Sweet Fellowship: Duggars and Friends (aka the Bates Family and Other Featured Families Thread)

[oliviabenson]

Did a 7 foot tall person take this picture? 
 

 

[sagittarius sue]

7 minutes ago, oliviabenson said:

Did a 7 foot tall person take this picture? 
 

 

Actually that is a decent photo.  Perhaps someone leaned over from a higher level in that parking garage.  This might be the only thing I say in DBD's favor, but at least he doesn't hold onto Jill as JB does to Michelle.

[FizzyPuff]

Of course David has got 3 crosses on his tie, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to be mistaken for an atheist 🙄

[BradandJanet]

Jill should take up clogging. It would be a good addition to the grifting tour show, and she already has the costumes. 

[Westiepeach]

OMG. Jilly Bean’s shoes and DBD’s tie. 🤦‍♀️🙄

[GeeGolly]

And Jill's skirt. I believe it has a white stripe going down each side.

Edited March 11, 2023 by GeeGolly

[BradandJanet]

12 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

And Jill's skirt. I believe it has a white stripe going done each side.

Yes, it does. It reminds me of a pair of track pants with reflective stripes I owned in the 1980's.

Jill is constantly showing up in something new. Her walk-in closet must be ready to explode. Fortunately, Hunk's two dress shirts, flag shirt, pair of unwashed jeans, sexy tie-dye leggings, and rumpled suit don't take up much space. 

[Ljohnson1987]

Jackson Bates is engaged to Emerson Wells.  He just turned 21. 

[Salacious Kitty]

3 minutes ago, Ljohnson1987 said:

Jackson Bates is engaged to Emerson Wells.  He just turned 21. 

And she doesn't turn 20 until next month. 

[oliviabenson]

4 hours ago, BradandJanet said:

Jill should take up clogging. It would be a good addition to the grifting tour show, and she already has the costumes. 

And the cow bells on the ironing board lol

[farmgal4]

On 3/10/2023 at 3:34 PM, BetyBee said:

She would probably want to live with Nurie, who will probably have 10 kids by then and might not want to also care for her extremely needy mother. 

Thinking about Nurie having 10 children makes me want to weep.  Their beliefs are insane.

4 hours ago, BradandJanet said:

Jill should take up clogging. It would be a good addition to the grifting tour show, and she already has the costumes. 

WTH???  

[farmgal4]

5 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

Did a 7 foot tall person take this picture? 
 

 

Note to self:  Never wear Black stockings with white shoes.

[ChristmasCandy]

2 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

And she doesn't turn 20 until next month. 

And in the fundie world you're a spinster at 21😃

[farmgal4]

11 hours ago, BradandJanet said:

I'm sure the kids had to sing for those fries, so they probably coordinated their clothes. Although there's an odd mix of summer and winter stuff, they're dressed better than they usually are, except for Jill, anyway. Since she always wears heavy black stockings, why did she buy those chunky off-white shoes? Would a comfortable pair of black shoes be too difficult to find? The wide jacket with the heavy sweater underneath doesn't do her any favors either; she looks like a pro wrestler. For a women who loves to shop as much as Jill does, this is a fail. Stacy and Clinton, here's a challenge. 

Sadie is wearing Jill’s sandals.  I’ve seen BME wearing those shoes more than once.  There is no way that those shoes fit Sadie.

 

[all fall down]

12 hours ago, MaryAnneSpier said:

Why are they all wearing black, white, and gray without any pop of color in the group? Did they get up and perform before the congregation, so they wanted to coordinate? 

Yes, they always color coordinate when they perform as a family, but it's not usually black/white/gray. More often than not it's a color. All blue or all red or whatever. 

[oliviabenson]

Jill must guilt Phil and Tim for not coming out to grift!

[crazy8s]

I just watched watched part of the Rods grift stop in VA on FB since she named the church, it was not hard to find. This church starts their live video pre service, and shows the Rod's swarm around shaking hands with everyone at several services.

It looked like they all new orange outfits. 

Jill gave her usual intro -

Nurie, who is actually married to Nathan Keller, is a pastor/names his church. They also have our first two grand babies.

