Constructive Conversations: Today’s Social Media Considerations for Creatives and Innovators
Presenters:
Eric Copeland, President and Executive Producer, Creative Soul Online https://creativesoulonline.
C.W. Allen, Author & Hip-Hop Artist https://www.thecwallen.com/
Noah Whitlock, Marketing & Communications Assistant, Coastal Carolina University https://www.linkedin.com/in/
Guy Whitlock, Staff Development Coach and Care Coordinator, A.C.T. Intl https://actinternational.
Many Christian Creatives are succumbing to the relentless pace of managing social media; struggling to keep their art and message relevant amidst a sea of ever-changing platforms and approaches. The Constructive Conversations workshop offers several perspectives on social media realities, from the points of view of a producer, an artist, a marketing specialist, and a community-builder. While there is no “one right way” to implement social media initiatives as Creatives and Innovators, workshop attendees will take away constructive considerations for increasing their effectiveness and comfort managing social media and communicating the Gospel.
Eric Copeland was writing stories and drawing comic books before he turned 10 years old, and writing songs and recording music by 13. Throughout his life he has been the go-to guy for those wanting to realize their creative lives. He’s produced literally thousands of albums, singles, videos, stories, and untold ideas over the last 40 years serving creative people around the world.
His company Cre8iv Entertainment includes Creative Soul Records, a consulting, production, and marketing company for Christian music ministries, his jazz brand Player A, featuring some of the top session players in Nashville, his Quiet Soul Piano brand, and Positive Spin Songs, focusing on all genres of music for film, TV, and advertising.
In May, he will complete work on a Master’s Degree in Music Composition at the University of Central Florida, and has recently been creating music in the classical realm.
All these media companies are represented on dozens of web sites and social media sites that he works on for himself and clients every day.
C.W. Allen grew up listening to Hip Hop music and falling in love with heart pounding drums and bass lines. He began rapping his senior year of high school when he was challenged to free style at an open mic. The reaction he received was very positive and that’s when he began his journey as a Hip-Hop artist. C.W. fell deeply in love with God and His Word, and his music became an expression of his heart and surroundings. In 2009 he left Cleveland and moved to Chicago to attend Moody Bible Institute where he studied communications and Bible. Now in year fifteen of his creative journey, Allen has written his first book, and produced his latest album entitled CATALYST. C.W. has had the privilege to share the Gospel all over the country in bars, schools, camps, and conferences opening for such artists as Cannon, Da Truth, Sean C. Johnson, Shopé, This’l, and the Legendary Curtis Blow. C.W. has effectively harnessed social media to advance his music and ministry.
Noah Whitlock is an organized, ambitious, and passionate results-oriented marketing professional at Coastal Carolina University. He holds a master’s in business administration and has a track record of effectiveness in marketing, communications, brand management, content strategy, storytelling, public relations, social media, and project management. Noah is frequently relied on by social media consumers of all ages and backgrounds to coach and assist them in navigating the inherent communication sea change.
Guy Whitlock has been helping artists help others since 1996. He has a background in event scheduling, artist management, and tour promotion. Guy is part of A.C.T. Intl’s Staff Development Team, assisting with ministry coaching and ministry activation and mobilization. As the Coordinator of Pastoral Care and Community for A.C.T. Intl, Rev. Whitlock provides pastoral care and facilitates community for our creatives and innovators and their families.
SONGWRITING WORKSHOP with John Chisum of Nashville Christian Songwriters & Rob Frazier of A.C.T. Intl
“GOD GAVE ME THIS SONG: NOW WHAT?”
John Chisum is a founding partner of Nashville Christian Songwriters, the world’s premier training group focused on the art and craft of writing songs out of a Christian worldview. A successful writer himself with multiple song placements, John is a leader in the world of music publishing, having led companies such as Arios Music and Integrity Music. Now he helps nurture and train new generations of Christian Songwriters to bring forth their best work through NCS Intensive Weekends, Songwriter Boot Camp and his podcast “Song Revolution.”
