I'm curious. What is the most memorable conference you've ever been to? Who is the most memorable conference speaker you've ever heard? And why? What made it so memorable?
As I travel and speak at conferences I'm cognizant of the fact that most of what is said at conferences is forgotten the moment leaders get back into their normal routine. Frankly, I don't want to waste my time or waste their time. Inspiration isn't enough. Best practices aren't enough. In my experience, the greatest value of a conference is when you get a God idea and then act on it when you get back into your context. The great irony is that those ideas don't always come from the speakers. In my opinion, the momentary inspiration of a great speaker has value. But the greatest value is the take-away. What are you going to do with what you've heard? Does what you heard actually translate into new habits, new initiatives, new experiments?
If you don't do anything with what you heard then you wasted your time and your money. Actually, you wasted God's time and God's money. Don't get me wrong. I'm a conference junkie. And I think part of the value boils down to the simple equation: change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. Conferences set the stage for change because they get you out of your normal routine. But you've got to act on it. That's why I always try to walk away with three applications ideas. Sometimes it's more. Sometimes it's less. But I try to focus less on what the speaker is saying and more on what God wants me to do with what the speaker is saying.
A penny for your thoughts.
As I travel and speak at conferences I'm cognizant of the fact that most of what is said at conferences is forgotten the moment leaders get back into their normal routine. Frankly, I don't want to waste my time or waste their time. Inspiration isn't enough. Best practices aren't enough. In my experience, the greatest value of a conference is when you get a God idea and then act on it when you get back into your context. The great irony is that those ideas don't always come from the speakers. In my opinion, the momentary inspiration of a great speaker has value. But the greatest value is the take-away. What are you going to do with what you've heard? Does what you heard actually translate into new habits, new initiatives, new experiments?
If you don't do anything with what you heard then you wasted your time and your money. Actually, you wasted God's time and God's money. Don't get me wrong. I'm a conference junkie. And I think part of the value boils down to the simple equation: change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. Conferences set the stage for change because they get you out of your normal routine. But you've got to act on it. That's why I always try to walk away with three applications ideas. Sometimes it's more. Sometimes it's less. But I try to focus less on what the speaker is saying and more on what God wants me to do with what the speaker is saying.
A penny for your thoughts.
35 Comments:
My most memorable conference was a retreat my freshman year of high school. The speaker was Adam Robinson. I remember that because I didn't listen to a word he said in his sermon, but God spoke to me while he was speaking on stage. It was at that conference that God started speaking to me, leading me down the path to which he has called me. I'll never forget it.
Catalyst!!! Need I say more?
I'm a Conference Junkie also. Only three percent of the people who go to a conference actually apply something they learned. I like to be one of the three percent. My most memorable conference was a Christian in Theatre Arts Conference (CITA) in Greenville, South Carolina three years ago. I don't remember the name of the teacher but the class was Drama in Worship and he told us to "turn off the editor (left brain) so the creative spirit (right brain)could be free to write, act or create without criticism." It gave me a "how to" and I used it the next week while on vacation in Myrtle Beach. I saw a mime on Boardwalk at the beach and my creative spirit wanted to act off of him. My "editor" was horrified and spued off ten reasons why I shouldn't. I turned the editor off and went for it. What an experience! Because I immediately used what I learned I'll never forget it and I've been using it ever since.
CATALYST CONFERENCE - this will be my 6th year going and every year I come back with a fresh vision, revitalized, and challenged!!
The most memorable speaker for me is Andy Stanley. The reason you remember stuff he says is that he says simple, sometimes obvious things in a way that you cannot forget. I still remember stuff I heard him say at a conference I was at 16 years ago as a teenager. The other reason why you remember his teaching is that he gives you the take away steps. The problem for most of us is that we go to conferences alone & have to go back into environments where we have to transplant the inspiration & the information to a group that just might not get it. In order to do that we have to take a long term approach to applying what we get at a conference. We will have to teach it, reteach it, & maybe even re-reteach it before the people we serve with start connecting the dots. The other option is finding a way to get your people to the conference with you. That would accelerate application & change once you get back home.
My most memorable conference was Craig Groeschel's presentation at Catalyst 2008. Craig was dealing with the question; "Have you lost IT?"
I had to see what was driving my ministry. I had to ask myself if I was being led by my denomination or Jesus.
It was a powerful presentation.
Craig mentioned that God wants to stretch us so that we might bring glory to Him. One phrase Craig mentioned was, "There is more in you! "
Both Wing Chaplain/NCOIC Conferences I attended (2007-2008) in the DC area. In 2007, we had lots of good speakers. My favorite that year was the Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CSM William J. Gainey. Very good speaker. In the 2008 conference, Mark spoke to us. He was the best speaker of the conference by far. I really enjoyed what he had to say to us.
