Well, another Tulsa Workshop has come and gone.
It was a great event. The gospel was preached. Unity was demonstrated. Love was flowing like a river. To top it all off, we were able to collect enough money to pay for the event! God is good.
I’ll write more later, but right now I’m a bit tired.
I welcome your feedback. Feel free to leave a comment with your observations. What did you like? What could we do better? What would you like to see in the future? Etc.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Way to go, Wade. 🙂 I’m already hearing good things about it. Wish I could have been there.
It was outstanding! I am so glad that I went. You did a great job putting it all together. Keep up the good work and may God bless you and your ministry. God Is Good, All The Time.
Do you know how many were there on Thursday? I have never heard 728b sound that good!
Wish I could have been there, too. I’ve heard good things. I was able to attend a lot of the unity forums at ACU Lectureship, though, and found those to be outstanding. I’m thankful for those like yourself with the boldness to pursue the issues of Christian unity and fellowship and love and reaching the world for Christ (despite legalistic criticisms).
Wish I could have been there, too. I’ve heard good things. I was able to attend a lot of the unity forums at ACU Lectureship, though, and found those to be outstanding. I’m thankful for those like yourself with the boldness to pursue the issues of Christian unity and fellowship and love and reaching the world for Christ (despite legalistic criticisms).
So many good things. I LOVED Alan Dunbar. His class on Discipleship was a must hear. It was practical and if used will cause spiritual growth personally and churchwide. A great plan for reaching lost people. His passion speaking about Standing Firm on Saturday night spoke to me. I heard his call to “turn the lifeboats” around. We are in comfortable life boats and people are drowning in the world around us. So powerful! Also enjoyed Terry Rush in his class on Living Courageous Lives. Pairing the speakers for Keynotes created great positive energy. Now, can we bring unity home…I hope so. Thanks for all of your hard work, Lynn W.
Wow, truly an uplifting time. Bob Russell is really an amazing guy. It makes me sad that I knew nothing of him before. I praise God for these efforts. I thought you did such a well-balanced approach to a topic that could have really caused alot of confusion and hurt feelings on both sides of the keyboard. I only wish more people could have been there on Sat. Man what a great why to finish the whole week. I give you an A+ for a job well done. This was my first workshop and I plan on coming back for many more. I have no criticism to offer but I do have something that is personal preference. My favorite worship moment is what we were singing Holy, Holy, Holy and the praise team quit singing and you could clearly hear the entire place worshipping God! What a powerful moment. It made me realize that the praise teams (although wonderfully gifted ) were turned up so loud that it was difficult to hear the whole place worship. I hope I said that in a non-critical way because this is just an opinion / observation! Thank you so much for doing this workshop!
One more thing??? How many people attended the evening session on Friday night? A bunch of us were wondering that ?? We noticed you have amusement park style counters so we know you must have a ballpark figure.Thanks again for everything!
Wade,
I enjoyed the workshop. My wife and have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. I thought the theme was appropriate, timely and much needed. I was challenged, convicted, and encouraged.
I loved the classes. The exhibit area, as always was great. I once again spent way to much money on books! I thought evening key notes were an added touch, and like one of the previous commentators, I felt that it added energy to the evening.
I wrote a little earlier, that I thought that the theme was appropriate, timely and much needed. Tackling the unity issue within our movement is certainly a worthy mission. I am ashamed to say that I learned a lot about our brothers on the other side of the key board that I hadn’t known before. I learned that a lot of what I had heard when I first began my salvation journey in the acapella churches of Christ, was spoken out of ignorance and fear (this idea of practicing isolation). So, what I had been thinking, and feeling over the last few years was reinforced in a very positive way this year at Tulsa. Unity is important to God, and is important to make it hard for people in our town to go to Hell.
May God continue to change hearts and renew weary souls on the journey, and may all who are in Christ learn what it means to be family.
Thanks for another great year.
Bob Russell was great!
ZOE Group must come back next year and many years ahead.
Can we have late night emergent worship at Garnett next year with Sanctuary the band that BST led at ZOE during the late night at Leadership conference?
I am so thankful that we welcomed the Christian Church speakers the way we did. May we continue our relationships and bond with our brothers and sisters that we have been lost from.
