The past two days I had the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Willow Creek Leadership Summit. Though the conference was held in the Chicago area it was broadcast live to participating conference sites around the world.
During the course of two day conference we heard from some great leaders.
I’ve decided to make this a two part post. This post is the recap of Day 1 of the conference.
Day 1
session 1
Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Church spoke on “The High Topic of Decision Making”. Out of this he talked about his new book Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs which actually sounds really good.
Incidently, I thought he did a good job of mentioning the book in passing and acknowledging what he feels will be genuinely helpful about this book without turning the whole session into a sales pitch for the new book.
Hybels affirmed that “leadership’s highest usage is to advance the purposes of God in this world.”
He also provided a grid for decision making, which is one of the most constant and difficult activities of a leader, and the higher level the leader is, the more decisions that person is likely to be making.
Essentially the decision making grid is comprised of four key questions:
1. Does the Bible say anything about this?
2. What would smart advisors advise me to do?
3. P/G/E Question
– pain of past decision making
– gaines of past decisions
– experiences from the past
4. What is the Holy Spirit saying?
session 2
Gary Haugen, director of the International Justice Mission shared about his ministry work and saw some very moving video clips and stories about incidents of severe injustice around the world where IJM was able to make a difference.
He said a lot of things that frankly just blew my mind. For example:
– “27 million people in our modern world live in slavery”
– “2 million children live in forced prostitution
– “In the developing world somewhere between 60-85% of the people in prison have never been convicted or charged with a crime.”
Gary used a very powerful story from his youth to challenge his audience to “take their strengths on a more demanding climb [in life].” The four parts to this process are:
1. Choosing not to be safe
2. Choosing to pursue excellence
3. Choosing to seize the joy
4. Choosing to pursue deep spiritual health
I was so impressed with Gary Haugen and his ministry. Praise God for the work that they are doing!
session 3
Bill George, professor of Management Practice at Harvard University and former CEO of Medtronic
Bill shared 6 things a leader can do to better themselves:
1. Understand the purpose of your leadership
2. Gain self-awareness
3. Be true to your values
4. Follow your motivating capabilities ( your greatest areas of strength)
5. Build a support team around you
6. Lead an integrated life
Toward the end of his session he said one thing that I have been thinking alot about. He said “everyone I’ve seen fail as a leader has not failed to lead others – they have failed to lead themselves.”
Wow. That’s a good one to meditate one.
Wendy Kopp, CEO and founder of Teach for America
Wendy started Teach for America fresh out of college and it has grown to be an incredibly successful non-profit organization.
Wendy says that she was “obsessed with becoming a well managed, strategically operating organization.”
During particularly intense times in the early years of of managing and leading Teach for America she would alternate nights sleeping one night and then going for one night without sleep for weeks at a time.
Wendy said with resolve, “we have a responsibility to solve this problem” (The problem she was speaking of is a system of public education with major inequalities.)
Wendy Kopp is a motivated and inspiring leader. Next time I am at the bookstore I would like to peruse through her book.
If you are at the top of your class and nearing graduating from college soon you should seriously consider looking up Teach for America.
Session 4
John Burke, lead pastor of Gateway Community Church in Austin, Texas
John talked a lot about removing “cultural barriers to grace” and preparing the soil for the gospel. He said “we can’t change people, but we can change the cultural soil.
I was really inspired by his passion for reaching those who seem farthest from the church. His ministry seems to be doing a great job of that.
Efrem Smith, senior pastor of the Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN
This church is a multi-ethnic congregation that is reaching the inner city area of Minneapolis. It has been called a “Hip Hop church” because they try to embrace elements of Hip Hop culture that are not contradictory to the gospel.
They display graffiti on the stage behind their musical instruments and during the worship service will even have break dancers performing on-stage before the audience. (A far cry from traditional pentecostal flag waving.)
Pastor Efrem was like a shot of adrenaline for the conference.
If you are interested in more check out some related articles, links and resources related to each of these speakers at www.willowcreek.com/SummitNextSteps