We’re Saying Goodbye to Off The Map

6 Jan, 2012 blog

A special thank you to each one of you. Thank you for helping to make Off The Map more than an idea. We only existed when you showed up.

Some of you will recognize the following only from the Pete Seeger song Turn Turn Turn; others from Ecclesiastes 3:1-2; some, surely, from both:

“To everything there’s a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die…”

Regardless of your source, the point is the same: We’re born, we die. The same is true with the children we bring into the world, the ideas we hatch and the organizations we start. Eventually, everything dies.

The Beginning

When Dave Richards and I launched Off The Map we wanted to host events where people could ask the spiritual-religious questions they couldn’t ask anywhere else. We wanted to take the conversations people had in the hallway or bathroom at conferences (a.k.a. the best conversations) and put them on the main stage. We wanted a conference that was sponsored by followers of Jesus that was also an event where non- believers were heard, valued and included. We wanted a place (even a temporary one) where differences weren’t ignored, controlled or demonized, but instead were enjoyed and anticipated.

One of the things we’d tell people at the start of each conference was “we’ve intentionally designed this event so that everyone in this room will be offended at least once – if we fail to do that we’ve failed to go Off The Map”

Some of the ideas we helped fester and foster have now been embraced by the wider church. We provided some new language and encouraged some young (and not-so-young) leaders to bring new definitions to what it means to follow Jesus on purpose. We didn’t change the World but we rocked the world of a few people.

For the past two years I’ve been reflecting on the future of Off The Map. After consulting with our board and key volunteers, it appears to us that Jesus is happy with us having evolved Off The Map out of business.

Here’s why:

We want to thank our donors and encourage them to be generous elsewhere.
I am ready to move onto my next big idea: We’re Saying Hello to Jim Henderson Presents
Organizations do not need to live forever.
Jesus’s Kingdom is all that matters – not our ideas, organizations or institutions.

So many people helped put Off The Map on the map. So many people found a new way of thinking about God, life, the Church and Jesus through their encounter with Off The Map.

Saying Goodbye for now

And while the organization itself will no longer exist, the ideas, conversations, and friendships live on in each of you. Remember that, always. Whatever you have gained from Off The Map, pay it forward.

As our final act for Off The Map, we’d like to hear from you. Here are some questions we have. Answer them all or only those that move you in some way or answer some question we didn’t think to ask.

What’s your favorite Off The Map memory (include photos if you have them)?
What shifted in your thinking because of an Off The Map encounter?
What Off The Map ideas and people have infiltrated your life and your conversations?
Who did you meet at Off The Map that influenced your life and how?
Which Off The Map speaker, musician or volunteer impacted you? (Tell on them)

If you’d like to say thank you to Off The Map and help cover some of our final expenses (about $2500) you can send it here.

From the whole team, it’s been a pleasure to walk this road with you.

Jim Henderson and Dave Richards (Co-founders)

30 Comments so far »

Sandy said

am January 6 2012 @ 8:12 pm

OTM the start of something big. Thanks for the great times. I look forward to the new beginnings.
Karlene said

am January 6 2012 @ 8:28 pm

I have fond memories of OTM, including a significant weekend in which I fell in love with my husband while walking all over Seattle talking about what we had seen and heard at OTM that day. We’ve now been married for five years, have planted a church, and are expecting our second child together.

OTM is also where I connected with people who have become dear friends, mentors, and inspirations for how I see the church and imagine ministry.

Thanks for starting great conversations, challenging the status quo, helping church insiders see how they look to people on the outside, and for inviting us all to color outside the lines.

Best to you in your new endeavors Jim!
Elaine Hansen said

am January 6 2012 @ 9:26 pm

In the fall, of 2000 – I was on staff with Jim Henderson at the Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati. Jim was responsible for producing the annual fall evangelism event. He called it “Off The Map”. It changed my life forever.

It was there where I heard and met Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet, Ken and Deborah Loyd, Rose Swetman, and more for the first time. They talked about Jesus the way I knew Him.

Suddenly, I wasn’t the only one who thought this way. I wasn’t alone. I’ve talked to enough OTMers to know that others felt this way too. We’re not alone or crazy in thinking church could be different – we’d found each other.

And here we are today, I’ve had my thinking stretched and challenged, argued with Jim, pushed Jim, and met too many amazing people – Barb Henderson, Leigh Buchan Harvey, Kathy Escobar, Randy Siever, Helen Mildenhall, and many, many more. We had real conversations that mattered. We made too many trips – Jim has had me traveling all over the map from Cincinnati to Seattle, Denver, Menlo Park, Phoenix, Portland, Kansas City, Minneapolis and I’m sure there was somewhere else in there.