*DON’T LIKE TO CRITICIZE BUT HERE YOU GO…
*Can we make sure the sound is better next year, like before the first day of workshops, I know it’s a tight schedule, but I was with a VERY VERY knowledgeable sound person that let me know the EQs and much more was wrong in the room that never got fixed.*
Wade, I thought the workshop was superb. Like a bunch of other people, I would have liked to have had an hour and coffee with you but I know that’s impossible at workshop. I was so blessed and enriched by all of the themes and speakers I heard. Thank you for asking me to lead a prayer. When you have a free weekend (ha!) come on down to the Coast and preach for us … open invitation. Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed your messages.
What I didn’t like? Nagging guilt when I stayed in the display area to visit with friends instead of attending classes. This is, of course, a leftover from my upbringing in the COC where I was taught that those who REALLY loved God would be in Sunday School. Angst. 🙂
This was my first visit to the Tulsa workshop. I was impressed and greatly enjoyed the time there. Thanks Wade, for your fine, dedicated work. I have been in the Church of Christ a very, very long time and I can truthfully say that the praise-singing on thursday evening was perhaps the greatest I have experienced. Can you tell me what group, and especially the lead person, led the praise and worship that night prior to the main speaches. By the way, Friday night was awsome also. One of the members of the Zoe group leads the worship at our congregation here in Dallas. Again, thanks Wade.
Wade,
I have been attending the workshop for 16 years straight, and this was one of the best ever! Any time unity can be preached on, and even more than that practiced, it is going to be great. It was nice to finally put some flesh on what we have been talking about for years.
Observations:
1. The speakers were great. Big names will draw big crowds. Keep that Bob Russell coming back. Also Rick, Jeff, Rubel, Marvin, Jerry Taylor (he would be great in an evening keynote). Jeff brought his A-game as usual. He was great.
2. Praise the Lord CASA BARFITA closed!!! (I did miss the sopapillas though)
3. Saturday feels kinda like an afterthought, especially the evening keynote (though Marvin and Alan did a superb job). Couldn’t you save the biggest hitters till then and lather people up all week for the big ending on Saturday night? I know a lot of people leave, but if the draw was big enough, they might stay. Maybe have the Saturday evening keynote a bit earlier in the day, say 3:00 or 4:00 or something, which would still give people time to leave for Sunday. Just a thought.
4. I’m with the others on the sound system and visual presentation stuff. It was the biggest distraction of all, and has been for several years. I appreciate all the hard work on getting that stuff together, and I’m all for it, but if it is not run well, mixed well, equalized well, seamless transitions between the different media, etc. it really distracts rather than helps. Also, in the Expo lectures, maybe turning things around and having the speaker with is back to the booths might help people hear better (the sound wouldn’t be lost in the whole building, it would come back off the end walls), along with a better sound system for those guys, and curtains. I didn’t see curtains this year.
5. Great booths, great spirit of everybody involved, great food and fellowship. Can’t wait till next year! (I was surprised that there were no flyers on our windshields or picketing or something saying we were all going to hell along with the Christian Church)
This was my first year to attend and I was impressed. So great job, Wade. I know you were also surrounded by a great team, from the registration booth to the child care. The two highlights for me were the Fri. night keynote with Max, Bob, and Zoe group leading worship, and then catching up with old friends in the Expo center.
I’ve “atta boyed” you up one side and down the other but I’ll gladly affirm both you and the job you did here too. Your support team was even better than you though and I imagine that comes as zero surprise to you.
As one of the speakers, I felt a sincere “we’re SO glad you came” from all of your staff…Barbara especially. It was an honor to share about our ministry but even better to feel really treasured for being there. I hope all the speakers felt that. I assume they did.
I loved the presence of ministries not specifically affiliated with churches of Christ. My favorites were Voice of the Martyrs and Invisible Children. Those are GREAT ministries and it was a blessing to see them given a forum there to share with others about what they do.
Specific to speakers was the confusion about the shuttle to the Fairgrounds from the hotel and back. It was the hotel’s fault mostly. One night I mooched a ride off you and Heather (thank you for Sonic as well) and the next night I paid $15 for a cab since the front desk guy at the Radisson gave me incorrect time and location for a pick up. Not my best memory of the workshop but that was the only negative I came away with.
To actually have gotten an hour with you for coffee was wonderful! I feel special now knowing that others wanted the same.
Seat 1C and the warm mixed nuts. Great story…and true too!
