We are pleased to introduce you to Will Salmon, General Manager for the Willow Creek Association UK.  Will's sharp perspective makes him a valuable leader for God's Kingdom as he works to encourage and develop church leaders to reach their full redemptive potential.

Go to the Summit Next Steps website and click on Session 6 to find photos, videos, relevant links, session Q&A, and many more resources.

Session 6:

'He you would change you must first love' was the underpinning principle I found most helpful from this session - a quote from Martin Luther King Jnr.

Prior to this, Chuck Colson presented a challenge to (western) Christian leaders to lead people in the way of Christian truth and thus affect the moral climate of their culture, rather than pandering to the people and the culture they inhabit. If society collapses whilst moral values fall, it is an indication that the church doesn't understand the truth and it is isn't doing its job, much like the Old Testament people of God in captivity, he argued. The western church needs to once again assume its responsibility to present the truth of God's existence, his word in scripture, the trinity, the incarnation, the gospel of Christ, salvation by grace, discipleship and more. And, coming back to our original quote, the fundamental Christian belief in freedom asserts that the church 'proposes' rather than 'imposes' such truth - in love.

Chuck Colson's candour was refreshing for the most part. His 'back to basics' lesson on Christian fundamentals may well draw the criticism that it was misplaced in the context of a leadership conference, however he did come at the request of Bill Hybels. And Bill presented a similar type of talk at the 2006 Summit entitled 'The Power of Clarity', suggesting that he believes Christian fundamentals to be a key leadership issue for the church at present. Furthermore, Chuck Colson's emphasis on Jesus' commission to 'make disciples' resonates with Willow's REVEAL project which contains crucial lessons for church leadership.
 
In terms of next steps, I would offer these thoughts:

1. Reflect on Chuck's excitement and single-mindedness about being a disciple of Christ in relation to your own faith.

2. Bill Hybels testified to being encouraged at a difficult time by another of Chuck Colson's books. As a leader, how do you discipline yourself to receive from others, be reminded of 'the truth', and therefore be encouraged?