Oh wow that's extremely creepy. I'm Christian and outreach is part of my beliefs, but most definitely not by disrespecting privacy and boundaries. That's honestly disgusting.

im an ex mormon, and this totally sounds like something they’d do. I was asked to interpret for some missionaries a while back (weird since i had like two classes worth of asl knowledge and no experience) and i ended up not going because of anxiety. Now I’m glad I didn’t

Yeah, as I’ve been going to Auslan classes a couple of the other students I know are part of religious groups - they are specifically learning because their aim is to make their church more accessible to Deaf people. Which is fine and brilliant if the people who go to the church make their own informed choice and want to go but I do worry about them potentially targeting the Deaf community for conversion.

That’s wrong !! I often don’t answer my door as telling “them” No, doesn’t work. Maybe letting them know you will file harassment charges ? Stalking? Anyone, hearing or deaf telling someone “NO !! “ means NO !! That’s all .. Thank you for this, if it’s not known, how can it be fixed? 💕

Yes, that’s a pet peeve! I had experienced something like that a few times while growing up. Now, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Because I always use PO Box as my address for everything at deaf events. When they usually asked me for permanent address, I told them that my permanent address is PO Box. They kept said no, that’s not permanent address. Then I told them too bad, they have no right to criticize me that I am giving them the wrong address. It’s either take my PO Box or get lost! 😁

understand... I, never. ever. EVER. post a comment... but for this video, I HAD to. well "said" (signed), great perspective and fantastic delivery of a general and open opinion. 🤟🏽

Last month when I went to the Deaf social in my town, there were two hearing religious folks. A couple of them seem to show up every time I go, which has been for the last six months or so. Anyway, last time I went I asked them about their church. They said it didn't have a name, they just try to re-create the church as in Jesus's day. I have a major in religion so this is all kinds of interesting BUT, what most irked me is that I saw them talking about how they had a project going to interpret the Bible in ASL. Apparently, this project got held up because one of the signers for the interpretation was gay. So now they must rerecord those portions. This left me quite devastated. I talked with a friend of mine who is hearing but teaches ASL at the college level. She said being part of the LGBTQ community is not quite as taboo with the Deaf, but, regardless, I didn't have the heart to show up at the Deaf social this month. I can't imagine what it is like for Deaf people who want these safe spaces and then get invaded by people with an agenda, let alone hearing people who seem to be taking advantage of a minority population.

Never heard about that before. Thanks for spreading this information, Rogan. This is awful and creepy. And next time they showing up at my doorstep, I will ask them about this, before I send them away.

I am a Christian and hearing and I am very glad you shared this information, it has certainly been an eye opener for me. I had no idea of this happening and I totally agree with you that it is an invasion of your privacy when they use a specific list of deaf individuals to solicit for their religious evangelism pursuits without their permission. Also just the mire idea of them coming back to your house after you have expressed that you are not interested and do not want them to come again is an outrage as well as ignoring your preferential rights. I am so sorry this is happening and I am going to share this with others in hopes they will get this information out to as many denominations as possible to stop this from happening in the future.

Very well-argued, and I think it's an important point of view that everyone needs to hear.

as a part of the lds church, i find this extremely creepy and i’m so sorry this is happening. i’ll definitely ask my bishop/some of the missionaries about it cause that’s horrible

Agreed!!! Also, your thoughts are very organized and comes out elequently. I'd have to take a day or two to write down my notes first!

To answer your question(s) Rogan; as a former JW, from 2015-2016, I was involved in the ASL congregation. I've notice what JW don't want you to know is that they have a list of certain people on their territory sheet and ask the "hearing" householder, do you know any deaf people or know any who uses sign language. Most of they say no all time. I also remember when I was at the kingdom hall, they use social media to search for the deaf from those going to FSBD (which they are banned from) to stalk them (I can recall going out every Sunday to go out to "preach" which our meetings were every Tuesday and Saturday, sometimes we would go to Target just sit and wait for deaf people to show up or blend in the crowd to pretend we were shopping) and other ways which is wrong. Also the Witnesses very rarely mind you have a lot of deaf people in their organization. Basically the organization is made up of a lot of hearing people who make up signs, never went to school to learn the language, we had a class that never taught ASL (only for learning how to use it more in the door to door ministry), never got involved with the deaf community (I wasn't allowed to go to Deaf events unless I'm going to start a Bible study but I wanted to be apart of the community) and culture, none of them are certified Interpters, the controversial video of telling Deaf people to stop masturbating (which is on Vimeo only) and the list goes on basically their main mission is only to recruit members. If you have any more questions Ronan please let me know because as a born again Christian after leaving the JWs for almost 2 years I can spill the tea. Please check here on KZfaq, TTATT ASL she will explain more and thank you, keep up the excellent work with your channel.

