The Lord is in the Details

Ft. Worth Area Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Celebrates President and Sister Chapman’s Legacy of Service.

A crisp white shirt and tie. A modest church dress. A black name tag. A smile and a friendly handshake.

If you’ve ever met a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then you might be familiar with the unique and lovely way missionaries go about their day, sharing messages of love, hope, and teachings about Jesus Christ.

Missionaries serve together in pairs—whether they are young adults or married couples—and are part of a vast network. Young men and women and senior-aged couples volunteer to serve for 18-24 months and are called to serve in one of the 400 missions worldwide. Currently, there are 195 missionaries serving in the Ft. Worth area ranging in age from 18 to 75 years old, and the Fort Worth mission area covers the geographical area from the Oklahoma/Texas border to Cleburne and from DFW airport to Stephenville.

Leading the Texas Fort Worth Mission are Jeffery G. Chapman and his wife, Kristi Ann Chapman. For the last three years, their leadership has been a blessing in the lives of countless missionaries, church members, and the community. As they prepare to be released from this calling (mission presidents are asked to serve for three consecutive years), we reflect on their legacy of service and what it means to serve the Lord.

Meet the Chapmans

Missionary work is what first brought President and Sister Chapman together. They met as young missionaries serving in West Virginia and have been married since 1984. They primarily raised their family in Boerne, Texas, and Rexburg, Idaho, and have five children and three grandchildren. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they’ve devoted their lives to the service of others and have served in various capacities within the church, including Bishop (pastor), Sunday School teacher, and many various callings with children and teens.

During their married life, they lived throughout Utah and San Antonio, Texas. During their time in San Antonio, President Chapman worked as a teacher with the Church Education System working with the Seminary and Institute programs. They developed a strong love for Texas and it made a big impact on their lives. President Chapman also worked for the Religion Department at BYU-Idaho. At the beginning of a fall semester in Rexburg, Idaho, he received a calling to serve in Texas.

Through prayer and revelation from God, mission presidents are selected and called to serve by the First Presidency of the Church. The Chapmans had an introductory meeting with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and later received a call to serve from President Henry B. Eyring.

“It is amazing, you’re kind of in a fog. You can’t believe this is happening, there’s no preparation for it. You don’t put any papers for it and we didn’t apply for it,” said Sister Chapman. “Somebody mentions your name, and you end up on the list and by the time they talk to you, they have already prayed over your name…It is very humbling.”

The Lord is in the Details

The Chapmans arrived to the Texas Fort Worth Mission in late summer 2019—mere months from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They immediately got busy directing the work of individual missionaries across the large mission area that spans from Waco to Denton, Bedford to Weatherford and beyond.

On a day-to-day basis, President and Sister Chapman assume responsibility for each of the missionaries assigned to their area. For example, individual missionaries arrive and depart at approximately six weeks as they begin or conclude their 18-24 month service. Each missionary is personally attended to, orientated to the mission environment, and then assigned to a companion.

“One of the things [I’ve learned] is how much the Lord is involved with the work. Sister Chapman helps me, and we get help from assistants, but ultimately there are changes and adjustments because I am trying to listen to what the Lord wants, and He moves the missionaries right where they need to be,” said President Chapman.

“At moments, you think: ‘How did we know that?’ Well, we didn’t know it. The Lord knew it, and the missionaries end up being where they’re supposed to be.”

The Lord’s Work Never Stops

While balancing various responsibilities as a newly called mission presidency, one of the first projects the Chapmans took on was the adoption of social media in the mission.

“We knew our missionaries were supposed to use social media and that we were supposed to use Facebook, but it wasn’t widely used [for missionary work], and they didn’t know what to do,” said Sister Chapman. “We started to do some training and the missionary department had a little bit of it so we asked: Can we be a pilot? Can we try to do more social media?”

The Chapmans said that once they started having the missionaries use social media, they realized how the Lord was preparing the way for His work to continue during a pandemic and a time of social distancing.

