Why Spokesman Club Is for You

I still remember vividly the moment when I first heard about Club.

It happened one Sabbath during fellowship after services, with a group of men gathered in a member’s living room after the women had left. One of the men mentioned that with the addition of another man (referring to me, as I had recently started attending), the congregation might soon be able to start a Spokesman Club. I had never heard of such a thing before in any church I had ever attended.

Back then, I had an aversion to public speaking, in part because of a past painful experience. Many years ago, I was asked to give a speech at my sister’s wedding. I had prepared the speech in advance but left printing it until the wedding day. In the rush of that busy day, I pressed the print button and grabbed the paper from the printer without checking it. To my horror, when I unveiled the document during the wedding, half of the page was blank due to the printer running out of ink!

All eyes were on me as I began to sweat, and I had to improvise the speech on the spot. At one point, the half-blank page started shaking profusely in my hand because of my nervousness, which underscored my lack of preparation even more.

I still recall a relative’s words that have stuck with me: “What you said there came from the heart!” He gestured to his chest as he said it. While he may have been trying to be kind, he also may have been teasing me a little. Even years later, that speech remained a source of jokes at a family gathering, and I, of course, took it in good humor and laughed about it as well. Nonetheless, I learned a valuable lesson about how not to prepare for a speech.

However, that was in the past. Here I was now, a prospective member of God’s Church, brought out of this world, which included leaving my past failures behind. I was being called to become “a new creature” (II Cor. 5:17). To progress toward becoming a member, I had to overcome my insecure past. Little did I realize that Spokesman Club would be the perfect vehicle for this transformation. It would require a leap of faith—and lots of God’s help—but I became determined not to let my fear of public speaking hold me back.

Fast-forward to today, and I now confidently deliver live messages at Sabbath Services, the Feast of Tabernacles and other Church events. Spokesman Club has played a significant role in teaching me how to communicate effectively.

Yet it is essential to understand that Club is about much more than just public speaking.

Having had the privilege of experiencing this program both as a member and as a director has taught me that there are compelling reasons why men in the Church should aspire to be a part of Spokesman Club.

Develop Your Personality

Members of Club follow a document called the Ambassador-Spokesman Speech Manual. This guide presents three main purposes for Spokesman Club. The first one involves developing your whole personality. Oxford Languages defines personality as “the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character.” A man’s character resides in his heart. His personality broadcasts it.

Tragically, many a man may have a fine personality but do not realize how to harness it, nor that it can be developed, enhanced and improved under proper guidance.

They do not grasp that the clarity of a man’s speech reflects his inner self. As Jesus Christ stated in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Practical training is needed to bring this about. We need opportunities where we can practice and let our genuine personalities shine. This encompasses various aspects such as our grammar, voice, attire, posture, gestures and much more.

Imagine someone who lacks facial expressions and speaks robotically versus someone who is excessively expressive, almost comical. Both extremes are turn-offs and should be avoided. Instead, we should aim for balance. Club provides a platform for such practice and self-improvement through mutual feedback. You will learn when and how to talk—as well as when and how to stop talking.

Moreover, the guidance provided by fellow Club members and the director sharpens our skills, much like “iron sharpening iron” (Prov. 27:17). Where else could you find such an opportunity? This is stuff you cannot learn, definitely not from God’s perspective, in the schools of this world.

The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 9 of making himself “all things to all men” (vs. 22.) He worked on his personality to become more captivating and adaptable to different people in various circumstances. Over time, participating in Spokesman Club will help you to, like Paul, develop a winning personality. As Proverbs 11:30 states, “He that wins souls is wise.”

Club can teach you about how to not only be a righteous man, but a righteous gentleman. The Club experience will help you overcome self-will, pride and vanity through self-discipline. This will supercharge your personality.

Practice God’s Government

Another essential Spokesman Club purpose is to provide practical training in effective government. In the words of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong: “Government is everything.” Consider how many of today’s societal problems can be traced back to ineffective government. We recognize that the world desperately needs the Kingdom of God, which will replace man’s broken systems. We eagerly anticipate that time and are currently undergoing training to be prepared for it.

In the meantime, we should practice God’s form of government in His Church and our own lives before the Kingdom arrives. Club offers a direct means for men to develop essential leadership skills. The Club structure includes offices that resemble a hierarchical system—president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and sergeant-at-arms. Within these roles, men voluntarily submit to one another, providing support and encouragement as they strive to fulfill their roles.

This government aspect of Club also allows for men to practice responsibility. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10; see also Proverbs 20:6). The responsibilities entrusted to members, whether in leadership positions or as participants, encourage a sense of duty and accountability. This strengthens a man’s character.

Club offers an environment where men can practice faithfulness to their commitments, from consistently preparing for and attending meetings and activities to paying dues to fulfilling their role as officers. It promotes the idea that reliability and steadfastness are virtues that should be embraced in all aspects of a Christian’s life. This unique experience ultimately increases a man’s reward and effectiveness as a future leader in God’s Kingdom.

Wholesome Christian Fellowship

The third purpose of Spokesman Club is to enable genuine Christian fellowship in a male-only environment. Here, men can freely discuss topics that pertain to their experiences and understanding. It provides an opportunity to connect and learn from one another as brothers, going beyond just learning about each other’s calling into the truth.

Club also offers a form of clean recreation, in contrast to the worldly notion of “male bonding.” It is a chance to understand what true godly masculinity entails while having a good time. Although women are not part of the Club’s regular activities, they too can enjoy the quality time they share while the men have their meetings. Additionally, some minister’s wives coordinate gatherings for the ladies during this period.

