October 2010 Catalyst Reflections

In our ongoing efforts to "Mobilize the People of God to BE the Church", almost 2 dozen Brethren and friends gathered October 6-8 near Atlanta for Catalyst 2010. Created as a conference to equip and inspire young, emerging church leaders to engage the mission, this event brings together many of today’s top thinkers and communicators from the Christian leadership world. Participants were asked to jot down some of their thoughts about what God used to challenge them. Below are some of the random impressions and nuggets of challenge that stuck in the minds of a few who attended.

from Paula Deardurff (Gretna)

Craig Goeschel's message challenged me to look at young people in the church in a different way. To look at them as people having faith, vision, and gifts to offer. That they are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today. As leaders, we need to be in dialogue with them to give them opportunities to lead, serve, share their visions, and validate their faith.

I gained renewed hope by listening to Scott Harrison, Christine Caine, Tad Agoglia, and Gabe Lyons as they described their ministries to needs in the world. I was amazed at the number of exhibitors representing organizations with ministries to people and countries -- being the church by touching lives and communities in need. I also experienced hope by looking at all the states represented by license plates in the parking lot, by seeing all the seats in the arena filled, and hearing voices raised in praise. This "church thing" is so much bigger than we know when we meet in our separate congregations on Sunday morning. God is at work in such a larger picture and scope than we can wrap our minds around -- and He asks us to be a part of it!

I talked with some younger women who spoke about the need for mentors, for conversation with older women. They said that they need the encouragement and experience that we can offer. That touched a chord with me -- I'm still waiting to hear how God wants me to respond to that.

from Sam Shultz (Bryan)

Andy Stanley: What’s your “bowl of stew”? You have no idea what God wants to do with your life. But God knows and you’re going to want to be there for it.

Scott Harrison: Billions of people die around the world just because they don’t have proper water. Disease, etc, can be reduced if people have proper water supply. What are the simple things that I take for granted, that without, could be devastating to my physical life and spiritual life?

Christine Caine: Too many of us are so used to the bright lights we surround ourselves with that our “flashlight” are ineffective. If we’re going to be the light of the world, we need to go find some darkness and shine our lights there.

Seth Godin: (Man, this guy was amazing! There’s a bunch) “The way our economy works [shapes] our culture.”… You don’t want to be a bowler—it strives for perfection only, the best you can do is 300, and there are only so many options for excitement: gutter ball, strike….Be the person that when you leave the room, other people are disappointed you’ve left….Cupcake failure is not fatal! … No one joins a boring/average tribe…. Change is made by those who seek deniability and accept responsibility…. Leadership: Let’s agree on where we’re going. Now, I trust you to know how to get there.

Francis Chan: What we find strange when it comes to faith, it actually quite normal when we compare it to what takes place in the Bible. Some people, in the world’s eyes, take great risks because of faith, but to them, it’s just doing what Christians do. When we test our activities today, we should test them against the Bible. … 50-100 years from now, what will people look back and say about us? Will they say, “Wow, they left the church because they didn’t like the music? How weird is that?” “Wow, they dropped out on God because of an argument about pews? What are pews?”

Chris Seay: Regarding Missional shifts… Don’t preach morality; preach the righteousness of Jesus. Don’t preach tithing or what to do with your money; Preach what happens when Jesus transforms your life. Don’t teach abstinence; teach healthy relationships and the love of God. Don’t teach “sign up for service;” Preach about serving Christ out of your compelled love for him.

Gabe Lyons: “The next generation isn’t leaving your church because they don’t want to be Christian. They’re leaving your church to look for a church to find out what it means to be the church.” This is so evident in my church! Our 20’s and 30’s don’t come to our services, but when we do community service, they’re there and enthusiastic. They want to get involved. They want to help out and make a difference. But no matter how hard we try to get them to come to our small groups and church services the next Sunday, they find other reasons than to come like, sleeping in, making breakfast, or going on a short trip somewhere as a family.

Craig Groeschel: “If you are not dead you are not done.” “[Directed toward young people]: If you want to influence those over you, honor them.”

from Tony Van Duyne (5 Stones & National Office)

Craig Groeschel - "Delegate authority, not tasks"

Perry Noble - What "brook" do I continue to rely on to keep me going?

Beth Moore - "We pass knowledge along without absorbing it, we pass knowledge for knowledge sake..."

Seth Godin - Art is a generous human act that changes someone...no gift = no Art.