Wade;
As another “newbie” to Tulsa, I can only think of three words. “WOW” and “Thank you”. The speakers were challenging. The atmosphere was refreshing and renewing and the praise groups were phenominal. It was great to get to spend some time with Watershed again and to mett and fall in love with Free Indeed. Wade, get some rest this week and I plan on seeing you next year.
Wade:
Does anyone have an estimated count for how many people attended this year?
–Erik
I had one more idea. I always feel sorry for the 9am Thursday morning class speakers. This year with the snow, how many attended at that time? Perhaps an alternative would be one speaker in a “kick-off” kind of class in the expo. Maybe the workshop director for a certain year could do the “kick-off”. Or, let the 9am Thursday speakers do a repeat of their class at a later time. Just food for thought. Lynn W.
It was Awesome, Thanks for doing it and having for having thick skin.
Matt Cook
Wade – Thanks again to you and the other leaders of Garnett (and Memorial Drive). This was an important gathering. And I know it didn’t come without a cost.
Two of the highlights for me were getting to hear Bob Russell and getting to listen to Milton Jones’s passion for the children of Africa. His class probably contains some of the most significant material of the workshop.
I know “lectureship director” isn’t one of those titles you ever thought you’d see on your resume, but you did great. Now . . . get some rest!
I’m another “first timer”, but it won’t be the last time. WHAT A BLESSING! I know Heaven’s singing is going to be even better than Friday night, but that has to be the closest to Heaven I have ever been. The singing was AMAZING! We sang for over an hour, and it seemed to be about 10 minutes. Thanks Wade, for having the vision it took to have the theme you had this year. God is at work amongst His people.
DU
P.S. The sound system was lacking a lot of the time.
Wade ?
What a great workshop experience you helped guide. You assembled the right people for the right job.
Kudos to Becky Andrews for the impressive job she has done for the third year in a row working with the vendors and Exposition Center Staff. Having her as the mainstay each year brings a much needed continuity between the Garnett and Memorial years. I wish there were other key positions that were mainstays as well each year. I think both hosting churches would benefit from having not only an exhibit coordinator to share each year but a common progamming/event/publicity person as well. If were ever going to take this workshop experience to the next level and give it a more professional and polished feel we?ll have to spend our money a little differently and a little more selectively.
As many other commentors have noted there were some major and minor technical issues at the speafers forums and keynotes. This has as much to do with the companies we hire to handle our tech issues as much as it does with our expectations about who this event reaches. If we want professional quality presentations at each nights keynote, then we have to plan for that from day one in our scheduling, hiring, and selection of servants/volunteers.
I thought Jeff Walling was outstanding. His sessions on the Messy Messiah and Messy Christianity were great teasers ? and they were just that- teasers: He grabbed my interest entertained and educated me, was holding my full attention and then wham ? time was up! He could present all day long and I would be there.
I would like to see some longer class sessions that turn the audience into participants. I?d like to see some guided discussions were participants get into small huddle groups and engage in some active learning experiences.
I?d also like to see some specific classes on children?s and student ministry: how to set them up, recruit and equip servant volunteers, choose curriculum, handle discipline issues, etc. Again, in an interactive particapant format.
It was my privilege to again work with you and the Garnett staff. I look forward to 2008!
I thought the workshop was a great time once again. I do agree however with everyone has said thus far about the sound and visual-it was so distracting every night in the pavillion..It was way too loud that it made all the singing sound horrible and drowned out the acappella singing of all the songs..don’t get me wrong, I love Zoe and all the groups, but I wanted to hear the great singing, not them! The visual was good, but I really like it the years that we put the stage in the middle because its just a little easier to see (with the screens) and you also feel no so distant from everything. I really wish you guys would consider doing the chicken bucket either before we get going or after–right in the middle–after the song leaders have us warmed up an dready for worship–its like–ok let’s stop now–and then its hard to get back in the groove–just a personal perference. Totally agree on the early key note for Saturday–so many have to leave Saturday afternoon-this would be awesome, to have it like at 2pm or something in plenty of time to get everyone home for sunday! Overall, excellent job, not necessarily my favorite workshop but definitely made you think, grow and reach out, which is what its all about! 🙂 Thanks wade for your continued work! Only 362 days until the next one–can’t wait!
