One of my themes for this year is “Talk less. Listen more.” I mentioned it in the post about an author’s responsibility in the publishing industry and I think it’s a pretty universal idea that can be applied almost everywhere, including this blog.
As such, I’ll be asking you questions specifically designed to get your feedback. My friend Brody has a “Dear Christian Music Industry” category and it’s been a great way for him and his readers to communicate to the industry influencers who quietly lurk on his blog. Its my hope that a few of the “Church Industry” (I shuddered as I typed that phrase) influencers will lurk around and see these posts and your responses.
And what does that mean? You’re now the influencers. Actually, you’ve always been.
You buy the tickets.
Yesterday, I twittered about church conferences. I’ve recently had a few people comment to me that they go to conferences held at churches and leave feeling inadequate because they don’t have the budget, staff, or other resources to “do” what these churches do. I realize that people have the responsibility how to respond to the conferences they attend, but it seems like we’re naturally wired to compare and contrast what we see with what we are.
Here are some of the responses I received from twitter:
I agree, money, time, and most seem to be entertainment focus, verses step by step insight in how to truly grow and motivate your ministry
I always walk away from conferences or church networks feeling like I suck. I have to really fight it.
Most discouraging thing about church confs–the resulting “copy cat” syndrome. “Let’s do what they’re doing!” = Dead thinking.
That’s part of the reason I’m pumped about events like @innovate3 and @theideacamp. More conversations/interaction.
I’m not leaving feeling inadequate, as much as tired of them and not finding the majority of them very helpful anymore.
The conf. thing for me has less to do with feeling inadequite & more w/ boredom over the same white guys saying the same thing.
I like conferences for inspiration and ideas but rarely do I find much insight for practical application
I go to a HUGE one every year and for the past 3 years I feel that same way. Its tough. Exciting stuff but tough.
I think Church Conferences are out of control and hopefully will be a thing of the past.
So what sayeth thou? No doubt, I have been to my fair share of “this is really amazing and inspiring” conferences as well as “that light set up cost more than a Boeing 737.”
If you could tell anyone in conference world anything, now’s your chance!
(I hope they’ll listen.)
Comments
52 responses to “Talk Less – Listen More…on Church Conferences”
Church conferences today focus too much on entertaining, verses true equipping. Yes many conferences will motivate, get you pumped up, but there is no next step how to apply to every area of your church or ministry. However there are a few conferences that are coming out that focus in specialized areas that are doing a great job, but no follow up and continue growth resources or guidance. Personally I have learned so much from reading books Christian and Non-Christian that center around leadership, and other specialized areas. They contain as much or more insight than actually attending an event where you will hear a speaker and then purchase his/her book.
I think part of the problem is that there is too many of them. Everyone wants to do their own conferences these days – and it has to top last years, otherwise why would you go back?
Churches and Event Organizers need to honestly evaluate whether they have something different to offer before they go setting up a conference.
I’ve ever only been to the type of conference were you sit and listen. I’m looking forward to recreate which will be my first conference where participation is encouraged and people are grouped with their peers.
I would love to see a FREE conference that was completely an outreach. Like you know your coming to work, serve the community. or like, the conference is all people like World Vision, Watoto, Cyrus International, Mocca Club, etc. And each session is them telling what they do.THEN break out time is spent working for them, like doing mail outs, or going with the local homeless ministry into the inner city, visiting a nursing home, foster home, etc.
EVERY speaker gives their time, EVERY product is donated, everything sold there is to raise money for Orphans, trafficking, forstercare system, innercity ministry etc.
THAT is the kind of conference I would love to go to.
I think the backlash is starting.
For me, conferences are more about connecting than content usually. But now with twitter, tokbox and other ways of connecting. Its getting hard to justify shelling out the dollars for a conference where we are gonna be ‘wowed’ again with lights and video and get pretty much the same content as sitting and listening to a leaders podcast or reading a book.
