Over the years, I’ve had a lot of people ask me how they can become a conference speaker. Here are a few suggestions:
- You need to enjoy public speaking. If you enjoy what you are doing, others probably will also. If not, well…
- Have something compelling to say that people need to hear.
- Speak within your comfort zone of knowledge and experience.
- Find a unique angle on your message. Don’t say the same thing everyone else is saying.
- Deliver your message in an interesting and compelling manner.
- Be willing to knock on doors, but don’t kick them down. God will open the door if it is His will.
- Walk through the doors the Lord opens for you. Be willing to accept invitations you receive (even if small).
- Constantly study to know your subject matter better.
- Continue to develop and craft your skill as a communicator. Take courses, practice, observe, listen and learn.
- Practice personal integrity. You need to live out your message and model it by your lifestyle.
Israel speaking in Sendai, Japan
The main thing is following God’s leading for your life. God always wants you to be teaching someone somewhere. The question is, “Is it in a public setting?” Not everyone is cut out for public speaking ministry. There is also a price to pay. Most people who are in demand as popular conference speakers have paid their dues. They have traveled tens of thousands of miles, endured many sleep-deprived nights, spent hundreds of hours preparing their messages, and spoken before audiences smaller than your family to get to where they are today. Not everyone can or should do this type of work. However, if God has placed a message on your heart, and you steward it wisely, you can be successful as a public speaker.
Israel Wayne is an Author and Conference Speaker and Director of Family Renewal, LLC.
I loved listening to you speak in MO. I enjoyed that you were not only encouraging but were a wealth of factual information as well. I am glad you posted this because I would love to reach the point to speak at conferences one day. Thank you!
Thank you, Nicole! It makes it all worth it when you know that what you shared was helpful to someone else!
Do you know what topics you might want to address?
Thanks for the tips, I do feel the Lord has put a message on me, and a desire to so the speaking, the trouble for me is knowing what doors to knock on, when and how. Also, thanks for pointing out the struggles as well, so that we see a complete picture.
Joann,
The first step is to identify your target audience? Is it women, married couples, business professionals, etc.?
Then create a website kind of like mine: http://www.IsraelWayne.com
Put your bio, topics, endorsements and any other helpful info.
Then email groups or events who reach your target audience. Offer to speak for free initially, just to get some experience. Eventually, they may offer to give you an honorarium to help with your expenses and overhead.
Ask for a recommendation from those you have worked with in the past to build credibility. Hope that helps!
Great tips! Its a scary thought to know God called me to ministry, though its a scarier thought to not obey!
Whats the best first step to actually speaking? A letter to conferences or churches? I have done one small bit for an online homeschool creationism convention but it was about when I was an atheist/evolutionist, how I became a young earth creationist and why worldview matters. My core message is primarily for mothers/young women about the importance of evangelism while our children are still walking with us, too many moms wait until the next season of life to share the Gospel and they miss so much plus their children miss out seeing them share the Gospel which is probably leading to many children walking away from their faith as adults. I have a website, blog and a youtube channel, not sure where to go from here.
Can you share your weblinks with me? I’d love to check them out.
I think having a site especially for speaking is important, like my personal speaking site: http://www.IsraelWayne.com
Try to include your whole “Speaker Packet” online, complete with a short, edited video of you speaking, if you can create one. When you do contact churches or conferences, they will want all of the information to be in one place. Your bio, workshop topics/descriptions, fees, etc.
I would recommend getting a copy of Michael Hyatt’s new book, “Platform” that gives a lot of great nuts and bolts for how to get started in building an audience for your message.
http://michaelhyatt.com/platform
http://www.mommyevangelism.com is the website.
http://www.youtube.com/mommyevangelism is our youtube channel.
http://www.facebook.com/mommyevangelism is our facebook page.
I also have my personal blog at http://www.wordpress.com/herdofhoskins and I dont really know how to incorporate that into the ministry of if I should just keep it separate since its really just a matter of what the Lord lays on my heart at any given time.
I will order Michael Hyatt’s book, thank you for the info! I figure there are so many who have already figured this all out I need to draw from that wisdom and see what kind of doors God opens.
Have a blessed day!
I would like to become a Paid Christian Motivational Speaker at
Christian Youth Groups, Christian Schools, Churches and
Christian Colleges.
