Written by the MPK Indonesia Editorial Team
There is something interesting about the training evaluation data we received shortly after the session ended. From more than 140 principals and vice principals who filled out the questionnaire, this one sentence appeared repeatedly in various versions:
“I just realized that speaking is part of my calling as a Christian leader.”
That sentence was not just an evaluation answer. It was an admission. An admission that for a long time, many leaders in Indonesian Christian schools have spoken without a clear structure—not because they were incompetent, but because no one had ever taught them how to do so systematically.
This is exactly what the Christian Education Council (MPK) Indonesia aims to change through the "Christian Public Speaking: The Ichthys Code" training held on April 30, 2026, from 14:00–16:00 WIB, virtually via Zoom. This training was attended by more than 300 Christian school principals and vice principals from across Indonesia, featuring Dedy Budiman, M.Pd—a national trainer, MPK Board member, and author of the book The Ichthys Code.
Why Did MPK Organize This Training?
The Ichthys Code training is not a standalone program. It is part of the Christian Public Speaking Competition for Principals series initiated by MPK as a tangible effort to improve leadership competence in Indonesian Christian schools.
MPK realizes that school principals are communicators by default. Every day, they speak in teacher meetings, in front of parents, in foundation forums, during school services, at open houses, and even during student counseling. Every moment is an opportunity to influence—or conversely, to lose the audience's trust.
However, public speaking skills are rarely formally trained. This training exists to fill that gap—with an approach rooted in the Christian faith.
What is The Ichthys Code?
The Ichthys Code is a communication framework based on Christian values developed by Dedy Budiman, M.Pd, and documented in a book of the same title. The name “Ichthys” is taken from the fish symbol (ΙΧΘΥΣ)—the symbol of the early Christian faith—which perfectly illustrates the anatomy of effective communication.
The structure consists of four parts:
- Head — a clear speaking objective before opening one's mouth
- Body — understanding and touching the needs of the listeners
- Fin — delivering solutions clearly and actionably
- Tail — closing with a firm call to action (CTA)
Four parts that flow, support each other, and provide direction—just like a fish moving with purpose.
What Did 140+ School Leaders from Across Indonesia Experience?
Out of more than 300 participants in attendance, over 140 filled out the evaluation form. The data speaks loudly.
Summary of key findings:
- Almost all participants gave a score of 4–5 out of 5 for the relevance of the material to their roles as principals or vice principals.
- The majority of participants stated that the Head–Body–Fin–Tail structure is easy to remember and practical to use.
- The three elements most frequently cited as most beneficial were: opening techniques, ways to touch the listeners' needs, and closing with a call to action.
- Almost all participants gave a score of 5 out of 5 for the statement: “I feel inspired and encouraged to practice this material.”
- More than 90% of participants stated they were willing to recommend this training to other Christian school principal colleagues.
Some of the most memorable voices from the participants:
“This training reminded me of Proverbs 24:6—when everything is prepared with careful planning, it will be very easy to move toward the goal.”
— Kindergarten Principal, Tulungagung“I can't wait to put it into practice.”
— High School Principal, Timika“I feel that public speaking ability is very possible for me to possess if I keep trying.”
— High School Principal, Jakarta
Where Do School Leaders Most Want to Apply The Ichthys Code?
Evaluation data shows that participants see the application of The Ichthys Code in almost all contexts of school leadership communication. The top five situations most frequently mentioned were:
- Parent-teacher meetings — mentioned by almost all participants as the first situation they want to transform.
- Teacher meetings — moments where principals most often lose their audience's attention.
- School program presentations — to both foundations and the public.
- School services/devotions — spiritual moments that require a touching delivery.
- Open houses/school promotions — where closing ability is highly decisive.
This is a map of the real needs of hundreds of Indonesian Christian school leaders. They do not lack content—they lack structure. And that is exactly what The Ichthys Code provides.
One Concrete Thing to be Implemented Immediately
The most interesting question in the questionnaire was: “One concrete thing I want to practice after this training is…”
The answers were honest and diverse:
- “Organizing every delivery with a clear structure before speaking.”
- “Ensuring there is a CTA in every presentation.”
- “Opening teacher meetings with an evocative opening technique.”
- “Preparing a written structure every time there is a public speaking opportunity.”
- “Recording myself speaking for 1–2 minutes and then evaluating it.”
- “Applying The Ichthys Code principles while leading inspiring faculty meetings.”
These answers reflect real change—not just being “motivated,” but already having specific action items. And that is a sign that the training truly touched the behavioral layer, not just knowledge.
Constructive Feedback from Participants
We received honest feedback and we welcome it with open arms. The three most frequent suggestions were:
- Duration needs to be increased — many participants felt 2 hours was too short for such dense material. Some mentioned the delivery speed and slide transitions were too fast.
- More direct practice — participants want real simulations, not just theory and examples. An offline/face-to-face format was considered much more optimal for direct practice.
- Follow-up sessions — several participants proposed a series of training programs in a workshop format, rather than just a single webinar.
This feedback serves as evaluation material for future MPK programs. The best training is not one that receives no criticism—but one that responds to criticism seriously.
Reflection: When Speaking Becomes a Calling
Among all the evaluation data we received, one response from a Christian Elementary School Principal in Pontianak was particularly profound:
“This training has made me more focused, confident, and able to convey messages clearly and move listeners—while also making me realize that communication is part of the calling as a Christian leader.”
This is the core of The Ichthys Code. It is not just about speaking techniques. It is not just about presentation structures. It is about the realization that every word that comes out of a Christian leader's mouth is a responsibility of faith—and therefore deserves to be prepared with utmost sincerity.
MPK would like to thank Mr. Dedy Budiman, M.Pd for facilitating this training with great enthusiasm, and the more than 300 principals and vice principals from all corners of Indonesia who attended and were eager to learn.
The journey to becoming a better communicator begins with one simple step: having a clear purpose before you open your mouth.
For more information regarding MPK Indonesia's training programs and competitions, please contact the MPK Secretariat or visit our official website.