I’ve been very busy working with our full-time Mormon missionaries in our ward the past couple months and have been very impressed with all the work and effort they put in. It has been a while since I have been this heavily involved in missionary service. Some days can be very awesome and others can be very trying.
I am reminded of experiences on my mission when I meet or speak with the sister missionaries in our ward (congregation) nearly every day. There are many, many people out there who have little or no concept of who God is and who Jesus Christ is. Many people when asked say they are Christian, but when speaking more in depth they rarely pray and have little or no concept of what the Atonement of Jesus Christ is and how it applies to our lives. I have been re-ignited in my faith as to the importance of this message by actively going out and meeting people in my community and seeing the challenges they face and the struggles they have trying to rely on their own strength rather than Gods.
This week was particularly difficult for us. We had been working with a great family the past few weeks who had begun to embrace reading scripture together, coming to church, and praying as a family. The father of the home even made the comment of how different his kids were (in a good way) since coming to church. However, things changed pretty quickly when his ex-wife heard about her kids going to the Mormon church and meeting with the Mormon missionaries. Although she hasn’t ever gone to church (according to her kids and ex-husband), she was very passionate that they quit going to the Mormon church and start going to the Catholic church she was raised in. Needless to say, when the sister missionaries went to visit Rick and his kids and found out about their mother’s concerns and also that the kids and Rick wouldn’t continue on with lessons, we were pretty discouraged.
It was during times like this when I was on my mission that I reflected on the inspiring times in my life so I could stay positive. With this in mind, I thought I’d share an inspiring story from my Mormon mission in Frankfurt, Germany during the mid ’90s.
Inspiring Mormon Missionary Story
The most inspiring moment on my mission was working with a man named Herr Neuhaus. Hr. Neuhaus was an older gentleman who had lived a very rough life. When we came across him, he was very angry at God. His wife had recently passed away and he was very depressed. Life for him when we met him was drinking and smoking and staring at the TV.
I learned on my mission in Germany to be very direct and bold. That was their style over there. So when we first met him and he bellowed out that he didn’t have any interest (they all said that initially), I told him that he might not have interest, but God had interest in him.
He replied that “God doesn’t love me…” which gave me a window into his tortured soul. I immediately felt compassion for him and I feel that by the grace of God I was able to feel for Hr Neuhaus a small amount of love that God has for each of us as sinners.
I engaged him in conversation on why he thought God didn’t love him. This is when he shared with us his story of his wife dying despite all the prayers he had offered in her behalf that she would live.
That first day, we just listened mainly and I really felt so awful for him. However, I knew that through the power of the Atonement, he could be made whole again and Jesus could fill him up with love once more.
I testified of this and challenged him to read the Book of Mormon, especially the parts on the Atonement of Christ and faith. I promised him if he did this that he would feel God’s love once more.
To make a long story short, God was true to His promise to those who show faith in Him. Not only was Hr Neuhaus healed from his suffering, but he was also healed from his addictions of smoking and drinking. I felt honored when he asked me if he would baptize him, which I did on May 11, 1997.
This was the only person I baptized while I was on my mission.
When I reflect on this experience, I am once again reminded of the importance of being a witness for Jesus Christ. I have seen personally and many times have witnessed other people such as Hr Neuhaus who chose to embrace the teachings and gospel of Jesus. Their lives are renewed and the cares and struggles of this world are swallowed up in hope and deliverance.
Please take a moment and share your favorite missionary experience either as a missionary, or a pastor, or just in your daily walk with God. I think it would be very beneficial for other readers of this blog.
19 comments
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March 22, 2013 at 6:20 am
Cal
Yes, beneficial for readers like me. 🙂
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March 22, 2013 at 9:15 am
graceforgrace
Hey Cal! You’ve gotta have a missionary story. Is there a time where you’ve witnessed to someone and seen the power of Christ in their lives?
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March 22, 2013 at 9:36 am
Bob Lloyd
Hi there, I actually served in the Iowa Des Moines Mission from 2004-2006. In my first area, we were given a referral by a less active member. We went to the person’s house, rang the doorbell and the person answered the door. She said that she couldn’t talk at the time but to come back later.
I was transferred the next week and didn’t think much of it, until I heard from my old companion that what happened was this person was praying for God to help her because she felt like she needed to change her life. At the exact moment she ended the prayer, we knocked on her door!
