President's Weekly - Something Great in Porterville!

Something Great in Porterville!

Dear Elders and Sisters:

We've studied the Fulcher case, the Donaldson Papers, the Fourth Missionary and other articles that teach and inspire us to become better Missionaries.  These examples, outlines, and teachings guide and inspire us to "Journey to Higher Ground" as we strive to live our Missionary Purpose.  I am pleased to share we have our own case study developing within the CFM - the Porterville Plan.

In our Porterville Zone, Missionaries are working very faithfully and diligently to live their purpose just as all of you are.  But beyond that there is something more.  Everything seems to have come together well in the Porterville Zone to find a wonderful balance of doing all the things required to be a Complete Missionary.  I highlight here a few key ingredients that stand out to me to highlight the results.  I know you are striving to obtain these results as well and encourage you to read and study this for the revelatory experience it can be to bless you in your ministry.

In Porterville, Zone Leaders are ministering (also means teaching) well to District Leaders and when inspired, and with District Leader coordination, ministering well to other Zone companionships.  District Leaders have gone way above and beyond their call to "do" exchanges and are "accomplishing" some marvelous results as well as they minister/teach the Missionaries in their stewardships through extra exchanges, follow-up, encouragement, etc.  Sister Training Leaders are accomplishing the same as they work with their stewardships.  As important as what leadership is accomplishing, paramount to the success is the buy in and commitment of the Missionaries.  Are they striving to be exactly obedient?  Yes!  Are the willing to sacrifice?  Yes!  But more than this they have become consecrated in all they do.  They seek and receive correction and are so very willing to do all their leaders are teaching and encouraging them to do.  While I recognize this may not be different than where you are serving, there does seem to be a difference in the love that exists between all of them and their common commitment to the Standards of Excellence of the Mission.  They seem to have become equally yoked (and this means Missionaries with Missionaries and Missionaries with Members) in the Work of Salvation.

These Missionaries also seem to have found a wonderful balance between finding on their own and through Members.  Coupled with the support of Stake and Ward Leadership, most every night Missionaries are on splits with Members - one companion as a Home or Visiting Teaching Companion and the other with a Ward Missionary or Member teamed up to work in the area.  While this takes an enormous commitment to planning and organization, the fruit of this is sweet.  Members and Missionaries are working very well together and not only are New Investigators found each week going up (for the last three weeks each companionship has exceeded the CFM Standard of Excellence) but all the other Key Indicators are going up as well. Each week the number of w/date and @Sac increases and the baptisms are following to be sure.  One key thing I have also noted is that the finding on their own has not gone down and overall finding has increased because finding through the Members has increased. They are doing well at "Finding when you Teach" Less-actives and Part-members.  Yesterday as I sat in correlation with the Zone Leaders and Stake Presidency, it was noted that Home Teaching has increased significantly in the Porterville Stake.  

I believe what is key to Porterville's success is an attitude and willingness to be "all in", "fully invested", and completely focused on living their Missionary Purpose in a well-rounded, PMG way.  I believe love for one another and a willingness to give and receive correction are key ingredients as well.   Another way to describe this is they are becoming Consecrated in living their Missionary Purpose.  This consecration can only occur on a foundation of exact obedience and sacrifice and the three are inextricably connected.  

Now, please do not be offended.  Highlighting the Porterville Zone as an example is only meant to help you receive revelation on what you might do differently, more of, become better at, or what weapons of rebellion you should lay down to better live your Missionary Purpose and work better with Members in this great labor.  Each week when I review CFMOPPS and your individual letters for the Key Indicators, the numbers tell me a story.  The Key Indicators teach me a lot about Missionaries, Districts, Zones, and Leadership and these Key Indicators tell me that something is happening in the Porterville Zone we need to take note of and study.  To watch Missionaries consistently find in excess of our Standards of Excellence and have all the other Key Indicators increase as a result, tells me there is something great going on in Porterville and we need to learn from it.  

I love the CFM for its wonderful Missionaries, for all you do in your quest to be exactly obedient, your willingness to sacrifice, and most of all, your love for the Lord.  I truly appreciate how diligent you are and simply encourage you to learn from one another that we may all "Journey to Higher Ground" in this great Work of Salvation.  

With much love and great appreciation,

President Clark

MLC - June 2017

MLC:  These are the best leaders and it was so nice to be with them in counsel seeking to lead and guide the great CFM!  One of the great characteristics about these leaders is that they know well how to minister to the other Missionaries.  They are exactly obedient, faithful, diligent, and focused and willing to sacrifice in order to receive the Lord's choicest blessings as they strive to live their Missionary Purpose!  

Back Row, Left to Right: Elders Carnahan, Sparks, McGraw, Morales, Gray, Mederos, Muir, Frei, Biggs, Wilson, Facer, Quinn, Millburn, Sullivan, Rushton, Rogers, Keeley, Perez, Kennick, Del Carmen;  Front Row, Left to Right: Sisters Murray, Whitney, Jefferies, Jones, President and Sister Clark, Sisters Miller, Baldwin, Maxwell, Jeppesen

New Missionaries - June 2017

New Missionaries and their Trainers:  This is always such an exciting time.  They come so prepared and excited to serve.  And it is such a revelatory and confirming experience to put them in their companionships and feel the spirit confirming all is as it should be.  The Lord truly does have His hand in this work!

