Leadership Vision Night - Something New!

Transition brings change ... and the leadership gathering format changes too.

Westlife is trying something new about the way we gather as “build-our-housers.” We have reworked the scheduled Saturday AM 26 September Build our House gathering into a new opportunity called….


Check out the date (above) and mark your diaries!

Build Our House - 120 Powerful Minutes Every 90 Days

I am looking forward again to this Saturday AM with all people who contribute in some way to "building God's house" at Westlife Church.

It's 120 powerful minutes every 90 days - so don't be late!

Mark Edwards - Build our House

We had a top morning this morning with all our people at Build our House

And Mark Edwards message and ministry was awesome. Here he is in full-flight while praying for us at the end!

Thanks, Mark!

Build Our House - With Special Guest Ps Mark Edwards

I recently heard Ps Mark Edwards speak at a pastor's breakfast.

He did a great message called "Success Revolution."

He is coming to minister at our next leadership gathering - and he is doing a cut down version of this great message. Our people will be inspired!

Here is a bit from his bio:

Mark Edwards is the Senior Minister of Ipswich Region Community Church, a vibrant and significant church in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

After completing that degree he practiced as a Solicitor, firstly in a local Ipswich firm and then specializing in Criminal Law Advocacy with Queensland Legal Aid Commission.
After completing a period of time with the Commission he then went into private practice in his own right between 1985 and 1991 and established a large and very well respected private practice within the Ipswich area.

Mark was born and bred in Ipswich and his family has significant links to the Ipswich region.

He is passionate in what he believes and this is evidenced by the fact that in 1991 he sensed strongly the call of God to ministry. Mark sold his private practice and commenced as the Senior Minister of his present church.

He has held various positions in the community including:
Chairperson – Board of Advice, St Andrews Private Hospital, Ipswich
Chairperson – Ipswich and West Moreton Family Resource Centre
Committee Member – West Moreton Regional Ethics Committee
Chairperson – University of Queensland – Ipswich Campus Strategic Advisory Group
Board member – Christian Television Association

Mark completed a 2 year term as President of the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was the first minister of religion in Australia to hold such a position and was recently made a life member of the Chamber.

Mark has a compelling vision to see the local church truly impact and transform its community.

Mark is married to Gail, with four wonderful children, Nicholas, Hannah, Gabrielle and Eloise.

The 4 Wise Men

I really enjoyed listening to these 4 guys during today's Build our House session.

They are Cameron, Nick, Wayne and Alan. Each spoke about a perspective on our upcoming Just Walk Across the Room campaign. I was inspired by all of them.

I particularly liked Wayne's "outcomes" approach:

Things We Want our People to Be Able to Say Within 3 months of the Campaign

1. Reaching and connecting with people is easier than I thought
2. God is using me to make a difference
3. I am reaching to others in ways that suit who I am as a person
4. God had been preparing that person even before I spoke to them!
5. I have worked with God to get __________ (person) closer to a Fresh Start with God.
6. I feel alive working with Holy Spirit
7. I have changed __________ (area of my life) so that I hear God’s Spirit clearer.
8. I want you to meet _____________ . I invited them here today – this is their first time!
9. I am amazed at how I can see God at work more in my world – I am more aware now!
10. I have been preparing and have begun to plant a seed in ___________ (person) life. I can’t wait to see it come to pass.

If you were there, what part of what these guys said got your attention?

Build Our House Reflections

We had another great Build our House session this morning. This is one of my favourite quarterly times in our church. Meeting with our faithful and dedicated "builders" is awesome.

Here is Tracy "unpacking" UNLEASHED! for us in part of session 1.

I really enjoyed the ministry of Ps Paul Grant. Powerful stuff.


Here is what one of the attendees emailed tonight:


BOH = WOW

What a fantastic day of connection & learning & leadership & pastoring today at the first "Build Our House" session for 2009.

Excellent too to see such a great role up of people willing to commit some additional time to the house & get ready for what God has in store for us in this year of "Unleashed".

We were particularly blessed to be mentored & equipped by a seasoned pastor in Ps Paul Grant & his wife Dulcie. What excellent role models of living the life you were meant to live. Ps Paul was seeping wisdom, understanding & Holy Spirit. I am sure that each person present was ministered to in some special way & especially after his address when we had a very real sense of God's presence as many were individually prayed for & blessed.

I figure that we have now caught a greater part of God's Vision for us at Westlife for 2009. However, the last word should be given by Ps Paul from his leadership notes (thanks Ps Paul):

"Once Caught, No Escape" The call and will of God insist upon unconditional surrender of the heart, will, mind and body of each believer. For those called to lead it is a sacred entrustment for which we will be accountable (1Cor 3:10-23).


As he closed he read out this poem that he had written called "When God Calls."


You can find the poem here. Inspiring stuff!

And you can download Ps Paul's leadership notes here.

Also enjoyed The 4 Wise Men - you can check them out here.

Build Our House - Leadership Notes for Download

Ps Paul Grant did us a big favour at Build our House today by giving us a set of notes about leadership, God's call etc.

If you missed the printed copy you can download a set here.

Thanks Paul!!

PS - you can email "thanks" to Paul here - pauldulcieg@powerup.com.au

Build Our House - with Paul Grant

I am really looking forward to the next Build our House.
One of the things that is happening is Ps Paul Grant will be coming for half an hour.

Paul has a real special place in my heart.
I first met him in 1988 I think. He was the new Principal at Garden City School of Ministries.

We have journeyed together since then in various capacities and relationship facets. One really special season was when I had Paul for a theology lecturer for 2 years (4 semesters, 4 subjects).

Here are some excerpts from a recent email from Paul. He did this poem called "OUR 2008 REAR-VISION MIRROR - Pondering and Wondering - Reflecting and Revising" about him and Dulcie.

.............................

Our ages at eighty two and seventy eight
Were stepping stones taking us forward,
Ageing is not a problem we choose to debate
But rather a process taking us onward

..............................

Ageing has released for me
New ways of knowing and thinking,
Two thousand and eight was a treasury
Of prayer, reading, and poetry

Perhaps our most significant item
Under God’s unfailing care,
Has been a particular gem
Joint Bible reading and prayer

Nearing fifty nine years of marriage
Each day’s devotions are a lubricant,
Sustained by hope and courage,
An ornament and testament
.......................

Wow!!

See you at 8.55am on Saturday 31 January 2009.