Greg Atkinson

It dawned on me that I had mentioned my conference speaking schedule in an earlier blog post and forgot to post it. Here’s where I’ll be so far in 2009. I hope to see you on the road. Let me know if you’ll be at any of these:

• January: Leadership Network’s Innovation3
• February: Church Solutions Conference
• February: The Idea Camp
• April: Q
• May: Dynamic Church Conference
• June: Saddleback Worship Conference
• July: ECHO Church Media Conference
• August: South Carolina Worship Conference
• September: MinistryCOM 
• November: National Outreach Convention

I was hanging out with some friends last night and like so many times before, someone in the bar called me “boss”. A friend of mine commented on it and it got me thinking about how many times I’ve been called something like that. Here are my personal top three nicknames:

1. Chief
2. Big Man
3. Boss

* My favorite, though, was given to me by our video team leader. He calls me “Cat Daddy G” – you gotta love that. So… what are some of the nicknames that you get called?

Does my life matter? What is my purpose? Is it really possible that my life was meant for something bigger? – Something Greater?

Anthem Trailer from Broken Voices on Vimeo.

Six friends travel the United States in search of answers to these questions. Living on the road for a month in a borrowed (and crowded) RV, they encounter seven stories of normal people doing extraordinary things with their lives.

This week Broken Voices releases there first full length documentary film entitled “Anthem”. To pick up your copy today click here.

After many recommendations and honestly waiting too long (I’ve just been really busy – see my last post), I finally went this weekend to see Slumdog Millionaire. WOW! – is all I can say. What a work of art. ART. Beauty, love, raw, powerful, intense, cool music, shot very well, gripping – the best movie I’ve seen since Crash.

I haven’t had a feeling like that leaving a theater (and I see a lot of movies) since I saw Crash for the first time in the theater. Crash went on to win three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing of 2005 at the 78th Academy Awards. I wouldn’t be surprised if Slumdog Millionaire does very well at the Oscar’s – it won Best Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes. 

I felt like the blinders had been removed from my eyes. I love movies that allow you to experience another culture/country. This movie really lets you see life in various parts of India. From povery to homelessness to human trafficking to a love story on many different levels  - this movie has it all. Please go see it before I ruin it for you! 

If you have seen it, what are your thoughts on it?

EXTRA:

We had to take some pictures during our worship yesterday for a magazine. Below are 2 of the pics we took. One is from the view of a camera man, one is from the back of one service looking out across 3000 people. If you’re coming to Innovation3, find me when I’m showing people around and you can see behind-the-scenes, back stage and the video control room.

“Slow down!” These are the words I hear from my wife, my close friends, my therapist (yes, I see a therapist – that’s a future blog post), my friends that are therapists, etc. I’m praying through a lot these days. With serving a large/busy church full-time and basically working full-time on the side (writing, speaking and consulting), it gets a little crazy. 

I’m sincerely wrestling with how to handle it all. I ask for your prayers, support and feedback. I’ll be releasing my 2009 speaking schedule next week. I’ve been waiting to do that because I’m trying to be real picky and know what to say “no” to and what to say “yes” to – for many reasons (family, health, work, etc.). 

My heart is to serve the Church (capital “C”) and be a voice in it, but I can’t do that at the expense of my marriage or health. This is what I struggle with (among other things) and this is what I need prayer for. Pray for God’s guidance and direction. 

Can anyone else relate? Isn’t life a blur sometimes?

Mark 2: 22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Follow me now – and please don’t take this as an exegisis of this Scripture passage. I’m chewing on something and honestly it’s still stirring in me, so you’re reading thoughts in development – kind of like me thinking out loud. If “new wine must be put into new wineskins”, I think new strategies and tools to reach, connect, engage and mobilize people must be employed with new mindsets.

The following is from my friend, Bill Seaver’s, MicroExplosion blog:

[...A lot of companies are considering trying some new marketing approaches these days. They have become enamored or curious about the new social media tools that are widely publicized and are trying to determine how it can work for them. This is a good spot to be in, but I’ve realized  something is still missing. What’s missing is the appropriate mindset needed to use the social media tools, techniques, and stategies well. The old mindset won’t work with the new tools. They don’t mix. Seth Godin wrote an entire book about that called Meatball Sundae.

New marketing only works with the new mindset. Simply using the new tools with the old mindset won’t bring about the marketing change you need and want...]

Many of you know that I work with churches, organizations and companies of all kinds. I’m brought in as an innovation consultant and these days almost all want to talk about using new media and social networking tools. What I’ve noticed is that they get excited talking about these new tools and desire to use them, but haven’t had a change in mindset (like Bill said) and thus are striking out.

