Greg Atkinson

I have 2 conferences in May that I’ll be at (PLEASE let me know if you’ll be at either). One is a rare opportunity that I don’t usually get - I’ll be just attending and hanging out at the Biola Media Conference. This is a great conference that I’ve followed for years and always wanted to go to. This year I was invited to come and just attend and blog about my thoughts on it.

I look forward to seeing Phil Cooke and Craig Detweiler (both of whom I’m interviewing for my book) and getting to hear them speak. Usually I’m teaching at the same time as them and miss getting to sit in on their class. This will be a much-needed opportunity to not have the pressure of speaking and just soak up, network and learn. I can’t wait! Plus I’ll get to see several friends that I have in LA and spend some time with each of them.

***Speaking of my LA trip. I’m organizing a gathering in LA like we did in Las Vegas. This is a little different though - this will be the first of, hopefully many, Church 2.0 Local Forums. The Church 2.0 Local Forum- LA will take place from 11:30am to 3:30pm on Friday, May 2nd (location TBD). If you’re in the LA area and want to come (this is for all Church leaders) please stayed tuned to my blog and my Facebook group. ***

The 2nd conference that I’ll be at in May and teaching 5 classes for is the Moody Bible Pastors’ Conference. This will be my 5th year speaking there. I look forward to this conference each year as 1500 pastors from around the world gather to worship, fellowship and learn. I absolutely love speaking to senior pastors. This year will be cool because I’m taking my intern, Jonathan, with me.

***There will probably be a Church 2.0 Local Forum - Chicago on either Wednesday, May 21st or Friday, May 23rd. Again, stay tuned for more info. ***

If you will be at either of these conferences, please let me know and we’ll meet up! I would like to mention and thank EasyWorship for sponsoring my classes at Moody this year.

EXTRA:
Here’s more info on the Biola Media Conference…

BIOLA MEDIA CONFERENCE - MAY 3, 2008
Make plans to attend the largest gathering for Christians in the Entertainment Industry - the Biola Media Conference! Held on May 3 at CBS Studio Center in LA, this year’s conference theme explores the new
blueprints required in “Designing for the Digital Age”. Top professionals in film, television, and digital media will be addressing the challenges for Hollywood at the dawn of the online entertainment revolution as well as the innovative options in production, content, distribution and marketing that this digital age presents. New blueprints are needed as an era of social media and digital technology make entertainment and information more personal and customized than ever. Change isn’t coming. It’s here. NOW is the time to strategize a new design for the future of entertainment. Register online at www.biolamedia.com

In my “Church 2.0” class at NAB, I did a live text poll where people in the class texted in their vote and it updated in real time on the screen (via PowerPoint). Many asked how I did it. I did it using a website called Poll Everywhere.

I’d like to encourage you all, my blog readers, to participate, too. Please go HERE and select your answer to the poll. I tried posting the poll on my blog, but the text was too small to read. If you go to the link above you’ll be able to read all the options well and vote online. Tomorrow I’ll post the results.

EXTRA:
Here are some places to check out free videos (that’s right: FREE) - actually they’re all types of media resources.

• Free Countdown from SermonSpice
• Free loop or motion background from WorshipHouse
• Free iPod film from Modern Parables
• Free stock footage from RevoStock
• Free download from SermonVideos.com
• Free Mother’s Day Countdown from WorshipFilms
• Free Mother’s Day Backgrounds from Midnight Oil
• Free media resources from WORDsearch Media
• Free video from eleven72
• Free download from Floodgate Productions
• Free media resources from Organic Videos
• Free media resources from Sermonade
• Free media resources from Muddy River Media
• Free graphics from WorshipGraphics
• Free SD or HD clip from 12 Inch Design

Me with my intern, Jonathan, on the top of our hotel (108th floor).

Jonathan and I on the world’s tallest thrill ride

Eating at the “Top of the World” restaurant with Jonathan and Brian Davis

Me with the band from Blue Man Group

Me with some locals on the street

Me with the “number companies”: From left to right - Lee from eleven72, Tom from eight20eight, me in the middle, Storme from eleven72 and Matt from Forty One Twenty.

