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Speaking
to Tribes
Near Nepal, India...It began with your
typical foot washing and tribal welcome dance
ceremony by orphaned and abandoned kids. As the sun
set on the primitive village nestled in lush rice paddies
near palm tree covered hills,
the children sang and danced, and villagers
gathered to take in their first view of "whites."
This was unnerving since they were preparing to
celebrate an annual festival where they worship
their Indian goddess, Kali, depicted as killing the
"white devil."
As the songs
ended, the crowd waited expectantly in flickering
candlelight. For what, I didn't know.
"Julie," our
native team leader leaned toward me, "the people
are waiting for a message. Please share something."
What
would I say?
Panic
set in. What should I say? Am I supposed to talk to
the kids or to the adults? The believers or the
unbelievers? How can I deliver a culturally
understood and relevant message? These questions
filled my mind as I prepared to break through two
languages with the help of two
interpreters.
"You
never know when and where your
CLASS speaking skills
will come in handy."
After
a crisis prayer, I stood up and moved in front of
hundreds of ogling eyes. Just in time, the Holy
Spirit began to speak. "Does God care about
children?" (Point) I spoke
about how God used kids for great purposes in the
Bible and throughout history. He even used orphaned
and abandoned kids such as Joseph and Esther to
save whole nations.
(Illustrate)
I
exhorted them to surrender their lives to God's
will as they grow up, so they might become great
leaders and teachers of His word, bringing hope and
light to many. I told of modern day men and women
from India who are changing the world for Christ,
because they have surrendered to God's call. (Examples)
Lastly,
I shared how the Bible says the unsaved can
experience God's special plan for their lives by
surrendering to His Son, Jesus Christ. (Reference)
An
audience of 10,000?
There
were many confessions of faith that night and many
sick also came to ask us to pray for healing. After
I finished speaking, the tribal spokesman asked our
team to return as soon as possible. He promised
that if we did, his village would bring 10,000
people from nearby villages to hear our
message.
Prayer and PIER helped me deliver a message of hope
that night to an entire village. You never know
where God will send you - with CLASS you're
prepared.
Julie
Ferwerda is a CLASS Grad and Faculty Member.
She is a staff writer and promotional speaker for
Hopegivers.org.
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Let
us dare to read, think, speak and
write.
- John Adams, 1765
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Your
Personality
Affects Your Speaking
One of the top ten fears people have is public
speaking.
The problem may be that people don't understand
their own personalities and their natural reactions
to getting up in front of a crowd.
Event
Planner: Would
you come speak to our group?
Popular Sanguine thought: They
are going to love me. What a treat!
Powerful Choleric: Great! I
can't wait to teach that group something new!
Peaceful Phlegmatic:
I would love to attend their event. But, me, the
speaker?
Perfect Melancholy: I
better get right to work so I'll have my facts
correct.
From the
Platform:
Popular Sanguine: Where was I
going with that story? Oh, well, they have already
had a good laugh. I'll just tell them the one about
-
Powerful Choleric: Some of
these people don't look like they understand what I
am saying. What can I do to get them back on
track?
Peaceful Phlegmatic: A
few people look like I have offended them. I better
not be so emphatic about my views.
Perfect Melancholy: (glancing
at watch) Only ten more minutes and I'll be able to
come off the stage. I hope everyone is getting the
message.
After
the Event:
Popular Sanguine: Wasn't that
fun? I may have forgotten a few things during the
presentation. But I am sure everyone had a good
time. Did you hear the way they
laughed?
Powerful Choleric: Now
the people know just what to do. I hope they will
hurry home and apply all they have learned.
Peaceful Phlegmatic:
Whew! I'm glad that's over. Now for a few minutes
of solitude.
Perfect Melancholy: Let me
hurry out to my book table so I can "hide" on the
other side of the table. I better check on those
helpers, too, and make sure they got the
pricing right.
Each personality type is different and has its own
set of strengths and weaknesses. But if we try to
understand ourselves and our personalities, it will
help us to understand our audiences, and
communicate more effectively.
In Personality
Plus, Florence Littauer says, "The knowledge
of the personalities can help each one of us to
function better in social situations, to converse
in a manner that will be appropriate and pleasing
to the others present, and to understand the
positives and negatives of other people. Isn't it
wonderful that we were not all made alike?"
Linda
Gilden
is a CLASS Grad and Faculty member and has authored
many books, her most recent is with New Hope,
Mommy
Pick-Me-Ups.
