Month: May 2017

Trying to Fuel Church Growth and Outreach? 6 Reasons to Invest in Leadership Development

Posted on May 22, 2017 by - Because of the GLS, Church, Church & Faith-Based, Culture, Middle East, North America, Stories

Without strong leadership, the spiritual vitality of a church begins to crumble. When this happens, not only do those who are a part of the church begin to lose steam, the community that surrounds it does not see the church as a beacon in the community, or worse, they reject the church all together.

The stakes are high. Which is why investing in the leadership of a church is so critical.

When the leadership of a church is strong, they build a launching pad for overall engagement and growth, not just inside the church, but beyond the church walls and even internationally.

The Global Leadership Summit exists to build strong leaders, and fuel grander visions that bring transformation to churches, their communities, and beyond.

For Sunnybrook Community Church in Sioux City, Iowa, investing in leadership fuels their grander vision:

“The grander vision for our church is to seek those who don’t know Jesus, grow those who do, and send those who will.” – Jeff Moes, Senior Pastor of Sunnybrook

Jeff Moes, Senior Pastor of Sunnybrook, is a strong believer in building the strength of leaders for the purpose of introducing more people to Jesus. Jeff, a longtime friend of Willow Creek Association, has attended conferences since the inception of the organization. His church has been a host site for the GLS now for the last eight years.

As a result of Sunnybrook building into leadership, and outwardly focusing on reaching its community for Christ, it has twice been named in the top 100 fastest growing churches in the U.S. by Outreach. Sunnybrook is also a critical partner in helping bring the GLS to Israel, and building the strength of the church in Nazareth.

Jeff Moes shares the top six outcomes from GLS for Sunnybrook, and how it’s fueled the church’s growth and outreach:

  1. The GLS is a springboard

    In those first few years of the GLS, I knew it was a movement I wanted to be involved in. Raising up leaders is critical to the spiritual vitality of the church. We had tried several different things to accomplish this, but when we landed on the GLS, we realized it was the most effective springboard to train our leaders.

  1. The GLS inspired a leadership pipeline

    The GLS has provided huge changes for how we do church and build our staff and volunteers. From it, we developed our own “leadership pipeline” and created a leadership training and apprentice program to invest in the next generation of leaders.

  2. The GLS fuels a grander vision

    The grander vision for our church is to seek those who don’t know Jesus, grow those who do and send those who will. For the first ten years, we worked hard on the first two parts of our vision. And in the last few years, we have given concerted effort to the last part of this vision statement—sending those who will. The GLS has been critical in inspiring us to go beyond our walls.

  3. The GLS helps the church see outside their walls

    With new focus and effort on the last part of our vision, God has sent us outside the church and even across the globe.

    Locally, we’ve started initiatives in a soup kitchen, homeless medical service and cars for single moms. Additionally, we are starting a Care Center on our campus to reach the under-resourced community with food, clothing, medical care and dental services. We are also providing job placement and career counseling. Our executive pastor was also deeply inspired to serve our special needs community, and we partnered with him and community business leaders to build a Miracle League baseball field.

    Internationally, we’re working in three locations in Haiti, serving in a medical and education ministry in Tanzania, working with World Vision to serve refugees who’ve faced atrocities in Syria and Rwanda and planting churches in India. We’re also excited about what God is doing through the GLS internationally, and have partnered with Willow to bring the GLS to Israel to equip and inspire leaders there.

    The outreach arm of Sunnybrook is changing our church and our world for the better. And we’re excited to be a part of it!

  4. The GLS provides an opportunity to be a part of a global leadership network

    When the GLS launched internationally back in 2005, I honestly didn’t think it would thrive. I thought the way leadership and ministry was done in the U.S. wouldn’t translate to other countries, but I was wrong. Because it’s not about the “U.S. way,” it’s about sound and godly leadership principles. I realized good leadership principles and practices are universal.

    Sunnybrook decided to get involved with the international efforts when we heard what God was doing around the world through the GLS. Gary Schwammlein had mentioned during a trip to Israel that they were expanding to another site in Nazareth for Palestinian Christian leaders, and WCA was looking for a church to help lead this effort. Our church was called.

    The biggest need in Nazareth is the same here in the U.S., only more intensified.

    The universal need we see around the world is to train up Christian leaders in every sphere of life to make an impact for Christ.

    Since being called to Nazareth, Sunnybrook has taken groups of 30-40 to Nazareth each year, attending and helping the local GLS team in any way we can. Our technical director for the GLS at Sunnybrook has even become the technical director for all of the Middle East!