I would like smaller regional meetups to connect and learn. More the coaching network style than the big show.
I’m so glad that you have started out the year with this thought. It seems to be a growing theme (reference Ben Arment’s recent post). I had a startling realization a couple of weeks ago. I was in Niger west Africa for the second time in as many years. The ministry that we work with there is led by a local man. I found myself more focused, more on fire, more committed to the work of Christ than I ever have from a Catalyst conference. I love Catalyst. I have been at least 5 times and thoroughly enjoy the vast majority of the speakers, the atmosphere is phenomenal. The conference itself has marked our church in ways we may never fully understand. But I think for us now the process is shifting. When we went to Niger this year it was our first official overseas mission. And the people that went have forever been changed. And not in a “conference” kind of way. We are talking “Jesus is real. I have seen His face.” type of change. Sure it cost over $3000 per person to go. But how much does it cost to send a group to Catalyst? Maybe all the conference hype has been good. If we are willing to invest so much time and money in “our” development, why can’t we do the same when it comes to sharing in the work of God around the world? Plus the added benefit of having our lives truly changed in a way that God wants it. Not in the way that church so and so is doing. Personally, I’ll still do both if allowed. But if given a choice, hands down I’ll pick a trip to Africa everytime!
Happy New Year Anne Jackson…and friends!
I agree with Brett that many of the conferences I attend are for the connections made more than anything else. [although Catalyst still delivers on content year after year]
I’m also tapped into the social networking tools, but they still can’t beat face to face. Guess this is why the blogger meet ups are so popular.
Time, space & organization to connect with others in your stage of ministry could be a big bonus for any of the current events.
In the end I think it depends on what your goals & expectations are for the event. Carole Turner’s idea was really intriguing. Combo of learning/serving/connecting could really be something.
For me church conferences were for corporate worship. I could not feel free to worship when I was at work (is the nursery covered, do they need more juice in room 104, a baby in the nursery with a rash, are the 5th & 6th graders being too loud, etc.). At a conference after the first set I was usually really into the worship. It rejuvenated me and left me ready to go back and put into place the few things I learned from the other part of the conference that I thought would help me.
This is an interesting topic and thanks for bringing it up.
Conferences today are way more focused on entertainment and spellbinding the attendees than giving excellent instruction & content. Catalyst is a great example of this. At the conference there is simply too much silly stuff trying to keep people entertained. The basketball hoop and slam dunk contest, the witty banter between the emcees, the videos, the balloons, the elephant, etc etc etc etc. The atmosphere was a circus…I kept waiting for the dancing bears!
People say Catalyst is all about content and ‘the experience’ and I fear this experience is more about being entertained than being deeply affected by the gospel. How much did Catalyst spend on their stage, their light show, the video production and screens? Couldn’t they scale that back – just a little bit – and use that money for outreach for some of the worthy causes illustrated at the show? I wonder what the kids from Africa who were dancing thought of the extravagence? How do we look those kids in the eye and tell them we care about them while putting on a production costing hundreds of thousands of dollars?
Catalysts’s vision is “shaping the leaders of the church”, right? Yet they gave Matt Chandler & Steve Furtick each only 25 minutes to talk. What. The. Heck.
Catalyst seems all about making money now…buy the Catalyst t-shirt, buy the Catalyst quarterly magazine, buy the Catalyst DVD combo pack, buy all the speakers books (at full price) at the product tables strategically placed every 50 feet. Buy. Buy. Buy. And dont[‘ forget the Catalyst One-Day for only $109!
This is not a rant against Catalyst or conferences in general – I plan on going to a number of them this year. I just question where the priorities are…
Wow. So many great comments.
