In the last 10 years of my life, I’ve been to A LOT of conferences. And they’ve been awesome (except for one that was super lame).
But this is the thing: you go to a conference and it’s like putting your brain in hyper-drive. It goes spinning at 10,000 mph for the next week. But then what? Maybe a few changes are made, maybe a few new “nuggets” of info get stored into your brain. Maybe not.
Retreat. A time of pulling back. A time of regrouping. A time to slow down, instead of speed up.
Rob Bell – who receives criticism for being TOO creative in his preaching – says he hasn’t been to a pastors conference in years. But he has started doing a lot more “slowing down.”
Think about it. Which “superstar” pastor or youth pastor is going to conferences? I’d say hardly any. I’d bet most all are putting on the conferences. They’re not sitting in the middle of the crowd to get into worship, they’re sitting backstage with the other “superstar” pastors praying, laughing, and talking.
So think about it, if we’re trying to be like those “superstar” pastors. If we’re trying to tap into a depth of relationship and wisdom, then shouldn’t we unplug? Shouldn’t we – when we need recharged – slow down instead of go into hyperdrive?
Good things happen at conferences. I’m not afraid of them. I’d love to be going to SYMC this weekend (they dWo A LOT to make small, intimate connections happen).
But if given a choice, I’d choose retreat. I’d choose a weekend in the woods with a handful of close friends. I’d choose to be close with 20 people and sit in prayer, worship, and discussion for a couple of days.
Which is why I’ll be attending Seismos on March 20-22. There are still a few spots available. Will you join me?
- Seismos information page: http://joeldaniel.wordpress.com
- Seismos Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251227003445
- Download Seismos registration packet (PDF): http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=joeldaniel.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjoeldaniel.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fadvert2.pdf
I’ve been praying for a while that this is precisely what I’d be able to do this weekend. Yea, I’ll be at SYMC with 2500 other youth workers, but I don’t plan on going into hyperdrive during or after. If I do, smack me. I plan on relaxing, spending some valuable time with volunteers and an intern, and not necessarily doing every activity (no matter how good/fun/valuable it may be) they have planned for me. I hope to laugh, cry, discuss, and rest. And then do it all over…for four days, with no specific schedule for any of those things.
Adam, in the last 6 months you’ve really helped me to slow down, take a Sabbath day every week, and be refreshed enough to actually DO ministry. Thank you for that.
Thanks dude. I went to SYMC last year and I think I only went to 2 of the 4 big sessions because I think God was wrenching me with stuff that was happening in my deeper-learning track.
If you get a chance I’d go (or send one of your volunteers) to Rick Lawrence’s deeper-learning track “Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry.” It was AWESOME!
Hey, what about for students? Do you like taking them to a conference or should we do retreats? Same applies as above?
Yeah. I’d say the same. Both have there place though.