Later this week, I’ll be flying out to Dallas for the ECHO Conference, a media and tech conference for creative church leaders. I’m looking forward to being on a panel about church media, technology, creativity, and innovation as well as hosting a workshop entitled “Life After a Great Idea: Taking Ideas to Implementation”.

The following is a copy of my presentation for the workshop I’ll be facilitating. Scott McClellan of COLLIDE Magazine and his team have put together a much needed conference for faith communities seeking to engage technology and media.

Life after a great idea (taking ideas to implementation)

View more presentations from Charles Lee.

If you’re in the Dallas, I’d love to see you there! Who knows, I might have some discount codes for The Idea Camp More than anything, I think ECHO will be a great resource for the Church.

Here’s a promo video of the ECHO Conference:

I started serving in church leadership when I was 18. Young? Most definitely.

There was a need for a youth director at the church I was at so I said I would help. Skills? Very little. All I had going for me was a naive willingness to help. Still don’t know what the leadership was thinking in putting me in charge of the youth ministry. I was barely older than the kids.

Well, I’m turning 38 next month and I have spent all but a few months of the past 20 years serving in ministry.

No, I never had a dramatic “call” to ministry. I don’t recall any special divine epiphanies. I saw a need and volunteered to help. If it wasn’t the church, I’d probably would have volunteered elsewhere. This sounds anti-climatic, doesn’t it?

I never saw myself becoming a pastor. Quite honestly, I don’t think I pastor well in the traditional sense of the word. The models of pastoring I saw while growing up was never appealing to me, especially in light of my personality. I simply wanted to (and still do) serve people with whatever skill-set God has allowed me to develop.

All I really know is that my heart’s been captured by the amazing life and mission of Jesus to embrace the world with his love. I have no desire to build or rebuild an institution. I no longer have much desire to make it “big” in ministry. In hindsight, that was a pretty meaningless pursuit. Prominence in ministry often gives a false sense of impact and perpetuates the delusion of self-importance.

Oh yeah…the sabbatical.

The leadership at New Hope has graciously allowed me to go on sabbatical for 6 weeks (starting in a couple of weeks) to reconnect with God, my passions & dreams, and find time to rest and write (i.e., a practice that fuels my soul). Although this won’t be a complete sabbatical since I will continue to work on my company, I have set aside 2-3 days each week (depending on the week) to renew my soul. My hope is that God would allow my wife and me to reflect on where he’s brought our family and how he would like to direct our future. We’ve committed to being an open canvas to him during this sabbatical. We just think it’s the right time to do this and we expect God to do some great things in us and through us.

I share this to ask for your prayers. I appreciate your friendship and how you’ve helped me to become a better human being.

I’m excited to announce today the launch of a brand new website for the Idea Camp!

We hope that the new website will more clearly communicate our vision and upcoming events.

We will continue to have our Ning site as our community site for our Ideacampers.

Thank you so much for your continual support and participation in this growing tribe of idea-makers!

I attended a private charity event yesterday in LA for charity: water, an organization committed to bringing clean and safe water to the billion people around the world that don’t have access this basic human need.

In less than 4 years, charity: water has raised over $20 million to provide safe water to over 1.1 million people around the world. A simple idea and is changing the lives of millions.

The event was hosted by Blake Mycoskie, the Founder of TOMS Shoes, a business that provides a new pair of shoes for each shoe sold to children around the world that live without shoes. Over 600,000 pairs of shoes have been distributed already in its short 4 year history.

Another simple idea making a world of difference.

I was reminded last night that some of the best ideas are the most simple to communicate and implement. This is not to say that these ideas don’t require a lot of work to implement. My point is that working toward simplifying a concept that can be clearly communicated will provide much vision towards implementation.

For example, my good friend Greg Russinger and I founded an organization called JustOne that is committed to creating and spreading “every day ideas for human care”. One of our initiatives called Laundry Love seeks to partner with local laudromats to provide free washings of clothes to those in need in hopes of creating relationships and discovering what the real needs of a community may be. Within the past 4 years, over 90 locations have opened up around the world. We now collectively serve over 25,000 people each month. Each location is different and offers various services that meet the needs of a community including tutoring, basic medical care, food distribution, job placement, etc.

