All posts tagged Cultivate Conference

Cultivate 11 Recap

by Tim Schraeder on 05/11/2011 in Just For Fun with 3 Comments

Sometimes it’s better to let other people’s words define an experience. Cultivate 11 happened May 4-5 in Huntington Beach, California, and I have to say it was remarkable. Nearly 200 of us gathered [and many others online] to talk church communications, tech, web, social media, and more.  It was a fantastic two days but don’t take my word for it…

  • According to @37signals, inspiration is perishable, so I’ve already shared/used 4 ideas from #Cultivate11 last week. – @loribailey
  • Last week I had a great time at the Cultivate Conference.  The experience was like drinking out of a fire hydrant, and was probably one of the better conferences that I have been to in quite a while.  What I most enjoyed about the conference was the format… gatherings went from eight until noon, and then there were smaller gatherings…scattered all over the community. This desire to enable the offline conversations that really get people thinking freed us up to be able to go places you normally don’t go at church conferences.- via Matt Steen
  • My take away was this: design, create, think, plan, do awesome things as if God gave a damn. Excuse my language, but it’s just so true! – via Sarah
  • I ended up at Cultivate a bit by accident …once I settled in I realized I was right where I was supposed to be that morning — in the presence of very creative, inspired people who were collaborating on how to best convey content. They talked about “how to tell the story” of their brand. In this case, their churches and ministries. Talk about passion. They shared a mission – literally. They know that getting their content online in the right way can make a deep impact on other people’s lives. Rather than competing as “social media gurus”, they were there to share, learn and try on ideas for successfully conveying meaningful content. No one was promising SEO miracles or trying to impress other with their social media prowess. It was refreshing and I am sure the result will be that each attendee’s organization will do a better job reaching people online. – via Eileen
  • Here are some things I gleaned from my time at Cultivate: Nobody has it figured out. We have valuable things to say. Networking is important. – via Jake

So many great ideas and thoughts were shared but I think what was key was the interaction, connections and relationships that were made. All of our sessions went from 8:30 AM-Noon each day. There were unscripted gatherings and conversations held in the afternoon but nothing formal. And each night there were organized gatherings and hang times. It was less programming, more relationship and it seemed like that’s exactly what people were looking for.

All of the speakers and panelists were phenomenal. A few sound bytes from the speakers that hit home for me…

  • “You may be the driving force for change God has placed in your organization.” – Phil Cooke
  • “Churches [and church creatives] should be creative leaders, not creative imitators” – Danny Yount
  • “Design is proof of God’s image in us.” – Mel McGowan
  • “My fear is that we’ll succeed at something that doesn’t matter.” – Shelene Bryan
  • “Just because technology is available doesn’t mean you should use it, have a purpose behind what you release.” – Charles Lee
  • “How are we leveraging technology to reach others for Christ?” – Richard Kang
  • “Tangible social interaction is what heals people.” – Mark Horvath

Immense thanks goes out to Dawn Nicole Baldwin, her husband Keith, Curtis Templeton, Pam Howell and the entire team at FCC Huntington Beach for helping to make Cultivate 11 happen. It was an honor to serve with all of you! Thanks to all of the panelists and speakers for your time and investment. Thanks to everyone who came, especially our international guests who came from Australia, Canada, and the UK. And thanks to the sponsors that made Cultivate 11 happen: AWANA, MMBB, Clover Sites, MonkDev, and Jarbyco.

If you missed it, we should have the video available soon or you can catch up by checking out my notes.

It looks like Cultivate 12 is going to happen. So stay tuned and watch for details!

Were you at Cultivate or did you follow online? What are your thoughts, reflections, or take-aways from the experience? Share them below!

Mark Horvath :: Cultivate 11

by Tim Schraeder on 05/05/2011 in Cultivate 11 with No comments
  • The average age of a homeless person is 9 years old.
  • 50% of homeless people are women and children.
  • Check out Angela’s story.
  • Homeless people need housing, jobs, and health services.
  • So many of our charitable acts are done to make us fel ebtter.
  • We can’t use prayer as an excuse to do nothing.
  • We have more resources… we have the potential to make more impact than we could even imagine.
  • Authenticity has replaced production value.
  • There is a digital divide being created with social media.
  • The solution to the divide is education.

–

Q&A

  • One of the inherit challenges of social media is being transparent.
  • We shouldn’t get so tethered to our foundation that we lose our motivation.
  • If who we really are intersects what we do it’s powerful.
  • In today’s world its OK to not be perfect.
  • You can launch an imperfect idea, see how people interact with it, and  adjust it as necessary. Example: Twitter and the Retweet feature.
  • We have a trust deficit in culture.
  • Who do we trust?
  • Trust enables us to establish relationships.
  • We need to create space for awareness.
  • Our “good deeds” just maintain homelessness… we need to do more. Create a continuum of care.
  • If we can name it we can fix it.
  • Tangible social interaction is what heals people.
  • Stop helping people with an agenda… just help people.

