Hey Justin! It’s your little sister Alysha, thank you for always being such a great role model for me and putting this out there and putting out your story is the greatest encouragement that anyone can ever see and receive. Your encouraging so many to come out and safely share their stories while giving them empowerment. You’ve shown me that it’s ok to share our stories about what we went thru and you will always be my big brother, mentor, role model, and spiritual head, my brother and best friend! Love you bro, see you later this week! :)
Thanks!!! I really hope this channel can be helpful to those who are questioning things and those who have left and are trying to recover. I gotta have you on the channel too!
@@exjwdiaries Awesome video sir!!! I was never a JWs but my experience with them was agreeing to do Bible Studies with them while in college. This lasted several months and ended when I graduated and moved back home. That was some awkward disturbing sessions of Bible Studies because these JWs would never answer any of my critical thinking questions...not even one! It was like studying with intellectually disabled children. They would or tried to rush through certain lessons knowing a critical question 🙋 would definitely come up. I would ask the question and total silence. Then "You know let's not get off course or we'll research that for next week" I sincerely wanted to understand but most importantly wanted proof of these certain claims. I realized that I was receiving answers I couldn't question and had questions they wouldn't answer. 🤔 It intrigues me how anyone could believe their teachings. One still reaches out for me to continue studies but no more of those shenanigans.
@@vusimngomezulu2500 I don't know what your problem is brother. Have you ever bothered to research for yourself? Or do you just go on sites like this? Do your own research and you too will wake up!!!!!!!!
My (Born-in /Dissociate/ Apostate/ XJW/ POMO) Heart Ache when you said.... I looked out into the audience and Saw Fear ( Never doing enough) on their Faces...so True !!! ...😕😒☹️
I woke up in 1996 after researching Christian Martyrs in the first and second centuries. Using the 1995 CD provided by the Watchtower I found a series of articles in 1950 which said there were over 800 thousand Christians who were killed when they refused to deny Jesus and worship Cesar. That put to death the 144 thousand teaching of the Watchtower for me. In a question from the readers article someone asked about this. The response was that they were just nominal Christians. That is ridiculous nominal Christians don't go to their death for their belief in Christ Jesus.
I was raised in the organization. Never felt a connection. I left at 18 and never looked back or even missed members of the congregation. Just glad to finally be free to think for myself.
I’ve watched it myself and it is truly shocking and disgusting, Geoffrey Jackson is a member of the GB and he’s lying through his teeth and they have the audacity to call this the truth! If more witnesses actually watched this then they would see the real Truth, the watchtower being wrong since 1914 !
I watched Geoffrey Jackson and thought hey Jesus gave him something to say. And he told the truth. That the governing body are not the exclusive spokesmen for God on earth. I found it refreshing and my regard for the governing body went from 100 mph to a screeching halt immediately. …. And has NEVER returned.
I enjoyed his testimony. I knew that it would never happen again. Ole Jackson will never let himself get into a situation like that again. No court will ever get any governing body member into any court ever again unless he is brought there in handcuffs.
@@jimbobaggans1564 Now that would be my dream come true and To amp it up into a fantasy they are standing there handcuffed and they each get kicked in the nads by a wild ass donkey with a Xjw sweater on as part of their sentence. I may or may not have actually dreamt that one night.
I’m so glad that you said : “it takes strength to leave this organization!” I really never thought about it but that is so true! Great video! Now YOU CAN BE YOURSELF!
Exactly: you have to be a strong person just to be able to research about the things they are scaring 😨 you about... once you know : you can not unlearn ! Got to be strong. Most of humans will never have to go through such an heartbreaking experience. It is against human nature to shun your kids and or parents. But, jw's are able to do it so quickly.... that is conditional love// which is not love at all! ❣
this was really amazing to listen to. fascinating. when i woke, i had no intention of waking up, i had no doubts, no questions,i wasn’t unhappy, was fully in and doing my normal JW thing. Then one night, in May 2021, at a Zoom meeting, something was said in a comment by an elder that literally hit me like a ton of bricks. In an instant, like an electric shock, i was suddenly awake. then these words came into my mind: _this is wrong_ after the Zoom meeting i just sat there, dazed. and i did what you did, i brought up a google search and i landed on some so called apostate website, which lead me to Watchtower’s own literature and for the first time in my entire life, after 27 years of exemplary, faithful service to Jehovah and his one true organization, i discovered the events of 1975 and the devastating aftermath, including the blame shifting by the leaders, onto rank and file JWs. i read WT’s own published material that lead to the 1975 fiasco, not commentary, not editorials, just WT’s own written words. That’s all it took, i was finished. There would be no PIMO, no fading, no equivocating. I was finished. i stopped logging onto Zoom and after three missed meetings the harassment began. People who didn’t give me the time of day before, were texting me, calling me, and the final straw was notes left on my door on two occasions, by the elders. They were outside my home, at my door, and not making themselves known . i was being stalked. the day after receiving the second note, i disassociated in writing, with no explanation or long letter, i wrote one sentence- i , my name, hereby disassociate from Watchtower effective immediately. and i signed my name. then slowly i realized how much damage this org did to my life, my family, and how much it ruined my future, robbed me of my humanity, and worst of all, sabatoged my search for Jesus Christ. in many ways i have recovered and in many ways i am permanently damaged. but for the most part, this org had taken everything.
Thanks for sharing, it's definitely interesting to see how others have left the JW organisation and also encouraging to me. I felt so alone when I left, this was over 10 years ago now and I've only recently discovered communities of ex-JW's which has been really helpful to my healing process. When I left I wasn't awake yet, I was in a very abusive relationship with my ex-husband. It's very true about not being able to be yourself when dating. I only saw what he was like when it was too late after we were married. Fast forward into the marriage 3 years I was debating whether to commit suicide or leave everything I had ever known and get cut off from my friends and family. I made the decision I would rather live a short happy life and die at Armageddon. After I left I realised I was so blinded, there was a whole world for me and I found true relationships and friends that didn't have strings attached. I'm now living my best life awake and open to my future.
Thanks for sharing! I have a very similar story. I was so miserable in an abusive marriage I wanted to leave or commit suicide. Then I thought "why should I die because of this SOB. I should live the life I want even if I die at Armageddon." So I left and later found out the truth about the "truth".
I applaud you my young beautiful brother. My wife and family of 4 beautiful children have been involved since 1985. We have since Jan this year begun fading for everything you so intelligently and clearly stated. Our children,adults, don’t feel the same…yet. Please stay strong, and project your message of truth.
Thanks for sharing your story with us...I was in 46 years and finally faded this year. I'm glad you woke up and hope you your videos will help others ☺️ What woke me up... the blood transfusion issue, birthdays 🙄I never understood their lame story about birthday and it's funny how witnesses back then used to celebrate Christmas and birthdays, and their rules about reporting pedophiles to me that's not something I can tolerate and pretend it's okay and there's much more but it will take forever 🤷🏾♀️
Waking up is so different in each person. My waking up happened young around 13 years old. After a district convention my father was rehashing all the propaganda and was upset I didn't take many notes. He then told me that the end is so near that I would never drive a car. I am 50 now.....Everyday after that comment I was building my disdain and calling BS on the org. I was mentally out by 15 and faded completely by 22. This allowed me to build a true life outside the org slowly and create a true reality without any regrets or hardship.
We all had the chaperone thing going on, sisters having to sit in the back of your car in field service just in case “ you just fell into each other’s arms” - crazy crazy stuff
I've always felt very uncomfortable in the organization and have struggled the entire time. I'm a very inquisitive person and naturally when the pandemic started I was praying and researching all I could find to determine whether to take the jab. Initially the GB said it was up to each family to make a decision based on their own conscience but almost every meeting since that one they have been pushing us to take it. I was shocked because they weren't giving us all the facts and some things they said I knew we're outright lies and that terrified me. The friends started shunning me just because I wanted to hold off on taking it. I just thought that us jws being so "shrewd" and "discerning" should carefully research it before making any decisions. But nooo the friends all said the same exact thing when I voiced my concerns, stick with the organization, Jehovah won't let his people be harmed, the GB loves us and are guided by Jah and that 99% of the bethel family took it so it must be ok. I felt strange that they all repeated identical answers and even more troubled that they wanted to imitate the bethel family and GB instead of doing research and imitating Jesus! Then I tried to show them facts from actual vax facts (truth) sheet and they refused to look at it calling it misinformation. Its been such a terryifying experience waking up that I had a panic attack but I knew that I was surrounded by people that didn't care about me, my kids who couldn't even get it yet and also didn't care about the truth. I'm now hardly able to listen to the meetings anymore but felt it was my duty to warn them to at least do some research first. I think I just need to quietly go because it's like talking to robots.
