Podcasts and a review of our recent Cultivate Gathering will be online soon. For now, enjoy some pictures of the day: Link

Labels: cultivate, photos

Cultivate Gathering: Spring '08 [a learning party for those interested in creating mission-shaped churches] is coming up at The Freeway next Saturday, March 29th. There are still a few spots left if you want to register.

We have split the day into three segments which have been selected to create dialogue in the area of leading [and planting] missional communities that move back into the neighbourhood:

• planting [grassroots storytelling]
• neighbourhood [living incarnationally]
• leading [forming community]

In each segment we will hear the story of some folks who have been asked ahead of time, then we will have an open mic time for anyone in the room to add their two cents to the segment, and then we split into discussion pods - open space style - to create conversations with one another on various topics with each segment.

Some pretty cool people are already registered for Cultivate this time around. I look forward to spending the day swapping stories and inspiring each other. Why don't you come?

www.cultivategathering.com

Labels: church planting, cultivate

It's been a while since I have posted on my blog. Sorry. I have been away for two weeks [you can read about where in the previous post].

I will update you about our Cultivate Gathering [which took place last Saturday] really soon and post a video of the day, etc. It was a fabulous event. But for now... something completely different.

I took a walk yesterday. I needed to. I had a really tough morning. Nay sayers. Big problems to solve. Life catching up with me all at once... like drinking from a fire hose. The weight of what we are undertaking here hit me like the baseball bat I took to the head when I played softball in grade five.

Also, after being away for two weeks hob knobbing with creatives, leaders, and squeaky clean churchy church people in majestically beautiful environments, I suppose I needed to decompress and be brought back into the reality of the life I have chosen [or has chosen me].

As I walked around downtown by our coffee house, nearly in tears, wallowing in self-pity, I passed drug dealers, prostitutes, gang bangers, bums, people who were outright talking to themselves [one of which was losing a shouting match with himself]. Dirty people. Scary people. People with obvious mental health issues. Broken people. People in motorized wheelchairs.

I saw poverty. I smelled poverty. I was smothered by it. I could barely catch my breath. It completely overwhelmed me to the point that I had to sit down a few times along the way. I was overtaken with hopelessness.

The objectification and terrorization of women and children really caught me off guard on my walk. Sex sells. It also buys. It was everywhere.

There are tons of people in our neighbourhood who are simply looking for the next fix. Figuring on how to get through the day. Seemingly wishing they were somewhere else... someone else.

I look down a lot when I walk. I try to avoid eye contact, if at all possible. I looked down a lot on my walk yesterday and I saw used condoms, drug paraphernalia, garbage, debris.

Lonely people abound here. I couldn't escape the notion, even at the busiest pedestrian street corner in Hamilton, that I was totally alone too. Abandoned. Surrounded by thousands of people, but completely isolated and alone.

I made a couple calls on my cell phone. I was desperate to hear a friendly voice. I was losing my mind to sadness and despair.

Several times I debated reaching out and hugging someone. Randomly. A stranger. Someone who looked like they could use a hug.

But I resisted the urge. I did nothing. I just kept walking. Hoping to God the world would change. I wish I had the courage to hug someone. To do something. But I don't.

This place is so screwed up on so many levels.

I went out for a walk to catch my breath, to make myself feel better. But I feel worse. What am I doing here? Surely, Jesus wouldn't want me to live here. This can't be what he has for me, can it? How do I escape the notion that I am a pathetic failure at making any difference whatsoever? Or is that it, failure is the thing?

I just don't know what Jesus wants me to do with all of this. What does subverting the empire as a kingdom person look like here? What do I do?

It all seems so hopeless. I feel very over-taken and broken. I don't live up to expectations put on me [or those I put on myself]. I come off like a professional sometimes... a guru... but I am weak and stubborn and silly and forgetful and...

I guess I just feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes.

[Note: Please don't try and answer the above questions for me. They are rhetorical.]

Labels: church planting, cultivate, personal

There are only a couple more days to register for the Cultivate Gathering 07 [taking place at The Freeway on Saturday, April 21st] at the early bird rate of $50 per person. If you are planning on coming but have not registered... now is the the time. To register, simply drop us a line at info@cultivategathering.com and we will give you details about sending us a cheque [postmarked by April 1st], etc. and you're in at the cheapskate rate.

