Jun
27
2012

Ministry Toolbox: The Global Leadership Summit

An article by Matt

I have been excited about this post for a week now. Not only do I get to share about an incredible tool for church leaders, but The Willow Creek Association has allowed me to give away three tickets to The Global Leadership Summit. Read on for more details.

Early on in my college education I was introduced to the term disequilibrate which means to put out of balance. Over the years, much of my thoughts on ministry and how to more effectively lead and shepherd people has been based on the idea that a little disequilibration can go a long way when it comes to discipling people, training leaders, and sharing Christ with the world around us.

Earlier this week, I was excited when Jim Mellado, President of the Willow Creek Association, described The Global Leadership Summit as a place that, at times, creates disequilibrium that forces us to stretch our thinking and develop us as leaders.

That is the way it works, isn’t it?

We get disequilibrated and our mind begins to work in ways we hadn’t experienced before… over the years I have experienced this kind of stretching through conversations with mentors and close friends, through my time in scripture, through ministry crisis, and through conferences that I have attended. It is my belief that a wise leader is regularly seeking out experiences and places where they have the opportunity to be stretched in unexpected ways.

As many of you know, I spend a good bit of time at different ministry conferences across the country. I have found these conferences to be a great place to share a little bit about how my work with Church Simple strengthens the church. As a result of my travel, people often ask me about conferences, and which ones are better investments of their time and money. Without hesitation, I encourage leaders to invest two days in August for The Global Leadership Summit. Each August (9-10 this year) I come away from the Summit having been stretched and challenged, and having learned something new… or, in Jim Mellado’s words, having been disequilibrated:

In what ways are YOU making yourself available to be stretched?

Interested in attending The Global Leadership Summit? I have three passes to one of the local host (simulcast) sites available for our readers in the United States (sorry international readers). Here’s how you can get one:

Leave a comment on this post sharing what you are most looking forward to at this year’s Summit.
Like the Church Simple Facebook page (if you’ve already done it, great!).
Share a link to this page via Facebook or Twitter.

The winners will be randomly selected (with help from random.org) at noon, eastern, on Sunday July 1, 2012.

About the Author: Matt Steen

Over the last fifteen years I have been a Church Planter, Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and now I serve as a Church Concierge with churchsimple.net. I love Jesus, my wife, the Redskins and Capitals and am currently living on Long Island striving to properly pronounce the word G'island.

http://twitter.com/marcuslynn Marcus Lynn

While I always appreciate and get wisdom from the politicians, business leaders, and celebrities that speak, I still get most excited and challenged by the pastors I look up to. This year I look forward to hearing Bill Hybels, Craig Groeschel, and John Ortberg.
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Hybels never fails to rock my world.
http://twitter.com/TheDrewPeterson Drew Peterson

I’m pumped to soak in the knowledge of so many strong, proven, experienced leaders that God has blessed. My heart is open and excited to the potential that could come from hearing these great leaders!
http://twitter.com/MrBND Benjamin Nelson

Stretch marks are beginning to show from – reading – conferences – podcasts – audiobooks – blogging – yeah – and all that
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  That is a lovely mental image… thanks for that.
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Check your email!
SarahBethsMan

I’ve never heard of the Leadership Summit until this year when I started following @Leadershipfreak on twitter. I have been looking for and doing my best to start attending leadership conferences in order to better develop my m ind as a young leader. The knowledge and wisdom that these men have to share is priceless and I look forward to applying what I will get to hear! Thanks for doing the Summit. I hope it will be a blessing to everyone else, as much as I know it will be to me!
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Dan Rockwell is putting out some great stuff! Glad he turned you on to the Summit… from everything I can see this year will be a pretty amazing year.
http://twitter.com/tiggervis Travis Engram

Our church is the host site for the Global Leadership Summit in Birmingham. There has been a lot of momentum and excitement brewing concerning this conference and its impact. Personally, I want to be pushed, stretched, challenged, and mentally recharged for a stronger walk with the One who makes us worthy. As we move forward in faith, may we not only soak in teachings for the sake of soaking them in and becoming smarter, but do so to pour out these teachings into our daily lives and the people we meet who have yet to truly meet Him
http://twitter.com/carlaxelfranzon Carl Axel Franzon

It’s been a while since i have been to a GLS and while reading the books is great, connecting with people at the summit and learning face to face is something I would look forward to.
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Totally hear you on that… there are times that I need to be able to bounce things off people in the heat of the moment in order to truly wrestle through things…
http://www.facebook.com/david.treloar1 David Treloar

I’ve been to one or two of these over the years. Always insightful and the source of further research material.
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Check your email… Random.org picked you!
Cindy Hall

I’m currently in a new position as Director of Ministry Teamwork at my church and I’m really excited about attending the Summit this year! Looking for some inspiration and can’t wait to hear Condaleezza!
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  I would LOVE to hear more about what that job looks like.
http://www.facebook.com/BrendanTheNavigator Brendan Jones

I’m curious as to what William Ury will say.
Todd Bush

Would love to attend. Usually we are in Mozambique at that time of year but will be Stateside this year.
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Random.org likes you, Todd… check your email.