Excellently articulated video Justin! Your point of how you can be 30,40,50 years old and have the wherewithal of someone much younger-that definitely resonated with me! I’ll be 37 next year and sometimes I feel like an 18 year old emotionally. Looking forward to more videos from you! 🙂💪🏾
31 years ago, I was 18 and baptized for 2 years. My older brother's wife had a brother. He was a good person, but clearly depressed and struggling. Nobody was reaching out to help him, but people close to him were so judgemental. Nobody would invite him to gatherings or include him in anything, his mom always slammed him in front of others, and he started isolating himself more and more until he ended up disfellowshipped. Over time, with local elders refusing to listen to his pleas, he wrote the Society multiple times but they would do nothing. Then one day, with nowhere to turn, he hung himself. I was shocked and sickened, but nobody else showed even the slightest remorse. Well, my sister in law, his sister, was upset at first. She's the one who told me privately that he had been asking for help and writing the letters but nobody considered him "repentant." But, the few words about it in the JW community were cold and dismissive, implying that it was all his fault and that he wouldn't even be "eligible" for resurrection. A few days later, all talk stopped and nobody ever spoke of him again. No funeral, no nothing. Makes me very sad and sick inside to this day.
Wow thanks for sharing. It’s so sad what this cult does to people… The entire reinstatement process really deserves its own video. They leave so many people out in the cold isolated. This story is so sad and it’s just one of many like it.
You are such a mature young man so caring I seethe hurt still there in your eyes and for others. Lack of love started me to think and like you I typed in Jehovah's Witnesses and JW Struggle came up and JW Facts, for me was the Malawi and Mexico hypocrisy heartbreaking, the UN and GB making themselves the only FDS and the idiocy of overlapping generation, I was PIMO until then for around 4yrs.
Whoa!! Such an honor to hear from you! You and your husbands videos and podcast helped me soooooo much on my waking up process. I really can’t thank you enough 🙏
It is great to have one more voice added to the now large army of XJW‘s who have taken concrete steps towards their freedom. Glad to see that you did not waste your young adulthood chasing a ghost and serving at the whims of eight man-made idols in New York. How I wish that everyone was as sensible and clear eyed as you are so that they could recognize their enslavement when exposed to simple, logical, sensible truths declared by the great apostate army (most of them simply extracted from the publications of the watchtower).
Great channel.I connect with your story.In a way you're saying my story but from a different perspective.Keep it up.Dont stop.This cult needs to die out and activism like this is what will work.
Loved your video, I woke up the same way ! Goggled dating an unbeliever on RUclips and just opened my eyes , keep doing what you do to help others wake up !
Great Story! very bittersweet for me hearing about your journey to freedom because it is so sensitive but i am so proud of you and wont miss any of these Diary Entry’s ! so proud of you always xox love your baby sis.
Thank you for making these videos, they are so very helpful! I've just recently started to look into the organization even though I've been out for about 11 years, but I learned that I have deep rooted trauma and social/mental health problems (surprise, surprise!) from being raised as a JW and the damage it inflicted on my upbringing, my family, my self esteem/self worth, my future, and my whole damn life. Your videos and well spoken and very well put together content give me courage and strength to speak about these topics instead of repressing them in my memory. Thank you, truly. 💕
Wow, you and Wally were already friends?! That’s wild, I love his channel, he’s great too! Thanks for sharing your story and for what you’re doing, it helps so many people in countless ways. ❤
I enjoyed your video, what woke me up was from my taking seriously the words of Jesus, he said to me,”Come to me, all who are weighed down”. As I studied and meditated on the things he said, I suddenly came to the realization that I was not following him, but was following a group of men in New York instead. The realization and the honest evaluation pushed me into deeper study. I came to understand that the teachings of the Watchtower contain many false doctrines,, for example, the other sheep Jesus spoke about were simply the gentiles he was sending his disciples out to gather into his fold and that Christ’s brothers,sisters, are simply all who do his father’s will. ( Matt 12:50 ) ( reading the book of Hebrews will reveal Jesus was not an angel, but a man . The more I studied, through prayer and using a Bible concordance looking up key words, helped me find so many Watchtower errors. So, then, according to the Watchtower gov body, this horrible, sinning, mentally diseased apostate left Jehovah and Jesus., I cannot help but laugh at their foolishness. By the time the elders came to my door on their first judicial meeting, I was spiritually ready to confront them, for I knew the Scriptures and the errors. I was already partaking of Christ’s emblems, but the ignorant elder told me that they were not meant for me,, that the heavenly door was shut in the year 1935 and the Bible was written only for the 144;000. Well, being born and raised in a JW family, I had no idea the Watchtower even taught such a thing, for the scriptures were written for anyone seeking his word. Needless to say, on the third judicial meeting at the Kingdom Hall, I disassociated them, handed them my disassociation letter. They informed me who turned me in, people I considered friends. Jesus’s friend betrayed him too.
Thanks so much for sharing your story Justin!...I love to see so many young ones as yourself waking up! 🎉🎊🙌❤ We were definitely raised in a Secret Society with a lot of "Loaded Language" also known as "Word Speak"... It was set up that way to make us feel so special in God's "one true" religion! Many "outsiders" don't relate and that's why a lot of times it's hard to leave the organization and go into the real world because it's like you're living on another planet, but we will find our true identity which they tried to steal from us! Let's keep fighting! 💪
What woke me up was a trip. I grew up as a JW in South America. I traveled to the US in an exchange program (I was desfelowshiped at 17 y/o and went to the University when I was out). When I went to the kindom hall in the US I noticed that what the GB says that “the organization is the same everywhere” wasn’t true. I saw people in the US be more welcoming and less noisy in to why I didn’t stand a meeting. Then when I went back to my home country, my mom wanted me to go to the meetings and I told her I was never coming back and proceeded to explain how JW leaders lie. Then my mom said that “they’re imperfect people everywhere” (this in reference to the people in my congregation.) I replied saying that Jesus is salvation. Mom argued that the organization is the ONLY one that is truth and teaching the truth. So I said, The Bible clearly states that JESUS is the LIFE, the TRUTH, and the WAY. So if I believed in Jesus I should be fine. That’s how I parted ways with the JWs. I also was sexually abused by a pioneer…
@@Andrea-wx3kb I'm so glad you're out. And no matter who abused you - pioneer, ministerial servant, elder, etc - my hope is that you are seeking professional treatment for the trauma.
Thank you for sharing your critical thinking skills with us viewers. You will help those newly waking up and you are validation for those already awake.
I was a witness for 60 years. My daughter was disfelloshipped. She bugged me for a year before i would look into my religion. It opened my eyes. I was so surprised by what i read and the bros and sisters that had walked away but still loved jehovah and jesus. I was shocked. Now i see what is going on in my religion. Thanks to jehovah for opening my eyes. I see alot of my real bros and sisters out there. Thank you all for your honesty and walking away from the false religion that had us all involved in. May jehovah and jesus bless all of you. Thank you
I found exjw content 20 years after leaving the org. Even though I was out mentally I also had pure adrenalin and shaking when finding out the truth about the truth. The UN controversy was a big one for me because I remember well the Revelation book!