Timothy - pilot's license, hopes for aviation min. one day. But right now he is working at a job, so can't travel with them. In courtship with Heidi (no last name given, odd since keller and hill names were)

 Kaylee and Jonathan - same story of the Hill fam, 9 boy/4girls, so just the opposite. Bought a house 4 1/2 miles from us. They are expecting our 3rd grand baby due in aug.

Weirdly, I guess to keep things in proper birth order, Renee goes next and then she says my brother Phillip is 19. He attends bible college, so he cannot travel with us.

the rest state their name and age.  No mention whatsoever of recent miscarriage.

Jill shills their "professionally made" CD. 1 for $12 or 2 for $20. Also shills the book she wrote for young ladies about her and her husband. Holds up the open book and says the center of the book has pictures of us. And oh, our 5 oldest girls each wrote a chapter that are at the end. They are almost out of the books, but they have just ordered another 100.

Then the music. Some of their worst playing ever. Truly painful. Jill dragged out her accordion for this one.

Sam and Olivia - guitar

Renee and Hannah - violin

Gabe - Banjo

Tessie - Clarinet

Jill - accordion

Dave speaks about the printing ministry at a different service. I will make a separate post about that later. He said some things I found interesting,

 

 

 

 

[oliviabenson]

Isn’t Jill ashamed begging for $? That whole situation is so pathetic. Hi I’m Jill and company give us $ because we are religious and stuff.

Get a job Jill and Dave. 
 

If I was their kid I’d die from embarrassment! 

Made to sing daily for some crackers. While mom and dad too lazy to work. 

Edited March 12, 2023 by oliviabenson

[BetyBee]

I don't think Headship Dave works hard at all. Jill puts a lot of effort into setting up grifting tours and selling Plexus crap and keeping up her annoying SM. If she put that much energy into a normal job near their home, she could be home at night. They wouldn't have to traipse all over the country in their stinky, crowded RV. The kids could actually stay home and play and study like other children. Dave would probably be happier too. He could do what he does best - sit in his recliner watching the map and occasionally get up and supervise a task in the print shop. When he feels the need to preach, he could do it in local churches and when they visit Nathan & Nurie. 

[ginger90]

1 hour ago, crazy8s said:

Dave speaks about the printing ministry at a different service. I will make a separate post about that later. He said some things I found interesting,

 

One of the things he mentioned was that COVID hit and they used, “tax things” to remodel. No shit!

[crazy8s]

1 hour ago, BetyBee said:

I don't think Headship Dave works hard at all.

and there is the lead in to Dave's talk on the printing ministry. 😀

From the way they both talked, I think this is a new grift stop for them. Dave showed a bit of energy in his talk, that isn't his normal.

Dave starts out thanking people for all the work that went into the missions conference and for all the great food. (rods had been there several days by this time) He's sorry they can't stay for the duration of the conference but they have a mtg in WV on wed.

He says they needed to move from WV because they were land locked and needed more room. The barndo was the best option they could find to fit their needs, but it needed work. He then states some churches had helped them out and then covid hit and they were able to make use of the um ... tax money,  um then the covid hit, and we were able to use money available by the government for the renovations.

Print shop

He likes to print the tracts because they never change.

He can print pretty much anything, but don't ask him to create something new, he doesn't do that. He will copy and match things though.

He can print books and has done a few. (but apparently not Jill's book for young ladies, as she had to order another 100 from wherever)

They are nearing 1 million pieces of print material a year. 500,000 of those are tracts for Amazing Grace Missions, who set up soul winning booths at fairs and such across the USA and maybe even in other countries. He isn't sure on that.

Then the John and Romans booklets. The Smiley books are labor intensive because they have to be hand collated and hand sewn. The children are always out there helping out. Then, well I am out there the most, but the children are out there helping a lot. It is a family ministry.

Print shop is a cost only ministry - All money from the printing ministry goes back into the printing ministry, says dave. It was unclear who pays for tracts, because he seemed to say they only charge for shipping because it is expensive.