I have walked away from the “big” conferences feeling like “Why am I even in the ministry?” It wasn’t until 2008 when I chose to go on my own, alone to Innovate08 at Granger. There I met Kem Meyer and Tim Stevens and Shawn Wood and Mark Waltz and Rob Wegner and Steven Furtick — some of them up-close and personally. I heard their hearts. I listened to them, and heard from God. THAT is a conference I would love to go to every year. I received truth about who I am, why I’m called and what I’m supposed to be doing. (A brief visit with Anne @ a Catalyst Lab helped to solidify that.)
The fun stuff, I think has it’s place — too many pastors and people in ministry need SOMEthing to get them to let down their guard, drop the defenses and open themselves up.
So. Conferences. Good? Bad? Yes. I think the main thing is we need to go with our hearts and minds open to hear from the One we say we’re there to hear from.
Could some changes be made? Sure. I’d love to see Catalyst lower the price and set up an afternoon for folks to spend DOING ministry if they choose. I’d love to see every person challenged to remember they are ministers of the gospel once they leave the building — to the hotel clerks, the restaurant servers, the guy in the other car on the packed Atlanta interstate…..
My main beef with any conference is my own problem. I can hear the lofty and awesome ideas, but for me to “get” it, there has to be some practical application steps. More of the feet-to-the-pavement kind of thing. Then I’m able to walk away feeling like, “hey, I can do that!” or “hey! I can share that with Joe, he can use it in this area!”
I think churches are too quick to all jump on the same conference bandwagon and I don’t think we need that many (and I don’t even live in the States). We should not leave feeling inadequate, we should leave feeling blessed that they chose to host those events often at considerable cost that the tickets don’t cover. The biggest conference in this part of the world is Hillsong and the whole point is equipping the local church – that’s a big part of what Hillsong do. I think they’re a great place to go to get inspired, refreshed (especially for leaders) and ideas… but that doesn’t mean to say we should totally replicate it.
I’m all for churches finding their own style anyway – we don’t all need to be clones.
I personally don’t choose to go to that many conferences, one or two a year is fine for me. I think otherwise I’d spend too much time listening and not enough time actually applying what I’ve learnt!
Too many, over saturation. spilling over the top.
Way too much. My brain shuts off when I see anything resembling a church conference flyer, layout, web banner, fancy one word name looking event.
AND I CAN”T stand (personal preference) all the hype around who the speakers, main speakers are going to be. The head shots, fancy photo of super star pastor guy and his stunning wife.
And they cost too much. Everything costs too much. Everything. And if they don’t charge 86% of the time goes into fund raising for the event.
All that to say Passion seems like a cool event.
Be original Church! This copy cat thing is getting old and most times churches don’t find what they really want to be because they’re so busy copying others. Conferences to me (more than one a year) are a waste of time. Staff members spend lots of time “socializing” which IS important, but not constantly. If we spent as much time thinking up original thoughts as we did going to conferences I bet we have some pretty radically cool ideas to offer our congregations and the world.
I too tend to come away from conferences with the “I suck” attitude, and that is more my problem than theirs. Also, I don’t have much of a budget for going to conferences, so I have to be very selective, and the speaker circuit hasn’t changed much in the last few years. That is why I am so looking forward to the create conference next month. I haven’t seen any of the speakers, and the small group atmosphere is very exciting.
Anne,
I hope I can adequately express my thoughts on this without sounding either “holier-than-thou” (not you) or too negative. I used to be a conference junkie. I walked away feeling inadequate and even like a failure because I didn’t measure up. I walked away empty because I worshiped in an awesome atmosphere with a worship team that led me into worship. Then I came home. So for almost 8 years I went no where. I lived in Ohio for 5 years (2000-2005) and attended only one conference a year-a teaching conference for pastors by Alistair Begg. No fanfare. No programs. Just teaching. It soothed my aching heart. I attended my first conference in 8 years this past November when I went to “theSticks” in Loudonville, OH. It was designed for pastors of churches in small to medium sized towns. Lots of teaching. No fanfare. Good worship. Workshops full of one-on-one interaction but no “we do this and that.”. Then I went to Catalyst OneDay and heard Craig and Andy. Just teaching. No fanfare. Good worship with Fee. No hard sell on anything. I walked away from both refreshed and feeling taught but not overwhelmed and entertained. I have already made plans $$$ to attend them both again this year and plan to be taking more leaders with me. I have given up on the big ones. I could go and be entertained and inspired but I prefer the smaller settings and more local fare. I don’t know if I muddied the waters or not or even made myself very clear. Thanks for bringing this subject to the front. You are a respected person who can do that. Sorry also if this is too long.
