Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses: An Introduction

This is the first in a series of videos to help Jehovah's Witnesses (and other Christians) who are awakening to the reality that they are serving and submitting to men rather than to God. It is a very big emotional challenge to be able to cope with the trauma of this life-altering realization, and it is our hope that we can help those who are going through it, or have yet to do so.

To view all the Beroean Pickets videos, click on this link:

[charlottehernandez]

Left JW myself, like you waking up seeing that the organization was not the true religion. And praying to Jehovah for a spiritual sister, but he answered My prayers by giving me a spiritual brother. I love learning the truth, thank you.

[romanstwo]

We love you, brother. Your humility and wisdom go hand-in-hand and you are letting your light shine. Tears just keep coming as I detox.

[clsmithent]

The good Lord led me to your channel. Im a very strong Christian with no particular denomination affiliation, saved by Grace. My sister is a staunch JW for over 30 years. I tried to talk to her, but finally realized that the Holy Spirit is the only one who could reach into her heart. He did allow me time to plant some spiritual truths.
I have prayed for what to do when she does wake up & I believe that is why I'm at your channel. Now I have a place to send her on that glorious day!
Thank you for hearing God's true call for your life! Your time was not wasted, the time you have spent in God's Word is way ahead of most 'Christians', now you learn to interpret it correctly thru the Holy Spirit not man. Amen!

[JJL-prgl]

If you get to see this message… 2023 and it’s still helping people… thanks to Jehovah and to you for doing this

[mamajan]

I had the pleasure of giving you the 607th Up Thumb! LOL! The "Criminal Gang" has many afraid to be their true self as a follower of Jesus rather than the Gangsters at WT Headquarters. I have been free for decades now, but your many videos and weekend ZOOM meetings are like a soothing balm for my many scars. God bless you!

[elainerogers]

Thank you again, brother, i felt a relief, although I was in shock for a day or so, after listening to the first video of you, but that turned into total bliss and now i can say the truth maked me free... You could say I had the same issue about some of their core beliefs, but never pursue too much answers because I didnt want to be separated from my sisters who had been there for me and my family 30 years ago. I used to be a catolic but found so much love and compassion from the witnesses I really thought this was the truth. 30 years later I am now happy and look forward to share with my 5 grown children what I found about jws.

[leowalters]

You have helped me so much. I cannot thank you more. An answer to a prayer.

[lovetoread]

Thank you for your videos. I was starting to think everyone who leaves becomes an atheist. Your videos are comforting and I appreciate the effort you take to make them.

[Sanmijil]

That's what got me too, the explanation of the generations and the coming of this end they so harbored on that never came.

[phillbobaggins]

I want to thank you Eric for what you are doing here, I have seen the same issues over the years myself, and appreciate the loving way you are now presenting the facts and reality of the JW leadership, so much deceit is now taking place it's heartbreaking, I always remember Jesus words "My Yoke Is Kindly and My Load Is Light " but the 'Governing Body' have turned it into a harsh and oppressive burden.

Sufficient time has now gone by for us all to see through all this over interpretation of Gods word, I have for some time realised that something was going badly wrong, but could not give it serious thought, due to issues of a life threatening nature my dear wife was going through these last 5 or 6 years that occupied all my mental strength, only now that she is in remission can I give attention to what is going on within the JW organisation, and it's clear to me that there is a crisis of leadership. Last year I read both of Raymond Franz's books which struck a cord for sure, in conclusion may I say that I wish Jehovah's blessing to be upon you in your honest and humble endeavours, you are a true "brother that is born for when there is distress.”-(Proverbs 17:17)

[EMAN]

thank you again eric your videos are a comfort

[ricktoledo]

