“For 180 years, we in the South Pacific have been blessed by missionaries who have come from North America and other parts of the world. We love these missionaries and are grateful for their faith in Jesus Christ and their eternal influence for good on generations of Australians, New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders.”
“And now,” Elder Jaggi continued, “it is time for us in the South Pacific to serve missions in far greater numbers. Here in our own cities, towns and villages, and also overseas. Young and senior missionaries. Stay-at-home and away-from-home.”
Elder Jaggi was speaking to Senior Missionary Coordinators from across the South Pacific, who were attending a seminar in Brisbane this week.
“At the centre of our discipleship and our missionary service is Jesus Christ. As a missionary, with a name badge, His name is close to our own name, over our heart, he said. "For those of us who currently don't have an official black badge, His name is written on the fleshy tables of our heart."
He continued: “As we seek to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ by gathering to weekly sacrament meeting, and to the ordinances of the temple, we are also invited to minister to someone we know and love, encouraging them to gather with us to the sacrament, the temple, and to the Saviour.
“Missionaries are absolutely central to the work of bringing God’s children to Jesus Christ. And we need far more missionaries serving from the Pacific Area to assist in the work.”
Elder Jaggi encouraged those interested in serving as a missionary to find information on Church websites (for example, here), and for more mature individuals and couples to talk to a senior missionary coordinator in your country.