Southern Rivers Lay Servant Academy
FALL 2026
September 26, 2026
8:00 am (ET) to 4:00 pm (ET)
Huntingburg United Methodist Church
416 N Main Street
Huntingburg, Indiana
Welcome to our Lay Servant Academy in the Southern Rivers District. Whether you are beginning or continuing your training for living out God's call on your life, we are here to help you accomplish just that. Be a part of this exciting and rewarding ministry as we meet for one day in person. Not only for learning, but for fellowship and camaraderie. Registrants can attend only one class and must be present the entire day.
Cost: $10.00
Payment Information: Visa and MasterCard accepted
Please print a copy of your confirmation for your receipt.
Check payments must be mailed within 7 days of registration. Please include a copy of your invoice with your check.
Make checks payable to INUMC
Mail to:
INUMC
Attn: Erin Belbutoski
301 Pennsylvania Parkway, #300
Carmel, IN 46280
Registration deadline: September 16, 2026 at 11:59 pm (ET)
Cancellation policy: cancellations must be received via email to erin.belbutoski@inumc.org by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, September 16th at 11:59 pm (ET) to be eligible for a refund less processing fee. No refunds after this date.
CLASSES:
Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course -This course is foundational for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship. The course text is Lay Servant Ministries - Basic Course by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson. Available through Amazon and Cokesbury.
Preaching 1 - Moving beyond the basics of public speaking and the foundations necessary for preparing an engaging sermon, this course also includes types of sermons—from exegetical to topical to children’s sermons—as well as how to find a story, how to use the hymnal, and how to move from communication on paper to beyond the paper. The course text is From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon by Tony Franks and David Carroll. Available through Amazon and Cokesbury.
Leading Worship - This course is a required class for those seeking to become Certified Lay Speakers. Leading Worship focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group or congregation in worship. The course text is Worshiping with United Methodists (Revised) by Hoyt Hickman. Available through Amazon and Cokesbury.