Lessons from Toastmasters

Lessons from Toastmasters
1000w-2

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 on Wednesday night. Toastmasters is an organization that helps people build their communication and leadership skills in a club environment.

William Mounce, 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
Darryl Dash

Darryl Dash

I'm a grateful husband, father, oupa, and pastor of Grace Fellowship Church East Toronto. I love learning, writing, and encouraging. I'm on a lifelong quest to become a humble, gracious old man.
Toronto, Canada