i believe this. and i believe it’s happening. so many are experiencing a restlessness, a stirring, a “something has gone awry” feeling that keeps getting stronger. others are experimenting with new kinds of conversations, ministries, ways of living. the bottom line is that christianity is shifting & this generation plays an important role in the direction things will go. today’s young people are asking great questions and won’t just “tow the line” like so many of us were willing to do. they won’t tolerate intolerance. they don’t want religion, they want relationship. they want to express their heart for the poor not with words or money but with action. i am excited about what it is ahead, but i think that it is going to be really scary and foreign for many. that’s why we need safe places for important and challenging conversations that get us to think, question, and hopefully act.
that is why i love off the map, an organization deeply committed to helping others “explore new ways of thinking about and practicing what it means to follow in the way of Jesus.” when we were planting the refuge 2+ years ago we went to our first off the map live event in seattle. we met great people, thought about hard topics, and basically left feeling challenged and encouraged in more ways than i can say. the friends we made there have become some of our greatest ministry encouragers. last year we took 13 people from denver to seattle for the 2007 event. the same thing happened. and we left asking ourselves the question: “how do we continue to press into these hard issues of missional living, equality, diversity, and living out our faith in a world that is wondering where the actions are behind our words?”
for 2008, off the map is going on the road, 3 regional gatherings instead of 1 with off the map live: the born again church tour 2008:
- seattle october 10-11
- denver october 17-18
- los angeles november 21-22
the lineup: dave kinnaman, author of un-christian, todd hunter, former alpha director & now director of 3 is enough & jim henderson and matt casper, authors of jim & casper go to church & randy siever with off the map’s doable evangelism will be at all three venues (each region will have a few extra speakers, too. christine wicker, author of the fall of the evangelical nation, will be in seattle & LA & rose madrid-swetman will be in seattle. kind of fun, i will be part of denver’s lineup with faith in a dress). workshops on friday with different local and off the map leaders.
come! join the conversation! be part of helping re-birth the church.
event details for all three locations & tickets online here.
ps: the refuge is helping host the denver gathering & we’d love to have you join the party! if you live here and want to be part of helping with this event, let me know. if you don’t live in the area but want to come hang out with us, consider coming! we can maybe hook you up with some host houses for accomodations to save $ and build connection. it would be so fun to meet in person…