Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa probably doesn’t ring a bell to you. For most of us, it’s just another community college somewhere in the U.S. However, for blue sky nine, it’s a place of great significance.

This “angst-free” acoustic rock band from Keynote first showed up on campus two years ago to work with a small ministry called Laker Life. Since that first show, the movement at Iowa Lakes has tripled in size. The students credit the first blue sky nine as the turning point for them.

Two weeks ago, the band returned to play a mid-day show in the Student Commons. About 200 students showed up, allowing blue sky nine to build even more visibility and credibility for Laker Life on the campus. We just heard this week from one of the Laker Life leaders, Brett Fuelberth, that at least three students have started coming to their weekly meetings as a result of blue sky nine’s concert! Another student has begun talking with her roommate more about spiritual things and checking out the Laker Life meetings!

Blue sky nine also returned to Upper Iowa University – at the invitation of the school administration! The administration was completely fine with the band sharing the gospel from the stage, but the band wasn’t able to invite people to make a decision during the program. A couple of cool things happened after the show as the band talked personally with those who attended:

• Dan shared the gospel again with four students from Nepal and left them with some material to take home.
• The band was able to point people to a regular Bible study group and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes group on campus, so they have somewhere to go for further connections and follow-up.

Would you like to “get to know” blue sky nine?

• For a taste of blue sky nine’s music check out this link!
• If you live in the Indy area, come join us on Saturday, March 13 at 7:30pm at East Street Studios for the blue sky nine concert, with guest artist Dave Fladung. Doors open at 7:00pm with coffee and snacks available throughout the evening.
• Even if you don’t live in Indy, you can join us online at 7:30 for the webcast!

Today we have the opportunity to hear from Ken Leamer, Senior Account Executive for Cincom Systems, Inc. and a friend of Keynote, about his connection with our ministry through the years. The video below is an excerpt from the 2009 Keynote Vision Dinner. Ken is interviewed by Rasool Berry of The Impact Movement, who served as emcee for the event.

May you be inspired and encouraged by Ken’s words!

Here are a few ways to “get involved” as Ken mentioned:

• Join us for one of our Golf Challenges (May 10: California; May 24: Indiana)
• Volunteer in a “behind the scenes role”
• Make a donation to help expand Keynote’s ministry and influence around the world!

Do you feel the weight of how often you need to communicate effectively? Have you ever received proven, individualized training on how to be more successful?

For over 25 years, Keynote has been training our staff in clear, effective communication. For well over a decade, we’ve been expanding our comm training beyond our staff to include Summer Project students and internationals seeking to have an influence in their own cultures. In recent years, we’ve put even more emphasis on the art of communication, offering training for emcees, speakers and others.

Everyone can benefit from input and training in communication whether you’re a stay at home mom, a public speaker or someone who’s passionate about sharing Christ! To that end, Keynote is introducing the Comm Lab!  Beginning Monday evening, April 5 and continuing through the evening of Thursday, April 8, Comm Lab will include teaching by renowned communications experts like Tim Muehlhoff, Tim Downs and others, a variety of seminars, and one-on-one coaching from experienced speakers.

Seminars will cover communication philosophy, practical communication skills, drills and analyzing spiritual communication climates. All of the presenters, including Tim Muehlhoff and Tim Downs, serve on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. Other presenters include Bob Fuhs, Millie Welsh, Michael Anderson, Hank Marshman, Dan Flynn, who will join Tim and Tim to teach and coach you during this time.

Comm Lab will be held (April 5-8) at the Keynote Headquarters in Westfield, IN.  The cost for this three and a half day event is $215. This includes all your lunches, light continental breakfast each morning, a dinner and conference cost. Although the actual cost is $215, we have scholarship funds for the first 50 people who sign up. An early bird discount of $20 is also available for those who register before to March 7. Register NOW for a total savings of $70!!

For more information visit the Keynote Creative Communication Group blog or contact:

Millie Welsh – 678-592-8132
Bob Fuhs – 310-621-5145
Vicki Guinn – 763-443-1838

Question: have you benefited from Communication Training at Keynote? Let us know what you learned.

I love that movie!  In National Treasure, Benjamin Gates has spent his lifetime educating himself and traveling the world on a quest for one specific treasure—the priceless antiquities that had supposedly been saved and preserved through a secret society of men over the course of hundreds of years.  His peers, especially the intellectual leaders in his field viewed him as a crackpot—he had zero credibility.  Yet he believed strongly in the reality of the treasure he had spent his life pursuing.  But his quest eventually led him to that treasure—and it was much greater than he could have imagined.

Sound familiar?  I have God’s “treasure map” in the form of 66 unique biblical books written by a variety of men over a 1,500 year period.  I strongly believe in the reality of an “unseen” treasure.  I have the potential of being viewed as a “crackpot” as I take a counter-cultural approach to the use of the treasure that God has entrusted to me.  But I also have a confidence that the treasure I seek has a value far beyond what I can even understand.

In I Timothy 6:17-19, Paul encouraged Timothy to tell his “rich” friends (the standard at the time would include most of us living in the U.S.) “not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God.”  He goes on to call them to be “generous and willing to share” and to “lay up treasure for themselves… so that they may lay hold of the life that is truly life.”

Every day there is a battle for my mind and heart as it relates to my money and possessions.  I’m grateful for passages like the one above which refocus me on my quest for the “life that is truly life.”

Question: How do you fight that battle for a biblical approach to stewardship?  Are there any particular verses, concepts or tools that help you take a counter-cultural approach to your own finances and resources?

Let me know what you’re learning!

Rich Dundore
Keynote
Director of Development

Movie clip from National Treasure, Walt Disney Pictures used under the “Fair Use” Copyright Laws, not for gain or profit or resale. Scripture used from New International Version.

Last week, David Pendleton, Keynote’s comedy ventriloquist spent time on various college campuses in South Dakota and Iowa. Six shows were planned over the course of four days in conjunction with Campus Crusade for Christ ministries (CRU) on various campuses. Most of these ministries are “student-led” and coached by one or two staff members who serve all of the campuses in the area.

The attendance varied at each show, but averaged about 100 students (640 over all shows). Each show included a powerful presentation of the gospel (see video below) and an opportunity to respond to the gospel. 17% of those in attendance indicated a first time decision to begin a relationship with God! Many others indicated a desire to connect with a Bible study or meet with someone to talk more about God.

Student leaders have already begun contacting those who turned in cards, to talk more about their decision or their questions. We love partnering with ministries like CRU by providing innovative resources that can expand their influence and effectiveness!

To catch a glimpse of how David shares the gospel, watch the video below.

As you partner with us through investing your L.I.F.E. (Labor, Influence, Finances, Expertise) you are helping to share God’s love and forgiveness and making a difference for eternity!

For more information about David’s ministry check out his website. You can also purchase the full length DVD represented by the above clip. For booking information, please visit www.keynotefuel.com.