Because of Off The Map, God is much bigger and more real to me. Thank you Jim and Dave for putting your Big Idea into action.
Bob Bowen said

am January 6 2012 @ 10:24 pm

Jim,

The entire “early team” of Chris Marshall, Gabe Drake, Craig Spinks, Dave Richards, and especially you will always be a part of me.

Brian McLaren and the Lloyds have truly influenced me in ways that they will never be able to understand.

Byword is the band that I loved the most.

This is a sad day for me seeing this come to an end, but I know you have big things planned.

God be with you!

“Bronco”
Bob Bowen said

am January 6 2012 @ 10:26 pm

I would be remiss if I also didn’t give a shout out to Rose Swetman. She was always a friend and courageous leader.
WILLIAM TIMMERS said

am January 7 2012 @ 1:00 am

I learned of this web site by reading book “Jim and Casper Goes to Church”, even though I have not read OTM much, I do hope that OTM will not go off line because some contents may be valuable for me. Any idea?
kathyescobar said

am January 7 2012 @ 1:16 am

i think it takes some major wisdom & guts to know when something has run its course & it’s time to make big shifts. you guys have always had both of those things! when tracy howe introduced us to you in 2006 it changed the course of not only the refuge’s life but also mine. we often say that if we hadn’t come up there the refuge might not be here still. our world expanded. we didn’t feel so crazy and alone. we met such awesome & fun people that we will always be dear friends with and have influenced our community and me personally in all kinds of ways for the past 5+ years & will continue to help shape us. the list of people i met for the first time through OTM gatherings is long. jim, elaine, craig, randy & sandy, helen, benjamin, elizabeth from OTM but so many of my other first real life connections were there–ken & deborah, angie & todd, rose & rich, pam, erin, donna, spencer, brian, phil, kate, aaron, sadell, lisa, kelly, karlene…that’s a long list of some amazing people & i’m sure i missed some! a few memories: the whole refuge crew sleeping at rose & rich’s church on couches at the 2007 gathering to save $. then doing the wild & crazy “jim & casper go to church” events here in denver at 3 venues where every single time someone got up and tried to save matt (i’ll always remember those awkward moments & jim saying “um, do you think he hasn’t heard that one before?). the the born again church tour experiment thank you all for your hearts & friendships & brave conversations. i look forward to more in the years to come in different ways. peace from colorado.
Rose said

am January 7 2012 @ 1:47 am

So many good, good memories! Seattle, Fort Wayne, DC, LA, Seattle, Seattle, Seattle…so many good, fun people, traveling with Jim & Dave while Rich, Barb and Sharon held down the fort:-) Brian, Todd, Harp 46, Bob Bowen, Craig Spinks, Chris Marshall, Elizabeth Di Candilo, Elaine Hansen and it goes on and on, all the super courageous people we met along the way. Thanks for all the ways you modeled the heart of Jesus to those seemingly in and those considered as “outsiders.”
Bill Dahl said

am January 7 2012 @ 2:02 am

Speechless – tears want to fill my eyes – memories flashing by – two things – “I am not stupid – and I am not alone.”

Thanks for the home Jesus…when I thought I was alone and stupid.

Next…..
Donna Mathwig said

am January 7 2012 @ 3:15 am

OTM gave us a desperately needed connection to others who were experiencing significant faith transformation – it’s why we moved from Weed, CA to Seattle, WA in 2006. Since that time we’ve forged deep and life-giving relationships with people at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, Vineyard Community Church in Shoreline, and now at Church of the Beloved. I will always be grateful for the courage and foresight of OTM to host needful conversations that continue to have an impact in my little corner of the world. Thank you Jim and Dave and so many others we’ve encountered on this amazing journey.
Justin Baeder said

am January 7 2012 @ 3:37 am

Indeed, to everything there is a season. OTM has done a lot of good, and the world has changed so maybe a lot of these conversations are happening on their own now.

We found our church via an OTM event, and I will never forget the opportunity to work with Jim, Elaine, and others.

Now, everybody go do something else that’s equally awesome.

Thanks Jim. It was a good ride.
Leigh Buchan Harvey said

am January 7 2012 @ 2:09 pm

Oh the people…the people…the richness of the people, who wouldn’t have come together without the focus of the organization. It shows how timely the message was; brought people together who might have wandered way off the map without a voice calling them to gather and reshape the conversation. It allowed us to hear those helping to shape that conversation, thus allowing us to continue it. So much happens at the margins that is real, raw, vibrant and alive, but not heard without someone/something bringing that voice into focus.

