As many of you know the CollegeLeader Conference is coming up. I have been getting emails asking what the conference is like. Hopefully the website gives some feel of it (for that click here). But being that this is only our second year, I get it. Most have never been. And, in fact, even if you came last year the truth is this year will be a bit different from our first one (that’s a nice way of saying we learned from mistakes made). More than anything though, we’re more intentional in our approach. So, I thought I’d share an email I recently wrote to give a little more insight into the heart behind our conference…

Hello College Leader,

I wanted to write a personal email (well, as personal as this type of email could be I guess) to share with you more about my heart for the CollegeLeader Conference coming up October 15-17. I’m not writing you in hopes that you come. If that happens great, but honestly whether or not you come has no bearing on this email. I simply wanted to write you so that you understand what we’re doing and a little about why.

We have intentionally put together a conference that expresses our heart as an organization. This has all the training you might need, but without the “bells and whistle’s.” Why no bells and whistles? Well, we’re pretty sure they aren’t what you need –œ or even want. And frankly that’s not what we’re into. We simply want to help in the day-to-day trenches of ministry, beyond program stuff. And, I think that’s the heart of many people working in college ministry. If that’s you, keep reading…

The truth is I could go out and get a bunch of “big name” speakers and a popular band with the hope of attracting a lot of people. But my desire is to get the right people, not just a large group. I have put together a team of people that I know live and breathe college ministry, don’t care about their notoriety, but instead simply want to help others in college ministry. And we simply want people to come to the conference with the same heart.

We want our conference to model what we think college ministry can be like in every church context. That is not to say large group gatherings, bands, and great speakers are unhealthy. It is to say however, that those things aren’t necessary to have a successful ministry. And, we want to strictly focus on the aspects that are vital for your success in ministry to college-age people.

If you don’t come to the conference this year, know that we love you and really want to help in any way we can. So, don’t be afraid of knocking on the door and asking for help. That’s why we exist as an organization.

Blessings to you,
Chuck