Former Witnesses who are POMO—Physically Out Mentally Out—have left the Watchtower organization both physically and mentally.

Be aware, however, that this does not mean that they are free from the indoctrination of the Watchtower.

In dealing with former Jehovah’s Witnesses who are POMO, we have a number of advantages:

  1. They have already left the Watchtower.

You don’t have to convince them that the Watchtower doesn’t really speak for God.

They have already realized that and have shown the courage to leave.

  1. They don’t want to return to it.

You don’t have to talk them out of returning if they have no desire to do so.

A word of warning, though.

Sometimes people who have apparently left the Watchtower for good suddenly (from our point of view) change their minds because they miss family, friends, or the sense of belonging they felt when they were active Witnesses.

Be alert to this possibility.

  1. You may be able to replace their focus on organized religion with a focus on finding a personal relationship with Jesus.

The idea of having a personal relationship with Jesus is a foreign concept to a Jehovah’s Witness and even to many former Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Don’t take for granted that they understand it.

Even if they understand what you are saying, they may be frightened getting into something that’s demonic.

Encourage them to disclose their reservations and fears.

Take them seriously.

Instead of arguing with them or brushing off their concerns, lovingly help them work through those issues.

  1. You may be able to help them process the change.

Try to draw them out with non-threatening questions about what it was like to be a Jehovah’s Witness—what they like about it and what they didn’t.

Try to find out what caused them to leave and what they believe about God now.

Let them take the lead in your discussions as much as possible.

Ask them if they are at a point where they want to discuss doctrinal issues, and if so, which ones.

You will also face several challenges:

  1. They are hard to identify.

Since they have left the Watchtower, you won’t encounter them at your door, at a literature cart, or at a Kingdom Hall, and rarely will they self-identify.

Pray for opportunities to meet and help such people and be alert to any indication that they have a Watchtower background.

  1. They may just want to put the Watchtower behind them.

I’ve had some of them tell me, “I just want to be thought of as a normal person. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being known as an ex-Jehovah’s Witness.”

I recommend that you honor their request.

They still may be willing to discuss the Bible with you at some future time.

  1. They may still have a lot of Watchtower programming in them.

Someone has well said, “It’s easier to get a person out of the Watchtower than it is to get the Watchtower out of them.”

Often, they don’t realize themselves how powerful their Watchtower conditioning is.

The key is to realize that this challenge is a common one and to have patience with them.

Help them work through these issues.

  1. They may still have fears about entering a church building.

I have had several ex-Witnesses tell me that even after they rejected the Watchtower as false, and even after they had come to Christ, they still were terrified about the idea of entering a church building because of the Watchtower’s indoctrination that churches are dens of Satan worship.

That’s one reason I rarely invite an ex-Witness to church.

Even if they are willing to attend a church service, I recommend that you tell them that before they try out churches, they should study the Bible and decide what they are going to believe or at least what ideas they are willing to consider.

Also explain to them the negative triggers they are likely to encounter at a church because of Watchtower indoctrination about all the “pagan” doctrines and practices of “Christendom”—calling Jesus “God,” praying to him, displaying crosses, passing collection plates, and the like. Offer to help them work through those issues.

Make sure they understand that the key to salvation is not finding the “right” organization but coming to Jesus himself. I recommend that you have them read John 5:39-40 and John 6:67-68. Tell them, “Jehovah’s real arrangement for salvation is that we come to Jesus and rely on him, not that we place our trust in any organization run by fallible men.”

If they reach the point where they want to come to church with you, I recommend that you both sit near an exit and tell them that if they have a panic attack or feel the need to leave at any point, that that’s fine and you will step out with them.

  1. Many ex-Witnesses have thrown out God along with the Watchtower.

Some of them left the Watchtower because they became atheists or agnostics.

Others became atheists or agnostics only after they left the Watchtower.

Try to ascertain if they have rejected God or only the Watchtower concept of God and help them see the difference.

If they persist in their atheism or agnosticism, ask them if they are open to discussing the subject or in reading books written on the subject from a Christian point of view.

In my opinion, two of the best such resources are:

If they aren’t open to reading such books or to considering the possibility that God does exist, then respect their right to be atheists or agnostics, and continue to pray for them.

In general, in dealing with a POMO former Witness, seek to build a relationship and work on helping them deal with their issues as a former Witness. Do this according to their own preferences and time frame, realizing leaving the Watchtower is a long term process, not a short term fix.

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