It's a shame that JW's only see the need to help each other. Surely this group could have extended a helping hand and to their neigbors before "they've all bulldozed". But since they are taught that everyone else on Earth deserves death unless they convert, I see why.

Perhaps the most appauling example is that of the Asian Tsunami. After repeated inquiries their leadership requested all donations for Tsunami victims be made to the general fund instead of a disataer relief fund, they consequently mounted NO RELIEF effort at all since very few JW's were affected in that area. I wonder where the money went?

I just wish JW's were more humanitarian to others, like their Bible recommends.

For anyone who has been moved by this article and wants to learn more about Jehovah's Witnesses, I suggest you go to their offical website: www.watchtower.org

I'm a former Jehovah’s Witness, and I have to say there are many kind hearted, sincere people I know that are Jehovah's Witnesses. However, I have to agree with the comments that they only take of there own, and not others. The Watchtower is a multi billon dollar corporation and has no charitable arms or any programs that benefit the community or there very own members for that matter.

It's true that individual member of Jehovah's Witnesses will help others in need, but it will never come from the WTBTS.

Yes, they help those that are JWs...but if someone like my mother needed help they would not give it.I spent my young years as part of the JWs...I remember going door to door...I remember my brother speaking for the first time..I remember a lot...especially when my mother came to realize that she could pray to Jesus, and not just in His name, that he wasnt the arc angel Michael but the messiah, the Son of God, they totally rejected us, never spoke to us again. People that proclamined their love, now wouldnt look at us.
I am now in ministry, I love Jesus and go to the nations proclaiming His love. I am part oftwo organizations that go world wide helping in relief work, and many have given money and time to help hurricane victoms, even those that totally reject God. I am so glad that I am not part of the JWs anymore, for then I would not know Jesus.

During Floridas 4 hurricanes last year Witnesses kept helping their own and others long after every other well know "charitable organization" had left because it was no longer poplular or in the headlines. And they continue to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. Keep up the good work!

replying to stephen markson, you need only attend as an observer a meeting at the kingdom hall of any of JW's, in any town, in any part of the world. you would see that no collection plate is passed. only a discreet box in the back somewhere for 100% voluntary contributions. the homeowner will be given a list of supplies and the cost only of supplies. if the homeowner feels it in her/his heart to donate any or all or some portion of insurance proceeds, that is entirely up to him/her. having personnally seen the destruction in florida and mississippi, most of the ones affected are not well to do by any means so many are not able to offer back donations and it falls on the rest of us witnesses and outside donations if any to fill in the gap.

This is quite interresting: one simple article raising such an overflow of reactions! Come on, people, stop the hateful comments! Let us simply appreciate a nice group who decided to use their time and resources to help others in a time of distress. Whatever our religious ideas, we must admit that they set a good example. How refreshing compared to the abuses, the overcharging and the other negative stories we've heard so much about! Thanks MNSBC, I got my smile for the day! :-)

www.watchtower.org The official website of Jehovah's Witnesses. Feel free to request a free home Bible Study.
2 Peter 3:9 'Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise as some consider slowness but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.'
The idea that Jehovah's Witnesses do not care about others is false. Why would we spend hours and hours of our time calling from door to door to teach people the truth from the Bible so they can benefit from the wonderful promises by God? For fun??? You might think it a nuisance but we are only fulfilling Jesus commission to preach the good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth - is any other organisation doing this? Our preaching and teaching is our primary and most important work - why not take a bit of time to find out about that?

I think the work they did here is commendable and a good act deserves to be recognized. I had studied with witnesses in the past and did not end my study because of lack of generousity. I did find in general witnesses were generous at least to each other and some to the world. The organization has many problems and these problems have mislead there members in many cases to do very bad things. Witnessing these things I will never be one of them. I know they feel that I will be destroyed but the Just-US mentality is the issue with many religious organizations and the Bible tells us that these top down corporate religious structures will be destroyed. Individual witnesses however will be welcomed into the Kingdom and will do very well. In this time of the end we must just be thankful for each act of goodness and I think these Witnesses are helping out of their heart.

