Faith FEED Oct 2014

D

How to be more and reach more for Christ

Faith FE

E

Innovators guide to prayer

61

Future proof your ministry

49

The Ideas issue The best time to innovate is now

49 Secure your ministry 5, 10 or 100 years into the future!

Learn how you can become a purple cow Christian

53

Faith FE

D

E

Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson

Contributors

Bobbie Ann Cole Stephanie White

Production

Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

Connect

Contribute Promote

FaithFEEDMag@gmail.com 804-833-7628

37 40

Not what, but why innovative Christians create?

29 Welcome to the new old church?

16 How God is Doing a Cool New Thing

Editors

Feed

We hope you see the innovation deficit in the body of Christ.

All in all, we hope in earnest

W

ow here we are again,

another monthly edition of Faith FEED but more especially, an edition that focuses on what we do best, using innovation to feed Gods word to the masses.

that you see the creativity deficit in the body of Christ, and how innovation of all sorts [tech, art, strategy etc.] is being called upon by God our Father to reach the lost, advance the kingdom and redeem a broken world.

And boy do we do just that in this edition. Amongst my favorites is, ‘The Purple Cow Church’ [p53]. What’s that all about right? Well, without spilling it all here in my opening letter, you’re going to really say, “Holy Cow”. Another cool piece is, ‘How God is Doing a Cool New Thing’ by Bobbie Ann Cole [p16]

-Linda

Managers

F

Feed

Faith + Innovation

aith + Innovation has long been our moniker. But just what does it mean? You take faith [Gods Word, devotions, the gospel] and you innovate upon it [apps, strategies, etc] to make it more accessible, receivable and most of all fun. That’s what this

So here it is. Take it or leave it, we’re bombarding you with a divine scramble of both fait and innovation because quite frankly, nobody else is cooking it up.

edition is about. In it, we showcase the importance of this combination and how it, above all is, is the defining factor of whether or not the lost are reached or the saved are better trained.

-Jamiel

10

Things

Creative

Christians Do

I

In the Christians who are YouTube-ologists, digital n looking at the topic of

publishers, app designers

kingdom creativity, we

and beyond for the

can’t help but solicit

kingdom of God! And who

kingdom creatives to give

knows, maybe you can pull

us a hand.

a few traits for yourself to

So just what is it that these so called “creative Christians” are doing that’s saving the lost, advancing the kingdom and bringing hope to billions the world over? Though there’s no one thing in particular, we carved out the most common factors we observe

adapt and take back to your own home, church and community.

Draw Drawing is the new talking.

According to Dan Roam, author of Blah,Blah,Blah: What to Do

When Words Don’t Work. “Our minds were made to recognize

Creative Christians use visual aid, grammar and scenery to communicate life changing messages, not just words.

Communicate visually.

pictures first. Words are a human invention”. it’s called, Satan’s plan is for you Dress to never step up, stand out, and Thought I was going to mention draw people closer to the Christ. dressing down did you? Think That is why we wanted to focus again! The most creative on, once again, leadership, only Christians I meet know how to this time within the walls of dress up AND down! However, today’s churches. dressing down is so common, it’s

how to dress up too that are seen as uncommon and creative.

the men and women who know how to dress up too that are seen as uncommon and creative. it’s called, Satan’s plan is for you to never step up, stand out, and draw people closer to the Christ.

That is why we wanted to focus on, once again, leadership, only

Creative Christians start their own ministries, churches and groups with a unique and compelling culture.

Minister According to Churchleaders.com

and beyond that glorify the name

we live in a day and time where

of Christ! They minister, not just

fewer and fewer people want to

preach, to the masses through

become ministers of the gospel.

their gifts, talents and everyday

But not creative Christians! They

life. Creative Christians start their

know this statistic only applies to

own ministries, churches and

“podium preachers” not the litany of

groups with a unique and

creative ministers who start groups,

compelling culture. They don’t just

websites

partake in someone else’s vision.

Connect that’s where the people are. And he All of the creative Christians we know are easy to find online. We said it once, and we’ll say it again, - If Jesus was here today,

he would be on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, because

was sent to serve others.