Diaper-changing Areas: YES! Keep it up, it’s a BIG help!
Really enjoyed the few classes I got to attend.
One thing I wondered about was a Job Posting Board. I am currently searching for a job, and thought it may be good in the future to have a place where people can post a phone number and meet up with each other sometime during the Workshop.
You hit a HUGE homerun with the worship. Great job!
Out of 31 years of ISSW, I’ve only missed three. Every year I say the same thing – “this was the best year yet” and it was certainly true again this year. I love the continuity of bringing back certain speakers year after year and yet having new speakers to hear. I love the chicken buckets because we get a real, hands on opportunity to see God meet our needs. I love the singing, the exhibits, the atmosphere, but mostly I love coming to the workshop because it’s as close to heaven as I can get without having to die!!
You and your team did an awesome job, Wade. Thank you so much.
I thought the speaker selection was great. Good job, Wade. Fyi, Marvin Phillips had some thoughts about the workshop on his site for which he’s asked for comments on:
http://www.marvinphillips.org/
The focus on unity was wonderful. I appreciated so much Max’s emphasis on unity for all believers, not just the restoration movement groups (I’m sorry to say I might not have said that a few years ago — I still have a lot to learn.) I hope that future workshops build on this momentum for unity.
Wade,
I was able to make two days. It was nice to feel welcome. I thought Max/Bob did a great job of summarizing why unity matters.
I will say that I was so inspired by the Friday night talk that I called my local CoC minister to dialogue, see what they had going on, etc. I really did and I will leave it at that.
I enjoyed the booths immensely. The guys at Stadia were great, very helpful and willing to talk. Also talking with Stan Grenberg of Kairos was very interesting. His passion and understanding were a joy to just listen to. Stan?s shared his experience on the west coast and it was as eye opening as any other discussions during the Workshop.
Wade, you took a leap of faith on this and I pray that the Workshop will grow. I hope that more and more people from the Christian church will find their way to a great three days.
Thanks.
Hi Wade,
It was good to see you. Man I sure miss the book discussions before I left Tulsa. I know there were just a few, but I really enjoyed that time. It really was a challenge for me.
Here are my two cents so you’ll at least get a penny’s worth. I’m not sure where the extra cent goes.
The two events I enjoyed most…
1) Visiting with Mark Riddle for lunch and eating take-out from P.F. Chang’s.
2) Praying with/for Joe Almanza and his ministry after one of his lectures.
Those two things were the cake…the rest was icing.
Thanks for providing some really great icing.
LeeKeele
Great workshop!
This was my first time in Tulsa.
+++ The sessions with Mark Moore were great!
— I was disappointed by the visuals.
Bob Simmons
Wade,
This was my first Tulsa Workshop as well. I attended your “both/and Christianity” class, and I LOVED it. I even bought the CD, which is a big step for me. I pray that more churches can embrace the Emergent Conversation.
Being a first timer, I was a little surprised by the demographics of the Workshop. It was mostly an older crowd. I suppose that most people aren’t able to get off work, but I did notice it.
Great job, and I look forward to future conventions!
Oh, and since I’m sure you have a TON of free time, check out my blog. I’d like a fellow emergent’s feedback.
Todd
Hi Wade,
As a person from the one-cup churches (for lack of a better term) who has attended all but one workshop since 1985, I wish to offer congratulations to you and the Garnett church for a wonderful experience. I have for many years considered members of the “mainline” churches to be my brothers and sisters. I was extremely gratified to see the larger emphasis given to our estranged brethren in the Christian churches. The way I look at it, if I can fellowship you despite our differences, then why can’t I fellowship those in the Christian churches? This does not mean that the way I worship will change, only that I won’t be building walls when I should be extending my hand. Keep up the good work with the workshop. I’ll be back next year! God bless!
Ed
Wade…
1. If I can be of any help with some of the audio issues, please let me know. I’ve come a long way since the SDC days… 🙂
2. Did Dunbar tell THE story?????????
Wade,
Thank you for your time, energy, and heart for unity! I was so blessed by the workshop. My oldest brother has had such bitter feelings toward the CofC. In the small town we lived in years ago, he was asked to leave until he could get a hair cut and afford some decent clothes. He was treated so terribly. He did not want to have anything to do with Christians after that. He spent many years in prison, and lived hard life. He just began attending church (a non-restoration church) a ouple of years ago. He is now so on fire for God. However, he still did not understand why I would want to b a minister in the Church of Christ. He loves to read Max lucado books, so we talked him into coming to hear Max. He and his wife loved the singing. They were so motivated by the speaking of Max. He now welcomes me as a brother who loves this young Church of Christ minister. Thank you for being a huge part of putting this together. I pray that we move beyond the position of saying unity is a good idea and strive and work for unity. God bless you.
