I don’t read Christian novels. I buy books on a regular basis and have books gifted to me from friends all the time, but I can count on one hand how many inspirational novels I’ve read in the last twenty years.

So last fall, when a woman I know handed me a book called, The Shack, by William Young, and urged me to read it, I accepted it, but inwardly I groaned. Months later, I finally picked it up – out of sheer politeness.

It’s not the best book I’ve read, though I was startled, and delighted, by the theology of the book and how the author portrayed the triune Godhead. (I gave it three stars which you can read in my blog’s review)

After reading my review several friends told me that Young, who’s known as Paul by friends and family, lives here in the Portland area and that maybe I ought to contact him for an interview. I’m a writer. I’ve been working hard to build a writing career the last couple of years.

As The Shack gained momentum, I began paying attention to the internet buzz surrounding this humble novel and decided there was a story worth chasing down.

I decided to get in touch with Paul. Bill Dahl, a long time friend of Off The Map, and someone I met at last year’s conference, offered to connect me. So did Fran, the woman who gave me a copy of The Shack.

It worked. Paul, who is inundated with dozens upon dozens of emails everyday due to the enormous success of his novel (more than 700,000 copies at the time of our meeting) answered my email and soon we had an interview date set up.

I met up with Paul at a popular coffee joint. Cliché, I know, but most Pacific Northwesterners do our best talking amped up on caffeine.

He was great. Paul was easy to draw out and I loved hearing the fairy-tale like story of his book’s birth and success. He had only quit his day job in manufacturing a few weeks prior. He never had any ambitions to be a published writer (unlike me). “I wrote this book for my kids,” says Paul.

I found myself thinking of Jim Henderson as Paul talked. They are both renegades from institutional church, both of them having gone off the grid in search of meaningful Christian spirituality. And they are both willing to listen graciously to their critics.

I asked Paul, what did he think when a popular pastor from a large Seattle church ranted about the theology of his book in a YouTube video. He smiled and said, “Everyone brings to the table what they have.” Pausing, Paul added, “He who knows him best loves him the most.”

After the interview I needed to hit the road to get up to Seattle. Off The Map had an opportunity to participate in a citywide event. Several of us OTM’ers headed in to help out.

As I caught up with Nancy Murphy at the welcome dinner she introduced me to Chuck Conniry and Larry Shelton, theology professors from George Fox Seminary. We somehow began talking about The Shack. They were intrigued with the interview I’d had that afternoon with Paul, and I was very interested in their response to the theological takeaway of the book. They gave me their contact info and by the next week I had interviewed both of them for my story. My article was beginning to shape up.

I began emailing editors around the nation. Newspapers, magazines, Christian and otherwise, I was looking for a buyer for what I considered a hot story. I sent out at least a dozen query letters.
Not a single bite.

Feeling discouraged I decided to contact Christine Wicker. Christine used to work as a religion journalist with the Dallas Morning News and she’s also written several books. A couple of years ago she spoke at an OTM conference and has become a friend to many of us since then.

She was great to talk to, albeit realistic. “Pam, you’re doing everything right, but freelancing is hard work.” She encouraged me to be patient and remain persistent. “Be the go-to-girl for this story,” she said as I told her how many sources and interviews I had been collecting.

I’ve been closely following the progress of The Shack. It’s sold well over a million copies to date and it hasn’t even begun to crest the wave. International distribution has begun. A big New York publisher has partnered with the book. A Hollywood movie is in the pipeline.

I have continued to knock on the doors of those elusive editors. I’ve been most persistent with my hometown paper, The Oregonian. Five emails, three editors, and finally a sale, the first of what I hope to be a flurry of others.

The OTM community helped shape this story. This is no surprise. OTM has shaped me as a writer. I like to think that I’m shaping them, too.

About 250 people (mostly local) gathered for an evening of food and music and to hear some short talks, interviews and dialog.

