Vancouver Mission Star
This message was written by President and Sister Middleton. It also appears in the Vancouver Star, the weekly newsletter of the Vancouver Mission. It is sent to each companionship throughout the mission.
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Vancouver Temple Ground Breaking!
The Vancouver Temple ground breaking occurred on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007! With grateful hearts we humbly thank the Lord for this great blessing of a Temple coming to British Columbia. It represents an answer to the prayers of thousands of faithful Church members offered in recent years, who have prayed earnestly that they might receive the blessings of a nearby Temple. Once completed, the Vancouver Temple will allow BC members to complete and renew ordinances much more frequently and easily than has been true in the past. No longer will they need to make the expensive and lengthy journey to one of the Alberta Temples, or to cross the border to go to a Seattle Temple session (a process not possible in the past for many of our faithful members due to visa or passport restrictions).
Ground Breaking Service Was Magnificent
As the appointed time for the ground breaking at the Langley Temple site arrived, invited Church and community leaders took their seats on folding chairs under an overcast sky. Due to space and parking restrictions our full time missionaries and thousands of faithful Church members could not be accommodated, but a video recording of the services was made and will be shared with all BC stakes and districts, we understand. As if on queue the clouds dissipated as the service began and the sun shown brightly down as if it was rejoicing with us.
Elder Ronald S. Rasband of the Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy presided, assisted by Elder William R. Walker of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy. A beautiful and talented choir performed made up of saints from the Lower Mainland. Elder Walker spoke of the great blessings the Vancouver Temple will bring, as did Sister Melanie Rasband and Elder Rasband. President Paul D. Christensen, the Abbotsford Stake President, spoke as well, relating the inspiring story of how the site was chosen through inspiration imparted to our prophet President Gordon B. Hinckley. While driving with President Thomas S. Monson, President Christensen, and a few others on Dec. 28, 2005, President Hinckley chose this site while his car drove by it. It was not one of the sites identified preliminarily by President Christensen and others, and the inspired choice of the site was made almost literally “site unseen” as it lay hidden behind a bank of shrubs along the road.
The Vancouver Temple will accelerate Church Growth in BC
After Elder Rasband made his remarks at the ground breaking, he then dedicated the grounds. He observed that as a result of the publicity attendant to the building of our temple, and the subsequent Open House which will bring thousands of citizens in BC to “come and see” (John 1:39), Church growth will accelerate. As full time missionaries it will be our privilege to play a significant role in that promised acceleration, as we redouble our proselyting efforts to share the Gospel. Humbly, gratefully, we will stride forth, determined to do all in our power to honor our Lord’s blessing of granting us a new Temple as a finding tool!
The Chilliwack Ward is Missionary Minded, and the Penticton Ward had a Wonderful Baptism, by Elders Carlton Taylor (and Daniel Walton and James Corey)
“This week has gone well! I am still trying to get acquainted with the area and its members, but I see a lot of potential in this ward. Right now they are revamping the Ward Mission Plan. The Bishop and Ward Mission Leader are working hard to get some kind of a plan set up that includes families. I feel like the efforts they are making are in the right direction.”
“The highlight of our week in Penticton was Dana Dyck’s baptism. It ran so smoothly from the beginning that I really want this to be the model for our future baptisms. Because we had plenty of time between the interview and the baptism, we could announce the time of the baptism in several meetings. Because of this, over 60 people attended, including nine non-members! After the baptismal service we had refreshments and this gave us a chance to talk to a few of the people who came who aren’t members of the Penticton Ward. We really hope that good things come from those conversations. Her confirmation today also went really well. All in all it was a great week. I hope to have many more like it.”
Editor’s Note: To have an excellent baptismal service at which many ward members and non-members are in attendance is a very important missionary tool. A well-attended service allows excellent fellowshipping of the person being baptized, but also allows non-members to be met and fellowshipped, and allows all to feel the Spirit.
The Nechako Ward “Double Oreo Action Plan,” by Sisters Dionne Oliver (and Kim Wilcox)
“Members here in the Fraser Ward are so awesome! When they had the combined ward activity with the Nechako Ward called ‘One Fold and One Shepherd,’ it was a great missionary tool. It was in essence an open house for the Church where each organization made their own display and explained what it was all about. All of us missionaries took our designated group on a Spiritual Tour through the Church. The members did a great job in that activity.”