I am so grateful to Jim for introducing and allowing my participation on whatever level I could. You were inclusive of myself and of many. I witnessed conversations that were uncomfortable for the church to have, but that were screaming at it. Thank you for noticing and bringing it to the forefront.

Thank you for bringing Brian, Todd, Nancy Murphy, Diana Butler Bass, Claudio from Brazil, Dan Allender, people of color, people on the outside…Thank you for the many people I met: Craig Spinks, Elaine Hansen, Ryan Beattie, Jeff Smith, Chris Marshall, Kelly Bean, Harp 46, Elizabeth, so many more; great to see Rose get more of a platform and expand her sphere; thank you for Ken and Deb Loyd. I remember your Mom being on stage with two of my “outsider” friends…so many memories of honoring “others”. Thank you so much, Jim and Dave.
April Stace Vega said

am January 7 2012 @ 8:39 pm

I will always be thankful for the friendships that developed through Off the Map, and for the unbelievable “people cushion” Harp 46 landed on when we moved to Seattle. The people I met in OTM influenced, shaped, and saved my life on numerous occasions!

And, I should mention, OTM was the first (on an extremely short list) of organizations to treat Harp 46 like rock stars. We had SO much fun playing for those events. The best of all worlds – playing music and being with friends. It really does not get better than that combination. Will miss you guys.. but also know you are really not going anywhere.
Justin Baeder said

am January 8 2012 @ 1:11 am

…and of course it was great to work with Helen Mildenhall and meet great people like Nuc & April!
Pam Hogeweide said

am January 8 2012 @ 11:09 am

OTM came on to my radar at just the right time. If it hadn’t been for Bob Bowen and Jim’s willingness to engage with “Pam the Ticket Price Protestor,” I never would have intersected with so many amazing people. I met the Loyd’s through OTM and ended up being a part of their faith community for several years. We became fast friends and remain so to this day. I connected with so many others as well: Helen Mildenhall, Craig and Sarah Spinks, Sandy, Bill and Jackie Dahl, Randy and Sandy Siever, Karlene and Josh Clark,Brad and Anne Shantz, Ben and Meg Ady, Rose and Rich Swetman, Kathy Escobar, Leigh Buchanan, Lisa Wells, Cheryl Davenport…and many others I do not mean to forget but there are just so many!

Because of OTM I was privileged to meet and learn from wonderful thinkers and writers like Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle, Todd Hunter, Diana Butler Bass, Joseph Meyer, Christine Wicker, Nancy Murphy, Pam and Sunil Sardar, George Barna, Spencer Burke, Phil Wyman, and of course Jim Henderson and Dave Richards with the introductions of concepts such as “otherlyness” and “beliefism.”

And lastly, OTM is one of the first places I cut my writing teeth with Jim urging me and inviting me to contribute to The Idealab (remember those?). It was my first real taste of online publishing beyond my blog and it’s where I began to learn how to engage with critics (such as when my classic article Cussing Christians was published in one of the Idealab issues!!) I have been shaped as a writer in part by the community of OTM.

My life is definitely more rich because of the many people I crossed paths with in OTM. Jim and Dave, be proud. OTM is leaving a huge legacy in it’s wake. Well done!!!!!!
Pam Hogeweide said

am January 8 2012 @ 11:13 am

And who could forget MATT CASPER!!!
Mike O said

am January 8 2012 @ 11:41 am

I would have to say my favorite part was the otmatheist.com blog and having a format where I could engage atheists. It is a very rare thing that I had with atheists and non-Cs – Dialogue. To get insight into what they’re thinking and why they don’t believe (and why I *do*) – I actually had to work through why I do! High-points would be getting to know Helen (almost an atheist) and her story/journey. And one specific post was Karen’s Deconversion story. To hear a story of what it’s like to lose one’s faith – and why she did – was very enlightening, and showed places where the American church is missing the mark. There are many MANY other things I loved about my time writing on the otmatheist blog. But the main thing was that you got people to listen to each other.

The main thing that shifted in my thinking is that people who don’t believe don’t all hate God. They aren’t all running or repulsed by something. Some of them simply … don’t believe. Just like I don’t believe in Islam, I’m not “running from” Allah. I just don’t think that’s the right answer. And it’s possible for people who don’t believe in my Jesus simply … don’t believe. They have good reasons for not believing, and I, as a believer, should understand that. And I need to have at least as good of a reason to believe or they’ll never care.

I learned my role in the body of christ is make the idea of Jesus just a little bit less ridiculous than those outside the body of Christ thought it was. My role is to give those with reasons *not* to believe, reasons to at least *consider* Christ. Someone else can convert ‘em. I’m the set-up guy.
Helen said

am January 8 2012 @ 12:21 pm

Thanks Justin. I enjoyed working with you too. And Mike it was great to meet you through Off The Map and co-blog with you.

