NOTICE

Script Haven is undergoing rebranding and upgrading. The Script Haven label was applicable for the product we supplied when we opened in 2006. Since then, our vision, resources, and market options have expanded far beyond script provider. The shop has closed for the time being, but the free resources are still available to you here. Look for exciting developments in the future!

ISC 2012 webstream archive now open

If you weren't able to be present at the International Student Convention evening rallies, you can view them at your leisure using the archive links to the free web-streaming generously provided by ACE Ministries. This year's rallies will be available for viewing until 5 November 2012.

Follow this link to view: http://www.aceministries.com/studentprograms/isc/

May you be moved to laughter and tears. Above all, may you be inspired to greater surrender, greater commitment, greater skill, and greater service.

A Music Standard You Can Aspire To - Video Playlist

Have you discovered the special handle A.C.E. Student Conventions have on what constitutes sacred music? In our liberal Christian pop era, do you get to hear this kind of music on a regular basis? Have you wondered, "How can I get familiar with it if I don't attend a church that features such music?"

My brother tells me the key to progress is not finding the answers, but rather, asking the right questions. My question became, "Who is producing online videos that demonstrate this style and give us a standard to aspire to?"

It surely is the way of the Lord that in the course of navigating a paddock of rabbit trails, I came upon a nest of such videos. Dozens and dozens of them. On YouTube. In Russian.

Their channel, broadcast from Germany, is RadioBM - The Bible Lighthouse. Nyet, I don't understand Russkii, but I don't need interpretation of tongues to know sweet sacred music when I hear it.

I'm blown away by the production quality achieved by this church-based television channel. I'm excited by the standard of performance in the singers and their accompanists. There are some great instrumental items too. And wow [hushed tone of awe], the performers meet the A.C.E. dress code.

Below is my playlist of music videos from RadioBM. Notice their poise, their facial expressions, their body language, their diction. This is music ministry. Student Conventions are about training yourself for such ministry. May you be blessed and inspired by these videos to go and make music likewise.

Share the playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD59218EEB7FED250

PS If you're from The Bible Lighthouse or know someone who is, I'd love to hear from you! Если вы из Библии маяк или знаете кого-то, кто есть, я хотел бы услышать от вас!

PPS If you know of other videos that meet A.C.E. music standards, please share with us!

A.C.E. Student Convention "Best of" Video Playlist

Are you a first-time A.C.E. Student Convention attendee wanting a glimpse of what to aim for in the competition?

Or perhaps you're a student veteran eager to raise your skill level to new heights but needing role models to help you get there.

Seeing excellence in action is what inspired me and my siblings to reach for the stars. Thanks to YouTube, you can now do that too, from the comfort and convenience of home.

I'm collating a Playlist of "Best of" Convention performances from around the world. If you already know of inspiring videos, especially Command Performances, please do share the links with us. The Playlist, embedded below, will grow as I add further examples. If you'd like to share the playlist, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL17F0023951A4A364

May these videos inspire and empower you to set new goals and work to attain them.

Be 3x better than the speaker you are today!

Do you feel alone, isolated in your preparations for a speaking invitation or contest?

I won many ribbons and medals for my Student Convention platform events through enthusiasm, practice, and self-critique, but there was so much I didn't know. The best performance training I gained as a teenager was from ACE's six Speech PACE's. While they are an excellent start, there is much they don't cover. My writing advantage came from a thorough grasp of English from the PACE's, reading books and more books, and again, self-critique.

These are all good things, but there was one missing ingredient. A mentor. The wisest man who ever lived wrote in his book of Proverbs that without counsel we fall, but with counsel is success. Solomon was taught by his father, and made sure that the knowledge he gained was passed on to his son. Remember how it goes? -- "My son, hearken unto me..."

Here is the best knowledge that I have gained through my years of writing and performance. Get yourself a mentor, someone who is successful in writing or public speaking and willing to share their knowledge and skill.

I fully understand the challenge this presents to schools and homeschoolers in isolated locations. I was homeschooled in a town with a population of 6000, yet I still didn't know how to find such a person.

But don't despair. I have a solution for you. Do you have an internet connection and an email address? Then you have the ability to tap in to a free mentoring resource specific to speakers and applicable to writers.

Craig Valentine blew into my isolated world in April 2010 via audio download of the speakers' bootcamp "Lady and the Champs" and in just one week I learned so much from listening to his tuition that I knew my life was changed forever.


Craig immediately impacted my writing, and I looked forward to speaking opportunities so I could practice what he taught. I signed up for his free audio postcards, which are adding to and reinforcing what I learned from Lady & the Champs. I eagerly await the next week's five-minute installment and love that I've got a whole year of it to enjoy!

What I love most about this material is that I'm listening to a world class speaker (1999 World Champion of Public Speaking) presenting excellent material that I can read as he delivers it with great verbal skill, then he analyzes the segment and gives me practical applications, ways in which I can build these principles into my own work. Craig gave me more useful content in ten free emails than I got from two years of college diploma.