This is all great and honest feedback (and Bill, yes, perfectly clear!) Thanks for sharing…keep it coming…it’s so valuable. Thank you.
The one thing that gets on my nerves more than anything about conferences is they can tend to be in and of themselves just another event to attend to seek and worship God but without facing the real issues of reaching out to people. I am constantly trying to get people in the Christian genre to come out and hear our band that goes into clubs and bars and plays to all hours of the night hoping to find and open door from the Holy Spirit to connect with people who will never search for the front door of a church. We’d love to have a prayer covering sometimes while we are playing. Most are always saying to me, well this conference is coming up that night or this speaker is in town and I don’t want to miss him or her… and they end up going state to state to chasing these amazing worship conferences and motivational conferences of sorts – like they are following the Grateful Dead – when you’d think once in a while they would get out and connect with the broken, the needy and put themselves in a situation where all their fuel from these conferences can be expended on people who need the love of Jesus. It almost seems like they worship the human in these instances.I’m not saying they are evil and I’m not saying intrinsically conferences have the power to distract but it’s so interesting that everytime I invite someone to come join us and pray for us while we are playing out there is always something at the church to do instead of taking some time to connect with non-church crowd. If all you do is fill your car up with gas then you have a huge mess on the ground right around your car. The purpose of filling up is to drive!
here’s some of my conference experience:
1 – I went to Humana 2008 last April in Orlando. A small conference hosted by someone I immensely look up to. Best thing was interactive breakouts with the speakers [who were not big names] right after their 18 minute talk. You chatted with them right then and there. I think that’s got to be the way to go – these things need to become even more highly participatory.
2 – I attended Origins in 2005. What I most appreciated about it was that nobody there gave you the next steps. [Sorry @Sean] Instead, it was a different way to think and then it’s up to you to contextually figure out how to execute in light of your community. It took me about 3 months constantly thinking about the concepts before I had ideas on what to actually do.
3 – I’m signed up for Catalyst West. There are two other guys going with me and I’m going because I think the Lab day is going to be an incredible environment – not just the content but the very atmosphere between the workshops, the people coming to listen and the motivation behind the content [Lab – risk, create, fall on your face, initiate, etc.]
Overall, because I’m not in full time ministry, these things come out of my budget – both in terms of fees and vacation time [my church did pay for Origins though] and time away from the fam. So I can’t be a conference junkie, which I think is a good thing anyway.
right now, i’m pretty over them. same people speaking at all of them. i’m tired of all the advertising i get in the mail. i’m in a place where i’m looking for more conversations and some different voices.
a couple of years ago, we set aside money for me to travel to a few different places around the country where i set up one on one meetings with several significant pastors. some of them gave me 1 hour, some gave more like 4. it was cheaper than going to any conference and was way more valuable.
i’m thinking about going only to the lab day for catalyst west just because i’d like to hear from hirsch and gibbons, and maybe get a chance to interact with them some. and will probably go to at least 1 day of the ideacamp because it seems to be based more around conversations also.
i think the conference thing has to do with what season you’re in. there’s seasons when they’re inspiring and helpful, and there’s seasons when they’re not as helpful and you need something else.
but i do think it’s true that the conference market is totally over-saturated and i’m guessing this next year with the economy people will be more choosy about which conferences they go to, and that some will have to rethink their strategy.
conferences are what you make them to be.
the best part of conferences is connecting with others. while many pastors and church leaders line up like teen girls to meet their favorite speaker, perhaps you could go introduce yourself to that small group of people who are just standing around or those people a few rows from where you’re sitting. don’t follow the crowd and be a forgotten face to the speaker, connect with someone who you might forge a friendship with.
the man-crush, bromance thing has got to go in conference/ministry/church world. it’s weird.
what was once blue ocean in conferences (hillsong worship music, token mainstream song played to be edgy, and popular speakers), has become red ocean. perhaps more interactive, practical, localized, online, and/or imaginative conferences are the wave of the future.
good topic anne.
