The conference, which runs June 4-6, 2013, will welcome social media leaders and digital technology newcomers alike to explore their choice of three tracks: education, strategy or theology.

“The Biola Digital conference has always had one goal: to empower Christians in the use of social media and other digital technologies,” said conference director and Biola professor Dave Bourgeois. “I believe that this year’s lineup at Biola Digital is the best we have ever had. Michael has a keen understanding of proven strategies for using these tools well. We have speakers from several different universities and ministry organizations sharing their research and insights.”

The three-day conference will include the opening keynote with Hyatt and 17 breakout sessions focused on three key topics: how the use of digital tools impacts faith; strategy to form effective and successful digital plans for organizations; and how technology can be used for academic and community-building purposes.

Hyatt spent his career in book publishing and is now an author, popular blogger and social media expert. His newest book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller. His blog, MichaelHyatt.com, is ranked by Google in the top one-half percent of all blogs with more than 300,000 unique visitors a month. His podcast, This Is Your Life, is consistently in the top 10 in the Business category on iTunes and downloaded by more than 100,000 people a month. He has more than 150,000 followers on Twitter. Hyatt will give the opening keynote address for the biola.digital conference on Tues., June 4 at 7 p.m. Hyatt’s opening session is open to non-conference attendees for a partial entrance cost of $29.

A number of Christian digital media’s leading experts will host breakout sessions delving into subjects such as the current state of digital ministry in the church and corporate world, how to use digital technologies to push your organization’s mission better, and how to implement technology in the classroom and to build community.

Full conference registration is $199. Discounted rates are offered at $59 for faculty and $49 for students. Register at events.

SPONSORS
The conference is sponsored by Biola University’s Crowell School of Business, The Steve and Lois Mihaylo Family Foundation, HyperWord Services, iChurchMethod.com, allogy, and Grupio.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
For more information, visit events. The Biola Digital Ministry Conference, formerly known as GodBlogCon and Christian Web Conference has continued to expand its mission since its establishment in 2005. Its mission is to empower individuals with the vision, knowledge and relationships necessary to be thoughtful designers, developers and practitioners of digital technologies for the cause of Christ.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. at Journey Church, 3801 Journey Parkway in Norman, OK. It will be a time “to come together as a community and encourage one another in faith that God can do anything,” says Senior Pastor Clark Mitchell.

Journey has opened its doors to anyone needing shelter or meals. A mobile kitchen capable of serving 2,500 meals per day is scheduled to arrive at the church this afternoon.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who have rallied to provide support and to care for people who’ve lost their homes in Monday’s disaster,” Mitchell adds.
Donations and volunteers are still needed. An updated list of immediate needs and volunteer opportunities is available on the church’s website.

About Journey Church
Journey Church was founded in 2001 on Ephesians 3:20: God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us (The Message). Learn more at www.journeychurch.tv.

NEW YORK/PRNewswire/ —

Greg Forrester, the executive in charge of U.S. Disaster Response for UMCOR, implored concerned persons to stay out of the way of first responders, who are still looking for survivors.

“Well-meaning people who arrive on-scene to help in the immediate aftermath of an event like this tend to get under foot and unintentionally divert important resources,” he said. “First responders need time to do the work of locating survivors and securing the area. That work is still underway.”

Currently, local partners are telling UMCOR that the most important ways that concerned individuals can help is through prayer and financial assistance.

Contributions to support relief and recovery in Moore and other parts of the United States after severe weather events like this can be made online through UMCOR US Disaster Response, Advance #901670. The Advance is the official giving channel of The United Methodist Church; it guarantees that 100 percent of donations to a specific program are used only for that program and not for overhead or other administrative expenses.

Donations can also be made by calling toll free 1-800-554-8583, or by texting the word RESPONSE to 80888 to make an immediate $10 donation.

Relief kits will likely be needed, especially health kits and school kits. For information about how to assemble these, visit the UMCOR Relief Supplies page on www.UMCOR.org. Kits can be sent to any of the eight depots in the UMCOR Relief-Supply Network.

This was the second bout of severe weather to strike Oklahoma in two days. On Sunday, May 19, some 24 tornadoes tore through five states — Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois — and destroyed 300 homes. The town of Shawnee, OK, where two people died, bore the brunt of the earlier outbreak.

About UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization of The United Methodist Church. Compelled by Christ to be a voice of conscience on behalf of the people called Methodist, UMCOR works globally to alleviate human suffering and advance hope and healing.

There are many ways to support UMCOR’s work. You can donate online or over the phone by calling 1-800-554-8583. You can mail checks (payable to UMCOR) to P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087. You can also use offering envelopes to designate funds for UMCOR and put them in the offering plate at any United Methodist Church. UMCOR is a registered 501(c) (3) charity. All gifts are tax deductible.

Can churches grow in the summer? Of course they can.

In fact, churches should grow in the summer. However, they rarely do, and it’s for one simple reason: Their leaders let down too much.

Some churches I know do away with children’s ministry for the summer to give their teachers a rest. Others quit small groups or put virtually nothing on the church calendar. Some preachers re-preach old sermon series, or do the series they don’t think can handle the freight in fall or spring.

The reasoning is simple: Offerings and attendance go down, so it’s better to save our best efforts and cost for the times when people are actually around.

I completely understand that way of thinking, and halfway agree with it. Given the choice between “using our bullets” in summer or the “high season,” I would choose fall or spring, as well. I’m just wondering if, sometimes, people care less in the summer because we do.

Some churches even talk about summer that way — in effect, convincing the church it’s less important than other times. I’m also wondering if we couldn’t benefit from pacing ourselves better in fall and spring so our churches don’t hibernate in the summer.

Summer is also a main time for people to look for a new/any church home. Some are moving into your city. Others want to get spiritually on track before school starts up again. Some single moms head back because the kids are out of school, and some adult time to ponder their lives would do them some good. If they show up and children’s ministry isn’t happening, the preacher is never there, the calendar is totally empty, and there’s an overall laxness about ministry that’s palpable, you might lose a great opportunity.

During our first summer at New Vintage Church, some of our most core people arrived while we thought our “regulars” were traveling. That trend has continued. Summer is a key time. Don’t surrender it.

If, in fact, our churches need a labor break in the summer that badly, the reality is that we need to pace ourselves better — not abandon the summer. I’m not naïve; I agree the summer is probably the best time for preachers to take their vacations, trim the calendar a bit and so on. But, there’s a difference between running at, say, 85 percent and “mailing in” the summer, both practically and mentally — which is quite common, and also indirectly harmful to the fall and spring church “seasons.”

Summer is actually the best time for doing six things in particular:

1) Rest. Yes, resting. Here, I’m talking about taking a daily run instead of running a marathon in the summer. But, don’t stop running altogether.

2) Fellowship. People are already in the mood for fellowship. It’s BBQ, baseball, lake/beach season. Go with it, and enjoy it. Rather than plan a thick calendar, find one or two simple ways for the church to do — together — what people already love doing in the summer: grillin’ and chillin’. You can do this as a whole church, or in small groups. It will be fun and build community.

3) Strategic planning. I’ve always taken some time in the summer for strategic planning — sermon series, crafting a Fall/Winter ministry strategy, preparing to launch new ministries and so on. Take note: Youth ministry is less accessible in the summer. It’s their “high” season. So, what I’m talking about is strategic planning that doesn’t impact youth ministry much.

4) Apprenticing new servant leaders. Summer is a great time to “try out” new servant leaders. Just be strategic about it. Don’t throw in someone who’s totally unprepared.

5) Spiritual growth. Perhaps it’s because many have more time in the summer, but summer is a great time to encourage the church toward a season of spiritual growth through prayer, Bible study and so on. This also applies to church leaders; make sure your walk with the Lord is vibrant. Summer gives some space for this.

6) Closing loops. Summer is a great time to finish projects that remain undone and general organizational messiness. Get the new copier. Look for a better deal on lawn care. Do some digging on that new approach to family life ministry that piqued your interest.

Lastly, to my fellow preachers: Don’t mail in the task of preaching over the summer. God deserves better from us. Plus, it hurts us practically, as those who visit our churches as guests or vacationers get cold leftovers rather than warm, fresh bread.

The guests may not come back. The vacationers may tell a friend who is set to move into the area that they came, but found it spiritually tepid. “Go check out somewhere else.”

