C3 2007 launched with a spoken poem about what if and what is, followed by a high-energy worship set featuring "Solid Rock". This set the stage for the first session by Ed Young.
Ed's talk focused on delegation, which has been a key part of Fellowship Church since it started 17 years ago. Most people think that delegation is exiling something to oblivion so you can forget about it, but delegation without investigation is relegation. Delegation is entrusting and empowering what if ideas to those who can turn them into what is.
He then addressed five questions, filled with a number of recent ministry lessons and examples:
1. What keeps us from delegating?
2. What are the things you can't delegate?
3. Who do you delegate to?
4. How do you delegate?
5. Why do you delegate?
The session was the first to feature two innovations at this year's conference. First, each message is followed by a panel discussion with the speaker. The panelists are pastors and leaders from churches of various sizes and approaches who can help flesh out and apply the lessons learned.
Also, attendees can text message and email questions during the talk which are then incorporated into the Q&A! This format produced a lot of great follow-up as many different people were able to share ideas and struggles from their own ministries.
Session Two was Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv. His message continued the conference theme as he provided an answer to this question: Who does God most often use to turn what if into what is?
The answer? Insecure, risk taking, pain enduring idiots.
Craig explained how God has shown him this in his own life and ministry in painful, sometimes humorous, ways. His message was based on Acts 4:13 where the disciples are described as ordinary and unskilled. What God is looking for is people stupid enough to believe that anything is possible through Him.
He then challenged us to think and pray about these three questions:
1. In what area of ministry have I become dangerously secure in my own knowledge and ability?
2. What faith risk is God calling me to take?
3. What painful decision have I been avoiding?
Craig admitted that at one-time he had become a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Christ. We must never serve the church more than Him.
In the Q&A, the question, Craig was asked about his biggest idiot moment. Time and time again, he said, he's insulted God by dreaming too small.
What an incredible start to the conference! Everywhere you turn, there is energy, excitement, and questions as pastors or leaders download what they just heard and begin to process what God wants to do in their own churches.