The last day of Orange Conference was PACKED FULL of great content! Here are my notes from Perry Noble, Brad Lomenick, Doug Fields, Sherry Surratt, Heather Zempel, and Charles Jenkins. Feel free to steal and share!
[A big thank you to Bethany Dukes for providing the notes to Perry Noble’s session!]
PERRY NOBLE || 1 SAMUEL 3
- After conferences, we go back to our churches with messy, tough systems.
- Kids just care that someone shows up for them. They aren’t concerned with all the details that we may be frustrated by.
- Eli was messed up. God uses messed up people. (3:1)
- God spoke to Samuel. God wants to speak to children. (3:3)
- The voice of God must have sounded a lot like the voice of Eli to Samuel. What if God wants to speak to a child through you this Sunday? (3:4)
- Samuel always went to Eli. We should be just as available to children. (3:8)
- Eli did not become the voice of God but rather taught Samuel to hear Him on his own. (3:8)
BRAD LOMENICK || THE CATALYST LEADER
- Collaboration is now the norm, not the exception
- Brad’s hope is that the church would become known as the most collaborative industry in the nation.
- Collaboration requires us to focus on what we are collectively for rather than what we are individually against.
- You can snag a copy of Brad’s book, The Catalyst Leader, here.
DOUG FIELDS || WHY STUDENT MINISTRY MATTERS
- It’s one of the best bridges to the unchurched community. Parents of teenagers are looking for resources to help them address new issues.
- It establishes a quality of adult leaders that is integral to the church. It raises the bar for volunteering.
- It puts pressure on the rest of the church to stay culturally relevant as it works to engage teenagers.
- It develops the future leaders and talent the church will need. Don’t treat students as the future. Treat them as the present and empower them to serve.
- Check out Doug’s new book with Jonathan McKee, Should I Just Smash My Kid’s Phone?, here.
SHERRY SURRATT || JUST LEAD!
- Churches don’t need another program, they need a better strategy.
- Women: Take responsibility for your own leadership development. Do not assume that someone else is going to.
- Men: You have incredible women leaders in your church. Utilize them.
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Women are more likely to wait to lead until they are asked.
- You can grab a copy of Sherry’s book with Jeni Catron, Just Lead!, here.
HEATHER ZEMPEL || COMMUNITY IS MESSY
- God made a perfect world. It took us about two chapters in Genesis to mess it up.
- Small groups are great until the people show up and we realize that community is messy because lives are messy.
- Small groups must move from a program to a true representation of the body of Christ. In order for that to happen, we must embrace the mess.
- You can get ahold of Heather’s book, Community is Messy, here.
CHARLES JENKINS || 5 CONCEPTS FOR GAME CHANGERS
Charles became the pastor of Fellowship Chicago in 2000 when he was just 24 years old. At that time, 75% of the church was 75 or older. Since then, it has quadrupled in size.
1. Understand the engine of change.
It is driven by a need, gap, or challenge.
2. Be a student of culture.
Leaders study and understand their consumer and competition.
3. Toleration vs Elimination.
Consider what you need to kill before it kills your ministry.
4. Teachers are better than dictators.
Change has to be taught when it is not being caught.
5. Redefine success.
Your programs and metrics must change as your strategy changes.
