You can find me in St. Louey!

Man....this is good!

For those of you who don't know. Our entire staff is currently in St. Louis for the annual CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) conference. It's a life-changer. I mean, it is so great to get together with other brothers and sisters who are called to do urban community family all over the nation and world just like us. We have been here since Tuesday and I have sat and listened to some of the best speakers I've ever heard. I had the privilege of sitting in a 5 hour class on Tuesday with Shane Claiborne (author of Irresistible Revolution). He is a radical... and I love it. Today I sat in a workshop about the Christian approach to immigration issues.. and perhaps my favorite part is the bible studies every morning with Dr. John Perkins... he is so full of passion and wisdom. At 77 years old he still speaks with such power and conviction it shakes the room.

The worship is great, the people are great and the knowledge is great.... BUT.... I miss all my kiddos. I'm so excited to take what I've learned here back to them. One of the great things I have learned is the need for empowerment. I don't want to preach to my kids, I want to teach them to preach so that they can do it themselves. So that THEY can revive their neighborhood with the Lord....not me or Ron or Paul or whoever. There have been amazing quotes all week, but perhaps my favorite is this...

" Go to the people,
Live among them,
Learn from them,
Love them,
Start with what they know,
Build on what they have:
But of the best leaders,
When their task is done,
The people will remark
'We have done it ourselves' "