I just happened to stumble across your videos Eric and have been tryna watch them all from the beginning over the last couple weeks.... I think that you're absolutely fantastic with your critical thinking... I was disfellowshipped 11 years ago but I was a ministerial servant before they let me go and I still remember so many scriptures and details about the JW doctrine that it is absolutely shocking and astounding to be revealed all this current information that I wasn't privy to beforehand... I had considered myself an Atheist/Agnostic within 3-4 years after being disfellowshipped that I never thought about looking back... but then about a year or so Ago I stumbled across Dr. Jordan Peterson and amidst all his controversy with Not using enforced gendered Pronouns Legislation laws passed in Canada where he teaches... I happened to come across his Bible Lectures and his psychoanalytic style of breaking down the Genesis stories in order to make sense of a profoundly complex abstract subject matter... I bought his book... learned Alot about myself... and also learned alot about my personal upbringing in the organization and my personal relationships with family members still in the organization... and it helped me alot with the necessary closure that I needed... but I still had some loose ends that needed to tied up for people effected by Watchtower judicial tactics and commitee protocols and the doctrinal and dogmatic pathological circular reasoning that went along with it... then I stumbled across your videos... and I was like....as you put it... EUREKA!! You hit the nail on the head with your critical thinking.... I appreciate everything you post and you're of a Treasure then perhaps you realize... dont stop searching for the truth... we all need it when we find it!! Thank you!!

[johnnylnowlin]

Thank you very much, Meleti. What a heartfelt and honest revelation of your awakening. I believe we all (ex-Witnesses) share similar emotions, feelings, tears, confusion, and a broad spectrum of other feelings and emotions during our awakening process. I have learned much from you and the other dear friends linked to your websites.

My awakening was a slow process. There are similar reasons we share in our awakening. The 1914 teaching was a biggie for me. After researching the topic in depth, I realized that there was one primary reason for the teaching of the overlapping generation. And that is, the Gov Body must have it work. Without it, there can be no inspection in 1919, thus no Gov Body appointment. Therefore, it is vital it works. This was a large part of my awakening, but not the largest part.

I also became deeply concerned over the gradual process of the micro-managing of talks, parts at meetings, scripted demonstrations - all to fit exactly what the Gov Body wanted us to say. Over the years, I observed it push aside the expressions of faith of the friends. This deeply concerned me, as the focus became more and more about saying and presenting the material EXACTLY the way the leadership wanted. Where was our expression of faith? It slowly disappeared. It was my opinion, before I ceased meeting attendance in 2016 that the time was coming whereas we would be saying, BY SCRIPT, exactly what the Gov Body wanted us to say at the door in the ministry, almost word for word.
I remember my last time I worked with the Circuit Overseer. I never worked with another after him. It was in fall of 2014 - I went to a door with him and used the bible only, something I had been doing on occasion (every 20-30 doors roughly) for many years. When we got back to the sidewalk he stopped me. He had a very straight-forward look in his eyes, and upsettingly asked me, "Why didn't you use the offer?" I explained to him that I occasionally limit myself to only using the bible, to keep the scriptures fresh in my mind. He said, "You should be following the counsel of the Governing Body." He turned and walked away from me. I was beside myself. I had just been reproved for using God's Word the bible at the door. This was huge for me! It was a large catalyst to me leaving.


But I can localize my awakening to two critical elements. For me, they were huge . . . scripturally speaking. In September of 2016, my wife and I were given a special tour of Warwick by my brother-in-law and sister. We were treated to a special tour of the Gov Body conference room. Most do not ever get to see that. However, my brother-in-law works side by side with the Gov Body. His office sits side to side with the other Gov Body members, and in fact, sits directly across from brother Shaeffer (sp?), a helper to the Gov Body. When we walked in the conference room there were two large flat panel t.v's side by side on the left wall. There was an enormous conference table. To the right there were the windows which overlooked the lake. They had special blinds which closed and opened by remote control. There was a desk of a previous Gov Body member - cannot recall which one. It sat immediately to the right of the door as you walked in. Directly across from the front door, and opposite the conference table, there was a large beautiful painting of Jesus holding a sheep, with other sheep around him. I remember commenting on it, "What a beautiful painting of Christ holding the sheep. He cares much for us all, " something very similar to that statement. He replied, "The painting was done by bro ??? (cannot remember which Gov Body member, now deceased). The interpretation is that the sheep in Jesus' arms represents the anointed of Jehovah's Witnesses. The rest of the sheep represent the great crowd." The very moment he uttered those words, I felt a sickness run through me that I cannot explain. That was the first and ONLY time I had ever, in all the years and tours we had taken, felt like I needed to get out of there immediately. It hit me like a ton of bricks! The more I had studied, the more I was already coming to realize the unscriptural basis of that.

