Come along to a conference the letter read. The thought of being caged in a hotel with 59 other church people for 3 days to attend a conference for which there was very little information didn’t greatly inspire me. I was assured the material was sound and the speakers good, but no other information was forthcoming no matter how many times I asked. With a degree of reservation I thought nothing ventured, nothing gained and signed up.
We arrived to find we weren’t at a conference but on a course, alarm bells tinkled quietly as I found a seat beside a big green folder full of the course material, my heart began to sink. ‘J’ from the congregation who was also there expressed in words what I was feeling and the words that came out of my mouth in reply; saying we are here now we shall see how it all goes were as much to myself as to her.
Straight into the introduction which meant I was able to find out for myself that the speakers were more than good, they were excellent, straight away I warmed to them, however I was still slightly hesitate about it all, and still didn’t really know what I had let myself in for. At least they both have a sense of humour I thought. As the rest of the first day began to unfold I found myself relaxing more and more, this stuff is good I was now not only thinking but saying to the others gathered around the table, and the rest of the three days continued in a similar vein. We learnt much through sharing the joys and disappointments of those who had gathered, there was much laughter and yes I cried, the vulnerable side of me just won’t stay hidden, and through it all my enthusiasm levels started to soar. I have to admit, and happily do so, that it wasn’t the nightmare I was fearing but probably one of the best three days I have spent doing church stuff in a long long time. Yes there was the odd occasion when it felt a bit rushed - they were after all fitting five days into three, but session after session produced new challenges, inspiration, encouragement, reassurance and sound theology about Church growth, not only in connection with drawing in new members but also in encouraging exsiting members further on their journeys.
The two speakers, Tim and Damien, graciously shared their own stories and experience in an open non threatening way, not laying down some master plan that should be stuck to at all costs but rather showing us a framework and flinging a variety of items into the treasure chest so that we could pick up the bits that were going to be of greatest value to us. I could go on, like someone who shall remain nameless did, about how good my room was, and about the great food and the cost of the drinks at the bar, but actually those things didn’t really matter, the one bit I had been dreading most turned out to be by far the best bit and the bit that I will be talking about and sharing with anyone who wants to hear about it, and probably those who couldn’t care less for some time to come. But first I need to digest it all a bit, and that dear reader will not happen until after Easter - is it really Holy Week next week already? - but it most certainly will happen, I also need to order a shelf load of books from Amazon. For now I have only two further things to say, if you get the chance to attend a LYCIG course I would urge you not to let it pass you by and, for those who were wondering about our Swedish friends, Johan has been safely delivered to the security gate at Glasgow airport.
