Interview: Jehovah's Witnesses Shunning Children

In this powerful EXJW interview you will hear Valissia tell her story of being shunned as a child among many other hardships that she had to endure as a Jehovah’s Witness.
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[@Katchancellor]

To EVERYONE who watched my story, please accept my sincerest Thank You. I appreciate your kind thoughts and words. Please share my story. I don't want ANYONE to experience even a fraction of what I went thru.

[@exjwdiaries]

Thank you so much for coming on. Looking forward to your channel! I’ll definitely love to be a guest!

[@tammyg8031]

Thank you so much for opening us up to some of the most deepest parts of your life. We appreciate your VOLUNERABILITY & BEING AUTHENTIC. Change is coming. Watchtower will be held accountable for their indiscretions, lack of responsiveness, & irresponsibility of caring for children and members in a proper & humane manner. Thank you.

[@aliceinwonderland-x3n]

Valissia, Wow I applaud your strength in sharing your story. I know it was not easy but just think of how many may benefit from hearing it. I don’t think there is a book big enough to contain all of our collective stories of cruelty that we have suffered at Watchtower’s hands. I pray that someday Watchtower will be called to account in a BIG way. With them the cruelty seems to be the point. Being a grandmother who like Barbara Anderson is also separated from my grands and great-grands I am glad your mom was spared that cruelty. Thank you to both you and Justin!

[@melodyedmondson1034]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Excellent interview.

[@user-jt2vv1zj6z]

Thank you for sharing your story. It has helped me and will help many others as we recover. You are a very strong woman!❤

[@tomHardy5821]

That woman is 200 hundred percent right about everything she said

[@StefWokeUp]

Yep had the same thing happen to me. My mom died in April 2023 and only 1 JW sent me a card. Even the people that lost family members in the last year I sent flowers and a card to never sent me one card, one text, one phone call, NOTHING!!

[@pinklilyblossom]

I have a similarly awful story and I really felt for her - hearing her experience. The mental health aspect in particular is a very dangerously overlooked issue in the organization.

[@ExJwMJ]

Yes! I was able to speak to her after the protest sitting at the bar before the event. She left to go to the protest all by herself! And she drove a minute! Such an inspiration.

[@robotaholic]

Even though were not cult members anymore I still would be proud to call her my sister. I love your channel. Happy 2024

[@tammyg8031]

PHENOMENAL PHENOMENAL VIDEO!!! ❤ A MUST WATCH VIDEO!!!. Excellent Excellent interview 👏. Thanks for telling your story, Valisia, for telling your truth about the so-called truth. Watchtower will pay a very heavy price for what they have done.

[@cultytalk]

I was announced as a "bad association" at the Kingdumb Hall too as an UNbaptized teen! Lasted for about 3 years. Then they reversed it. It was horrible to be ignored as if I didn't exist as a teenager! It was WRONG. Its STILL WRONG even if the person is baptized!

[@hsdjsddasjsadjao]

they also said i was "bad association" because i didn't do and believe everything they wanted me to

[@lawrencestoll7586]

Very articulate woman. You don't have to look at outside sources to have doubts -you just have to question and look at things logically.

[@ghiajohnson1547]

This must be the very best interview that I have ever heard! Thank you, Valissia, for sharing your truth with all of us! My heart is filled with compassion and joy!

[@barbdowns1]

Valissia got baptized exactly 30 years before my husband and I wrote and sent in our DA letters - 7/4/2017. We celebrate that date as our own private “Independence Day”. My own story has so many similarities to hers. I aspired to go to law school too. We could both still go for it. It ain’t over till it’s over. Sending Valissia my love and sending out big hopes for a brighter future for us all.

[@Katchancellor]

Thank you!! I appreciate your kind words.

[@dancingnature]

I had a physically and emotionally abusive upbringing too . Not a JW but the repressive Southern Baptist sex roles they put on girls and a rigid misogynistic batterer for a father . Girl you got my sympathy!

