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

California Dreamin'

The rocks around the tide pools at Laguna Beach.
One of my favorite places to visit, and
I got to go there today!

The NEXT Conference, hosted by Provision Ministries in Irvine, California, started last night with a stimulating discussion led by Greg Nettle. He described his struggle with the question, "What is our church doing to make disciples?" This came as he saw longterm attendees at his church who were as scarred by the sins of our culture as people outside the church. He challenged us with his church's decision to create communities in neighborhoods to reach and serve their neighborhoods and make disciples. And his congregation is seeking to invest 30% of its budget on their weekend gatherings in the church building and 70% on ministry outside the building, instead of visa versa.

Today Paul Williams presented material based on his doctoral research that shows the connection between the DISC profiles of church planters and the success of their new church plants. He followed this up with material about how family systems influence church function--or dysfunction, as is often the case.

We spent some time discussing our individual landing spot with regard to our identity with and for the fellowship of Christian churches and churches of Christ, and then broke for the day.

Jeremy Brown and Greg Lee were two in our beach party.

Bart Stone, always smiling, especially
in this beautiful spot.

I had the chance to ride with some others for a quick walk on Laguna Beach during our afternoon break. The conversations to and from the beach were filled with talk of ministry problems and opportunities and approaches. The same was true for the animated discussion around the dinner tables at  Bluewater Grill this evening.

A good day. A challenging day. I'm tired, but I need to pack up and be ready to start again at 8:30 tomorrow for a session that will last till noon. Then a flight to St. Louis through Denver to meet Evelyn who will be attending a conference for college English teachers the rest of the week.