Rob Frazier is a former CCM artist and songwriter with over 200 published and recorded songs in his catalogue including songs recorded by Christian, mainstream rock and country artists. He has had songs placed in feature films and on network and cable TV shows such as CBS, Starz and Netflix. He now serves as Assoc. Director of Staff Development at A.C.T. Intl as well as giving leadership to A.C.T. Music Group.
Together they will offer tips to both novice and veteran songwriters. There will be time for Q&A.
God Confidence: Live Confidently in Every Circumstance– John Barcanic
Stage fright, natural disasters, support raising, war, famine, spiders, crime,
illness, enclosed spaces, broken relationships, liver and onions, job
loss. What is it that chips away at your confidence?
Workshop length: 1 hour and 15 minutes
In this seminar you’ll discover:
The four requirements for confident living.
Why self-confidence is a dead end and what to do instead.
The four questions in every heart, and how to answer them.
How to distinguish between healthy concern and unhealthy worry.
The specific strategy the enemy uses to keep believers from living confidently
and how to defeat it.
Every attendee will receive a coupon for 50% off John’s book God Confidence: Cultivating Courageous Faith in Jesus Christ.
John Barcanic helps change-makers turn vision into action, and action into transformation. As the Founding Director of Intersekt, a ministry of A.C.T. Intl, John knows that both personal and community transformation occur best in the context of healthy, authentic relationships.
A speaker, coach, and consultant, ordained pastor, certified leadership coach, and jazz pianist. John has used his skills to delivered results for a broad
array of organizations. He has ministered in 10 countries on four continents and is recognized for his ability to make deep theological truth readily understandable and immediately applicable.
Intersekt helps change-makers join God’s mission in the world. We want to see your ideas realized. We provide workshops, coaching, consulting, and a growing number of resources to turn your vision into action and action into transformation.
Find out more at
http://intersekt.org or email johnb@intersekt.org
Funding your Music or Arts Ministry Without Selling A Thing– Larry Moshell
There are 3 ways to fund your music or arts ministry:
1) Business paradigm – selling performances, merchandise, and services
2) Non-profit paradigm – inviting individuals, churches, and organizations to financially partner with your ministry
3) Combination of both paradigms. Larry will explore the benefits and challenges of each option and provide guidance on how to proceed.
Larry Moshell has coached organizations and individuals for more than 30 years, helping them accomplish their ministry goals. As the International Director of Staff Development for A.C.T. Intl, he regularly helps the innovative ministries of A.C.T. Intl develop ministry plans and fund-raising strategies. He has a passion to help others discover and pursue their calling.
Worshiping Personally: 7 Practices that Liberate the Soul – Dr. Byron Spradlin
In this workshop Byron Spradlin will give an overview of seven biblical practices of Christian personal worship modeled by Jesus, Himself, and practiced throughout the history of the Church. The seven practices he’ll deal with are: Retreat (away from others), Meet (with God), Kneel (before God), Talk (with God), Listen (to God), Confess (to God), Forgive (those who have sinned against you). The goal of this workshop points toward encouraging us to develop daily personal worship practices the Holy Spirit will use to form our hearts into direct alignment with the heart of Jesus, for our health and God’s glory.
Now More Than Ever: Using Your Gift To Demonstrate and Declare God’s Love Behind Enemy Lines and In Crazy Times.
Workshop Description
Ted will draw on his 30 years of experience using music and arts events to share the Gospel with the counter culture and unchurched people groups across the country and around the world. He will share stories from this year’s Extreme Tour events during the Pandemic and unpack the practical lessons from that experience that can help equip artists to respond to these challenging times with the essential Message they’ve been called to carry.
Workshop Length: Approximately 60 minutes.
The Extreme Tour began as a grassroots project of “The Extreme”, a cultural outreach project started by Ted Bruun and a small group of other Idaho (of all places) residents in 1994. The purpose of The Extreme was to use Extreme Sports and Music Events, held in communities across Idaho, to reach at-risk and counter culture youth with services and resources that would assist them in making positive, as well as healthy decisions for a successful life. Eventually these events began to take place around the United States and “The Extreme Tour” was born. Now you can find these events taking place around the world.