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WRITER'S
CORNER
11
Tips to Gain Exposure
for Your Book by Writing Articles
by Lisa
Copen
Many authors decry the idea of offering their
articles for free on the Internet. The more content
your web site has, however, the more Google likes
you. Think of article writing as research because
you can see what niche topics are a hit and pitch
these to magazines. Plus, you aren't spending money
to pay for advertising and design.
Here are a few tips:
1 - Have an engaging title.
Read the covers of magazines and mimic them. "6
Secrets __ Doesn't Want You To Know" or "How I
Learned ___ in 5 Years, but I'll Teach You in 5
Minutes!"
2 - Write a few
versions and rotate them. I use a service
which rotates the content so I have hundreds of
unique articles and Google doesn't penalize me for
"duplicate content." The result? Within 12 hours I
claimed the top 35 places on Google's 50 for my
keywords.
3 - Keep a list of
ezine editors who would like to be notified
of your new content.
4 - Become a guest
expert at American Chronicle. Consider other
web sites where you could contribute.
5 - Ask blogging colleagues
if you can be an occasional guest, sending an
article.
6 - Do searches for "your topic"
and "blog carnival." People who organize
blog carnivals send out a list/newsletter of the
best blogs once a week or month and everyone who is
a guest lets all of their readers know about the
blog carnival, multiplying your audience
quickly.
7 - Submit at
www.ideamarketers.com. Consider bidding for
placement; even if it is at the bottom of the page,
Google will pick it up.
8 - Post on Ezinearticles.com.
This is the biggest article directory ezine
publishers go to for content. If you only have time
for one step, do this one.
9 - Rewrite your title and submit
at ehow.com as a "How to" article. Then submit at Amazon.com as
a "So You Want to" Guide. Be sure to quote a few
books, especially your own, in your Amazon
submission.
10 - Consider other sites,
such as faithwriters.com, authorsden.com, my
different blogging places at a few social networks
like Shoutlife, and specialized niche web sites.
Don't forget My Space, Squidoo, or Ning.com
communities.
11 - Blast your
article out to the major article
directories, by using a service. I use Article
Marketer and it finds niche search engines I never
would have discovered.
Writing articles can quickly help you dominate the
search engines for your keywords and also help you
gain more publicity as you are seen as an expert on
your topic. Book mark everywhere you will submit it
and by your third article you will be able to do it
all in less than thirty minutes.
Now the hard part. . . give people permission to
reprint your articles for free. The only
stipulations are they cannot change anything
without your permission and they must include the
Resource Box that sends people back to your web
site. This is the only way you will get exposure!
And don't forget to go to post it on your own web
site and then go to Google Alerts.com and sign up
to be notified whenever your article appears on the
Internet. As the links roll in, you will be
motivated to keep writing!
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Hurry!
Register now -
limited openings available
PERSONALITY TRAINING WORKSHOP
April 14 - 16, 2008
Homewood
Suites
Henderson,
Nevada
"As
the mother of triplets, CLASS Personality Training
has helped me to better understand my children's
individual needs, and as a Personality Trainer, it
has provided an excellent speaking topic. I highly
recommend it to any speaker or author."
-
Cheryl Kirking,
CLASS Speaker and Author
Learn
from the Pros!
Join Florence and Marita Littauer,
Georgia Shaffer and Linda Jewell
at the upcoming Personality Training Workshop in
Henderson, April 14th - 16th.
To register, call Ramona at
800-433-6633.
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We've dreamed up something
special for you for ICRS this year!
 July
14 & 15
Orlando, FL
This
year at the International Christian Retail Show,
CLASS attendees can choose between two separate
2-day workshops, both designd to elevate and extend
your work and ministry.
Linda Gilden will host Get Published Now and
Tama Westman will host a Book Proposal Blitz.
In addition, participants will be treated to a Welcome
Reception, attend the 2-day seminar of their choice
(Mon/Tue) , and have official entry to the trade
show floor. Contact Ramona at 800-433-6633 to
reserve your spot in one of these workshops
now.
Get
Published Now
- -
In this fast-paced two-day workshop, personal
mentors will work with you for two mornings,
editing and rewriting your original piece of work.
Completed articles will be compiled into an
anthology published following ICRS. You will
receive 20 copies of the book six weeks after the
workshop. You can also purchase additional copies
at a discount. This workshop is excellent for those
seeking their first writing credit, those who would
like individual and specialized help with an
article, and speakers who want to have an
additional title for their book tables.
Book
Proposal Blitz
-
9 out of 10
nonfiction books are sold
from a nonfiction book proposal
What do you need to get your book proposal crafted, written and
ultimately sold? This hands-on workshop will help
you refine and polish all aspects of your book
proposal in just 2 afternoons so that you can pitch
your book idea with confidence to editors, knowing
you have a polished proposal to present. Bring your
laptop, your work-in-progress and let's get busy in
a blitz to success!