The spots are filling up fast [we only have about 25 spots left]. So, act fast. It will be a gooder, for sure.

Labels: church planting, cultivate

Early-bird registration for the Cultivate Gathering is quickly approaching. It only costs $50.00 [including lunch] if you register by April 1st.

Cultivate Gathering is a learning party for church planters and those interested in new forms of church that takes place at The Freeway in Hamilton on Saturday, April 21st, and is jam-packed with great discussion and good times. This year we will be focusing on three main areas: culture and creativity, spiritual formation, and urban renewal.

What are you waiting for, go register today.

Labels: church planting, cultivate

Cultivate Gathering is coming up on Saturday, April 21st at The Freeway. Check out the website [www.cultivategathering.com] for more details.

"Cultivate Gathering is a learning party. What does that mean? Well, basically it's designed to be everything good about a conference without all the rigamarole... and much more fun and interactive."

Labels: church planting, cultivate

Cultivate Gathering was a learning party we did in August at The Freeway in order to encourage church planting and new forms of church in a Canadian context. I previously posted a low down of the gathering.

Here is a podcast of the segment Melissa Burleigh and I did on telling the story of community at The Freeway:

The Story Of Community At The Freeway [mp3]

Labels: church planting, community, cultivate, leadership, the freeway

8:00AM | Introduction
Right now I am sitting in our coffee house at Cultivate. I will continue to update this post throughout the weekend. Currently about 50 church planters (I think it's 55) and those interested in new forms of church are sitting around, sharing their stories, sipping coffee, praying together, and having a good time... although it is only 8:00AM and most of us are terribly sleepy.

The idea behind Cultivate is to gather a bunch of church planters and those who are interested in new forms of church in a Canadian context and network, idea swap, share stories, and inspire. No big name speakers. No big cost. No super packed agenda. No formula for a "healthy, growing church". Just good old heart-to-heart discussion.

9:00AM | "The Gathering"
We started out talking about worship gatherings and other gatherings that churches do. Quite interesting to hear how different communities gather together and what is really important to them. We heard from Garry Castle and Jared Siebert of Next Church in Kingston and what their Sunday gatherings look like. Then we heard from Michael Krause (who I had never met before), a house church planter in a Jewish neighbourhood in Thornhill. Very cool.

After hearing from these guys we split into "open space pods" to chat further about various aspects of the gathering. There was a group for sacraments, one for preaching, one for being community-led (including people in planning), etc. There was a group for growth... which not one person attended... I guess, as Bob Dillon says, the times they are a changin'.

I got in on the sacraments discussion. Amazing to hear people from various denomination backgrounds talk together about the place that sacraments play in their community of faith, the hang-ups, the rules that must be followed, the hurt they have experienced, and the amazing times of authenthic worship as well. Each very different... yet all really listening to and respecting each other. Very beautiful.

10:30AM | "Creativity & The Arts"
Next we focused on what place creativity and the arts play within new forms of church. And we heard the stories of where creativity and the arts have been used as a way of expressing faith. Joe Manafo of Thinker Labs and theStory spoke about his creative process and the need there is to use creativity to communicate the truth about God to a new culture. He also gave some great resources... and took an opportunity to take a cheap shot at me... what a guy!

Then we split into open space pods again to discuss further issues surrounding the arts and the church like: how to include artists, how to host worship gatherings without music, creative ideas, praying creatively, etc.

I had a great conversation with Kim Reid of The Open Door that had little or nothing to do with creativity... but was fun, none the less. Kim is a guy I am coming to like and respect more and more. Which brings me to what I love about this conference.. err, hmm, non-conference... the most: Three quarters of our time was spent networking, chatting, telling stories as opposed to listening to big wigs spout off their book info. Good times.