Well said Jason! Got to agree with the whole man-crush / bromance comment.
Best. Comment. Ever, Jason.
our infatuation with leaders, leadership and the like is just one more aspect of people putting the responsibility for their faith, or their communities on the shoulders of someone else who often gladly takes it.
we need fewer experts so that people will own their own faith.
of course the problem is that we believe there is a right way to do things and that someone else out there knows it. If we can just get to the right conference, here the right pastor, read the right book.
time to move to a new kind of leadership.
I’m with Carole Turner (comment #3). Nice call.
So…from what I am hearing:
1) Same leaders=getting old?
2) More personal interaction/intimate settings
3) Not just sitting around – gather, be inspired, then act within that community where you are!
4) get over bromances (sorry, i just love that.) :)
I will probably bring these thoughts back around in a new post tomorrow…but for those of you still tuned in….just want to make sure i’m feeling you right.
I think another aspect of this is; is this really good stewardship of God’s money? For the conference promoters AND the attenders? I’m not some idealist, but imagine what could be done with all that money that goes into sound, lights, video production, hotels, fuel, airfares, swag…you gotta have a new trendy shirt, too…
Im not sayin’ dont go conferences or attend them, I do and I get alot out of them. Its just good to think about and discuss. Thanks Anne.
I love the conversation. I have been to a few conferences that I think were worth the money and time invested but more have been not been. I think what we need are times or rest and retreat. Times to get away from ministry and be ministered to. Just some thoughts.
can some one point me to the biblical foundation of conferences?
Definitely agree with Carole! One thing I would add….
We are to be about His kingdom… not about looking like/copying any particular church or its leaders. They are no churches in Heaven or should there be with His kingdom here on earth either.
You asked! And definitely agree with the whole bromance comment as well.. even in the blog world.
Thanks for this conversation Anne. It is very helpful for someone like me hosting a conference next month. Some of the comments help to affirm our choice to make our conference free for participants even with some great leaders/names on the facilitators list. In fact, none of the facilitators are even receiving an honorarium. There will be no booths, mascots, or hooks.
Although I am the last person to say I know what I am doing, I do recognize enough to know that there must be a creative shift in the way we engage one another and collaborate towards working ideas. I hope to learn more about effectively connecting people through reading these kinds of blog entries, entering open conversations, and putting together a hybrid conference like the Idea Camp.
Thanks for posting this on your blog.
My two cents. I haven’t been to a church pastor conference in almost 5 years, since i used to work for ministry when I was responsible for hosting them. The number one thing I heard from pastors I talked with then, and I am assuming it hasn’t changed much, is that pastors want to feel valued. Most pastors are burned out (as you know :)) and they head to conferences to connect, recharge and get ideas. But what separates good to great is how the pastors feel when they leave. Did they get their money worth? Were they poured into? Were they encouraged? Were they given access to other pastors? Were they valued?
But I also agree . . . we need to get over this whole bromance thing. . .
Anne-
I have worked in both the church-world and the secular-world. In the church-world, people spend crazy amounts of dollars, many times attending 4-5 conferences a year. In the corporate world, we set a goal of one major conference per year. Most companies consider it overhead and thus aren’t willing to put the money there. They feel it’s irresponsible, and they’re accountable to stock holders. I think we should be even more diligent in the church. How can we make it cheaper for people and be better stewards to our church body. It can also steal time that church staff should be prepping to serve their church.
mjd
I’ll chime by saying it depends on what you mean by church conference. If you’re talking about an “this is how we got where we are and some principles you can try” I’ll pass. What works for you may or may not work for me, but I’m interested more in figuring out who God made us to be – not if we can pull of being who God made you to be.
