WFX Wrap-Up

The 2009 Worship Facilities Expo in Long Beach California ended Friday afternoon. My final presentation was Friday morning, then I closed up shop and headed back home, arriving late Friday night.

For a quick summary of WFX, take a look at my Learning Solutions blog posted here. It should be up sometime later today.

This WFX was one of the smaller events they have held, but a couple of factors contributed to that: the economy and resulting travel budget cuts, and the West Coast location. Still, it was a great event, and all the participants I talked with were glad they came.

Now it's back to a desk and schedule that's full after having been away for a week!

WFX Day 2 Wrap Up

Dave Gibbons, pastor of New Song Church in Irvine, author of "The Monkey and the Fish"

• There is a change coming from hard power (brute force) to soft power (influence of attraction)
• Beware of the trap of plugging and playing instead of innovating and praying
• As you become light and eradicate darkness, beauty will come in (Isiah 58-60)
• Love your neighbor (someone NOT like you) and God's beauty will be unleashed and the world will sit up and take notice
• Instead of thinking about answers, think about questions.

Missed out on John Ortberg's keynote, but had a very productive session with the general manager and vice president of EH Publishing, talking about preliminary work for WFX Charlotte, coming October 28-30. JHB has made a big commitment to the show, and we are working on some pretty cool stuff for the show.

Toured the Expo floor for awhile, checking in on old friends and making a few new ones. Interesting AV technology continues to be rolled out, especially in the digital and LED realms. Will try to squeeze in another quick trip tomorrow AM.

Had lunch with the Church Solutions team, enjoying the sunny California weather. We decided that Friday's sessions should be held outside.

The evening session was a two hour brain stretching exercise called The Idea Camp. Tony Kim, Executive Pastor of New Song Church, Eric Bryant of Mosaic, and Mel McGowan of Visioneering led a real-time and online discussion on the theme of "Creativity". Some good seeds sown throughout the exercise.

Closing up shop now to review my final presentation, pack, and head to bed. My body is still on East Coast time, but it's beginning to show!

WFX Day 1 Wrap-Up

WFX Long Beach opened today, and I felt like a pair of bookends. My presentation "Developing a Creation Care Audit" was one of the first presentations of the day, and "Puttin' on the Ritz: Creating WOW! Experiences at Your Church was one of the last. Here are a few highlights of some of the in-between action.

Michael Trent, aka The Church Bartender, spoke on "Redefining Third Places".

• I have faith that the human instinct for community will prevail


• Successful third places connect people, develop leaders, and fund causes


• When filtering your plans for a third place, consider genetics vs. generics; time vs. money; and investment vs. expense

Craig Janssen and Vance Breshears of Accoustic Dimensions spoke on Integrated Design Approach

• Mission-> Activity-> Facility


• Integration of Team, with mission (of the project) at the core


• Triangle of communication - presentational, responsive, community

Larry Osborne, North Coast Community Church delivered a good keynote: Death of the One Size Fits All Ministry

• Big boxes (stores or churches) grow by offering quality and ability to provide options, BUT can only keep people through personalization


• Implications include decline in big buildings, need for sticky relationships, mindset to reach tribes must offer ministry in their language and ambiance/environment


• Not bowing a knee to consumerism, but thinking missionally

Mel McGowan, Visioneering Studios, talked about "From the Magic Kingdom to God's Kingdom

• Brief history of Walt Disney


• Placemaking lessons


• Disney's thirst for community


• God's passion for community

After the conclusion of my final session of the day, I took a walk outside the hotel toward the beach, with this as my view:

That's the Queen Mary, permanently dry docked as a hotel and restaurant. The weather was pleasant; I met a participant from my Ritz presentation, and we had supper together. After a brief browsing session at Borders, it was back to my room for the evening. Tomorrow, Day 2.