RSS    | Comments RSS 


A little late, but ready to go! Welcome to Summit Next Steps.

Good Morning and Welcome to Summit Next Steps!

As you may have guessed, we've had some technical difficulties getting up all of the great photos, videos, and blog posts that we've been collecting.  But now - we're live and ready to go.

This site is a resource for you today, and in the days to come to take your Summit learning to the next level.

DEBRIEF...  Check out highlight videos and photos from each session, read the responses of other attenders,  and explore session summaries and speaker bios.

DIG DEEPER... Find the top links and downloads for every session and answers to some of your most pressing questions.

TAKE ACTION... The Summit only matters if it translates into real life changes in our lives and in our leadership - check out Next Step Questions that help you or your team think and talk through what you've heard and how to apply it.  Then listen to amazing leaders who offer their reactions to sessions and advice in Next Step Coaching blog posts.

On behalf of everyone here at the Willow Creek Association welcome to Summit Next Steps - we are eager to hear your questions, what God is doing in your hearts and minds, and what you feel called to do in your... next steps :)

08/08/2008 09:23 AM

Filed under:

Comments
gena 08/08/2008 11:29 AM
Chuck was excellent, I can tell from the audienece he is stepping on toes but that is ok because it needs to be said and heard until it sinks in! Thanks for having him here.
Dave 08/08/2008 11:33 AM
Chuck was fine. I was really excitied to here him. My own problem was that he has seen things, heard things, and done things that no one else ever will. So what you can offer this specific group of leaders with that information?
JV 08/08/2008 02:17 PM
Praise God for such a conference. From last interview it is so amazing seeing these prisioners and see how there is no difference in them and us, we are all children of God. Thank you God for the amazing things you do, through sinful people as us. It is amazing what He can do, when we get out if His way and let Him work through us. Thank you Jesus
Israel Villegas 08/08/2008 11:08 PM
Praise God for this conference
Kathy Bruce 08/09/2008 09:43 AM
What a fantastic 2 days of intense leadership training! It was phenomenal. I just loved each speaker and cannot wait to get the dvd;s to share with my family, friends and ministry group. Excellent job!
Susan 08/09/2008 11:26 AM
I was at the summit as a volunteer for our site church. Every moment was so encouraging and God inspiring and I'm overflowing with anticipation of God's next move in my life and the Church's life. I prayed the Franciscan prayer that Craig led us in and the prayer Bill Hybels prayed at the end of the summit then I went home last night and told my husband we needed to do something tonight to make a difference for God's kingdom. We prayed for God to lead and boy did He. I do not want to go into details but God moved in the most beautiful way. I am so excited that He is taking my husband and myself to an even deeper level. Bring It on Lord. I have It. It is time to give It away for His glory and His Kingdom. I can't thank you enough for listening, hearing and obeying the call of God.
Ray Pelletier 08/09/2008 01:34 PM
Susan, I'm on the Summit Team here at the WCA and lead our Emerging Media efforts for leadership development. As you can imagine, the Summit is crazy busy for me - I'm constantly running around backstage and in the auditorium, my laptop in one hand and my cell phone in the other - yet, as busy as I was - I had the same experience you did! I was challenged, even in the bits and pieces I heard in ways that moved me deeply and left me desperate for clear direction from God. And by desperate I mean, I felt 100% lost, directionless, resonating with what Bill described sometimes in his life and in Mother Teresa's life. Last night through some conversations with friends and team mates, God spoke powerfully to me and I too was blown away at how clearly and beautifully he directed me. Prayers were answered - I am 100% Blown Away! (thanks for sharing your story Susan)
jehrome b. randolph 08/09/2008 05:59 PM
HELP! What was the worrship song that sandwiched the "My King Is..." video? I believe it was after session 7 not sure.
NELSON 08/10/2008 01:35 PM
"The Grace Gap": We know and have experienced the grace God has extended to us. And we heard the impressive young pastors who are extending grace to others not like ourselves...But there is a pink elephat between and it's the Grace Gap' of not extending God's grace to our own brothers and sisters in Christ in our own hometowns...It is a mandate for us to do over and over in the N.T.. It is here the world will see Christ thru our love for each other... Until we reconcile our differences our witness will have its shadow.... I pray for unity w/in the Body of Christ.... we're not designed to be lone-rangers....I beleive it must come from our pulpits and become very intentional and strategic... Ck. our Rev. Robert Lewis's book "Church of Irresistible Influence" which describes 125 churches coming together in Little Rock in what they call 'Sharefest". These bridges must be intentional and stregically built by God to last. Great 2008 Summit!!
