What's NEXT?

Paul Williams was one of
two facilitators for the
NEXT conference.

Greg Nettle led our group
half of the time.

The NEXT conference for emerging leaders,  a blessing and challenging time for all of us who attended, ended today at noon.

My take-aways: We have an emerging generation of young leaders more innovative in ministry, more down-to-earth in their approach to sinners, and more willing honestly to examine their own lives than any generation of leaders I've known during my ministry.

Today we went around the circle, and each person shared "best

Caleb Kaltenbach and Brian Jobe

practices" from his or her ministry.  The result was a smorgasbord of creative ideas for personal productivity, community outreach, leadership development, technology usage, stewardship, and personal accountability.

The personal accountability theme continued in the final session, led by Greg Nettle, who challenged each of us to end our ministries well. Group members shared steps they have taken to establish healthy boundaries and vulnerability with a group of close friends, their staffs, and their spouses. It was a rich and helpful time.

So what's next for our movement? Seems to me the integrity, passion, and creativity of those assembled in California this week all bode well for the health of our church in the next decade.

I'm writing this at the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, where I'm waiting for a flight to St. Louis via Denver. I'll spend the rest of the week there with Evelyn, and Paul and Sev Friskney. Evelyn and Paul will be attending a conference for college English teachers, and I'll be reading, editing, and maybe doing a little exploring in the city with the big arch.

It's a good week away.

Jodi Hickerson and Danny Schaffner