Former elder shares his story. Meet John
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- čas přidán 7. 04. 2023
- John was the son of a presiding overseer. He was baptized at 12, pioneered, became a ministerial servant, and married at 23. John then became an elder, serving where the need was great in Mexico and the sign language congregation. He started having doubts at a very young age, but it wasn’t until covid happened when he got to sit with his thoughts that things became clear.
Hello John, I’m also an ex elder and was for over 12 years. I’ve been out of the organization for a little over a year myself.
Way to go John. It was mine and hubby's first non-memorial! :)
If you are who I think you are... OMG that is so awesome!!!
Either way it is awesome... but yeah.
@@johndrews9144 ha ha! Yep. I think I am who you think I am!
I'm not, nor ever have been a Jehovah's Witness, and was watching this video solely out of curiosity, but I have to say I have been left truly and deeply inspired by John and his courage and the wisdom he has shown during this interview. I'm incredibly happy for him that he has found such a vibrant new lease on life and someone to share it with. I wish him a huge amount of success in the future. And can I just take a second to say, wow, John is a very handsome looking fella! Best wishes to all ex-JWs and to all those within the religion still struggling to find their way in life.
Aw thank u!
Thank you both so much for doing this interview and sharing. Every single experience impacts us.
Hey John great interview, welcome to the real life…. As time goes on things will get better & better and time heals all…I’m so glad you left the “enemy of happiness cult”….Take care❤
Hang in there John, it keeps getting better!
Thank you. It was a good video of John getting himself together and living his live fully and FREE.
Vevian I really appreciated this interview, and John I really appreciate the reference to Gabor Mate, he’s an amazing source. I applaud your courage for putting yourself in the middle of Humanity after being blind to others in the world, from this high control religion ♥️🥰♥️.
Thank you so much your example of a cast I will definitely remember that. 🥰
And congratulations to the love of your life!!! Im so happy for you and your wife!! I’m with mine, 10 years married next week and 13 years together since the day we met 😉
Vivian, you are such a sympathetic, empathic, compassionate, supportive, and encouraging interviewer and such a good interested listener! And I am so happy for you, John, that you have found true happiness and your soulmate! I’m so happy for you!!
Thank you for your heartfelt words Karen!🥹♥️🫶🏽🙏🏽
Thank you Vevian. I enjoyed your interview John.
Thank you so much John.
Thank Vevian. She is doing wonderful work :)
It is amazing you heard of transcendental meditation. I only heard if TM in January.
Thank you for your testimony John. Continue to make progress i your ex-JW journey
Congratulations 🥳 on your marriage ❤🎉
Thank you for sharing, John!❤
Omg omg omg, this video is extremely meaningful to me. Bc it was one of the first interviews i came accross on the first day I worked up the nerve to view anything negative about the org. I still remember the exact spot where i was in the park when i heard it. I've been searching for this video for the past year, bc when I watched things like this last year, I'd immediately delete the history. But all this time, I've remembered John's point about how rare it is that we even had the chance to be born. I owe part of my awaking very much to this video.
You just made my day thank you
@johndrews9144 You played a major role in my waking up. Also, every time I see someone on Exjw Reddit saying they want to un-alive themselves, I respond. Once I shared what you had said about the chances of us even coming into existence. The person said they wrote it down to keep for when they're feeling down. You have no idea the power of your words and the lives they've touched.
@@Alisha-zq6vh ❤️😊❤️ wow. Just wow. Thank you so much
Great Job Family
Nobody is perfect so you can’t judge sinner!
I never was a JW but find this an entertaining video and surprising how completely people can be so completely brain washed and get involved to such an extent over their whole lives. I enjoy the Video tho so keep it going . Pity innocent people get sucked into it.
They make it seem normal.
