Request to bishops and branch presidents to ensure a Missionary Coordination Meeting is held without fail each week

21 November 2018

TO: Bishops and Branch Presidents

Dear Brethren,

Attached is the monthly report from our Zone Leaders on how each ward and branch is doing in moving forward missionary work. Thank you for all that you do!

I’m also happy to report that Missionary Coordination Meetings were conducted last Sunday in the following units:

Damascus Ward

Mt Hood YSA Branch

Powell Valley Ward

Pioneer Spanish Branch

Thank you for those who are conducting these coordination meetings so faithfully, even in the midst of all the transitions happening right now.

I bring this to your attention because of a major concern I have. 

There are two dynamics impacting the member-missionary work and relationship in our stake:

1. The Ward Mission Leader no longer is a standing member of the Ward Council (a directive from the First Presidency).

2. Missionaries seldom get into members’ homes with the new no-dinner-with-members policy (a directive from the Area Presidency).

THE PROBLEM: Full-time missionaries are feeling more distant from the members than ever!

It would be easy to say, “Well, just change the no-dinner policy.” But the missionaries report that their productivity in finding new people and their ability to connect with investigators during the 5-7 pm time slot has increased measurably since the no-dinner policy was instituted.

So changing the no-dinner policy is not the solution.

The answer is in the Missionary Coordination Meeting. This weekly meeting now becomes absolutely essential and the key to missionaries and members working together to move forward this part of the Work of Salvation.

With the increased involvement and oversight by the Elders Quorum and Relief Society presidencies...and with them being the key link for missionary work to the Ward/Branch Council...the Missionary Coordination Meeting becomes even more important. 

As we also transition to the new Two-Hour Meeting Schedule, where leaders and members will be encouraged to be in the home as much as possible, holding a weekly coordination meeting may become even more difficult. 

As the one who still holds the keys for missionary work in your ward or branch, will you please counsel with your ward leadership on how to ensure the Missionary Coordination Meeting is held weekly without fail? 

Please remind leaders that this meeting, when needed, can be conducted over telephone or video conferencing. 

But it is absolutely essential that members (ward leaders, ward missionaries) and the full-time missionaries coordinate frequently (at least weekly)…PLUS the Ward/Branch Mission Leader and the full-time missionaries coordinate (via phone, text, email, etc.) at least every other day or daily, if possible...for the missionary effort in the ward or branch to become truly effective.

One other expectation…

I ask that the Ward/Branch Mission Leader assigns a ward missionary to set appointments for the full-time missionaries to visit member homes each evening the missionaries are available. If they don’t have teaching appointments, helping the full-time missionaries so they can give a brief gospel-related message in member homes between 7:00 and 8:30 pm would help significantly to re-establish a relationship between members and missionaries.

I appreciate you giving this your immediate attention. I welcome any feedback, counsel or concerns on this matter.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

P.S. Feel free to share this email with appropriate ward or branch leaders.