* More info coming soon on my first “Church 2.0” class and the SMS tool I used for class participation.

OUR HOTEL:

Today I fly to Las Vegas to speak at NAB. I bring with me a crew of friends: my Video Intern - Jonathan, Brian Davis (Tech Director at Fellowship Dallas - who’s sharing a hotel room with me and my intern) and the volunteer leader of our Video Team - who’s going with his company. His company, Splash Media, just finished a huge project that you may have heard about - Adobe TV. I’m proud to say that our Video Team leader just headed up this project and oversaw the production of the videos you see on Adobe TV HERE.

My friend and member of our local tech director group, Kip Kendrick, arrived this past weekend and so we’ll catch up with him today, too. You know I’m a networker and love hanging out with peers, so I’m pumped about this trip. I have several tech director friends from around the country that I’m meeting up with and hanging out with.

Here’s a brief overview of my schedule for the next 3 days:

• Today - Arrive this morning in Vegas. Go to NAB and walk the exhibit floor. Check into our hotel, walk around the strip a bit and go see the Blue Man Group at night.
• Tuesday - We have a tech director lunch at 11:30am, where tech folks from around the country will meet and greet and eat! At 3pm, I lead a class on worship presentation software, where EasyWorship, MediaShout and ProPresenter will go head-to-head. Tuesday night, I bring 5 friends with me to see KA.
• Wednesday - At 9am, I teach my first “Church 2.0” class. I’ll be teaching this a few more times this year, but this will be the first time. I’m excited about this. I believe we’re going to try to video it and put it up on YouTube and GodTube for those of you that can’t make it to watch. Wednesday evening I fly back home and reunite with my family.
• Thursday - Meetings and playing catch-up at the church.

EXTRA:
Sometime this week, we plan on experiencing the following: The fountain show at the Bellagio. The Lady of the Lake show at the Wynn and the restaurant and rides atop our hotel, which you can see HERE. For more technical info on what it takes to do the Lady of the Lake show at the Wynn read THIS (scroll to the bottom).

EXTRA, EXTRA:

Yesterday’s service was great. Our pastor’s dad, Stuart Briscoe, preached and was a blessing to us all. Our pastor, Pete, and his parents have a radio show called “Telling the Truth“. You can listen to them daily online or via your local radio station. For more info go HERE.

BONUS:
I put some bigger (easier to see) pictures up of our Good Friday service. You can go back to the post to see them HERE. I’ll have a few Easter pics soon.

This past Sunday night I got to hang out with worship leader Jason Upton and his band. He led worship at Deep Ellum Church and God really spoke to my heart that night. This week, with the staff retreat and all, has flown by. We had a good rehearsal last night.

Today I’m trying to work on my “Church 2.0” class for NAB. This will be the first time I’ve taught this class (and will be teaching a few more times this year at other conferences). I’ll be working on the class all day Friday and Saturday, too.

This Friday night I’ll be seeing Shawn McDonald and Downhere in concert and will hang out with them a little, too. I’m taking my intern to this concert and hope he’ll become a Shawn McDonald fan. I love SM! Saturday, I’ll be watching my kids while my wife works and working on my NAB presentation, when I can.

Sunday I’ll worship and pack. Monday morning I fly to Vegas and will hang out there with some friends, walk the exhibit floor and hope to see the Blue Man Group Monday night. Tuesday, we have a FREE tech get-together lunch at 11:30am at the Hilton Hotel buffet. Please email Kip (kkendrick@digitalresources.com) to let him know you’re coming. I really look forward to meeting many of you in Vegas.

EXTRA:

Here’s a sign of the times. You can watch a wedding live online - which would come in handy when distance or other circumstances won’t allow you or a dear family member or friend to attend. Check them out HERE.

The interview I did for the Churchy Media Podcast just posted. You can check it out HERE. In it, we talk about a tech get-together at NAB next week (Tuesday, April 15th at 11:30am). I hope you’ll download it and give it a listen.

