motivate Ward Missionaries?

[LDSVALLEY]

I've been Ward Mission Leader for 18 months. We have good and bad full time Missionaries come and go. We are being the Leader in our Stake for Baptism's this year and if the two we just set for this month go through we will meet our yearly goal. Our retention level is high as well which is more important to me then baptism numbers.

But I can not get Ward Missionaries motivated to attend meetings and fulfill assignments. I have spent the last 6 months teaching almost all the new member lessons for 5 New Converts. I have tried different things to get them on board.

Perhaps it is me, although I try to give assignments and encourage individuals to use their abilities to carry them out in what ever way they wish. We have replaced many Ward Missionaries but still can't seem to keep them united as a group effort.

Anyone have any ideas on what can be done ?

[Kirajo]

This may or may not sound too harsh. But I've always had a low tolerance for missionaries that were not very ambitious. I understand that they struggle daily and go through things most people can't imagine or relate to. However, they chose to do the Lords work and sometimes sugar coating that fact does nothing for them.

This is also going to sound harsh but when I was in high school the missinoaries in that area gave me the nickname "Ice Queen." Before you think I deserved it... (hee hee..) the missionaries would be at my house nearly 24/7...sitting around. My parents were too nice to say anything. I came home for lunch one day and they were there with no one else in the house and they just hung out even while I was there alone. They would be there from noon till 10pm almost every day, and it continued on like that for a good while. Until I started getting mean.

They need a good kick in the butt. If it's not them paying to be out there, it's SOMEONE ELSE paying the money for them to be out there teaching the gospel, doing service, making a good example and setting amazing goals to brighten the church's future. If that's not what they intend to do, sometimes the " I know you can do better..." talks aren't what they need.

[Palerider]

It is tough to motivate ward missionaries.....sometimes if you get them to go with the missionaries on a teaching appt that helps them to feel the spirit and sometimes gets them motivated....I feel your pain and keep praying to find a way to reach them....:)

[Hemidakota]

I've been Ward Mission Leader for 18 months. We have good and bad full time Missionaries come and go. We are being the Leader in our Stake for Baptism's this year and if the two we just set for this month go through we will meet our yearly goal. Our retention level is high as well which is more important to me then baptism numbers.

But I can not get Ward Missionaries motivated to attend meetings and fulfill assignments. I have spent the last 6 months teaching almost all the new member lessons for 5 New Converts. I have tried different things to get them on board.

Perhaps it is me, although I try to give assignments and encourage individuals to use their abilities to carry them out in what ever way they wish. We have replaced many Ward Missionaries but still can't seem to keep them united as a group effort.

Anyone have any ideas on what can be done ?

Never worry about numbers, worry about if it is the Lord's how you are approaching this issue.

[LDSVALLEY]

I never worry about numbers other then retaining the majority we baptize. The only reason we even have a goal on our Mission Plan for 2008 was the Bishop and Stake made me put something on.

I follow the Lord's plan. I wanted nothing to do with Missionary Work. I was an EQ Councilor and at a RS and EQ meeting we had an issue with Missionary work and I got elected to present it to the Bishop. I ended up emailing it instead of PEC to give him advance notice about it. The night before PEC I was up all night (less then 2 hours sleep)with Mission Plans in my head enough for a four year plan!

The Bishop was not at PEC but our Stake Visitor instead of meeting with individuals wanted to meet with EQ, HP, and RS together. I was 2nd councilor so I NEVER attended these but ended up being the only EQ rep available.

I told the RS president as we waited I didn't care what it was about as long as it was not Missionary work. HE was the High Councilman for Missionary work in the Stake! And had a new plan for retention that fit in with the concern we had tried to share with the Bishop and along with the plans in my head the night before.

That Friday there was a baptism, before we left I felt the urge to dig out the Preach My Gospel book we had bought two years previously at the request of the Bishop for all members to do so. I had never opened it nor ever planned to. In the hour I had before we left I went through it cover to cover.

At the Baptism the Bishop mentioned he wanted to speak with me. Going in I told him what he wanted to see me about, gave him a four year plan for our Ward and accepted the call as Ward Mission Leader.

2008 was the focus on Less Actives, we laid out a plan and it fell apart from the beginning. I was upset by mid year when I thought we were way behind. Until I sat down and looked at the numbers, I realized that we were doing a wonderful job with the Less Actives this year. In spite of the fact the human element was not working, because it came from the Lord he was making it work ins spite of our imperfection.

