This was year 8 (or 9…I am losing track) for hosting The Leadership Summit in partnership with the Willow Creek Association.  It is a real privilege to be a host, and I was reminded of how great an opportunity it is by one Grace attendee who came this year.

Lucy (I don’t know her real name, so we will call her Lucy) is a sales person at a local retail store.  She lives a simple life, attends Grace Community Church, works her job and cares for her elderly Mom.  When she heard about the opportunity to attend the Summit, and heard about the world-class line-up of speakers, perhaps even nudged by the Holy Spirit a bit, she knew she had to be here.  This was no small commitment to take on, as there were numerous obstacles standing in her way.

The Leadership Summit at GCC during one of the worship sets before a session

For starters, Grace set up registration on-line.  Lucy doesn’t own a computer in her modest apartment .  A quick stop by our kiosk in Towne Square and arrangements were made to overcome this obstacle.  Then there was the request to take off days at work.  She was early enough with her request to her employer, so two days off was granted.  Then there were the arrangements that needed to be made for her mother.  Someone else would have to check in on her while she was away at the conference.  Once these arrangements were settled, there was still the registration fee.  $75 dollars may not be a lot of money to many in our county, but it would require some diligent saving on Lucy’s part for the Summit.

In my opinion, Lucy was not disappointed in this year’s Summit.  Whether it was Wes Stafford’s radical honesty and testimony of God healing some of the deepest abuses and personal tragedy for His glory, or it was Harvey Carey inspiring us all to take radical steps of faith, or Tim Keller challenging us to consider the radical extravagance of the Prodigal God and the risks of being really good and missing Him, this years Summit was a God-inspiring event.

I still need to call and find out what the best part of the Summit was for Lucy and find out it all her effort was truly worth it.  I think it was.  I hope and pray God met her here these two days for all the effort she put into being here.

For those who did not attend this year, make plans to join us on August 5 and 6 of 2010.  God seems to show up and speak every year.  For those who attended, what was your favorite part?