Game Changer
Thursday, 8th July 2010
I'd love your input! I've been invited to speak at a conference where the theme is "Game changer". I've been reflecting for a week now on some game-changers in my life...and I'm not sure what to choose.
There have been a few, but I really want to find one that resonates.
Sooo....
- What's been a game changer for you personally, spiritually, in ministry or in life? What defining moment do you look back on and say "that pretty much changed everything?"
- For those of you who know our ministry or me, what do you think a key game changer for us has been? Sometimes the best person to judge that kind of thing is someone slightly outside an organization. So what do you think?
- A third angle: if you could pick any game changer to speak on, which one would you choose?
Love to hear your thoughts....over to you!
Um being fired..it is the hardest thing in the world but in someways in the devastation there is much more to learn than we think..the game isn’t over
Ouch. That hurts, but thanks for your honesty. What you say is very profound.
Other responses off Facebook and twitter have included Rastafarianism, the Grateful dead, failure and grace. What other things have been game changers for you?
1. Personally, the death of my dad when I was 8. No single event has had more impact on my life more than that.
2. As much as I know the story of Connexus, I think the game changing moment came when the staff resigned from Trinity to start something new.
3. It might be cliche but I can’t think of a bigger game changing moment than the resurrection. Where would we be without it?
I’m with Chris. The biggest game changer for me was unexpected death. My husband who didn’t drink, smoke, ate healthily, kept in good shape, served the Lord faithfully, etc. was diagnosed with cancer and died four months later. The rug was pulled out from under me and nothing was the same after that.
I think you know what I’m going to say…severe depression. And being open and talking about it so much, I’ve come to realize that it’s been a pivotal moment in many peoples lives (including spouses, friends and family of the depressed person).
As far as your ministry goes, I think being a church in a movie theatre has been able to attract many unchurched folks (like me 2 years ago!). It’s just not what you think of when you think of going to “church”, and I love it!
Lastly, I think any death (or potential death) is definitely a game changer for everyone.
I’m with everyone else – the unexpected death of my parents (followed by the death of my sister).
When you lose everyone on earth – you MUST look up!
I really appreciate the comments and your willingness to share so honestly. I wonder if the theme of “loss” covers what many of you are saying.
I think life brings so many losses and disappointments…I wonder if a talk on how God uses loss to grow our trust and shape us might be helpful. What do you think?
I grew up attending church, but serving as a junior counselor at a Christian day camp (for school service hours – bad motivation) and then serving on a mission trip were 2 big game changers for me. My whole life I new about God and Jesus, but never connected personally until those moments.
I would probably speak on serving. I just think it unleashes passion like nothing else.
Fascinating to me that so many of the game changers are personal…not an idea, a ministry concept. Just personal things that stopped us in our paths. Experience is a common thread here.
Thanks…this is really helpful. Other thoughts?
I grew up in the Church, had a Godly mother that LEAD me to Christ – all I had to do was return after the trauma. I TRIED to live apart from Him, and was angry with Him for several years; but just couldn’t stay away. I had a son to raise and knew he needed to KNOW Christ.
I’m not sure how others FIND Christ, but would assume devastation would get them on the path for something more from life.
Coming to the realization that nobody besides me can walk my journey for me. A lot of people can guide, direct, give advice, and otherwise aid, but at the end of the day I still have to do the work and the walking. That is the day I weighted my own decisions much more heavily than I had previously.
Thanks Armin and Theresa. Insightful. Every single game changer has also involved struggle. Fascinating.
Got me thinking….
Game Changer: two come to mind:
1) Failure: forces us to be confronted with something in ourselves or in our ministry context that we either missed or were avoiding.
2) Being Honest about who I am/We are, in ministry: in a world of “leadership personalities” it is easy to try to mimic instead of leading with the gifts God has given us. We need to absolutely clear about how God has wired us to lead so we can do it 110%.
Incredible pain brought incredible clarity. Two great gifts!
There are two kinds of game changers that I’ve experienced.
The first, drew me to Christ; the unconditional love and acceptance of a handful of people who were Jesus with skin on.
The second made me walk away from church because of politics and power struggles.
There is a terrible agony in the tension that exists between loving God and hating the way His followers sometimes behave.
That said, I agree with you when you say that experiential faith is all about Jesus, and NOT about the (local) church. If Connexus really lives that out, then perhaps I have found reason to be cautiously optimistic?
Was away for a week with no real internet connection (we all need those weeks). I appreciate the feedback.
2 broken…I would say cautiously optimistic is a great way to phrase things. The moment we say we’re the church that won’t “X”, we set ourselves up to disappoint people. I think we’re as broken as any group of Christ followers. I hope that one of the things that distinguishes Connexus is a willingness to admit we’ve messed up, look the person we’ve offended in the eye, apologize and try to make amends.
When you (Carey) said, “… has involved struggle.” I’ve come across an interesting theme with God’s Word … He breaks and binds. Yes He wounds, but He also heals. This was profound for me as this is what a parent does. Now I don’t have to ask, “why, God?” anymore. I just need to trust and wait for the, “game to change.”
Wow Thersa,
After the death of my parents and sister.
God carried me through those and when I was ready he put me back down and asked me if I really thought that I was in charge or if I knew what the future is to hold.
This totally changed from me being in control to him being in control in my life. God has a sence of humor and put a bigger picture in my sight.
Fortune tellers ………….well hehehe