The Change of Time

Dr. Thamsing Lamkang *

Pastors-Church Sports Leadership Training at Sports Resource Center, Dimapur (With Dr. Lamkang third from left)

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well and the seriousness in you, and that's very good. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here's how you can control yourself and make effective, memorable presentations!

The pulpit/public speaking is the most powerful way of communication in the world today. You are important person that makes people come and listen your speeches or sermons. At one particular time America was ruled and controlled by the power of pulpits, but today it is not like before. The world sees tremendous growth and changes in this 21st Century, in science and technologies that diverts people's attention to media and communication.

For the pastors, preachers, and teachers, whoever gets the privilege of pulpit speaking shouldn't misuse the great opportunities to communicate the most important message to the congregations. If the sermons are not well prepared or prayed enough it will not bear fruits. That means the gospel will have no meaning, no power and it'll become the outdated/boring gospel. On the other hand I always appreciate the tribal communities with church attendance record. The sermon may not be as expected or effective, nor the worship system not been updated with Spirit-filled praise and worship, yet, they attend the church services regularly.

As God's people we must recreate to attract the congregations to come expecting something new. We have to use the creativity not just in pulpit but even in our worship system, in the leadings, singings or whatsoever; we should re-model with the best effort for the glory of God. Some Baptist church where I grew up watching, the worship system or the leading of church services has never been change in more than 3 decades. I am seeing the same practice even today. We should improve our creative order to create great things for the LORD.

God gave us the power/ideas to make things beautiful – if we can create so many beautiful things, can't we also be more creative in all things we make and do for God?

Whereas, many traditional church leaders or elders don't want to accept change, one of them is on the issue of praise and worship – they want to sing only hymns – but the worship patterns have to change to more lively and effective, to praise and worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. "We can change the methods and worship styles, without changing the Biblical principles".

Our world today is IT global culture or the screen culture, TV, laptop, movies, mobile screen, and video camera etc. The Mobile - most recently gadgets- reach all people to connect - speak, music, movies, play games, internet, text messages, job opportunity and many others. The benefit of social networking is on face book, where one can find an old friend or even to make new friends to reconnect them.

As a changing of time we have to change our approach, our application and make it relevant without changing the unchanging Christ! This is very important that nothing should replace Jesus as our most priority in faith life. We must make use of the available technologies to avail and speed up the Lord's ministry. Whereas, many traditional church leaders still used the rural methods to reach-out the already urbanized congregations, especially the youths! We need to clear our mindset to accept the latest resources available for the sake of Christ.

RELEVENCY AND REMODEL FOR GOD'S GLORY

God wants us to always be learning, wise men and women are always listening for fresh insights Pro.18:15. we use creative gifts to find ways to connect with people, to engage the people and to keep the message of Christ fresh for each new day. The message never changes, but the methods do. Our ultimate work is not just creativity, but re-creativity, participating is God's work of recreation and reconciliation!

We serve the only truly creative One, our Father the Creator of the Universe. Human 'creativity' is about taking what He has already made and rearranging it into 'new' patterns and ideas. The role of this creativity is important to the work of the Kingdom, as we draw on wisdom and ideas of God. Instead of just repeating what has been done before, our creativity helps keep what we do new and fresh. I've noticed when people are stuck in life; it's usually because they're still working off a set of assumptions that no longer apply. Or they're using problem solving techniques that once worked, but don't work anymore!

Paul walked through the marketplace to be able to find the right illustration to engage his hearers in Acts 17. Jesus said that the Father told Him What to say and How to say it' John 12:49. The Bible says that the compassion of God is "new every morning" Lamen.3:23!

The God who made heaven and earth has a vast plan for man, making every resource so that all have a thing to do with his own creativity. God gave man the ability to create creativity to serve Him. The potential that we have is the gift of God. What you do with that potential is your giving back to God!

BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING

o As your improved communication skills become obvious within the workplace, increased visibility, recognition and promotion will follow.
o Your improved presentation skills will win you the respect and admiration of your colleagues and employees - and make them wonder what you did to change!
o Leadership skills acquired through professional communication will increase your management potential.
o You will acquire an increased ability to motivate and persuade, making you more effective as a supervisor or manager.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Content justifies the act of speaking. The speaker has a responsibility to say something meaningful and original to the audience. The listeners should feel the speaker has made a contribution to their thinking. The ideas should be important ones, although this does not preclude a humorous presentation of them.

Delivery presentation of a speech carries part of the responsibility for effective communication. The speaker's appearance should reinforce the speech, whether profound, sad, humorous, or instructional. Body language should support points through gestures, expressions, and body language.

Overall Effectiveness is measured in part by the audience's reception of the speech, but a large part is your subjective judgment of how the speech came across.

You should ask yourself such questions as "Was I able to determine the speaker's purpose?" "Did the speech relate directly to that purpose?" "Was the audience's interest held by the speaker?" "Was this subject appropriate for this particular audience?"

God Be With You!!!!