Then the grift - of course the print ministry has some needs. Paper is super expensive, so if anyone would like to earmark a donation for paper. Next, the highest priority is the print shop needs more space.

1200 sq ft and 14' high ceiling  - they want/need to add a second floor for some of the printing ministry needs.  He does not say those 1200 sq ft also have a laundry area, beauty salon set up, Jill storage, sam's table saw etc.

He does say when they first moved there, they had all their stuff on one side and parked the rv on the other. Apparently they lived in the rv during renovations.

On the family traveling he says there are hardships and "there are always close calls" just this trip there have been several. "just yesterday my wife took the children to minister at Goodwill", audience laughs and corrects him, their ministry is actually called Good Samaritan or something.

anyhoo  Jill and children witness an accident and Jill had to call 911. He does not say they were in an accident, but does say how good it was god protected their van and it wasn't damaged. Not how good it was god protected his family, just the van.

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2023 by crazy8s

[oliviabenson]

What a miserable existence for the Rod kids.

[Absolom]

Brother Dave is supporting a pentecostal group?

Unless there are two Amazing Grace groups trying to evangelize the world, they are pentecostal which isn't Dave and Jill's brand.

[crazy8s]

5 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Brother Dave is supporting a pentecostal group?

Unless there are two Amazing Grace groups trying to evangelize the world, they are pentecostal which isn't Dave and Jill's brand.

Sorry - He said Amazing Grace Missions, not Ministries

[Meow Mix]

Wow, so Dave isn't capable of creating anything new, just printing stuff other people design.  That's not impressive.  And all the begging for paper and renovations is pathetic.  Those poor kids.  I'll bet they do most of the work while the deadbeat watches the map and stuffs his face.  In the picture posted above, he is large enough to obscure most of the two daughters behind him.  

I wonder where his ties come from?  I know he has a Jesus tie as well that we haven't seen in a while.  I also wonder if someone bought the kids some clothes, because the orange outfits much like the black and white ones seem to fit better than what they usually show up in.  I know someone bought the kids shoes in the past and fourth of July outfits.  All of that disappeared, probably sold by Jill so that she could afford more jewelry and dollar store spackle for herself.

Laughing at his reference to the um tax money.  They spent those stimulus checks like drunken sailors.

[merylinkid]

47 minutes ago, crazy8s said:

He can print books and has done a few. (but apparently not Jill's book for young ladies, as she had to order another 100 from wherever)

I was wondering about that.   Like dude, you have a PRINT SHOP, why are you ordering Jill's book from someone else.

Yeah don't ask him to do anything new, that might require work.   We know he doesn't do that.

I got an idea for space in the "print shop" get rid of the junk and clean up the wiring, there will be plenty of room.   

I notice they don't have a problem taking government money when it suits them -- and too many questions aren't asked.

[BradandJanet]

The kids do all the hand assembly at the big dining room table someone handmade and gave to them in an early grift. Since the children don't seem to get regular meals, I guess the table needs to have some purpose. I'm not sure why a second floor is necessary since it will just fill with Jill's mess like the upstairs attic in the addition has. 

How do Dave and his elves get all this printing done since the family always seems to be on a tour or a vacation? When is the Rodrigues Family Academy in session? Let me guess. 

[beckie]

Maybe he doesn't print Jill's book because he can't do it well enough and the kids would have to put it together by hand? Nah, that wouldn't matter to them. 

But it doesn't surprise me that he does only what's necessary and won't do more. This is the man that Silly Jilly is ALWAYS reminding us she loves.....as though someone else is lusting over him. 

[crazy8s]

Dave admitting to using gov money and Jill saying Tim is working a job, rather than Timothy is currently pursuing training full time to achieve his goal of being a pilot in aviation ministry, were very interesting.

Have they been home from the florida grift tour or do they now take the rv and the van on tour. wondering since dave mentioned the van in the accident story.

 

Edited March 12, 2023 by crazy8s

[farmgal4]

4 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

Isn’t Jill ashamed begging for $? That whole situation is so pathetic. Hi I’m Jill and company give us $ because we are religious and stuff.

