Drew's Reviews #4 - “The Power of Everyday Missionaries”

I just finished rereading “The Power of Everyday Missionaries” by Clayton M. Christensen

Quick Take: An easy and enjoyable read. Lots of stories and examples. Great tool for anyone wanting to better at sharing their beliefs with others.

Longer Take:

I’ve started this book twice before but got distracted each time. I finally finished it, and I’m sorry it took me so long.

Clayton M. Christensen does a fantastic job of explaining why being a member missionary is essential for our spirituality and providing tools to better share our beliefs.

I served as a full-time missionary in Utah in 1996-1998 (Close to a thousand years ago). I remember being frustrated with the seeming apathy of church members towards missionary work. I thought, “I’m never going to be like that.” Well…

I don’t think I hide the fact that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I have definitely fallen into the trap of:

“The missionaries do the missionary work” and “I’m a missionary by just living a good life.”

Reading this has not transformed me into a “everyday” missionary. But it has pushed missionary work into the front of my mind and given me a genuine desire to be better. Here are a few of my favourite concepts that I am hoping to tattoo into my brain:

· Missionary work is a sure-fire way to bring the Spirit of God into your life.

· No matter how smart we think we are, we cannot know who will accept our invitation to learn more.

· Being open with our religious beliefs will NOT destroy relationships.

· Integrating religious terms into our everyday conversation is a simple way to open the door to religious conversations.

· The internet can be a powerful missionary tool if I choose to use it.

· God will trust us with missionary opportunities if he knows he can trust us to follow through.

This is an easy and enjoyable read. It will be one I read again. I highly recommend you give it a try.

Some of My Favourite Quotes:

“I have observed that when we do not magnify our callings, much of the time it is because we don’t know how to do so. Most of us are very anxious to be great member missionaries. The problem is that we just don’t know how…”

“…whatever our other responsibilities in the kingdom of God might be, we will become more successful in those callings and in our personal efforts to become pure disciples of Christ when sharing the gospel become part of all that we do.”

“…you succeed when you invite, regardless of how it turns out.”

“Because I try to use Mormon words in my normal conversations, everyone knows that these feelings are associated with our wonderful church.”

“…when I called myself on a mission again, the Spirit of God returned in my life. I invite you to do this … not because it is easy. It is hard. But it is worth it.”

“Because most investigators don’t know how to read the scriptures, pray to God, and keep the Sabbath holy, the vast majority of new investigators do not progress… When we take the time to teach them how to do these things, many more are baptized.”

“I believe that the reason these remarkable people succeeded in the face of today’s apparent indifference toward religion is that these member missionaries tried to know and follow God’s thoughts and His ways … I believe that the miracles that occurred in their lives will be predictable in our lives too – when we follow His thoughts and ways as well.”

“I have concluded that many of the roadblocks that constrain missionary work are of our own making.”