Off The Map helped me by bringing new safe people into my life a few months after I stopped going to church.

I respect Jim and Dave’s decision that it’s time to shut down Off The Map. I’m confident that Jim will continue to share his best ideas through Jim Henderson Presents and whatever other ventures he continues to be involved with.

I ran across the following cartoon on facebook the same day I read this post – it seems very appropriate. Hopefully this will happen less because of Off The Map
Laura O'Neill said

am January 8 2012 @ 1:24 pm

I haven’t been a regular, I’ll admit. But I did find “Off the Map” and Jim just at the right intersection. For everything there is a season… what a great way to understand such encounters. I’m looking forward to knowing Jim better, to seeing more of what God is doing through his ministry, and … who know?… maybe to being a part of it (as one of the Daugthers of Eve in RoE!)
I assume you’ll leave the Page up for a long time… the archives might still be “just what someone needs.” And that someone might just be me. Thanks, Jim, for daring to go “where no man has gone before” so to speak. Set course, warp 2, engage.
Steve & Gaitha Athans said

am January 9 2012 @ 12:20 pm

Hey Jim,

In hindsight, We are thankful to God for you and Off the Map for “nudging the ball forward a few clicks” in our lives at a Stonecroft “Couples” Ministry Conference in Spring of ’07. We really enjoyed talking OTM concepts with you over breakfast and were hungry to hear more. God had placed on our hearts to a coffeehouse ministry in MI, that at that time was not the right time and place due to the collapse of the economy there. As we mentioned at the conference, we were in process of moving to Columbia, MO where God would over the next few years put the pieces together of a “No Frills” coffeehouse ministry called “Lifetree Cafe” through Group Publishing based around the concepts of “God Space” by our mutual friend Doug Pollock. We will be launching next Monday night @ the Days Inn here in Columbia. Through this “tiny step” to entertain Nonbelievers in real conversations of Life and faith, we are looking to plant seeds over time and relationship to introduce them to Jesus. We pray for God’s continued blessing upon your ministry journey and the birth of JHP! We have bookmarked the new site and joined email. Hope some of the present postings of OTM will be available on the new site!
Again, Blessings on you our friend and coworker for Christ!
Our heart2yours…

Steve and Gaitha Athans
heartlifemin@mediacombb.net
Rachelle Mee-Chapman said

am January 9 2012 @ 5:27 pm

I’m grateful that Off the Map gave women the microphone. It’s still relatively rare in religious circles for women to take the stage. Jim was, and is, a wonderful advocate for women in ministry. Thanks Jim, for inviting me to teach at Off the Map, and for connecting me with amazing visionaries like Rose Madrid-Swetman, Kelly Bean, and Debora Lloyd!
Chris Marshall said

am January 9 2012 @ 5:56 pm

Sometime in the late 1990′s while interning with Jim Henderson in Cincinnat at Vineyard Community Church, each Friday morning we had a Starbucks meeting and just shared life and dreams. Mostly, he let me talk at at time that I was lost and confused about ministry and my future. He left me confused, but at least I became confused and comfortable in my own skin. Every once in a while, Jim would talk about this idea he had for an Evangelism Roadshow. This idea gave birth to OTM and I’m honored to have been a part of it’s early journey.

Memories for me:
- Ken Lloyd pointing to the green carpet in the Cincy VCC auditorium and saying, “someone picked this color green to make you think that God loves you.”
- Many late nights conspiring and video editing with Craig Spinks in his downtown studio. (best of times there)
- Administrating a plan with the great Bob “the bronco” Bowen
- Walking the streets of Philly and Portland late at night with a large microphone and intrusive camera getting the “has anyone ever tried to get you saved” takes
- Teaching and sharing with my partner in crime, Kevin Rains
- Being influenced by the grace and generosity of Dave Richards, learning what leadership can look like behind the scenes
- Being gripped by the Spirit in reading the prayers for missing loved ones in Seattle
- Being taken aside in the parking lot of the restaurant in Seattle after debriefing the event by McLaren and him telling me to not be discouraged, I was on the right track. The community I then planted just turned 10 years old this past year and I drew so much inspiration to stick with it from those words in that parking lot.
- Throwing together the event in Cincy at the Sharonville convention center last minute and having my own friends be the inteview with “lost people”
- Being paralyzed by the passion and vision of Sunil Sardar
- pushing barriers, expanding conversations, being well ‘off the map’

Honored to have been part of Jim’s dream, too much fun to be called work.
Al Doyle said

am January 9 2012 @ 7:56 pm

Jim
Thanks you for your vision and courage to create Off The Map. Bless you for the creativity and longevity of the shows. Kudus for knowing when to move on.