Beautiful story ❤
Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. You apparently have had a strong sense of justice. So glad you had help in with therapy, Great conclusion about religion is helpful. To some extent true. However, there is a very unhealthy aspect of it that we especially see in high control groups and far right religions that manipulate people in a harmful direction. The fear factor, thought control, hatred that can be foster toward others, and manipulation. Some are part of a structure where the head grifts and becomes wealthy. I think religions allows for an escape from what seems to a highly stressful world and society.
I mostly agree. BUT, so many people seem to need God to break addictions or to find meaning. I think you nailed it with the distinction of the high control part. That's the key.
@@johndrews9144 yes!!
You were perfect interviewing John Vevian 😘😉
Thank you ♥️
If you are not a JW's, then you were never here.
There is an “evil slave” in charge. (Matt 24:48-51) He “beats the other slaves” and gets some to follow. (Luke 12:45-48) Upon seeIng this, Jesus orders us to leave and head for the mountains. (Matt 24:15) He says “let the reader use discernment” not listen to a “faithful slave.” Jehovah’s brilliant prophesy only gives us more reason to believe and trust in him.
Why did God prescribe death for a disobedient Adam and Eve (c.22) but not for a disobedient Satan? Could it be because it's false? Yes!
Because Jehovah can't handle a bully....even when it's his OWN kid.... ;)
And next the angels decide they want to come down and impregnate human women and what happens? God drowns the entire world.
@@rustanddust5524 Yeah, including babies and puppies! All because his 'sons' ....who are genderless.... apparently can't control themselves around human women. What does that say about him as a 'father'.....or that he kills a bunch of innocent people due to his own kids going sideways?
@@survivingparadisepodcast That part of angels being turned on by human women bothered me even as a PIMI. It made no sense to me. Why would angelic creatures feel sexual arousal for the female sex? Why aren't there stories of angels being turned on by men? Aren't they genderless? LOL.
Si e tutto falso ,ce un motivo e una spiegazione per qualsiasi cosa ,questo si chiama dottrina ,
Yes the GB men and other adjoined elders will white wash over the false doctrines the past GB or presidents of the WTS/JWS have made, not mentioning what they really were as false prophet apostates, who went directly against Jesus's own words and instructions for preaching his Gospel.
The bible says to not listen to those who come in his name and say things he did not give them to say.
What the GB men are saying essentially is disregard what the bible says or what Jesus Christ says , listen and obey us, be loyal and subservient to us, don't read whats in scripture..
1 John 4 : 1 ......
Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.
Being a JW taught me how to speak, dress and behave among unknown people, search Bible evidence of falsehood... This one was the best, period.
Congratulations on your new life and new marriage, life is short enjoy.
Rev 11 provides reassurance that God has in place an arrangement for True worship during the last days ..
We know this chapter is in the process of fulfillment..as we re awaiting Jah with the bringing to ruin , those ruining the earth !
Verse 10 gives us clues as to the identity of the TWO WITNESSES ..
Their opposers participate in the exchanging of gifts..
Christs followers dont !
I’m happy to see so many new interviews on your channel!
A little constructive criticism…. Please spend some time to learn some interviewing techniques, you could draw so much more out if you just adjusted a few things.
Can you explain? I’d love more feedback.
Have then tell a story
@@vevianvoz you at times will fire off multiple questions at a time. It’s very likely that who you are talking to is nervous just because of the fact that they are being interviewed and that it is being recorded for CZcams. Even in a calm setting, I would have a hard time, remembering multiple questions, and addressing all of them.
Given the depth of what we are dealing with coming out of this cult, try to pose one question at a time. This can help focus the person you’re talking to and guide the interview. (If needed)
I’m sure some that you talk to are great storytellers. Give them space to tell their story. A interview is different than a conversation. And interjecting with your own experiences when someone is moving along nicely with their story at times, bogs things down and can distract the person you are interviewing.
Much love and respect form my wife and I who were born in and only escaped about four years ago!
Keep up the great work!
