TONGAN LSM104 INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING (Spring 2025)

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LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES in TONGAN: LSM104 INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING
Mondays, March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM California (PDT) 
Mondays, March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Hawaii (HST)
Tuesdays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Guam (ChST)
Zoom Online Platform (Zoom link included in confirmation)

Cost & Deadlines: $20.00 and you must provide your own book (see below). 

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About the Class:

• THIS CLASS WILL BE CONDUCTED ENTIRELY IN TONGAN. If you are looking for an English language class, please choose one that does not include “Tongan” in the title.
• About the Course:  This course offers practical tips for persons who are called on to preach occasionally but are not formally trained as pastors. Participants in Tongan Lay Servant Ministry classes come from across the Western Jurisdiction. 
  Learners will: 
  • Examine the role of the sermon in the Service of Worship and see it as a proclamation of the Good News; 
  • Work through the stages in sermon preparation from; message topic to final manuscript; 
  • Learn how to assess the congregation’s profile as it impacts sermon creation and delivery; 
  • Examine technical issues of grammar, language, word selection, and humor and their impact on delivering the sermon.  
• Provide your own book: All participants need the book “From Pew to Pulpit: A Beginner’s Guide to Preaching” by Clifton F. Guthrie. Purchase the book at Amazon, Cokesbury, or Upper Room.
• The instructors for this class include Rev. Dr. Niponi Finau, Rev. Martin Finau, Rev. Alena Uhamaka, Rev. Kitione Tu’itupou, Rev. Dr. Linita Moa, Rev. Dr. Kalesita Tu’ifua, and others from the Western Jurisdiction.
• Need-based scholarships are available. Participants must ask the pastor of their home church before requesting a scholarship from the Conference.  If a scholarship is needed and not available from the local church, please complete the brief scholarship application below in the registration form.
• Attendance is required at all sessions for credit. To complete the 10 hour course requirement, outside assignments will also need to be completed.
• About Certified Lay Servant (CLS) and Certified Lay Speaker status: All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend. The BASIC class and one Advanced Class is required to successfully apply for Certified Lay Servant status. If you have taken the Basic Lay Servant Class within the last three years, taking this advanced class will qualify you as a Certified Lay Servant.  If you want to continue on to being a Certified Lay SPEAKER, you will need to take the following advanced classes: Preaching, Leading Worship or Planning Worship, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, United Methodist Heritage or History, and United Methodist Polity. For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, click here.
• Technical requirements for Zoom participants: To participate in Zoom  meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a  laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the  Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended,  although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available. 
• Zoom information is included in your submission message and confirmation email.

For more information about this course, contact Rev. Dr. Kalesita Tu’ifua at kutuifua@gmail.com, Taufa Tenisi at ttenisi82@gmail.com, or Cathy Wilson, Associate Director of Lay and Clergy Credentialing and Development at cwilson@calpacumc.org, (626) 824-2284.

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