However, if you’re talking about a conference that will strengthen my skills as a leader, husband, etc…like “I Still Do” or “Catalyst” then yeah, I can get behind those. They’re a time of refreshing, renewal, and a time of being challenged…but if you start cycling through the same stuff, I’ll opt out – my objective is to grow as a result of my attendance…and if I’m learning, recycling stuff doesn’t help me – and if I’m not learning, I shouldn’t be going.
Still, I’ll agree that there are a TON of resources out there to help me grow and hear from great leaders without spending anything. Podcasts, Twitter, etc…and many of the kingdom minded leaders of today are doing just what they should – sharing their gifts (for free) with the next generation of leaders.
Secondly, I’ll agree that I could grow just as much from a missions trip as from a conference (even more so), but that trip takes more than a few minutes to plan and a weekend to attend…something that I don’t have time for each year.
In closing though, I’ll admit that I haven’t been to a church conference (or even the other category I mentioned) in about 2 years. Though it’s been because of other transitions and pschedule conflicts than a lack of desire.
for me, it’s not an issue of the same leaders or new leaders. it’s the need to move away from experts telling other how to do things. This isn’t coming from a bitter perspective, though I’ve certainly seen that, it’s from the fact that the way we understand leadership is deeply flawed.
What we represent to the body of christ with this style of leadership is often detrimental to a lot of people.
I think alot of us agree conferences are a time to meet new people, be inspired and for me, worship without any distractions. I can agree that I’ve walked away thinking “please don’t ever let me sing again” – and feeling highly inadequate because I can’t measure up.
Here’s what I would love to see and what I have benefited from in other settings:
1) Focus on spiritual formation for me as a leader – ministry, worship, personal reflection, less “how to” do tasks, more how to lead out of my own relationship with God.
2) Smaller so we can truly connect and speak life to one another.
3) Ongoing community so that I can learn with others as needed in real life time.
4) Less rushed, more time to discuss and be a part of a give and take – this would take smaller classes with longer times or something. I think hearing from one another is as valuable as just hearing our favorite author or pastor speak.
When our church experienced tragedy a few years ago I needed leaders and I could go to THEN. I needed a community of leaders that – sadly – I really didn’t have. I’ve learned from that and while I don’t believe it’s the responsibility of a conference to give me that community, I would love to be given more of an opportunity to interact with my fellow leaders doing the same things I’m doing each week.
i am so over conferences that want to sharpen my skills as a leader because i am sick of the type of church that asks the pastor to be the “professional” while the folks in the pews applaud in awe and admiration.
there are a few conferences that focus on legitimate tools and ways to help shift a leader from the me centered perspective of leadership to a mobilization centered perspective where the people become the ministers. i like those kind of conferences. and i like hearing messages that challenge me to go against the culturally relevant stream of me centered leadership and to dive into unleashing my people to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.
I love reading this feedback! I also agree with Jason’s points!!
Additionally, I think that Church leaders need to not play the comparison game. Especially since trying to compete with a Mega-church is, well, impossible. If leaders aren’t careful, playing this game is dangerous and can likely cause unrealistic expectations and unnecessary pressure. We must enter each conference with a reality check.
Great honest discussion, Anne. Thanks for another amazing post!
Anne,
Agree and disagree about conferences. I’ve directed a couple with Campus Crusade, and notice that they start with good intentions but often times become sidetracked and focused on the peripherals rather than the vision.
I noticed that the more people I brought into the decision making process, the harder it was to move forward and realize the vision of the conference. Some of this is due to my wiring and how I like to work, but there is a principle in there that applies to all conferences.
