Greetings to all Laity and Clergy:
My prayer is that you all had a Blessed season where we celebrated the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. Did you sing Happy Birthday to Jesus?
My hope is that you will share this article with your congregation. I would like to know what kinds of things your church is doing to accomplish outreach ministries. How are you reaching your community – both those who attend your church and those in your community who do not attend a church. Let me know if I can be of assistance. I would be glad to discuss the many ways to reach out to your community. I am also willing to visit your church if you would like for me to. Let me know.
The following is an interview with the Local Church Lay Leader of my home church, Ms. Jessie MendosaRosa. Can you identify with this?
1. Do you understand your duties as Local Church Lay Leader? Explain.
After reading the Cokesbury guideline book for Lay Leaders, I understand my role. It is a very informative book. Now I know how vital this role is to my local church.
2.What can you do to help your local church?
I think that our church needs to invest in equipment for activities for the youth such as a portable basketball goal. We must have things for the youth to do to attract them. We also need to involve them in the administrative part of the church and put them on our committees so that we can get their input.
3.What can you do to help your community?
We need to do a “needs assessment” of our community. We need to know whether people have transportation to church, for example.
4. Are you hopeful that your church and your community will be receptive to new ideas
or new approaches to old problems?
Yes, that’s the only way for progress to occur and improvement of our church and community.
5. What is the most important part of your role as Local Church Lay Leader?
Getting together with my church family and getting to know their feelings and getting together with all the other Local Church Lay Leaders so that we can discuss all the important issues that we are faced with. It is so important to communicate, to share ideas and concerns.
I am very grateful to Jessie for consenting to this interview.
I will be attending the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders annual meeting in February. The Oklahoma Conference and our conference will be hosting the event in Oklahoma City. Some of you will be assisting – many thanks go out to you.
Lay Speaking Ministries training will be coming up soon. Contact your Regional Lay Leader for the exact time and place your training will be held.
We are more than conquerors (Romans 8) – with God’s help we can accomplish much.
Let me be your servant…Sue Burgess, CLL
