Tag Archives: Orange Conference
#Orange10 Day 2: John Ortberg
Posted on03. May, 2010 by Kenny.
I love John Ortberg. Although this was the very first time I’ve heard him speak, he’s the author of one of my favorite books. I’ve read it more times than I know. If you haven’t read it, but it now. You won’t regret it.
John started by sharing with the crowd what the fastest growing religion in this generation is. What do you think it is? The first though that came to my mind was the religion of “who gives a rip.” I wasn’t too far off. The fasted growing faith of this generation is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism states that there is a God. He wants us to be nice. he wants us to feel good about ourselves and other than when we REALLY need him, he’s not involved in our lives. I think I might agree.
What’s caused the growth of this new religion? Consumerism? Careerism? Entitlement? Selfishness? Take your pick. This new religion is the product of our culture.
I’m not exactly sure how John transitioned, but he talked about false views of our “selves” and the “selves” we’re often tempted to become. Here are the four false “selves.”
- The me I think I should be
This false self is born out of comparison. We see oursleves in the light of how we see others. Comparison kills spiritual growth. God plan is that as we grow, we’ll become more like the person he created us to be. God never creates “throw-aways.” He only rescues. Spiritual growth is simply becoming more like “you.”
- The me other people want me to be
This false self is born out of a need for approval. We have to be willing to disappoint someone. Who cares about someone’s approval. For everyone else, truly the best give you could ever give anyone is to not expect them to be anything other than the very best they can be.
- The me I’m afraid God wants me to be
In our Christian culture, we’ve inaccurately defined spiritual growth or maturity. We truly have to find a way to gauge spiritual growth where the pharisees don’t always win. Spiritual growth isn’t about what I’m doing. Rather, it’s about what I’m becoming. What’s a sign that you’re growing? You’ll experience less worry and become less irritated.
- The me that fails to be me
We have largely reduced grace to the salvation from sins. That’s only part of the picture. Saints are meant to grow in grace, run on grace and live by grace. There is a you that you are becoming and it’s God’s grace that you’ll become the you that God created.
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#Orange10 Tweet up
Posted on02. May, 2010 by Kenny.
On Wednesday night after the opening session of the Orange Conference, ministry leaders were in full force at the official Orange Tweet up at Coffee Perks in Duluth, GA. There were easily 50 people crowded into the quaint little coffee shop/cafe. Everyone got free coffee (or smoothie for non coffee drinkers like me)! Yum!
There was no structure or order to things, just two hours of mingling and getting to know each other. I got to meet a lot of people I’d been looking forward to connecting with. Some who’ve left comments on my blog for years yet we’ve never met as well as people with blogs I read on a regular basis. I found myself jumping from table to table, diving into conversations about ministry, a little bit of technology and whatever was going on in life.
Eventually we were kicked out of the coffee shop and a few remaining stragglers hung out another 20-30 minutes at the tables on the sidewalk. This is some of my favorite parts of Orange. It was so encouraging to see so many people come out, especially at this hour. I’d love to see it grow even more next year, or multiply. If you missed out this year, make sure you take the time to participate next year. You’ll be glad you did.
Thanks so much to Bree and the reThink team that put this together! Great Job!
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Drinking from a fire hydrant
Posted on30. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
So, Orange 2010 is officially over now. Unfortunately, I’m not even done blogging my experiences from the first day. More than any other year, Orange has been like drinking from a fire hydrant. Creative ideas and challenges from breakouts. Powerful message content from the main stage. Incredible people to meet and talk to in the hallways. Early mornings and late nights hanging out with staff and friends. On top of all of this, my brain is running at 100 MPH thinking about all the things I’ve learned and want to process.
That’s why I’m about two days behind.
Don’t worry, I’ll catch up. I’m not going home until Monday morning, so I should wrap up all my Orange posts before Monday morning. However, I’m sure you’ll be reading Orange inspired thoughts from me in the near and distant future.
