I am on the plane flying home from being at a really refreshing and wonderful 2 days up at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. It was an event called "Recalibrating Church" that Shapevine and George Fox Seminary put on. The event was 4 hours long and it was done in the format with each presenter giving a 15-20 minute message. Then the panel would interact and ask questions and interact as well as those in attendance asking questions. As a presenter you sat on the stage for 4 hours while each person spoke and then interacted.
You can read recaps of the event here by Rick Meigs and another here by Janet Frazer.
The presenters/panelists were Len Sweet, myself, Frank Viola, MaryKate Morse and Alan Hirsch.
In the photo from left to right it is Lance Ford from Shapevine who co-hosted the event, Alan Hirsch, myself, Frank Viola, MaryKate Morse, Chuck Conniry from George Fox Seminary and Len Sweet.
We had dinner all together the first night and talked about what we were doing. After the dinner, we went back to the place we were staying at and ended up talking together and stayed up past midnight. It was a really, really a wonderful time. For me it was a "ask Frank Viola any question time" which was quite fun. And for a couples of hours we hung out and all talked about church, Jesus, things we agree on, things we have different perspectives on, our stories, the publishing world and kept coming back to Jesus again. It was really a joyful conversation and I am so thankful that I got to have time like that with them. We ended the night praying together.
The next day, was the event and I was the first presenter and gave more of a testimonial of ways I have changed and "recalibrated" my view of church and mission. Mainly recalibrating evangelism, church, recalibrating how we define church and recalibrating leadership is what I focused on. We all stayed on the stage for the entire 4 hours since it was panel discussion and audience interaction. Here is my cell phone camera view of what I was seeing. While taking a photo I dropped my cell phone once and it fell apart with a little crash on the stage. Frank graciously picked it up for me. I probably shouldn't take cell phone photos while on a panel, but it was 4 hours.....
My personal highlights of the event were:
Frank Viola - seeing his passion for people to experience the depths and richness of Jesus was a tremendous highlight for me of this trip. As he described his longing for people to not settle for a shallow Christianity it even seemed he was going to cry a few times out of his deep care and compassion for people. Despite his rather controversial thinking about what forms of church should be the ones we should use (which I think I poked at him more than anyone else in the panel discussion part), I learned Frank's heart is so tender and beautiful for Jesus and people. He did joke with me afterwards, as they had a book signing that he and I were supposed to do together at a table. He reluctantly went and I told him I would join him after I went and got some water but I never went as I ended up talked to people. So I abandoned poor Frank. I don't mind at all signing books when people ask. But I dread sitting at formal signing tables like that and I kind of freak out when the event wants me to do that. So I apologize Frank! But I am so glad we finally got to meet and hang out with him and see his passionate heart and I hope we get to hang out more in the future. He has a new book coming out soon called "From Eternity To Here" which shares about his passion for people to experience and know Jesus deeply.
Alan Hirsch- I have spoken at a conference in New Zealand and hung out with Mike Frost (who writes with Alan) for several days, but this was my first time with Alan. It was wonderful, wonderful getting to talk and hang out the night before the event. And we had some great discussion about theology, the practical aspects of missional churches and the emerging church world. I felt a real kindred spirit and we realized we had a lot in common with our passion, so it was an honor and joy to get to know him more. He spoke on Re-Jesus and how we must have Jesus as the center of everything. His talk was part of his latest book Re-Jesus. Alan kind of had a wisdom, almost Yoda-like way (not the look but the wisdom) of speaking of mission and the depths of it. We are getting to hang out again in April at the Catalyst West origins day in April, so I really look forward to that.
MaryKate Morse - despite her crutches due to a broken foot, she gave a great talk about leadership and power. How it can be misused or used for good. She shared some from her great book Making Room for leadership: Power, Space and Influence. The more I am getting to know MaryKate, the more highly I respect her and deep insight to church leadership and pastoral wisdom. I haven't seen her formally speak before like this and she really is a great communicator.
Len Sweet - I have gotten to know Len as he was my Doctor of Ministry professor and we also have spoken at conferences together a few times now. But as usual, he was profound, Jesus-focused, and mesmerizing as he raises up issues 10 years ahead of most others. So I love listening to whatever he is saying and never a dull moment of whatever he is speaking about.
Also, it was great getting to hang out with Chuck Conniry, Robin Baker and Sarah Baldwin from George Fox University and Lance Ford and Aaron Snow from Shapevine. See some friends briefly like Elizabeth and Greg and texting back and forth with my friend Rick McKinley who I was sending cell phone photos too while on the panel. I am back at George Fox University in 2 weeks teaching a class and speaking in the chapel, so I will be glad to go back and also Becky and Katie and Claire on coming on that trip so that is extra fun.
I have to say what was beautiful about this event was that it was so Jesus focused. We were all diverse, but I felt such a kindred heart with the other panelists. I really felt like we were in this whole crazy mission "together". It's hard to tangibly put words to it, but I really sensed that with this group. I truly pray that leaders and Christians will unite together around this mission - and be joyful in the diversity, but our common heart of evangelism/mission and the gospel of Jesus. I came out so refreshed and honored to serve with this group. So thank you George Fox Seminary and Shapevine and Alan and Frank and MaryKate and Len.