Burn Creative Christians burn others

This person is original. This

with their high level of conviction.

person isn’t copying the culture,

When we create, we’re very

they have something for the

much like God who created us.

culture to copy. I wonder what it

There’s a conviction in that that

is?

is hard to explain, but it says to others that this person is unique.

This person is original. This person isn’t copying the culture, they have something for the

Act culture to copy. I wonder what it is?

Creative Christians don’t wait until Sunday. They find ways to engage others for Christ on a regular basis! This can be anything from a ski trip devotion with their family, to a free car wash for the community.

Creatives love to share their creativity with others in Christ name, because they know it’s not meant to be kept to themselves.

Creatives love to share their creativity with others in Christ name, because they know it’s not meant to be kept to themselves.

Create

“Create” means to bring forth from nothing. Creative Christians always deliver that. Whether it’s a better design for the church brochure, or, a more effective traffic pulling page for the church’s website, creatives are always coming up with a more effective way to do an old thing. it’s called, Satan’s plan is for you to never step up, stand out, and draw people closer to the Christ.

That is why we wanted to focus on, once again, leadership, only this time within the walls of today’s churches.

always coming up with a more effective way to do an old thing.

Perfect Our gifts and talents are meant to be honed. Creative Christians,

sharp. They study. They get

more than anyone know that.

around others who are better at

Their motto: “Your talent is God’s

it. They don’t just create, they

gift to you. What you do with it is

perfect their creative capacities

your gift to Him”, guides their

as a service to God.

every endeavor. They stay sharp. They study. They get around others who are better at

Sponge

it. They don’t just create, they

immediately eliminated from their

perfect their creative capacities

circle of friends. Creative

as a service to God. Low and behold, you can’t put

Christians seek the presence of

out what you don’t take in.

kingdom rebels, like Jesus, John

Creative Christians hate to be

the Baptist and Peter. They thirst

around none innovators. Those

to be on the cutting edge of what

who want to do it the same old

God is doing, - as a minimum.

way, or, pretend they’re innovating but aren’t, are immediately eliminated from their circle of friends. Creative Christians seek the presence of kingdom rebels, like Jesus, John the Baptist and Peter. They thirst

Ponder They don’t just react emotionally.

Creative Christians enjoy pausing, thinking, and saying to themselves, “Is there a better

way to do this? Will it glorify God better if we ______” and proceed to be different. They don’t allow some preacher, momma, or friend dictate their thoughts.

They serve the LORD their God with all of their might, and all of their mind as well. it’s called, Satan’s plan is for you to never step up, stand out, and draw people closer to the Christ.

That is why we wanted to focus on, once again, leadership, only this time within the walls of today’s churches.

some preacher, momma, or friend dictate their thoughts.

They serve the LORD their God with all of their might, and all of their mind as well.

How God Is Doing a Cool New Thing

Bobbie Ann Cole

We no longer have any excuse not to do what Jesus told us to do.

I

n the recent movie, God Is Not Dead, the Newsboys asked their audience to text the message, ‘God is not dead,’ to every one of their contacts, along with the invitation to forward it on to all their contacts.

The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and stoked a fire in their hearts to tell others about what they had found. We have the Holy Spirit, too, and can surely do what they did.

T

he lead singer points out

that, pretty soon, a million people

disciples of all nations.

Yet many of us are still

will have got the message.

clutching the good news to our

The mega ministries are no

chests like a winning poker hand

longer the only means of

that we don’t want anyone else

spreading the Word today.

to see.

Technology has empowered you

We shouldn’t let gaps in our

and me, with the aid of a

Bible knowledge prevent us from

cellphone, Facebook, Pinterest

sharing what we have found. It

or Linked In, to send out our own

didn’t bother the disciples. We

Jesus messages to the world.

read in Acts that Peter and John

That’s a great gift but also a

had no special training in the

huge responsibility.

Scriptures and were ‘ordinary

We no longer have any excuse not to do what Jesus told us to do, which is to make disciples of all nations.

men’.

Yet they had a lot to say about Jesus.

So none of us should feel unworthy of the mission Jesus They spoke from personal experience. And they spoke with authority.

