Chuck Anderson | No Pattern

Dan: Hello Chuck , first of all, please let everyone know where you are from, who you are and what you do?

Chuck: I'm originally from Lancaster, PA which is where I was born, but I grew up in Illinois. The first half of my life spent in the north Chicago suburbs and the 2nd half spent in the south Chicago suburbs. Now I am married (as of August 2007) and I live in Bloomington, IL at the moment, the middle of the middle of the midwest. Ha. I am a freelance artist and designer and I do all different kinds of personal and commercial work for clients like Reebok, Sandisk, Nike, Vans, Burton, and Mountain Dew to name a few.

Dan: Looking at the portfolio on your site, you are a freelance designer and artist, do the two ever become synonymous and what is the difference in terms of commerce?

Chuck: I don't really think about the difference between them on a day to day basis to be honest. It's just kind of one in the same to me. I just do what I enjoy doing and usually that falls under the art category. I guess I just throw design in there because that's obviously a big tie-in with the community and culture I'm involved in and I do do design, just not quite as much as I feel like I do art...does that make sense? I don't really even consider myself a graphic designer at all, it's kind of a hybrid of designer-artist-photographer-illustrator-special effects guy. Or something.

Dan: You have been around the design community for some time. How long has it been? And how did you begin to discover your creative abilities/talents?

Chuck: I've been pretty actively involved in the design community for about 6-7 years now. Before anybody knew who I was as NoPattern, I was very involved in different online communities, news sites, etc. I found it really amazing that so many people found common ground with art and design on the internet at the pace it was going back then...sites like DesignIsKinky, Surfstation, Linkdup...all those sites really are what got me interested. As for discovering my creativity, I've honestly been known, at least to close friends and family, as an artist since I was a toddler. I've always drawn and loved to create things, and it never changed as I got older.
Dan: What's the story behind your pieces like, “Places You Can't Imagine” and “Godlike”?

Chuck: They were both photos that were taken on nights when I needed to just get out of my house. I do that a lot at night, especially on foggy nights or nights that have a certain feel to them.... I can't really explain the feel I'm talking about...some nights just feel inviting to take pictures. I live in the suburbs so there really aren't any cool landscapes and sights to take pictures of, but something about empty parking lots to me are really cool...just this really isolated feeling. And all the lights in a big empty place like that are just inviting to take pictures of. So for both those prints, I just ended up driving around until I found ideal spots to shoot some photos.

Dan: Any thoughts on what's next concerning the ability of art to shape culture...

Chuck: I love that big companies are really stepping up and utilizing artists and designers. You see it in ads and commercials all the time, fresh, new ideas popping up in places where they used to be filled with stock imagery and bland corporate looking filler. That really shapes a certain part of our culture, certainly corporate America is not the most important part of our culture, but it probably has the largest impact on people in general because of how bombarded we are with ads all day long.

Dan: Briefly describe your creative process from start to finish...

Chuck: I honestly have no set creative process. I don't even know how to begin and I certainly wouldn't know how to tell you I'm finished...I just kind of start on my work with no plan or sketch, and then I just kind of stop when it looks done. Ha. I guess i really don't think about that kind of thing. I just do it. As far as client work goes, part of the creative process involves revisions and going back and forth, but again, I just do what they ask of me or offer my opinion if they offer a bad suggestion...

Dan: What is life outside of art and design for you?

Chuck: Like I said, I got married in August, so my wife Holly is obviously a huge part of life for me now. She has been anyways for 5 years but now that we're married it's more apparent. As for my spare time, I love just hanging out with people, sitting at coffeeshops or getting lunch with friends...playing Scrabble, watching Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, and old episodes of Home Improvement (seriously I love it) Pretty simple life actually, I just like to do what I love and be around the people I love.

Dan: Any last words? Shout Outs?

Chuck: I'm just really grateful to everyone who has supported me through words, press opportunities, bought my work, and been a friend to me over the last few years as I've continued to work as a freelancer. It's easy to forget how much we have and how blessed we are and my life and work certainly has seen more than enough over the last 4 years.

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For more of Chuck's art and work or to purchase prints, head on over to www.nopattern.com.