Michele 08/11/2008 09:11 AM
Wow!!! My first time. I don't think I will ever be the same. I attended with the core leaders from my church. I was challanged, entertained, educated and transformed. Thank you for being obiedient . Thanks to all the speakers and all those who participated. I will be coming back next year and bringing other leaders with me.
Robert Vance 08/11/2008 02:52 PM
I am a former Wycliffe Bible Translator, a pastor for more than 30 years, and currently an Associate Pastor. Being almost 76 years of age, I have seen, heard, and done so much in so many places! However, I felt very small and insignificant in the light of those who presented. Unfortunately, the "I" factor was in much of early ministry. It is not about "ME"! The last few years have been a gradual jounrney of moving where God is working, and these sessions helped tremendously in a significant move to really "let go and let God" do His will and work in my remaining years and ministry. I continue to "shake it off, and step up". Praise the Lord!!
Cathy 08/12/2008 10:59 AM
What a wonderful two days of inspiring leadership opportunity within and for Kingdom growth. I was moved by Efrem Smith's end of session, "God is..." which was used as an opening during Day 2. Is there anywhere I may get a copy of this.
Art Karman 08/12/2008 05:15 PM
My first Summit, can't wait for next year. The emotions I felt can't be described or conveyed, suffice it to say God was in the house.
Pastor Mathew Ongere 08/13/2008 05:05 AM
To Dear Pastor, Praise God receive greetings from Eldoret,Kenya in Jesus name. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!I am delighted that God still performs Miracles He has brought us back to normal life & now We are celebrating His Victory. As you know for the past two months Kenya has been having no peace as a result of Post Election Violence. Your web-page blessed my soul& impressed me very much.I believe as a pastor God has entrusted to your care the most precious thing in the entire universe HIS OWN BODY, the church. He does not intend you to stop where you are. He has called you, chosen you and singled you out to do a job for him that no one else can do. There has never been another like you since time began. You are unique and different from every other minister God has commissioned.Yes,okey let me introduced my self to you as Rev. Mathews Owuor Ongere. I am a Kenyan Citizen by descent aged 48 years. I am a born gain believer filled with the Holy Spirit and married to one wife with 4 children. I am serving with Hope of Salvation Ministries in Eldoret City with pure and passionate worship,true sharing of hearts and lives and the free and full expression of the gifts of the Spirit. We are in serious pursuit of local, regional, national and global revival.I believe that this is the Church's finest hour.Today is the day that the Body of Christ has longed to see. God's Power is being poured out His spirit is moving. The vast fields of this world are ripe for harvest.Our time to shine has come.The purpose of this ministry is to promote and teach Biblical discipleship throughout the Body of Christ.This ministry is dedicated to fulfill the Great Commission by organizing crusades and church conferences with other Pastors from different churches here in Eldoret,Kenya and While I was going through your web-page the Holy Ghost spoke to my heart to request you if you can consider coming to Eldoret for a Crusade & a Church Conference early next year,preferably Feb 2009.I believe this is God's divine appointed time to connect us for His purpose to be fulfilled.Please if you have some materials such like books,Video tapes & DVD you can send for me.Otherwise I remain looking forward to hear from you very soon.May Heaven smiles upon you.Shalom Yours in Christ's service, Rev. Mathews O. Ongere. Hope Of Salvation Ministries, P.O.Box 4928 , Eldoret,Kenya 30100 Tel:+254-711-625659. +254-735825129 www.freewebs.com/hosmin
Erica 08/13/2008 09:49 AM
Cathy -- I think you're referring to the "My King Is ..." video, which actually features the preaching of S.M. Lockridge. That video is available on the same DVD as "A Thousand Questions" (Here am I; send me) and Craig's Story: http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_prodsb.asp?invtid=PR31699
Erica 08/13/2008 10:01 AM
Jehrome -- I think the song you're referring to is "How Great Is Our God" but you can check out the Summit Programming page for details on all the songs and videos: http://www.willowcreek.com/nextsteps/summit_programming.asp
Brent 08/13/2008 04:56 PM
