I had the chance to attend the Willow Creek Leadership Summit this past Thursday and Friday with about 30 of my fellow teammates from Mountainview. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to hear several of the speakers in person (It’s been said and Tim Keller) and was introduced to several new thinkers and leaders. I always enjoy Hybels when he gets teary-eyed speaking about the purpose of the church — the passion he has for reaching new people for Jesus is obvious and inspiring. Keller gave a great talk based on the story of the Prodigal Son, only looking at it from the perspective of the older brother. The warning was to not become an older brother, obsessed with “doing things right” and missing God as we do.
Dave Gibbons spoke on “Third Culture Leadership” and raised some challenging points about obedience. Dave pastors a church up in Irvine, CA. His challenge to go deeper with obedience was right on.
A few other highlights … Hybels interviewed David Gergen, a former aide to four different presidents (Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton). It was a fascinating interview. One of the best quotes was this: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I think Gergen attributed it to the former head of the Gates Foundation.
Even more highlights … Wess Stafford’s talk about leveraging your past to accomplish good, especially considering that he was talking about leveraging a hurtful past. Bono’s interview was interesting but it was more like a short film than a straight-forward interview. I would have liked to have heard more from Bono directly. “Bono unleashed.”
The big take-home? Be a leader … where you are and with what God has given you to lead with. Be bold. Be humble. But do something.