Did Jehovah's Witnesses Really Help Katrina Victims Out Of The Goodness Of Their Hearts?

Question

I quote,

"The volunteers repaired more than 5,600 homes of fellow believers and 90 Kingdom Halls, the meeting places of Jehovah's Witnesses. These figures represent virtually all such buildings that were damaged. In harmony with Galations 6:10 which urges Christians to "work what is good toward all", Jehovahs' Witnesses assisted a number of nonbelievers as well." (August 1, 2008 AWAKE article).

I read the article and was glad to hear that The Watchtower actually did something good for the "Worldly" community. Then I read the following article online that raised a question in my mind about the charitible nature of the Watchtower society.

Article excerpt:

They forgot to mention that homeowners were requested to sign over their insurance checks to headquarters as a donation to the worldwide work for all this volunteer work.

So my questionis: Did Jehovah's Witnesses Really Help Katrina Victims Out Of The Goodness Of Their Hearts?

Please no hateful or judgemental comments. I am looking for documentation of how the charitible works were handled, along with personal opinions from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Answer 1

And many people without any religious affiliation also helped in great numbers from what I heard.It seems the best is brought out when a disaster strikes.I remember a giant blizzard in Indiana when we lived there EVERYONE was helping each other neighbors we never got to know were asking what they could do to help .Everyone was shoveling and who ever got out went to get supplies for everyone.The community was never stronger.The activities of religious groups were outstanding in the wake of Katrina and cannot be overlooked they were all by far more organized and should all be recognized for their unselfishness.I applaud them all.

Answer 2

Yes, we did. Usually when a disaster happens, witnesses are among the first in place.

Our focus is on our fellow believers, but we also help others as much as we can. And it's all volunteer work.

As for what you read regarding homeowners requested to sign over their insurance checks...who said that ?!!!

I suggest that if you want accurate info regarding that, please contact the main office in Brooklyn, NY at 718 560 5000. Ask for the media department.

Answer 3

Yes, they did. That is what it means to be a VOLUNTEER; 17000 of them in fact.

I personally know a couple from my hall that literally sold their home and moved to Louisiana for years so that they could dedicate all of their time to the reconstruction effort, out of the goodness of their hearts.

So please, don't insult these good people and accuse them of being money mongering liars.

As far as insurance checks go, I have no idea what you are talking about. So until you provide actual documentation, I will reserve judgment (even though the accusations are in all likely hood distortions of the real truth)

=Edit=

The last line of the article Edge provided is enough for me to ignore it completely and treat it as untrustworthy:

"MOUSE OVER and CLICK ABOVE IMAGE FOR LINK TO SILENTLAMBS.ORG "

Everyone already knows that SilentLambs hates Witnesses with a passion, and will make up and say anything to slander them.

And while blatantly accusing Jehovah's Witnesses of "profiteering," they conveniently fail to ever mention exactly "who" was profiting from this. The governing body is made up of VOLUNTEERS too. The majority of the highest ranking Jehovah's Witnesses don't even own homes, and live on a monthly allowance of about $120.

=Edit=

Apologies to the asker for my tone. I could not determine your intentions just from the initial question.

A'gape

=Edit=

Don't know if this will help or not, since the link to the Canadian official tax records is broken; but the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and its sister companies are indeed NPO's (Non-Profit Organizations)

Therefore any accusation made against them using the words "profit" or "profiteering" should be considered highly suspect.

http://www.watchtower.cc/finances.htm

Answer 4

Oh dear.

I didn't know "damned if we do, damned if we don't" could get as bad as this.

Of course they helped because they care for the brotherhood.

Could we see the source of these your claims? Vot doesn't understand how the insurance system works over there, so I don't get it at all.

=====

Edge- an article submitted by that Bowie guy? Is that the article the asker read? Silent lambs (run by Bowie) have told lies about the JWs before, no way is Vot vouching for anything they say.

Come on, give us something objective, someone please? Coz the aposties will say anything.

Bad, bad aposties.

======

Vot does not mean "claims" in a bad way. I mean it in the way of making a statement without proof. Like saying "Vot is female" is a claim, until you see me ^_^

Answer 5

You may note that they were repairing for their own. So instead of getting a contractor they gave the money to their own.

