Spencer Burke (www.theooze.com)
Spencer is a man of metaphors. "KINDLING" describes his approach to speaking and consulting. He sparks new thought and conversation in his audiences and clients through his innovative thinking, humor, compassion, and use of arts and technology. Whether talking to 10 or 10,000, he encourages people to view their businesses and relationships in new ways, and they walk away ablaze with the possibilities. In the 1990s, he created TheOOZE.com, a safe online community for a diverse faith-based population to connect through articles, message boards and social networking. This community has grown to include over 150,000 monthly visitors from ninety countries. Spencer is author of Making Sense of Church, in which he contrasted his twenty-two years as a pastor in a traditional church with eight years of exploring emerging, non-traditional metaphors. Spencer developed ETREK, collaborative learning groups that challenge the individual and traditional educational values. Spencer also initiated Friends of God's Golden Acre in the United States, to raise awareness and funds for a South African organization committed to loving, educating, and supporting those affected by the AIDS epidemic. Spencer lives with Lisa, his wife of 20 years, and children, Alden (nine) and Grace (five) in Southern California.