What C3 Is All About February 21, 2007

We came across an incredible blog post this week from one of the many pastors who are going to be part of C3 this week. Loui Canchola, the pastor of Cornerstone Church, shared his thoughts about what the conference has meant to him, his staff and his church.

God has used this conference in my life and in Cornerstone Church's life in amazing ways. C3 is an amazing vision conference. It's about the nuts and bolts of creative ministry, but it's so much more than that. Every year we try to take new people and a bigger group because it's an amazing vision trip for our leaders, those people that are investing their lives at Cornerstone, to see what can be at Cornerstone.

I'll never forget when God was placing in my heart a vision to step out and plant a church. I always knew it would be a different kind of church. I wasn't wired up for the traditional church and I had a vision in my mind and my heart of what that church that God was calling me to plant could be--and then it happened: I attended my first C3 Conference and was BLOWN AWAY! I can remember everything about it just making a huge impact on me; (the music, the speakers, the breakouts, the creativity, the volunteers, the excellence--everything about it).  What had been in my mind and in my heart, I was finally seeing with my eyes. My first expression was "I didn't know church could be like this!" That is one of the driving factors of why we do what we do at Cornerstone, to have God rock people's worlds and hear them say, "I didn't know church could be like this!"

I remember having to step out of their worship center during the first session because I was balling like a baby at what God was doing in me. I remember calling Michelle and crying like a baby and telling her that I would never be the same; that God had spoken to me like never before and there was no going back--we would be planting what would become Cornerstone Church!

I cannot overstate what this conference means to me and I'm so glad to be taking the group that we're taking. I can't wait to see what God is going to show us and what lies ahead... Just being around Fellowship's Campus and seeing their creativity is inspiring. It's going to be an awesome conference. Can't wait to share what we experience!

That's what C3 is all about. What can possibly top getting together with thousands of pastors and leaders to learn and worship and connect with one another, and the extraordinary God we serve? What a privilege each of us has to serve in the local church and reach people for Christ, whether as a senior pastor, staff member, or key volunteer.

The Creative Church Conference kicks off in just two hours. Today is packed with six pre-conference tracks: Worship & Media, Assimilation & Volunteers, Small Groups, Students, Children, and Satellite Campuses.

The full conference begins tomorrow morning. This year is the biggest C3 ever and there a lot of incredible things planned, as well as some great surprises.

What is your C3 story going to be?