Proclamation!: A Christian Guide to Public Speaking

At long last here is a textbook for the basic public speaking course--one that integrates a Christian worldview with up-to-date scholarship in the field of communication. Proclamation! covers the standard speech types: informative speech, persuasive speech, and ceremonial speech. In addition, Blake J. Neff recognizes that Christians need to know how to deliver an edifying speech and a personal testimony speech. Neff acknowledges that one of the reasons to study public address at the university level is that God has commanded His people to "always be prepared to give an account" (1 Peter 3:15). Proclamation! prepares Christians to speak not only as one to many but also as members of interpersonal or small groups. Christian teachers of public speaking will appreciate the assistance this book offers toward integrating faith with learning. Students will applaud the practical and readable approaches found in Proclamation!

Blake J. Neff is Visiting Professor of Communication at Indiana Wesleyan University and Pastor of the Van Buren United Methodist Church. He is the author of A Pastor's Guide To Interpersonal Communication (Haworth, 2006) and coauthor with Donald Ratcliff of The Complete Handbook of Religious Education Volunteers (Religious Education, 1993). He and Ratcliff also edited Handbook of Family Religious Education (Religious Education, 1995). In addition to preaching, Dr. Neff has taught public speaking for twenty years at a variety of Christian colleges and universities. He and his wife, Nancy, have three adult children. The couple currently resides in Van Buren, Indiana.