The podcasts are here:

• Rob Bell “Jesus Wants To Save Christians”
  
• Rose Swetman Interview With Rob Bell
  
• Andy Himes - Missionary to Evangelicals
  
• Off the Map interview with Rob Bell, Todd Hunter, Doug Pagitt, & Sunil Sardar
  

These bloggers have written about it (I’ll add to this list if I find more):

• Steve Lewis
• Randy Siever
• Rose Swetman
• Eugene Cho
• Ryan Beattie
• Helen Mildenhall
• “Linds”
• Ben Katt
• Soma…a church of the Christ

If/when photos go online I’ll link to those too.

I have a long term love affair going with India.

We were recently able to spend a week together.

Whenever I visit there I come away with my head spinning.

India’s cultural contradictions are open for all to observe.

The most obvious being the insidious social structure called caste (the world’s oldest practice of religion based discrimination).

I’m part of a support team for Sunil Sardar who is leading the fight to end India’s Apartheid – the caste system.

Sunil is a leader in the Social Spirituality movement which advocates (and agitates) for a Jesus who died to save the world rather than merely as my personal savior.

Brian McLaren is also a Social Spiritual activist.

Not only is he kind he is cutting edge.

His newest book Everything Must Change articulates the very same things Sunil propagates in India.

Brian’s tour is coming to Seattle this month. I’m looking forward to hearing him creatively communicate his newest ideas.

If you live in Seattle – this is a must attend event.

The Dalai Lama is also coming to Seattle in April to participate in the Seeds of Compassion Conference.

Where I will be leading a workshop called Recovering the Compassionate Tradition of Jesus.

Rob Bell, Todd Hunter, Sunil Sardar and Nancy Murphy will be part of this workshop. They will help me listen to several leaders from other faith traditions talk about their experiences with Christians so we can improve in our attempt to recover the compassionate tradition of Jesus.

Kathy is a pastor of The Refuge, Denver. Kathy helped us organize our first Community Party (January 10).

Great music, way too much food, free wine, and lots of interesting people together enjoying eating, laughing, listening, learning, and telling stories. In our opinion, that’s a good party! Throw in some Jim Henderson interviews, Sage on the steel guitar, and some good conversation starters and you can’t lose.

Off The Map came to Denver in January. We threw a little gathering to start some new dialogue and introduce people to each other who needed to know each other and more about Off The Map. It was a wildly diverse group - musicians, writers, editors, missionaries, pastors, leaders, actors, consultants, business owners - you name it. The one thing everyone probably had in common - innovation and a desire to live out the ways of Jesus more creatively, simply and naturally.

Like any good party, it doesn’t take much to get the conversation going. Elaine Hansen had a few questions around the tables, world cafÈ style. More connections were made as we shared about community experiences and what motivated us to give up a Thursday evening to come to a coffee shop in Boulder County and meet some new people.

Jim interviewed a few friends who are making simple shifts to love people, meet them where they are, and try new things that aren’t about power, money or numbers. Jay’s church is hosting parties, concerts, events that draw hundreds of people and they give all of the money away to missional causes. Sally shared some interesting stories of ministry leaders across the US who are asking new questions, giving up old archaic methods, and making big cultural shifts.

Sage gave up the glamorous life of building guitars for rockstars to drive a special transit bus so he can be in relationship with beautiful people who need care, touch, and connection and he can have a good schedule with his kids since he’s a single dad. Jose is finishing law school but will keep his job as a pilot so he can work for free for the marginalized and oppressed instead of worrying about billable hours. Regular people making a big difference in the lives of others.

Lots of cards, phone numbers & emails were exchanged. People who needed to meet each other did. Jim reminded us that one of the reasons Off The Map exists is so people don’t have to feel alone or stupid. Everyone in that room knows that is what it sometimes feel like when you start thinking new thoughts, trying crazy things, and moving away from the old ministry tricks. We’re pretty sure everyone left feeling a little less lonely, a little less stupid, and a little more excited about what God’s up to here in Denver.

Next up: Off The Map is planning a regional Off The Map Live event in Denver in the fall of 2008. Look for details in the months to come and let us know if you want to be part of helping us pull it off. Then the party can last for a few days instead of just for a few hours!

The photographs of the party in this post were taken by Amy Clifford and Jennifer Herrick. There are more here and here

Thanks

I wanted to write and say thanks for all you’ve done (or are about to do) to support Off The Map financially, spiritually and emotionally this year. We’ve had a very successful year. God has opened doors for us and continues to give us favor.

Here are a just a few of the things we accomplished in 2007:

Jim and Casper Go to Church
The book went into its second printing after only 6 months. Matt and I have had numerous conversations with pastors and leaders and spoken at a number of churches together. To our surprise, some of our biggest fans are pastors of mega churches.

Doable Evangelism
Randy Siever, our new Director of Doable Evangelism, has taken the Doable Evangelism Practices and packaged them into a fun, engaging and short training process that churches and organizations are beginning to use.

Off The Map Live
Over 500 people gathered in Seattle. Our theme: Creating Dialog in A World Gone Different expressed the aspirations of the event and the speakers and musicians carried it into the hearts and minds of those participating. It was a very diverse and outspoken group and the food was killer. Here’s what a couple of people had to say:

“Off The Map Live helped me dig the wells of uncertainty and humility a little deeper.”

“The overwhelming theme for me was to be open to finding Jesus in unexpected places and people.”

A Plan

We spent 2007 developing our strategic plan ñ here it is:
1) Take Doable Evangelism to Market ñ spread the word and expand the reach
2) Launch the Otherlyness movement ñ write and talk about our Big idea ñ the spirituality of serving
3) Gather and Connect with the Off The Map Community

That’s it. These initiatives represent our work for the next three years.

Coming Soon To A City Near You

Off The Map will be on tour in 2008. We are in talks with several people about partnering together to bring our message to a wider audience and we will be hosting a number of Off The Map Community Parties in different cities as well. We want to get together with people for whom Off The Map has become a refuge and oasis and introduce them to each other and see how we can continue to help them grow as change agents for Jesus.

From Jim’s head

Peter Drucker said, “Every few hundred years in Western society there occurs a sharp transformation. Within a few short decades, society rearranges itselfÖ We are currently living through such a transformation.”

I agree ñ I think we face unprecedented opportunity to see The Way of Jesus find more traction in our culture than we can imagine.

People are hungry for reality and Jesus is the leader of the reality movement.

We need to find ways to get them together, to introduce them to each other.

That’s why Off The Map exists - to help Christians be normal so they can connect people with Jesus and spread the spirituality of serving.

If recent research on the attitudes of non-Christians toward Christianity are correct, then the most important skills Christians need to acquire are listening, hearing and connecting. Connecting with today’s seekers requires a new kind of relational honesty. Off The Map is at the forefront in casting this vision. No other organization I know of equips Christians to live it out better than Off The Map.”

Todd Hunter

The Big Picture

Here’s what we’re working on for 2008:

• Expose hundreds of churches and leaders to Doable Evangelism
• Create and take to market the “DE in a Box Training Course”
• Take Off The Map Live to 6 cities
• Off The Map Community gatherings in 6 cities

How you can help?

Much of our financial support comes in the form of thousands of volunteer hours donated by people like Helen, Rachel, Benjamin, Justin, Elaine, Elizabeth, Sandy, Matt, Nancy, Dave, Kelly, John, Todd, Geneva, Craig, Rose, Lisa and many more.

We also bring income through our events and products.

Our largest source of income however comes from donors who believe in the vision.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate online

Send checks to:

Off The Map
P. O. Box 75094
Seattle, WA 98175

Off The Map is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization currently registered in Washington State. Our Tax ID is 81-0631395.

If you want to read what bloggers are saying about the event, here’s a collection of links.

Update: the store is up and running.

• Read Casper’s first report here
• Download the podcast here