Do you want to connect more deeply with your audience? Do you want your message to be remembered and repeated? Whether you're a writer or a speaker, you will benefit from this free mentoring resource. Sign up now for Craig Valentine's "52 Speaking Tips" and be three times better than the speaker you are today. Click here: http://www.52speakingtips.com/

Learn more about Craig Valentine and what he can do for your presentation skills. Visit his homepage now: http://www.craigvalentine.com/

Learn from Craig on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cvalenti30

How the Judges Judge

Understanding how the judges work is vital to feeling at peace about competition results. It is also necessary for adequate preparations. Read this article, WINNING - Not the Ultimate Goal, to be at the top of your game.

WINNING - Not the Ultimate Goal

A loving mother wrote to me of her grief over her 11-year-old son not gaining a first place in his Platform event at Convention. They wanted to know why he failed. Some of the thoughts I shared with them are written below. If you are preparing for an ACE Student Convention or have just been to one, please read this.


YOU HAVE NOT FAILED

I say well done for the preparation you did in the service of our Lord, but remember that doing your best is all that is required and everything that is required. God doesn't give spiritual 1st or 2nd placings. He requires only that we be obedient to His calling, studying to be approved unto God (I Tim 2:15).

The purpose of Student Conventions is to train up the next generation of godly leaders. The medals are merely an incentive for us to do our best. Winning is not the ultimate goal.

Convention is one small episode in the life of a speech. Where else have you presented your speech? What lives have been changed because they heard that message? What brings about that change -- your skill and talent, or the power of God through a humble vessel? Considering these things helps us keep a healthy perspective. = )

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

I trust you have many years of leadership training ahead of you. Please don't grieve over not getting public praise and awards at every step. God doesn't work like that and neither should we.

I remember my parents withholding certain opportunities and experiences from my siblings and I when we were children because they wanted us to have things to look forward to and aim for in our teen years when we had the maturity to handle them. They built for us an environment that allowed room to learn and grow.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Part of the learning and growing process is finding out how you can do better next time. That's what the Convention Guidelines and Judges' Forms are for. You should have a Judges' Form from each of the 3 judges.

ACE Student Convention judges do not score presentations by comparing them with other presentations. They score by how well the student fulfills the specifications in the Convention Guidelines and the Judges' Form. That is the standard you are striving to meet, not some other student's choice of material or style of presentation.

Study the marks they gave or didn't give you and the comments they made at the bottom of the page. This should give you clues as to how you can improve the speech you learned, and how to guide your preparations for next year. You can begin those right now. Student Conventions are designed to be the culmination of a whole year's work.


HOW THE JUDGES JUDGE

Understanding how the judges work is vital to feeling at peace about competition results. ACE stipulates 3 judges to ensure a fair outcome -- for example, it means that one judge cannot sway the results through being a tough marker. So long as he marks consistently, the totals will still show who excelled and who didn't. The 3 scores, which often vary significantly, are totalled. Calculating the average of that total (divide by 3)) gives a clearer overall picture of where a presentation falls in the field.

Another thing you may find helpful to know is that ACE does not award a 1st placing if the student's marks don't reach a certain level of excellence. This means if there are only 3 entrants, there isn't an automatic 1st, 2nd, and 3rd because they must earn their placing.

DUMPED IN THE DEEP END

I believe that 11 years old is generally too young to compete at an ACE Student Convention. It's still childhood, usually pre-cognitive. A student has to cope with a high level of stress and lack of sleep.   My suggestion is that you have young students IN TRAINING but not competing. I've seen too many sweet kids in shock after being dumped in the deep end of competition without being coached through private and public performances as a foundation to their Convention efforts.

Train them, give them experience in Christian ministry, but let the children remain children as long as that is appropriate, not feeling pressured to reach beyond the physical, mental, and emotional maturity that God has chosen to give them at this time.

Initial drama distribution

Roy Savage, CEO of SCEE, took 5 of each of the first 7 scripts to the US and European ACE Student Conventions (May & July, 2006). Promotional opportunities were hard to appropriate in the US, but he did manage to sell one to a Canadian. In the UK, 30 scripts sold, and he gave 4 to Arthur Roderick (director of ACE Europe) so they can be reviewed by a staff member who has expertise in drama.

I will be conferencing with Roy in a week or so, reviewing format and pricing details, then I expect the charge will be toward South Pacific Student Convention in Christchurch, New Zealand, December 3rd-8th, continuing the compilation of miscellaneous scripts by Isabel Worboys and other homeschool mums and students, and maybe more dramas by yours truly.

Aunty Dayz

Joshua, aged 10 months, with Aunty Narelle in Dannevirke, June 18, 2006.





















Timothy & Aunty Nelya in Dannevirke after Grandad Patterson's funeral, March 2006.



















Misha, Vedmedik (Teddy), & Aunty Nelya return from the beach, Nelson, January 2006.
























With Timothy in the favourite 'together' place, Grandpa's big rocking chair. Summer of 2005.

Family Ways

My family is an important part of my life.
I love them and am proud of them.

Narelle, Gareth, Katrina, Jonathan, & Sarah in January 2002.

Gareth & Vita Worboys @ www.geocities.com/gv1331

Jonathan Worboys (website under construction)

Sarah Worboys @ www.landgirl79.blogspot.com

Katrina & Jeremy Peake @ www.thepeakeys.blogspot.com

David & Isabel Worboys