I began my career teaching in the oil and gas industry, specifically on turnaround construction jobs. It started with short toolbox safety talks as a site safety technician. As I advanced to Site Safety Manager on larger, longer projects, I took on New Hire Safety Orientations, drug and alcohol abuse training, and other related topics. Eventually, as a corporate-level safety manager overseeing a vast geographical area, my responsibilities grew—but at its core, my role was that of a teacher.

One key lesson I learned was that, despite everyone working in the same industry, audiences varied widely from office to office and region to region. To be effective, I had to adapt to those differences. Ineffective teaching showed up quickly in the data: more incidents, accidents, and injuries. But I know I succeeded because the numbers proved it—fewer incidents tied directly to my ability to tailor my approach to each unique environment. Trust and credibility were also critical. Trust builds over time, while credibility comes from experience and a voice grounded in reality. I brought hands-on field experience as a laborer, boilermaker, and pipefitter, plus knowledge from my time as a nurse and a commercial truck driver. These weren’t just credentials on paper, I lived those roles. That let me connect authentically with my audience, speaking their language and relating to their world, not just parroting jargon.

I no longer work as a safety professional in oil and gas. Today, I teach and preach on the Bible. My trust and credibility now stem from the life I’ve lived—43 years as a Christian, a husband, father, grandfather, and a business owner. I’ve worked in diverse fields, been fired, hired others, and let people go. I’ve faced profound loss, both emotional and financial, and started over at least three times, following where I felt God led me. I’ve endured divorce and betrayal but also experienced deep loyalty. One truth I’ve discovered is this: the testimony you least want to share is often the one you should. It’s through those stories of survival that others find encouragement and connection.

Effective teaching—and preaching—hinges on knowing your audience. There must be reciprocity, a mutual understanding. Every teacher knows each class is unique because the students are. A good teacher studies their group, adapting methods and content to fit its specific needs and personality. The same applies to preaching. A solid message matters but delivering it in a way that resonates is just as vital. One of the best ways to connect is to truly know who you’re speaking to. I was born in Oklahoma, and raised there and in South Arkansas near the Louisiana line —a blend of Midwest and Deep South. The struggles, questions, and interests of farmers or southern oil and gas workers differ vastly from those of New York businesspeople.

Another key is recognizing the audience’s average age. Too often, I see young preachers shouting, racing across the stage, and speaking at breakneck speed, oblivious to an audience where half are over 60. They don’t consider how tone, eye contact, or constant movement affects those with fading hearing or eyesight. It seems like common sense, but it’s overlooked. Knowing the audience—their jobs, experiences, backgrounds, education, and occupations—helps craft a message that speaks directly to them. The simplest way to learn this? Talk to them. Arrive early, stay late, be present. They’ll reveal their needs in conversation.

Once, a woman told me, “I hope I go to heaven.” She was a professed Christian yet unsure of her eternity—clearly, there was confusion. So, I dug deeper, developed teaching materials from our talk, and preached a sermon on understanding the new birth and identity in Christ. I call that a needs-based sermon. Through listening and observing, I addressed a fundamental gap in her faith—and likely others. That’s the heart of effective teaching and preaching; meeting people where they are. Preachers must overcome the challenges of audience identification, ways to present the gospel message and be ever aware of how the Holy Spirit helps the preacher and audience connect.