Yes, another simple idea making a world difference.

While driving home last night, I was also reminded of the great work that my good friend Jeff Shinabarger is doing through Gift Card Giver, an organization that collects unused gift cards and then redistributes them to non-profits in order to help them with their respective missions.

Simple. You get the point.

When implementing a new idea, be sure to work hard towards simplicity.

Do you know of any simple ideas that are changing the world? Love to hear them.

In this insightful and interesting TED talk by blogger and technologist Ethan Zuckerman, he challenges some of our misconceptions about the global nature of the internet. As stated on TED’s website:

Sure, the web connects the globe, but most of us end up hearing mainly from people just like ourselves.

Zuckerman shares several stories and pieces of data that show the bias slant with which information is communicated online. He also offers some initial solutions to better engaging the rest of the world. Zuckerman’s focus of study is on how the whole world uses new media to share information and moods across cultures, languages and platforms.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this video.

Changing a community is easier said than done. Many organizations have tried, but only a few have really made tangible impact in their respective cities. ShareFest is one of those life-giving organizations that any city would love to call their own. What began as ministry through a church in our area has now turned into a leading community development organization making in difference in over 12 cities!

The mission of ShareFest is to engage cities, businesses, churches, and other local organizations in comprehensive community-building programs and services that meet needs in the lives of children and families, specifically in the South Bay and Harbor Areas of Southern California.

ShareFest Community Development’s vision is to create an imprint of lasting positive change in the community. They accomplish this through mentoring youth with a focus on developing the leaders of tomorrow, fostering volunteerism in the community through service projects in specific points of influence including schools, parks and community programs, and establishing working coalitions made up of city leaders, schools, businesses and the faith community.

ShareFest Community Development began as a simple idea to leverage a community’s assets through the creation of working coalitions, growing local leaders from interested youth and fostering volunteerism utilizing established community organizations. Rather than just coming in from the outside and encourage a community to be a consumer of services, ShareFest helps communities to help themselves, developing ownership. ShareFest believes this is the best way to create sustainable change. Ultimately this leads to improving the community’s long-term well-being through empowering physically and emotionally vulnerable children and their families.

Since its inception (began in 2004 and incorporated as 501c3 in 2006), they have mobilized over 30,000 volunteers that have provided over $6 million in work for our cities. Additionally, they have served and mentored over 600 youth (middle school and high school) through our Youth Development Academy to become the future leaders of our communities.

The following is a video of Jose, a young man who’s life was changed a few years back during ShareFest’s Summer Youth Development Academy and now interns for them.

I have had the privilege of working with ShareFest regularly and have seen first-hand their commitment to excellence and thoughtfulness in caring for our area. Chad Mayer, the Executive Director of ShareFest, will be speaking during our Origins Learning Tour this Friday July 23rd! Hope you can join us!

Homelessness is a reality for far too many individuals and families here in the United States. In Los Angeles, the homeless capital of the country, there are approximately 82,000 people who are homeless on any given night (Weingart Center). The following are some eye-opening stats on homelessness:

• 42% to 77% do not receive public benefits to which they are entitled.
• 20% to 43% are in families, typically headed by a single mother.
• An estimated 20% are physically disabled.
• 41% of adults were employed within the last year.
• 25% are mentally ill.
• 48% graduated from high school; 32% had a bachelor degree or higher.

One of the major obstacles for our friends who live on the streets is the inability to get across town to receive all of the social services necessary to get back on their feet. Imagine for a moment what life would be like to take all of your possessions via public transit to find and (hopefully) receive the appropriate services you need. This is of course assuming that you know where to find these services.

A glimmer of hope in the midst of these systemic and environmental obstacles is an organization that I’ve admired for years: PATH (People Assisting the Homeless).

PATH is nationally recognized as an innovative and effective model for serving the homeless population. Last year, their PATHMall concept (see below) helped 4,500 individuals access the services they needed to break the cycle of homelessness in their lives.

