Welcome to the Missionary Corner

Education, Training and Support
Information will be made available on missionary resources, ideas and training opportunities.  

Share Your Stories and Experiences With Others
Persons interested in the area of Missionary ministry are invited to share their experiences, testimonies and stories. 

What Are You Doing Where You Live?
Some of you will be involved in programs and/or projects that you might want to share with others across the Mission. 

Questions and Answers
Please email Shirley Smith with any concerns or questions. Your questions may be posted on the web and answers could be given on the web or personally. 

Confidentiality and Editing
We do not identify you or your group on the web unless you give permission. All articles/materials designated for the web will be edited for clarity and conciseness. 

Please send all web materials, questions and submissions to Shirley Smith. Our Canada West Mission Administrative Assistant Sandy Woynarski will receive all approved submissions for posting and coordination on the web. 

Missionary Corner Q&A

Question
What is a witnessing support group and how do we start one?
 

Answer
A witnessing support group is a small group that wants to commit to spend time in prayerful support of individual and congregational missionary witness. They desire to witness of the life of Jesus Christ and its meaning to them and will be willing when appropriate to invite others to join them in the fellowship of the Community of Christ. 

Proper training, prayer for each other’s witness and group support is essential for the group members. All ages are welcome to join a group. Usually a group consists of from 5 to 10 individuals. 

The group’s purpose is to “assist a group of witnesses in their efforts to identify people with whom they have a relationship, to grow that relationship in the Lord, invite others to join the fellowship of believers (perhaps through baptism) and nurture them to become witnessing disciples.” (quote taken from text “Can I Get a Witness”)

The group is praying for and inviting the Holy Spirit to bless their endeavors. 

The group will evaluate whether to continue or not at the end of the sixth session. If an existing group disbands, some members may want to form into another new group.

 Study Helps 

Two new and excellent group study resource texts are now available from Herald House for those interested in forming a witnessing support group as well as for persons who want to witness effectively.

• Can I Get A Witness! published by Herald House (written by Larry McGuire and Tammy Lindle). Potential facilitators of a witnessing support group will find this study text very helpful for the success of a group. It is best to have the group members study the material together for six sessions lasting about 90 minutes for each meeting.
   

• Vibrant Witness: Who, Me? published by Herald House. The contributing authors are experienced Seventies (missionaries) who share step by step what has been successful in telling our stories of God’s grace and goodness. A video/DVD is included. This is a study for those are wishing to witness but feel nervous and those who want to learn how to be most effective. There are six group study sessions which last about 90 minutes in duration.

Group members agree to pray and support each other throughout the steps of this experience.

World church has recommended that all congregations/groups try these resources to enable the congregations/groups to more successfully accomplish the “Each One Reach One “goal.

The World Church's Seventy Ministries page has an excellent list of resources available by clicking here. These resources cover a wide range of witnessing materials including how to improve your personal and congregational witness. The links on this page will direct you to Herald House, where the materials are available.

While shopping for groceries for my handicapped brother, I came across several items that were on at a special price.  Unwilling to pass by on the ones that I knew that my brother especially enjoyed eating , I soon had my two-wheeled shopping cart almost filled to capacity. A kind gentleman lifted my load into the bus for me, and I  was on my way to see the pleased look on my brother's face when he beheld the great bargains I purchased for him.  

I do not remember whether or not I was helped off the bus, but I do remember the fatigue I experienced as I neared the place where my brother lives.  As the several stairs and the rather steep ramp that led to the entrance came into view, any hope I had of getting up either of them on my own vanished. I looked up and prayed, "Oh, God, please send me an angel or something to help lighten my load - in Jesus' name."  As I took a few more steps I began to think that perhaps He decided that I would be able to manage all right without some intervention on His part. Suddenly, the door of the building burst open and a tall young man emerged.  Looking my way down the street, he exclaimed loudly,  "Hey, lady!  you look like you've got a big load there!  Let me help you." Before I could answer, he rushed over to me, took my cart, bounded up the stairs and deposited it by the door.

WOW! Praise the Lord for the "angel or something." Elaine Woinaroski

Many things have happened in my life that have affected my relationship with God, both positive and negative. I was raised in the church and with my Dad being a Priest and my Grandmother an Elder, it was always an important part of my life. I've thought a lot about what I was going to write in this testimony and I’ve come to realize that there are a few specific experiences and about four different people who have made me the person I am today.

When I was young, going to church wasn't really an option, it was just another one of those matters in which I didn't have a choice. I was baptized when I was eight years old, and the person who taught me my baptismal class was Jeanine Ward. She had a huge impact on me and my beliefs. I remember that she was the one who gave me my Book of Mormon and was always there to answer all my questions and to do her best to help me understand God and the Community of Christ. When it came time for me to be baptized, it was because of her that I was sure I was doing the right thing.