We just finished our post Summit staff retreat where we dig deeper into what we learned and how to apply the sessions to our lives and ministry. Our retreat agenda and copy of the questions and exercises we used lare below. RPC Post Summit Staff Retreat August 10-12, 2008 As the Sun Sets (Sunday)… 1. Meet at RPC @ 5pm – Carpool to VTI 2. Unpack and settle in rooms 3. Team Challenge ~ Julia 4. Sharing Time – Large Group a. What was the highlight of the Summit for you? Why? b. If you could pick any one of the presenters to come meet face to face with our leaders (yes, that’s you and the Elders), which one would it be and why? c. The RockPointe Story ~ Brent 5. Snack & Chillin’ Time (Wii, X-Box, Cards, Movies…) To Begin With (Monday)… 1. Worship Time – Tim 2. Breakfast 3. Devotional Time “Today’s Chapter: 1 Cor 16”– Solo a. Hand out SOAP Journals 4. Summit Review Time – Solo a. Read back through all your Summit notes for sessions #1-9 b. Highlight all the diamonds & gold (use a hi-lighter) c. Record your Key Learning Points from each session on handout page d. Prepare a Personal Action Plan (Handout) – Pray asking God, ‘What shall I do?’ 5. Sharing Time – Triads a. Talk about what God showed you in your devotional time b. Share your Action Plans with one another The Heart of the Day (Monday)… 1. Summit Session Review in Large & Small Groups ~ Brent a. Set priority on which sessions we most want to review together (handout) 2. Lunch 3. Team Challenge Outside ~ Julia 4. More Summit Review ~ Brent As the Sun Sets (Monday)… 1. Supper 2. More Summit Review ~ Brent 3. Cambodia Team Stories & Pics 4. Snack & Chillin’ Time (Wii, X-Box, Cards, Movies…) To Begin With (Tuesday)… 1. Worship Time – Tim a. Our Greatest Fear: Marianne Williamson Poem Quoted by Bill George (hand out) 2. Breakfast 3. Devotional Time “Today’s Chapter: 2 Cor 1”– Solo a. Hand out SOAP Journals 4. Summit Review Time – Solo a. Read back through all your Summit Key Learning Points from each session on handout page b. Prepare a RPC Action Plan (Handout) – Pray asking God, ‘What shall WE do?’ 5. Sharing Time – Triads a. Talk about what God showed you in your devotional time b. Share your RPC Action Plan items with one another The Heart of the Day (Tuesday)… 1. Where to From Here?: Elder’s 08-09 Directional Plan ~ Brent 2. MAP Highlight Presentation by Each Ministry Team 3. Reveal Survey Summary ~ Geoff 4. Lunch 5. Team Challenge Outside ~ Julia 6. Reveal Survey Response & Discussion ~ Geoff 7. Reorganizing our Structure and Teams for Effectiveness ~ Lorne 8. 2008 Calendar Review ~ Brent 9. Prayer Time 10. Return to Calgary 2008 Summit Session Review Session #1 – Bill Hybels: The High Drama of Decision Making 1. Large Group Discussion a. Someone volunteer to give a session summary – ‘what was Hybels’ big idea?’ b. What other important question(s) would you add to Hybels’ decision making process? c. What axioms, proverbs or sayings tend to be used around our church, or one you use personally, to assist in making decisions? (make a list) 2. Small Group Discussion (Form groups based on ministry divisions) a. Pray asking God to remind you of a ‘this is church’ moment you have experienced, followed by silence to think & listen. b. Share your ‘moments’ c. Pray for God to multiply such moments in your life & for those of our RPC body Session #2 – Gary Haugen: Just Courage – Charging the Darkness 1. Large Group Discussion a. How did this sessions impact you? b. What were some of your key learning points? c. What is God most passionate about? (make a list) d. If an outsider were to observe our church, would they conclude that RPC is passionate about the things that matter to God? e. When does the ‘pursuit of excellence’ become workaholism and self-abuse? How do we know when we have allowed ourselves to sacrifice the wrong things for what we believe is the work of God? 2. Small Group Discussion (Groups of 4) a. What are some of the greatest injustice’s you see in Calgary? (make a list & hand in) b. Haugen said, ‘Jesus did not come to make us safe, He came to make us Brave.’ How do we improve at being courageous people in our safety obsessed culture? c. Haugen talked about the relationship between joy and spiritual health & leadership; ‘leaders should lead in celebration and play’. How do we do at this in our RPC culture? d. Haugen’s team has a high priority on prayer. Are you happy with the amount of time we spend praying together as a team? What do you suggest we do? 3. Large Group Discussion a. Is there anything arising from this session you think we need to respond to? 4. Solo Time a. Is there anything new here that needs to get transferred to my Action Plan? Session #3A – Bill George: True North 1. Large Group Discussion a. The four main jobs of leadership are to Align, Empower, Serve and Collaborate. What does George mean by each of these? b. Take the Quiz: How do you think we do as a team in these areas towards one another? Towards our volunteers (what would they say?) (handout + record and discuss results on flipchart) Session #3B – Wendy Kopp: Stand Up and Lead 2. Large Group Discussion a. What was the most important thing you learned from Kopp’s interview? b. How did she make you feel? Why? d. What is the most important thing we should learn/respond to from this session? 