“We never thought our missionaries would use social media to the extent they are using it now, but [during the pandemic] that’s all they could do,” said President Chapman. “To see the Lord’s hand in that made us look back in time when Elder David A. Bednar spoke about sweeping the earth with goodness and the gospel through social media, and we just kept trying to make that happen.”

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chapmans describe the unique challenges they encountered as they led the missionary work in the area. They said it was hard on the young missionaries to not go outside on a regular basis. They also had a large departure of missionaries who had to leave their missions and a continual influx of new missionaries feeding into the Fort Worth mission.

“It seemed impossible at first…but at the same time, we kept moving forward and knew that it would all work out,” said President Chapman. “We witnessed the amazing way the Lord works…the missionaries kept coming, so the missionary work never stopped. Even when missionaries were moving around, it actually never even slowed down. We kept receiving more and more missionaries, and it was incredible. The Lord’s work never stopped.”

Piloting the Future of Missionary Work

In addition to launching the use of social media in the mission, the Chapmans have embraced another pilot program, the Life Help initiative, which provides free life skills classes for the community.

“Their leadership has been groundbreaking, and I believe their acceptance to be part of pilot programs and also the way they used social media during the pandemic will have lasting effects on missionary work for the whole church as well.”

–Janae Baird, wife of President Cris Baird, First Counselor of the Texas Fort Worth Mission

Christ’s Love in Action

As their time in the mission continued on, the Chapmans continued to move the work of the Lord forward and care for the missionaries, who were often far away from home. 

Sister Chapman describes the ways they tried to support the missionaries, especially when they couldn’t meet in person due to social distancing requirements. She said they would message them, use Facetime and schedule a lot of Zoom interviews. The Chapmans also reached out to BYU-Idaho colleagues and friends and scheduled Zoom meetings for every Thursday morning. During one meeting, the prolific author and speaker, Mary Ellen Edmunds, was able to teach and provide encouragement. Several stake presidents, including President Growald, of the Hurst Texas Stake, joined the meetings to uplift and support the local missionaries.

“To know President and Sister Chapman is to love them. From the moment I met them, they drew me towards Jesus Christ. I genuinely think that one of their greatest gifts is to radiate and reflect our Savior’s countenance. Any moment spent with them is filled with joy and light. They actively live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and watching their example has helped me grow and develop as a missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ,” said Sister McNaughtan, a Texas Fort Worth Missionary. “Their influence has touched me to the core. I know that God called them to this mission to be effective instruments in his hands, and that is exactly what they have been. Through the sleepless nights, long hours, and various challenges they faced, they joyfully gave their all. I will forever cherish the lessons I learned from President and Sister Chapman.”

As President Chapman reflects on his time of service, he affirms that there are many different ways to serve the Lord and gather the House of Israel. He says that the Lord has a purpose for all young people, especially those that experience fear, emotional or social anxiety. He wants every young man and young woman to know that:

“If you have a desire to serve God, you are called to do the work and there’s a place for you to give and to do his work.”

“It was such a wonderful experience to serve under the direction of President and Sister Chapman,” said Sister Locke, a Texas Fort Worth Missionary. “They were such amazing mission leaders, always giving us inspiring new ideas to utilize in our areas, and motivation to keep going when things got tough! They always encouraged us to build our testimonies and really dive into the scriptures in order to build our testimonies and be more effective at bringing our brothers and sisters to a greater knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.”

A Sweet Farewell

As President and Sister Chapman conclude their mission, they have mixed feelings, especially because they loved their mission and the missionaries. They are excited to see their families and parents and spend time with their friends and family. They also look forward to reconnecting with their ward family in Rexburg, Idaho, where President Chapman will return to teach at BYU-Idaho. They look forward to coming back to visit in Texas, especially once the newly-announced Fort Worth Temple is built and dedicated. “Serving with President and Sister Chapman has been a privilege. They truly are the most loving and Christlike leaders. They always want what is best for those they are around and interact with. They lead with love, faith, patience, and a desire to do God’s will. I have loved being able to learn from President and Sister Chapman. I have grown spiritually, mentally, and emotionally as I have heeded their counsel. I am grateful for the support that they have provided at all times. They are an amazing example of love for the Lord and His work,” said Sister Kilgore, Texas Fort Worth Missionary. “I know that President Chapman was called by God to lead the Texas Fort Worth mission at this time. They have blessed so many, and I feel honored to be one of those people they have blessed. The Texas Fort Worth Mission is going to miss them dearly, but we know they have more lives to bless back home. We love them!”

