I’ve blogged about Innovation3 before, but I wanted to blog about it again.  I’ve heard from so many that are “considering” attending. They know the line-up of speakers is great, Robbie Seay Band is leading worship and it’s at my church (crazy chill with Greg) - but they just haven’t made up their minds, yet.

I’ve got 3 new pieces of info for you to consider:

1. Register now and use “Church2.0” as the code and it will give you $50 off per person.
2. I’m teaching a new class (which is born out of my second book - this will be the first time I have spoken publically about what God is stirring in my heart and what my next book will be). My class is Tuesday at 3:00pm and the title is “Unconventional Innovation”.
3. The people that I do know are coming are great folks. We are going to have a blast. I have 5 pastors from around the country staying at my house. I know of some cool cats that are going to be flying in town for I3 and there are several meet-ups going on. I love hanging out, networking and socializing. 

Go HERE to register and remember to use the promo code. If you can… be there!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Did you know there are 27 millions slaves in the world today? In fact, there are more slaves on earth today than in all the years of the slave trade combined. That’s not to lessen the horrors of the slave trade era, but to show you how horrendous and widespread slavery still is (from Diana Scimone).

Here are the facts about this pandemic - I hope you’ll wrestle, pray over, struggle with and share these:

• Human trafficking is the 2nd-largest illegal industry on the planet–after illegal drugs. (It used to be #3, but was just moved up.)

• It is organized crime with networks, funding, resources, routes, and structure.

• Human trafficking generates billions of dollars a year.

• It’s the fastest-growing illegal enterprise on earth.

• You can sell a gun or drug only once, but you can sell a human over and over.

• Human trafficking is not smuggling. People who are smuggled do so willingly.  There is nothing voluntary about trafficking. It involves force, fraud, and coercion.

• Trafficking and slavery happens in every country–including yours.

• About 17,500 foreigners are trafficked into the US from other countries–each year.

• About 200,000 American children are at high risk for trafficking in the US, especially in the sex industry.

Want more information?

You can fight trafficking and slavery. More info is here and here. To learn what Born to Fly International is doing to stop child trafficking and slavery, visit www.born2fly.org.

Universal means “affecting, concerning, or involving all”, “used or understood by all” or “present everywhere.” As I continue to chew on this concept, other words that come to mind are total, comprehensive and whole.  

I serve as a technology pastor at a church. For years “tech” was considered one person’s role (the techie, tech director or AV coordinator) – whether volunteer, part-time or full-time. Now in most local church situations there is still the need for this AV/tech role that oversees the sound, video and lights for corporate worship services and often oversees and supports campus-wide AV needs. IT is obviously another growing area in the church world and usually requires a dedicated volunteer or paid staff member or the use of outsourced companies.

I’ll be the first to admit that those that serve in “tech” and IT roles in a church have a unique gift mix and personality. In most situations these servants and leaders are seen more as geeks than pastors or ministers. I see my role as a pastor and shepherd, but that’s a topic for another article.

I bring the idea of universal technology up because we’re seeing a shift in the way the Church looks, functions and ministers to the world. The reality that we are missionaries in a digital age is becoming increasingly more apparent and hard to ignore. This brings the whole concept of “technology” to the forefront for regular pastors and church staff members – including the non-techie.

The conversations that I have regularly with pastors are about their desire to learn, understand, apply and fully utilize technology for ministry. The shift is bringing about what I call “universal technology” – meaning every Church leader is engaged in, using and communicating through technology – not just the tech pastor.

Events, gatherings and conferences that I’m regularly apart of look a lot different. The Church 2.0 Local Forums that I host around the country or the churchtechcamp, happening today in Dallas for example, 3 years ago would have been a room full of “geeks” (not my word, I got that from Mark Batterson) and “techies” (that is my word). Now, one walks into a “churchtechcamp” and it’s full of church planters, senior pastors, bloggers and lay leaders/volunteers that are involved in community/small groups and discipleship.

I’m fascinated by it and am enjoying just sitting back and watching this shift. Of course there are still giant conferences like NAB and InfoComm where us techies get together and talk about all things tech-related and the make up of attendees and speakers looks a lot different, but overall I see a change in the use of the word “tech” and the concept and adoption of “technology”.