Yes, I have had an experience with JW as a deaf child. The first time the JW came to my house and my parents told them we were not interested. My parents were Buddhists. So, the second time they actually brought the deaf teenager that I went to same school. My parents were quite hesitant to say anything until the teenager spoke in ASL. So, my parents were like, “Ok, let’s give them a chance to see if our daughter is happy after her first lesson with JW.” After the few lessons, it got closer to the holidays and I sadly told my parents I won’t celebrate any holidays anymore because of JW. My parents were upset and decided to stop letting JW teach me anymore. Personally, I was so happy to see that the JW stopped coming to my house. Every day I asked myself the question- how did they know? I suspected that the JW must have somehow obtained the “yellow page” from my school. Every year my school actually distributed the “yellow page” of all the addresses/phone numbers of students. I think we signed up for that in the first place. So, that’s how they found us. Ugh.

Yeah, that's just going way too far. My mom's hearing, but when my dad died the local jehova's witness saw the obit in the paper and wrote her a really threatening letter about how if she didn't join them she'd never see him in the afterlife. So messed up

Yes this happened to me. They came for several years to my house. When I moved a short distance away, they found me again!😕

I worked at a place and once the JWs figured out a Deaf client was there they would not leave him alone. He would have staff tell them he wasn't there to get them to go away. Also, a JW was in an ASL class and the first day of class when they asked us why we were interested in ASL, he said "to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ". They are very persistent and what you said in the video is definitely a violation of boundaries and privacy. They need to chill out.

I- what‽ Do they just use sign right out of the gate? That _is_ really fucking creepy, man. How do religious organizations not self-reflect on this and determine that it's condescending? People who want to join religious institutions, will. And if the person hasn't heard of them, then a one-time notice is more than enough... but to continually knock and remind people as if they couldn't do any of the research themselves past the first time... Just what the hell? It's rude, it's condescending- it's not okay. Especially if they have private information. Religious institutions should express more humility than that.

Yes! I'm an interpreter, and not long after I moved to a house near a JW temple, I had someone from there knock on my door and ask if I knew anyone who used sign language. I said, "huh?" He didn't say anything so I hesitantly said, "...yes...?" Then he went into his script about how they had made a DVD with someone signing the Bible and wanted to know if I would pass it out to people. I told him no because I don't agree with their religion, etc and he went away and took his DVD with him. I lived there 10 years and he never came back, but I've always thought how creepy that he had to know somehow that I was an interpreter. 😳 But HOW!?

So, I know absolutely nothing about Jehovah’s Wittinesses, but I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly known as Mormon’s) and they aren’t trying to target you, but are assigned a language to teach in and want to send you signing missionaries. They go to everywhere and teach in so many languages, you can be sent to California and speak Spanish, but they’re not targeting Hispanics, they just want to send missionaries who are able to communicate with those they are trying to reach out to. We also normally get names by members in the neighborhood, and it’d be more like “Oh, their deaf? We’ll send our signing missionaries.” And they may come more than once, but they really do try to not come too frequently, but they are only out for 2 years and move areas every few months so they don’t always quite know who’s been reached out to. And sometimes they just want to check back in and make sure you’re not willing to hear them out this time. I’ve heard so many returned missionaries talk about someone that had turned previous missionaries down before but decided to listen to them and I don’t know anyone who’s been on a signing mission, so they do that to everyone, not just deaf. But, if they are coming more than once within months, that is creepy and that shouldn’t happen. You could try reaching out to a member in your neighborhood and tell them to pass along the message that you’re annoyed and that could help. (Also, missionaries are always looking to serve people, you may not want to hear their message, but try asking them to help you move, or lay down grass, or some physical task they could help you with, say you broke your foot, ask them to mow your lawn. They’ll likely do it, just saying ;)

Oh!! Yep! It happened to me! I was buzzed at first cuz those people know ASL and stopped by my place. I thought it was odd that they knew where I live. Chatted for few minutes and they made weird excuses like I need to use your bathroom. Totally strangers! For sure, it was awkward... lol!