Taka Iguchi

I'm really excited about being able to bring you this digital conversation I had via iChat with Taka Iguchi, director of Rockford Master's Commission. Don't let the length discourage you from reading every word. It's chock full of good stuff.

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Dan: gotta love technology and the way we communicate

Taka: it's a great time to be alive. especially if you're a mac fan

Dan: thanks again for the time. ok... here we go

Taka: sounds good

Dan: first of all, please let everyone know where you are from and what you do? and... what did you have for lunch today?

Taka: I'm originally from the Chicago burbs and currently direct Rockford Master’s Commission. I also had a slice of pizza and a diet wild cherry pepsi for lunch. ha

Dan: gettin' crazy

Taka: i like to live on the edge

Dan: Can you tell us a little about your family background and what's your ancestry...

Taka: man, i love my family. my dad is from tokyo and mom is from seoul. they both came over here in college as immigrants. they met because my mom did some modeling and my dad was a photographer. she was homecoming queen and he was kind of a geek. so i grew up in a typical immigrants home with a high priority on learning and hard work

Dan: that's great... you travel quite a bit internationally but have you ever been able to visit where they grew up?

Taka: yea, actually, i've been to both tokyo and seoul multiple times when i was really young, my parents were really strapped financially and I had to live with my grandparents for a year when I came back, i forgot how to speak english

Dan: so what languages are you fluent in?

Taka: ha, that's the stinker. since then, I've forgotten japanese completely, but I can still understand a good bit of korean. i'm better at spanish then either one of those. I led a trip to china a couple years ago and the local people kept on speaking to me in chinese and were shocked when I could only speak english. i feel like a traitor to my people.

Dan: I'm sure it's not that bad... Things have shifted a bit at RMC and Rockford First... tell us what's new in Rockford and how things are working out with all the changes.

Taka: Yea, quite a bit has changed. it doesn't even feel like the same church. There is such an excitement in the air and even in the community. It feels like there is an article in the local paper that has to do with some aspect of our church every few weeks. which is huge for us. the paper hasn't been too kind to us in the past.

We just launched our young adult small groups and are launching a church wide small group initiative in February. we had a preliminary meeting last week and a ton of people came out that were interested in being small group leaders.

You know, with all the changes, some people have left but thats ok there are over 300 churches in the area and I sincerely hope they find one where they can invest and grow in God and the cool thing is that there are so many visitors coming and most of them are between 25-35 which is a demographic that we've had a hard time reaching

Dan: tell our readers what the new leadership structure looks like and how that's working...

Taka: Well, with PJ [Jeremy DeWeerdt] stepping up into the lead pastor role, it's allowed me to help in some areas of the church which is very exciting. Jer has a unique ability to make everyone he meets feel like a vital part of the team. with 2 radio stations, a tv station, 6 retirement centers and a k-12 christian school, there are a lot of players... 400 employees

Dan: want to talk about your journey as a leader. You came up through RMC as a student and now you're the director. How does that feel and how does that impact your leadership in that particular context?

Taka: Honestly, it's ultra humbling. That's not just obligatory, I really do wake up and feel like I'm the last person that should have this job. The reality is that there are many people that are more qualified to do this job and I'm honored to be able to pour my heart into this generation. It's also an incredible feeling to have the ability to give back to a place that has made me who I am. It definitely affects my leadership in that I feel a great sense of responsibility to the alumni that I've lived life with through the years to make this year the best year ever in RMC. in that way, I can honor the sacrifices they've made thus far.

I think that the students also respect the fact that I've gone through what they are fighting through. I've cried on the same pews, been through the same practices and fought the same mind games

Dan: how long have you been at RMC? What year are you so to speak? HA

Taka: I came as a first year in 1996. so that makes me a twelfth year. ha. i'm defintely a super senior

Dan: yeah... I'm a fifteenth year... I laugh when I think about the people who say you can stay in master's forever...

Taka: i know. I feel like such a hypocrite when I tell them that our goal in masters is to get them out of masters. then here I am still here

Dan: you guys are always doing some pretty cool stuff but talk to us a little bit about RMC's continued work with Katrina Relief...

