New pre-mission training course gives added preparation for missionaries
With the age being lowered when men and women can begin full-time missionary service, taking advantage of the time to prepare is more critical than ever. For students preparing to serve while attending BYU–Hawaii, they have mission preparation classes available to them, but there was still a need for targeted training to fill the gap between the time students start their mission papers and actually leave to serve a mission.
Enter a new, non-credit, pre-mission training course available to all prospective missionaries at BYU–Hawaii.
This new course was developed by Elder Frogley, a missionary teaching in the Religion department, along with an advisory committee that includes Robert E. Quinn (professor of organizational behavior at the University of Michigan), Elder Sidney Henderson (current university chaplain at BYU–Hawaii), and BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright.
People invited to join the class include anyone who has had their first interview with their stake president to begin their mission papers, and others with bishop and stake presidency approval.
“The course was initiated by our two Young Single Adult stake presidents who encountered that difficult reality of missionaries getting very excited to serve, beginning papers, but then waiting four to five months before leaving on their missions,” said Elder Frogley. “Several mini-miracles coalesced to bring together the teaching content including media support and text that would not duplicate the “Missionary Preparation” Religion class nor be redundant to the MTC curriculum.”
In addition to building gospel knowledge and conversion, Hone Heke, a junior in supply chain from New Zealand, said, “This course helps future missionaries to become more acquainted with the resources that will be available to the throughout their missions.”
The course goals, as outlined by Elder Frogley, are:
-Deepening participant’s doctrinal understanding
-Deepening participant’s conversion as a disciple of Christ
-Learning to communicate the doctrines of Christ
-Giving prospective missionaries practical experience with missionary work
Latu Ta’ofi, a senior majoring in human resources from Tonga, said, “I think this course will help the future missionaries teach and preach the gospel with confidence and happiness, believing in everything they will share with our non-member friends and family.”
The pre-mission training class meets Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and Sunday from 6 to 7 p.m. The Sunday class is followed by 15 minutes of a mini correlation meeting with the full-time mission to involve the pre-missionaries in the upcoming week’s proselyting. The class meets in the Heber J. Grant Building room 273 (main chapel).
Students preparing to serve should ask their bishops about this course or contact Elder Frogley at crf@go.byuh.edu.