Bishops and Branch Presidents…
As we continue to work toward becoming “one” with the full-time missionaries in the ward/branch missionary efforts as instructed by the Brethren...
...I would like to suggest something more we can do. It’s like missionary work in “real time."
I have heard of the following in another mission and thought it had great value in helping ward/branch leaders (specifically, the ward/branch council) stay engaged with the full-time missionaries’ efforts…beyond a regular report in a ward council meeting. Ahem…Covenant Path on steroids? :)
Here’s how it works:
• We ask the full-time missionaries to send a regular (once a day at the most, usually once every other day) group text to all ward council members.
• The text is to be very brief (2 or 3 sentences at the most).
• The content of the text is simply to alert ward leaders of something special they can do right now to help the full-time missionaries.
• We’ll train the full-time missionaries to include an invitation to act.
• If they choose, ward/branch council members can then forward the text to their presidency and include them in the missionary effort.
• Eventually, if this is successful and not an annoyance, the text message could be broadcast to larger groups, such as quorum members or active members, who opt in because of their desire to participate in the ongoing efforts of the full-time missionaries.
Examples of messages:
We would expect text messages from the full-time missionaries like the following:
• “We are scheduled to teach the Jones family tonight. Will you pray for them and us?”
• “Our investigator Ron Smith said he’s planning to come to church tomorrow. Will you please help us welcome him?”
• “Our appointments for tonight fell through. Any suggestions of a family in our ward who could be blessed by a visit from the missionaries?”
• “We are excited about a new investigator family with 2 children ages 4 and 6. They live near Roberts and Hogan in Gresham. Can someone help us at 7pm Wednesday evening? Thanks for remembering us in your prayers.”
• “We just got a new 45-year-old male investigator. Is there a brother in the ward who can help us fellowship him?”
What is the purpose
The key is that this doesn’t become an annoyance or expense to your ward/branch leaders. But hopefully everyone will appreciate it as a way to accelerate the ward council’s involvement in the missionary efforts. There will be no requirement for ward council members to respond to the text messages. Presumably most of the messages will be a request for prayers.
Can you see, though, how it would help generate ongoing involvement of ward leaders in the full-time missionaries' efforts?
Why I Am Writing You
I am writing because I plan to introduce this to the full-time missionaries this Saturday at our monthly Stake Missionary Training. If you have any concerns, reservations or suggestions, please speak up now. Once the full-time missionaries have been trained on Saturday morning, I will ask each of you to notify your ward/branch council members as to what they can expect and why.
Thank you very much for your consideration and feedback,
President Lewis
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