Taka: well, the last couple weeks have been interesting. we had a team putting on a womens conference in MN, RYI tour in central IL, youth convention in New Mexico, a "hear me out" tour on the east coast, and a team of a 100 in the gulf coast. whew

Dan: wow...

Taka: like a bunch of other ministries around the nation, we felt like we should be a first responder to hurricane katrina. we were there a couple months after it hit. I believe we sent a team of 110. mostly food distro and demolition. last year we sent a slightly larger team to rebuild homes. lots of drywalling.

this year we were wanting to go back to St. Bernard Parish, but with the lack of teams and support, many of the ministries in that area have all but shut down. No one could handle a team of our size anymore. the reality is that 60% of the people haven't moved back yet and the ones that have are mostly still living in their FEMA trailers. there is still sooooo much more to do.

We then hooked up the Lutheran church who are running a camp in Biloxi. they've rehabbed 800 homes and are going to rehab at least 1200 more. we did mostly work with the park district planting flowers, cleaning parks and mulching. a few teams were able to get in some homes and do a bunch of drywall.

at the end of the week, a lady stopped us, was crying and said, "thank you for making our city beautiful again." it was great

Dan: How many more times will RMC be back down there?

Taka: we will make it a yearly event until we can't anymore. it's a huge expense, but very much worth it. we just don't buy a bunch of other things

Dan: I wanna switch gears and talk about the culture of discipleship a little bit. It seems in the Western world we tend to focus on the conversion moment but neglect discipleship and the empowerment of people for ministry. I know discipleship is at your core... What's your take on this? What needs to be done? And, do you see anything happening in the church that gives you encouragement and hope in this area?

Taka: I think that programs like RMC are helping a ton. i remember when a friend of mine said that becoming a christian was like standing on the dock and everyone was calling him into the water. he was afraid, but he was sure that they would help him swim when he jumped in. when he finally jumped in, he felt as though he was old news. That they now averted their efforts to get other people to join in. I think that is a very accurate picture'

Dan: what a great analogy...

Taka: i've tried to make it a goal to always view salvation as a great first step, but it's just that
a first step. Especially now that most people don't even have a working knowledge of the bible and have so much more baggage.

i'm getting to the point where when I tell guys that God is like a father, they don't even know what that means. so, does that mean that god will walk out on me?
will expect me to be perfect?
will abuse me?
will never let me measure up?
is too busy for me? etc.

the process of discipleship is now a process of fathering. more than ever, this gen needs to be fathered. the "cool" buddy leader doesn't cut it anymore. we've had to incorporate books on what it means that God is a father in our curriculum

Dan: what a great line... “the process of discipleship is now a process of fathering
do you find that your age makes that a bit of a challenge at times?”

Taka: yea, on both ends. when in pastoral meetings, I'm always the youngest guy in the room and in MC, I'm the oldest. ha

Dan: nice... kind in between

Taka: yea. honestly it's nice. I'm young enough to where the students feel I can relate, but am old enough to where they feel I have wisdom to pass on to them. It's interesting because I have some staff that are older than me, but they've been great allowing me to lead

Dan: This one is a long one but as Nacho says, “Let's get down to the nitty gritty...” There's been a discussion amongst directors at times that leaves us scratching our heads. It has to do with the percentage (some say as high as 20-30%) of Master's students that just “tank” after graduation. I'm not talking lukewarm or merely complacent. I mean they are full-on back in the world... in the party scene... that sort of thing. I'm not wanting to focus on the negative with all the graduates who are out there tearing it up. But, I would like to hear your thoughts on why that is and what can be done at the director and student level...

Taka: I have a lot of thoughts on that. ha

Dan: we all do...

Taka: I believe that we as MC's need to do a better job at preparing the students to be in culture. not to isolate themselves from it. we need to walk them through the transition from youth group to cultural leader. we need to push them to college and prepare them for it spiritually. we need to put them in situations where prayer isn't in the schedule and teach them to walk with God all day. where they can be around people who are from God and not freak out. where they learn to make the transition from program's rules to personal filters where they can take ownership of the course of their lives.

