Externally Focused Church Conference--May 21&22

I am very pleased to invite you to an event that I’m really excited about. Leadership Network is partnering with LifeBridge Christian Church in hosting the first ever Externally Focused Church Conference May 21st and 22nd in Longmont Colorado and I’d love for you to be there with me.

In addition to being with others of like mind and like heart, we will be hearing from and interacting with folks who are on the leading edge of externally focused ministry, most of whom Rick Rusaw and I wrote about in The Externally Focused Church. These are the leaders who have shaped my thinking regarding what church could be. These are the leaders whose stories I have been telling wherever I go. Here are our four keynote speakers:

Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin from the Potter’s House in Jacksonville, Florida. The first time I met Bishop I was blown away by his approach to ministry. He is the man who bought an old Bell South building and converted it to a shopping mall for his church and over a dozen for-profit businesses. Now his church has bought a shopping mall that will be transformed to transform a community. He is the one who is quoted on the back of The Externally Focused Church—“If your church vanished, would your community weep? Would anyone notice? Would anyone care?”

Laurie Beshore from Mariners Church in Irvine California. If there is one church I continually point to as an example of a church and of leaders who are leveraging their resources for the Kingdom it is this church and it is this leader. Laurie says, “We envision a time when those who have nothing will worship and serve beside those who have much, each recognizing that their worth and significance can be found in Christ alone.”

Eli Morris, Pastor of Urban Ministries at Hope Presbyterian Church outside of Memphis. Eli is the real deal… Since his early days as Young Life’s urban director, Eli has trained and mobilized thousands of people to give themselves to those who live with the challenges of living on the fringes.

Rick Rusaw from our host church—LifeBridge Christian Church. Rick and I co-authored The Externally Focused Church and Living a Life on Loan. Enough said!

Plus Leesa Bellesi, author of Kingdom Assignments…incredible, Ray Williams and Shelby Smith from Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock—the church of irresistible influence and home of Sharefest, Don Simmons, whom I consider to be the greatest resource on volunteers, Phil Olson a passionate friend from Evangelicals for Social Action, Robert Gelinas from Colorado Community Church and their Lifeboat 14 ministry, Herb Reece—the guy who is mobilizing men’s ministries to work with widows and single moms, Jim Reiner from Belay Enterprises—a spiritual entrepreneur who starts businesses for the hardest to employ. I’m running out of space, but it is enough to say that we will offer 24 different breakout sessions around externally focused church issues. Even I will be doing a three-session track on The Externally Focused Church—perfect to help churches get launched outside their walls. Fortunately all sessions will be recorded so you and those you bring with you don’t have to miss anything.

Here are the details...

When: May 21 and 22 (Monday at noon until Tuesday at 4pm) I encourage you to come early and stay a few extra days just to experience the beauty of Colorado.
Where: LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont Colorado (about one hour drive from Denver Int’l Airport—DEN)
Cost: If you register before March 31 it is only $199. After the 31st the price goes up to $249. If you bring a team of 3 or more (which we strongly suggest) the cost is reduced to $149 each. The registration fee covers your fancy nametag with lanyard, some meals, snacks and conference costs.
Registration: We are taking all registrations on line. Registration and conference link: www.externallyfocusedconference.com

Again, I can’t tell you how pleased I am that this historic event is coming together and I hope you’ll do whatever you can to be part of this conference. As much as has been done already, we are just at the beginning of a great ride!