Local high school grad headed to Utah for two-year mission trip

High school graduate Wade Coffield of Rocky Mount is going to spend the first two years of life post high school as a missionary for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Coffield will be headed to Ogden, Utah, in September.

In addition to saving up money from afterschool jobs to fund his mission trip, Coffield’s commitment has already included attendance at a five-day-a-week seminary program held before school.

“Every morning before school, students and their teachers gather from 6 to 7 a.m. to study the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and church history,” said Lori Wynne, communications director of the church’s Greenville Stake.

In the Mormon church, a stake is a group of local congregations, or wards, that are grouped together similar to a Catholic diocese.

Wade Coffield’s mother, Sandy, said she’ll miss her son while he’s on his mission. But she’s proud of the commitment he made to serve the church and the work he’s already done in preparation for his mission.

Part of that preparation, according to Sandy Coffield, was spending the last four years getting up every morning during the week at 5:15 a.m. to go to seminary to learn more about the Mormon faith.

“It isn’t easy for a teenager to get up that early and to do it so willingly,” said Sandy Coffield.

She said completing that program showed her son’s commitment and dedication to the work ahead.

Missionaries, many of whom are young men, work together and live together.

Wade Coffield said he will have what’s called a “senior missionary” with him — someone who has been on their two-year mission for at least a couple months.

“This way, they will be able to teach me what to do,” Coffield said.

Coffield said he’s up to the challenge of working with another missionary. He said he enjoys meeting new people and making a connection.

Of the work at hand — knocking on doors, befriending strangers and sharing his faith, Coffield modestly said he’ll do his best.

“‘God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called,’” said Coffield, quoting a Christian adage based in Scripture. “I don’t think I’ll ever be fully ready, but I will try my hardest and rely on the Lord’s strength to help me.”

Wynne said the joy in missionary work is being able to make a positive impact in people’s lives, and she gave the example of helping someone turn away from self-destructive behaviors.

Coffield said he’s looking forward to having that kind of impact.

“Our goal is to be here for the people,” Coffield said.

Coffield said about 80 percent of Latter-day Saints church youth participate in missionary work.

As for why Utah, Wynne pointed out that the area has seen a rapid increase in population and popularity as a great place to live. Up until recently, a majority of residents living in Utah identified as members of the Mormon church.

Participation in missions, Coffield said, isn’t a requirement of church membership.

“None of us are forced by the church, though it is very important to the church,” he said of the work ahead.