By Ayodeji Ayopo
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Communication is a process and this should be known by every Pastor. It is not just a one-man initiative.
It involves both the speaker, the sender of the message and the hearer- the receiver of the message. It requires strategic effort on the part of the Pastor to make communication work.
When a pastor speaks, he should be mindful of the impart of his communication style.. The whole essence of this is that, a Pastor should improve his communication skills.
A Pastor is expected to be mindful of what he says publicly. He should ensure that his words ministers grace to the hearers. The truth is that: do not just speak. Your words should be both impactful and meaningful. You should not just speak but, be mindful of your communicative effort.
Your language of communication should be clear and concise. You should be direct in your communication approach. Your thoughts should be clear in order to achieve the desired purpose.
The language should not be ambiguous. In any communication, the language should be very clear and concise. It is pathetic that some Pastors can not speak English well. While it is not a crime but there is a place for self- development. You can improve your communication skills by reading on the subject. Pastors should also understand that they should be free to use the language they are are comfortable with. It does not have to be English.
It is also important for a Pastor to note that his communication should meet the expectation of the congregation. You can preach for an hour but you may not communicate effectively. Your communication should meet the desired needs of the people. When you are unable to touch the mind, soul and spirit of the people, you have not communicated in any way. The hearers of your message want a “take home”. Something that should strike a chord in their hearts.
Some Pastors do not have thorough understanding of their audience. You need to know your audience well as a Pastor. You must know their needs and their thoughts pattern.
When you communcate, you should be able to identify the needs of your audience. You need a full grasp of who they are, their preferences and lifestyle indices. You will do yourself a lot of good by knowing your audience and adapting your cpommunication to meet their specific needs.
When you communicate as a Pastor, you must check your message. Is the message clear? Does it have some errors? Would the audience receive the message in its exact form or there may be some missing links?
Your message must be prepared in a way that it not only inspires the people but also stimulates their interest in the subject matter.
For instance, when you start re-inforcing the message of giving to retirees, you may not achieve any result. This is not general but the truth is that, some retirees have not collected pension for years. How would they respond to such a message? They may not respond appropriately to the message of giving when they are unable to provide for their basic needs
A Pastor is expected to have good listening skills. When you communicate, you must listen to the voice of your congregation.You must not just download what is on your mind alone. It is true that Pastors receive the revelation and transmit same to the people.
However , you should listen to the mood, reactions and the non-verbal disposition of the congregation. In other areas, Pastors should practice active listening when people speak to you. Do not just assume you know the direction the communication should take.You need to listen and internalise very well.
The moment you interupt the person communicating to you, misunderstanding starts and the individual may not be able to communicate any challenge or discuss any issues with you again.
Feedbacks are key indices to determine whether your communication achieves the desired purpose. A Pastor should passionately develop channels of communication for feedback.
Some Pastors are not open to feedbacks and this affects their effectiveness in ministry. When you open door to feedback, you have a licence to penetrate the hearts of your people. There should always be a feedback mechanism to gauge the minds of the people.
Pastor, your interaction, relational skills and bonding initiatives are also part of your communication. You should find avenues to interact in order to probe the minds of people.
Find points of connection with the people and this would to a larger extent help your ministry.
