Exponential Conference 2011 #1

My post-Easter activities, this year, included a quick trip to Orlando for Exponential 2011... a national gathering of church planters from every corner of the country and a few folks from across the globe. An estimated 4,000 people gathered at First Baptist Church... a larger than usual ecclesial out-post a stone's throw from the epicenter of family fun in Orlando. Prior to an e-newsletter from Path 1 I hadn't, somehow, heard of this particular conference, but a quick glance at the schedule, workshops, and a few of the presenters prompted me to take this conference in for the insight it might provide our Congregational Development team of the Yellowstone Conference as well as a little personal development on the side. While the focus of the gathering was church planting, it seems that any energized, intentional rhythm of ecclesiological praxis in one arena might translate to another with a little work.... and so is the case here. I was definitely surprised by the diversity of the group... young, old, male, female, new-comers, old seasoned pros, denominational leaders, solo expeditionists and the list goes on. The theological diversity of the group was noticeable and profound, but, at the end as I sat in the 5,000 seat sanctuary nearly alone, the notion struck me that common thread woven through the entire event was a reflection of one simple line from a fairly common prayer, "... your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth just as it is in heaven." I still have a lot to process, but here are a few initial thoughts...