[@philliphawkins3062]

Valissia has been your best interview YET. FOUL is the best word to describe the Watchtower and its practices. They send her a formal letter to address legitimate issues. They're as crooked and evasive as a barrel of greased snakes.

[@rdhawk929]

What a sad but truly uplifting story. So many have had to grow up captive to this deranged and sinister cult. Thank you Valissia for sharing the details of your saga with us all. I'm so glad your mom and you were able to have a great and close relationship in the end. Life and love is what matters. Thanks Justin for another great upload.

[@andracadicecrawford4256]

Her story got me sooo emotional! My deepest heartfelt Condolences to you and your family.

[@judymartin9026]

Love, Love, Love. You are a very strong woman. I am so inspired just hearing your story. I didn't suffer abuse from my parents, as you did. I do remember sort of a funny story though. My mom told me when I was about 2 years old during one of the meetings for some reason I stuck my fingers in my ears and stuck out my tongue at her. She said she took me outside of the kingdom hall, pulled down my panties and "blistered my behind". I must have behaved after that. I do believe that the organization screwed up my mother's thinking and mine, as well. Glad I left. Carry on my dear sister and let the real truth be known.

[@cassandrathetruth9095]

Valissia, thank you for sharing your story. I met you at the protest, and we spent some time together sharing our experiences. I am thankful that you are able to get all of those things out of you with Justin and all of us. Continue to heal and be well... much love to you💞

[@Katchancellor]

I remember you!!! Thank you!

[@cassandrathetruth9095]

@valissiasmith3312 I knew that you would tell your story...thanks again 💞

[@migdaliafuentes1618]

Thanks Cassandra for your words! Love your channel too! Hugs!

[@cassandrathetruth9095]

@@migdaliafuentes1618 you are welcome, and thank you💞

[@Godly-Beard]

The organization ruins lives, they need to be shut down immediately!

[@themananswer-lg2wt]

Nobody knows this but Satan is on top so he needs to be shut down which he eventually will. The dark force needs to go. God himself will throw Satan along with anyone else supporting him into the lake of fire.

[@hsdjsddasjsadjao]

they took my childhood away

[@CelticGypsy-USA]

​@@hsdjsddasjsadjaomine too

[@pacificeric36]

Having a stroke and recovering is amazing. My aunt had 3, then left us.

[@MoureeneTaylor]

I love this woman. I don't think I've ever loved a guest like this one. So real. A true one. ❤

[@chroniclesoflucifer]

Thank you for sharing!!❤❤❤ i am grateful that you are a survivor😊

[@tylerjones1574]

Making you a catfish dinner! What a sweetheart. I'm so sorry she had to go through this.

[@simona_ab]

Great story! Happy New Year everyone 🎉🎉🎉 Edit: I could listen to this lady speaking for hours. Valissia, you should consider having your own KZbin channel, you could help many, many people...😢❤

[@exjwdiaries]

Happy new year! And yes she is making her own channel. I can’t wait!! We talked for another hour after the interview ended.

[@simona_ab]

@@exjwdiaries link the channel for us as soon as it's on! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@aloramermaidful]

I just subscribed to her channel in hopes her content will come soon. Very Powerful interview! Much ❤ to Valissia & Justin ❤

[@harrietharris8779]

Thanks so much for your courageous fight!! You are a champion!

[@nickyannajones]

My family was the same. My mom was single and her sister was married with a house, a boy and a girl, hubby iwned a business, auntie pioneered, son bethelite. We were the bottom of the barrl and my mother held on to that and tried so hard to pass it down to me. I kept throwing that crap back at her and them with scriptures. I was the black sheep

[@stephenletsnot6195]

Amazing interview amazing woman 👍 The reality of what has been said is devastating to the JW religion and is so true. Maybe one day the JW religion will grow ears, one can only hope 👍

[@exjwdiaries]

A seriously amazing woman! I look forward to her starting her own channel. Woman were always silenced in the organization. It’s nice to see more powerful woman speaking out.