    We developed a great network of friendships and opportunities for ministry with our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We have learned so much from them.

    It’s important to our church to support the GLS in Nazareth financially, and help the team plan and execute the GLS in their city to train leaders in education, the medical field, government, church and missions. It is a joy to see the impact our friends are making in such a critical and volatile area of the world.

  5. The GLS is an annual rallying cry

    The Summit has helped us by raising up the value of leadership inside and outside the church. It calls all leaders to get involved, giving us the confidence to take risks for Christ, and do it with excellence.

    It’s become our annual rallying cry for the importance of godly leadership in the Church, community and marketplace. For our church, the Summit is a highlight event like Christmas and Easter because it serves as a jumping off point for so much of what we do. It is one of the best investments we have ever made.

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If your church is looking for a way to fuel growth and outreach, consider making an investment in your leadership through The Global Leadership Summit, and see what kind of impact it has on you!

The Three Types of Mentors Every Person Needs to Help Them Grow

Posted on May 16, 2017 by - Articles, Leadership Development, Leading Others

A self-made leader doesn’t make much.

I first wrote that statement in 2008, in my book, Leadership Gold. Eight years later, I still believe it. After all, I’m not a self-made man. It took a lot of people investing in me to get me where I am today.

You may wonder: Who helped you, John?

Well, I’ll tell you: Mentors.

A mentor is someone who teaches, guides and lifts you up by virtue of his or her experience and insight. They’re usually someone a little farther ahead of you on the path—though that doesn’t always mean they’re older! A mentor is someone with a head full of experience and heart full of generosity that brings those things together in your life.

One of the reasons I know that no one gets to the top alone is because I’ve had help all along my journey. I’ve been blessed with some amazing mentors who have poured wisdom and insight into my life to help me at crucial times.

I Started Close To Home

My first mentor was my father, Melvin. His investment into me as an individual was the foundation for everything I’ve achieved. My father’s encouragement, observation and advice helped shape everything from my mindset to my belief about the future. Without him, I’m not sure where I would’ve ended up.

Another mentor was my brother Larry. From our wrestling matches, I learned not to give up. From our business dealings, I learned to look at situations realistically and to prepare for the unexpected. From our friendship, I learned much about generosity and giving yourself away to other people.

From my mother, Laura I learned the value of listening. No one taught me more about that subject than she did! I also learned about unconditional love—the value of believing in another person even if they disappoint you.

But not every mentor in my life was a family member. There came a time when I had to seek mentors beyond my family tree in order to be successful. That required me to have the self-awareness necessary to choose mentors who could help me be the best version of myself possible.

So I spent some time preparing myself to be mentored—first I learned about myself, which taught me what I knew and what I didn’t know; then I went out to find the mentors who could fill in the gaps.

For me, there have been three types of mentors:

Those Who Knew Me and Knew They Made a Difference

The greatest example of this type of mentor in my life was Coach John Wooden. I intentionally sought Coach out to learn about teamwork, leadership, vision and character. I’ll never forget how much work I put into our first meeting—I came armed with pages of questions that took me hours to write! And the preparation paid off; not only did I come away from that initial meeting with a thousand ideas to consider, I also earned the right to sit down again with Coach Wooden several more times before he passed away.

But there have been other mentors who saw my potential as a leader and partnered with me for a season to help me grow. Others have joined me to keep my thinking sharp and focused on growth. Like Coach Wooden, each mentor knew his or her words made a difference in my life, and also knew those words made a difference to the people I served. For that reason, they were happy to help me on my journey.

Those Who Knew Me and Didn’t Know They Made a Difference

Not everyone who knows you knows how much of a difference they make. For me, the greatest example of this in my life is Kurt Campmeier, who introduced me to the concept of having a personal growth plan way back at the beginning of my career. Kurt’s influence on my life and work is far greater than the amount of time he spent with me, but time isn’t always equal to impact. For years, I don’t think Kurt had any idea of the impression he’d made on me. But a few years ago, my team tracked him down, and I had the opportunity to see him again and thank him.

The reality is that a host of people in my life have shown me wise paths or challenged me to grow without ever knowing that I was watching their lives. In fact, if I were to name their names right now, they might respond by saying, “John, what are you talking about?” They weren’t looking to mentor me, but I was looking to be mentored by them—I was intentional in seeking out the wisdom they often weren’t even aware they were offering.

