Let me beat a drum that I've been pretty passionate about for a couple years. I think we need to do a better job of sharing our creativity within the Kingdom. There is way too much "competition" and not enough synergy. I better preface what I'm about to blog by repeating what I blogged about last week: imitation is suicide. But we need to learn from each other and share with each other. In a sense, I've always viewed creativity as a game of leap frog. Get an idea from someone. Put your own fingerprint on it. And try to do it better than they did it.
I'm a non-tech guy, but I like the open-source concept. Instead of a controlled closed-system, open-source allows a variety of programmers and designers to shape the source code. That's a layman's definition. But it's all about collaboration. Or in the words of an 80's classic: stop, collaborate, and listen. And the end product is better because of the synergy. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
It was about a year ago that we made a decision that we'd open-source all of our sermon series. The driving desire is that other churches would take our ideas, add their creative touch, and do them better than we did them.
Approximately 400 churches have done a Chase the Lion sermon series based on In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. All of the graphics and videos and transcripts are absolutely free and customizable. Check out www.chasethelion.com. We're doing the same exact thing with our Wild Goose Chase series. We'll make all the resources free @ www.chasethegoose.com. And while you're at it, check out www.TheElephantInTheChurch.com. It's another series we'd love to see hundreds of churches do.
Let me share a couple open source examples. There are tons of examples, but here are some graphics from churches that are doing a Chase the Lion series and Wild Goose Chase series. But they are putting their own creative fingerprint on it. What's inspiring to me is that other churches are doing trailers and invite cards and creative elements that are better than we did it.
Let's play leap frog!
I'm a non-tech guy, but I like the open-source concept. Instead of a controlled closed-system, open-source allows a variety of programmers and designers to shape the source code. That's a layman's definition. But it's all about collaboration. Or in the words of an 80's classic: stop, collaborate, and listen. And the end product is better because of the synergy. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
It was about a year ago that we made a decision that we'd open-source all of our sermon series. The driving desire is that other churches would take our ideas, add their creative touch, and do them better than we did them.
Approximately 400 churches have done a Chase the Lion sermon series based on In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. All of the graphics and videos and transcripts are absolutely free and customizable. Check out www.chasethelion.com. We're doing the same exact thing with our Wild Goose Chase series. We'll make all the resources free @ www.chasethegoose.com. And while you're at it, check out www.TheElephantInTheChurch.com. It's another series we'd love to see hundreds of churches do.
Let me share a couple open source examples. There are tons of examples, but here are some graphics from churches that are doing a Chase the Lion series and Wild Goose Chase series. But they are putting their own creative fingerprint on it. What's inspiring to me is that other churches are doing trailers and invite cards and creative elements that are better than we did it.
Let's play leap frog!
11 Comments:
Mark,
Thanks for going open source. We are doing Elephant in the Church for our fall kickoff at our church plant here in central Illinois. We're using 2 of the themes you guys used and then doing 2 of our own...the graphics were extremely helpful for promotion purposes. I especially appreciated that you made available the photoshop layer file so we were able to rework it a bit to create a front and back invite card. Thanks again!
Sweet... A Vanilla Ice reference. That rocks!
I with you -- Everything we do in our local Church should be shared. Not everything we do at our Church will work at another Church and vice versa. That is ok. Take what you like, change what needs to be changed add your own flavor and call it your own.
Mark
I just picked up "Wild Goose Chase" and can't wait to dig through it. I finally broke down and bought it after God has literally been "chasing" me with real wild geese! They seriously follow me everywhere. I saw your book and thought it might give me an idea of why. Here's to geese...
JMW
Mark - Thanks for your commitment to open source. I think that this is a great concept that has potential to help spark revival in churches of all types. I think that you are right to make the key distinction between open source and imitation. Thanks!
Andrew Conard
Completely agree with your statement about not "copying" other churches. My Pastor - Jim Cymbala - always said it this way, "God never blesses a copycat".
I had plans to read another book, but feel lead to read your new book. The Holy Spirit is one of my favorite topics - I'm eager to see what you uncover about Him and His work.
Mark, thanks for "open-sourcing" your sermon series. It really is a big help to the Body.
On another note, can your books be found in Spanish?
Sounds great.
Just a side note though, Ice Ice Baby was released in 1990. Hate to do that but you never know when you might want to reference A1A Beachfront Ave. in a message.
Nate,
Wish they were in spanish, but not yet :)
Mark
TJ,
My level of respect for you just went way up. Knowing the release date speaks volumes :)
Mark
All I have to say is it is great to see another minnesota boy tearin it up!! I respect all you do Mark!! Thanks!!
- Kevin (A fellow minnesota brotha!)
Mark
I'm the founder of Open Source Mission and we seek to leverage web 2.0, open source model to advance to gospel.
Our flagship project is The Gospel Translations Project. Together with our partners, we are building a community of volunteer translators who are translating gospel centered materials into as many languages as possible. We publish it on a wikipedia type platform.
Would love it if you would check it out. www.gospeltranslations.org
Or watch the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj17e8ArIeQ
Post a Comment
<< Home