As the Chapmans prepare to leave the mission, they are excited to welcome Jarom L. John as the new Texas Fort Worth Mission President and his wife Jamie Joy John.

“It will just be a wonderful new dynamic; the mission will run, will adjust and grow with the new energy the Johns will bring,” said President Chapman.

While they return to Idaho in July, the lasting impact of their service will be felt by many missionaries for the years to come.

---

Epilogue: A Few More Farewells

“President and Sister Chapman have been such a blessing to the Texas Fort Worth missionaries and everyone who serves with them. There is no question that they were called to serve at “just such a time as this”. We marvel at the inspired way they led the mission through a Covid pandemic, the passing of two outstanding Elders, and the change to the Fort Worth mission boundaries. It is apparent, in all things, that President and Sister Chapman are devoted to building the Kingdom of God and bringing people to Christ, on both sides of the veil [on Earth and in Heaven.] We have learned how to be better disciples of Christ through their faithful examples. They both have such positive attitudes and show such kindness and love to every person they meet. We will forever treasure the time we have had to serve with President and Sister Chapman, and we know they will continue to be a great blessing to many people. We love them dearly!“

–Elder and Sister Stewart, Office Missionaries

“I have loved serving under the direction of President and Sister Chapman! They have taught me how to truly become a joyful disciple of Jesus Christ! They are great examples of showing Christlike love to anyone and everyone you meet. I am eternally grateful for all that they have done for the Texas Fort Worth Mission and for all of the lessons I have learned from the example that they have set!“

–Sister Pela

“It’s been such a blessing serving closely with President and Sister Chapman! The more time we spend with them, the more we feel and recognize the love they have for Jesus Christ. Sister Chapman is amazing; we trusted her with anything, so many times, we would call or text Sister Chapman to hear her thoughts about different circumstances. She is so kind and has the purest desire to do good and walk righteously. Sister Chapman is an outstanding leader. President Chapman is a role model to both of us. We would watch him handle situations with so much patience, faith, and love. President often allowed us to make decisions, it was super special to know the trust he had in us and what we would decide. Many times we would think we have a good idea or plan, and the President would subtly share his thoughts, and every time he was exactly right! Both of the Chapmans were great examples in allowing the Holy Ghost to be the ultimate teacher and leader. They would always tell us to pray and seek guidance from the spirit. No words could describe serving in Texas with President and Sister Chapman, it was truly a miracle being with them. We love them so much!“

–Elder Christensen and Elder Anderson

“Over the past 9 months of getting to know President Chapman, there is one thing that stands out in my mind! Pure love. He has always just loved missionaries and cared so much for individuals. You can truly see the countenance of Christ in him! He has truly been an instrument in the hands of God to lead this mission. Although at times, I questioned certain things we were asked to do, as I followed his counsel, I have come to know he is truly called of God and his words of counsel and action are the Lord’s! I have seen the mission culture changing and progressing ever since I got here. And I thank him for who he is and who he represents. May we all strive to have greater faith in the Lord’s chosen servants, that we may learn the ways of the kingdom and be exalted on high!“

–Elder Finlinson

“President and Sister Chapman are so awesome. It has been such a joy to serve around this wonderful pair over the last (almost) 2 years! Sister Chapman is so caring and passionate about the Lord Jesus Christ and who He wants us to become. President Chapman might be the most loving and compassionate man I have and possibly will ever meet. I’ve been so blessed to get to know them both just a little over our service together and I am so grateful for their examples to me on how to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.“

–Elder Johnson