Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are easily identified by their black nametags. These “Elders” and “Sisters” between the ages of 18-26 serve for 18 or 24 months, away from their families and often in foreign places. To qualify as a missionary, each person must live a standard of worthiness and must meet certain health qualifications.
While proselyting missionaries make up the majority of missionaries within the Church, there are other opportunities for those who want to serve but may have circumstances that keep them from a proselyting mission. The Church-service Missionary Program allows people to bless the lives of others through missionary service while living at home. Members dedicate 8-40 hours a week to a specific assignment for 6-24 months in the area where they live.
Brother Mataumu Alisa and Sister Ann Alisa are coordinators for Church-service missions in Hawaii. They help line up members who would like to give church service with a variety of missionary opportunities throughout Hawaii. “The purpose of the Church-service Missionary Program is to provide opportunities for members to give their time to the Lord through service missions,” Sister Alisa explains. Church-service missions are not limited to young people. “Anybody who wants to serve, however how small the desire, should see their bishops and stake presidents,” she says. “The only requirements are that the person holds a temple recommend and has a desire to serve.” In Hawaii, Church-service missionaries serve in various areas teaching Institute classes, working in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission office, serving in the Bishops’ Storehouse, and in various other situations where service is needed. The Alisas assess the needs of the different organizations and the abilities of the missionaries and place them where they can best serve in the greatest capacity. For the Laie area, the Alisas help prospective service missionaries find placement at the PCC, BYU–Hawaii, and the Laie Temple.
Mission rules for young Church-service missionaries are similar to full-time proselyting missionaries in standards and dress. Stake presidents, who serve as mission leaders for service missionaries, may adapt those rules to each missionary’s needs.
To read about Elder David Bob Bailey, a service missionary currently serving on BYU-Hawaii campus, visit http://kealakai.byuh.edu/content/d-bob-uplifts-and-inspires-byuh-ohana. To watch a short video about him, visit http://kealakai.byuh.edu/content/meet-d-bob-service-missionary.
