Cultivate & MinistryCOM

Yes, this is new. And I'm insanely excited about it.

I know the specifics are sketchy while the concept is still being shaped, but I think it's important to clarify a few things right out of the gate.

Tim Schraeder does an excellent job outlining the difference between Cultivate and MinistryCOM in this post & I want to highlight some of the ideas behind how this evolved.

• Conversations :: It seems there's only a handful of professional speakers out there but a lot of people who are doing amazing things in communication and have wisdom to share. Let's change the format and invite others to the conversation. And while we're at it, let's get input from both ministry and the marketplace. [The faculty guest list was very selective. Some of these names you'll recognize, others you wont. All will add value & they're doing us a huge favor by participating]

• Connections :: Many of us are doing some truly innovative things to help people connect to God. We understand the basics and would love an opportunity to stretch ourselves and others in similar situations. Lots of intentional opportunities for networking and collaboration have been built in.

• Support :: Instead of reinventing the wheel let's build into a platform that's already in existence and doing great things where we can make a collective difference. Center for Church Communication & Blood Water Mission will benefit from the profits of this effort.

• Partnering :: We don't want to add more noise to the conference world. So we're tag-teaming with Ben Arment to support an idea that was a strategic fit and well underway. [Secret to be unveiled May 18] STORY is the event, and trust me you don't want to miss this.

• Accessible :: We know budgets are tight, so keeping this to one day without frills will keep costs down. There's no conference notebooks. No cool tote bags & the facilitators are coming pro bono. 

So in a nutshell the primary difference between Cultivate, MinistryCOM [and a host of other great options that are out there] is you. We're planning to serve a different audience with different needs in a different way.

A more fully developed online presence is in the works with all the deets. In the meantime, bookmark www.CultivateConference.com and watch twitter for updates [#cultivate09]

Our hope is the next generation of Cultivate's website will fill in any blanks. In the meantime I'll do my best to help answer questions. [I'll be on the road over the next couple of weeks so some responses may come quicker than others.]

Love to hear your thoughts.

Comments

[AnnieLaurie]

I am insanley excited too! :) Thanks for leading up this amazing new opportunity!