Thank you for not allowing the critics to deter you from standing for unity. Unity is Jesus dying prayer.
I think the focus for the weekend (unity) was great and was well-demonstrated by all involved. The speakers were all good and knowledgable about their topics, from church planting to spiritual health. When tough topics came up, they were tactfully handled.
The sound system was a tad bit off the whole weekend, but I still got the point of the messages.
And, for the record, you should invite yourself back as a speaker next year in my opinion, Wade. I got as much, if not more, out of your perspective as I did from anyone elses. Good job, to all involved in making it happen.
Boy, I wish I could have been there this year. My first Tulsa Workshop was back in 1994, and I’ve been to several since. I really hated to miss this one.
How about Patrick Mead for a keynote speaker next year?
—
I enjoyed the workshop greatly! I would give a great big amen to including Patrick Mead as a key note!
Also I looked at one of the commentors on this site and his blog had some good reflection on this matter.
http://work4christ.blogspot.com
Wade,
I continue to think back over the workshop experience and reflect on what I saw, heard, and felt.
One of the things that happened sort of quietly behind the scenes was that we used female ushers. Was this a first for the workshop? I love that we are open to using females in this way. It gives me hope that Garnett to may be open to my daughters service as she grows and matures in her faith.
I would like to see more opportunities for our tweens and teens to be engaged. While we did offer the surge on Thursday and Friday, there was nothing specific for them on Saturday. Maybe we should have their own keynote and worship experiences on T-F-S in the Expo.
I?d also like to see an opportunity for some art reflective of the theme to be presented. Have a place where people can bring artwork to show ? and better yet donate for sale with the proceeds going to a mission point.
I?d like to see a “talent show” type event. I know we have jubilee, but where in that format is there an opportunity to let youth groups present drama and dance. I can just imagine how fun it would be to have a drama “competition”.
Better yet, why don?t we open some dialogue with the Great Plains region of Leadership Training for Christ. This is a Cof C event that happens every Easter weekend in Tulsa. It already brings in hundreds of folks and students. Using our both/and model of thinking I can see many benefits for both events ? shared resources, shared venues (they meet downtown in the convention center and use the adjoining hotel complex). I can see these two events complimenting each other very well. Hundreds of parents and teens with lots of down time between competitions ? where do they go? Why not 5 miles down the road to the ISWW. Workshop Wednesday would be at overflow capacity if we invited all these people over for dinner!
Maybe we should consider a new venue, now is the time to reserve a week at the new downtown convention center: state of the art facilities, sate of the art sound/lighting/video production with all the quick connects in place. By using the new convention center plus the old facility we could have a much better program. Plus the use on connecting hotels and breezeways ? and the river ? I could get very excited about those changes.
Anyway ? just a few more of my thoughts.
Can we have singing at the 11:00 lesson? The singing was awesome!!!
Wade,
Workshop this year truely was awesome! In fact, it was just a little too Good – I usually try to work in time for my annual shopping spree at Woodland Hills Mall – but there just wasn’t an hour (let alone an entire afternoon) that I thought I could miss!
Great Job to you & Garnett!
I have to say, this was by far, my favorite Tulsa Workshop…ever! As always, the evening keynote speakers were AMAZING every single night. Praise & Worship with Free Indeed and Jerome was AWESOME! The Acappella concert–FANTASTIC as always. I think there was a great variety of booths, but I am still sad about the fact that certain groups/schools and whatnot chose not to attend because of certain things associated with this years Workshop. Can I just say that whoever preached at Garnett on Workshop Sunday was probably the best speaker I have heard in a long time. Everyone at OC who was there that morning, still talk about how inspirational he was…let’s have him next year too! Seriously, I was moved in a way that I had not experienced in quite some time. Let me think–yeah, I love my church and Garnett did a GREAT job of Workshop. Keep up the good work and let’s make it even bigger next year!