Those Who Didn’t Know Me and Yet Made a Difference

That intentionality extends even to those mentors whom I’ve never met. That may sound strange, but the truth is that all of us have access to long-distance mentors we may never meet in person! Speakers, books, magazine articles, webinars – the list of available mentors is endless.

In this age of digital experiences, there are more opportunities available for mentoring than ever before. All you have to do is search for people who are achieving in your area of interest, and you’ll have a wealth of potential mentors at your disposal. Just make sure that what they say translates into actions or principles you can follow in your real life. After all, the point of any mentor is to help you take steps to get better!

That’s why I’ve been so relentless about pursuing mentors—I need all the help I can get if I want to continue getting better. And if you want to get to the places you dream of for your life, you’ll need help too. Some mentors are in our lives for a short season, others are for longer ones; the length is determined by what you need to learn and what the mentor has to offer!

Be Intentional About Finding Your Own Mentors

I encourage everyone to begin looking for a mentor to help them. And whenever someone asks the inevitable question, How do I find a mentor? I point them in the same direction: Who can you think of who is successful in an area where you’re trying to grow? Start there and see how you can access that person’s insights—maybe it’s through a blog, maybe it’s a book or just maybe it’s just a phone call away. You won’t know until you start looking and asking.

No one gets to the top alone. We all have help. It’s why I’ve made mentoring such a crucial part of my growth—and it’s why I mentor people along the way. It’s the inspiration for my Maximum Impact Mentoring call each month, and the reason I continue to write and speak to audiences each year. I want to help as many people as possible become all they can be.

Start with the Heart—Adding Value to People

Posted on May 15, 2017 by - Articles, Leading Others, Servant Leadership

Surprisingly, the biggest challenge servant leaders face is not in mastering the skillset of leadership . . . skills can be learned.

Instead, it is the serving element of servant leadership that most often trips us up and limits our impact.

It’s a matter of motivation. Servant leaders actually go through the functions of leadership much like everyone else. However, if you look closely, it is the “why” behind their actions that sets them apart. Servant leaders are motivated, even compelled, by an unshakeable desire to serve.

For most of us, however, this desire doesn’t come naturally. There is something in us that pulls us to be self-serving rather than others-serving. My theologian friends might call this sin. Whatever you call it, it is essential for us to overcome our natural tendencies if we are to lead to our full potential. This is, first and foremost, a matter of the heart.

I have two suggestions for strengthening your heart for serving others. One is a prayer and the other is a practice.

THE PRAYER

The biblical story behind this can be found deep in the pages of the Old Testament. If you are a Bible reader, you may know the story.

Israel wanted a king. God knew this was not the best idea; they already had a King! However, for reasons I don’t fully understand, He decided to grant their wish.

The story is a fascinating one: how a leader can emerge, find God’s favor, and then fall. That particular fall is a cautionary tale for another post. The part I want you to think about today is what happened in 1 Samuel 10.

After Samuel anointed Saul, God showed up and did His part. I think that’s always a good model for us to follow: we should do our part in the process and trust God to do His part.

For me, the turning point in the entire narrative is in verse 9. “…As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart.”

That’s what I need! I think it is what every servant leader on the planet needs. And it’s the part only God can provide—the only way to defeat the desires of self. A heart change.

My prayer: God, change my heart! Give me a heart to serve.

THE PRACTICE

Now, there is a also very practical, tactical way you and I can exercise our heart as it relates to serving others. Here’s an activity I wrote about in my book The Heart of Leadership.

Before I offer this suggestion, as crazy as this may sound, I challenge you to try this for one week and see if it doesn’t rock your world.

Try to add value to every person you meet.

I know—crazy! For many of you, your first reaction might be, “That’s impossible.” Hold on. Before you go there, let me ask you to read the assignment again. The most important word in the statement is “try.”

If you are trying to add value to someone else, who are you thinking about in that moment? The other person. The ability to “Think Others First” is the pre-eminent trait of the servant leader. Jesus did this every day of His earthly ministry.

How can you add value? Let your imagination be your guide. It might be an encouraging word, a bit of coaching or even a silent prayer. Don’t let the tactics derail you because the key is the effort.

The trying is what changes you.

To reach your full potential as a servant leader, yes, you must learn to lead. But the far greater challenge: you must cultivate the ability to “Think Others First.”

Ask God to give you a new, serving heart and TRY to add value to everyone you meet. If you do, your heart will change and so will your leadership.

