Business and Mission Go Together

When the Mission Machine didn't feed all the bill collectors . . .

. . . Earl knew he had to push some of those other buttons.

Our mission is about people receiving inspiration from films and art so that they awaken to the significance of their lives on earth, rise in faith, encounter Christ and go on to live Godly lives. What mission could be more important than that?
But, part of the work is navigating through a world full of obstacles which try to deny us the time and resources to accomplish the mission. When we take on outside jobs, such as the one Mark and Donna have taken at Taylor Research, we do so with the prayer that it will fit in and contribute to our vision, rather than compete with it.
Effective, meaningful art requires sustained periods of thought, prayer, searching for inspiration, and experimentation followed by long hours of highly skilled labor. So, taking an outside job does interrupt the flow of art.
We understand that it has gotten harder to donate, but that you still want to give. Other streams of income can be employed to sustain the ministries you believe in. By building a new stream of income in the Turners' Shaklee business you can support us both through business and renewed donations. Click here to go to their business web site: http://healthinthejungle.myshaklee.com .

Why Make Programs About Money and Business?

Now there are 5 installments of the "Say 'Let there be . . .'" talks online for you to listen to and read along. Program five explores ways to find money that you may not have been aware were accessible to you.
Why present content like this? Because your vision needs resources in order to become a concrete mission. We would be remiss as a ministry if we did not assist in raising everyone's awareness of the principles needed in a new, harder economy. The series is all about realizing the vision God has given you. It is spoken from our 40 year experience as well as the lessons we are learning right now. You know people who need to hear these entry level talks about vision and mission. Send them to our blog where they can focus on these principles.

Bringing Your Vision Into the World

Our audio series "Say 'Let There Be"" was inaugurated last Fall and four programs are now available on the blog of the same name.
www.saylettherebe.blogspot.com
Tracing how a vision is realized, Mark Turner discusses various stages starting from knowing oneself and working outward into the concrete world. Program four deals with the practical aspect of cash flow management. Program five will address the aspects of simplicity, outsourcing and debt elimination. You can read the text, view illustrations and listen to the audio programs all on the blog. Catch up on the first four programs to be ready for the fifth one coming soon.

3 Programs Now On-line In the "Say Let There Be" Series

Three new audio programs hosted by Mark Turner are now up and playing to the world 24/7. The "Say Let There Be" series addresses the challenge of each person discovering their vision and walking it out as their mission in the concrete world. All programs are available to listen to and read with illustrations on the "Say Let There Be" blog (click here).
They also appear on Blogtalkradio.com/Horizon-Gate, and in the podcast section of the iTunes store. Download the programs to your iPod.

Program one calls you to do what God, the Creator originally did, drawing attention to the image of God in human beings which creates what was not there before. Using the vision of Horizon Gate as an example Mark begins to help us get over what keeps us from accomplishing our dreams, and to even accelerate our progress.

Program two explores the steps of creation that happen both inside and as you bring your vision out to the world. You get to participate by drawing a cartoon of the process.

Program three helps you describe your vision as a tangible project including seven key components to make your project both successful and spark the next project.

Watch for programs coming soon which cover eye-opening concepts of cash flow management, smart economizing, debt elimination, wealth building, and aspects of growing your own business. All of this is aimed at increasing the capacity of our community to minister to the needs of the world.

Whether you think you need this content, or not, you do know someone who needs it. Send them to the blog. Listen, read and get others to subscribe (for free) to "Say Let There Be."

"Say 'Let There Be . . .'" Audio & Blog Premiere

Our new audio series entitled “Say 'Let There Be . . .'” is now being released program by program. The introductory program is titled “The Call to Action”. In 14 minutes it introduces the series by calling you to find and bring your vision into the material world as a concrete mission.
The series bears the name which is the essence of our discussion over the next 10 or more episodes. It is calling you to do what God, the Creator originally did, to bring into being what was not there. The words "Let there be" are some of the first words of the Bible and represent the expression which God made to begin all that we know as reality. In this series we are drawing attention to the image of God in human beings, the likeness of God in us which empowers us to create what was not there before.
The introductory program can be played on our new Say “Let There Be . . .” blog devoted to the series. Click here to listen and browse the blog. http://saylettherebe.blogspot.com
The episodes planned cover a range of topics from both the current lessons being learned and 40 years life experiences of Mark and Donna Turner. Episodes will include 1. Call to Action; 2.Finding Your Vision; 3.Describe Your Vision as a Project; 4.Money Management; 5.Simplifying, Outsourcing, Debt; 6.Types of Income; 7.Your Own Business; 8.Building Your Team; 9.Expanding Your Business Right; 10.Partnering with God to Execute the Plan.

Horizon Gate Flowchart: a Snapshot of Our Soul

The arrows in this flowchart show that our vision is to draw us all into a nurturing community. People hear about our mission through presentations (top), or get to know us through our art (bottom). We educate one another in our individual areas of knowledge including the arts, writing, filmmaking, spiritual growth, and financial health.

