Filipino Missionaries Continue Missionary Service Through Social Media

Full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leave their homes, families, and friends for at least 24 or 18 months to serve wholeheartedly in inviting people 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.”

On normal days, their activities consist of personal and gospel study, planning, and about eight hours or more of proselytizing outside their apartments, finding, meeting, helping, and serving others.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought certain limitations to the proselytizing activities of the missionaries all over the world. Nevertheless, thanks to technology, missions have introduced a new and still effective way for missionaries to teach the gospel.

Digital Technology and Missionary Work

In the Philippines, missionaries under the guidance of their mission presidents, are now using social media as a tool to reach out to people and share the gospel. Equipped smartphones with Internet connectivity, missionaries as young as 18 and 19 years old are using creative ways to share about Jesus Christ, His restored Church, and messages of hope, peace, and love.

Instead of walking on streets and knocking on doors, missionaries in 23 missions are using social media, particularly Facebook, in finding people to teach.

And the new method proved to be just as effective as doing out-of-home proselytizing activities when doing missionary work.

Using digital technology is not only limited to missionaries using smartphones. In some mission areas where Internet reception is unstable, the use of cellular phones is just as effective.

Philippines Cebu Mission

Strict quarantine protocols did not stop missionaries serving in the Visayas area from achieving success. In June alone, they were able to find and teach individuals about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of them have accepted and joined the Church through baptism.

Elder Ryan Almosara and Elder Romeo Du, Jr. never thought that they would be able to find success using digital technology when teaching. Although the experience is different from what they were used to doing before the pandemic, Elder Almosara shared that his faith was further strengthened as they taught Isagani Salimbot, a person interested to learn more about the Church.

“I remember the feeling of joy, comfort, and peace. Little did I know that my desire to help Brother Isagani to come unto Christ also helped me to be more converted unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” shared Elder Almosora as he recalled their time teaching Salimbot virtually.

According to mission companions Sister Angelou Revil and Sister Armel Lugod, all their missionary lessons were conducted virtually, such as when they taught a young man Dennis Vergara from Capitol, Cebu City

Teaching the gospel in a virtual setting is just as effective in helping families and individuals feel the presence of the Holy Ghost. Elder Hugo and Elder Galapin, assigned in Lutopan, Cebu, were able to help Fanny Pastor feel the Spirit each time they taught her. They shared that Pastor became more appreciative of making Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father a part of her life since she converted to the Church.

With the direction of their Mission President, President Abenir Pajaro, the missionaries of the Philippines Cebu Mission find success in this pandemic outbreak. They are allowed to teach someone on social media through their smartphones and even proselyte through Facebook and messenger. Last month, June 2020, they were able to help 4 individuals to come unto Christ through the waters of baptism and became a member of the church.

When asked what strategies they used, the Missionaries assigned in the Capitol site area shared that they use Facebook video call when teaching. Sometimes they would also use regular phone calls to follow-up with families.

Referrals from Church members and using following Facebook pages in their assigned areas were effective in helping them connect with people. They shared that they have found more people willing to learn more about Jesus Christ online.

Elder Hugo and Elder Galapan shared that the pandemic is not the reason to stop the work. Rather, it is an opportunity to try new things to further missionary work.

Philippine San Pablo Mission

Elder Valdez and Elder Solis, shared that at the onset of the pandemic, it was challenging for them because the people they were teaching did not have load on their phones. However, when they were issued smart devices, finding people to teach became easier. They just log on to Facebook Messenger and connect with people.

They shared that connecting with people they teach is easier and faster. “We can say that teaching the gospel now through gadgets is easy because we can contact them any time,” they said.

Both Elders expressed that the pandemic is not a hindrance to helping people learn more about Jesus Christ and His gospel. They are grateful that they are still able to do their missionary service in the confines of their apartment.

Meanwhile, Elder Ballena and his companion shared that before the pandemic came, it was easy for them to show to the families they teach their commitment in helping them learn, understand, and accept the gospel.

When they started using smartphones as their missionary tool, they were still able to do quality teaching.

“It was difficult for us to do our work at first because we could not go out of the house and visit families in their homes. However, the pandemic should not be a hindrance because I know that God will always be there to help me,” Elder Ballena shared.

Philippines Quezon City North Mission

Social Media is not just an effective tool in finding people to teach. As what Sister Lao and Sister Samson experienced, digital technology has allowed them to coordinate with members and local Church leaders.

Because they are currently handling two wards (congregations) due to a lack of missionaries, it was a challenge for them to find people to teach for both areas. Through the help of the local leaders and members, they were able to connect with William Biag who was scheduled for baptism but was not followed up.

They reviewed the lessons and had his baptismal interview conducted through a phone call. Soon after, Biag was baptized into the Church.
 

“Our faith was really put to the test,” shared Sister Lao and Sister Samson. “It was daunting at first. We didn’t know anyone in the ward and all we had was the area book and Bishop's contact number. But the Spirit was so strong because we were determined to do what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ asked us to do. It helped us to become more diligent because we were handling two wards.”

Companions Sister Rasalan and Sister Acob expressed that smartphones and social media really helped them in their missionary work. For them, telecommunications technology paved the way for them to help people learn about God’s plan for His children.

“Although it was difficult for us, we did not let it hinder us from trusting the Lord. He has a plan for us,” they said. By putting their trust in Heavenly Father, they were able to find people to accept the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through baptism.

Aside from reaching out to people, missionaries have started using Facebook Messenger group chat to coordinate with fellow colleagues. Through their connection, they were able to make follow-ups with families taught by previous missionaries.

By using their cellular phones, they retaught families and individuals and prepared them to make new covenants by entering the waters of baptism.

Missionary Work Continues

Despite the pandemic driving people to say safe inside their homes and to avoid physical gatherings, it is not a hindrance for the missionaries and members of the Church to link arms and reach out and care for others by sharing the Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.