Ministry: it’s not just for clergy

BY KRISTEN HARLIN

Just because we are now five districts does not mean we have less land to cover or fewer disciples to make. In our district it does not mean there will be less to do, that is for sure.

We always need more volunteers. I have never attended any UMC event where I heard we have way too many volunteers.

Lay leadership takes us all. Some districts may opt to have two lay leaders and maybe two lay servant ministry directors. With the amount of area being covered and number of churches, this will be needed.

If you do not feel like your gifts are being utilized, have you reached out to your district lay leader or district superintendent to let them know? District lay leaders are available for you to utilize as laity. That’s why the Book of Discipline requires it to be a position with every District Superintendent.

If you have not reached out, please do! There are many ways to get involved. Also, please make sure you have correct information in Brick River and with your district office. We cannot reach you if we don’t have your information.

You never know what just making yourself available can do!

District events started up this year with District Gatherings. For some districts this had not happened since 2020. There were training courses and business meetings to which each of you were invited to. These taught laity about vital roles in their church.

Have you ever been asked to do something at church and you did not know where to start? These trainings help with how to be on trustees, finance, SPRC, lay leader, but they also give us the opportunity to expand our connectionalism.

Connectionalism has been the most helpful thing to me to come from these events. The relationships I made at the events allow me the opportunity to pick up my phone to call, text, or email someone in the connection to ask a question.

I have friends in every district that have valuable knowledge. I check in with them from time to time to catch up or to pick their brain about how to do something.

Have you attended a District Lay Servant Ministries Training? If you have not, just go to one class and see if you can leave without a new friend, being fed by the Holy Spirit, or having a new skill. I have attended in other districts to be taught and to lead classes. You do not have to attend in your district, you can attend anywhere in Oklahoma. I encourage you to do this. Check the OKUMC website for more information.

The new Northeast District will be hosting two training courses in the fall one in August which will be an overnight retreat at Egan and one in September in the Tulsa area. I may or may not be teaching a class and trying to recruit more helpers.

Do you want to know more about Lay Leadership? Lay Servant Ministry Trainings are the place to not only gain some knowledge, but you will also learn how to get plugged in and where you can use those gifts you may discover you did not know you had.

In Council Oak, we have a list of Certified Lay Speakers and Lay Servants who fill pulpits each week across the district and helping neighboring districts so pastors can have respite or if they have an emergency and their church does not have someone who likes to speak, then they are covered. Some phone calls happened Saturday night after 10 p.m., and the list still showed up. I enjoy visiting other churches to meet new people and how they are doing mission in their community.

Have you attended camp or volunteered at one of our missions and ministries? If you have not, I encourage you to read your Pre-Conference workbook. Find one that speaks to your interests then get connected.

Do you know where to get started? Get with your pastor or missions team at church to invite some of the mission and ministries to come visit you at your church. Despite what you have heard they will not just ask for money. They will in fact have hands-on opportunities for you.

Project Transformation had Facebook posts just this week looking for more help for people to read to children, serve in kitchen, provide dinner, snacks, or drinks. They host over 150 children in four sites, I bet there is one in or near your new district. Call 405-530-2000 and talk to Marla Lobo.

CJAMM sent out emails just last week needing help with New Day for volunteers to assist with camp. This seems like too much of a commitment? What about delivering household items, clothing or food to the Exodus Houses to help those re-entering society? Providing a meal to a Redemption Mission? cjamm.org

Cookson Hills needs assistance with many things also. They have volunteer days where your church can volunteer for a day and they will have projects for you to do.

Camps need paid employees, but they also need leaders to volunteer just a few days of their time. You cannot this summer? You’re already booked? Great news, in the off seasons camps need help too, making sure the camp stays in great condition.

Are you looking for a way to help or get involved? Check the Contact, okumc. org, and Facebook. I run the Council Oak District UMC Laity Page and post things for churches and volunteer opportunities for our mission and ministries. If you look on OKUMC.org, it will give you contact information for lay leaders, connectional ministries, district superintendents. Call the ministry center and they will point you in the right direction.

When I say we are connected I mean it. Connectionalism is what we do bestwhen we communicate. I am truly a life changed by connectionalism. I am not a cradle United Methodist. My husband and son are.

In 2008 my pastor said I needed to attend this class. It was the basic class to become a lay servant. After the class I took a certified laity class. What I found from this is it was not just training I learned more about faith, discipleship, connectionalism and gifts are given from God to equip us to serve.

Since the class I have served in numerous ways within the connection and have many friends. Our family moved across the state in 2012, we immediately found a UM church and were able to plug in .

My husband Kerry and son Chandler (13 years old) are certified lay servants and I am a lay speaker. We love the connectionalism! We have been to churches all over the state to participate and assist in ministry work.

Kristen Harlin is the District Lay Leader for the Council Oak District and will be part of the Northeast District.