Following Jesus’ crucifixion,

assigned us. So what if we’re not perfect? Peter was a flawed man who even denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus loved and trusted him enough to build His church upon

when the curtain that separated the

Peter and picked him to feed His

people from the Temple Holy of

sheep.

Holies was ripped apart, they had direct access to the Father. We have this, too. Where, formerly, only the High Priest could enter into God’s Presence, now anything we ask Him in Jesus’ name, He will do for us.

After the destruction of this barrier, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and stoked a fire in their hearts to tell others about what they had found. We have the Holy Spirit, too, and can surely do what they did.

Now it’s down to us to continue feeding them.

The easiest, most engaging way to do this spiritually is to tell others what Jesus has done for us, in the same way as the apostle Paul did when he shared how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

The story doesn’t have to be a conversion story. It can be an episode from our walk with Jesus.

We can also share what we have seen Him do for others, like Peter did to the household of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius.

have seen Him do for others, like

potential to multiply thirty, sixty or a

Peter did to the household of the

hundred times.

Roman Centurion, Cornelius.

How would you feel if you

We can rely on the Holy Spirit to

were turning lives around by sharing

give us the right words at the right

snippets of your personal faith

time.

walk?

King Solomon said that there

And there’s an added benefit

is nothing new under the sun and it

to standing up for God on Google+

is true: neither the message, nor the

and elsewhere. You get to declare

strategy of telling others has

the truth of who you really are. This

changed in two thousand years.

will not only make you feel you are

It is in the communications technology we are employing that God is doing ‘a new thing’. He has given us the ability to record our stories as videos on YouTube, tweets, texts and posts on social media.

the one who has been fed, which was what a ravenous Jesus experienced after evangelizing to a Samaritan woman by a well one lunchtime, when the disciples had gone into town for sandwiches. It will also grow your self-respect and deepen your faith.

According to the Parable of the Sower, and by the law of averages, some our scattered seed will fall on good ground, with the hundred times.

How would you feel if you were

Just give it a try and see for yourself how it feels.

It is in the communications technology we are employing that God is doing ‘a new thing’. He has given us the ability to record our stories as videos on YouTube, tweets, texts and posts on social media.

Bobbie Ann Cole, a Jewish Christian, is an author, speaker and teacher of Christian creative writing specializing in testimony. You can get her FREE Story Structure Success Sheet – 10 Steps to Telling Your Story Tighter at http://testimonytrain.com#2.

Christian rap group 116 shares letters from fans.

Letters

to

But lately, I've had this struggle with: Secrets of my past five years

Dear kb,

of singleness / (I know it) I'm lustin' I'm

What's goin' on its Ashley

sinnin' but my lust here is

from the show,/

different/

That you was doin' with Trip

Since I've been so alone I kinda

Lee/

long for the touch of a

The Crew and the Spirit was

woman/

movin' man it was really

And I know it's wrong, but

dope/

dudes never ever show me

When y'all left the A,/ I was

attention/

so encouraged in the faith/

I go unnoticed, it was a joke

And I blessed the Lord for

but girls show me interest/

HGA

Dudes at my church say that

I wanna start this off by

I'm the type of chick that they

sayin' thanks/

want (they lie)

Now I'm torn/ 'cause the But when I see the girls they date I know they really don't / I get jealous quick I hate the mirror I don't feel pretty/ I've even contemplated surgery to feel skinny/ I know it's real silly, the world tells me just/ embrace it - you were born this way/ (that's a lie, it's just lust) I tried talking to the people at church/ but they just look at me funny only adding to the hurt

other day I stumbled over porn/ I'm supposed to be a leader man how can I move on?/ That's why I'm comin' to you/ asking that you would pray for your sister to come through/ I'm crying as I write/ 'cause I wanna be right/ Many girls have fallen and I don't wanna fall too

The words that you left man rocked us/ so I went and got

Dear kb, We're big fans of yours me and my lady/ When you came to the show/ we was in the front row/ screamin' one one six goin' crazy/ all for the HGA,/ was a crazy night What's even crazier/ is the girl I was datin' then is fiance, now/ I'm engaged to her/

her left hand rocked up/ But if I could be honest I'm tryin' hard to abstain and not get her knocked up/ Of course I want kids, but even more than that I wanna please the Father/ But when I look into her eyes I can't concentrate/ man I can't even lie I wanna consummate/

She's the one I'm sure/ but I wanna stay pure/ Scary the way that I'm yearning for her/ Gettin' married but I'm burnin' for her/ Hard for me to wait till she walk that aisle Down/ in a white gown/ I'm thinkin' night gown/ man I wanna do it right now/ Why wait when I feel like she my wife now?

