How to Give a Two Minute "Pitch" In Front of the Church
Volume 404
January 10, 2011
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Recently a man was given the opportunity to "pitch" the men in his church on becoming part of a weekly men's group. He asked for suggestions, and here's what I told him:

You can speak about 300 words in two minutes. That's only enough time to make one point. Anything more than that will clutter men's minds and lose their attention.

"Start from the end"-ask yourself, "What can I say that will inspire these men to want what I'm offering?" The most powerful motivator is always a changed life-your own is best.

Suggestions for the two minutes:

1. "Open" by praising your pastor for his ministry in your life and encouraging you to start a weekly Men's group. 20 seconds, about 50 words.

2. "Arrest their attention" with one heart-stopping sentence, like "Statistically, 40% of us in this sanctuary will end up divorced...but it doesn't have to be that way." (10 seconds)

3. Next, for the "body," tell them from your heart how a weekly Men's group has impacted your life. Tie this back to your attention-arresting sentence. For example, "Listening to the men in my small group gave me the desire to love my wife biblically, equipped me with practical ideas, and held me accountable to make it happen." Give one concrete example, like "Now we go on a date once a week and we've never been better," or "Now I pray with and for her every day, and I'm in puppy love." You will only have time for one example, so you can say something like "and I have 5 other examples I could give you if we had the time." (75 seconds)

4. For the close say, "Small groups change lives. I know. I'm one. I'm here to invite you to become one too. We're starting a new men's group next Sunday night. We only have room for ___ men, so let me know ASAP if you want more information or to sign up." (15 seconds)

By the way, everything I said to him adds up to exactly 300 words if you want to use it as a benchmark.

Yours for changed lives,

Patrick Morley, PhD

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER:

HE WILL CALL UPON ME, AND I WILL ANSWER HIM:
PSALM 91: 15a, New International Version

When a nightclub opened on Main Street, a church that was only a few blocks away, organized a twenty-four hour prayer vigil. They asked God to burn down the club. Within a week, lighting struck and burned the club to the ground. The owner sued the church, which denied responsibility. After hearing arguments from both sides the judge said, “It seems that wherever the guilt may lie, the nightclub owner believes in prayer and the church doesn’t.”

The first hindrance to answered prayer is – ‘prayerlessness’.
Sounds simple, but our prayers are not answered when we don’t pray. Saying we believe in prayer is not the same as praying.
In James 4; 2a, New International Version it is written,
“You want something but don’t get it.”

We must take time to ask God for what we want and need.
Sometimes we process situations in our minds, or talk about them
with our friends, or wish, or hope, but we don’t pray.
Thinking, wishing, hoping, and talking with others in not prayer;
only prayer is prayer! When we have a need or a situation that concerns us;
we’re only praying; when we talk to God about it.

God is waiting for us to make requests of Him in prayer.
He never gets tired of us coming to Him!
He is able, willing, and ready, to act on our behalf,
but only if we pray.

It is recorded in Matthew 7: 7 – 8 New International Version
that Jesus said:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

I believe that God has three possible answers to our prayers.

1. ‘Yes!’
2. ‘Not yet!’
3. ‘I have something better for you!’

Is “he” in your life 24 / 7 ?