You’re a wonderful communicator and have an amazing online presence. God bless you and this ministry- you will surely lead many brothers and sisters to the truth. I grew up in the JW organization but Jesus found me in my brokenness and delivered me from every falsehood I was ever taught about Him. Life has never been more spiritually fulfilling then the day I started praying to Jesus 💛
Hi Justin, great solid information. Thank you. I'm in my 50's and was a 3rd generation JW. Dating even during my time as a JW was exhausting. I was never allowed to date. But my wake up was when I began to question my salvation. I wanted to know how to be counted in on going to heaven? When I asked an elder about that, well I had just put a target on my back. After that it just seemed like I always asked to many questions and that lead to other people avoiding me. So eventually yep, I was disfellowshipped. Sometime after that I knew I had a deep void and going back to that was not where I was going to get answers. I began praying and reading the King James Bible and asking God for help. That was in my 20's. In my 30's I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And for me it's true freedom! My prayer is that other JW's wake up and find freedom and truly know what salvation means💛
Just found your channel and subbed. Thank you for sharing your waking up story, it's one of the best I've heard so far! My waking up was a gradual process over a period of about 5 years. I was terrified to look at anything apostate, but I was having serious doubts about the GB, who were they and why did they have so much power over me and other witnesses? (pre broadcasting days). JW Broadcasting was a huge wake up.... I realized I was following men and not Jesus Christ. Also, I wondered why every history book I read did not agree with 607 BCE. ..Then the Candace Conti case was on the front page of our local newspaper and I didn't realize how much of our donations were going to court cases. (So I immediately stopped donating). The ARC was the last straw. GB Geoffrey Jackson's lies were the final nail in the coffin, and I started to research. I cried for weeks, as waking up is a very traumatic experience. Was agnostic for a couple of years, then came back around to Christianity, and a relationship with Christ. I faded with JW family and friends still speaking to me. I hope you still have your family as well.
Why do you think you were shaking? Sorry if my question is dumb, but I never experienced that. I assume that you were angry. However, I’d like to hear your perspective. Thank you!
@@Andrea-wx3kb well honestly I can’t tell you why either cause iam no psychologist all I can say is I did not want to be shaking for just reading some post from normal people and I mean is it normal to be shaking for reading some comments about an organization you been indoctrinated to believe was the truth?I THINK yes especially if you are brainwashed every week, that “this is the truth”, that “apostates are these evil people ” and that’s exactly what they had planted in my mind . and of course not everyone is going to have the same experience. No offense at all.
every single point you made is dead on accurate! your story reminds me of things i was seeing. for me the moment i realized i was done was one night at the meeting when i was bored and went in the back room. i read the section in the Insight On the Scriptures books on Noah's flood. the scant few 'scientific' bibliographical references WT used, i went out and found and read in context. that started me on a path of research of Sumerian, Egyptian, and Babylonian mythology and what we know factually about those cultures. as well as how we know it. in short, i realized WT is run by men who have little to no qualifications to translate the bible, then interpret it, and who regularly ignore facts and science. they neither speak the languages of the bible, nor have education in any of these areas of expertise.
When i left at 32, three different people in my thirties, in different places called me a 10 year old trapped in a man's body. I'd been married since 24, had been a ministerial servant, and this is how people viewed my behaviour. I'm 44 now and people don't say it anymore. But yeah, stunted emotional development.
I woke up after being confronted about the Trinity while doing cart witnessing. A man approached me and my partner and neither of us could solidly define JWs position on the Trinity, one our relationship with Jesus (is he our mediator??), and a few other key Christian concepts. After that embarrassing encounter I was determined to do my research to be better prepared. I researched JW and non - JW sources. Wow!! Why did I do that?? It was a wrap for me soon after that. My cart partner is still in and miserable.
Contrary to what the Bible teaches, the organization teaches that Jesus is the mediator only for the 144,000. Many witnesses are completely unaware of that but it is in the Insight book. I told my sister who was completely oblivious but it didn’t wake her up.
I love that I learned today that you & Wally are friends. This makes me so happy. Thanks for making this channel & sharing your life with all of us. You are brave, smart & inspiring ❤️❤️❤️
You rock, Justin! Three things woke me up prior to disfellowshipping: 1. Discouragement of sisters who distinguish themselves as anointed by partaking at the annual Memorial services, and being pulled aside after a Tuesday night book study for asking about it during the small group meeting; 2. Being told that my separation and impending divorce from my unbelieving mate was un-Scriptural and wouldn't be recognized by the Governing Body, though it was a decision made for protection of my/our daughters; and 3. Public notice from the Kingdom Hall podium to destroy all tapes several of us sisters had acquired from a traveling/visiting, believing couple that were nothing more than the books of the Bible set to really 'clippy', fun music for the purpose of memorization! (I still remember the tune!) Eyebrows raised, we sisters spoke secretly about what harm the tapes warranted, and I tossed them out in obedience ... but not without that memory forever seared into our minds. I believe that was around 1990. Much success to you, and I hope that many great things will come from the John B Wells' shoutout of your channel. March well and sound off loudly, even if with spoons and pans! XOXO
Dating as a JW was so painful, taking a sister out in the ministry was looked at as a date and would get the busy bodies talking. Also having your worth measured by spiritual things rather then just who you are as a person was so tiring and annoying.
Wow! That part about being mentally, and I would add, emotionally stunted. I always thought I was the only one. Thank you for this video. I was born and raised into the religion. I've been out for years, but am now just recently coming to terms with the underlying damage now as a middle aged man.
Kudus to you. Thank you for sharing your awakening moment. As a young JW. I became agreeable in all their teachings. I didn't know any other religions besides being a JW. I was told that all religions except JW are false and belong to Satan's organization. Until I was invited to a women's retreat. Here I learned that they read the bible. They pray to God just like at the Kingdom hall. They sing and praise God. I didn't hear swearing. It was a comforting Women's retreat where I was pampered for 3 days. There were speakers about relationship with God, topics about relationship with husbands and topics how to be kind, and love the unlovable people. It was like attending an assembly except I was already questioning the claim of the JW org that they are the only true religion approved by God. As I went back to the meeting, I felt that it was wrong for God to love just the JW.
Congratulations Justin , on waking up and seeing the truth, its takes a lot of courage and self belief to leave the Cult. Wishing you all the best, stay strong and safe be happy and enjoy your life.
I’m back! And I’m a SUB! Good work young man! Help people along the road to freedom! Great video and I’m going to bing listen 2U and Wally! Some day I may give my claim to fame; but this is not about me, it’s about a very talented man! That is U! Gotta go, I have a lot of catching up to do!
@@exjwdiaries Exactly bro. I remember that when my JWs Bible Teachers would brush off questions that was a huge Red Flag. Imagine talking to a girl and she was ignoring critical questions like "Do you want to start a family?, Do you want children? and What are your career goals?"
Justin, that was a great talk and you are right about everything. I am not an XJW as I never let myself get baptized but I went to meeting conventions and out in service for eleven years. I no longer participate since Covid and the Zoom. I wish I could show your video to my neighbor who is an MS and was previously disfellowshipped but restored 2 years later. He needs to see this video now. Thankyou.
For me it was the ARC and Jeffrey Jackson's response (after repeated attempts not to appear). I was surprised at his double speak and arrogance. That caused me to look into other things leading to my fading.
I knew I was going to like you when you said, "I did what any Millenial would do. I Googled it!" 😆 You strike me as far too intelligent and empathic to discover TTATT and hang around it for long. So many JWs find ways to ignore or justify the pain others have experienced at Watchtower's hands. The fact that their stories are what woke you up shows how compassionate you are. Looking forward to catching up on the rest of your videos!
Hello. It's show's how simple and fast something can turn. I'm not a je but I have a work colleague. One day he would convince me about being a catholic was horrible and as example he told about the paedophile cases. I replied: you don't know about the jw's cases? You really don't know, do you? And Russels pyramid?
Are you a carpenter? That's the most sincere and noteworthy dead on hit to the nail I have heard yet on one of these channels.. Your heartfelt presentation looked like you had to hold back tears at times. It's a difficult thing to find your own path since we are all under the gun of society and so called political correctness. My peace and solice has come from the fact that at a very young age I made world history, theologies and philosophy my main source of study and I traveled a great deal to meet and personally learn from shamen, monk's and others... The conclusion that I have reached In my 65 years on this planet is to be honest learn to love yourself without malice towards any then it will start to be opened to you. . The knowledge that will begin to flow through you is from keeping on asking and you will receive, you all know what I'm referring to, don't blame our creator for the mind altering lies that the fallen ones have saturated millennia of the weak minded, just know something better awaits those who have the ability to survive these horrific times. I'm here for a while longer and my only hope is that I can aid those who are true to themselves find your own peace which we are born with, find it. ✌️😎🙏♥️
Thank you for sharing your story.... From the word 'go' (at the age of about 23) I was scared of 'the truth' and frightened of the 'organisation' and I rememnber wrestling with it in my mind. Later I sttled down a bit and became a MS, took the book group and handled talks and meeting parts. Then, after 22 years, I started to see behind the curtain and wake up. It was painful; very painful! At one time I'd give delliberately 'over the top', super zealous answers, just so I could hear the others cluck their tongues and nod wisely!!! Great work, buddy..... XXX
Journey? What the hell is wrong with journey? Still one of my favorite bands, listening to their recordings. That brother needed more wives to keep him busy and comfortable in his skin.