It wasn't long after my baptism that my Grandma began taking me to the Saskatchewan Reunion at the Hills of Peace campgrounds. It was those three summers that I was able to get to know my Grandma and become close with her as well as meet many new friends. When my Grandma passed away in 1998, however, I was no longer able to continue going to Reunion and I slowly slipped away from my beliefs.

In 1995 we moved to a new house in Regina and I was forced to leave behind the school I loved and my many friends. My whole life I have always had a tendency to try and make friends with everyone around me. At the new school, I tried to make friends with everyone again and I ended up making friends with a couple of people who were not very popular. It was because of this that I became one of the unpopular kids in the school, guilty by association. Here I was, someone that just wanted to be friends with everyone and be happy and no one was taking the chance to get to know me at all. I even remember coming home in tears on numerous occasions because it felt to me that no one cared about me and that I had no purpose in life.

There was also one year when I was taught Sunday School one on one by Dan Esch. I remember getting to know Dan and giving him the opportunity to get to know me. I also remember that I really looked up to him and that was a huge influence on who I became today. To this day I still look up to him and always enjoy spending time with him or talking to him about anything.

It was when the Regina youth were invited to a youth rally in Saskatoon that things started to turn around for me. It was through the Saskatoon youth that I was able to meet some lifelong friends. From this youth rally, myself and others were able to push Corleen (the youth leader) to have more youth rallies and we were all able to become very close. These youth rallies also led to the summer of 2003, the year I was able to go to Senior High Camp for the first time, as well as SPEC. Senior High Camp and SPEC were two of the most mind-blowing experiences of my life, giving me the opportunity to meet hundreds of people from the same church as me that lived all over Canada and the U.S.

For the next year, until I graduated high school, I kept in touch with all my church friends and continued to go to church on a regular basis, but nothing new was really happening to test my faith. Of course, a lot was on my mind that year as I was preparing to leave all my friends behind and move to Calgary for school, a huge step in my life. I knew God was real and I knew he was always by my side, and I even intended on continuing to go to church when I got to Calgary, but I had no idea how difficult it would really be.

Once I moved I realized that I didn't have a way to get to church and I was so focused on getting settled in that I never took the initiative to find one. It was at Labor Day Institute in September last year that I was first able to get to the church and meet some of the members. Dan Esch talked to Sandy Jensen for me and was able to arrange for her to drive me to church on a regular basis and she did so until she arranged for Jack and Bev Cargill to do it instead. The people in the Calgary church really made me feel welcome and I was slowly becoming more and more involved in the church again.

I was given the opportunity to go to Senior High Camp again this summer. This was my last year of camp and I spent a lot of it thinking about where I stand with my beliefs. Ian and Ryan Levitt taught a philosophy class that I really enjoyed and both of them were really great in helping me choose my path. Ian was even able to recommend a version of the Bible that is perfectly suited to me and my beliefs. I was also able to get to know two people who I had previously disliked, and realized that they were actually quite amazing people that I will likely be friends with for a long time. Finally, to wrap up the week, each camper was sent on a spirit walk that was so astounding and life changing, that many of the campers even came back in tears.

The most important person in my life and the biggest influence on who I am today is my dad. Throughout my life, my dad has been the only constant, the one I could always talk to about anything and could always trust to lead me down the right path. He would always let me make my own decisions, but would never hesitate to voice his opinion in the matter.  My dad is the most remarkable person I have ever met and I don't think I would have become who I am today without his help and his influence. He is the most special person in my life and I really don't know what I would ever do without him.

All of these things have led up to this point in my life, where I am truly happy and everything is finally going my way. I'm finally starting to understand where I stand in my beliefs, I enjoy where I live and I'm happy with the friends I have, and I have the most incredible girlfriend ever.  I've only been seeing Carmen for about two months, but I've never experienced anything like this before and she's become a very important part of my life. I've never been happier. All of these experiences, and many more, have shaped me into the person I am today. I am considered by many to be an eternal optimist, which is both a blessing and a curse. I have a tendency to always see the good in people, no matter who they are and no matter the first impression I get from them. I'm finally at a place in my life were I am truly happy with who I am and all that is around me. I have found God. Justin Fisher 

Greetings: My name is Kari Pucci and I am a member of the Community of Christ church. I was raised in this church in Owen Sound, Ontario. When my parents would say it was time to go to church we would all automatically go together, as that was expected. They often just told us we should go to certain church activities but did not force us. It was just a given that we would go. At the time I must admit I enjoyed most of it and did have and still do have many friendships that grew as a result of the church. I will always treasure that fact. 

As a teenager I decided I was mature and smart and needed more sleep on Sundays than I did any church activity. I started the habit on Sundays of  refusing to go with them and staying in bed as my parents left for church. I did feel a bit of guilt but I liked that rest time. The years slipped by and before I knew it I found myself living in Edmonton and married in 1991 to a great guy named Sam. 