I see nothing wrong with it, if it was impossible to get a contractor. which I am sure it was in a lot of places.

I know the Southern Baptists have been going down there since the beginning. Our church sponsored 2 or 3 volunteers every 6 months or so as did most churches so that there were always several thousand SB at anyone time.. They worked for people who signed up for help that had no insurance or couldn`t on their own do things like cleanups and repairs. Some times entire small towns, mostly in rural areas. It was not based on religious affiliation. I know the total amount donated and man hours contributed was astronomical. I also know the Mennonites did the same as we did. I believe, but don`t know know for sure, that the Methodist and Baptists did also.

Answer 6

My apoligies for not being able to help you in your quest.

In all my time associated with Jehovah's Witnesses,

I have never heard or read of any such thing.

When asking for volunteers, for any disaster,

it's a public announcement to the whole Congregation.

Arrangements are made for the volunteers to pay for some expenses themselves, traveling to get there, work related items.

Then, there may be other services that are provided for the volunteers.

Lodging and food.

Volunteers = free services / help.

I live in S. Fla; Hurricane Area.

The volunteers are just that)volunteers)

from all that I've ever experienced.

Food, clothes, water, ice, generators,

all baby supplies, food & medicine; from diaper rash to tylenol.

Personal hygiene products including

women's products,

are some of the top items needed.  

The volunteers have huge hearts!!!!

that's what I can say to sum up all that they do.

I've been here for many hurricanes,

but, Wilma was a direct hit where I lived, at the time.

It (the storm) was in my house.

edit: The story of the blind sister in the Superdome.

She was smiling, hoping someone would recognize her.

How would she find the help, she needed ?

She can't see the sign, and respond.

Think, people, how would You recognize a stanger ??

From their smile, as if that would help you ?

She serves the Happy God, so, she was joyful all the time.

And she was found.

Praise Jehovah!

Answer 7

Had to do some looking before I answered this question. The link below is an article discussing this. According to it if the JW's help rebuild the homes of a person in a disaster area they require them to sign over any insurance payments. This hardly surprises me as they also encourage their followers to leave the WT as their heir when they die.

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/Socie...

Answer 8

I went down there and with my brothers cleaned up not just the kingdom hall but surrounding areas. I really enjoyed it. we helped the guy who lived next to the hall too. rebuilt his roof i think. I don't know exactly what they did because i was picking up trash.

Answer 9

Is this something you need to help?  It is from a Watchtower magazine.

Jehovah’s Witnesses today are also quick to help when disaster strikes. During the summer of 2001, for instance, torrential storms caused major flooding in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. In all, 723 homes of Witnesses were damaged to some extent, many of them quite badly. A disaster relief committee made up of qualified Christian elders was immediately formed to assess individual needs and to allocate relief funds to help the local Witnesses to cope with the situation and repair their homes. Willing volunteers from neighboring congregations performed all the work. One Witness was so appreciative of the help that when she received payment from her insurance company to cover the repairs to her house, she immediately donated the money to the relief fund so that it could help others in need.  (6.1.2003.wt pg 6)

Answer 10

JWs are usually the first trucks to reach a disaster area.  That is because we just go without any arguments I firmly believe.

Unless specifically noted, we send money to the Society who can by goods and materials at a much better rate than we could individually.  as with all other aspects of our ministry, we do not charge.

No doubt there would have been a few who did sign over insurance checks to the Society.  That is what the money was for, Correct?  Most of the insurance companies, like the government abandoned the area as fast as possible.  So there were not enough checks to really make a difference.  What money came in went out to by more material.

What few seem to grasp is no one is making money here.  Material to replace one house is a small fortune and JWs repaired or replaced over a thousand houses.  No volunteer got any money or got rich off their efforts.  People are so used to false religious clergy stealing people's money, begging for gullible people's  last dime to finance their lavish life styles.  We who follow Jesus' command to "You received free, give free."  (Matt. 10:8)  are something strange to them.  That it is really obeying christ is also something most are not used to.

  

Answer 11

It was an option if the family wanted to help cover the cost of the rebuild.