I’m thinking of 2 cases in particular: One with a well known Christian organization (there’s no need to share their name) that desparately wants to reach the next generation and brought me in to consult on how to use social media/networking to connect with them and the other is with a fitness/health company that I consult on using new media to help get their message out and expand their business.

Both want to tap into the buzz (or what Tony Steward calls “the awesomeness”) – the latest tools and technology. Mind you: this isn’t a bad thing. I do like to keep it in perspective and realize that these are all just tools, but I like that they are wanting to enter this world.

The problem that I see with these 2 organizations (and honestly with a ton of churches, including my own) is that they don’t dive in. They try to dip their toes in the water and hope they catch a fish. A fisherman gets dirty, gets wet and smells. I love to fish (that’s for another blog – Brian Davis and I can bore you with fish tales) – but I know that when I fish, I don’t wear my best clothes and I don’t expect to cast once and catch a bass on the first throw. You have to have patience. You have to be committed. You have to think like a fish.

Some churches I work with don’t “get” Facebook. Most really don’t “get” Twitter. My assessment is that they haven’t been patient enough and don’t live in those worlds. Remember Bill Seaver’s quote: “Simply using the new tools with the old mindset won’t bring about the marketing change you need and want.”

One organization I work with had previously tried using Facebook in a broadcast-type model (we put out some info about our ministry and you come check it out). It didn’t work and they blamed Facebook. I’m now working with them on how to engage people on Facebook and tools like that. You don’t just put it out and say “Come get”.

Weekly I meet with Paul Watson, a digital missionary. We challenge, stretch, encourage and learn from one another. We have a weekly Bible study/discipleship time that always ends in him sharing his learnings as a full-time digital missionary – one who lives in online community and engages people in virtual environments (this is his full-time job). He’s fascinating and teaching me a ton.

Again, I’m processing a lot of this out loud and expressing things that have been rolling around in my head, but I think I’m speaking to somebody. Maybe you gave Facebook, Ning, Twitter or something like that “a try” and it didn’t meet your expectations. Maybe you, your church or organization is in research and development mode. Maybe you’re in experiment mode. Maybe you’re testing the waters, but haven’t fully dove in.

My prayer, heart’s desire and encouragement/challenge to you is to WRESTLE with Bill Seaver’s quote: “Simply using the new tools with the old mindset won’t bring about the marketing change you need and want.”

Friends, let’s discuss this out loud (or via comments). Does this hit home with anyone? Does this resonate, scare or encourage anyone? Are you committed to getting dirty, wet and smelly to reach fish?

I’ve blogged about Innovation3 before, but I wanted to blog about it again.  I’ve heard from so many that are “considering” attending. They know the line-up of speakers is great, Robbie Seay Band is leading worship and it’s at my church (crazy chill with Greg) – but they just haven’t made up their minds, yet.

I’ve got 3 new pieces of info for you to consider:

1. Register now and use “Church2.0” as the code and it will give you $50 off per person.
2. I’m teaching a new class (which is born out of my second book – this will be the first time I have spoken publically about what God is stirring in my heart and what my next book will be). My class is Tuesday at 3:00pm and the title is “Unconventional Innovation”.
3. The people that I do know are coming are great folks. We are going to have a blast. I have 5 pastors from around the country staying at my house. I know of some cool cats that are going to be flying in town for I3 and there are several meet-ups going on. I love hanging out, networking and socializing. 

Go HERE to register and remember to use the promo code. If you can… be there!

* So are you coming? Let me know. If not – let me know why.

Today is National Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Awareness Day…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Did you know there are 27 millions slaves in the world today? In fact, there are more slaves on earth today than in all the years of the slave trade combined. That’s not to lessen the horrors of the slave trade era, but to show you how horrendous and widespread slavery still is (from Diana Scimone).

Here are the facts about this pandemic - I hope you’ll wrestle, pray over, struggle with and share these:

• Human trafficking is the 2nd-largest illegal industry on the planet–after illegal drugs. (It used to be #3, but was just moved up.)

• It is organized crime with networks, funding, resources, routes, and structure.

• Human trafficking generates billions of dollars a year.

• It’s the fastest-growing illegal enterprise on earth.

• You can sell a gun or drug only once, but you can sell a human over and over.

• Human trafficking is not smuggling. People who are smuggled do so willingly.  There is nothing voluntary about trafficking. It involves force, fraud, and coercion.

• Trafficking and slavery happens in every country–including yours.

• About 17,500 foreigners are trafficked into the US from other countries–each year.

• About 200,000 American children are at high risk for trafficking in the US, especially in the sex industry.

Want more information?

You can fight trafficking and slavery. More info is here and here. To learn what Born to Fly International is doing to stop child trafficking and slavery, visit www.born2fly.org.

Some say that we could end slavery in 25 years. What do you think?