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A Leader I Admire - Kirsten Strand

We have a very strong leadership culture at Community so I am fortunate to be surrounded by lots of very capable and highly competent leaders. And one of those amazing leaders is Kirsten Strand our Community 4:12 Director.  Over the last six years Kirsten has led a tremendous shift in the culture of Community making us more compassionate about justice, passionate about the poor and has created a longing in us to see under-resourced communities transformed.  In short, she has helped us become more like Jesus.  Kirsten is a leader that I really admire!  Today, the Naperville Sun had an article featuring her as "one of the best and brightest and up-and-coming leaders."  So, check out this article and get to know a leader I really admire.

Eagles in Leadership Interview about Big Idea & More!

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith has received numerous acknowledgments for his contributions and podcasts at Eagles in Leadership.  A few weeks ago I did a telephone interview for a podcast with Matt.  We talked a lot about The BIG IDEA, NewThing and more.  If you are interested, you can check it out HERE.

Good To The Core Author to Lead Group at Yellow Box

Author and COMMUNITY attender John Blumberg will lead a terrific new term group based on his brand new book, GOOD to the CORE.

This 8-week term group challenges participants to genuinely look at the core within them. It moves beyond the assumptions of being a values-based individual into the accountability of knowing what you truly value at home, at work, and in your community. Johann Von Goethe said it best, “Things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” GOOD to the CORE is about what matters most, with a strategy to insure it is not at the mercy of what matters least! GOOD to the CORE rips away the veneer to reveal the truth about our ultimate benchmarks:  personally, professionally and organizationally!

For more information on click HERE.  You can sign up for this group by e-mailing Sue Komarynsky.

Here are some of the details that you will want to know:

• Sunday, September 20 through Sunday, November 15.
• 6:30 - 8 PM, Naperville Yellow Box
• Music, message and discussion
• For information regarding this group contact John Blumberg
• To sign up for this group and child care, contact Sue Komarynsky

Grateful.

 

Idea Camp DC Interview

I had the privilege of being a part of The Idea Camp in Washington, D.C. a couple weeks ago where the theme was compassion and justice.  I did a workshop on "Doing Missions in the Burbs" and was also asked to do an interview in the opening session along with Mark Batterson of National Community Church.  If you would like to watch the interview of Mark and myself it is now available by clicking HERE. 

20 Years of Community in 2:20!

Chicks & Chocolate!

Ladies, you are invited to Chicks & Chocolate.  It's a fun girls' night out featuring Jen Hatmaker, popular speaker and author, who will be talking on the topic of "The Dance Women do for Approval".  Jen is an inspiring speaker with a great sense of humor, so you are sure to get some laughs to go with the chocolate! This event is open to the community, please feel free to invite your girlfriends to attend! 

Inteverview on Catalyst Voices

Catalyst Voices - Dave Ferguson from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Got a chance to hangout last night with L.V. Hanson, Ambassador for the Catalyst Conference and head honcho of the Catalyst Road Trip.  Since he was new to Chicago I had to treat him to some Lou Malnati's pizza.  He's a great guy and we had a great time.  In the video we talked a lot about church planting and where Community is headed as a missional church.  If you want to read his post about our conversation it is on the Catalystspace blog titled First Full Day in Chicago and it includes some stuff on multi-site that is not in the video.

Less Talk & More Action for 100+ Students!

Over the last couple weeks we sent more than 100 students on mission trips to New Orleans, Galveston, Mexico and Philippines.  This is a pic of some of the students (including my son Josh) taking a break at the beach after a hard day of work.  I'm extraordinarily proud of our students.

Our student ministry made a strategic decision this year that rather than send our students to another conference (they already have a Blast Winter Conference) they decided that they would encourage students to go on mission trips.  I think this bias toward less talk and more action is something the church needs if we are to accomplish the mission of Jesus.

2 New Community Christian Sites Coming to Aurora!

If you have been on the Community Christian Church website lately you may have noticed that when you click on the "locations" tab there are no longer 9 locations but 11!  We are excited to announce that we are currently forming launch teams for both East Aurora and Aurora (North).  Both of these launch teams have already attracted a large numbers of people and look to be big impact sites. 

If you are interested in learning more about  the East Aurora site, click HERE.  If you want more info about the Aurora (North) site click HERE.