Events
My vision for AJWRB is that it should be a cause, not just a website. But as for the website, I want it to be a site that my parents would feel comfortable perusing. I want it to be cutting edge, in terms of science, for doctors and other medical professionals. I want to tone down the criticism and the rhetoric that might be interpreted by the Watchtower Society as "apostate." I want to partner with Jehovah's Witnesses, not oppose them.
As for my purpose in being involved with AJWRB, it is simple: Saving the lives of Jehovah's Witnesses. I love Jehovah's Witnesses and I don't want any of them to die. My own mother father are Jehovah's Witnesses, and most of my family too, so that makes them the most important people in my life.
I will be looking for other committed individuals to sacrifice personal time in dedication to the cause of saving the lives of Jehovah's Witnesses, I want to gain legitimacy for this organization and for AJWRB to be the first name on the lips of doctors faced with the challenge of saving the life of a Jehovah's Witness.
I want to partner with other organizations as well, that have an interest in saving lives with blood. The Red Cross I'm sure will be one of those organizations. Also any companies that produce blood-based products or blood substitutes will be courted.
My plan is to inform the patient of changes in blood policy that have taken place at Watchtower headquarters, but that have not been made available to the individual Jehovah's Witness yet for whatever reason, through the doctors, nurses and hospital administration. This will be an outreach to JW patients, using lines of communication already in place within hospitals and even through insurance companies. My thought is that if JWs knew that they could not get disfellowshipped then they will not really have any reason to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion. There simply would be no point, no upside to dying for rejecting life-saving blood. If taking a blood transfusion were so erroneous a sin then surely JWs would get disfellowshipped for committing that sin just as they would be if they committed fornication or adultery.
Getting to the JW patient before any strangers from the Hospital Liaison Committee force themselves into the situation will be important. I envision a Blood Hotline being established and having individuals ready 24/7 to respond to a medical emergency involving JWs. If we can intercept the Hospital Liaison Committee, we can prevent the stealing of private medical information from the JW patient and hold accountable to the law those who take private medical information from patients and give that information to Watchtower headquarters or to congregation elders. Yes, I know this is ambitious. Yes I know it will take not just dozens of volunteers, but hundreds, maybe thousands. It will take money, training... everything. But if I could save just one life in all of this, all efforts, no matter how extreme, will be worth it.
Important to me also is promoting a proper respect for blood among all individuals involved in this matter. It is my strong belief that there is no more respectful and beautiful use for blood that to save a life with it in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us all with his blood. It is not only Biblically supportable that one should save lives using blood, it is a Biblical imperative. Jesus showed us how to use blood in a respectful and sacred way. Save lives with it.
Will you join me in this cause? Are the lives of a few Jehovah's Witnesses important enough to you to invest time and money into saving them?
Respectfully,
"Zen" M. Shawn Dean