Lay Servant Ministries
What is Lay Servant Ministries?
Lay Servant Ministries is one of the most significant and rewarding lay leadership development programs within the United Methodist connection. Lay Servants have been an essential part of the Methodist movement with started with John Wesley and still exists today as Lay Servant Ministries.
Some ordained pastors and District Superintendents can testify that their call to ministry started with taking Lay Servant Classes. Many pastors recommend the Introduction class for their Lay leaders and Chairpersons of committees. Our own D. S. Javier Olivares is a strong supporter of this ministry and encourages laity to take classes.
Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries
The Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries is the foundation for all classes and is an overview of the program in these three areas: Caring, Communicating, and Leading.
Some Lay Servants go on to pursue becoming a Certified Lay Speaker and even a Certified Lay Minister. However, public speaking (i.e. speaking from the pulpit) is not a requirement when taking Lay Servant classes unless you choose to do so. There is a wide variety of classes offered such as a Spiritual Gifts class where you can discover what your gifts are and where you might best serve your church.
One person who strongly believed in Lay Servant Ministries was the late Kelly Deyoe. He took the Introduction/Basic class in 2003. After taking more classes, he soon took over the duties of South District Director, a position he worked diligently at until his passing last year (2025). As a quadriplegic, he set a shining example of a true Lay Servant to many. I took my first class in 2007. I was extremely shy and thought it would help me be more comfortable speaking with others. I enjoyed the classes and in 2010, Kelly approached me about “assisting” him with the program. I was fortunate to work with Kelly (as his co-director) for over 15 years.