The concept of the mall is simple. PATH works under the premise that most communities in America have the capacity to develop their service-integrated model. Here are five simple components to the PATHMall as stated on their website:

• “All Under One Roof”–Provide a “one-stop” social service facility to serve homeless people and people living in poverty. This is a place where people are able to address multiple needs in one location.
• Bring Together The Experts –Homelessness can only be solved when the whole community works together. One agency should not provide all of the services for a community. Instead, many different service agencies, both public and private, must work together in one facility to provide the support center that homeless individuals need.
• Provide User-Friendly Services –The environment of the mall must be up-lifting, positive, bright, and empowering. Our programs serving homeless people are based on empowerment, self-worth, and dignity. The physical environment, as well as the approach of the staff, must also generate a bright and positive outlook.
• Integrate Services –Insure that case management, client tracking, and program outcomes are linked among agencies, through a computerized database and regular case management meetings among agencies.
• Cost Effective –Agencies share the overhead cost of operating one building.

Please take a moment to click here and view a video of the mall.

I love PATH’s collaborative spirit, dedication to effective services, and a willingness to look for new solutions to assist the homeless community. It’s going to take these kinds of long term commitments, partnerships, and innovative ideas to bring relief to those affected by homelessness.

[Side Note: During the Origins Learning Tour this Friday July 23rd, we will have an opportunity to spend some time with Joel John Roberts, the CEO of PATH, at the PATHMall. Why don't you join us?]

There’s no doubt that the internet has changed the world. It’s definitely changed mine.

It’s changed the way we interact with other each other, engage products, and think about the world. Like any new significant technology, it’s impacted our life rhythm. Remember life before Facebook, Twitter, live feeds, instant message, & email?

The internet has done a lot of good in the world. Nevertheless, I was reminded by a cautionary documentary last night about where we might be headed if we are not mindful of what’s being formed in us by technology. It’s a film I’ve been wanting to get to for awhile now but didn’t have the time to until last night. The film? “We Live in Public” by Director Ondi Timoner.

The documentary is about Josh Harris. As described on their website (adapted for brevity):

Ten years in the making and culled from 5000 hours of footage, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC reveals the effect the web is having on our society, as seen through the eyes of “the greatest Internet pioneer you’ve never heard of”, artist, futurist and visionary Josh Harris. Award-winning director Ondi Timoner documented his tumultuous life for more than a decade to create a riveting, cautionary tale of what to expectas the virtual world inevitably takes control of our lives.

Harris, oftencalled the “Warhol of the Web”, founded Pseudo.com, the first Internet television network during the infamous dot-com boom of the 1990s. He also curated and funded the ground breaking project “Quiet” in an underground bunker in NYC where over 100 people lived together on camera for 30 days at the turn of the millennium. With Quiet, Harris proved how we willingly trade our privacy for the connection and recognition we all deeply desire, but with every technological advancement such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter,becomes more elusive. Through his experiments, including a six-month stint living with his girlfriend under 24-hour electronic surveillance which led to his mental collapse, Harris demonstrated the price we pay for living in public.

Although there are several points of hyperbolic and speculative perspectives about the internet and its future possibilities, I thought the film as a whole did a good job of what has contributed to our current online revolution through the lens of an original “dot com” kid.

[Note: The film does contain nudity, foul language, and some disturbing images.]

The inaugural Origins Event is only a few days away!

As a part of this great weekend, I have the privilege of hosting a FREE learning tour on Friday July 23rd. Whether or not you’re registered for the Origins Event, you’re welcome to participate in this tour.

This learning tour is designed for those currently working with or desiring to work with their cities in community development and local care. We will be learning best practices from city leaders and organizations that have a proven track record of care. We will be visiting several locations throughout the day to see first hand the kind of work that is making lasting impact.

