I hope to be able to make it to a few conferences this year, but in all Honesty, the only one I get really pumped for is the Orange Conference. Others are in the back of my head, sure, and I plan on making it to a few. But when @mattmckee emailed me in July talking about the Orange Conference 2012, I got pumped, because I honestly can’t wait to get back down to Atlanta.
If I had to sum up why, it would be because for me, this is the only conference that will make a lasting difference in my life and the lives of those I lead.
How can I make such a bold statement? There are two reasons for me that make Orange a long lasting investment when compared to other conferences.
First, The fact that Orange is one of the only conferences that brings together the whole Church Staff. It’s not just a children’s ministry conference, but it still provides everything a Children’s Pastor would want from a conference. It’s not just a Youth Pastor’s conference, though it has everything a Youth Pastor would want from a conference. It’s not just a Sr. Pastors conference, and yes, it has everything a Sr. Pastor would expect in a conference. It brings all these voices together and says “Lets not worry about creating just a great children’s ministry, or youth ministry, or whatever. ” Because ultimately, thats not the goal.
What I love is that it introduces a whole new set of voices to me as a leader that I wouldn’t normally seek out. Do you know how much a Youth Pastor can learn from a Children’s Pastor? Last year, I absolutely loved the time I got to spent with some Childrens Pastors, and if you come this year, you will too.
Second, Orange makes a lasting difference because it doesn’t bother with the “What’s Hot Now” concerns. I remember going to a conference last year and sitting in three break outs about using technology in ministry. One of them was a good one, because it focused on a topic that won’t be changing too much. But the other two had me downright mad that I paid good money to hear some guy talk to me about how to make a Facebook page for a Youth Ministry and 10 new sites that will help me be a better youth pastor. I remember all 10 of the sites were ones that were old news, and none of the 10 new sites are ones that I do actually use. It was a waste of time and a waste of money.
Orange Conference doesn’t bother with those. You won’t find a bunch of “Whats hot now” sessions, but instead, you will find break outs on things that truly will make you better equipped to do your job, things like “How to Intentionally plan a Calendar” “How to incorporate Families into Youth Ministry” and the like. These aren’t sessions you will leave with a sense of disappointment. These are Break outs you will leave and not stop thinking about for months to come.
And so Like I said at the beginning, I plan on attending a few other conferences this year as well. But ultimately, Orange is the one I am looking forward to the most. If you haven’t made plans, registration for Orange Conference 2012 opens tomorrow, September 22nd, at the What is Orange website.
Or you could click here and enter to win a free ticket to the conference.