Without a doubt, Off-the-Map, you, Jim, Ken and Deborah Loyd, Rose, Matt Casper, Brian McClaren and so, so many others met me in a place where their kind words and loving hearts would forever shape my spiritual walk.

And without Off-the-Map I may have never met Pam Hogeweide among a wide cast of other characters who continue to influence me for better or worse!

God bless!

Al
Bill Clark said

am January 9 2012 @ 8:58 pm

Jim,

Before OTM there was me drinking bad coffee and you drinking ice tea at Burgermaster. I was bruised from the missions world and you took time to listen to my stories and care for my heart. In fact, partly through your example, I felt the Spirit’s power to start listening myself to other people. That listening event has become holy ground, and my soul has been enriched so often by others simply sharing their stories. Thank you. When you and the OTM movement began to articulate: ‘count conversations not conversions’ I felt a lot of pressure lift. People became friends, and they sometimes want to hear my story too.

Bill
Donna Van Horn said

am January 10 2012 @ 2:24 pm

Well, dang it! I guess I missed my chance to make it to an off the map event.
For never having been to the conference, you guys sure did go and impact my life. I was just becoming friends with Pam H., when the whole ticket price fiasco occurred. From the website of that conference I found The Bridge, and my life has not been the same. Ken and Deborah took me in and mentored me, Agents of Future blare from my stereo, and I will never be able to thank you enough for making this happen.
This new project of yours… I have no doubt it will totally rock!
Thanks for leading me to such good friends!!
Elaine Hansen said

am January 10 2012 @ 2:31 pm

Thank you all for sharing your stories – so often we don’t have space for sharing what “matters” to us. I am deeply touched by the stories and the lives changed.

I have this idea that Jim’s “Resignation of Eve” is opening space for more “conversations that matter”. While the focus of RoE is women, it is about all of us. http://resignationofeve.com

We don’t have to have the answer. Just struggling with the question is what can shift us.

Thx, Elaine
Nancy Short said

am January 10 2012 @ 11:54 pm

Wow, Jim – so many memories. OA cards that kept track of ordinary attempts at being Jesus with skin on like saying Hi to someone you met in the elevator. That counted!!

Washing windshields in parking lots and toilets in Honeys down 196th in Lynnwood, WA with you to get in touch with doing things that were totally “off the map.”

Being challenged to think deeply about people God misses, and to definitely not call them lost.

Receiving the “Ordinary Christian of the Year” award at an OTM conference – totally surprised and shocked. I still don’t fully get why you did that.

Getting to listen to incredibly smart people that you brought together at OTM events. Brian, Todd, Ryan, Rose, Diane, Phyllis, Nancy, and so many more, including you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. It has been an honor to be on this journey with you.
Nancy
Elizabeth Chapin said

am January 13 2012 @ 1:54 pm

My life has been forever changed by the influence of many involved with OTM. May this next season of life and ministry for all involved continue to be characterized by cooperative friendship with God, living lives of creative goodness for the sake of others in the power of the Holy Spirit. Blessings on the ending of one thing that makes room for the beginnings of many other things.
benjamin ady said

am January 21 2012 @ 8:48 pm

The people I met via OTM helped me to realize that there was available, if I wanted it, a Christianity into which I could have transitioned, instead of the atheism into which I actually did transition, from the fundamentalist Christianity of my youth. This was incredibly helpful in creating space for me to integrate the fundamentalist Christianity of my youth into my own story in a more gracious, accepting way than I otherwise would have.

I’d like to tell on Rachel Stanton (http://rachelstanton.wordpress.com/) I thought I had a bit of a clue about the ideas of justice and compassion and community before I met her–but she understood these ideas and both talked about and embodied them in a much bigger, more integrated way–very much an example to follow for me.

Huge thanks to Helen–one of the most gracious, others-uplifting people I’ve ever met.

All of you at OTM helped teach me how to listen and be genuinely curious without judging. Jim, Helen, Caspar, Pam, Brad, Brian, Christine, Elaine, Rachel, Bill, Rose, Mike, Julie, and all the others I met, talked to, interacted with online. Thank you!
Bruce Logue said

am January 23 2012 @ 11:39 pm

Jim, I have procrastinated on writing this. I don’t want to believe the news of the closing of OtM. It has been such a good friend and refreshing point of view. “Otherliness” is permanently branded on my heart, and I have you to thank for that.

My blessings to you, friend, in the new venture/s. I’ll still be lurking around wondering what next great idea will pop out of you.

Bruce