How would you as a Catholic witness to JW's at their door?

[TraditionalCath]

I have a phobia of going and knocking on doors. So I just flat out wouldn’t do it.

like i said, it is not for everyone. it might be something that i would do, but it is not for everyone.

 

[AgnosTheist]

the best way of witnessing to a JW is to wait for them to knock on your door.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

first thing I woud do is get a “Reasoning From the Scriptures”–can find them on ebay-- and then the book by Reed I believe on answering JWs (or some other apologetic) and prepare a 5 minute sermon/presentation based on one of the subjects in the Reasoning book. Just like I did every single day for 15 years as a Regular Pioneer.

The hard part would be finding them. Short of undercover work in the Kingdom Hall parking lot copying down license tags on mini-vans I don’t know how you would know where they lived! (despite all their hype about how exceptionally good citizens they are and how they stand out from among the hordes of sinful humanity by their good works and clean living…)

Then they may not be home on certain days like Saturday mornings or Wednesday afternoons because they were out in service themselves or maybe cleaning carpets or tinting windows (common JW jobs–atleast on the West Coast).

You might try to do some ‘market-place-style’ witnessing to them and try to catch them en masse at Hardees or Pizza Hut after a meeting.

 

[TraditionalCath]

the best way of witnessing to a JW is to wait for them to knock on your door.

true. but if one is knowledgeable, and asks his priest if he can go door to door, then why not? they certainly are not expecting a catholic at their door are they? i like one idea i read awhile back. put some tracts in a bag, and a booklet, and leave it on the mailbox handle, or on the door handle. that is another fab idea. i like public witnessing for the faith, meaning talking to people on the street or in a mall, or wherever. this has been where the majority of my witnessing for the catholic faith has been.

 

[AgnosTheist]

I enjoyed reasoning with JWs. I just asked them “why should I believe the bible?”. And that pretty messed up the rest of what they had to say. In the end, i could read on their faces ‘you have a point there’. I invited them back, but they never showed up again. Aw too bad.

 

[Ginger2]

TraditionalCath,

I agree. That is why I find it better, for me, to wait for God to send them to me.

That is not to say you shouldn’t go to them. It’s just the not way God uses me. When I “try” I usually fail. But when someone comes to me and opens the door for dialog, that is when I see a possitive response.

But God uses each of us according the way He created us. So, follow God’s lead and you will bear good fruit.

 

[Ginger2]

AgnosTheist, “I enjoyed reasoning with JWs. I just asked them “why should I believe the bible?”. And that pretty messed up the rest of what they had to say. In the end, i could read on their faces ‘you have a point there’. I invited them back, but they never showed up again.”

I doubt they were thinking “you have a point”. More likely they left and marked your house as a condemned person who should be avoided.

If you really don’t want them to come around tell them you believe in the Trinity. They will run from you!

 

[TraditionalCath]

first thing I woud do is get a “Reasoning From the Scriptures”–can find them on ebay-- and then the book by Reed I believe on answering JWs (or some other apologetic) and prepare a 5 minute sermon/presentation based on one of the subjects in the Reasoning book. Just like I did every single day for 15 years as a Regular Pioneer.

The hard part would be finding them. Short of undercover work in the Kingdom Hall parking lot copying down license tags on mini-vans I don’t know how you would know where they lived! (despite all their hype about how exceptionally good citizens they are and how they stand out from among the hordes of sinful humanity by their good works and clean living…)

Then they may not be home on certain days like Saturday mornings or Wednesday afternoons because they were out in service themselves or maybe cleaning carpets or tinting windows (common JW jobs–atleast on the West Coast).

You might try to do some ‘market-place-style’ witnessing to them and try to catch them en masse at Hardees or Pizza Hut after a meeting.

i would never go so far as that ravyn., never. i would not track them down, wait outside a hall, write down a license plate number. that is not what one ought to be doing. iam certainly not going out of my way to witness to witnesses. if i happen to come across one at the door, then i’d be glad to witness to them. if i come across one on the street, or in a mall, if they want to talk no problem. if not, no problem. but i certainly wont go to ANY extremes just to witness to a witness. i also do witnessing for the faith here, and on other forums as well.

 

[AgnosTheist]

I doubt they were thinking “you have a point”. More likely they left and marked your house as a condemned person who should be avoided.

i think it did, because many times during our discussion i got them to agree. they were really caught off guard that a person (me) could believe in God and yet not follow a religion. they were quite a doomsday fanatic, explaining that the bible is true because it predicted the world is getting worst and worst. but what shook their foundation was when i explained how the world is really getting better and better. less wars, no slavery, less racism, less sexism, multiculturalism, etc. after that they were itching to leave.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

i would never go so far as that ravyn., never. i would not track them down, wait outside a hall, write down a license plate number. that is not what one ought to be doing. iam certainly not going out of my way to witness to witnesses. if i happen to come across one at the door, then i’d be glad to witness to them. if i come across one on the street, or in a mall, if they want to talk no problem. if not, no problem. but i certainly wont go to ANY extremes just to witness to a witness. i also do witnessing for the faith here, and on other forums as well.

these are the extremes they go to. I did it. Reverse Directories were my best friend. I searched Obituaries. I went to hospitals, nursing homes. I also sold Avon for most of the years I was a pioneer, which meant I PERSONALLY knew every home, every family, every person/householder in my Avon territory, I even used blank Avon Customer Service Books for my ministry. I wrote letters too, even had a Bulk Mail stamp.

what a waste of time!

 

[paarsurrey]

I often ask why they predicted the Second Coming so many times and yet it never happened. Which is the current and most recent date?

