John Maxwell and Christ Church

My leadership conference came upon me before I was ready. I had been planning to attend the Maximum Impact conference back in May, but I wasn't able to because of a hole in our department if I were gone. (Sounds very impressive, but we also had others out, so don't take it like that.) I was able to arrange to go to a Leadership Effect conference instead, but it wasn't until September. Well, as always, it arrived to soon and we found ourselves shuttling to Nashville with kids in tow. The highlight of the trip down was my 20 month old shouting, "Yea! Daddy!" and giggling histerically for about 20 miles, 30 minutes from our exit.

We had a really good time down there. Visiting with my Sister-in-law and her husband and son. They were very gracious in receiving us into their small apartment, and we slept on the floor in the living room.

I was familiar with Christ Church--where the conference was held--only by the various recordings of their choir. I was astonished at the enormity of the complex that was this church. Back in Knoxville, we have several churches that seem to be as large as local high schools and are ever expanding. I attend one of these. But when I went through the doors at Christ Church, I was taken aback by the vastness of the facilities. There was the two-story auditorium, an atrium above the foyer, a two story nursery and elementary school wing, and another for jr high and high school. There was a gymnasium, again two story, and an indoor kids playground that was two-story as well, and consequently, as large as the first church that I had ever attended. There was a cafe, that had a full line of high quality coffees and espressos, and bookstore that had clothes, music, videos, cards, stationery, and more books than some of the bible bookstores in Knoxville. All told, I think there was 5 or 6 stories and any number of people at the church just working (volunteering?).

1300 people were in attendance to hear John Maxwell talk about leadership. It was a really good presentation, and I know that there are going to be some good take home points, but one thing I left knowing was that Maxwell is a marketing genius. I'll leave my bitter cynicism for another day, but just wanted to point that out.