Get a job Jill and Dave. 
 

If I was their kid I’d die from embarrassment! 

Made to sing daily for some crackers. While mom and dad too lazy to work. 

I watched a small part of one service and the pastor(?) was pushing the congregation HARD to put money in the special offering basket for the Rods.  He publicly asked David how much it costs to fill up the RV, and David said “$500.” 😳 Also, the Rods sounded horrendous.  ETA: Apparently, as a surprise, the church took the entire Rod family to a thrift store and paid for anything they needed/wanted.  Jill said it was like they had an extra Christmas.  I just can’t get my head around the fact that Jill and David have 13 children but they expect random strangers to pay for them to live.  I can’t imagine the nerve that it takes to do that.

Edited March 12, 2023 by farmgal4

[BradandJanet]

Not too long ago, didn't Jill get riled up and claim that Hunk was the hardest working man she had ever met, a man who worked 24/7 on his printing ministry, blah, blah, blah. 

Apparently not, Jill. It sounds as if he only does easy stuff, only when he has to,  and only when he has an army of unpaid, underfed laborers to help. Oh, and he needs lots of donations to put an addition on his house so he can keep doing whatever it is he does. 

She keeps trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Give up, Jill. 

[AstridM]

22 minutes ago, farmgal4 said:

I watched a small part of one service and the pastor($) was pushing the congregation HARD to put money in the special offering basket for the Rods.  He publicly asked David how much it costs to fill up the RV, and David said “$500.” 😳 Also, the Rods sounded horrendous.  ETA: Apparently, as a surprise, the church took the entire Rod family to a thrift store and paid for anything they needed/wanted.  Jill said it was like they had an extra Christmas.  I just can’t get my head around the fact that Jill and David have 13 children but they expect random strangers to pay for them to live.  I can’t imagine the nerve that it takes to do that.

Hopefully someone bought a new belt for Philip!

[BradandJanet]

43 minutes ago, farmgal4 said:

I watched a small part of one service and the pastor($) was pushing the congregation HARD to put money in the special offering basket for the Rods.  He publicly asked David how much it costs to fill up the RV, and David said “$500.” 😳 Also, the Rods sounded horrendous.  ETA: Apparently, as a surprise, the church took the entire Rod family to a thrift store and paid for anything they needed/wanted.  Jill said it was like they had an extra Christmas.  I just can’t get my head around the fact that Jill and David have 13 children but they expect random strangers to pay for them to live.  I can’t imagine the nerve that it takes to do that.

At least, the congregation was smart enough to take the Rods to a thrift shop rather than to Target to buy everything they needed/wanted. Jill would have gone wild in Target filling carts with makeup, hair extensions, white shoes, perfume, jewelry, lube, and home decor--cue the scene in which Clark takes Cousin Eddie shopping for Christmas gifts for Eddie's kids, and Eddie fills the cart with bags of dog food.

Is this also the congregation that sponsored the trip to McDonalds, which is not the Nice Olive Garden that Jill prefers? 

Edited March 12, 2023 by BradandJanet

[oliviabenson]

1 minute ago, BradandJanet said:

At least, the congregation was smart enough to take the Rods to a thrift shop rather than to Target to buy everything they needed/wanted. Jill would have gone wild filling carts with makeup, hair extensions, white shoes, perfume, jewelry, lube, and home decor--cue the scene in which Clark takes Cousin Eddie shopping for Christmas gifts for Eddie's kids, and Eddie fills the cart with bags of dog food.

Is this also the congregation that sponsored the trip to McDonalds, which is not the Nice Olive Garden that Jill prefers? 

lube had me dead haha

[BradandJanet]

I bet their bedside table contains both lube and Viagra. Jill is probably as wide as a coal chute by now, but Hunk's getting too old and out of shape to keep up with her.

[Salacious Kitty]

58 minutes ago, oliviabenson said:

lube had me dead haha

We'd all need a tub o lube in order to endure sex with the HUNK. 🤮

[oliviabenson]

39 minutes ago, BradandJanet said:

I bet their bedside table contains both lube and Viagra. Jill is probably as wide as a coal chute by now, but Hunk's getting too old and out of shape to keep up with her.

