The three main issues for this year's Roundtable are inclusivity, training and church planting.
This morning Pete Greig introduced us to Tim Elmore's 'A new kind of leader'. Elmore mapped the dominant leadership styles of the last half century. The leadership style that marks today's emerging generation is that of the poet-gardener, who discerns purpose and develops people. The key value is connection and growth.
Like Connect Europe, 24-7prayer is entering a new season. A time to more pro-actively mobilise the movement in terms of territory and transformation. The emphasis of the first five years was non-stop prayer. Now there will be a stronger emphasis on missions and community. More attention will also be given to training, as 24-7 has been relatively over-releasing and under-resourcing.
The different bases gave their annual updates, which was encouraging. Everywhere there is a multiplication of prayer rooms, and the boiler rooms (permanent prayer rooms which are also places of community, pilgrimage, training and social action) are booming. A new base is being established in the United States, and South Africa and New Zealand are queing.
In the afternoon Carl Tinnion gave us some excellent questions to wrestle with when it comes to training people. Also very helpful voor Connect Europe. Training is costly time-wise, but a long-term investment in leadership development is key for any movement.
In the other room groups have been processing the issue of inclusivity (how to work in Roman Catholic nations, how to raise up young women in leadership, etc.) and reviewed the 24-7 vision and values. Pete Worthington introduced us to the new 24-7 website (to be released in a few weeks), and Pete Ward gave an update on the finances.
In the evening Billy Kennedy talked about 'the long and winding road' and stressed the importance of healthy accountability relationships. After that the wine flowed richly and we talked until late at night. Thank God for so many wonderful people here.
I found the idea of a poet-gardener leader to be interesting and hopeful (where can I find one of these?). I've often thought of things in gardening terms anyhow.
If the church were a plant, the church (in America anyhow)seems primarily interested in the quantity of plants it has. Jesus, as I understand him, is interested in fruit and seeds (which are both the result of flowers). A plant can often survive in all sorts of envronments. But to bring a plant to a place where it thrives, blossoms and blooms abundantly is a different goal altogether. May God bring out the poet-gardeners!
Posted by: cheryl | October 15, 2004 at 18:16