Arts Blog : Arts Conference 08 - ARISE, Nancy Beach

Final Reflections on ARISE

Nancy Beach — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:23:00 GMT

I enjoyed a gorgeous weekend here in the Chicago area following the Arts Conference, with a chance to feel the warm sun in my back yard, walk into town for a movie with my husband at the 100-year-old theatre (we saw Ironman, which was quite entertaining), and celebrating Father’s Day at my sister’s home with my 87-year-old father. Throughout the weekend, I thought back on the previous three days, and gave thanks for all that God did among us and in us and through us. Just a few lingering and final thoughts and memories…

Heather…a young woman found me eating breakfast at IHOP Thursday morning, and told me her story. Last year she was a student of the arts in college, and then came to the 2007 Arts Conference. God used the event to re-direct her entire career plan, and now she is serving full-time at a church in the arts ministry. I was reminded of how high the stakes are at these events, and how profoundly the Holy Spirit works inside the hearts of so many who attend.

A man from Pennsylvania...to protect his privacy, I won’t write his name. But I had a moving conversation Thursday with an arts leader who has faithfully served his local church for 17 years, but is now feeling a bit of restlessness and confessed that his joy is waning. His eyes filled with tears, and I could read the guilt all over his face as he admitted his contemplations of making some kind of change. This man loves his church, his pastor, and all the people there. I believe he is only trying to pay attention to the truth that maybe God is prompting him to a different kind of role in ministry, or possibly to another place. But he was clearly quite uncomfortable wrestling with those thoughts. I saw him again on Friday. His eyes looked peaceful. He had slept well, released his concerns to the Lord, and was in a much more trusting place. I think all will be well as he carves out time over the summer to listen to the Spirit and discern what is going on. I look forward to finding out what happens (he promised to touch base).

Surprise moments on Friday…I was delighted by the refreshing music ministry of Kendall Payne, and her response to her less than perfect keyboard work. She’s only played that instrument for 18 months! Her character, the depth of her songs, the richness of her voice, were truly a gift to all of us and I found her to be a breath of fresh air.

At the end of Francis Chan’s stirring, stretching, remarkable message, we all began to sing God of the City. When Francis told me the story behind the writing of that song as we sang down in the front row, I just knew everyone needed to hear that story. So up he went, and then we sang it all again – with an entirely different perspective. The song was written by a guy in a city of Thailand where there are 30,000 prostitutes, as he led worship essentially in a brothel…and believed that greater things are yet to come for God in that city…WOW! Only God can orchestrate moments like that one. I smiled as I drove home, knowing that once again, the best parts of the conference and the most transforming results are completely out of my hands and the hands of others on our team. What an adventure to walk with God and to be stunned by all that He does. I will never know all the stories of private moments with the Spirit, of personal confessions and moments of surrender, of serendipitous conversations in the lobby, at restaurants, in the rental cars, and even in the bathrooms. OK, maybe I’ll hear some of that in heaven. But for now, I simply want to keep telling God “Thank you…Thank you…Thank you.”

Arise Arts Conference Begins Tomorrow

Nancy Beach — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:50:00 GMT

I am staring out my office window at the sparkling lake on our church campus, so very excited about the thousands of church artists and teachers who will make their way here in the morning for the Arise conference. Even if you haven’t registered by now, you can just show up and register in the morning to join us! We’d love to have you here.

For those who cannot come this year, we would deeply appreciate your prayers. Nothing of substance will happen between now and Friday afternoon without the supernatural outpouring of God’s Spirit on every moment, in every session and workshop and conversation. Please pray that we will sense a mighty wind of the power of our Creator, moving among us and surprising us with His grace.