The way that I'm feelin' is natural, but KB is it godly?/ Is it wrong lust,/ or strong love/ that feelin' inside for wifey?/ Honor the Lord in datin' her/

Wanna do the same in waitin' but/ this temptation's a beast please pray for us/ .

A

ll across the U.S., in

every state, across each town, on nearly every corner, you’ll notice church after church after church. Nearly everywhere you go, in cities big and small, you see edifices, sanctuaries erected to the glory of God! And it’s no surprise for a country founded upon religious freedom.

“But that’s not so bad” says Jason Mahhn, ministry consultant and analyst. “God

seekers often want to get away from culture in thirst for tradition”. Our only question is, - is that effective? Can people really get the spiritual and emotional upliftment a modern church provides, in a traditional one? Janet Hartford seems to

Now to the bad news.

think so. Long term member of

Most of these churches

St Paul’s Catholic Church in

however were built before 1984. According to Lifeway Research only 17% of U.S. churches are modern, being built after 1990.

Baltimore, Maryland..

Old Church New Church

“The thing is the word. Whether

“Saying the same thing, the

you wrap it up in a traditional

same way, is just boring and

package or a modern one.

ineffective” and boredom,

Who cares!” According to her

according to ministry analyst

“It’s like cough medicine. You

Britt Breemer, is the number

can buy it as a liquid or you

one reason none attenders

can buy it as a pill. Who cares?

don’t come to church. “We

Its cough medicine! Any other

have a cycle. Younger

demand is preferential”

generations don’t show up at

However, on average, traditional churches aren’t delivering “the word” to younger generations. “First and foremost, because they don’t show up” says Mahhn, “But the second reason traditional churches fail is that they don’t innovate” he continues.

traditional churches, not because they’re old, but because their strategies are!

And as a result, their strategies remain old because younger generations aren’t there to update them.” Real chicken and egg problem.

In With the New

“Big church or little church it

Large screens, colorful

doesn’t matter anymore! It’s

lights, 10,000 seats, wireless

the design. The experience.

mics. Ahh, you know what it

The ministry. The stage. The

is. It’s a good ol fashion

online. All of it has to have a

modern church! It’s the

structure that delivers Gods

design that ministry

word creatively!”

consultants, pastors and creative Christians say will grow more and more powerful.“Its innovative by design” according to Anthony Collins of the world famous Faith Dome pastored by Fred Price junior. Collins left, because he believes even mega churches like his famous hangout are a thing of the past!

The thing is the word. Whether you wrap it up in a traditional package or a modern one. Who cares!

But if mega churches aren’

it’s a modern one.” In fact,

t the new thing, is it really

many churches have no

experience mapping that

physical location. “You can

counts? Lets say you

’t just have a location and

attend church on Sunday,

weak digital footprint”

and hear a life changing

Mahhn laughs. “Your

message on being a

website and social media

Christian parent, but, on

needs to be optimized for

Monday you get into a

value add”.

challenge that wasn’t’ quite covered?

“The digital experience, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ matters too” says Mahhn. “If your church doesn’t have an omnipresence, it’s old!

That’s true whether or not it’s a modern one.” In fact, many churches have no physical location.

It’s everything outside of church that helps or hurts the members. That’s where church leaders need to plant their focus.

Digital.

Mahhn advises pastors frequent companies that specialize in heightening web traffic and optimizing social media pages. “It’s everything outside of church that helps or hurts the members. That’s where church leaders need to plant their focus.

Digital.” Ideally a well mapped church experience extends its four walls. I can attend on Sunday.

Mars Hill using visual aid to teach on Acts.

Read a devotion on Monday.

