ENVISION LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES

Nestled in the 4th chapter of Nehemiah verse 6, the leader indicates that the vision was accomplished because “the people had a mind to work”.  In the midst of COVID-19,  members have expressed a similar sentiment, the desire to work, grow and advocate for the better.  Every layperson deserves proper training and an excellent ministry.  

Like Nehemiah, I have been praying for the Lay Organization.  As the 2nd Vice President, after completing the Strategic Planning Process, I can confirm that the Connectional Lay Organization stands at a crossroads. Moving forward, my prayer is through faith, leadership & works the Lay Organization will progressively move ahead. 

Members are requesting the resources to elevate their ministry. The Lay Organization’s membership, which represents the largest population within the church, ensures the support of the local churches and pays the majority of the denomination's budget. Yet, our organization’s mission and purpose are being questioned. The Lay Organization is the only entity that has been authorized and commissioned by the AME Church to teach, train, and empower its members for lay ministry, global leadership, and service following the tenets of Jesus Christ. 

The organization has to show that they are concerned about the overall well-being of each of its members. Within the Lay Organization, there are some legal, spiritual, and financial concerns that have to be addressed. We must show concerted efforts to offer a 5-STARR ministry to each lay member. 

5- STARR MINISTRY 

Focus on Spiritual Leadership

 The purpose of the Lay Organization is to train the laity of the AME Church so that lay persons may maximally utilize their God-given ability and skills to improve and extend the Kingdom of God.   

- Broaden the Evangelism Program which was developed and expanded under my tenure as 3rd Vice President. 

~Incorporate the Evangelism initiative "Operation Multiplication: Becoming a Disciple-Making Training recommended under President Bell's Administration. 

Strengthen the Lay Infrastructure

The empirical data indicates that our church memberships are declining, and with that, the membership of our lay organizations are also declining.  We must combat and correct this threat.  The Lay Organization should have training for every aspect of our members' spiritual, financial, mental, and legal lives. The President creates the vision to ensure certain programming is effectively and efficiently performed. The organization should better forecast the changes within the Lay Organization ensuring that we have a legacy.

~Establish a Central Training Lay Resources Platform wherein members from all districts and levels of the Lay Organization may obtain necessary materials to succeed. This platform will include the completion of  *church growth, development, and discipleship seminar information, lay speaker training, *financial literacy/credit classes, and *conversations about criminal justice, nonprofits, and intellectual property among our Connectional entities. 

~ A membership packet will be given to each member, which will include key elements regarding the Lay Organization. The distribution of these foundational tools &  information will help to ensure the maximum potential of each member. 

~ Develop a CLO membership roster/ skillset tool to have a concrete analysis of the members the organization is serving.  

Fiscal Accountability 

The CLO must provide financial transparency to preserve the trust of the lay members. 

-Adopt sound financial management,   conflict of interest & executive compensation policy with a disclosure statement that all board and lay members will review annually, includes internal controls to ensure accountability. 

~ Utilize the members who are grant writers and corporate sponsorship specialists to offset the expenses for the organization. 

Inclusion of all lay members

Every lay member, pastor, lay organization, and church are essential for Kingdom Building and Deserving a 5-Starr Ministry. No person should feel unseen, unheard, unappreciated, or uninspired by the Lay Organization. 

~Collaborate with the Young Adult Representative programming and create accountability reporting to ensure that the various level incorporate the young adult lay agenda. 

~Utilize WhatsApp and other tools to reach members who do not have internet access.  

~Ensure that the lay training materials are translated into multiple languages.

Technology Driven

The COVID-19 Pandemic reiterated the need that all lay meetings will have a virtual presence for the health, safety, and convenience of all members.  

~ All training materials will be electronically available on the central lay resource platform. 

~ All meeting registrations and reporting will be completed electronically in advance of the meetings. 

The success of our organization does not fall on one person’s shoulder.  Nehemiah identified all of the members and their gifts that they brought to rebuild the wall and city.  I am a servant of God and a diligent worker for Kingdom Building.  If you desire to work and care about the future of the Lay Organization, I will support you to fulfill the ministry's initiatives to ensure an excellent lay ministry.