I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane...

I'm so excited. It's like the day before Christmas feeling.

Bright and early tomorrow morning I'm heading up to O'Hare to catch a flight to sunny Phoenix for the ministryCOM Conference.

When I've been trying to explain to people who are asking me where it is that I'm going (because they are angry I can't finish their brochures or graphics...just kidding, it hasn't been that bad), I just say, "well, basically, it's a conference with all the people from really cool churches who do the same job that I do, only a million times better."

They say it's for 'communications professionals in ministry', but I wouldn't say I'm a pro... yet.

Some of the cool people who are going to be there include:

Paul Braoudiks of the Willow Creek Association.

Mark Batterson from National Community Church is going to be there... who, just confirmed to be the guest speaker at our Related Leaders Conference next year at Riverside!

Scott Evans from Outreach. Just got the new issue of Outreach today and I'm making myself save it for my flight!

Kem Meyer, my hero, from Granger Community Church.

Brad Abare from the Center for Church Communications. He's also part of the brains behind ChurchMarketingSucks.com.

And there are tons more who are doing workshops, including my buddy Kirt Manuel from Northwoods Community Church.

I'm so excited about this just because, 1) it's my passion... and 2) these people know what they are doing. Some people might think that 'communications' and everything is just all a part of the church becoming a corporation or whatever (I heard that from someone last week), but I think that if there is one entity in the world that should champion communication... of communicating THE MESSAGE... it is the Church.

Jesus was the Master Communicator... and in His time, the main form of communication was through speaking. He was hip for His time using things people identified and connected with to bring about eternal Truth... and I think that our challenge today as a church in the 21st century is to understand and grasp how we can connect with our culture in a way they hear the timeless message of hope and salvation in way that they understand.

I might not be the one who is up front preaching but almost 100% of my job entails me communicating to people inside and outside what is going on... why they should be a part of it... what we have to offer them that 'the world' doesn't... and it's not just a cushy job... it's really a calling... and I'm excited to be in the company of people who feel the same way!

Comments

[Dave Crow]

I'm really excited about this as well. I'll see you out there!

[eric]

tim... you're awesome.

don't ever change.

it's really awesome to hear someone so passionate about what they do.

you are one case where what you do helps define who you are.

[Matt Holley]

What's up Tim, the conference was great and it was great meeting you as well. Keep in touch and hopefully we can both grown in our ministry.