The voice is a tool that God has given us for the purposes of his kingdom. God has left the proclamation of the good news of the Bible totally dependent on the voices of His preachers.

Taking care of our voices is part of our calling.

These tips help protect my voice, which survives preaching 40-something weeks out of the year, 16-hour training sessions and monthly coaching calls. Try them out this week in preparation for your next sermon.

#1 Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of room-temperature water: not too hot, not too cold. Drink more on those days that you’re going to preach.

#2 Practice vocal warm-ups. Develop a repertoire of vocal exercise. Some of my favorites:

• King Kong: Say “King Kong” over and over again until it vibrates in the back of your throat.
• Diphthong (gliding vowels): Practice saying a series like “look, like, lick, luck.” Make sure they sound like four different words.
• Diction. Work on your P’s: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Join me next week for the remaining three tips to protect your voice.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.