My hat is off to the reThink group for another amazing conference (and I don’t even wear hats). It was that good!
If you didn’t come in 2010, make plans to come next year. Hey look, you can even register here.
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#Orange10 Conference contest #3
Posted on30. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Today’s Orange Leaders Challenge:
List the top FIVE reasons you will be back for Orange ’11. Post your reasons to return on the Orange Leaders blog at www.orangeleaders.com.
One winner, chosen at random, will receive FIVE tickets to Orange ’11!
Go to www.orangeleaders.com for details!
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#Orange10 Day 1: Opening Session
Posted on30. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
I must admit that this year’s opening session was the best ever. Unexpected? Yes. At first I didn’t know what I thought. Normally Reggie gives the big Orange message, but this year it was more of an introduction to Collide with an interview and message from another speaker. So at first I was a little disappointing I guess, but not becasue it wasn’t good. Does that make sense? However, as time goes by, the more I liked it. There are many things that continue to stick with me from that opening session.
The very opening was powerful. A speaker/actor gave a 10-15 minute monologue that was simply amazing. Through his carefully selected prose, he took all 4000 participants along an engaging journey of what ministry is like, what it needs and a hope for the future. Simply inspiring. The theme “Collide” was introduced and I’m almost certain that this will become one of my most overused words this year.
Collide: make a deliberate contact for the sake of a lasting impact!
Reggie interviewed Mark Batterson where Reggie interacted a great deal with Mark’s new book, Primal. He was also directing Mark toward issues dealing specifically with the Orange Philosophy. Mark had so many amazing things to say, but there were a few that resonated with my soul and continue to stick with my thoughts.
Early on Mark said, “We can stop doing ministry out of imagination and start doing ministry out of memory.” Wow, how often do I have to battle this. While I love to innovate and change things up, I’ve got my things that I like the same, the carefully guarded practices that I’ve held on to for year. Risks. What new risks am I willing to step out into.
Mark also said, “There are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet.” Isn’t that the truth. Just take a look at the way church looks now compared to 10 years ago. Multi-site. Video. Internet. It’s crazy how much has changed. I will say this. I’m very glad to be at a church that is pushing the envelope in so many ways. It’s exciting to have conversations with staff that I know few other churches are having conversations about.
After the interview, Reggie introduced Chris Weirsma, a pastor from Calgary. His message impacted me. Time will tell if it will be one of those defining messages that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my existence, but it was powerful. His message revolved around Genesis 3, the fall of man. He explored what we really lost in the fall. He explains that what when Adam and Eve fell, they immediately noticed that they were naked and they took it upon themselves to cover themselves. They were concerned with how they would be perceived. What did they lose? They lost the unquestionable okayness with being a three year old. What does that mean? If you’ve got a three year old, you know that they have no problem with the way anyone perceives them. They’d have no problem walking down the street stark naked. Honestly, they’d probably prefer that. We lost this in the fall and at some point as we grow up, we lose this as well. We have a deep, compulsive need to control the way we are perceived and this insecurity messes everything up.
It was a great opening session!
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#Orange10 Day 1: Building an apprentice mindset
Posted on29. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
My first breakout, hosted by Brian Vander Ark & Tim Vandlen was about some of the most important and strategic work we’ll do as a leader – duplicating ourselves into others. The fact of the matter is that one day, we will be replaced. One day it’s going to be over for us. It’s like death and taxes. However, there’s two approaches in dealing with this idea of being replaced.
- We can passively let it happen
- We can intentionally prepare
Most Children’s and Student workers are focused on what they do. Programs. Worship. Events. Emails. Recruiting. The problem is that most churches are distracted by the urgent and they neglect the important. If we set our sights on the future, what our future needs will be above our current needs, we’ll treat our volunteers differently. Rather than use people, we’ll develop people.
Here are a few ways a church can implement this strategic work of developing people who replace themsleves:
- Create the expectation in your volunteer and staff environments. Do this by putting it in everyone’s job descriptions. Do this by modeling it yourself. In addition, create multiple entry points into the ministry.
