ASAP Debate

Vision

We strive to create a culture where we communicate with purpose, clarity, and charity. 

Mission

To that end, our club mentors students to examine complex and multi-faceted policies by equipping them with the communication tools necessary to explain those policies, develop a professional-level position, and defend their position to the average man on the street. 

Our students do this through training in weekly club meetings and by participating in competitive speech and debate tournaments.

Our Philosophy

We believe that God has given mankind the unique ability to communicate ideas and share perspectives with one another. The importance and uniqueness of communication is emphasized repeatedly in Scripture. 

• At the tower of Babel, God divided nations based on their language - their ability to communicate with one another. 
  
• The Psalms repeatedly mentions the importance of how we communicate with God and man.
  
• Proverbs is full of wisdom regarding the tongue - keeping it in check, using it purposefully, and without malice.
  
• Jesus tells us what we have in our hearts is what we will communicate with others. 
  
• The apostles all spend several verses on speech, the tongue, communication, and the impacts of our words. 

ASAP Debate strives to teach students to communicate the truth in such a way that it "ministers grace" to the audience.

We do that by recognizing three important principles:

1. Purposeful communication is the vehicle for building relationships. Without the  sharing of ideas or information between individuals, there is no relationship. We communicate through writing, speaking, and body language. While debate requires the use of all three, the successful debater communicates intentionally with each of these types. As our students become aware of the these vehicles for communication, they learn to shape it into something purposeful. 
2. The Clarity of what we communicate, however, is just as important. Debate forces participants to constantly narrow, refine, and tune their communication to answer both the opposition, and the unspoken questions of the audience. Those answers may be different in every round. But the successful debater will have the most clear, concise, and relevant information in the round. When we give purpose to our style of communication, clarity is the necessary next step.
3. Finally, our club teaches students to practice Charity both during and after the round. Jesus said that the first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. But the second was also important - that we love our neighbors as ourselves. Even though we communicate with purpose and seek to provide our audience with clarity on the issues, the first two principles are left empty and hollow without charity for our "neighbor" opposition, or "neighbor" audience. Exercising the principle of charity allows our competitors to take a walk in the shoes of their opposition, or their audience, and to communicate with understanding while exercising gentle, gracious persuasion. (See also I Cor. 13:1-11)

Always Say A Prayer

Scripture is good for our daily lives, and our extra-curricular activities are no exception. We pray before our meetings, before our rounds, and every so often, we remind ourselves of why we communicate with these principles in mind. 

When we can refocus on a bigger picture, winning is suddenly not nearly as important as the relationships we forge in the course of our communication, and during our time getting to know other participants. By placing the greater emphasis on the quality of our workmanship and on maintaining healthy friendships, those life lessons can be valued a little more than trophies on a shelf.

We hope to see you at a club meeting or meet you at a tournament! If you'd like to explore becoming a member, or have additional questions, feel free to check our Frequently Asked Questions, or get in touch through our Contact Us page.