By Melvin
Basic training equips lay pastors with enough principles and skills to get started. Ongoing training builds on the basics. But there’s nothing like on-the-job experience to open our ears, eyes, heart and mind to advance learning. The task of tending a mini flock of brother and sister church members is more complex than we think at the beginning. This is because life situations fluxuate, emotions are roller caster-like, and spirituality zig zags… for both lay pastors and their people. Hence the need for the following ministry-enriching alphabet soup for lay pastors.
A– Accept persons equally
B– Bond with your people
C– Communicate meaningfully
D– Depend on God
E– Encourage always
F– Fulfill commitments
G– Grow daily
H– Hear feelings
I– Identify spirituality
J– “Just do it”
K-Keep confidences
L-Love (verb and noun)
M– Manager difficulties
N– Notice body language
O– Offer your true self
P– Pray fervently
Q– Quit? Never!
R– Raise spirits
S– Stay in touch
T– Take responsibility
U– Understand pastoring
V– Value relationships
W– Work hard
X– X-ray people’s faith
Y– Yearn compassionately
Z– Zip the lip
Some things we learn best by ourselves because much of what we need to know is unique to us, our pastoral relationships, and people’s circumstances. I invite you-“in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 4:1)- to imaginatively and creatively expand each letter to its outer limits. You might need 26 weeks to get from A to Z … and the rest of your life to put your learning into practice.