Thursday – Saturday
It was an amazing 2.5 days, on many levels. How the team worked together. The content of each session. Hearing 7000+ Germany church leaders filling the venue with their voices raised in worship.
At some point earlier in the week, I commented to someone that I couldn’t remember being so tired before, but now looking back, all of the tired feelings are gone and are replaced by memories of amazing moments of worship, deep connection with team members, and the realization that I get an opportunity to use the gifts I have to help influence so many church leaders from the other side of the world.
Here are a few of the highlights from the entire conference, in no particular order:
So many leaders struggle with being adequate enough to lead their churches or their teams. Mark Demel acted in a scene about a pastor checking himself in to a rehab center followed by Greg Ferguson singing “He Knows”, accompanied by Paul Mutzabaugh. It was a powerful moment, giving people space to consider their own struggles and release them to God.
Andy Stanley, with his translator Chris, brought his “Upside of Tension” talk to the German church leaders. After his talk, it is interesting to see how many situations fall into the category of “a tension to be managed”. So often I am trying to eliminate the tension when it won’t, or shouldn’t go away. Some tension is necessary and good.
One of the favorite parts of my job is getting to interact with amazing people like Andy Stanley. At this particular conference I had the pleasure of working with Pete and Geri Scazzero, Gordon MacDonald, Jeff Manion, Christine Caine, Hans Peter Wolfberger, Eric Metaxes, Michael Herbst, and Bill Hybels.
This is the view from back stage. This is my 4th Germany Leadership Summit, and I think it is the most engaged I have ever seen a group of German leaders. Through the leading of Matt Lundgren, the band and vocalists helped people engage in worship in a way I had not experienced before. There is nothing quite like 7000+ people singing a beloved hymn in one voice, regardless of the language.
Here is the view from the FOH production booth. Seeing so many people in such a big room, I still can’t believe that I have the privilege to lead a team to help facilitate such an undertaking. It was a little humbling to think that the space I get to work in everyday fits about as many people as were in this arena…crazy.
I think I have one more post about this conference. Coming soon…
