Reflections About Willow Creek SGC
When I first decided to attend the conference it was merely a way to get out of the office, a chance to grow closer to the cores of my small group, and to attend a FREE conference!
Something different happened while I was there. In the span of 3 days my attendance at Willow Creek Conferences became more of a personal and spiritual journey. It was as if God's purpose for me in those three days was to open my soul up to yearn for a deeper community with God and brothers and sisters in Christ. I didn't realize it but deep inside I long for that intimacy.
While my experience with different community have been rewarding, there are deeper levels of community that I still desire to experience, to which I have never experienced. So part of the take away of the conference was that for this to happen I knew that I have to be honest with myself about who I am in my heart and my soul and the areas of my life I can enhance or improve.
Moving Forward, Looking Upward
Listening to the featured speakers at the main sessions and the breakout sessions I started to see what I am doing right and what I am lacking if I want more intimacy. It's like you don't know what you are missing until you see it, and once you find it you want to keep it. Well the ideal biblical community, some of the things that are missing were present there. The Willow Creek Small Groups Conference provided the "soil" for God to grow, to develop, and to work on me. Now, I am ready to take that plunge and risk to reach for the blessings that an authentic biblical community brings.
I Have Got To Get That Message Home
If you asked me the question, "Is it worth taking your vacation times to travel to Chicago to attend this conference?" I would have to say YES. The three things that I got out of it and that I think everyone will benefit from are:
+ Encouragement. Everyone at the conference are there to learn about fostering a deeper biblical community. They have a strong desire to see this happen. You cannot help but feel the energy because it is all around you. (You are not alone. Don't be discourage to pursue an authentic biblical community.)
+ Focus. It is easy to lose focus of small group and community when we are working, dealing with the "things" in our life, day in and day out. The conference refocus our minds and hearts (and soul) and to give us directions to face the challenges and to come up with solutions more easily.
+ New (Crazy-talk) Ideas and Skills. There are so much resources out there that it is quite a humbling experience. No matter how much we may think we know about small group — there is still more to learn. You will learn leadership skills, participate in discussions, and walk away wanting to share and implement your knowledge.
I will share my knowledge and information in upcoming post. I will leave with a word of encouragement from Ephesians 4:16. Lets DOOOO this! Let's build an authentic biblical community.
[Editor's Update] I met my sweetie Sandy on this retreat. We got to know each other over the three days in Chicago, in which it all started with me offering her a Clif bar during Dr. Henry Cloud's breakout session.
so.. its been abt a week since we've gotten back? Have you done anything different?