Where Fearless Is The Norm

I have had many unique speaking opportunities in my life.  There was the time I was thrust in front of the camera with no warning, script, or time for rehearsal to do a commercial spot.  On another occasion, and with plenty of rehearsal, I led a Fearless Speaker Clinic for children ages 5 to 16 for 2 hours, and losing the audience’s attention was not an option!

But I have to say the most unique opportunities have come because of my life as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 2002 I became a card-carrying licensed Minister under the apostolic covering of Foundations International Ministries (FIM) thanks in no small part to an initial referral from my brother in Christ, Steve Brown.  Just 18 months later I was part of FIM’s delegation to the All Nations Conference of Ministers in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Founders of FIM, Rob and Melinda Brondell, are an amazing couple who had apparently ‘preached’ me up to the South African Host Committee.  Two days before leaving a call from Rob let me know that after landing I would have time to shower before preaching that night.  Except that I had not so much as led a Bible Study in more than 25 years I was ready… not!  Turns out I was not only preaching, but closing a revival.  A revival.  In Africa. No pressure!

Fast forward 10 years.  In February of this year I got a call to deliver a word – except this time the call came through Sisters in Harmony, founded by Edmund Herman.  The call was not to preach but to participate in an Author’s Workshop and Roundtable with my second book, Be Known for Your D.E.E.D.S., one of the featured texts.  The location for the workshop and roundtable?  Rodney Bay in St. Lucia, West Indies!  Can I have an amen on that?!

It was just a few weeks later on 6 March that Ed asked if I would be willing to preach on a Sunday during our stay on the island.  My thought?  Are you kidding me? Absolutely, I want to preach in St. Lucia!

Talk about unique opportunities?  Instead let’s talk about unique funds.  I didn’t have the money to go!  All available cash was already committed to bills, a few repairs to my classic ’95 Bronco, and being smart about saving and spending.  So ‘want to go’ was very much tempered by ‘money to go’ and ‘money’ was winning, so to speak.

My prayers about the opportunity became reason sessions as I reasoned through whether or not this was in fact a call of God to preach in St. Lucia, or just an invite from well-intentioned peers. Then I went to my friend Steve Brown’s house for coffee.  Yep, the same Steve Brown who referred me to Rob and Melinda Brondell in 2002.

I could only cover my face as tears streamed down my face when Steve handed me a check for an amount that caused me to no longer question Who was inviting me, or why I was to go.  When you see the love of God manifest so clearly, emotions will get the better of you! I was being called to St. Lucia and without doubt it was God doing the calling.  Not unlike Cape Town in 2003, I would stand in front of a congregation with whom I had no prior connection.  The Pastor, whom I had never met before, gave me the mic to speak a word of great encouragement to his congregation.

Two days later I would preach to another congregation, and in between I would be invited to attend a Prayer Meeting, and once there – without advance notice – be asked to lead the meeting.  Three unique speaking opportunities all to audiences I did not know before stepping in front of them.  All ordained by God to speak His Word to those He loves so very, very much.

When blessed to represent the Christian faith, in the pulpit, at a prayer meeting, in a Bible study or some other venue, the responsibility to disseminate the truth of Scripture is not to be taken lightly or ill-advisedly.  And concerns about adequate time to prepare can be filed away!  I had started developing a lengthy discourse on paper which would have become the foundation for a few sermons – until the Lord had me abandon the project, and leave the work behind.

When the Lord calls you go where you are led to go, stay where you are led to stay, speak where you are led to speak, and say what you are given to say.  And for my brothers and sisters in Christ you’ll get a kick out of the following:

The airfare to St. Lucia was not booked in March, well in advance of the 8 May departure.  No, airfare was booked on 7 May, hardly in advance of the 8 May departure.  Knowing Who was calling had me prepared to go to the airport without a ticket because I knew God had it under control, and, after all ... I was headed to St. Lucia.  Crazy?  Not really.  Just unafraid to be a Disciple.

 

You see, in this realm of being a mouthpiece for the one, true Living God - fearless is the norm.

Fearlessly,

JD

The Challenge Before Us

What an interesting and exciting time to be a Speaker!  We have the singular most marketable skill in a world ruled by communication - the ability to address an audience, to hold their attention, and to convey a message.  But what is the message YOU wish to convey?

For those of you who desire the stage as a professional Speaker please remember to whom much is given, much is required.  When you step in front of an audience of any size you do so as a de facto expert.  If you are speaking to a local civic group about real estate, your words carry weight and people may make a decision to buy, sell, debate, or stay out of the market based on nothing more than what you say during that twenty or so minutes.

The same applies to virtually any other topic.  Anthony Robbins' success today is built upon the foundation of information he taught years ago when he first came to be known as a thought leader in his own right.  Your success in the future will likewise be built upon the message or messages you deliver.  And remember, to your audiences the fact that you command the stage elevates you in their eyes to the position of expert.

The message which I am truly blessed to share with audiences has universal application.  Every person on the planet can and should find out the reason for which they were born.  We all have the opportunity to live lives of great meaning and significance when we do.  Ultimately, as a Christian and a Minister, I believe a life of great meaning and significance finds its only true and lasting fulfillment through faith in Jesus Christ.

That said, it is important within the diligence and steadfastness of my faith that I frame the message in terms to which everyone can relate no matter if they self-identify as Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or profess no faith at all.  When I speak in a secular setting I am not preaching to win converts as much as I am disseminating a truth of Scripture which applies to all.

But, in a sense, I am preaching to win converts, and every professional Speaker is as well.  Our very success depends in no small measure upon winning public opinion within our sphere of influence as a thought leader.  Take for example the plethora of personal success systems.  There are countless books, CDs, and DVDs on the market aimed at pleasing the 'disciples' of Jim Rohn, Anthony Robbins, or Les Brown to name only three.  In every industry and market segment there are thought leaders who have followings.  And so it goes with you as well.

If your message does not have universal application as mine does, you should yet frame it for as large an audience as possible.  However, please endeavor to never lose sight of your audience's need to be treated honestly and with the utmost respect.  You hold great responsibility when you hold the microphone.  You are an expert, after all.  The challenge before us as Speakers is to honor the sacred trust between Speaker and Audience, and to seek their betterment at all times.

Fearlessly,
JD