Back Row, Left to Right: Sisters Maxwell, Murray, Kelly, Elders Gray & Quinn, Sisters Rendon, Tompkins, Peterson; Front Row, Left to Right: Sisters Fisher, Gillespie, Va'enuku, President and Sister Clark, Sisters Burnside, Morse, Johnson

Departing Missionaries 6-2017

What an honor it is to go with the departing missionaries  to the Fresno Temple the day before they leave the mission field to return home.  To top it off, sharing dinner and testimonies at the home later in the evening is amazing.  These missionaries have such a desire to continue on with the work of "Inviting others to come unto Christ" that they will be powerful "member missionaries".

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elders Cummings, Davis, Perkins, Arebalo, Mendez, Talbot
Front Row, Left to Right:  Elder & Sister Bradshaw, President & Sister Clark,
Sister Anderson, Sister Winter

Elder Perkins

Sister Anderson

Elder Cummings

Elder Mendez

Elder Davis

Elder Arebalo

Elder Talbot

Elder & Sister Bradshaw

Sister Winter

Elder Perkins, Elder Davis, Elder Gray, Elder Quinn, Elder Mendez, Elder Talbot, Elder Arebalo, Elder Cummings, Sister Anderson

Transfer Hub 6-2017

Another "LAST".   Our last transfer hub was a success.   We completed the transfer in less than an hour, which means everyone was in or heading back to their area before 10 a.m.  Thanks to all of those who helped make this a smooth operation!  Especially the Assistants.

Elder Quinn & Elder Gray (Assistants)

We did it!  

President's Weekly - Unleashed, TDUCAB Missionaries!

Unleashed, TDUCAB Missionaries!

Dear Elders and Sisters:

It has been another wonderful week to observe the blessings (and disappointments) of you being "Unleashed" to work more diligently with LAs and PMs.  I will outline below the results in three broad categories and then provide some teaching and insight.

#1 - The "Check the Box" or "Applications" Group:  This group is largely described by the following excerpt from a Missionary Letter this week: "President, we went to visit a lot of the Less-Actives this week but they weren't interested."

#2 - The "Line in the Water but Not Fishing" Group:  This group is largely described by the following excerpt from a Missionary Letter this week: "President, we went to visit a lot of Less-Actives this week but found they have moved!"

#3 - The "TDUCAB" Group:  This group is largely described by the following excerpt from a Missionary Letter this week: "President, we went and visited a lot of Less-Actives this week.  We only found a few home but were successful in gathering their family together for a message.  They said they weren't interested but we will go back and keep teaching them.  Also, we found several Potentials when we knocked on doors and found the Less-Actives we were looking for had moved.  Isn't it great how the Lord puts people in our path to teach when we do His work His way!"

Much of my motivation to help you understand the concept of TDUCAB (True Doctrine Understood Changes Attitudes and Behaviors) is to avoid the scenario in #1 and #2, not just as a Missionary but, for the rest of your life as a servant in the Kingdom of God on earth; particularly as it relates to how you approach that life-long calling of Home and Visiting Teacher.  

Group #1 merely did what they were asked to do.  They didn't focus much on the principle (what) or the doctrine (why) of the "assignment".  While they did what they were asked to do, they essentially did so without a purpose.   They did "go and do" but they failed to "accomplish" what the Lord had commanded them.  I fear those on the other side of the door of this group did not feel inspired because these Missionaries weren't inspired in what they were trying to accomplish.

Group #2 were too myopically (narrowly) focused.  In their haste to "do" they failed to recognize that under the principle of "Find when you Teach" Less-Actives and Part Members, that may not specifically mean their family members and friends.  It may mean the Lord has prepared someone else to receive and simply put them in your path. And it may not even mean the door you knocked.  Maybe it's the one next door or down the street.  They failed to "Ask Why?" the Lord had sent them to that area.  They failed to ask; "Should I/We?" knock some doors in this area? Talk to some people nearby?  If you are largely living in Group #1 and #2, you will never have "eyes to see and ears to hear"!

Group #3 understood a couple of very important things:  First, they understood the principle of "Find when you Teach" Less-Actives and Part-Members.  They recognized their mission was to teach!  They also recognized the Lord's Hand in guiding and providing for them so when the expected Less-Actives or Part-Members were not there, because they are focused as teachers, they had "eyes to see" whom the Lord had prepared for them to teach.  They also recognize they will have to return many times so these Saints will come to know how much they care and hence will develop a desire to care about what they know - allow them to teach. 

If you go back to our TDUCAB teaching, it becomes clear that Groups #1 and #2 were living in "Applications". If you choose to always live in the "Applications", failing to understand and focus on the Doctrine and the Principles, you will "lack the spiritual anchor necessary to withstand the storms of life" (Bednar).  Remember, "The answer is always in the Doctrine and the Principles" (Bednar).  The question becomes, are the Doctrines and Principles in you?  In your heart?  

I would be very disappointed in myself as a Mission President and your teacher if I believed a CFM Missionary left this Mission not having their hearts forever changed by allowing the Doctrines and Principles of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ go deep into their hearts so they could be forever changed!  Again, True Doctrine Understood Changes Attitudes (what's in your heart and how you choose to exercise your agency) and Behaviors (what you "Do to Accomplish" the Lord's purpose)!

Please choose this day to be a great Unleashed, TDUCAB Missionary!

With great love and desires for your eternal welfare!

President Clark