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 Spotlight
service:
The
Better Bookings
Speech
Critique
Service As CLASServices moves into the future, we're adding
new programs and resources to help our speakers and
writers improve their skills and strengthen their
ministries.
One new resource we're excited to announce is the
Better Bookings Speech Critique Service.
This service is provided by Wildfire Marketing and
Rob Eagar, who has over 17 years of professional
and ministry speaking experience.
Better Bookings is designed to help improve your
keynote speeches and take your speaking career to
the next level. Here's a sample of the
results you will experience:
- Identify the blind
spots that are sabotaging your messages
- Direct guidance
about how to improve your communication skills
- Increased feeling
of confidence when you take the stage
- New capability to
create referrals and requests for speaking
engagements
- Greater ability to
get the speaking fees that you're worth
How does it work? Send a copy of your recorded
speech on audio CD along with the written outline
or notes that you use. Then, choose from one of
three critique options that fit your budget. All
options include written critique and a personal
phone call.
"Rob and Ashley Eagar enabled
me to identify what my audience needs and how to
answer their needs in memorable and life-changing
ways. Because of their help, my message now makes a
much stronger first-impression, and my talks have a
far-reaching lasting impression."
Lysa TerKeurst,
President
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Special
introductory pricing and a 10% discount are
available
for the next 30 days. For more info, call WildFire
Marketing at 1-800-267-2045 or contact
Rob
Eager. Get pricing and
details at Wild
Fire Marketing.
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Getting
to Know...
Julie
Ferwerda
After wrestiling grizzly bears for huckleberries,
Julie enjoys attending Christian music festivals
with her husband of 8 years, Steve, and
daughters, Danielle and Jessica. Julie has a
fascination for unusual bugs and worked as a
hairstylist for many years, tormenting one and all
with new dos and, um-m, donts. (See below.)
Julie says she gave up her secret indulgence of
chocolate chip cookie binging, and maintains back
rubs are her love language.
A freelancer for magazines and websites, Julie
signed this year to work with Hopegivers
International,
a missions organization. She and her husband travel
together to help indigenous missionaries.
Hopegivers rescues orphans and abandoned children
and raises them to share the hope of the Gospel
throughout their own countries. She has visited
India and Haiti, writing the stories and
testimonies of those involved in the mission work.
Julie hopes to soon complete a book manuscript on
the Hopegivers vision to raise children to make a
difference.
It's no wonder that watching The Amazing Race is
one of her favorite pastimes, just look at her
photos! A daring, adventurous woman, eager to obey
the Lord, no matter where He sends her or what He
asks her to do, Julie is a delightful member of the
CLASS faculty.
"God fulfills the dreams He puts in your heart,"
she says. "Five years ago, I had a dream of
becoming a travel writer, writing up stories about
missionaries and God's work being done globally. He
fulfilled that dream in the most amazing ways!"
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The
Cost of Doing Business
Shipping costs, especially internationally, can
seem prohibitive. Rising fuel prices have raised
USPS and UPS rates as well. That's why we do
everything we can at CLASS to minimize the overall
expense and pass the savings onto you. Reduced
prices, rates, and a low handling and labor fee
equals the lowest price possible.
"When I ship a large order, there's so much that
goes into it," said Ramona Springer at the
CLASServices office. "Not only is there the box and
packaging, but I have to log the dimensions,
contents, value, and package weight - by the time I
receive the orders, pull the product, package it,
prepare the shipping documents, and then invoice, I
spend about two hours just on preparing product for
shipping. With what we charge for handling, I guess
that makes me about the cheapest labor in the
U.S.!"
Ramona and her husband Louis owned and operated a
successful jewelry business for over 22 years. She
said that many don't understand that the cost of
business includes providing for and paying a person
who handles such details, and that this cost
trickles down in a small way into the handling
fees. She says, "although we are a ministry, we
still have to pay the bills and taxes like any
other business."
At CLASServices, we appreciate your understanding,
and have set up our minimal shipping and handling
costs into a fair grid:
Expect to add:
$ 8.00 s/h to orders
of .01 - 25.00
$10.50 s/h to orders of 25.01 - 50.00
$12.00 s/h to orders of 50.01 - 75.00
$13.00 s/h to orders of 75.01 - 100.00
Up to 15% to orders of 101.00+
* International shipping costs will be higher.
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HURRY - FILLING FAST!