If summer is your break time, fill the pulpit with quality guests or able staff. Keep the bread fresh, whether it’s you serving it or not. Glorify God by not mailing in, or downloading your sermons.

To sum it up: Some of the “back-to-school-jump” churches are actually seeing regular attendees coming back from summer travels, along with people who become a part of the church informally over the summer. So, as tempting as it might be, don’t mail in the summer. It provides all sorts of unique opportunities for your church to grow — inside and out.

Tim Spivey is lead planter of New Vintage Church in San Diego, CA. Tim is also an adjunct professor of religion at Pepperdine University and purveyor of New Vintage Leadership, a blog offering cutting-edge insights on leadership and theology. He is the author of numerous articles and the book Jesus, the Powerful Servant. This post is adapted from a prior post.

“Our hearts are breaking for all of those in the path of this horrific tornado. Words can’t do justice to the pain that is being experienced in and around Moore,” said Jack Munday, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. “Please pray continuously for all of those who lost loved ones, and for those who may still be trapped amidst the rubble.”

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, who is also president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Together, the two ministries will seek to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those impacted by the storm.

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are also actively ministering in Granbury, Texas, following a deadly tornado there last week. Earlier in 2013, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deployed to Petal, MS, and Shuqualak, MS, following tornadoes. The team also deployed to West Texas, following the fertilizer plant explosion in April.

About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a nationwide network of Christian chaplains across 48 states that are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. Since the ministry was launched in 2002, it has responded to more than 155 natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings.
For more information on the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, visit www.billygraham.org/rrt. For videos, photos and news articles from recent Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deployments, visit www.billygraham.org/crisisresponse. Ministry updates and photo galleries are posted at www.facebook.com/BGRapidResponseTeam.

“The constituencies I represent are very much looking forward to the report by Ambassador Johnson-Cook,” the Rev. Schenck said. “Since she assumed her post, we have seen the largest numbers and widest spectrum of evangelical leaders and groups enthusiastically support the Office of International Religious Freedom. We’re very pleased with the work of Ambassador Johnson-Cook and commend the White House for its selection of her.

“Many of us in the evangelical community feel more is being done now by the Office of International Religious Freedom than at any time since its creation by the Congress in 1998,” the Rev. Schenck continued. “This office is one of a very few in this administration where evangelicals are overwhelmingly supportive and fully engaged. We say ‘bravo’ and ‘God bless you’ to Ambassador Johnson-Cook.”

The Rev. Schenck expressed concern for the plight of U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran for his Christian humanitarian work there. The Rev. Schenck has urged Secretary of State Kerry to use the broad coalition that Ambassador Johnson-Cook has built to advocate for Abedini’s release, as well as for the release of other similar victims of religious persecution in Iran and in other countries.

The Rev. Schenck continued: “I have asked tens of thousands of my constituents to pray for Ambassador Johnson-Cook and to continue their support of her good work, which is unprecedented in any Presidential administration.”

“This App is a way for the Church and our Holy Father to reach the growing number of the world’s people who have access to handheld mobile devices — a way to connect as the one Body of Christ,” said Father Andrew Small, OMI, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. “We’re delighted our new Holy Father will ‘unlock’ the new App. What a great use of the Keys of St. Peter!”

The launch will take place during an audience with the Pope of the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies who are participating in the annual meeting to distribute collected funds.

“Handheld mobile devices and smartphones are increasingly democratizing the information superhighway, and have a capacity to empower the poor in particular,” said Fr. Small. “In fact, by the end of 2013, there will be more mobile devices on earth than people. Smartphones worldwide exceed 1 billion, growing globally by some 40 percent a year, especially in the some of the poorest parts of the world served by the Pontifical Mission Societies, namely in Africa and Asia.”

More than three-quarters of Americans age 43 and under now use a smartphone. Research suggests mobile technology could benefit education in poor countries.

“The response of the Pope’s Twitter account has been phenomenal,” continued Fr. Small. “Jesus called people to be His followers, and if used properly, the new media allow for a more intimate relationship between peoples and nations, fostering peace and mutual understanding.”

The App is currently available for download but remains in a “locked” position. During Friday’s event, the Pope will press a button marked “Evangelizantur,” which is a Latin phrase meaning, “They have been evangelized.” Subsequently, a push notification will be sent to all those who have downloaded the App indicating that the Pope has launched the MISSIO App.

