Connexus 07

Eddie and our GroupLife team led a training event this weekend called Connexus. Rick Rusaw, author of Externally Focused Church and pastor of LifeBridge Christian Church in Colorado spoke. It was an inspiring and informative weekend. Here are my highlights:

• We had a great group of small group leaders attending from FBCSmyrna plus a handful of other churches that attended and brought leadership.
• Rusaw quote, "Good deeds lead to good will that gives us an opportunity [as individuals and as the church] to share the Good News."
• Rusaw quote, "Our task as the church is to help people Discover Grace, then help them to Grow in Grace, and then Live Gracefully."
• Our staff team is having some great dialogue on how we can partner with attenders of FBCSmyrna for service and outreach, team with organizations who are involved in compassion ministries, and unleash our church to continue to make a greater impact for the Kingdom.
• We have talked as a staff how much if not all of what we do from a programming/strategy position is leveraged on or atleast best accomplished through relationships. Rusaw confirmed that in making an impact in your community and having a "place at the table’ in your community is brought about through relationship.
• To begin to make that impact on a large scale, it starts with being faithful, consistent, authentic, and willing to do the small things, as Rusaw said, "rake alot of leaves."