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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A Simple Way to Accelerate Church Growth
The Apostle Paul stated, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2Cor 9:6) His observation applies perfectly to both full-time and member missionary work. It gives the simple formula by which we can grow the Church in British Columbia as the Lord through his prophets has asked.
Member Missionaries Succeed by Inviting Often
In his excellent book on missionary work, “The Law of the Harvest,” Brother David Stewart makes the important observation, “If a member only speaks with someone about the gospel once or twice a year, it is unlikely that he or she will ever bring another person into the Church.” By contrast, he notes that “members who invite often can bring many people into the Church over the course of a lifetime.” His observations are precisely the same as ours, having observed member missionaries in BC now for nearly 3 years. Sister Lena Ma has been responsible for the conversion of 20 people in 10 years simply because she invites often. There is no other explanation to her extraordinary member missionary accomplishments. Her success can be achieved by every faithful member in BC--they simply must embrace the concept of inviting, lovingly and regularly (at least one person weekly is a helpful goal). Our BC experience shows that 1 of 7 invited by a member comes to a Church-related activity, and 1 of 14 invited by a member to “come and see” goes on to baptism! Sister Ma’s success rate is the same as any other BC member missionary;
she just invites often.
We ask the question: why is not every faithful Church member in BC inviting at least weekly?
President Henry B. Eyring Implores Members to Invite Often
President Henry B. Eyring described the effective member missionary in an Ensign article in May 2003: “(They) are like the sons of Mosiah, ‘desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature…’ Those who speak easily and often of the restored gospel, prize what it has meant to them. It is the gift they have received which makes them eager for others to receive it..”
In other words, invite regularly, invite often. Brother David Stewart observed that what is said in the invite is not nearly as important as is the frequency of the invitations. He writes, “making the effort to share the gospel consistently is far more important than the approach.”
For Full-Time Missionaries, Productivity is Determined by the Number of People Contacted
Brother Stewart notes, regarding the success of full-time missionaries, “low contacting effort is almost always a major cause of poor missionary success.” He reflects on his experience as a missionary in Russia, observing, “a missionary who consistently contacts 100 people per day can reach over 70,000 people over the course of a mission, while one who contacted only 5 per day would reach only 3,600.” He then describes the impact of a high level of contacting in a less productive country or province such as BC – “If an average of 5,000 gospel contacts were needed to achieve one baptism in a highly resistant area, a missionary who approached one hundred contacts each day could bring 14 people into the Church” (from personal finding alone)!! He goes on to describe the mind set and determination exhibited by those missionaries who achieve this objective: “effective contacting requires a driving sense of responsibility to reach the unreached and a high tolerance for rejection.” In contrast, a missionary who has only 5 contacts per day on average, 3600 contacts total in 2 years, likely will see no baptisms from personal finding. To overcome their fears and doubts, to prepare themselves mentally and spiritually for this level of work output throughout their mission, President James E. Faust said this: “Missionaries need to have the right attitude in contacting people. They need to cast aside all fear and be positive about the great message which is here. Fear not and doubt not. We have a leader who fears not and doubts not.”
Brothers and sisters, Elders and Sisters, we love you, and we know that each of you loves the Lord. Our constant prayer is that we might mightily and boldly stride forth together to do His will, to grow His Church in British Columbia. That we might sense the urgency and invite accordingly, achieving 100 or more contacts per day for full-time missionaries, and invite a non-member at least weekly for the members, is our constant prayer. We love you.
President and Sister Middleton
(Check off weekly whether you have achieved each of the nine 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 achieve 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. Help them understand that the best way members can reach this goal is to adopt a Personal Mission Plan by which they issue at least one invitation each week.
q Our goal is to find at least one new investigator daily, and spend at least one hour daily in focused, effective Personal Finding.
q Our goal is to teach 15 or more full lessons weekly, with 50% or more with an investigator present…
q Our goal is to have at least 50 contacts daily (100-200 per day is possible in most areas in the mission), with the contact goal being prayerfully set for each area by each companionship.
q With at least 3 Spiritual Chapel Tours Weekly.
q Extend at least one baptismal invitation and commitment each week.
q Remember our mission goal: 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.
“We have no need to fear. We have no need to worry…Our imperative need is to be found doing our duty.” -- President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May, 1983.
