Comments on: What I Experienced at the 2013 WCA GLS

By: Ben Toh

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 15:21:47 +0000

Here is a brief synopsis of Hybel’s leadership lecture: http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2013/bill-hybels-and-taylor-swift.html

Though I don’t quite get the connection with Taylor Swift, her take home point seems to be that leadership is not for wimps, and that if a leader is unable to or refuses to (humbly) take criticism, he/she will invariably be a horrible leader.

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By: Brian Karcher

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 18:11:56 +0000

You’ve got the right idea, sheepherd1.

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By: sheepherd1

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 15:30:45 +0000

Can we just be grateful when a member of a church gets a prompting from the Holy Spirit to do something else for Christ’s Kingdom? A shepherd who helps a sheep with bible study and then one day decided to do something for Jesus should be blessed to do so. Instead getting angry or bashing that person who left, the shepherd just have to pray and let go that person. God will bless His people. God will bless the men and women who has left UBF.

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By: Chris

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 15:25:46 +0000

I wished Samuel Lee would still live and could hear you preaching that way. Honestly.

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By: Brian Karcher

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 14:37:30 +0000

One of the most heart-moving moments of the GLS was when Pastor Bill introduced their president who was leaving their organization to go somewhere else (Compassion International I think?). Pastor Bill shared the Willow Creek tradition of sending off one of their leaders. The entire 9,000 gathering stood up and shouted “We hold you in high regard. Way to go.” Then they all clapped wildly as he stood on the stage alone. The clapped like this for several minutes. It was breath-taking to see how much they appreciated what this leader had done for them. The man being sent off broke down in tears and could hardly speak.

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By: Brian Karcher

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 14:13:47 +0000

Wow, Ben, perhaps you should be at the next GLS :)

You nailed the essence of what Chris Brown preached:

“Shepherding is not to change people, but to offer them space and freedom where change can occur. It is not an invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the shepherd, but the gift of a chance for the sheep to find its own.”

Space and freedom. Chris Brown used Old Testament examples of good (Pharoah) and bad (Saul) leadership events. He called it “making room in your chariot for a younger leader to take your power and credit”.

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By: Brian Karcher

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 14:10:27 +0000

The last I heard Ben, they are not ready to handle me yet :) But I believe the time is coming when such a visit would be possible. I am told they are still trying to process what happened 2 years ago.

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By: Ben Toh

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 14:07:41 +0000

I may have shared this before, but here is my unpolished, unrefined, technical “Chris Brown” message on the leadership that Jesus condemns: http://westloop-church.org/index.php/messages/new-testament/23-matthews-gospel/313-shepherding-sheep-mt-20-25-28

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By: Ben Toh

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 14:02:39 +0000

If you ask your Toledo UBF brothers and they agree, I will gladly make the trip from Chicago and join.

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By: Chris

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 13:59:21 +0000

Thanks for the summary. This sounds really inspiring. Chris Brown’s message is exactly what UBF needs. What’s wrong with UBF is really the Moses style leadership where leaders have too much power. Not only is this directly opposed to what Jesus taught in Mk 10:45-48 and Mt 23, but there are also important psychological reasons why this leadership is harmful for the souls of everyone, including the leaders themselves (http://www.npr.org/2013/08/10/210686255/a-sense-of-power-can-do-a-number-on-your-brain?ft=1&f=1007). This may explain why the top UBF leaders who are in power seem to be unable to understand what we are talking about.

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By: Brian Karcher

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 13:53:16 +0000

My offer, Ben, is an open offer to any ubf chapter (who will pay my travel expenses) to share Chris Brown’s sermon or Andy Stanley’s sermon video and lead a Q&A session afterward.

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By: Ben Toh

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 13:46:09 +0000

“We welcome anyone of any faith and anyone who has not made faith part of their life story yet.” Bill Hybels

In the past and even today most churches require that you believe before you can belong. Such churches will likely continue to die out because of their exclusive and elitist tendencies. Today, the churches that thrive are those that make you feel that you belong even if you don’t believe. Both Newbigin and Tim Keller have strongly advocated this.

UBF has become so unique (insider prayers, unusual speaking and sermon style, foreign accents, sometimes even by Americans!) that they are so unlike the culture in America that unless you first believe and feel loved many newcomers will just feel that our church atmosphere just seems so unnatural, odd and even “cultish.” Only what the younger people do “feels” normal, such as the music, or skits or drama. This was most evident at the ISBC.

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By: Ben Toh

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 13:33:40 +0000

Reading your report makes me feel so bad that I did not attend it!!

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