Recently the pastors of Element and some of our leaders attended a satellite broadcast of Willow Creek Community Church’s Leadership Summit. Cheyenne Hills Church here in town sponsored it, and we were so grateful for them to open their doors to serve other pastors and churches in our region with this event. (By the way, Hills Church literally ROCKED IT when it came to hosting this event. Their hospitality, organization and service was stellar) It’s been a couple of weeks now and I’m reviewing the notes I took at the conference. Wanted to get them out, and my blog is the best place for me to do that.
Session 1: Bill Hybels
— “I’m not sure we’re ever going to experience the old normal ever again. (economy, business, stock market) The normal we all knew and loved has left the building. We are now leading in a new reality.”
— Hybels opening talk was on this idea of how to lead in new realities. “When things change, and change drastically and quickly, what do we do?”
— He compared our recent change to rogue waves on the ocean. “Rogue waves create new levels of leadership opportunities.”
— “Raging seas call for ruthless organization and decision making.”
— “In new realities we MUST be the church to our community AND to each other NO MATTER WHAT! We have to ask ourselves Do we still believe that Jesus, through the local church is the hope of the world?”
— One thing I noticed during his talk and wrote down in my notes REALLY encouraged me. Hybels is an INCREDIBLE communicator, but his style is VERY different and unique. It appeared he was preaching off of index sized cards. He must have flipped 50 or more cards in one talk (maybe 100). One or two thoughts on each card and he was on to the next. I wrote this down “EVERYONE has their own communication style. We must let GOD lead through that style and NOT try to be like someone else.”
— “Even in an economic downturn the #1 need of people is Jesus. That NEVER changes.”
— “In new realities we are forced to walk more by faith than by sight.” (That is a good thing)
— This was so good. “What leaders need in a crisis is NOT more money, but more TIME!” Spoke on leaders being financially responsible to prepare for rogue waves, even financially. Having emergency funds gives you TIME when a rogue wave hits.
— Speaking directly to the heart of each leader: “The best thing you bring to the table is a filled up bucket and a heart that is right with God.” Speaking of replenishing your mind, body and spirit.
There was a TON of other stuff I wrote down that wouldn’t make sense in one liners here. That is Session 1. I’ll be talking about more later.
Learning,
Jeff