Later on in my mission, I heard this person speak at a sacrament meeting, and she bore a powerful testimony of how Christ has helped her overcome times of temptation. It was awesome!
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March 22, 2013 at 10:16 am
graceforgrace
Hi Bob,
Great story!
It reminds me of Elder Nelson’s talk last General Conference called “Ask the Missionaries!“.
In that talk he shares a story of a guy who was praying for guidance. He was impressed to turn around and talk with the guys on the bikes. He was confused about why God told him that…but he turned around and the Mormon missionaries were riding by. He stopped them and the rest is history…
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March 24, 2013 at 7:54 pm
symphonyofdissent
My mission was such an incredible experience and filled with miracles. I served in the Russia, Novosibirsk Mission. I found that the Lord especially rewarded hard work and perseverance even though things were tough. In my first area, my companion and I were both knew to the area and had no investigators. We spent a whole transfer tracting and contacting without much success in -40 degree weather. However, by the end of that long transfer, we began to see miracles. One of the good friends of a member decided that she wanted to get baptized and asked us to teach her. Another amazing young woman showed up to our English club and was very quickly converted to the gospel. The both of them are still active, still amazing and very close friends. I am very grateful for my service to the Lord and the amazing opportunity that the mission was.
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March 25, 2013 at 1:07 pm
graceforgrace
Symphony,
Thanks for sharing the great story.
I believe that the Lord does indeed bless us for our heart-felt efforts and through our meager efforts He is able to bring to pass miracles as we recognize His hand in all things.
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March 25, 2013 at 11:56 am
Doug Dwyer
I considered converting to the Latter-day faith due in part to a very nice LDS missionary I met a number of years ago. His companion looked bored to tears but this man was so engaged and very warm. He knew a lot about evangelical Christians and used phrases like “born again” and “spirit filled” that I found very surprising. He was such a contrast to many of the books I had read about Mormons and I could not deny that I felt the Holy Spirit in this young man’s life. Mormons and Evangelicals are always shocked when they see the working of the Spirit in each other’s lives as they each believe He is exclusively their own. This man was full of Christ’s love and I would love to meet him again some day. By the way Aaron-you remind me of him and that is why I have so much respect for you.
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March 25, 2013 at 1:05 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Doug,
Wow! Thanks for the compliment. I think the same about you as well.
I remember I had been home from my mission for a year or so and went to my sister’s EV church. I was completely shocked to feel the Holy Spirit there just as strongly as I had throughout my life at various points in the Mormon Church.
I agree with you that things aren’t as black and white as we try and make them. One thing I’m also sure of is that Jesus doesn’t want us bickering about points of doctrine with each other. Rather, he would have us come together. When we have the divide between us and aren’t united, we cannot move forward and be instruments in God’s hand to bring His work to those who do not have God’s light.
Also, I didn’t realize you had considered converting to the LDS church. What was it that ultimately cause you to not go that route? Also, were you a pastor at the time?
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March 25, 2013 at 4:45 pm
Ken
On my mission back in 1980 and 81 in England we got a call from a young man who wanted to meet with the missionaries. When we met with him, at the church, we learned that he was 17 years old. We started teaching him the first lesson, and shortly into it he interrupted us. He said he already knew all of that and he said he also knew the church was true. He grew up Catholic and was the last of 3 kids. His mother so wanted to have a son become a priest, and he was her last hope of that. He studied religion at great length, and started to have questions about his own faith. His own research brought him to the conclusion that The LDS church was correct. He said that he still had some questions he needed some answers to. He started asking us questions that missionaries don’t normally deal with (far beyond the basics) He has studied and research stuff that at the time neither me nor my companion knew much about. So we arranged a meeting with a member of the church in the area who was quite well studied in church doctrine. The two had a very long conversation. He continued to meet with us, and go to a lot of church activities. We could not baptize him because he was so afraid of how this would affect his mother. I left for home about 2 months after meeting this kid. Before I left he gave me a book about English Architecture (at the time I wanted to be an architect). That book still means a lot to me.
I wondered what ever happened to him, I tried to see if I could find him on facebook or something. His name is Simon Hewitt. When I put that name into facebook I got literally hundreds of people with that name in England and had no way to narrow my search. I would still love to know where he is today.
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March 25, 2013 at 6:37 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Ken,
Thanks for sharing this.
I also have wondered about people I taught while I was on my mission. The thing is that we never know who has already met with missionaries and how God used us to help with their spiritual progression.
