Right Turn at Round-a-bout...By Terri Gary

Looping around clockwise over and over again in one direction will sooner or later leave you dizzy in despair. The circle seems to never stop. You ask yourself if there’s ever going to be an end to this spiral. The countless hours spent reading books and searching the net seem to never get you to the exit that will eventually get you out of your circle and onto the “right turn at the round.” Leaders show up. They come to help but most fail to take the journey with you. This is where I stand today. Going in circles as an indie artist. Over the years tools were given to me and I used them but definitely not every tool so far was given to me to increase the value of God’s purpose for ministry. I work part-time as a banker and also part-time as a music minister. God’s call keeps calling me yet I still find myself circling around desperately trying to find that missing gem that will eventually find the right turn and move me further along in Gods ministry. I met Tami, Vice President A&R from Incubator Creative Group, on Facebook. She and I became friends. We began to chat about Incubator. She mentioned how this ministry label was created for artists like me to help them develop their ministry using their gifts and talents as an artist. During this time, I was a bit cautious and afraid of commitment. However I never gave up. So I went ahead to get more details and browsed through a number of free online sessions referred to us as, “The Non-Nashville Blueprint.” It didn’t end here. Tami repeatedly extended her warm welcome and free help so that I could hear more. The more I heard the more I became excited. Later I was offered a membership with Incubators “Music Ministry Accelerator.” This offer gave me access to a six hour online seminar. It guaranteed a one on one relationship with Incubator. So I signed up! This seminar took hours to complete. There were lots of stops and go’s along the way but I wanted to comprehend everything they were teaching. At last I found someone who was on the same page as I. Up till that point, I had done a lot in my day with music as an artist. Recording, traveling to Nashville, signing with record labels, talking to agents, attending singer/songwriter fests, signing contracts, etc. etc. I spent year’s spending money and years going nowhere fast. After a while my hopes began to diminish. This ministry was becoming stale whether I liked it or not. Only God can pluck the needle out of the haystack. And maybe he wouldn’t because I wasn’t ready. Somehow I messed up. I was moving too fast but procrastinating at the same time. I was too busy following the worlds direction that I got lost in the direction of the one who was calling me to serve. I needed to be saved from myself. Nate Sakany (President from Incubator) made an interesting comment. Statistics say that it takes 2500 hours of quality time to build a stable business (ex. Gods ministry). This includes objectivity, accountability and connectivity with someone who can navigate the ship. Someone who’s been there before and has succeeded over the years in doing what you want to do. This takes time and lots of energy to accelerate your dream of being faithful to use your gifts and talents to build relationships and touch others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a combination of many things built over time. This is where I rocked the boat and almost fell over. Prior to Incubator, I was led by a stray of thievess looking only out for themselves. I was taken in by their promises to become something with my music. It wasn’t Christian mentorship. I became a premature adopter. I ran after the carrot without the wisdom. I was an artist with talent with no focus as to where it was leading. This sort of drive led me to slow down every time. Nate made me see how important it is to connect with people. To be whom you truly are. Your time in front of people is a way to present a sample of what your unique core ministry is and to give people a chance to respond to it. People’s lives will be touch by what you do on a deep level. I question where I’d be in my ministry today if it wasn’t for Nate and Tami. Gods answer to prayer brought Incubator to my rescue. This was definitely Gods perfect timing. It’s nice to know that someone’s got your back who’s been there before you with more experience. I love the idea of having Incubator's accountability. I can breathe now and trust that Incubator will guide me further in my gifts and in my walk with Christ’s plan. Because finally, I’ll be taught through Incubator's creative system, how to create powerful ministry to the people that are desperately thirsty.

A Review of Incubator Creative Group

Just click the link below:
Incubator Creative Group Reviews

Bob Marovich Review of Funk Justice

Funk Justice: 15 Fixes for Your Ministry Funks
Tami Rowbotham
Ministry Entrepreneur Press (2014)
251 pages
Available from Amazon.com
By Bob Marovich

C onfession time: I was once a burned out music minister.
Years of organizing the music for a local church, Sunday after Sunday, had taken its toll. Music ministry had gone from being fun to so demanding I could no longer enjoy the worship experience. That seemed unfair, and I quit. I could have used a dose of Funk Justice.

Meet Jennie Jorgens: She Has Questions, God Has Answers

H

ave you ever been afraid to fully follow a dream or pursue the thing you know you are supposed to do? I have, but...