I’ll be giving some updates at the end of each day, hoping to give you a glimpse of what God does in this place. For the sake of His kingdom…

The Joy of Jersey Boys

Nancy Beach — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:43:00 GMT

I recently learned that the Chicago run of the hit show, Jersey Boys, has been extended indefinitely because of such booming business. I’m really not surprised. I have had the blessing of seeing the show twice already – once with my husband and friends, and another time because my sister begged to go for her birthday gift. On both occasions I was struck by the unbelievable joy of the crowd as we experienced hit song after hit song delivered with tremendous skill and passion from the cast. I have seen two different guys play Frankie Valli, and both were terrific. I was struck by the creative way in which the producers and writers wove the songs into a story line, giving the audience a glimpse of the lives of the singers behind the scenes. Mostly, it’s just an evening of great fun and outstanding music. For anyone attending our Arts Conference in June, we have a few tickets left for Jersey Boys – what we call “Art in the City.” It would be such a gift to any arts team to head downtown Thursday evening and enjoy that show. You can find out more at our website.

Early Bird Deadline

Nancy Beach — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:40:00 GMT

First, a belated Happy Mothers Day to any moms who are reading. We had a wonderful service this weekend honoring moms, and I felt so privileged to be a part of it. We don’t always get that service right, but this year, we’re hearing from so many moms and grandmothers that they felt celebrated and understood – yeah God! One single dad told me after the service that he even called his ex-wife to tell her that she is doing a good job raising their children. I love to see God at work like that…

Today is the early bird deadline for this year’s Arts conference – just a reminder in case you lost track. Of course, you can register any time up until the event starts June 11, but you get a better rate if you book it today….Last week I had phone calls with both Francis Chan and Richard Allen Farmer about their messages, and it made me even more excited about the conference. I have such a strong sense that the Spirit has been designing the moments for the event over a long period of time, and that we will sense a powerful movement of God during those days. I would love to see you here…

Arts Conference Planning Meetings

Nancy Beach — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:34:00 GMT

Every Friday a group of creative folks meet for a couple hours to design and craft this year’s Arts Conference. We carefully look at each session and try to imagine how we can best harness the arts to inspire, lift, stretch, and impact all those who attend. This past Friday, we selected some video pieces, worship music, and drama scenes that I can’t wait for those who are coming to experience! One piece is just right for the session with Brian McLaren – it’s the true story of an artist who tells of her journey to Nepal, and the memory of a young beggar boy who transformed how she looks at her own life and choices. I not only love the content of what she communicates, but also the creative design of how that story is told. We also signed off on a powerful beginning for the very start of Arise, a choice I don’t want to give away. Let me just urge all who are coming not to be late! (not that artists are ever late to anything). Mostly as we meet, I long for as many artists and pastors as possible to join us in June because I believe we all need the hope God gives us as we gather together, reminding one another of the significance of what we do, and encouraging one another to further develop our gifts and pay attention to our souls. I know this is a tough year for many with the economy, and training budgets are tight. I just want to urge you to see if you can find a way to raise the funds and make the trek to Chicago for our start on June 11. This Friday, we’ll keep on planning for you…

A Psalm for Artists and Teachers in the Church

Nancy Beach — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:09:00 GMT

A friend and teammate sent me some verses this morning from Psalm 40. He was highlighting verses 2 and 3, but the more I read the entire Psalm, the more I realized how penetrating all its words are for artists and teachers. Of course, David was an incredible artist. We have so very much to learn from that highly emotional, passionate man who lived long ago and wrote songs documenting his highs and lows, his experience with God, his many sinful episodes, and his discovery of forgiveness. I have decided to focus on Psalm 40 in the first main session of our Arise Arts Conference at Willow in June. So here’s my challenge. First, read the Psalm…several times. Dig into it and discover along with me how rich it is for us as artists and teachers. Second, sign up for the conference if you haven’t already, and bring your pastor along if at all possible. Let’s rally together as those who proclaim God’s truth in the great assembly. Let’s open ourselves up to further learning, to being inspired together by moments and outstanding speakers who will lift us to another level as Christ followers and as agents of communication. We need to be together, to be reminded that we are not crazy for what we do, to be ennobled as we see once again how vital the arts and teaching are for Sunday morning catalytic experiences. I sincerely hope to see you here in June, because you inspire me whenever I am among you. Have a terrific weekend…and don’t forget to read Psalm 40.