�Jesus offered him a challenging project; He set specific objectives; Jesus let the man implement the witnessing project in his own way,� stated Martin.

Martin stressed that Jesus did not permit the new convert to join Him because Jesus had assigned him a specific witnessing mission: �Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you� (Mark 5:19, RSV).

�Ministry is not the pastor�s exclusive responsibility. Ministry is the privilege and responsibility of the saints,� said Martin.

A representative group of laypersons and pastors from the General Conference Committee were invited to the stage to speak to the leaders and delegates of the barriers that prevent cooperative ministry.

Some of the barriers identified included limited access to technological resources, lack of personal devotions, and resistance to change in the church.

�I think one of the problems in the church is that we don�t trust people in other levels of administration,� said Ardis Stenbakken, director of Women�s Ministries.

Sabrina Kalliokoski, of the Trans-European Division, identified superiority complexes as another setback. �I call for mutual respect and an attitude of a servant from both pastors and layperson,� Kalliokoski said.

Chairman Calvin Rock, general vice president of the General Conference, also solicited both the on-stage group and floor delegates for effective solutions.

Personal interaction emerged as a common method of bridging the gaps between ministers and members. Suggestions included prayer triads, small group meetings, and house visitation.

�Go directly to the member who opposes you,� declared Moses Mwenya, a pastor from the Eastern Africa Division.

Delegate Watson Ho, from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, called for unified understanding. �We must come to a general consensus to know where we stand in our beliefs,� said Ho.

Willard Sichilima, from the Eastern Africa Division, felt that the pastor should serve as an educator. Ohene Kwaku Abbu-Bonsra, of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division, added that he felt that pastors should also see themselves as facilitators, motivators, and moderators.