"How to Overcome Nervousness and Deliver a Confident Presentation at Church as a Teen"

My Church Presentation Experience

I have been presenting in front of audiences for most of my life. It used to be easier when I was younger and carefree. However, as I've grown older, I've started feeling anxious when speaking in front of crowds. In today's blog post, I will share my personal ups and downs of presenting and how you can overcome the fear of being in front of an audience.

Thursday, March 28: The Day the Stress Began

Several days ago, I agreed to do a presentation for my church's 50th-year celebration (The Great Jubilee). Initially, I wasn't as scared or worried because I thought it would be simple. I planned to:

1. Write my sermon in a blog format, as I'm used to doing.

2. Proofread and edit my blog to improve it.

3. Practice speaking openly, while emphasizing certain words, etc.

My father told me that I didn't have to write the blog until April 25, so I had some time to think about what to write. I had to create an interactive sermon with questions that would last 10 to 20 minutes.

April 25: The Writing Begins

As the date approached for me to write the sermon, I researched 50-year celebrations online and in the Bible. I felt a bit lost at first, so I asked a friend from school for help in starting the presentation. To my surprise, she replied and provided valuable assistance. I found a Bible passage about a 50-year journey, which inspired some of the questions for my presentation. Instead of using just one Bible verse, we searched for additional verses to enrich the sermon.

May: Children’s Month

With Children’s Month here, I found myself feeling anxious and stressed. Fortunately, my dad took care of the rest of the sermon writing, reminding me I had experience performing in front of crowds since I was 5. Last year, during a talent show in fifth grade, I had to perform alone after my brother got too scared and backed out. Can you believe I offered my little brother moral support, and he left me alone. Hahaha. Despite my initial fears, my mom boosts my confidence. As I prepared for my sermon, I was still worried about making mistakes and feeling embarrassed. However, I reminded myself of my successes and overcame negative emotions.

May 17: The Day Before My Sermon

After school, I completed my homework and practiced my sermon one last time. Surprisingly, I felt more confident than I had weeks before. Watching other children deliver their sermons inspired me to make mine informative and interactive. With my brother introducing me, we practiced together before getting a good night's rest for the big day.

May 18: The Sermon

On the day of the sermon, I followed my usual Saturday routine but with the added responsibility of being the preacher, dressed in a suit and tie. As I arrived at the church, my nerves began to settle. After the Children's Story and worship, it was finally my turn to speak. The initial minutes were a bit nerve-wracking, but I felt more at ease as I started talking. The positive response from the audience, with their claps and agreement, boosted my confidence even more.

My favorite part of the day was asking questions and seeing most people struggle to answer them—it was quite amusing.

Conclusion

That concludes today's blog post. Before I sign off, let me share how I overcame my fear of speaking in front of crowds. I focused on positive affirmations, boosted my self-esteem, visualized success, and practiced diligently. I hope these tips help you too. Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more experiences like this. If you don’t feel like reading this why not go to my Youtube page at TQ’s Reading Realm. Over there I have a vlog about this so you can experience it for yourself.

Oh wait, you already finished reading my blog, hahahahaha!