Notes from The Idea Camp – #icdc

I wrote about The Idea Camp a while back. I had hoped to have a local viewing party, but it never quite panned out. Instead I’m watching online physically by myself, but what seems like I’m right there with everyone thanks to technology.

Thanks to free online streaming and Twitter I’ve been watching and listening to a majority of the conversations taking place this weekend in DC. So far its been great.

I’ve been twittering my notes, so for those who haven’t been able to keep up, and for archival purpose, here are some of the notes I’ve taken through the pre-session and the first breakout session…

Hopefully these notes will spark creative ideas and innovation within your own groups.

Pre-Idea Camp Origins Project Listening Session with Mark Batterson (@markbatterson), Dave Gibbons (@davegibbons), and Charles Lee (@charlestlee) (in collaboration with www.theoriginsproject.com)

the best ideas come from the streets and not the strategic planning groups.

want to find your local mission? “talk to the police officers and social workers not the pastors.” @davegibbons

“perhaps our people should be working for other churches and they’ll be more fulfilled” @davegibbons

looking for leaders “I look for fire in their eyes… will they inspire people?” – @davegibbons

“when we show our weak side the world wants to embrace us more.” – @davegibbons

personality tests are just as important to find out where you SHOULDN’T serve – @markbatterson

organize groups around where you live, play and work. // been hard to do at @encounterthis not sure why

“where there is vision God will make provision. there’s no shortcut for it.” – @markbatterson

Opening Session // Mark Batterson (National Community Church), Blair Burns (IJM), Holly Burkhalter (IJM), Dave Ferguson (New Thing Network), Marta Urquilla (Corporation for National & Community Service)

“6 billion people in the world – 1 billion don’t have access to clean water” – juststart.org

“the Church gets a bad rap for not caring about the world. let’s break the stereotype.” @charlestlee // amen

Marta Urquilla is up from the Corp for National and Community Service

Find out more about Corporation for National and Community Service : nationalservice.gov

“the problems of our country are too great for government to solve alone.” Marta Urqilla quoting Obama

International Justice Mission is up now talking about modern day slavery and #attheendofslavery

“slavery is 1 person who has power and uses it to extract liberty and fruit of labor from others” Blair Burns

“a person created in the image of God is not meant to be owned by another” Blair Burns

“when it comes to abolition of slavery and stopping genocide… policy makers need to hear from the American people”

“10 phone calls to a congressional office can make a HUGE difference”

call your congressman at the capital switchboard :: (202)224-3121

RT @semaforic: Holly Burkhalter of IJM on why U.S. didn’t intervene in Rwandan genocide: silence on the part of the American people

liberty in North Korea is up next at #icdc (video)

“i was not married for love. i was bought.” #LiNK #icdc

id rather have one God idea than hundreds of good ideas – @markbatterson

there is one big event that God has planned for us to lose our life for – what is it that God dreams for you to do?

“show up with a posture of serving and people will welcome you.” @daveferguson

“id rather people go on one mission trip than listen to 52 of my messages” @markbatterson

RT @marianliautaud: Dave Ferguson says they “ordain” those in their church who go out and minister locally. Love that

Idea Sessions #1 – Missions on your Doorstep Conference – A Church Model for Missions in the Burbs – Dave Ferguson (NewThing Network)

looks like @daveferguson is up next at #icdc wonder what he’ll talk about. should prob check the schedule http://m.theideacamp.com/ (they didn’t print schedules to handout for the event – only had them on a mobile website for folks to save money — great idea)

Mission in the Burbs with @daveferguson

free grocery store for the neighborhood. greatness!

groups that start out with a mission vs affinity tend to grow and stay stronger

a church hosting a fund raiser for the local HS football stadium. greatness.

dont simply write checks. get involved in the neighborhood and build relationships.

is your church so involved in the community that the public schools would invite you to plant a church in the school?

rather than giving gifts at Christmas set up a “gift mart” let folks buy gifts at drastic discount (i.e. $.20 on the dollar) (this was a great idea! loved it! the church gets gifts donated starting in November and then sets up a “store” for the parents at the local school. the gifts are priced at roughly 20-cents on the dollar. and the parents can shop while the kids have other activities going on. this way the parents can actually feel some value and worth in saying they bought the gifts for the kids rather than simply saying “oh the church down the street gave this to you.”)

the “giftmart” becomes a charity as well as an empowerment event

RT @decart: We challenge our church 2 respond 2 community with 1 of 3 responses: 1)charitable 2)empowerment 3)development @daveferguson

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That’s it all the way up through the 1st work session. I hope to share more and spark more ideas in myself and others as the weekend progresses.

And if you’d like to join in, you can watch online as well at http://twubs.com/theideacamp or directly on Livestream at: http://www.livestream.com/newsongglobal. The schedule is online at m.theideacamp.com

(read part 2)
(read part 3)

Jason Dukes at humanity beautiful has a number of posts related to his Idea Camp experience. be sure and check them out.

Tony Sheng has blogged some of his thoughts as well.