I really feel that MC's are going to play a major part in the future of the american church. that it really will become a 9 month fast to God regardless of occupation. There will be a day when parents will want their kid to go to medical school, but do a year of MC first.

i also think that we need to build relationships with colleges and such so that we can give them door to the next step in their lives.

I think that it's easy to get caught up in our bubbles and ignore that fact that culture changed while we were in meetings and services. One of the things that we're doing is making it mandatory for all staff to find a venue in our community to plug in. whether it's a martial arts class, or dog training, or media clubs, etc.

the students are seeing us model that and are spending their time in public places instead of of the church. realizing that their lives are ministry and not compartmentalized into different times that they're on and off.

we also have a period of several weeks where we take prayer out of the schedule and then talk about it. it's been an interesting ride. we have a long way to go

Dan: good stuff... what do you see as the student's role in reversing this "trend" if you can call it that.

Taka: the main thing is to learn how to be cultural influencer. we've changed our mission statement this year to "intentionally training and equipping kingdom minded cultural leaders." we are very intentional about tell them that they are cultural leaders. Not "one day" but right now.

The problem is when the students' goal becomes isolation, what happens when they have a roommate in college that is gay or does heroin? they don't know how to respond, because they are spiritual giants, but cultural weaklings.

they know all sorts of information, but have no voice

we ask that they develop friendships wherever they go and influence. not in some weird churchy way, but in a very normal "jesus, walking on the road" kind of way. i tell them about the relationship my wife and I have with our neighbors who are very muslim and challenge them to get in culture.

they can't expect to influence culture because they did a youth service. that is a part and we need to keep doing things to encourage the church, but the anti-church left is very intentional about their gospel.

but my dad used to say that the talks in the halls are always more in important than the mission statements on the walls

in other words, the grass roots relationships will always win out over the mass media

Dan: That's some great stuff. bro... two more and we're almost done... thanks so much again for your time... good stuff...

Taka: no prob

Dan: I know there's plenty of examples to choose from and I don't want to put you in a tough spot having to choose... but I'm gonna. Tell us about a RMC grad that's out there really doing some cool stuff in their world...

Taka: man, there are so many. one that sticks out to me right now because we just worked with him is Joil Marbut. he's a frontline missionary in Ecuador and is brining the gospel to the various tribes in the rain forest. what a cool job! he opens the door by meeting their physical needs. he trains them how to build water filtration systems out of everyday materials so they can have clean water.. we sent a team to work with him last spring and it was a great trip

Dan: If you could say one thing to all the Master's students and graduates out there... what would it be?

Taka: i know that this is a lame answer, but....

it's real. jesus is real.

as real as the ground we walk on. as real as the air we're breathing. live like you believe that
whether it's convenient or not. give like He's real. Pray like He's real. Love like He's real. Like it's all real. Heaven, hell, eternity. All of it.

Fight the natural drift towards becoming a professional christian. walk in stupid, like you've never heard it before. Let the amazing reality of grace sink in again.

Dan: yeah... that's lame... I don't think I'm gonna put that stuff in...

Taka: ha, i told ya. it's simple. but so real to me right now

Dan: that's good stuff...let's wrap up on a lighter note. rapid fire

Dan: Mac or Pc

Taka: what's a pc?

Dan: Fox or CNN

Taka: fox for now

Dan: Magazines or Blogs

Taka: blogs

Dan: iPhone or 80's Drug Dealer Brick Phone

Taka: i love my iphone

Dan: Rob Bell or Joel Osteen. j/k. last but not least...Is that really you on your MySpace profile pic?

Taka: ha. before i started working out. jk. it's off my buddy's myspace. I couldn't stop looking at it. I laughed at it harder by the minute. so I took it

Dan: thanks again for the time... some great stuff in here.

Taka: no prob. later man

Dan: laters

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During my interview with Taka, I promised him that I'd post up a link to a short film that was entered in Apple's Insomnia Film Festival. Check it out and vote here.

Jason Jebeles

Despite an 11 hour time difference, I was able to sit down at the computer and have a conversation with Jason Jebeles, missionary to Thailand. I love some of the things he had to say about reaching people through relationships. Read on and you'll also be able to sound like you know what you're doing when ordering Thai food.

