Tag Archives: Orange Conference
Drinking from a fire hydrant
Posted on 30. 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 on 30. 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 on 30. 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 on 29. 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 on 29. 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 on 28. 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 on 27. 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 on 26. 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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Can someone attending #orange10 do me a favor?
Posted on 23. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
I’ve got a lot of places to be while at Orange. Unfortunately, I can’t be everywhere. Last year I did my best and I only missed one general session and one breakout session. Why? I was busy learning from others in the hallways and the Orange Leader’s Lounge.
This year I already know that I’m going to miss one breakout and one preconference workshop. The workshop I’m going to miss is Preconference 2: Thinking intern by Darren Kizer. I really wanted to be in that session, but I can’t. Is there anyone out there who’s planning to attend that workshop? I’d love to get your notes and maybe get the general rundown from you. Let me know and I’d be eternally grateful!
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Preloaded questions for Orange
Posted on 23. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
I remember when I was in College, the first few days on campus was defined by one common question. “What’s your major?” Maybe it was a coping skill. Seriously, do you really care what my major is? You just can’t think of anything else to ask, so you ask about my major. The second most common question was “Where are you from?”
One day I ran into someone and he didn’t ask me what my major was or where I was from. He asked me what my favorite color was. Random? Yes. However, it was refreshing to answer a question I wasn’t expecting. I’ll never forget it.
As you’ve been hearing from me and countless others, you need to ask questions while at Orange. I’m going to encourage you to stay away from the easy, common “coping” questions. Don’t let “where are you from?” be the first question you ask. It’s too easy and everyone else is asking that. By all means, don’t ask someone how many kids they have in their program right off the bat. It’s tacky. You can ask, but let it flow out of the engaging conversation you’re having.
So, in case you’re intimidated to lead out with a question to someone you don’t know, here are some pre-loaded questions to ask. While you’re waiting for the breakout to begin, give one of these a shot. When you’re getting some free coffee in the OL Lounge, ask the dude next to you in line one of these questions to get the conversation going.
- What’s the biggest concept/take-away you’ve gotten so far? (Don’t ask this question in the registration line, it would be weird)
- If you could be any fruit, what fruit would you be? (An orange isn’t allowed, that’s too obvious)
- After you get home from Orange, what’s the first thing you plan to start doing?
- Is it just me, or do you always want to call Francis Chan, Jackie Chan? (Ask this to someone who was here last year, otherwise they may not get it)
- After you get home from Orange, what’s the first thing you plan to stop doing?
- Do you know what Reggie’s middle name is? (It’s Herschel – actually Herschel is is first name with Reggie being his middle)
- Who do you wish was here with you hearing and learning all that you’re experiencing?
Okay, there’s a handful. Got any others? Feel free to leave some good ones in the comments.
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