Meet Susan Schleppe...God's Leading

I
would like to share with you how I came to be working with Incubator Creative Group.  It’s been an exciting journey so far as I’ve had a sense of God’s leading. I heard about a Christian Musician’s Summit in Redmond Washington and thought it might be a good idea to attend.  One of the workshops I sat in on was that of Incubator.  Both Nate’s sense of humour and Tami’s warmth appealed to me.  

Edwin Benton--Relationship, Relationship, Relationship

W e have all heard it said in the real estate market over and over again, Location, Location, Location, is what sells real estate. Well then, what sells Gospel Music and its related ministry?  It is Relationship, Relationship, Relationship!

Barbara Palmer--So Many Questions!

“Where do I start?” and “How did I get here?” were questions I found myself asking myself over the course of more than a decade after feeling certain that the Lord had called me to music ministry. But, I had no clue how to “do it right.”

Gary Kauffman--The Time Is Now

O ne summer’s evening in 1979, the phone rang.  “Hello Gary?  This is Barry Landis.”  He was from Nashville, and directing a group named Bridge.  A friend of mine in southern California heard Bridge in concert where Barry had announced an opening for a guitar player.  My friend talked to Barry, and gave him my phone number.

Saying Yes To The Chain Reaction Of Faith..Ryan Goeken

R “yan, I have devoted you to Myself.” What’s that you say, God? You can just do that? Don’t I get to choose?

It turns out He chose me, and in doing so, He was inviting me to choose Him and devote myself to Him at a deeper level. I already knew this, but He was reminding me. He was reminding me because I wasn’t believing it or acting it out in faith. He was telling me “I’ve devoted you to my worship, so now devote yourself to my worship.” I took this to heart. I started believing and declaring that worship is what I was meant for. I started to really believe that I am a worshiper.

A Crowning Moment By Rose Tino

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he years had gone by; a lot of money spent and wasted. These were the years I met a lot of frustrations trying to get my music ministry off the ground. It seemed like a rabbit trail, with me winding where I started. No where! It felt like nobody really understood what I wanted since they were bent on making me a super star yet all I wanted to be was a music minister. There was not a systematic way of getting things done after they were agreed. Which meant I had to run after people to get projects completed. It was heart wrenching. With nothing to show for all that I had done, I later decided I would go it alone. Yet with a full time day job, there was a limit to which I could do so many things at the same time and alone without becoming a nervous wreck. I did what I could but without consistency. And for most of the time I did it wrong.

I could feel my heart get into desperate panic almost every single day especially since I felt the urgent need to do something with the calling on my life. My conscience often repeated almost loudly to me; 'to whom much is given, much is expected'. I lived in fear of dying a purpose less life. And worried about being a statistic of many who die without a legacy. By the end of 2012 I had reached the end of myself and there I was on my knees asking God to help. The answer was instant, a journey I would take into the future.

The last week of December will always be the turning point in my life. In the silence of my bed room, I decided I was going to nag God until He did something about my music ministry. I needed to run a successful music ministry, and I needed a mentor and a partner in the business. As I went about making my demands known, I got the idea to just browse the internet to see if I got ideas on how to build a successful music ministry. I came across a link by a company called Incubator Creative Group. I read about the company but with suspicion dismissed it or to put it another way 'parked it for another day'.

Weeks later I got an invitation from Tami Rowbotham, Incubator’s Vice President, to listen to some free stuff. With my skepticism, as long as it did not involve money, I decided I would not lose anything by listening. I listened to Nate Sakany, President of Incubator Creative Group. From the start to the finish I was attentive. There was something about this company. Something not many had, something revolutionary.

I was coming from a place where I was being forced to be and do things like everyone else. Where the focus was fame and stardom. I had this warped view about ministry- that it was all about music. In the conventional business world I was taught how to gloss my image to have a large fan following. With Incubator, I learned the opposites.

I learned the principles of vulnerability and authenticity and how these create demand for music ministry. I discovered how important it is to provide ministry to a small group of people as opposed to crowds. While I thought music was all, Incubator taught me that it was only a wrapping paper of the gift that I am to the world. And one of many ways of expressing the message that God had inscribed on my heart.

After the free series, Incubator invited me to be a member which I accepted. Shortly I went through the ministry adventure series where I learned more on how to treat my music ministry like a business enterprise. I got insights about incubator's values especially those of; Accountability, Objectivity and Connectivity. Incubator emphasized that I had to show up for work and treat my music ministry with respect. I graduated to the ministry accelerator series where I had to work on a number of projects and understand the difference between change and transformation; and the changes that I needed to make to have a transformation in my music ministry.

