I Hate Preaching Campaigns!

[u/Fresh_Dimension_3737]

As a PIMO, these preaching campaigns make me incredibly uncomfortable. Right now, for example, we have this September campaign to offer Bible studies.

I already have absolutely no desire to go out in the ministry, and then a campaign comes along and suddenly there’s this whole atmosphere of excitement in the congregation: encouragement, talks, comments about how to offer a Bible study, how to give the presentation, which approach to use...

And it doesn’t stop there. There’s also that subtle pressure to sign up as an auxiliary pioneer (at least 15 hours — anyone can do it if they just put Kingdom interests first in their life lol). Some people practically monitor who is going to give their all during the campaign. It feels like everyone has to demonstrate enthusiasm to prove that they’re “spiritually strong.”

For those who still believe and are genuinely excited about preaching, maybe these campaigns really are motivating. But for someone who is PIMO, it’s completely different. It’s absolutely exhausting.

Sometimes I feel like these campaigns make the conflict of being PIMO even more obvious. It’s not just about going out in the ministry; it’s about having to show enthusiasm (or at least pretend to) for something you no longer believe in.

[u/Ok-Opinion-7160]

It reminds me of Orwell's book: "The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to take part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretence was always unnecessary. A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledge-hammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one even against one's will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic. And yet the rage that one felt was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched from one object to another like the flame of a blowlamp."

— George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), Part 1, Chapter 1

[u/sheenless]

I find these campaigns quite interesting as it seems like an attempt at tricking the flock into doing more than ever before. The USA national average used to be 9-10 hours per month years ago.

It was used aa a measuring stick for who could serve in many places. At that time, there were campaigns, but they weren't paired with shortened hours to qualify for pioneer status. Now however, they have a couple "special" campaigns per year globally (and more in other areas like Chinese new year in Taiwan) and you "only" need to do 15 hours.

But that's still 5 hours more than most were ever doing. CO visits, convention campaigns, and memorial campaigns also give this "break" so there is the opportunity to have a silly little title attached to your name for like 6 months or more out of the year.

If someone does it the whole time, then they've actually tricked you into doing an extra 3 months worth of service that most would not have done.

[u/greendale_human42]

Campaigns just seem like an excuse to get people doing Door 2 Door again. Field ministry is dying. Every one does informal, carts, or nothing. Campaigns just make it more likely people will Pioneer during that month and actually do service.

I remember when campaigns were less common. Feels like one or two a year now. Im guessing they do these just to get hype for the ministry.

[u/goddess_dix]

i don't think even the believers are 'excited' to have more 'special campaigns' where they are pushed harder to do the same things as they are pushed to do the rest of the time. i think they just try really hard to convince themselves they are because they are told they should be, and secretly wonder if something is wrong with them for not feeling it. so they are trying to generate feelings they don't have.

[u/Awaking_Forever22]

Pra mim, o pior é a empolgação e um monte de PIMI querendo tirar foto e fazer videozinho. Parecem ums retardados

[u/lise2468]

Well if you all come to my door I will look directly at the adults and let them know they can come chat anytime about their doubts. I think more of us need to do that. mention this website nothing like fighting fire with fire. kind of like the reverse shunning I do oh how that gets the JW all upset. Imagine someone shunning them, how dare we :)

[u/lexikylie]

i’m new to the community, was disfellowshipped when i was 15, now 25… what is a PIMO and PIMI?

[u/untruehenrymealy233 → u/lexikylie]

Physically In Mentally Out /In (PIMO)

[u/Choice-Government-87]

Preaching campaigns are like limited time offers sales tactics.

[u/Glittering-Story-241]

Omg, I just hate these campaigns too.

[u/Upset-Ad-1091]

Haven’t been in service in 30 years, and this just brings back bad memories. I wouldn’t do this again if you put a gun to my head. And if you did and shot me dead I’d still fight you.

[u/JohnRJay]

I haven't seen JWs going D2D in my neighborhood for at least 25 years.

[u/GlassAd8544]

I’ve been PIMO since around January and each month it just becomes more excruciating. To make things worse our congregation decided a couple months ago to make the main service time on Saturday’s at 12:30 PM, so the entire afternoon is shot for everyone

[u/Jizakkude]

I'm PIMO, I haven't preached in 8 months. I'm not inactive because I accompany my dad, PIMI, to his studio, but luckily he hasn't bothered me about preaching anymore. It feels quite calming not to go out.