MIM Ezine, September 25, 2009

-- RUNNING A.M.O.K. CREATIVE ARTS MINISTRY:Too Many Ideas (Is There Such a Thing?) Too Little Time, by Dave Weiss.

-- Book Review, "The Best is Yet To Come," by Fran Fernandez, reviewed by Teena Stewart.

American Way Magazine calls Marian Salzman a trend spotter. She works as the Chief Marketing Officer for Porter Novelli, a global public relations agency. Recently, Salzman identified 10 major trends that are affecting our culture. You can find the whole article published May 15, 2009 at www.americanwaymag.com.

In last month’s article I touched on three of her trends, total convergence, stretching and molding time, and wellness messaging. Here are a couple more.

3. Arm’s-length intimacy: Connecting with people online similar to lying on the couch in the psychiatrist’s office, where the doctor sits out of sight. We feel more comfortable opening up personally with people online than face-to-face. Less familiar but more intimate is the new social-networking platforms, such as Facebook.
I recently taught a class at the seminary called a hybrid where we spent the first six weeks working online. Students downloaded resources, participated in conversation with each other in an online forum, and sent me their assignments via email. During the seventh week, we met on campus for a 24 hour period, and then they turned in their final assignment via email.

I was fascinated to observe how a community of learners could develop online. While this form of communication lacks the benefits of body language and tone of voice, many people feel freer to open up and share their thoughts. This is especially true for introverts who are easily intimidated into withdrawing into their shell.

The growing popularity of Internet social network sites, like Facebook and Twitter, expands the opportunities for developing relationships beyond our geographic limitations. Innovative ministry leaders will look beyond the glitz and glamour of a new tech toy to observe how these tools can be used to encourage people in their spiritual journey.

If people today find some safe spaces in communicating through today’s technology, ministry leaders may find openings for sharing the Gospel in new ways as well.

5. Value and values: What is it really worth and how is it really important to me? These are the questions that influence our impulse purchases during times of recessionary living. They are followed by other questions: Which stores or brands will supply what I need?

If you are a ministry leader like me, you probably get asked the question, “Why won’t people support (you fill in the name of the ministry) like they used to?” Sometimes I just smile sympathetically and nod my head to indicate I understand. I don’t offer my opinion for the same reason I don’t twitter; I don’t really want them to know what I am thinking.

Sometimes people don’t come to meetings and programs because they feel that we are wasting their time and those experiences provide little or no value to their lives.

If a young father who is working lots of hours has to choose between time with his children who are growing up way too fast and spending time with some old guys over coffee reminiscing about the good old days, who do you think will win? Who do you think should win? I wouldn’t go to the coffee meeting, if I wasn’t getting paid to do it – and sometimes I don’t go even then.

Do an assessment on some of your regular activities. Who benefits from them? What is the main benefit they are seeking? If you are having an administrative meeting because you always have that meeting on the second Tuesday after the full moon, is it the best use of yours and others’ time? If the main benefit is the socialization of those who have been doing the work together, name it for what it really is. This is the Finance Fellowship Group. This is the Social Support Group formerly known as Trustees. Then look for new ways to connect people who have to value their time more highly, perhaps by using the newer technology available today.

What does my ministry provide in terms of value to the people I am seeking? That is a good question to ask from time to time.

8. Not without technology: Whatever else may disappear in the “creative destruction” of the crisis, technology is here to stay. Some may yearn for simpler times and the satisfaction of hand tools, but the plain truth is that the future lies in mastering new technologies.

Some people resist new technology because it is expensive. No question, the newest gadget on the cutting edge can become more than most ministries can afford. Of course, wisdom and sound judgment are needed. However, the cost of not investing in useful technology can be pretty devastating as well. It could mean not communicating your message with the next generation.

Some people resist new technology because they resist learning something new. If that is the case, call hospice and start planning your funeral. Of course, most of those people don’t read an ezine on the web.

Some people resist new technology because they see the potential for harm and evil in it. We usually apply this rule unevenly. We fear the Internet as we hop in our car to drive 60 miles to the next town. The difference is technology with which we are accustomed and technology we do not understand. There is potential evil and good in all technology. How will we use it?

Some people resist new technology because it redefines who we are and how we understand our mission. My wife used to work for a company that printed bank checks. The technology of electronic banking has put most of those companies out of business. They are struggling. But in their not too distant past (World War II) they used to print the paper work soldiers had to carry with their dog tags. Somewhere they reinvented themselves when that need no longer existed, but today they resist those opportunities.

