into the mystic

85 Responses to “Welcome IMN 2005 Cohort”

Comment by Alex

# August 16, 2005,

Welcome mentors. You belong here.

We’re scheduled to interact today from 10AM - 11AM (PST). Hopefully this wil give it the feel of a real time interaction. We’ll see.

First of all, i’m glad you’re here. I know Octavio has been emailing you and maybe even calling you. As of right now only Dale has mentioned that he won’t be able to join us because he will be on vacation. We’ll miss ya Dale.

That reminds me, as we begin, I’d like to suggest we reconnect again as a cohort sometime around November. I feel this cohort is unique and will make a huge difference in the world in the years to come.

So, make a comment to let us all know you’re here and tell us how your families are doing.



Comment by Eric

# August 16, 2005,

Eric S, here…I came early!! Just checkin in and saw this, I’ll see tomorrow!



Comment by Mike Harris

# August 17, 2005,

Hey guys–I’m early too. I’ve got a full schedule today, but I’m planning to join you in the conversation as soon as I can make it. Miss all of you!

Mike



Comment by Keith McNamar

# August 17, 2005,

Alex,

I’m here on Wednesday 10:30 AM ET. I’ll check in later on today, since the email I got from Octavio said Wednesday…

Keith



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Alex,

Hey guys. I am looking forward to participating in the conversation. Actually, I am most excited about seeing you guys speak.

Clyde



Comment by octavio

# August 17, 2005,

hey everyone,

octavio here.
alex is stuck on the 101 on his way to san francisco.
as soon as traffic clears…he log in at a starbucks or borders…. stay tuned.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

stuck on the 101…sounds like my morning…good to be here.



Comment by octavio

# August 17, 2005,

so…
when you log in, please say hello and let us know a couple of things:
1 - how are you and your family doing?
2 - what have you applied to your ministry that you learned from the IMN?
3 - what have you done with StrengthFinders.

here’s mine:
1 - we are doing well. we are planning a music video with duSol and we’re working with the red corss to host a bllod drive. further… looking at a gospel/blues brunch at the club. we’re small, but with big dreams!
2 - i’ve applied SF to our church. more than this… i feel free to experoement.
3 - i took 12 folks through the SF. we did charge $35 for the textbook and 4 hours of training. good response. we will have a reconnect in september and a new class in october.

what about you guys?



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Eric,

Good to see your voice. How is the new church going? Octavio, thanks for doing Alex’s dirty work. It it really 101 or did he miss his alarm.



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

The joys of small town life. The only time we get stuck in traffic is when people see a garage sale and block the roads so they can go. Look forward to reconnecting with all of you.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

I am here. Not quite awake yet but here.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

1- doing well, my son turns five today and went to his first day of kinder; sad note, we had to put down our dog of 12 years (very special, first anniv. present) on monday…very hard to do.
2- started a new group with church plant of college age/20 somethings and are off to a rockin’ start, very excited and they are pumped to goout and be missional
3-getting people on board is slow, lots of busy folks; but making strides to use and help people learn more



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Oh Great One,

The family is doing well. All the children are accounted for. The new church is about to kill us- that’s good- I think. We are all about Strengthsfinders. Our core is very excited about learning this incredible tool.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

Clyde, man , you too! I’ve been praying and thinking about/for you guys…checked out your web site!

We had our first “service” on the 7th. had a room for 50…75 showed up with about 20 kids!!! the cofe and donuts went fast!

We move to a room that will hold 300 the first sun of sept. If we didn’t we’d need to go to 2 services next week ( our current room only holds 50ish!!)

lots of excitement and hope!



Comment by octavio

# August 17, 2005,

eric…

great problem!
hey guys, remember to refresh to see comments.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Hey guys. Good morning.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

Alex! almost taken by the 101…ouch

Good to “see” you



Comment by octavio

# August 17, 2005,

everyone,

i now refer you to “the alex”
good to see you bro.



