We stumbled across another of our “lost in the growing stack” of past news tips and came across this gem of a report from Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It’s not so much about the news and the fact that the Watchtower was selling another Kingdom Hall, but rather their reasoning and explanation for taking that rather drastic step. The organization’s statement indicated their move was to free up “additional funds for the church’s relief work in the U.S. and abroad.” We ask, “What “relief work”? And exactly where will that “relief work” be provided?
It appears that the Watchtower is on track to sell scores more Kingdom Halls worldwide to support their “charitable works.” We’d sure like to see a list of recent “charitable” and “relief work projects” that they’ve managed here in North America or other countries. According to our sources and the Watchtower’s own online publications, their charitable works extend to locations all around the world. But other than building new Kingdom Halls in remote locations or to combine two or three existing Kingdom Halls under one new roof, we’re not seeing much “charitable work” going on or being reported.
Here are some excerpts from the report by Josh Popichak published in his May 2019 article:
A unique property that has served as a place of worship for local Jehovah’s Witnesses for nearly 30 years is currently for sale in Lower Saucon Township.
The Kingdom Hall at 2550 Applebutter Road, Hellertown, is being sold as part of a strategic divestiture of assets by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, according to a source familiar with how local congregations are organized and governed.
The hall formerly housed the Hellertown congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which last year became the Saucon Valley congregation and was merged with two other congregations. Its members now meet at the Emaus Avenue Kingdom Hall in Salisbury Township.
Another congregation that met at the Applebutter Road Kingdom Hall, known as the East Bethlehem Jehovah’s Witness congregation, also merged with other local congregations and now meets elsewhere.
According to the source, Jehovah’s Witness congregations are merging and redundant properties are being sold as part of a worldwide efficiency initiative that will free up additional funds for the church’s relief work in the U.S. and abroad; money that is needed because–in lieu of the offerings and tithes many other religious denominations receive–Jehovah’s Witnesses receive only voluntary donations to help fund their missionary and relief work.
The Kingdom Hall on Applebutter Road was built in 1990 and contains more than 7,300 square feet of space on two levels, one of which is an unfinished basement.
The “property could…easily be converted to a multitude of office uses,” a real estate listing for it states. “Features include dedicated parking for over 55 vehicles, two ADA restrooms, baby changing room, coat room, two viewing rooms and plenty of storage.”
The property is listed for $350,000 by James J. Balliet of KW Commercial in Allentown.
Interior and exterior photos of the property can be found with the online listing for it, which is featured on the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors website.
It is located about a quarter of a mile west of where Applebutter Road crosses over I-78.
ABOUT JOSH POPICHAK
Josh Popichak is a journalist and publisher who is committed to providing an open platform for objective online local news. Originally from Bethlehem, Pa., he has covered news in the Saucon Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania since 2005. In addition to publishing news on SauconSource.com, which he launched in 2014, he uses Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms to help inform an ever-growing number of reader-followers. He also manages social media platforms and consults with other local businesses as part of his media company, Saucon Source LLC. He is a graduate of Bates College, where he majored in history. Email him at [email protected].
Want to Buy a Church? Kingdom Hall in Lower Saucon is for Sale.
I suspect that now they are using computers and have become an on-line church then the selling of KH will become an orgy of selling.
Once they are gone they are gone for good.
With jw goes poor incomes and no amount of ‘pulpit’ punching will change that.
Zeb – My personal opinion is that they (the Watchtower leadership) have been closely watching the successful and continuous growth of TV evangelism and have considered the fact that those churches are exceptional money makers at relatively low cost. Yes, TV time is expensive, but compared to churches and buildings in nearly every city of any size in every state in every country – TV evangelism is dirt cheap. And television has the ability to go everywhere – appear on computers, TVs, and cell phones. It only makes sense to go that way. And all that money from the sales of all those buildings and properties that were constructed and paid for entirely by donations (not to mention the increases in property values over the years on tax-exempt locations). For the Watchtower’s leaders (and owners) it’s a “Godsend.” Those of us who were Jehovah’s Witnesses and were once on the inside and can now look at what’s happening from the outside – can see exactly what the Watchtower’s plan of action seems to be. “The truth is becoming clearer and clearer as it is revealed to us,” to quote prominent Watchtower speakers.
I am an ex jw, past company servant, pioneer, bethelite, disfellowshipped for celebrating christmas. Was asked by barbara anderson many years ago to write my story. I have finally done this. The book is titled “Te Amo Maria, a memoir and autobiography of Fred Bealer” It is available on Amazon and Barns and Noble.