Have you worked with speakers that went after this market ?
How difficult is it to go after this market ?
I am looking for opportunites to share my salvation testimony. I believe that God has performed an amazing act of grace in my life and it is my personal ministry to tell others about it. My testimony is ver graphic, it includes everything from an abusive homelife with my adopted father to drug abuse and addiction. From failed relationships to the murder/suicide fo my parents. Early in my life I achieved success as a professional kickboxer which landed me a guest appearance on the TV series Baywatch. The success and short lived fame brought me everything a person could ask for in life but it wasnt enough. I fell into wordly temptations that destroyed it all and I lost everything. Through it all I can see God’s mighty hand of grace applied at just the right time in my life. Every time I looked to the world for love ,satisfactiona nd joy I fell but God had a plan for me, he sustained me for HIS purpose. It was only when I met Jesus that I truly felt loved and fulfilled. He has shown me how to fight the addictions that want to destroy me. How to forgive myself and others and how to be a loving father and husband by his example. Now he is my joy!! Because of his saving grace I have the calling in my life to share my testimony and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, please help me in answering his call. I have police reports, videos, and newspaper articles along with pastoral references upon request to verify my testimony. You can reach me directly at (731)238-0873.
I feel a calling to be a Christian motivational spreaker. my life has been a testomany to many people I meet. Jesus has done so much wonderful things after Ive been through different kinds of abuse. specially teaching on the jezebel spirit that is operating in so many peoples lives these days! should I have a website ont his? could you give me advice please? thank you
Thank you so much for the tips. I feel that God is calling me to become a speaker for the persecuted church. I want to be a speaker and represent them to people in Austrlaia but I don’t know where to go. What qualifications do I need to have to make a career out of volunteering and speaking for my calling?
I just don’t know where to begin. What are some necessary qualifications in Christian ministries that you needed to make a career out of this? Can you financially sustain yourself with your work? How long did it take to be able to do sermons? Is there any advice you have to start?
Miriam,
Get some information from http://www.Persecution.com and send a letter to various churches telling that that you would be willing to come for an evening servive and show a Voice of the Martyrs video for free, and then answer any questions they may have. Have statistics on the persecuted church on hand, and provide links to ministries like VOM and http://www.OpenDoors.org.
Start there and see what other doors God opens.
God bless,
Israel
I would recommend contacting organizations like Voice of the Martyrs and/or Open Doors Ministries, and telling them of your desire to be a representative for them. They can give your more information to get started. God bless! — Israel
I’m currently a full time youth pastor serving near the outskirts of Tulsa,Oklahoma. I’ve been serving my current church for 7 years and I believe that this chapter of my life is coming to an end. I feel the Lord tugging on my heart to speak to anyone that is willing to hear what God has to say to me. Any suggestions, tips, or direction would be greatly appreciated. Prayer appreciated as well.
Christopher,
Develop a website with your background and titles and descriptions of the messages you give. Then print business cards with your web address, so that when you meet people, you can direct them to your site with all of your speaking information. Record an audio or video if you can at your next speaking opportunity, and post it on your website for others to hear/view.
Then be willing to go where you are invited, and let others know about your availability and messages.
Best wishes!
Israel
What if you know that God is calling you to be a speaker but you aren’t sure where to start and will only do it because God said so? I’m a writer but I’m not an author yet I’m not published. I think God wants to get his words out through my writing but speaking will help get my name out. I really don’t know where to begin.
Are you currently blogging? Blogging is the best place to start. It helps you to write on topics that are important you, which gets your thoughts in print and allows for reader feedback. It also helps you to build your platform, which is virtually essential for being getting published and promoting your book. If you can think of a book topic (assuming it is non-fiction), start blogging content towards that end and promote your posts through your social media networks. I wish you all the best! — Israel
God called me to be a speaker. I know it without a doubt. When I look back on my past I can totally see God’s hand leading me this direction. I feel really strong in my desire to speak to women. I don’t know the next step to take to get myself out there. I am 23 years old and I am positive this is my calling.
Thanks your insight about becoming a speaker. I am truly impressed about your commitment to God’s direction. I am interested in becoming a Christian Speaker. I often is asked to teach various courses in the area of Christian Education. I am trying to become more global in this area. I am also a pastor. Who do I need to get to know about moving this goal forward?
Thanks a million.