However, once a year, typically at the end of the season, the Club can host a Ladies Night. During this special occasion, the ladies glimpse what goes on in Spokesman Club. It often becomes the highlight of the entire season for everyone.

Another dimension of fellowship arises from Christ’s directive to watch (Mark 13:37). As we keep a watchful eye on world events to gain a deeper insight into the fulfillment of prophecy, discussing these global occurrences becomes an integral part of our regular conversations. Within Spokesman Club, men take this engagement to a higher level through Tabletopics. At each Club meeting, the Topicsmaster raises questions about current world events, enabling the men to offer their insights. This Club aspect enhances their knowledge and ability to articulate their thoughts on these subjects.

At least one question about a challenging scripture or a Christian living topic is usually included. This, in turn, helps men fulfill the admonition to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Pet. 3:15).

Vital Tradition

In II Thessalonians 2:15, the message is direct: “Brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” Spokesman Club is a cherished tradition in God’s Church.

Traditions are essential to God’s way of life, to which we were all called. In some cases, these involve specific practices for men and women. At Sabbath services, men don suits and ties, while women wear dresses or skirts with stockings. Men lead prayers and speak from the lectern, whereas women often play a central role in shared meals. God inspired the tradition of Spokesman Club for baptized men in His Church.

Under the leadership of Mr. David Pack, the Church diligently preserves this tradition, which is an important part of the “Grand Pattern” established during Mr. Armstrong’s time in the Worldwide Church of God.

Volume One of The Authorized Biography of David C. Pack provides an account of this experience during our Pastor General’s tenure as a ministerial assistant: “Most congregations had at least one Club, in which members learned to ‘think on their feet’ in giving impromptu answers during Tabletopics sessions, to deliver speeches, give helpful evaluations, and develop as leaders while they saw the government of God in action.”

Now take in what Mr. Armstrong wrote in his introduction to the Club manual: “The value and the importance of your Spokesman Club to you, and to God’s Work, is beyond evaluating. It means development and growth as a man, as a husband, as a father—in addition to development and growth in spiritual character and in ability to serve, as a begotten son of God. On top of all this, it is an enjoyable diversion from daily routine.”

He ended this section of the manual with, “When I mention how all God’s ministers, except myself, have had this training, I am not at all intending to imply this training is primarily for the ministry. It is training in character, in personality, in speaking, in social experience—in many things for all men in God’s Church, which even has helped God’s leaders—it will help you.”

Luke 12:48 provides a powerful reminder: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Men, ponder this: God has entrusted you with your manhood. Are you maximizing its potential? Let there be no doubt: When He called you into His Church, Spokesman Club was part of His plan from the start!

Take Club to Heart

By now, the profound significance of Spokesman Club should be coming clear.

If you find yourself in a congregation or area with enough men to participate in this incredible opportunity, consider yourself blessed and seize it without hesitation. And if there are not enough men in your area, pray for God to send them.

Ponder how many people who have ever lived were ever called to this way of life. Out of that, how many were men? Out of those, how many had the opportunity to be in Club? Again, consider yourself blessed and do not take it for granted.

In our scattered and often small congregations, resourcefulness is a necessity. To bridge the gaps, some ministers have turned to technology. For instance, certain clubs now conduct meetings through video calls. While this approach may encounter occasional challenges, I can personally attest that it gets the job done. As with any new undertaking, a little patience and perseverance can go a long way in addressing any technological issues that might arise. Although not everyone may be tech-savvy, there is a learning curve, and this approach opens the door for more men to participate, even if they cannot be physically present in the same room.

Mirroring Paul’s unwavering commitment in I Corinthians 9:16, each man should contemplate the unique opportunities that Club offers and firmly declare to himself, “Necessity is laid upon me.” And not only upon you but also those wavering fellows who may be teetering “on the fence.”

Be the catalyst for this noble cause! You can point them to this article (when they reach this paragraph, they will understand why you are nudging them). Think of Hebrews 10:24, which encourages us to “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”

Then, once you are in Club, whether you are assigned a speech, given another responsibility or appointed as an officer, take the time to understand your role and prepare for it with enthusiasm. Do not let Club be something you simply attend; instead, consider it a source of inspiration each time. See it not as an obligation imposed by the minister, but as a gift from God. Put your wholehearted effort into it.

Mr. Armstrong added, “Yet much of the value—to you, and to God in developing an instrument for His use—depends on your attitude, and the vigor and purpose you put into it. One of the laws of success is ‘drive’! Here is a place where you can use Drive! When you enter a Spokesman Club room, always be on your toes—alert—alive! Be keyed up! Let your personality have freedom of expression. Radiate! Give out!”

It is true, participating in Spokesman Club will require sacrificing some time and stepping out of your comfort zone. But, in simple terms, that is how personal growth happens. If you occasionally feel stretched, it is a sign that you are expanding, which is a positive thing. As any Club member can tell you, after each meeting, you often feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction because the effort is well worth it.

Here is a fun thought to meditate on. Considering that God inspired this tradition to nurture men within His Church, often seen as “the Kingdom of God in embryo,” what if He chooses to have Spokesman Clubs continue in His Kingdom when it arrives? This may or may not be the case, but it would surely serve as a valuable tool for imparting these principles to men. While this is speculative, it is worth noting a precedent for such “schooling” is in the Bible. One similar example is the “sons [meaning disciples] of the prophets” mentioned in II Kings 2:5.

Regardless of how much time remains before the Kingdom arrives, Spokesman Club remains an enduring ground for men in the Church to enhance their overall character, improve their communication skills, practice God’s principles, and relish wholesome Christian fellowship. Think of it as a tool to become more like Jesus Christ, whom the Bible calls the Logos—the Greek word for Spokesman.

Take full advantage of this potent tool for your personal growth!