BREAKING NEWS | Adjustments to Field Service Reporting

[Landon1285]

24 minutes ago, DancesWithWife said:

My wife, when she was young said they had a board with all the publishers' names on it that had their service report displayed for all to see. This was in California. I do not recall this happening in my Washington State Congregation. I do recall the 10-hour goal being stressed at the service meeting. This was also when you could vacation pioneer for a two period with an expectation of getting 75 hours. "If circumstances prevent you from being a regular pioneer, a special arrangement is made so that you can “vacation” pioneer for one, two or more months. If you can vacation pioneer for only a couple of consecutive weeks, then the requirement is seventy-five hours"-A Letter from the Pioneers — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)

I like how this paragraph in the linked article highlights what we view towards pioneering in general now:

 

In addition to the normal worship required by the Law, the Israelites could voluntarily make “a special vow to live as a Nazirite to Jehovah.” During that time they would abstain from some of the normal activities of life, in order to be especially “separated to Jehovah.” (Num. 6:2-8) Now today it is impossible for you to take a Nazirite vow, but as congregation publishers you can do something similar when you vacation pioneer. That’s why it’s considered as one of the “special privileges of service” in the “Lamp” book, pages 186 and 199.

[Old]

34 minutes ago, DancesWithWife said:

My wife, when she was young said they had a board with all the publishers' names on it that had their service report displayed for all to see. 

Intresting, it seems the brothers may have gone a little beyond instructions in what was posted onthe Board or maybe they made their own. There was no space in the one supplied by the society for names and thepaste in numbers did not include letters. I am 85 and remember it  being explained what the Board was about in 1945. That was in the "Eureka Company of Jehovah's of Witnesses" circa 1945.

[Shawnster]

@Tortuga. I didn't want to derail your other topic, so I'll resurrect this one. 

 

Some who are considered in full time service, such as both regular and remote Bethelites, do not have an hour goal or requirement for their ministry.  However, these people are involved in an assignment or form of sacred service that most other publishers are not involved in. So they are still doing something that sets them apart from or distinguishes them from a typical publisher. 

 

*** w24 February p. 14 par. 2 Lessons We Can Learn From the Nazirites ***

2 The word “Nazirite” comes from the Hebrew term that means “One Singled Out,” “Separated One,” or “Dedicated One.” This term aptly describes the zealous Israelites who made certain personal sacrifices to serve Jehovah in a special way. The Mosaic Law allowed for a man or a woman to make a special vow to Jehovah by choosing to live as a Nazirite for a period of time.a (Read Numbers 6:1, 2.) That vow, or solemn promise, involved following guidelines that the rest of the Israelites did not have to observe. Why, then, would an Israelite choose to take the Nazirite vow? Such an Israelite was likely motivated by deep love for Jehovah and sincere gratitude for His rich blessing.—Deut. 6:5; 16:17.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=2024282&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=8

 

The entire nation of Israel was dedicated to Jehovah, but the Nazirites made a specific vow to serve Jehovah in a special way, and live with extra restrictions and requirements, that the rest of the nation did not follow. They were a people set apart for special assignments. 

 

I'm sure anyone could choose to live like a Nazirite, maybe even make a private vow between themselves and Jehovah, yet these people were not viewed as Nazirite by the organization they lived under at that time. The Nazirite vow obviously meant something to the entire nation. 

 

A Nazirite could not have a bad month of being a Nazirite. One cup of wine, trim their hair just once, accidentally touch a dead body and they broke their vow. 

 

Regular pioneers are modern day Nazirites. The only way to keep the role as regular pioneer while completely dropping the hour requirement would be to still set these ones aside for sacred service or special assignments. A distinction without a difference is not a difference. If there was nothing different between a regular pioneer and a publisher, then there either is no such thing as a regular pioneer or everyone is a regular pioneer. 

