Great article from Speaker Magazine about the importance of creating original content and not just copying other people's messages.
Click HERE... to view the post.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
4 Reasons to NOT Hire a Speaker for Camp Next Year
Serving in both the local church student ministry world and the professional speaking world has given me a unique perspective on hiring other paid youth speakers for upcoming events. While there are a number of great reasons why you should hire someone to speak at your next event, here are four reasons NOT TO:
1. Your students need to hear from YOU, their youth pastor.
If your youth ministry format does not lend itself to you teaching your students on a regular basis (it is small group based, home group based, etc), then YOU need to be the featured speaker at your next retreat. The students will have the opportunity to hear your heart and vision. Plus, it will add to the family-feel of your ministry overall.
2. Your student ministry budget cannot afford it.
Typically, great youth speakers are not cheap. While there are ways to get around this shortfall (charge more per head for the event, seek out a donor to underwrite the speaker, budget for it next year, etc), don't be foolish and break the bank. You will lose trust with parents, leaders, and your senior pastor.
3. You are planning on hiring an inexpensive, BAD speaker.
Don't do it. It's not worth the loss of credibility with your students. It's also poor stewardship. Even if you consider yourself just an ok speaker, you are better off speaking at the event yourself (see reason #1) than to hire someone else who will perform poorly with your students.
4. You want to draw more students to the event.
Typically, most students are not drawn to events by the name of the speaker. Ouch. Survey the students who attended camp this year and ask them WHY they wanted to come. It is doubtful that the speaker from last year will have their name appear on the top ten list.
1. Your students need to hear from YOU, their youth pastor.
If your youth ministry format does not lend itself to you teaching your students on a regular basis (it is small group based, home group based, etc), then YOU need to be the featured speaker at your next retreat. The students will have the opportunity to hear your heart and vision. Plus, it will add to the family-feel of your ministry overall.
2. Your student ministry budget cannot afford it.
Typically, great youth speakers are not cheap. While there are ways to get around this shortfall (charge more per head for the event, seek out a donor to underwrite the speaker, budget for it next year, etc), don't be foolish and break the bank. You will lose trust with parents, leaders, and your senior pastor.
3. You are planning on hiring an inexpensive, BAD speaker.
Don't do it. It's not worth the loss of credibility with your students. It's also poor stewardship. Even if you consider yourself just an ok speaker, you are better off speaking at the event yourself (see reason #1) than to hire someone else who will perform poorly with your students.
4. You want to draw more students to the event.
Typically, most students are not drawn to events by the name of the speaker. Ouch. Survey the students who attended camp this year and ask them WHY they wanted to come. It is doubtful that the speaker from last year will have their name appear on the top ten list.
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