Guest Guides & Speakers Include:

• Joel John Roberts is the CEO of PATH, a national nonprofit organization which helps communities across the US integrate homeless support services with permanent, affordable housing. A 15 year human services professional, Mr. Roberts’ efforts have focused on re-shaping community responses to poverty, housing and homelessness. A focus that emphasizes grass-roots solutions, measurable outcomes, and the engagement of cross-sector partnerships.
• Chad Mayer is the Executive Director of ShareFest, a community development organization in the South Bay & Harbor Areas of Southern California that has mobilized over 30,000 volunteers to do over $6 million in community development work. In addition, ShareFest provides year round programming for youth to help them succeed in school and in life.
• Michael Mata is the Urban Development Director for World Vision and has extensive experience in urban-related programs on the congregational level, as well as ecumenical and interfaith levels. Michael’s skills and expertise lie in developing practical approaches to faith-based community development, congregational redevelopment, transcultural ministry, and community conflict transformation. His research interests include social-cultural analysis of the urban landscape and assessing the social ecology of religious institutions in urban communities.

Schedule for the Learning Tour:

10:00am – 10:40am | Welcome and Introduction to the Learning Tour

10:40am – 11:00am | Travel to PATH

11:00am – 12:00pm | Tour and Talk Back with Joel John Roberts (Topic: Innovative Solutions to Homelessness)

12:00pm – 12:15pm | Travel to Lunch Location

12:15pm – 1:40pm | Lunch Conversation with Chad Mayer (Topic: Best Practices for Community Development)

1:40pm – 2:00pm | Travel to Fred Jordan Missions

2:00pm – 5:00pm | Walking Tour with Michael Mata

Walking Tour Description: Learn a tool to exegete (interpret) any urban community by simply walking and observing key clues (like graffiti, billboards, trash, paint color). We will walk downtown Los Angeles, arguably one of the first postmodern metropolises, from Skid Row to the Financial District learning the history, its current challenges and getting a glimpse into its future by “reading” the built environment.  Prepare to get a new “set of lenses” to read your community.

5:00pm – 7:00pm | Street Celebration on Skid Row with Origins Team

Interested in Participating?

As mentioned, this tour is absolutely FREE! Nevertheless, we ask that you RSVP your interest to Paul Kim by clicking here by Wednesday July 21st.

There’s no doubt that individuals, organizations, and companies around the world are collaborating more than ever. With the growth of accessibility to technology, transportation, and networks, it has become increasingly commonplace to see people move as a collective tribe. Collaboration is no longer just a nice option for an entity, but it has become a necessity.

Along with this movement towards working together, there has been a rise in common misunderstandings about how collaboration actually works. The following are 3 common myths that I hear regularly about collaboration:

Myth #1: Collaboration Just Happens

This is the belief that collaborative efforts are the result of spontaneous relationships that come together at the right time. Although there is some truth to the fact that relationships do undergird many collaborative efforts, the reality is that these relationships need intentional building towards a common goal. A desire to work together should never be confused with actual work. Collaboration takes initiation, direction, time, clarity of expectations, resources, and an implementable plan.

Myth #2: Collaboration Lightens the Load

This view says that collaboration will lighten the workload in the same kind of way as delegation. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. Collaboration may rearrange responsibilities and areas of focus, but it doesn’t necessarily lighten the amount of work. The beauty of collaboration is that it allows us to focus time and energy on our strengths while leaning more upon the specialty of others in their respective fields of expertise. It doesn’t necessarily take away the quantity of work we need to accomplish a project. In fact, it will probably lead to more hours of work since we will find ourselves in areas of passion.

Myth #3: Collaboration’s Primary Tool is Social Networking

This perspective promotes the idea that social networking is the primary vehicle through which two individuals or groups can collaborate. Although I am a big fan of social networking, most collaborative efforts beyond event promotions, writing projects, and information sharing require significant invest of time in other tools and platforms including face-to-face time. Social networking can supplement collaborative projects, but it is insufficient to provide all that is needed to work productively with others.

Collaboration is a source of great energy, inspiration, and productivity. In the process of working together, may we never lose sight of the actual work it will require of us all. Collaboration will me more enjoyable if we go in with realistic expectation.