Gospel Leadership

Good weekend here in the ATL.

Catalyst East 10 was a great experience. If you have not gone, you’ve got to try and attend any one of the three conferences offered by the catalyst team. They have a One Day experience with Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel that’s coming to Central Virginia in on October 21st. These conferences are held all over the country, so look for one close to you! Their major events are held twice a year, one on the east coast and one on the west. Find one, and go! It’s worth it.

While I was at Catalyst, I was able reconnected with several good friends. One of the key leaders and pastors at Cross Church in NW Arkansas, Shawn Smith, graciously took me to lunch and talked me through some of the changes occurring as a result of the name change. For more info on that, see previous Monday Run Down post. Shawn was very insightful, and I truly appreciated his willingness to talk for a bit.

The third session of Westridge’s School of Church Planting was this past Saturday, and it was so good. Mac Lake and Jim Akins have turned the six-year-old program around, and we as current and prospective church planters were deeply challenged and riveted. Alongside Jim and Mac, Kevin Dunlap andTony Morgan joined in by leading us in discovering administrative and organizational leadership principles essential for effective church leadership.

Aimee and I saw the film Wall Street yesterday. It was phenomenal. The camera caught such dramatic and breathtaking views of the city of New York. I want to move there and be a stock broker now. Then rule the world as a result of all the money I make. Seriously though, the movie was top notch and very evocative. There were so many Gospel themes throughout, including the theme of redemption. See it if you can!

We attended attended Refuge Church in Marrietta, GA for their inaugural service yesterday morning. Brian Brown, the lead Pastor, endured many difficult struggles all the way up until the final moments before the service. As a result, morale was low and discouragement was plaguing Brian’s heart afterward as we chatted with him. Churches exist to deepen the roots of Christ followers in Gospel community and to reach those far from God with the Gospel. If we aren’t doing that as a church, then what are we doing? What’s the point? Refuge has a long way to go before it is fulfilling these two purposes, and it’s our prayer that the Holy Spirit moves them there soon, or puts them to death slowly so the damage will be minimal.

Friends and family are two of God’s greatest graces and shadows of Himself, and Aimee and I are excited to see some of ours this weekend. P.A.R.T.Y.

-B