Wednesday, May 15, 2013

President's Weekly Letter #31


 …VAN EEN VERNUFTIGE MAKELIJ…
(1 Nephi 18:1)


Belgium/Netherlands Mission




MAKE IT REAL
(Part 2)

You work every day as set-apart, commissioned ambassadors of Jesus Christ and the Church.  People see the Church when they interact with you.  It is essential to learn and develop the personal relation skills of being real so you can connect with people by being: clean-cut, likable, interesting, friendly, vulnerable, humble, fun and enthusiastic and to show a little humor.  If you are these things, people will feel your happiness and be much more likely to want to spend time with you and want what you have.  Members will be much more likely to trust you with their referrals.  Mastering these attributes is a learned behavior.  Those who interact with people this way were not simply born that way; they have learned and developed these skills.  These skills are not only successful in missionary work but also are life skills for success.

Street Contacting.  You are surrounded by people every day.  They are in the street, on public transportation, in their homes, at work, etc.  Under certain circumstances every single one of them would gladly listen to the lessons.  My theory is, that due to people’s personal circumstances at the moment, a certain number of people every day in your city would listen to your message if invited.  Every day a new set of people, due to their circumstances, become willing to hear the gospel and replace those of the day before.  Our job is to contact as many people as we can so the Lord can lead us to find those who are ready each day.  Also, our effectiveness for successful contacting is greatly enhanced when we possess the personal relation skills listed above of being real.  In order to be as effective as possible in street contacting, the rules are:

·      If possible try 3 come-backs before giving up and giving the pass along card
·      Listen and think to pick the most appropriate and logical come-backs
·      Be  clean-cut, likable, interesting, friendly, vulnerable, humble, fun, enthusiastic,  show a little humor and connect with them

Always testify of our message in your initial approach.  For example, “We bring a message that Jesus Christ has restored his original church back on the earth through living prophets in our time.  May we tell you about it?” 

If the individual objects to the request, try to rebound with come-backs to give him another opportunity to agree to listen.  But, it is important to read the body language and stop before you annoy them.  If done friendly and intelligently, 3 come-backs should not be offensive. 

Come-backs must be thought out and logical.  Listening and feeling love toward them is the key.  For example, if someone says, “I don’t have time,” repeated 3 times, the logical come-backs after each objection might be:

1.     That is no problem; we will be in this neighborhood Thursday and Friday this week.  Which day is more convenient for you to visit with us?

2.     Our message will only take 10 minutes of your time and I promise you that you will find it interesting and worthwhile.

3.     May I then give you this card with our web site?  Can we drop by your house another time to set an appointment when you will have time to hear our short message?

The person may switch from “no time” to another objection such as, “I believe all religions are the same,” after the first or second come-back.  If this happens, stay logical and switch to a come-back that addresses his new objection.  For example, “Well there are certainly many religions and God is not a God of confusion.  How do you think a present day prophet could help make sense out of religion?”

We have distributed potential come-backs to the 10 most frequent objections.  Edit the come-backs to fit your personality and manner of speaking and thinking.  Then practice them and become good at using them.

Once in the House.  The theme of being real carries over from contacting to when you get in the home as well.  Being real with them helps show your happiness and peace which is a natural result from your living the gospel and which comes from our unique message.  What you have will be contagious for them to want.  This sets the conditions for them to have a meaningful experience with the spirit. 

Again it is important to connect with people.  The same attributes of human relations apply as with street contacting.  Talk about them, ask questions, laugh, and complement them, be friendly, be upbeat, be likable, smile, make it fun and be interested.  Use these attributes in the home by spending a few minutes before a lesson and follow these talking point rules:

·      See 3 things in the home that they are interested in
·      See one thing in the house about the family
·      Share something about yourself that you have in common with them
·      Get them to smile or laugh
·      Remember things you learn about them and comment about it next time you meet

Remember these are learned behaviors.  Work at it, do your best and the Lord will bless you to become a better tool in his hands.
President Robinson



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