 

From the OD book:

*** od chap. 10 pp. 109-110 par. 13 Ways to Expand Your Ministry ***

13 To qualify as a regular pioneer, you must currently be in a position to reach the yearly hour requirement. As a regular pioneer, you will want to work closely with your congregation. Zealous pioneers are a blessing to a congregation, generating enthusiasm for the field ministry and even encouraging others to take up the pioneer service. Before you can apply to be a regular pioneer, however, you must be an exemplary publisher who has been baptized for at least six months.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1102014940&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=19

 

Regular pioneers work closely with the congregation. They take the lead in the ministry by setting the example. They generate zeal for the ministry. They inspire the congregation and encourage others to join the pioneer ranks.

 

And this gets back to your idea, Richard. Pioneering is more than counting hours. However, right now, counting hours is a focus. Pioneers are being counseled the majority of their hours needs to be in the actual ministry and not coming from these extra assignments like SMPW or LDC or whatever. They are being told to not rely on these extras as the primary source of ministry. They need to be in the field taking the lead and encouraging the friends. 

 

Maybe this will change. Maybe we will stop having regular pioneers. Maybe we will simply consider all these individuals as full-time servants or that they offer full-time service. Of course, that implies the typical publisher is not a full-time servant and that is a far from the truth. Typical servants simply do not have an assignment. 

 

The problem with removing focus on hours is we run the risk of becoming like Christendom. Christendom used to preach before they became Christendom in the 2nd to 4th centuries. Then they focused on their good works, their building projects, their helping the poor, setting up hospitals, and doing all kinds of activities they consider sacred service. 

 

So, how do we focus on the ministry without focusing on hours? We've not recorded publisher hours for almost 2 years. How are we doing? Has our time in the ministry increased, decreased, or stayed the same? It's easy to say if it's in our heart then we will continue to maintain or increase our productivity, but is that the case or is that a little bit judgemental? The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Are we still as troubled if we only made it out in service once this month as we were if that happened a few years earlier? 

 

I see where you are going, Richard. I poo pooed your idea when you suggested it the first time and then we just stopped counting hours entirely (except pioneers). I never imagined that would happen. Who knows, maybe we will see an adjustment on pioneers counting hours. Never say never. 

 

If it's Jehovah's will... 

[Tortuga]

48 minutes ago, Shawnster said:

I see where you are going, Richard. I poo pooed your idea when you suggested it the first time and then we just stopped counting hours entirely (except pioneers). I never imagined that would happen. Who knows, maybe we will see an adjustment on pioneers counting hours. Never say never.

I'm just wondering if there will be small progressive changes to eventually eliminating hour requirements. 

 

BTW: You also poo pooed the idea that we would stop printing public magazines. We are almost there...

[Shawnster]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

You also poo pooed... 

 

Yeah, well, what do I know 

[Tortuga]

2 minutes ago, Shawnster said:

 

Yeah, well, what do I know 

I'm still hoping for videos in the WT Study...

[Tortuga]

3 hours ago, Shawnster said:

So, how do we focus on the ministry without focusing on hours? We've not recorded publisher hours for almost 2 years. How are we doing? Has our time in the ministry increased, decreased, or stayed the same? It's easy to say if it's in our heart then we will continue to maintain or increase our productivity, but is that the case or is that a little bit judgemental? The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Are we still as troubled if we only made it out in service once this month as we were if that happened a few years earlier? 

When we stopped reporting our field service two years ago, many members here suggested keeping a personal record anyway, just to monitor and adjust our personal activity. Some didn't agree with that suggestion but I still think it was a good idea. It takes awhile to change our thinking from an hour goal to heart motivation.

 

As far as letting our heart determine how much we do instead of having an hour goal, I think we will be getting more information and encouragement to build our heart desire and act on it. To paraphrase a popular TV commercial "What's in your heart?" 

 

Keep in mind that an hour goal didn't always equal results. Ever heard of the Pioneer Shuffle? That's what happens when you focus on a hour goal instead of results.

Edited August 5 by Tortuga

[Mike047]

Yes, we still maintain our own records which help us see how we are doing. Since COVID we have lost a bit of ground and we just need to see where we need to put in extra effort.