God loved the world so much he forgave Adam and Eve but did smack their bottoms, no need for 6000 years of human suffering, no need to torture your son as a blood sacrifice just very, very sore bottoms. Justin Porter ex jw ❤️
I’d never really thought about it but as the guest brought out; why couldn’t have God Almighty have sent an angel or somehow given the very 1st of her kind, a brand new, naive and inexperienced woman (and man) another urgent warning of the consequences of breaking his arbitrary rule of not eating the fruit of a particular tree ? ? Why just stand idly by without intervening, and then have to figure out a way to “fix” things by allowing thousands of earth years to pass by with BILLIONS of deaths, destruction, annihilation, horrific suffering, all because two, TWO very inexperienced & naive humans made an error ? ? !
Also the Noah’s flood account raises serious ethical questions too. God had to destroy and murder COUNTLESS animal and human lives in the vast and remote areas of the earth, such as the North American continent. Humans who would have had no interaction with Noah were drowned because … why ? ?
Quello che non mi torna e che Dio disse :che si era pentito di aver fatto l'uomo, e gli animali ,ma Noe trova favore presso Dio ,e quindi l'uomo inizia di nuovo a popolare la terra ,perche uno che si pente continua a fare la stessa cosa ,e adesso vuole sterminare di nuovo ad ARMAGHETON, dove sta questa perfezzione ,,A me sembra un castello di carta messo in piedi dalle religioni .
@@gennaropannelli7138 damn! I never thought of that. He felt regret and went and did it again. Hahah nice job God!
Seems like it's always the mother that always gets started
That’s a crazy story about the re-enactment with his parents, and not playing football. MAN! So dishonest!
Yeah I couldn’t believe I was watching it
He looks kinda like the guard in the Tom Hanks movie, The Green Mile
😂 which guard??
@@johndrews9144 The tall, white, bald guard with a beard who used to be a JW elder from Minnesota 😁
I think Timothy is referring to David Morse.
@@adamantiumbullet9215 ah ok that’s a new one!
He DOES!!!! lol...
I’d never really thought about it but as the guest brought out; why couldn’t have God Almighty have sent an angel or somehow given the very 1st of her kind, a brand new, naive and inexperienced woman (and man) another urgent warning of the consequences of breaking his arbitrary rule of not eating the fruit of a particular tree ? ? Why just stand idly by without intervening, and then have to figure out a way to “fix” things by allowing thousands of earth years to pass by with BILLIONS of deaths, destruction, annihilation, horrific suffering, all because two, TWO very inexperienced & naive humans made an error ? ? !
Also the Noah’s flood account raises serious ethical questions too. God had to destroy and murder COUNTLESS animal and human lives in the vast and remote areas of the earth, such as the North American continent. Humans who would have had no possible interaction with Noah were drowned / destroyed because … why ? ?
Good questions, I was always told Adam and Eve were created perfect, unlike the rest of us so they had no excuse. Likewise they could have approached God like they had many times prior, and asked him why the snake has spoken contrary to what they know. As for the flood, I was never clear on this, I can only conclude that if God gives life, he can take it away, they were warned, I’m more caught up on how many animals there are on earth compared with how many they placed in the ark. Kangaroo for example..
It's a story. Most cultures have various myths or stories about creationism, fertility, death and so on. Talking snakes is a good one tho😮
So 58 been like it no one knows what it means when we get baptised or we would not have?! All of our lives, every teeny segment is directed and analysed well done everyone for getting out including me please call me if you need bolstering 8 am fired up and ready to be the best apostate they aver wished for 😅🎉
I heard that there making elders as young 20years old nowadays
Liked John's confession and journey. For some reason I'm left wondering about his wife walking away. Its bizarre how sucked into nonsense people can be😮Wouldn't it be intelligent to actually find out what the lawsuits are about?
There have already been so many Armageddon dates put forward, the org no longer gives actual dates anymore.
What happened to the video or short you posted 8 hrs ago? It disappeared.
🥂🍻🥂🍻
Wished he touched on what his familys reaction and his sister, is he in touch with her.?