Behind the Scenes GLS Volunteers Go Above and Beyond Behind Bars

Posted on May 15, 2017 by - Because of the GLS, Government, North America, Prison, Stories

When people attend The Global Leadership Summit, they leave with a distinct feeling of motivation, inspiration, challenge or encouragement. Their vision is sparked. They leave with thoughts and insights from the faculty flooding their minds…

“The Church is the hope of the world.” 

 “Intentionally dd value to people every day.” – John Maxwell

 “If you want to be a hero, do what God wants you to do.” – Mama Maggie

The list goes on.

If you have attended the GLS, you can probably remember the exact seat you were in when God rang your bell.

These moments spark action we’ve seen literally changed lives, families, churches, organizations and even entire cities.

At the GLS, these are the moments we strive to create. No distractions. And that’s where a lot of key volunteers come in.

Behind the scenes of the GLS, the volunteer Tech Team makes it happen

Today, we want to highlight our volunteer technical directors and producers across the 500+ sites in the United States alone. More than 1,000 talented people volunteer their time to make the GLS run as smoothly as possible behind the scenes so that you can experience your bell-ringing moment with God.

During the GLS, they run lights, satellite connection, sound, programming and any number of unexpected issues that may come up along the way. They do this all at the same time, across the country, and across time zones.

It is an amazing feat, and the GLS would not at all be possible without them! (Thank you!)

But what is even more amazing about this team is their incredible heart to go above and beyond their volunteer role. Led by Shana Case, broadcast production manager for the GLS, this team not only makes the GLS happen at your host site, but they have also developed a fiery passion to bring the GLS to prisons across the country.

“The team is full of folks who are willing to reach out and share experience and wisdom with others, whether they are across town or across the country,” Shana shares. “They want to contribute to the Kingdom in ways that are relevant to who they are, and I love that about them!”

The spark that started the passion to bring the GLS to prisons

Several years ago, Rick Warren spoke at the GLS, and something he said struck Shana deeply. “What he had to say has stayed with me for years,” she shares. “It was a seed planted waiting to bloom. He said:

Not everyone has a platform like this, but everyone DOES have a circle of influence…everyone.

“And I thought…what was mine? How did God want me to use my circle of influence to impact the Kingdom? These are big questions. I’m not a visionary. I didn’t have the answers at the time. But now, I can see it!”

Something was brewing in Shana.

Several years later, for the GLS in 2015, Shana went to a prison site in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Even though she didn’t have the security clearance to go inside that day, she did an outside tour and learned all about their programs. In 2015, the GLS was only in three prisons.

Waiting list for prison sites? Opportunity list for prison sites 

She was moved by what was happening in the prison. God kept stirring. “It seemed like that fall, conversations about the GLS and prisons kept coming up,” Shana shares. “It’s funny how God does that to get my attention! He was definitely stirring something up inside of me. I could barely talk about it without welling up with emotion.  Then in the spring, I heard there was a waiting list for prisons who wanted to host the GLS, but they didn’t have enough sponsors.”

Not enough sponsors?!

One of the speakers talked about letting your heart break for the things that break God’s heart. And for Shana, this was it. “I couldn’t let it go. Not enough sponsors? A waiting list? I thought about it, talked about it and dreamed about it frequently. Then I decided to use my own circle of influence to DO something about it!”

She brought it to her circle of influence, her “people.” She shared her heart and the situation with her team of 1,000 tech directors and producers during their training event in hopes to raise enough money to sponsor three prison sites.

But God had bigger plans.

“I was just excited to support Shana and her vision for spreading the GLS to the prisons. I’ve worked with her and the GLS for several years now and could see her heart for this. I instantly saw the impact it had here locally. I hope this continues to grow and the impact spreads even more!”—Greg Klimetz, production manager at Hillcrest Baptist Church

I heard Shana’s challenge to contribute monetarily to getting the GLS into three prisons. I felt that we could do so much more than that in our own backyard! Bringing the GLS to more prisons is important because Jesus challenged us to share the gospel in tangible and inventive ways. He also expects us to equip the saints—no matter where they live. This is not just a tech team mission, it’s a Church mission.—Liz Jarocki, creative director at Woodmen Valley Chapel, and summit host site producer

The team caught the vision.

The tech team not only sponsored three prisons sites—they sponsored twelve! “It’s funny what can happen when you share what God has put on your heart. I was in awe.”

Shana had the chance to attend one of the prison sites they sponsored in Florida. “I walked in and was greeted by the chaplain and one of the inmate church leaders,” Shana explains. “He shook my hand and smiled, just as if we were at my church—minus the guards. We walked into the chapel and they were having worship rehearsal. There were about eight guys, all ages, and multiple races, singing and worshiping together. We listened as they sang, and joined in with the songs we knew.