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Dan: what's up bro...

Jason: hey, good evening

Dan: good morning... :) how are things?

Jason: they are really good...

Dan: awesome... you got some time for me this morning?

Jason: yea i do...fire away

Dan: Hello Jason, first of all, please let everyone know where you are from, who you are and what you do?

Jason: I am from the great state of alabama and i am currently a missionary to to the college students of Thailand.

Dan: I’m from Alabama as well. Actually I was just there with CMC? What church are you from?

Jason: New Life Church in Westover.

Dan: Oh man... we were just there for a Wednesday night service and it was great. What an awesome church... How long have you been over in Thailand?

Jason: I have been here 5 months now

Dan: How are you doing picking up the language?

Jason: Well i have been in class for 4 months and i can get around. it is the 3rd most difficult language... but nevertheless still learning... Every conversation with me is an experience for a Thai person

Dan: Tell us a little bit about your journey from Alabama to where you are now...

Jason: I felt that God wanted me to go into some type of ministry but had no idea what that might be. So i attended Southeastern College and majored in Accounting at first. (i chose that to be safe). But through my time there God really focused me in on a specific call. Still not clear on what i should do i graduated and went back to alabama.

I knew i wanted to be involved in young people’s lives and also do leadership training at some level. well, i knew of this program called master’s commission and saw it to be a great way of leadership training but through my time of wondering about my direction i also felt a call to missions. so i had no clue how to tie the two together.

I was asked by a missionary, Eddie White to help him host a team in Romania so i did and it was a Master’s Commission team from Denmark. well to my amazement that was something like what i wanted to do. so, i actually applied for the program but instead of being accepted i was hired on staff. i worked in the program for 2 years and still knew God had a longer term plan for me. Then i was approached or i approached a missionary in Thailand, Dennis Harris and was told of the incredible opportunity in Thailand for leadership training. After a lot of prayer, I felt the peace of coming to Thailand.

Dan: so you've been there for five months now...What's life like in Thailand? like culture... are you in a city or way out... that sort of thing

Jason: I am in the middle of Bangkok which is the home in the day time to 16 million people. Most days the traffic and the amount of people is unbelievable. Just a simple run to the store or post office can be a grueling task ...just getting there first then trying to communicate. but the people are incredible. very disciplined. it is incredible to see how their religion plays into their culture in such an incredible amount

Dan: this next question is going to be a little deeper... and if it's too much... just tell me...
their religion and mindset...Although not in Asia per se, Jesus did live in an Eastern culture and the Bible was written from that perspective and context as well. You come from a Western culture but are working now in a culture that probably more closely resembles the mindset of the people Jesus' was interacting with. Do you find the adjustment for you difficult... stimulating... Are the people there able to connect with the teachings of Jesus?

Jason: they are able to connect to the teaching of Jesus, but Buddhism is the thing that does that for them. It is open to any good teaching but they only select parts to implement into their already arrayed beliefs. The way to connect them is through relationship. I know this is pretty general but they have not seen this in Buddhism. Once introduced to the concept of relationships then a relationship with Jesus can happen more effectively

Dan: Tell us a little bit about what you are doing. Like what is an active morning, day, and night for you.

Jason: Well now the days are crazy... (language school). I am in school everyday from 9-12 then I usually come home to do some homework. during the week myself and Dennis Harris and two young people from the church we are working with go to the large campus here and pray for a couple of hours. I love this time. it is usually the most powerful time in my week. then my nights are filled with more study or spending time with other missionaries here....the Thai field has some great families and an incredible totally family mindset.

Dan: how many other Americans are there that you have the opportunity to interact with?

Jason: There are 6 families and 3 singles.....

Dan: So you get some taste of "home" then?

Jason: yea sometimes they let me talk real southern... make me some sweet tea and fried chicken... i feel great then

Dan: that's awesome. What's next for you guys? What projects are coming up ahead and what are you working on right now?

