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Tending to the missionary flock

A couple prepare Mormons and oversee their tours of duty around the globe.

By SHERYL KAY Times Correspondent
Published October 12, 2007

CARROLLWOOD

Having helped raise five of his own children, Kent Colton just became a surrogate parent to more than 150 young adults throughout the bay area.

In July, he became president of the Florida Tampa Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Based in Carrollwood, he and his wife, Kathryn, are helping coordinate the day-to-day activities for the Mormon missionaries from Brooksville down to Naples for the next three years.

"We're taught in the 21st chapter of John that Jesus says to Peter, 'Feed my sheep,'" Colton said. "That's what I'm here to do - feed the savior's sheep."

Colton, 63, was born into the church. His great-great-grandfather, Philander Colton, became a believer in 1840 and fought with the Mormon battalion in the Spanish-American War.

Colton served as a missionary for two years in Australia, proselytizing and performing community service work.

He has also been called to be a counselor and bishop. Most recently he was a stake president in McLean, Va. A construction consultant by profession, he has put his career on hold to focus on his work for the church.

Typically, male missionaries are 19 to 21 years old and serve for two years; female missionaries are 21 to 23 years old and serve for 18 months. Retired couples also serve as missionaries occasionally.

Every six weeks new missionaries arrive, while others go home, and they hail from all over the globe.

Currently 153 young adults are based out of Tampa, along with eight adult couples.

There is no typical day for Colton, whose responsibilities are extensive. He oversees the six-week rotation, welcoming newcomers while bidding the returnees a farewell. He gives missionaries their assignments and monitors how each is progressing in the work, as well as the individual's spiritual growth.

Most have never been away from home for a month, never mind for two years, so Colton's guidance is critical. Although there are dozens, he makes it his business to meet with each missionary at least once during a six-week period.

"I want to help inspire them, give them 'atta-boys,'" he said.

His wife, known as Sister Colton, also plays a key role. She oversees the physical well-being of the missionaries. From headaches to sprains to chronic illnesses, all problems are reported to her, and she coordinates treatment, helping secure medical appointments if needed.

"With 153 missionaries, we always have a certain amount of illnesses," she said.

Luckily there is a great infrastructure in place to assist her, she said. Locally there is always a doctor on call to give advice. And in Salt Lake, home of the Mormons, the Mission Medical Organization is staffed by nurses and doctors who also provide medical guidance.

In addition, church members who are doctors volunteer time and advice. "I have tremendous backup," she said.

After the past two months, Sister Colton said she feels "exhausted bliss" at the end of the day.

"This isn't something we've done before, so it's fascinating at this stage of our lives to be doing something that is so fulfilling where we are learning," she said. "I feel like we're doing the right thing, for the right reasons, and in the process, we're growing ourselves."

Contact reporter Sheryl Kay with any religion news at skreporter@hotmail.com or call 813 230-8788.

Fast facts

More information

For more information about the work of the Mormon missionaries, call the Carrollwood office, 13153 N Dale Mabry Highway, 961-7400.

[Last modified October 11, 2007, 08:01:21]