For 8 months, incubator was studying me. Yet for all that time; the company was consistent, systematic, committed, purposefully repetitive and alive. Incubator and I built a relationship. I trusted the company and found it a safe place. For all my years, I had never seen such order. I decided I wanted to work with them, if they wanted to work with me.

In September Nate and Tami informed me that I had passed the long application process and that the company was interested in having a long term relationship with me. My feelings were mixed and punctuated. I wondered whether it was really me they were talking about. Then shortly after I would break into a dance; to no song in particular. Conscious of my environment, I would then stop to check to see if someone out there did not think I was crazy. Once I was sure no one was watching I resumed my dance.

To be signed up with a Christian music label that stands for hatching excellent Kingdom stuff is a crowning moment. Honorable and very humbling at the same time. It has brought me to a place of rest knowing that I finally have the support to do something with my calling. I have now started to work on my music ministry. I look forward to the coming months and years with people like you. As I do that I can’t help but be amazed at how God has crowned the year with goodness- like getting me connected to Incubator Creative Group, a partner who will hold me accountable objectively and keep me connected to a supportive environment.  

Summer Summit 2014

A lthough I could personally go on and on for days, you don't need to hear my opinions on the 2014 Summer Summit. It was incredible to hang with this group of 'creatives' but as Incubator's 'mama hen', I know I'm pretty biased.  So, I'm going to let you hear it straight from the mouths of some of those who attended! — Tami Rowbotham




“Thanks Tami and Nate for another fabulous campus experience! Summer Summit for me is the "Gas Station" where I can be recharged with such love, acceptance and encouragement. It's more than where I can learn about contents but connect with people who understand each other's heart and mind. Incubator focuses on "relationships" and our personal growth. This year, I really felt how we grew together over last 10 years. Seriously, it's a place where you can be "Broken" and everyone is okay with that. We all have struggles, personal wounds and stories. One's story is not more or less than other's. Incidents in our lives might be different but we all struggle with similar stuff, fear of rejection, abandonment, acceptance, people pleasing, insecurities... etc... And we don't easily find a place where we can talk about those "stuff" without fear of judgement but at Incubator Creative Group. I'm charged up to work more years for my calling that God has placed into my life!” — Shine Morrison

“I want to say once again - it was awesome to meet all of you and see what a wonderful group of caring, genuine people that Incubator is made up of. I consider this Summit to be a landmark event in my life, both in my ministry and personal life as a believer, since I think it has brought healing in some major areas in my life. I definitely believe it was God that brought me there. It seems that in normal everyday life, people with whom you can be open and share your struggles can be few and far between, so this has been an incredible blessing to me. God bless you all, and I'll be praying for you, that God will bless and grow your ministries beyond all you could ask or imagine.”   — Dave Ehlers


“Thanks so much for another amazing Summit. As if the guidance and mentor-ship you provide on a regular basis weren't an abundant value already, the summit is like lots of lots and lots and lots of whipped cream on top. I learned a lot, I was encouraged and uplifted, and hey... gourmet food!” — Jackie Doss

“I was reminded that being isolated breeds atrophy. Community breeds growth! Thanks for helping me grow, friends. It was so nice to hang at the Villa and just "play" for a few days, learning how to "just keep swimming" through each step of the website.  Jenee O'Connor
I am about a year into my signed relationship with Incubator and was not sure what to expect from the Summer Summit, but i was pleasantly surprised. A lot of the questions i had were answered and more. I walked away with great ideas, great worship experiences, and great new friends. The face to face interaction alone was worth it, and yet there was so much more. Now if i can get all my new friends in to Dr. Who we can have a theme for the next Summit.” — Rebekah Lawson

“I am grateful to have been able to attend Summit 2014 this year. I walked away with fresh and practical ideas for my music ministry. The Summit challenged me to dig deeper into the things God has for me and my ministry, while at the same time linking me with others who are also on similar journeys. This was a priceless experience so thank you Tami and Nate for taking the time to pour into my ministry!” — Felicia Rives

“I'm still getting my bearings straight here, but on the forefront, RELATIONSHIP seemed to be a paramount for me this time around. (Is paramount the right word?) Just about everything that was hammered home to me resounded with relationship, relationship, relationship. Closeness with friends, how problems are tackled, how rejoicing takes place, and most importantly, how true and real life ministry has the most significant impact. (GO Vista 2, Love Languages, Nothin' but grace here, putting others before 'me', etc.) Sure, being with Incubator, relationship is nothing new,  but the importance of it has once again been highlighted, and my heart and mind soaked in the deep reality of real, true relationships, and how nothing really matters if relationship is not at its core.” — Judy Deans