Anakin

I was a JW for 30 years in Britain, 1971 to when I disassociated in 2001.
In 1996 suffering from "acute clinical depression" as later diagnosed, I attempted suicide, due to culmination of personal matters and struggling with my beliefs as a JW. I was a Ministerial Servant at the time. I spent six weeks in a psychiatric hospital.
I appeared before a Judicial Committee were I was "privately reproved" and removed as a MS.
Their answer to mt depression, was attend meetings and go on field service.
About six months later I was told to leave my home and family because the Elders decided I was a "spiritual danger" to the family. I had move out and also attend a different congregation. My JW wife and I have been separated since.
It was this total lack of love and support that in a way set me on the road to leaving. I started to look into Watchtower history and teachings etc. I find Freeminds and the JWD forum and discovered I was not alone.
I discovered what true Christian teaching was.
In August 1999 I stopped attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. I waited for a visit from the Elders, nothing, not even a call or note.
I contacted a Christian organisation that helps those that leave cults. One of their reps came and visited me and we are still friends.
It was with his gentle help and from what I had learnt that I became a Christian in March 2000, and baptised as such January 2001.
Up till September 2001 I had not one single contact with any JW Elder. Then two call one day, basically they were having a campaign to get "inactive" ones back because of falling numbers. I thought for two years you had not been near me now when you want to make numbers up you call, is that all I was to them.
I wrote and disassociated. This meant that my JW wife and two JW daughters have not spoken or had contact with me for 8 years.
Though I have other children who have followed me out.
Recently my eldest JW daughter got married, I was not invited to the wedding. I could go to the ceremony if I sat at the back and was "discreet" of course no JW would have spoke to me.

As I said I became a Christian and now attend a Pentecostal church.
I found what real Christian freedom is.


"If you keep the parts of the Gospel you like and reject the parts of the Gospel you don't like.
Then its not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."
Augustine.