Chat with a member on Tuesday. Review a devotion on Wednesday. Attend bible study on Thursday. Get on its Twitter page on Friday. Attend a workshop on Saturday. And go back to church on Sunday. “ That’s how it works!” Says Mahhn.

Gen x and y Christians want innovative church leaders.

“Members want to stay connected and plugged in all week. If yours is a ministry that can’t deliver that experience you’re extinct!” It’s just that simple.

Checklist Is mines an omnipresent ministry?

Facebook Twitter Google+

Am I communicating visually?

Screen display Stage settings Live demos

Do I make connection easy for my members?

Innovative

f all the things we can think of to call Satan, a

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.

Genesis 3:1

“deceiver”, “liar”, “evil” or “wicked”, the first thing the bible declares him as is “wise”. Is it that the bible is honoring such a good trait, or, telling us to beware? I think the latter.

Of course, the enemy is evil, wicked, and wrong.

That’s expected.

But, the most definitive traits the bible outlines of him are “shrewd”, “subtle” and “wise”. And I have to agree!

Is it me, or is all of the innovation coming from the enemy’s camp?

I was just reading up on an app that assists you in cheating on your spouse. [Hint: We

platonic switch of each other’s

reviewed the website last

wives, the swingers show,

month]. It allows you to receive

allows you to sleep with the

calls, keep them private and

other persons spouse, often,

overall manage data such as

with your spouse involved in the

messages from suitors to whom

interaction.

you’re not committed.

Still not convinced?

That not enough?

Secular television is 90%+ with apps, websites and beyond supporting it.

Where’s the innovation Christians?

Just recently, a reality show based on swinging was released. Unlike the more clean Wife Swap, where contestants have a

There are several websites where you can buy any illegal drug imaginable, and have it delivered to you. Somewhere, along the deep web [word describing the illegal

Want in on a secret? The world is tired of worldliness. They want a solution.

hacking of internet use], orders are placed and deliveries are made regularly each day around the planet.

That enough? Or need I go

marriage. There isn’t one reality show focused on healthy couples. Again I say, is it me or

into the legal porn that showcases

does satan have the innovative

children having sex, adults

edge on the body of Christ?

uploading it and celebrities who claim to be Christians selling it for financial security?

Yet, there isn’t one show on

Just as satan used a serpent to beguile Eve, today, he’s hacked broadband signals and airwaves to influence the

Christian marriage. There isn’t one

culture. Maybe Christians should

show about Christian dating. There

get more focused on doing the

isn’t one program, showcasing the

same.

lifestyle of couples living for Christ, and having a blast! There isn’t one app that helps you with your

Without innovation there is no leadership. – Steve Jobs

The Christian Creative Class

W

riting books. Kingdom

poetry. Faith apps. It’s no secret we live in the age of the creative Christian. Just take Akiane Kramarik painter of faith.

She believes her talent is a special gift God uses to communicate His love to others.

Art? Really, if that confuses you, you’re apparently not part of the Christian creative class. They’re taking all sorts of creative approaches to living for Christ and sharing Gods Word!

“Because Religion says do, Jesus says done.

Another faith poem you think?

Religion says slave, Jesus says son,

Jesus > Religion author Jeff

Religion puts you in shackles but Jesus sets you free.

Religion makes you blind, but Jesus lets you see.�

Jeff Bethke

Think again, this was written by

Bethke who uploaded it and received 1,000,000 views in a matter of days!

Akiane Kramarik believes her talent is a special gift God uses to communicate His love to others.

Think of the impact Mel

with glad and sincere hearts”

Gipson’s The Passion of Christ

[Acts 2:46]. The experience was

had. In one weekend, it made

continually progressive. The

over $83,848,082 its opening

same with Moses and the

weekend [2 days]. But it

Israelites, Jesus and his

reached a crowd that is truly

disciples or Paul and the

endless! No longer does God

churches

just want us to use words or “live right” as a witness. He’s in the business of using our gifts to build His kingdom.

God’s in the business of using our gifts to build His kingdom.

Churches need new business models The traditional church model is no longer sufficient. It’s not connected to the world outside of itself, and loses its members the moment they leave. This isn’t how the church of Acts was! “They broke bread

in their homes and ate

he founded, only in the era of modern Christianity are we content with ‘Sunday only’ discipleship; if there’s even such a thing. The church business model also has to cut its neediness. It needs to look more philanthropic.