But as you remember, most of the sucky insurance companies bailed on the people, saying it was flood damage and the home owner was not covered.

Most of the insurance, if it did ever pay, covered only the material, and not any labor costs.

Yes, it was out of the goodness of our hearts. We had teams from our area go out for 3 to 6 week periods, in the middle of one of the most damaged areas. We had a couple of young brothers, who worked in HVAC, spent their summer there. One family went twice for 2 week and 3 weeks.

Only if you are from there will you appreciate the heat and humidity that they put up with.

It took us somewhere from 14 to 18 months to get to all the work area done and over in Texas.

Our congregation alone sent almost $3000, during the first 2 months. And we have 7 congregation in our town, and I am sure we were the typical congregation. All the workers that went, paid their way, took their own equipment. They were given food and lodging there, but all expenses were theirs.

Answer 12

Seems like another one of those questions that you'll have to write to Brooklyn Bethel about... I believe that was the conclusion for the last question of yours that I saw?

Answer 13

I would also like to see documentation about the the signing over of insurance checks.  Just a statement from an anonymous source does not suffice.

And if true, was there a logical and practical reason for it?

Really, unless a person was actually there and involved with what happened, what they say is speculation, and maybe even reflects their personal bias.

Only God and Jesus can read hearts.  Even if we think we know the answer to your question, there is no reason to impute bad motives, or even to insinuate them.

Edit:  Edge, thanks for the link to the article.  I see that it was submitted by Bill Bowen, a disfellowshipped apostate, who would not say anything good about Jehovah's Witnesses if his life depended on it.

And he says "IF...."  Which means that Bowen has no proof, either.  He sets up an "IF" proposition that is probably fallacious, and wants us to assume a "THEN" based on his assumed "IF."

Typical, and thoroughly unreliable.

Answer 14

Yes we did. I have a story to tell you about that.

The witnesses saw how bad the hurricane was so many but not all, evacuated New Orleans and stayed in other states with other fellow worshippers or family. Then there was this blind sister left behind and she was left in the Superdome. There were these brothers that went to the Superdome and held up a Sign that said Jehovah's Witness Relief and they kept walking around and they saw this blind sister who just kept smiling. Then they were asked to leave. So then those same brothers came back and they instead were wearing jeans and t shirt and held up a sign saying JW relief. Then once again they saw this blind sister with her friendly smile. It finally came to there mind she was a JW so they went up to her and asked if she was a JW and she said yes and she was smiling hoping somebody would reconizge her.

So they saved her and took her somewhere safe. I love this story!

Answer 15

for the insurance money.

Answer 16

I live in South Louisiana, not one witness has told me that they had to give their insurance money to the society..in fact they said they all got their houses put back together better than before the storm for free. All of the materials were bought by the Watchtower Bible and tract Society and a lot was also donated. All of the labor was donated.

One sister had a 3 story house they had built many years ago and they stopped work when her son fell out of a window and broke his back. The brothers came in and restore the home and made it beautiful. She was so very happy when she told me..and the brothers put moulding around my kitchen floor. There had never been moulding before. And once they repaired the witness houses in any area they did other peoples houses nearby. The Brothers from all over the world are gearing up again as Gustov enters the Gulf. They know once again there will be damage. Are they tired of helping their brothers? No. They said they had a wonderful time meeting and working alongside men and women from all over the world that served the same God..Jehovah sustains us and strengthens us for the road ahead. We will win life if we don't tire out.

Answer 17

I'm not sure about that claim.  I'm sure there is some truth and, at the same time, some misunderstanding going on.  While I'm not a supporter of Watchtower, I have found some links that give their take on the issue.  Every church has people who do whatever they can to badmouth it.  Watchtower is no exception.

http://www.freeminds.org/wtrelieffund.ht...

edit:  You know what?  I was posting links and basically had to delete most of them.  I think the claim must have had legality and decency to it because I can't find a reliable link to support it.  Practically every website that makes this claim about the insurance checks is a blog, forum, or website dedicated to hating Watchtower.

I would think that if Watchtower was being malicious, that someone would have made a big stink about it.  I mean someone like CNN, or Yahoo, or Fox News, etc.