Erwin McManus @ Leadership Summit. His talk was the Character Matrix -- that talk changed my life
My most memorable was a MCIN Conference, Phx. Ariz. in 2001 (i think) Tony Campolo was one of the guest speakers and was amazing... i still remember the main point of His message and whether i agree with him fully or not- i am still not sure but he got me thinking about something that today i am still wrestling with to see what i really believe about it...
Drive 2008 was probably my favorite conference.
The most memorable message was probably Louie Giglio's talk at the Grow Up Conference (no longer exists) in 2006.
Conferences are designed to gives us tons of information and NO TIME to think through HOW TO APPLY the information. I've made it a habit to schedule a dinner after the session or to stay an extra day when possible to do the hard work of thinking through HOW TO APPLY what I've learned.
Can I be really honest for a moment?
Most conferences are simply a bunch of Christians with "trendy haircuts" and sketchers sitting around trying to be innovative and creative. It's more of the same dialog, the same ideas, the same long winded presentations from people trying to sell their stuff.
Christians love conferences in general because they love to talk and dialogue but it never really transpires into actually making an impact in culture.
Impact in their church yes, but culture no....
The best conference I've attended was Origins a conference put on my Mosaic in LA. That church has moved past trying to be hip and relevant and extended into making a positive contribution and impact in the world around them.
The most memorable conference was Unplugged at NCC. I'm not just saying that. I enjoyed the entire conference, the smallness of it, the interaction, the low key atmosphere, but the best part is something Jud Wilhite shared. I think about it almost everyday. He said, "Fall in love with the climb." That phrase took my breath away. Love the mud, love the junk, love the pain, love the joy and victory, love the moment. That's something I've tried to live ever since and God still challenges me with it all the time.
The most memorable "conference" I attended were the mentorship meetings I had on a weekly basis with my mentor. You commented that you thought most leaders forgot what was said when they got back to their routines. God has used the mentorship/discipleship process to change my life. I have found national and local conference gatherings helpful and some ideas inspiring and intriguing. But, when it comes down to it, leaders are defined by they do. We do by way of who we are. You change who the leader is...you change what they do. Thus the idea of transformation. The Romans 12 idea. Renewing our minds is a very difficult process. We are refined as we are sharpened. To be sharpened we must be in relationship with others who have the desire to endure and spur us on toward that goal. Dependent upon God, of course, through this process. The author and perfector of our faith.
So...I am a huge conference fan...but they are totally incomplete without the mentorship I have on a weekly basis. A good mentor is a must for all in ministry. Read Psalm 78. We have a responsibility to hand these things down to the next generations. Conferences are great avenues but they are but temporary stops in a very long journey. I will be very dull if I am only sharpened once or twice a year. I realize there are so many other factors involved in being a Christ follower. And so many other things that could be mentioned or said. But space and time is limited. So I stop.
My most memorable conference was Innovate '08 at Granger Community Church. I was at a point where I needed to stop thinking and start doing and that's what they offered. It was the first time I've invested "my" money in a conference.
I attended Kem Meyer's breakout about communications and I've never been the same. In the main sessions, Shawn Wood, Tim Stevens, Mark Waltz and Rob Wegner challenged me in ways I can't forget. For me, the key was going back to my lodging that last night and processing. I sat down and went through all my notes from the three days. There I found an overarching theme in what God was saying to me.
There I found my purpose, a better understanding of my ministry and tools for moving forward in it. Things that I began implementing when the plane landed back home. I will never be the same!
(And Andy Stanley ROCKS. I still try to digest his "Systems" talk.)
Best conference in my opinion is National Youth Workers Convention--particularly NYWC 07.
Most memorable speakers (both at that conference, btw):
* phyllis tickle
* shane claiborne (he did fire eating, then he said, 'i hope that's flashy enough for you. now i'm going to preach the best sermon ever.' then he read the entire sermon on the mount. when he finished reading it, he got off stage. i'll never forget it.)
I would add community into the mix. At Exponential this year I had 2 others from our Fellowship w/me. Each night after we debriefed at St Arbucks sometimes for three hours. The thing is we have to take what we learned back to a community to implement it. If no one else in your community experienced it, It can be tough to get them on board when you get back.
This exponential was probably the best conference for me so far, but It wasn't one speaker, God used many of them to form three ideas in my mind that we're putting into action.
My most memorable was Renovare, 2008, at Chapel Hill Bible Church in Chapel Hill, NC. The concept of the 6 tradtions of Christianity shaped our preaching themes for 2009 and has been forming my theology every since.
