Mark Hunnicutt

Life Events?

Life is made up of events.  When you rewind your life you’ve banked certain memories.  I like to call these “Life Events.”  As leaders we have an awesome opportunity to leverage these events for God’s glory.  I’m going to be encouraging our ministry team to focus on how to better minister to people in these memory making moments. 

 

When the people we lead think back on these moments our goal should be that they  testify to how God was involved in that “life event.”  These are areas that we can’t afford to miss or mess up.  They are not interruptions, they are platforms to be a Kingdom ambassador. 

I’ve listed several “life events” that deserve our focus.

·         Accident or Diagnosis

·         Baptism

·         Baby Birth & Dedication

·         Church Membership

·         Funeral

·         Graduation

·         Ministry Call

·         Mission Trip

·         Salvation

·         Wedding

What would you add?  What systems do you currently have in place to etch these event in people’s minds?  When you review your life and these moments what memories do you have?  Were these events horror stories or glory stories?

'09 Mud Creek Marriage Retreat Day 1

Day one of the ’09 Mud Creek Baptist Marriage Retreat was memorable.  To guess the theme you would have to think, Rubik's Cube, Fanny Pack, Pop Rocks & Now & Laters Candies.  These items and many more were waiting for Cheryl and me in a welcome pack when we arrived at Caraway Conference Centerin Asheboro, NC. 

Being a Baptist boy I’ve been to Caraway several times.  It hasn’t changed much.  Words like rural, raw and rustic describe the ambience.  It is truly a retreat away from technology because you can’t get a cell signal and there is no TV in the room.  They have added incredible tech in the conference rooms which helps with communication. 

Donna, Lisa and their team have done a great job with the creative ‘80s theme.  Sam & Kathy Varner were the keynote speakers during session one and challenged us with our words.  Sam challenged us to speak life because we have received life from Christ.  Kathy gave testimony to the transformation speaking and listening to truth can bring to a life. 

Session one breakouts were titled after ’80 songs.  I Will Survive, Endless Love and I Want to Know what Love Is were led by; Lance & Melissa Plyler, Mitch & Beth Marlowe and Don & Phyllis Rabon.  Cheryl and I attended the Rabon’s session.  They took the word RING and did an acrostic filled with truth on how to keep your marriage fresh.  Good stuff!

Michael & Michelle Benigno led a ‘80s party filled with trivia and karaoke.    Cheryl and I won the ‘80s trivia!  We watch a lot of TV.   Melisa and Lance Plyer won the karaoke contest.  Nothing like watching deacons and their wives sing Culture Club songs wearing mullet wings and leg warmers.  You could barely hear over the laughter.  I’m pretty sure Caraway will make a rule against ‘80s themes. 

Watch the five short videos below for the visual review.

'09 Mud Creek Marriage Retreat Roadtrip Video

'09 Mud Creek Marriage Retreat Kickoff Video

'09 Mud Creek Marriage Retreat Session 1 & Breakout Video

'09 Mud Creek Marriage Retreat '80s Trivia Game

'09 Mud Creek Marriage Retreat '80s Party

2008 Trunk & Treat Is 9 Days Away

Stills from thematic video... one word, sic!

   

2008 Trunk & Treat 30sec Movie Ad

For Trunk & Treat to engage thousands of people with the gospel thousands of people need to know about the event.  This is where our Trunk & Treat marketing strategy comes in to play.  The two most effective elements of event marketing are relational and cultural. 

Relational marketing is our people telling their friends, family and strangers about the event.  The most effective publicity we do is relational.  Have you began praying and telling people about Trunk & Treat?

Cultural marketing is taking the information to where the people are.  We have discovered that advertising at our local movie theater is very culturally effective.  In a six week period most families go to the movies.  Ryan Cumbo, a good friend and Director of Media here at Mud Creek had 30 seconds to communicate the detail of this event and he hit it out of the park.  Watch the video and let me know what you think.

2008 Trunk & Treat New Flow Video

Thank you for your interest in the 2008 Trunk & Treat flow.  We are excited about the possiblities of seeing even more people experience this annual event.  We need your feedback and insights.

Download trunk_treat_flow_chart.docx