safety Safety of brothers and sisters visiting an individual.

[gusdn1]

I just noticed today that request visit form has added this warning:

Quote

Only request a visit for yourself. Any malicious or unfounded requests are reported to the proper authorities.

 

It seems like there are some individuals exploiting the request a visit form to perhaps harass or do some malicious acts against the Witnesses that are visiting. 😔😔😢

Edited October 19 by gusdn1

[Michał]

Or some people had a stupid idea to make a prank


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[Ishaya]

Actually I have felt worried about how we honour the request for a bible study visit to an unknown person.

The days are very wicked now, unbelievers should not be so easily trusted.

 

If someone is requesting for a Bible study,I think it should be made known to the person that the study will have to be in an open area where the safty of our brothers is guaranteed.

 

Personally,I find it difficult honouring a visit for the first time inside someone's private home,I would want to conduct the study outside for some time until i know the person well enough to feel safe entering inside their house.

[LeolaRootStew]

5 hours ago, gusdn1 said:

I just noticed today that request visit form has added this warning:

 

It seems like there are some individuals exploiting the request a visit form to perhaps harass or do some malicious acts against the Witnesses that are visiting. 😔😔😢

 

It's more likely to be a prank. People like to sign up others for subscriptions to random things as a form of harassment.

 

It would take a special kind of stupid to input your own address into a form if you had the intent to commit a crime, though I'm sure there's at least one person dumb enough to do it.

11 minutes ago, Ishaya said:

Actually I have felt worried about how we honour the request for a bible study visit to an unknown person.

The days are very wicked now, unbelievers should not be so easily trusted.

 

If someone is requesting for a Bible study,I think it should be made known to the person that the study will have to be in an open area where the safty of our brothers is guaranteed.

 

Personally,I find it difficult honouring a visit for the first time inside someone's private home,I would want to conduct the study outside for some time until i know the person well enough to feel safe entering inside their house.

 

I don't think that would go over well in America.

[TheKid23]

7 hours ago, gusdn1 said:

I just noticed today that request visit form has added this warning:

 

It seems like there are some individuals exploiting the request a visit form to perhaps harass or do some malicious acts against the Witnesses that are visiting. 😔😔😢

So we’ve had a few fake requests. It was a social media trend a few months ago. Basically people were filling out a request using their ex boyfriend/girlfriend details to wind them up. Some videos went viral on TikTok…

Or pranking their friends, that was pretty popular too. Funny thing was when we went to call on them they knew exactly who had done it to them and most times were very apologetic and embarrassed. 
 

[Mike047]

Frustrating for us and them, but sometimes it works out for a witness opportunity, too. It would pay their friends back if they came along though, and maybe returned the favour? 

[jdcarlson]

Ever since door-to-door work started to be emphasized by the Society, they have warned us to be cautious and careful. But early on there were no specific instructions.

 

I remember an experience my mother had in the middle 1950s when we lived in Illinois. She knocked on a door. A lady came to the door and invited her in. As the conversation progressed my mother realized the lady had locked the door and picked up an ice pick. I remember her relating her conversation with the lady and finally making her way out of the house, but I do not remember the details of that conversation.

 

70 years ago soceity was totally different than it is today. Back then there was not any strict instruction about going to the door by yourself. I know I went door-to-door by myself for at least 40 years.

 

However, in recent decades things have become more dangerous. Some time ago it was strongly suggested by the US branch that sisters work in pairs.

 

In our congregation territory there is one housng project that has become notorious for the frequency for visits from local law enforcement being required. Sisters have been told not to even go into that housing project to make a return visit or conduct a bible study unless there is at least one brother in the car, and they are not to go to a residence in that project alone.

[LeolaRootStew]

I don't know why people think we are like a spam email - just because we know you exist doesn't mean we will visit you more often.

[Ishaya]

1 hour ago, TheKid23 said:

So we’ve had a few fake requests. It was a social media trend a few months ago. Basically people were filling out a request using their ex boyfriend/girlfriend details to wind them up. Some videos went viral on TikTok…

Or pranking their friends, that was pretty popular too. Funny thing was when we went to call on them they knew exactly who had done it to them and most times were very apologetic and embarrassed. 
 

 

 

Is this for real 😲❓

 

Sometimes I wonder what else is not happening in this sick world.

 

Well,at least it makes our website more famous,since these people now know another thing they can use it for.

Edited October 19 by Ishaya

[Ishaya]

3 hours ago, LeolaRootStew said:

 

I don't think that would go over well in America.

 

Okay sister,why do you think so?

[Jwanon]

Don't they message or call the person before visiting?

[TheKid23]

1 hour ago, Ishaya said:

 

 

Is this for real 😲❓

 

Sometimes I wonder what else is not happening in this sick world.

 

Well,at least it makes our website more famous,since these people now know another thing they can use it for.

Yep

1 minute ago, Jwanon said:

Don't they message or call the person before visiting?

Most of the time we only get a name and address 

[LeolaRootStew]

52 minutes ago, Ishaya said:

 

Okay sister,why do you think so?

 

It would be considered rude to insinuate someone might be dangerous, especially when you invited them (via the website) to invite you to visit. It's not like we would go to the door alone, so I'm not sure what delaying the entry would do to ensure safety.

[jwhess]

The sincere person would be confused.  They saw one of our videos that said, "we will call at a time and place convenient for you."  Then we try to tell them to meet us in a public park or a shopping mall?  How does that make it a "time and place" convenient for them?

Edited October 19 by jwhess

[jwhess]

The notice form also includes warnings and the persons making the call should pay attention.

 

(Received from the Internet, not from a publisher. Please exercise appropriate caution.)