Yes she is so amazing. She forgave me for shunning her immediately. I’m her little brother again 😊. Unfortunately the rest of my family are no longer speaking to me
@@johndrews9144 thanks John for replying. I’m so happy you have her back in your life. My whole waking up was due to this AH of an elder telling me not to help my unbaptised son who was 18/19 at the time and is type 1 diabetic doing bad drugs at the time. I put him first in my life, even over my husband. I always told my husband, if something happened to him and or our relationship, I could always get another husband… but this is my kid. I will help him ALWAYS.. because you can’t replace your child. So I helped my kid. I’m still married .. 36 years. Not much of a relationship. Because he’s big time born in brainwashed. I’m 11 years out. 8 yrs now that my middle witness son shuns me. ( sucks being alive but dead to your child) and my third child is married to an elder but will always have a relationship with me. (I’m in Colorado)
I’ll NEVER EVER understand parents turning their backs on their kids. I faded just so I wouldn’t be shunned. Well .. that didn’t work.. PS.. one of the most amazing things to do are Tibetan sound bowl concerts.. the power and healing of sound. I can always find one in my area. ❤️
Wishing you much happiness and success!
@@Sittingstraight12 Thank you for putting a real relationship above the myths. You deserve a monument in your name. What a loving mommy you are.
Only ex-witnesses go around trying to sell you how great life is. Very telling.
Like the video “Best Life Ever”?
@A J Historically all flesh in charge of Jehovah’s people, go wicked at the top, even today. Matt 24:48-51, Luke 12:45-48
But what was the accident and surgery?
I had a skiing accident, breaking my humerus and messing up my back.
Thanks for your comments.
FALSE GODS:
Exodus 20:3-5, YOU WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.
YOU WILL NOT MAKE AN IMAGE, OR ANY RESEMBLANCE OF WHAT IS UP IN HEAVEN.
YOU WILL NOT BOW TO THEM, NOR HONOR THEM.
Psalm 135:15-18, THE IDOLS OF THE NATIONS
THEY ARE SILVER AND GOLD, THE WORK OF MAN'S HANDS.
--------
THE WITNESSES = TO RUIN
According to Watch Tower in its 1969 edition book, on pages 884 and 885, Aid to Bible Understanding.
says it was first INVENTED in the 13th century
The Latin word JEHOVAH,
in the book "pugeo Fidei" in the year 1270 AD. By Raymundus Martini, a
Spanish Monk
AND THE WATCHTOWER: ON
The Kingdom, Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures: Edition, 1969.
THEY SAY. on pages 22 and 23... THEY WERE THE FIRST TO ADD "THE NAME OF JEHOVAH"
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, 237 TIMES.
AND ON PAGE 23, THEY SAY "THE NAME OF JEHOVAH" HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE THE 14TH CENTURY.
If you go to GOOGLE
raymundus martini jw.org
You can inform yourself.
Your page JW.ORG.
wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980084
JEHOVAH: This name is only 700 years old. VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOOK FOR INFORMATION.
THE 4 EVANGELISTS AND THE DISCIPLES HAVE BEEN DEAD OVER 1,700 YEARS"
(THUS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BIBLE TO MENTION THE NAME OF JEHOVAH.)
JW.ORG, THEY LIE AND DECEIVE YOU.
THE BIBLE SAYS:
Jude 1:25, To GOD our SAVIOR,
Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Acts 4:12, AND IN NO OTHER IS THERE SALVATION; FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN, GIVEN UNTO MEN, BY WHICH WE MIGHT BE SAVED.
Hosea 13:4, FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT; I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD
THEREFORE YOU SHALL RECOGNIZE NO OTHER GOD BUT ME, NOR ANY SAVIOR BUT ME.
IN THESE 2 VERSES THEY TELL ME:
THAT JEHOVAH DOES NOT SAVE.
THAT JEHOVAH IS NOT GOD.
