No 2019 Momentum! Now What?

What's Dorian's favorite song? "Rock You Like a Hurricane," of course! (Hit "fake laugh" Hot Key here.) I'll stop right there. Sometimes you have to (attempt to) laugh to deal with the pain. (You should hear my family at funerals. It's dark comedy gold.) Hurricane Dorian has certainly provided plenty of laughs, and pain. Hopefully you're praying for those ahead of and behind this slower-than-the-slowest-Casting-Crowns-song-on-the-planet storm. Lives have been in the balance, which is of course no laughing matter. It helps provide perspective for the first-ever, totally-cancelled CMB Momentum conference. Many have been wondering what will become of Momentum or even of the CMB organization. Each of us has a role in those answers.

Regarding the annual Momentum conference, certainly two close calls with hurricanes in a three-year timeframe means every option is on the table for future location options, times of the year, etc. One thing we can ALL do-FREE-is pray God would give CMB's decision makers clarity, wisdom, and favor for the path He wants them on. They were wonderfully proactive at pre-Momentum communication, and as soon as they can share what we all need to know, they will.

You may have seen a line in their emails leading up to the cancellation about what a big financial hit CMB will take. Momentum is a huge driver for every other CMB effort throughout the year. Just as your own station's fundraisers, or commercial breaks, or possibly your events are the tools you use to keep your ministry alive 24/7/365.

Here are a few ways to soften the blow!

1. Consider asking CMB to NOT refund your registration and/or sponsorship fee(s).
2. Take closer looks at the other Momentum Summits on the calendar, and make plans to send any staff who could benefit from being there.
3. Become a Gold Member. Aside from the "extras" that are part of going Gold, you'll have the honor of giving back. Service has always been at the heart of why your peers level up in the first place. Ghandi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

   If you've ever served in your church's leadership or even as a PTO member for your child's school, you know the truth of that quote. The service opportunities to our industry that have come with my Gold membership have inadvertently made me a better broadcaster. Not my goal, but also not a bad perk!

4. Sponsor something at a future Momentum Summit, or the next Momentum. Maybe your station has been uniquely successful at something and nobody else in the industry has it figured out quite like you. Wave your flag (humbly!).

You may not be able to take action on all of those ideas, and that's OK. If you're in a position to share with those on your team who can, great! To restate the obvious: Pray.

Wherever we end up for the next Momentum, let's expect to be in awe of God's provision through His generous CMB children. We'll make some tactful hurricane jokes too, maybe? I promise to keep mine out to sea. (Cue laughter Hot Key one more time.) (No Mark Halls were injured in the creation of this composition.)