Will you help us implement the Self-Reliance Initiative in our stake?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

If you’re receiving this email, you have been selected by the stake presidency to help us launch a new initiative in our stake.

Actually, our stake has been chosen to help “pilot” or implement the Church’s Self-Reliance Initiative that has proven to be extremely successful internationally and now is being introduced in North America.

In short, it’s a very exciting plan that shows members how to implement key self-reliance principles so they can live a more abundant life—both temporally and spiritually. The results have been most remarkable!

A key factor in the success of this initiative is a facilitator working with small groups. That’s where you come in. You have been chosen by the stake presidency as one whom we feel would fulfill this assignment very well because of your understanding of effective teaching. 

But as you can see in this video https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-06-2070-how-to-facilitate-a-group?lang=eng&category=group-facilitator we’re looking for facilitators, who teach by involving others in the discovery process—not by instruction.

There is a commitment as a facilitator. For instance, it includes a weekly commitment to meet with a small group of 8-12 stake members and guide them through a 12-week course. We may be able to have more than one facilitator per group or you may find you can select and train a member of your group to serve as the facilitator to allow you flexibility in your time commitment.

We are not asking for such a commitment right now. Instead we are simply creating a “pool” of potential facilitators. So we’re asking you to please join us at a special Self-Reliance Initiative Introductory meeting this Tuesday, Dec 6, at 7:00 pm in the High Council room to learn more about the initiative and how it will be implemented in our stake. We will then contact you individually to determine your interest and availability.

We realize this is very late notice so please do not feel guilty if you cannot attend the meeting this Tuesday. But we wanted to give you, and as many others as possible, first exposure to what this is, how it works and how we believe it will dramatically impact lives in our stake. So we appreciate your attendance, if you’re available.

We would appreciate you replying to this email and telling us whether or not you can attend the meeting this Tuesday, Dec 6, at 7:00 pm.

Thank you for your devotion to the Lord and for dedicating your talents to bless others. We hope you’ll find this a very fulfilling and rewarding opportunity, if you’re able to accept this assignment.

Gratefully,

President Crismon S. Lewis

President Paul S. Hansen

President Steven C. Christiansen