Mobilizing Ward Missions

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Mobilizing Ward Missions
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Importance of Strengthening the Church in the
United States and Canada

• Birth place of the Restoration
• A land of promise
• Provide support and strength to other areas of
  the world

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Key Role of Area Seventy
The Area Seventy are to teach missionary
principles and encourage missionary success
through the use of

• Preach My Gospel
• Missionary Work in the Ward
• The following Key Indicators

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Convert Baptisms
Raised the Bar
Total
International
International
U.S. and Canada
Estimated
5
Convert Baptisms
United States and Canada 2006
of Wards
Baptisms by Ward
6
Convert Baptisms
United States and Canada 2006
of Wards
Baptisms by Ward
7
Convert Baptisms
United States and Canada 2006
of Wards
Baptisms by Ward
8
Convert Baptisms
United States and Canada 2006
of Wards
Baptisms by Ward
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Key Factors of Successful Ward Missions Research
Findings

• Stake presidents and bishops made missionary work
  one of their top two priorities and a battle to
  be won
• Bishops led the development of the ward mission
  plan
• Bishops wove missionary work into every aspect of
  their calling. As they did so, all areas of the
  ward improved (welfare, sacrament meeting,
  temple, etc.)
• Leaders defined success in terms of outcomes in
  people (people baptized, retained or
  reactivated), rather than in terms of activities
  completed

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Key Factors of Successful Ward Missions Research
Findings (cont.)

• Leaders set goals that caused them to stretch and
  exercise high levels of faith, focus, and
  discipline
• Leaders and members were involved in the planning
  and felt responsible for the outcomes
• Leaders fostered a council environment that
  invited commitment, accountability, and sustained
  engagement from all

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Stake President

• Leads the missionary effort with energy,
  enthusiasm, and inspiration, making missionary
  work one of his top priorities
• Calls a strong high councilor to help oversee
  missionary work and holds him accountable
• Helps bishops foster deep involvement of the ward
  council in the creation and implementation of a
  simple, actionable ward mission plan

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High Councilor Assigned to Oversee Missionary Work

• Acts under the direction of the stake president
• Learns the principles taught in Preach My Gospel
• Trains a core of highly effective ward mission
  leaders, and holds ward mission leaders
  accountable
• Provides a weekly accounting to the stake
  president on key indicators for each ward

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Bishop

• Leads the missionary effort with energy,
  enthusiasm, and inspiration, making missionary
  work one of his top priorities
• Calls a strong ward mission leader and holds him
  accountable
• Fosters deep involvement of the ward council and
  full-time missionaries in the creation and
  implementation of a simple, actionable ward
  mission plan that focuses on people and their
  spiritual progress

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Ward Mission Leader

• Acts under the direction of the bishop
• Assists the ward council in creating and
  implementing a simple, actionable ward mission
  plan that focuses on people and the five key
  indicators
• Includes the full-time missionaries in goal
  setting and the creation of the ward mission plan
• Assists each ward council member in providing
  teaching opportunities for the full-time
  missionaries

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Ward Mission Leader (cont.)

• Creates and maintains the ward area book
• Using the Teaching Record, follows up and
  counsels with ward council members on the
  progress of selected families and individuals
• Coordinates missionary efforts with ward members
  and full-time missionaries in the missionary
  coordination meeting
• Reports progress weekly in PEC using the Progress
  Record and ward mission plan

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The Member

• Trusts that the Lord will assist him or her
• Prays in faith for specific opportunities and
  individuals (Alma 66)
• Acts out of love for the Lord and for His
  children
• Shares gospel truths with others, especially
  those living within ward boundaries
• Exercises faith by inviting others to attend
  Church and be taught the lessons

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Area Seventy

• Uses the Coordinating Council to coordinate
  member missionary work and document missionary
  success
• Teaches stake presidents the goal setting
  principles in chapter 8 of Preach My Gospel
• Communicates regularly with a member of the
  Presidency of the Seventy regarding missionary
  success

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President Gordon B. Hinckley
"As I have said so often in recent months, I see
a great need to improve our missionary success in
the United States and Canada. Continued growth
and strength in these home lands of the Church are
essential in sustaining our efforts
internationally.  I strongly encourage every
honorable effort we can make toward more
conversions and greater retention in our
proselyting efforts in the United States and
Canada."                         President
Gordon B. Hinckley