Well hello, everyone!

It's been awhile.  But I wanted to let y'all (if you'll permit me a Southern United States-ism) know about some really awe-inspiring opportunities and events (5 special conferences) coming up.

For Writers and Musicians

First off, calling all of you WRITERS and MUSICIANS out there:  I wanted to get you in on the ground floor of something, especially if you're unpublished.  The fine folks at the Burnside Writer's Collective [People Like Don Miller (Searching For God Knows What), Lauren Winner (Mudhouse Sabbath), Rick McKinley (Finding Jesus in the Margins), Derek Webb (I See Things Upside Down), and Chris Seay (The Tao of Enron)] are launching a high-quality literary and music publication called THE ANKENY BRIEFCASE and they are looking for quality short fiction and essays (along the lines of McSweeny's or The Believer, if those titles mean anything to you)…it doesn't have to be "Christian" per se, it just has to be good!  Send submissions to their editor extraordinaire, Jordan Green, at ankeny@ankenybriefcase.com  Tell him Mike sent you!

The Five Conferences*

The next few months are really prime ones for some conferences and gatherings of a Jesus-centered nature.  These events are arising from the momentum of what has been variously called "house church," "tribal church," "organic church," "New Testament church," "simple church," et cetera…I've just called it "home" for the past six years.  Anyhow, knowing Christ intimately in an open, participatory environment is the keystone, and without further ado I'll give you the brief rundown on each of these:

1. GAINESVILLE, FL — This month, March 2005, there is a weekend conference called "The Forgotten Woman: The Bride of Christ."  It is being hosted by some Christians in Gainesville and my friend Frank Viola will be sharing. Frank is also an author, speaker, and church planter par excellence. And the conference ... It is free!  For more information, send an email to PTMIN@aol.com

I was talking to Frank the other day, and I said, "You've written, like, a million books on first-century church life, organic ecclesiology, nonhierarchical community, and obscure church history, but a lot of people who are navigating what it means to be a follower of Christ in the currents of emerging, postmodern culture haven't even read your books … I think they'd like them, though."

To which Frank responded with a one-URL response: "Go here, my son >>>."

It turned out this was all the response needed.  Check it out; 6 of Frank's best books at a fair discount. Frank is an excellent thinker, writer, and practitioner. So enjoy.  Okay, back to conferences …

2. ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — April 15th-17th, 2005 will be a conference, "When the Church Was Young."  This will be held on Rochester College's campus by a home church community in Dearborn, MI, and a church planter guy named Tim Richey will be sharing.  (You can download some of Tim's messages in MP3 format from http://www.atlantasaints.com/berry.html) Contact Lisa via email at conference@whenthechurchwasyoung.com or call Charles and Brenda Underwood, (313) 838-3810.  For more updates watch this space soon: http://whenthechurchwasyoung.com

3. RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC — May 27th-29th, 2005 at DUKE UNIVERSITY:  We (and by "we" I mean about a dozen twentysomethings from the Atlanta area and scattered around the nation and world) are looking to start an intentional community in Durham by mid-2006.  This is the first "ground breaking" gathering we're having to raise interest and awareness.  Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you'd think to join in such a mad scheme, but of course if you're leaning in these directions already we especially implore you to come.  The weekend is being co-hosted by the legendary Seedsowers Publishing (http://seedsowers.com ) and we're having novelist, storyteller, and church planter Gene Edwards (http://geneedwards.com ) sharing with us. Details on this one are still forthcoming…there will definitely be a conference fee, as we are setting up some really nice "ambiance" and accommodations…for more info email ME (Mike, zoecarnate@gmail.com) and be watching these spaces: http://atlantasaints.com and http://epurpose.com We don't have a name for this one yet, but my vote's on "God On Earth Conference:  A Radical Revolution in Our Midst."  But we'll see if that sticks or if I'm shut down…  : )

Finally, there are two other way-cool gatherings that I have something to do with that you simply MUST know about:

4. TACOMA, PITTSBURGH, ATLANTA, & ARLINGTON:  Shaping of Things To Come conference with Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch from Down Under.  It is about missional, relational, organic church and what the good Lord might be up to today.  For more info talk to Gordon Wohlers of Mosaic Atlanta at gordon@mosaicatlanta.org

5. CHICAGO, IL—August 5th and 6th, 2005:  "Practically Speaking: Anarchism, Christianity, and Living in Fellowship" should be a compelling call to discipleship in the 21st century.  See http://conference.jesusradicals.com for more details.  (As well as their main site, http://jesusradicals.com and their "cousin" at http://kingdomnow.org )

Okay friends, that's all for now.  ("Whew!" I hear you exclaim.)  Feel free to post any and all of this information on your 'blog, discussion group, website, message board, and forward it to all of your friends, and your friends' small pets.

Until next time, I am…

Your brother,
Mike Morrell
http://zoecarnate.com