The Reverend Ben Johnson, Methodist pastor in the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference was a sought-after revival preacher. While he was doing a revival, he sent for his prayer group to give witness to the meeting. The messages were so powerful that many came to the altar call. He found that laypersons listened to other laypersons; dialog resulted in deeper commitment; laity and clergy learned to participate as equals and witnessing laypersons both inspired and encouraged others to witness. As he did other revivals with lay witnesses, he began to send lay coordinators to conduct the missions. A clergy-coordinated event became a lay-coordinated event and the Lay Witness Movement was launched. In 1960 it was incorporated as the Institute of Church Renewal.
These events were organized starting with a Friday night dinner, then singing and witnessing in small groups. Saturday morning coffee fellowships were held in the homes of the congregation who invited friends and neighbors. The Church gathered for lunch and then breakout groups for women to share with other women and men to share with men. Saturday afternoon groups of witnesses would go to visit the sick and shut-ins. Saturday evening brought more singing, sharing, small groups and a call to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus Christ. Sunday morning there was witnessing in Sunday School and the coordinator spoke at the worship service. There were children’s and youth coordinators. The movement became ecumenical and international.
In 1971 after attending a planning meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Reverend Art Backus, Spruce Street’s Senior Pastor brought the first national program to Spruce UMC. It began on Friday evening with dinner, a speaker and small groups. A Saturday coffee was held in member’s homes and then dinner followed by small groups. Sunday worship service included an altar call. The Reverend Walter Albritton organized over 2,000 mission events that year.
Art Hahn remembers that he and his wife were very involved. They did as many as 50 missions in the region, doing the set-up 2 weeks before. He and sometimes Arlene did 3 or 4 a year. Roy and Jo Moyer were also active. Dan Erenrich was a youth leader. Connie Schoemer (Erenrich) played the guitar. She and Nancy Spencer (Nunley) led singing. What a blessing to the leaders as well as those who participated.
During the second decade of the Lay Witness Mission, it became part of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. In the early 2000’s the administration moved to the Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
This program is certainly in keeping with the history of the Methodist Protestant Church of which Spruce St UMC is descended