Testimony about Ward Mission Plans
(The following email is a report on the successful implementation of the ward mission plan of the Jacksonville Ward of the Central Point Stake in Oregon. The elements of their success are helpful and instructive.)
This is David Wright from out in Central Point Oregon. I e-mailed back and forth with you a while ago and we spoke at conference a few years ago. President Rasband asked if we would send an example of how ward mission plans were being implemented in our stakes. I sent this to our Area Seventy a few weeks ago and then today I thought you should see what one ward has been doing to follow some of your suggestions so I am sending this to you. The principles and suggestions we received from you have blessed this ward in a wonderful way. If you have any questions about this, please don't hesitate to bring them up.
Elder Stewart,
The Jacksonville ward of the Central Point Stake has been very successful in creating and implementing a ward mission plan for about 2 and 1/2 years. The bishop has consistently worked with the ward mission leader for these years on developing a ward mission plan each year. After the plan has been developed between the ward mission leader, ward missionaries, full time missionaries and the bishop, the ward council gives their final input. They have found that the plan needs to be quite simple but specific, rather than elaborate and with unmeasurable goals. They always have a goal for convert baptisms- usually around 10. They feel strongly about the direction in the Handbook of Instructions that they must teach the principles of missionary work in their ward. As a result they have a mini class of three weeks that focuses on the principles of missionary work outlined by Clayton Christensen in his February 2005 article in the Ensign magazine. All adults are invited to attend this class over a year with about 10 attending at a time. They also have a monthly "Why I Believe" fireside. This is held at the home of a member family. It is a non-threatening environment for anyone to ask questions about the church and have members share their testimonies with those who attend. Non-members and less-active members attend regularly along with the ward mission leader, ward missionaries, full time missionaries and other members of the ward. The gift of family history is given to each new convert and they have a family history consultant help them discover at least one ancestor they can go and be baptized for. They have a goal to have every new convert in the temple for baptisms for the dead within 3 months of their own baptism. New member discussions are to be completed within 2 months of baptism. They have a goal to invite non-members to all baptisms held in the ward- convert or child of record. They encourage every family in the ward to pray daily to know how they can assist the full time missionaries laboring in their ward as President Hinckley has asked. They also have a goal to have quality Sacrament meetings that any of the members of the ward would feel comfortable inviting their non-member friends to.
The results of this combined effort and God's divine help: 23 convert baptisms since the beginning of 2004. If all our wards had done something similar we would have come very close to doubling convert baptisms compared to 2002. The difference with this ward as compared to others who have ward mission plans (and all of ours do to one extent or another) is that they have done it now consistently for 2 1/2 years. They actually pull out the plan regularly and ask themselves if they are sticking to it. 5 of these converts have moved and so retention is difficult to say for sure and one new convert passed away and so we think he is still active. Based on what I know, 16 of the 23 are still active (roughly 70 percent).
For our upcoming stake conference, about 1/2 hour will be dedicated to an interactive discussion between me, the bishop and the ward mission leader of this ward to review how this works and encourage others to do the same. A few other wards are moving right along and seeing the benefits. We hope it spreads to the whole stake. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any other information.
David Wright