Pray for the Culture Center Summit!

Tonight we start in with the new, improved Culture Center Summit, so if nothing else, for your purposes--dear blog partners--it will mean we'll need to find some use for the space currently occupied by its logo.  But that's for another day.

This will be a fun and interesting summit.  Last year's focus was beating the drum for the need for such a thing.  We had lots of talks making that point in one form or another.  My main talk involved me reciting lots of stats and quotes that suggested that faith in Jesus was in desperate straits in the western world without addressing things as we were suggesting.  I promoted the summit wherever I was--Charles Park did this somewhat as well--and so we drew lots of folks, including many of you, exploring whether they bought this pitch.

This year has brought an entirely different approach.  I haven't promoted the summit anywhere I've spoken this year, though I've mentioned the blog here and there.  Our only marketing was here and to those who were on our list from last year.

The thought behind this was that what's needed now are people who, having bought in, are hoping to actually begin to forge partnerships along these lines.  We had opportunities to stump for this, say, in magazines targeting emergent Christians or websites along the same line, but we passed.  Our thinking is that this way of life and thought doesn't work all that well as a hip new strategy for, say, "reaching lost people"--and we've had some people really interested in us on those terms, who, like the rich young ruler in the gospels, have gone away sad.  So promoting this stuff as one strategy among many to choose from to create a happening church has seemed counterproductive.

So I'm excited for what will be happening over the next several days.  We'll have senior leadership from, if I'm counting correctly, 14 churches and folks from more than that.  By definition we'll be significantly smaller than last year (i.e., we only promoted to folks on last year's list, so getting bigger was off the table from the start).  But rather than reiterating last year's approach and offering lots of content to make the case for this stuff, we'll be offering far less content (although--do pray for this--we're excited to hear from Chris Lowney this year, who was on tap for last year, but had a family crisis and needed to cancel; and we'll be hearing from our worship/music crew on Saturday night in what should be a fun addition to what we've done so far). 

Instead, we'll be spending lots of time together in working groups to, one hopes, actually begin to forge functional working partnerships at a lot of levels.  I spent the summer writing a "how to" book on this stuff that we'll unveil here and, one hopes, it should offer at least a starting point for some conversations.  Lay leaders and worship leaders/musicians will have their own conversations, and there will be breakout conversations on any number of things (justice issues, for instance).

So, all to say, could you take even a brief moment right now and pray for this gathering?  I'd really appreciate it.

Our goal is a modest one: to foment what in the old days would get called "an awakening" in the secular west.  We may be naive in the extreme to think that our efforts will make a key difference there (or maybe we're not!), but I'm confident that your prayers along that line are right at the heart of what's helpful.

And, if you want to take a moment even to comment here something along the lines of  "I've prayed!", I'd take that as a great encouragement.

Lots of love.

Comments

[David Tunstall]

may the centered-set idea reach people's hearts so as to give people the path (& create the opportunity) to get in touch with God wherever they are...

[Ryan NYC]

I'm praying... and attending. I'm also praying that there isn't much traffic between NY and Boston, so I can make it on time.

It'll be GREAT no matter what, Dave, so no worries.

See you tonight!

[PB]

Can't attend, but prayer is done. Best --

[Ty Denney]

I am praying for you guys Dave! I am also saddened that Erica and I could not come this year - you have been influential in my life and last years summit was great! Give Grace our love and we are thrilled to be a fan of you guys and NTRT!

[Abby]

I'm praying for you guys to have an incredible, God-inspired weekend!

[brian]

I've prayed. Wish I could be there, but my wife is about to have a baby any day and it seems irresponsible to do anything but mill around the house and pick things up off the floor for her, etc.! Hope you all have an amazing time...

[Vinceation]

I've prayed... And I'm disappointed to the maximum power I can't be there. But much love to all.

[Judy]

I am praying for this Summit

May God, break open the " the hearts, minds , souls of His people,
May you "let go" and let Him
guide you, teach you, love you
unify you,

May Jesus open " the eyes of your hearts"

May you feel His conviction and respond...
May the Holy Spirit, Light the Fire .. again and again

May He give you wisdom and revelation unlike anything you have ever Known

May God accomplish His agenda

May you never be the same
in Jesus eyes,, after this Summmit

May this Summit continue in you , beyond the Vineyard doors and walls,,

May you find new love for Christ and others that will spill into secular worlds,,,

I wanted to come , desparately
No money

I pray for you

Blessings
Judy

[Evan]

Dave and all, I'm praying for the center of the centered set to very dynamically be the center of the Culture Center Summit! Praying also for the resources to emerge for this powerful message to reach the midwest and northern Wisconsin.

[Denise]

I've prayed. May all God's purposes be fulfilled in your gathering.

[Jeff]

Just got back, hope the last session was as good as the rest. Here's to a centered-set revival.

[kennyp]

word... we just got home to NY. Thanks Dave (& team) for a fantastic time. looking forward to more.

[Mark Phifer-Houseman]

Dave & Team,

May the fruit grow as people get back home and deal w/entrenched mental models, church staff cultures, family stress, and just all the diversions from "the main thing" that our habits and our enemy throw at us.

May you guys experience good rest and happy people upon re-entry.

Lots of hope for a building movement,

Mark P-H