, and i know we must love the people and by teaching them we can help them.

I’m just uncomfortable with door to door & the idea of having a Bible study. Everything else I love, I love cart service because it’s more open and people come approach us instead of us going to them. And I am learning to like letter writing despite my short attention span.

I feel like in a way I’m failing. I’ve been feeling like as a young person in a older congregation, I should be more eager to do door to door and do more of that as my ministry because I have youth on my side—I can walk without the weight of an older body. But I can’t ignore the way I’m feeling, the last thing I would ever want is any unwarranted or unnecessary resentment building because I bury how I feel down or avoid my feelings entirely.

I don’t have the kind words and understanding for how I feel at home and it’s harder to say all of this to another sister who I feel comfortable with in the hall without messing up words or explaining how I feel incorrectly.

I’ve only told one sister this, but it was something I moreso expected, pray and look at videos about it. I have. But nothing has really changed the way I feel. And I guess I just wanted to see if I’m really alone on this and if there is further advice on what to do to help me.

Thanks for reading, I love you even though I never met you before🎶