The growing Horizon Gate Community rallies together in the "Production Gathering" to make films. These artistic statements are experienced in many ways such as our "Film-Gallery-Café", film festivals, and on-line distribution.

Our prayer is that these films will draw many to God and that our artistic community will provide them fellowship, personal growth, and fulfilling work.

People Make Vision Materialize

How do great endeavors come about? Every large corporation, institution, organization and ministry began with an inspiration in the heart of a person, but at some point the idea caught the attention of someone else. A conversation began. Reading this opens the opportunity for you to observe or even be a part of a conversation like that.

Great endeavors begin to be seen when they become a conversation. People talk about the idea and interest grows as possibilities come to light. A group of people forms around the idea, each excited about their own view of it and how they could play a part in the larger possibility. Each thinks, “This could be the answer for reaching my potential,” or “This group could be the beginning of the community I am looking for,” or many other reasons why they want to be a part of this thing being born.

And in the conversation each participant adds a unique adjustment or new aspect to the idea so that what once was limited to one person's imagination now has the generative powers of many imaginations seeking to support the greater, multifaceted endeavor.

Each of us has tremendous potential, but we each need comrades to do other things so we can climb up and reach that potential. We all need to work with others to fulfill a vision larger than ourselves. We must be willing to cooperate, compromise and serve one another, in order to do things none of us could do single-handedly.

This is why the Turners, through the Horizon Gate organization, continue to re-describe and present their vision. We hope to find people who will join minds, hearts and hands to accomplish wonderful things.

It takes a community of comrades to make films which move people spiritually. It takes many kinds of talent to operate a vibrant, new kind of exhibition venue where such films and art can move people toward God.

Call us, 760-765-3884, or send an e-mail, markanddonna@horizongate.org , and tell us you want to be part of the conversation which is re-imagining the Horizon Gate vision.

Past Ideas Meet In Unified Vision

We, Mark and Donna Turner, have been working in the arts as a ministry for over 38 years. A wealth of experience and education practicing theater, filmmaking and ministry in many places around the globe has given us much to impart, much to offer collaborations. At a time when many people would be planning retirement, we are discovering a pattern in our past accomplishments which forms a vision for the next phase of our life's work. Describing it here is a first step in materializing that vision.

The ideas of our vision include two main areas of work: 1.) film production that builds community and nurtures the artists involved, and 2.) exhibiting our films in a place combining aspects of a gallery, a café and a theater.

The Production Gathering

Our goal is to help people rise toward the full potential with which God endowed them. Our vision is to produce films with a community of people who are committed to more than the end product, who go beyond a given film and assist each other in their spiritual, professional and artistic growth. The community atmosphere we envision will include professionals and promising learners striving for excellence to make films which express the Community of God in a variety of forms.

A New Kind of Exhibition Space

This community will produce films that explore forms and lengths not usually seen in normal movie theaters. They will use artistic forms inviting the viewers to observe and discuss, to engage with one another and with God. But, what kind of space would accommodate this? A space conducive to audience interaction would be more like a café. The atmosphere of an art gallery would change the film from a spectacle to a conversation piece. Yet, some of the functions of the movie theater would be retained. We envision a combination of all these aspects in a new kind of film and discussion space, a “film gallery café”.

Art work created for the given films will also be presented in the space. The sales of art and DVD's will help support the artists and carry the mission into the viewers' lives. Events in the space will feature live musicians, poets, readings, lectures by the artists and filmmakers, and other appropriate presentations designed to stimulate conversations that draw people to God.

Artists Deliver Vision In Hard Times

In times like these, when jobs are lost, income shrinks, investments and savings fade, and debt is the slave master, people lose vision and hope. The Bible says that people need to see the way in order to progress in life, to see the way through this world and beyond. Without such revelation people scatter into a chaotic mess and ultimately destroy themselves. “Where there is no vision [no revelation, no prophecy] the people perish [are made naked, are vulnerable].” (Proverbs 29:18)

But, to the hopeless and fearful God wants to give new vision, a vision which artists will deliver if they are not among the first to succumb to those same economic pressures. The same pressures which quench people's vision press down on the artists too, usually more, hence the label “poor artist”.

Artists are responsible to receive God's vision and to deliver it to the people. Artists inspire us to imagine what is beyond the limitations and describe solutions outside the box. Artists warn of destruction and call to walk with God through the wilderness to the promised land. Artists remind us of God's promises of care and God's power to make good on those promises. Artists help us visualize the wonders that are not here yet. This is faith, “the evidence of things not seen”, imagining, the first step toward our destiny.

Times of danger and depression are the times to get artists up and producing, for the world needs the vision and hope God would give through them. Artists are valuable assets which keep giving vital vision if we will invest in them.