[This is kind of a random rant--one that most won't have patience for--however, it is what is on my mind at the moment]
With all the buzz going on right now about Catalyst West Coast, it has me thinking. Have you seen the list of speakers: Erwin McManus, Francis Chan, Brian Houston, Perry Noble…and worship is being lead by Hillsong & Steve Fee. It’s truly an amazing line up…if you can afford it. Registration is $289 + travel + hotel + food. Even for me in Northern California this two-day event in Irvine would cost me about $750 if I drive a car instead of fly.
The interesting thing is that the only conference I have ever attended has been The Idea Camp. Interesting in that this conference was presented completely free and also had Erwin McManus speaking. Interesting also in that The Idea Camp was referred to as the “un-conference, conference.” It was a gathering of great minds and passionate hearts for ministry that had a chance to openly discuss ideas. Everyone has a chance to participate and to receive in an environment that nurtured creativity. Unfortunately, I think The Idea Camp has spoiled me. It was a place where new relationships were formed and previous relationships were strengthened. I got to meet people in-person that I had only previously known through twitter or facebook. As crazy as this seems, I even met friends at The Idea Camp via twitter yet never met them in-person. We would tweet during the event and reply via twitter, yet never find each other in the crowd. One of the greatest places of strength and encouragement I have received after The Idea Camp has come from my new friend Elora Nicole Ramirez. Known as @eloranicole on twitter, she seems to sense my mood and is always there, right on time, whenever I need a lift (which has been more-frequent in the past month than I’d like to admit).
Going to Catalyst West Coast, even if I could afford it, may not be the best thing for me after having experienced The Idea Camp. Actually, The Idea Camp may have spoiled me from wanting to go to any other conferences. The thing I learned from The Idea Camp--aside from reinforcing the fact that everyone has a voice they can lend to something--is that I am a catalyst and I need to be in an environment that facilitates change. I am not a status quo person and I do not thrive in places of comfortable complacency. As an introverted person, I don’t like (nor want to be) the center of attention, but I do want to be at the center of change. Even when things seem to be going well, I am always looking at how it can be better. It’s one of the traits that I truly believe drives my wife crazy, but I pray often that she too will learn to love the life of being a catalyst and the fruit of change can have eternal impacts when it comes to sharing the gospel of Christ to the world.
As I think of Catalyst West Coast, I am reminded of my time in youth ministry. Kids got together and experienced life together for a few days. They would be attentive to the speaker and on the last night of the retreat, they would respond with commitments to live their lives more like Jesus. For the next few days following the retreat, they would be talking about how much their lives had changed as a result of their time at the retreat. Some even recited quotes from the speaker they heard. However, two weeks later and they almost always reverted back to their old selves…until next year at the next retreat, where the cycle would continue. I have seen it happen often in adults as well. They get jacked up for the greatest conference of the year and the chance to hear words of wisdom from celebrated speakers. They come home fired-up to use their new wisdom in awesome ways. In the end, when things don’t work or other things take priority, the new stuff fizzles out and life goes back to normal.
In the end, the direction I feel led to go after praying about going to Catalyst West Coast seems reasonable. The time to plant Revolution Church Sacramento is now. I don’t need any more pep talks or more ideas in my head. There is no other golden road to follow or a-ha! moment waiting for me. God has set me on a path and the road ahead is clear. I must stay focused on the race he has set me to run and look for opportunities to be a catalyst here in Sacramento.
I look forward to all the positive responses I will see on twitter and facebook and blogs from those that attend Catalyst West Coast. There is an unbelievably amazing lineup of people I would truly appreciate learning from. If you are one that attends conferences and gains something from them, I do not want to discourage you from going. If you can afford to attend and are in a place where refreshment, new ideas, and being challenged will benefit you, make no excuses and just go! For me though, I believe the time has arived for my learning to come by doing and by utilizing those that God has blessed me with in my current network. The time has come for me not to seek a catalyst, but to be a catalyst. I want to live a life indicative of the transformation that God created in me while seeking to precipitate processes or events that allow God to transform the lives of others in positive ways.
Related posts:
- The Idea Camp: Post-camp thoughts…art of networking
- The Idea Camp…changing the shape of things to come!
- When I think of friends, I am reminded of…
- Why The Idea Camp?
- The Idea Camp Challenge
Tags: catalyst, change, ministry conferences, the idea camp
Dave,
As I tweeted to you earlier, I have learned to take back one main idea or thing from conferences and seminars I have attended that fits my situation.
This has varied to as to the conference topic. One came out of some reading I was doing ‘along side’ a pastor’s conference several years ago about selecting leaders for the various ministries. It gave me a whole new idea as to how to identify those leaders with a new process that has done okay.
Let the context of the conference/seminar and the context of your ministry intersect in your thinking and reflection and the Holy Spirit (who uses serendipity more often than not) will give you one or two things to remember.
One more thing, as one matures in age (okay, get older) and ministry, I have found that the conferences and seminars that speak to me are less model driven and more dealing with spiritual formation in me and others.
Jim, thanks for the reply! I agree that trying to focus on one idea to implement from a conference is a good strategy. I tend to try and bring back everything I can and make it all happen, but that leads to failed initiatives. Also, remembering the context of the conference and how we must view them from an individual perspective is important. We shouldn’t go just because everyone else is going; we should go because it is where we can best be blessed or bless others. To reiterate, just because Catalyst West Coast isn’t a good fit for me right now has nothing to do with others that will attend and take away great blessings from it. After some trial-and-error with a year of church planting under my belt, I could just end up at Catalyst West Coast next year :) Thanks again! I appreciate you very much!
Dave,
….I’m speechless.
Thank you for the kind words, and know that my husband & I continue to pray for you & your family.
And I agree – The Idea Camp has completely wrecked me in a sense of conferences in general. The encouragement we received because of the community we came across through this weekend has been one of the major catalysts in us pursuing God’s call on our life.