In many black churches the style of preaching that comes from the pulpit is vibrant, exciting and involves the congregation.

The pastor might say to the congregation "amen" or "hallelujah," and the congregation would respond with the same, which is all part of a preaching style called call and response.

According to the Rev. Rodney Lackey Sr., pastor at Antioch Baptist Church, the call-and-response style is something he learned before heading off to Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.

"My preaching style is probably a result of my ... upbringing in the church," Lackey said. "It's a mixture of the different styles of preaching that I've grown up hearing and have become accustomed to. My style is more of a, I guess you would call it call-and-response style where the preacher will make a statement or speak a truth and the people will respond back to him. Some people call it charismatic preaching."

Lackey grew up attending Macedonia Baptist Church in Monroe listening to the late Rev. J. Allen Jones, who was one of his major influences.

"Your style is your style," said Lackey, who has been at Antioch Baptist for seven years. "I think people really tweak and develop their style by preaching, actually before the congregation. Bible college and seminary for me just sort of helped give me more tools to be able to prepare, study, research and develop the sermon in a way that the congregation can understand or grasp the true meaning of Scripture.

"As far as how you deliver the sermon, pretty much is something that a person does through the aid of the spirit of God within you."

Ruby Brawner, a longtime member of Antioch Baptist, said she likes the way the congregation becomes involved in the sermon at her church.

"He's calling people to come to Christ and he wants us to respond," she said. "It boils down to he's preaching for people to come to the call of Christ because you have a opportunity to come, and we don't know when our last opportunity to come will be.

"Sometimes a preacher will preach a sermon and it feels like he's talking right to you ... It gives us more to think about; it's a waking up for everybody."

Lackey said that's the goal of his call-and-response style - touching everyone with the gospel.

"That's the whole purpose in the call-and-response style of preaching, is to allow the congregation to participate in the delivery especially at the climatic point of the sermon," he said. "Or the end of the sermon, where a style known as whooping comes into play; that's when the crowd or congregation really has an opportunity to participate in the sermon."

Lackey and other preachers, like the Rev. Emerson Ross of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, said they acquired in seminary the tools for sermon development and that is then perfected with years in the pulpit.

"He (God) knows what everyone is going through, and he gives you that message," said Ross, who comes from a long line of pastors in his family. "Seminary helps give you that information to gain the proper research, to get the proper information.

"We were taught to always present you the sermon with an introduction, three points and a conclusion."

Ross, who has been in ministry for 21 years, says first he heads to Scripture to develop his sermons.

"In developing the sermon I pray and ask God what message he wants me to deliver to his people," he said. "I look at the Scripture as I read it alone, then what happens (during the sermon) is the people begin to relate and respond to what they hear. It's a relationship with the people and God ... people will have a chance to say ‘Amen' and respond."

For Lackey, even after years in the ministry he says there is a key to delivering a great sermon - whatever the style - to the people.

"What makes the style powerful is the congregation being able to see that the person has been with the Lord," he said.