If you had just NINE minutes to say anything…
It has been so cool to be a part the NINES today – an innovative FREE conference hosted by Leadership Network and Catalyst. Around 10,000 people are “attending” from all over the world. It is my hunch that conferences Will and SHOULD look like this more in the future.
The NINES gives Pastors and Thought Leaders the opportunity to share ONE thought for Church Leaders in just NINE minutes. There’s a TON of great stuff, all of which will be available free for download later this week.
So, our question for you is this :: If you had NINE minutes to share ONE thought to Church Leaders – What would it be?
go ahead…the clock is ticking…
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Sep 09, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
@CyrilJones
Teach love and grace through real authentic relationships. This is what will change the church and reach broken people.
Sep 09, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Håkon Norheim
Man easily becomes manic – about anything. We need to realise that it's all child's play whatever we work with. I'd rather go to a fair football game than hear a poorly written sermon. I'd rather paint a masterpiece in Africa if I knew I could and it would feed me rather than prepare a bland meal in Turkey. Which means you gotta have faith in what you're doing and pretend it is as important as church or missions or taking out the trash or singing for the Pope or care for the dying or growing beans. Because it not only may be as important – IT IS as important, as anything. Just do it well.
Sep 09, 2009 @ 9:55 pm
Stefenie
Develope the next generation
Sep 09, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
marc mantasoot
"Love God, love your neighbor…" Have the courage to disciple each neighbor one at a time. Have the courage to keep groups small, simple, local. Have the courage to grow slowly through discipleship and mentoring—deep, consistent, frequent, relationships. Have the courage to talk and preach less and to act more (per the Book of James). Less theory, theology, and programs. More action and relationship. Have the courage to be a simple, organized movement of discipleship and not an institution.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 12:38 am
Tony Myles
Don't Twitter in a non-Twittering world.
I say that as one who doesn't Twitter and has realized how many references and opportunities (including this conference today) requires a platform I am not a part of to take part in the discussion at hand. So I become an outsider unless I take on the new platform.
Often in church world we assume everyone is using our language, when they aren't; we presume that the vision in our heart is on fire in their lives, and it isn't; we think we can make a blanket challenge and everyone will respond, and they don't.
So let's stop "Twittering" the Gospel and be sure no one feels left out to our insider assumptions.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 1:02 am
danbryan
I'd encourage church leaders and christians to push pause for a year on conferences and spend those hours, days, and weeks on initiatives that tangibly change the world for the better. I'm not saying there isn't value in gatherings like the nines (whether they be in person or virtual) – but there sure are a lot of them. In fact many of the thought leaders that shared today have and will make the rounds to many other conferences with a slightly different brand/focus/audience than the one today. We have an entire industry that is "ministry" conferences. I find that an interesting concept to chew on.
My question is this, couldn't that time be better spent? Talking matters, I believe in the power of ideas to change the world. I think the church has that one down though – we're good at it, no need to keep proving the point. Funnel that time and money into other things for a year – then gather for a conference and talk about what happened, not what might happen.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 1:15 am
Adani
1. Take the time to build a great team. A leader is only as strong as the legs that support him/her.
2. Don't be afraid to change the method in which The Message is presented.
3. Don't make 1 or 2 sins bigger than the rest. Sin is sin.
4. Don't attempt to take the place of God in your member's live.
5. Don't major in the minors. Church is more than what people wear.
6. Don't make the giving records and attendance records the measure of success for your church.
7. Don't be so blinded by your own church's agenda that you totally forget about the world outside the 4 walls. The widow, the homeless, the orphan, and the poor.
8. Don't get to caught about in your title, that you forget your own salvation
9. Be approachable.
10. Don't attempt to judge the motive of a parishioner's heart based on something they've done.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:20 am
Jarrett Stevens
Sounds like something we should be Experts in…but sadly, so often, we are the furthest thing from it. Great and Simple thought. Love it.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:27 am
Jarrett Stevens
Poetic, but not sure I totally get what you're saying.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:28 am
Jarrett Stevens
Well said. To the point. Brilliant model for sustainability. Have you experienced this Steph? Or not?