Jason: well our purpose for our weekly prayer at the campus is to start to meet the needs of the campus body....we strongly believe that is learning english. So, we look to start an english training center on or near the campus. Kind of a laid back school almost like a coffee house setting. then through that, form relationships with the student. And then eventually graduate these students into a leadership/discipleship program (Master’s Commission) I am not sure that it will look like. you and i know of masters in the states but the goal is still Discipleship and leadership training

Dan: I love the fact that you are approaching ministry through a process instead of just holding events.

Jason: definitely. events fade.....relationship stays.....kinda corny but is most certainly the case.....

Dan: how long do you think you'll be over there?

Jason: I believe that God has called me to this kind of ministry and i feel incredible about this place and can definitely see me being here very long term

Dan: Well, it's definitely special kind of "calling". What would you say to people who feel a strong “calling” towards another culture?

Jason: It is a very scary decision to finally make but if you really feel the calling to missions... Go... and when you do, the peace that you will feel will be indescribable. Because you are where God wants you.

Dan: Let's end on a couple of lighter notes... and thanks again for your time

Let's talk about Thai cuisine. I first tried Thai food in Ireland of all places and liked it. what should I order at a Thai restaurant here? I'm a wuss when it comes to spice.... I need something mild.

Jason: COW POT GUY or GANG KIAWAN. that is the english phonetic

Dan: Ok... so what exactly am I ordering? Ha...

Jason: The first is fried rice with chicken and some thai flavoring and the next is a green curry with chicken in it.....anything you order just say “MY PET”....which means no spice....i have learned that line well but still after saying it does not guarantee it will not be spicy

Dan: nice... well, I like what I had but my wife wasn't too fond of it so I'll probably go solo next time I try it.

One last question and this is very important... Do they have Starbucks where you are?

Jason: they do...and i know the shortest routes to all of them!!!!

Dan: thanks again for your time... So proud of you being there bro and if you ever see me online, feel free to hit me up. BTW, when are you back in the States?

Jason: I've saved up enough money and vacation time and I'll be home for Christmas this year but I'm here until 2010.

Dan: We’ll be up in Alabama for Christmas as well. We’ll def have to hook up if it can work out.

Jason: That’d be great. we can meet at a thai restaurant at the summit on 280... Thai Emerald.

Dan: I’d love that. Any last words? Shout Outs?

Jason: Just some words if traveling to Thailand ....Dont drink the water and don't buy fruit from street vendors...if either is done you are in for a long night!!!!!

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If you'd like to get to know Jason even more, sign up for his newsletter, or better yet, support what he's doing, please visit www.jebelesinthailand.com.

samuelerics of Fresh Aesthetics

On October 19, 2007, Danis Linus linked up with samuelerics of Fresh Aesthetics on Skype.

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Dan: Hello Samuel, to start it off, who are you, where do you originate and what do you do?

Samuel: Well, I was born in Malaysia and now work as a designer.

Dan: And where do you live now?

Samuel: I'm now based in Melbourne, Australia. You?

Dan: I’m from Florida but we’re in Alabama at my parents right now and so it's always good to see family of course.

Samuel: Ah that’s great! Alabama... I was going to move there once.

Dan: Why in the world were you going to move to Alabama? Ha... that's great!

Samuel: I was offered a position to work for Integrity under one of the marketing directors.

Dan: That's awesome... I've always wanted to live in Austraila... so...

Samuel: Haha. Well, Australia welcomes you.

Dan: It’s 10:22am here (CST). What time is it there right now?

Samuel: 12:22am. The time I usually start work. Sort of.

Dan: Most of us have seen your work but probably don't know you... don't worry about name-dropping... go ahead... we wanna know some of the projects you've worked on...

Samuel: Haha. We've currently just finished the new United album artwork and will soon be available in stores.

Other projects include work with Paul Baloche, Parachute Band, Israel Houghton, Passion Conference under Louie Giglio, etc.

Dan: You do a lot of stuff for Hillsong... how'd you get plugged into that?

Samuel: Currently we have a few projects with Hillsong, but it started out doing the United MySpace which was our very first 'probono' work with them.

Dan: How long have you been around the design community and how did you get started? And, how old are you if you don't mind us asking...

