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Today, I attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit with about ten other people from our church. Here are a couple of quick thoughts about what I am learning from the faculty at the conference...
Bill Hybels - Bill Hybel's opened the conference by talking about how to make decisions as a church leader. He started by outlining a four step process including asking, "Does the Bible say anything about this?" and "Is the Spirit prompting me to do something?" Bill also added the idea that each of us should write down the axioms, slogans, and principles that guide our decision making. I was especially encouraged by his axiom, "This is church!" as a guide to remind me that my role is to invest in people and love them one at a time. When I meet with someone for lunch to encourage them, pray with them about their concerns, and meet their needs in Jesus' name I am living out the axiom - This is church!
Gary Haugen - Gary is from the International Justice Mission and if you are not familiar with that group go to their web site now (www.ijm.org) and check out the incredibly ministry that they have in helping children around the world escape slavery and child prostitution. Gary shared that there are 27 million people in slavery and 2 million children in child prostitution right now around the world. I was shocked!!! Gary shared about God's passion for justice and how God is calling us to do something to stop the oppression of children around the world. Rick and Becky Kraemer met Gary while they were in Cambodia last month and saw first hand their work in stopping child sex traffic there. Seriously, check out the web site now, especially the press center section.
Wendy Kopp - Wendy's story was very inspirational. Fifteen years ago she began a non-profit group that recruits college students from top universities to teach in inner city schools for two years after graduating. Through this process they are making a radical difference in the education system in our country. Pretty cool stuff! You can read more about it here www.teachforamerica.org
John Burke - John Burke, a pastor from Colorado did a great job talking about removing the cultural barriers that keep people from experiencing God's grace. John talked about how the two biggest questions people are asking before they are open to hearing the Gospel are, "How do you feel about gay people?" and "What do you think about other religions?" I read his book, "No Perfect People Allowed," a couple of years ago where he answers these questions and explains that people want the truthful answers, but presented in a loving way. I am thinking these two questions might be great to talk about in an upcoming sermon. Let me know if you agree?
Efrem Smith - The highlight of the afternoon was listening to Efrem Smith, an inner city pastor from Minnesota. I believe that Efrem gave a prophetic challenge from God about how churches in America must intentionally become multiculutral. Efrem's talk helped me realize how often we unintentionally separate churches into categories (Black Churches, Asian Churches, Suburban Churches, etc.). Efrem challenged us to follow God's model and present a model of heaven by intentionally crossing racial and socio-economic boundaries. At the same time, I thought Efrem gave one of the funniest sermons I have ever heard. I love to laugh and Efrem's message definitely gave me a boost. I was laughing so hard I almost started crying. You can learn more about Efrem Smith and the other speakers at the conference here...
Bill Hybels - Bill Hybel's opened the conference by talking about how to make decisions as a church leader. He started by outlining a four step process including asking, "Does the Bible say anything about this?" and "Is the Spirit prompting me to do something?" Bill also added the idea that each of us should write down the axioms, slogans, and principles that guide our decision making. I was especially encouraged by his axiom, "This is church!" as a guide to remind me that my role is to invest in people and love them one at a time. When I meet with someone for lunch to encourage them, pray with them about their concerns, and meet their needs in Jesus' name I am living out the axiom - This is church!
Gary Haugen - Gary is from the International Justice Mission and if you are not familiar with that group go to their web site now (www.ijm.org) and check out the incredibly ministry that they have in helping children around the world escape slavery and child prostitution. Gary shared that there are 27 million people in slavery and 2 million children in child prostitution right now around the world. I was shocked!!! Gary shared about God's passion for justice and how God is calling us to do something to stop the oppression of children around the world. Rick and Becky Kraemer met Gary while they were in Cambodia last month and saw first hand their work in stopping child sex traffic there. Seriously, check out the web site now, especially the press center section.
Wendy Kopp - Wendy's story was very inspirational. Fifteen years ago she began a non-profit group that recruits college students from top universities to teach in inner city schools for two years after graduating. Through this process they are making a radical difference in the education system in our country. Pretty cool stuff! You can read more about it here www.teachforamerica.org
John Burke - John Burke, a pastor from Colorado did a great job talking about removing the cultural barriers that keep people from experiencing God's grace. John talked about how the two biggest questions people are asking before they are open to hearing the Gospel are, "How do you feel about gay people?" and "What do you think about other religions?" I read his book, "No Perfect People Allowed," a couple of years ago where he answers these questions and explains that people want the truthful answers, but presented in a loving way. I am thinking these two questions might be great to talk about in an upcoming sermon. Let me know if you agree?
Efrem Smith - The highlight of the afternoon was listening to Efrem Smith, an inner city pastor from Minnesota. I believe that Efrem gave a prophetic challenge from God about how churches in America must intentionally become multiculutral. Efrem's talk helped me realize how often we unintentionally separate churches into categories (Black Churches, Asian Churches, Suburban Churches, etc.). Efrem challenged us to follow God's model and present a model of heaven by intentionally crossing racial and socio-economic boundaries. At the same time, I thought Efrem gave one of the funniest sermons I have ever heard. I love to laugh and Efrem's message definitely gave me a boost. I was laughing so hard I almost started crying. You can learn more about Efrem Smith and the other speakers at the conference here...
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