I am deeply grateful to Dr. Melvin for developing such valuable resources for the Lay Pastors Ministry. At the same time, I have often regretted that we have not been able to use all of these materials as fully as we should.
Dr. Melvin has done what he was called to do in developing these resources. The responsibility for using them effectively now rests with us.
Over the years, he developed a remarkable collection of materials for the ministry. These include:
Two Major Books
- Can the Pastor Do It Alone?
- The Lay Driven Church
Four Manuals
- Start-Up Manual
- Training Manual
- Supporting Paper
- Leader’s Manual
Re-equipping Materials
- Monographs
- Dynamite Meetings
- Essays
More recently, he also developed approximately thirty Letters to Lay Pastors.
Others and I have tried to develop additional materials over the years. However, most of them have been based on Dr. Melvin’s concepts, philosophy, and practical experience in ministry.
1. Can the Pastor Do It Alone?
Let me begin with the first book, Can the Pastor Do It Alone?
Dr. Melvin began this ministry at CHPC (College Hill Presbyterian Church in Ohio, USA). There, through his actual ministry experience, he began developing the basic outline and concepts that would later become the foundation of the book.
He learned from the real ministry field. Later, he wrote his doctoral dissertation at United Theological Seminary (UTS) in Ohio. Eventually, his dissertation was developed into the book Can the Pastor Do It Alone?, which was then published for a wider audience.
The book has since been translated into several languages, including Korean through the LPM Korea Institute.
This book was written primarily for lay people. It explains how ordinary church members can serve as lay pastors and practice PACE ministry. It contains many illustrations and stories from churches and individuals who have experienced the ministry firsthand.
These stories are especially helpful because lay people can see how others began, what they experienced, and how they carried out their ministries. Through these practical examples, they can better understand what they themselves may experience in the future.
The book has been used for approximately thirty-five years in the United States and for more than fifteen years in Korea. It is also being used at PACE International Seminary (PIS) in Nagaland, India.
2. The Lay Driven Church
Dr. Melvin’s second book, The Lay Driven Church, is more theoretical and academic in nature.
After many years of experience in the Lay Pastors Ministry and PACE ministry, Dr. Melvin recognized the need for a book that would provide a stronger theoretical foundation, particularly for senior pastors and other ministry leaders.
The first book is primarily written for lay people and focuses strongly on practical ministry. However, those who lead the ministry—especially senior pastors—need to understand both the practical and theoretical foundations.
Therefore, ministry leaders should study both books.
They need to understand not only how to do the ministry but also why the ministry is important. Theoretical understanding helps leaders deepen their knowledge and strengthen their leadership of the ministry.
3. The Four Manuals
Dr. Melvin also developed four important manuals:
- Start-Up Manual
- Training Manual
- Supporting Paper
- Leader’s Manual
Each of these materials has a particular purpose and should be used carefully.
The Start-Up Manual
Before beginning the ministry, pastors should read the Start-Up Manual. It explains how to begin the ministry step by step.
It is essential for pastors to understand this process. If they do not understand the steps from beginning to end, they may soon become confused or uncertain about what they should do next.
For this reason, pastors should read the manual carefully and become familiar with the entire process before starting the ministry.
The Training Manual
The Training Manual is closely connected to the first book, Can the Pastor Do It Alone?, but it is more structured and organized for actual training.
The manual consists of twelve modules. Those who are involved in training should carefully study Modules 1 through 12.
It is wonderful when a pastor can train lay pastors directly by using the manual. However, in my experience in Korea, only a small number of pastors have conducted the training themselves.
Out of approximately two hundred churches, most requested help from the headquarters, the LPM Korea Institute. Therefore, I traveled to their churches and trained their lay pastors.
Even when an outside trainer is invited, however, I believe that the senior pastor should become familiar with the contents of the Training Manual before the training begins.
The pastor is the leader of the church and should understand what his or her lay people are learning.
The Leader’s Manual
The Leader’s Manual is another extremely valuable resource.
In fact, it is longer than the Training Manual. While the Training Manual has approximately thirty-four pages, the Leader’s Manual contains about eighty pages.
The Leader’s Manual is especially helpful for those who train and lead the ministry. It provides practical guidance and many valuable insights for carrying out the ministry effectively.
LPM Korea translated these materials into Korean and used them extensively. I personally have read the Leader’s Manual many times, both in Korean and in English.
It contains a great deal of practical wisdom—what I would call the “flesh and blood” of actually doing and leading the ministry.
Dr. Melvin developed these materials with great care, and they are extremely valuable for trainers and ministry leaders.
4. Re-equipping Materials
Dr. Melvin also developed three important types of materials for re-equipping:
- Monographs
- Dynamite Meetings
- Essays
These materials should not be overlooked.
Monographs
The Monographs are particularly useful during the beginning stages of the ministry, especially during the first six months.
Many people begin a new ministry with great excitement. However, the honeymoon period of the ministry may end after only a few weeks or a few months.
When the initial excitement disappears, people need encouragement and renewed motivation.
I often compare re-equipping to recharging a battery. We cannot expect a battery to continue working forever without being recharged.
In the same way, lay pastors need continual spiritual and ministry renewal.
The re-equipping sessions are like a battery charger. They renew the energy, vision, and commitment of those who are serving.
Dynamite Meetings
From time to time, Dynamite Meetings can also be used for re-equipping, particularly during monthly meetings.
These meetings can bring fresh energy and renewed vision to the ministry.
They help lay pastors remember why they began the ministry and encourage them to continue faithfully.
Essays
The Essays can be read individually at home or discussed together in a group meeting.
They provide valuable opportunities for reflection and discussion.
Lay pastors can read an essay, share their thoughts, and learn from one another’s experiences.
5. Letters to Lay Pastors
More recently, Dr. Melvin developed approximately thirty Letters to Lay Pastors.
These letters may appear to be very personal. In many ways, they are.
When I read them, however, I found that they opened my mind and my eyes again.
They contain encouragement, insight, and wisdom that can speak personally to those who are serving as lay pastors.
I believe these letters can be used not only for personal reading but also as resources for reflection and discussion among lay pastors.
6. Network News
Finally, I strongly recommend reading Network News.
This publication has been produced quarterly for approximately thirty years.
Many of the articles were written by Dr. Melvin and contain stories from the actual ministry field, his personal experiences, and his insights into the Lay Pastors Ministry.
These materials can give us many ideas and practical lessons for our own ministries.
I am still reading them, rereading them, and using them.
The stories and experiences of the past are not merely history. They can continue to teach and guide us today.
Our Responsibility
Dr. Melvin has given us a rich heritage of books, manuals, training materials, re-equipping resources, letters, and ministry publications.
The important question now is: How will we use them?
It is not enough simply to possess these materials. We must study them, understand them, use them, and adapt their principles faithfully to our own ministry situations.
The materials provide us with the philosophy, principles, structure, training methods, practical guidance, and accumulated wisdom of many years of ministry experience.
Dr. Melvin has done his part.
Now the rest is up to us.
We should not allow these valuable resources to remain on our bookshelves. We should bring them into our churches, our training programs, our re-equipping meetings, and our daily ministry.
If we continue to study and use these materials faithfully, the vision and ministry that Dr. Melvin developed can continue to serve churches and lay people for many generations to come.