4 Essential Missionary Activities and Expectations of Ward Mission Leaders

4 Essential Missionary Activities

in the Mount Hood Stake

December 2018

The four essential missionary activities in our stake are:

1.   Weekly Missionary Coordination meetings, under the direction of the Bishop, a member of the Elders Quorum presidency (assisted by a member of the Relief Society presidency) presides and the Ward or Branch Mission Leader conducts the meeting. Those to attend include the ward or branch missionaries and full-time missionaries. This meeting can be held in person or via electronic media. Objective: see agenda items in Handbook 2: 5.1.5.

2.   Daily or every-other-day contact between the Ward or Branch Mission Leader and the full-time missionaries assigned to his ward or branch. This can be done via phone, text or messaging. Objective: the Mission Leader should give direction to the full-time missionaries as to the next steps they should take in their missionary efforts and also ensure they meet the goal of teaching the gospel at least once a day—to investigators, new converts or long-time members.

3.   Regularly schedule full-time missionaries for evening, non-dinner appointments to visit member homes. This is to be done by the Mission Leader or ward/branch missionary he assigns. Objective: so members and missionaries can get acquainted, build a relationship of trust, and ultimately work arm-in-arm in growing the ward or branch and ministering to others.

4.   Twice-weekly report by the full-time missionaries sent via email or text to all who attend the Missionary Coordination meeting. Objective: keep everyone apprised of new developments and needs of the full-time missionaries as well as report on needs of families they visit.

 Full-Time Missionary Report

In fulfillment of the fourth guideline above, full-time missionaries are to make their twice-weekly email or text report very simple and succinct. For example:

·      List the names of only two or three families you visited since the last report;

·      Make suggestions as to the needs or concerns, if any, of those you visited;

·      Ask the ward leaders what they would like you to do to further help their missionary and ministering efforts.

Expectations of Ward and

Branch Mission Leaders

Mount Hood Stake • December 2018

The Stake Presidency asks Ward and Branch Mission Leaders to (1) ensure the Four Essential Missionary Activities are fulfilled consistently, (2) that the guidelines for baptismal services are followed, and (3) that they take responsibility for the following under the direction of the Elders and Relief Society presidencies:

Missionary-Ministering Coordination:  The mission leader is responsible for coordinating the missionary work in the ward or branch, including: (1) conduct the weekly coordination meeting, and (2) coordinate with the EQ and RS presidencies on how the full-time missionaries can assist and participate in home visits with ministering companionships.

Give Direction to the Full-Time Missionaries: The mission leader is to visit each day or every-other-day—preferably on the phone—with the full-time missionaries and assign them to the homes where you want them to visit and teach.

Ensure Missionaries Teach Every Day: The mission leader is responsible to arrange for the missionaries to teach at least one lesson per day. That can be to an investigator or to a member family. The mission leader or a ward/branch missionary is to make the member appointments for the missionaries.

Encourage Finding by Members: The mission leader works with the ward council, via the EQ and RS presidencies, to encourage and train members on how to fellowship and invite their friends to be taught by the missionaries.

Connect the Missionaries and Members: Recent changes to missionary policies and guidelines can create a distancing between the full-time missionaries and the members. The mission leader is to oversee and implement activities that will help members and missionaries work together, including (1) train the full-time missionaries on making their twice-weekly reports to ward leaders more effective and (2) prepare ward leaders to receive and act on these reports.

Arrange Leader Visits: The mission leader is to help arrange a visit by a ward or branch leader, preferably a member of the bishopric, branch presidency or elders quorum presidency, in the home of all sincere investigators prior to baptism.