Especially when you magnify the scope and resources, it seems like you exponentially increase the amount of excess and potential for negative things that many have mentioned already.
I love starting the year thinking about stewardship of resources. Thanks for drawing attention to this area of the church.
For me, what I get out of conferences really comes down to how I set my expectations. Some conferences really energize me, some challenge my thinking, some are just an opportunity to network, some are a retreat or getaway for me and some are really just a waste of time. Personally I choose my conference time very selectively because my schedule and budget dictates such. I’ve found that if I don’t set my expectations before I go, I may end up disappointed. I really try to do my homework to know what the conference is going to be geared toward so that I know if it’s the best fit for where I am. I still consider myself a conference junky because I love to learn but I’ve learned to be more selective recently.
Knowledge without action is just a waste.
I hate to say it but at least for me I have realized that in my pursuit of being a lifelong learner, sometimes that has outweighed my practical application because I am always seeking to know more. I think we need to be really careful and examine our priorities and our motives. Are we going to conference after conference to learn, to be cool, to sit on the sidelines and glean the insight from others while we go back and do little to put it into practice?
I?m personally trying to make this year a year of application. Doing more with what I know and what I?ve learned to make a difference. I love conferences because they do inspire, connect and equip to a certain degree but it’s what is done after the event that matters most. Sustainability.
All the head knowledge in the world won’t do a lick of good if something isn’t done with it.
I wish conferences could do a better job at being more of a bridge to action instead of just a facilitator of information.
Oh I just remembered one of my favourite conference moments… my church hosts probably one of the larger ones in our country and a lot of small town Pastors come – two years ago our church decided to give $100 for dinner for each Senior Pastor (and their wife) to treat them and honour them for the often thankless task they do. We then had people at church write cards the Sunday before the conference to say what a great job they do etc. It was an amazing moment as they were handed out as a lot of those Pastors don’t get any thanks or acknowledgment. That should be what conferences are about – giving to those in leadership who are possibly incredibly drained from what they do.
Conferences are essentially useless. I stopped going to them a couple of years ago because, like so many others, I walked away feeling like the people in charge are completely disconnected from my own experiences. I’ve started just taking small solitary retreats to just spend time with God and see what he wants for my ministry, not what “Megachurch Pastor” says worked for them.
It seems to me that a lot of conferences have just turned into glorified rock concerts with a few sermons thrown in. We pay money and attend based on who the band is, and who the speakers are. If they meet our status as effective mentors and role models, we go. If they don’t, we find another conference where we’ll be entertained more.
this whole flow of posts gave me the best christian conference idea ever and i need speakers and salon professionals to pull it off – i already have the best tag line ever from jason above (jason, the $ is in the mail for use of your words)
on march 1 in cancun we will be having the very, very first all pastors highlight conference. pastor’s will share the highlights of their yesr in ministry and provide needed tips on how to achieve these types of highlights for the common emergent/relevant pastor – sorry girls this is for guiys (debatable) only!
please go to the new website for the conference http://www.bromancetheguyhighlites.com (thanks jason!)
in this conference pastors will teach you how to have the best highlighted tips ever known to God, and how to train your staff to be productive tip highlighters (blonde, red, and blue). each attendee will receive a highlight kit, mirror, a special tutorial on lighting and stage setups to get that ‘highlighted bromance look you dream of” and a CD with all the instructions you need. the three day session (you may mess up your tips the first or second time) will cost only $10,000 – not including food transporation or lodging.
we will also podcast the event for $50/hr to those of you who are only wannabe emergents and have not achieved the budget and social status in the emergent/relevant church world to be considered as such.
to sweeten the offer we will also be producing a new series for worship pastors called “extreme tipping and hghlighting to look like those guys you steal songs from and don’t pay royalties to”. this program is only $5,000 for the three day session (hey, we’re just trying to get our royalty money back)
I think the Marriage Seminars are way too expensive.