Actions speak louder than words, and the actions of our brothers and sisters send a loud message that it is possible to work together out of love and not for material gain. Great Job

Let's all join Jehovah's people and declare the good news:

"On Satan's side will be all the rest of mankind, more than 99.9 percent, even as we read: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." That includes all the governments of the world together with their supporters, the commercial, religious and social institutions. Even the professedly Christian organizations? Yes, because all such that are friends of the world are making themselves enemies of God." The Watchtower October 15. 1958, page 614-615.

As you can see there are many opinions about Jehovah's Witnesses. But actions can sometimes speak louder than words. The only way to learn more about them is to study the Bible and talk to them yourself. The love for ALL of their neighbors is why they preach from house to house. Jesus said that taking in knoledge of him and his father meant everlasting life (John 17:3) which is more valuable than a home or any other material possesion. I have seen Jehovah's Witnesses feed hungry and clothe the poor who wanted nothing to do with their religion. On top of helping all of those in the community they care for other Jehovah's Witnesses around the world as specified at 1 Timothy 5:8. Their Kingdom Halls are free and open to the public, absolutely nothing secretive or cult like about them. When asked who is the head they will not point at some human but point up to God and his son. In fact they encourage you to read your OWN bible or take it to a Kingdom Hall when you visit. While we wait for God to step in we can ALL head the counsel at Galatians 6:10.

People who say negative things to ones who so generously help others are only unhappy with themselves. It takes a strong and faithful person to be able to live up to the Jehovah's Witness's standards. Only those who are afraid or predjudice would make bad comments on such a wonderful story.

Witnesses are a prime example of how to show love for your fellow man and thereby glorifying God.

As far as the not helping others comments go, Witnesses take time out of their day, get all dressed up, whatever type of weather, to go to person's door to share a positive thought. if the householder gives them the time, the Witness will try to share a scripture. how much more help can you be to society in general than to take time out of your day with the sole purpose of trying to share a positive thought with someone you have never met before?

In response to stephen, chuck, and all those other people who can only find fault in all the good work that Jehovah's people do: have you ever looked at other religions? I mean really looked? yes, you sometimes hear more about other religions doing "good deeds" for others, but do you ever wonder why you generally hear more about those other people? it seems to me that they like to toot thier own horn, if you will. and for those who think we're a "cult" or some sort of selfish people, do you really care about what Jehovah god thinks? do you really care about other people, for that matter? When you can look at a group of people, I don't care what religion they are, doing good things for others and you think that they are evil, or bad what kind of person does that make you look like? I will be so glad when the words at Psalm 37:10, 11 are fulfilled:
"10 And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. 11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."

Does it really matter if they help their own first? Bottom line is that there is plenty of work to do and this group is doing something. I can't say I've seen a story about FEMA building a roof. Not that they aren't helping but JW don't wait, they get in there and do it. I'm not JW and I have significant differences with their beliefs. However my mother was and my sister remains with them today. Before she died my mother lived in Gulfport and through the help of her friends in the congreation she lived alone and I never had to fear for her. When she was in her final stages of life and even in her death the people from her congration were absolutely a dream in how they helped my sister and I deal with the situation. I know that if my mother had still been down there for Katrina, she would have been taken care of if I couldn't get there. The JW do take care of their own, unlike most i have seen.

Jehovah's Witnesses,are not primary, builder of roofs
they build caracters to the willing one's.
repairing houses,is sort of a side job at there own expense,so lets not look a gift horse in the mouth,
there priority,is,making deciples,preaching God's Kingdom,showing how people should live,now,
and in Terrestial Paridise.