[@SanDiegoPIMO]

This is a great interview because I think people in the EXJW community (or PIMO's) can relate. My Uncle is an Elder and just like the letter she read, he side steps and dodges questions like a Politician or replies with another question (sometimes not about the same subject matter). I need to get transcripts of the Australian Royal Commission and Norway. Like she said about court documents not being apostate material, but Elders still view it the same. Even if I showed some of my relatives who are so entrenched in this organization would still be proud to be part of the organization.

[@Sahira-123]

💓Keep, strong sister. Love from Sweden..... 💞

[@Bolmer40]

Thanks for sharing your story,

[@lexieparis9925]

Valissia! Thank you for sharing your story. I feel like i really know you now appreciate hearing your truth. Such a wild religion.

[@magdagood16]

This was the most heart wrenching experience that I ever listen. Thank you for your honesty and telling your life experience 💓

[@donnabaynes3978]

Excellent interview Justin, heartbreaking and powerful! Much thanks to Valissia for sharing your story. My heart goes out to you for all you have lost and suffeted.

[@CartRiiiite]

She SNAPPED at the end! 👏🏿 👏🏿 👏🏿

[@Patricia-uz2jk]

Thank you so much for sharing . I truly wish I could just give you a big hug because we do care about you and what you've gone through. ❤

[@shaunald3295]

I can’t believe I sat here for 2 hours and watched this beautiful lady tell her story I’m not even jw I had a jw friend who I’ve now lost because of this organization My dear you need a channel for yourself I could listen to you all day

[@MSSHARIII]

Absolutely, such an impactful testimony.

[@drensh5665]

Happy New Year I know ill be getting some wonderful content in the year 2024

[@exjwdiaries]

Happy new year!!

[@ivorywilliams7110]

I can relate with another of things that Valissia is saying. I also wondered why there was always a deficit at the assemblies until JT explained. And the response that she received from WT talking about wait on jehovah, nah, the courts are going to get with these CSA abusers before jehovah gets to them. Very informative interview. Thank you

[@user-mf9ze8bf3j]

This is an amazing testimony, thank you for sharing.

[@sherrellsabree50]

What an amazing story!! Thank you so much for sharing🥰

[@malstanding]

Thank you for this video. I am not a JW, never have been. I just want to say this lady is incredible. How she came to this point in her life without going insane is a credit to her strong character.

[@deborahwentworth8792]

This is the best interview ever. Sad ,,but a story that had to be told.Thank you

[@beautyRest1]

So sorry for what you had to go thru!! You are truly a wonderful person and thank you for your candid interview!!

[@MSSHARIII]

I'm so happy that people are speaking up and out about this organisation. It is divisive, it destroys lives and steals the destinies of its members - sounds a lot like the devil to me. I'm so sorry that this beautiful lady endured all she has, I hope that she now experiences the best that life has to offer.💖💖💖

[@jurdenetingling1605]

What if a lot of people get together and sue them for all the trauma that they cause to people being the governing body slaves

[@karenmoody2763]

I have suggested that very thing not really sure if it would be winnable in court but it would make " worldly people" realize just how much damage this man made cult does

[@gokaren420]

All seem to have PTSD, abandonment issues, physical, emotional and mental abuse.

[@MSSHARIII]

💯💯💯

[@Millimind103]

All I have to say, is THANK YOU. Thank you for being our voice

[@HaNguyen-dy6xq]

Love your story, so inspirational.

[@Glad-iv8wb]

Wow this is so much like my experience Thank You for this interview.

