Sister of Online California Santa Rosa Missionary Drums Up Traffic for LDS Online Missionary Pilot Project

Kaylie Jean Hancock shared her feelings and a letter the family received about her brother Elder Nathan Hancock's new assignment as one of the LDS Online Missionaries.  Kaylie Jean sets a good example of what people should be doing on their personal blogs which is drumming up business for the missionaries. I see several of her followers are now following her brother too. Check out her post and her brother's blog Strength in the Storms of Life.

I was especially glad to see the outstanding letter that President Jon Bunker of the California Santa Rosa Mission sent out about the purpose of his missionaries blogging. It was nice to see his mention of my post on his missionaries:

Dear Parents,

Eighteen missionaries in the California Santa Rosa Mission have received an assignment to work on the Internet daily as a proselyting missionary for one to two hours per day. Their purpose is the same as any missionary which is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. They will use social networks, blogs, chat, and other powerful communication tools the Lord has provided through the Internet to accomplish this assignment.

We are sending this letter to let you know that your missionary son or daughter has been given such an assignment. Please do not use your missionaries’ Facebook page for communications about home, family, or other items that will detract from their sacred work and calling. It is because of your missionary’s obedience, spiritual maturity, and earned trust that he or she has been given this assignment. Please do not do anything that would detract from their work and devotion to the Lord and to their mission. You and loved ones should continue to communicate with your missionary only through the current established policies, which is weekly by email or by the US Postal service.

If you want to read more about what the Church is doing and who is involved go to this blog address: http://mormonmission.blogspot.com/2010/10/officially-blogging-missionaries_09.html.

We are excited to start this new assignment. We pray for the Lord’s guidance as we begin learning how to best proselyte online. I am confident our missionaries will be obedient and diligent as they communicate with investigators and members in their areas, and by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ with people throughout the world. It is our belief that this is one way that the gospel will fill the earth more quickly.

 Thank you for your understanding and in assisting your missionary from home in their sacred assignment.

Sincerely,

 President Jonathon W. Bunker California Santa Rosa Mission

It is interesting that parents and friends need to be reminded not to overwhelm the missionary with distractions from home but to actually help them in the cause of sharing the gospel.  I would like to see more people feature individual missionaries on their blogs so investigators and interest members can use the online missionaries more effectively.  Kaylie Jean is one of the first people to take up the cause. I hope dozens of more bloggers will feature some of the missionaries.