I know the Lord called me for this. I know I am following the plan he gave me to the best I am able. I know it is the best calling I ever had. But it is more difficult when we can not get the Ward Missionaries to catch the vision. Our goal for next year is 1/3 higher then this year. The number the Lord gave me each time I prayed was 2.5 times this years. But without the Ward Missionaries backing this we are going to have a harder time of making it. Again retention is always more important to me then baptism.

[FunkyTown]

I've been Ward Mission Leader for 18 months. We have good and bad full time Missionaries come and go. We are being the Leader in our Stake for Baptism's this year and if the two we just set for this month go through we will meet our yearly goal. Our retention level is high as well which is more important to me then baptism numbers.

But I can not get Ward Missionaries motivated to attend meetings and fulfill assignments. I have spent the last 6 months teaching almost all the new member lessons for 5 New Converts. I have tried different things to get them on board.

Perhaps it is me, although I try to give assignments and encourage individuals to use their abilities to carry them out in what ever way they wish. We have replaced many Ward Missionaries but still can't seem to keep them united as a group effort.

Anyone have any ideas on what can be done ?

I would say maybe the group you're with aren't 'assignment taking' individuals.

When they're called, sit down with them, talk to them directly and ask "What do you think we should do to make this ward mission calling work? What do you think the calling entails?"

When you bring them on and ask their opinion, people are much more likely to listen and follow.

[LDSVALLEY]

That is a good idea. I always sit down with them and explain the mission plan, the goals, my way of operating. Then role of a Ward Missionary and our need for them to be active and be a part of the planning of things.

But I never thought to put it to them first. I will do this with the next ones we call and try and back date it with those already called. Thank you very much for a good idea.

[Elgama]

food is usually the secret of encouraging a large turn out at any LDS meeting. Offer them a pan of chilli bean soup and a dessert (really cheap) and I reckon you will have a full meeting.

-Charley

[LDSVALLEY]

True, but I have gained 30 pounds this year, not sure I want to increase temptation!

[Hemidakota]

I know the Lord called me for this. I know I am following the plan he gave me to the best I am able. I know it is the best calling I ever had. But it is more difficult when we can not get the Ward Missionaries to catch the vision. Our goal for next year is 1/3 higher then this year. The number the Lord gave me each time I prayed was 2.5 times this years. But without the Ward Missionaries backing this we are going to have a harder time of making it. Again retention is always more important to me then baptism.

I use to think that way until I learned a valuable lesson, you need His support and vision of that part of His Vineyard. Even yesterday, when a missionary approach me and ask if a person who attended Sacrament desire to be baptized if it was ok. I asked, how many times this person came to church. He mentioned twice and only had one missionary lesson. Then I told him not to be baptized the person at this time. What was that motivation of not to baptize this person? The Spirit. The person was still not ready at this point.

[LDSVALLEY]

Trust me I have had the same with our Full Time Missionaries. We baptized a youth of two non active parents who is now 10. Even thought I really don't have a say in it the spirit told me it was not time yet. She needed to attend classes not just sacrament. She needed to feel a part of primary and understand. And her parents needed to get on board with their own needs.

But I was over ruled. We baptized her on a Saturday, two weeks later she showed up for her confirmation and that was it for the last two months. I really had to pray about this as I was asked to baptize her myself. Since I felt it was wrong should I do it. But since the Bishop had supported it and the Mission President was in favor she was getting baptized anyway and if I refused it might decrease the potential of her staying active.

The previous two years before I was Mission Leader the Ward met its Baptism goal each year. In total 24 members were baptized. Two of which were in December of the last year. In March when I was called the retention level for those two years was 4 members.

The Missionaries like to quote that it is better for someone to receive the Holy Ghost who can then work on them to allow them to grow. My view is when we baptize someone who is not ready yet, we make them more accountable for their actions but they are not ready for that level of accountability.

I stress continually that retention is more important then baptism. If we do everything we can to help someone and they leave then we are not accountable to the Lord for our part.

And believe me I take everything to the Lord, I even get the Progress reports two days before meeting with Missionaries to ponder and pray over the people.

[Hemidakota]

You are right....RETENTION IS PRIMARY FOCUS vice BAPTISM QUOTA. Unfortunately, not all members of the church are attuned to the Spirit, which includes Missionaries, in listening to those very important promptings.

Currently, I am working with a branch that usually baptized over 75 baptisms a year. Out of those, remain active in the church is far lesser than it should be. Accountability is an issue when we make those covenants at baptism and when we receive the Holy Ghost than most can understand at such an early infancy in the church.

You are doing right, which the Savior will bless you even further than most and will enlightened you to further the work of Christ.