10 Reasons Why I'm Excited to Attend Catalyst

When you read this post, I’ll be in Atlanta, GA at Catalyst. An amazing conference for church leaders, it’s something I look forward to each time I go. Going this year with the Mt Vernon staff makes it even that much more special. Since Catalyst is on my mind, let me share ten reasons why I’m pumped to be in Atlanta today.

1. I’ll be inspired by others in the Kingdom. Not only are the speakers amazing, the stories I hear at Catalyst continue to inspire. God has gifted an entire generation that is advancing the Kingdom in ways many never thought possible. I’ll come home inspired to do more for the Kingdom here in Columbus.

2. It’s a reminder that the Kingdom is much bigger than my church. It’s too easy to get so focused on the daily demands of local ministry that I can lose sight of the fact that God is moving in many more places than just Mt Vernon church.

3. It’s crazy fun. I’ll be honest. The good folks at Catalyst always know how to have a good (Christian) time. Just because it’s a conference doesn’t mean it has to be boring, as Catalyst proves.

4. It’s a great break from the cycle of ministry. Pastors can get worn out with the never-ending duties of ministry. Catalyst is a great opportunity for me to take a deep breath.

5. It’s an opportunity to recharge my batteries. A good conference will leave you feeling more inspired and empowered to do ministry in your world. The perspective given by Catalyst will hopefully leave my ministry cup overflowing.

6. I get to spend quality time with my staff. Thursday and Friday will be great opportunities to have fun and play with my staff. Interacting with them outside the regular work environment is important for team building and relational capital.

7. We’ll have incredible brainstorming opportunities. A good conference speaker will spark an idea that can turn into something life changing. The staff at Mt Vernon will use this conference as an opportunity to use the sparks generated from the conference to turn into actionable ministry points for our church.

8. I’ll get to catch up with old friends. Ministry is a small world, and several old buddies I used to work with at other churches will be there. I’ll get to meet up with them, tell old deacon war stories, and renew some life long friendships.

9. I’ll get to break some kind of world record. Every year Catalyst breaks some type of Guinness World Record. My first year there we broke the record for largest pillow fight. If you haven’t had a pillow fight with 10,000 other people, you haven’t lived.

10. I’ll get to be a part of something bigger than myself. The human inside of me is naturally drawn to the crowd, the moment that is bigger than myself. Catalyst Conference is like me walking into my college stadium for a Saturday football game. The rush doesn’t get any better.

QUESTION: Have you ever been to Catalyst or a conference like it? What experiences did you walk away with?