@@lesliethomas7234 Dixie Highway? I really don’t know. i also got counseled for investing in cryptocurrency. Yep. i got told that I need to report any “gains” to the taxman but at the same time i also got told that crypto is a scam and that I was gonna lose all my original investment money. probably because i should have given that money to Tony Morris’s Macallan triple cask cut fund. I got counseled for demonstrating the closing of a prayer in a theocratic ministry school talk (because Jehovah is too dumb to under stand the distinction between a real prayer and a demo?) Got counseled on wanting to watch the Super Bowl. Got counseled for parking in the wrong spot at the kingdom hall. but, to be fair, it was all very loving counsel.
Justin, I really like your video. I hope you keep creating content. You were concise, clear and compelling. I seldom make comments or like videos, but this one I had to! What I like the most about your video is that you were very organized and didn’t side tracked!
Hi Justin, just found your channel, and watched 3 of your videos today. Really enjoyed the content, and your direct concise delivery. I experienced similar as a MS and pioneer, but never got satisfactory answers to my questions. Finally I researched 607bce and stumbled on reference to Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz, I was so nervous reading that book, but finally all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle came together, and I realised we had been lied to by Watchtower for the last 100+ years. That was it, I faded away. Keep up the good work!
Justin is a wonderfulll intelligent articulate young person who talks common sense. Would be great to see him in a boxing 🥊 match showing what he's made of.
Jason, I love your video. Been in 50 years, seen and heard a lot. I knew personally sisters that were in the concentration camps because of being a Bible student (grew up in Germany). I woke up a few years ago, pimo now. It started with the ARC which I stumbled upon on. The prosecutor asked Geoffrey Jackson before the hearing if he accept that the intention of the ARC are genuine and well intended, and he answered yes. So witnesses cannot say that it was all apostate and he was treated unfairly.
Thank you for what you are doing Justin. I just found you not even an hour ago and have watched and shared 3 of your videos with a couple of those who are close to me. I’ve been out for years now and am still learning how my life has been affected by being raised as a Witness. The family I grew up in is broken and will never be the same from such a seemingly non threatening organization. Hearing you articulate things I have felt but couldn’t explain was very powerful to me and helped me understand some things I hadn’t realized yet. You are helping so many people so please keep it up!
you did a fine job there glad you woke up i was in from 1972-2007 ms twice but i had too many questions about the way things were done and they sure didnt want me as an elder. i overlooked many bad things in the cong that didnt smell right. i could see that the "love" didnt exist when an elder named thomas wright was in charge of a food stand and i was working for him he got very hateful towards me for some stupid little piddly thing. i took off my apron and walked off and left him standing there with a stupid look on his face. he had sense enough to keep his mouth shut and not say another word to me. he could tell from my demeanor that he would be wise to say no more. it was a few more years that i was around him but he never once mentioned me walking off from my "volunteer" position leaving his highness holding the bag i always felt i was not worthy and would not survive the big A i walked away 16 years ago and have a much better life since i escaped
Great job! Since you asked, I woke up around 2015. I was a ministerial servant in good standing. Jeremiah 33:25-26 helped in my awakening to the errors of the teachings of the jehovah witnesses organization. God’s word can never change. The people that He has chosen and dealing with has not changed as long as the sun and the moon regulations are still here. I went online to search for who the true original Israelites are. It happened. The messiah said that by their fruit you will identify them. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 signs help to identify who they are. Who fits and is fulfilling the written words of God is the people that God is dealing with. Yes, the Negro/black race is the true descendants of Abraham to David that God is dealing with. All these religions including JW are hiding this truth . I wrote the JW, spoke to the elders about it. That led to my been disfellowship. I have not looked back since then. Once you know this the scriptures will then come full circle for you.
It takes courage to speak up and leave this cult. I really admire your work on helping others to realize that this cult hurt children, protect pedophiles and lie to his members
That's one thing no body knows about, is once the potion wears off, and your eyes return to the original version of one's self, all of a sudden you realize that your, you, and then reality kicks in, and you think where am I, how did I get here, who are all theses sad sad sad people, where did they come from, who am I to be given this talk of holiness to these people ,to think that they have a sense of purpose, and there is no hope to be sure of, The blue pill has worn off, what to do once the blue pill has worn off, first, contact your elder, two stay on the watch, three do not let anyone else know about the situation, four, start preying upon the eyes open fearful encounter, and naked in public, with out sunglasses, 5,SEEK shelter in doors, but stay on the watch, and be in fear, because you might have been cut free from the nets, of which Jesus christ tought to his apostles, yous will be Fisher men of, men, but if the fish are unsuitable one's, throw them back in the sea,
I woke up after I was reinstated as a disfellowshipped person. Having breathed the fresh air of freedom outside, As a POMI, I decided to go back in. After a year, the stale, toxic and unloving atmosphere made me realize how this could not be the truth. I still believe in God but no way can he be a part of this pathetic organization.
True! I remember my sister suffering from all the emotional pain of dating someone. Other “sisters” putting her down and trying to steal her boyfriend… And the boyfriend 🤦🏻♀️ … just enjoying the attention… She’s now out. Never married the guy.
Hey Justin! It’s your little sister Alysha, thank you for always being such a great role model for me and putting this out there and putting out your story is the greatest encouragement that anyone can ever see and receive. Your encouraging so many to come out and safely share their stories while giving them empowerment. You’ve shown me that it’s ok to share our stories about what we went thru and you will always be my big brother, mentor, role model, and spiritual head, my brother and best friend! Love you bro, see you later this week! :)
Thanks!!! I really hope this channel can be helpful to those who are questioning things and those who have left and are trying to recover. I gotta have you on the channel too!
@@exjwdiaries your welcome bro! Have fun and always follow your dreams! I really look up to you :)
@@exjwdiaries Awesome video sir!!! I was never a JWs but my experience with them was agreeing to do Bible Studies with them while in college. This lasted several months and ended when I graduated and moved back home.
That was some awkward disturbing sessions of Bible Studies because these JWs would never answer any of my critical thinking questions...not even one! It was like studying with intellectually disabled children.
They would or tried to rush through certain lessons knowing a critical question 🙋 would definitely come up. I would ask the question and total silence. Then "You know let's not get off course or we'll research that for next week"
I sincerely wanted to understand but most importantly wanted proof of these certain claims.
I realized that I was receiving answers I couldn't question and had questions they wouldn't answer. 🤔 It intrigues me how anyone could believe their teachings.
One still reaches out for me to continue studies but no more of those shenanigans.
@@vusimngomezulu2500 I don't know what your problem is brother. Have you ever bothered to research for yourself? Or do you just go on sites like this? Do your own research and you too will wake up!!!!!!!!
Wake up to reality
My (Born-in /Dissociate/ Apostate/ XJW/ POMO) Heart Ache when you said.... I looked out into the audience and Saw Fear ( Never doing enough) on their Faces...so True !!! ...😕😒☹️
I woke up in 1996 after researching Christian Martyrs in the first and second centuries. Using the 1995 CD provided by the Watchtower I found a series of articles in 1950 which said there were over 800 thousand Christians who were killed when they refused to deny Jesus and worship Cesar. That put to death the 144 thousand teaching of the Watchtower for me. In a question from the readers article someone asked about this. The response was that they were just nominal Christians. That is ridiculous nominal Christians don't go to their death for their belief in Christ Jesus.
Totally agree.
I was raised in the organization. Never felt a connection. I left at 18 and never looked back or even missed members of the congregation. Just glad to finally be free to think for myself.
As an Aussie ex JW seeing Geoff Jackson sitting there lying through his teeth made my blood boil.
I’ve watched it myself and it is truly shocking and disgusting, Geoffrey Jackson is a member of the GB and he’s lying through his teeth and they have the audacity to call this the truth!
