Local Speaker case study

Meet Jonathan Parratt, a volunteer for six years and a local speaker with the Stewardship Volunteer Network. A solicitor by training Jonathan now works full time as an advice worker for the CAB in Ipswich and supports clients with specialist debt advice. But for all his debt and advice experience Jonathan admits that being a local speaker can be nerve wracking and daunting!!

Jonathan was recently asked to talk about debt by a church led counselling agency in Ipswich. Things rarely run smoothly and the event might have been cancelled. Jonathan felt a bit deflated but then the decision was made to go ahead. Jonathan takes up the story.

When the event was confirmed I suddenly felt that God was really in involved in this and it gave me fresh enthusiasm'. The session lasted three hours which sounds a long time but actually it went incredibly quickly. Tony sent me a PowerPoint presentation which formed the basis of what I wanted to say. I have very little PowerPoint experience and have not done much speaking but the material was easy to use. I began with a short biblical introduction based on things I had heard at the volunteer conference. The I got the group of twelve to use the study questions on debt from Keith's book Your Money and Your Life. That got people talking and we were on our way.

The presentation that Tony sent had some debt statistics, some of the causes and effects of debt. I added some stories of my own, people who had come to see me and I think that these helped to illustrate what I wanted to say. After a break I shared some stories about what other churches are doing and talked about Personal Budget Coaching and what Stewardship could offer churches who want to get involved.

It was great to work together with another volunteer from Suffolk, Sheelagh Ruse. She spoke about her involvement as a volunteer and brought along a bookstall of Stewardship materials.

The session went well. Jonathan was encouraged personally by doing the talk but he also felt pleased that the churches in Ipswich were taking some steps to help in a really important area. Would he do it again?

I was nervous but would feel a lot more confident doing another talk. The PowerPoint presentation has all that you need, the material is professional and there is a lot of support behind you. To have all that behind you really takes the burden off you. Everyone has got something important to say and some experience to share. I wouldn't feel comfortable standing in church and preaching about debt but this I could do and I am glad I did it. I'm going to keep in contact with those who attended the session and hope to encourage churches in the area to get involved. Debt and money worries ruin lives and we have got something to say that can help.

Jonathan's three hour session was very unusual! Most local speakers will not have to do that! But be encouraged by Jonathan's experience. Read all about the Stewardship seminar How the Church Can help People in Debt which is what Jon presented. The PowerPoint, the bible passages, the stories are all there. Tony will talk you through it all and at first we always advice a local speaker to take someone with them. Often the Area Coordinator will do this and offer help and support.

this last paragraph assumes that we will add modular resources to the current core HCCHPD resource - questions, case studies, bible passage, examples of what churches are doing. The latter can be added to the website as case studies. this will necessitate a slight rewrite of the HCCHPD page. .

This case study is in open access illustrating the role of the speaker. Are we happy with that? But the speaker resources will need to be put into the secure section of the site.