[@TheOriginalSubstance]

I feel very moved and grateful for all you’ve shared! You didn’t have to share but I’m so grateful you did. Your story echoes mine, very much! Very much, it’s uncanny! Raised by single mom, in the 80s, low in cong ranks, same trauma life events. Now I have a daughter. Just sent her to college. Her experience has been very different than mine! I made sure of that. I WAS baptized at 12 but your story was like a mirror to me. I was in gifted but told not to go to college. I was Tortured by fellow youth, DFD 2ce. Both judicial committees of course were ridiculous. 1 at 16, one at 18, and alone. I would love to penpal you if you’d be up for communicating. Your story helped “normalize” the “extreme” choices one makes at 16, 18 in a mind controlled, all encompassing suppressive culture. I even oD’d too at 18 for very similar reasons. For the most part I’ll go a year and not think about it but every few years it surfaces that it hasn’t 100% gone away and it is the reason for anxiety that surfaces and I don’t talk to any ex witnesses. Anyway Thank you again for being brave and if you want to hit me up I would love to talk and offer support❤️❤️❤️

[@Katchancellor]

I'll be starting my own exJW channel soon, I look forward to connecting with you.

[@writinghappyhour6945]

This was an incredible interview. Seeing how far she's come and hearing her stand up and speak out... I feel so uplifted. She's my hero. Thank you for using your platform to tell her story. YOU are wonderful.

[@toddhayes3506]

Happy New Year

[@MS-sr6mj]

Not a JW, but my grandparents and aunts are. Luckily, my cousin got out, but the family is broken. It's easy to see from the outside that they all struggle with anxiety and depression. Watching these videos has helped me understand better not to take it personally that they have always shut me out as a "worldly person," even as a child. It's not me, it's the org.

[@andracadicecrawford4256]

I was marked at 13 and this dissed at 16. I went to a high school where many of the witnesses kids all over the city went to.

[@PraiseYaHuWaH]

I wanna reach out and just give you/her the biggest hug… brought tears to my eyes as a former jaydub…. dear woman!

[@Katchancellor]

Thank you..... sending virtual hugs

[@LDSimms-ne4df]

Wow! I can relate to all of this!!

[@michaelcorder1250]

Sistah Girl lett’em have it!!!! 💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥

[@DinahLost-wx1mm]

I felt shame when I got pregnant and I was married They put so much shame on pregnancy!!!!

[@cambridge384]

How can ex jw tell the same stories? Because they all worshipped jw cult. Even from a different congregation, I've heard, seen, and experienced the same trauma of being ripped apart from family and friends after waking up. Thank you Valissia for sharing your authentic story. United ex-jws stand together living a life of free thinking and love as God intended.

[@magdagood16]

I hated the midweek meetings too. We had it on Thursday night, and those live demonstration, oh dear 🙄😖

[@StefWokeUp]

So much I want to say but I will leave at I freakin love you!

[@Whatevermancer]

Bro I love where your hair is heading. Majesty is inbound, innit. Let's GO!

[@exjwdiaries]

You already know! 😂😂😂 It’s nice to have the freedom to try whatever styles I want. I’ve had the same haircut for my entire life.

[@DinahLost-wx1mm]

Valissia….. 🫂 My heart goes out to you!

[@dannycasey8261]

I went to the Astrodome in 73. Remember the announcements about how we were better that Workdlypeople who come for sports and leave all their mess behind when games are over. Bot not JWs. We clean up behind ourselves and possibly behind the Worldly people. They forgot to tell us that they payed to where they didn't have to clean. But Watchtower was on our side and let us clean instead of hiring the arenas janitorial crew. The GB helped us bring a Roach Up On Jehovah's lame Name! Took several of us to carry it but we did it with GBs help!

[@emilypeters3774]

Excellent interview!