Hi

I may like to point out that the JWs were not all wrong in their calculations for the Second Coming of Jesus. They calculated and predicted fairly well, they however failed to recognize him and accept him, unfortunately. Second Coming of Jesus 1835-1908, did happen in the form of the PromisedMessiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. It could not be literal one as common man believes but a metaphoric one, as Jesus was not killed on Cross as commonly believed, he later died a natural and peaceful death.

Jesus’ Second Coming did happen, in my opinion, for which JWs were not all that wrong, so if Catholics start with this, they may not be successful, I fear.

Thanks

 

[TraditionalCath]

Hi

I may like to point out that the JWs were not all wrong in their calculations for the Second Coming of Jesus. They calculated and predicted fairly well, they however failed to recognize him and accept him, unfortunately. Second Coming of Jesus 1835-1908, did happen in the form of the PromisedMessiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. It could not be literal one as common man believes but a metaphoric one, as Jesus was not killed on Cross as commonly believed, he later died a natural and peaceful death.

Jesus’ Second Coming did happen, in my opinion, for which JWs were not all that wrong, so if Catholics start with this, they may not be successful, I fear.

Thanks

ok paarsurrey,please don’t go there. that has nothing to do with this post. please post about what you want to say in a new thread. this is about catholics witnessing at the door to jw’s.

 

[paarsurrey]

OK. If you really want to go door to door, I suggest you first start by studying there religion.

You need to be genuinely open to listening and not there to argue. Afterall they didn’t invite you - you just showed up.

Ask them questions - and listen to their answers. Don’t try to accomplish your mission in one visit.

Hi

The above are good points, I have a lot of personal experience with the JWs, so please don’t think that my view is a lay man’s view.

Thanks

 

[TraditionalCath]

Hi

The above are good points, I have a lot of personal experience with the JWs, so please don’t think that my view is a lay man’s view.

Thanks

that might be true my friend, but we are keeping this to what CATHOLICS would do when witnessing to jw’s at the door.

 

[Hellisreal]

these are the extremes they go to. I did it. Reverse Directories were my best friend. I searched Obituaries. I went to hospitals, nursing homes. I also sold Avon for most of the years I was a pioneer, which meant I PERSONALLY knew every home, every family, every person/householder in my Avon territory, I even used blank Avon Customer Service Books for my ministry. I wrote letters too, even had a Bulk Mail stamp.

what a waste of time!

The last funeral I attended there were funeral crashers hawking evangelical literature all over the crowd. I know Traditional Cath would never ever do such a thing, or even overt things like she said somewhere else.

I was thinking of a new idea to add to this, if I were the type to do it, but am not. I would bring topics related to the time of year we are in like at Easter I would have a specific list of things to explain why and how we celebrtate verses how others do. Of course, christmas is not a topic that is one they would warm up to on a first visit, but I would save up a bunch of happy meal toys and if I saw a child there, would offer it to them then, it woudl be like a christmas present for the child, and I would of course explain how the Church is so happy about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

I hope that helps.

 

[TraditionalCath]

The last funeral I attended there were funeral crashers hawking evangelical literature all over the crowd. I know Traditional Cath would never ever do such a thing, or even overt things like she said somewhere else.

I was thinking of a new idea to add to this, if I were the type to do it, but am not. I would bring topics related to the time of year we are in like at Easter I would have a specific list of things to explain why and how we celebrtate verses how others do. Of course, christmas is not a topic that is one they would warm up to on a first visit, but I would save up a bunch of happy meal toys and if I saw a child there, would offer it to them then, it woudl be like a christmas present for the child, and I would of course explain how the Church is so happy about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

I hope that helps.

 

[BibleSteve]

I would love to see a few Catholics take up the initiative and try going door-to-door.

With the very best of intention, and a simple, spiritually important message, it would be an eye-opening and humbling experience to be on the receiving end of some of the rude behavior people would throw at you.

Matt 24:14

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

I would love to see a few Catholics take up the initiative and try going door-to-door.

With the very best of intention, and a simple, spiritually important message, it would be an eye-opening and humbling experience to be on the receiving end of some of the rude behavior people would throw at you.

Matt 24:14

it is equally humbling living next door to Liberty University and trying to find any Catholic books in the spirituality section of Barnes and Nobles in Lynchburg–and then trying to read it without being interrupted by over zealous students of LU and told that Mary worshippers are not saved.

 

[eleonardo]

OK. If you really want to go door to door, I suggest you first start by studying there religion.

Then at the door ask them to explain some specific aspect that doesn’t make sense to you. (It will be easy to find a point that doesn’t make sense)

Do not tell them they are wrong. No one wants to admit they are mistaken about anything and the walls of defense go a little higher.

You need to be genuinely open to listening and not there to argue. Afterall they didn’t invite you - you just showed up.

Ask them questions - and listen to their answers. Don’t try to accomplish your mission in one visit.

They will very likely either give you info to take home or try to get your address so they can send someone to your house.

Not all JW’s are considered qualified to witness. So they may not feel they are allowed to talk to you.

the best way of witnessing to a JW is to wait for them to knock on your door.

This is actually a great opportunity imo. They’ll have to listen to you since they knocked on your door. The only ‘downside’ to this is that you’ll come across a well indoctrinated/versed JW, so it might be hard to get your points across. Then again, they might be accompanied with a student and you could possibly let him see the Truth through your discussion with the ‘elder’.

If you really don’t want them to come around tell them you believe in the Trinity. They will run from you!

I told them I am Catholic, somehow I doubt this will make them stop coming over…

 

[TraditionalCath]

I would love to see a few Catholics take up the initiative and try going door-to-door.

With the very best of intention, and a simple, spiritually important message, it would be an eye-opening and humbling experience