“Ever since his election, Pope Francis has reached far beyond the Vatican, touching people’s lives in simple and meaningful ways,” noted Fr. Small. “His great message of unity and communion will be expressed in this unique event, as he puts the missionary Gospel in the pockets of millions of people, young and old, rich and poor, believer and searcher.”

“With mission stories available in eight languages — English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese and Arabic — the App fits very well with the Church’s celebration of Pentecost, when the disciples began preaching the Good News in all tongues and dialects,” he added.

Supported by Apple and Android devices, the App provides the Pope’s daily homily, and includes news from Rome and around the world. Sources are FIDES, the international news agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and the Vatican’s own news site, News.va. There are videos as well, from Catholic News Service and News.va. MISSIO App includes photographs from various Missions around the world, intended to encourage personal reflection and prayer. There is also the opportunity for mission support.

To create the MISSIO App, the Pontifical Mission Societies commissioned Little i Apps, LLC, an App development company headed by Catholics committed to making connections, when able, between digital and sacred spaces, contributing in this way to efforts for the new evangelization.

The MISSIO App may be downloaded free wherever Apps are available.

The word “story” may be used as a synonym of “narrative.” It can also be used to refer to the sequence of events described in a narrative. More narrowly defined, it’s the means whereby the narrator (or storyteller) communicates directly to the reader.

Stories are an important aspect of culture. Many works of art, and most works of literature, tell stories. In fact, most of humanities involve stories.

“Evidence strongly suggests that humans in all cultures come to cast their own identity in some sort of narrative form,” writes Owen Flanagan of Duke University, a leading consciousness researcher. “We’re inveterate storytellers.”

We use stories to pass on the past to the next generation, or to give instruction. It’s also used to convey an idea, concept, precaution and the like. A story can be fictional or non-fiction and can have become embellished over time — but, most stories that convey a non-fiction narrative are generally filled with truth.

A fairy tale, on the other hand, is a type of short story that typically features folklore and fantasy. Most of the time, we refer to them as a type of children’s literature. The term is also used to describe something blessed with unusual happiness, as in a “fairy tale ending” or “fairy tale romance” (though not all fairy tales end happily). In the vernacular, a “fairy tale” or “fairy story” can also mean any far-fetched story or tall tale; it’s used especially of any story that not only isn’t true, but couldn’t possibly be true.

I like stories, and I like fairy tales. I like to understand perspective — the past, the present paradigms, and all the things you can learn from a story. I also like getting lost in a good fairy tale. I love fairy tales such as The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. It’s great to become transformed into these make-believe worlds, with their unique languages, places, characters and assumptions.

What I don’t like, however, is when I think I’m observing or participating in a story to learn that it’s actually only a fairy tale. I feel betrayed, tricked or misled.

Have you ever read a story and were fully engulfed in a theme, only to find out it wasn’t true, relevant or congruent? Bummer! I hate “bate-and-switch” experiences.

Consider the following word association chart:

So, when it comes to your church facility, is it telling a story or a fairy tale? Is it congruent with who you are? Your vision? Your mission? Your culture? Or, will people see your facility — and then, upon experiencing your interactions, worship experiences, first impression and culture, realize that it was just a fairy tale?

Tell me what you think: Are your facilities telling an intentional story, or merely a fairy tale?

Tim Cool is project executive at Visioneering Studios in Charlotte, NC, and founder of Cool Solutions Group. Since 1986, Cool has served the church community in the areas of construction, facility planning and facility management. He can be reached at tcool@visioneeringstudios.com.

Each CTCA hospital has a dedicated pastoral care team that is united in the purpose of encouraging patients in their faith and helping them find strength and hope in God. A pastor is available to participate in a patient’s care along with the members of the clinical and supportive care team. Additionally, the pastoral care team offers assistance and support to family members, as well as patients. Pastors also provide worship services, Bible studies, and times of prayer.

“God is love and His loving presence is experienced by our patients within the deep and warm personal relationships with their physicians, chaplains, and many others,” said Rev. Michael Barry, Director of Pastoral Care with CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center. “The relationships we have with our patients begin with the first step through our doors, continue while away at home, and can be described as nothing other than holy. CTCA is a special place for special people at a special time in their life.”

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions.