In the 1940s, the transition in terms was made from exhorter to lay speaker. In the last couple of decades, an emphasis has been placed upon expanding the role of laity. A series of advanced lay speaking courses were developed to assist lay speakers in various ministries of the church. The name was changed to 'Lay Speaking Ministries' to reflect the multiple facets of the program. Today, you can be a lay speaker and never preach from the pulpit.
Many people have gifts in areas other than speaking.
The basic course and advanced courses , while helping you to communicate with others, seek to increase the overall effectiveness of your ministry. There are lay speakers who specialize in caring ministry , Christian education , and many other areas that do not necessarily require speaking in front of groups. The advanced courses have specific topics, such as evangelism , caring ministry , stewardship , daily discipline , worship , prayer , the Bible , and heritage . If you are able to determine your gifts or which area of ministry to which you are called, you can concentrate on advanced courses that will assist you in those areas. Please do two things before dismissing this program.