Things to consider:
- It is best to have the same person to speak at each of your evening events, as this builds momentum and people are more likely to come back.
- If you are organising more than one event per day you may want to consider two or even three speakers (e.g. one for lunch times, one for international events, and one for evening events).
- If you are having more than one speaker, then, in some contexts, you may find that having diversity among the speakers would be helpful.
- It is a great idea to get the speaker(s) to come to visit before the Events Week if possible, so that the CU members can get to know and trust them.
- Remember that having someone who is well-known in Christian circles is of no particular advantage for friends outside these circles!
What to look for in a speaker:
- Are they committed to Biblical truth?
- Are they evangelistically gifted — i.e. are they able to present the gospel clearly and persuasively to those who are not Christians? Are they able to fit in well in your university context?
- Are they able and willing to answer questions after their talks?
- Are they someone with whom you can develop a good relationship and work well with?
You may also want to ask the advice of your Staff Worker, as well as asking other CUs for suggestions of speakers they have particularly appreciated.
Thinking of inviting a speaker from a different country? More advice on that here
Once the speaker is booked:
- Organise a meeting between the speaker(s) and the planning team as soon as possible and work with them throughout the year, keeping them informed and being willing to take their advice. They may have done many Events Weeks before and have lots of experience and suggestions.
- Communicate well — especially regarding the theme of the week and the titles of the talks. It’s important the speaker is happy with these, as well as you being happy, as they will be actually giving the talks! (See Choosing Talk Titles for more on this)
- Consider where the speaker(s) will stay during the week. He or she will need a room to themselves, for preparation time and adequate rest. Consider booking them into a local guest house or arrange for them to stay with a local minister or hospitable Christian family.
- Make sure you budget accordingly, so that you can cover the speaker's expenses and a gift. (See Budgeting and Fundraising).
Things to do:
- Plan. Decide how many speakers you need for your Events Week and create a list of possible speakers.
- Research. Listen to examples of evangelistic talks they have given.
- Choose. Decide which speaker(s) you will approach first. Think of a back-up if they are unavailable.