- Mobilize your volunteers to replace themselves. You can only really know 30 people, so it’s essential that you leverage your volunteer’s and their circle of influence. Teach your teams to recruit out of vision, not need. Most importantly, know that leaders aren’t moved by the passionate plea from the stage, they want to be asked. Replacing ourselves is very personal. Entrust this important task to every volunteer to hand select the person who will replace them.
- Engage students in serving opportunities as part of their discipleship process. The beauty of this is that students can work out what they’re learning and wrestle with spiritual concepts int he context of serving. However, it’s important to help your adult volunteers know how to work with students. It’s important to give students something significant to do.
It’s time to take a break. It’s time to pause and focus on what’s most important.
Here are some of the resources they recommended:
- 7 Practices of Effective Ministry
- Simply Strategic Volunteers
- Making Your Chidlren’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Week
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#Orange10 Conference contest #2
Posted on29. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Today’s Orange Leaders Challenge:
The success of every leader is dependent upon knowing where to get your questions answered and knowing how to network with other leaders.
Today we will challenge you to do both. We have come up with a phrase, and the first two people to write the complete phrase on the Orange Leaders Facebook page, will win!
In order to figure out the phrase, you will need to get a little help. Who can give you the most help on your Orange journey? Your Orange Specialist of course. Find the Orange Specialist for your state, and they will give you one word of the phrase. Then, connect with other leaders from around the country to find out the rest of the words. (Hint: Each Orange Specialist will have a different word. Orange Specialists are assigned by region of the country and curriculum.) You can use the blog, Twitter, and Facebook as well as networking, to connect with other Orange Leaders!
Today’s winners will receive either the Orange Team Bundle or the Orange Resource Leadership Bundle.
Go to www.orangeleaders.com for details!
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#Orange10 Conference contest #1
Posted on28. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Today’s Orange Leaders Challenge:
Creativity is key when working with families. So let’s see just how creative YOU are.
Your challenge is to take the most creative picture you can think of featuring one of the BOOKS Reggie has written. Upload your picture on Twitpic.com for us all to see. Be sure to mark it #orangeleaders to be entered in the contest.
Today’s winner will receive 10 Parenting Beyond Your Capacity books.
Go to www.orangeleaders.com for details!
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Contests this week at the #Orange10 Conference
Posted on27. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
This week during the Orange Conference, you can win prizes. Yes, prizes. These prizes are worth winning. How do you win them? I’m glad you asked. ReThink is holding a few contests this week. Every day there will be a new contest with new prizes to win. Stay tuned as I’ll post contest details every morning this wee!
Woo hoo!
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Check out #Orange10 Backstage!
Posted on26. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Over 4000 people will attend Orange this week. That’s not too shabby. However, I know that many are stuck at home for one reason or another. That’s okay, you still get to experience a little bit of Orange. Actually, you can experience a little bit of Orange that even those at Orange won’t experience. Lucky You!
Last week it was announce on Making of Orange that there will be a live stream of the conference coming from backstage during most of the event. What’s going to be streaming? Well, the opening session for starters. In addition to that, there will be hours and hours of interviews of ministry leaders and messages that will rock your world. These aren’t video clips and sound bites from other stuff, this is live and current, specifically for ministry leaders who think Orange but couldn’t make it to Atlanta this year.
Jared Herd and Stuart Hall will be hosting this live event. On Wednesday, April 28th, go to Making of Orange at 7:15 PM (EST) to catch the opening session. Then jump back on again on Thursday at 11:00 AM (EST) for almost 5 hours of interviews. messages and promotions. Friday will pick up at 11:00 AM (EST) with another 3 hours of greatness.
For a full list of speakers and guests, click here.
I’d really encourage you to check the days and times of the various speakers and schedule it on your calendar. Close your office door and turn your phone off. Just because you’re not in Atlanta doesn’t mean you can’t experience a little bit of Orange!
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