Fresno Seminar with Larry Osborne

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A group of us from College Church attended a seminar yesterday. This was a ministry forum hosted and planned by Fresno Pacific University. Approximately 300 pastors, ministers, leaders and ministry students were there.

I'm grateful to have a Christian institution like Fresno Pacific here in our community. Although I'm not in their network and not yet very connected among Fresno area pastors, I can't fathom a city and region as big as this without a seminary and ministry resource like Fresno Pacific. Thankfully, the folks at FPU seem to recognize their role and work across denominational lines.

The focal point of yesterday's gathering was Larry Osborne, pastor at North Coast Church in San Diego County. His story in a compelling one. When he became the pastor there 25 years ago, North Coast was a storefront church with about 250 members. Today, they have 8500 members spread among several satellite congregations.

Larry's written several books like Sticky Church and Sticky Teams. I have not read any of them. My uncle Amos Allen, who works with a church planting organization called Kairos, had previously shared with me his notes from Sticky Church. That's the extent of my exposure.

Larry seems to have a great spirit. I appreciate his candor in admitting that North Coast has no model to copy. Every church must go its own path and play to its own unique context and God-given passions. He is undoubtedly a skilled leader who has demonstrated not just a steady vision but personal integrity.

Without retelling the contents of his seminar, I will react to some of his main concepts in coming posts. For now though, suffice it to say that our ministry team was blessed and enriched by the day. These events create great opportunities for conversation and vision-casting.

Comments

Tannon said…
I just bought the book "Sticky Church" Sounded interesting.
February 22, 2011 at 8:52 PM
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