While the Witnesses are certainly well organized, Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly not encouraged to do much charity work, unless of course it's to try and recruit new members. It's a shame too, because they could really be a positive force out there helping people like Jesus told his followers to. Intead, the leadership of the JWs view any charities outside their own world, as part of "Satan's world". They like to pat themselves on the back but they rarely, if ever, acknowledge the selfless charity work performed by non-Witnesses.

After all, that might make some Witnesses stop and think----and we all know that that's a big no-no in this religion.

This has been an overwheming amount of positive comments about Jehovah's Witnesses and a few uninformed "Jerks" made themselves known as what they are. Thanks for this forum!

Many times Jehovah's people are behind the scenes helping in hard times, and the public does not know because we don't believe in advertising the fact that we are helping. The Bible says that those who do good works for recognition's sake are getting their reward in full. We know that good deeds make our heavenly father smile down on us, especially when they are done without expectation of gain. His smile of favor is our reward. Wouldn't the world be a better place if each one turned to his neighbor and made gifts of good will every day without expectation of personal gain? Yes, we do donate money through our organization because we have come to trust the organization to do whatever is needed with that money. We know it will go where it is needed the most, whether it is a roof in the Gulf, clothes for a homeless person, food for a child in Africa, Bibles for refugees in Russia, whatever. This is God's organization, and you know he owns all the gold on the face of the earth. The organization is not out to make money. Jehovah God provides whatever his people need. The only thing we can give him is our Loyalty and Obedience!

If you want a real look at JW's read the book "Crisis of conscience" by Ray Franz.

To completely contradict Ms. "Buffalo New York", Jehovah's Witnesses' preaching work benefits people far more than satisfying their current need for a meal today or a place to sleep tonight. Their preaching helps them to know Jehovah God, the one who holds out the promise of everlasting life in paradise. Sure, many organizations go around bringing food to the poor or help out in soup kitchens, but that's just a temporary help to these people. What's more important.....having a bite to eat today, or possibly enjoying eternal life on earth as God intended for humans to do? Wow...tough choice there, right? You might want to try your own 'no-no' and actually think about the ridiculous slam you just tried to put on the Witnesses.

This article was emailed to me because I used to be a Jehovah's Witness, before making some bad moral choices and choosing to leave the religion. The article shows clearly the manner in which Witnesses can assess, and care for matters that neeed immediate attention, and show loving help toward others. What is so sad to see, is the lies and misconceptions that various people have chosen to air about these very good people. My observation as one who has chosen not to be affiliated with any formal religious organization is that regardless of what religion a person may be, there are always those who are exessive in their beliefs, not showing tolerance of others whose beliefs differ. I have talked to folks of all different religions who feel salvation will come only through their particular religion. By hurling accusations and airing personal grievances on this web site site, we loose track of the message of the article, which was refreshing in the reminder that humans can rise above their own problems and help others, which all of us should be doing, regardless of our religious choices. Shame on those who choose to use this site to show hate instead of the love manifested in this article.

Wow, it's sad to see that so many close minds can find, in an uplifting story about a religous organization who decides to help one of it's members. People just can't appreciate an organization that helps those in need physically, economically, & spiritually. If there are organizations other than JW's out there helping, good. That's what they should be doing. But to say that JW's just help their own, or destroy families is nonsence. Closed minds think that way, same as bigot's, same as the prejudice, same as the discriminatory. JW's have an annual volume that's published that depicts what kind of help is spread worldwide to those that ARE & ARE NOT witnesses. Reasearch first, let's inform ourselves before making statements that can be proved wrong very easily.

Many of our brothers may come to be in need because of persecution, wars, earthquakes, floods, famines, or other calamitous occurences that are common in these critical times. (Matt. 24:7-9) On such occasions, local congregations may not have anything to share with one another, so the Governing Body coordinates the efforts of brothers elsewhere to provide what is needed. This is similar to the way Christians in Asia Minor provided food for the brothers in Judea during a time of famine. (1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 9:1-5) By following their example, we confirm our love for our brothers and show ourselves to be genuine disciples of Jesus Christ.--John 13:35.