The Lay Speakers Team (LST) serves two functions in our church

An incubator for new programs or projects.

Under the leadership of the Senior Pastor and Team Leader potential programs or projects are set out for evaluation and implementation. Some of the programs initiated by the LST that continue to function well include: United Methodist Men’s ministry (UMM); a Men’s Bible Study; the Chaplaincy Program to assist when needed at the Christian Free Medical Clinic; the Sports Ministry; and an extended Worship Service from Grove FUMC at the Betty Ann Nursing Center.

Serve as Traditional Lay Speakers.

Trained and Certified by the UMC to fill pulpits, teach classes, be liturgists, chair committees, lead teams and fill other leadership roles within the church. A lay speaker is a professing member of a local church who is ready and desirous to serve the Church, and who is well informed on and committed to the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church. A lay speaker has completed the required training courses in lay speaking and has been approved by a district or annual conference committee on lay speaking. Lay speakers serve the local church by witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communication, church and community leadership, and caregiving ministries. When certified, the lay speaker may conduct services of worship, preach, and lead study sessions as requested by the pastor or the district superintendent.

Currently Certified Lay Speakers in the Grove First United Methodist Church include, Nancy Flowers, Dick Hauser, Joe Johnson, John Miller, Jamey Olson, Bill Price, Gerry Ransbottom, Charlie Shaw, and Shirley Talley.

If you are interested in becoming a Lay Speaker or serving on the Lay Speaker Team, contact Charlie Shaw, 786-9877, Lay Speaker Coordinator for Grove FUMC, and Leader of the Lay Speaker Team or one of the other Lay Speakers.