Every significant conversation has many phases or seasons. You have the quick hellos, the intense debates, the relaxed banter back and forth and the moments of emotion – whether happy or sad. Each phase of a conversation has its place and is part of bringing those involved closer together.
Well, for the last year or more, the global Church has been having a conversation about the key topics of the Cape Town 2010 Congress. Some of those have been at events, other conversations have happened in small groups and still others have been going on at a distance by phone and the Internet.
Each one has served a purpose and added to the larger conversation between the members of God’s Church around the world.
Well, now we are entering a new phase. The Cape Town Congress begins on Saturday. While it is running with 4000 plus voices contributing to the discussions, thousands more will gather at more than 500 GlobaLink sites around the world to engage in the same discussion. And yet a larger group will be engaged in the conversation through all of the video, audio and text streams coming out of the event online.
This volume of interaction may feel overwhelming and hard to engage with effectively. Let me share some quick tips and suggestions for you as we begin.
For those of you at Cape Town and the many GlobaLink events here are some tips to help you make the most of your time:
- Enjoy the person who is right in front of you. It is easy to hop around and realize later you had few meaningful conversations.
- Be intentional about the sessions you go to and pray through what God wants you to focus on.
- Don’t get tired out early . . . pace yourself and take time to get refreshed.
- Make sure you have one or more partners who you are interacting with at a deeper level as you debrief each day and prepare for the next.
- Take some risks . . . don’t be an observer only. This is a defining moment in your life and ministry so make sure that you engage in the discussions and share your perspectives!
For those of you who are participating via the online stream of information, here are some tips to help you engage effectively:
- Explore the various streams of information coming out of the congress and pick the one that you can use most easily and effectively. Then follow it daily.
- Don’t be an observer of the conversation. Take time to make at least one comment/contribution per day.
- Share the articles, videos, reports with others in your sphere of influence and ask them for their input on what you are learning.
- Pray for the conversation and join with those all around the world doing the same.
- Read/watch/listen to at least one full session or presentation each day of the congress so that you can really engage in the event and be encouraged by what God is doing in the Global Church.
Well, I hope to see each and every one of you involved in one way or another. This is our chance to come together as the Global Church and showcase our faith, our passion and our values to a world that will be watching.
Make sure to follow along on this blog for daily updates and summaries of key things to be interacting with. I will strive to be a jump off point for you as you engage with Cape Town 2010.