We had our Catalyst creative meeting yesterday. This is the BIG ONE! We bring all the creative people we know into one room and brainstorm for 4 hours through all parts of our conference, from speaker intros to fun experience moments to what to do before & after the event.

We just want to recognize our friends who came to the meeting today. You all ROCK! We love dreaming with you.

Chris Brown - Worship Leader, Elevation Church - @chrisdotbrown
Wade Joye - Worship Pastor, Elevation Church - @wadejoye
Russell Shaw - designer, entrepreneur, awesome - @russrs
Tripp Crossby - Creative Genius/Comedian TripandTyler.com - @trippcrosby
Dana Konick - Costume Designer, White Stone Motion Pictures - @scarletscord
Beth Nelson - Editor/consultant
Mat Carson - Director, All Tribes Arts / Artslink
Dale Tompkins - Lead Pastor, Church on the Way, Lake City, FL - @churchontheway
Steven Gallagher - UNC School of the Arts @squiggallagher
Summer Sterling - Intern, Gift Card Giver - @slsterling asdf
Leslie Slade - Intern, Gift Card Giver
Dee Dee Maillian - @deeders
Mandy Campbell - Consultant, Big Finish Media - @itsmandyc
Richard Chancey - Project Manager, Cogun.com
Jenni Catron - Executive Director, CrossPoint, Nashville, JenniCatron.tv - @jennicatron
Jason Jeong - Orphan Epidemic, JasonJeong.com - @jasonjeong
Robert Crow - Land of 1,000 Hills Coffee AS ASDF
Stephen Brewster - Creative Arts Pastor, Crosspoint, stephenbrewster.me - @b_rewster
Pete Wilson - Lead Pastor, Crosspoint, withoutwax.tv - @pwilson
Cory Lebovitz - corylebovitz.wordpress.com - @cory1013
Duane Nisly - Director, institutocanzion.com - @duanenisly
Mack Kitchel - heystac.com, ksmoot.com - @ksmoot
Sam Chontos - Heystac.com - @samchontos
Ken Coleman - KenColeman.net - @TheKenColeman
Amena Brown - AmenaBrown.com - @Amenabee
Craig Johnson - Owner, Brand Guru, Matchstic - @matchstic
Cory McCollumn - Intern, Matchstic - @coymccollum

The need of the world is very daunting. Many people want to make a difference, but get overwhelmed by all the needs, options, people to serve, causes to support, etc - it's easy to just give-up & do nothing.

But you CAN make a difference. Especially when you work together with other members of the Body, it's amazing to see what you can accomplish - not to mention the amazing things that happen when God empowers your efforts.

Here's an email we got the other day from one of our group leaders in New York. They're saving lives & having a huge impact, all from removing a little clutter from their lives....

Here's a quick word on our mission endeavor at Holy Cross.  I've had Rwanda Clean Water on my heart since the Catalyst Conference when it was launched.  I've been a pastor now for nearly 5 years and I thought we'd do something radical...actually follow the words of Jesus.  Imagine that?  What a new idea for His followers?!!  (Ha...Ha)
 
But as I read through Luke and Acts, somewhere in 2,000 years our Western (materialistic and prosperous) Culture, has lost the words of Jesus in Luke 12:33 where He says, "Sell your possessions and give to the needy."  In the verses beforehand Jesus says that life is not about earthly possessions (what we have or don't have) and He promises that our Heavenly Father knows our needs, so let's trust His words, let go of our possessions, and live out our faith in Him.  Moreover, how powerfully we see the NT church selling their belongings to help those in need in Acts 2:44-45.
 
Thus, 6 weeks ago I launched a challenge at our congregation to follow Jesus and sell at least one or more valued possessions (not old, leftover clutter either) and give 100% of the monies towards Rwanda Clean Water.  The Spirit-empowered response of the believers has been humbling--nearly $2,500.00 in just 6-weeks and still growing.  We are gathering a list of possessions sold and it's pretty cool--everything from bikes to computers to baseball cards to clothing and more...God is moving the hearts of His people to respond.  And they are using everything from Craigslist to Ebay to Resell-It shops and more to make it happen.
 
A mother and daughter even approached me one Sunday and asked about organizing a possession sell-off at our congregation this Fall where members will bring in their possessions, set up their own table, and sell them to the community and donate 100% of the monies to Rwanda.  I was thrilled, even floored, when they came up asked about leading such an event!  The vision has now grown from digging one well to two or three wells in Rwanda!!! 
 
We are a smaller congregation in Clarence, New York, worshipping about 150-160 a weekend, yet God is working mightily among us for His glory and toward the good of our neighbors in Africa.  Thanks for inspiring us at Catalyst to make a difference in the name of Jesus.  I can't wait to see where God will continue to take this movement!
 
In Jesus,
 
Randy Rozelle, Pastor
Holy Cross Lutheran Church