Leadership Summit - Day 2

Instead of quotes, I'm going to share my top 5 takeaways from the second day of the Leadership Summit, in order:

1. Failure is not always a bad thing.
Pastor and author Dave Gibbons spoke of needing a different set of metrics by which we measure our success. Here's a few of his quotes on the subject of failure:

Failure is success to God.
Your failure is your platform to humanity.
Your weakness and failures are often a gift from God.
Weakness guides us more than our success.

Authors Chip and Dan Heath, whose book Made to Stick is one of my favorites, talked about how to affect change. They said in times of change, failure is a necessity. They also said we need to work to the point of failure, just like lifting weights. You don't keep lifting the same amount of weight and expect to get stronger; You have to lift weights that are too heavy for you until they aren't too heavy anymore.

2. Focus on the fringe.
Gibbons defines this as being a 3rd Culture Leader. Focus on the misfits not the masses. It goes along with Gary Hamel's point of learning from the renegades and positive deviants. The people who don't think, look, act like us are probably the best source for new ideas.

3. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
That was a quote former presidential advisor David Gergen shared.

4. Look for the bright spots.
The Heath brothers talked about this one for quite some time. The idea is to look for what's working and build on it. Here's one quote that stuck with me:

The bright spots are proof that you can solve the problem.

5. It's not OK to let people starve.
Bono - yes, that Bono, spoke of the need for the church to act like the church and stop looking the other way while people die of starvation or lack of medicine. That one is still making my stomach queasy.

Leadership Summit - Day 1

Top five quotes I heard at the first day of Leadership Summit, in order:

1. "In the same way we ask God to help us surrender our cherished sins, we need to ask God to help us surrender our cherished orthodoxies."

- Gary Hamel

2. "The longer you're down in the trenches, the easier it is to mistake the edge of your rut for the horizon."

- Gary Hamel

3. "Nobody is coming to church looking for a mild dose of God."

- Bill Hybels

4. "Learn from the positive deviants."

- Gary Hamel

5. "Not being honest with people is not compassionate."

- Carly Fiorina

The Leadership Summit is always an awakening. This year, in light of where our world finds itself, has been an even greater eye-opener. Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels and London Business School visiting professor Gary Hamel each spoke about how to lead in a new, different reality.

As we all strive to stay ahead of the curve, which is nearly impossible to do, the words of wisdom from these guys was a great boost.

More to come after today's sessions.

A Miracle

31 years ago today a miracle happened. God brought this beautiful woman into the world and chose her just for me. Happy Birthday Katie!

Camp, Part 3

Warning: Long post ahead

When I enrolled at Bethel College in the spring of 1995 I did not know what my major would be. That summer after I graduated from high school I was temporarily given the reins of the youth group at my church. I led a group of about 15 junior and senior high students that entire summer and became convinced that youth ministry was in my future.

I declared Christian Ministries as my major before my freshman year began in the fall of 1995. Things didn't go so well once school started. I quickly realized that my lack of study skills was going to hurt me in this new level of education. Plus I took Greek my first semester - a bad decision, in hindsight.

There were some spiritual highs that first semester, but things quickly took a turn for the worse over Christmas Break and the start of the second semester. I lost my academic scholarship at the end of my freshman year and decided to switch my major from Ministry to Communication.

I had been involved in my school newspaper and yearbook during high school and really enjoyed that type of thing. It quickly became apparent that my talents were more suited to a communication major than a ministry major - at least that's what I've always told myself and others.

It's true that my new set of classes came easier to me and I enjoyed them more, but I'm not sure it was completely because I was talented in those areas. I think there might have been a slight sense of relief not to be carrying around the "future pastor" tag. I was able to let myself just be a student and not worry about my spiritual health.

Obviously, that was not a good state for me to be in, but I didn't realize it until later. I flourished in my new major and I'm still glad I made the switch, although I don't believe my sense of being called to ministry was false. It has always been in the back of my mind and, at times, at the front of my spirit.

I am happy to be in the position I am in. I love being a graphic designer and I've loved all the jobs I've had since graduating from college. I loved the newspaper industry and I thoroughly enjoy working in a church now. Getting to use my creativity every day is a true blessing.

What's all this got to do with Summer Camp?

Well, something happened at Senior High Camp that I never expected. I felt that call to get involved in ministry again. As students and leaders wrestled with being willing to accept the full gospel of grace, repent of any known sin and hear God's voice I was agonizing over what was happening to me.

There was plenty of sin, past and present, that I needed to repent of. There was the reality that God loves me with a ridiculous, unconditional love. That was a hard one to accept, believe it or not. There was also this voice telling me that I was supposed to help others accept His grace, forgiveness and love. That's a lot to process, all at once. Plus, I was supposed to be ready for students to come to me for prayer and counseling.