THEN: WHY DO I NEED JEHOVAH WHO HAS NO POWER FOR ANYTHING.
IF JEHOVAH CAN'T DO ANYTHING, THEN IT IS BECAUSE HE IS A FALSE GOD,
A GOD OF STRAW, WOOD,
A GOD MADE BY THE
MEN, TO ASK FOR MONEY AND CHEATING.
THEREFORE JEHOVAH DOES NOT INTEREST ME.
IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME, THAT NO DISCIPLE WOULD WORSHIP JEHOVAH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
(NEITHER DO I.)
THE DISCIPLES ONLY WORSHIPED THE TRUE GOD. = TO JESÚS.
Matthew 4:10, THE LORD YOUR GOD SHALL YOU WORSHIP, AND HIM ONLY SHALL YOU SERVE
Matthew:28:16-17, But the ELEVEN disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where JESUS HAD SENT THEM.
Matthew:28:17] When they saw him, THEY WORSHIPED HIM; but some doubted.
Matthew 14:33, THE DISCIPLES WORSHIPED HIM.
Matthew 28:9, Marys worshiped him
Matthew 28:16, THE 11, disciples worship
John:9:38, blind man worshiped him. Bartimaeus.
Heb.1:6, WORSHIP HIM All the Angels OF GOD.
Rev.5:14, Millo. Angels worshiped.
Rev.22:1-4, Servants Worship him.
John 4:23, True WORSHIPERS.
Juan:4:22-23] Pero la hora viene, y ahora es, cuando los verdaderos adoradores adorarán al PADRE en espíritu y en verdad; porque también el PADRE busca a tales que lo adoren.
BUT "NO DISCIPLE EVER WORSHIPED JEHOVAH"
I ONLY WORSHIP GOD, MY LORD JESUS, MY SAVIOR
HE PAID FOR MY SINS AND SAVED ME, AND GIVING ME ETERNAL LIFE,
BY HIS GRACE BLESSED BE HIS NAME AMEN.
I RESPECT YOU, AS WELL AS OTHER RELIGIONS, WHICH HAVE OTHER GODS.
BUT THE TRUTH, JEHOVAH DOESN'T INTEREST ME.
AND HIS FAKE ORGANIZATION JW.ORG. A LOT LESS,
MANIPULATE GOOD AND SIMPLE PEOPLE TO
ASKING THEM FOR MONEY WITH DECEIT AND WORKING FOR FREE LIKE SLAVES.
MANY WITNESSES, ALL LIFE WORKING FOR JW.ORG, AND AT OLD AGE ARE WITHOUT PENSION,
AND IN THE GREATEST RUIN.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
YOUR PAGE: JW.ORG
wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980084
Jeremiah:17:5] Thus saith the LORD: “CURSED is the man who trusts in MAN, who leans on HUMAN, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Thanks for your comments.1.
Ohh, he left the real estate business? Great!
By the way, masturbation and polygamy are not sins in the Bible.
True!
He declares innocent people he has never met, people God declared guilty! He never listened at meetings that is obvious.
If you mean babies in the flood. Yes. I believe babies are innocent :)
Yes, because drowning babies and puppies is something only a 'loving' God would do, right? Babies are innocent and completely dependent on WHO is in their life.
*"Incredibly stupid"....* The perfect screen name for you.
Obviously, _you've_ never listened at meetings either. I know full well your governing body has told you explicitly and repeatedly to not watch "apostate" videos or talk to apostates, yet here you are doing both anyway. Kettle meet pot.
_"What every apologist must learn: it's not easy acting as defense attorney for a mass murderer."_
Step Lett del corpo direttivo in un video ha detto che i neonati appena nati sono nemici di Dio ,perche nascono con il peccato originale ,quando il cap. 3 di Genesi non parla mai di un peccato originale su Adamo e Eva ,ma di disubidienza verso Dio . Da L'italia saluti.
@A J I’m betting you worked on the running long jump throughout your childhood days. Because that was quite the leap