[@cosmiclove2795]

Thank you so much for sharing your story.. I went though some similar situations as a Young born in JW. Also been out for many years now. Listening to you has been so helpful in my healing journey. Thank you so much for your open heart

[@carolborzotta6038]

You are amazing Vallisia. God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit love you. Please know things will change for the better. ❤

[@htowngogetta3508]

🤘 town ex jws stand up!!!that ish suxed but them Astrodome convenients danishes used to buss😁 🌺🌺🌺 flowers to u sister your story is such a powerful story it made me a grown man listening to u in my car choke up 👏👏👏 it's hard to say I despice this ppl cuz these ppl r my ppl like how I'm gonna say I hate the rank file when my mom n sisters n brothers are 2nd gen I died 2wice I needed blood in my surgery my own mom didn't visit me in hospital cuz I took blood and i wasnt never even baptized it is crazy I hate how these ppl can like really believe some of this craziness i heard the A.R.C. was a.i. how do u even have a Convo much less bring them bk 2 sanity after so long it's so sad but ty for ur story it was really powerful

[@Katchancellor]

🤟🏾town STANDING TALL!! I don't hate or despise the people, it's the RELIGION and those men that make these rules. If you don't have children - like those men - it's easy to say cut off your son/daughter. It's nobody's business what medical remedies you choose. That's why they have HIPAA laws. Man don't get me to cussin' 😂😂😂 Da' f.. I'mma tell some muh f.... what I'mma do with my life, they ain't putting five on the bill or send a 🥷🏾 a Get Well card. 😂😂😂 I remember those cheese danishes, those fruit bags & Shasta sodas!! 😂😂😂.

[@merlesmit3903]

This hits home so true to my life, due to be shunning and what happened to you, happened to me. To this day I still suffer from depression and will be on medication till I die. I just try to forgive myself every day. Take care and you are most welcome to contact me.

[@HaNguyen-dy6xq]

Not sure what you are doing today, you would be at GREAT attorney

[@ivorywilliams7110]

Everyone keeps saying that the organization is 8 million strong. I don't know but I really don't think so. You see all these youtubers telling their stories of why they left and WT is loosening up on a lot of doctrines, no field service hour required, no beards, petty gambling for entertainment in the elders book is OK. WT is losing so many members and donations that they are in panic mode. So now almost anything goes. This interview will wake up alot of ppl

[@AB-lm6dy]

Man! This interview was so captivating, thank you both for sharing! As a former JW it was very relatable, we all carry the same scars

[@darrengreen9273]

Fantastic!!!!! Talk!!!

[@nicolejames5317]

I got baptized July 4, 1986 Dodger Stadium

[@user-pn2dr6bo3h]

Shame on the JW cult. This is such a sad story of being abused by those she loved and trusted.😢

[@LDSimms-ne4df]

Witness kids were the worst when I was coming up!

[@symone3113]

You are giving us gems. I hope the people in the back row with rose colored glasses are listening and taken notes…❤

[@chesterfrancis7699]

This lady’s story is so compelling that I had to listen to it a second time. I feel so much compassion for her that I was brought to tears listening to her story. Thank you valissia for sharing it! ❤❤❤❤

[@ornerydyke]

Girl!.. my mom used an extension cord too! She used to tie it around her waist and call it her “black belt”!

[@andracadicecrawford4256]

HAAAPPY NEW YEARS BRO!!!

[@joangreeley7212]

Does Valissia still work at a bank? If so, thanks to the JW cult, the world is missing a compassionate and sensible lawyer! All the very best of life to you and your daughter Valissia. And thanks to you, Justin for giving a platform for her story . It was important to hear. Much love to you both.

[@joangreeley7212]

I know of no other group of people who have been so successfully conditioned to have "no natural affection" towards family or "others".

[@debrahunter6303]

Proud to be POMO. Having the time of my life 💗

[@MSSHARIII]

💖💖💖

[@rocker1889]

Hey Justin great interview. It would be interesting if you had Billy Carson on to talk about the Yahweh entity and what exactly it is and how some of the myths of the bible came about. That would give your viewers an idea of just what it is they used to worship as a JW.

[@exjwdiaries]

That would be awesome!

[@mygutfeelingoverlooked199]

Thank you Justin for your great work as always bro..... people are really waking UP BROOOOOO !!!!!!

[@akinjohnson9153]

Great Video!!!!! Keep up the good work!