“Anytime you’re depending on

This also extends into pastors

someone else to support you,

needing better tools. They have

even if they are members, that’s

to see themselves as

welfare!” says one of our

businesses not just individuals.

authors [Jason Hunt] who had

Systems need be put in place

to do a series on exploring new

where questions are answered

business models for today’s

online and thus the overall

churches. “Why not have the

service capacity of the church is

church own a business, like a

extended and more accessible.

mall, apartment complex or the like, that supports it instead?”

Some argue that pastors today shouldn’t position themselves “out there” on social media. But the bible would disagree! “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel …” [Matt 16:15-16] is definitely inclusive of online and social media.

Members want the Word all week, on multiple platforms, in sizeable bites. Not just on Sunday.

Visual software allowing them to quickly upload devotions to YouTube and share it with a 10,000+ email list of congregants is also another great idea that today’s pastors aren’t really taking advantage of, leaving a foothold for Satan to take root in the hearts of their congregations.

Some argue that pastors today shouldn’t position themselves “out there” on social media. But the bible would disagree! “Go

ye into all the world, and preach the gospel …” [Matt 16:15-16] is definitely inclusive of online and social media!

What about the scrutiny you say? Innovative pastors

would invite scrutiny from

In Exodus 25 1-8 all the

others, in fact, they’ll solicit it!

Israelites brought something

What better way to sharpen

different to build the temple. So

your service capacity than to

it is with us. Your place in

deal head on with frustration

advancing Gods kingdom, isn’t

regarding the church?

the same as mines, but we’re all to use our gifts to do so. That’s

The Warning Label Innovation for the sake of innovation isn’t innovation at all, it’s useless! We gauge innovation by whether or not it’s making disciples of men.

the creed of a creative Christian. He or she uses what they have, to give God what He wants! Yes, for some that’s writing a book, but for others, it may be art, or writing the first book on a topic of scripture everyone overlooks!

The cool thing is when after we’ve given to God, He allows There are so many none conventional callings in the kingdom of God” says Johnathan Murphy, 10 year

us to enjoy the overflow of what our gifts have produced! It’s a most controversial but true principle of scripture:

member of First Baptist Church in East La, California. “It really

reflects all God wants us to do.

Different people, in different places, need different things to

Give and it shall be given to you.

Luke 6:38

be reached for Christ.” But this isn’t a “ministry” thing. Confining creative ministry approach to church is hypocrisy!

Gods not just taking what He wants, we benefit from giving it to Him by having it multiplied for our own personal use too.

M

eet Andy. He’s your

typical believer. He attends church. He prays. And he enjoys sharing the gospel with others whenever he gets a chance.

However, I’ve been talking to Andy and he’s been making predictions that everyday believers need to listen to.

Predictions about the kind of church he really needs, but doesn’t exist. Predictions about the kind of believer he wants to become, but doesn’t know how.

Predictions, that he wants evangelicals to consider when raising their kids, leading the community and advancing the kingdom of God.

Future Proof Your Ministry

Church going Andy is going to help ministers succeed.

Omnipresence is a necessity No longer will your

Begin seeing future trends as your friends

website, ministry, church or even parenting be done on one platform, it will be done on several.

activity and use it as research on what they’re dealing with.

For pastors, it means you update a blog with your

How to Prepare For parents, it means you monitor kids social media

thoughts on current events for your members.

Visual Communicators Reign As an MBA student, one thing I remember is my professor saying, “If you don’t control what the buyer sees, you won’t

Old Churches Stay Open Get over it! Those churches aren’t going anywhere. They’ve survived this long for a reason, people enshrine what is old!

control what he feels. And if you don’t control what he feels, you don’t control what he does. “

How to Prepare Instead of seeing old church as

How to Prepare

a hindrance, work to update it

Pastors, parents and Christian

and make it applicable instead.

leaders need learn the art of

.

being a visual communicator, fast! Use stage setting that are consistent with the topic [A Garden for lesson on Gen 1-3, etc]. Have screens for display and use props as demos.

