March 2009

I Am Second launched a little over three months ago now, and we’re still getting the same questions over and over again. We’re about to start an FAQ series in my blog posts that give you some insight into the website. Help me out though. What do YOU want to know? After viewing the website, do you have some lingering questions? When you show people the website, do they seem confused for some reason?

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

-Shay

I saw this video for the first time a couple of weeks ago and have wanted to discuss it! It made me want to get up and tell the world. I don’t know if you’ve seen the Penn & Teller show, but this is a video by Penn, a known atheist. Watch it and I’d really like your thoughts.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM&hl=en&fs=1]

This is kind of interesting coupled with I Am Second. One of the great things about I Am Second is the way it empowers us as believers to tell our story and share our faith. One of the first responses I typically hear to the website is, “How can I tell my story?” Well the initial reaction to this video by Penn is, “Who haven’t I told?” So put those two things together! I Am Second is one of the easiest ways to share your faith with a friend or family member. So what if we took that motivation to tell our story and to share I Am Second, and lined it up with the necessity to reach people?

What is “I am Second”? I am Second is a Web site launched on Dec. 2, 2008, where actresses, musicians, business leaders and ordinary people tell their personal stories, and are able to help others deal with real-life issues and daily struggles.

When you listen to the people’s stories, you will find that some of them overcame addictions. You will find others who went through life alone for so long and found it better to share the life experience with those who truly care/love them. Whatever story you end up being drawn to, it will offer inspiration, hope and peace.

Tomorrow evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Hughes Trigg Student Center’s theater, the Web site comes to life as the I am Second campaign stops at SMU.

There will be worship, guest speakers and more information on the I am Second campaign. Representatives from the organization will be present to answer questions and talk to anyone who is interested in getting involved in this movement.

Shannon Culpepper, organizer of the rally, attested to the fact I am Second is a grassroots effort by saying it is “kind of a movement, an organization all about people telling their stories and how being second to Christ affects your life.”

Culpepper came to be the planner of this event coming to SMU through her internship with the E3 Partners organization last summer. She now works for the organization full-time while being a full-time student at SMU.

While the I am Second campaign has been growing strong and attracting quite a following in the past three months through its Web site, tomorrow’s program will be the first event the campaign will host.

The SMU I am Second rally was promoted through various Christian organizations on campus. According to the organization’s Web site, I am Second is “one of the easiest ways to share your faith with people you care about.”

Culpepper believes the newly formed I am Second movement is “encouragement for Christians, but above all, a way to reach people for Christ.”

By Lola Obamehinti, Contributing Writer

Before I jump into this blog post, I want to remind everybody that voting is still going on at SxSW for the People’s Choice award. You can vote once per day. Vote here! Thanks guys!

Now then, I have a question for you. I had a conversation with a friend of mine about two weeks ago about the WWJD bracelets that were it about ten years ago. Do you remember them? He was really concerned that I Am Second could become a stale label for Christians. So it’s kind of been on my heart. I Am Second is different, because it opens up a different kind of evangelistic opportunity. It leads you to a place where people can encounter true stories of faith. Or it gives you the opportunity to immediately share your faith. Also, it’s not obviously faith-based, so you might get a broader range of people asking you about the site. So here’s my question for you: How is this movement different to you? If you have “I Am Second” on a t-shirt or a bumper sticker or on your Facebook page, what is your response when someone asks you: What is that?

This is an interesting topic and I’d really love to hear your thoughts!

Shay