[@StefWokeUp]

Omg! One of my friends was one of the victims of the Americas Most Wanted guy!

[@LOH__]

1:48:58 cracking me up the attempts to sensor. Hahahah. We lost our… stuff. 😂

[@exjwdiaries]

😂😂😂

[@Katchancellor]

Yeah, I do cuss a little. 😂

[@joangreeley7212]

I can see in the comments that many here have met Valissia. I wish I had, I would love to call her MY sister.

[@creativespark7371]

Thank you for sharing this interview. I am studying Jehovah's Witnesses for apologetics reasons and to be able to share my faith with them and to refute their beliefs in hopes to plant seeds to JWs to come out of this religion. This has been extremely helpful and eye opening, and further motivated me on my studies. The only thing about the interview is where she said that "yes, they do believe in Jesus". I will have to disagree on that. I so not speak in malice, just on what I have found in my own research. The Jesus of The Bible claims to be God incarnate, but JWs deny that. If a person/religion does not believe or teach everything The Bible teaches about Jesus, then they do not believe in Jesus of The Bible. JWs may believe in A Jesus, but not THE Jesus of The Bible.

[@nataliegrandauthorofcultgi1231]

Keep up the good work! 🌟

[@patriciabell3665]

When they disfellowshipped my auntie, she cannot sit anywhere in the hall. She would have to sit in the back, and I wasn’t a Jehovah witness, and I went and sit with her. She couldn’t talk to nobody, but she could talk to me because I wasn’t a Jehovah witness and I was young and I thought that was really really sad.

[@CelticGypsy-USA]

I was DF ans came in late there were no seats at the back I got ushered into the back room second school. I started just going in there anyway. Watching through a window

[@Cordell-wj7lv]

We thank you brother Justin, good job, you sound like an elder

[@Monicakincaid63]

Hello Justin..my husband and I live in the Dallas area and we would love to meet with this dear friends. What is your email address? Thanks!

[@MoureeneTaylor]

Isn't it illegal to misrepresent oneself as a lawyer? Or practicing law without a license? Basically, that's what these knuckleheads are doing. They get unsuspecting elders calling and then they give them legal advice.

[@gokaren420]

I can't even imagine shunning my child or being in that cult. I remember them coming early Saturday mornings when I was in grade school and I would study with them. They insisted we study from the same Bible and gave me one. My father pointed out to me their Bible is different and worded different. I compared scripture. They were really nice people, young people. They never had a birthday party and I told them TWO PEOPLE HAD BIRTHDAYS in the Bible. They were in shock Have you thought about becoming an attorney ? You would be a great counselor.

[@amandae5925]

I love you

[@joemotionink4307]

Thank you for your story and your truth!

[@symone3113]

Excellent video… your experience had me sad, angry and relieved that you’re free….i lol when you spoke about cleaning the seats at the Astrodome…😂😂

[@joangreeley7212]

Sorry Justin, that lovely lady has really opened the floodgates with me. What she said about Dahmer struck a chord . I haven't had a meaningful conversation with my two daughters for 34 years, I don't even know their children, which breaks my heart, and I always thought that the two most notorious and wicked people convicted in England , Fred and Rose West, always had prison visits from their children even though their siblings and others were cruelly murdered by them. Watchtower DOES break up families and convinces their congregants that they are doing a "LOVING" thing.

[@lovermanski2]

Great video 💯💯❤️❤️❤️👍🏽👍🏽🔥🔥🔥

[@paradiselost1914]

The Elders kids were the bad apples. They got away with anything. They shunned me because they figured I'd tell on them for all the things they were doing in school.

[@CelticGypsy-USA]

I was 16 I tried to leave the org and ran away . The train to England was rolling in and my dad came into the station , he had found out my plans. He dragged me to the car and best me up. He brought my younger brother for some reason. So I had to stay and eventually thought id make a go of it, didn't have much choice . Eventually made some friends and got baptised aged 19