This new reality that I’m referring to as universal technology is a good thing and a long-awaited one by me, personally. I’ve always viewed technology as a tool and not a toy, so the thought of senior pastors, worship pastors, youth pastors, communication directors, small group leaders, missions and outreach leaders, etc. getting interested, involved with and captivated by technology is a beautiful sight to me.

What about you and your situation? Are you seeing volunteers and staff members that don’t have “tech” in their title or job description talk about technology, Facebook, Twitter, blogging and online ministry?

Also, today is my 13th wedding anniversary. WOW - time flies!

I want to remind you that tomorrow is the deadline to get that special discount for Q. Remember to use the promo code (Church20) to save over $150. Also, you can connect via the Facebook Church 2.0 Q event page HERE.

Also, be aware of where you can catch me early in ‘09. I’ll be speaking in January and February here:

• January 8: ChurchTechCamp Dallas - get connected HERE
• January 27-28: Leadership Network’s Innovation3 - register HERE
• Feb. 17: Church 2.0 Local Forum - Phoenix (register HERE on Facebook and HERE if not on Facebook)
• Feb. 17-19: Church Solutions Conference - register HERE
• Feb. 27-28: The Idea Camp - register HERE

So, early in ‘09, I’ll be speaking twice in Dallas, twice in Phoenix and once in Irvine, CA. I hope you can make it to one of those. NOTE: The ChurchTechCamp Dallas, Church 2.0 Phoenix and The Idea Camp are all FREE! More dates and cites to come soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I’ll be hosting a Church 2.0 Tribe this year at Q. Q was held in New York last year and I couldn’t make it - I really wanted to . This April 27-29 it will be in Austin, TX. I and many other friends will be there. I’d love for you to join us. 

Q is a unique conference for leaders that “get it” and are interested in highly relevant and missional things. Q does cost more than a lot of conferences, but if you register with my coupon code (Church20) - you can register for $525 until 12/31.

More about Q: Q is a gathering where church leaders and cultural influencers from the fields of business, politics, media, education, entertainment and the arts are exposed to the future of culture and the church’s responsibility to advance the common good in society.

Q TALKS are 18 minute presentations given annually at the Q gathering by thought leaders and practitioners on the topics of the future, the church, the culture and the gospel. Be inspired by their big ideas and find ways to discuss and process them with your closest friends and inner circle (the Church 2.0 tribe).

I hope to see some of you in the wonderful city of Austin!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS to all you!!!

These Church 2.0 Local Forums have been informal/casual, kind of unconferences where I come with no set agenda or presentation and simply listen and guide conversation. Each city has a different pulse and heart for something they’re passionate about in their region. We talked about innovation, technology and the Church (capital “C”). Here’s where I went this year:

1. Los Angeles - Host Church: Hollywoood UMC
2. Chicago - Host Church: Park Community Church
3. Orange County - Host Church: NewSong Church
4. Santa Cruz  - Host Church: Santa Cruz Bible Church
5. Upstate South Carolina - Host Church: SpringWell Church
6. Atlanta - Host Church: Perimeter
7. Boston - Host Church: Grace Chapel
8. Tulsa - Host Church: The Church at BattleCreek
9. Portland  - Host Church: Portland Foursquare

• Jan. and Feb. I was focused on the move-in to my church’s new worship center
• Mar. - NRB in Nashville
• Apr. - NAB in Las Vegas
• May - Moody Bible Pastors’ Conf. in Chicago
• June - Saddleback’s Worship Conf. & Festival
• July - Christian Supply Worship Conf.  in South Carolina
• August - ECHO Church Media Conference in Dallas
• Sept. - ChurchTechCamp in Pasadena

It is relentless. I know this. I’ve known this for many years, but it struck me yesterday when we were in our production meeting for this Sunday and we were all tired and mentally exhausted from the previous week’s Christmas production.

This is my “ministry law” that I offer to you, friends. What law would you add?

CHRISTMAS RESOURCE:

This Christmas season at Bent Tree we’re using the Christmas Pak 4 by SermonVideos.com - thankfully they have it in HD.