1 – Suzanne H
I look forward to coming to Leaders to Go. I know that I will receive from God. It’s an amazing opportunity to share with others who are like minded and who have a desire to be challenged ‘i.e. moulded’ by God to do the very best for children in our care and for those not yet in our field of influence. My feelings as I leave are that I have just been to a family ‘Christmas’. We celebrated Christ together as our Lord and Saviour, Christ in each other and Christ as the most precious gift we could possibly receive or give. I have received gifts in the form of questions most of which are still being formed in my mind. So I look forward to going home and unwrapping all I have been given and then sharing them with others. Thank you! I am eternally grateful for all who made this ‘party’ happen.
2 – Graig C
As I’ve listened and engaged with others, I’ve written lots of questions that need to be addressed by me personally.
Some are:
1/ How is my life going to change as a result of this time away?
2/What is my role within my local church to help make a difference to the evangelism and discipleship of kids?
3/Which three kids do I need to invest specific, intentional time with, to help them grow in their relationships with Jesus?
3 – Jenny B
Living in the country you can feel a bit isolated in ministry with few funds and resources and seemingly reliant on what you can produce can be demoralising.
Coming to L2G is an experience where I am encouraged and affirmed, challenged and lead by God in my work with children.
You leave connected to resources, especially fellow youth ministers. You leave encouraged and with direction and you leave affirmed in your calling and the direction God wants you to go.
This year I have been left in particular with a clearer understanding and vision in regard to encouraging and nurturing my team, discipling kids and working with boys.
4 – Sharon C
As soon as I know the dates for L2g this year I let my vicar know so that I could be freed up to attend. There was a staff retreat planned for the same dates but I said I was off to L2g and the staff retreat dates were changed (not just on my behalf, but that contributed to the decision). This is such a valuable, helpful, refreshing conference and I think as many as possible should put the dates into their diary and include it in their budgets for 2011!
5 – Linda M
This is the second time I have been on L2g and it’s been a truly valuable experience for me. It’s been great networking and meeting with people from similar backgrounds or roles to talk to people. The keynote speakers have all made valuable contributions to my thinking and the way I’ll approach what I do in the future. Thanks for organising this conference and for the way you have been helpful.
6 – Sylvia M
This is my first conference and I have to say – it has been awesome. Huger and more helpful than I would have hoped for.
Networking with like minded, passionate people has bee invaluable and very supportive.
The speakers were awesome and Dave just spoke to my heart and prompted by the Holy Spirit I feel and Know a new path emerging for my role in evangelising kids.
I’m going home on a high!!(and it’s not due to caffeine!!!)
Love what you guys do! Look forward to the next one!
7 – Beth B
I came and I heard the voice of God in challenging, encouraging, affirming and rebuking ways, through wise and loving brothers and sisters. You can’t ask for better than that to reinvigorate your ministry.
8 – Julie H
I’ve had a very busy start to the year so I was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of leaving work for four days. I was thinking about not coming to L2g or coming to part of the time. Some of my leaders at playgroup encouraged me to come and that it was important for my personal growth. So I came and it was great. I loved the keynote speakers and I really enjoyed the small group times. It was good to get to know people. L2g has helped me think about the big picture again.
9 – Jean C
An amazing four days for teaching, fellowship and being challenged to improve my kid’s ministry. Truly inspired by God and inspiring to me.
10 – Sylvia C
God has been speaking to me in the last few months about children, his concern for them and what we can learn from observing and being with them and about us being kingdom people.
This conference has definitely moved me further down the road in this direction. I’m not too certain what it all means for me at the moment, but I believe it was no accident that I was here. God has yet more light and truth to come forth from his word.
I now see that children have an important role in his kingdom here and in the future. I just want more of them to come into it.
11 – Paul D
Challenging and inspiring. This conference has cast a new light for me on the way we do church and the place of children’s ministry in particular. I’m excited about putting into practice the things that I’ve learnt.
12 – Tracey
the depth of speakers and conversation is the reason that I value the L2g conference.
13 – Megan H
Being amongst a group of passionate, resourceful, amazing people inspired me and did my soul well….being fed by amazing leaders and speakers has challenged me and confronted me to ‘raise my voice’ for kids.
14 – Sonia J
My first L2g was a fabulous, rich, community experience. Thanks for tapping into my headspace whilst keeping it fun and relevant. A ’thinking practitioners’ conference.
15 – David G
The L2g conference is a unique time – unlike any other event for kid’s workers. It offers a time of networks and fellowship amongst leaders and leaders of leaders.
The ministry/ teaching times offer a blend of inspiring, challenging and thought provoking messages.
L2g is one of the major highlights on my calendar
16 – Julie K
L2g has been a great place for me to go away and clear my head from the everyday ministry life. It has given me the place and teaching to help me to structure my thoughts (and hear from God) as to what are my problem areas and where do I go with it.
The keynote speakers have challenged me to expand my thinking and the small group time has allowed me to verbalise and hear others verbalise the working out of these issues in our ministries. (very helpful).
I have also been encouraged to use my influence in leadership more within the church (strategically).
The highlight for me was Wendy Strachans address on discipleship. It resonated in my heart with what God has placed in my heart and I have become dissatisfied with our churches. It inspired me to grow and continue in this area to make a difference – because it’s what God wants.
17 – Shane M
My wife and I will seek out formal training to be better equipped to serve the church, having a greater wealth from which to draw from to impart to future leaders. We will set a more formal process to have paid leaders employed in the future, especially for kids/adolescents.
I enjoyed meeting and sharing with very experienced ‘rich’ people and hearing and encouraging each other in our journey in the faith.
18 – Katie P
I’ve been attending L2g since 2005, when I had just started as a Children and Families Minister and just moved states. It has been a fantastic means of connecting with Children’s ministry leaders from all over Australia and beyond and with the folk in my area too.
I am inspired and refreshed every time by the leadership team and the keynote speakers who are always challenging, always driving us back to God, back to why we do this ministry and forward to doing it better.
19 –Karen B
Just imagine the spirit and power stirred, nurtured and challenged when a group of people passionate about presenting Jesus to young people gather together for a week….
It can’t be verbalised, only experienced and perhaps best seen in the strength of children’s ministry leaders stepping out with renewed purpose, focus and drive.
20 – Louise B
the most effective use of time to develop my ministry. You really do have to take the time to slow down if you are going to speed up. I plan to be here again.
21 – Amanda
At the start of the week I was feeling trapped and helpless in my ministry situation – I knew many things that God would want our church to change but had no voice or influence to help take us there.
God has used these sessions but particularly the people here to change my mind. A huge culture change is possible – all things are possible with him – and it is also possible that I can be part of the movement towards it.
I have gone out of this with a new hope, some great strategies for strengthening my voice, and a trust in God and His strength that I didn’t feel before. Praise God!
So I committed to God (after some nudging) to stay at my church for three more years and to trust Him with that, no matter what happens.