How the GLS Changed My Life & Gave Birth to Our Church

Paul Basden is a co-founding and senior pastor of Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Paul has been sharing the good news of God’s grace since his early 20s as a pastor in Texas and Alabama.  A native of Dallas, Texas, Paul earned his BA from Baylor University and his Master of Divinity and PhD from Southwestern Theological Seminary. Paul also served as university minister and a professor of theology at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Denise, have two grown daughters and three grandsons.

Fifteen years ago, I was pastoring a church in Birmingham, Alabama. That same year in 2001, while attending the Global Leadership Summit in Atlanta, something happened that would change my life from that point forward.

I had attended the Summit several times before and looked forward to the challenge to “get better as a leader.” As I sat in the worship center of Perimeter Presbyterian Church listening to the speakers, I knew God would speak to me – I just didn’t have any idea what he would say.

On the last day of the Summit, I was dutifully waiting for the last session to come and go, pretty sure that God had said to me all he wanted to say. Then the next topic was introduced by saying: “Everyone of us will eventually leave our current place of ministry – whether through retirement, death or moving to a new place.”

I quietly prayed: “Lord, surely this has nothing to do with me. Does it? I’ve just completed eight years at my church in Birmingham, the vision for an outreach-oriented church is catching on, and we’re hiring new staff.” Then I jotted down in my program the unsettling question: “Is the Lord calling me to leave where I am?”

God had my full attention.

There were interviews with business and ministry leaders who had retired early, thinking they were done with their careers. Feeling restless, however, each one re-entered the work-force. When they were asked why, one answer stood out to me above all others. I can’t recall who said it, but here’s the line I will never forget: “I just wanted to take the hill one more time.”

My mind began spinning. I’m not sure what any of the other interviewees said, because God and I were having our own interview. It was intense, personal, one-on-one. God was asking me if I would go anywhere he called me, and I was protesting that my wife loved her business, my older daughter in college was only 3 hours away from us, my younger daughter was in high school, and my church had never been stronger.

Apparently God specializes in waiting us out when we are making excuses. Because after I had finished my mental list of why I should stay right where I was, I heard the question again: “Are you willing to go anywhere I send you? Are you willing to plant a church again? Are you ready to take the hill one more time?” Now God was getting personal – he was probing a broken place in my heart, delving into what I considered my biggest ministry failure: starting a church 15 years earlier, only to leave in frustration before I reached the five-year mark—all due to my own immaturity, I assure you.

After soul-searching and spiritual struggling, I wrote in my program: “God, if you’re asking me to leave where I am now serving, and start a new church, I will do so.” The wave of release that came over me led to unexpected tears – and I don’t cry pretty.

I felt so inadequate for what I thought God might be calling me to do that I also wrote down: “Call Jim Johnson”. Jim and I had been close friends and ministry colleagues for 20 years, and I knew he had a set of gifts and skills that I didn’t. I wondered if he would consider planting a church with me.

On the drive back to Birmingham, Alabama I pondered what had just happened. As soon as I got home, I told my wife about it. True to form, she said she was ready to follow God anywhere. I then called Jim and told him about my experience during the last session of the Summit. I also asked if he would be willing to pray about starting a church together. He said yes. (Later he said he was lying – he didn’t need to pray. He sensed God had been preparing him for my call.)

Four months later, we resigned from our churches, and in early 2002 we moved our families to Frisco, Texas to plant a church. We had no sponsoring church, no people, no money, no land, no building. We just had a vision. And we prayed like crazy for God’s favor.

Now you know why the Global Leadership Summit is so important to Jim and me. Without it, there wouldn’t be a church called Preston Trail.

Senior Pastor and Co-Founder of Preston Trails, Jim Johnson

Senior Pastor and Co-Founder of Preston Trails, Paul Basden

Now you know why we are so excited to be a premier host for the GLS again this August. We think it’s the greatest leadership laboratory around.

Now you know why we hope you will make every effort to attend the GLS. Because you never know when God is going to get your attention, sit you down for an interview, ask you unsettling questions, make you promises, and change your life.

It happened to me. It happened to Jim. It can happen to you.

Today I’m thankful for a God who loves to surprise us with new dreams, new visions, and new hills to climb!

See you at the Summit! Register now!