Tali Steele expresses her faith through public speaking. "One of the gifts that God has given me is public speaking and I have used that by doing the 'risk taking' speech". Tali is 16 years old and in the 5th form at Wanganui High School. She performed this speech when she was 15.

What inspired you to write your speech?

"I was inspired to write my speech I guess because I was on a high with God and I just really wanted people to know more about him. I didn't write the speech by myself, my older sister Jasmine had her brainpower in there and of course God was the main source behind it. The speech had to be perfect because it may have been the only thing that the people in my class would hear about God. So if God wrote it then it must be pretty perfect."

What was it like when you presented the speech to your school?

"On the day that I was meant to do the speech I was very anxious. I didn't know whether I wanted to go last or first but it ended up I was the only person that actually wanted to do it. When I got up there I was fine. But as soon as I mentioned the word God, I started to feel a little nervous. I had prayed against the enemy that he would have no place there and that way I could continue the speech fluently and boldly. Afterwards I felt really
good. Lots of people asked me questions about God and that was the best! I felt like God was really happy with what I had done. I stepped out in faith and I know that he was and still is proud of me."

"My school isn't religious but I have a lot of Christian friends who were praying for me and wanted to be in the class to here me speak."

When did your relationship with the Church begin?

"I became a Christian about 3 years ago but am, as everyone, still growing in my faith and in my walk with God. I was baptised last year. I came to youth group when I was in form 1-2 but didn't really make a commitment until form 2. I was invited by one of my good friends, Sinapi, and my sister Jasmine was a big part in getting me to God. I go to the coolest church, St Andrews Presbyterian and have got the best youth pastors, Annette and Simon Williams. (They didn't pay me to say that). One of the gifts that God has given me is public speaking and I have used that by doing the 'risk taking' speech and a speech on the Columbine, which I turned around to be about God. I have also written and am going to perform a Gospeller, mini sermon, about God's love and will be doing it on Queen's birthday weekend in Wellington at CTC, Capital Teen Convention."

<typohead type=2>Tali's Speech</typohead>

<typohead type=3>Risk Taking</typohead>

"What is the biggest risk you have ever taken?
Was it the time you slept with that guy you hardly knew?
Or was it when you risked your pride and asked that girl out from your maths class?
Or maybe it was the time you drove your friends to that party on your learners licence?
Or ... was it the time you did nothing?

I did nothing once. In fact I did nothing for 13 years. That was definitely the biggest risk I've ever taken. I guess you could say I'm pretty laid back these days. I mean after 13 years of non-stop risk I was pretty relieved when I found out that I didn't have to risk any more.

The first 13 years of my life was like being on a bus full of thousands of people. You know when you go through a tunnel and you can't really see much but you know the driver can get you out safely. Well imagine you are in a tunnel and you can't see anything, and to make it worse there is no driver of the bus. Basically you are going to crash. Well that was what my life was like without God. But now God is the driver of my bus and the light of the tunnel, and I know I'm not going to crash,

Everyone is taking a lethal risk. Everyone! And it's not jumping out of aeroplanes, or driving fast cars, because in the end we are going to be faced with the same risky decision. Either we are going to accept God into our hearts, or we are going to try to make it on our own.

And the end could be tomorrow. It could be today. And just like crashing that car into a brick wall once you meet the end it's too late to change your mind about driving into it. There are only two choices: God or fate. If you choose fate you can only hope that it exists. Fate is saying that you don't want opportunity, and that you don't want guidance, or comfort or security. And it's choosing to give away any want of your own because fate doesn't listen to our hearts desires or prayers. It leaves you on your own to take whatever comes your way. But God hears you and helps you and gives you all you've ever needed. He will never leave you on your own.

The greatest risk has been and always will be not giving your life to God. So don't give your life to something you can't trust. Give your life to God and then it won't be so bad if your parachute doesn't open".