The Laity Academy of Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) met from August 2-3 at Eastern University to equip lay leaders with the tools they need to lead well in their contexts. The theme for this 40^th year of equipping lay leaders came from Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

From Friday evening to Saturday afternoon, the people of EPA, gathered to “provoke one another to love and good deeds.”

The Friday night gathering opened with a deluge, but the Rev. Dr. Andrew Foster III, District Superintendent for the East District, and the Rev. Hun Ju Lee, District Superintendent for the North District, along with the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Director of Connectional Ministry, were there with umbrellas, ready to hold open the doors and help people inside.

Those gathered continued to spur one another towards greater love and service as they gathered in their classes. Rev. David Piltz encouraged those gathered to read the bible from different viewpoints in his class, “Biblical Interpretation: The In’s and Out’s.” Rev. Harold Burkett helped those in his class develop their preaching voice.

Judy Ehninger, CLM, taught “The Journey Begins” the basic entry course for the CSM program. The Rev. Steve Morton helped participants learn how to move from biblical exploration to a sermon that engages hearts and minds with the Gospel.

Dr. Dave Harris taught the basics on how to effectively coach and nurture other leaders. Steve Myers encouraged those in his class, “Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design Theory” to think outside the box and consider how to reach people in this modern world.

Pastor John Lafferty, CLM, taught participants how to mold a functioning church board for effective and joyful ministry. Susan Adamczyk instructed a group of leaders on “Christian Peer Mentoring,” helping those present develop the skills needed to encourage and guide others mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Rev. Misty L. Fuller encouraged students in her class “Spirituality of Self Care” to listen to their bodies and be diligent in giving their bodies what they need. Eating nourishing food, exercising, and taking medication are all an important part of caring for the bodies that God gave us.

Participants were buzzing with excitement over all they had been learning when they gathered for lunch on Saturday.

Diane Maylen, of Otterbein UMC, took “In’s and Out’s of Biblical Interpretation.” She said, “I have a better understanding of why people interpret the Bible differently.” When asked if this was her first Laity Academy, Diane laughed and replied “I’ve been coming for years. A pastor sent me here in 2012. I was hooked. I love the fellowship.”

Maureen Sims of Mt. Zion UMC in Philadelphia shared “I started coming in 2015 as a CSM. This time I came because I’m Chair of the Administrative Council. The courses are great.”

Chris Tague Burnette from Conshohocken UMC came to take the church council leadership class and hopes to take preaching in the fall. He’s in the process of “discerning about whether to be a CSM (Christ Servant Minister).”

Bill Thompson, Lay Leader for Eastern Pennsylvania, spoke as part of the lunch program. He encouraged everyone present to keep their eye on the ball and be diligent about completing the work set in front of them. He boldly proclaimed, “These people out here are clamoring for what we have.” He ended his exhortation with a quote from John 13:34-35 “Love one another… This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

In addition to the quality of the coursework, those present spoke again and again that it was the quality of the connection that kept them coming back. Many who were gathered have been attending for a decade or more, and the relationships that they built over time continue to sustain them in their local ministry contexts.

Relationships matter, our connection to one another matters. No one can do this thing called faith alone. Celeste Schiller, member of Cornwells UMC, drove that point her with the devotion that she offered as part of Saturday’s lunch program. She told the group that “to provoke” in the original Greek means to poke one another. “There’s a good poking,” she said, “A God-ordained poking, to stir one another up, in a timely, God-driven way. Let us continue to poke one another in love, and not fall out of the habit of meeting together.”

Now, more than ever, we all need people in our lives who provoke us into love and good deeds.  If something is stirring within you, and you feel like perhaps you’re looking to grow as a disciple, the next Laity Academy mini session meets on November 2, at Hopewell UMC, 852 Hopewell Road, Downingtown, PA 19335. You can register at christservantministries.net.