The God-Men: An Inquiry into Witness Lee & the Local Church

[OBW]

Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast

Looking back, one must wonder that any of us ever fell for what he offered. The spirit of his ministry (to "recover" at term of Lee's) was ever one of submission by conformity - and that conformity required financially "buying" into the ministry: through conferences, hefty and continuous book orders, fees for trainings, etc.

While the process of having personal "standing orders" for continual automatic purchase of LSM materials had not become a practice (or at least not a common one) by 1987, the sacrifice I saw of people's lives to the continual production of books for our consumption was everywhere. Some local members (in Irving) were seldom seen because they were constantly at the presses. There is one sister who previously joined in with us here on this forum (and more so on the Bereans before) that eventually completely left town when she left the church so she wouldn't run into anyone.

[Elden1971]

Originally Posted by OBW

While the process of having personal "standing orders" for continual automatic purchase of LSM materials had not become a practice (or at least not a common one) by 1987, the sacrifice I saw of people's lives to the continual production of books for our consumption was everywhere. Some local members (in Irving) were seldom seen because they were constantly at the presses. There is one sister who previously joined in with us here on this forum (and more so on the Bereans before) that eventually completely left town when she left the church so she wouldn't run into anyone.

Standing orders and auto shipments were common in 1978 and were rejected by many localities i.e. Rosemead, Denver, Boston etc This played a role in the demise of Max. By divine coincidence I was on a business trip to Denver when they did the unthinkable act of sending back their shipment, what chaos followed.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Elden1971

Standing orders and auto shipments were common in 1978 and were rejected by many localities i.e. Rosemead, Denver, Boston etc This played a role in the demise of Max. By divine coincidence I was on a business trip to Denver when they did the unthinkable act of sending back their shipment, what chaos followed.

In my meeting hall the cellar was full of Rainbow Booklets. Boxes and boxes of them. Like one whole wall, four deep and four high. Literally thousands of booklets.

"Now get out there and sell! Sell! Sell!"

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

In my meeting hall the cellar was full of Rainbow Booklets. Boxes and boxes of them. Like one whole wall, four deep and four high. Literally thousands of booklets.

"Now get out there and sell! Sell! Sell!"

Did you actually try to sell those Rainbow Booklets?

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Did you actually try to sell those Rainbow Booklets?

I was still in high school early 1986, and our serving brother had us go door knocking with the rainbow booklets.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Elden1971

Standing orders and auto shipments were common in 1978 and were rejected by many localities i.e. Rosemead, Denver, Boston etc This played a role in the demise of Max. By divine coincidence I was on a business trip to Denver when they did the unthinkable act of sending back their shipment, what chaos followed.

I had heard the same of other localities (Eugene, Oregon for one). To send back any unsold publication was a personal insult to Phillip Lee and future publications would be withheld until an "apology" was made. One locality I was in, there was a designated brother or brother(s) who were the only ones authorized to speak with with Phillip as he was reputed to be volatile and easily offended.
Elden1971, are you suggesting the church in Denver sending back the shipment precipitated the entire locality being quarantined and Witness Lee sending Gene Gruhler to Denver in it's aftermath?