ATTENTION: We cannot be certain that this request originated with the person named above.

Please have this in mind as you endeavor to contact this person.

[Pionner_who]

12 hours ago, gusdn1 said:

Acabei de perceber hoje que o formulário de solicitação de visita adicionou este aviso:

 

Parece que há alguns indivíduos explorando o formulário de solicitação de visita para talvez assediar ou praticar alguns atos maliciosos contra as Testemunhas que estão visitando. 😔 😔 😢

 

"I remember that the brothers here in Brazil used to schedule visits for their relatives or friends on the website without their permission. This sometimes caused problems when the brothers reached out to schedule visits that hadn’t been requested."

 

 

[Sepie93]

So we’ve had a few fake requests. It was a social media trend a few months ago. Basically people were filling out a request using their ex boyfriend/girlfriend details to wind them up. Some videos went viral on TikTok…
Or pranking their friends, that was pretty popular too. Funny thing was when we went to call on them they knew exactly who had done it to them and most times were very apologetic and embarrassed. 
 

Actually, I can see the humor of this
In the Netherlands, I'm aware of some people pranking someone else by filling in their addresses. (Yes... I'm aware that it is not there for this purpose. But most who joke with this do it without really bad intentions )

I know of one instance, the brother and sister pranked a little back by telling the students who put in the name of their roommate by: "ooh, so it was just a joke? no, problem... we will just return our 2 hour drive then...."

The students felt so bad, but appreciated the joke later Lesson learned

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[carlos]

On 10/19/2024 at 2:38 PM, Ishaya said:

Personally,I find it difficult honouring a visit for the first time inside someone's private home,I would want to conduct the study outside for some time until i know the person well enough to feel safe entering inside their house.

 

Ishaya, when you go in service and find an interested person, are you afraid to have a conversation with them? And if you offer study and the person says, I would love that, please come in, I have some free time now, would you not go an start the study? How is that different from a study requested through the website?

 

Of course, if you receive such a request, it's always a good idea not to go alone but have another brother with you. Also, if you are unsure or see something suspicious, you don't need to come into the house in the first visit. You can show the person how the study is conducted and maybe study one or two paragraphs at their door.

 

But in the end a study is a study, no matter how it was requested.

[BlaqueCalalilly]

We always need to be careful when going anywhere these days...I remember not too long ago a sister (senior citizen) was hacked to death on a return visit because the return visit ( young woman ) wanted to see what it was like to kill someone...😢

[Jwanon]

As Christians we are prepared to face any danger that comes to us. We willingly chose this path knowing that it will cause us harm. 

 

Pick up your torture stake and keep following me. (Mark 8:34)

 

But we push through because we know that the Heavens are on our side. 

 

Jehovah is my light and my salvation.

Whom should I fear? (Psalm 27:1)

 

[TheKid23]

3 hours ago, carlos said:

 

Ishaya, when you go in service and find an interested person, are you afraid to have a conversation with them? And if you offer study and the person says, I would love that, please come in, I have some free time now, would you not go an start the study? How is that different from a study requested through the website?

 

Of course, if you receive such a request, it's always a good idea not to go alone but have another brother with you. Also, if you are unsure or see something suspicious, you don't need to come into the house in the first visit. You can show the person how the study is conducted and maybe study one or two paragraphs at their door.

 

But in the end a study is a study, no matter how it was requested.

Where I am if we’re invited inside we always take another person with us and let the brother taking the lead know before going inside. I’d personally never say no if a person asks us inside for a study, unless there was an obvious threat to my safety

Edited October 20 by TheKid23

[Ishaya]

6 hours ago, BlaqueCalalilly said:

We always need to be careful when going anywhere these days...I remember not too long ago a sister (senior citizen) was hacked to death on a return visit because the return visit ( young woman ) wanted to see what it was like to kill someone...😢

 

Are you really serious about this,or is it a joke ❓

[dljbsp]

while it is true that we need to exercise caution and wisdom in our ministry, Jehovah provides us with sound principles and guidance on how to approach people with safety and discernment. If there is a particular concern about security, Jehovah’s Witnesses are often encouraged to work in pairs or groups when necessary, and the organization emphasizes being alert and wise in all interactions, especially during return visits.

 

Also, follow the direction given by your local body of elders, as they react to the situation in your area. The scriptures tell us to be both cautious and prudent. An answer cannot be given here to address the situation on the entire planet. Direction given for your territory, they have no bearing at all on my territory, and the other way around also.

[jwhess]

1 minute ago, dljbsp said:

while it is true that we need to exercise caution and wisdom in our ministry, Jehovah provides us with sound principles and guidance on how to approach people with safety and discernment. If there is a particular concern about security, Jehovah’s Witnesses are often encouraged to work in pairs or groups when necessary, and the organization emphasizes being alert and wise in all interactions, especially during return visits.

 

Also, follow the direction given by your local body of elders, as they react to the situation in your area. The scriptures tell us to be both cautious and prudent. An answer cannot be given here to address the situation on the entire planet. Direction given for your territory, they have no bearing at all on my territory, and the other way around also.

Those are good reminders but we can't simply refuse to call on someone who wrote and asked us to call at his house.  We always assign two mature publishers to call.  Usually two brothers unless the person requesting the visit is a female.  Then we send one brother and one sister. So far, very few of the requests turned out to be genuine.  Usually it is some kind of prank.  We have had some good calls resulting from our determined effort to reach the individual.  Our congregtion gets one request about every 2-3 months.  We have several elders who are Regular Pioneers so getting volunteers to call is not difficult.

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

Similar down here.

I have been a few times, and made phone calls...

None have turned out genuine, in my case.

But I am sure same may reach out.

So we faithfully continue.