Pastors Make Great Presentations

I've concluded that the best presenters I've seen have been pastors. They speak to large audience for a living. They usually speak once, twice, three, four plus times each week. They've got this public speaking thing down to science.

My Advanced PR class is currently discussing how to deliver a great presentation. Earlier this week Margaret Parker spoke to our class and offered a few excellent presentation tips and objectives.

Here are just a few tips Margaret offered about sequence:

• To Joke or not to Joke- Are you comfortable telling the joke? If not, skip it.
• Tell the audience what's in it for you - Build a honest relationship with the audience.
• Tell the audience what's in it for them - Let them know they will benefit from listening.
• Tell 'em, Tell 'em, Told 'em - Repeat your point and drive it home.
• Keep a presentation pattern, such as historical, comparative, logical, or informational and stick to it!

At Eugene Faith Center last Sunday, our congregation had the pleasure of hearing Dee Dee Flores from West Salem Foursquare Church speak. I was captivated by her sermon and presentation. It was engaging, dynamic, fun and yet very relevant.

Why did I connect to her message and presentation so well? Was it simply because she is a woman? Was I captivated by the interesting scripture?

After this week's PR class, I realized there was more to it. Dee Dee was able to connect to us as audience members with her precise delivery.

Dee Dee immediately put the audience at ease by telling a light hearted joke. She went on to introduce herself, what her topic was for the morning and why it mattered to us as listeners. She read the scripture (presented her point), then went on to examine it into our daily lives, referencing back to the scripture periodically. This format helped us as listeners follow her point and helped her drive the point home. Her gestures were mild, yet emphasized her point.

Maybe I should start taking notes from the professionals every week.