Getting started as a Local Preacher or Worship Leader

Local Preachers and Worship Leaders are a valued part of the local churches’ worship life.

You have a great opportunity to inspire people to seek growth in discipleship and make MWoL commitments in the context of worship and prayer.

Ideas to try

Every context and church community is different. The most appropriate ideas will be the ones that are authentic for the people and place you’re in. Here are a few ideas to consider – more can be found on the pages for each commitment, and on the MWOL resources page.

• Include story sharing in every Sunday service and meeting. Ask someone to share which practice has been a ‘thin place’ that week, or a station that they’ve visited for the first time. Celebrate these stories, big and small.
• Make the connections between the discipleship commitments and the Bible passages used in a service. Does the reading talk about challenging injustice, or prayer, or sharing faith? Include the pictures for these practices on PowerPoint presentations.
• Your role suggests that your home station may well be notice, or worship. Could you share your wisdom with apprentices who want to learn more about these areas of A Methodist Way of Life?
• Take a look at our series of service outlines to help embed A Methodist Way of Life in your church and community. Filled with notes for a talk or sermon; creative activities and discussion questions for all ages; and all in editable Word documents so you can pick and choose the bits that work for you and make it your own.

The Evangelism and Growth team of the Methodist Church run events and webinars throughout the year for individuals and church leaders to explore what A Methodist Way of Life means for your community, including ‘Rural and Rooted’, a series for rural churches.