If more witnesses actually watched this then they would see the real Truth, the watchtower being wrong since 1914 !
I watched Geoffrey Jackson and thought hey Jesus gave him something to say. And he told the truth. That the governing body are not the exclusive spokesmen for God on earth.
I found it refreshing and my regard for the governing body went from 100 mph to a screeching halt immediately. …. And has NEVER returned.
I enjoyed his testimony. I knew that it would never happen again. Ole Jackson will never let himself get into a situation like that again. No court will ever get any governing body member into any court ever again unless he is brought there in handcuffs.
@@jimbobaggans1564 Now that would be my dream come true and To amp it up into a fantasy they are standing there handcuffed and they each get kicked in the nads by a wild ass donkey with a Xjw sweater on as part of their sentence.
I may or may not have actually dreamt that one night.
@@jimbobaggans1564 Handcuffs??? What a great 👍 idea! 8 sets of cuffs will do just fine!
I’m so glad that you said : “it takes strength to leave this organization!”
I really never thought about it but that is so true! Great video! Now YOU CAN BE YOURSELF!
Exactly: you have to be a strong person just to be able to research about the things they are scaring 😨 you about... once you know : you can not unlearn ! Got to be strong. Most of humans will never have to go through such an heartbreaking experience. It is against human nature to shun your kids and or parents. But, jw's are able to do it so quickly.... that is conditional love// which is not love at all! ❣
this was really amazing to listen to. fascinating.
when i woke, i had no intention of waking up, i had no doubts, no questions,i wasn’t unhappy, was fully in and doing my normal JW thing.
Then one night, in May 2021, at a Zoom meeting, something was said in a comment by an elder that literally hit me like a ton of bricks. In an instant, like an electric shock, i was suddenly awake. then these words came into my mind: _this is wrong_
after the Zoom meeting i just sat there, dazed. and i did what you did, i brought up a google search and i landed on some so called apostate website, which lead me to Watchtower’s own literature and for the first time in my entire life, after 27 years of exemplary, faithful service to Jehovah and his one true organization, i discovered the events of 1975 and the devastating aftermath, including the blame shifting by the leaders, onto rank and file JWs.
i read WT’s own published material that lead to the 1975 fiasco, not commentary, not editorials, just WT’s own written words.
That’s all it took, i was finished. There would be no PIMO, no fading, no equivocating. I was finished.
i stopped logging onto Zoom and after three missed meetings the harassment began. People who didn’t give me the time of day before, were texting me, calling me, and the final straw was notes left on my door on two occasions, by the elders. They were outside my home, at my door, and not making themselves known . i was being stalked.
the day after receiving the second note, i disassociated in writing, with no explanation or long letter, i wrote one sentence- i ,
my name, hereby disassociate from Watchtower effective immediately. and i signed my name.
then slowly i realized how much damage this org did to my life, my family, and how much it ruined my future, robbed me of my humanity, and worst of all, sabatoged my search for Jesus Christ. in many ways i have recovered and in many ways i am permanently damaged. but for the most part, this org had taken everything.
Wow, what did the elder comment, if you don't mind me asking?
Thank you for sharing!
Hey Justin , your a lovely young man . Your good at explaining things . Looking forward to other videos .
Well done. Lets do what we can to get more people to leave this abusive, corrupt and demonic cult.
Thanks for sharing, it's definitely interesting to see how others have left the JW organisation and also encouraging to me. I felt so alone when I left, this was over 10 years ago now and I've only recently discovered communities of ex-JW's which has been really helpful to my healing process. When I left I wasn't awake yet, I was in a very abusive relationship with my ex-husband. It's very true about not being able to be yourself when dating. I only saw what he was like when it was too late after we were married. Fast forward into the marriage 3 years I was debating whether to commit suicide or leave everything I had ever known and get cut off from my friends and family. I made the decision I would rather live a short happy life and die at Armageddon. After I left I realised I was so blinded, there was a whole world for me and I found true relationships and friends that didn't have strings attached. I'm now living my best life awake and open to my future.
Wow thanks for sharing that. I’m so glad you got out safely and that you’re doing much better.
Thanks for sharing! I have a very similar story. I was so miserable in an abusive marriage I wanted to leave or commit suicide. Then I thought "why should I die because of this SOB. I should live the life I want even if I die at Armageddon." So I left and later found out the truth about the "truth".
I applaud you my young beautiful brother. My wife and family of 4 beautiful children have been involved since 1985. We have since Jan this year begun fading for everything you so intelligently and clearly stated. Our children,adults, don’t feel the same…yet. Please stay strong, and project your message of truth.
Thanks for sharing your story with us...I was in 46 years and finally faded this year. I'm glad you woke up and hope you your videos will help others ☺️
What woke me up... the blood transfusion issue, birthdays 🙄I never understood their lame story about birthday and it's funny how witnesses back then used to celebrate Christmas and birthdays, and their rules about reporting pedophiles to me that's not something I can tolerate and pretend it's okay and there's much more but it will take forever 🤷🏾♀️
Check out C El Freeman
Santos Bonacci
Read the Kybalion
Great job! Thank you so much for telling your story. Nice editing skills as well. Welcome to your freedom, brother.
Waking up is so different in each person. My waking up happened young around 13 years old. After a district convention my father was rehashing all the propaganda and was upset I didn't take many notes. He then told me that the end is so near that I would never drive a car. I am 50 now.....Everyday after that comment I was building my disdain and calling BS on the org. I was mentally out by 15 and faded completely by 22. This allowed me to build a true life outside the org slowly and create a true reality without any regrets or hardship.
Congratulations on your escape!
You are very knowledgeable, smart, and a free thinker. Myself, I wasted nearly 50 years in this cult before waking up.
Welcome to your freedom, so true..if you get in trouble etc... they try to say a person only left because of trouble!! Awesome video
We all had the chaperone thing going on, sisters having to sit in the back of your car in field service just in case “ you just fell into each other’s arms” - crazy crazy stuff
I've always felt very uncomfortable in the organization and have struggled the entire time. I'm a very inquisitive person and naturally when the pandemic started I was praying and researching all I could find to determine whether to take the jab. Initially the GB said it was up to each family to make a decision based on their own conscience but almost every meeting since that one they have been pushing us to take it. I was shocked because they weren't giving us all the facts and some things they said I knew we're outright lies and that terrified me. The friends started shunning me just because I wanted to hold off on taking it. I just thought that us jws being so "shrewd" and "discerning" should carefully research it before making any decisions. But nooo the friends all said the same exact thing when I voiced my concerns, stick with the organization, Jehovah won't let his people be harmed, the GB loves us and are guided by Jah and that 99% of the bethel family took it so it must be ok. I felt strange that they all repeated identical answers and even more troubled that they wanted to imitate the bethel family and GB instead of doing research and imitating Jesus! Then I tried to show them facts from actual vax facts (truth) sheet and they refused to look at it calling it misinformation. Its been such a terryifying experience waking up that I had a panic attack but I knew that I was surrounded by people that didn't care about me, my kids who couldn't even get it yet and also didn't care about the truth. I'm now hardly able to listen to the meetings anymore but felt it was my duty to warn them to at least do some research first. I think I just need to quietly go because it's like talking to robots.
Excellently articulated video Justin! Your point of how you can be 30,40,50 years old and have the wherewithal of someone much younger-that definitely resonated with me! I’ll be 37 next year and sometimes I feel like an 18 year old emotionally. Looking forward to more videos from you! 🙂💪🏾
Thank you so much!
Late 50s. I have the social skills of a teenager
31 years ago, I was 18 and baptized for 2 years. My older brother's wife had a brother. He was a good person, but clearly depressed and struggling. Nobody was reaching out to help him, but people close to him were so judgemental. Nobody would invite him to gatherings or include him in anything, his mom always slammed him in front of others, and he started isolating himself more and more until he ended up disfellowshipped. Over time, with local elders refusing to listen to his pleas, he wrote the Society multiple times but they would do nothing. Then one day, with nowhere to turn, he hung himself. I was shocked and sickened, but nobody else showed even the slightest remorse. Well, my sister in law, his sister, was upset at first. She's the one who told me privately that he had been asking for help and writing the letters but nobody considered him "repentant." But, the few words about it in the JW community were cold and dismissive, implying that it was all his fault and that he wouldn't even be "eligible" for resurrection. A few days later, all talk stopped and nobody ever spoke of him again. No funeral, no nothing. Makes me very sad and sick inside to this day.