Leadership Summit at Willow. I've gone for over 10 years, and always learn something new. I think the most memorable one was a couple years ago, with Carly Fiorina, Michael Porter, Marcus Buckingham, and Richard Curtis. The range of experiences, lessons, and expertise in those people was fantastic, and Willow did such a great job of bringing them together with such creativity.
My most memorable moment was at a conference I did not attend. EDGE Outreach had the one, the only, Tony Campolo, speaking at their International Water Conference a few years ago. I listened the the audio of his talk and my view on Short Term Mission work was ever changed. I will no longer give support $$ to groups or individuals who are doing stuff that are contrary to what the people they are reaching really need. I will give support $$ when the team is truly doing something that will benefit the people.
http://www.edgeoutreach.com/PureWaterPureLife/tonycampolo.html
The 1st Hillsong Conference Europe was my most memorable! Seeing local church leaders & their congregations from around Europe, Africa & East Coast USA being empowered, encouraged & enriched was mind blowing! Opened my eyes to the potential in Europe & how important the local church is. Memorable speakers - Christine Caine & Donna Crouch. You don't easily forget the messages from these two Hillsong Sydney women! Joseph Prince is also a very memorable conference speaker!
donald miller at willow's arts conference '08
I would have to say Francis Chan at the Orange conference was great this year. He blew me aways with his passion for God, and it changed my relationship with Jesus drastically. Francis Chan is someone who is crazy-in-love with God and people! (did you catch that? CrazyLove is the name of his book. Never mind.)
Rob Bell - Isn't She Beautiful. The conference was on the local church.
Last May, the Purpose Driven Gathering. There were so many great speakers: Rick Warren (of course)Jimmie Davidson from Highlands Fellowship. His personal testimony really affected me.
I also took away a great quote from you. You said "We (Christians) are educated way beyond our obedience."
I would have to say that my most memorable conference was Catalyst West Coast just a few weeks ago. The most memorable speaker had to be either Andy Stanley or Erwin McManus (I was not in your lab session...unfortunately). Although it is hard to narrow it down to just a few. I think what made it so memorable was the fact that I was just away from my regular routine. It had also been awhile since my last conference. Furthermore, there seemed to be a refreshing emphasis on missional ministry as opposed to just program nuts and bolts. Great conference!
Jeff
Communication Conference 2006 in Nashville:
Mark Rutland and Mark Batterson...
I still read those notes 3 years later!
I attended Thr3e at Elevation Church (Charlotte) about a month ago and it was incredible. They only allowed about 150 people to register. Pastor Steven Furtick spoke in every session and was powerful. The hospitality was "over the top."
They said that this would be the only Thr3e conference that they would ever have (based on 3 years of their ministry). However, if they have a Fo4r or Fi5e Conference - count me in!!
Any Bill Johnson conference ever. Or Jesus Culture conference hosted by Bethel Church. Most memorable: "the Holy Spirit is imprisoned in the heart of unbelieving believers."
i agree with pomo_pilgrim - Origins, in 2004. a whole new paradigm for thinking. took me months to process.
Francis Chan's talk at Catalyst '07 messed me up for good! Actually that whole conference messed me up...including your lab. God gave me the swift kick in the pants that I needed to leave the comfort zone of youth ministry and spread my wings. (Not that youth ministry is everyone's "comfort zone"...it was just time for ME to make the transition.)
I think you are right on. Is it me or does it seem like(from the blogs I read) that alot of guys are going to each other's conferences. Whether it's a youth camp, convention, or conference the point should be life change and action. I haven't been to any of the big time conferences yet(Catalyst, NYWC, etc.), but have been challenged by smaller denominational events over the years.
You at Whiteboard last year. My wife and I had just gone through a pretty traumatic experience...and God used you to speak into our situation. You used th illustration of the stars, planets, etc. and it just really hit my heart hard.
Catalyst 08. I had recently been going through some bad times and came to Catalyst because I had paid for it several months before. Then Craig Groeschel got up and talked about IT. That is when I realized that I had IT once and lost IT and wanted IT again. But the trick is that you cannot find IT, IT finds you. And I am thankful IT did. But I know without Catalyst and without Craig there is no way I would have stopped long enough to realize I lost IT, nor would I be open to IT when IT found me again.
The 2003 Willow Creek Leadership Summit. I was 2 semesters into Seminary, and my "home" church came to a satellite site near my school and paid for me to go. The Leadership Summit (as well as subsequent ones) completely transformed my views and ideas about leadership, specifically within the church. I was inspired, challenged and massively motivated coming out of these sessions, and that fire hasn't cooled.
Chris Meirose
Because I said so blog
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