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October 16, 2008

It's here!

From Dave Treat

After a year of planning (and a lifetime of preparation) Group Life Conference 2008 is here! Joel Johns and the worship team showed how "it takes a group" to launch a conference! Right now the worship continues to set the stage for what is to come. In two minutes - a video highlighting 10 years of Group Life, drama, and then the main talk by John Burke!

Were you there? What did you think? We welcome your comments below.

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Comments

October 16, 2008 04:08 AM #

The pre-conference session were great and I am so glad to be here!

Frank Chiapperino

October 16, 2008 04:43 AM #

I just posted some key statements I got from session 1 with John Burke at my small group blog - www.smallgrouphelp.com/blog - I think I am going to try the 60-60 exercise...

Frank Chiapperino

October 16, 2008 04:45 AM #

Wow, what a start! Imagine the idea of focusing on staying connected and letting God do the work! So easy to forget and yet also so hard to remember!

John Burke's stories rock!

Chris Butz

October 16, 2008 04:46 AM #

Great talk from John, very complete in theme and content. We need to stay connected to Jesus, Duh! It seems so simple, like John said but it is not easy. Thanks for defining the center line, our true compass reading.

Curtis Lamar

October 16, 2008 04:46 AM #

Yea...What he said!

Angie Butz

October 16, 2008 04:51 AM #

The first session was just what I needed. See my take on my blog at http://jonstolpe.blogspot.com

Jon Stolpe

October 16, 2008 05:43 AM #

Ditto. Great reframe on the need for allowing God to do HIS work, not US!!!! :O)!!!

Anne Vandiver

October 16, 2008 05:44 AM #

Is there a 10-digit number to send text to instead of 47201? I can send a message to a 10 digit number from Instant messenger, but not to a 5 digit CSC.

Paul

October 16, 2008 06:10 AM #

Mark Batterson & Heather Zempel are making the content portion of the willow groups conference worth it--ALL BY THEMSELVES.

John

October 16, 2008 06:35 AM #

You gotta come back for Will Miller - He is totally HILARIOUS

Frank Chiapperino

October 16, 2008 08:32 AM #

Mark and Heather brought home the idea of Chess and Checkers, not every player is the same, not every method works in every situation. A catalyst is only a catalyst when it is used in the right ingredients. I know how easy it is to fall into the pattern of using a small group method from a provin plan only to see it flop. Jesus was always doing things that did not match the plan. Thanks for the insights and encouragement to act unexpectantly.

Curtis Lamar

October 16, 2008 09:55 AM #

Thanks, Dave, Greg, Bill, Cindy, Stephanie, and everyone else who is making this happen. I'm loving the connections and the stuff I'm learning.

Heather Zempel

October 16, 2008 10:04 AM #

Mark and Heather were a huge inspiration! That whole yield point/modulus of elasticity distinction really changed my thinking. I loved it!

Alissa

October 16, 2008 10:43 AM #

Will Miller's talk about What's Stunting Community Growth was right on. We have got so much going on in our lives that distracts us from community. Busy work schedules, the business of church life, and the running around and keeping up with family concerns. We need to be like salmon swimming against the flow of our culture - seeking ways to help people find community - to find connection to each other and to God.

Jon Stolpe

October 16, 2008 11:14 AM #

Will Miller and the worship team gave me just what I needed tonight - laughter and love. I have posted some bullet statements from his talk tonight on my blog - www.smallgrouphelp.com/blog

Frank Chiapperino

October 16, 2008 11:54 AM #

Ok, Hate to be a downer but here is my impressions of what is happening so far. Session one, ok. Not impressive except for the band; esp. the opening stuff. Awesome job from band. I was expecting something better because he did a fantastic job at Leadership Conference. I brought 4 guys this year and was hoping for better.

Session Two: That was greatness. Tons of take away. That's what I am talking about. The experimental guy was really nailing home that everything is an experiment.

Session Three (Miller): Part good, Part disappointing. First disappointing: The failed text stuff threw him so far off, he never got back on track. The good part: there were nuggets of gold. I wish there were more.

I am hoping for something better tomorrow. Just being honest. Cone of Grace. We can be honest without fear of condemnation can't we? Just want the best for my team.

Bob Totino

October 17, 2008 03:46 AM #

Bob,

I can understand how you feel, however God brings different speakers with different material for a reason. I brought my buddy John with me and his take on John Burke was totally different than mine. He loved how John asked the question, "What is the centerline off which we need to build community?" He used passages from Luke and John to explain that there is only one thing that is necessary. That one thing is to listen to Jesus. Jesus said in John that we are to love each other as I have loved you. And apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

All that said to make the point that God uses different speakers to work in the lives of different leaders. My God moment was last night with Will Miller when he said, "Love is a noise that cuts through the culture." Also when he spoke about crisis counseling and how we have a small window of opportunity when people in crisis are open to the Gospel. I needed that reminder. I hope you enjoy your breakouts!

Frank Chiapperino