“I have been reminded yet again that just because something is not known, celebrated, prominent, or esteemed on earth does not mean it does not have the attention of heaven.

“Never confuse prominence for significance or obedience.”

- Christine Caine in a blog post, “The Prominence Trap”

To give you a look at how relatable the collective is, here’s a video of one of the Creative Collective meet-ups in Phoenix last month where Designer/Photographer Promise Tangeman joins Blogger/Worship & Arts Leader Carlos Whittaker along with Jarrett Stevens of Soul City Church in a talk about the creative process, how they began and progressed in their respective artistic fields and lots more:

To find out about other meet-ups and to see if there will be one in a city near you visit http://creativecollective.is.

Free Creative Matters EBook

Delete Copy & Paste
You were created to create…

The free ebook Creative Matters offered by the Creative Collective is a call to arms for all of us who endeavor to create beautiful, transcendent and transformational experiences in and around the Church. It’s a field guide of sorts…written by Creatives for Creatives… for those who work in the trenches of the “Create-On-Demand” challenges that every weekend brings…


It’s a fresh perspective on the process, people, and purpose surrounding Creativity. It’s an invitation to live and work in a way that is both inspired and inspiring. And it’s the kind of kick-in-the-pants that we all need and will come back to again and again.

Creative Matters Contributors include (click on a name below to find out more about them through their websites):

Jarrett Stevens

Promise Tangeman

Stephen Proctor

The Gungors

Barton Damer

Carlos Whittaker

Todd Henry

Amena Brown

Blaine Hogan

Mark Pierson

Stephen Brewster

CJ Alvarado

Cole Nesmith

Tim Schraeder

And many others…

Click here to download the free e-book.

Clips from the 2010 Identity Conference

Event Date: Saturday November 12, 2011
Location: Corona, California

About: Identity is far beyond a conference. It is the largest unity of Christian entrepreneurs in the country. An emergence of successful business achievers, change agents, cultural architects, and voracious leaders of the Faith all brought into one high-octane atmosphere, compelling young entrepreneurs to lead and influence the next generation. This explosive gathering can only be justified as 6 hours of pure entrepreneurial adrenaline.

To find out more and to register visit www.identityconference.com

The Identity Culture Blog also features a variety of articles and resources for entrepreneurs, visit it at www.identityculture.org.

If you work in the in the field of communication or digital media this conference might be one that interests you:

About the Conference
Echo is a three-day gathering of creative church leaders who are passionate about digital media and the gospel. This year’s event will be held at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, from Wednesday, July 27 to Friday, July 29. Together, we’ll explore topics such as visual storytelling, event programming, social media, online community, graphic and motion design, and more.

Featured speakers include Scott Belsky, Jon Acuff, Andy Crouch, The Skit Guys, and many more breakout session speakers.

Echo attendees hold a variety of positions in churches, ministries, and non-profits. Pastors, communication directors, web designers, and digital media producers will be there. The common theme—a desire to communicate Truth in the 21st-century.

About Echo
Since 2008 Echo Conference has been an opportunity for creative church leaders and communicators to learn, connect, and worship together. Every year pastors, filmmakers, teachers, designers, and communications directors from far and wide gather together in Dallas, Texas, for three days to explore the intersection of media, technology, and the Church.

Echo exists — as a team and an event — to equip, encourage, and challenge its audience. Our hope and prayer is that Echo will serve communicators as they serve their churches and their communities.

Of course, this desire to serve to church leaders isn’t exclusive to Echo. We share it with each of our sister company — Igniter Media. Igniter provides media resources designed to help communicate truth and facilitate worship experiences, and Echo is proud to be associated with that mission.

Visit www.echoconference.com for more information and a full list of speakers.

I was confused as to where God was leading me, if I should pursue studying in a certain area of ministry (in my case I felt it might be youth ministry) and I searched my heart and prayed to God to show me which direction He wanted me to go. After a campus ministry conference a few months after graduation I asked one of the leaders Pastor Sample, a youth pastor at a local, what his advice was to someone who felt they might be called into youth ministry. His answer and how he broke it all down was a blessing to me, especially how he explained how you have to hear clearly from God where He is specifically leading you. I thought his advice was fitting for anyone who was questioning the path of their calling so I wanted to share:

Question: How Do I Know if I Am Called To A Certain Ministry?

A: Special training for ministry is great and so is Bible college or a ministry school…but the main thing is that you really hear from the LORD.

He will call you (it sounds like He is) He will give you specific instructions. Do not run out ahead of Him and do not be behind Him. Go at the pace He wants you to go.

You do not need a special degree or anything…you need a confirmed word of the LORD. He never calls the qualified, He only qualifies the called.

When the Lord calls there are usually 5 steps:

1. Calling – divinely dissatisfied with what you are doing – you know you are being called to a specific direction.

2. Training – this is usually done by man…ie..bible school, training school…

“I know from my own experiences that if you will put your career in God’s hands and trust him, you can’t account for all the ways he will bless you. When you step out in faith, he will open doors and bring you opportunities that will surpass even your wildest expectations. . . . If I have learned anything, it’s this: to get where you want to go, you first have to become the person God wants you to be.” - DeVon Franklin, Author of Produced by Faith

Hollywood is often thought to be a place where believers may face decisions that cause them to compromise or stray from their beliefs. DeVon Franklin, vice president of production for Columbia Pictures who is also a preacher, has worked in the midst of show business, having produced movies such as The Karate Kid, Pursuit of Happiness and most recently Jumping the Broom. In his book Produced By Faith Franklin talks about the importance of knowing our vocation and calling, and how we can serve God within the field He places us without compromising what we believe in.

