GLS 2

Well that's the end of day 1 and as one of the speakers commented, it's been like 'drinking from a fire hydrant.' Once again the variety of speakers keeps your mind moving in many different directions but constantly draws you back to what God is saying to me and doing in me through every word spoken.

Of course, being in the US with many international guests the bonus is that you get to chat to people from a whole variety of places as well. Today I have spoken with the head of a feeding organisation in the Dominican Republic, Luis, serving the countless poor in his country and of course in neighbouring Haiti. We had lunch with a lady from Brazil who now lives in the US and sat among people from Africa, Asia and Australia. Isn't it amazing that so many people are all seeking the same thing, for God to move and see His Kingdom come.

So to the afternoon session on day 1. Craig Groeschel interviewed the former coach of the Indianapolis Colts (the funny shaped football lot) to Super Bowl success. He is a sold out God person who coached with passion and compassion, mentoring his players and helping them to grow as people as well as great football players. He shared powerfully how just one word from his school head when he was 17 changed his life and as a result he has been involved in changing many other lives. Just one word to one person, that's all it takes! A big lesson for me about the power of one word at the right time to the right person.

Then a Senior Pastor, Adam Hamilton, who has seen his church grow from 4 people in 1990 to over 13,000 today (how does that happen?), spoke about what happens when leaders fall, how he has dealt with it in his church and how to avoid it as a leader. Very open and honest and great to have that subject addressed in this way.

The final session had two speakers. One a top Chinese Economist who is an adviser to the Chinese Government, Dr Peter Zhao Xiao. He came to the US to study the free market economy and discovered that its success was because of the moral foundation it is built on. He concluded - to the Chinese Government - that the future growth of the Chinese economy, for it to succeed, it must be based on Christian principles, that China should embrace Christianity. As a result of what he discovered, he read the Bible and gave his life to Jesus Christ! He is still an economic adviser and is actively talking about Christianity and Economics to the Government at the highest level. So much so that the Chinese constitution has now been changed to include the word, 'religion' in it for the first time. His vision is to see the Chinese blessing the world with Christ. Wow!

Finally Andy Stanley finished the day. As usual he was brilliant. Practical, down to earth, profound and simple. He talked about how instead of managing away tension we should learn to use it to grow. Some things are not resolvable and we shouldn't try to choose between different options, e.g. discipleship or evangelism, but learn to live in the tension. It's not win or lose, there is a third way on some issues.

Anyway, enough from me, need to get back to our hosts and let it all settle ready for day 2. More tomorrow.