Orange Week: Refine the message recap

So many great posts about refining the message on this second day of Orange week. Let’s take a look.

• I started off the day with a post defining the strategic element of “refining the message.”
• Jonathan Cliff talks about the results he’s seen in the last two years as they’ve practiced this idea of refining the message through the curriculum choices they’ve made. His post stands out the most to me thanks to the graphic coloring sheet of Absolom’s unfortunate death. Even more interesting was that Jonathan still has this now infamous coloring sheet.
• Gina’s giving away a really cool resource. Click here to find out how you can get it before it’s gone.
• Anthony Prince throws in his two cents concerning messaging. He describes how his church as intentionally refined the message depending on the audience and objectives of that program.
• Dan Scott writes three blog posts concerning refining the message. The first defines the element and how their use of 252 Basics allows them to clearly refine their message. The second post amazingly demonstrates how they refine their message through the experience. Last of all, Dan writes a post about marketing in the light of refining the message. Dan shares practical things of how they do this at Ada Bible… very helpful information!
• I wrote a second post about refining the message mainly focusing on what I’ve been thinking about concerning developing a biblical worldview in the lives of our kids and how refining the message might help us to do that.
• Kendra Golden shares a very unique perspective about refining the message. She talks about how as a content developer for many years, she sees the importance of “the message” finally when her child hits the student ministry and doesn’t seem to be grasping the true message. Maybe he is, but the reality is that the messaging was confusing and it caused Kendra as a content developer to see how to craft a message that resonates with kids as well as family with kids in multiple programs.
• Matt McKee approaches the concept of packaging and communication. Refining the message isn’t always about content, but about delivery. If we knew that we could present the content in a differnt way that would produce greater results, would we? Check out Matt’s thoughts on this element.
• JC throws out a post from a bit of a different perspective, of how when we refine the message, we also make it more potent and powerful. I agree. There’s a lot of noise in the church at times… sometimes we have to say less to say more.
• Nick Blevins jumped into Orange Week with a great post on refining the message. I like his use of “knowledge puffs up” as a reminder that trying to teach it all to the kids can be counter productive.
• Gina McClain wrote a great post on refining the message. My favorite line: Creating an echo isn’t easy to do. But then it isn’t easily forgotten either.

In addition to these posts, we had two other bloggers jump into the Orange festivities. Henry Zonio (who’ll be coming to Orange this year) threw out some information on Orange to his readers and pointed them toward all the Orange mania. In addition, Eric Griffin posted about his thoughts on Orange and how some obstacles to overcome are denominationally driven, something I’ve never really thought about.

That’s it for right now. If I missed one, leave a comment and I’ll add it. Gina’s give away is still up for grabs and there will be a new give away announced tomorrow. Oh, and I’ve got a BIG… er, HUGE announcement tomorrow. Hang on tight people, good stuff is coming you way!