The year is 1983. Mr. K, a kindly Jehovah’s Witness man and his wife knock on the door of a typical middle-class, suburban home. He doesn’t know that his return visit is about to ask him not to return, that Mr. B has only been being polite in taking his Watchtower magazines and nothing more. But something else is about to happen. A seemingly small event will trigger a drastic shift that will change the lives of that family forever — even two yet-unborn children. It will be a change that will tear the family apart, cause desperation and inconsolable sorrow.

After many months of collaborative effort across the online ex-JW community, it is my privilege to be able to present the first ever online magazine for doubting, exiting and former Jehovah’s Witnesses.
JWRecovery Magazine is a completely free, collaborative journal designed to provide easily accessible information and support assistance to ex Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world. It is our hope that the information contained within, in a new alternative format, will be another convenient touch-point for those seeking information and recovery help.

I am extremely honored to be able to share the following story with you. This is the sincere, heart-wrenching and poetic account of Rob, a former Jehovah’s Witness from Australia.  I am in awe of his courage, strength and determination in sharing his story, and I hope that you, the reader, will be moved and encouraged by his bravery and integrity.
Without any further ado…

Inside the Watchtower School of Gilead!
by a Jehovah’s Witness Ex-Gilead Missionary
The following video is an extraordinary glimpse into the Watchtower School of Gilead. It features exclusive, inside footage never before seen, which includes video and audio of some members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The video is commentated by a graduating member of the 115th Gilead class, who highlights the curriculum as well as other key points from his time

The following story was shared with me by a former Jehovah’s Witness. With her permission, I am happy to share her story with you here on the blog… I felt this was a particularly touching story. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to have your entire life turned upside down like hers was. Many of us “born in’s” take for granted that we were raised in the “truth” from birth… So without any further ado, I give you another ex JW story…

My family (mother, stepfather, siblings) became …

Today I stumbled upon a video series by YouTube publisher WTComments. These two videos feature an interview with Lance Goller, a 2003 graduate of the Watchtower School of Gilead, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ missionary program.
In these videos Lance discusses his experiences at Gilead, his meetings and impressions of the Governing Body as well as questions that he found himself asking about the teachings of the Watchtower. In video one he discusses questions particularly with reference to the year 1919 and its significance in granting authority to the Governing Body.
In the second …

In response to the invitation for former Jehovah’s Witnesses to share their stories, I am pleased to present James’ story…
—
“I’m actually a 24 yr old that was raised a JW. Since I can remember, this is all that I’ve known. I started the same way as most, a little comment here and there, moving on to publisher, then baptism. I was baptized when I was 13. Also like many, I’ve developed many friendships with people in my age bracket. My story begins with the day that I actually began college.
I’m …

The Life of Brian…
On June 5th I put a call out to other former Jehovah’s Witnesses who wanted to share their story here. The post was titled: So Many Stories - Let’s Tell Them. The following is the touching and heartfelt story of a man who was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. It is my pleasure to publish and share his story here.
And so, without any further ado, may I present: Brian.
“My story begins in the dawn of the 1980’s.  Vietnam was becoming a distant memory, Ronald Reagan was almost …