mike jones

One of the things I heard Dave Ferguson and Eric Bramlett talk a little on yesterday was the relationship they have on staff. Dave is the lead pastor and Eric is the creative arts guru.

Here’s what I wrote down from their discussion:
Creative arts director and lead pastor need to be on the same page – key relationship.

Creative arts needs permission to take risk (needs the permission from the lead pastor). Art is about risk – all art. Churches are risk adverse and this is why we repel artists.

Artists need trust from lead pastor. The lead pastor needs to know/trust that the creative arts director is going to risk for the sake of the cause and the mission.

In this relationship:
Planning – artists need/want to plan. Gives them a canvas in which to work, to be creative. Teaching is an art as well and needs to be woven and planned together. Not just a setup for the teaching, but something working all together. Advanced planning allows you (lead pastor) to suspend skepticism on risky ideas.

Proximity – have to be in close proximity, in time and space with the lead pastor so that they can be on the same page. Trust and friendship.

Parameters – we ask: does it contribute to the big idea (not just a song or video for fun but goes with the idea)? Is there anything about the idea that distracts from the big idea? (not necessarily just offensive, IF it will take people closer to the idea) but take away from an idea. A positive review on an element can be just as distracting if people focus on that and not on the big idea.

Anyway, thought this was very insightful for you all working together in similar environments.
Peace.

In my previous post I was in the middle of a session at the Innovate 2007 conference with dudes from CCC. Here’s some of the notes I jotted down regarding the Big Idea and planning for the weekend:

More information = less clarity
One Big Idea = more clarity and action

Goal of the Big Idea – a community of transformation not information.

Big Idea Planning Timeline (this is for ONE idea or series):
One year out – meet with lead team, teaching pastors and those involved in areas that will be affected by planning of messages – 2 day meeting to plan a year.

10-13 weeks out – teaching team takes lead and creates a document (mini essays) that talk about the series, topics, paragraphs, scriptures of what will be talking about. Big Idea drafts. These are sent out to everyone. This is the beginning document.

9 weeks out – day of creative meetings – brainstorm adult experience. Beginning middle and end of service planned, focus times, sketch ideas, message outlines, etc. Kids and small groups (and students) experiences are hammered out during this week as well.

5 weeks out – reviewing what we’ve learned regarding the planning of this big idea. Taking a look at what we said 4 weeks prior, do we have video shoots put together, dates scheduled for the various elements, does it all still make sense. Review.

3 weeks – manuscripts of teaching is completed and sent out. The teaching pastor receiving it finalizes it and adds/subtracts to make it personalized from them. Media pieces developed for message at this time.

2 weeks – cue sheet, transitions, reviewing. Sometimes things don’t work but meticulously going over every piece to make sure it is all together.

1 week out – changes if necessary, but everything else is just a thumbs up to make sure that everything is good to go and working properly.

Thought this was a really good session. So if you ever get a chance to check out a Big Idea session with these guys, I recommend it.

I actually heard some things from Dave and Eric this time that I did not pick up on before. More on this in another post.

In my previous post I was in the middle of a session at the Innovate 2007 conference with dudes from CCC. Here’s some of the notes I jotted down regarding the Big Idea and planning for the weekend:

More information = less clarity
One Big Idea = more clarity and action

Goal of the Big Idea – a community of transformation not information.

Big Idea Planning Timeline:
One year out – meet with lead team, teaching pastors and those involved in areas that will be affected by planning of messages – 2 day meeting to plan a year.

10-13 weeks out – teaching team takes lead and creates a document (mini essays) that talk about the series, topics, paragraphs, scriptures of what will be talking about. Big Idea drafts. These are sent out to everyone. This is the beginning document.

9 weeks out – day of creative meetings – brainstorm adult experience. Beginning middle and end of service planned, focus times, sketch ideas, message outlines, etc. Kids and small groups (and students) experiences are hammered out during this week as well.

5 weeks out – reviewing what we’ve learned regarding the planning of this big idea. Taking a look at what we said 4 weeks prior, do we have video shoots put together, dates scheduled for the various elements, does it all still make sense. Review.

3 weeks – manuscripts of teaching is completed and sent out. The teaching pastor receiving it finalizes it and adds/subtracts to make it personalized from them. Media pieces developed for message at this time.

2 weeks – cue sheet, transitions, reviewing. Sometimes things don’t work but meticulously going over every piece to make sure it is all together.

1 week out – changes if necessary, but everything else is just a thumbs up to make sure that everything is good to go and working properly.

Thought this was a really good session. So if you ever get a chance to check out a Big Idea session with these guys, I recommend it.

I actually heard some things from Dave and Eric this time that I did not pick up on before. More on this in another post.

Sitting in Dave Ferguson’s breakout session at Innovate 2007. He’s talking about the Big Idea and how we can impact people by reducing the amount of info we are giving out and giving out the same idea – big idea – in all environments at our churches. Eric Bramlett is sharing about a couple of series that they did where the adults (weekend services), the kids (weekend services) and small groups all talk about the same big idea.

Anyway, are you here at Innovate? Any of you guys checking out this conference and how God is going to use you to make your mark? Let me know.

Heard Guy Kawasaki and Mark Beeson speak this morning. I’ll have my notes up shortly for you to check out and ponder.

Innovate or die!
Peace.

Hey bloggers! I’m trying my best to get back in the game here and have just been in a busy season. Rest assured though, I’m committed

I noticed I had some new links (thanks to the wonders of Technorati). If you link back to me and I haven’t shared the love, let me know and I’ll be glad to add you to the link love list.

PLEASE use my domain name http://mikejonesblog.com as I’m thinking of moving my blog over to wordpress.

The latest additions are:
Brandon Shanks – The Revolutionary Blog
Paul Haugen – Jacob’s Well
Bekah Gustin – Caffeinated Ragamuffin (she’s back!)
Ted Egly… of Ted Egly (congrats on George!)

Make sure you stop by for a visit.
Peace.