Is the JW org big business?

This is allegedly from a source from over a decade ago - look at the bottom, line. Where does this money come from?

"A few financial figures that happen to have fallen into my sweaty palms. While only a small piece of the WT's financial jigsaw puzzle, they effectively illustrate the level of $ under the society's control."

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
Pensylvania Reg. # 11-1857820
Year Ended August 31, 1998

BALANCE SHEET...............................1998 / 1997

Assets

Cash and short-term investments........$296,522,535 / 209,383,368
Current receivables......................10,849,287 / 7,078,760
Long-term receivables...................277,421,320 / 267,435,970
Property and equipment..................120,697,680 / 120,547,679
TOTAL ..................................705,130,822 / 604,445,777

Liabilities

Accounts payable & accrued liabilities...$2,414,924 / 794,524
Conditional donations.....................7,489,654 / 8,743,636
Long-term payables.......................61,002,396 / 37,503,266
TOTAL LIABILITIES........................70,906,974 / 47,041,426

NET ASSETS.............................$634,223,848 / 604,445,777


COMBINED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

Revenues

Donations................................47,443,713 / 54,722,984
Interest.................................24,925,594 / 20,504,081
Kingdom Hall Assistance Fund..............3,218,791 / 3,900,595
Royalties, Rent and Other.................3,519,062 / 2,928,113
TOTAL REVENUES...........................79,107,160 / 82,055,773

Expenses

Kingdom Hall Assistance ..................2,123,945 / 2,485,514
Relief Fund..................................21,182 / 170,507
Convention Fund.................................430 / 0
Administrative Services.....................142,106 / 14,304
TOTAL EXPENSES............................2,287,663 / 2,670,325

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS.....................76,819,497 / 79,385,448

Net Assets At Beginning of Period.......557,404,351 / 469,616,477

Prior period adjustment...........................0 / 8,402,426

NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD............$634,223,848 / 557,404,351

Do the JW congregation have to tithe to the organisation?

Originally posted by divegeester
This is allegedly from a source from over a decade ago - look at the bottom, line. Where does this money come from?

Did you even read your own copy-paste?

Revenues

Donations................................47,443,713 / 54,722,984
Interest.................................24,925,594 / 20,504,081
Kingdom Hall Assistance Fund..............3,218,791 / 3,900,595
Royalties, Rent and Other.................3,519,062 / 2,928,113
TOTAL REVENUES...........................79,107,160 / 82,055,773

Originally posted by divegeester
Do the JW congregation have to tithe to the organisation?

Nope. It's all given as we can afford and want to donate. Sooooo what's your point here?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Did you even read your own copy-paste?

Revenues

Donations................................47,443,713 / 54,722,984
Interest.................................24,925,594 / 20,504,081
Kingdom Hall Assistance Fund..............3,218,791 / 3,900,595
Royalties, Rent and Other.................3,519,062 / 2,928,113
TOTAL REVENUES...........................79,107,160 / 82,055,773

Not sure what you are saying - donation = tithes?

Originally posted by galveston75
Nope. It's all given as we can afford and want to donate. Sooooo what's your point here?

My point is that $79 million is a lot of income from the congregation and $630 million is a lot of collateral. This kind of business needs a solid strategy to support it.

Originally posted by divegeester
My point is that $79 million is a lot of income from the congregation and $630 million is a lot of collateral. This kind of business needs a solid strategy to support it.

Yes it does because all the printing of the leturature, travel expenses, building of Kingdom Halls, Convention Halls, renting of other larger convention sites, all insurances involved, etc, etc, cost millions and lillions of dollars a year. And all of this paid by donations, not tithes.

As comparison what is the Vatican worth?

Originally posted by galveston75
As comparison what is the Vatican worth?

A small country.

Originally posted by galveston75
Yes it does because all the printing of the leturature, travel expenses, building of Kingdom Halls, Convention Halls, renting of other larger convention sites, all insurances involved, etc, etc, cost millions and lillions of dollars a year. And all of this paid by donations, not tithes.

As comparison what is the Vatican worth?

It's good that you don't feel obliged to give, but this level of income needs sustaining.

Originally posted by divegeester
It's good that you don't feel obliged to give, but this level of income needs sustaining.

they don't give, they become publishers. In other words they pay for the watchtower magazines and then distribute them. This is why there missionary and ministry policy is about going door to door. The more people handing out magazines the more money they make.

Originally posted by Doward
they don't give, they become publishers. In other words they pay for the watchtower magazines and then distribute them. This is why there missionary and ministry policy is about going door to door. The more people handing out magazines the more money they make.

considering we dont sell magazines but they are distributed without charge how is it
possible that the more we hand out the more money we make? are you fronting
another big fat lie? again?

Originally posted by divegeester
My point is that $79 million is a lot of income from the congregation and $630 million is a lot of collateral. This kind of business needs a solid strategy to support it.

its peanuts compared to other religions.

Originally posted by divegeester
This is allegedly from a source from over a decade ago - look at the bottom, line. Where does this money come from?

"A few financial figures that happen to have fallen into my sweaty palms. While only a small piece of the WT's financial jigsaw puzzle, they effectively illustrate the level of $ under the society's control."

Watchtower Bible a ...[text shortened]... ...0 / 8,402,426

NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD............[b]$634,223,848 / 557,404,351[/b]

Balls to working for a living...starting a new religion is where the money is!

Originally posted by Agerg
Balls to working for a living...starting a new religion is where the money is!

all you need are inflatable Christians to get you started , its a guaranteed winner. You could instantly convert them to Agerism.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
all you need are inflatable Christians to get you started , its a guaranteed winner. You could instantly convert them to agerism.

But doing that would spoil the value of the eternal prize devout followers are promised for spreading the sacred word of the [have yet to give my upcoming Holy book a name]

an eternal supply blow up dolls! (double eternal supply if they're ugly)