Andy Stanley - Reframe & Refrain <

from Josh Coffee (Gretna)

This was my fourth year attending Catalyst, and each year the experience has provided something fresh for me. From being able to be there to see first hand Andy Stanley give his excellent perspective on the nuts and bolts of how the church world works, to seeing organizational experts like Patrick Lencioni, Jim Collins, and Daniel Pink, to experiencing great movements of the spirit lead through Francis Chan and Craig Groeschel, I have yet to be disappointed in my annual pilgrimage to Atlanta. Perhaps better than just the sessions, though, is the opportunity to experience Catalyst with a group of friends.

My first year, I went alone, the second year, I brought one of the leaders from our congregation at Gretna with me. Last year, Gary Diehl and Sam Shultz spearheaded an effort to get other Brethren leaders to join us. This year, there were 15 of us from Brethren-world, along with some Grace Brethren friends. The opportunity to debrief with friends and talk through some of the ideas that arose from hearing what God is doing around the world was priceless. In fact, one of the best things that I heard all week was on the drive home when Jim Black said, "Maybe if we could get the older generation to understand and connect with the meta-story of what God is doing in the world, they would be less critical of the next generation." This statement, which sprang forth from a discussion we were having on Craig Groeschel's talk at Catalyst, so clearly crystallized an issue that we've been having in the Church for a long time, and at the same time pointed to a true problem, rather than repeating the symptoms. For me, that in its self was worth the trip.

Of course, Catalyst proper is amazing. Some of the top communicators in the world, along with leaders of some of the great compassion ministries currently changing life for people, and worshiping through music in a way that only 12 thousand Christian leaders can will leave you more in love with Jesus and His Bride. The occasional shooting a guy out of a canon is pretty sweet too.

from Gary Diehl (North Georgetown & National Office)

Personal reflections from several of those attending that struck me:

"I'm still processing so much of this on several levels. Mostly, I'm challenged by Francis Chan's call to brag on God. His call to have lives that match up with the weirdness we see in the Scriptures."

"I realize that I'm in a unique place to speak into the lives of young people right where I already am."

"I'm struggling with how to honor those older leaders without letting them hold me and my generation back."

"I know that I need to make changes. Now. I've been trying to give from a brook that has run dry and it's hurting too many of my relationships."

Andy Stanley: "The tension created by our appetites will never go away. We will always want MORE and want it NOW. So, what's your bowl of stew?" "You are like Esau. Right now, you have NO IDEA what God wants to do through your life."

Daniel Pink: "Pay people enough to take the issue of money off the table. Carrots and sticks are so last century. For 21st Century performance, provide your people (1) Autonomy (2) Mastery and (3) Purpose." "We don't need compliance today. We need ENGAGEMENT." "What is your sentence?"

Christine Caine: "It doesn't really matter any more why or how lost people got lost. They just are. As part of God's GPS, we need to go find them!" "If what you're telling me [about the saving grace and healing power of this Jesus guy] is true, why didn't you come sooner?" Her little girl with her new flashlight: "Mommy, can we go find some darkness?"

Seth Godin: "We are moving from the Factory Era to the Connection Era. The Factory was designed to develop compliance. North Korea is probably the most compliant nation on the planet. Compliance doesn't work like it used to. Organizations now need Linchpins--people who connect and make a difference."

Perry Noble: "Church is too much like the Christian prom." "Spend more time on your face [in prayer] and less time on FaceBook." "The greatest thing to ever happen in your ministry can't be explained, or God didn't do it." "The brook wasn't Elijah's supply: God was!" "Are you about to run from a situation that God reigns over?"

Gabe Lyons: "Church is no longer in the center of culture. It's on the outside looking in." "Next Generation Christians are not offended by culture; they are provoked to engage it." "90% of Downs Syndrome babies are terminated." "The Next Generation isn't leaving your church because they don't want to be Christian."

Craig Groeschel: to the older generation: "Don't resent, fear or judge the next generation of believers & leaders. Invest in them and let them lead." "When you lead from insecurity nothing works well." "Delegate authority, not just tasks." "If you're not dead, you're not done!" "Honor is given, respect is earned." To the younger generation: "You are the most cause-driven, mission-minded generation in history. If you will come under authority and remain teachable, there is kingdom greatness waiting to emerge. Don't you DARE insult God with small dreams and easy living!"

For more insights into what’s behind some of these comments, connect with someone who attended Catalyst 2010 and ask them. Then, start making plans to attend an event like this with several of your key leaders. In fact, plan now to bring them to the 2011 General Conference for a taste of something similar!