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# Lessons from Toastmasters
- URL: https://www.dashhouse.com/2012531lessons-from-toastmasters-html/
- Published: 2012-05-31T10:43:06.000Z
- Updated: 2022-08-15T15:29:27.000Z
- Author: Darryl Dash
- Tags: Blog, Life, preaching, #DashHouseCom, #wp

![1000w-2](https://www.dashhouse.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1000w-2.gif)

As you may know, we’re starting a new church in Liberty Village, Toronto. Liberty Village is an old commercial part of town that’s being transformed into a new community. I’m trying to get to know people, so I attended a [Toastmasters](http://www.toastmasters.org/?ref=dashhouse.com) on Wednesday night. Toastmasters is an organization that helps people build their communication and leadership skills in a club environment.

[William Mounce](http://zondervan.com/MounceW?ref=dashhouse.com), an author of , wrote this about Toastmasters:

> I find myself wondering if every preaching pastor should not aggressively make Toastmaster part of his or her weekly experience. They would learn a lot about preaching, and they would foster positive relationships with non-believers … I would like to attend a church that shared more in common with Toastmasters than it does with traditional church life.

My observations after Wednesday night.

- It’s scary to attend the first time. I imagine that’s how people feel attending church for the first time. That was a good thing for me to experience.
- I loved the environment, and I get why Mounce longs for a church that’s more like Toastmasters than traditional church life. They’re supportive and welcoming. They have a way of getting you involved without overwhelming you.
- This is a great way to get to know people and what they’re thinking. Give people a platform and let them talk, and you soon discover what they’re thinking and what drives them.
- Most preachers don’t get good solid evaluation. Going to Toastmasters is a great way to get honest, constructive feedback in a safe, supportive environment — something that’s hard to find for pastors.
- As someone who teaches preaching, I learned lots about how to give supportive feedback. I’m going to incorporate some of what they do in my preaching class this Fall.

I’ll be going back.

![Lessons from Toastmasters](https://www.dashhouse.com/content/images/v7/dashhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1000w-2.gif)