Voice Training for Workers
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rob God of the glory He might have if they had trained themselves to
speak the word with power.
Overcoming Defects
No man should regard himself as qualified to enter the ministry un-
til by persevering effort he has overcome every defect in his utterance.
If he attempts to speak to the people without knowing how to use the
talent of speech, half his influence is lost, for he has little power to
hold the attention of a congregation.
Whatever his calling, every person should learn to control the
voice, so that when something goes wrong, he will not speak in tones
that stir the worst passions of the heart. Too often the speaker and the
one addressed speak sharply and harshly. Sharp, dictatorial words,
uttered in hard, rasping tones, have separated friends and resulted in
the loss of souls....
In the social meeting there is special need of clear, distinct utter-
ance, that all may hear the testimonies borne and be benefited by them.
Difficulties are removed and help is given as in social meeting God’s
people relate their experiences. But too often the testimonies are borne
with faulty, indistinct utterance, and it is impossible to gain a correct
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idea of what is said. Thus the blessing is often lost.
Let those who pray and those who speak pronounce their words
properly, and speak in clear, distinct, even tones. Prayer, if properly
offered, is a power for good. It is one of the means used by the Lord to
communicate to the people the precious treasures of truth. But prayer
is not what it should be, because of the defective voices of those who
utter it. Satan rejoices when the prayers offered to God are almost
inaudible.
Let God’s people learn how to speak and pray in a way that will
properly represent the great truths they possess. Let the testimonies
borne and the prayers offered be clear and distinct. Thus God will be
glorified. Let all make the most of the talent of speech.
God calls for a higher, more perfect ministry. He is dishonored
by the imperfect utterance of the one who by painstaking effort could
become an acceptable mouthpiece for Him. The truth is too often
marred by the channel through which it passes.