12:00PM | Lunch
I thoroughly enjoyed a ham and cheese sandwich, a side of couscous salad, and a refreshing strawberry lemonade curtesy of my favourite coffee house: FRWY.ca

1:30PM | "Justice"
This was the segment that garnered the most "open mic" time (I should explain: at the beginning of each segment we had one or two planned people to share their story as it relates to the specific segment, and then we had an open mic time, when anyone can share with the whole group). Wendy Gritter from New Direction shared from her persepctive of working with same-sex attracted people. Kim Reid spoke about feeding kids in school in the poor neighbourhood in which he resides. Mike Todd spoke about his neighbourhood in East Vancouver. He also shared a story which explains the difference between justice and mercy. I think he said he got it from Brian McLaren... either way it was good. Tim Doherty spoke, Jamie Robertson spoke, Michael Krause spoke again... all of them sharing how the issue of justice and mercy is huge for them and their community (I really resonated), and how they feel like the church has given away social services (sound familiar, David Fitch?).

The open space pods followed. There were discussions on things like: feeding the poor, systems that create poverty, urban living, etc.

3:00Pm | "Leadership & Networking"
Jared Siebert talked about the importance of "flat leadership structures" and also about networking. He told folks about Resonate, and more specifically about Greenhouses.

Then when we split into open space pods. We had a group for those involved in or interested in Greenhouses, one for those who wanted to talk about leadership structure in new churches, one for flat leadership structures, etc. I, of course, having pledged alliegiance to Jordon Cooper (who could not be there - you were missed, buddy) and the Resonate flag, attended the Greenhouse group. Good times.

4:30Pm | "Community"
Melissa Burleigh and I told the story of The Freeway... and that's all I have to say about that.

Some of the open space pods about community were: partying, creating community that goes beyond superficiality, being in community with the marginalized, third spaces, etc. I naturally went to the party pod. We talked about the balance of having people in the church community who drink vs. those who don't. we talked about creating a church culture that can experience celebration and good times. We talked about stories of how "things went too far" at parties, etc. and how you handle that. All in all it was my favourite pod of the day... it seemed to gather all the loud mouths... and me.

5:30Pm | Dinner
Me and a bunch of my friends (including my old friends - and ex-FRWYers - Jamie Robertson and Dallas Friesen) enjoyed some Jamaican cuisine right next door to the coffee house at Ya Man! My curry chicken rhoti was amazing.

7:00PM | "The Winking Circle"
In the evening those of us who were left watched a terrific film made by some old friends in Uxbridge, Ontario called "The Winking Circle". The Winking Circle can't be explained by words... this is a film you simply need to see.

Wrap It Up
Ok, I am tired now. All in all, a great day. Possibly my favourite conference experience ever.

Labels: church planting, cultivate

Not only is this the last day of July, but it is also the last day you can register for Cultivate at the early bird rate. Jump on.

Labels: church planting, cultivate

Cultivate is a learning party happening on Saturday, August 19, 2006 in Hamilton, ON. It's presented by Resonate and is intended to inspire church planting and new forms of church all across Canada.

A learning party? What does that mean? Well, basically it's designed to be everything good about a conference without all the rigamarole... and much more fun and interactive.

• Instead of charging in the hundreds of dollars for one ticket, it's only $25 and that includes a terrific lunch.
• Instead of maxing out our capacity we are limiting our numbers to give everyone there the best possible environment for networking.
• Instead of bringing in a mainline, American speaker to tell us what they already wrote in their latest book we are looking to local church planters and leaders to tell their stories.
• Instead of you listening to message after message and being filled with information we want you to be part of a dialogue with people in similar shoes and learn and grow within that relationship.
• Instead of some fancy shmancy hotel, convention centre or big church building, Cultivate is taking place at a local coffee house: www.frwy.ca
  

Cultivate is happening because of numerous conversations between different people, organizations, networks and churches in Canada that long to see new forms of church thrive and relational networking happen. We are tired of the same old, same old conferences and just simply want to be friends, inspire each other, and swap stories, ideas, and encouragement.

For more details or to register (there are a limited number of spots left): www.cultivategathering.com

Labels: church planting, cultivate

Here is a video of the talk author David Fitch did at our coffee house last week: Resonate Echo w/ David Fitch (.mov)

Which reminds me, a few of us are putting together a non-conference this summer called Cultivate. The bare-bones website is now up and running. Should be a gooder.

Labels: church planting, cultivate, videos