Two Year Training Testimonies

[leastofthese]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Attending the FTT requires an extraordinary level of commitment, particularly having to set aside two full years of one's life. I’ve known quite a few who have attended, and I always thought it was a bit sad when they were pressured to make that kind of commitment, not realizing the consequences of what it entailed.

Putting a career on hiatus for two years after graduating college is not something most people would consider to be advisable. And there’s no reason why people should be expected or pressured to have to make such a decision. But those doing the pressuring don’t care about the consequences of attending the FTT, they just care about getting people into the training.

I know FTT graduates who have good degrees, and they had trouble finding good work due to the inexplicable ‘gap’ in their resume. Some of them knew they wouldn’t be able to find work so they resorted to “serving full-time” for a while in attempt to postpone the inevitable. Others graduated and couldn’t decide on any meaningful direction for their life.

Surely there are success stories for those who went through FTTA and didn’t end up as a full timer?

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

Surely there are success stories for those who went through FTTA and didn’t end up as a full timer?

I'm sure some have fared better than others. I can think of some I knew who did just fine afterwards without becoming a full timer. Some of the "church kids" I know that attended knew better than to "drop everything" when they attended the FTT.

[kumbaya]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

Surely there are success stories for those who went through FTTA and didn’t end up as a full timer?

Are you implying that ending up as a full-timer isn't a success story?

[leastofthese]

Originally Posted by kumbaya

Are you implying that ending up as a full-timer isn't a success story?

K,

I wasn’t thinking of that when asking my question.

This site spends alot of time discussing the negative aspects of the Witness Lee churches - as it should, it is our duty to warn others. But there are true Christians in these Churches, so I was wondering if anyone could share success stories. We could also include Full Timers on that list that are working as servants of Christ and not the LSM.

[kumbaya]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

K,

I wasn’t thinking of that when asking my question.

This site spends alot of time discussing the negative aspects of the Witness Lee churches - as it should, it is our duty to warn others. But there are true Christians in these Churches, so I was wondering if anyone could share success stories. We could also include Full Timers on that list that are working as servants of Christ and not the LSM.

Sorry, I couldn't help but take the bait

I truly believe there are true Christians in the LC. I guess I believe, even for the "success" stories, that it's really not a success if you're mislead in your faith with bad practices common to a group.

[Bradley]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

Surely there are success stories for those who went through FTTA and didn’t end up as a full timer?

My goal was to become a full-timer. I went to the training for the sole purpose of being a full-timer, it was my dream. I was going to migrate to France for the Lord's move in Europe and serve there. The day before I graduated, a leading brother came and tapped on my shoulder and told me that I wasn't going to be a full-timer and I have to get a job. At the time I was devastated.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Bradley

My goal was to become a full-timer. I went to the training for the sole purpose of being a full-timer, it was my dream. I was going to migrate to France for the Lord's move in Europe and serve there. The day before I graduated, a leading brother came and tapped on my shoulder and told me that I wasn't going to be a full-timer and I have to get a job. At the time I was devastated.

Bradley,

Thanks for having the courage to share. It will help many who have likewise suffered.

My story: about 20 yr ago I left the LC, and because my consciousness had been dominated by the immersive "church life" I was adrift.

After about 5 mostly purposeless and frustrating years I got a revelation, that I was on earth to help others. Like many, I'd been misled by the false dichotomy of "sacred" vs "secular" realms. God is King of everything!

I purposed to help others, and my life took an immediate turn, and I never looked back. Every day is it's own reward.; every day is full of challenge, opportunity, meaning, and grace.

I started on the bottom and worked and worked. I loved every minute. I have been promoted 4 times & now make decent wages, but that never mattered. The Lord provides always.

I've been led by 2 principles: "What you do to the least of these my brothers, you do unto me", and "Whatever you do to others, God will do to you." That's it: simple but it's never failed to guide, to encourage & to strengthen.

The Lord bless your journey with peace, joy & love. I believe you have a great adventure waiting.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Bradley

My goal was to become a full-timer. I went to the training for the sole purpose of being a full-timer, it was my dream. I was going to migrate to France for the Lord's move in Europe and serve there. The day before I graduated, a leading brother came and tapped on my shoulder and told me that I wasn't going to be a full-timer and I have to get a job. At the time I was devastated.

Sadly enough, what I also observed is that those who were the most enthusiastic about attending the training were usually the ones who fared the worst. The reason being is that either the training didn't meet their expectations, or in more extreme cases, their enthusiasm was used against them.

One example in particular comes to mind. A brother I knew my whole life was the model prospective trainee. He went through high school and college with every intention of going to the training, and all plans revolved around that. Once he got in the training, however, he was assigned to a team to serve in a locality the trainers very well knew he didn't want to be in. Actually, no one wanted to serve in that locality, because the elder there who was overseeing the trainees was known to be mentally unstable. The trainers in Anaheim very well knew this.

Needless to say, this brother was devastated and dropped out of the training. I was shocked to see something like that happen to someone who was so dead set on going to the FTT. It definitely was a factor influencing my eventual decision to not attend the FTT. After year or so, this brother was somehow coerced to come back and complete the training (serving in the same locality), under the guise of being made to think that he just needed more 'perfecting'.