I became pregnant a few months after we were married. My doctor gave me a checkup during my 6^th month of the pregnancy. He became very concerned that the baby would come prematurely so he ordered me to the emergency room at the hospital and complete bed rest. 

Despite my guilt for not attending church for so long I called my Dad at home in Ontario and said I wanted prayers as I was afraid that my baby would not survive. My dad notified our church in Edmonton and two hours later in a heavy snow storm two priesthood members came to my bedside and laid their hands on my head and prayed over me. The baby was born one week later at 22 weeks gestation. We all thought she wouldn’t survive because babies do not usually live at such an early stage. The baby was perfect and was named Gabriela; she will have her 14^th birthday in November. Sam and I learned to pray during that crisis and it brought us closer and pulled us through the stresses of that experience. 

As time went by we got back into the old habit of staying at home on Sundays and resting. I gradually had another full term and perfect daughter named  Dominique, who is now 11 years old. The activities and demands of parenthood made that Sunday morning of rest even more important and so we continued to stay home.

 Sam started to go through a career change and times were stressful as I became pregnant for our third daughter Julienne. This child was born in the sixth month of gestation and only weighed 800 grams. She suffered a brain hemorrhage and the doctors predicted that she would likely be wheelchair bound and would have some Cerebral Palsy. Once again Sam and I turned to prayer. Things were rough for a number of months. The miracle is that Julienne is now walking and running, talking, laughing and loving and perfect in every way but she does have mild Cerebral Palsy. Life became even busier and stressful so we went back to our old pattern on Sunday of watching TV, reading and resting.

 We eventually moved to Calgary. One rainy day I went to a resource fair at the Children's hospital in Calgary. I was trying to handle the difficult emotions around the fact that Julienne had a diagnosis that needed extra educational funding. I met four people in a display booth who ran a preschool that had been given raves by my girlfriend. The lady from the preschool talked to me in such a kind and compassionate way. She just seemed familiar to me. I asked her if the pre school was located in a church and she said it was located at the Community of Christ church. I broke down right there. I knew there was always something unique about the people who belonged to my church from my past experiences. I have always called my church the "feel good" church. I knew what I had to do after that chance encounter.

 All the past years I had been fighting the very thing needed for my family and me. A change occurred and a new beginning evolved. I became like my parents. Sam and I made the decision to go to church. We decided my kids were going to have the benefits I had growing up, with the opportunity to have a strong foundation to face life’s challenges. They could join in and participate in activities like I did. Our children are faced with peer and social pressures and many frightening temptations. I believe they need a place to go to for strength and reassurance. Church was the answer for us and so we started going and the children loved it. Julienne who is now 6 years old is singing all the songs I remember from so long ago.

 In February of 2002 I was admitted to the hospital with a massive blood clot in my lung. I was told by all the medical personnel that I was lucky to still be alive. I believe all this we experienced wasn’t just luck and I am not afraid to admit that anymore to anyone. I am not finished yet with whatever role has been laid out for me and there is much more for me to do. I took on the job as Church School director in Calgary as I wanted to help others to see the importance of teaching their children traditions, values and how to have and develop an everlasting faith. The expression "it takes a village to raise a child " is so true. My desire is that this testimony will help you to decide to let this church be your village. Your children will be grateful you took the time and effort. I thank my mom and dad for doing that for me.

 Kari Pucci now lives in Edmonton with her husband Sam and their three daughters.

"Meeting a Need in Unexpected Places" 

We usually leave our Bible (with the three standards books) and our Worship Resource Book and Power and Light Class book on the table in our hotel room. I guess that when the maids were in to clean and change sheets and towels they noticed our books and were looking at them.   

 I was alone in the hotel while my husband was away working.  The maid arrived to clean and take our garbage and asked me what the books were for.  I explained that they were for our Church resources and, of course, our Bible.  Then, she asked where we went to church and I explained that our home congregation was in Regina but when we are in B.C. we go to the Chilliwack congregation.  She wanted to know more about being able to go to those congregations. I explained we were a World Church with congregations all over the world.  As a member, when I go to church in any city with a congregation, I feel at home right away.  It is like having a family just everywhere. 

We talked about what we believe and she asked where the church was in Chilliwack and I gave the pastor’s phone number and her name, if she wanted more information. 

Then, she asked if I knew much about computers.  I explained that I knew a lot about computers. Did she need me to show her anything?  She then explained a problem they were having with their computer.  I knew right off what was wrong and explained what was wrong.  Then, I gave her a CD that would correct the problem she was having. 

I don't know why people drop into our lives the way they do, but I find it is either they are searching for what is missing in their life or they need some help that I can give them.  I don't know what will happen with the information I gave her about the church. That is up to God to grow those seeds.  However, it only goes to show that when we leave our Three Standards books out in the open, it may spark a question from someone.  I also pray that people will walk into my life if they have a need that I can meet.
BW