Abstract:
This work analyzed the contribution of the layperson's teaching ministry as a church growth strategy. For this reason, the layperson and teaching were investigated in the history of the Baptist church, specifically those that are part of the Brazilian Baptist Convention-CBB and in the teaching ministry of Jesus. The question that guided this research was: "How can Christian education, carried out by lay people in Baptist churches of the CBB, contribute to the growth and strengthening and engagement of the membership?". Such questioning led to the analysis of the relevance of the layperson for the growth of the church and strengthening of its membership. In this sense, the investigation proposed to evaluate the contributions and converging points
in the historical and biblical analysis that demonstrate a pattern that answers the proposed question. Based on these findings, a study of this analysis was carried out with the theory of modern education, with a view to confirming the applicability of the findings to the current days of the Baptist church. The methodology used had a qualitative approach, in particular content analysis. Data collection worked especially with bibliographic and documentary material. The main results observed are linked to issues related to anthropology and the principle of freedom lived, practiced and taught in the church. The results also highlighted the characteristics of the layperson's ministry, in particular the dialogue between equals, knowledge of reality, the intentionality arising from the belief in the universal priesthood. The research offers relevant contributions that can be applied to the educational life of the church, resulting in relevance, growth and transformation. One must point out that due to limitations of time and pages, this research did not give voice to the various lay people, who contributed to enrich the findings observed here, which remains as a suggestion for future studies that work on the theme.
