Ten years ago, my life took a profound turn during a Sunday meeting. As I sat there, an overwhelming sense stirred within me— a feeling I attribute to the Holy Spirit. I can’t explain how I knew; I simply did. Compelled to act, I decided I would partake of the Lord's Evening Supper, a decision that felt both daunting and undeniable.
In the weeks that followed, I began questioning long-held practices and beliefs that were said to be Bible based. I realized that beards, ties, jackets, and rigid reporting were not biblical mandates but human traditions. More startling was the growing awareness that much of what the "Governing Body" taught didn’t align with scripture. Driven by an intense desire for truth, I turned exclusively to the Bible, guided by what I believe was the Spirit. This deep dive into scripture unveiled truths I had never seen before, and to this day, I rely almost solely on the Bible for understanding.
About three weeks later—my wife might recall the exact timing—we were attending another Sunday meeting. Sitting at the back, a profound unease settled over us. The atmosphere felt stifling, misaligned with the freedom we’d begun to experience. We left mid-meeting, never to return. Shortly after, we formalized our departure with a letter of disassociation.
The aftermath wasn’t without challenges. Elders visited, probing for faults, but we stood firm. Only one elder returned after that, and we’ve had no contact since. We later heard through friends that some in the congregation mocked us, claiming we fancied ourselves apostles or prophets simply for growing beards or embracing our newfound convictions. Their words stung, but we didn’t despise them. Instead, we felt pity for their entrapment in a system that clouded their vision.