One of the most powerful gifts that the gospel has to offer the church is the reality of power in weakness. This is not only the texture of our cross-shaped gospel, it is also the means of effective ministry that integrates itself with the message of the cross that we proclaim.
In real life, this is hit home almost every time I, someone I’m listening to, or someone I hear of, is willing to admit of particular weaknesses and struggles to other folks in the body–or when we confess our actual, particular sins to one another.
Unfortunately, many of us are driven either by the internal voice of self-protection or the external calls for perfection, and live and minister in hope of attaining to, or at least seeming to attain to, a level of perfection that is truly impossible.
Many of the conferences that we attend that are directed at our growth actually feed this vain striving after perfection. They offer us better ways to get where we will never arrive, and hinder our embrace of the weakness that is our reality.
Enter, the Epic Fail Pastors Conference.
From all accounts, last year’s gathering was a singular opportunity for pastors to gather and embrace a transparency that fed both their own hearts and the lives of their congregations.
So get thee to Mansfield, OH, March 22-24. This one is worth getting out for.
The organizer, J. R. Briggs, has more thoughts here.
I would recommend it also. I attended the 2011 one and it was wonderful. The speakers and the discussions were great, and the informal conversations over dinner/lunch were so, so, helpful as well.
You’re not going, by chance, are you? I’m pretty sure I am (with others from my church). Only an hour and a half from me.
Alas, no. Too far, no $$, etc. Wish I could be there. I’ll have to, instead, add it to the list of 25 conferences I wish I hadn’t missed in 2011-12! I hope it is great time for you and your folks.