Again, my classes at NAB (”Which Worship Presentation Software is Best for Your Church?” and “Church 2.0″) are sponsored by eleven72 and ProPresenter.

EXTRA:
Here a some pictures from our Good Friday service…

The Swerve blog announced a summer message series entitled “One Prayer“, which is very intriguing. It’s many churches coming together and participating. Check out the explanation video from Pastor Craig. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Is this something you’d do at your church?

EXTRA:

I am thrilled to announce that SermonSpice has opened a Spanish media store. I have been begging producers for years to produce content in Spanish or at least with Spanish sub-titles. I applaud….cheer… and herald SermonSpice for their vision and commitment to equip this HUGE part of our Church. Well done!

My mini-vacation last week was great. I didn’t think about or do anything church-related. I just rested, relaxed and had fun. I now feel refueled and ready to serve again. I’m grateful to my church and my boss for allowing me to take all the time I needed to recharge. I was all fresh and ready to return yesterday, but got pink eye and ended up missing. I’ve got eye drops now and should not be contagious anymore.

Now, I’m back in action in many ways. I’m on a new diet and fitness program (that came to me last week - I had a lot of time to think). I’m back in the gym working out and cutting back what I eat. I’m more active and eating less crap - which should make for a good/healthy combo.

I’m also back writing and prepping for some upcoming conferences. One magazine that I’ve never really mentioned, but I write regularly for is LifeWay’s “Let’s Worship” magazine. I encourage you to check it out HERE. Besides writing articles and working on my book, I’m doing some audio projects, too.

This week I’ll be making 3 recordings.

1. Tonight, I’m recording an audio class entitled “Communicating to Those That Listen with Their Eyes” for WorshipMinistryU, which is a great new online seminar tool for those in worship ministry. I’m honored to be among their terrific faculty. I’ll let you know when my class is ready and available.
2. Later this week I will record an interview for the Church Media Podcast. One of the things we’ll discuss is a Media/Tech meet up at NAB on the night of the 15th. They’ll be a group of tech directors, media producers and software company reps that will all gather to hang out and eat. If you’re going to be there, you don’t want to miss this.
3. Also, later this week, we’ll be back in the studio to revive the Creative Synergy Podcast. I know it’s been forever - but we’ll be back in action soon.

EXTRA:
If you haven’t voted for the worship presentation software that your church uses, go HERE. I’d like to get a recent poll before my “Worship Presentation Software” class in April at NAB.

BONUS:
Birthdays - Yesterday, my youngest turned 4. Today is my brother’s birthday.

Lately, I’ve been considering getting Apple TV for our church. I have several ideas of how to use it and am sure there are others that I haven’t even thought about. If you’re interested or curious in how Apple TV can be used in a ministry setting, you can read more about it HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Are you using Apple TV? If so, please comment and tell us how you’re using it.

EXTRA:
Today begins “Tech Week” at Bent Tree. We have rehearsal every night this week, 2 Good Friday services, dress rehearsal on Saturday and 3 Easter services.

Today’s topic is capturing your service for video. We are working behind-the-scenes to launch a new video podcast of our pastor’s sermon. I’m curious as to how some of you capture your service/sermon. I know some churches capture straight into Final Cut, some capture in QuickTime Pro, some even in iMovie. How do you capture your service digitally at your church? I’d love to hear. I’d still love to hear from some of you about how you do digital signage at your church.

EXTRA:
I had a great time at the creative brainstorming meeting yesterday at Fellowship Church. They have a very gifted and cool team assembled there. It was fun to be in that environment and take part in a series planning session. They had their worship leaders from the local campuses all there, as well as 2 technical staff members and their Miami worship leader, who was video conferenced in. I enjoyed lunch (Mexican food!) with their worship pastor, Pace, afterwards. I do want to again encourage you to check out Pace’s blog and welcome him to the blogging world. He also mentioned that his pastor, Ed Young, has just started blogging as well. You can check his blog out HERE.