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Eric,

I am excited about the news on the new work. God has provided about 42 adults and 20 kids in our core. We completed what we called a “core immersion” this sunday to walk our core through the environments. Thanks Mosaic for modeling this. Our people are very excited.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

Me and my family are doing well. No complaints being in good old sunny south orange county california.
I have given all my leaders (about 18of them) the SF. We had a great response, the difficulty is now them taking ownership and using those strengths. They still feel they need dirrection. I have also given them the Character Matrix as a tool.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Actually, I’m not stuck on the 101. I’m on the 580 headed west to San Francisco. I left LA this morning around 5.00AM.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

Dusty I got the same challenge here…takes some time to get people to grab and runwith it



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Everyone quite please, “the Alex” is in the house. Thanks for defering “oh great one.”



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

Vickie and I are doing well. Our trip to Great Britian was very relaxing and it was fun to experience a new culture. It was nice to have ice in my drink again - and free refills. My son and his family got settled in right before we left and seem to be doing fine. It was hard to leave them knowing that we probably won’t see them for but once a year.

Our students come back this Sunday so life is about to get very hectic. I will be meeting with my interns this weekend and part of our discussion will on SF and character matrix (CM). I want to develop a way to have these as part of a life growth plan for each of our students. So, that will be a major part of our discussion as we meet.

Individually, I just started meeting with a friend that serves as music minister in a local church and is a school adminstrator. We are going to go through the CM together and then move on to strengths. I have also shared both of these with several people within our organization and that has really been fun. To revisit what we talked about and learned was very enjoyable and brought back memories.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

Looking at those pics above, we look so young and naive back then…



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

I’m glad to hear that you (Dusty, Octavio and Clyde) have taken your leaders through the Strengths.

Did they take to the idea of not focusing on improving weaknesses but on focusing on strengths?



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

my folks do, they get that after some thought…and relfection, it makes sense it jsut a new paradigm for people to experience



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Remember to refresh after each post. That way the new comments will appear for you.

Gene, glad to hear you’re using both tools [the CM and the SF]. Excellent.



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Guys,

I am excited about SF, I believe it God’s way of leveling out an organization and moving it into an organism status. So far that is the result we have experienced.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

I have a few that have a hard time with it. Most of them want to know their weaknesses just say they know. It seems to be easier to point out weaknesses than strengths though.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

plus it takes focus off the “should do” mentality and puts it in the relam of what am I best at, and aloow others to do the same



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Tells us about the results your experiencing. Unpack that for us.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

By the way, eric, that’s a great start.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

we were very surprised…many we just visiting/supporting..sure we’ll level off in the next couple of weeks

i had 9 20 somethings at my house last week and began to share info and thoughts from our 21st leader talk…they got it, not only that but began to relate ideas of what it means to be leaders of the future form the future and how they desire something more that “structured” church tends to offer…very exciting!



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Alex,

Erik and I took our leadership team strengths. We complied each team members “genius” of the five strengths on an single sheet of paper. Each team member read off their strengths and the other team members affirmed them. It turned out to be a unique bonding situation.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

awesome idea…I’m using it.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

When I took my leaders through it I did it much like Chip, where I had the people with the strength describe what it was like to have that strength. As we went through them, most of everyone affirmed the person with their strength by saying yeah I totally see that in you. Or that makes sense why you do that. It was neat



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Excellent, Clyde. Remember, everyone in your community has at least 5 strengths they don’t know about yet.



Comment by Joseph

# August 17, 2005,

Hello gentlemen! Good to reconnect with you all. We actually had a retreat a while back in which our team discussed SF. In our situation regarding SF, we found these two foundational mindsets:

1. Paradigm shift. Affirmation of how people are wired and the lens by which we look at people.

2. Language. It’s been really helpful for us to have the language with which to converse with one another. More than trying to make it programmatic, we’re trying to build that langauge into our culture.



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Alex,

Is Rick Yamoto going to carry the strengthsfinders torch? So one has got to do it. Is this the future mission for the IMN? I am in with whoever is going to carry the torch.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Dusty, sounds good. By the way, did you still need the Leadership Matrix Material?



Comment by Keith

# August 17, 2005,

Hi guys,

Sorry I’m a little late to the party…

1. Family is well, we just returned from a week’s vacation to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Seattle, so I’m feeling a little jet lag today.

