Quest 2008

What is Quest? Keegan and I write about it, prepare for it, pray for it, ask others to pray for it, and we regularly attend it. I would guess many of you just know it’s some kind of conference associated with our ministry but not much else. Even though I have heard much about Quest, I have to confess that I didn’t fully grasp what it involved until I attended one. I knew it was a leadership formation conference for CAM leaders but not much more than that. In light of my own experience I encouraged Keegan to continue communicating what Quest is. Leadership formation has been a passion of Keegan since he began ministry in the local church. Quest is an out growth of that passion, years of working with leaders, CAM’s needs and the primary focus of his doctorate.

In June of last year attendees were asked to help pick a name and theme that would reflect their vision and values for leader formation. Thus, the name and mantra were created: Quest…Becoming a Christ-like Community of Lifelong Learners. The word “quest” implies the act of seeking or pursuing something. A quest can also be an adventure. Often, it describes a chivalrous enterprise in a medieval romance, usually involving an adventurous journey. God certainly intends for all of us to experience an adventurous and exciting Christian walk. Quest is designed for people who want to make a difference in their ministry setting, and the purpose is to help participants become lifelong learners with the goal to understand and then seek to align their actions and attitudes with biblical principles and practices. Over 100 CAM missionaries have participated at some level in leader formation and felt it to be enriching, stimulating and highly valuable. Under its current design Quest conferences are offered twice a year during the months of April and October. Attendees include both men and women who are invited by their respective organizational leaders to participate. When possible and desirable, couples are encouraged to participate together.

The April Quest themes were focus on: 1) Living and Serving Together as Multiple Generations; 2) Essential Counseling Skills; 3) 4) What Kind of Legacy Are You Leaving?; 5) Learning as a Way of Being. Keegan will be facilitated three of these sessions Jon Edwards, CAM's member care coordinator, facilitated one session. Please continue to pray for the moving of God’s Spirit through this ministry and for changed lives and a changed mission. Join us in praying God will continue to provide the funding to continue Quest and grow it for His glory and honor(funding is by donations to CAM).

Summoned to Lead

The following is a quote from Summoned to Lead by Leonard Sweet.

A historian's job is to tell the truth about the past. A consultant's job is to tell the truth about the present. A psychiatrist's job is to help you tell the truth about who you are. A theologian's job is to tell the truth about God. A leader's job is to rise to the occasion, to imagine the best possible future and to tell the truth about how to get there. A leader's voice rings the bell of the future.

If you are not familiar with this book (which is a favorite of mine) it is the retelling of the story of Ernest Shackleton who commanded in 1914 the doomed British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Shackleton lead a group of explorers who were to cross Antarctica sea to sea for the British, but he never made it. When his ship was within one hundred miles of the continent he and his crew became stranded in the most hostile place to mankind place on earth. Obviously this failure is not what made Shackleton one of the world's greatest leaders. No, it was the act of bringing home safe every one of his crew and how he accomplished such a seemingly impossible task. There are other books written about this expedition and even a movie made. The story is worth reading anytime, but this particular book focuses on the summons to lead, not the call. Although I am not gifted in leadership I was captured by the concept of leadership presented in this book and by the need for such leadership in our country today. Elections are nearing and we are choosing leaders for our nation. We have a responsibility to vote, but our choices are limited. It would be wonderful to have one or more of the many candidates rise to moral courage and ring the bell of truth. Please pray as never before in the months left to us for those candidates who will be elected to office. Not only is voting a right, a duty and a privilege, but so is prayer for each of us Christians.