5/23/25

This week I've talked to my neighborhood Jehovah's Witnesses a few times and met two new people from their church. They typically set up their witnessing stand around the same times in the morning on the same corner, so I like to make it a point to visit them when I can and create some valuable conversations. When I first meet them, I begin by asking them when they got involved with the JW community, followed by why they think it's true. 

This morning, I talked with two women, one I've met before and the other was new, and I got to learn about the story of the new person I met. She shared that she grew up JW her whole life, but that it became her own when she did her own research. I asked her what it was that compelled her to believe the Watchtower was true and she responded that it was how the Bible had great continuity, the JW community was international, and that the JW community was very personally connected within itself. So, I asked her if she would convert to another religion if it presented those same elements, or if there was something else that was specific for why she chose JWs. She explained that she finds the JW doctrines to align with the Bible and that's why she believes as she does. And that's the open door I was looking for. I acknowledged how great it was that she is seeking truth with the Bible as the supreme authority in that search, and I expressed that I am also like her in that. 

I then asked if she, in pursuit of truth and obedience to the Bible, would want to know if the Watchtower taught unbiblical doctrines that contradict the teachings of scripture. She hesitantly said yes, likely knowing where this was going, and I asked if I could share with them a clear example of where the Watchtower doctrines clearly contradict the clear teachings of Jesus and the Bible. I asked to address the issue of the Watchtower's claim that Jesus invisibly returned to earth in 1914 when He established his kingdom in its fullness as I can easily dismantle this doctrine with one chapter of Jesus' teachings (Matthew 24); however, they would not hear it. These "Bible-submitted, seekers of truth" were unwilling to even open their Bibles in consideration against the Watchtower's teachings. I really pressed them on this issue of ignoring the teaching of the Bible, and I wish I had pressed it harder - emphasizing their obvious awareness of the truth of what I was saying (or at least the unreliability of the Watchtower) as they refused to look at the scriptures. They told me that they were just out there to find the people who are open and not to debate people, but they were unbothered by the possibility that they were baptizing people into a false religion. I pointed out how strange it seems for people to set up a stand in order to "witness" about Jehovah and yet refuse to look at the Bible when I pose an actual challenge to their organization's teaching - using only the source they claim is their final authority! As they closed down our conversation, they told me that they are only open to reforming their beliefs based on their own personal "study" (which really looks like reading JW teachings and commentaries, as they've previously implied) or through Watchtower resources, and they explicitly stated that they would not receive from me any teaching or challenge to their beliefs - not even suggestions of which scriptures to read involving particular topics! Insane, honestly. I had to clarify a few times as I was shocked by their absolute rejection of scripture if I pointed them to it or mentioned it. Just wild. I think it's a little unfair to not listen to me when you can confirm that I am merely reading the word of God when there is a biblical story of God speaking through the mouth of a donkey. I'm just saying... I don't think I've sunk that low! I might have to bring that story up next time we talk - or at least try to if they'll let me. They invited me to attend their church service, which most of them have in the past as well, and I think I might have to take them up on it soon. They are a very interesting group to engage with, and I'm curious how many of them are so defensive because they are aware of the lies they accept and refuse to change. 

Please pray for these people and the interactions that I continue to have with them! Please pray that God would give me wisdom and insight into the best approach to take which might wake them up from their sleep apathy and lies they give to themselves!

Here are a few other updates from this week's ministry!

• The NCP team spent the weekend on a retreat focusing on spiritual formation and relational depth. We practiced Lectio Divina in John 15, shared life stories, prayed together, and enjoyed nature through walks and a hike. The retreat provided a refreshing, laid-back space to grow as a team outside of our usual ministry rhythms.

•  We met with Nick, a CSUF student eager to grow in evangelism, to begin evangelism training with him. We introduced our Archways training—an approach to conversational evangelism that finds and walks through natural paths in conversation that lead to the gospel. We demonstrated it through scripture and a mock dialogue and discussed plans to meet together over the summer. Near the end of our conversation, a leader from the RCW cult on campus approached us after noticing our Bibles. This led to an unplanned conversation about the group's history and development (as well as this leader's relation to it all) and ended by addressing briefly baptismal regeneration. We plan to follow up with him in a focused conversation about the gospel and the role (or lack thereof) of water baptism in salvation.

• There are a number of people that we've continued to meet with this week, and we look forward to this summer as we plan to equip a team of students in evangelism tools and seek to prepare them for the opportunities that they will have as they return to school in the fall! There's a lot more details there, and the unique story for each student involved is valuable, but I'm trying to keep it brief for now!

• There is definitely more that I could say about this week, but here are a few points to share for now! 

• Please pray that the contacts that we've made throughout the school year with students would provide us with a team of Christian students eager to grow in evangelism and become effective ministers on their own campus this fall!

• Please pray for the new Archways trainings as we look to provide people with valuable resources and tools to use in their day-to-day evangelistic efforts! Pray that God would send workers into His harvest field and that we would be available to help equip workers with practical tools!

• Please pray for these JWs in my neighborhood as I continue to engage with them in conversation and seek to find the most effective way to wake them up from the trance this cult has them trapped in. Please pray that God would open their eyes to see and hearts to consider the truth of the Bible, even if it comes from a 20-year-old from Kansas!

• Please pray that God would continue to discipline us and teach us through His word and through His Spirit, that we might remain in Him and produce the fruit of true life!