The Purple Cow Church

Purple cow Christians, know how to communicate the gospel in a way that’s truly outstanding and unique?

Could it be we’re seeing a world adrift, because Gods PR people just don’t get it?

I

’m about to ask you a

question that you’ve probably never been asked before.

Is your ministry remarkable?

Think of it this way. Were you driving past a herd of cows that were, like many cows, black and white, would you go home and

say, “Honey, I saw a herd of

black and white cows today on the way from work. You know, the same cows we see every day coming back home.” No. You probably wouldn’t’! But what if, on your way home, you saw a purple cow in the herd?

By comparison, which experience would you share

Daniel Pink, author of ‘To Sell is Human’ says it this way. “Like it or not, we’re all in sales now”.

My question is, why should Christians be any different?

Attempting to reach a teen rebelling against Gods Word can be very much like attempting to sell a product or service. You have an offer. The offer has a price. And if they don’t buy it, you probably didn’t present it the right way. Could it experience would you share with your spouse? Its instances like this that made the word “remarkable”. Why? Because it’s only those things that are uncommon and unique that are worthy of remark. It’s only the purple cow, that’s even worth mentioning. Everything else?

Well that’s just more of the same.

be we don’t have enough purple cow Christians, who know how to communicate the gospel in a way that’s truly outstanding and unique? Could it be we’re seeing a world adrift, because Gods PR people just don’t get it?

In a world where 2 days of videos gets uploaded every minute, only that which is truly unique and unexpected stands out

only that which is truly unique and unexpected stands out” according to YouTube trends manager Carol Dowy. Christian

Think of this, when witnessing to a lost family member, are you doing so in a purple cow way? Or, are you, like so many other believers, just going through the ‘evangelical’ motions? “In a

world where 2 days of videos gets uploaded every minute,

content is easily accessible, easily downloaded and widely exposed, the true loud speaker today, is no longer the pulpit, but the purple cow. Creatively communicating the gospel is the new differentiator.

But Christians needs not think

“Saying and doing what God

too hard about this. “The

says we should say and do is

uniqueness of God’s word, is in

very unique in a world of people

the word itself, it’s just that that

who aren’t saying and doing it.”

uniqueness isn’t being tapped

she reiterates. And to that end,

or emphasized” Tasha

she has a point! Yet why is it

Churchill, long term member of

that TV show after TV show

St Jude Catholic Church’s

about drama, adultery and

ministry of arts in Raleigh, North

crime is paid attention to by

Carolina, who also subscribes

billions? Tasha believes it’s

to many Christian YouTube

because of the purple cow.

channels.

“Without a purple cow present.

In fact, adjunct professor at

You settle for the black and

NorthWestern Unniversity

white ones. You’re left to find

believes neuroscience can be

common things intriguing” In

used to strengthen our witness.

psychology it’s called the

“I like to refer to dopamine as

“Island theory” in essence, if

the ‘save button’ in the brain.

you were stuck on an island

When dopamine is present

with people you didn’t find

during an event or experience,

attractive, eventually, you would

we remember it. When it is

think they’re not so bad looking.

absent, nothing seems to stick”

In the presence of limited

The purple cow ministry

options, we all begin to lower

approach makes your message

the bar, whether intentionally or

memorable. But this isn’t what

not. “But what happens when

Christians today do, and, as a

the world sees a talk show

result we’re seeing the largest

about a good marriage for a

group of secularist in world

change? It doesn’t take much,

history. Their top complaint? It’s

but, there’s a uniqueness in that

just boring, according to

amidst all of the failing

Answers In Genesis founder

marriages.” she sighs.

Ken Ham.

Not “It wasn’t’ scriptural. It

cow date with his wife. Every

wasn’t accurate” No! No

business woman should present

innovation means no fun. Even

a purple cow during her next

the lost are looking for the

presentation, overall, the body

purple cow.

of Christ is in dispread need of

Purple Cow Production

a purple cow or two.

God’s uncompromised

Every parent needs a purple cow in their home. Every

Word.

husband should have a purple

People determined to live by it.

These are the head turners of today.

