That’s why ordinary Christians don’t do it It isn’t normal - only gifted or unusual people do it right! Our job, if we’re cooperative “lay” people. is to listen to the stories, feel guilty and write checks! In 1996 a group of Christians decided to resign from this approach and find another way to do what we felt was our most important work- connecting with the people Jesus misses most - the people formerly known as lost.

Off the Map Seattle: will explore evangelism in the postmodern era:  May 18-19, 2001. McLaren, Henderson and Hunter will be featured speakers

We decided to stop trying to be something we weren’t and start being our ordinary selves

We decided that the reason traditional evangelism didn’t attract us was because it was designed for extraordinary and unusual people.

We quit doing more of what didn’t work and started doing ordinary things we could do things like “free attention giveaways” which means really listening to people and not interrupting them or praying for people “behind their backs”.

Rather than trying to escape the ordinary we decided to exploit it.

Instead of discounting the things we were already doing we started counting them.

We started measuring the effect on those we were approaching as well as on ourselves.

These evangelism activities were so unremarkable we decided to call them

Ordinary Attempts.

Recently we started taking these ideas public. We created an event called Off The Map because that’s where we need to go in order to think new thoughts and in new ways

At Off the Map Seattle we will focus on three issues.

• Explain how “lost” people see the church
• Explore how we can improve our approach to them
• Experience all of this in a fun, highly interactive way.

More like a concert than a conference.

What do you anticipate when you go to a concert? If you’re like me you expect to hear some of the familiar tunes live as well as hoping for some surprises. At OTM, we’ll talk about familiar themes but also come at you with some surprises, like our interview with 3 lost people - where actual lost people tell us their experiences with Christians and also coach us in how to improve our approach - many people feel that this segment is worth the price of admission all by itself.

Off The Map brings together some of the best thinkers in the Christian scene today and then lets you mix it up with them in real live public and private conversations. Have you ever gone to a conference and not been able to get your questions answered - you know the one about - Hey I like your idea but how would it apply in my situation? At OTM your question will get answered because we provide numerous opportunities for interaction and conversation - Like “5 minute meetings” and OTM Road Show.

We bring the hallway conversations into the main auditorium.

Off The Map is a living lab for new ideas You’ll experience unique approaches in new ways to get your message across- new language and processes for communicating the ideas you care about - Our conversation starters (speakers) will stimulate your thinking and get you participating in live idealabs and thinkfests where you and others will invent right on the spot.

“The formulation of a problem is often more essential than it’s solution”
Rolf Smith / Business Trainer

Each OTM event is a unique experience. We’re never completely sure what will happen.

We bring together people who are known and unknown - practitioners- experimenters - explorers and thinkers- people who love Jesus but have had it with business as usual.

OTM is on a mission to change how Christians think about lost people and about how we do church. If you join us - it will only make the mix and conversation that much more interesting.

OTM is real - it’s fun and it goes fast - Join us - If we hit the Bullseye -you’ll be exhausted but energized when you leave- A lot like when you hear a great band!

Join us / Off The Map Seattle / May 18-19

Register Online / www.off-the-map.org

Jim Henderson has been a church planter for 25 years with several churches under his belt in the Northwest. He has also had several stints overseas as a teacher and speaker. He currently serves as Director of Leadership Development for Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio where he resides with his wife Barbara. He has three grown children scattered around the United States. His passion is to see evangelism become a normal part of the lives of ordinary Christians. He has dedicated the rest of his life to contributing to and advancing this cause. Contact Jim at: jimhender@hotmail.com