Well, like He always has, God got me through it. I had the privilege of talking to and praying with several students. I also had plenty of time to pour out my soul to Jesus and ask Him to take control of my life ... again.

So, this is where I now find myself:

Seeking specific direction on how I am supposed to minister to others. I know for sure that I am going to work with Senior High Small Groups this coming school year. And, maybe that's the extent of my involvement, but I feel like there's more in God's plan for me.

I've come face to face with my own shortcomings and struggles with sin. I've also come face to face with God's incredible, senseless love for me and the forgiveness that only He can give. And I want to share all of it with anyone who needs it.

If you think of it, please pray for me as I continue to search for God's will and how He wants me to pursue this calling. It's not going to be an easy road. I'm going to be under attack. But, it's worth it.

God has called me to something bigger than myself and ...

I WANT IT!

Camp, part 2

Here's my Top 5 from camp, in no particular order:

1. Bus rides
One of the parts of camp I felt a little uneasy about heading into it was getting to know new people. I've never been one to really start up conversations with people I don't know. I'm kind of an introvert.

On top of that, we were forced to sit with people we didn't know on the bus ride to camp.

It turns out I had nothing to worry about. All the students and leaders were incredibly willing to get to know new people. There were plenty of games played with the intention of learning more about the people around you.

It was about a 6-hour ride (including three stops) and by the time we got to camp, I already knew about 20 new names. The ride home was just as good. I rode on the freshman bus most of the way home and it was a great time.

2. TAWG
Time Alone With God is a key component of Student Ministries here at NMC. And at camp it is a point of emphasis. Each day we spent time by ourselves getting to know our Heavenly Father. Saturday morning we spent about two and a half hours working our way through several different stations designed to help us connect with God in unique and creative ways.

My TAWG was very powerful and enlightening. I was led to many key verses and even memorized a verse - something I haven't done for a very long time. I also was given some clear direction for how I should spend my time at camp and with the five guys in my cottage.

3. I WANT IT!
Celebration Time was what we called our gatherings. These times included worship, sharing and messages from leaders.

The theme of the camp was Brace Yourself, but another major phrase that emerged from camp was, "I WANT IT!"

Brace Yourself comes from Job 38:3 when God questions Job. If you're not familiar with Job's story, it goes like this:

Job was a righteous man who was also blessed with a large family and many possessions. God allowed Satan to test Job by killing his family and taking away all his possessions. When Job praised God despite all this, God allowed Satan to strike Job's body with painful sores. Even then, Job did not sin.

Derry used Job's story to lead us into the question, "How bad do you want it?" Job lost everything, including his own health, and still gave God his praise. He must have wanted it pretty bad.

As a response to God's call on our lives, Derry encouraged us to walk out to the bluff overlooking Lake Erie and let God know how bad we want it. Hearing students and leaders alike scream, "I WANT IT!" at the top of their lungs was a moving event.

4. Cedar Point
Obviously, Cedar Point is a fun place and something you'll always remember. We were told a number of times, however, that the best way to spend a day at Cedar Point is with a large group - 20 or more people.

I was skeptical, but I quickly learned the truth of that statement. The first group I spent time with was 37 people. Getting to know the people in your group is really fun. Playing games and singing makes the wait in line go so much faster. Then when you actually get on the ride, it is so much fun to be on the ride with a bunch of people you know.

I went on Wicked Twister, Max Air, the Mine Ride, Magnum (twice), Raptor, Blue Streak, Sky Ride, Gemini and Millennium Force. The only rides I really wanted to go on but couldn't were the Dragster and Maverick.

5. Leaders
Several times throughout the first two days of camp I hear the term, "All-Star Group" being thrown about in reference to the group of leaders. I surely didn't feel like an All-Star, especially since this was my first experience with the students at NMC. But I quickly figured out why the leaders were earning such high praise.

This group was a high-impact, high-energy and high-quality gathering of adults who were ready to invest in the lives of students. They brought fun, enthusiasm, laughter and spiritual leadership to the table. I am so blessed to have been part of this group. I learned a lot about leading in the five days I was away at camp.

Here's the list of leaders I am talking about:
Geoff Cocanower, Kory Lantz, Kyle Lantz, Scott Cline, Adam Hochstetler, Derry Prenkert, Josh Lutz, Jeff Simpson, Kenny McIntyre, Matt Schoettle, Will Cramer, Dustin Gill, Annie Cline, Alison Gingrich, Cindi Lantz, Janelle Lambert, Janelle Prenkert, Stacey Seitz, Jen Szohr, Tiffany Christensen, Alyssa Walter, Peggy Bearss, Katie Weiss, Kristy Mikel, Brenda Sittler, Janet Stone, Jess Noelle, Dustin Gill, Brad Bullock, Chad Loucks and Terry & Kelly Bley.

There's probably one more post about camp coming, so stay tuned.

Camp Slideshow: Tuesday

Camp slideshow: Monday