Names to Numbers; Faces to Names!
Dear Elders and Sisters:
On the heels of a wonderful MLC last Friday I want to
share with you something we can do to help move this work along and experience
greater success baptizing our PIs. It
will be done simply by putting "Names to Numbers" and "Faces to
Names!". This means that as each
Zone sets an inspired goal for baptisms in the month, the “bite they will take
out of their unit goals”, they begin to set forth the names of those that are
going to be baptized. This will require
faith but then again this is a faith based work.
By starting with numbers and then moving to names, we are
demonstrating to the Lord our commitment to focus on people, His children and
to help them into the waters of baptism to receive a remission of sin and begin
their journey back to Him through repentance and enduring to the end. As stated in PMG, page 137: "Your purpose
is to help 'OTHERS' come unto Him through baptism and confirmation." Note the emphasis on “Others”. It is a work of “Ones” (D&C 18:15)! While
setting goals and making plans begins with numbers, at some point early on you
have to put a Name to the Number in order to truly exercise faith. Doing so will prevent the setting of goals
from merely becoming wishful thinking. Further, you will be more invested
because your heart aches and breaks for people but not as much for numbers. An example of putting Names to Numbers should
take place in your nightly planning with a dialogue similar to this: "Well Elder/Sister, we had a great
finding day and found 2 NIs (New Investigators). If you'll remember in our weekly planning on
Friday we set a goal to baptize 1 this month.
Which of these 2 NIs do you feel will be the 'one'"? Or: "Do you feel that the Lord has
directed us to our 'one' in our finding today?" If so or when this occurs, you now have a
name to put with a number. Now make sure
you pray in earnest for this name (which I know you already do) but in addition
pass it to your District and Zone Leaders and now your District and your Zone
Members can be praying for that name as well. Further, I encourage you to
engage your Ward Council and MCM to pray for these names as well.
Now, let's talk about putting Faces to Names. Each week we are asking you as a
companionship to engage your Bishop for a short period of time (this could be
done in 1 hour in most areas) to go with you and meet your PIs (Progressing
Investigators). This is not a lesson with your PIs and please resist the
temptation to make it such. It should
simply be a “doorstep introduction” of the Bishop to your PI. It is his opportunity to meet them, encourage
them to come to Church on Sunday and let them know he will be looking for them
and will want to talk with them on Sunday when they do come to Church. The conversation might go something like
this: “Brother and Sister ______, this
is the Bishop of our Ward. He has been
called to preside over the congregation you will attend of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. As we
discussed, he wanted to meet you and it is a pleasure to introduce Bishop_____
to you.” Then the Bishop will simply say
something like: "It is so nice to meet you Brother and Sister _____. I know we are really looking forward to you
and your family joining us in Church on Sunday.
I will be watching for you. And
please do not worry about a place to sit, even if you are a little late. We have a bench reserved about three rows
back from the Sacrament Table (You remember seeing that/You will see where that
is on your Church Tour). I don't need to
take any more of your time tonight but again just want you to know our
congregation is truly looking forward to meeting you/seeing you in Church this
Sunday and I hope you'll allow me a moment to come down off the stand after the
meeting to greet you then as well."
Now, when your PI comes to Church, they are sitting close
to the Sacrament Table, a place you have pointed out to them when you ended
your Church Tour. You helped them know
in advance something of the sacredness of this ordinance and how tied it is to
Baptism. Now as they sit there they will
witness the reverent manner in which young Aaronic Priesthood bearers prepare, bless,
and pass the Sacrament (a tender miracle in and of itself). They will feel something when this takes
place. They will look at the Bishop on
the stand and think: "Wow! He is
The Head, The Preacher, The Pastor, of this Congregation and he came to my
house. He knows me." This will mean everything to them and he will
be your help in WC to encourage Members to reach out to these PIs that come to
Church. Further, by simply having this
bench reserved for PIs, the entire Ward/Branch will know they are PIs and can
take the opportunity to surround them in fellowship and a warm welcome as
well. And now you've put a Face to a
Name for the Bishop who will soon be something of a Good Shepherd, a Savior on
Mount Zion to bless their life as a new Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. And worthy of mention
is that this is a role every member assumes for one another as well -
"bear one another's burdens; mourn with those that mourn; comfort those
that stand in need of comfort." (Mosiah 18:8,9)
I have a testimony that if we become absolutely dedicated
to this a higher percentage of our PIs will come to Church and will be
baptized. This isn't the only thing but
it is one thing that will help PIs feel welcomed and known to those who
ultimately will "stand as Saviors on Mount Zion" for them.
We love and appreciate all you are doing to live and
fulfill your Missionary Purpose!
President Clark
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