Guest Post: Ministering

Guest Post by Kate Baxter

December 3, 2022

10:32 am  Clara Allred  Hi Kate! This is Clara Allred, your Ministering Supervisor. We just want to remind you to check in with your Ministering Sisters this holiday season. Thanks!    11:10 am  Kate  Hi Clara. I have no idea who these sisters are. Our ward has changed so much, and I’m busy with Primary. Can you tell me a little about them?2:18 pm  Clara Allred  I think they are in the new subdivision by the high school. Just send them a text or drop something off at their houses for Christmas. You can find their contact info in LDS Tools. It’s important that no one feels forgotten at this time of the year. Thanks for all that you do!!!!     

April 7, 2023

4:26 pm  Clara Allred  Hi Kate! We’re checking in with all the sisters to see how Ministering is going. How are your sisters doing? How is it going with your Ministering Companion? Let us know how we can help!!    9:18 pm  Kate  Honestly, Clara, it’s been rough. Things are really challenging right now. I haven’t met my Ministering Sisters or my companion. I dropped off loaves from Kneader’s at Christmas, but didn’t speak with them. Sorry I can’t tell you more about how they’re doing.   9:38 pm  Clara Allred  That’s okay!!! Ministering is not about monthly visits. It’s about creating connections. You can send them a text, drop a postcard in the mail, or even just say hi in the hallway at church. It’s simple. You’re doing great!!!     

July 25, 2024

10:51 am  Linda Peterson  Hi Kate. I’m your new Ministering Supervisor. We’re checking in with each companionship. With so many new sisters, we’re thinking about redoing the assignments. How are your sisters doing? Do you have any concerns?       1:36 pm  Kate  Hi Linda. I don’t think we’ve met. Welcome to the ward. As I told Clara, I haven’t had any ministering contact with anyone in the ward for a couple of years. If you guys are redoing the assignments, I’d really like to be placed with a companion and sisters I already know. I think that would make it lots easier for me. Thanks.   

July 27, 2024

2:51 pm  Linda Petersen  Hi Kate! We’re excited to share your new Ministering assignment with you. Please log into LDS Tools to see your new sisters and companion. Thank you for all the work you do on behalf of the Lord. Remember, without your loving and dedicated service, his hands are tied. 🙏    6:37 pm  Kate  Hey Linda. I just looked at LDS Tools. I don’t know my companion or the sisters I’m supposed to minister to. I asked to be partnered with people I already know. Can you please make that happen? Thanks.   

July 29, 2024

7:04 am  Linda Peterson  Hi Kate. I looked over the assignments and discussed it with Sister Jones, our new RS Pres. She and I feel that you are the perfect person to welcome all these new sisters in. I know they don’t live close to you, but remember, you don’t have to visit each month. Just an occasional text is fine.    11:23 am  Kate  I have a lot going on right now and am not sure I’m able to reach out to new people. Just sending a text every once in a while doesn’t feel right to me. For that reason, Ministering would be easier for me if I visited sisters I already know and who live by me. Could you check one more time if there’s another way I can serve? Thanks.   11:42 am  Linda Petersen  You’re over-thinking this, Kate. It’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed. ❤️ Ministering is an opportunity to get to know new sisters. As someone who’s been in our ward for a decade or more, we feel you are the perfect person to help new sisters make connections in the ward and neighborhood. Remember, Jesus doesn’t ask us to do things without preparing a way. You got this! 👍     

October 15, 2024

3:17 pm  Linda Petersen  Hi Kate! I was talking to Joanna Fairchild, one of your Ministering sister assignments, and she said you two have never met. Joanna would appreciate a call, text, or visit. Thanks.     

October 17, 2024

4:22 pm  Linda Petersen  Just a reminder for all the sisters to reach out to their Ministering assignments this holiday season. Sister Jones has challenged us with 100% outreach through December. She has a super cute refrigerator magnet scripture quote you can pick up from her house to give to your sisters. We’ve made it super easy, so don’t hesitate. We (and the Lord!!!) appreciate your service!!!     

October 28, 2024

9:11 am  Linda Petersen  Hi Kate. Just circling back. Joanna Fairchild told me this morning that you two still haven’t gotten together. Her contact info is in LDS Tools, but let me know if you need me to send it. Thanks.     

October 29, 2024

  10:52 am  Kate  Hi Linda. I’m sorry I haven’t been a good minister. Things are really difficult right now. Could you please assign my Ministering sisters to someone who has the bandwidth to reach out? Thanks.   10:50 am  Linda Petersen  So many of our sisters are already visiting extra people—are you sure you don’t have time to send one text or chat with someone in the hall? Are you asking to be removed from the Ministering Sister pool? I’ll have to talk to Sis. Jones about that.       11:02 am  Kate  Of course I want to serve and help people. Absolutely call if someone needs a meal or something. I’m happy to do things like that. It’s just hard to minister to people who don’t live by me, and I don’t know them. I can barely get through the day as it is. I feel like I’m drowning. Can we adjust the assignments?   11:27 am  Linda Petersen  I talked with Sister Jones and we agreed that we’ll look at making Ministering changes in February. The Elders Quorum made it clear that they don’t want to do anything until after the holidays. Maybe around ward conference. Thanks for all you do!!! We sure appreciate you. 🙌     

December 9, 2024

7:27 pm  Linda Petersen  Merry Christmas, Sisters! This is a reminder to visit your Ministering Sisters before the end of the year. Our goal is 100% outreach. You have just a few more weeks before this opportunity to serve our Lord this year disappears forever. Don’t miss it! 🎄     

February 12, 2025

3:41 pm  Linda Petersen  Sisters, we need everyone to sign up for a time to meet with a member of the Relief Society Presidency to discuss Ministering Assignments. Be sure to sign up using the following link. Thanks!     

February 17, 2025

8:18 am  Linda Petersen  Hi Kate. We’ve noticed you haven’t signed up for a meeting time with the RS Presidency. We’re trying to get this done this week. Here’s the link again. Thanks! 🥰     

February 25, 2025

9:22 am  Linda Petersen  Hi Kate. I signed up you for an 8:45 pm slot tonight to meet with Sister Jones about Ministering. We’re finalizing the new assignments. Let me know if that works for you. See you there!!! 👍     

March 9, 2025

8:10 am  Kara Brighton  Good morning, Sisters! I’m Kara, the new Ministering Supervisor, and I’ve got exciting news!!! Check out LDS Tools for your new assignments. Come prepared to meet your new partners and the wonderful sisters who will become your best friends! 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 See you at Relief Society!!!     

March 13, 2025

7:38 am  Kara Brighton  Good morning, Sisters! We want to remind everyone about the cupcakes we’ll have at church this Sunday in honor of the Relief Society’s birthday! Stop by Sister Jone’s house for a cute cupcake flyer to take to your Ministering Sisters. We want everyone there, so be sure to stop by. 🧁     

June 25, 2025

9:34 am  Kara Brighton  Hi Kate! We’re checking in to see how Ministering is going for you. I realized we haven’t met. Are you in Primary? Hope your day is extra fantastic!!!     

Kate Baxter is terrible at small talk, but pretty good at bringing in meals and helping at funerals. At RS events you can find her hiding in the kitchen near the desserts. She blogs about Wayfinding Mortality on her new website https://katebaxterauthor.com/.