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:29 am
Jarrett Stevens
The Courage to be Simple. I love it. Right on Point Marc. It's amazing how "caught up" we get with so many other pursuits. Love this.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:30 am
Jarrett Stevens
Not sure I agree. Twitter like Facebook, Texting, heck even the Internet itself is nothing more than a tool. When it becomes the point, than we've missed the point. No doubt.
But to assume that the world is "not twittering" just because you are not isn't quite a fair assesment.
It is true that by the numbers, MOST of the world isn't Twittering. But again, Twitter is not the point. It is merely a tool. And if that tool reaches SOME with the love and message of Jesus, then I'm gonna use it.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:33 am
Jarrett Stevens
Great idea.
Kind of how Church is suppossed to be the Culmination of what God has done throughout the week as well as the Jump Off for what God is going to do this next week.
I like the idea. There are definitely Conference Junkies out there.
It might be similar to that old idea of "Those who CAN'T – TEACH"
"Those who CAN'T – ATTEND"
I like the 1 year moretoreum idea, so long as people actually spend that time and money with God in their Community and around the World.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:37 am
Jarrett Stevens
PREACH!
Great Thoughts. Looks like you're gonna need more like 90 minutes instead of 9.
Love it.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:39 am
danbryan
Agreed – although I'll keep pushing. We seem to be afraid people wont' "actually" (to use your language) spend their time as you and I are talking about. And therefore we don't release ourselves (I wont' say "them") to do it. I'd like to see the mothers and fathers of the church lead the way, stop the madness. We've got a system steeped in leadership principles and it's created a ton of followers for better or worse – some will need to see it modeled, and be freed from distractions (even well intentioned/valuable ones like conferences, book tours, bible studies) in order to "actually" pursue the building of the kingdom and the restoring of the world to rights.
I think this relates to our weekly gatherings as well, ironically called services, that often become a big vacuum of time and resource. I know the purpose of this blog is to launch a church, I hope your community will have the courage to take some moratoriums from christian activities to expend some effort in communities near and far. And I hope my life and community reflects it too. Not throwing stones here, wish you all the best.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:48 am
Jarrett Stevens
Great thoughts well articulated.
Sadly, I agree, an idea like this would need to be led from the very Church Leaders we pay to go see. But how cool would that be. The Un-Conference or Anti-Conference. Take your team, your $500, and your 5 days and do something truly revolutionary with God for the Kingdom.
Interesting.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:59 am
jon
guess in my 9 minutes i would say if you create a culture where everyone wants stuff free and online, what is your church going to look like? why will people feel compelled to come to your building and pay your salary? should they? let's deconstruct the whole church system and go free and virtual – let people be the church in their house, at work, in their pjs or workout clothes – implement the elements of this event that you love so much into the church you want to build. that would take real courage but would at least be compelling. another new church is like another new conference, we don't really need it if it's just doing the same thing in a different package…
Sep 10, 2009 @ 4:02 am
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Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:00 am
danbryan
Depending on which conferences you're skipping it could be a lot more than $500
.
But yes, I think it would indeed be very cool. Then we could see some trending topics like #addressingpoverty #mentoringkids #feedingthehungry #cleaningupmyneighborhood #lovingpeople #bridgingdivides. Now I have rapidly approached the point of talking too much, so I'll stop – thanks for asking the question.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
@dckenney
I would offer, don't do all of the work yourself, your temptation will be as the "educated apostle" to do most of the idea work and heavy lifting, but when we do that I think we close doors to very creative outlets. Namely the hands and feet of the local church. As a church leader, the bible says your role is to "equip the saints for works of service." I take that to mean: you give them the tools, motivation and knowledge they need to do the work….and then they do the work. Of course, this by no means excludes us from serving, but it allows us to serve alongside new leaders we have helped foster.
Sep 10, 2009 @ 4:35 pm