Wow thanks for sharing. It’s so sad what this cult does to people… The entire reinstatement process really deserves its own video. They leave so many people out in the cold isolated. This story is so sad and it’s just one of many like it.
So sorry 😞
So very sorry. What a cold organization! Sad to say this story has probably been repeated more times than we’ll ever know.
I absolutely hated their uptight ways.they realy believed they were judges. And some ciuldn't even read.
💔💔💔💔💔💔
Welcome to your freedom! 😃
Absolutely love your videos! Great format and storytelling.
You have a new subscriber, my friend. Keep up the good work 👏🏾
Thank you! I love your videos too!
@@exjwdiaries you hit the big leagues now. Jexit 2020 is a Rock Star in the exjw community!
Great story. A JW once told me that Armageddon would occur before I could graduate from high school. I'm 61 years old.
You are such a mature young man so caring I seethe hurt still there in your eyes and for others. Lack of love started me to think and like you I typed in Jehovah's Witnesses and JW Struggle came up and JW Facts, for me was the Malawi and Mexico hypocrisy heartbreaking, the UN and GB making themselves the only FDS and the idiocy of overlapping generation, I was PIMO until then for around 4yrs.
Well stated and so calm. I like how you realized just from message titles that people were being hurt by the organization's policies.
Welcome to the community and welcome to your freedom! Thanks for coming out and sharing your story. Excellent video.
Whoa!! Such an honor to hear from you! You and your husbands videos and podcast helped me soooooo much on my waking up process. I really can’t thank you enough 🙏
This truly mind blowing how much control this call has over people.
It is great to have one more voice added to the now large army of XJW‘s who have taken concrete steps towards their freedom.
Glad to see that you did not waste your young adulthood chasing a ghost and serving at the whims of eight man-made idols in New York.
How I wish that everyone was as sensible and clear eyed as you are so that they could recognize their enslavement when exposed to simple, logical, sensible truths declared by the great apostate army (most of them simply extracted from the publications of the watchtower).
Great channel.I connect with your story.In a way you're saying my story but from a different perspective.Keep it up.Dont stop.This cult needs to die out and activism like this is what will work.
Traumatic /Liberating I'm 38 raised JW. just did my last meeting a week ago.
By the way… I love the way you present information! Keep it up!
Thanks Justin for telling your story and exposing the jw cult it will help many.
This is so well thought out. Great video.
Loved your video, I woke up the same way ! Goggled dating an unbeliever on RUclips and just opened my eyes , keep doing what you do to help others wake up !
Great Story! very bittersweet for me hearing about your journey to freedom because it is so sensitive but i am so proud of you and wont miss any of these Diary Entry’s ! so proud of you always xox love your baby sis.
Thank you!!! Love you too sis
Thank you for making these videos, they are so very helpful! I've just recently started to look into the organization even though I've been out for about 11 years, but I learned that I have deep rooted trauma and social/mental health problems (surprise, surprise!) from being raised as a JW and the damage it inflicted on my upbringing, my family, my self esteem/self worth, my future, and my whole damn life. Your videos and well spoken and very well put together content give me courage and strength to speak about these topics instead of repressing them in my memory. Thank you, truly. 💕
I really enjoyed your video. Please continue, you are helping many to see what this organization is all about
Wow, you and Wally were already friends?! That’s wild, I love his channel, he’s great too! Thanks for sharing your story and for what you’re doing, it helps so many people in countless ways. ❤
I enjoyed your video, what woke me up was from my taking seriously the words of Jesus, he said to me,”Come to me, all who are weighed down”. As I studied and meditated on the things he said, I suddenly came to the realization that I was not following him, but was following a group of men in New York instead. The realization and the honest evaluation pushed me into deeper study. I came to understand that the teachings of the Watchtower contain many false doctrines,, for example, the other sheep Jesus spoke about were simply the gentiles he was sending his disciples out to gather into his fold and that Christ’s brothers,sisters, are simply all who do his father’s will. ( Matt 12:50 ) ( reading the book of Hebrews will reveal Jesus was not an angel, but a man . The more I studied, through prayer and using a Bible concordance looking up key words, helped me find so many Watchtower errors. So, then, according to the Watchtower gov body, this horrible, sinning, mentally diseased apostate left Jehovah and Jesus., I cannot help but laugh at their foolishness. By the time the elders came to my door on their first judicial meeting, I was spiritually ready to confront them, for I knew the Scriptures and the errors. I was already partaking of Christ’s emblems, but the ignorant elder told me that they were not meant for me,, that the heavenly door was shut in the year 1935 and the Bible was written only for the 144;000. Well, being born and raised in a JW family, I had no idea the Watchtower even taught such a thing, for the scriptures were written for anyone seeking his word. Needless to say, on the third judicial meeting at the Kingdom Hall, I disassociated them, handed them my disassociation letter. They informed me who turned me in, people I considered friends. Jesus’s friend betrayed him too.
Thanks so much for sharing your story Justin!...I love to see so many young ones as yourself waking up! 🎉🎊🙌❤
We were definitely raised in a Secret Society with a lot of "Loaded Language" also known as "Word Speak"...
It was set up that way to make us feel so special in God's "one true" religion!
Many "outsiders" don't relate and that's why a lot of times it's hard to leave the organization and go into the real world because it's like you're living on another planet, but we will find our true identity which they tried to steal from us!
Let's keep fighting! 💪
What woke me up was a trip. I grew up as a JW in South America. I traveled to the US in an exchange program (I was desfelowshiped at 17 y/o and went to the University when I was out).
When I went to the kindom hall in the US I noticed that what the GB says that “the organization is the same everywhere” wasn’t true. I saw people in the US be more welcoming and less noisy in to why I didn’t stand a meeting.
Then when I went back to my home country, my mom wanted me to go to the meetings and I told her I was never coming back and proceeded to explain how JW leaders lie. Then my mom said that “they’re imperfect people everywhere” (this in reference to the people in my congregation.)
I replied saying that Jesus is salvation.
Mom argued that the organization is the ONLY one that is truth and teaching the truth.
So I said, The Bible clearly states that JESUS is the LIFE, the TRUTH, and the WAY. So if I believed in Jesus I should be fine.
That’s how I parted ways with the JWs.
I also was sexually abused by a pioneer…
I should correct. I was sexually abused by a ministerial servant!
@@Andrea-wx3kb I'm so glad you're out. And no matter who abused you - pioneer, ministerial servant, elder, etc - my hope is that you are seeking professional treatment for the trauma.
Thank you for sharing your critical thinking skills with us viewers. You will help those newly waking up and you are validation for those already awake.
I was a witness for 60 years. My daughter was disfelloshipped. She bugged me for a year before i would look into my religion. It opened my eyes. I was so surprised by what i read and the bros and sisters that had walked away but still loved jehovah and jesus. I was shocked. Now i see what is going on in my religion. Thanks to jehovah for opening my eyes. I see alot of my real bros and sisters out there. Thank you all for your honesty and walking away from the false religion that had us all involved in. May jehovah and jesus bless all of you. Thank you
Justin you are very articulate and your information is very beneficial.
I found exjw content 20 years after leaving the org. Even though I was out mentally I also had pure adrenalin and shaking when finding out the truth about the truth. The UN controversy was a big one for me because I remember well the Revelation book!
You’re a wonderful communicator and have an amazing online presence. God bless you and this ministry- you will surely lead many brothers and sisters to the truth. I grew up in the JW organization but Jesus found me in my brokenness and delivered me from every falsehood I was ever taught about Him. Life has never been more spiritually fulfilling then the day I started praying to Jesus 💛
Hi Justin, great solid information. Thank you.