Samuel: Well believe it or not, I started out designing because Hillsong had a cover competition for “You Are My World” back in 2001, and I entered that, and of course, being 13 then, my work was not on par with the many other talents around the world who entered the same competition. From then on I've had a passion for design. I'm currently 19 years of age.

Dan: That's incredible... I love the stuff you've done. You do any video stuff?

Samuel: Well I try! I don’t do video professionally at this point but we have people doing that for us.

Dan: How many people do you have with Fresh Aesthetics?

Samuel: Officially there are two directors, myself and Rajeev my business partner. However, we do contract our work to multiple designers; two of them locally and we have one in the States and Sweden. We might have one more coming on board from the UK but we're always looking for fresh talent.

Dan: Kind of a serious question... It appears at times that there is a lack of creativity in the Church. You've broken out of that mold. What are some of the reasons for this lack and what did you and those around you decide to do that enabled you to lead the way in creativity as opposed to merely playing catch-up which is so prevalent in the Church.

Samuel: It is a serious one and a good question indeed.

There are two reasons why some churches lack in 'creative expression'. One being the talent. Most of the time church brochures and other promotional materials are done by volunteers or church workers, and not every church has 'great' designers as members. However, most churches today do carry basic design well enough to communicate clearly - maybe not visually but in bold words created in MS Word.

Second reason, and probably the main reason why churches today lack creative excellence, is the unwillingness to invest in visual communications. However, this is understandable as not every church has the funding to pay a corporate designer to do their church announcements or monthly bulletin.

As for the church I go to, it's a fairly small one of about 150 members. But it so happens that, I as a designer, am a member of the church so, therefore volunteering to do their creative work for them.

Dan: Did you grow up in church?

Samuel: Yes I have.

Dan: Me too... and even with some of the stuff that goes with being a Pastor's Kid... I wouldn't have it any other way.

Samuel: Haha... I'm a PK too.

Dan: You do a lot of work with MySpace. How do you feel about MySpace as they relate to marketing and a new form of website. Where do you think it's headed?

Samuel: MySpace is the new website. Haha. I think MySpace pages, thought with its lack of features, is a one-stop marketing/promoting tool (speaking corporately and not from a Christian point of view). There are millions who are on MySpace everyday... why not tap into that 'market' which is major 'market'

From a ministry point of view, it’s great for announcements. Also, there are more chances people would visit your ministry MySpace page. If well promoted and easily accessed through top friends from members, the page would probably have more hits then your ministry website. Thus a good tool for announcement and event promotion.

Dan: And if people wanted to hit you up on MySpace and add you as their friend... your address is?

Samuel: www.myspace.com/samuelerics

Dan: Chuck Anderson is a PK as well and a great designer... I'll be interviewing him over the next few weeks... Who are some of the designers, motionographers, and artists out there do you like and that are shaking things up a bit?

Samuel: Well, i've always been inspired by the list of Hillsong designers, namely Glenn Stewart and Giles Lambart. As designers they're great and have a distinct style, very non-comforming, therefore bringing a new fresh edge to church visual communications.

Dan: Do you get to work with them directly and what is that process like?

Samuel: Not directly, and Giles not at all. We're currently working on the new Hillsong Kids album. Glenn is doing the DVD titles and I the print work.

Dan: Ok, real quick... Favorite piece you've done?

Samuel: The new United album of course. It's a baby. :)

Dan: Is it the hardest piece you've done?

Samuel: Yes and no... Yes, because of the time frame; No, because the artwork was quickly approved.

Dan: Can't wait to see it. What do you do when you are not creating something?

Samuel: Drawing inspirations from art sites. Haha.... or catching a movie.

Dan: You're an addict I can tell.

Samuel: Yeah, I need to work on that.

Dan: Last question. We always try to end with some sort of call to action for our readers. If there is one thing you could tell us that would move us to action in using the skills we have to make a difference... what would that be...

Samuel: "Surrender them to God" - in all success, it starts with that.

Dan: Great answer. Really appreciate your work and all you're doing to set a great example. Thanks so much again.

Samuel: Yep... sure, no worries. Have a good one.