When preparing to entertain a guest speaker, three questions need answers:
1. Have you prayed for this person’s ministry?
I arrived at a particular church for an evangelistic meeting once and was impressed by two things: how much they talked to God and how much they talked to God about me. They had prayed for everything from my plane trip to my pulpit ministry, from my wife to my witness. One person commented, “I hope I get to meet your wife someday. I’ve been praying for her since the day they told us you were coming.”
Pray for the guest speaker’s family the way you would for yours if you were away from home.
Pray for the guest speaker’s health, realizing a change in time zone, water, or climate can upset the body’s system.
Pray for the guest speaker’s trip, and the dangers of delay, cancellation, and lost luggage.
Pray for the guest speaker’s messages. Time and wisdom for preparation are needed if the ministry is to be effective.
2. Have you considered the person’s gift?
I was once invited to a church for a series of prophetic messages, but I’m an evangelist, not a prophetic teacher. Because I was told up front what I was wanted for, I had the opportunity to decline the invitation. Another evangelist I know was not told until he arrived what kind of messages were expected. Much to his surprise, they were not in the area of his gift.
Four words of caution are in order:
Use guest speakers where they’re best. Consider their ability and your audience. Look at what they speak on the most. Normally, the things they do the most are the things they do the best.
Keep them at their best. Avoid too many services and too much activity. Studies reveal that delivering a thirty-minute message requires the equivalent of four to six hours of physical labor.
Don’t surprise them. Good ministry requires discipline and study. Ask well in advance and give details early.
Let speakers meditate before they minister. Allow them a few minutes before the service to collect their thoughts, and you will be the beneficiary.
3. Are you caring for the person’s needs?
Several years ago a host called me: “We’re looking forward to your meetings and are excited about what God is going to do. Our people are also looking forward to meeting you personally. In fact, we have you staying in a different home every night so you’ll get to know our people and they’ll get to know you.” Fortunately, I was able to convince him I should stay in the same place the entire week and use the evening meal to visit with a different family each night. Otherwise, my effectiveness in the pulpit could have been seriously reduced.
The better you minister to speakers in physical things, the better they can minister to you in spiritual things:
Give them privacy. Offer a choice between a home or a motel. If the speaker prefers a home, make sure it has a private bedroom, preferably with a mirror and desk.
Preserve their energy. The closer to the church they stay, the better.
Protect their reputation. Don’t put them in compromising situations. For example, avoid putting a male speaker in the home of a young wife, especially if she and he are the only ones there during the day.
Provide a car. A map, directions, and the phone number of each essential place will help.
Pay all expenses. Pay the actual cost of travel (now 20 a mile), not just the gas, and send the expense check before arrival.
Give an honorarium. The best policy is to promise a love offering with a guaranteed minimum.
-R. Larry Moyer
Copyright © 1983 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
