In general, the Watchtower has a good system for getting “unbaptized publishers” and newly baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses into the door-to-door field service ministry.

They partner them with experienced Witnesses, often with elders.

At first, the trainees tag along and observe.

Then they are involved gradually in breaking the ice at the door and in getting discussions going.

As time goes by, they take over more and more of the witnessing work while their mentor observes and stands ready to take over if the trainee gets in over his or her head.

Knowing this process gives us several advantages:

  1. Trainees can often be identified by observing the dominance and interventions of the other witnessing partner.

It’s fine to verifying your conclusions by asking each of the Witnesses how long they have been Jehovah’s Witnesses, whether they were born into the religion or converted to it, and the like.

Don’t ask these questions in a hostile manner; rather ask them in a friendly way as a way of getting to know the Witnesses as people.

  1. Trainees are usually not as well indoctrinated as other Witnesses.

Even if they don’t show it, questions and statements you make in an effort to get through to the Witnesses often have more of an impact on them. You can use many of the same approaches from my book and blog that you would use with a Physically In/Mentally In Witness.

  1. Trainees are likely not to know the Watchtower’s answers to some of your questions and points.

This makes it more likely that they will think about what you have to say.

  1. It’s easier for people to leave the Watchtower if they haven’t been baptized by that organization yet.

 Baptism is a commitment that makes a person a Jehovah’s Witness and subjects them to the risk of disfellowshipping if they deviate from Watchtower theology and control.

There are several challenges in dealing with Watchtower trainees:

  1. Sometimes they have stars in their eyes about the Watchtower organization.

 Not having seen the organization’s failings and hypocrisies which seasoned Witnesses have experienced, trainees sometimes believe the Watchtower’s claims to be a spiritual paradise which is far superior to the churches of Christendom.

Only after more time has passed will they be able to make a realistic evaluation of the Watchtower’s claims.

 2. The Watchtower warns trainees that they will encounter opposition from well-meaning people who don’t understand their reasons for studying the Bible.

 If you express any objections to Watchtower theology, trainees may see your opposition as proof that the Watchtower is an accurate guide and prophet.

The best way to counter this is to comment that you would have similar questions of representatives of any religion which claims to be the only one that has the truth.

  1. Even when they have no answers to your questions, instead of examining what they have been taught, it’s easy for trainees simply to assume that their mentors have the answers.

In such situations, I recommend that you press the mentor for answers to your questions so the trainee can see that the Watchtower doesn’t have a satisfactory answer for the points you are addressing.

 

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