Tuesday, April 15
I can’t wait…
I’m scheduled to be in Orlando next week for Exponential, the 2008 National New Church Conference.Now, I’m one that really likes these types of conferences, for two main reasons: the learning aspect and the community aspect. I love the chance to clear my mind of all that is happening in the present and think and dream and write during this ‘time away’ while I listen to good teaching 4 or 5 times a day.
The speaker lineup for the main sessions is extremely strong this year. The two I look forward to the most are Tim Keller and Alan Hirsch. (More on Keller in another post this week) Here’s a link to the list of the speakers…
Also, I get to attend a workshop track of 7 sessions discussing the missional church. Hirsch, Neil Cole and Ed Stetzer will lead those. The course description includes: You desire to lead a church that is faithful to the values of being a blessing to its community and culture. You desire to produce disciple-making disciples and plant churches that result in redemptive movements that witness to the loving kindness of Jesus Christ.
This track will focus on developing leadership for churches that seek to plant missional churches that are movements more than single entities.
The community aspect, I think, is fairly obvious. It’s comforting and encouraging to gather together with this ‘band of brothers and sisters’ who are as passionate about what they are doing as you are. (Alan Hirsch would call this ‘Communitas’) These ever evolving relationships, especially for me, are unbelievably indispensable in ministry.
This is the third time I’m attending Exponential…and by far, the most excited I’ve been to be there.
Oh, and maybe, just maybe, my excitement has something to do with the fact I’ll get to play “T-2, The Turkeynator”, a disc golf course just a couple of miles from the conference. Maybe.
Mark Nelson at 7:42 AM 0comments