Why have Soularize in the Bahamas?
Spencer Burke sent this out as a part of TheOozeletter today.
This year Soularize is a counter intuitive relational learning partyThere are three important reasons why we chose the Bahamas;
- This is the first international venue for the missional / emerging conversation. I am surprised how many people in the USA are unaware of how difficult and expensive it is for our international friends to come to US. It is only 60 miles off of our coast but it makes a world of difference for many desiring to engage on neutral ground.
- We are always connected to a local ministry and spend a year or more working with them on the event to ensure this is not a "road show". All of the creativity and experiences are in collaboration with Clint, Tim, Kelly, Gillian, Christian (New Providence Community Church) and local artists, musicians and families. You should check out all of the spaces we are using to create the conversation and learning experiences Soularize, (no hotels or conference centers).
- It is hard to fight the perception of the Bahamas - cost was one of the factors (although it is cheaper to fly from NYC, Minneapolis, Seattle and Canada, stay in our host hotel and pay the registration fee for Soularize than it is to fly to a San Diego conference). Soularize has been the one safe place for those who have left the comfort of the established church and their conference budgets. Many have to take time off of work as well. But this has become more than a conference, for some, it is a family gathering. It is always great to see the friendships pick up from last year and new ones begin. The key to Soularize is relationships. Online 24/7, in person Oct. 25-27, 2007.
Spencer's Description of Soularize 2007 on YouTube
Update:
Passport Application Required for travel to the Bahamas!
Regular (today) - $249
Late (after Sept 1) - $299
Register Today
http://www.theooze.com/store/details.cfm?item=10006
Myth Busters
Myth #1 - The Bahamas is too Expensive
Fact - October is the Off Season with great deals on airfare and hotels
Myth #2 - The Emerging conversation is limited to the USA
Fact - We chose the Bahamas because it is an International venue, it may be a short flight from Miami, but it is a huge leap towards our friends
Myth #3 - Conventions are talking heads in stuffy rooms
Fact - Soularize includes a Private Island, Art Studios, Swimming w/Sharks, Social Networking website, Beach Reclamation Project
Myth #4 - Big name speakers equal big impersonal crowds Fact - We limited the event to 500 attendees, with a key note line up of the decade (N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Fr. Richard Rohr)
There will also be some Canadians there. We will be the ones playing road hockey on the private island while swimming with the man eating sharks.
Labels: art, church, conferences, Emergent, emerging church, hockey, Soularize, TheOoze
2:07 AM ::
5 Comments:
Jordon, It looks absolutely awesome. For us lazy procrastinators that waited a liitle to long with pass port application...it's not looking hopefull. Thats unless someone has applied alot of oil to the wheels of bureaucracy.
Canadian passports take about 15 days. American ones take a little longer
I've considered this a couple of times. It's too bad that a grad student doesn't have the change to go. Do you know if there are ways to offset costs for work?
Talk to Spencer Burke at spencer AT theooze.com
knsheppard,
as far as conferences go Soularize will be one of the cheapest offerings this year. october is the off season and we have deals with hotels, etc. there are even a few families connected with the local church we have partnered with that may be able to house some attendees.
i know it cn be a stretch for many, that is why e have worked hard to make this as valuable as possible - speakers, destination, learning experiences...
let me know if i can help with hooking you up with others to split cost, etc.
spencer
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home