Jean Eason, a 96-year-old former Jehovah's Witness, shares about her life during the Great Depression and World War II. Topics include her journey to finding Jesus, the impact of the Jehovah's Witness community on her upbringing, and the challenges faced by women during and after the war. The episode also explores navigating today's culture and the importance of relying on God amidst deception.
Jean Eason found her faith in Christ after studying her way out of Jehovah's Witnesses and emphasizes the importance of knowing the gospel message and being aware of different interpretations and deceptions.
Despite the personal costs, Jean Eason recognized the joy and blessings that came from her relationship with Jesus and encourages young listeners to hold onto their faith, seek truth, and incorporate Jesus into their conversations and daily lives.
Deep dives
Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness
Jean Eason shares her experience growing up as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness. Her grandfather was drawn to the teachings of Charles Russell and the promise of a different interpretation of hell. Despite the strict guidelines of the faith, Jean's family didn't fully embrace the religion until later in her childhood. They faced challenges during the Great Depression and struggled to make ends meet. Jean highlights the lack of celebrations such as Christmas and birthdays in their household, but also mentions the virtues and values they upheld during those challenging times.
Questioning Jehovah's Witness Beliefs
As Jean got older, she began to question some of the beliefs and teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. One particular struggle was the ban on blood transfusions, which posed a risk to her health during pregnancies. She also noticed discrepancies and changes in their teachings over time. Jean's doubts led her to study her way out of the religion and ultimately find her faith in Christ. She emphasizes the importance of knowing the gospel message and being aware of different interpretations and deceptions.
Leaving the Jehovah's Witness Organization
Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses came with significant personal costs for Jean. She had to choose following Christ over her beloved parents, sister, and fellow Jehovah's Witness friends. The organization's strict rule of disfellowshipping meant that her own family wouldn't speak to her, including during her mother's passing. Despite these difficult circumstances, Jean recognized the joy and blessings that came from her relationship with Jesus. She encourages young listeners to hold onto their faith, to seek truth, and to incorporate Jesus into their conversations and daily lives.
Ministry and Family
Jean's journey led her to start a ministry aimed at helping and reaching out to Jehovah's Witnesses. She wrote a book about her experiences and shared her testimony in various churches, seminaries, and conferences. She also mentions her children and grandchildren, highlighting the challenges they faced and the impact of her faith on their lives. Jean emphasizes the importance of finding strength in God, seeking truth, and standing firm in the face of cultural pressures.
Jean Eason is 96 years old and was once a Jehovah’s Witness. After she came to know Jesus, her joy for the Lord and excitement about His Word has bloomed within her. Jean also shares about her life during the Great Depression and World War II. Jean’s strength shines through it all.
Erin and her husband, Brett, run Maven which “exists to help the next generation know truth, pursue goodness, and create beauty, all for the cause of Christ.” Check out more about Maven here: https://maventruth.com/
The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/
Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women
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