And snacks 

[heckkitty]

1 hour ago, BradandJanet said:

I bet their bedside table contains both lube and Viagra. Jill is probably as wide as a coal chute by now, but Hunk's getting too old and out of shape to keep up with her.

frantically looking for a vomit 🤮🤢 reaction for this; had to make do with the sad face. 

[oliviabenson]

4 hours ago, AstridM said:

Hopefully someone bought a new belt for Philip!

He wasn’t there so doubt he got anything or anyone remembered to get him anything.

[Jeeves]

6 hours ago, farmgal4 said:

I watched a small part of one service and the pastor(?) was pushing the congregation HARD to put money in the special offering basket for the Rods.  He publicly asked David how much it costs to fill up the RV, and David said “$500.” 😳 Also, the Rods sounded horrendous.  ETA: Apparently, as a surprise, the church took the entire Rod family to a thrift store and paid for anything they needed/wanted.  Jill said it was like they had an extra Christmas.  I just can’t get my head around the fact that Jill and David have 13 children but they expect random strangers to pay for them to live.  I can’t imagine the nerve that it takes to do that.

I think they get away with it because these congregations aren't really random strangers. Some time ago, someone on here (and I'm SO sorry I can't remember who and I apologize from the bottom of my heart if it was you @farmgal4), explained the general situation with these traveling families in the IFB/fundie world. These families get known, and booked, to make appearances at the IFB/fundie churches. In the case of the Rods, they are registered with a ministry organization. I'm not sure how that works in terms of their getting bookings, but anyway they are on the books. 

Here's what I remember from that post about how it works. The husband is the main attraction. If he's a good preacher, the congregation will likely want repeat visits. The wife can't preach to the congregation, because preaching requires a penis. But she will often speak to women's meetings in the church, and again, if she's personable and a good speaker, that will add luster to the family reputation. Finally, the family as whole can perform music. I think the general idea, is that a godly family headed by a man who's a good preacher, with a personable articulate wife, and a bunch of kids able to perform music well, would be welcomed for occasional visits at a church. The congregation would of course dig into their pockets for "love offerings" to defray the family's travel costs and support the family's ministry. Plus, I'm sure, hosting them for a meal if only in the church fellowship hall.

I don't know who the Rods' competition is on that circuit. I don't think David is a particularly good preacher. Jill with her super-outgoing personality can probably be energetic at speaking to women's groups. The family's musical performances are baaaaad. I think Jill realizes on some level that as a traveling ministry group, they aren't a strong contender in most respects, and works the hell out of the congregation to score meals and other goodies. I'm sure that many people in the churches they visit, have fed the family and given them stuff if only because of concern for the skinny waif-like unhealthy-looking little Rod girls. 

AFAIK the churches they visit are often pretty small congregations. With an older demographic. IMO their market isn't growing and may be gradually shrinking. Of course Jill is grifting like mad, all the time and everywhere. 

Edited March 13, 2023 by Jeeves

[GeeGolly]

I love that the congregation brought them shopping rather than give them more cash, but what did these kids buy? Thrift shops around here have such random stuff in addition to clothes, clothes and more clothes. The Rods don't need clothes.

I can just picture the young girls buying adult costume jewelry that will become Jill's. The boys will likely insist on buying their mom something. I hope in addition to buying Phil a couple of belts they buy David a new pair of sweatpants. 

[BradandJanet]

9 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

I love that the congregation brought them shopping rather than give them more cash, but what did these kids buy? Thrift shops around here have such random stuff in addition to clothes, clothes and more clothes. The Rods don't need clothes.

I can just picture the young girls buying adult costume jewelry that will become Jill's. The boys will likely insist on buying their mom something. I hope in addition to buying Phil a couple of belts they buy David a new pair of sweatpants. 

This is a good point. I think the church people were trying to do something fun but not too costly. Even at Walmart, turning eleven people loose to buy what they wanted would be expensive. I'm sure David needs an air conditioner for the print shop and a new battery for the family car. Ouch. 

