International Leadership Conference Focuses on Mission, Spiritual Health and Unity

The International Leadership Conference, September 22-25 in Chicago, Illinois, brought together more than 600 participants from every continent . The conference was hosted by the Chicago church whose leaders had sought input from a large group of leaders and crafted a program designed to highlight mission, spiritual health, and unity. For the first time in many years, one of the class leaders at one of our leadership conferences was from outside our immediate family of churches (the ICC), and Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University, did an exceptional presentation on "The Crux of the Matter."

Nineteen leaders from Boston attended the Conference with some paying their own way. For those from Boston, New England and Europe it was a time of renewal and restoration of vision and resolve to carry out the mission of Christ.

Thierry Fender, Geneva, Switzerland, evangelist

Chicago, Chicago! What a special city for me. Sixteen years ago I started to dream for God and the lost world as I was baptized into Christ in this wonderful church. And now, thanks to the Chicago ILC, I start to dream again! We truly are a worldwide family of churches. No doubt we love one another, and we care for one another. We do share the same Love, same Faith, same Baptism, same Spirit and same Lord! In Chicago, I was deeply inspired by the powerful but humble preaching of all preachers. I was also moved by the presence and message of Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University, and I was so happy to see Kip and so many of our "parents in the faith" wanting to get reconciled and build unity. One word: Reconciliation! We committed to love one another and deeply respect each other's differences as we are now building with diversity the Body of Christ. I believe it's a first step towards global unity. We now need to pray that God protects all of us from Satan and his desire to divide the church. Thank you Chicago! But most of all, thank you God!

Kelly Petre, Boston teacher

How refreshing and encouraging to see the absence of competitiveness or comparing ourselves with others that used to pervade leadership conferences that I attended through the years! I appreciated the honesty and openness, and sensed a genuine spirit of reconciliation, desire to help one another, and real concern for brothers and sisters around the world. A highlight for me was Tony Singh's message about viewing ourselves through the "filter" of Jesus' life as a suffering servant and his radical teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. We have a long way to go, but this conference greatly increased my faith that our best days are yet to come.

Gary Sciascia, Groton/New London evangelist

It was extremely refreshing and faith-building to hear from mature disciples from almost every corner of the world that remain committed to love God with all their hearts, make disciples, and share a strong desire to stay unified with one-another. I got the sense that many congregations had come a long way in the healing process and wanted very much to be a part of the larger fellowship of believers. To hear those sentiments expressed again and again by disciples from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and North America was greatly encouraging. I couldn't wait to get back and share that spirit with other disciples in New England. Praise God for what he is doing!

Jimmy Allen, Hartford evangelist

The three days I spent in Chicago were probably as faith-building as anything I have ever been a part of in life. I went to Chicago wondering about the state of all the churches and our unity as a whole. I returned thrilled to hear of God's mighty hand still working powerfully to steer us in his direction and bond us together in a love that will show the world we are his. It was very touching to hear of the good news and the bad news. It was inspiring to hear lessons about God's grace and truth. I was moved to have greater passion for Christ's cause and also compassion for those all around us - the poor spiritually, physically and financially. Many themes like "look beneath the surface," "run together," and "the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first (Job 42:12)" will echo in mind and heart for a long, long time.

Mike VanAuken, Boston evangelist

The Chicago conference was a real blessing for me and even as it showed a movement very much in transition. Personally, the conference was marked by reconnecting with dear friends. So many of our relationships, and the refreshment and counsel that they include, are now scattered around the world that a conference like this is very important. It is a real opportunity to gain perspective on ourselves and our situation that is very difficult to duplicate either in a local setting or over the telephone. The conference was a contrast in styles.. On the one hand, one of the speakers preached from a position of personal strength with little vulnerability while another drove his challenges home out of personal weakness and sin. Several speakers talked about "changes of the last 18 months" and the "effect of one email." It wasn't until Steve Staten challenged everyone to reach out to him, that Henry Kreite was specifically mentioned. In one breakout session I attended two evangelists gave a class on evangelism that could have been given at a World Missions' Seminar in the 1980s. In another, an evangelist said he no longer believes everyone needs to share their faith, although all must be "involved in the mission." While some of this is probably a result of inherent personal style differences, to me it highlighted what a fascinating time our movement is experiencing.

Scarlette Van Auken, Boston women's ministry leader

I was very moved relationally in Chicago. It was great for me to reconnect with people and see how people have been over the last 18 months. I appreciated the honesty of hte brothers that shared about their churches. I felt like there was a good spirit in the air of "we don't know it all but we are fighting to learn and do our best." It seemed to bring more unity in the brotherhood. I was also impressed with the way Boston was represented. I feel we are very blessed with the maturity that we have. As a result of the conference, I feel that I have more faith, see the big picture more clearly, and have more of a mission mindset.

Tom Jones, Boston elder

Since being in Chicago I have been asked often how I would characterize the Conference and the spirit that was there. I have consistently answered with one word: "healthy." I honestly believe it was the healthiest meeting of leaders I have been to in twenty years No, I take that back. It was the healthiest meeting I have been to ... ever, and I appreciate the work of the Chicago leadership in planning such a time. A year and half ago I wrote an article asking "Are we closer than ever to being what God wants us to be?" I came away from Chicago believing we are healthier than ever and in awe of the grace of God that can take a people who were in some very unhealthy places two or three years ago and bring us to the place where we are now. Certainly we have a long way to go, but in Chicago, there was a spirit of humility and a spirit of boldness; there was an openness to the thoughts and influence of others outside our fellowship along with a determination not to compromise the Scriptures; there was a passion for grace and a passion for truth; there was both freedom in Christ and a zeal for evangelism and missions. By the grace of God, I believe a very good year is ahead of us.

David Adams, Boston region leadership team member (and practicing attorney)

I was very encouraged in Chicago to hear what God has been doing all around the world. This past year he has been humbling, molding, shaping, deepening, building, unifying and encouraging our brothers and sisters in so many countries, cities, and places. God appears to continue to be quite active in his churches to ensure we are learning his important lessons. I was personally struck by my need to remember those outside of the Boston, New England, and European churches -- as we have many brothers and sisters around the world in need our prayers and encouragement. I also made the decision to personally repent of any ill feelings or negative talk about any brother and sister in our world-wide fellowship, to believe the best of all, and to trust that God will ultimately work things out.

John McGuirk, Boston evangelist

'There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place.' It was a very sweet thing to be in fellowship again with friends who have been scattered to the four corners of the world because of a common commitment to pursuing the purposes of God. So many of those relationships were established and forged in the early days of the Boston church as disciples came from everywhere in hopes that God would use them to fulfill his eternal will. The hugs were held longer, the conversations were taken deeper, the feeling of mutual respect seemed stronger and the sense of hope was greater than even a year ago. It felt as though 'the lights were coming back on again' after the storm caused power outage.

Two other sites to visit for more information are: www.disciplestoday.net and www.icocinfo.org. If you are a subscriber to DisciplesToday.Net, you will soon be able to listen to the messages from the Conference online without additional charge.

A Final Word

This from Roger Lamb in a DisciplesToday newsletter: "The conference was an incredible answer to prayers around the world for the Spirit to unite us in a new, mature way. The focus was on Jesus. The spirit was holy and uncompetitive. The emphasis was on grace and truth. The passion was for God and for each other. And the urge to dream again brought hope to so many."