CM Leaders Conference 2012 Reflections

I had the privilege to go to the first ever CM Leaders Conference sponsored by the International Network of Children’s Ministries (INCM) This conference was totally focused on leadership. It was a topic that I was fascinated by and so I decided to make the trip to Columbus, Ohio and see what was going to happen.

I went with no real expectations but just to be open to learn whatever God had for me to learn. I want to be a better leader, no, honestly, I want to be a great leader! I desire to lead children and their families and those who are on my team in a way that inspires them to grow closer to Jesus.

I will share more as I have time to reflect but let me first focus on something that happened that God pointed to my heart  as I was sitting alone in my hotel room.

One of my new friends, Ron Brooks, came from Michigan to this conference.  I am blessed to call him a friend. This  young man inspires my heart because he’s walking through some tough days and yet, he keeps a big smile on his face and his eyes on Jesus. He is taking a bold and courageous step of faith by working with a church that can’t even afford to pay him what he’s worth. He doesn’t have a regular job yet and he yet he will tell you that God is going to supply. He did for Ron to come to this conference and I loved hanging out with him.  Ok, back to the story, I had invited Ron to join me for dinner and we and some other headed off to Chipotle. When we arrived the line was really long and one of the guys quickly suggested, White Castle! OH MAN! I jumped over the wall and was out the door leaving Ron stunned and wondering what I was doing, (Because I had told him I was buying dinner!) LOL!! He stood there watching me run down the sidewalk.  All of the sudden, I froze in my tracks, as I realized, “What am I doing? I promised Ron dinner!  Wow What a friend I am to just abandon my friend.  ( FYI, I did run back and give him some cash so he could buy his dinner and yes, I got my White Castle!)

The Lesson came as I was laughing to myself, about the events of the past nights dinner. It was then I felt God speaking, “You’ve line jumped before, Tom. You had your eyes on a project and then all of the sudden, You jump the line and run off to another thing only to realize or sometimes not that you left the original plan unfinished, the lesson unlearned. You need to slow down, even stop! and make sure your still in line with what I want you to do.”  Wow! I realized there have been many times I have jumped from project to project, program to program without really seeking God’s plan to see if I should jump or not.

I have made many promises and commitments to be a better leader, father, husband, person, and jump to something else that I would promise anew.  I jump way to often.

I spent the rest of the time sitting in my room in silence to hear God speak again, just walk with me, don’t jump into your day, be still and know! Stay in line with me and  you will see some great things.

Time to make a sign: No Line Jumping!