Last week I attended Exponential, perhaps the most powerful conference in terms of content, cutting edge insights, and speakers. It’s also powerful because of the energy and passion of the people that attend. Many are on the front lines as church planters and ministry entrepreneurs. I enjoy being in the presence of raw passion for Jesus.

I’ve been reflecting on the comments and conversations from the week. Here are just a few of the questions that are ringing in my head:

- I had individual conversations with Will Mancini and Jim Tomberlin and both centered around clarity. The ministry landscape is changing and now, more than ever, churches need to understand their unique mission - their specific calling of God. To paraphrase Peter Drucker, a church is not defined by its mission statement; it’s defined by the needs and wants it satisfies when people come in contact with their ministry. Consider this: Why do people go to Starbucks when they can get coffee as good (or better) as McDonald’s or Dunkin Donuts? Can you answer a similar question for your church? Why do people come to your church when there are so many others to choose from? What has God called you to do in this place and time? How has he uniquely prepared your faith community to minister in your community? What is your essence?

- Francis Chan announced he was leaving his megachurch to follow the call of God saying, “there is a gravitational pull for safety in my life that I have to push against…all I want to hear from God is well done good and faithful servant.” He quoted Amos 6:1, “Woe to you who are complacent…and to you who feel secure…” and discussed the relationship of the presence of God and suffering that is documented throughout the Bible. He recounted the story of 23 Korean missionaries that were captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Two were murdered before the Korean government negotiated their release. Francis met with the surviving pastor who had spoken with the other 20 survivors. Each one had expressed a longing for the intimacy with Christ they had when they were held by the Taliban.

Why do we spend so much of our time and energy on our safety and security, especially considering security is actually more imagined than real? Do we miss out on intimacy with God when we hold tightly to money, status and prestige? Do we miss out on fellowship with God when we hold on to comfort? Am I willing to hold my comfort and security with an open hand to do what I believe God is calling me to do?

- Shane Clairborne said, “To pray for tomorrow's daily bread is a violation of the Lord's prayer." That reminded me of what I heard Dr. Tom Nees say a week earlier, “Accumulated and hoarded wealth in the presence of need is sin.” How much is too much? Have I really made myself aware of the needs around me and around the world and sincerely asked God, “What would you have me do?” Am I courageous enough to believe that ALL I have is not mine but God’s?

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

The ChurchPlanters.com 2010 Velocity Conference appeared to be a huge success. The conference, with their most powerful lineup of speakers yet, was sold out ahead of time. We consider it a privilege to support events that pour great value into the lives of pastors and church planters. It also affords us the opportunity to engage pastors and church leaders in conversations about how best to make facility decisions. And it’s a chance to renew friendships and make new friends with people that are making a big difference for Christ. I was able to reconnect with friends Dave Travis. Todd Wilson, Will Mancini, Casey Graham, Mark Clement and Alan Hirsch, among others. I also got to establish some new friendships with Mark DeYmaz and Hugh Halter. Many of us spent Monday evening talking late into the night about where God was leading the church.

My most poignant memory, though, came later that evening. Alan and I returned to the hotel about midnight to find 22 or 23 people sitting and talking in the breakfast area. They recognized Alan and called us over to talk more about what it means to be missional/incarnational. Now, this group had heard a number of powerful speakers and workshops throughout the day - some of the best the Christian world has to offer. Yet, what kept them up to midnight was trying to figure out how to become incarnational to reach the people that would never be “attracted” to their church facilities. They were from an attractional-model church that was doing great work. But they realized that, no matter how good they get at doing church, there was probably 60% of the unchurched that they would never be able to reach with that model alone.

If this were a single, solitary experience it wouldn’t be so notable. But I see this taking place across the country. Something is happening. God is speaking to people in new ways – or, more likely, we are finally listening. What’s God saying to you? Do you sense a new twinge in your heart as you think of the things of God?