One of the reasons that I hear so many leaders love the Summit is the questions that it leaves you wrestling with. I was talking with a good friend of mine from Canada a few weeks ago debriefing this year's event and he called them nuggets. He said that the powerful impact of a few nuggets injected...

Gary Schwammlein is an unbelievable leader and one of the most inspiring people at the Willow Creek Association. Gary worked for 28 years in the marketplace before leaving its financial benefits 11 years ago to work in ministry fulltime. Since then he has been opening doors and resourcing countries around...

Much of my life and ministry have been profoundly influenced and shaped by Bill Hybels and Brian McLaren . Bill Hybels inspired in me an Acts 2 vision for what the church is supposed to be that has haunted and blessed me since my very first day of ministry almost fifteen years ago. Brian McLaren's...

Dave Ferguson is back to share another session reaction, and once again, he displays his expertise at working through complexity and getting down to the simple and essential truths. That's exactly the power that Dave shares in his latest book, The Big Idea . Dave knows that churches can bombard people...

At Willow, we are honored to know and occasionally get to collaborate with guest blogger Chris Brooks. He is a redemptive force in a world where bridges fail. He is passionate about connecting, training, and developing emerging Christian leaders. He is the national coordinator of UrbNet for the National...

I had a chance to visit Craig Groeschel 's church, LifeChurch.tv , last year before his talk at the A2 Conference . When I met Craig, I was struck by how passionate and focused he was. His willingness to take risks and try new things in sharing the gospel was unbelievable. It felt like he would literally...

Efrem Smith is an anointed leader and preacher. His thoughts and sermons drop like truth bombs. He has a prophet's passion and calling to be about reconciliation between people, between races, and the Church. Because of our friendship and partnership with Efrem, because we have sat under his teaching...

We've invited Shauna Niequist to be a guest blogger for John Ortberg's session on A Leader's Greatest Fear. It's no surprise that one of Shauna's favorite books is Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies . Shauna & Anne share a real-world love of life and of Jesus that is compelling...

Coming out of the Richard Curtis interview, my mind is racing. Bill's comments, Brian McLaren's thoughts...not to mention what I feel God is saying to me. There are so many things we can do, so many things our churches can do and/or re-think. And some of that takes time, time to think through...

Brian McLaren is out to change the world. In 2008, he is launching the "Everything Must Change" tour based on his newest book, Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope . In it, he calls people to a deep shift in their thinking about faith, church life, mission...