When we set the dates for the first ever GLS in Addis Ababa back in April, there were so many questions about how the event would function. We needed to recruit a team and order a projector. Tickets and posters had to be prepared and resources needed to be ordered. In fact, there was only one certainty: we knew that the GLS was a powerful event for our church and we were sure that the Ethiopian leaders would benefit from the talks as well.
After the first day of the conference, our team could tell you that all of the hard work preparing for the trip and while we have been in the country has been worth it. Over 500 leaders worshipped together, ate together, and heard some of the best talks from the past 10 years of the GLS
Bill Hybels began the day with a familiar message: The local church is the hope of the world. We then watched Jim Collins’ talk explaining the good to great principles. After lunch Eleni Gebre-Madhin spike about the African Commodities Excahnge (google her TED talk). Finally we closed the day by hearing about the 5 dysfunctions of a team from Patrick Lencioni. Overall, the day was an incredible success. There were a few hiccups along the way, but nothing major went wrong.
But it’s not enough to say that nothing went wrong; it is more appropriate I say that so much went well today. There was such a spirit of excitement during the talks today. The church was abuzz with conversation after every talk. The entire day was such a testimony that investing in leadership matters. Tomorrow we have another opportunity to hear more great talks. Although there were no glitches today, we know that things can always change quickly. Even a short power outage could wreak havoc on the event. We start again at 9am tomorrow morning (1am Athens time) – would you say a prayer for the GLS before you go to bed tonight?
Great news! Will pray all goes even better tomorrow.
So excited for you all! Will continue to pray that things will go smoothly with no power outage!
Kyle, thank you so much for taking the time to post about the summit. Even on this side of the world, I feel such a sense of excitement about what’s happening. God is so good! Praying.
The pictures are so good. It is hard to imagine you are all half way around the world. You don’t look tired at all. My prayers are with you all and can’t wait for you to get home and give a report.
It’s great to see members of the staff at work and many of us are praying for the event,the people of Ethiopia,and your safe return home.
I hope it’s not too early to begin praying about the next conference there that can be done in Amharic.
God Bless
Love the pictures! Love our team! Love the updates and the blog! Loving how God hand picked you guys to be the ones he would use to literally change the world!