“Our PEC meeting is amazing! Our leaders are always looking for missionary activities to set up so they can invite their friends to come and meet the missionaries. We’ve also discussed with them our ‘Double Oreo’ action plan, whereby we give at least an hour of service to members and in return the members let us practice lessons, give us a referral, or go on a Spiritual Tour with us. ‘Double Oreo’, because both parties are benefitted and blessed!”
We love each and every full-time missionary and member here in British Columbia!
President and Sister Middleton
(Check off weekly whether you have achieved each of the eight goals below.)
q Ask for a referral name in every conversation with a member or non-member alike… “Will you bring an acquaintance on a Spiritual Tour?”
q Challenge members to Set-A-Date for a Spiritual Tour or a Church event which can be coupled with a Spiritual Tour with their non-member friend at least 3 times yearly.
q Our goal is to find at least one new investigator daily.
q Our goal is to teach 15 or more full lessons weekly…
q …with at least 3 Spiritual Tours weekly.
q Extend at least one baptismal invitation and commitment each week.
q Remember our mission goal: 10 Gospel contacts per day per missionary outside our usual finding and teaching duties. That includes a Gospel message to everyone you see.
q As weekly goals are set for each Key Indicator, pray for inspiration, and set goals that are lofty yet achievable. Our ultimate long-term goal is for at least 3 baptisms per companionship per transfer.
“Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” 3Nephi 12:16
The Coveted “Off the Hook” Award:
(Week-ending August 5, 2007)
In Recognition of the following:
Baptisms Year to Date:
Surrey English Zone (17 Baptisms)
Abbotsford Zone (17 Baptisms)
Baptisms this week:
Abbotsford Zone (1 Baptism)
Vancouver Language Zone (1 Baptism)
Investigators with a Baptismal Date:
Vancouver Language Zone (9Baptismal Dates)
Investigators Attending Sacrament Meeting:
Vancouver Language Zone (17 Investigators at Sacrament Meeting)
Lessons with a Member Present:
Vancouver Language Zone (22 Lessons with a Member Present)
Other Lessons:
Vancouver Language (278)
Progressing Investigators:
Vancouver Zone (16 Progressing Investigators)
Vancouver Language Zone (16 Progressing Investigators)
New Investigators:
Surrey Language Zone (12 New Investigators)
Abbotsford Zone (6 Non-member Tours)
Full Lessons:
Vancouver Zone (Average of 19.3 Full Lessons)
COMPANIONSHIPS:
Elders Collins & Hea: 30 Full Lesson, 38 Other, 2 progressing, 1 baptism date
Elders Ward & Mariano: 26 Full Lessons, 13 Other Lessons, 1 Referral, 1 progressing, 1 Baptismal Date, 7 Baptisms Year to Date.
Elders Nebeker & DeHerrera: 45 Other Lessons, 3 New investigators, 2 Investigators at Sacrament Meeting, 2 Lessons with Member Present.
Elders Zmoos & Liu: 19 Full Lessons, 47 Other, 3 new investigators, 3 Progressing, 6 Referrals received, 10 Lessons with Member Present, 6 Investigators at Sacrament Meeting.
Elders Choi & Strum: 36 Full Lessons, 75 Other, 2 New investigators, 2 Lessons with Member Present, 3 Referrals Received.
Elders Elmore & Curtis: 108 Other Lessons, 3 New Investigators, 3 Progressing, 1 with a Baptismal Date, 1 investigator at sacrament Meeting.
Elders Magnusson & Seitz: 19 Full Lesson, 35 Other, 2 Lessons with Member Present, 1 attending Sacrament Meeting, 3 Referrals Received.
Elders Bakow & Klekas: 21 Full Lessons, 101 Other, 3 Investigators attending Sacrament Meeting, 1 Baptismal Date, 10 full to Non-Members.
Elders Glass & Johnson: 19 Full Lessons, 53 Other, 3 Progressing, 2 Lessons with member Present, 3 referrals Received
Congratulations on your accomplishments this week
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