The last three days I have been in Cincinnati for the 2008 North American Christian Convention. Last year this convention was in Kansas City and was the spring board for the launch of Restore.
As I was driving into Cincy, it was kind of surreal. I remember attending this convention in 1972 in Cincinnati when I was 9 years old. I remember riding up and down the elevators of the hotel (my first time above 5 floors) and going to Riverfront stadium where nearly 30,000 people gathered for a church service.
Here I was, 36 years later, arriving to share what God has done at Restore and to do a workshop on multisite innovations with my friends Brian Zehr and Donnie Williams. I really never imagined anything like this would ever happen.
The workshop went great and Brian and Donnie did a phenomenal job of sharing real life challenges and real life inspiration. At the main session last night in front of a few thousand people, I was interviewed by Cam Huxford (president of the convention) about Restore. As I shared some of the great things God has done, launch attendance and small groups, the crowd applauded. When I shared the number of people who have become Christ Followers and taken their faith public in baptism, they erupted. It was a great moment.
The size of this convention has been on a steady decline since 1986, so I am not sure what is in store for its future. I do know that I have great memories from my childhood and I believe that Restore would not be here today without the catalytic vision of the 2007 NACC leadership to plant a church in KC. For that I am eternally grateful.
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Thanks for the comments on the NACC. I was wondering if anyone was going to talk about it. My impression of the NACC the one time I attended in 2000 was that there was a lot of talk about "successful" churches so far as numbers, but not a lot of practical teaching on how to do it, and a serious lack of profound Bible studies. Then again, my memories are probably unreliable. I'm hoping to give it another try in a year or two.
Posted by: Adam G. | July 07, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Jim,
Thanks for your friendship and encouragement. You use that gift of yours very well. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Brian Zehr and I were just chatting about you this week and the work you are doing for the Kingdom. Blessings.
Posted by: Troy | July 06, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Troy,
I also applaud the good work God is doing through you at Restore.
I remember with fondness those early days in Naperville trying to figure out with the CCC team how to become a reproducing church. It is awesome to see how the journey is unfolding.
Keep blazing the trail,
Jim
Posted by: Jim Tomberlin | July 06, 2008 at 10:22 AM