I have been introduced by hearing/Deaf JW's for several years. At first I thought they're friendly. I have no Deaf community in my area. It was nice talking with them. But, one thing I don't like is being pushy about their religion and coming too often. I love talking with them any subjects except their teachings. I didn't know they have the databases, THAT's f#@king creepy! I feel sorry for the Deaf because they're being brainwashed? Enjoyed watching your vids.

I had this problem of JWs visiting every month to my old apartment, which had a locked by code gate before even getting to my stairs. It was very annoying, I even asked nicely don’t come back. I think they lost where I live now I moved.

Soooo eye opening! First off I initially commented just about my sister partially through your video bc it hits close to home. Not in that I’m offended but I’m concerned bc my beloved, sweet sister and her husband and children have devoted their lives even before having a choice of devotion or not and I fing hate cults like Jehovah Witnesses!!! But I kept watching, of course, lol and I’m grossed out! I’m not dDeaf or H/H, I live in a small town in KS and I’ve been harassed specifically by males trying to coax me out of my house to “talk” to them. And yes they’ve returned over and over till the last incident and I became the meanest 🤬 ever! I used my protective dog to make my point! Anyways it’s disturbing to me that they specifically are going after Deaf as though it’s a vulnerability, like they think they can manipulate members in the Deaf community 🤦🏻‍♀️ Its not their business about you or your identity, affiliations etc. yet clearly they are getting info and using it against them. My sister was raised Jehovah Witness, abused in that community in more ways than I care to say and sadly remains a JW believer/participant but thankfully she’s removed from our location for two decades and is far stronger than her awful bio Mom and has been extraordinarily protective of my nephews. She’s quite defiant as far as the rules of JW women are just enslaved to a man, children shall not report abuse etc. She really is careful and highly vigilant not only from what she’s said but what I’ve personally witnessed observing her in our family dynamic. She’d kill someone if they hurt her children. Thankfully she’s not her bio egg donor! It’s quite a paradox really. She’s involved with the dDeaf Community through her church/members so this is interesting but needs to be talked about period! Abuse from “religious” groups, cults, fanatics, etc. is unacceptable and needs to be squashed immediately! Using info to harass and manipulate ppl of any community, group, etc. is unforgivable and pls report anyone that comes knocking on your door: record it, call police and have it reported and ensure you have a witness and someone to protect you because ik ive been scared from these door knockers when they’d refuse to leave and it’s always men on bikes in backpacks. The worst experience was when I was building a frame in my garage with the door open... I was fully focused on my work till that creepy feeling hit me someone is standing near me in my garage. Guess who?! Two JW scouts watching me build and never asked to approach and encroach on my property then they refused to leave after repeated No’s and leave now’s etc. after that I get really nasty and loud so the world knows because they overstep boundaries, don’t accept no for an answer and will continue to send new scouts to try and coax you to their cult.

Hi. That is good advice what you said. Best thing is DONT OPEN THE DOOR TO ANY STRANGERS!!!

That was very interesting. I’ve certainly had Mormons knock on my door but not persistently. Sounds like ignorance about deaf people. Could it be directly addressed to the local offending churches? Sounds like ignorance-assuming if you’re deaf you can’t have a religion?? Decades ago when I took my first ASL classes, it was offered by a Deaf Mission Church, part of a hearing church, and we learned that many deaf people’s point of social connection/community/fellowship was through their church. I’m sure that’s not as true today with social media avenues as it was then. But at least at that time, religion figured prominently in deaf life-at least that is what I was taught.

Tell them you’re an apostate and they’ll refuse to even look at you, let alone talk to you

Yes, I notice the LDS (Mormon) missionaries are now using social media to determine who is d/Deaf or not and have reached out to me bc they see deaf pride/cultural topics and have gotten information that way. The LDS church does keep an extensive database. That has been my experience as well.