The story that I shared in this blog initially came to pass from the fruits of another missionary’s labor in that I looked up Hr Neuhaus in our area book that had all of the investigators who had previously been in contact with missionaries. So at some point, Hr Neuhaus was touched by an unknown missionary.
I’m sure it happens a lot.
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March 26, 2013 at 7:27 am
Cal
Thanks to everyone for the stories.
Doug said, “Mormons and Evangelicals are always shocked when they see the working of the Spirit in each others’ lives as they each believe He is exclusively their own.”
Boy, does that ring bells! So true. Back before I realized Mormons were Christians, I had some interesting encounters with LDS missionaries who began to brake up the hardness of heart that I had toward them.
I can imagine one particularly who seemed to genuinely care about my spiritual state. It was hard for me to dismiss his apparent concern.
One missionary was very giggly and happy. I remember it bothering me a bit because I figured I was supposed to be the one with the joy of the Spirit in my life, not him!
Another time, an LDS Bishop came with the missionaries. He had been evangelical before becoming Mormon. They showed me a film designed to convert me to faith in Jesus Christ. I prayed during the film, Help me, Lord, not to be insulted by their insinuation that I’m not already a Christian. After the film I said, “That was great!” The bishop looked at me intently and said, “You love Jesus, don’t you, Cal?”
Bingo! A connection! However, the missionaries couldn’t see what he saw. One of them said after our last meeting that he was shaking the dust off his feet. In Mark 6:11 (NIV) Jesus says, “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
I prayed, Lord, give me more grace!
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March 26, 2013 at 9:10 am
Doug Dwyer
I was in my mid 20’s at the time and no I was not a pastor-I was a computer programmer! I did not convert because, while there were many things I admired, I did not accept that the Latter-day Saint faith was the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe that any church organization can lay claim to being the true church. Instead I believe there is a visible and invisible church. The visible church is the ecclesiastical organizations and church membership rolls from different denominations and movements. The invisible church is the true church and is comprised of those who have truly been regenerated and filled with the Spirit of God-they may be Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Mormon, Presbyterian-it does not matter. They are the ones who truly know and love God. Our churches are filled with people who have religion but do not have a relationship with the Lord-and in the end that is all that matters. Like the old saying-just because a mouse is in a cookie jar doesn’t make him a cookie. I believe there will be Mormons, and Catholics and Presbyterians and Baptist (and so on) who will hear those chilling and tragic words-“I never knew you…depart from me…” I realize this is probably a very different understanding of what the church is from many of you.
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March 29, 2013 at 7:47 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Doug,
I agree with you about what you said about having “church” in our hearts and whole heartedly agree with you about your thoughts on people of all denominations being in heaven.
Where I may disagree with you is that I believe that there needs to be both the spiritual conversion along with the outward ordinances of baptism, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc. I think I wrote a post a while back about how believing in Jesus without being baptized is like living with someone and not being married.
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March 27, 2013 at 6:38 am
Cal
I could not have said it better, Doug.
I’m reminded of something I read in an Ensign magazine that said if someone goes through the motions of being baptized in water and having hands laid on them for the gift of the Holy Ghost but does not repent in their heart, the rituals do no good.
Based on that, the LDS recognizes the concept of a visible and invisible church, but unlike us, they believe the invisible church is confined to their church organization.
But then there are Mormons like our precious friend, GraceforGrace, and perhaps Ken and others, who are bridging the gap for the glory of God!
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March 27, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Doug Dwyer
Hey Cal! Now that you mention it-I seem to recall that article as well. Thanks-and to everyone a Happy Easter (or as I like to say: Happy Resurrection Day!)
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March 29, 2013 at 7:47 pm
graceforgrace
Happy Easter to you all as well!
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March 30, 2013 at 8:39 am
Cal
Love you guys!
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May 26, 2013 at 8:14 am
Mormon Missionary Moment: You May Not be Interested in God but He is Interested in You | Grace for Grace
[…] is an article I wrote that was published in Meridian Magazine this month. It was inspired from an article I wrote on my blog a couple of months […]
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May 26, 2013 at 8:18 am
Missionary Moment: You May not be Interested in God but He is Interested in You | Wheat and Tares
[…] an article I wrote that was published in Meridian Magazine this month. It was inspired from an article I wrote on my blog a couple of months […]
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