RightNow Campaign Launches Second Season of Fusion Conferences in November 2005 Providing Twenty and Thirtysomethings 3,000 Hot Connections to Serve an Emerging Church
Plano, TX (PRWEB) August 31, 2005 -- Love God and then go crazy with your passion — just do something!" said Los Angeles-based Mosaics Pastor Erwin McManus during the November 2004 launch of Fusion. His plain-speak has captured the mission and vernacular of the Plano, Texas-based Rightnow Campaign and its age-appropriate faith-in-action conference for twenty and thirtysomethings. Less than a year after the launch — and now only months before the 2005/2006 conference season begins — Fusion is having a catalytic affect on the spiritual activity of Busters, who, statistically, are prone to become apathetic toward the church and inactive in their faith by age 30 (Barna, 1999).
Busters breaking generational mold
According to weekly updates posted at www.Rightnow.org, 20 and 30 year olds are pioneering their own brand of ministry in their communities and beyond. For example, James left his position as a stockbroker to establish a shelter for abused women and children in Guatemala. Roxanne began volunteering to help at-risk inner-city kids at the Dallas chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Third-year medical students David and Louisa accepted a three-week mission to work alongside medical missionaries in East Asia that gave them a new vision for applying their medical skills. Rachel used her passion for making ceramic art to help Kenyans develop small businesses and then hosted a photography show to benefit a flagging school.
The target audience of Fusion is one of the most pivotal and often overlooked groups in the church," said Brian Mosley, the 27-year-old founder and director of Rightnow. In preparation for holding new conferences in Dallas, Orlando and Denver beginning this November, Mosley and his executive ministry team — Marc McCartney, 32, events director, and Justin Forman, 25, director of operations, who also graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas — have spent countless hours visiting local churches to discuss specific needs of the 20 & 30 year olds in their congregations.
Local churches central to winning formula
Working alongside local churches is central to Fusions winning formula. Last November, more than 140 Dallas-Fort Worth-area churches representing many different denominations and racial backgrounds and 60 national and international ministries participated. One pastor who attended commented on the difference saying, Fusion seems to be serving the local body instead of taking people away from churches."
In 2000, Mosley conceived The Rightnow Campaign at a frustrating crossroad in his life while en route to discovering how he could be used by God. Rightnow.org — an interactive website that lists more than 3,000 U.S. and international short-and long-term ministry opportunities through partnerships with 80 mission agencies and organizations — was his first offering to other 20 and 30 year olds trying to take the next step to a more active faith. Fusion became his second.
On the ministry website, Mosley describes the target demographic of twenty and thirtysomethings that Fusion was created to serve. We are educated, skilled and passionate, but sometimes we have difficulty living our faith. We are married, we are parents, we are single, we are professionals and even college seniors trying to make our lives significant."
Can You say "Dokime"?
During Fusions launch, more than 1,800 young people fitting this description came in search of spiritual significance asking how and where their unique gifts could be used in the church. What they discovered was an interactive, Bible-based conference by and for them and loaded with experiential learning activities to hammer home the importance of fusing their faith with passionate acts of obedience. These experiential learning activities included a short film festival, a one-act play, the Connection Café, and an interactive multi-media prayer journey, called Dokime´ (Greek word for proven character, pronounced do-kee-may). This coupled with forward-thinking addresses by McManus, Coach Bill McCartney, and Heather Mercer, to name a few speakers, and spirited praise and worship sessions by Shane and Shane contributed to a generational soul connection.
Fusion launches 2005/2006 schedule
In 2005/2006, Fusion will expand into three major U.S. cities: Dallas, TX, November 5, 2005; Orlando, FL, February 25, 2006; and Denver, CO, April 29, 2006. On Fridays before scheduled Fusion events, leadership forums will be held for approximately 300 young adult and senior pastors and ministry leaders featuring teaching from Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church. Other featured Fusion guests include Pastor Todd Phillips, author of Spiritual CPR: Reviving a Flat-lined Generation; Voddie Baucham, author of The Ever-Loving Truth: Can Faith Thrive in a Post-Christian Culture?; Margaret Feinberg, author of Twentysomething: Surviving and Thriving in the Real World; Rob Strong, director of Awakenings conferences and teaching pastor at Walnut Hill Community Church, Bethel, CT; poet Amena Brown; and Christian folk band Caedmons Call.
The Rightnow Campaign and Fusion conferences have been featured in major secular and Christian media, including Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star- Telegram, Christianity Today, New Man, Charisma, and Daystar TVs Celebration. For additional information, visit the ministry websites: www.Rightnow.org or www.fusionconferences.com.
Media interested in coordinating interviews with The Rightnow Campaign staff members and select Fusion guests should contact Gregg Wooding, president, I AM PR public relations, (972) 567-7660 via cell, (972) 429-0724 office.
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