Setting Missionary Goals with God | A How I Lead Interview with Christian McOmber

Christian McOmber is the founder of Missionary Universe—a
non-profit organization that empowers youth to learn missionary
skills early so they can support their local communities and
prepare for full-time missionary service. He works in advertising
as a creative director. Christian's writing has come to life in the
form of Super Bowl commercials, experiential activations, and more,
for brands like Pepsi, Lexus, Burger King, and NBA 2K. At church,
he has served as a ward mission leader and with the youth.
Christian currently resides with his family in Los Angeles,
California, the City of Angels. Links MissionaryUniverse.com
@MissionaryUniverse on YouTube @missionaryuniverse on Instagram
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Christian's passion for missionary work shines through as he
discusses his own experiences and the inception of Missionary
Universe. He recounts his upbringing in Seattle, where his father's
enthusiasm for missionary work inspired him. After serving a
mission in Brazil, he returned home with a strong desire to
continue sharing the gospel, despite facing health challenges.
Christian emphasizes the importance of setting ambitious goals and
maintaining momentum in missionary efforts, sharing his experience
of inviting 92 people to his homecoming talk, resulting in three
baptisms. The conversation shifts to practical advice for church
leaders on integrating returned missionaries into ward activities,
highlighting the significance of keeping them engaged in missionary
work. The episode delves into goal-setting strategies for wards,
encouraging leaders to involve youth in the process. Christian
shares a successful approach where he and the youth set a goal of
baptizing 20 people, which they achieved through consistent
outreach and support from the ward. He emphasizes the need to view
goal-setting as a partnership with God, allowing for divine
intervention in achieving these goals. The discussion also covers
the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and learning from
experiences, even if goals are not met within the initially set
timeframe. As the episode progresses, Christian shares insights on
organizing community outreach events, such as "Fishers of Men"
activities, where youth and ward members visit less-active members
to invite them back to church. He highlights the power of youth
involvement in missionary work and the impact of their enthusiasm
on the entire ward. The episode concludes with Christian discussing
his ongoing projects, including "Preach My Gospel on Film," aimed
at equipping youth with the skills needed for effective missionary
work. He encourages listeners to share this content with youth and
leaders to inspire a new generation of missionaries, reinforcing
the idea that the youth are the "battalion of the Lord" and can
achieve remarkable things when empowered. 04:50 - Introduction to
Missionary Universe 05:43 - Christian's Passion for Missionary Work
07:53 - Transitioning from Mission to Home Life 10:11 - Setting
Lifelong Missionary Goals 12:36 - The Importance of Consistency in
Missionary Work 15:38 - Tips for Church Leaders on Engaging
Returned Missionaries 18:15 - Setting Goals as a Ward 20:44 -
Involving Youth in Missionary Goals 23:38 - The Role of Youth in
Achieving Goals 25:41 - The Taggart Approach to Visiting Less
Active Members 29:31 - Expanding the Definition of Success in Goals
32:08 - The Fishers of Men Activity 36:03 - The Journey of Setting
and Achieving Goals 39:31 - Balancing Personal Life and Missionary
Work 40:39 - Engaging with the Community through Missionary
Universe 45:00 - Resources for Youth and Leaders in Missionary Work
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