Notes from the Editor

by Carol Padgett

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Here's a quick rehash of the day. Did I say in my first WFX show blog that I wish you were here?

After keynotes from Dave Gibbons and John Ortberg, the Expo floor opened at 11:30 a.m. I was attending the second Pastors Lunch Series led by Dr. David Fletcher of Xpastor.org. This morning even more pastors attended than yesterday, and David didn't need to tell us to talk and mingle before the official presentation and dialogue began. This morning we were already in the groove, and none of us needed introductions. The first senior pastor I met was Rev. T.S. Harris with Lynwood, Calif.'s United Methodist Church of Lynwood. Rev. T, as she's called, presides over a small urban congregation, and she'd like to see some stories pointed directly toward urban ministries and the branding, building and operational challenges they face. I'm going to see where I can make that happen. I imagine there are more of you who're seeking that kind of information.

After talking among ourselves, the pastors and I were fortunate to hear David do a loose interview with Senior Pastor Larry Osborne of Vista, Calif.'s North Coast Church. After hearing Osborne's keynote yesterday, it was incredible to hear him talk in such an intimate, accessible setting about multi-site and the opportunities it presents for churches today. We all got to learn, from Osborne's perspective, how North Coast is a leader in multi-site, but he was humble enough to clarify his church's role in the beginnings of multi-site campuses, saying, "We started the video venue, but adopted the multi-site." I would've loved to hear the pastors' questions for Osborne following his talk, but it was time to meet with Domusstudio, a San Diego-based architectural firm with an emphasis on religious projects. Associate Publisher Chris Pernell and I, along with Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Brian Blackmore, met with David Pfeifer, principal, and Kathleen Klassen with PR firm Scribe Communications. David and Kathleen, along with colleague Jan Percival, helped us put together the May/June issue project profile on Long Beach's First Congregational Church, our cover story. Pfeifer has a penchant for green building solutions, sound ideas on how a church, architectural firm and builder can work in unison, in an integrated hybrid approach, to come out with an incredibly functional facility at a cost savings. Pfeifer believes that any church leader thinking of building should take advantage of current market benefits, including up to 40% discounts off the normal fees of top-level contractors and subs. You'll be hearing more about Domusstudio projects of all sizes in future issues.

When I made it back to the Expo floor, it was one of the busiest and most upbeat I've encountered. The combination of facilities-related products and services and technical a/v/l products seemed so well balanced. In the very back was a Social Media hub that drew a good bit of attention. Another gathering spot on the floor where people seemed to gravitate and network was a Revive Cafe where Carson City, Nev.-based Design Identity brought home the services that it offers in a cool atmosphere of acoustic music and comfortable seating. The company offers store and cafe design for churches -- and they've been around for 17 years. I met so many reps from companies on the Expo floor today that have products and services I know you'll want to hear about -- and from this day's meetings you'll be seeing a great number of new voices in Worship Facilities' stories throughout this year and into 2010.

Tomorrow will be an early morning, so that's all I'll share tonight. Check in for another update tomorrow evening.

Blessings,
Carol

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