Very informative video. 😊

I genuinely never thought about this before, and as you said, it's SUPER FUCKING CREEPY!! OMG! Also, I feel like, if I feel stalked, I'm significantly less likely to head on over to my stalkers conversion tent for a chat. Maybe someone should tell the JWs!

Hello! Have you seen the vlog post from Regan Thibodeau??? She just explained her experience and frustrations with this.

They most definitely don't come to African Americans doors. But when they accidentally do they turn around very very fast.

That is happening in Spain too. Totally agree with you.

Question why do you think they keep on coming back to a person that is Deaf? I'm a CODA! 🤟

I'm reading. And subscribing.

same me. happened to me, JW deafs bother my home different ppls different day or so. i told them not interest it, since my friend strong deaf christian asl told them we r chirst chruch stop coming by, somhow real work they nvr again come by. amazing how my friend told them. smh

Hey all Rogan's Dad here - we actually have had JWs come to our house several times with 'signers' asking about the deaf person living there - you were only 6 or 7 so how they knew....? We were polite the first time and signed with them a bit, and other JW groups have come and we just politely send them away.

this !!! i get beautiful envelopes with hand-drawn hellish messages about repent or go to hell. and jesus loves me, same paper. i don’t want them but i don’t know how to stop them.

I absolutely agree with you

Had that experience so I had to add a paper on my front storm door it says, no solicitation, please and thank you. but JW didn't respect that and left a pamphlet. next time I cannot protect JW anymore because I have pitbull now, I will open the door and let my dog out to scare the fuck outta themselves to show that I true business dare to do that due to their brazen and bold of disregarded the sign I posted on.

That is creepy! They should listen when they hear "No, please don't come here." As to being on a list, it sounds like something a business would do to you. People's information is very valuable in that respect. However, it just sounds unethical to start with, that a church would buy the list of deaf people. They should let people come to them, or visit on their usual rounds, when they go to visit people in their area. But if it's so widespread, it probably part of their national strategy. An ASL rights group should sue them to get them to change their evangelism tactics, to be more fair. Or begin mediation or something. I'm sorry this has been happening!

I didn’t realize that had lists of demographics

WOW! That is really creepy of them. Maybe you could go to a sporting goods store, buy a whistle and toot it as hard as you can if they show up again. The people in the houses around you might poke their heads out because of the noise and see these people harassing you. If they’re gonna grate on your eyes after you said no, grate on their ears! People who force religion on others always strike me as wanting to be seen doing it rather than an act of altruism. I say this as a Catholic. God gave Mary a choice in whether or not to conceive Jesus and so too should His followers. Religion is a choice, not a demand.

This is so interesting! And of course awful to learn about the exploitation. I am interested because there is a good sized Deaf Church community in my city, and I always wanted to go visit them and share faith and theological discussion with them. But I was told by a friend who worked in that church for a few months that they are pretty homophobic. So like, what would my Queer Hearing ass do if I deliberately went into someone's space, a safe community like that, and got rebuffed or even attacked for being trans and gay?? It's not like I even "speak" the language to try and have a reasonable conversation with them. It makes me so sad. Also, I'm a Christian Pagan. I'm /desperate/ to find out what the signs (ASL or BSL) for things like "Pagan" and "Druid" are! lol

The thing I get the most of from churches in general is people feeling the NEED to pray for my hearing. I say if God make no mistakes because He perfect, why you want to ask God to fix what He made? Isn't that rude to God? But, definitely Mormons have Deaf rosters too same as JW have, and it took me saying I am atheist so dont believe in God anyways for them to leave me alone. But every time new Mormon missionaries, guess what? They still come over to try anyways! #frustrating

Have you seen the sign languages pages for the Joshua Project. It’s crazy what people are doing...

Yeah, that's happened where I live with my fam, happily not to us personally - we've just gotten "regular" visitors😅 They also attend funerals of Deaf people. Our neighbors are JW and they're very good folk. Oh, and one person in our Deaf community has the namesign, JW😂 O

that experience with JW is not unique to deaf people, at least not in my country. It is really common that they will show up at your doorstep once a year (depending on the area you live), even if you tell them everytime you don´t want to talk to them, also it is not so easy to get them go away while staying polite, because they wont move out of your doorway. if you manage to piss them off you might get a break for a few years. And they keep records of everything! who lives there (age etc) what did you say, what did you do. they will note every detail that they can find out about you while visiting.