Apr
14-16
Personality Training
Henderson, NV
May 5-7
CLASSeminar
Austin, TX
POSTPONED 2009
CLASSeminar
Lynchburg, VA
Jul 13-17
ICRS
Orlando, FL
Aug 4-6
Faculty Training
Henderson, NV
Aug 18-20
CLASSeminar
Livermore, CA
Sep 8-10
CLASSeminar
Jamestown, NY
NEW!
Sep
19-21
Upper
CLASS
Lakeville,
CT
NEW! Sep 29-Oct 1
CLASSeminar
Canton, GA
Oct 22-26
Glorieta Christian
Writer's Conference
Glorieta, NM
Nov 10-12
Personality Training
Nashville, TN
NEW! Nov 17-19
CLASSeminar
Indianapolis, MN
*
Alumni receive special discount when booking a
re-boost seminar.
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Join the Celebration!
For over 27 years Florence Littauer has invested in
the lives of others. She has shared the passion God
has given her to train and equip men and women to
take their message and share it with the
world.
Little did she know when she held that first
CLASSeminar in February of 1981 with 33 women what
an impact she would make for the Kingdom of God, an
impact that would eventually reach out and touch
your life as well!
Now we invite you
to invest in
Florence's legacy.
On April 27th Florence will celebrate a
milestone birthday!
In honor of this momentous occasion we have
established a scholarship fund in her name to be
used to supply financial assistance to men and
women who desire to attend the CLASSeminar and
develop the skills they need to share their message
with the world.
What better birthday gift for a woman who has
invested of herself in so many of us than our
investment to continue the legacy she began?
Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part
of this wonderful celebration honoring
Florence.
You may send your birthday cards or letters of
appreciation to Florence at our office. Most
importantly your generous contribution to the
scholarship fund will make a huge difference in
many lives.
Make checks payable to:
Redlands Community Foundation.
*Please write:
Littauer Scholarship Fund
in the check memo portion.
(Contributions
are tax deductible.)
Mail your cards and letters along with your
donation to:
CLASServices, Inc.
2201 San Pedro Dr. NE.
Building 1, Suite 225
Albuquerque, NM 87110.
Watch the May CLASS Communique' for an update on
the Scholarship Fund and guidelines. Thank you for
your participation in this momentous
event.
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SUBMISSION
CALLOUTS:
The
Christian Women's
View,
Thursday nights, 8 PM (EST)
Authors,
interested interviewing on an Internet radio
show?
For consideration,
email WLGT@nc.rr.com.
Include
bio, book description, publisher and 10 suggested
interview questions.
CLASS
Grad Sandra Stanford
will
contact you to schedule.
**********
It's
Too Soon to Say Goodbye:
The Heartbreak of Suicide
Deadline
March 31st,
Contact Susan
Osborn,
Put
"Goodbye" in subject line.
**********
Chicken Soup
for the Soul of Twins
**********
"Hugs" Bible Study
For info and
guidelines,
contact
Mindy Ferguson.
**********
Oxygen
for the Swimmer
**********
Bloggable
(New
4-book series)
50
of the best MOMMY blogs
50
of the best MARRIAGE blogs
50
of the best FRIENDSHIP blogs
50
of the best HUMOR blogs
$50 + 2 free copies.
Contact Tricia
Goyer.
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News & Reviews
(Click
on book covers
for ordering information.)
Florence Littauer and CLASS
Grads Emilie Barnes, Gayle Roper and Jan Silvious
are several authors featured in the
Grandmother's Bible
released this month
by Zondervan.
CLASS Grad Adele Bower wrote and illustrated Emmie's
Birthday Party
(Tate).
CLASS Grad J. Ron Eaker recently released two books,
Fat Proof
Your Family
and A Woman's
Guide to Hormone
Health (Bethany).
CLASS Grad Kathy Howard released Before His
Throne (New Hope).
CLASS Grad Sandra Hughes published Arise
Shine (RoyalPress).
CLASS Grad Mary May Larmoyuex released Help
for Busy Moms (Pleasant Word).
CLASS Grad Kathy Pride
released Soccer
Moms' Devotions to Go (Extreme Diva
Media).
CLASS Grad Vonda Skelton released Seeing
Through the Lies (Regal).
Toni Peinado published in Along the
Way for Teens via a Glorieta connection.
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We want to celebrate your success!
Please share book releases, submission
callouts, new markets, photos, pertinent articles
and comments.
Tama
Westman, Editor.
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If
you are interested
in bringing the CLASSeminar to your church or
community, contact Karen
Porter.
CLASServices,
Inc.
2201 San Pedro Dr., NE
Building 1, Suite 225
Albuquerque, NM 87110
800.433.6633
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=hgb7gjcab.0.0.yfvmn9n6.0&ts=S0319&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classervices.com&id=preview
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