Richard Kang :: Cultivate 11

by Tim Schraeder on 05/05/2011 in Cultivate 11 with No comments
  • His hearts passion is to take the Gospel in places it hasn’t been yet.
  • A year ago he started Wipit.
  • Things are changing.
  • Mobile usage will surpass desktop computer usage in four years.
  • Most people in India will never experience the Internet over a wire.
  • In many parts of the developing world, many people will experience the Internet for the first time over a wireless device.
  • Wireless devices are changing; the world is changing; things are changing.
  • Mobile is the new era we are in.
  • Think of how much has changed because of the Internet.
  • We are in the midst of a huge shift.
  • Every time there is a shift there is an opportunity.
  • Apps infiltrate our lives.
  • Facebook has 2x more active mobile users than desktop users.
  • Mobile is a 24/7 pipe into your life.
  • The computer may be in the next room, but your phone is on your nightstand.
  • Mobile is changing the world.
  • Most of social media is used on mobile devices.
  • People will transition by transacting over their mobile devices.
  • The next billion dollar idea is purchasing items over your mobile device.
  • Mobile commerce will become the new economy.

Mobile is an important tool for us to consider in the Church.

  • The mobile device is becoming the center of life around the world.
  • Mobile strategy is become indispensable.
  • How can we leverage mobile to reach more people for Christ?

What are you trying to accomplish? What do you want to do?

Content delivery.

  • Get the TED app… they do a great job of delivering dynamic content.
  • If your church has great content, get it out there!

Distribute information

Build Community

Mobile Donations, Text-to-give, etc.

  • There are better tools for certain situations than others.

What mobile tools are available?

  • There are 2 main ways you can get a mobile presence: mobile-optized websites [simplified for a mobile experience] and mobile applications.
  • Mobile-optimization is best for outsiders; apps can be good for connecting insiders.

The for-profit world is actively enaging the development of mobile technology.

How are we leveraging technology to reach others for Christ?

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Q&A

  • Sometimes we can use the wrong tool at the wrong time in the wrong place. And that can skew people’s view of its effectiveness.

Charles Lee :: Cultivate 11

by Tim Schraeder on 05/05/2011 in Cultivate 11 with No comments
  • Framing one’s life for idea making.
  • Inspiration is good, implementation is what matters.
  • People oftentimes spend a lot of time on inspiration.
  • How much time to you put into implementing inspiration.
  • Ideas are amazing.
  • Ideas can and have indeed changed the world.
  • Sparks begin to fly in conversations that happen at conferences and events.

Those who want to take inspiration to implementation are intentional about process and actionable steps.

  • It’s one thing to have a great meeting, it’s another thing to have actionable steps.
  • If we want our concepts to grow in scale, there needs to be visuals to help keep us focused on what we are actually trying to accomplish.
  • Laptops are good but they don’t have the necessary real estate space for you to map out a process.
  • How can you layout a visual reminder of your process.
  • How can you keep people visually accountable for the process?
  • Think in terms of options.
  • Spaghetti Sauce talk by Malcom Gladwell
  • It’s not about the perfect way to do something; it’s about finding the perfect recipes.
  • There’s multiple ways to do the right thing.
  • Instead of asking what’s the best WAY, ask what are the BEST ways?
  • Think of multi-layered ways to solve a problem.
  • Idea-makers recognize the idea that you begin with is not usually the idea you end up with.
  • “Idea Makers” have a plan and leave room for alternative options and flexibility.

Collaboration is a Necessity

  • In order to implement ideas well, you have to recognize you don’t have all the tools.
  • Nurture unrelated concepts… eventually they can connect.
  • Nurture unrelated relationships and random connections… be open to what they could become.
  • Magical moments happen when a collection of unrelated ideas connect.
  • Chances favor the prepared mind.

Investment or Cost?

  • Ideas take time and money.
  • Any great idea worth implementing will require sacrificial investment.
  • Reposition your thinking from a cost [something you paid for] to something being an investment [that will bring a return].
  • Invest well.
  • Ideas don’t fail for a lack of money, they fail for a lack of a plan.
  • People give to vision.

Brand is King

  • Brands capture a company’s identity, voice, and reputation.
  • People’s gut reaction to experiencing you at multiple levels is what defines their level of commitment to your cause.
  • If your brand is who you say you are, people will be committed to you for life.
  • Create sustainable brands.
  • Produce quality rooted in character.

Home Life

  • Ask yourself, “what’s enough?”
  • Be intentional about how you use your excess.
  • When you know what’s enough that will frame what you are willing to work for.

Pain & Perseverance

  • Pain frames purpose.
  • Perseverance actualizes it.
  • Our pain will drive us to do what we are doing.
  • Don’t ignore pain, embrace it.
  • Our pain forms what our purpose is.
  • In order for the purpose to actualize, we need to persevere.
  • Understand what pain is rooting your passion.
  • Endure!

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Q&A

  • Choose to sacrifice in the short-term to gain in the long-term.
  • Our role is to not dictate our environment but to stay faithful to what God has called us to do.
  • Live life in consultation… bring you ideas to your friends. Let them help direct and refine your ideas.
  • Every idea needs a business plan.
  • Just because technology is available doesn’t mean you should use it, have a purpose behind what you release.
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