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BREAKING poll NEWSFLASH poll
By Jeremy | April 21, 2005
Are evangelicals/charismatics overloaded on conferences?
[BIAS ALERT -- If you want to avoid any undue influence in how you reply to the question, stop reading now, submit your reply, then proceed with the rest of the post.]
I'm all for teaching, education, and training (and in fact do a fair amount of it myself), which many conferences promote. But in practice, many of the Christian conferences I've experienced seem like the spiritual equivalent of all you can eat buffets. They're great places for engorging oneself on comfort food. But they hardly promote a lean and fit spiritual lifestyle.
We need more boot camp style learning environments where we get the information, but are forced to practice it till we puke (pardon the crassness) so we know that we know how to apply it in everyday lives. That's why I love Matt's Chain Reaction experiences so much.
Bonus poll question (Yes/No): Would you consider participating in an experiential and relational-based learning "anti-conference"?
Topics: evangelical, training, youth ministry | 5 Comments »
April 21st, 2005 at 10:33 pm
overloaded on conferences – yes
it’s easy to be a conference junkie today isn’t it?
of course, many of our communities of faith propogate this today – the message on Sunday isn’t neccessarily about action and engagement of the world beyond our walls… we enforge and then we wonder why the world isn’t that enamored with Jesus…
consider particpating – yes, of course depending on time, schedule, day job, etc.
April 22nd, 2005 at 12:43 am
Yes. And I agree with Tony about time, schedule, etc.
The next conference I’m attending is Urban Youth Workers Institue in Azusa, CA. I hear that someone you know is the planery speaker.
April 22nd, 2005 at 8:27 am
Abner got me. Hehehe
As I said, I do a fair amount of cenferencing myself.
April 22nd, 2005 at 5:11 pm
Hey Tony -
Sorry I missed you last week in DC. Because of Nonna’s health issues (see post from Monday) I was forced to cut the DC trip short.
It would be very cool for you to meet Matt Stevens. Besides his work with Chain Reaction, he’s the state coordinator for the National Network of Youth Ministries, and he’s consulting YFC in Baltimore, so he’s all about connecting with guys like you. What do we have to do to make this happen?
April 24th, 2005 at 2:11 am
Hi Jeremy, no problem about DC… I figured as much when I read your post… I hope she is at least comfortable…
I’m going to dig up Matt’s email and ping him early next week. That would be great fun.
Thanks!