“My heart was stirring again. It was really hard to keep it together. I think it’s because I knew God wanted these folks to be a part of the GLS, to hear whatever it was He wanted them to hear. And I got to be a part of it.

“Afterward, we sat down with two of the inmate church leaders. They talked about the struggles of their church and community. Ironically, they sounded like a lot of the same struggles my own church faces. It was eye-opening and heart-warming.”

In 2016, the GLS is held in 43 prisons

More people are catching the vision to expand the GLS into prison sites. In 2016, the GLS was held in 43 prison sites across the country, and the demand increases. “The biggest impact I’ve seen is empowerment,” Dave Wiggins, campus pastor at Hillcrest Church, explains. “Bringing GLS into the prison has shown the inmates that they are worthy of the investment being made in them. The lessons they learn are empowering them to behave more like leaders in the microcosm of prison culture in preparation for who they will be on the outside.

“Two men coming out of last year’s GLS have started a weekly gathering of interfaith inmates to discuss how they can work hand-in-hand to improve the culture of their facility and serve, not just one another, but the guards and officers as well. One of the men leading it is a Christian and the other is Muslim. Both were at the GLS and inspired to do this out of their experience.

“I’m in the prison with the guys every week and they still talk about GLS. In fact, a bunch of them just wrote more letters to attach to our initial application to Florida Department of Corrections to do it again this year.”

Prisoners at the GLS pay it forward

When inmates at one of the prison sites learned about how money was raised for their GLS experience in 2016, they were moved that people cared for them so much. So moved in fact, that when it came time during their event to raise money for leaders to attend the GLS in under-resourced countries around the world, they stepped up and gave.

In total this one prison site collected $500.

In a prison, this is significant! The reason being that if you have a job in prison, it doesn’t pay much. Sometimes inmates make less than a $1 an hour. It’s amazing to think how the simple act of caring and stewarding our resources can have Kingdom impact.

What’s next?

“I’ve been doing the Summit for so long, it almost feels like it’s my life’s work,” Shana says. “I wouldn’t do the GLS, or have left the marketplace, if I didn’t believe that the GLS could make an impact in each city, town, prison and community across the globe. It’s worth it. The GLS will knock the dust off you, breathe new life into you and stretch you a little. You won’t be the same.

“My hope is that building into the GLS for prisons becomes a tradition for the GLS tech team. More than that, a movement. Just because these folks are behind the scenes doesn’t mean they can’t get into the game.

“We’ll start raising the money again soon for prison sites in 2017. I’m already getting emails from folks around the country about sponsoring their local prison. Let’s see what God’s up to this year!” (To give to the Tech Team’s fundraiser for prison sites, click here.)

If you’re interested in learning more about the impact the GLS is having in prisons, watch this video created by our friends at Woodmen Valley Chapel:

Say thanks to our amazing GLS Tech Team for all the work they do to bring the Summit to more than 500 sites across the United States, including prisons. Leave a comment below!

Ep 002: Dr. Henry Cloud

Posted on May 15, 2017 by - Leading Others, Podcasts, Supervising People

The Global Leadership Summit Podcast

Get free, instant access to GLS Podcast Episode Show Notes. Leverage episode summaries, key takeaways, reflection questions, resources mentioned, related links and applicable downloads, including Show Notes PDF and Episode Audio File (MP3).

DOWNLOADS:

 Download Show Notes (PDF)

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SUMMARY:

We will encounter different kinds of people as we steward our leadership visions. Using language from ancient wisdom literature, Dr. Henry Cloud categorizes these people as wise, foolish, and evil. In this episode of the GLS Podcast, Henry describes the characteristics of each type and gives us practical strategies for how to lead each one more effectively.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • When leaders are stewarding a vision, they will need to manage different types of people.
  • Wise people are thankful for feedback and adjust accordingly. Lead them by offering coaching, giving them resources, and challenging them.
  • Foolish people respond to feedback with anger, excuses, and denial. Lead them by setting limits and identifying clear consequences if their behavior doesn’t change.
  • Evil people want to inflict pain. Lead them by going into protection mode: “Lawyers, guns, and money.”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. Identify a current leadership situation where you are feeling “hopeless” and “talking is not working?”
  2. List out the people involved in those situations. Using Henry’s framework, identify which ones are displaying: Wise behavior? Foolish behavior? Evil behavior?
  3. Go back over your list. Using the leadership strategies Henry suggested, identify your next leadership step for each person.
  4. Make a plan to meet with each person – and begin to move that “hopeless” situation forward.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 9:7-9; Psalm 141:5; Titus 3:10; 2 Samuel

