LSM BROCHURE BLOG 3: Missional Results of Lay Servant Ministries: Transformational Congregations

(Previously, “The New Role of ‘Lay Speaker’”)

The purpose of this blog is to provide narrative to the “LSM Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013.  The brochure is intended for use by Lay Servants who want to fully inform their pastors, DSs or other church leaders about the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It’s a great brochure, please use it.  Please be an advocate for Lay Servant Ministries.  The brochure is available at http://tiny.cc/LSM4PNLBROCHURE

(Inside Matrix)

We often confuse input with output since we don’t have an objective test to evaluate results.  When asked how our training is going, we say “We had twenty in training this past session,” or “The really enjoyed it.”  Both are inputs.  Rather outputs would be how Lay Servant Ministries is contributing to the vitality and fruitfulness of local congregations. 

As a director, when I am fortunate to be part of a clergy gathering, Annual Conference or district events, I often ask clergy “How are your Lay Servants doing?”  While an occasional blank stare occurs, the response I strive for is (actual response) “O, nothing happens in my congregation without my Lay Servants.”  That’s output.

This Matrix (Brochure inside panels) is intended to portray the desirable missional results of the Lay Servant Ministries program.  Our course work is intended to “call” Lay Servants through the “Basic Course” and aid them in exploring it through “Discovering Spiritual Gifts.”  Note that these courses are open to all laity and would be beneficial to all congregations to have a significant team of laity who have taken these courses.

The second column lists categories of equipping Advanced Courses available in the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It is not intended that Lay Servants take them all since most gravitate to their areas of gifts, however a team of Lay Servants in the local congregation can be equipped to address nearly every facet of lay ministry need to make congregations vital and fruitful.

That brings us to the Missional Impact column, the third column in the matrix.  Wouldn’t it be great if we would ask that pastor mentioned above about how the team of Lay Servants in her congregation was doing, that he or she would say, “O, because I have a team of Lay Servants my congregation

·         “Is more outwardly focused, welcoming, hospitable, invitational and effective in witnessing.

·         “Has worship services that are more enthused and passionate leading people to encounter Christ and hear a call on their lives.

·         “Has more spiritually deepened people, becoming more Christ-like and obeying his call to love God, one another, serve the world, changing lives in Jesus Christ.

·         “Has more hands, feet and heart serving the community and the world in more risk-taking ways.

·         “Is a more generous congregation in terms of time, talent, and treasure to transform the world, near and far.”*

*Some might recognize these five categories of impact as the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” from Robert Schnase’s book of the same name.  (Abingdon Press, 2007)

Again, the emphasis of the Lay Servant Ministries program is ministry in the local congregation working in cooperation with pastors and other laity.  It is most effective when teams of Lay Servants and called, equipped, sent, and effectively deployed to achieve the missional impact of creating vital, fruitful, transforming congregations.

(Next: Lay Servant Ministries and Denominational Emphasis)