I know this frustration!

Crapola.....That is CREEPY!!! Sorry, some sweet folks have to go thru this .

Have a sign out side the door. It may deter them from coming back.

I am a born again Christian who agree with you that knocking on the door is an invasion of privacy. Only way to reach people to Jesus Christ is to show the love and light in our hearts rather throw religion down on their throat. Religion is man made and even Jesus hated religion because of their hypocrisy. This is my opinion.

Agree

Yes, I have big experience with the Mormon and jevorah’s witness keeps coming back to my house and I have told the Mormon missionary and JW not coming to my house anymore and it makes me feel bored and no private and it doesn’t work for me anymore as I don’t need any Mormon or JW at all.... and also I just join the catholic deaf church that why I learned that my mom and grandma were catholic living church years ago... I love the catholic deaf people who are very friendly and helpful and but it’s not same kind of thing Mormon or JW

If you feel like someone or some group is harassing you, you have the right to tell them that you will call the police next time they show up.

And also I forgot to tell you that I am gay and good Christian person and but the catholic deaf church is accepted any gay or lesbian people who are very welcome....

My closest friend, we both deaf. She told me that when JW come to her house because JW knew that she's deaf. JW ask her if she want to join the discussion about the Bible, She said, "sorry, I'm not interested because I'm catholic (she is not catholic but is Baptist). JW stop come to her house LOL! JW won't mess with any of catholic people... ;)

I know you meant it as a rhetorical question: but one of the reasons they keep coming beck is bc you might have experienced something in the time in between that changed your mind. Like: (i know Mormons and have heard other christian groups) they target people In Mourning bc thats a time when a lot of people are emotionally vulnerable. Why do they keep coming back? bc maybe this time you’ll be open to it. And its not for nothing. One of the big reasons deaf people get targeted for proselytization is that statistically, theyre an “underserved”/“riper” pool of people to convert. And (overlapping with many marginalised communities) the most vulnerable populations make for the most conversions per person. (Really big religious orgs do these kinds of poll studies on their “work” -which is conversion- ). For the mormons, thats their job. Not sure about JW, but lds, theyre usually not volunteers, they get “paid” to do this, and theyre doing a good job proportionally to how many people they convert. Separate from their religious creeds (which is a whole other convo) i find these recruitment practises very unsettling. Esp when they target people like homeless youth, and dont “offer” religion so much as “require” it to get services.

The English captions on all your videos are gone!

I have a secret method to dispel JW's "servants" I'd tell them that I was disfellowshipped or excommunicated from their kingdom hall. They never darken my door ever again. I, personally, not a member of any religious, so all I did is, basically, speak their language - they get straight scared shit because they thought they were talking with a "former" member who've sinned.

If they annoy you, simple put up USA flag on the door. JW will stop bother you.

JWs have content in over 1,000 languages to help people learn. There are also many different language groups or congregations that are specifically one language, like Spanish, Korean, or ASL... there's no "database". When someone is in a specific language they knock on doors and ask neighbors if they know of anyone that uses a specific language... so really blame your neighbors... and a lot of people dislike continued visits, but it really depends on the person how they communicate with you... if its harassment or you feel threatened, that's not cool... its not supposed to be about getting you to go to the church, just to learn more about the bible... its supposed to be in your language to better understand to reach the heart. Everyone is an individual and I promise we all don't act that way. :(

Wtf??

❤🏠👭👬 I'm a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints ( mormon) I'd like to share my prospective. yes as that is creepy. Its not targeting of a deaf person. There is a world wide roster of names of members, converts, investigators, and of those people that may have had contact with missionaries at some time or there parents may have had contact. Yes that too can sound creepy but its not to save people just give them the opportunity to to worship together. Only the high level leaders over the missionaries ( the door knocker) so there is opportunity for these young men and women to fulfill their duty to god and their religion that they have promised god they will do. Without this roster mission work would be a slow process sadly. Missionaries grow and mature so much by this experience. ❤🏠👭👬

more lies about the JW. I get tired of it. Only thing i can do is just not watch the channels that lie instead of educating themselves further.