[this article was contributed by Alex Rover]
The number of memorial partakers from the Jehovah’s Witnesses yearbook for 2014 is now known: 14,1211.
2012 partakers: 12604 [i]
2013 partakers: 13204
2014 partakers: 14121
Which gives an increase of 600 between 2012/13 and an increase of 917 between 2013/14. This constitutes a great increase!
Many Jehovah’s Witnesses will try to downplay the significance of this number, stating that anyone can claim to be anointed and we have no way of knowing the true number.
A fair statement? Imagine what joy and celebration we would witness if the number of reported new water baptisms had doubled over the past year. We should not hold double standards: one cannot say one year that increase is evidence of Jehovah’s blessing and the next year that decrease is not due to our lack thereof.
Water Baptisms were down about 1% in 2014, while new anointed partakers are up over 50% over the same period. In fact, we have every reason to believe that the true number of anointed partakers is even higher. After all, we know of so many who choose to partake privately at home for various personal reasons, or that don’t meet the standards of the Governing Body or Elder bodies to be counted.
Considering a linear growth averaged over the past few years, we can expect about 730 new partakers being reported next year. Many factors can change this projection, and the biggest factor is the holy spirit of course. I am eager to see what will unfold!
Let’s rejoice at this increase. After all, we can welcome at least 917 new brothers and sisters in Christ. It takes enormous courage for a Jehovah’s Witness to start partaking publicly, and it symbolizes their acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal mediator and Lord.
Through this, we draw closer to our Heavenly Father as well. Not just as friends, but as his own beloved children.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found was blind but now I see.
[i] Thank you MarthaMartha for verifying the numbers in the yearbook.
And as to who is anointed or not, does it not belong to Jehovah God to decide? And if we pray: “Let your will be done…” should we not accept his decision and be happy and grateful, since he knows best? Life is life, especially if it is everlasting! What about our appreciation for life? And are we happy whatever Jehovah God decides for us? Or are we going to develop the desire that the angel, who made himself Satan the Devil developed?
Is it possible that the increase in number of memorial partakers is a fulfilment of Micah 5:5…?
“Water Baptisms were down about 1% in 2014, while new anointed partakers are up over 50% over the same period”
How can this be? What where numbers for publishers and Memorial attendance?
Which yearbook do I need ? 2014 or 2015?
I don’t know what to make of this statistic?
Hi,
Does this mean this was a grassroots silent revolt?
The Organization technically didn’t baptized at all that year…right?
GWIT
My personal view of the “Memorial” as presented at Kingdom Halls is that is a ritual which has absolutely no Scriptural basis. In fact it is anti-Christ, because its promotors seek to exclude as many people as possible from following Jesus’ command to commemorate his death by partaking of an evening meal and using unleavened bread and red wine as symbols of his flesh & blood! Many who publicly do so in a KH, now face alienation by their fellow Witnesses. For all these reasons (and more) I refuse to take part in a corrupt sham, and celebrate with my… Read more »
Hi The Searcher. Thank you for your comment and welcome to the site. You make valid points. We believe it’s up to each individual’s conscience and circumstances to partake publicly or not. For all it’s risks of alienation as you’ve said, we can’t deny that the published numbers cause average JW to think “why”. In turn they look for answers and when they can’t find them, some of those end up finding Christ 🙂
I’m thinking about celebrating the Memorial in the privacy of my own home also, Searcher. I don’t want to be singled out as “special” or “anointed”, and somehow revered by the local brothers. The GB already have enough worship and adoration from the “other sheep”.
I do it at home and you don’t have to do it only once a year. You can remember him doing it daily if you want. He set no limit on it
I wonder what happened around 2007 to start that marked trend of increasing number of partakers at the memorial. Was it some new teaching from Watchtower? The global economic crisis? What was it that started the trend?
For the answer to your question see: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2007327
‘the great tribulation’ EVERY anointed has to go through (to get their robes white) … I’m NOT saying it startet then, because it doesn’t have such a startingpoint) But EACH anointed has to ‘leave their belongings behind’ (the lies they have been taught) : ‘and then i saw 3 unclean spirits that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the DRAGON, the WILD ANIMAL, and the FALSE PROPHET’ (6 6 6) where is most of the wariors who fight in this war for truth located today? THERE is where these events are happening!!
http://www.thegreattribulationwhatisit.blogspot.com
It does not matter how many JW’s take the memorial emblems, unless they have also done what is required as presented below, they have no salvation in Christ. “All those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and I will never drive away the one who comes to me”. John 6:37 NWT. “I am the fine shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. John 10:14 NWT. Being Known by Jesus Christ. Christians in obedience to Jesus command, need to “know” both the Father and the Son . The Watchtower society has recently acknowledged that the… Read more »
Miken, I respectfully submit that no one can know the hearts of those of us who partake. No one can know our heartfelt love for Jesus Christ and that we come to him in his name through our prayers and praises to the one he taught us to pray to, Our Father in Heaven. Jehovah and Jesus are on our minds minute by minute, hour by hour. We know Jesus, our hearts are with him and he is with us. No one say who has or has not been born again, born from water and spirit. Please “do not forget… Read more »
I apologize that should have been, “No one CAN say”
Laura, what caused you to start partaking and how many years have you been partaking? And how have the friends responded or reacted to your doing so? (Only if you feel safe answering those questions – if not, I’ll understand.)
I was just trying to understand you more. (My first experience partaking can be read about here
Bobcat
Laura:
In the link I provided it is the post just above that post.
