Host Site Pastor | Cal Jernigan: Why Bother?

The Global Leadership Summit will be live via satellite in Mesa, Arizona at Central Christian Church on multiple campuses. Cal Jernigan is one of our long-term host site pastors and his church has embraced the vision of the Global Leadership Summit. He blogs on leadership and ministry here.

Can you imagine getting to spend two days with Christian leaders in your community as you learn from some of the sharpest people on leadership? Yet the critic might wonder, isn’t there a better use of our time? Not to mention the money and energy involved. Aren’t there more pressing concerns?

Let’s be honest, it’s more than just a little bit of a hassle, especially if you’re a host sight. It really is a bucket-load of work—what with getting folks registered, recruiting the volunteers to serve, getting the campus ready, etc. etc. etc.

Is the Leadership Summit really worth the bother?

Oh sure, if we didn’t attend the Leadership Summit we wouldn’t have heard Bill’s challenge to grasp and then tenaciously hold onto our “white-hot why”.

Nor would we have heard Jim Collins explain why people who focus on their careers tend to stagnate but those who focus on their unit thrive.

Nor would we have been inspired by Ed Catmull as he explained the concept of having a kind but candid “brain trust” that critiques our best efforts – just so we can get better!

But does that make it worth it?

Let me say this, and let me say it clearly… yes! Now let me say it again… and hear this emphatically…YES!!! It’s many times over worth it!

As I’ve thought about it, there are at least four incredible reasons the Summit is worth the substantial investment we make in it.

First, it’s a tremendous gift to the people of our church who attend. Outside of the Summit, where are we going to get this many people exposed to this kind of leadership training? The Summit provides world-class teaching from world class leaders. As the years have gone by, so much of the conversation that takes place within our church had its genesis in sessions from the Summit. It’s a great place to start conversations about how to lead better!

Second, I can’t help but think of the hundreds of people who give so much of themselves to serve the people who attend the Summit. These are the unsung heroes in our midst. Many take vacation time just to be able to serve. Because we host the Summit at multiple sites, each having over a thousand in attendance, our need for servant leaders is enormous. Without their selfless dedication to our guests, we simply couldn’t pull it off. They serve so others can learn. Does it get any more Christ-like?

Third, I think about what hosting the Summit provides for other churches in our community. Because we are willing to take on the lion share of the heavy lifting to make this available, it is our chance to serve the community at large. This includes both churches and businesses. Where else would we get this opportunity?

Last, I think about what the Summit has come to mean to me personally. As is often stated, it serves as a yearly infusion of life giving inspiration. There is nothing on my calendar I look forward to more. It truly has become a non-negotiable for me. You will always find me at the Summit…just like I’ve been for the last fifteen years. Yeah, I’m the deer longing for the cool drink from the stream of water—it can never get here quickly enough.

So is it worth it? Yeah…it’s worth it. It’s really worth it! And then it’s worth a whole lot more! Thank you Willow for the vision to share this experience with hundreds of thousands of leaders all around the planet. We are all better for it!

So now, in this very moment, I find myself contemplating how I’ll never think of “the little engine that could” in the same way again. What a great reminder of the need for grit.

I gotta’ go for now… Another session is starting and another round of insights are being served!