2. I’m walking our leaders through what might be some major changes in moving our church further towards the missional way of living. I told some of you in May that we would be considering the sale of our property and building, and undergoing a replant. I’ve proposed that to our leaders, and they’re favorable to the idea, so now it’s a matter of getting the logistics in place for that to happen. If it does, I think it’s going to help us really begin to impact our community.

3. While we’re undergoing these changes, I’m also preparing to take our leaders through the Strengthsfinder. I already did so with one guy I’m specifically mentoring, and I’ll be doing so with the others starting next month.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Keith, welcome. Those are big steps, bro. Way to go.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

yes alex if you could send that i would greatly apreciate it



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

ditto to clyde’s comment…i’ve started to talk to business leaders in our community and connect with the manager of a low income/artist housing prject to share SF with them…



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

Alex, I would also like the Leadership Matrix material. Eric B. just touched on it and I am interested in going further with it.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Clyde, The IMN is creating a Strenghts Think tank. The goal of it is to become the leading Strengths based mentoring community on the planet. All of you are invited to be a part.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

alex, so how do we connect?



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

I’ve asked Joe Dworak of Bethel Seminary and an experienced Strengths coach to join the IMN faculty this year. He’ll be adding his experience and knowledge to our pool.



Comment by Joseph

# August 17, 2005,

I’d be interested in the Leadership Matrix material as well. Thanks!



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Joseph, good to hear from you.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

What I am having a hard time with is actually having my leaders move from an understanding of this is who I am to looking for and creating ways to use their strengths. What is a good transition for that?
Is it something that I will initially have to create and let them thrive, or what? I just dont want this to be another informational thing that never moves forward.



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

We are planning on using SF for our evangelism immersion strategy into various sub-divisions with the hope of fulfulling one of our core values “the church outside the walls.” Eric, rigth on, I think the business community will eat it up.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

I’ll see if Eric Bryant will give a one day orientation to the Leadership Matrix at the IMN site. We’ll try to provide you the guide as well.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

thanks alex I really appreciate that



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

dusty I worry about the same (happens all to frequently). I think SF has to become part of the culture…I’m working with my lead about that. if is only an assessment that’s done and then not encouraged and used, what;s the point?

alex, i’m sure you guys have expereinces of making SF a cultural piece…



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

Don’t forget educators. That is one reason I am going through it with my friend. He already told me he could think of several people that really needed to work through both SF and CM.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Eric, one way to connect is to participate in the IMN Alumni track. Also, Joe will be leading a acouple of online training sessions at the IMN site.



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Dusty,

That is the pressing question. How do you it apply it to ministry? Honestly, most churches are not dialed in to allowing people’s strengths to flourish. I think the solution is to redefine church. Easy huh?



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

clyde, that’s what it is all coming to…our church model/map needs ot be changed, right alex!



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

alex, I’m into it…I’ll be looking for more. I feel like the plant in “little shop of horrors”…”feed me, feed me!” but it’s really for building and seeing people follow Christ.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Whenever we take new ground we’ll need new maps. In some ways, we’re the guys who go out before there are maps.



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

Dusty, when i talked to Rick about SF he said to be careful not to try and over do it. I had planned on taking all our student staff (60 students) through it and he recommended I do a much smaller group. That way there could be accountability and encouragement otherwise he said they found out the hard way at Mosaic, people see it as just more info and actually have negative feeling for it because it didn’t really do anything for them.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Dusty, that’s a greaqt question…how to move people to action based on their strengths. Don’t remove their repsonsiblity to be stewards of their own strengths and lives before God.

Insist and encourage them to tell you how they want to serve. Encourage them to create. Help them own their own ministries and help them be responsible for what they now know.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

Thats a good word Gene. I felt that 18 wasnt to much but maybe it was.

The nice thing is that I am working with youth and I am redefining church in a lot of ways, its just slow going. But I thought if I could get my leaders to take ownership and understand the strengths the rest of the group would soon follow.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

hey guys, time is almost up. Thanks for taking time out of your schedules to invest in each other.

Shall we reconnect sometime in November? What say you.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

Great stuff Alex. Thanks. Its the simple stuff.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

i agree dusty, thanks gene. we all too aften get excited about somehting then totally over do it and burn/freak people out…



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

excellent thoughts, Joseph.



