The Sticks Conference is two weeks away!! Brand New Church cannot wait to bring God glory for what he has done and bless those in attendance in BNC fashion. If you are reading this and have not registered do it today. Here are few things we will discuss and BNC will provide for you:
1) How to start an Internet Campus.
2) Believability in God for what only He can do in town of 407 and a county of 22,000.
3) In and outs of a Multi-Site Environment.
4) Use of technology on a shoe string budget.
5) How to build a building for $67 a square foot.
6) Find out how excellence happens on a $0 budget.
Listen to what one man has said about The Sticks:
I am somewhat of a Conference Junkie. The problem with many of them is “The Cult of Personality”. You go to the big town with the big megachurch rock star pastors and everyone is looking for the next big thing to make their church grow.
I was skeptical of The Sticks myself. I had never heard of the any of the churches involved and only knew 2 of the speakers. But something about the concept of “The Sticks” gripped me. How could I overcome the challenges of ministering in a small town with limited resources and an over abundance of churches that quite literally “run” the town.
…anyway – what I saw in The Sticks conference was something different. An ordinary church in an ordinary town – that did incredible things. 1000 member churches in 2000 person towns? 2000 member churches in 500 person towns? How does that happen. In my town there are 100 churches and not 2 that might have 1200 people. – But still 50% don’t go to church.
I wanted to see what was happening in The Sticks – so I took my team. Honestly I didn’t expect much. I’ve been to Granger, C3, Unleash, Willow Creek. I’ve seen the best do their thing. And I left inspired and sometimes had principles I could translate back to my town.
But The Sticks was different. I wasn’t watching the Mega Rock Stars of Church and listening to the Top Most Innovative, fastest gowing, cutting edge, blah blah blah people and feeling convicted that I wasn’t cutting it as a Pastor. I was watching normal guys who were doing abnormal things and I felt like I was home among friends.
We laughed, we cried, we worshiped and we felt the Presence of God – and we left more than inspired and overwhelmed with information. We left equipped and encouraged and ready to engage (I alliterated that for my baptist friends) our community for Christ!
If I could go to one conference this year – it would be The Sticks. This isn’t about small/large town, small/large church. It’s about being effective no matter what the obstacle. It just so happens in The Sticks there are unique obstacles to reaching more people and these guys get it and can help you overcome whatever your obstacle is.
There you go. I’d love to meet you at The Sticks in on March 17-18…so register today at thesticks.tv.
We can’t wait to have you with us at The Sticks in the sticks. Also, let us know if you are in need of financial assistance for this conference and we will find a discounted rate just for you.
Anthony says,
Shannon are you playing a numbers game or what. I hear on your videos that you talk and talk and talk about nunmbers. WHATS UP WITH THAT?
I also you talk about the “Audience”, not the congregation. An audience is a group of people who participate in a show. Is this what you do, put on a show?
on 05 March 2009 / 4:24 PM
Shannon O'Dell says,
We share the GOSPEL at Brand New Church and it would not be that effective without an audience. Having people attend is very important. Thank you for your comments.
on 05 March 2009 / 6:54 PM
Anthony says,
The again you call it an audience, definition of a audience is a group of people who attend a “SHOW”. Are they coming to watch a show be put on?
Also have you ever told anyone that they should act like a Christian?
on 05 March 2009 / 11:36 PM
John says,
Shannon O’Dell says,it would not be that effective without an audience……
I have never heard of a church having an audience, it is always a congregation (Those gathered for worship,attend a place of worship) not an audience( An audience is a group of people who participate in a show ). Bringing the WORD OF GOD is not a show, but it seems that BNC has man-made GOD’S WORD into a show ( like a bait to lurer in the lost ) which is not really telling and giving the true meaning of SALVATION.
on 03 April 2009 / 12:35 PM
R.W. says,
it’s a show, anthony. when you have a fancy guitar player banging out Van Halen tunes while the crowd goes bananas, in ‘church,” that’s a show. if you dress like the world, and listen to the world’s music, of course you’ll grow an ‘audience.’ an audience full of lost people who think they’re going to heaven. Mt 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
on 13 March 2009 / 5:30 PM
Joni says,
Shannon–I don’t believe you or anyone involved with The Sticks is focused on numbers. It’s an organized effort to reach lost people in a “churched” rural culture. Sadly I would say this “culture” turns away too many because of stiff-armed ideology. I would ask Anthony if he would like to join in this ultimate Christian calling or waste his time on presupposition.
on 05 March 2009 / 8:47 PM
Whitney says,
I was in the audience for a long time before I joined the congregation, or the church, the living body of Jesus. I am so thankful that Shannon and his wife didn’t put on a show, but showed me what the church was all about. They showed me it wasn’t a building but living a life of passion and pursing excellence for the King. I truly owe my Brand New life to Jesus and his church!!
Also, if anything Shannon has said not to “act like a Christian”, but to live as a true Christ follower-every minute of every day.
Also
on 06 March 2009 / 4:10 PM
Jimmy says,
How do I build a building for $67 a square foot?! Help me please!
on 18 March 2009 / 11:38 AM