The Innovators Guide to Prayer

P

rayer. Do we have to close

our eyes? I mean, isn’t there a

Myth #1 Prayer has to be beautiful and glorious

scripture that says, “Watch and pray’ [Matt 26:41]. Are we to bend our knees? Can it be done publicly or not? Maybe if we’d clean up the confusion, we’d lead a nation into a much needed practice.

“Oh Father God, if thou mightiest. Come down hither and lettest us know thy perfect will in this particular thing” ever heard a prayer like that.

Since the most popular version of the bible KJV is written in what we call Elizabethan language, many people think you have to speak that way to pray.

Myth #2 Prayer has to be planned and intentional Before bed? After getting up? In the afternoon? These are all standards that men put on seeking God. But when you flip the scrip, and realize that its

I have! Since the most

God who sought after you,

popular version of the bible

when you were lost, the

[KJV] is written in what we call

approach changes.

Elizabethan language, many people think you have to speak that way to pray.

Innovate

Innovate

Its ok to have a planned time,

Don’t. Talk to God, like you would speak to someone in your everyday life. Let him know what you’re feeling and thinking, especially if its something wrong. You’ll begin to develop a peace that surpasses all understanding.

but, if you miss it, remember, you didn’t do anything wrong.

There is no scripture that says how often or when we should pray, but that we should pray.

Begin to practice prayer whenever you feel like it. That’s what God intended.

Myth #3 Prayer has to be scriptural at all Let’s challenge that. Sure, you

Strategy 1 Pray as though

everything depending on God. Work as though everything’s depending on you.

should bring Gods word back to Him in prayer, because He keeps His Word. But, today

Strategy 2 Don’t pray [Prayer

we’ve limited prayer to scripture.

won’t work if you’re worried,

No Father will force a son to

scared, e.t.c. Believe it or not,

only talk to Him a certain way or

these things should be fixed

based on a contract he

before we go to God…not

proposes.

praying is actually the right thing to do in some instances

Innovate Talk to God about real life.

Sure, talk to Him about what you want, and what you don’t.

Sure, find scriptures to bring before Him that you’re standing on, but don’t forget your sonship. Don’t forget you’re a daughter of the Most High God. He wants to hear from you, whether or not you remember

Strategy 3: Don’t just pray in

faith, stay in faith. .

News

McDonalds Uses Creativity to Give Back

T

hink fast food is sending

our health straight to you

know what? Think again!

United Kingdom McDonalds are adapting a strategy that motivates recycling.

Customers can opt to pay for their meals with recyclable

goods. 10 cans gets you a

as feed the homeless and

hamburger but if you want a

starving.

Big Mac, that’s going to run you about 40! The goal is to create a cleaner earth as well

Nuns Go Digital

T

he pictures of nuns that

popped up in searches were mostly of women in erotic nun outfits or ugly cartoons,” she says, over the phone. “Those of us who have devoted our lives to this vocation didn’t have a voice on the Internet; we were not representing ourselves.” .

So, in response, Sister Vieira and her friend Sister Maxine Kollasch used a classic SEO strategy to combat the problem: She created a blog called A Nun’s Life and a slew of corresponding social media accounts that would pop up at the top of web search results for the word “nun." .

Eight years on, Sister Vieira has a thriving online presence. Her blog has

“

Those of us who have devoted our lives to

blossomed into a full-blown

this vocation didn’t

website, complete with a

have a voice on the

forum, a feature that allows

Internet

a gift shop with inexpensive A

Nun’s Life-branded products (a $4 mug, a $1 pen), and a popular podcast series. The site’s goal is no longer just to shape the way nuns are represented in the media, but about engaging with people in the digital realm. “Our goal has always been to meet people where they are,” she says. “Today, that’s the Internet.”

“

people to ask nuns questions,

“Trolls are people who are clearly disturbed and unhappy,” Vieria says. “On the one hand, we want to protect people on the website, but on the other, we see an opportunity to reach out to these troubled human beings.”

Several trolls have come forward to apologize for their behavior and explain where their anger is coming from, leaving room for a redemptive conversation.

Holy Cow What makes a Christian stand out from the herd?

Creativity

Cause

Content

Conviction

Covenant