When my husband was Pastoring in New England, I was asked to be a Song Director (back in those days we weren’t called Worship Leaders yet) at one of the Pastor’s Wife Conferences. Not only did they pay for my Hotel stay, but gave me a huge Love Offering. Of course I was extremely grateful, but I knew so many of the PW’s had sacrificed their life’s earnings to go. Thanks for letting us share.
I agree with a lot of what is being said here. One of the biggest fallouts from conferences, as several have pointed out, is that you walk away with a lot information, great information, that never gets applied. That’s a shame. If there is no move to understanding and decision/action, then all you have is a slick notebook to adorn your shelves (and a much lighter budget for the rest of the year).
I’ve been blessed to facilitate some of the Leadership Communities that Leadership Network has hosted the past couple of years. I think they have a tremendous model for learning and collaboration that moves away from the “sage on the stage” model and lifts up peer sharing and grass roots innovation. These LC’s focus on relationships (2-year meeting schedule), transferable principles, and action. I think conferences could incorporate a few of these elements and be extremely more valuable in the long run for the participants.
Some of the greatest ideas and innovations in ministry will never be put on display at a conference. But they are worth sharing.
I’m honored that you would mention me. Seriously. It means a ton coming from someone who has done it well for a long time.
Kristin and I need to hang out with you and Chris one of these days.
Dear Pastors I am T interested of your next Conf?rence of the Pastors Leaders 2009, I am interest for the participation which I will like that you given me the conditions fulfilled for the next conference of the Pastors I will be very charmed joy met of the brothers and pastors missionaries the different ones from the churches of ministry for the relation as Christ. In waiting of a favorable continuation my request That God blesses you and protects you in his love
Pastor Evangelist
Komi Nestor NOUGBLEGA
B.P.10112 s/c NABEDE K?daki
S.A.L.T.
lom?-togo
“Listening to a bootleg of Sleeping at Last from the Exit/In that I made using my phone. SpeakEasy=awesome app even for live shows in clubs. ”
gee anne – pls send me a xerox copy of your book
I already own all their CDs & nobody has a copy of the bootleg but me. :) I’ll email Ryan to see if he minds… :)
so it’s a demo, not a bootleg
I usually only make it to one conference every couple of years. I used to go a lot more frequently, but over time, just getting to them became harder and harder. I realized a long time ago that I could never take in everything that happens at a conference, so I try to take one new concept or idea away from a conference. I usually really enjoy the worship times at a conference. When you are with a group of people who are ready to worship, it is always inspiring and uplifting.
been away from twitter/blog world these past few weeks… so I’m a bit late for the conversational prom here, but i have a few thoughts.
?one… there are quite a few conferences that I could gain knowledge from…
?two… I enjoyed the whiteboard sessions because it was simple, one day… and not too overwhelming.
?three…. most conferences overwhelm… defeating the energizing purpose for which they strive…
?four…. i usually can only apply one or two things practically at a time… which makes everything else feel like a waste.
?five…. I am not sure I believe it when leaders tell me not to be like them… to be like me… I think some secretly want me to be like them… that their way is right.
?six… I realize my need to learn….and get better at what I do…
so the question is…. there are only many days in my life…. what is the BEST thing I can do to further God’s mission in my life… sometimes a conference, sometimes a book, sometimes a conversation, sometimes a twitter-‘batte’…. etc…
Had to get a few of my 7000 daily words out….
esb
I go to at least one conference every year, and its usually the same one – but this is more for logistical reasons than not wanting to go to others. One of the other comments mentioned being refreshed as it’s a time away from all their normal responsibilities, and I can relate to that, but I also find them inspiring as they encourage me to aim higher taking into account the resources we have.
This one in particular is always relating what they are now back to what they were when they were a much smaller church – it helps make that path clearer. Could go on, but it’s all been said. I like what Evan wrote – there is a season for all things