3. Small Group Discussion (Groups of 4) a. How did this session impact you? b. Wendy emphasized that it’s one’s personal level of conviction that makes it easy to ask others to get involved. Agree/disagree? c. As a leader, do you find it difficult or easy to invite others to get involved? Why do you think that is? d. What action arising from this session, if any, do you want us to take as a team? 4. Large Group Feedback a. Anything arise from your small group? Session #4 – John Burke & Efrem Smith: Leading in New Cultural Realities 1. Small Group Discussion (4 groups with flipcharts) a. Group 1: Burke said, ‘In every culture, there are cultural barriers to grace, barriers that prevent people in your community from turning to God. You must find out what they are and how to remove them.’ What barriers do you think exist for people in Calgary? How effective are we as a church in removing them? b. Group 2: When people ask us about our views regarding gay people and other religions (which are often their barrier to grace/faith), how should we respond? c. Group 3: How do we create an ethos that is positive toward making our church more multi-cultural (or as Efrem called it, ‘a preview of heaven’)? d. Group 4: If you could only choose 4 things that these two speakers said that are most important for us to hear at RPC, what would they be? 2. Large Group Time a. Group Reports and Reactions… 3. Solo Time a. Is there anything new here that needs to get transferred to my Action Plan? Session #5 – Craig Groeschel: How Leaders Can Get IT and Keep IT 1. Large Group Discussion a. What was Groeschel’s BIG IDEA? b. What is IT? c. What are the traits of churches that have IT? d. Does RPC have IT? (Secret ballot?) Why or why not? 2. Small Groups a. Groups 1 & 2: If we have IT, what should we do to keep IT? If we don’t have IT, what will we do to get IT? (flipchart notes) b. Group 3: CG said, ‘In order to reach people that no one is reaching, you will have to do things that no one else is doing.’ What does that mean to us? c. Group 4: What are our greatest limitations at RPC? What is God trying to show us through these? 3. Large Group a. Group reports & reactions 4. Solo Time a. Go for a short walk and pray…if you don’t have IT, what will you do to get IT back? If you do have IT, what will you do to protect IT? Sessions #6 & 8 – Chuck Colson & Brad Anderson 1. Small Group Time (3 groups) a. Group 1: Chuck said, ‘We have bought into a lie – we have transferred out allegiance from TRUTH into therapy.’ Agree or disagree? b. Group 2: Chuck mentioned the difference between imposing our faith on others and proposing a new way of life. Which method do you think lost people hear in our worship services? When you talk with non-christians about your faith, do you feel like you are imposing or proposing? c. Group 3: Anderson said there is always a direct correlation between staff engagement in their jobs and sales performance, so they measure employee engagement. List 5-10 markers of employee engagement. What are a few things leaders can do to improve employee (your) engagement? 2. Large Group Sharing Session #7 – Catherine Rohr: Risk Taking, Barrier Breaking, Bold Leadership 1. Large Group Sharing a. How did this session impact you? b. What were some of your key learning points? c. Catherine said, ‘We aren’t about pity, we are about compassion. Which is all about suffering with people who we equip to be better people.’ In what ways are we doing ‘pity’ ministry where we should be doing real compassion? d. Why do you think God used CR so richly at the Summit? Session #9 – Bill Hybels: Relentless 1. Small Group Time (6 groups) a. How did God speak to you through Bill Hybels’ final session? b. Pray together
Donavon 08/13/2008 07:39 PM
What an experience. Although I thought was going to be more related to business leadership from a Biblical perspective I am excited about the many corelations I could see between the church leadership and business leadership. I am especially excited about reading Craig's book and developing a plan to help the company I work for get IT, from a professional perspective and eventually a spiritual perspective. Thank you.
Jenny 08/14/2008 08:09 AM
Would it be possible to get the Scriputatopia video in am mp3 format. I so appreciated the scripture being read as the music played in the background. I want to use this with our staff. Thank you
Clairissa 08/19/2008 02:33 PM
The Leadership Summit was LIFE-CHANGING and I'll never forget it. I'm still not sure specifically why God had me there, but I do know that it inspired my walk with Him and challenged me on higher levels than I'd ever experienced. THANK YOU Willow Creek!
Deloris R. Jiles 08/27/2008 10:21 AM
I would like to order the Leadership Sumit books that we received at the simulcast in CT August 7-8, 2008. When will they be available and how should I go about ordering them? The Summit was an awsome experience for myself and 9 other members of the Alden Baptist Church. Also, how does our Church become a member of the Leadership Conference?
Connie 09/02/2008 01:20 PM
Thank you!!!! This was my second time to Summit. Last year I was just beginning my leadership journey. This year things hit so much deeper then anything every before. God spoke to me you have IT, something I have had doubt about. Thanks again!
POST YOUR COMMENT
(Required - will display) 
Your Email (Required - will not display) 
(Optional - will display)




 


Verification

Enter the numbers above: