How I Wound Up Working With A Hatchery
Even Though I'm No Spring Chicken!
Even Though I'm No Spring Chicken!
Well, it's not exactly the kind of hatchery you might be
thinking of. There are no chickens or
fish in this story. But watching the plan of God unfold in my life lately has
been a truly amazing experience. If you
have a minute I'd love to tell you about it.
In September 2008 I released a worship CD called
“4006”. I really didn't know why God
wanted me to make this CD (what would I do with it after it was made?). After
keeping His side of the bargain (providing a person to record me and place to
record it) I decided I needed to keep my side of the bargain by recording the
CD. I reasoned that if He wanted me to
make it, He had a good reason and I should be obedient because His leadership
is always perfect.
In the spring of 2009 a man who sold Messianic and Christian
mp3’s on the Internet contacted me. No,
he didn't own the hatchery... I'm getting to that. We started a relationship and he featured my CD on his web
site. Shortly thereafter he suggested
that I set up a profile on ShoutLife, a social networking site.
ShoutLife is like a Christian Facebook for musicians,
artists, writers, comedians and people.
I set up a profile where people could hear my music and get to know my ministry
a little better. I wasn't really
expecting anything from it, but I figured it couldn't hurt. No… no chickens
yet!
Shortly after I set up my profile, I received a friend
request from a company called Incubator Creative Group. Their motto was “hatching good stuff”. I was very intrigued and their message to me
on ShoutLife. They mentioned their
unique approach as a Christian artist management group and encouraged me to
check them out.
I went to their web site and was fascinated by the fact that
they weren't just another “Christian” artist management group... they
were really a Christian artist management group that did things that
were different from anything I'd ever seen.
First of all, their values were nothing like those of the
“music business”. They stressed
“accountability”, “teach-ability”, “obscurity” (did I hear that right?),
“eternity”, “responsibility” and “integrity”.
They weren't trying to make stars or celebrities. Their vision and goal was to train up
effective ministers of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I really knew Incubator was different when they told me the
application process would take several months, seven phases and
they would try to dissuade me from working with them the whole time. What I didn't know at the time was that they
were trying to get people that really wanted to minister and weed out the ones
who were seeking fame and stardom.
Throughout the seven-phase process they continually stressed
their vision of working with those who would advance the Kingdom of God. Phase Two of the application process was
sending some of my music to them. They
responded with an Internet link that connected me to a personalized audio
critique of my music. The evaluation
was favorable and I was allowed to go on to Phase Three.
Most music business management groups (Christian or not)
either accept you or reject you based on the music you provide them. Incubator's criteria are much more
demanding. Getting your music accepted
is only the beginning. They wanted to know my character and see my
follow-through. According to Incubator
the ‘gift’ is the easy part. You either
have a talent that can be developed or you don’t.
So for the next several months I was sent Artist Management Modules, which are multi-paged documents to be completed that allowed Incubator to learn pretty much everything about me; from my childhood to the equipment I use to minister. They really got to know me and I really began to understand their vision for ministry.
Now, it's important to understand this company is in
Oregon. After 20 years of refining and
systematizing their processes, they have been able to conduct every aspect of
their business over the Internet. They
do meet their artists in person but the Application Process is a process of
building trust. It's nothing short of
amazing... and I consider myself to be a total techno-nerd.
Shortly after having my music accepted they issued me an
Accelerator Virtual Office System. This
was an Internet link that connected me to a highly personalized office space
where I could communicate, plan, and carry on the entrepreneurial aspects of
the ministry God has entrusted to me.
Incubator is all about creating
“sustainability” for ministry.
In the ensuing months they provided many audio teachings (also
via Internet links), not just on music ministry. They also helped me get to know myself and who I am in
Messiah. They stressed the necessity of
a music minister being truly transparent and humble. There is really no place for stars or idols in the Kingdom of
God.
Also, during this process, I had to read several books that
have radically changed my life.
Incubator's philosophy is that if you keep reading, you keep
growing. Their 20+ years of ministry
have allowed them to come across some terrific books that can really help you
grow as a believer and a minister.
In October of 2009 I completed the application process and
was offered to sign with the Incubator ministry label. I have had nothing but amazing interactions
with the folks at Incubator so it was not only a privilege; it was an honor to
be working with a management group that is “the real deal”.
For many years I have had a strong hunger to be able to take
the message and music God has wrought in me over the last 25 years to a lost
and dying world but I had no idea how to go about doing it. Well, God has satisfied the hunger of my
heart and connected me with a family of folks that really understand what true
ministry is all about.
In just the first initial months working with Incubator my
life and ministry took on a new hope and direction. I have had more paradigm shifts in the first six months than I’ve
had in the last 20 years — and that process continues. This is only the
beginning. Stay tuned 'cause He ain't
done with me yet.
So, as promised, you can see there were no chickens or fish
involved (or injured) in the unfolding of this story. But it is definitely about hatching good stuff!