12 Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud

Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

The Power of the Other by Dr. Henry Cloud

Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler 

RELATED LINKS:

Dr. Cloud’s Church OnDemand

The Global Leadership Summit

Leaders In Zambia Challenged to Thrive, Not Just Survive

Posted on May 12, 2017 by - Africa, Stories

Angela Temfwe, GLS attendee in Lusaka, Zambia, reflects on what she and her team wrestled through, ultimately realizing that they want to be leaders who build thriving communities, seek justice, and transform their country.

As I reflect on the Global Leadership Summit that took place in Lusaka, Zambia, I was impacted deeply and left with lingering questions.

How full is your passion bucket?

The countless questions cycling through my mind are intermixed with inspiration and challenge. “How full is your passion bucket?” One of the speakers asked as he spoke about the unstoppable force of passion.

The analogy he used of a passion bucket caused me to reflect on my own passions and desires in my leadership experiences. As our passions fluctuate and are often affected by external circumstances. He explained that it is the leader’s responsibility to fill his or her own bucket. When our buckets are full, we are able fill others’ buckets with more passion!

Is the master pleased with your vision?

I was left with the question, “Is the master pleased with your vision?” Jossy Chacko encouraged us to enlarge our visions, empower others and to embrace risk.

In a small group made up of a teacher, a college student, a CEO of a large insurance company in Zambia, and a 12-year-old who just finished writing her grade 7 exams, we discussed our visions. As we each shared and supported one another, I could see our dreams enlarge and evidence of empowerment in mere minutes. It is now our responsibility to embrace the risk and faith that will allow us to succeed in our visions.

Some questions that flooded the church with over 1,200 leaders were: “What do leaders struggle with more—strategy or execution? What are they educated in, strategy or execution?”

Without hesitation we all knew the answer. We know how to write brilliant strategic plans but we are struggling across the board with implementation. Chris McChesney spoke about the 4 disciplines of execution, and gave numerous examples that drove us to analyze these principles deeply. One of the greatest take aways for our group was to turn our “Game on!”

“Do the people who work for me feel like they are playing a winnable game?”

“Do you feel like you are playing a high-stakes winnable game?”

Interestingly enough, our lunch break revealed even more than a conference room with the caliber of dedicated leaders. We weren’t dialoguing about our favorite speakers or a funny moment from earlier; the conversation was a cry of righteous anger for Zambia. We were digging into the problems that face our society and discussing solutions.

The casual lunch group eating sandwiches and drinking soft drinks under the shade of a tree as the breeze cooled us down, did not cool our desire for the justice in our nation. From one issue to another unsolved problem, to a different failed system to a lack of education and irresponsible decisions, anyone could see the passion buckets rising.

As the group discussed and urged one another, our buckets began to overflow.

Though we weren’t able to fix the problems or injustice of our society then and there, we commenced the movement and filled one another’s passion buckets.

There is a common answer of “we’re surviving” when asked “how are you doing?” Through the speakers, group discussions, candid lunch chats and the passion that was through the roof by the last GLS session, it is evident that the leaders do not want to be stranded in a complacent society of just survivors.

Are we using our talents to multiply and lead, or are we burying or even spending our talents to survive?

How will we as leaders move from surviving to thriving?

Be inspired by what happened through the GLS in Zambia:

On Surviving the Rwandan Genocide—2017 GLS Faculty Spotlight

Posted on May 11, 2017 by - News & Updates

Immaculée Ilibagiza not only survived the horrific Rwandan genocide, but emerged as a fierce advocate for peace and reconciliation. We are honored to be able to learn from her experience at the Global Leadership Summit in 2017.

 This 3½-minute video takes us into her story.

  

 Immaculée Ilibagiza is a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide that took the lives of nearly one million Tutsi, including her entire family, except for one brother. She survived by huddling silently with seven other women in a 3-by-4-foot bathroom for 91 days. Desite unimaginable suffering, she committed herself to a life of peace, hope and forgiveness. Ilibagiza works with the United Nations and is the best-selling author of Left to Tell.

 

Guest faculty members are invited to participate in The Global Leadership Summit based on proven leadership abilities in their field of expertise. Their beliefs may not necessarily reflect those of Willow Creek Association and Willow Creek Community Church, and their presence at the Summit does not imply blanket endorsement of their views or affiliations.