Lay Ministry
 
I have always had a strong passion to see ordinary men and women develop all their talents and gifts for the Lord whether or not they are paid as a minister. For the past 40 years I have done many things to develop and equip strong lay pastoral care and lay counseling programs in the USA, Russia, Norway, Singapore, etc. Over 200,000 men and women have bought our books, taken our seminars and moved boldly into special ministries of care, counsel and healing.
 
After all these experiences I have some insights. 

• Any pastoral leader who attempts to provide personal counseling and personal pastoral care to his/her congregation will fail to develop a growing, healthy church.
• Pastoral leaders have very little ability to change, influence and stimulate members to grow. Our influence has an effect only when we are in tune with the Holy Spirit. Most of what preachers, teachers, counselors and pastors say in our attempts to influence others is wasted, lost and useless.
• If leaders would learn some simple tools of the trade that all professionals counselors know they could prevent burn out, family conflicts, overwork, anxiety, fear of the board members, etc.
  There are simple biblical principles we can learn to help us improve our influence. Most Christian leaders fear one of the most important signs of impending change though the  influence of the Holy Spirit and our efforts. The key to effective influence is: 

Looking for and Welcoming Complaints! 
 
Complaints do not mean the member is upset; nor is it a request for us to act on the Complaint. It is simply a sign that there is
 
Conviction by the Holy Spirit. Conviction always makes us uncomfortable and so we complain.
 
Beg the Lord for Complaints!
Look for Complaints.
Rejoice in Complaints! 
They mean He is at work.
  
Out of our beliefs are born deeds;
out of our deeds we form habits;
out of our habits grows our character;
and on our character we build our destiny.
Henry Hancock

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This Fall I will be teaching a series of lessons on leadership, influence and lay ministry. There are hundreds of seminaries in the United States, all of which are designed to train professional clergy. For every full time, ordained clergy person there are hundreds of Christians. Yet, there are few if any places lay men and women can go to get trained in the practical skills of ministry.

This is my attempt to "Equip equippers to equip the saints to DO the work of the ministry". It will be for----

Sunday school teachers
Small group leaders
Community workers with the poor
Lay pastors
Lay counselors
Evangelists
Adult teachers
Administrators

We will help you define your call, gifts, talents, passion and ministry. We will teach you how to deal with Complainers and help them stop complaining about the same things all the time.

So, hang on and we will let you know when and where we shall meet.