08Sep 2010 by Nigel Ring

PowerPoint – Visual Aid or Visual Distraction? Pt 2

Equipping, Good Practice, PowerPoint
Some Hows? and Whys? PowerPoint is a very powerful tool if used well and there are many features available for the creative speaker. However, because it has many possible ‘tricks’ and animations some speakers feel these must be used at all costs. So words 'swoosh' onto the screen, then spin and zoom without purpose. Rather than enhance the presentation, such activity can lead to the point that the speaker is making becoming lost in visual activity. Don't do it! Admittedly, some animations can liven up a presentation, but do be careful that each one is used purposefully and not just because it is possible! So, in constructing a PowerPoint presentation where do we start? 1. Venue When preparing a presentation it is important to know the venue and the size of…
Read More
03Sep 2010 by Nigel Ring

PowerPoint – Visual Aid or Visual Distraction? Pt 1

Equipping, PowerPoint
The pros and cons of PowerPoint These days PowerPoint is part of any speaker’s armoury. Yet no doubt you, like me, have seen PowerPoint used both well and badly. Used well it can contribute greatly to the hearer’s understanding. Used badly it can be a significant distraction as the hearer is trying to work out what a slide says and means rather than listening to the speaker. In this three part series I shall look at some of the basics I have found useful in using PowerPoint, whether for sermon illustration or as part of a presentation in a training programme. How not to Recently I have been in two ‘bad’ settings. In one a responsibility tree was put on the screen with a minimum of 50 ‘pods’, probably more.…
Read More
21Aug 2010 by Nigel Ring

God’s Stump – book about cross cultural issues

Christian ministry, Cross-culture, Equipping, News, Poor
I find that holidays are times for reading. There are a couple I want to recommend. This is the first. Are you willing to be challenged about cross cultural issues? For ten years Nigel and Lisa Measures have been leading a cross-cultural and multiracial church, Khanyisa Community Church, in a township outside Cape Town, an area which, in the days of apartheid, was a hot bed of political and physical strife. But they have lived there for even longer and are thus well qualified as white people from a British culture to address some of the deep-rooted issues which should challenge all of us about the gospel and its application. How should it be outworked out among rich and poor, black and white, multi-racially? What are our inner attitudes when we…
Read More
26Jul 2010 by Nigel Ring

Conference Administration – Debrief

Administrative Skills, Conference Administration, Equipping, News, Together on a Mission
This will be my last blog for the summer. I realise that there are other things on peoples minds such as holidays – in the UK at least. So I am joining them! The importance of debriefing For my final blog before we break let me share with you how we debriefed from the Together on a Mission Conference (TOAM10). Debriefing is a very important part of conference organisation, or indeed of organising any event. For instance, what did Jesus do after the disciples first ministry trip? Debriefed (at least he set out to do so until he was interrupted by 5000 people!). And after feeding the 5000? Debriefed! How else would he have known how many people had attended, how many baskets were left over and so on? The…
Read More
14Jul 2010 by Nigel Ring

Conference Administration – Behind the scenes at TOAM 2010

Administrative Skills, Conference Administration, Equipping, News, Together on a Mission
We met with God Over 3000 Leaders and Twenties have now returned to about 40 nations and are separated by many thousands of miles having spent last week together with a common sense of vision and purpose at the annual Newfrontiers Conference 'Together on a Mission' hosted by Terry Virgo.   There seems to have been a general air of satisfaction as they returned home having met with God through: • Powerful teaching and preaching both in the Main Sessions, Training Tracks and Seminars (sessions all downloadable >>) • Anointed Worship • Some significant prophetic words • An evening of prayer for the nations • A visit to the Global Zone to see where they could get involved in going to the nations • Strengthening their understanding of Newfrontiers’ Vision and Values through the videos • Refreshing…
Read More
01Jul 2010 by Nigel Ring

Giving Notices – Part 2 – How? When? Who?

Administration in the Church, Conference Administration, Equipping, Good Practice, Meetings
Translation First, Google Translation has now been added to all Newfrontiers websites including my blog! For my blog see the panel on the right. Traducción atraves de Google-traducción ha sido añadido a todas las páginas web de Nuevas Fronteras, incluyendo mi blog! Para ver a mi blog , ver al panel de la derecha. Notices pt 2 Having touched on the Why? and What? let us now ask three further questions – How? When? and Who? How? Notices are about public communication and need preparation (and prayer!). In considering what you want to communicate ask yourself what you expect people to do with the knowledge – the ‘take away’. Then plan how best that will be achieved. Visual aids It is well known that visual communication is more effective than…
Read More