Began the Orange Conference by learning how not to do registration. I truly felt for them. I would not have wanted to start a first time conference off this way. However things kept getting better as the day went on. This conference has already challenged me on a few things.
The first workshop was unlocking the XP3 Strategy. In my opinion, they should of kepted it locked until next year. According to the amazing Mark Waltz, you can't get a First Impression back. My guess is that this is GOING to be GREAT, GREAT stuff. However, I think they jumped the gun on the release. They had great presenters, but the material is just not complete or tested enough yet.
Here are my unedited notes...
Unpacking XP3 Strategy
XP3 - The Big Three
Incite Wonder
Provoke Discovery
Fuel Passion
The Heart Behind XP3
Move from information to experience. We need to move past the spectator sport mentality and approach, and let students feel like they have a chance to get the ball. They won’t remember what you say, but they will remember an experience.
Create a real sense of community. Let the small group be a place where students can ask real, tough questions. They can experience real dialog and receive authentic answers. We offer what culture can’t. MySpace is a false sense of community.
Give them responsibility. Knowing who you are unlocks passion. Don’t just tell them to be the church, but teach them to be the church.
Leave behind the “don’t” mentality. Instead of telling them what they can’t do, tell them what they can do. Write from filter of grace.
Work together with parents to create dialog and a connection at home. Instead of creating a culture that excludes parents, find ways to help parents and students “win” in their desire to connect with one another.
XP3
Small Group Dialog.
Your job is to set up discussion and create meaningful conversations.
Begin with “What did the speaker say tonight?” “What did you think about…”
It’s ok to create tension.
What’s the landing point? Give them a closing challenge.
XP = Experience
Home XP = Experience at home. Communicate, challenge and encourage parents.
Teaching Script
Video Elements
Creating the Experience
Middle School Adaptation
Life change happens best in circles, not rows.
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3 comments:
Hey, I was in this same conference and felt the same thing! I'm the Middle School Minister at a church in Jacksonville, FL, and I've read your blog before (from the gcc web page when I've been looking into some of what you guys do up there--looks awesome! we actually stole the word Oasis from you for our wed. night program, hope you think imitation is the sincerest form of flattery) and it's been encouraging, wish I could have met you at Orange. Overall a great conference but I was disappointed in the xp3 presentation. I heard Reggie explained the passion, wonder, discovery stuff in a breakout my wife went to and it sounds a hundred times better than what was in our workshop. anyway, think we'll stick with dash for now, even though our church uses everything else from rethink. hope you have a great summer and thanks for all you do for middle schoolers!
Judy,
Some from our Church who attended the Orange conference have been trying since April or May to tell us what Orange and the whole concept is about... We STILL keep getting the "I don't really know" answer but they are planning a FULL implementation very soon. THANK YOU for your Blog and session by session notes. I have learned more by reading these than ALL the information our team has tried to communicate. I would love to pick your brain some more on this.
Hi Judy, Eddie, Joe...
Thanks so much for the honest feedback. We are WELL aware of the hiccups that we had at Orange 2007, and have been working hard to get them fixed up before the conference in 2008.
We welcome more feedback between now and April to make sure that we avoid the "I don't really know" answers or frustrating breakout experiences.
It's our honor to serve you guys...keep the suggestions coming!
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