I speak regularly on issues of contemporary spirituality and belief, having 18 years of speaking and broadcasting experience behind me.
I will customise my presentation to meet your specific conference or event objectives, or craft a new talk for you. When you’re ready, please tell me about your event. I look forward to discussing it further with you.
KEYNOTES
Four Longings of the Heart
Human beings are inherently religious. In this presentation I examine Mind-Body-Spirit festivals, secular pilgrimages, self-help books, workplace spirituality and other aspects of culture to discern four longings of the heart and their fulfillment. These four longings can be phrased in four implicit questions resting on the soul:
1. In a materialistic world, where can I find meaning?
2. In a confusing world, where can I find guidance?
3. In a broken world, where can I find healing?
4. In a lonely world, where can I find love?
Approx. 40 mins.
Listen to a recording or watch a related video series
The Search for Meaning
What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of my life? Why am i here? Whether we realise it or not, each of us has an answer to this age-old question. In this presentation I survey four common answers as revealed in popular culture, and offer a distinctly Christian answer that brings life and purpose.
Approx. 40mins.
Unseen Footprints: Encountering the Divine Along the Journey of Life
Based on my book Unseen Footprints, in this talk I explore how God is whispering to us through things like beauty, pleasure, creation and pain, trying to get our attention. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision of God and His ways people perish. I give a sketch of God’s personality, then end with a call for my audience to become engrossed in the personality of God, reflections of the nature of God, and communicators of the vision of God.
Approx. 40 mins.
Listen to a recording.
The Dream of God for a Brand New World
Using illustrations from movies like The Truman Show, I contrast two grand visions of the future—The Kingdom of Things and The Kingdom of God—and call audience members to build their dreams on and find their callings in the latter. I look at the books of Isaiah and Revelation and find a future ‘new heavens and earth’ world that is:
1. A kingdom of fulfilled longings
2. A kingdom of healed wounds
3. A kingdom of radiant beauty
4. A kingdom of restored harmony
Weaving parts of my own story throughout, this is a rousing call to live for God and His dream alone.
Approx. 45 mins.
The Call of God to a Brand New Life
In this message I contrast the three prime questions on the human heart: Who am I? What am I here for? What do I do next?, with the three primary callings that God gives to us: Become My child, Become My servant, Step to My rhythm of life. Audience members discover a solid base to build an identity on and discover a pattern of living that helps them put God first and prioritise the rest of life accordingly.
Approx. 45 mins.
Note: Unseen Footprints, The Dream of God and The Call of God can be run as a three-part weekend series.
Following God into the Unknown
The African Impala is a dear-like animal that can jump to great heights, yet be contained in any zoo enclosure with just a one metre high wall. Why? Because it won’t jump if it can’t see where it’s feet will land. In this talk I retell the story of Abraham’s call to an ‘unknown land’, weaving in some personal experiences of my own to offer some lessons on what it means to hear the voice of God, walk by faith and live a life of adventure.
Approx. 35 mins.
Listen to a recording
Holding on to God Through the Dark Night of Doubt
Based on Psalm 77 and taken from my book Unseen Footprints, in this talk I tell the interwoven stories of two men: one a Middle-Eastern God-follower in 1000BC, the other a 21 year old Bible College student of modern times. Both are experiencing a ‘dark night of the soul’; both come to a profound experience of God through it.
Approx. 35 mins.
Listen to a recording
SEMINARS
Changing the World Through Words: How to Become an Inspirational Communicator
Designed for those interested in communicating more successfully—from public speaking to writing, or even conducting mass communication projects—this seminar consists of two parts:
Part 1: I propose 6 Questions to Ask before launching any communications exercise and cover how to understand your audience and how to craft a message.
Part 2 I share 6 Qualities to Pursue to become inspirational communicators whom God uses to change the world.
Participants learn a step-by-step process to plan communication ventures, and discover qualities like resonance, credibility and passion that will help them become more successful communicators.
90 mins and half day versions available.
A Basket Full of Stars: Communicating with Colour and Creativity
In this more technically-oriented seminar, I explore creativity and its uses in communication for the Christian cause. The seminar consists of two parts:
Part 1: A 4-phase process is given to help attendees understand what creativity is and how they can develop creative thinking skills.
Part 2: I give 6 elements that communicators can implement into their writing, speaking and other communication ventures, including the role of storytelling, metaphor and simile, and techniques to stimulate listener curiosity.
90 mins and half day versions available.
Listen to a recording
Discovering the Soul of Your Community
What does your community’s culture—its stories, songs, buildings and advertisements—reveal about its soul: its beliefs, values, anxieties and longings? How does your community’s culture reveal its hidden ‘deities’? In this presentation I offer some tools to ‘read’ culture and social trends so you can better bring change to it.
Approx. 60 mins.
CUSTOM MESSAGES
I tailor every message I share to the unique audience and conference/event objectives I am asked to speak at. For major conferences I will craft a keynote address to your topic of choice, when sufficient resources of time are available.
Please enquire today regarding your conference or event.