And now for something completely different – an evening session! Never tried this before, but by starting the Group Life Conference at 12:30 p.m. (so folks can fly/drive in the day of the conference if they want) we HAD to do an evening session to fit everything in. You're on your own for dinner with your team, so who did we invite to lure you back after dinner? Will Miller!

Dr. Will was one of our favorites last year. He followed the first rule of stand-up comedians (he used to be one) and left us all wanting more! This year he'll bring his extensive knowledge of community life and love for small groups to bear in a brand-new talk.

Session 3 - What Stunts Community Growth
Will Miller, Author and Speaker (West Lafayette, IN)

Author, speaker, and Group Life Conference favorite Will Miller explores the barriers that keep community from optimum growth — and the tools needed to overcome them. With his unique blend of humor and insight, he’ll examine how hearts get wounded and how community is necessary to heal them.

Will Miller is from New York City and is an ordained minister and a hospital and police chaplain. He has worked in community mental health centers and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Will has served as a spokesman for the National Institute of Mental Health. Simultaneously, for 16 years, Will had a successful career as a stand-up comedian.

Currently, Dr. Miller is a therapist and campus minister at Purdue University where he lectures on media effects. Will’s books include Why We Watch: Killing The Gilligan Within; Refrigerator Rights; and The Seven Temptations of Popular Culture.

The Group Life Conference 2008 "Essential for the Human Heart" opens on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Willow Creek campus in South Barrington, IL.  For details and early registration visit the Conference Information page. The full conference web site goes live late in May.

The afternoon session on opening day of the Group Life Conference features two of our favorite people: Mark Batterson and Heather Zempel. You may have heard of Mark, but wait until you meet Heather!

Session 2 - Where Community Grows Best
Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor & Heather Zempel, Discipleship Pastor. National Community Church (Washington, DC)

The high-achieving, highly mobile, de-churched neighborhoods of Washington, DC, aren’t ideal environments for small-group ministry, yet National Community Church is making it work. Mark Batterson and Heather Zempel describe their organic approach to community, and how they’ve seen it flourish despite harsh surroundings.

Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church (www.theaterchurch.com) in Washington, DC.  NCC was recognized as one of the 25 Most Innovative Churches in America by Outreach Magazine in 2007.

Heather Zempel earned a masters degree in biological engineering and was a consultant at an environmental engineering firm prior to becoming a policy advisor in the United States Senate. She now engineers environments that foster community and spiritual growth as the discipleship pastor at National Community Church in Washington, DC.

The Group Life Conference 2008 "Essential for the Human Heart" opens on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Willow Creek campus in South Barrington, IL.  For details and early registration visit the Conference Information page. The full conference web site goes live late in May.

The schedule is finalized and the brochure is on the way to the printer, but we knew you would want a sneak preview of the topics, speakers and sessions planned for this year's Group Life Conference. John Burke kicks off the conference with a brand-new talk:

Session 1 - Why Community Is Essential
John Burke, Lead Pastor, Gateway Church (Austin, Texas)

Water and oxygen we understand, but why is community so essential to the human heart? John Burke digs into the theological underpinnings of group life to help you rediscover your passion for planting, cultivating, and nurturing community.

John Burke serves as lead pastor at Gateway Community Church in Austin, Texas, a congregation dedicated to helping unchurched people become a unified community of growing Christ-followers, no matter what their background or past. He is also the president of Emerging Leadership Initiative (ELI), a non-profit organization founded to help establish a multiplying network of missional churches that envision, equip, and empower young emerging leaders to plant innovative churches. He is the author of No Perfect People Allowed and Soul Revolution.  Before starting Gateway, John was the executive director of ministries at Willow Creek Community Church. He and Kathy are the parents of two children, Ashley and Justin.

The Group Life Conference 2008 "Essential for the Human Heart" opens on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Willow Creek campus in South Barrington, IL.  For details and early registration visit the Conference Information page. The full conference web site goes live late in May.

Saw a great quote and description of community over at Mark Cork's blog:

A community is a group of people who care about each other more than they should.

The quote is from The Cluetrain Manifesto, but Mark's comments really pull it together. Do you agree? Does this describe your small group? You can read his whole post here.