I'm in my 50's and was a 3rd generation JW. Dating even during my time as a JW was exhausting. I was never allowed to date. But my wake up was when I began to question my salvation. I wanted to know how to be counted in on going to heaven? When I asked an elder about that, well I had just put a target on my back. After that it just seemed like I always asked to many questions and that lead to other people avoiding me. So eventually yep, I was disfellowshipped. Sometime after that I knew I had a deep void and going back to that was not where I was going to get answers. I began praying and reading the King James Bible and asking God for help. That was in my 20's. In my 30's I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And for me it's true freedom! My prayer is that other JW's wake up and find freedom and truly know what salvation means💛
This comment was written just for the algorithm. May the algorithm gods bless your channel and the apostate community on RUclips
Just found your channel and subbed. Thank you for sharing your waking up story, it's one of the best I've heard so far!
My waking up was a gradual process over a period of about 5 years. I was terrified to look at anything apostate, but I was having serious doubts about the GB, who were they and why did they have so much power over me and other witnesses? (pre broadcasting days). JW Broadcasting was a huge wake up.... I realized I was following men and not Jesus Christ.
Also, I wondered why every history book I read did not agree with 607 BCE. ..Then the Candace Conti case was on the front page of our local newspaper and I didn't realize how much of our donations were going to court cases. (So I immediately stopped donating).
The ARC was the last straw. GB Geoffrey Jackson's lies were the final nail in the coffin, and I started to research. I cried for weeks, as waking up is a very traumatic experience. Was agnostic for a couple of years, then came back around to Christianity, and a relationship with Christ. I faded with JW family and friends still speaking to me. I hope you still have your family as well.
Hi Justin,
Glad you woke up!
That part when you said you started shaking is the exact same thing that happened to me.
Why do you think you were shaking?
Sorry if my question is dumb, but I never experienced that.
I assume that you were angry. However, I’d like to hear your perspective.
Thank you!
@@Andrea-wx3kb well honestly I can’t tell you why either cause iam no psychologist all I can say is I did not want to be shaking for just reading some post from normal people and I mean is it normal to be shaking for reading some comments about an organization you been indoctrinated to believe was the truth?I THINK yes especially if you are brainwashed every week, that “this is the truth”, that “apostates are these evil people ” and that’s exactly what they had planted in my mind . and of course not everyone is going to have the same experience. No offense at all.
every single point you made is dead on accurate! your story reminds me of things i was seeing. for me the moment i realized i was done was one night at the meeting when i was bored and went in the back room. i read the section in the Insight On the Scriptures books on Noah's flood. the scant few 'scientific' bibliographical references WT used, i went out and found and read in context. that started me on a path of research of Sumerian, Egyptian, and Babylonian mythology and what we know factually about those cultures. as well as how we know it. in short, i realized WT is run by men who have little to no qualifications to translate the bible, then interpret it, and who regularly ignore facts and science. they neither speak the languages of the bible, nor have education in any of these areas of expertise.
Great video. So good that you got to wake up without wasting your whole ife. I didn't wake up til age 55 being born in.
Better late than never!
When i left at 32, three different people in my thirties, in different places called me a 10 year old trapped in a man's body. I'd been married since 24, had been a ministerial servant, and this is how people viewed my behaviour. I'm 44 now and people don't say it anymore. But yeah, stunted emotional development.
I woke up after being confronted about the Trinity while doing cart witnessing. A man approached me and my partner and neither of us could solidly define JWs position on the Trinity, one our relationship with Jesus (is he our mediator??), and a few other key Christian concepts. After that embarrassing encounter I was determined to do my research to be better prepared. I researched JW and non - JW sources. Wow!! Why did I do that?? It was a wrap for me soon after that. My cart partner is still in and miserable.
Contrary to what the Bible teaches, the organization teaches that Jesus is the mediator only for the 144,000. Many witnesses are completely unaware of that but it is in the Insight book. I told my sister who was completely oblivious but it didn’t wake her up.
I love that I learned today that you & Wally are friends. This makes me so happy. Thanks for making this channel & sharing your life with all of us. You are brave, smart & inspiring ❤️❤️❤️
I thought that was cool too!
You rock, Justin! Three things woke me up prior to disfellowshipping: 1. Discouragement of sisters who distinguish themselves as anointed by partaking at the annual Memorial services, and being pulled aside after a Tuesday night book study for asking about it during the small group meeting; 2. Being told that my separation and impending divorce from my unbelieving mate was un-Scriptural and wouldn't be recognized by the Governing Body, though it was a decision made for protection of my/our daughters; and 3. Public notice from the Kingdom Hall podium to destroy all tapes several of us sisters had acquired from a traveling/visiting, believing couple that were nothing more than the books of the Bible set to really 'clippy', fun music for the purpose of memorization! (I still remember the tune!) Eyebrows raised, we sisters spoke secretly about what harm the tapes warranted, and I tossed them out in obedience ... but not without that memory forever seared into our minds. I believe that was around 1990. Much success to you, and I hope that many great things will come from the John B Wells' shoutout of your channel. March well and sound off loudly, even if with spoons and pans! XOXO
Dating as a JW was so painful, taking a sister out in the ministry was looked at as a date and would get the busy bodies talking. Also having your worth measured by spiritual things rather then just who you are as a person was so tiring and annoying.
Wow! That part about being mentally, and I would add, emotionally stunted. I always thought I was the only one. Thank you for this video. I was born and raised into the religion. I've been out for years, but am now just recently coming to terms with the underlying damage now as a middle aged man.
Welcome Justin, love your video production style, i'm definetly subbed!!!
Thank you!! Still getting the hang of it. It will only get better!
Everything you have said is so true. Well done for making it out. Great chanel
Thank you!! Only here to speak facts
Thanks for your voice adding ❤
you have excellent communication skills! Thanks for sharing.
Kudus to you. Thank you for sharing your awakening moment. As a young JW. I became agreeable in all their teachings. I didn't know any other religions besides being a JW. I was told that all religions except JW are false and belong to Satan's organization. Until I was invited to a women's retreat. Here I learned that they read the bible. They pray to God just like at the Kingdom hall. They sing and praise God. I didn't hear swearing. It was a comforting Women's retreat where I was pampered for 3 days. There were speakers about relationship with God, topics about relationship with husbands and topics how to be kind, and love the unlovable people. It was like attending an assembly except I was already questioning the claim of the JW org that they are the only true religion approved by God. As I went back to the meeting, I felt that it was wrong for God to love just the JW.
I realized that God love everyone. Whether JW or not.
What I mean is God loves everyone including non JW.
Congratulations Justin , on waking up and seeing the truth, its takes a lot of courage and self belief to leave the Cult.
Wishing you all the best, stay strong and safe be happy and enjoy your life.
I’m back! And I’m a SUB! Good work young man! Help people along the road to freedom! Great video and I’m going to bing listen 2U and Wally! Some day I may give my claim to fame; but this is not about me, it’s about a very talented man! That is U! Gotta go, I have a lot of catching up to do!
Wow! You are intelligent, clear and concise, and methodical with your explanations as to why you left.
I completely understand why his first public talk went well! Now those skills can be put to better use 😊
Well done. Stay strong and God bless you. You'll inspire many others to discover the truth about their lives.
If you wake up...please Stay Woke!!! I had to sub sir!!!
Staying woke for sure! Question everything.
@@exjwdiaries Exactly bro. I remember that when my JWs Bible Teachers would brush off questions that was a huge Red Flag. Imagine talking to a girl and she was ignoring critical questions like "Do you want to start a family?, Do you want children? and What are your career goals?"
Justin, that was a great talk and you are right about everything. I am not an XJW as I never let myself get baptized but I went to meeting conventions and out in service for eleven years. I no longer participate since Covid and the Zoom. I wish I could show your video to my neighbor who is an MS and was previously disfellowshipped but restored 2 years later. He needs to see this video now. Thankyou.
I didn't know you were friends w/Wally! Thanks for your content. Good work :)
Regarding disfellowshipping and shunning: love me the most, when I deserve it least, because then I need it the most.
For me it was the ARC and Jeffrey Jackson's response (after repeated attempts not to appear). I was surprised at his double speak and arrogance. That caused me to look into other things leading to my fading.
This is amazing!!
Thank you
Wonderful job 👌🏽💯
I knew I was going to like you when you said, "I did what any Millenial would do. I Googled it!" 😆 You strike me as far too intelligent and empathic to discover TTATT and hang around it for long. So many JWs find ways to ignore or justify the pain others have experienced at Watchtower's hands. The fact that their stories are what woke you up shows how compassionate you are. Looking forward to catching up on the rest of your videos!
