The Orange Conference is For Our Neighbors in 2017

Frequent readers know that I’m all about Orange when it comes to student and family ministry. I truly think it is one of the best philosophies when it comes to doing ministry that will have a greater impact on the next generation. As a student minister at my current church for nine years, it has helped so much. Recently, though, I’ve noticed the impact it has had on the rest of our volunteer leaders. That’s why I’m unashamedly saying that you need to take your team, or at least some of your key leaders, to the Orange Conference!

First of all, let me assure you that I am not paid for this endorsement. I’m doing this, because I love what Orange stands for and what they promote. It’s all about the church and the home coming into alignment. In the middle of our crazy world, where it seems like nothing is aligned anymore, it is crucial for the church to play a pivotal role in connecting, equipping, and ministering to our kids, parents, and communities.

The 2016 theme was “Monday is Coming,” which helped everyone focus on the whole week instead of just Sunday programming. The 2017 theme, “For Our Neighbors,” takes it even further, and I am so excited about it. Here is just a quick quote from their website on what it’s all about:

If we are… FOR THE GOSPEL, FOR THE CHURCH, FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, Then we probably need to be . . . FOR  OUR  NEIGHBORS!

As church leaders we need to get SMARTER | KINDER | LOUDER before those who live around us will trust what we have to say.

Then …

WHAT HAPPENS at OUR CHURCHES WILL HAVE LASTING IMPACT ON WHAT HAPPENS in THE HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS around OUR CHURCHES.

Our church just finished an entire series called “How to Neighbor,” modeled after a series LifeChurch.tv did earlier this year. It’s something I think is so important in our day and age. Things have gotten so busy and chaotic that we have forgotten how to reach out and love those around us. But that is what we are called to do as the church. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to “Love God,” and the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Connecting the church to the homes already in the church is great, but it’s only part of the Orange philosophy. We need to also connect the church to the kids, parents, singles, etc. who are not yet a part of a church. We need to throw off all the stuff that the church has been known for in recent years, which usually surrounds the things that we are against, and be known for the things that we are for—the Gospel, the church, the next generation, and OUR NEIGHBORS.

So, if you want to have a greater impact on the next generation of not just those in your church but all of your community, I highly encourage you to mark your calendars for April 26-28, and register for the Orange Conference 2017! If you register on October 13, the day they go live, you can even save $90 off regular pricing and get Insider First Access to the Breakouts! Head over to TheOrangeConference.com.

For those who just cannot make it, or have team members who can’t come with you, please note that they stream a lot of the main sessions for FREE online. So, if you can’t be there, put it on your calendar to gather with everyone on your computer or mobile device. Just follow me on Twitter for the link closer to the event, or head to the Orange Conference website the week of the event.

Before I sign off, I do want to make sure you know that the Orange Conference is not just a place where they try you to buy and use their curriculum. While it is great and our church does use it regularly, I rarely remember them even mentioning it during their conference other than some special breakouts designed to talk about it. So, don’t worry about this being a conference all about them. Of all the years I’ve attended, I have never felt like it was just a huge commercial for their products. Sure, they’ll talk about their books, events, etc., but 95% of the conference is just rich, practical content designed to help you have a greater impact with your ministry!

It’s “Orange Blogger Week,” so I am joining several other bloggers talking about Orange and helping to promote the conference. Be sure to check out all the other bloggers by visiting this link.

Also, I’ve got a lot of posts from past Orange Conferences here on the blog, so be sure to check them out.