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

YES to re-connection…i thrive in it…thsi was way too quick…but great to do.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

I am willing to reconnect when ever and where ever with you guys.

It is always good catching up and gaining insight from you guys. Thanks



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

I am going to start with 10 but am really going to be sensitive about how many ca be encouraged and challenged like Alex said to serve using their strengths. Perhaps having some of the natural relationshipd they have hold them accountable and encourage them may allow more people. I look forward to hearing how it works for you Dusty because you’re right in that the leaders will set the culture.



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

OK. You’ll hear from me about the dates for our next reconnect. See you all.



Comment by Gene

# August 17, 2005,

look forward to Nov



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

thanks for taking the time everyone, especialy you alex, drive safely.

i wish sacramento as a bit closer to san fran i’d come and see you.



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

Take care everyone. Enjoy the journey



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

Hey guys,

How about reconnecting in Aspen in the first week in December. My edges are getting rusty. The IMN budget can probably rent us a cabin…possibly even airfare. What do think Alex?



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

I love dreamers! Is that a strength?



Comment by Dusty

# August 17, 2005,

If the budget can handle it I am there



Comment by Clyde Rountree

# August 17, 2005,

You and me baby!



Comment by Mike Harris

# August 17, 2005,

Hey all— I’m finely here!!
Sorry I missed most of the conversation. I’ll have to catch up on all that was said.



Comment by Mike Harris

# August 17, 2005,

OK….so I’m really late…. For some reason I thought PCT was 4 hours difference…

So, in case anyone comes back:

The fam is doing great. Making preparations to move our oldest daughter into college on 29th.
It’s been an incredibly full summer. I led a mission team to Trinidad, and God just poured out his Spirit on our team. Really great stuff.

We’re getting ready to baptize over 15 people on the 28th. I say “over 15″ because that was the last count I had, but more phone calls have come in this week. I’ve been meeting with all the people, and listening to their stories is AWESOME! I’ll post some pictures on the blog after the event.

I haven’t done much with SF yet just because the summer has been so intense for me. I am planning to introduce it into the leadership team this fall. Thanks for all the great ideas everyone.

That’s about it on my end.

Alex, I just noticed you’re doing an Origins roundtable on September 9th in this area. Is there anything I can help with?



Comment by Eric

# August 17, 2005,

Hey Mike,

Just wanted you to know that I’m here for ya…!

Bummer about the time thing…Keith can relate ;-)

Excited to here about your adventures! Awesome stuff going on.

Look forward to reading about your baptisms!



Comment by Alex

# August 17, 2005,

Mike, welcome. Great news about the baptisms. About the Round Table…help me get the word out and encourage people to register. They can do so at my site www.internationalmentoringnetwork or via my blog alexmcmanus.org.

Thanks. As part of the IMN 2005 cohort, you get one complementary pass. Hope to see you there.



Comment by Dale Swinburne

# August 17, 2005,

Hi all…still on vaca but was able to sneak to the comp to try to connect but am woefully later than the late :/ (That emote was for you Alex! I know u love ‘em.)

The family and I are doing well. It has been a very busy summer and with 4 kids they really have us running around but in the good way.

Since IMN I have started a new group for ‘young-ish’ adults in our area. We take our time together and try to broaden our horizons with experiences in our world. Whether it be world events or different foods or cultural characteristics different from our own. We take these experiences and treat them as doorways into relationships with people that before we might’ve known little about. This has served to start bringing us to a more missional approach to our life and our world, realizing that the world is outside of our personal box.

I’ve just run through StrengthsQuest with my first group of leaders (from the young adults group) and it’s been great. A lot of this has been said but I’ve seen paradigm shifts in perspectives as well. The 6 people I’ve taken through it have said things like…”I never thought those things were positives in my life.” “I never thought I was ‘good’ at anything.” Now I see them revitalized and energized. Passionate or unlocked are good words too. But also in their perception of others there has been changes. They have the pre-conceived idea now that everyone has strengths…they just need to be discovered. So in summary it has been awesome.

Great to read all of your comments!! Sorry again for missing out. Look forward to Nov.

Dale