The Coveted “Off the Hook” Award:
(Week-ending May 25, 2008)
In Recognition of the following:
Baptisms Year to Date
Abbotsford: (16 Baptisms)
Baptisms this Week:
Abbotsford, Surrey and Vancouver: (1 Baptism each)
Investigators with a Baptismal Date:
Prince George (with 7 Baptismal Dates)
Honorable Mention: Victoria (5 Baptismal Dates) and Kelowna (3 Baptismal Dates)
Investigators Attending Sacrament Meeting:
Surrey Language: (20 At Sacrament Meeting)
Lessons with member Present
Surrey: (20 lessons with member present)
Contacts
Surrey Language and Vancouver: (31.2 and 31.3 contacts per day average)
Other Lessons Taught
Vancouver: (419 other lessons)
Progressing Investigators:
Vancouver Language: (17 Progressing Investigators)
Honorable Mention: Kelowna (16); Surrey Language (15); Abbotsford (14 Progressing Investigators)
New Investigators
Vancouver Language: (16 New Investigators)
Average Full Lessons per Companionship
Kelowna and Vancouver (18.5 Full Lessons); Nanaimo (18.4 Full Lessons)
COMPANIONSHIPS:
Elders Mather and Cheng: 3 member present, 177 other, 1 new, 470 Contacts, 30 full, 22 to non-members
Elders Smith and Fajardo: 6 at Sacrament, 8 member present, 4 progressing, 4 new, 256 contacts, 19 full, 17 to non-members
Elders Whittenburg and Foster: 1 at Sacrament, 1 member present, 3 progressing, 2 new, 145 contacts
Sisters Falk and Nibley: 1 at Sacrament, 3 member present, 1 progressing, 2 new, 111 contacts, 24 full, 15 to non-members
Sisters Anderson and Weber: 4 at Sacrament, 10 member present, 6 progressing, 22 full, 20 to non-members
Elders Heinzen and Green: 12 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 7 progressing, 3 new, 190 contacts, 20 full, 19 to non-members
Elders Magnusson and McDowell: 1 at Sacrament, 1 member present, 23 other, 124 contacts
Elders Wilson and Szypkowski: 3 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 23 other, 3 progressing
Elders Seitz and Peck: 4 member present, 4 progressing, 2 new, 130 contacts, 22 full, 12 to non members
Elders Barker and Park: 2 with baptismal date, 5 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 3 progressing,
Honorable Mention:
Elders Klekas and Taylor: 1 with baptismal date, 4 at Sacrament, 5 member present, 6 progressing, 212 contacts, 15 full, 13 to non-members
Elders Hunsaker and Seebeck: 2 member present, 100 other, 3 new, 270 contacts, 16 full, 13 to non-members
Elders Saito and Taylor: 246 contacts, 31 full, 7 to non-members
Elders Bowles and Porter: 1 with baptismal date, 3 at Sacrament, 81 other, 6 progressing, 195 contacts, 24 full, 21 to non-members
Elders Kim and Huh: 1 at Sacrament, 4 progressing, 6 new, 24 full, 22 to non-members
Elders Curtis and Parson: 3 at Sacrament, 3 progressing
Elders Shaw and Cooper: 2 with baptismal date, 3 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 3 progressing
Elders Fullmer and Binks: 1 with baptismal date, 3 at Sacrament, 1 member present, 1 progressing, 2 new, 238 contacts
Sisters Dalling and Chevalier: 3 member present, 3 progressing
Elders Walton and Evans: 2 member present, 3 progressing
Elders Terry and Berger: 1 member present, 19 other, 111 contacts, 18 full
Elders Kirby and Anderson: 2 at Sacrament, 3 member present
Elders Fillmore and Barton: 6 at Sacrament, 3 member present, 3 progressing, 16 full
Sisters Caribou and Wu: 3 with baptismal date, 3 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 5 progressing, 18 full, 9 to non-members
Sisters Overlock and Lee: 4 at Sacrament, 4 progressing, 2 new, 112 contacts, 18 full, 9 to non-members,
Elders Marianno and Hassell: 1 with baptismal date, 5 at Sacrament, 5 member present, 5 progressing, 1 new
Elders Dietz and Carlisle: 4 with baptismal date, 2 at Sacrament, 37 other, 7 progressing
Elders Banks and Nelson: 2 with baptismal date, 2 at Sacrament, 2 progressing, 16 full
Elders McAllister and Hatton: 2 member present, 1 progressing, 3 new, 202 contacts
Elders Feinga and Brunt: 1 at Sacrament, 3 member present, 3 progressing, 275 contacts, 15 full
Elders Mun and Jung: 3 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 168 other, 3 progressing, 331 contacts, 20 full
Elders Thompson and White: 5 at Sacrament, 5 progressing, 135 contacts,
Elders Knapp and Ramirez: 1 at Sacrament, 4 member present, 1 progressing
Elders Shumway and Homer: 5 member present, 2 progressing, 16 full, 8 to non-members
Elders Johnson and Johnson: 3 member present, 2 progressing, 103 contacts
Elders Gonzalez and Sudweeks: 4 member present, 3 progressing, 109 contacts,
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS WEEK
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