Bobcat
The memorial partakers started increasing in 2006: 2005 = 8,524 2006 = 8,758 2007 = 9,105 2008 = 9,986 2009 = 10,857 2010 = 11,202 2011 = 11,824 2012 = 12,604 2013 = 13,204 2014 = 14,121 Between 2005 and 2014 there has been a 5,597 increase. ——————————————- Of course this is how the Governing Body explain why that is happening: “Memorial partakers. This is the number of baptized individuals who partake of the emblems at the Memorial worldwide. Does this total represent the number of anointed ones on earth? Not necessarily. A number of factors—including past religious beliefs or… Read more »
I first partook at my k.h in U.K. ’97. Met with shock and mockety of course. The international report for that year showed a decrease in partakers the U.K report hoever, showed increase. This caused me to do a little research and it seemed evident to me that partakers have consistently been on the increase since 1990g.b. the gathering of Israel continued post ’35 b
Just to share my story dear brothers. Last year, as one of the servers in our local congregation, I brought with me a bread inside my bag. After offering the unleavened bread to the attendees, back to our seats, I got a part of that bread inside my bag and took it.
Prior to that, I cooked an unleavened bread supposed to be shared with the whole family a day before the Memorial. 🙂
If I could say one thing to fellow public partakers, depending on how many dedicated family members are observing, there are depressive times ahead for you since this dogma is so very strongly entrenched. ….even stronger than Christendom’s trinity and hellfire to some observers. Especially considering we are viewed as the only true religion. How many times do I hear that expression, “Do you actually believe you’re smarter than the FDS?” Be prepared for rejection. There wasn’t a prophet in all Israel that didn’t get depressed.
I am inclined to agree.
The WTS cannot explain away this increase within their existing doctrinal framework. They either need to fabricate a reason why they are no longer reporting partakers, or explain that the increase is evidence of “apostasy” and proves that the end is even closer!
If you make the rules then you can bend them, or change them to suit, n’est-ce pas?
Thanks Alex,
This is great news. I’ve been partaking for several years, visiting various KH’s (thanks to Nissan 14 being correct). I find there’s more joy in a festive celebration assembly than a small private setting.
It’s surreal. Often I’m the only one partaking while everyone has no clue as to the magnificent role of Jesus.
QC
As I understand it, you would not be included in the 14,121 number either, when you are not partaking in your home congregation.
All I care about is the Father and Son noted by celebration of the most important event for the human race.
JW Memorial totals have no real significance in the big picture.
I partake at home but never at the memorial. So I believe the actual number is much higher. I think it’s only a matter of time before they are forced to change the 144k teaching. Writing angry articles in the watchtower is only causing more to partake.
I believe we should do it in public. If you pass it by in front of others you are doing the following;
“But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
Mathew 10:33
Thanks alex . The figures are making a mockery of thier theory that the end is close based on the numbers of partakers dwindling .also the way the trend is going we can understand why they had to distance themselves from the rest of the anointed partakers and declare themselves only as the faithfull slave . If not it would create an environment where these new partakers would be equal to them in office .and in some respects a superior authority than most of the elders in the congregation . If ir carries on it will also discredit the doctrine… Read more »
With respect, but in the interests of accuracy, having checked the figures in the Yearbooks,
2012 partakers: 12604
2013 partakers: 13204
2014 partakers: 14121
Which gives an increase of 600 between 2012/13
and an increase of 917 between 2013/14
Are American calculators calibrated differently to UK ones?
Considering the society uses American calculators to produce their statistics, that is somewhat disturbing!
😉
With sisterly love
I took the 2013 number from my own forum post from a year ago, and as it turns out, “a man should not lean on his own understanding” 🙂 Thanks Martha, I have corrected the post and given you credit.
🙂 you’re welcome.
You’re welcome! Thanks Alex, credit not necessary but gratefully accepted. 🙂
Martha, your increase of 917 partakers for 2014 is I believe the correct figure. What I find so good about this increase is that it exposes a lie said about many of the anointed that we seek prominence or the power of position in the Organization. This increase of close to thousand brothers and sisters partaking took place after the July 2013 Watchtower articles which removed the general body of anointed from the Faithful Slave teaching. In 2013 the anointed were no longer regarded as the Slave in 2014 a thousand more were moved to publicly partake. This is not… Read more »
I would add to your excellent observation, Laura, the fact that many partakers are viewed with suspicion. It is therefore a real challenge to partake in many cases, requiring courage of spirit. My hat’s off to my brothers and sisters who have chosen “to proclaim the death of the Lord until he arrives” despite the consequences.
Meleti, I agree it was a real challenge for these 917 new partakers to stand up before the congregation. Perhaps they had in mind the scripture, “But whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens.” Matthew 10:33 This spectacular number of partakers proves we have many elders who are allowing new ones to be counted in and that those counted in fit into whatever standard the elders were applying in the count. This is very encouraging both for the fine elders we have and the fact that it is likely… Read more »
It is really sad for elders to cast suspicion on partakers. The decision to partake or not is “personal” one – between him and God & Christ. Just as God can see our hearts, only he can judge the partaker if he is worthy or not.
I personally know ten friends who partook last year in private but not at the congregation memorial. I believe the number of 14,121 is a gross understatement of the reality simmering beneath the surface.
Beautiful post. My husband and I will be partaking at home again this year 2015.
Amen to this! In fact, 8M partakers worldwide – a phenomenon -can just be true when the time comes!
I partook for the first time in 2014. Should we be excited about the number or sad about it because everyone Christian should be doing it?
I understand many of us have mixed feelings about this statistic. There are many valid ways to look at it. If I could make a single wish – one single thing changed for Jehovah’s Witnesses – it would be that more of our Brothers and Sisters would personally accept Jesus Christ. I believe it is the change that will cause all other changes, over time. And even if the organization would be “beating” this growing number of Christ’s Brothers, it will cause change. “If ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and should start… Read more »