Connect with DeVon to find out where he will be speaking on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProducedByFaith or Twitter: @devon_franklin

Below in an interview with The 700 Club DeVon talks about his career and how he wants to inspire others to hold on when following their God-given dreams:

In a Behind the Scenes Clip DeVon Franklin Describes How To Recognized a Self-Given Goal vs. a God-Given Goal and What To Do to Step into God’s Purpose for Us:

More About the Book Produced By Faith From the Publisher:

Sraight from Hollywood comes a dynamic business model for building a thriving career without compromising your faith. DeVon Franklin, vice president of production for Columbia Pictures, shares how being bold about his Christian faith while being driven and ambitious has actually helped him to excel in a high-profile, fast-paced, competitive industry.

You are the movie. Produced by Faith parallels each step of the Hollywood filmmaking process with the faith-making process God uses to turn your career into a success. You will discover that it is possible to be both wildly successful and completely committed to God—and that you will be even more successful when you place your faith at the center of your career. You can unleash the power of your faith as your greatest professional advantage and use the compass of God’s Word to guide you to your true passion and purpose in life.

In this informative, inspiring book, DeVon reveals the secrets to maintaining your faith while advancing in your career. Here he shows you:

• How to discover The Big Idea for your life

• How to take your career to the next level

• How to recognize the signs God sends you that indicate when it’s time to move in a new direction

• How to stand firm on your Christian principles without compromise

• How to work with people who don’t understand your beliefs

• How to choose a profession, industry, or company that is in tune with your purpose

Youth Music Vault is a subscription service that provides youth leaders and others that work with youth music mp3s, chord charts, videos and Bible study curriculum featuring music artists like Francesca Battistelli, Group 1 Crew, Barlow Girl, NeedToBreathe and more.

Visit the website at: www.youthmusicvault.com

In a recent interview with EEW Magazine Kim Cash Tate, author and speaker at the Women of Faith conferences, shares advice on the period of waiting that often comes when living God’s dream for our lives:

“If it’s a God-given passion and desire, it’s not going anywhere. And what we tend to want, is to do it right now. But, a big part of the Christian walk is waiting.

It’s so hard, but it’s so necessary, because God will put that seed in our hearts and it could be years before we see that [manifestation of the] full vision in our minds. But He’s working in us. We wanna jump to the outside ministry and do those things whether it’s writing, speaking, or whatever it may be—we wanna do those things that are on the outside, but God’s biggest work is on the inside of us.

“So in that time of waiting, where we have this vision but it’s not happening today, God is trying to do a work on the inside with our character. And we have to get to the point where we are totally yielded to Him with a heart of obedience, where we are willing to put everything on the altar.” – Kim Cash Tate in an interview with EEW Magazine

Click here to read more about Kim Cash Tate’s journey in the full interview by Dianna Hobbs on EEW Magazine’s website

More about Kim Cash Tate (from the Women of Faith website)

When Kim graduated from George Washington University Law School she expected to live and practice law in Washington, DC the rest of her life—but God had other plans. Kim moved to Madison, WI where she married Bill and joined a church—which led to a complete “reshaping” of Kim’s identity. After almost a decade as a lawyer Kim resigned her partnership to stay home with her children. Now she’s the author of three books (two fiction, one non-fiction). Kim, Bill, and their two children live in Missouri.

Visit Kim’s website at www.kimcashtate.com for more information about her ministry, books and speaking schedule with Women of Faith.

Do your dreams seem out of reach?

God has given each of us a dream—an idea that sets our hearts racing at the mere thought of it.

Unfortunately, most people never see their dreams come to pass, so they never fulfill God’s destiny for their lives.

Join Pastor Robert for the ten-week Gateway Series, From Dream To Desitny, and discover how you can turn your dream into reality! Through the life of Joseph, you’ll learn about the ten character-building tests you must pass before God allows you to realize your dreams.

Get ready to begin fulfilling the destiny that God has in store for you!

Pastor Morris also has a book by the same title and which the series is based on – From Dream to Destiny: The Ten Tests You Must Go Through to Fulfill God’s Purpose for Your Life.

Women in Christian Media supports and encourages women in a variety of media-related fields:

From the WCM Website:

For Such a Time as This…

Women in Christian Media’s theme is taken from Ester 4:14 as a powerful reminder that every day, and in every situation we need to be mindful of God’s purpose in our lives. We’re committed to helping women in our industry realize that purpose to its full potential – impacting our homes, work places, communities, churches and nation for Christ. And follow Esther’s example – to recognize God’s hand in our lives and respond. God has placed you where you are “for such a time as this…

Membership
Membership to Women in Christian Media™ is open to all women actively working in Christian media. Christian media is not limited to radio and television- it includes all forms of mass communication: Internet, publishing and support agencies – (those who qualify for membership). If you are working in a church media department, an agency, or a ministry – if you are the host of a program, or the producer, if you write books or publish them – you’re invited to join!

Mission

Since 2002-Women in Christian Media™ is a fellowship dedicated to connecting women working in Christian media in purpose and vision. We provide a framework for networking, opportunities for professional and personal development and work toward advancing Christian media – and the women in it.

Conference
WCM Annual Journey to Revival Conference
February 24 & 25, 2011
2011 Theme: “For Such a Time As This”
Embassy Suites Hotel/Aiport, Nashville, TN
Click here for more conference information

Website: http://www.womeninchristianmedia.org