If our ministry is redefined by new steps in technology, then we have an opportunity to redefine our calling for the new generations. Whatever we decide, technological advances are here to stay.

Tom Hanover is Advertising and Promo Director of MIM ezine. He has served in a variety of pastoral leadership roles for more than 35 years, including seven as a District Superintendent supervising the ministries of more than 100 pastors and churches in southern Ohio. He is currently Senior Pastor of Sulphur Grove UMC, a multisite ministry in Dayton. He has a BA (cum laude) from Taylor University, and the MDIV and DMIN degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton. You can contact Tom at hanover@dbmim.net.

I was rereading an email from a new friend online, and I thought it spoke to something a lot of us face as artists. She wrote of having a lot of ideas and not always being able to get them completed. I wrestle with that too. It even appears she and I have a similar vision to start a ministry where people from the community can come in and create art, performances, etc. to the glory of God and meet Jesus while doing what they love to do.

So the following is what I to wrote her and I think it will bless you, my readers, as well.

I have a similar vision. I am simply trying to get something going where people can come in, create together and get to know Jesus. I am thinking of things like doing plays, exhibitions and other such things. I'm trying to find a director and some plays that are not cheesy, preachy things but rather something with some meat that will open a door and plant a seed.

As far as having a lot of ideas, and not being able to complete them, here's my word of encouragement: I have A LOT of ideas as well and they are frustrating to no end at times, but here's what I've learned. Be faithful. When you get an idea, write it down. If you don't have everything you need to do it at the time, do what you can for now and keep it handy. I have sketchbooks that I use and I fill a lot of them. Some things go from concept to completion very quickly, other ideas take years.

The open studio concept that I am working on developing today was the original concept for A.M.O.K. about ten years ago. I couldn't do it then because every group of people I put together didn't last or for some other reason. Eventually, I decided that I would write the ideas I have down and post them to the web and do the things I could do myself. This led to workshops and seminars where I encouraged other artists to use their gifts to serve the Lord. I also went out and preached and pursued art on my own. I even felt led to plant a church, which has helped me by giving me a place to try out the things that the Lord lays on my heart. In this way, the ideas that I post in my notebook are actually things that have been done and I have found to work.

So in effect, my original vision may be ten years old and may not as yet come to pass, but I am faithfully doing what I can until the vision becomes reality. In the meantime, I have been blessed and have been able to bless others. People are slowly coming into my life that will be able to help me finally bring the full A.M.O.K vision to fruition. Until that happens, I am trying not to be frustrated and just keep going. Lots of groundwork has been laid that I could not have anticipated when the vision first came to me. I have grown a lot. And a man who I believe will be a key leader in this ministry was only a teen when the idea for A.M.O.K. first came to me and we had never even met. When we think we are not making any progress and not getting the job done, we need to remember that God is always at work getting things ready. If your vision is of God, it will happen at the appointed time. In the meantime, be faithful today, trust and obey.

Dave Weiss is the founder of A.M.O.K.(Arts Ministry Outreach for the Kingdom) http://www.amokarts.com and the founding pastor of New Creation Fellowship in Reading, PA. He runs an online ministry to artists called Pastor2Artists http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pastor2artists and frequently creates art related ministry videos on youtube http://www.youtube.com/amokarts He can be reached at amokarts@aol.com.

Pastor, speaker and writer Fran Fernandez has written 60 women’s devotionals that are ideal for daily quiet time. Each one begins with a short scripture verse tying it into the theme of each chapter which is no more that two to three pages long. The language and concept are easy to understand and the application very practical, motivating women to consider where they are spiritually and what changes they can make in order to grow. Each chapter concludes with a prayer that caps off the lesson learned.

Though The Best is Yet to Come targets Baby Boomers, much of what Fernandez says spans the generations. In order to illustrate her points, Frenandez shares stories from her own spiritual walk. In addition, she pulls from the experiences of famous people and everyday acquaintances, from Christians and non-Christians alike.

The small, hardback book has an attractive pink cover that depicts a photograph of an enticing slice of chocolate cake meant to symbolize the delightful reward Christ followers have in store in eternity. Fernandez urges to press on as we seek to draw closer to Christ daily because the best is indeed yet to come if we will only hold fast to our faith.

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Be sure to visit Ministry in Motion's Bookshop. Every resource is developed from hands-on church experience. Help members discover their spiritual gifts, how to connect them in ministry and more. Visit MIM's Bookshop.

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DBMIM September 25, 2009