The kids seem to have a lot of clothes but not always appropriate ones. The little girls' shoes rarely fit, and there never seem to be enough winter jackets to go around. Phil needs a belt, obviously. Maybe they found a few useful things at the thrift store.

A perfect gift would have been a gift card to a grocery store. Jill would have hated that.  

[SMama]

12 hours ago, Jeeves said:

 

Here's what I remember from that post about how it works. The husband is the main attraction. If he's a good preacher, the congregation will likely want repeat visits. The wife can't preach to the congregation, because preaching requires a penis. But she will often speak to women's meetings in the church, and again, if she's personable and a good speaker, that will add luster to the family reputation. Finally, the family as whole can perform music. I think the general idea, is that a godly family headed by a man who's a good preacher, with a personable articulate wife, and a bunch of kids able to perform music well, would be welcomed for occasional visits at a church.
 

Then they are really screwed because they don’t meet any of that criteria. It’s a miracle they get invited at all. 

[oliviabenson]

Jill would love a gift card for a grocery store. She and Dave can buy all the food they like and make the kids cook for them. 
 

Jill and Dave can drink sparkling grape juice while the kids fix their dinner and serve it to them. 
 

If kids are lucky they might get some crackers and ramen and mints to share.

[laurakaye]

Jill and Dave must have absolutely no shame.  The fact that they cloak their laziness under "ministry," don't have regular jobs to feed 13 mouths and are turning loose a posse of children with zero employable skills is disgusting.  And the fact that they were brought to a thrift store for other people to purchase things for their own children that they could surely afford if any of them worked for a living boggles the mind.

I wonder if Jill mentally crossed this particular church off of her "good grift" list since they only fed them McDonald's and took them thrift shopping when what I'm sure Jill expected was a trip to Olive Garden and shopping at Target.

 

[Absolom]

If they get stricken off Jill's list, good for the church for playing a smart hand.  

[libgirl2]

1 hour ago, laurakaye said:

Jill and Dave must have absolutely no shame.  The fact that they cloak their laziness under "ministry," don't have regular jobs to feed 13 mouths and are turning loose a posse of children with zero employable skills is disgusting.  And the fact that they were brought to a thrift store for other people to purchase things for their own children that they could surely afford if any of them worked for a living boggles the mind.

I wonder if Jill mentally crossed this particular church off of her "good grift" list since they only fed them McDonald's and took them thrift shopping when what I'm sure Jill expected was a trip to Olive Garden and shopping at Target.

 

And I think the McDonald's meal was more treats than anything else, maybe ice cream, shakes and if a kid wants fries than those, but there is no way they got big meals. 

Edited March 13, 2023 by libgirl2

[crazy8s]

1 hour ago, laurakaye said:

I wonder if Jill mentally crossed this particular church off of her "good grift" list since they only fed them McDonald's and took them thrift shopping when what I'm sure Jill expected was a trip to Olive Garden and shopping at Target

On the contrary, I think this church will be high on their list.

Besides the 2nd christmas at goodwill, Dave thanked the church for "all the good food out there in the......." someone called out the answer, but I couldn't hear it. Whatever they call their fellowship are I think. The rods had been there several days at that point, so I think Dave, at least, ate quite well.

Also @farmgal4 said the Pastor pushed the people very hard for cash donations. The audience seemed bigger than the usual grift stops.

All wins for Jill. McDonalds was an extra perk.

[SMama]

2 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

And I think the McDonald's meal was more treats than anything else, maybe ice cream, shakes and if a kid wants fries than those, but there is no way they got big meals. 

That makes me sad for the kids. But they have able bodied parents who have a responsibility to provide. That uhm tax money was for them not for home improvements. Freaking grifters. 

[merylinkid]

13 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

love that the congregation brought them shopping rather than give them more cash, but what did these kids buy?

I love they took them shopping instead of cash too.   I think they figured out if they gave cash, after Dave's little speech, that the money would go to the "ministry" and not the kids.   The parishioners wanted to make sure the kids were taken care, clothes and shoes that FIT, maybe a toy of their very own.