I love your videos. You have a great future ahead of you friend!
Hello. It's show's how simple and fast something can turn. I'm not a je but I have a work colleague. One day he would convince me about being a catholic was horrible and as example he told about the paedophile cases. I replied: you don't know about the jw's cases? You really don't know, do you? And Russels pyramid?
Are you a carpenter? That's the most sincere and noteworthy dead on hit to the nail I have heard yet on one of these channels.. Your heartfelt presentation looked like you had to hold back tears at times. It's a difficult thing to find your own path since we are all under the gun of society and so called political correctness. My peace and solice has come from the fact that at a very young age I made world history, theologies and philosophy my main source of study and I traveled a great deal to meet and personally learn from shamen, monk's and others... The conclusion that I have reached In my 65 years on this planet is to be honest learn to love yourself without malice towards any then it will start to be opened to you. . The knowledge that will begin to flow through you is from keeping on asking and you will receive, you all know what I'm referring to, don't blame our creator for the mind altering lies that the fallen ones have saturated millennia of the weak minded, just know something better awaits those who have the ability to survive these horrific times.
I'm here for a while longer and my only hope is that I can aid those who are true to themselves find your own peace which we are born with, find it. ✌️😎🙏♥️
Thank you for sharing your story.... From the word 'go' (at the age of about 23) I was scared of 'the truth' and frightened of the 'organisation' and I rememnber wrestling with it in my mind. Later I sttled down a bit and became a MS, took the book group and handled talks and meeting parts. Then, after 22 years, I started to see behind the curtain and wake up. It was painful; very painful! At one time I'd give delliberately 'over the top', super zealous answers, just so I could hear the others cluck their tongues and nod wisely!!!
Great work, buddy..... XXX
i remember being excoriated by some brother in the congregation because i liked the rock group Journey
Journey !?!?! Seriously? Now if it was the Rolling Stones they would might have had a point . Love the Stones BTW.
Journey? What the hell is wrong with journey? Still one of my favorite bands, listening to their recordings. That brother needed more wives to keep him busy and comfortable in his skin.
@@lesliethomas7234 Dixie Highway? I really don’t know. i also got counseled for investing in cryptocurrency. Yep. i got told that I need to report any “gains” to the taxman but at the same time i also got told that crypto is a scam and that I was gonna lose all my original investment money. probably because i should have given that money to Tony Morris’s Macallan triple cask cut fund.
I got counseled for demonstrating the closing of a prayer in a theocratic ministry school talk (because Jehovah is too dumb to under stand the distinction between a real prayer and a demo?)
Got counseled on wanting to watch the Super Bowl.
Got counseled for parking in the wrong spot at the kingdom hall.
but, to be fair, it was all very loving counsel.
@@Caracaraorangeberry Just reading that made me very tired. Those guys are really out of control. Yea, very loving, controlling counsel.
I was publicly reprimanded for dancing to a Michael Jackson’s song in a JW “party”
I was 13! 🤦🏻♀️
Hi Justin,
Thanks for your bravery and willingness to let your testimony help others.
Love your post!!! Been out for 5 years!!
Justin,
I really like your video. I hope you keep creating content.
You were concise, clear and compelling.
I seldom make comments or like videos, but this one I had to!
What I like the most about your video is that you were very organized and didn’t side tracked!
Hi Justin, just found your channel, and watched 3 of your videos today. Really enjoyed the content, and your direct concise delivery. I experienced similar as a MS and pioneer, but never got satisfactory answers to my questions. Finally I researched 607bce and stumbled on reference to Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz, I was so nervous reading that book, but finally all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle came together, and I realised we had been lied to by Watchtower for the last 100+ years. That was it, I faded away.
Keep up the good work!
Wow. You are friends with Wally! That is too cool. I love both of you guys content.
Justin is a wonderfulll intelligent articulate young person who talks common sense. Would be great to see him in a boxing 🥊 match showing what he's made of.
Might be fun 😂
@@exjwdiaries Do you have an opponent in mind?
Thanks for this sincere and inlighting video dear Justin! Thanks for to be there! Many jw er waking up now...❤❤
Jason, I love your video. Been in 50 years, seen and heard a lot. I knew personally sisters that were in the concentration camps because of being a Bible student (grew up in Germany). I woke up a few years ago, pimo now. It started with the ARC which I stumbled upon on. The prosecutor asked Geoffrey Jackson before the hearing if he accept that the intention of the ARC are genuine and well intended, and he answered yes. So witnesses cannot say that it was all apostate and he was treated unfairly.
Fantastic video friend. Thanks for sharing.
Great video, heartfelt and so true.
Thank you for what you are doing Justin. I just found you not even an hour ago and have watched and shared 3 of your videos with a couple of those who are close to me.
I’ve been out for years now and am still learning how my life has been affected by being raised as a Witness.
The family I grew up in is broken and will never be the same from such a seemingly non threatening organization.
Hearing you articulate things I have felt but couldn’t explain was very powerful to me and helped me understand some things I hadn’t realized yet.
You are helping so many people so please keep it up!
One of the best commentaries on the JW that I have ever heard.
you did a fine job there glad you woke up i was in from 1972-2007 ms twice but i had too many questions about the way things were done and they sure didnt want me as an elder. i overlooked many bad things in the cong that didnt smell right. i could see that the "love" didnt exist when an elder named thomas wright was in charge of a food stand and i was working for him he got very hateful towards me for some stupid little piddly thing. i took off my apron and walked off and left him standing there with a stupid look on his face. he had sense enough to keep his mouth shut and not say another word to me. he could tell from my demeanor that he would be wise to say no more. it was a few more years that i was around him but he never once mentioned me walking off from my "volunteer" position leaving his highness holding the bag i always felt i was not worthy and would not survive the big A i walked away 16 years ago and have a much better life since i escaped
Great job! Since you asked, I woke up around 2015. I was a ministerial servant in good standing. Jeremiah 33:25-26 helped in my awakening to the errors of the teachings of the jehovah witnesses organization. God’s word can never change. The people that He has chosen and dealing with has not changed as long as the sun and the moon regulations are still here. I went online to search for who the true original Israelites are. It happened. The messiah said that by their fruit you will identify them. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 signs help to identify who they are. Who fits and is fulfilling the written words of God is the people that God is dealing with. Yes, the Negro/black race is the true descendants of Abraham to David that God is dealing with. All these religions including JW are hiding this truth . I wrote the JW, spoke to the elders about it. That led to my been disfellowship. I have not looked back since then. Once you know this the scriptures will then come full circle for you.
It takes courage to speak up and leave this cult. I really admire your work on helping others to realize that this cult hurt children, protect pedophiles and lie to his members
That's one thing no body knows about, is once the potion wears off, and your eyes return to the original version of one's self, all of a sudden you realize that your, you, and then reality kicks in, and you think where am I, how did I get here, who are all theses sad sad sad people, where did they come from, who am I to be given this talk of holiness to these people ,to think that they have a sense of purpose, and there is no hope to be sure of,
The blue pill has worn off,
what to do once the blue pill has worn off, first, contact your elder, two stay on the watch, three do not let anyone else know about the situation, four, start preying upon the eyes open fearful encounter, and naked in public, with out sunglasses, 5,SEEK shelter in doors, but stay on the watch, and be in fear, because you might have been cut free from the nets, of which Jesus christ tought to his apostles, yous will be Fisher men of, men, but if the fish are unsuitable one's, throw them back in the sea,
I woke up after I was reinstated as a disfellowshipped person. Having breathed the fresh air of freedom outside, As a POMI, I decided to go back in. After a year, the stale, toxic and unloving atmosphere made me realize how this could not be the truth. I still believe in God but no way can he be a part of this pathetic organization.
True!
I remember my sister suffering from all the emotional pain of dating someone. Other “sisters” putting her down and trying to steal her boyfriend…
And the boyfriend 🤦🏻♀️ … just enjoying the attention…
She’s now out. Never married the guy.
The Watchtower still a member of the UN in Europe!
Fantastic video keep up the excellent work!
607 woke me up Justin.
Well done for using your God given 👏 conscience ........
What a good and informative presentation you put together. I've never been a JW, but I have learned a great deal from videos like yours. Good job !!!
I searched Jehovah witness on RUclips 😳