[kumbaya]

Originally Posted by Bradley

My goal was to become a full-timer. I went to the training for the sole purpose of being a full-timer, it was my dream. I was going to migrate to France for the Lord's move in Europe and serve there. The day before I graduated, a leading brother came and tapped on my shoulder and told me that I wasn't going to be a full-timer and I have to get a job. At the time I was devastated.

WOW!!! Are you serious? I would say I'm sorry but I can't help but to think you probably dodged a bullet....

It seems like they're in no position to turn people down. Do you know how often they do that?

Maybe if they sense you can think for yourself, you're obviously not going to be a good fit.

[Bradley]

Originally Posted by kumbaya

WOW!!! Are you serious? I would say I'm sorry but I can't help but to think you probably dodged a bullet....

It seems like they're in no position to turn people down. Do you know how often they do that?

Maybe if they sense you can think for yourself, you're obviously not going to be a good fit.

No the reason they gave was that I didn't have enough work experience to be able to get a good career at the drop of the hat in case the elders decided to stop supporting me financially. Basically, if I was to serve, I would have been dependent. If I had served for a decade or something, and then they said "okay go get a job", I would have been screwed. So they wouldn't let me serve for my own sake.

That motivated me to learn internet marketing, I taught myself web design and SEO with the motivation that one day I would be able to support myself financially but still have the whole day free to serve the church and the gospel. As it turns out I don't care about the 'church' anymore, hardly even think about the gospel much less preach it, and my online business is just beginning to make money.

Originally Posted by leastofthese

Surely there are success stories for those who went through FTTA and didn’t end up as a full timer?

I consider myself a success. Went through the FTTA, eventually got a good job, and am now an agnostic and no longer bother with this nonsense. Life is much better now

[leastofthese]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I consider myself a success. Went through the FTTA, eventually got a good job, and am now an agnostic and no longer bother with this nonsense. Life is much better now

Thanks Unreg - about how many people were in your FTTA class? Of those, are there more that have left the faith? I've visited headquarters in Anaheim, its a pretty wild place... I would appreciate hearing more about your FTTA experience.

On a separate note, if you have any interest in hearing about my testimony and experience with Jesus, shoot me a message.

Originally Posted by leastofthese

Thanks Unreg - about how many people were in your FTTA class? Of those, are there more that have left the faith? I've visited headquarters in Anaheim, its a pretty wild place... I would appreciate hearing more about your FTTA experience.

On a separate note, if you have any interest in hearing about my testimony and experience with Jesus, shoot me a message.

I think there were around 100 in my graduating class. I am only aware of one other person that either graduated with me or within a year that left the faith.

Honestly I had a great time in the FTTA. I felt full of purpose and really enjoyed the environment and the people I was around. I was gung-ho and all-in. There were some hard times and personal sacrifices that I regret in hindsight. However at the time it really felt like God's plan for me and that I was "one with Him in His economy." It's really only in retrospect that I see the whole experience as whacky to understate the matter. So yes, I enjoyed the FTTA.

[leastofthese]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think there were around 100 in my graduating class. I am only aware of one other person that either graduated with me or within a year that left the faith.

Honestly I had a great time in the FTTA. I felt full of purpose and really enjoyed the environment and the people I was around. I was gung-ho and all-in. There were some hard times and personal sacrifices that I regret in hindsight. However at the time it really felt like God's plan for me and that I was "one with Him in His economy." It's really only in retrospect that I see the whole experience as whacky to understate the matter. So yes, I enjoyed the FTTA.

How do you go from being "one with Him and His economy" to seeing the experience as whacky? As an agnostic, what do you attribute your feelings of oneness to God's economy?

The short answer to your first question is that it was an intellectual journey that lasted about two years. During that time I learned about topics in psychology, biology, and skepticism in general which after some time caused me to turn a critical eye on my own faith. Eventually I left the faith behind.

Your second question is the easy one. I would just say that my feeling of oneness to God's economy are my own feelings. Perhaps they were profound and "spiritual" but its just an experience. I can still reproduce it today if I want. Or I could have a similar sensation meditating in a non-theistic way. Our brains are capable of producing these types of experiences. I don't see this at all incompatible with a materialistic, atheistic worldview.

[Truthseeker]

Lee always says that we can hear God speaking through the Church as a body of Christ. I guess so but not only in the local churches under the LSM control but among all the true and faithful Christians regardless of his or her own denominations. I can hear God's speaking very clearly through all of you that Full time training and its regulations are all ordained by the human being not divine ordinance.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I consider myself a success. Went through the FTTA, eventually got a good job, and am now an agnostic and no longer bother with this nonsense. Life is much better now

Unreg,

I also went agnostic for 2 or 3 yr post-LC. Focused on job, school, life. Learned to think again. Learned to be nobody. I was no longer 'special' thru association, part of 'God's best'. I was just another doofus out on the street.

Eventually I came back to God, and to the Jesus of the Bible, but on entirely different terms. No longer was I interested in being dominated by an all-too-human assembly. If I saw something, it was because I saw something, not because someone else told me that I saw something.

Been there, done that. As the hymn's chorus put it, "No, no, no no no - I'll never go back anymore. . . "