After their marriage in 1960 our parents Claude and Dorothy Allen started searching for a church that followed Bible principles but were disappointed by what they repeatedly found in them.   First, among many disappointments in the churches they looked into, was the fact that they did not even use Gods name.   Dad already knew that God's name is Jehovah and should be in the bible even as a child, and later through his own personal bible research.   Years later, after continued disappointment with the churches, they were eventually contacted in the door to door ministry at their home at Royal Ave. by Robert "Doc" Strong and his mother Voila Strong in 1963.   Dad and Mom were intrigued at how closely the Witnesses followed the bible.   With an open mind and after much diligent study and research, our Parents were helped to gain an accurate knowledge of the Bible and were baptized in August of 1967.   They shared this knowledge with there children of which Paul, Earl, Craig and Cecil who also came to realize that this Bible knowledge was accurate with what the Bible teaches and thus also live in accordance with Bible principles. 

  Section written Jul 14, '08 for original blog as "Paul's Parents" - Updated for this posting Nov. 2016 as "The Truth".  Paragraph on Dads farm added 8/6/23

Ray & Dorothy’s recollections of learning the truth

(Ray was what Mom called Claude Allen)

Ray’s recollections of learning the truth

When I was a youngster the Witnesses came by occasionally.  Mom got annoyed and finally we would go in by the wood heater in the center of the house and wait until they left.

When the church of Christ in Franklin, OR received their order of the revised standard version, Uncle Roscoe Allen and others expected Jehovah's name to be restored in the many places where it hadn't been restored in the American Standard version.  Roscoe began looking at his copy. He couldn't find it anywhere.  He Said: "They have taken God's name out of the Bible".  He then abruptly put the Bible down and grimmest and folded His arms. Knowing He was considerably upset, I got up from sitting beside Him and went outside.  I know Roscoe listened to Jehovah's Witnesses on account of them climbing over the fence at the front 40 acres and he stopped the tractor and listened to what they had to say.  Roscoe and my Dad both had American Standard Versions that they used.  Just before Dad[of Claude]  died someone gave Him a new thumb indexed A.S.V. written on India Paper.

Roscoe's son Clarence and his wife Joyce moved to seattle to take up work at King's Garden in North Seattle in about 1956 or '57.  I went up in about October 1958 and worked as a mechanic and service station attendant for seven months.  While at our morning worship meeting one day they allowed Mr. Schnell, author of "30 years as a watchtower slave" to speak.  The big thing he pointed out was "Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe in Jesus Christ", Clarence said, "Well that's one religion I don't have to worry about".

In about 1963 at the end of a vacation trip my wife and I visited Clarence and Joyce.  One Saturday morning while sitting at the breakfast table Jehovah's Witnesses came by.  Clarence let them do the short presentation and then told them, "I don't need to listen to you because you folks don't believe in Jesus Christ."  The Brother assured them that they did and proceeded to turn to and read many scriptures about Jesus.  Clarence came back with the most bewildered look on his face.

Several years later, during the time we studied with Jehovah's Witnesses I read the "30 years a watchtower slave".  In the preface Mr. Schnell said he didn't have an ax to grind against Jehovah's Witnesses, However my thought was by the time I got to the end of the book there wasn't any ax left!

At King's garden I went with Clarence and Joyce to a Baptist Church associated with the Columbia River Council of Baptist's.  While at the Garden I got acquainted with a girl named Nita who was adopted.  Both parents were preachers.  I didn't realize the influence they had until they invited me to go with them and Nita to Kelso, WA. for a special meeting at a Presbyterian Church.  Nita's Mom was the guest speaker.  This was a large church with a large crowd that night and could she ever work up the crowd and get them going.

Dorothy and I attended the 1st Baptist Church at 7th or 8th and High st in Eugene a couple of times.  We attended the Baptist Church on Chambers between 12th and 13th several times.  Then we went to the Fairfield Baptist Church a number of times. They were wanting to remodel and add on, so the subject of money was frequently brought up.

At our Eugene, Royal Ave. home the first contact was Jerry Pickett coming by.  All I remember is that I told him "If it's in the Bible I believe it."

• Dorothy's recollections of learning the truth

Irish Bailey and Viola Strong dropped by, they were my first experience with Jehovah's Witnesses. They had a nice little book "Let God Be True" that they were placing free along with the Watchtower and Awake!.  Later I found out that they accepted donations of $1.00.   I don't remember donating anything right off, I did quite some time later.  

Viola Strong said she would return with someone and see how we liked it.  They returned, She and her son Doc. Strong, a vet of large animals, mainly horses. 

I believe this took place in 1964 during the summer as our Sons Paul and Earl played out in the sandbox their Dad "Ray" built for them.  I believe Paul was 2 and Earl was 11 1/2 Months.

We studied for several years, Doc said Ray "whittled the fence post down to a toothpick" to see if he could make them wrong, as Ray would read their material and they always compared it with other material and they were able to give a Bible scripture to back up what they were trying to teach us.  I felt they knew the Bible. I wanted more but I didn't learn much more right off.  I wanted Ray to prove it to himself. I didn't know how he felt until one day he ask me, I said I felt it was the right religion for me. No church we ever went to was able to back what they said like Viola and Doc, so we started visiting the Hall.

The boys seemed to enjoy themselves. We always sat up front.  Poor Earl had a lock of hair that would fall in his face, he would lick both hands and press the lock into place which worked until it dried.  Paul was quite a gentleman, he only wiggled in his seat until he was on the edge of his seat and then his legs were going back and forth until I put my hand on his knees, then he sat still.  They learned Jehovah, Jesus Christ and would mark a piece of paper how many times they heard the name.  I was in hopes they would learn more but I wasn't a bible teacher.  I was glad to get the Great Teacher book (when it) came out even though they were a bit older by then.

During the summer of 68 Ray and I were baptized at Medford, OR, Aug convention.  Paul and Earl went with the Jack and Grace Pevey family for a stage coach ride that supposedly was being robbed while they were on it.  They enjoyed the horses pulling the wagon and people riding the horses no matter what they were set up to do(commit a robbery).

Now  Aug. 2005 is next month, so soon it will be another year that we've been Witnesses of Jehovah. We helped to study with people but not all, to our knowledge, stuck with it, very disappointing.  Only Jehovah knows if we've helped anyone to come into the truth.  Our Sons studied with us; but actually studied with others(Rodney Jones) before coming into the truth.  Three out of four sons have stuck to the truth up to now.

• A recollection by Paul

Craig started studying with Barry Errickson and then Jeff Middleton in 2014.  Mom was especially happy to see her 3rd son Craig finally learning the truth as she had developed cancer and knew that she may not survive it.  She later died in the year.  The whole family looks forward to seeing her in the new system.  She had hoped to live through the last days to see the conclusion of the old system of things, but she will also be very pleased to hear how it all happened from Dad, and all four of her sons.  Craig later again studied again for quite a while with Jay Leal and Paul but he did not finish the "Let Your Kingdom Come" book.

Note: Document edited for grammar and clarity.