One of the best ways of safeguarding lay-preaching is to send out men who fully represent the truth in their lives as well as in their words. One reason why there is some prejudice on the part of the ministry of this movement to lay preaching is that men are sometimes permitted to go out and hold public efforts who do not meet their obligations, who are quarrelsome, who do not pay tithe, who do not believe or practice the truths for which we as a people have been brought into existence. Some have a "preaching bug" rather-than a soul burden.
It is not for us to let these difficulties discourage us. Let us not forget that Stephen. was a mighty lay preacher, and so was Paul, his former persecutor. In fact, the story of the world-wide proclamation of the gospel following Pentecost is the story of lay evangelism under the mighty unction of the Holy-Ghost. The advent message had its inception, in lay preaching. This is a layman's movement. We have been instructed that the laity will have their part in swelling the message into a loud cry, and that men will be called from the plow to preach the Word.
We would note three safeguards in this brief article. The first deals with the preparation for lay preaching. Pastors may profitably conduct classes for lay preachers, training them in the giving of Bible readings, the use of proper pronunciation and articulation and correct English, teaching them how to hold an audience, how to organize a sermon, how to gain an interest, and how to do successful follow-up work. A lay ministerial band does not need to be the first form of training. A Bible workers' class should precede this, if none has been recently conducted in the church, for no man can preach who cannot teach by means of an ordinary Bible. reading.
Second, I would list organization. Organization is very essential. There should be a more complete understanding between the Home Missionary Department and the minister of. the district. They must work hand. in hand in training lay preachers. A conference plan should be adopted in which the ministers have a voice. Too often the home missionary secretary sends his idea out to the field and expects it to receive wholehearted approval on the part of the ministry. But in some cases the minister may understand the situation better than the secretary. For this reason it is my belief that lay-preaching should become a plan of the conference, and not of one or two men. After-this plan has been worked out, license should be granted each lay preacher, but not without a thorough examination as to his faith in the message. No one should be permitted to conduct lay efforts without this permit or license. Shame has been brought to the truth in the past, and in some cases lay preaching has been thought of with contempt because of men who do not represent the truth in their lives.
Third, qualification for service is essential. No layman should receive a permit to do this work until he has qualified. After the course given by the pastor or someone appointed by him, a conference questionnaire should be filled out and passed, before the layman is granted a permit to preach. Among other questions, we believe the following are important:
I. Do you believe and practice all the doctrines of the church?
2. Do you tithe? Please give the name of church to which you send tithe.
3. Are you a believer in the foreign mission program of the church?
4. Are you a supporter of the local church school?
5. Is it your determination to cooperate with the missionary program of your pastor and church board, and to hold no efforts without their counsel?
With a band of men who are trained, qualified, organized, and baptized with the Holy Spirit, we should expect a mighty revival of lay evangelism.
