Willow Creek Summit – As We Begin…

I’m sitting at the back of Grace UMC in Cape Coral, Florida watching my friend Jorge Acevedo convene the leaders here to learn how to do the Job better.

I love it. “Holy Spirit, we give you free rein.”

The conference opened with this pledge in many voices, which I may not have captured completely:

Right where I am, I will do all I can to breathe God’s life into the world.

I will cultivate a soft and pliable heart to hear the cry of the weak and needy.

I will not use anger as a leadership tool.

I will seek help to overcome addictive behaviors.

I will begin every day with prayer.

I will own up to what I’ve done wrong and I will make it right.

I will give my time building a small group.

I will open my home.

I will do all I can to heal the rift in our church.

We will encourage dialogue between local Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities.

We will stand together against corruption.

We will provide free medical care for those in need.

We will reach out to the untouchables.

Right where we are I will do all I can to breathe God’s life into my world. If not now, then when?

More soon.