The other matter which led to my awakening, I believe, was far more simple in its essence than anything else, since it required no deep study time on my part . . . just reasonableness. Over the many years, I had observed many, many, many wonderful God-fearing, very loving people in the organization leave. There are many various reasons for their departure. Some left due to deep study and disagreement with doctrine(s). I know of many who left because of the way they were treated by others in the congregation. There is one sister I recall, for example, who loved Jehovah SO VERY MUCH. She was in her early thirties. She pioneered, worked hard for the organization. She was humble and always took time to walk up and speak with a number of friends who often would sit quietly before the meetings. She truly loved God, and was a very righteous person. I know of a few pioneers in her congregation that treated her as an outcast. Why? Her husband, who was much like her, began doubting the teachings. He grew a beard, but kept attending meetings. I was in car groups when friends, behind his back, would say sly and unkind expressions about his beard. He caught wind of the talk and stopped attending. I WAS FURIOUS at the pioneers for doing this. I should have spoke up. But I was quiet about it. This was in the mid 90's. The pioneers treated her unkind because she was married to him . . . no other reason! I remember it all well. This same clique of pioneers a pioneer brother once told me, "I worked with these sisters this last weekend, and I will never work with them again! I will go out by myself if there are no brothers to work with." I understood completely. Those pioneers had quite the reputation for gossip. ANYWAY . . . this wonderful sister took unkind insults and gossip, but still remained for a few years. I approached one of the pioneers and threatened to speak to the overseer's if the gossip didn't stop. The one pioneer sister rolled her eyes and stepped away from me. This sister stopped attending meetings and was never seen at them again. She was one of the most loving and true worshippers of God I have known.

Yes . . . the largest part of my awakening was in observing so many of these loving friends leave the organization. But according to the Gov Body teaching, they are in danger of losing their lives since they are no longer part of the organization. I knew this was wrong, and unscriptural. I knew it not only violated the thoughts of Hebrews 6:10, but other scriptures as well. I knew all these ones could still be acceptable to our dear Lord, Jesus without the organization. I knew the belief was wrong. After engaging in deep research for an extended period of time, I proved it to myself. I was right. Christ' dear sheep are found all over the world, in many Christian faiths and congregations around the globe. I must accept this as fact.

Meleti . . . may our Lord bless you in all you do!

[elijah]

Meleti thanks for sharing your story. "We know in part and prophesy in part until the perfect comes."

[katevann]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video. I'm so glad to see you addressing the trauma we all go through when we wake up. For myself, I felt as if my world had imploded. I was in so much shock, I could barely function. I was so utterly lost until I discovered your website and that threw me a much needed life line. Thank you.

[maryannspare]

I think pride stops a lot of people from waking up....truth lovers are rare indeed.

[sollasollew]

Really enjoy your videos, nice to know I'm not in my own thought bubble. May jehovah continue to bless your efforts to keep on encouraging us.

[prodigalAli]

Thank you dear dear brother. You don't bore me at all! Thank you for your testimony....witness! You have helped unravel the WT knots in my head (and loved ones) and I see the evidence that God is using you. May we all learn from WT's error and never build our own towers of Babel (wol) and stay humble and keep our eyes focused on the Christ, our Savior and mediator, thankful for our adoption and freedom!

[Delilahv]

I really enjoy your videos, I appreciate how knowledgeable you are in explaining the true meaning of the scriptures. I saw the video of your judicial hearing I see why the elders were intimidated by your understanding of the Bible. I was born in the organization in 1960. My whole life experience with the JW’s has been filled with low self esteem, never good enough and I can go. But when I had enough was when my mother was found dead in her kitchen.She had been laying there for a long time. My brother was living with her, he is a JW with alcohol and mental problems. The brothers were aware they always said there was nothing they could do. And I had not been attending meetings for some years . My mother had been a witness since the 40’s. My father had conducted the Watchtower study on Sunday mornings. I remember as a family we travel to KH’s my dad gave talks. I let the elders know my mother had died, there was a very cold response and no witness from our area ever sent a condolence.But the sisters could not wait to count time when they saw me at the grocery or the car load would show up at my house. There is more to the story but for another day.

[simonrgalesg]

Please keep up your videos they are amazing. I am eating them up as I love the fact you use scriptures to back up what you say. Thank you